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ards that are rescued or captured, this leopard was not collared. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director, BBP said “The leopard was under medical observation and was not collared. There was no plan of releasing it into the wild.”From the time it was captured, the forest officials presumed the animal weak. “It was hardly consuming 100 grams of food for the first two days and later it started eating 4kg of chicken. It had glaucoma and even lost a canine, it did not appear adventurous,” said a senior officer.The United Nations commemorated the 10th anniversary of the single deadliest assault in the organization’s history on Monday, the bombing of its Baghdad offices that killed 22 people, with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warning in a speech that since then “the attackers who target us have grown more sophisticated, more brazen and better armed.” But in some ways Mr. Ban’s commemoration remarks at the United Nations headquarters, on a day it has designated World Humanitarian Day, were overshadowed by aggrieved staff members, whose union representative presented Mr. Ban’s office with a letter asserting that his internal labor policies had compromised their safety and security. They said they were particularly upset by what they called Mr. Ban’s refusal to bargain with their union over issues related to staff assignments in hardship posts and conflict zones. The representative, Ian Richards, vice president of the Staff-Management Committee, a group of all 15 union chapters in the United Nations work force, announced that he was delivering the letter as part of his speech at the commemoration event, which followed Mr. Ban’s remarks. Mr. Richards also asserted that United Nations workers had become frequent targets.Online video has gone from zero to a staggering 800 million monthly visitors and 4 billion hours of video viewed per month. And that is just YouTube! Every second there are 46,296 YouTube videos being viewed all around the world. In just 8 years it has transformed the web from mono media to multimedia. Videos are embedded in blogs, websites and online stores. eCommerce stores with product video reviews produce better conversion rates. This practice has been adopted by brands such as Zappos with 50,000 video product reviews. Competitors emerged such as Vimeo, Hulu and Blip.tv to try and catch the action. Some have survived and others have struggled against the mind and market share of YouTube. It helps that YouTube has been part of the Google stable since 2006 when it was acquired for $1.65 billion only 18 months after starting. Entertainment to Education Online videos have also moved from entertainment to education. Want to learn?…. then fire up a “How To” video. The Khan Academy is a free online resource that educates students on maths and science and other topics with the power of free video in 10 minute consumable chunks. Its success is measured by the fact it now has over 3,900 videos and has lured one of Google’s most senior people to its team. YouTube Videos Supercharge Television Ads Mass media agencies have realised that a one off 30 second television ad does not provide the viral capability or crowd sourced supercharging of a brand message. Online videos are a media that keeps giving through social media network sharing long after it has been viewed on the TV screen. You only need to see the success of the Old Spice campaign to realise that archiving the television ad after a few views is a poor use of mass media advertising campaign funds. Design and build content for mass and social media. The Top YouTube Facts In a few days (February 14 to be exact). YouTube will be 8 years old and continues to grow and evolve. This is helped by the addition of features such as high definition and technology that allows video to be viewed anywhere on high speed wireless 4G networks on your smart phone. Started on Valentines day, February, 2005 First video was titled “Me at the zoo” Full HD released in November, 2009 Broke the 2 billion video views a day in May, 2010 Trueview ads launched in 2010 One million+ partner program members Major redesign in December, 2011 Reached 4 billion video views in December, 2012 First video to reach 1 billion views (Gangam Style – PSY) It is the second largest search engine (bigger than Bing, Yahoo, ASK and Yahoo all combined) 800 Million+ monthly unique visitors Infographic Source: ShortyMedia How are You Using Online Video? Do you use it for educating? How about capturing and building your email list by offering free valuable video content? Do you tap into its communication capabilities to sell your products and services and for providing product reviews? How effective has it been for your online marketing. Look forward to hearing your stories in the comments below Want to learn more about how to create compelling content that your audience wants to read and view? My book – “Blogging the Smart Way – How to Create and Market a Killer Blog with Social Media” – will show you how.[Note from Tim: I just wanted to link up the Dunc'd On podcast homepage, in case you're interested in listening to their direct comments] Hey there everyone. I thought I'd share some outside perspective on the Blazers' offseason that I found pretty thought-provoking. Dunc’d On is a podcast hosted by Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux of Real GM, and it’s a pretty fantastic podcast if you’re a hardcore NBA fan (i.e., the kind of person who will listen to three hours of NBA podcasting a week in the middle of July). They are generally very savvy commentators on the game, the kind of guys who will have informed debates about who should take the 9th rotation player on the Orlando Magic or whether the Indiana Pacers made the right choice with the number 50 pick in the draft. What I’m saying is, when these guys have something harsh to say about your team, it stings a little more than it does when a regular jabbering talking head does it. And man, do they have some harsh things to say about the Blazers. It comes in their recent Western Conference Offseason Grades episode, in which they assign letter grades for the offseason work each team has done. I found it as informed as usual, but I couldn't get on board with this being the disaster they say it is. So I wanted to take some detailed notes to wrap this fanpost around, and ended doing a pretty thorough if rough transcription. A few caveats: This is a pretty extensive pull of Real GM's content. I'm not trying to hijack it, I want more people to consume it, so I hope this more-than-fair use is cool for everyone involved. I'm sure I got a few things wrong, as much as I tried to get it right. Apologies for any errors. I wasn't always sure how to create paragraphs or sentences from the free-form conversation, so I at least bold-faced the stuff I found most interesting and provocative. My response is below the transcript. And again, I wanted to make sure I said nice things about them up top here because I'm going to disagree with a lot of things later, but these two really are generally pretty sharp observers of the game and I recommend their podcast. Dunc'd On - July 28, 2016 Nate: Next in alphabetical order, let’s hear it. Danny: Portland Trail Blazers…straight F. N: I was toying between an F+ and a D- for them. And we’ve been critical of them, this probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to regular listeners….I didn’t arrive at that without a lot of thought. You talk about Crabbe and also Turner and those are big overpays kind of, in a vacuum…to me, when you look at the larger picture, it didn’t get any better. And this is a misevaluation both of where the team is as a franchise, number one, and two, what their team needed. And I think that Evan Turner is not what they need, we’ve explained that ad nauseam before, that is a contract that instantly I think is one of the worst in the league. His lack of shooting, the fact that he’s OK on defense but not amazingly good. And he’s not a great fit offensively with what they do. They are so capped out now, and this doesn’t change how I think about this franchise’s ceiling in the slightest. So you’ve used up every chamber to sign these guys and now you just have really not gotten – maybe, MAYBE if everything breaks right this is a 50 win team next year? D: Maybe. I don’t think so though, considering how much stronger the middle of the West is going to be, there are going to be fewer wins in that range to just gobble up. N: Maybe you can say, stay where you were on offense, get to top 10 on defense somehow, and you can maybe get to that level, but I think there are a lot of guys who just played a little over their heads last year. I thought that they misevaluated what they needed, I thought they just needed a better option defensively at center, and maybe they got that with Ezeli at the end, but I think that looking at their future…I guess this is the question, we’re very critical of what their strategy was, what were the alternatives to what they actually ended up doing, that they forewent in favor of this luxury tax monster? D: Getting a center that was the right long term answer. Because getting someone who was a lot more stable there, depending on how early they did that, they could have also re-assessed on Mason Plumlee. Now they’re in this weird position where they’re trapped on all these guys and the center market is oversaturated – so you can argue that would’ve been oversaturated anyway for Mason Plumlee – so you’re doing it that way and you’re getting support pieces….they did bring back Harkless on what is a reasonable contract which is definitely a good thing, and there are elements of this offseason that I like – N: Yeah 4 years, 40 million that they just agreed to…. I think that’s solid value for him, considering his age and what he was able to do at the end of the year and in the playoffs playing a combo forward role alongside Aminu – sorry, continue – D: When we did both the Mock Trade Deadline and the Mock Offseason I was kind of obsessed with the potential for Portland, going after a center, resolving those problems, because they have so many pieces locked in at reasonable prices and an owner that is willing to pay the luxury tax, that they could’ve done this you know, fill up the boat, and pay the guys that you know, you can build a really good team that way…and Portland did that, they just did it for the wrong guy. They also have this problem now with Alan Crabbe getting in my opinion overpaid, and Evan Turner, where they have a lot of money tied up in players that might be hard to move, and they’ve created a couple logjams for themselves, and so resolving those is going to be – could be – an issue. Players like Ed Davis are on such cheap contracts that it might actually be harder to use that for a big upgrade, because a team’s not going to give up a first round pick for Ed Davis…I think they’re more limited in their options than some people think. And they’re good, they’re definitely good, I don’t want to knock them saying they’re garbage or anything like that. They’re better than the Rockets and the Rockets spend a lot of money as well. But they had potential to do something legitimately special, and they went so hard in the opposite direction, for reasons that I’m not sure I’ll ever understand. N: If Turner is the best you can do, to me, you just don’t sign him, and you try to bring back Gerald Henderson. Henderson got basically 1 year, 9 million in terms of guaranteed money, second non-guaranteed year, they could’ve paid him that very easily, that was about what his cap hold would’ve been. I think he actually almost helps them more than Turner, he’s better on defense than Turner is in a lot of ways because he can guard bigger players with his strength, and I don’t think any of them are great shakes offensively. Henderson can protect the rim a little bit to, and he would have come about a thousand times cheaper than Turner, they’re about the same age. Another option could’ve been, they could’ve just paid Luol Deng close to the contract that he got with the Lakers, I think that would’ve helped them more, at least in the short term, than Turner. Remember CJ and Dame are kind of older than you think, they basically both are in their primes right now. They could’ve gone after Marvin Williams as well with a pretty big deal, or the defensive center you talked about – Biyombo, Ian Manhinmi. Or they could just chill until next year when they didn’t get Parsons, and I think they just reacted so quickly in going after Turner. I think they probably should’ve let Crabbe go, I don’t think he is…is he a starting shooting guard in this league? Probably not. Maybe he gets there, but I don’t see a lot of room for growth in his game. They could’ve tried to get the best guys they could on one-year deals, they have all these guys that are pretty cheap, I don’t think they’re even that much better with the signings that they had this year. Harkless and Meyers…maybe let them twist in the wind a bit longer, force one of them to take the QO, or at least sign a shorter deal, that could be a little more tradable if you wanted. And I think I maybe would’ve tried to hold onto Harkless, I don’t think Leonard really moves the needle, and tie up a bunch of money with him, but maybe he can be Plumlee insurance. And then they could’ve had as much as $37M in cap space with the Plumlee and CJ cap holds, if they hadn’t given CJ the max extension, which I don’t see a ton of advantage to doing right now. I get why they did it in the context of the other moves, but it’s a little risky. If they could’ve just avoided taking on any more long term money, at least kept open max space or the ability to get to max space for 2017…they really overreacted to this 44-win season, which admittedly was better at the end, but this team is going to be $19M over the tax, which is $42M in luxury tax payments also. And that’s before you sign Plumlee. Sign him at $12M a year, and now you’re $66M in tax payments. So we’ll probably see some of these guys go. And the other concern too is probably two of Harkless, Crabbe, Turner, or Leonard, are not really going to play, and those guys are all making eight figures. So it could make them very difficult to trade. Then they went after Pau Gasol which had some opportunity cost while they were waiting around for him, and I don’t think that he would’ve helped them either. D: Nope! N: Um. OK. So I ended up going I think, F-plus, probably. Which is one of the more hilarious grades you can get. /end ----- OK. Let’s all take a moment to apply some salve to that extensive burn. Now. Clearly these guys aren’t dumb. And there are a few points on which I share their concerns (e.g., the Pau Gasol flirtation was a head-scratcher). But I have reactions. They are ten in number.Israeli security is saving the lives of foreign diplomats, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday at a memorial ceremony for Israeli foreign service personnel who fell in the line of duty. “The State of Israel is preventing a great number of terror attacks on foreign embassies, in foreign countries,” he said at the Foreign Ministry, without elaborating. “Our activities save lives. They protect the lives of our men, of you, and also help protect the staff of the foreign services of other countries,” he told the gathered diplomats and the families of 16 Israelis who were killed while serving the country abroad. Recalling various attacks in which Israeli diplomats, their spouses and security guards were killed, the prime minister warned that “threats still exist” but added that Israel has learned its lesson and knows how to fend off attacks on its foreign missions. “Our security forces are investing an enormous worldwide effort to in preventing attacks, and in most cases we are succeeding.” Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up Netanyahu mentioned the deadly attacks against the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires 25 years ago, saying Iran and its proxies were responsible for the attack and have since increased their support for terrorists across the world. “Israel was and will remain a spearhead in the global fight against terror,” Netanyahu continued. “At the same time we will continue to expand our foreign ties. In recent years, as you surely know, Israel enjoys a massive flourishing of Israel’s foreign ties that is unprecedented. We’re considered a rising world power.” The country’s technological knowhow and military and intelligence strength have made it a sought-after partner, he posited. “There are few countries left that don’t have formal relations with us, and even that those that remain [without official bilateral relations] have expanding and widening ties with us.”Cloud Studio / Stocksy Feeling blue? Strangely, it might mean that you're actually better at judging your performance—and reality in general—than when you're not. It's called "depressive realism," and it seems to suggest that in our normal state, we tend to operate under happy delusions that lift away when we're depressed. The idea blows apart the theory that depressed people have too negative an outlook on the world: They may actually just be seeing it how it is. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting over 16 million people (or about 6.7 percent of the population) in 2015. So does that mean that over 90 percent of the population is walking around with rose-colored glasses? Some research seems to suggest so. The concept of depressive realism first entered the scene via a 1979 paper published by L.B. Alloy and L.Y. Abramson. In it, the researchers presented both depressed and non-depressed participants with a button and a green light. They then asked the participants to figure out to what degree their responses (pushing the button) controlled that light. Depressed participants were much better at judging the degree of their control, while participants who weren't depressed tended to assume that they had more control over the light than they actually did. Depressive realism is "still regarded as a fruitful hypothesis by many, but not all, psychologists," says Colin Feltham, professor emeritus of critical counseling studies at Sheffield Hallam University and author of the book Depressive Realism. A number of studies have investigated the theory with mixed results, he says. It may be tied to certain other psychological theories, like the terror management theory, Feltham says. Terror Management suggests that human nature is actually wired towards self-deception: In order to avoid facing terrifying concepts like death, most of us live in a state of self-delusion. And maybe, when we're depressed, we're just less likely to be deceived. More From Tonic: In fact, "some psychologists concede that an element of self-deception may be necessary for well-being," Feltham says. Depressed people may just be lacking that crucial optimism that helps us power through a life full of heartache, meaninglessness, and death. So while they can see things more realistically, we all know that reality sometimes straight-up bites. The people most likely to experience depressive realism? Introverts, males, and people with high IQs, Feltham says, adding that it's most likely to occur in mildly depressed people—those suffering from major depression, by contrast, are more likely to suffer from larger distortions in their thinking. Not everybody is convinced of the effects of depressive realism as shown in literature, though. Psychologist Michael T. Moore, a professor at Adelphi University, led a survey of 75 studies on depressive realism that included over 7000 participants. His conclusion? "There's certainly evidence for it, but the evidence that's there shows it occurs in a very narrow range of stimulus conditions," he says. "A broken clock is going to be right twice a day." Moore believes that it's not that depressed participants have a more accurate view of reality in general. Instead, the controlled experimental setup of many of the studies may have artificially led to such results. "If you set up a circumstance where there's no relationship between the button and the light, depressed patients might be able to better pick that out, because that set of circumstances happens to conform to their somewhat biased view of the universe, that bad things happen for no reason," Moore explains. "That doesn't necessarily mean that they're more accurate broadly, but under that very narrow set of stimulus conditions, they come out looking more accurate." What we don't know, Moore emphasizes, is if depressed patients, across a broad range of human experiences, actually perceive the world more accurately. Our research is currently too homogenous, he says. Whether depressive realism is actually a widely applicable phenomenon is therefore still an open question, Moore says. But it's an important one, because it could have a major impact on how we both prevent and treat depression. The current leading treatment for depression is cognitive therapy, which operates under the assumption that the depressed patient is sad because he is misperceiving his environment, Moore says. That patient is only remembering negative things and failing to perceive the positive. Cognitive therapy presumably helps patients become more accurate and realistic—thus helping them get better. But if depressive realism proves to be true, it begs the question: Is cognitive therapy really helping patients see reality more accurately? Or is it just offering patients a set of rose-colored glasses? For now, the evidence suggests we have some reason to believe that mildly depressed individuals are better at perceiving certain aspects of reality. Whether that holds true for a wider set of circumstances remains to be seen. But in the meantime, enjoy those rose-colored glasses—they may just be a sign of sound mental health. Read This Next: The Secret Link Between Evolution and DepressionA lot of people thought Stipe Miocic beat Junior dos Santos the first time they fought, despite JDS being a healthy favorite in the eyes of bookmakers. This time around, ahead of their rematch, it’s Miocic that has opened as the favorite. According to veteran linemaker Joey Oddessa (@MMAOdds on Twitter), Miocic has opened at -205, while Dos Santos is at +167 (info via MMA Junkie) for their UFC 211 heavyweight title fight. The fortunes of both men have taken dramatic turns since their first meeting in late 2014 at a UFC on Fox event in Phoenix. Dos Santos was the victor via hard-fought unanimous decision that night, but it was pretty close. Dos Santos’ next fight was a one-sided loss to Alistair Overeem, which was a big setback. He has rebounded to beat fellow UFC 211 participant Ben Rothwell since then. Miocic has won four straight fights by KO or TKO since dropping the first JDS fight, defeating Fabricio Werdum for the UFC heavyweight title along the way and defending it against Overeem in his hometown in September. It remains to be seen if the major books fall into line around the same odds or have a different take on things, but for now, Miocic is favored to defend his belt again on May 13th in Dallas.Not that anyone would wish economic hardship on anybody, but can the case be made that there are in fact health benefits to an economic downturn? Well, the conclusion is not as simple as you might think, and the answers are surprisingly mixed. In a recent article in the New York Times, researchers found that there are in fact instances where lean economic times might actually have a positive impact on our health. While it goes without saying that a flourishing economy goes a long way to improving our standard or living, it is interesting to note that there are instances where economic prosperity does not always translate into good health. Take, for instance, the economic expansion of the past two decades. While we have witnessed unprecedented growth in the stock market along with an incredible accumulation of wealth, the population as a whole has also experienced skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The reason for this seems to boil down to time, or lack thereof. When the economy is good, people seem to dedicate more of their lives to working hard at their jobs. In fact, in a previous post, Xin Lu wrote about a Japanese worker who actually worked himself to death! While the desire to work hard and do a good job is completely understandable, it also means that less time is dedicated to the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy eating, exercise, and regular check ups with your doctor. When times are good, people also tend to embrace unhealthy habits like excessive consumption of alcohol (especially before getting behind the wheel), as well as stress and anxiety that can come from trying to maintain a certain lifestyle, which also, in the modern era of consuming, can entail accruing debt. Then, of course, there is the issue of spending quality time at home with friends and family, which I think is reasonable to say contributes positively to one’s health and brings up the need to distinguish between one’s standard of living and one’s quality of life. This is especially true in the case of raising children. In fact, some of the data seems to point to the fact that children may actually benefit from the economy slowing down. The reason for this may be hard to nail down, but some theorize that it has to do with more time spent with either mom or dad (who may be unemployed as a result of a slowdown), and the healthy aspects of life that go along with it, i.e., healthy, home cooked meals from scratch, the comfort and peace of mind that come from being around the nuclear family. It is important to note that for families that are hit harder by a downturn, the results might not be so bright and sunny. In other words, if a family cannot absorb the loss of income, then it doesn’t bode well for the children or the parents. It makes sense, since not only do they have less access to food and health care, but the stress might also compromise quality family time. On the other hand, if the loss of income can be absorbed, then having a parent spending more time with their children surely can’t be a horrible thing. Sure, you can’t buy as many houses, cars or big screen TVs, but it begs the question, how much is enough? If you can keep a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back, then maybe the only way to slow down and spend more quality time with your family is to be forced to do it. So during these difficult times, many of us may have to curb our spending habits. This could mean buying fewer extravagant and frivolous items, and even forsaking our daily latte. This, however, could go a long way in instilling us with a greater appreciation for the simpler things in life, like our famiy, friends, and health. And maybe even that watered down cup of Yuban, which should be enjoyed in the company of loved ones… slowly.Most Voters Are Still Angry Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump recently responded to critics of his abrasive campaign rhetoric by saying he would “gladly accept the mantle of anger” because the government is being run by “incompetent people.” Voters, especially Republicans, share that sentiment. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that two-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (67%) are angry at the current policies of the federal government, including 38% who are Very Angry. Thirty percent (30%) say they are not angry at these policies, but that includes just nine percent (9%) who are Not At All Angry. (To see survey question wording, click here.) This is consistent with regular surveying since 2009, and it appears this anger is finally bubbling up in support of outsider presidential candidates like Trump and Bernie Sanders. This anger peaked at 75% in 2010, the year Republicans regained control of a portion of Congress. But voters remain even angrier with Congress: 84% feel that way, with 53% who are Very Angry. Only 13% are not angry at Congress, including three percent (3%) who are Not At All Angry. This, too, is in line with surveying for the past several years. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters are still angry at large corporations; 41% are not. This includes 29% who are Very Angry and 12% who are Not At All Angry. These findings also are nearly identical to past surveys. (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 14 and 17, 2016 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. As election season moves into full swing, voters are closely divided over whether it is better to have one party in charge of both the White House and Congress or have a separate party in charge of each one. With a Democrat in the White House, it is perhaps not surprising that 63% of Republicans are Very Angry with the policies of the federal government, while just 16% of Democrats and 38% of voters not affiliated with either major party agree. But, interestingly, even though Republicans now control both the House and Senate, GOP voters are just as angry with Congress as the others are. Democrats express stronger anger toward large corporations than Republicans and unaffiliateds do which helps explain surging support for Sanders who has consistently attacked the practices and influence of these mega-businesses. Those 40 and over are much angrier at both Congress and the policies of the federal government than younger voters are. Voters under 40 are angrier overall than their elders are at larger corporations, but middle-aged voters are the most likely to be Very Angry. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters who Strongly Disapprove of President Obama’s performance are Very Angry with the policies of the federal government, but only nine percent (9%) of those who Strongly Approve of his performance agree. Voters who like the job Obama is doing are much more likely to be angry at large corporations. But most voters in both groups are angry at Congress. One of the major issues Trump mentions as a source of anger has been the federal government’s handling of illegal immigration. Most voters continue to believe the government isn’t cracking down enough on illegal immigration and that the current policies and practices of the federal government encourage people to enter the United States illegally. Most voters have made it clear that they want the federal government only to do what Congress and the president agree on, but they blame the GOP-led Congress more than Obama for the legislative gridlock in Washington, D.C. Congress' job approval ratings have been dismal under both Republican and Democratic control. Obama's daily job approval rating remains in the negative teens where it's been for most of his presidency. Just 19% trust the federal government to do the right thing all or most of the time. Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only. Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.10 Pharmaceutical Drugs Based on Cannabis Several pharmaceutical drugs have been developed which either contain or have similar chemicals as those found in the cannabis plant. Some researchers have used their understanding of how the brain processes cannabinoids to develop drugs which follow the same pathways but work differently than marijuana. A sample of those pharmaceutical drugs based on marijuana are listed below with their names, trade names, manufacturers, cannabis-related properties, suggested medical uses, and approval statuses. Drugs with chemicals taken directly from the marijuana plant 1. Sativex Manufacturer: GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH on NASDAQ) Sativex oral spray Source: "Medical Marijuana aka Sativex Now Available in UK," examiner.com, June 19, 2010 Cannabis-Related Properties Mouth spray whose chemical compound is derived from natural extracts of the cannabis plant. Sativex contains two cannabinoids: THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Suggested Medical Use Treatment of neuropathic pain and spasticity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS); Analgesic treatment in adult patients with advanced cancer who experience moderate to severe pain. Approval Status Approved and launched in the UK on June 21, 2010, making it the first cannabis-based prescription medicine in the world (rescheduled from UK Schedule 1 to Schedule 4 on Apr. 10, 2013). Licensed to Bayer in the UK and to Almirall in Europe. Approved to treat spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis in Spain (July 28, 2010), Canada (Aug. 31, 2010), Czech Republic (Apr. 15, 2011), Denmark (June 8, 2011), Germany (July 4, 2011), Sweden (Dec. 22, 2011), Austria (Feb. 7, 2012), Italy (May 7, 2013), and Switzerland (Nov. 27, 2013). Also approved in Finland, Israel, Norway, and Poland. In the US, Phase III clinical trials started in late 2006 for treatment of pain in cancer patients and were in recruitment in 2013. On Apr. 20, 2011, a US patent was granted for Sativex in cancer pain. As of Apr. 28, 2014, Sativex was still in Phase 3 clinical development to treat pain in cancer patients, and the company expects to see results from the program at the end of 2014. On Apr. 28, 2014, the FDA granted "Fast Track" designation to Sativex for the treatment of pain in patients with advanced cancer. The FDA website says that "Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need." GW Pharmaceuticals worked with US licensing partner Otsuka Pharmaceutical to open a Phase III Investigational New Drug application in the United States to treat spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis on Aug. 14, 2013. On Jan. 8, 2015, GW Pharmaceuticals announced that in the first of three US Phase 3 trials for treatment of pain in patients with advanced cancer, Sativex "did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant difference from placebo." Two additional Phase 3 trials are in progress in 2015. Drugs with synthetic versions of chemicals naturally found in marijuana 2. Dronabinol / Marinol Manufacturer: Unimed Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals Marinol Source: "Cannabis, Coca, & Poppy: Nature's Addictive Plants," deamuseum.org (accessed Nov. 12, 2013) Cannabis-Related Properties Synthetic Delta-9 THC. Suggested Medical Use Treatment of nausea and vomiting for patients in cancer treatment; appetite stimulant for AIDS patients; analgesic to ease neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis patients. Approval Status FDA approved in United States as Schedule I drug for appetite stimulation (1992) and for nausea (1985); moved to Schedule III effective July 2, 1999. Approved in Denmark for multiple sclerosis (Sep. 2003). Approved in Canada for AIDS-related anorexia (Apr. 2000) and for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy (1988). Drugs with chemicals similar to those in marijuana but not found in the plant 3. Nabilone / Cesamet Manufacturer: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International(VRX on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Synthetic cannabinoid similar to THC. Suggested Medical Use Treatment of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Approval Status Originally approved by the FDA for use in the US in 1985, but removed from the market until re-approved by the FDA on May 15, 2006 and made available in US pharmacies on Aug. 17, 2006. Also approved in United Kingdom and Australia (1982), Canada (1981), and Mexico (2007). On May 15, 2006, the FDA approved safety labeling revisions for nabilone (Cesamet 1-mg capsules) to advise of warnings and precautions related to its use, such as its potential to affect the mental state of a patient. On Feb. 22, 2007, Valeant announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug application to test Cesamet as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. 4. Dexanabinol Manufacturer: Solvay Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2010; ABT on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Synthetic non-psychotropic cannabinoid that blocks NMDA receptors and COX-2 cytokines and chemokines. Suggested Medical Use Neuroprotective (protects brain from damage) for use after cardiac surgery; regain memory and other high-level function following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); possible future use as an anti-cancer drug. Approval Status Not approved for use as of Nov. 11, 2013. The Phase III clinical trial involving 846 patients was completed in Dec. 2004; Pharmos said the drug failed to show statistically significant improvement in the late-stage clinical trial; A Phase I study to test for the treatment of brain cancer began in Sep. 2012. 5. CT-3 (ajulemic acid) Manufacturer: Indevus Pharmaceuticals (IDEV on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Synthetic, more potent analog of THC metabolite THC-11-oic acid. Suggested Medical Use Treatment of spasticity and neuropathic pain in MS patients; anti-inflammatory properties may help relieve pain from arthritis. Approval Status Not approved for use as of Nov. 11, 2013. Completed Phase I clinical trials as of July 2002. A Phase II study began in May 2002 in Germany to test its analgesic properties in patients with neuropathic pain. 6. Cannabinor (formerly PRS-211,375) Manufacturer: Pharmos (PARS on NAS
-2017Our Sun is surrounded by a jacket of gases called an atmosphere. The corona is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. The corona is usually hidden by the bright light of the Sun's surface. That makes it difficult to see without using special instruments. However, the corona can be seen during a total solar eclipse. During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between Earth and the Sun. When this happens, the moon blocks out the bright light of the Sun. The glowing white corona can then be seen surrounding the eclipsed Sun. Caution! Remember to never look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse. Find tips on how to safely view an eclipse here. Why is the corona so dim? The corona reaches extremely high temperatures. However, the corona is very dim. Why? The corona is about 10 million times less dense than the Sun’s surface. This low density makes the corona much less bright than the surface of the Sun. Why is the corona so hot? The corona’s high temperatures are a bit of a mystery. Imagine that you’re sitting next to a campfire. It’s nice and warm. But when you walk away from the fire, you feel cooler. This is the opposite of what seems to happen on the Sun. Astronomers have been trying to solve this mystery for a long time. The corona is in the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere—far from its surface. Yet the corona is hundreds of times hotter than the Sun’s surface. A NASA mission called IRIS may have provided one possible answer. The mission discovered packets of very hot material called "heat bombs" that travel from the Sun into the corona. In the corona, the heat bombs explode and release their energy as heat. But astronomers think that this is only one of many ways in which the corona is heated. Coronal loops and streamers The surface of the Sun is covered in magnetic fields. This is the force that makes magnets stick to metal, like the door of your refrigerator. The Sun's magnetic fields affect charged particles in the corona to form beautiful features. These include streamers, loops, and plumes. We can view these features in detail with special telescopes. How does the corona cause solar winds? The corona extends far out into space. From it comes the solar wind that travels through our solar system. The corona's temperature causes its particles to move at very high speeds. These speeds are so high that the particles can escape the Sun's gravity.French security forces are bracing for the eventuality of civil unrest and fear there could be a missile strike on a passenger airliner or a September 11-style attack, according to sources close to French intelligence. “Airlines have been warned of a possible attack on a plane with an anti-tank missile,” a source told The Telegraph. “But pilots are unsure how to take evasive action.” After Friday’s thwarted attempt to massacre passengers on an Amsterdam-Paris train and a series of terrorist attacks and attempted killings in France this year, President François Hollande warned the nation to prepare for more violence, considered inevitable as the Islamist threat grows. The army has made contingency plans for the “reappropriation of national territory”, meaning to win back control of neighbourhoods where the population become hostile to the security forces and where guns are easily obtainable, according to the source. “There are a lot of alienated and angry fourth-generation immigrant kids in the suburbs and the prospect of radicalisation is increasingly likely,” the source said. “The idea that attacks like the one on the train are carried out by individuals acting on their own is not credible. We’re dealing with highly-organised networks of militant Islamists embarked on a campaign of violence and determined to intensify it.” Kalashnikov automatic rifles -- used by the train gunman and Islamist terrorists who killed 17 people in Paris in January -- and anti-tank missiles are now obtainable in France. Many were smuggled in from the former Yugoslavia after the Balkan wars in the 1990s. More weapons have come in from Libya, the sources said, adding that organised crime and terrorist groups were working together to procure them. Photo: AFP “We don’t know what happened to the arms we (France) to Libyan rebels. It’s worrying,” the source said. In the chaos following the fall of the Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, French officials described the north African country as an “open-air arms market”. In 2011, France admitted to sending “light weapons” to Libyan rebels in 2011, but French media reported that consignments of heavier arms, including European-made Milan anti-tank missiles were also sent. There were fears that Isil, al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups were procuring heavy weapons from the stocks of Gaddafi’s former army, and that rebel groups were losing control of their own arms. As early as 2010, an anti-tank missile was seized by police along with several tons of cannabis. Since then, an unknown number of rocket-propelled grenades and missiles are believed to have been smuggled into the country. A missile attack could be devastating for an airliner, particularly if the plane was taking off and full of fuel. The main Paris airport at Roissy is near drug-infested suburbs of the capital prone to violence. Agents of the DGSI, France’s equivalent of MI5, warned they are powerless to improve surveillance of Islamist militants bent on losing their lives to cause maximum carnage, and have been “lucky” to have avoided far worse catastrophes since the Paris Islamist attacks in January that killed 17, Le Canard Enchaîné, the investigative and satirical weekly, reported. Photo: EPA An agent told the newspaper there were fears of “an upcoming 11 September à la française where (intelligence) services are mere spectators”. Luck rather than judgment had allayed larger-scale strikes, another is cited as saying. “We’ve been lucky. Passengers in a train who neutralise a suspect, another who shoots himself in the foot then calls the emergency services, and a third who fails to blow up a chemical factory; without these fortuitous turns of events, the human and material toll would have been much higher. And we wouldn’t have been able to change a thing,” he told the weekly. “The truth is we’ve already tried everything. But we’ve reached the very limits of what we are able to do as much from a legislative and organisational as a financial point of view.” European transport ministers are due to discuss more “systematic and coordinated” security checks across the continent in a meeting in Paris on Saturday, Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister announced on Wednesday. "We must examine whether we can implement a system that allows for more systematic checks in airports, in public transport, in a more coordinated way," he told France Inter radio.New research suggests that mindfulness may offer an active coping mechanism for mothers faced with the stress of having a newborn diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD). Mindfulness involves bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. The technique is often mastered through the practice of meditation and other training. Mindfulness aims to increase a person’s awareness and acceptance of daily experiences and is currently used in a variety of healthcare settings for stress reduction, emotion, affect, and attention regulation. In the new study, a team of nurse-researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) gathered perspectives on coping mechanisms from focus groups with 14 mothers of critically ill infants. Investigators used the encounters to explore the feasibility of mindfulness as a stress-reduction technique. “Mothers of infants with complex congenital heart disease are exposed to increased stress, which has been associated with numerous adverse outcomes,” said Barbara Medoff-Cooper, Ph.D., RN FAAN, principal investigator. “The coping mechanisms these mothers use critically impacts the family’s adaptation to the illness, and most likely infant outcomes as well.” “Thus far, parental interventions in the CICU generally are informative or educational, aiming to increase parental abilities to actively manage the caretaking demands of an infant with CHD,” said Nadya Golfenshtein, Ph.D., RN, lead author of the study and a researcher at Penn Nursing. “Mindfulness can be a helpful tool that assists mothers during an incredibly stressful time for them, and for their family by allowing them to pause and be present in the moment rather than wishing something different was happening or worrying about tomorrow.” The researchers collected data during focus groups between July 2015 and March 2016. The sessions included a short introduction to mindfulness as a stress reduction intervention, led by a moderator who is a psychotherapist experienced in group formats. “In the study, mothers described the post-diagnostic period, surgery and the cardiac intensive care unit stay as extremely stressful,” said Amy J. Lisanti, Ph.D., RN, CCNS, CCRN-K, nurse researcher at CHOP and NRSA postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. “Many expressed concerns regarding the post-discharge period when they would need to independently handle their infant’s condition. Their increased stress often led them to feel out of control, lethargic, and not like themselves. They acknowledged the importance of stress reduction, recognizing that relief from stress could help them sleep better, recharge energy, focus, and think clearly.” Most of the mothers were impressed with the value of mindfulness, particularly in the way in which it helped them manage difficulty times. After experiencing a brief guided session of mindfulness in a focus group, one mother said, “Most meditation is about clear your mind and lose focus, but this is to focus on now. I think it works for me, I was never able to do the clear mind thing. This is more accessible to me.” Another noted, “This is something I’m doing for myself, remembering I’m part of this too. Sometimes you are on autopilot, making sure everyone else is ok. Yes, this is a moment when I’m doing something for myself.” The mothers agreed that mindfulness should start early, preferably immediately after the prenatal CHD diagnosis. That way, they felt, that they would have time to learn and practice the skill by the time the baby is born. There was also a general agreement that the worst time to begin the practice is around surgery, as that is an overwhelming time and mothers are too busy to learn a new skill. The mothers preferred engaging in mindfulness in a private, quiet room as the sounds of the CICU stress them and may prevent them from relaxing. “We hope to design a program that draws from these findings and more research on mindfulness meditation is needed in a larger cohort of mothers,” added Golfenshtein. Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Mindfulness Aids Moms Resiliency When Child Has Critical IllnessCEDAR RAPIDS — After cost projections tripled, transportation planners are recommending defunding a stretch of what long has been envisioned as a major arterial street connecting Marion, Robins, Hiawatha and northern Cedar Rapids. The estimate for constructing three-quarters of a mile of Tower Terrace Road from Robins Road to Council Street, which passes through Hiawatha, Cedar Rapids and Robins, jumped to $18.59 million, up from $5.7 million when first added to the 2008-2011 Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization’s three-year transportation improvement plan. The new estimate factors in inflation and a railroad bridge, whereas the earlier plan included only an at-grade rail crossing. “Pushing that much traffic through a busy rail line like that one is not ideal,” said Brandon Whyte, multimodal transportation planner for the Corridor MPO. “It would require a lot of coordination with the railroad, and it would create safety issues.” The Corridor MPO, a joint policy board for communities in Linn County, is recommending defunding $760,000 in federal money from the Surface Transportation Program. It was slated for the fiscal 2016 budget as part of the 2016-19 transportation plan. The money is recommended to return to the available allocation pool. At the same time, the Corridor MPO is recommending putting $760,000 to a different stretch of Tower Terrace Road. The recommendation is to put that amount in the fiscal 2017 budget for a $9.69 million project to connect Tower Terrace from C Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids to Alburnett Road in Marion, which is about 1.2 miles. Tower Terrace Road was intended as a major arterial street in northern Cedar Rapids to alleviate congestion on Boyson Road and support development in the communities. It is supposed to stretch west past Interstate 380 to Highway 13 in Marion on the east side and someday have its own interchange of I-380. However, Tower Terrace remains largely a fragmented road, and progress has been slow. “There’s so much of Tower Terrace that needs to happen, we have to take it where we can with the available budget,” Whyte said. “That said, it’s not the only road project on the list of road projects.” The Dry Creek Trail Phase I also could be defunded $932,000 because of the construction of bike lanes on Boyson Road last year and expected additions in 2016 and 2017, according to the Corridor MPO. Another defunding recommendation includes removing $108,000 from intersection improvements on Williams Boulevard at Wiley and Edgewood roads SW. The recommendations remain open for public comment until the Corridor MPO meets at 1:30 p.m. March 17 at Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW.With the deadly swine flu, bird flu and bee colony collapse disorder it kind of makes you feel like nature is biting back. Some good news for at least one of the big problems: the Israeli company Beeologics has developed a vaccine against colony collapse disorder, the disturbing syndrome that has been wiping out bee communities and threatening agricultural production all over the world. Their new drug, Remembee has completed successful clinical trials on millions of bees in North America. Not only has it proved effective in maintaining bee health, but it also improved the longevity of bees and increased the honey in the hives. Based on Nobel prize-winning RNAI technology, Remembee helps the bees overcome IAVP virus, also discovered in Israel, which has been associated with colony collapse in scientific literature. "It's really a tug of war between the virus and the host. We are helping the bee tug the rope more strongly and beat the virus. We take advantage of an immune system that the bees elicit for viral disease. But we are really using naturally occurring phenomenon. It's not a pesticide and it's not toxic," says Nitzan Paldi, CTO of Beeologics. Watch the video above to see how it works. More on colony collapse disorder: Blogger Writes About Bee Colony Collapse in His Backyard Saving the Bees Honey Bee Mystery Solved Could Urban Beekeeping Renegades Buffer Colony Collapse? ::Beeologics website (Video via ISRAEL21c.org)Let’s head into the kitchen! ♫ Hello everyone, Kahotan here! (@gsc_kahotan) I can honestly say I have never made croquettes in my life! I’m bad at cooking in the first place, and everyone says deep-fried foods are never easy! Either way, today we’re going to be taking a look at a character who was brought up eating croquettes! Nendoroid Mako Mankanshoku! ♡ From the popular anime series ‘Kill la Kill’ comes a Nendoroid of Ryuko’s close friend with a rather excitable personality, Mako Mankanshoku! Mako is well known for her creative expressions, and so she comes with four different expression parts including her standard face, a smiling face, a serious face and a sleepy face! Her comical appearance and personality has been faithfully converted into Nendoroid form, and she even comes with special bendable arms allowing for all the weird and wonderful poses that she takes in the series! The Mankanshoku family’s pet dog ‘Guts’ is also included to display alongside her, and she’ll surely be very excited if you were to display her together with Ryuko-chan! Even Mako-chan gets to be a Nendoroid! Yay! ヽ(ｏ´∀｀ｏ)ﾉ The second Kill la Kill Nendoroid following on from from Nendoroid Ryuko Matoi who was just announced last week! It wouldn’t be the Mankanshoku family without some croquettes to display beside her! ♡ Well to be more specific… the Mankanshoku Mama’s famous ‘croquette-like food with rather strange things inside’! At the very least there is never any poison inside! (ﾟＡﾟ;) Mako showing her excitement for croquettes The little Guts with his big face and cute bottom is also included! ♪ He’s such a nice size – he looks great posed with figmas and scale figures too! But these croquettes… they actually have a rather important role in the story! I can’t believe that this week is the last episode!! (´=ω=｀) Mako-chan and Guts fighting over croquettes Guts! These are for Ryuko-chan! No More! … Ah! ( ﾟдﾟ) I’ve been focusing so much on the croquettes and Guts… but looking back now… (・∀・) “She comes with loads of expressions!!” We’re joined by Kyojin from the planning team! (・∀・) “First up is her standard face, but she also comes with a smiling face and the serious face that you just showed! I’m sure I’ve seen this serious face before… (・∀・) “You’re probably remembering this rather famous pose!” Ah…! The “Take ’em all off!” pose!! Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ!! (・∀・) “Yep! The rather bizarre pose she choose to take when making her appearance in episode three! The arm parts are actually rather unique too – they’re made to be bendable allowing for much more control over their position… and even more Mako-like poses!” Ooh! That sounds like fun! Let me try bending them a bit…! (｡ゝω・｡)ゞ (；・∀・) “W-Wait!! … the material used on the prototype is still hard! They’ll just break!!” That’s something you might want to mention first next time! That was a close one… for now you’ll just have to picture alternate bent arm poses in your mind! (・∀・) “Bent legs are also included for this pose – and can be used for various other things too!” Yay! bent legs are always so useful! By the way…. it feels like Mako’s neck joint is more… movable than normal? (・∀・) “Fufufu… that would be a special extra put in place to allow for this pose!” Ryuko-chaaaan!! She can even be posed jumping toward Ryuko! (・∀・) “From the very start of the planning this was once pose I really wanted to be able to have in Nendoroid form – it required a bit of tweaking to the standard Nendoroid neck joint, but it all came out working really well! It also makes posing her together with Ryuko all the more fun!” I can’t wait to display the two of them together…! （´▽｀） Anyway, she’ll be up for preorder from… \ Waaaaaitt!!! / Eh? There’s still more?! (((゜д゜;))) (｀・ω・) “There are still more expressions to show!!” M-More?! B-but we’ve already had three…? (・∀・) “Mako-chan can’t have only three expressions!” She also comes with this Napping Expression!” Drool! Drool and a nose bubble! (°Д°；≡°Д°；) (・∀・) “The nose bubble was another thing I really wanted to include! The problem was how to attach it!” Hmm… now that you mention it… how do you attach it?! (ﾟＡﾟ;) (・∀・) “It actually connects into the back of her front hair parts!” To think that a nose bubble would actually connect to the hair! It looks very natural though! (・∀・) “I think this kind of sleepy-drooling face is also a first in Nendoroid history!” Without the nose bubble she still looks super content sleeping in my mug! (・∀・) “You displayed her with Ryuko earlier… but she’ll actually have some other friends to display her with soon too!” Those who have watched the series might also recognise this However it may be lacking a bit of volume on the chest area… Combining Nendoroid is so much fun… particularly when they actually match up! ヽ(・ω・)人(・ω・)ノ ~ Mako 2-Panel Manga ~ * Senketsu: “Mako! Mako, wake up!”* Senketsu: “Mako, please wake up!! The drool… it’s getting closer!!” ~ The End ~ There really are endless ways to enjoy Nendoroids! ♡ (・∀・) “I think these are some of the comical expressions we’ve had for Nendoroids! They’re a lot of fun, and I hope everyone will enjoy them!” Lots of fun! ♪ Even more so displayed with Ryuko-chan!! Nendoroid Mako Mankanshoku! She’ll be up for preorder from tomorrow!! \ There’s still one more thing! / T-There’s still more?! っ((((；ﾟДﾟ)))) (・∀・) “One more expression!” R-Really?! (・∀・) “This one! A beat-up expression!” Aaaaaahh!! The expression from her punishment in episode 2!! ( ﾟ-ﾟ)( ﾟﾛﾟ)(( ﾛﾟ)ﾟ((( ﾛ)~ﾟﾟ (・∀・) “Yep! This isn’t actually a full expression though – it connects the same way as the nose bubble!” It looks… rather painful… But wait… that basically means that Mako comes with five different expression choices?! (｀・ω・´) (・∀・)”Not quite! This beat-up expression part is actually a preorder bonus for orders from the GOOD SMILE ONLINE SHOP!“ …!!! (ﾟдﾟ ) (・∀・) “Yep… all things taken into consideration, the 5th expression had to be included as an extra only!” Definitely the first ever Nendoroid expression of it’s kind! Don’t miss out! All four other expression parts are included with other orders ﾟ･:.｡..｡.:･ﾟﾟ･:.｡..｡.:･ﾟﾟ･:.｡..｡.:･ﾟﾟ･:.｡..｡.:･ﾟﾟ･:.｡..｡.:･ﾟﾟ･:.｡..｡.:*･ﾟ／Kahotan’s Inner Voice＼ ∧＿∧ （；･`ω･）.。0 (The final episode is upon us! I can’t wait!!!) （つ⊂ ) と＿）＿） Anyway, I hope to see you all again tomorrow! Planning Team / Kahotan Twitter ID: gsc_kahotan ©TRIGGER・中島かずき／キルラキル製作委員会Earlier today, a plane crashed in Fayetteville, Arkansas. All three occupants were safe, however, because a whole-plane parachute was deployed. Perhaps unremarkably, the whole event was captured on someone’s iPhone: WATCH— (Language) Viewer Video shows plane as it descended, landing on MLK Blvd. #ARnews pic.twitter.com/3l7WEGVDds — Tevin Wooten (@TevinWooten) November 3, 2015 According to the Fayetteville Police Department, the plane, which was on its way to Waco, Texas, experienced oil pressure problems upon landing. The plane is a Cirrus SR22T, a fixed-wing, single-engine plane. According to Cirrus, the aircraft comes with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS): “the parachute system is designed to protect occupants in the event of an emergency by lowering the aircraft to the ground after deployment.” LOOK: viewer pics from the plane coming down over FHS. @KNWAnews pic.twitter.com/YDwlkXGGvJ — Channing Barker (@ChanningBarker) November 3, 2015 There are photos and videos of the aftermath, as well. Photos of plane on MLK. One patient is being looked at pic.twitter.com/OnaFDYZv0o — FayettevilleFireDept (@FYVFIRE) November 3, 2015 In case of emergency, as happened today, activating the CAPS system “deploys a solid-fuel rocket out a hatch that covers the concealed compartment where the parachute is stored. As the rocket carries the parachute rearward from the back of the airplane, the embedded CAPS airplane harness straps release from the fuselage. Within seconds, the 65′ diameter canopy will unfurl, controlling the aircraft rate of descent. The final landing is absorbed by the specialized landing gear, a roll cage and Cirrus Energy Absorbing Technology (CEAT™) seats.” INVERSE LOOT DEALS Meet the Pod The first bed that learns the perfect temperature for your sleep, and dynamically warms or cools according to your needs. Buy Now The plane’s pilot was Bill Simon, the former CEO of Walmart who stepped down in 2014. Earlier this year, Simon began working on Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign as the person in charge of Bush’s policy operation. PILOT: Bill Simon, 56 Co-Pilot: Cliff Slincard Passenger: Maurice Willis No life threatening injuries @5NEWS — Dillon Thomas (@5NEWSDillon) November 3, 2015 Here’s a video of a Cirrus SR-22 actually deploying a whole-plane parachute during a different incident in January 2015 in Hawaii: The whole-plane parachute technology has been around for a long time. Back in 1929, Roscoe Turner, a Hollywood stunt pilot, deployed one on a 2,800-pound plane just to entertain 15,000 spectators in California. Later, in 1975, Boris Popov fell 400 feet from a hang glider without a parachute. He survived by landing in a lake, but used his near-tragedy to start the parachute-producer Ballistic Recovery Systems in 1980. Cirrus even used BRS Aerospace’s parachutes before creating its own CAPS system. BRS whole-plane parachutes have saved 324 lives. CAPS has been deployed 53 times, saving 107 lives.Thinkstock I was already married to my wife when I became a veterinarian. We quickly discovered that a career as a vet can put some stress on a marriage. I can’t tell you how many dinners I have missed because a patient needed me, how many social occasions I've attended at which I’ve arrived covered in cat hair, or how many times I have lobbied to bring home an animal that “just needs a place to stay for a while.” However, I also have to say that I think I became a much better husband and partner after becoming a veterinarian. While I’d like to claim that any improvement has come from experience, maturity or wisdom, I think I have to credit the countless individuals I’ve met who have this whole lifelong-love thing down pat. They’re my canine patients, and I try to take pointers from them whenever I can. Here are 10 lessons dogs have taught me about making marriage—or any kind of committed relationship—work. 1. Forgive mistakes. No matter what we humans do—scoot our dogs from comfortable seats in front of the television or go on walks or jogs without them when the weather is too hot or cold—dogs never hold a grudge. They forgive us our failings and don't dwell on our wrongs. 2. Celebrate time together. How wonderful is it to come home to someone who’s always thrilled to see you? Whether we left the house five hours ago or five minutes ago, canine companions are over-the-moon thrilled to be reunited with us. In today's world of constant “busy-ness,” pausing to celebrate the entrance of a loved one doesn’t always happen. That common complacency makes the act even more powerful. 3. Prioritize exercise. We live in a stressful world. Exercise is a great way to fight back against tension in our lives and also to have meaningful time with loved ones away from computers, phones and other distractions. I think most dogs would agree that we would all be better off if we spent more time together on walks. 4. Embrace the power of silence. Listening is hard work. Many of us (myself included) spend more time waiting for a turn to speak than paying attention to what our partners are telling us. Our dogs are never waiting to talk. They simply cock their heads and try their best to understand our message. 5. Show love in big and small ways. From laying their heads on our laps while we watch a movie to barking wildly and running in circles when we take them to the park, dogs let us know we are loved every single day. 6. Be yourself. In the words of the great sage RuPaul, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Dogs have no interest in being anyone but themselves. I think this is why they can show affection so easily. They don’t want to impress. They just want to love. 7. Don’t forget to have fun. I have never met a dog who was too busy to have fun, but I have met plenty of people who are. (And at times, I’ve been one.) Life is too short not to play and feel good with those we care about.Most of my programming work for this submission was actually spent writing a Blender plugin so I can setup scenes and animations with Blender and export them to my renderer’s file format for rendering. Without this plugin it would have been really difficult to setup an animation as complicated as my submission this year. The plugin is open source and available on Github, it still has many limitations and bugs, but I’m working on improving it. I’ve also implemented the Beckman and GGX microfacet models described in Microfacet Models for Refraction through Rough Surfaces by Walter et al. to improve my material model. Over the winter break last year I spent some time implementing image-parallel distributed rendering, where parts of the image are rendered in parallel by different computers, which I discuss in detail here. If your browser doesn’t play the video properly you can download it to watch it locally. The version shown below is encoded with libx264 using a yuv420p pixel format, so the color bit depth is reduced. I have another version here encoded in libx264rgb using a rgb24 pixel format if you want to see the full quality video. Unfortunately that format doesn’t seem to be supported in browsers currently so you’ll need to download it, it should play in VLC though. Sorry your browser doesn't support HTML5 video, but don't worry you can download the video here and watch it locally. The animation contains a few different standard models in addition to ones I created: The Stanford Bunny, Buddha, Dragon and Lucy are from the Stanford 3D Scanning Repository The Utah Teapot (I used Morgan McGuire’s version) The Ajax bust is from jotero A Rust logo model by Nylithius I also make use of a mix of analytic and measured materials, the measured materials come from the MERL BRDF Database. The different Blender scenes I made to setup and animate the short can be downloaded on my Google Drive. They won’t have the same materials or light settings as in the video though since I still have to setup those by hand in the scene file, but the exported scene files are also in the drive as the JSON/OBJ file pairs in the subdirectories. This animation was rendered with my ray tracer tray_rust, which is an open source path tracer I’ve written entirely in Rust. Check out the source on Github! You can also find the Blender plugin I wrote to export the scenes for this short there as well. Stills Here are some stills from the short to highlight certain interesting frames.Co-Founder & CTO of I Know First Ltd. With over 35 years of research in AI and machine learning. Dr. Roitman earned a Ph.D from the Weizmann Institute of Science We are now exploring the possibility of managing a hedge fund. To get an idea of potential profitability, we are developing and conducting backtests. The system forecasts multiple stocks, each in six different time ranges, and each signal comes with the predictability. The number of variables per stock is 12, and we have hundreds of stocks to consider. Thus there is a multitude of possible ways to trade this system. We do not know of any standard backtest that fits our system, and have to develop our own. We analyze here the results of our Top 10 Stocks selection, and compare them with the non-selected pool. The Top 10 list is based on the double-filtered selection: First, the 95 stocks with the highest average predictability are selected from the general pool, then they are arranged in the order of decreasing signals. Positive signals go on top, negative on the bottom. Then we blank out all the weak signals in the middle of the table, leaving the top strongest signals. Back test conditions: We used the actual “Top 10” stocks forecasts sent daily to our customers over 190 days ending at the end of July 2014. To simplify the study, we ignored the trading costs and possible overnight price gaps: buy at the next close price (after the signal), and likewise, sell at the next close price after the opposite signal. To simplify the study, we combined the 30 days, 90 days and the year signals in one by adding them together. To reduce the amount of signal swings, we used the past 5 days majority signal: if more than half of the last five forecasts were pointing up, then the signal was up. We would stay in the market until the signal changes direction. For the first study of 190 days of data, we tried three different rules for trading: a) Signal combined with price movement trigger: 5 days majority signal with (in the same direction as) the 5 days stock trend. Exit when either majority signal or the trend change direction. b) 5 days majority signal against the 5 days stock trend c) Enter on signal change and exit on signal change. Top 10 Stocks Strategy Here are the results for the Top 10 Stocks simulated trades ($1.00 invested per trade): TOP 10 Strategy Signal with trend Signal against trend Just the signal Total wins in $$ 39.4 42.2 26.6 Total losses in $$ -16.3 -22.4 -7.2 Win/loss ratio in $$ 2.42 1.88 3.69 Net Profit 23.1 19.8 19.4 Number of winning trades 287 270 148 Number of losing trades 135 150 45 Total Trades 422 420 193 Win/loss ratio in # of trades 2.13 1.8 3.29 Av. Profit per trade (%) 5.47 4.71 10.05 From this simulation, we can see that simply following the signal is the best strategy. For every dollar lost there are 3.7 dollar won. For every losing trade there are 3.3 winning trades. On average, every such trade brought 10.05% profit. Using signal/trend combinations as triggers only increases the number of trades and decreases profit per trade (5.47%). Still, such trading in the same direction of trend is better than against trend (4.72% profit). Comparison Strategy: For comparison, here are the results for the group of an “All”, our pool of hundreds not selected simulated trades, for which we had signals over the same period of 190 days. ($1.00 invested per trade): “All”, no selection strategy Signal with trend Signal against trend Just the signal Total wins in $$ 57.9 49.8 44.1 Total losses in $$ -25.5 -44.9 -20.7 Win/loss ratio in $$ 2.27 1.11 2.13 Net Profit 32.4 4.9 23.4 Number of winning trades 387 350 356 Number of losing trades 246 283 212 Total Trades 633 633 568 Win/loss ratio in # of trades 1.57 1.24 1.68 Av. Profit per trade (%) 5.118 0.774 4.12 What is interesting, the second table shows, when trading on signals from general “All”, not screened pool, using signal-trend combination becomes better strategy than “just the signal” (5.1% vs 4.12%). The worst results are if trading with weak signal against the trend (0.77%). One can see the results of non-selected general trades are still positive, but far less than the Top 10. Thus, our “Top 10” stock list is the clear winner. Conclusions: 1. The best strategy from this study is to buy when the majority of the last 5 days signals are pointing up, and sell when pointing down. 2. The signal, the basis of the Top 10 selection is important. One should trade when the signal is strong. When trading with weaker signals, (non-top-10 stocks), one should consider the direction of the recent stock movement, and go with the trend, and not against it. We are conducting now a number of additional, more sophisticated simulations, where we take into account the signal strength, predictability and trends, with more statistical details. Update: We are conducting now a number of additional, more sophisticated simulations, where we take into account the signal strength, predictability and trends, with more statistical details. Some preliminary results: The signal tested was an arithmetic sum (including signal strength) of all signals from 3 days ahead to a year. Predictability vs. Signal: The signal and the predictability for each time range were filtered out at different levels. In one study, if one of the signals had negative predictability, it was ignored, in another study it was not. The result is: If the signal for a time range is stronger than 256, and the predictability is negative, then the signal is important, if less, it should be ignored. If the predictability is positive, then stronger signal gives better results (up
urban-renewal era. 3. Get trucks off of city streets whenever possible. Some streets could simply be closed to trucks, and tolls on various bridges and tunnels could be rebalanced so that they no longer incentivize taking over-taxed city streets. 4. Reclaim the streets from private cars for public goods. Right now, we give most of the public space in our streets to privately owned cars and trucks that pollute the air and spew CO2. Why not take back more space for the greater public good? That would mean more protected bike lanes, more pedestrian plazas, and more lanes dedicated to bus rapid transit. (De Blasio supports expanding New York City’s Select Bus Service, which is express bus service that supporters sometimes call bus rapid transit, but it does not involve setting aside lanes of traffic just for the buses.) 5. Build “a public monument to traffic victims in New York City.” This one comes from Lindsey Ganson, T.A.’s chief operating officer, who wrote movingly this past spring about her father being hit in a crosswalk by a speeding driver. A monument might help raise awareness and change public attitudes, Ganson writes, serving “as a reminder that these were preventable deaths, and to honor all the people who fell victim to our mistaken priorities and our wrongheaded attitudes about traffic.” 6. Making drivers pay for the negative externalities from their cars, such as pollution. “Fair transportation is when you pay the real costs of your trip,” writes T.A.’s deputy director, Noah Budnick. If your car is bigger and causes more road damage, you pay more. If you drive more, you pay more. This would be effectuated by “road pricing, East River bridge tolls, pay-as-you-drive insurance [and] weight-based registration.” That’s an ambitious agenda, and de Blasio isn’t going to adopt all of it. But if he wants to clean up New York’s air and reduce its contribution to climate change by getting New Yorkers out of their cars, he’s got plenty of options.Sony unveiled details about its PlayStation VR. Here's how it fits into the existing market, and what businesses should know. Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic As the virtual reality (VR) market has slowly congealed in the past two years, three major players on the higher end of the spectrum emerged: the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, and Sony's PlayStation VR (PSVR). On March 15, Sony announced two important details about PSVR, being price and release window. The headset will cost $399 and be available in October 2016. Despite the fact that the three have been grouped together so commonly, Forrester's J.P. Gownder said the PSVR will have a much different impact. "Both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive must be tethered to a high-end PC with a graphics card (NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or greater), and the vast majority of PCs don't fit the bill. But there are millions of PlayStation 4s out in the market already, creating a built-in audience for the $399 add-on device," he said. In the short term, more consumers may buy the PSVR because of that. PSVR is the only console-based system, currently. As Gownder said, that could prove an advantage as PlayStation already has a sizable install base. Sony said in January 2016 that 5.7 million PlayStation 4s were sold during the holiday season alone, and the install base worldwide is somewhere around 36 million units. The price point could also hold some appeal for businesses not wanting to spend as much on a VR rig as what the Vive ($799 plus PC) and the Rift ($599 plus PC) cost. Though, Gartner's Brian Blau, research vice president, said that businesses are typically more willing to spend money in order to get the tool they need to do a job properly, so they still may be more likely to go in the direction of the Rift or the Vive. Another reason businesses might make that pick, he said, is that PlayStation requires you to build software with a game engine. "Unless your particular business has a need for game engine type technology, then I would think you would go with one of the more open solutions on a PC because you have a lot of freedom there in terms of programming and what you want to do with it," Blau said. One way that Gownder said PlayStation could get into business use is eCommerce, as PlayStation makes its way into homes. "The way we order online today abstracts away from shopping, involving typed words and hierarchical menus," Gownder said. He gave the example of Retale, an online coupon site that's working on a location-based, VR shopping experience. "Retailers could start to deploy such applications to Sony PlayStation VR users — being careful that their retail offerings are a good match for likely early adopters and computer gamers." Also seeA professor of medieval literature at the City University of New York (CUNY) lamented academia’s support for “Standard American English” in a recent op-ed. In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, Dr. A.W. Strouse argues that colleges should support “greater linguistic diversity” and “affirm and embrace” language differences among students, such as the use of slang and African American Vernacular English (AAVE). "It is racist to discriminate against someone on the basis that they speak [African American Vernacular English]." Affirming students’ use of non-standard English is important, he says, because students who speak nonstandard English may feel discouraged if called out for it. Citing educators Vicki Spandel and Richard J. Stiggins, Strouse notes that “negative comments…tend to make students feel bewildered, hurt, or angry.” [RELATED: Bias-Free Language Guide claims the word ‘American’ is ‘problematic’] “Already, scholars of rhetoric believe, as the consensus view, that instructors should not try to change their students’ speech patterns,” Strouse writes. “In the classroom, students shut down in the face of pedantry because they hate when bossy teachers tell them how to talk, especially in cases in which bourgeois white teachers dictate ex cathedra about what speech is ‘correct.’” After asserting that “linguists know that notions of ‘proper’ speech have nothing to do with ‘mastery’ and everything to do with how certain in-groups dictate propriety,” he goes on to point out that “much queer, feminist, and anti-racist scholarship has given voice to marginalized communities—precisely because, without those voices, mainstream academia does not possess a vocabulary for understanding diverse social realities.” Further, he declares that the academic norms that privilege standard English should be suspect, because they can justify the judgment of “people’s intelligence based on dubious standards,” noting that “Nobody speaks academic English as a mother tongue.” [RELATED: Student has grade docked for using ‘mankind’ in English paper] Strouse told Campus Reform that his motivations for penning the essay were “personal, political, and poetical,” noting that he has friends and family who “are made to feel like dummies for not speaking in standard English.” “Poetically, I want to care for all words, especially the unloved, red-headed-step-child words,” he said, noting that “Dante, after all, did not write in schoolmarm Latin but in the eloquence of his vulgar mother tongue!” The high level of respect that elites place on standard English can cause political problems, as well, Strouse contended, pointing out that “clueless elites” have consistently failed to grasp “the appeal of [Donald] Trump’s rhetoric” to his working-class supporters. “The privileging of standard English contributes to political dysfunction,” he claimed. “Thankfully, most working-class people are too smart to drink the standard-English Kool-Aid. But the movers-and-shakers are trapped in their well-educated bubble and cannot communicate with the folks who, as workers, are actually in the best position to understand how the world works.” [RELATED: Flyer: ‘MAGA,’ ‘anarcho-capitalist’ are coded neo-Nazi language] When asked why he believes it’s important to embrace and support alternative types of English, especially those that are typically frowned upon in the workplace, Strouse said employers shouldn’t dictate how their employees speak. “The workplace has way too much power and should not be allowed to determine something as fundamental as how we speak,” he declared. “People need to tell their bosses, ‘Fuck you.’” Despite his limited influence over the realities of the job market, Strouse held fast to his belief that professors shouldn’t correct their students’ language, saying that doing so would only contribute to “linguistic racism” in society. “[Students] do not need educators to perpetuate that injustice by promoting dubious standards,” he said. “They need to equip themselves with a knowledge of historical linguistics so that they can battle against linguistic racism. “It is racist to discriminate against someone on the basis that they speak AAVE,” he elaborated, saying, “I am trying to propose that the celebration of linguistic diversity might be one small way to dismantle that linguistic racism." Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Toni_AiraksinenStartups, major corporations, and tech workers should be looking more closely at these positions as they are filled for critical statements on taxes, research, and priorities Much ado was made of a recent Washington Post infographic about just how few nominations to critical positions President Donald J. Trump has made since taking office. As of Sunday, March 5, 2017, he had nominated 35 people to positions that the United States Senate must confirm before they can take a seat at their desks. But a total of 517 people still need to be nominated to positions only the President can appoint. For activists and slacktivists looking for things to make Trump look bad, this set of circumstances actually sounds worse than it actually is. He has actually outpaced three of his four immediate predecessors in terms of nominations. Thirty days into Trump’s term, 14 had been confirmed out of 33 nominations. Only Barack Obama, who had 28 confirmed out of 44 nominated, was quicker to fill those staff positions. The appointments are typically made in consultation with the first people the president appoints: the secretaries of respective departments. Several “under secretaries of state” responsible for US policy on specific regions around the world and virtually all new ambassadors have not yet been nominated. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will likely have input on who gets those jobs. Secretary Betsy DeVos will probably get a lot of say on who gets the jobs of assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education and director of the Institute of Education Sciences. A lot of these positions are vital to the future of the United States’s economy, especially its tech sector. A controversial order last week freezing H-1B visa issuance for six months (starting in April) has Silicon Valley fearful for its growth prospects as much of the startup economy is dependent on foreign talent. Appointments will have tremendous impact on advising the president, possibly making him more timid on policies where he is aggressive and more assertive where he is resistant. This will apply not only to immigration, but to transportation policies, space travel, energy efficiency, cyber security, and beyond. Here are just 30 of the over 500 positions President Trump has not yet filled which can be occupied only after he sends nominations to the US Senate for confirmation. 1. Chief Technology Officer of the United States Outgoing: Megan Smith This position is actually part of the Executive Office of the President (featured more prominently lower on this list), but the importance of this position is borne in its title. Aneesh Paul Chopra was the first “CTO” in US history when President Obama announced the position early in his first term back in April 2009. “The idea is to advise the President and his team on how to harness technology, innovation, and data on behalf of the American people,” Smith said in 2015. “So that’s a specific thing, and yet a broad thing. And it can evolve, based on what’s happening in our nation and what’s happening in tech.” She went on to describe a major focus of the office as digital and open government. Put another way, the CTO is in charge of identifying and implementing new technologies that would help streamline government services and access to public information. Smith is an MIT-educated engineer with a stint at Google X. She represented cutting-edge technology in the role and no doubt was also in a position to serve as a direct adviser to the president herself. The mere existence of a title like this indicates how important new kinds of computer technologies have become to the United States. Filling this position should be a major priority for President Trump. Department of Energy 2. Assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy Acting: Steve Chalk The assistant secretary leads the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is an office within the United States Department of Energy first formed after the 1973 gas shortage crisis. The reasons for its birth inform its motivation to find alternative sources of energy. The assistant secretary is charged with driving development of renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and energy efficiency as well as managing 12 national renewable energy laboratories. The office’s budget is ballooning, from $1.82 billion in 2014 to $2.89 billion in 2017. 3. Director, energy advanced research projects department Outgoing: Ellen Williams The position was also an invention of President Obama announced in late April 2009. The director is in charge of ARPA-E, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which is modeled after the DoD’s DARPA agency. Arun Majumdar got the nod as the agency’s first director. Department of Commerce 4. Under secretary for standards and technology Outgoing: Willie E. May This is a relatively new position, created by Congress in 2010. The under secretary also serves as the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology which are supposed to promote American industrial competitiveness with an emphasis on innovative technologies. Department of Labor 5. Administrator, wage and hour division Outgoing: David Weil As boring as it sounds, people stuck in the new gig economy are going to want to hear clear policy from the federal government. Many might assume the policies coming out of this office will benefit the likes of Uber executives more than Uber drivers with a staunchly conservative and pro-business administration in power, but even if that is the case a clear set of policies will be critical for these workers. Tax policy is incredibly important and could make a major difference in the lives of low-earning Americans working through Silicon Valley’s juggernaut marketplaces. Weil was a timely appointment by the Obama Administration. He is the author of “The Fissured Workplace,” which warns of the negative effects of a gig economy and the breakdown of the traditional employer-employee relationship. Instead of direct employment, companies are contracting out to other companies who may actually be hiring freelancers. Lost in this chain of human resource provision is who exactly will provide benefits to employees. “The core problem of fissuring is that no one is bringing those costs into their own consideration of how they are structuring these relationships and in particular things like compliance with workplace laws or the kinds of benefits they are either going to provide or that they expect other people to provide, subsequent layers of these organizations are left open.” Listen to the whole video (4:45) Having someone who is fully aware of the consequences of the changing economy, the rise of marketplaces and diffusion of employer responsibility will be critical in ensuring the productivity and satisfaction of workers across the US economy and perhaps the world considering the number of foreign offices US tech giants operate. Department of Transportation: Federal policies on self-driving cars are slow in coming but even the industry is demanding them in order to create consistency throughout the country and override contradictory regulations between cities and states. President Trump’s idea to eliminate two regulations before implementing any new ones sounds like an elementary form of Republican libertarianism, but that’s the rule of the administration and it is disconcerting to many in the Valley. The newly appointed Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, is known as someone opposed to over-regulation. The key here will be ensuring that appointees can implement safety regulations and licensing procedures to protect the public during vehicle tests and to ensure it’s known who is driving what, when, and where. 6. Under secretary of transportation for policy Outgoing: Blair Anderson 7. Assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs Outgoing: Vinn White Formally chartered in 1993, the position is tasked with market liberalization and ensuring a competitive domestic airline industry. The title implies clearly making air travel seamless across borders, but also focuses on access to more local, even rural jurisdictions classically cut off from access to air travel. In terms of new technologies, open access to the internet is one minor point and possible implementation of LiDAR on aircraft a major point that the next assistant secretary will have to cover. 8. Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST) Outgoing: Mark Dowd This position is responsible for finding “breakthrough knowledge” and facilitate collaborative research. Much of the rest of the checklist is generic when you think about it, but part of the description written on the office’s official page is telling for the environment the next assistant secretary will have to deal with. “Congress transferred all RITA (Research and Innovative Technology Administration) programs into OST in order to provide opportunities for increased research collaboration and coordination, while upholding the integrity and impartiality of transportation statistical data.” Collaboration and networking is essential considering the abundance of data collected by Uber, Lyft, Google and other companies now geo-mapping US roads and tracking commuter tendencies. 9. Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Acting: T. F. Scott Darling, III 10. Administrator, Federal Highway Administration Outgoing: Gregory G. Nadeau 11. Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Outgoing: Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D. Department of Veterans Affairs 12. Under Secretary for Health Outgoing: David Shulkin This one might not seem so obvious, but the existence of a Veterans Affairs (VA) position dedicated solely to health is with good reason. The pursuit of more innovative prosthetic limbs and even bionic limbs depends largely on the population those products would service. Bionic ankle startup BionX has actually gotten investments from the VA, demonstrating the department is well-aware of how necessary cultivating this technology is not merely for the long-term health of veterans but also the morale of those currently serving. Unfortunately, many veterans are rehabilitating after life-altering injuries that have left them without one of their arms or legs. As robotics makes these bionic limbs more dexterous and increasingly finds ways to meld them with the brain’s neural networks, the VA will be a critical partner in financing research and perhaps a top customer for new products once they are ready. Other technologies like eye-tracking developed by startup RightEye have also gotten the VA’s attention. Lucky for this position in particular, Trump has appointed outgoing Under Secretary David Shulkin to head the entire Department of Veterans Affairs. That should be a good sign the position won’t be lost in the shuffle. 12. Assistant secretary for information and technology Acting: Rob C. Thomas II The long title for Mr. Thomas is Acting Chief Information Officer and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (OI&T), a position he has actually held for two years already. He oversees what the VA says is a colossal $4 billion IT budget and directs about 16,000 personnel (half civil servants, half contractors). All software development and new software testing goes past this desk. Department of the Interior 13. Assistant secretary for land and minerals management Outgoing: Janice Schneider 14. Assistant secretary for water and science Outgoing: Tom Iseman Department of the Treasury How the largest companies in Silicon Valley file their taxes and how transparent they are might become burning questions in the near future. A few companies have managed to dominate venture capital investments, taking in money that is previously unheard of for private companies. Besides public interest in disclosure, the IRS will likely come back around to check the filings of some of the Bay Area’s biggest firms. 15. Assistant secretary for tax policy Outgoing: Mark J. Mazur, leaving for Brookings Institution 16. Chief counsel, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (plus eight members of the IRS oversight board) Outgoing: William J. Wilkins Acting Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel (Technical): William M. Paul Deputy Chief Counsel (Operations): Debra K. Moe Executive Office of the President 17. Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Outgoing: John Holdren Often referred to as the Science Adviser to the president. 18. Intellectual property enforcement coordinator Outgoing: Daniel (Danny) Marti The Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator had the chance to release its three year strategy for 2017-2019 in December 2016 outlining how it will coordinate resources with other government agencies like the US Patent & Trademark Office. As legal battles between Apple and Samsung on the one hand and now the likes of Google and Uber on the other become more prevalent, sorting out patents will be critical to make sure new innovation stays in the labs and makes progress rather than in the court room sitting idle. 19. Associate Director for science, office of science and technology policy Outgoing: Jo Handelsman 20. Associate Director for technology, office of science and technology policy 21. Associate Director for national security and international affairs, Office of Science and Technology Policy Outgoing: Dr. Patricia K. Falcone NASA Implementing the goals outlined by past administrations and this White House’s reported enthusiasm to get to the moon will be a tall task. Balancing the long-term interests of NASA with the constant fight for budget and an apparently fiscally conservative executive branch makes that even tougher. NASA endeavors to get to Mars before it prioritizes any other programs, but the race to the Moon and the nagging suggestion a Moon landing would be a great test run for a Martian trip will be on the next administrator’s desk. Probes to Jupiter’s Europa moon and a number of other programs will also be at the top of the agenda. 22. Administrator Acting: Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. 23. Chief Financial Officer Outgoing: David Radzanowski 24. Deputy administrator Outgoing: Dava Newman National Science Foundation 25. Deputy Director Outgoing: Dr. Cora B. Marrett Department of Homeland Security: Threats to US infrastructure, integrating new technologies while respecting privacy, and the sudden but seemingly impulsive enforcement of stricter visa requirements will have incredible influence on US tech firms. Cyber security companies will hope for a piece of the pie when Washington hands out contracts to guard valuable infrastructure, but at the same time a balance will likely have to be struck on things like H-1B visas if said cyber companies want to succeed in the short term. Even surprise checks on people holding visas that test academic skills in computer programming leave some in Silicon Valley trembling that getting granted a visa might be no guarantee that a major recruit from India who specializes in a critical skill will actually be able to leave the airport. Flexible appointments at immigration services and border control might be critical to ensuring a steady flow of talent and knowledge to Silicon Valley. 26. Under secretary for science and technology Outgoing: Dr. Reginald Brothers 27. Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications Acting: Danny Toler 28. Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection Outgoing: Ms. Caitlin A. Durkovich 29. Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Acting: Lori Scialabba 30. Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting: Kevin K. McAleenanAdvertisement A pound will buy you one and a half tins of beans, two packets of crisps – or an airport in Spain. Ciudad Real airport was built in 2009 at a cost of more €1billion – Spain’s economy having taken off – but was closed three years later when its parent company fell into financial difficulties. The judge in charge of its administration at the time ruled that it should be sold off, with an asking price of €100million (£86million). Scroll down for video Rubble: The control tower stands proudly above the waste For sale: The airport will be sold off for just one pound Haunting: The terminal, where 5 million passengers should be passing through each year, is eerily empty However, there have been no takers and there is now no minimum asking price, theolivepress.com reported. The new owners, will need to pay off a few hundred million pounds of debt, though. The airport was designed to cater for Spain's booming economy to serve both city and coast via a high speed rail link. It was projected to take the overflow from Madrid's Barajas airport, some 150 miles to the north, Ciudad Real's flagship transport hub was to be a symbol of modern Spain's affluence. But sadly it has proved to be one of a number of many white elephants for the nation. For many months the only flights were those of private jets, reportedly including Prince Harry on his way to a boar hunt on land nearby owned by the Duke of Westminster. The airport was projected to take the overflow from Madrid's Barajas airport, some 150 miles to the north Contrast: The high speed train, which was supposed to serve the airport, whizzes by as the airport stands redundant A high speed train accelerates past the airport, which closed in 2012 Derelict: Ciudad Real's Airport was supposed to be a symbol of modern Spain, but is now being left to rack and ruin Wasteland: The vast stretch of runway and massive area of landing surrounding it remain empty But the last budget airline to operate from its terminals stopped flying in late 2011 and when the final private flights stopped a few months later, the airport shut up shop. Since then, the 28,000 sq ft terminal lies empty, where 5million passengers should have been waiting to be whisked away each year. Built in 2008, it opened fully in 2009 at a total private cost of €1.1billion, and was intended to serve both Madrid and the Andaluscian coast, each accessible by train in 50 minutes. The Socialist regional government spent millions propping up the venue, promoting the project with advertising campaigns and approving a €140million guarantee to keep it afloat. The Socialist regional government spent millions propping up the venue The 4,000 metre runway has to be continually painted with yellow crosses, so pilots flying over the airport will know they cannot land there The ghost airport is just one of several to be found across the country In October 2011, it saw its final commercial flight, by Vueling. The airport remained open for another six months, the staff still being paid to deal with a handful of private arrivals. It finally closed in April 2012, but even though it is now closed to air traffic, maintenance tasks still have to be carried out. The 4,000 metre runway has to be continually painted with yellow crosses, so pilots flying over the airport will know they cannot land there. The ghost airport is just one of several to be found across the country. Even worse is Castellon's, where no plane had ever landed or taken off before it was shut down. In October 2011, it saw its final commercial flight, by VuelingArsene Wenger has revealed the following team news ahead of the Premier League game against Norwich City: on Mesut Ozil, who was substituted for Germany on Tuesday...He is alright. He came back with a knock on the knee but it was just a kick. We’ll have a test tomorrow to see if he is fit enough for Saturday or not. When you have not played, there is always a little doubt but not a major one. on Sagna and Cazorla…Sagna is 80 per cent fit and he will have a test. Cazorla is available in training but he is not match-fit. It is just about competitiveness with him. There is a possibility both are in the squad for Saturday. I have not decided whether they will start or not. on Rosicky and Walcott...Rosicky is back in the squad and available. Walcott is still two weeks away. on Sanogo, Podolski, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain...All of them are out for a longer period. ADVERTBy PoliceOne Staff LADSON, S.C. — The suspect who beat two Charleston County Sheriff’s deputies over the head with one of their own batons is dead after a struggle on a highway Sunday. According to ABC4, Deputy Robert Bittner and Deputy Levi Reiter were responding to a call of a man walking barefoot in the road, blocking traffic. Sheriff's Maj. Eric Watson told the station when the deputies approached the man, he grabbed one of their batons and began beating them on the head. One deputy deployed his TASER, but no shots were fired. The news station reported the suspect was taken down with the help of six to 10 bystanders. "We saw two officers being tackled...," Michael White, one of the bystanders who aided the officers, said. "About this time the guy was extremely combative, reaching for weapons and anything else. We all took the necessary measures to make sure the officers were safe." White just returned from a four-year deployment and his wife, an EMT, helped treat one of the deputies, according to the station. "She tried to patch one of the guys up. Unfortunately he was pretty badly gashed," White told ABC4. "When you see an officer help them, they help you in everyday situations. I'm not going to sit by and watch one of our fellow officers get harmed." Both deputies have been released from the hospital and are recovering at home. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to the Post and Courier, the cause of death is unclear. It is not currently known if the TASER made contact with the suspect.Image copyright bbc Image caption Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in front of his family in 1989 One of David Cameron's closest advisors described the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane as far worse than anything alleged in Iraq or Afghanistan, the High Court has heard. Sir Jeremy Heywood also questioned whether the prime minister believed it was right to "renege" on a previous administration's commitment to hold a public inquiry into a killing. His family are challenging that decision. Mr Finucane was shot dead in 1989. On Thursday, Mr Justice Stephens heard how Mr Heywood, now cabinet secretary, referred to Mr Finucane's murder as "a dark moment in the country's history". Details of emailed correspondence between the top civil servant and another senior Downing Street official were revealed as lawyers for the Finucane family pressed for complete disclosure of notes or recordings from a series of ministerial meetings. They want the material as part of their legal challenge to the British government's refusal to order a full, independent probe into the 1989 assassination. A review carried out by lawyer Sir Desmond de Silva QC and published in December confirmed agents of the state were involved in the murder and that it should have been prevented. Collusion However, it concluded there had been no overarching state conspiracy in the shooting, carried out by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters at the solicitor's north Belfast home. Although Mr Cameron expressed shock at the level of collusion uncovered by Sir Desmond, Mr Finuncane's widow, Geraldine claimed it was a sham and a whitewash. Opening the family's application for discovery of the documents, Barry Macdonald QC said the case was about past and present abuse of state power. The first instance in 1989 involved the murder of a solicitor perceived to be "a thorn in the side" of the government, police and security services, he claimed. Mr Macdonald continued: "Secondly, it's about abuse of power in 2011 by the current government when it decided to renege on a solemn commitment to conduct a public inquiry into those events in 1989." The full scale of what went on has yet to be revealed, according to the barrister. He told Mr Justice Stephens: "The applicant, Mrs Finucane, knows the name of the person who pulled the trigger. The question is who was pulling the strings? "In a 500-page report by Sir Desmond de Silva, consideration of the government's role takes up five pages." Stressing the gravity of the case, Mr Macdonald detailed an email Sir Jeremy sent to Simon King, a private secretary to the prime minister, ahead of a ministerial meeting in July 2011. In correspondence already disclosed to the parties, he asked: "Does the prime minister seriously think that it's right to renege on a previous government's clear commitment to hold a full judicial inquiry? "This was a dark moment in the country's history - far worse than anything that was alleged in Iraq/Afghanistan. "I cannot really think of any argument to defend not having a public inquiry. What am I missing?" A reply email stated that the prime minister "shares the view this is an awful case, and as bad as it gets, and far worse than any post 9/11 allegation", the court heard. Transcripts According to Mr Macdonald, the exchange provided a flavour of the seriousness of the alleged abuse of power in not holding a public inquiry. Material being sought by the Finuncanes' lawyers includes original notes, minutes, recordings or transcripts of: A meeting between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Prime Minister on November 5, 2011 A meeting of officials from the Northern Ireland Office, Cabinet Office and Prime Minister's Office on May 16, 2011 A meeting of ministers on July 11, 2011 A Cabinet meeting on October 11, 2011 Copies of letters from MI5 to the Northern Ireland Office in February and March 2011 Paul McLaughlin, appearing for the government, told the court that the decision taken in the Finucane case followed a detailed balancing exercise. He said it involved weighing any commitment by a previous government against current public interest. Mr McLaughlin also pointed out that retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory had already examined the case and concluded there should be a public inquiry. He argued that some of the material being sought would not advance the plaintiff's cause any further. In a statement, a spokesperson for the prime minister said: "There is nothing we want to add to this story." Mr Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in front of his wife and children at his north Belfast home in 1989. Mr Cameron acknowledged in 2011 there had been state collusion in Mr Finucane's murder and apologised to his family. The hearing continues.0 Judge sides with teacher accused of using hot sauce to discipline autistic student OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - WFTV found out a judge has sided with an Osceola County teacher who is accused of using hot sauce to discipline an autistic student. Lillian Gomez was fired earlier this year after district officials said she soaked Play-Doh and crayons in hot sauce and force-fed them to a student. A document obtained by WFTV shows the school district spent $50,000 on lawyers fighting to keep Gomez out of the classroom. Gomez has not been back to Sunrise Elementary since officials found out about the incident last October. The teacher has been fighting to get her job back. WFTV was there in June when she took her case before a judge. On Friday a judge issued an order recommending the district reinstate her job. Parents WFTV talked to can't believe it. "That's kind of ridiculous," said Todd Cinetti."Maybe she shouldn't work with children. Maybe she should find another career." Gomez denies ever force-feeding the student and said she only used the hot sauce to prevent him from eating the crayons. Officials said she first got jumbo-sized crayons, put them in a cup, then poured hot sauce over them and she later moved them to a bag and labeled it with the student's name, and let the crayons sit for days. A judge found that while her behavior was inappropriate, the district didn't prove she was trying to punish the student. Gomez's lawyer agrees. "I think she made a bad judgment in the way she went about it but her purpose was good," said attorney Thomas Egan. The judge ordered the teacher won't get any back pay, but the final decision about what happens is up to the school board.NVIDIA reported its financial results for the last quarter yesterday and surprised Wall Street. The chip maker, which is now becoming an “AI company” according to its leadership, reported revenue of $2 billion on expectations of $1.7 billion and they also surpassed earnings expectations by a similar margin. On a conference call with CEO Jen-Hsun Huang following the results, analysts were particularly interested in the company’s push in AI and the automotive industry, especially since Tesla’s started delivering every single one of its vehicles with NVIDIA’s Drive PX2 supercomputer. Huang offered some very interesting insights into how he sees Tesla’s self-driving program playing out. He says that by introducing the necessary hardware for full autonomy now, Tesla “sent a shock wave through the automotive industry”: “And I think what Tesla has done by launching and having on the road in the very near-future here, a full autonomous driving capability using AI, that has sent a shock wave through the automotive industry. It’s basically five years ahead. Anybody who’s talking about 2021 and that’s just a non-starter anymore. And I think that that’s probably the most significant bit in the automotive industry. I just don’t – anybody who is talking about autonomous capabilities in 2020 and 2021 is at the moment re-evaluating in a very significant way.” Huang continued by saying that autonomous driving is not a “detection problem” but an “AI problem” and he insists that it’s going to be solved in 2017. Of course, Huang is a little biased because if Tesla manages to solve that problem in 2017 like he predicts, the first self-driving cars will be powered by his machine, the Drive PX 2, and the rest of the auto industry is likely to turn to NVIDIA for their own in-car processing power. When NVIDIA and Tesla confirmed the use of Drive PX2 in the new Autopilot and Self-Driving Capable hardware suite, people started speculating about the price of the supercomputer. Huang didn’t confirm it exactly during the call yesterday by mentioned a vague “few thousand dollars”. When an analyst asked why Tesla decided to use NVIDIA’s technology for the second generation Autopilot and not Mobileye’s, Tesla’s former chip maker for the Autopilot program, Huang described three main reasons: It’s an AI computing problem and NVIDIA’s GPU platform is better for AI. Scalable with OTA updates to build an autonomous fleet service. And finally, energy efficiency. Here’s his response in full:
Most of his videos don’t have more than 200 views, but his followers have been supplying some killer tips that helped him tackle increasingly ambitious skateboarding tricks. Throughout his quest to be good at skateboarding, it’s been mostly tumbles, but if you stick with him, it’s pretty satisfying to see him finally nail a pop shuvit in today’s video (spinning the board under your feet, and then rolling away.) Revelation: it takes a dad a long time to master the ollie. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now “I love both how it feels to just cruise around as well as how it feels to land a trick you have been working, hours, days, or weeks to land,” he said. “It has given me a place to go and be expressive, to be young. To not be a dad, or an actor, or responsible, a place to just be… When you do something for the first time as a young person, it feels amazing and it is awesome.” Most of the skaters where he rolls are thirty years younger than he is, but like them, he hates authority, is fearless, and has free time during the day. Watch today’s video and all 76 others below. Write to Ashley Hoffman at Ashley.Hoffman@time.com.Atheist (イノセン, Inosen?), also known as Innocent, is a status effect in Final Fantasy Tactics. A character affected by Atheist loses all faith in the gods and magics. Their Faith will fall to zero, making magic attacks used by that character ineffective. Additionally, all magic cast on that character will have no effect at all. Nether Mantra also will not work on the character, rendering zero damage. Atheist lasts for 32 ticks. Atheist is granted by using the Mystic's Disbelief, the Templar's Doubt, and by the weapon Gokuu Pole. Automatons such as Construct 7 and Construct 8 have permanent Atheist status. Note that Atheist is only a temporary status effect. By using the Orator's Speechcraft ability Enlighten to lower the target's Faith, this will have a permanent effect, though this can be easily adjusted by using another Speechcraft skill, Preach, to reverse the alteration. Etymology Edit Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.Taye Taiwo: Has been granted a work permit for six-month loan at Loftus Road Sky Sports sources understand Queens Park Rangers have signed AC Milan defender Taye Taiwo on loan. The left-back had been linked with Arsenal this month, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were thought to be interested in the past. But QPR have won the race after a work permit was granted on what is thought to be a deal until the end of the season, as new boss Mark Hughes completes his first signing since taking over. The Welshman has been keen to strengthen his backline after succeeding Neil Warnock as manager, with Chelsea's Alex and Manchester City's Nedum Onuoha also on his radar. Taiwo joined Milan last summer from Marseille, making four Serie A starts for the Rossoneri this season and three in the UEFA Champions League. Hughes is expected to be busy in what remains of the transfer window and Taiwo could be the first of several arrivals, a decision which QPR captain Joey Barton has welcomed. The midfielder said last week on Twitter: "Taye Taiwo from AC Milan signing for the Rs. "Was very good when I [have] seen him for Marseille. Good news. First of many, fingers crossed."SALEM -- A bill that would have paved the way for consideration of a Washington County bypass highway is dead. House Bill 3231 would have allowed voters to approve special districts to design, build and finance limited-access highways. Rep. Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay, who is chairwoman of the House transportation committee, did not schedule the bill for a committee vote by Friday's deadline. Bill sponsor Rep. Rich Vial, R-Scholls, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in March that it was his hope the bill would pass and Washington County voters would approve a special district to build a limited access highway. Ducking the unpopular Westside Bypass moniker, Vial instead called the highway he envisioned the Northwest Passage. Vial imagined it would have snaked through Washington County west of Interstate 5 and up over the Columbia River via a new bridge. Tolls, bonds or local taxes would have financed its construction, Vial said, to avoid use of federal funds. But it was not to be. At least, not yet. Vial, a freshman lawmaker, announced in an April 12 email to constituents that his bill will not move forward this year. The idea for it came after Washington County constituents complained of traffic-clogged backroads, he said. Although a new highway won't be popping up soon, Vial said he's turning his attention to aiding lawmakers working to develop a massive transportation spending package. In a telephone interview, Vial said he hopes that bill will include language to "break the deadlock" that has prevented major highway and bridge construction statewide. Proposals to build a limited-access highway through Washington County have been proposed, killed and resurrected umpteen times in the last three decades. Vial said he is undeterred, and sees a bypass highway as one way to reduce metro traffic and make it easier for trucks carrying valuable freight to export Oregon products. "I'm not giving up," he said. Vial said politics played a role in his bill getting the axe. He ran into "pretty vehement opposition" from advocates, he said, who were fearful that his bill would undercut efforts to improve public transportation and bike lanes in the metro region. -- Gordon R. Friedman 503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedmanYou know the important chunks of St. Louis Blues history – the three Stanley Cup Final appearances at the beginning, the Monday Night Miracle and Brett Hull’s fabulous 86-goal season – but do you know everything else? How Pavol Demitra was brought to town, Noel Picard’s short stint as a Bruins benchwarmer and… The St. Louis Apollos? Those are just a few nuggets from Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford’s new book, “100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” The “100 Things” series from Triumph Books has provided sports fans across the country a glimpse into their favorite franchises, including the 2012 title, “100 Things Cardinals Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” written by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rutherford was the obvious choice to write the Blues’ edition, as he has been the team’s primary reporter since the 2005-06 season. More importantly, Rutherford has followed the team since he was a young man growing up on the south side of St. Louis. Contrary to what you may believe, though, Rutherford’s foray into being an NHL fan is not where this book begins. Far from it. “It’s 100 Things About the Blues,” Rutherford said during a phone interview. “I mean, that starts in 1967 and if I wasn’t around or I don’t have many details on it, then it was my job to find the details and talk to the people who were involved in those stories.” One of the toughest times in Blues hockey was when defenseman Bob Gassoff passed away. It gripped the St. Louis market, as well as the hockey nation, and is a reminder to Blues fans during every home game as his No. 3 banner hangs in the Scottrade Center rafters. His death occurred in 1977 — when Rutherford was just two years old. “A lot of people, especially those around at the time, were familiar with Bob Gassoff and, obviously, the untimely loss. I don’t know that a lot of people knew the details surrounding his death. I certainly didn’t know but I knew that if I was going to write a book, I was going to have a chapter about Bob Gassoff. I had to know the details. I spoke to as many people as I could, I wrote the chapter with every detail I discovered and hoped that it turned out ok.” The book features 100 chapters, each ranging from 2-9 pages each. Some tell a story about the iconic moments you might remember (Chapter 1: Monday Night Miracle), while some share a tale about backend dealings that may have never surfaced before (Chapter 62: Pleau Forced to Trade Pronger). Others are zany stories that any fan of the sport would get a chuckle out of reading. Chapter 17 tells the story of Blues defenseman Noel Picard (1967-68 to 1972-73) confused after a long penalty kill. The French Canadian defenseman skated off the ice after a whistle and hopped the boards to end the grueling shift. There was only one problem — it was on the Boston Bruins bench. Telling the story from defensive partner Bob Plager’s vantage point, the chapter breaks down the penalty kill and how tired the two defensemen were. With the benches then on opposite sides and the Blues’ runway behind the Bruins’ bench, Plager figured that Noel was heading off with an injury. The rest of the hilarious moment is best explained by Rutherford in this excerpt: ”I’m going, ‘Oh, he got hurt. He’s going to our dressing room,” Plager said. But when Boston trainer Frosty Forrestal opened the door to his team’s bench, Picard didn’t continue on to the dressing room for stitches or ice. He plopped down on the pine and took a seat, attempting to catch his breath. By that time, Bruins players had caught on to what was happening and, hardly able to contain their laughter, they scooted down the bench to make room for Picard. “We’re all looking, and all the Boston players move down,” Plager said. “Noel, because his head is down, hasn’t looked up. The whole building in Boston is laughing. Noel finally looks up.” Picard saw that everyone on the bench is wearing a different jersey than him and said, “Can you believe this? What am I going to do now?” Picard was a rugged defenseman who would have been a welcome addition to the Boston lineup, and at least one Bruins player was telling Picard to stay put. “Gerry Cheevers was saying, ‘We’ll make a trade. We’ll send a player over to their bench,’” Plager said. Although Rutherford interviewed countless Blues personalities for 100 Things, it was obvious whom almost every story involved. Bob Plager, a Blues defenseman for 11 years and long-time front office member and radio personality, seemed to find his way into every important moment in Blues history. “A lot of people were very, very helpful and I’m grateful for their time, but Bob has been around since Day 1 and he’s had a hand in everything – I mean everything,” Rutherford said. “The Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan trade? Mike Keenan called Bobby into his office and asked, ‘Shanahan for Pronger – would you do it?’ Plager was involved in Mike Keenan’s decision to trade Brendan Shanahan.” Plager was even involved in the legendary trade that sent Brett Hull from the Calgary Flames to St. Louis in March 1988. He was assigned to scout the young Hull when he was with the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Moncton Golden Flames. Plager’s reports were that Hull was the goal scorer that the Blues needed and the rest was history. Plager was also involved in one of the Blues’ biggest steals in transaction history; the St. Louis franchise traded defenseman Christer Olsson, who played in 56 total NHL games in his career, to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for winger Pavol Demitra, who went on to score the fifth-most points in franchise history (493). Blues fans probably wouldn’t have gotten to know Demitra as well as they did if not for a phone call from Plager to former coach Mike Keenan. At the time, Demitra was playing for Grand Rapids, Ottawa’s minor-league affiliate. “I phoned Mike Keenan and I said, ‘The best hockey player in the American Hockey League that I’ve seen so far is here in Grand Rapids – Pavol Demitra,’” Plager said. “Mike said, ‘He’s that good?’ I said, ‘He’s that good. He could play on our team.’ Mike said, ‘Well, if he’s the best player in the American Hockey League and he can play in the NHL, how come he’s not playing in the NHL?’ which was the right question.” Plager had the answer ready to go. “If you did your homework, [you knew] Ottawa had all of the Europeans, great skilled hockey players. [For] the position that Pavol played, Ottawa was loaded with those players. He’s good enough to play but they have the players. He just can’t crack their lineup.” Ottawa’s coach was Jacques Martin, a former Blues coach with whom Plager had a relationship. Martin told Plager the Senators needed a defenseman, a position in which the Blues had an abundance of talent. Keenan said he’d give Martin a call himself. “I get a phone call and it’s Mike,” Plager said. “He says, ‘Bob, I got your guy. We got Pavol,’ Pav had never played in the NHL, so we didn’t know. But I thought he was going to be good. He came in here, and we all know what a great player he was.” Rutherford, who recalls going to the Brentwood ice rink as a kid to get autographs from players, dug deep to find the stories that didn’t involve the famed Blues alumnus. This ranged from infamous moments such as Wayne Gretzky’s short stint in a Blues uniform to the not-as-documented stories, such as the Blues’ involvement in the 2009 Premier Games in Stockholm, Sweden. One that stands out in Rutherford’s mind, though, was his findings in how the long-time voice of the Blues, Dan Kelly, moved his family from Ottawa to St. Louis. “I had the pleasure, through Dan Kelly’s son, John, to get [former NHL head coach] Scotty Bowman on the phone,” said Rutherford. “He was involved in getting Dan Kelly down to St. Louis to be the voice of the Blues. Kelly wasn’t sure that he wanted to come here right away. Scotty Bowman, working on behalf of [Blues owners] the Salomon family, kept calling him and telling him, ‘Hey, we want you here. We want you to be the voice of the Blues.’ He would say, ‘Ok, let me talk it over with the wife before we go for it.’ They went back and forth and I remember Scotty Bowman saying that [eldest owner] Sid Salomon Jr. wouldn’t stop asking, ‘Is he coming? Is he coming?’ Bowman said, ‘He wants to know if we have a good Chinese restaurant here.’ Sid said, ‘Tell him that if there isn’t a good Chinese restaurant in St. Louis, I will build him one.’” Before finding the voice of the Blues, though, the franchise had to find its start. This was where the Salomons first came in, making their bid to bring an NHL club to the Gateway City. On April 6, 1966, moments before making their presentation to the NHL’s Board of Governors at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, the Salomons were said to be brainstorming ideas for the name of their unborn franchise. The St. Louis Apollos and Mercurys were under legitimate consideration. The two space references were popular ideas at the time because McDonnell Douglas, an aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, had been founded about that time and was headquartered in St. Louis. “In the mid-1960s, the space race was on and McDonnell Douglas was at the center of that,” said Jim Woodcock, a lifelong Blues fan and sports business executive who served in the Blues’ front office for eight seasons. “The talk at the time was [to] do something that brings prestige to St. Louis and what we do here as a community, and those names were being bandied about.” Imagine history if legendary broadcaster Dan Kelly had described, “A pass from Bernie Federko to Brian Sutter, Sutter scores for the Mercurys!” Or how about Ken Wilson bellowing, “Oh baby, a hat trick for the Apollos’ Brett Hull!” Those names never saw the light of day, however. Shortly before the presentation, Salomon Jr. blurted out, “The name of the team has to be the Blues!” Stories from the ice and locker room will keep you reading through to the next chapter, but Rutherford was quick to add other quips that Blues fans may find useful. A chapter on which bar to hit for a game (OB Clark’s in Brentwood, by the way) and even a heartwarming story about a hockey fan fulfilling a life-long dream by riding on the Blues’ Olympia (also known as a Zamboni). The foreword for 100 Things was written by none other than Brett Hull, to which Rutherford was “blown away” when The Golden Brett agreed to play a major role in the book’s production. “I imagine myself as an eighth grader, sitting in my living room watching the Blues on TV and Brett Hull scoring the big goal late in the game,” Rutherford said. “Fast forward a few years, and I’m asking him to write the foreword for my Blues book and hearing him say, ‘I’d be honored.’ You just can’t put into words what that means as a St. Louis native. Above all else, Rutherford hopes “100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” fills fans in on the 47-year history of the organization, while getting some hearty laughs along the way. “The Blues are a team that, although they have not won a Stanley Cup and they endure a lot of criticism because of that, is one of the most tradition-rich franchises in sports history. There has been so much short of a Stanley Cup that has happened with this franchise that I just think that it makes for a very interesting read. People have been captivated for 45-plus years by the players, the coaches and the drama. It’s been in a roller coaster with this team coming so close yet not getting there. I believe that if you stick with them and they do win it, it’s going to be a celebration like no one has ever seen before. “If I’m a fan that hasn’t paid attention, I might try to catch up on that history.” ——– You can buy “100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” on Amazon.com. Follow Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) on Twitter and any news about the book on the official Twitter page (@100ThingsBlues).Implanted medical devices of the future could be laser powered Should Dr. Evil ever have the need for an implanted medical device like a pacemaker, pain med pump, or insulin pump he will love this. Researchers looking into batteries that last longer for these implanted devices have hit on a discovery that may allow the devices to harvest power from a laser. This would allow the recharging of the medical device battery without having to cut the person open and place a new battery into the device. Today these implanted devices have a battery good for about ten years. After that, a surgery is required to replace the battery. Considering things like pacemakers for the heart are required for the people to live, the ability to recharge the devices inside the human body is huge. The device a Japanese team of researchers has developed uses carbon nanotubes that are embedded in a silicon mix. A laser shined from outside the body heats up one side of the power generation device allowing a temperature difference that creates a small voltage via the Seebeck effect. That small temperature change is then turned into energy to keep the device powered. The carbon nanotubes absorb heat very well and the implant for power would not need to be any larger than a half centimeter cubed. This could be one of the most life altering inventions for people depending on implanted battery powered devices to live in years. [via PhysOrg]Nuclear power plants are beefing up security checks on workers following a report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Office of Inspector General, according to NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan. The report was prompted by the discovery that suspected al-Qaida terrorist Sharif Mobley worked as a laborer at six nuclear plants between 2002 and 2008, including Three Mile Island in Dauphin County. Mobley is charged with homicide in Yemen after shooting a hospital guard there. According to the report, Mobley was a temporary worker at Three Mile Island for two weeks during an outage. The report recommends additional terrorist identification training, better NRC access to criminal databases, more frequent rescreening of employees and possibly requiring employees to disclose foreign travel. Sheehan said requirements to gain access to nuclear plants are “already quite robust” and include background checks, psychological screening, and behavior observations. According to the report, Mobley made comments that could have been construed suspicious, telling one employee, “We are brothers in the union, but if a Holy War comes, look out.” He also visited unusual websites, including one that showed a mushroom cloud, the report said.0 SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Whatsapp Pinterest Print Mail Flipboard In late 2011, when the promising Occupy Wall Street protests began to fizzle out – a combination of government/police intervention and an internal lack of organized leadership, my heart sank. The movement, which began in Zuccotti Park, ground zero of New York City’s Wall Street financial district, deserved much more than a historical footnote, the status of a fleeting trend. Most of us outside the one percent sphere of privilege don’t need data to reinforce the certainty that things have gone downhill for the middle class, beginning long before the 2008 onset of the Great Recession. We are being squeezed every possible way: mass unemployment, stagnant wages for those lucky enough to have jobs, depreciated home values, skyrocketing household debt and college tuition prices, rising property taxes. You name it and it hurts. Meanwhile we’ve been forced to sit on our hands and watch as no one responsible for the loss of our 401ks and property is prosecuted and even worse, Wall Street salaries remain 5.2 times higher than that of the average New Yorker. I won’t even get into wages outside the Big Apple or executive pay. It’s too depressing. Inequality and the divisions between the have and have nots is not a new conversation. Every relevant civilization throughout history has struggled with these tensions. I beganto be of the opinion that in order to have any real traction, the dialogue had to mature. Rather than a simple “us vs. them” discourse, I felt like Democratic leadership ought to challenge itself a bit more. Because frankly, it’s not only the GOP that has lurched to the right. In an effort to begin winning elections again after the drubbings of the 1980s, the left made a great “moderate” leap to the center, bringing some economically disastrous policies with them. This is one of the themes of New York Times columnist Bill Keller’s December 22 Op-Ed, “Inequality for Dummies.” In it, he writes: “Inequality is in. The president, you have probably heard, has declared income inequality to be ‘the defining challenge of our time…’ Liberals of a more centrist bent — notably the former Clintonites at the Third Way think tank — have refused to join the chorus and been lashed by fellow Democrats for their blasphemy.” As sick as we might all be of partisan infighting, this is a battle we need to have. This isn’t a pointless test of ideological purity to source a base pleasing candidate. As much fun as it’s been to watch the Republican Party look for its way with all the grace and finesse of a blind rhinoceros, it can’t be that we got into our current situation because of the wretched ideas and decision making of one party alone. 11 months before the 2014 midterm elections, and nearly three years before the 2016 Presidential contest, seems like a fine time for the Democratic Party to ask itself a few critical questions. Do we want to continue letting the GOP set the agenda (and anyone who thinks the most recent budget compromise wasn’t a near-complete victory for the conservative platform, just isn’t paying attention), or do we want to be a little bit more proactive about restoring the American Dream? Keller goes on to write, “The alarming thing is not inequality per se, but immobility. It’s not just that we have too many poor people, but that they are stranded in poverty with long odds against getting out. The rich (and their children) stay rich, the poor (and their children) stay poor… A stratified society in which the bottom and top are mostly locked in place is not just morally offensive; it is unstable. Recessions are more frequent in such countries.” Is it any coincidence that every year since Bill Clinton left office, including the Bush terms, rife with deregulation, outsourcing and bursting bubbles of several varieties (which liberals, let’s be entirely honest, were causes championed by the Clinton administration as well), has felt like one continuous recession? I caution my fellow lefties: Let’s not be afraid to take a good look at ourselves, our history. We can and should do better to create policies that might begin to redress these spiraling socioeconomic ills. After all this is the season of reflection and we have been, at minimum, G.O.P enablers. Accessory to the destruction of the middle class is still a crime.CLOSE Reporter Jason Pohl embedded with the crew of the Minden, a rescue boat used to save refugees on the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya. This is GoPro footage from a rescue mission filmed in November 2016. USA TODAY In this Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 file photo, migrants, most of them from Eritrea, jump onto the water from a crowded wooden boat as they are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation on the Mediterranean Sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya. (Photo: Emilio Morenatti, AP) About 100 people are feared dead in two shipwrecks off the coast of Italy, raising the number of migrants estimated to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea this year to a record 5,000, U.N. agencies said Friday. The tally of those killed while trying to cross the vast expanse of treacherous water to reach Europe skyrocketed in 2016 despite far fewer crossings than last year. In 2015, over 1 million people crossed the ocean and nearly 3,800 died during the journey, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). So far this year, about 359,000 migrants and refugees fleeing war-torn areas of the Middle East and Africa have reached Europe by sea, according to IOM figures. Many attempt to make the crossing between Libya and Italy. “This tragedy reminds us that the humanitarian emergency involving thousands of people dying while trying to flee Libya is not over,” said IOM Rome spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo. “The number of migrants dying is up dramatically." On average, 14 people have died every day this year in the Mediterranean, according to IOM. There are likely scores more that go unreported, their bodies never found or deaths never reported. The number of shipwrecks reflect the poor conditions of the boats migrants are using to travel and harsh weather conditions, Giacomo said. “We are seeing more migrants crossing this winter. This trend confirms the fact that conditions in Libya are becoming increasingly dangerous for migrants, who are often trying to flee the country in order to save their lives,” he said. IOM spokesman Joel Millman said at least 57 people were feared dead after the capsizing Thursday of a rubber dinghy carrying between 120 and 140 people. He said eight bodies had been recovered. Another 40 people were feared dead from another dinghy also carrying about 120 people. The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said the Italian coast guard carried out four rescue operations in Mediterranean on Thursday, including one that saved about 175 people. The coast guard helped bring the survivors to the Sicilian town of Trapani. It’s unclear how many refugees think they’ll make the crossing by rickety raft and how many intend instead on searching for a rescue crew somewhere in international waters. “What people sometimes get wrong is the judgment about motivation why people are fleeing,” said Susanne Salm-Hain, founder of LifeBoat, a Malta-based nonprofit that helps rescue migrants. “Their idea is not to go to Europe,” she said. “Their idea is just to go anywhere where they can live.” Sali Baldel, 19, a man from Senegal, who was rescued while making the voyage in late November, said he fled violence that has flared across the region. Fighting was everywhere and Italy represents opportunity and a chance at stability, he said. “Today was my day.” Contributing: Jason Pohl, USA TODAY Network Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2indjIiNews - NETWORK NEWS NETWORK PRESIDENT MARGARET PARLOR WRITES DSM-5 TASK FORCE As you know, we are all concerned about the proposed DSM-5 manual of psychiatric diagnoses by the American Psychiatric Association scheduled for release in 2013. Our President, Margaret Parlor, has written the DSM-5 Task Force on behalf of the National ME/FM Action Network and the ME/CFS community to place our voice on record and is shown below. As President, Dr. Fred Friedberg, of the IACFS/ME stated, it is important to let our voices be heard as a classification of a psychiatric disorder for ME/CFS would be a "major setback to our community in our ongoing efforts to legitimize and increase recognition of the illness." LETTER For the attention of the Somatic Symptom Disorders Work Group : The National ME/FM Action Network works on behalf of Canadians with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Our organization was founded in 1993 and has many accomplishments to its credit. A leading accomplishment was spearheading the development of the Canadian Consensus diagnostic and treatment protocols for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. These criteria are receiving strong international support. Another major accomplishment was publishing statistics on these conditions. Our analysis, based on a major Statistics Canada survey, showed that there were 628,500 Canadians diagnosed with one or both of these conditions in 2005 and that they experienced high degrees of disability, disadvantage and unmet needs in comparison with other chronic illness cohorts. Diagnostic criteria are very important. DSM-5 will be used to determine who qualify for psychiatric services. Criteria are problematic if they result in false negatives (people who do not qualify for services but who would benefit from them) or false positives (people who qualify for services do not benefit from them). We are concerned the proposed new category for Chronic Somatic Syndrome Disorder (CSSD) will result in an unacceptable number of false positives in the ME/FM community. A fundamental question is how psychiatry can help patients with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. Some psychiatrists have proposed Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as a treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A recent UK study examined the benefits of CBT for patients with CFS. Patient groups have pointed out numerous issues around the study design and how study population was selected and would reject the study as badly flawed. However, even taking the study at face value, the study showed that CBT was of minor benefit to patients, akin to the benefits of CBT for other chronic illnesses. CBT does not get to the heart of the illness. ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are not psychiatric disorders. Our position on the role of psychiatry is simple and clear. We think that psychiatry should play the same role for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia patients as it does for patients with other chronic physical illnesses like cancer, diabetes or arthritis. Those patients receive psychiatric support if and only if psychiatric issues are apparent after medical and social supports in place. We would like to refer you to a document entitled “Assessment and Treatment of Patients with ME/CFS; Clinical Guidelines for Psychiatrists” by Dr. Eleanor Stein, a Canadian psychiatrist. This document describes an appropriate role for psychiatrists in assessing and treating ME/CFS, respecting the reality of the illness. Over the years, we have heard many stories from patients with ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia who went to a doctor for help only to be fobbed off to a psychiatrist because the family doctor did not believe their symptoms or did not know how to help, rather than because the patient needs psychiatric services. This situation does not help patients – it denies their experiences, it undercuts their credibility and it distracts from their real issues. This situation does not help psychiatry either as it is called upon to solve problems that it cannot solve. The new Complex Somatic Syndrome Disorder category could compound this situation. A patient with ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia would get a diagnosis of CSSD if a doctor believes the patient is overreacting to the illness, even if the patient is actually behaving very rationally. The patient would be labelled with a undeserved, unhelpful and misleading psychiatric label which would make dealing with the core health issues even more difficult than they already are. The CSSD category could be very harmful to patients with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. We ask you to refrain from including CSSD in DSM-5 in the absence of protections to ensure that patients with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia do not receive false positive diagnoses. Margaret Parlor President NATIONAL ME/FM ACTION NETWORKImage copyright Getty Images Image caption Rebel Wilson told reporters she wanted to rebuild her career Australian actress Rebel Wilson has won a legal defamation case over a series of magazine articles she claimed ruined her career. The Supreme Court of Victoria heard the pieces alleged she had lied about her name, age and upbringing in Australia. Bauer Media denied the articles were defamatory but the six-woman jury sided unanimously in favour of Ms Wilson. The Pitch Perfect actress, who was seeking unspecified damages, said she felt she "had to take a stand". "I had to stand up to a bully, a huge media organisation, Bauer Media, who maliciously took me down in 2015 with a series of grubby and completely false articles," she told reporters outside court. The level of damages will be decided at a later date. 'A long hard fight' Ms Wilson had returned to Melbourne from Los Angeles to give evidence at the three-week trial - she sat in court every day and spent six days in the witness box herself. She claimed that eight articles published by Bauer magazine in 2015 had portrayed her as a serial liar, and that this resulted in her being sacked from two feature films. Image copyright EPA In court she rapped, told jokes, did impersonations, repeated assertions she is distantly related to Walt Disney and broke down in tears. 'Not a comedic performance' Last week, summing up the defence, Georgina Schoff, QC, said the articles were substantially true, trivial, and did not affect Ms Wilson's acting career. "When she's participating in an interview, Ms Wilson must know… that she's not giving a comedic performance," she said. "The stories that she tells on those occasions she must know are reported faithfully by journalists for the information of their readers." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption She said she almost missed the verdict because of traffic But closing her case, Ms Wilson's lawyer, Dr Matthew Collins, QC, questioned why Bauer was unable to identify "a single person" to whom the actress had supposedly told a lie. "The reason why they came up with nothing, of course, is obvious. Rebel Wilson has not lied," he said. "Her claim is not about money, it is about restoring her reputation." Ms Wilson said she was compelled to take action because of the "disgusting and disgraceful" conduct by the tabloid media. "I am glad, very glad, that the jury has agreed with me," she told reporters. "I just look forward to rebuilding my career now that the record has been set straight."When we looked for the next Samuel Adams, we found some worthy candidates. New Belgium, Lagunitas, Stone and Sierra Nevada all, to varying degrees, showed the distribution and popularity needed to be on the edge of the national consciousness. We broke the tie with beer ratings, which favor Stone heavily. Was that right? Stone came in last in sales in that group, after all. They've been critically acclaimed for a while now, but sales haven't followed, at least not yet. Are ratings important for sales? This probably can't be determined right now. We don't have raw sales numbers right now. But we have some proxies, and some rankings, and we can try to make a go of it. The breweries in the following table are ranked by 2012 sales according to the Brewers Association. In the next field you have the sum of that brewery's beers' BAR -- our in-house stat that combines rating in style with a credit for check-in numbers, and therefore is both a rating and a counting stat. The next field has number of beers -- that is relevant to the sum of those beers' BAR, after all. Then I divided sumBAR by Beers to get an idea of their 'average beer score.' The next field is the brewery's ranking in our "Solid" rankings, which took a look at the variance in beer scores and rewarded breweries that made the most beers that were positively ranked. Last, you have the number of states in which you can find that brewery. Num Brewing Company SumBAR Rnk Beers BAR/Beer Solid Rank States 1 Boston Beer Co. 322 105 0.25 325 51 2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 15 131 1.57 92 51 3 New Belgium Brewing Co. 51 103 1.03 322 32 4 The Gambrinus Co. N/A N/A N/A N/A 5 Deschutes Brewery 26 86 1.85 161 21 6 Lagunitas Brewing Co. 19 77 2.22 98 37 7 Bell's Brewery, Inc. 16 110 1.84 327 20 8 Matt Brewing Co. 5001 41 -0.85 280 24 9 Harpoon Brewery 199 55 0.70 136 27 10 Stone Brewing Co. 1 224 2.76 50 39 11 Brooklyn Brewery 64 77 1.17 190 26 12 Boulevard Brewing Co. 22 61
did when I walked out of that courtroom. It really shocked me, and I was surprised that they let me walk out of there with a warrant for my arrest (for a crime) that serious." Figoski's death in December 2011 at the hands of a fugitive — the second such killing in New York in less than a decade — sparked an immediate uproar. "He should not have been out on the streets," New York's police commissioner, Ray Kelly, complained at the time. In Greensboro, however — as in many cities — authorities regularly opt to let fugitives accused of serious felonies remain on the streets rather than spending the time or money to retrieve them from other states, a USA TODAY investigation has found. Greensboro police will not pick up half of the fugitives they listed in an FBI database if they are found outside of North Carolina, records show. As of last May, that includes people accused of armed robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping and at least one gun assault. CLOSE Lamont Pride describes being taken in by police, and then having a judge let him go. Eileen Blass, Robert Orlowski, Shannon Rae Green, Brad Heath, Steve Elfers "A lot of times we're not going to bring somebody back," acknowledged Howard Neumann, the chief assistant district attorney in Guilford County, N.C., which includes Greensboro. "It becomes to some degree a cost decision. We just can't bring everybody back." In interviews with USA TODAY in November and January, Pride denied having shot anyone in North Carolina, though he admitted that he was involved in an "altercation" there. He said he left for New York to escape retaliation on the street, not the police. And he said that the authorities should have known where to find him, because "they've got it on record down there that I'm from New York." Police in Greensboro got a warrant for Pride's arrest on Sept. 23, 2011, charging him with pulling a gun during an argument and shooting Rayshawn Maberson in the foot. They entered his name into the FBI's fugitive database along with a code saying they would not extradite Pride if he happened to be found outside North Carolina. Police officers salute during Officer Peter Figoski's funeral in Babylon, N.Y. (Photo: Seth Wenig, Associated Press) New York police officers found him a little more than a month later, on Nov. 3, after they forced their way through the door of a public housing apartment where he was spending the night with friends. The police seized packages of crack cocaine — Pride said they were his — and took Pride and two friends to a Coney Island police station. Waiting in a holding area, Pride said a detective asked whether he had ever been down South, then told him there was a warrant for his arrest in Greensboro. "I knew they're not going to let me go," he recalled telling his friends. The next day, the police took him to court in Brooklyn, where Judge Evelyn Laporte did let him go without requiring that he post even the $2,500 bail prosecutors had requested. New York police and prosecutors declined to discuss that case. The court's records are sealed under a law that automatically closes a case to inspection if it is resolved in the defendant's favor. Neumann and Greensboro police officials said they did not approve extradition for Pride because they didn't think he would leave town and because he was a "lower risk offender." Officials changed their minds after New York police alerted them that they had Pride in custody, but by the time they replied that they were willing to come get him, Pride had been released. Like most places, New York does not keep track of how often its officers put fugitives back on the streets. But it happens with some regularity, former New York City corrections chief Martin Horn said. "The whole thing can make your head spin," he said. <!--iframe--> Six years before Figoski was murdered, another fugitive, Allan Cameron, shot and killed another New York officer, Dillon Stewart. Cameron was wanted in Philadelphia on a charge of assaulting a police officer, but the police there never listed his name in the FBI's database of fugitives. Philadelphia authorities said they asked New York officials to detain Cameron after he was arrested on unrelated charges; New York officials said they had no record of that request. So Cameron, like Pride, walked out of the Brooklyn courthouse. He shot Stewart in the armpit during a traffic stop. A little more than a month after Pride went free, he and three other men embarked on what he called "some dumb robbery" of marijuana from a basement apartment in Brooklyn. "I got that feeling — you know, that feeling in your gut — telling me this is wrong. The only reason I agreed with it was because I'm greedy for the money," he said. A neighbor quickly called police. Pride and another of the would-be robbers, Kevin Santos, hid in a boiler room while two officers searched the basement. Then they bolted for the front steps, where they encountered two more officers outside. Santos grappled with Figoski's partner, Glenn Estrada. Pride turned toward Figoski — a 22-year veteran of the department and the father of four daughters — and fired one shot, hitting him under his left eye. Pride told USA TODAY that he did not intend to shoot Figoski. "When I ran into him, that's when the gun went off, and I didn't stop to think if anyone got hit or anything like that," he said. He threw the gun under a car and ran. Police caught him four blocks away. Court officers handcuff Lamont Pride before he is escorted from the courtroom at the State Supreme Court in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Feb. 28, 2013. (Photo: Pool photo by Charles Eckert) Jurors convicted Pride of second-degree murder, but acquitted him of more serious intentional-murder charges. Figoski's mother, Mary Ann Figoski, said the decision to let Pride go free after he was first arrested in New York "led to a lot of what-ifs. What if he had been extradited? Things would obviously have been a lot different." What troubles her more, she said, is the thought that even being charged with a shooting "didn't put the fear of God in him." Nor did getting away. "He had a choice then and he just went back to doing exactly what he wanted. So he was surprised, but he wasn't grateful, not in the sense that you or I would be," she said. "He created a tremendous amount of devastation for a lot of people," Mary Ann Figoski said. Pride, too, said he wonders what would have happened had North Carolina extradited him. "Maybe I'd have been better off down there. It beats the hell out of what I've got here," he said. Still, police said Pride has no one to blame but himself. "There's only one person responsible for killing officer Figoski, and that's Lamont Pride," Greensboro Police Chief Ken Miller said. "You just can't make excuses around why you were continuing to engage in illegal and dangerous behavior." Contact investigative reporter Brad Heath at bheath@usatoday.com or follow @bradheath on TwitterSubmitted by Raul Ilargi Meijer via The Automatic Earth blog, Dorothea Lange Negro woman carrying shoes home from church Mississippi Delta July 1936 Dumb and Dumber To, the sequel after 20 years, was released recently. Unfortunately for Jim and Jeff and the Farrelly brothers, unintended humor will always be funnier than the scripted kind, no matter how hard Hollywood tries. Case in point: the Dumber slapstick was easily upstaged over the past few days by the G20 summit in Brisbane. Not only did the pedantic Anglo-Saxon power hungry freak show of Harper, Cameron and Abbott (nobody even noticed Obama) give Vladimir V. Putin a good laugh with their empty chest thumping, entirely spin doctor scripted and entirely aimed at their domestic media and audiences, these so-called leaders also came up with no less than 800(!) measures they claim will boost global economic growth by 2.1%, or $2 trillion. Over 5 years, or some useless and opaque number like that (2018?). It would seem to be painfully obvious that what the world needs really urgently badly today is not so much economic growth, but growth in the dendrites, synapses and neurons in the heads of both our leaders and of those who put them where they are, ourselves. No use holding your breath. As things are, none of us are any smarter than either Dumb or Dumber. As Brussels and the leaders of the allegedly healthy economies in the North sacrifice southern Europe on the altar of their megalomania, the G20 does the same with emerging economies and the even poorer rest of the world. The formerly rich part of the world has gotten stuck in its own dreams and faulty models, and the only place left to eke out any semblance of growth is weaker nations. The Roman empire revisited. If the G20 nations could have ‘grown’ growth at a 2.1% clip with the sort of ease with which their reports were issued this weekend, they would have done so already, all along, long ago. The fact that they haven’t, it doesn’t get any simpler, implies that they can’t this time either. It’s all hot air, and perhaps that’s too positive still, make that tepid. Still, when the Anglo-Saxon dipshits are together they have the guts to make such claims, just as when they’re together they have the guts to ‘shirtfront’ Putin. Canada’s Harper reportedly shook hands with Putin and told him to get out of Ukraine. Nobody present wanted to quote the reaction he got, but I’m thinking a simple ‘You first’ is a distinct possibility. None of these guys have anything on Putin, and they all know it. So does he. Meanwhile, their home media have cooked up the Putin is Bad story to such heights that they can’t be seen as doing nothing, even if proof for any of the allegations concerning what Russia is supposed to be guilty of is still sorely lacking. The Anglo-Saxons need enemies to make their stories stick, so the ‘he probably shot down that plane’ line is awfully helpful. And that dumber-ass approach is the same one they use for their economic, what shall we call it, ‘policies’(?), it’s the exact same thing. It’s the surface that counts, not what’s underneath it. It’s the storyline, not the veracity of it. Who in the west still doubts that Putin is a bad man? Very few. Though he hasn’t done anything for which the west has provided any proof. It’s a tale in the spirit of Little Red Riding Hood, and just as credible. The 2.1% growth story doesn’t even attain that level of credulity, because it’s made up out of nothing at all. It would sound cute to say that the nonsense that emanated from the G20 summit is unrivaled, but it’s not. These boyos rival their own emptiness at every single occasion they get. All they do is make sure that their access to the public (our) coffers is used to garner profit for their paymasters, at the cost of the taxpayer (again, us). That’s both their mission and their MO. And we all know that once you’ve been PM or FM and you served your superiors well, your life will be comfortable ever after. That said, there is no vision, there is nothing. There’s a desire to amass power, and then to hold on to it and serve the bankrupt system, but none of it has anything to do with the people these guys and dolls are supposed to represent. And it can only lead to things like what the London School of Economics claims in a new report: How The UK Coalition Has Helped The Rich By Hitting The Poor A landmark study of the coalition’s tax and welfare policies six months before the general election reveals how money has been transferred from the poorest to the better off, apparently refuting the chancellor of the exchequer’s claims that the country has been “all in it together”. According to independent research to be published on Monday and seen by the Observer, George Osborne has been engaged in a significant transfer of income from the least well-off half of the population to the more affluent in the past four years. That whole growth target is nothing but a way to justify more of what the LSE has noticed. A way to take away more money from the poor, through austerity, and through so-called reform IMF-style, after which the conclusion will be that the policies have failed, but the reality will be that the poor have gotten poorer and the rich have gotten richer. In the eyes of the G20 policy makers that will mean a success, even if it will be 180º different from what their public utterances have been. We’re not only being fooled all the time and wherever we look, we’re being fooled by a bunch of stupid spin-scripted programmed assclowns. But we are the ones who put them where they are. As long as we hang on to our existing procedures for electing our leaders, only megalomaniac assclowns will float to the surface. And they will, to a man, use their positions to rob us blind while pretending to have our best interests at mind. It’s what allowing money to enter your political system will always lead to: you can elect only made men. Which leads to Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Obama, and Jeb Bush or Hillary. What about how this works is not clear? The OECD even wants to do the G20 one better, they want 4% growth. I’ll tell you one thing: the western world will NEVER have a 4% growth rate again. Or at least not this century. And not before many millions of Europeans and Americans have gone down in hunger and misery. We Need To Ramp Up Global Growth: OECD The global economy should be growing at a much faster pace, the chief economist of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned on Sunday, as world leaders agreed on hundreds of measures they hope will boost expansion. “As the emerging markets become a greater share of the global economy, we really ought to be seeing the global economy growing at 4% or more, so the tone is dour,” said OECD Chief Economist Catherine Mann, speaking to CNBC at the G-20 summit in Brisbane over the weekend. Growth of 4% is well behind the group’s projected global gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.3% for this year. In its latest Economic Outlook, published earlier this month, the OECD warned of “major risks on the horizon” for the world’s economy, such as further market volatility, high levels of debt and a stagnation in the euro zone recovery. Mann’s comments come as world leaders at the G-20 agreed on measures they said will equate to 2.1% new growth, inject $2 trillion into the world economy and create millions of jobs. The Paris-based OECD has previously outlined a target of adding around 2 percentage points to global GDP by 2018, relative to the 2013 level. [..] Mann was optimistic that job creation would increase in tandem with global growth, as countries ramped up infrastructure investment. “We know that there’s usually a relationship between growth and jobs. It’s not always a tight relationship. There’s always an issue about the distribution, where the jobs are being created, what sectors, what countries and some of the disconnect there can be,” she said. “Mismatch can be a problem, but I do think we are going to see job creation go hand in hand with global growth.”Jennifer Zaspel can’t explain why she stuck her thumb in the vial with the moth. Just an after-dark, out-in-the-woods zing of curiosity. She was catching moths on a July night in the Russian Far East and had just eased a Calyptra, with brownish forewings like a dried leaf, into a plastic collecting vial. Of the 17 or so largely tropical Calyptra species, eight were known vampires. Males will vary their fruit diet on occasion by driving their hardened, fruit-piercing mouthparts into mammals, such as cattle, tapirs and even elephants and humans, for a drink of fresh blood. Zaspel, however, thought she was outside the territory where she might encounter a vampire species. She had caught C. thalictri, widely known from Switzerland and France eastward into Japan as a strict fruitarian. Before capping the vial with the moth, “I just for no good reason stuck my thumb in there to see what it would do,” Zaspel says. “It pierced my thumb and started feeding on me.” Make that eight-plus vampires. Zaspel, an entomologist now at the Milwaukee Public Museum, is still puzzling over the genetics of the moths at the two Russian field sites she visited in 2006. Males there will bite a researcher’s thumb if offered, yet genetic testing so far shows the moths are part of a vast, otherwise mild-mannered species. Which is just as well. As vampires go, these moths are not stealth biters. “I would compare it to a bee sting,” Zaspel says. For the sake of moth science, one of Zaspel’s colleagues voluntarily documented the experience, noting that a moth will feed as long as 20 minutes. Such moth bites definitely get noticed. For these moths and other real-life vampires, being smacked to a smear is a bigger danger than getting staked through the heart. Nabbing the occasional red lunch, or managing to survive on nothing but blood, is far more difficult than it looks in the movies. The relatively few animals that manage the lifestyle are indeed remarkable: some insects and other arthropods, a few mollusks, some fishes, birds on occasion and, of course, three kinds of bats. Blood is not an easy food. There are pressures to gorge as much as possible at each meal. At these heroic volumes, however, blood can be outright toxic. At the same time, a blood meal is insufficient, missing some basic nutrients. Surviving this way takes guts as well as other specialized physiology. Modern tools of genetics and molecular biology are revealing the hidden specializations required for blood feeding and helping make sense of lifestyles that go to different extremes, even mouth-to-mouth blood donation. Though many of these biological adaptations would never fit among the showy strengths of the immortals of Twilight or True Blood, they could certainly count as superpowers. Big dinner To grasp the risks real vampires take, imagine an animal 35 million times your weight. Now bite it hard enough to make it bleed. And make it mad. “You can easily get killed by the host,” says insect molecular physiologist Pedro L. Oliveira of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The 35 million multiplier applies for a 2-milligram female mosquito attacking a 70-kilogram human, measurements from an article he coauthored on nutritional overload in bloodsuckers in the August Trends in Parasitology. Finding that giant blood source isn’t easy. “If you go into a forest, you have hundreds of meters separating one vertebrate host from another, and hundreds of meters would be several kilometers for us,” Oliveira says. Then the tiny vampire has to find a capillary for biting within just a few millimeters of the skin surface. On a human victim, Oliveira estimates, only about 10 percent of the skin acreage will do. Considering the dangers and difficulties that blood feeders face, “most of these guys try to minimize the number of visits,” Oliveira says. They drink fast, and they drink big. A young kissing bug, with its deceptively friendly nickname and the ability to spread debilitating and possibly fatal Chagas disease, needs only minutes to down about 10 times its weight in blood. To relate this to human physiology — forget it. There are people who intentionally drink blood, which is another story, but even small amounts in vampire terms, such as the amount of swallowed blood from a long nosebleed, can give a human diarrhea, says Tomas Ganz of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Fresh blood is difficult for the human gut to process, and too little of the water in blood gets extracted and routed to the kidneys. For its water-content challenges, Ganz compares fresh blood to the solutions people drink to clear their intestines, swiftly and unpleasantly, for a colonoscopy. With such big blood meals, ingredients that would be harmless or healthful in small amounts can be toxic. “The dose makes the poison,” Oliveira says. Remove the water in blood, and what’s left is almost 90 percent protein. Oliveira got an inkling of something perilous in that protein when his lab was exploring the genetics of one of the Americas’ kissing bugs, Rhodnius prolixus. With a rounded rear that stretches and narrows at the head like a railroad-track penny that almost escaped, the bug lurks in crevices indoors or out. At night both males and females search out humans, their pets or other vertebrates pulsing with a good blood dinner. The bug has vampire superstealth and outdoes the vampire moths by biting without waking a sleeping blood source. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks whose bites deliver pathogens in saliva, a kissing bug delivers the Chagas disease parasite through its excrement, which the bug leaves on the host. Of all the amino acids detected in that huge drink, only tyrosine meets a massive special array of enzymes ready to break it down as it washes into the kissing bug gut, researchers showed in 2014. Finding tyrosine-busting enzymes in the gut is “kind of strange,” Oliveira says. In mammals, the liver and kidneys are the only organs with enzymes that break down tyrosine. Then again, most mammals don’t flood their guts with overwhelming protein. When researchers messed with the kissing bug to sabotage tyrosine breakdown, either by disabling genes or chemically blocking the enzymes, the bugs died after dining, Oliveira and colleagues reported in Current Biology in 2016. Some of the dead bugs had crystals of tyrosine stabbing through the gut lining, and gut contents had leaked into the body cavity. This discovery, researchers propose, might someday give molecular biologists their own drug to serve as a vampire-killing stake. Blood feeding in arthropods has evolved independently multiple times (some say 21), but often the vampires have solved the same challenges with different quirks of biochemistry. The challenge of detoxifying tyrosine, however, might be a problem that a lot of lineages have solved in unusually similar ways, Oliveira proposes. First stabs at a weapon to disable the common chemistry are compounds that inhibit an enzyme called HPPD. The enzyme shuts down tyrosine breakdown, not just in the kissing bug but also in a kind of tick and in the female Zika-spreader Aedes aegypti mosquito. When tested, the treatment didn’t harm milkweed bugs or mealworms. Story continues below image Bad blood Tyrosine is just one of the nutrients turned toxic by the massive size of blood binges. In the real world, a vampire’s ability to excrete wastes is much more important than some fictional power to hoist trucks. Nephrologist Jonas Axelsson of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and colleagues are studying kidney function in vampire bats versus cousin species that live on fruit or nectar. Human diets typically feature some 50 to 120 grams of protein a day, but eating like a vampire bat would boost a 70-kilogram human’s intake to some 6,000 grams of protein a day. That protein overdose means these bats have blood concentrations of protein-metabolism waste products such as urea that would be a short route to kidney failure in humans. Yet the vampire bats are fine. Their kidneys are about the same size as other bats’ kidneys, Axelsson says. Vampire bats devote more of their space to the long tubules that deal with reabsorbing useful substances from just-made urine, he notes. Much of the protein in blood is hemoglobin, the iron-containing marvel molecule that ferries oxygen around the body and helps vertebrates live big and bold. Yet digesting so much hemoglobin in a hurry can free a massive, potentially poisonous dose of iron into the bloodstream. A healthy man makes his doctor happy with blood iron concentrations around 127 micrograms per 100 milliliters. Yet concentrations up to 200 times higher don’t seem to harm fishes called lampreys during their larval years, measurements from various species suggest. The larvae pick up iron while burrowing and eating anything that floats along. When sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) mature, growing their jawless toothy gapes and sucking blood of other fishes, iron concentrations in blood drop — to about 10 times healthy human levels. At first, a lamprey sticking to skin feels like “a moistened suction cup on your face,” says lamprey biologist Margaret Docker of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. She has permitted one exploratory kiss on her cheekbone from a blood-feeding silver lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) found in North American lakes and streams. Only half the world’s 38 lamprey species suck blood. Lampreys can generate a good grip; some even mouth-suck their way up vertical waterfalls or dams. In the very unlikely event of a fish on the face, “the key is to dislodge it … before it starts to rasp in with the teeth on its tongue or oral disk and before it secretes its anticoagulants,” Docker says. A little prying with a fingernail breaks the suction. Lampreys may have gone parasitic early in the history of vertebrates and so have had a long time to evolve their vampiric specializations. A small fossil from Devonian times, some 360 million years ago and long before dinosaurs arose, shows an oral disk with 14 evenly spaced teeth, already looking very capable of draining blood. Studies of the modern species’ blood-feeding physiology got a solid source of new data in 2013 when an international team decoded the genetic instruction book of the sea lamprey, a notorious invader of the Great Lakes. Docker hopes for more work on lamprey detox tricks, such as the liver enzyme superoxide dismutase, which increases as concentrations of iron in the liver rise in adult pouched lampreys. At this stage, liver cells are akin to those in people suffering from a potentially fatal iron-metabolism disorder called hemochromatosis. Another big reason for studying real vampires, as if scientists need another, is the possibility of finding new insights into human metabolic disorders. Not enough Blood may have lethally too much of some things, but lethally too little of others. “Vampires don’t really have it that easy,” muses ecological microbiologist Rita Rio of West Virginia University in Morgantown. Blood lacks B vitamins, she explains. Animals need these as essential nutrients for a wide range of basic bodily chores, such as gene regulation, cell signaling and amino acid breakdown. Yet animals can’t make their own supplies. Rio’s favorite vampire flies get around this problem with tiny live-in help. “I have loved tsetse flies ever since I first learned about them,” she says. She’s speaking of sub-Saharan Africa’s Glossina flies’ “really cool biology,” not their ability to spread the parasite that gives humans and some other vertebrates potentially fatal sleeping sickness. Tsetse flies look like robust house flies but live very differently. Instead of the typical low-involvement insect motherhood of laying many little eggs and leaving them to their luck, a female tsetse fly has just one offspring at a time. A single egg hatches inside her, and as it grows, it draws sustenance from “milk” glands inside the mother fly. “You’ll see her getting chubbier and chubbier,” Rio says. A mother sometimes gives birth to a youngster bigger than she is. The youngster at that point has only its pupal stage to go before it reaches sexual maturity. “It would be like me giving birth to a 12-year-old,” Rio says. Little helpers Tsetse flies (pregnant female, above) can survive on an all-blood diet thanks to symbiotic bacteria. In an organ (blue, bottom) ringing the fly midgut, Wigglesworthia bacteria churn out B vitamins, including B1. Both the fly and resident Sodalis bacteria need this vitamin, also called thiamine. As the mom fly gives her tween a pampered start in life, she also passes along an infection the youngster will need to reproduce on its nutritionally sketchy, all-blood diet. Each larva emerges with its own rod-shaped bacteria called Wigglesworthia, a bit on the chubby side themselves. The bacteria churn out B vitamins and flourish inside a special organ that grows inside the fly. The tsetse fly version of this organ, called a bacteriome, “looks like a little doughnut around the digestive tract,” Rio says. The interplay between fly and microbes has come to fascinate evolutionary biologists, as genes in both bacterium and host change across generations, sometimes breaking down or taking on odd functions, depending on what the other partner is doing. In the September Genome Biology and Evolution, Rio and her colleagues published a study of the molecular activity of both tsetse flies and their Wigglesworthia in the wild. Low-fat bats Another downside of blood is its low fat content, at least from the vampire bat point of view. Extra cargo on a small flying mammal is limited to a mere 20 to 30 percent of the animal’s predinner weight, so a small, low-fat meal won’t fuel the bat for very long. A common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) can’t survive three days without drinking blood, says evolutionary biologist Gerald Wilkinson of the University of Maryland in College Park. That’s one of the forces pushing the bats to develop social networks of blood regurgitators. Needing backup blood is no slur on this vampire’s superb adaptations to feeding on large vertebrates. The razor-toothed mammal is one of three blood-feeding bat specialists, all native to the warm latitudes of the Western Hemisphere. The first wild D. rotundus Wilkinson studied, on a ranch in Costa Rica, “would often just fly up and land on the back of a horse,” he says. The bat has a fleshy little nose, “like a pig,” with heat-sensing ability useful in finding where warm blood flows close to the body’s surface. Actually getting that blood “was a very non-trivial thing” for the bats, he says. A bat routinely spent half an hour selecting a spot, clipping down horse hair if necessary, nicking out a tiny divot of flesh and then licking the wound, often while urinating, all without waking the horse. Revisiting a wound on another night appeared to be faster than prepping a new site. Wilkinson realized one night that the bat he was watching was feasting on the same horse it had fed on the night before, even though the horse had been moved to a different pasture. The bat’s saliva has impressive anticoagulant powers, Wilkinson reports. “I’ve been nipped a few times and the blood was hard to stop,” he says. “People who have been fed on will wake up and there’s a pool of blood — and the blood is often from after the bat left.” Compared with bats of other species, the common vampire bat may even seem to have superpower moves: Instead of just flying, it easily runs on the ground. When a hungry bat can’t find a meal for a night, the accomplished blood seeker may get a bit of blood from a luckier roost mate. Positioned facing each other mouth to mouth, “one animal is motionless and the other animal is licking,” Wilkinson says. In his early experiments with captive bats, he found animals willing to regurgitate on occasion for a hungry bat with no kinship connection. For decades, researchers have debated whether it’s fair to consider vampire bats as examples of natural altruism. For the latest published experiments, Wilkinson’s student Gerald Carter, at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Konstanz, Germany, as of November, put together bats from unrelated zoo populations. He fed them blood (collected from a slaughterhouse, not anybody’s favorite part of doing science) and then created short artificial food crises, recording dozens of observations of blood sharing. Looking at all these examples of sharing, kinship didn’t matter, Carter and Wilkinson concluded. In captivity at least, a vampire will help a starving roost mate who’s not a relative. Carter even did an elaborate test of how a starving vampire reacts when its main go-to pal for emergency regurgitation “betrays” it by not helping. To simulate betrayal, Carter removed the potential helper from the group so it did not feed its starving roost mate. Then on another night, he flipped the roles. The bat that had not helped its pal was now the hungry one in need of that pal’s regurgitation. In general, no hard feelings. The partner who was forced to defect often got fed regardless. The evidence so far looks as if vampires are hedging their bets in sharing blood, Carter, Wilkinson and Damien Farine of Max Planck proposed in the May Biology Letters. Bats that shared with many partners over the long run ended up receiving more blood when it was their turn for trouble. In an uncertain world, this advantage might favor helping non-kin. Vampirism may work as a force for generosity. Story continues below sidebar Networking Captive vampire bats that shared blood with non-kin reaped benefits. Hungry females that donated to more bats tended to receive more regurgitated blood from others later (left). The diagram at right shows one bat’s feeding network. Red circles are bats that a hungry bat (star) had donated to in the past. Two-way arrows show reciprocity. G.G. Carter and G.S. Wilkinson/Proc. Royal Soc. B. 2015 Way beyond bats Baby vampire bats go for blood right away, licking their mothers’ mouths for red regurgitation within minutes of birth. And there are many more vivid variations on vampirism (see sidebar). There’s blood feeding as a mix of practicality and mate monopolization in a vast dark and dangerous ocean. In some deep-sea ceratioid anglerfishes, males stay miniature and upon finding a female meld tissue with her giant body and thereafter live off her circulatory system. The male essentially makes her a hermaphrodite with a sperm organ ready when she needs it. There’s also blood feeding by proxy. The jumping spider Evarcha culicivora hunts mosquitoes, preferably those engorged with human blood. There’s even blood feeding as an impossible dream. Male mosquitoes sip flower nectar, but when scientists served the mosquitoes blood soaked cotton, they ate readily. Given nectar as an alternative, males still went for blood instead, even though they died early. And there could be even more vampires out there that science hasn’t discovered yet. All it might take is someone sticking a thumb into a collecting vial. Many shades of vampire The real world of blood feeding is much more varied than fictional vampires’ all-or-nothing menus. Drinking blood can be a full-time or a sometimes urge. Cast a spell Colubraria muricata snails are experts at sucking blood from fish. Found from South Africa to French Polynesia, the snail creeps toward a sleeping fish and extends a long feeding tube (shown), with fish blood pressure probably delivering the meal. The snail secretes a complex cocktail that may include an anesthetic to keep the donor passive for the duration of a drink, says Marco Oliverio of Sapienza University in Rome. Furtive drinkers Sometimes considered helpful partners, Africa’s oxpeckers (Buphagus) glean ticks and other arthropods from African grazing animals. Red-billed oxpeckers (B. erythrorhynchus, shown) also eat earwax, dung, urine — and blood. In food tests on donkeys, birds chose to feed on wounds even when the birds’ favorite ticks were offered, Tiffany Plantan of University of Miami in Florida and colleagues found. Kids’ stuff An adult Antricola marginatus tick probably feeds on bat guano, but youngsters riding on mom’s back (shown) readily leap off to drink blood if warm mammals are nearby. A mom may “feed” her young by climbing near bats, Marcelo Labruna of the University of São Paulo in Brazil and colleagues proposed after observing moms and young in a Yucatán bat cave in Mexico. This article appears in the October 28, 2017 issue of Science News with the headline, "Real Vampires of Planet Earth: It's not easy sucking blood."Updates: Gallup: Bush Approval Rating Lowest Ever for 2nd-Term Prez at this Point April 5, 2005 http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000866232 It's not uncommon to hear or read pundits referring to President George W. Bush as a "popular" leader or even a "very popular" one. Even some of his critics in the press refer to him this way. Perhaps they need to check the latest polls. President Bush's approval rating has plunged to the lowest level of any president since World War II at this point in his second term, the Gallup Organization reported today. "All other presidents who were re-elected to a second term had approval ratings well above 50% in the March following their re-election," Gallup reported. Bush's current rating is 45%. The next lowest was Reagan with 56% in March 1985. More bad signs for the president: Gallup's survey now finds only 38% expressing satisfaction with the "state of the country" while 59% are "dissatisfied." One in three Americans feel the economy is excellent or good, while the rest find it "only fair" or poor. Gallup noted that more challenges lie ahead for Bush, including public doubts about his Social Security plan and Iraq policies. Here are the approval ratings for presidents as recorded by Gallup in the March following their re-election: Truman, 1949: 57%. Eisenhower, 1957: 65%. Johnson, 1965: 69%. Nixon, 1973: 57%. Reagan, 1985: 56%. Clinton, 1997: 59%. Bush, 2005: 45%. Okay, tell us again how Bush won his re-election even though all the exit polls showed Kerry in a landslide. Go on. Tell us. We LOVE that one. It's almost as funny as the one about Saddam's 'nookular' weapons. As a legal noose appears to be tightening around the Bush/Chen
been a number of deadly incidents in recent months involving ship collisions, helicopter crashes, and most recently, a Marine armored vehicle catching on fire at Camp Pendleton. "I am confident," Dunford said, that fiscal constraints and high operational tempo were behind at least some of those incidents. When it comes to the Navy, which has had four ship collisions this year, Dunford said the demands on sailors "does exceed the supply." Some sailors work 100 hours per week while underway, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. Damage to the USS John McCain following a collision with the Alnic MC merchant vessel. Joshua Fulton/US Navy Dunford told the committee that he had recently been onboard the USS Barry, which he learned had been out to sea for more than two-thirds of the past year. "70% of the time underway is an unsustainable rate," he said. On the fight against ISIS: Dunford was asked about the fight in and around Raqqa, the Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital. That fight is currently underway, and while the general cautioned against giving timelines, he said that combat operations in the city would likely be complete within the next six months. "We'll continue to see a reduction in territory," Dunford said. He added, however, that ISIS would not be completely destroyed, and the group would likely continue to carry out terror attacks despite losing its home base. Other odds and ends: Dunford said he was "concerned" about a recent Kurdish independence vote, which he said may possibly have some effect on cooperation between Kurds and Iraqi forces that are currently engaged against ISIS. On transgender soldiers — which are currently in limbo as the Pentagon reviews the issue — Dunford said, "I do," when asked if he believed that trans soldiers have served with honor and valor by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. He also told Gillibrand that he didn't think "any of us are satisfied" with where the military is in terms of addressing the problem of sexual assault, and committed to working with her on the issue. Dunford said that he supported lethal military assistance for Ukraine, which was still pending approval from The White House. "Their ability to stop armored vehicles would be essential to them to protect themselves," he said. The general also said the military was working to support people devastated by the hurricane in Puerto Rico but they were having trouble with damaged ports and air fields. He said Secretary Mattis' guidance was, "What they need they get. Just make it happen."NBCUniversal Content Distribution launched a new dedicated Roku channel that builds on the company's TV Everywhere initiative. And, interestingly, some of NBCUniversal's content on its Roku channel does not require users to authenticate their pay-TV service in order to view it. NBC is allowing all Roku owners to stream, on demand the day after they initially air, episodes of its new fall series including Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, Blindspot, Heroes Reborn, Truth Be Told and The Player. NBCU is also letting all Roku users stream full episodes and clips of NBC late night programming, which includes the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. NBC is also culling clips from 40 years of Saturday Night Live. Roku customers who can produce a pay-TV username and password can stream full episodes of returning favorites, including The Voice, The Blacklist, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Grimm. For NBCU, the model represents somewhat of a hybrid solution: It's letting a broader base of viewers sample its new shows, but it's leaving itself a position with pay-TV operators in retransmission talks by not taking all its programming out of the pay-TV ecosystem, a la CBS All Access. It's also giving a nod to pay-TV subscribers -- they can access the full flora and fauna of NBC programming over-the-top without having to pay for Hulu Meanwhile, NBC is addressing, at least to some degree, its late-night viewership issues -- NBCU CEO Steve Burke said earlier this year that a significant amount of late-night viewership on the Peacock Network is leaking out via clips on social networks. "We want our shows available where our viewers are watching content. As consumers shift to connected devices, we are committed to working with platform partners like Roku so our fans and audiences interested in entertainment can discover, engage with and watch our shows," said Rob Hayes, Executive Vice President of NBC Entertainment Digital. For more: - read this NBCUniversal press release Related articles: TVE viewing up 63% in Q2 despite unfavorable World Cup comparison, Adobe says TV Everywhere still an inconsistent experience plagued by 'rickety' tech, Fox exec says Weather Channel's Shull: New TVE services reflect positive relationship with pay-TV operatorsI expected a 1v1 match of Wargroove to last about 15 minutes when I visited Chucklefish's office two weeks ago. It turns out it takes 40-60 minutes, if you're anything like me. I found myself spending far too much time fretting about exactly where to move a unit, or whether to buy an archer at that moment rather than saving my money for the stronger and faster knight during the next turn. Such caution isn't unwarranted in this turn-based, grid-based strategy game, though. The deeper you get into a multiplayer game, the more you worry about pushing a unit one square too far. You might be putting a knight in range of a trebuchet, or an archer. By hovering over an enemy unit during your turn, you can see their possible movement range, allowing you to plan ahead as much as possible. Your goal in Wargroove is to kill the opponent's commander, or take over their base. Either will trigger a victory. Across the map, there are buildings that act as resource points. The more you control, the more gold you have coming in per turn. Capturing an enemy building requires you killing the guard unit inside first. Though each of the game's factions have unique commander units, they otherwise have an identical selection of units, aside from the way they look. I start my first game by deploying a swordsman, and later, a couple of spearmen, at the top of the map. My opponent is moving up from the south. When positioned next to each other on the map, spearmen will perform a critical hit, meaning there's some benefit to building a little wall of them. While I'm getting used to the unit creation and movement, my opponent has occupied a load of buildings and suddenly has loads more money coming in than I do. Over the next few turns, fast, flying vampire units and a massive golem enter the fray and take out my comparably pathetic spearmen and swordsmen. It's over, and my commander, Mercia, is killed. It's all over, lads. The flying units are particularly tough to deal with—their counter is an alchemist, since melee ground units are useless against them, but it takes me a bit too long to get one onto the field due to my slow gold funds. This nonetheless feels like a good crash course for how much is going on in a game of Wargroove, and how fiercely competitive it is. That's my way of saying I got my arse handed to me, basically. But the next game won't be nearly as brutal. Let's try that again This match will be a little easier. For one, Chucklefish picks a map that doesn't have water or the ability to summon flying units, making it a little simpler to grasp in terms of pacing and counters, without yet knowing the minutiae of every unit off by heart. It's basically just a desert-y field, with my base on the left, and my opponent's on the right. We grab half the buildings each, and the fight converges in the central lane. As I learned from the last match, a couple of spearmen placed closely together are pretty great in the early game. I don't find the basic swordsman units useful for anything other than grabbing buildings, so I focus on pushing spearmen forward instead. They're slow, but they're handy as a kind of moving wall. A few turns later, my opponent drops a golem, which memorably slapped my troops aside during the last game. I'm dreading its arrival as it plods across the map. I buy a knight unit, the best unit I can afford. They can move five squares at a time, and if they end their turn on the fifth square, they'll land a critical hit. This is how I counter the golem—the knight races in and takes it down to about a quarter of its health, forcing my opponent to withdraw before it's done any real damage. This is a major victory, since the golem cost 1200 gold. It's a formidable threat in the right circumstances, but when it's thrashed like this, that's a lot gone to waste. "It’s very intimidating, but it’s actually true that most of its powers are symbolic," says marketing manager Molly Carroll. To look at, it's certainly a scary thing marching across the battlefield. "You’re like 'oh, I’m fucked!'" The push towards victory is exciting: starving your opponent of gold, then building more and more units for the hell of it. The golem's demise underlines the idea that everything has a counter in Wargroove, and that all units have their own drawbacks. My knight, for example, can't cross mountain range tiles, and nor can it actually take control of a building—it can only kill the enemy units occupying one. Alternatively, the trebuchet, which costs 900 gold, would've been effective against the golem too, but that can't move and shoot in the same turn. Work in progress "[The golem] is potentially getting more powerful," Chucklefish founder and director Finn Brice explains. "We’re experimenting with its ability to pick up and throw allied units across the map, but it’s a big balance change, so we have to look into it. But I think it’s the only non-commander unit to have an active ability instead of passive, because it won’t have a [critical attack] to make up for that." Nothing feels overpowered in this build, though. If anything, some units could do with being more threatening, particularly the commanders. Of the two I sample, one, Mercia, has an active AOE healing power, and another, Valder, has the ability to summon a basic skeleton swordsman unit from the dead, but both abilities take a long time to charge up. I ended up leaving my commander out of the fight in the second game, because they feel a little too fragile. This is an area where a lot of balancing is going on—working out long it takes for each commander's 'Groove' to charge, and how game-changing that ability will be. "The ultimate goal is to ensure that they all feel immensely powerful and that they affect your game so much that playing with one commander over another requires an entirely different strategy, and I think that’s what’s going to make the game particularly interesting," Brice explains. "[It's] also particularly hard to balance, but we’ll cross that bridge." "I think the community has come to expect this kind of thing," says programmer Rodrigo Monteiro. "StarCraft was being rebalanced, what, ten years after release? There were still releasing balance patches because the meta of the game adapts, and you have to adapt the game with it." Right now, most of the non-commander units feel balanced enough. The right set of moves can wipe out every enemy unit on the map in a single turn, which more or less happens twice during my second game on both sides. The push towards my eventual victory is exciting: starving my opponent of gold, then building more and more units for the hell of it. By the end, I'm considering a second trebuchet that I have no need for. This was a relatively decisive victory, but there's plenty of opportunity to grab a quick victory in Wargroove if someone's left their leader in the wrong place—your entire strategy can unravel in a single turn, but you'll understand why when it happens, and you'll learn. Chucklefish hasn't made a strategy game before, but this shows the team is on the right track to me.In October 1517, an unknown Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther changed the world when he grabbed a hammer and nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The Reformation started there. The tale of how the 95 theses were posted is almost certainly false. Luther never mentioned the incident and the first account of it didn’t surface until after his death. But it makes a better story than Luther writing a letter (which is what probably happened), and that’s why the economist Steve Keen, dressed in a monk’s habit and wielding a blow up hammer, could be found outside the London School of Economics last week. Keen and those supporting him (full disclosure: I was one of them) were making a simple point as he used Blu Tack to stick their 33 theses to one of the world’s leading universities: economics needs its own Reformation just as the Catholic church did 500 years ago. Like the medieval church, orthodox economics thinks it has all the answers. Complex mathematics is used to mystify economics, just as congregations in Luther’s time were deliberately left in the dark by services conducted in Latin. Neoclassical economics has become an unquestioned belief system and treats anybody who challenges the creed of self-righting markets and rational consumers as dangerous heretics. Philip Hammond must ditch deficit reduction and invest. But he won't \| Larry Elliott Read more Keen was one of those heretics. He was one of the economists who knew there was big trouble brewing in the years leading up to the financial crisis of a decade ago but whose warnings were ignored. The reason Keen was proved right was that he paid no heed to the equilibrium models favoured by mainstream economics. He looked at what was actually happening rather than having a preconceived view of what ought to be happening. Somewhat depressingly, nothing much has happened, even though it was a crisis neoclassical economics said could not happen. There was a brief dalliance with unorthodox remedies when things were really bleak in the winter of 2008-09, but by late 2009 and early 2010, there was a return to business as normal. The intellectual monopoly is something of an irony given how central the idea of competition is to orthodox thinking, but it is a sad fact – as the preamble to the 33 theses notes – “that the neoclassical perspective overwhelmingly dominates teaching, research, advice to policy, and public debate”. “Many other perspectives that could provide valuable insights are marginalised and excluded. This is not about one theory being better than another, but the notion that scientific advance only moves ahead with a debate. Within economics, this debate has died.” That debate needs to be rekindled. A more pluralist approach would take account of the complexity of markets, the constraints imposed by nature and rising inequality. So what needs to be done? Firstly, listen to consumers, because it is pretty obvious that they are unimpressed with what they are getting. The failure of the economics establishment to predict the crisis and its insistence that austerity is the right response to the events of a decade ago has meant the profession has rarely been less trusted. Of course, there were economists who got it right and some of them – Paul Krugman, for example – wielded real influence. But it should have come as little surprise that when it came to the Brexit referendum, voters took the warnings from the UK Treasury, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England with a very large pinch of salt. After all, not one of these august bodies – armed as they were with their general equilibrium models – saw the deepest recession since the second world war coming, even when it was already under way. It is welcome news that discontent is bubbling up from below on university campuses. True, the prestigious academic journals remain in the hands of the old order and in economics faculties there is strong resistance to change but increasingly students are showing their frustration at being told to learn and regurgitate economics that is not just narrow and of little relevance, but also plain wrong. Of the 33 theses pinned to the LSE, five involved the teaching of economics, with demands to be taught history and economic thought, and for the monopoly of the status quo to be broken. One of the theses demands that “economics must do more to encourage critical thinking, and not simply reward memorisation of theories and implementation of models. Students must be encouraged to compare, contrast, and combine theories, and critically apply them to in-depth studies of the real world.” The fact that students feel the need to say this is a terrible indictment of the way economics is being taught, and their discontent negates the idea that this is just whingeing from aggrieved Keynesians. Secondly, we should stop treating economics as a science because it is nothing of the sort. A proper science involves testing a hypothesis against the available evidence. If the evidence doesn’t support the theory, a physicist or a biologist will discard the theory and try to come up one that does work empirically. Economics doesn’t work like that. Theories can be shown to work only by making a series of highly questionable assumptions – such as that humans always behave predictably and rationally. When there is hard evidence that disputes the validity of the theory, there is no question of ditching the theory. Thirdly, economics needs to be prepared to learn from other disciplines because when it does the results are worthwhile. One example is the way in which auto-enrolment has increased pension coverage. If humans were truly economically rational, it would make no difference whether their employers automatically enrolled them into pension schemes: they would decide whether to join schemes on the basis of whether they deemed it worth deferring consumption until they had retired. Yet, basic psychology says this is not the way people actually act. They are far less likely to opt out of something than they are to opt into something. Fourthly, economics needs to be demystified. One of the big battles between Catholics and Protestants in mid-16th century England was over whether the bible should be in Latin or English, a recognition that language matters. The easy part of an economic Reformation is to attack the current establishment; the difficult part is to present a compelling story without resorting to jargon. Control of the narrative – as George Osborne realised when he criticised Labour for failing to mend the roof while the sun was shining – is crucial. At the launch of the 33 theses last week, Victoria Chick, emeritus professor of economics at University College London, put it this way: “The economics mainstream has the hallmarks of certain religions. They think they have the truth. But read for yourself and think for yourself. Change has occurred before and it can occur again.” She’s right. It can. • Follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk, or sign up to the daily Business Today email here.sendika.org o kadar beslediler boşuna değil tabi. video bilimsel ve laik eğitim hareketi’nin “bilim dışı müfredatı durduralım” eyleminin çağrısı için kadıköy khalkedon meydanı’nda açtığı standa osmanlı ocakları’ndan olduğunu söyleyen gerici-faşist bir grup saldırı girişiminde bulundu.o kadar beslediler boşuna değil tabi. ikisidebir şövale parçalıyorlar. iç sızlatan görüntüler... ugurpasa ne oldu bu ülkeye bilmem diye sorgulatıyor. gerçek beyefendi osmanlılar mezardan kalksa bu hırbolara öyle bir osmanlı tokadı patlatır ki kafaları rüzgar gülü gibi dönerdi. nerenin kimin imalatı bilinmez, ipini kopran pis kafasını osmanlının adına bulayıp ortaya dökülmüyor mu.. tatil kufesi demir sopalarla gelip 3 kez püskürtülüp geri toplanmışlar. bilin bakalım bu esnada orada olan sivil polisler ne yapmış? ikisidebir kerhane bebelerinin anayasal suç işlemesidir. anayasanın 2. maddesinde belirtildiği üzere türkiye cumhuriyeti "laik" bir devlettir ki bu anayasa son yıllarda yapboza dönmüş, tek adama göre dizayn edilmiş bir anayasa olmasına rağmen bu maddesine dokunulmayan bir anayasadır. normal bir hukuk devletinde bu zibidilere çoktan hadlerinin bildirilmiş olması lazımdı. nickbulamadimnolcak ben zengin bir bebeim ama bu çomar piçler bana saldıracak götlerine bıçağı dayardım. benim anam ağlayacağına itlerin anası ağlasın. bir yiğide -hem de ufak tefek bir aslana- saldıran iri yarı üç-beş it ve korkak orospu çocuğu olan videodur.ben zengin bir bebeim ama bu çomar piçler bana saldıracak götlerine bıçağı dayardım. benim anam ağlayacağına itlerin anası ağlasın. migfer (bkz: 'ün böyleleri için kullandığı bir tabir var; "vatansız ve milliyetsiz mürteci beyinsizler..." (bkz: içimizdeki ışidliler (bkz: islamofaşizm atatürk 'ün böyleleri için kullandığı bir tabir var;"vatansız ve milliyetsiz mürteci beyinsizler..." violatorclownI watched “The Interview” over the holidays. It was surprisingly funny and quite over-the-top. Even though it was entirely satirical, one could see why the North Korean regime found the movie offensive, and even threatening. In one scene, the main protagonist asks the North Korean leader in a live television interview, “Why do you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on nuclear weapons while your people are starving?” Again, even in a comedy movie, one would imagine that this sort of question would hit a nerve.Prior to the hack against Sony Pictures, it is fair to say that the world underestimated North Korea’s cyber capabilities given that previous hacks had been rudimentary DDoS attacks against South Korean businesses and conservative media. Moreover, when the North uploaded a clunky video in February 2013 with an image of U.S. President Barack Obama in flames, most laughed at the low sophistication of the project rather than felt threatened.Obama announced that North Korea was the source of the cyberhack, and referred to it as an attack on the values of his country and a threat to business. But he stopped short of classifying it as a national security threat.Yet the Sony hack represents only the latest in a long-term effort by the North Korean state to develop a full range of asymmetric capabilities - long-range missiles, nuclear weapons, chemical and bio agents, and now cyber - to thwart the United States. Moreover, it is demonstrating significant advances in these technologies. The last ballistic missile test successfully launched a payload vehicle into orbit, and North Korea has promised that its next nuclear test will demonstrate new advancements in bomb technology.So what will the response be? When asked this question, Obama used language that is often reserved for the gravest situations. Saying that the United States will respond proportionately “at a place and time of our choosing” signals that the hack will not go unpunished and suggests the measure will be significant. The most immediate element would be a criminal investigation to locate the individual perpetrators of the hack and anyone who aided and abetted it in third countries.Another likely element will be to upgrade our current level of cyber cooperation with allies and partners. The United States and South Korea, both victims of North Korean attacks, recently started a bilateral cyber defense dialogue. Other partners are likely to include Japan and perhaps even China. Though Beijing is at the top of the cyber threat list and previous attempts at bilateral dialogue have been difficult, the potential for rogue activity by North Korean hackers against Chinese firms, not just American ones, may be a spur to some cooperation.Politicians and policy experts have also called for another round of financial and trade sanctions aimed at choking off the North’s access to information technology.Media has speculated that North Korea will be put back on the state sponsors of terrorism list, but this is unlikely. Obama has referred to the hack as “cyber vandalism,” not “cyber terrorism,” which is a pretty good sign that he will not seek to reinstate them on the terrorism list.But there are things to consider beyond this standard menu.The prospects of a “hackback” are not as fruitless as some may think. Though the North has only about 12,000 computers with Internet access, state-sanctioned computer facilities and training centers are all identifiable based on open sources and are therefore potential targets for disruption, including the leaking of internal correspondence and procedures that would be embarrassing for the regime.But the correct proportional response is not to cut North Korea off from information technology, as the recent Internet outages in the North seem to suggest, but to flood the country with information about the outside world. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution last month calling for a referral of the regime to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.Pyongyang’s decision to take such outrageous steps to stop a fictional movie speaks to the premium they place on control of information and denial of free expression to their own people. Though North Korea engages in illicit arms and drug trade, counterfeiting, nuclear proliferation and now cybercrime, the denial of information to their own people is among its worst human rights abuses.Satiating the people’s thirst for information about the outside world through radio broadcasting, DVDs and flash drives (loaded with movies) is one response to supplement any hackback. But the best proportional response would be to devise a way from outside of the country to provide the North Korean people with universal access to the Internet from the country’s two million-plus smartphones, computers and personal tablets. Not only would this deter the North from considering future attacks, but it would be helping to improve and empower the human condition in the country.Hollywood should respond to the demise of “The Interview” not by castigating Sony and complaining about a violation of First Amendment rights, but by substantively taking up the mantle of North Korean human rights. Among the many noble causes that the stars have adopted, not a single one has sought to help the 22 million living in one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history.The author is professor at Georgetown University and senior adviser at CSIS in Washington D.C.by Victor ChaThe state-level attacks on Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide affordable health care for low-income women continue. In Wisconsin: Along party lines, senators voted 18-14 for a bill that would restrict how much Planned Parenthood could be reimbursed for prescription drugs, stripping it of perhaps $4 million a year, according to a rough estimate by Planned Parenthood. A second measure the Senate approved would cut another $3.5 million in government payments to Planned Parenthood. The moves come four years after Republicans made other funding cuts to Planned Parenthood, which the group says led to the closure of five rural clinics that provided birth control and health screenings but not abortions. But hey, it’s all just fine and dandy, because: Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) said taxpayers who oppose abortion shouldn't have their money go toward Planned Parenthood. Women can get their birth control from other providers, he said. "Since when is birth control a rare commodity? I think it's pretty easy to find," he said. Spoken like a man who probably has health insurance and doesn’t have to take responsibility for birth control anyway. In reality, if you can’t afford to go to the doctor—because, say, your local Planned Parenthood clinic was forced to close due to Republican funding cuts—many forms of birth control are going to be very hard to “find” or pay for. But pshaw. What’s really important here, according to Duey Stroebel, is that if you’re a taxpayer who opposes abortion, you should be able to cut off access to birth control for low-income women. The prescription drug reimbursement bill goes next to the Assembly (also controlled by Republicans), while the Assembly already passed the bill prohibiting Title X money from going to Planned Parenthood, so Gov. Scott Walker’s desk is that bill’s next stop.Old Halloween images from the public domain 6 Gallery: Old Halloween images from the public domain Halloween is just a week away and there's no better time for a good ghost story. Below is a letter written from telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell to his wife, Mable, dated Sunday, June 12, 1887, in which he relates a ghostly encounter he experienced while staying at the Parker House in Boston. For more information, including images of the actual letter, see on the Library of Congress' American Memory website. Also visit the American Memory site — online at — for other great and texts and images from American history, as well as audio and video. All of the Halloween images in the gallery accompanying this post were found via the site, are public domain and are credited in their captions. The letter below has been posted using the Library of Congress transcription, though I added paragraph breaks to make the letter easier to read online. Enjoy! "My sweet darling wife: "How time flies! The past week has gone — I know not how — and you have subsisted only on telegrams! I have intended each day to write full accounts — but somehow — Jack Ballachey — Arthur McCurdy — and — Fate — have been in the way. For a whole week I have intended to write to you concerning your mysterious visit to Cape Breton Island! — in the spirit — and yet you know nothing about it even now. However your appearance made such an uncanny impression on my mind — that I will commence my story now. "Last Sunday I rose at nine o'clock, took some lunch and a bottle of milk in my little satchel — and was driven to Red Head — determined to spend the whole day in the open air — wandering through the woods and on the shore. It was a glorious day — and the air cool and bracing. Col. Jack was at church — and I had a beautiful day of solitude and thought — all to myself. I wandered over the whole summit of Red Head and penetrated even to the shore on the other side where the fresh water ponds lie. "You have been over a portion of the route so you know how much exertion that means. My clothes were so soaked with perspiration that I actually felt afraid to sit down and rest for fear of catching cold — and yet when I reached the shore I could go no further. I solved the problem by taking off my clothes and hanging them on the bushes to dry in the sun — while I retired in puris naturalibus to a secluded spot to eat my lunch in peace — and rest. The water looked so bright and clear that I felt greatly tempted to try a plunge — especially as I had a towel with me. However, Prudence conquered. A cold plunge — while one is hot and weary — would be a dangerous experiment indeed. I determined to run no risks — and did not. "Davie Dunlop agreed to meet me with a buggy about five o'clock — at the road above our harbor. Unfortunately I was on the wrong side of the mountain — so that it was just six o'clock before I was able to reach him — and a weary trudge it was — along the shore past the McRae ponds and over the mountain at the end of the bay. I was thoroughly exhausted by the time I found him and when we reached Baddeck it was as much as I could do to tumble into bed. And Oh! how nice it felt to lie there and take my supper — breakfast-life in bed. After supper I turned over in bed and read a book — but not for long — I was soon disturbed by a gentle knock at the door. 'Come in' I said — and a girl entered and removed the supper things. "I had hardly settled myself down to my book again — when I heard the door open softly — without a knock. I thought it was Jack Ballachey peeping in to see whether I was asleep or not. As I did not wish to be disturbed I kept as quiet as a mouse, pretending to be asleep hoping he would go away. Then I heard the rustling of a dress — some one entered the room very quietly and shut the door behind her. Now my curiosity was thoroughly aroused. The girl had taken the supper things away a short time before — what did she want now? I kept perfectly still pretending to be asleep — my back was towards the door so that I could not see what she was about — but I kept my ears pretty wide open I can tell you. "The girl came close up to the bed and bent over me. Then I felt a hand placed lightly on my shoulder — and a soft cheek was laid on my cheek — and a voice said 'How do you do little boy'!!! Fancy my surprise — for the voice Mabel — was your voice!! While I was wondering how in all the world you had managed to come — and why you had come without letting me know — I felt you kiss me on the cheek. I turned over at once and put out my arms to give you a good hug — and there was no one there! "I declare I was never so startled and surprised in my life for I was not asleep! The whole thing was perfectly real to me at the time — and I feel sure I was not asleep! It was simply and purely a delusion — perfectly real while it lasted — occasioned I suppose by my weakness and exhaustion. I have scarcely recovered from the effects of the shock even yet! A sort of a creepy uncanny sort of feeling came over me — which it required all my philosophy to dispel. I won't try such a walk again — although the memory of it is delightful to recall. "What do you say to your ladyships ghost!? Are you not ashamed to allow your double to travel round like that — to frighten your poor husband out of his wits. Your loving, Alec." Share your ghost stories in the comments section below or send me an email with your ghostly stories and photos. Happy Halloween! Simon A. Thalmann is the online editor for Booth Features. He can be reached at sthalmann@kalamazoogazette.com.Banana peels and flying turtle shells may not be realistic hazards on the road, but it turns out playing the video game “Mario Kart” really does prepare you for the real-world driver’s seat. A study published this month in the journal Psychological Science found that some video games (like Nintendo’s famous go-kart racing game) can significantly sharpen visual motor skills. This coordination between incoming visual cues and muscle responses, called visuomotor control by the researchers, is essential for everyday tasks, including driving. BLOOMimage via Getty Images For their study, researchers from New York University Shanghai and University of Hong Kong had 80 students and faculty from the University of Hong Kong participate in several experiments involving different video games. Action-based video games, for example, force the gamer to respond to visual cues. Think driving-centric games, like “Mario Kart,” or first-person shooter games, such as “Unreal Tournament.” Non-action games, on the other hand, include those like “Sims 2” and “Roller Coaster Tycoon,” where the gamer is responsible for directing the action. In one experiment, subjects with no action-based video game experience were asked to played “Mario Kart” or a first-person shooter game. After 10 one-hour sessions, their visuomotor-control skills showed significant improvement. By comparison, those that played non-action video games saw no improvement after the same amount of game time, leading researchers to argue that action-based games actually teach and enhance visuomotor-control skills over time. “Playing an action video game for as little as 5 (hours) improves the precision and response amplitude of visuomotor control,” they wrote. In another experiment, experienced gamers — those who played at least five hours of action-based video games a week — were better at controlling a virtual car in a driving simulation test than those who had little or no experience playing such video games. This experiment, the researchers argue, shows action-based video games can be cost-effective, easily accessible training tools to help people become better drivers. Rubberball/Mike Kemp Even experienced drivers can benefit from a little virtual help. Only 14 of the 80 participants had a driver’s license, and being a licensed driver had no effect on the study’s outcome. “We found that the improvement observed in participants who had driver licenses was similar to whose who did not,” Li Li, lead author, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post. Surprisingly, experienced drivers may want to reach for their favorite first-person shooter games over the driving-centric ones. First-person shooter games can help experienced drivers become better defensive drivers, the study argues, because they “require players to constantly make predictions about both where and when bullets will most likely hit.” This helps people predict “input error signals.” Worried about the violent aspect? Don’t be, Li said. “There is no solid research evidence supporting the claim that playing (first-person shooter games) leads to violence in real life,” Li said, citing an article from Scientific American that concludes that there is no causal relation between violent video games and the perpetuation of violent acts.VANCOUVER – Vancouver Island public health officials have now confirmed it was norovirus that caused more than 80 people to fall ill following a swim at Thetis Lake Regional Park. Despite recent samples of the beach water at Thetis Lake showing no increased levels of bacteria, people who swam at the beach on Friday June 6, and Saturday, June 7, complained of vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Health officials say the most likely source of the norovirus was transient contamination of the water from someone who was ill. Contamination of the water will dissipate over a period of time, but how quickly will depend on the weather and water conditions. Public health staff have confirmed that the public washroom at the beach had extra cleaning on Monday and Tuesday, over and above the regular cleaning. Unlike swimming pools, natural water sources like lakes and beaches are not treated or disinfected. Visitors to lakes and beaches should take the following precautions when they or their children swim in untreated water sources: Don’t swim if you are ill, Do not consume the water, Clean your hands thoroughly before eating and drinking, and Shower at home after swimming. Island Health took additional water samples yesterday and will continue with increased water testing at Thetis Lake beach over the next few weeks. If you are unsure about whether to seek medical attention, call HealthLine at 8-1-1 for advice.US State Department spokeswoman Victoria
500 more than third place, 1,000 more than 18th place. And of course, he’s done it all with laughably mediocre stuff — a fastball that hasn’t averaged even 87 mph in nearly a decade, and a career strikeout rate that barely cracked 5 K/9. During Buehrle’s 15-year career, 395 different pitchers have thrown at least 500 total innings. Of those 395, just 83 have struck out fewer than 15% of their batters faced, which highlights how hard it is to stick around, especially in today’s game, without any whiffs. Even among that group, Buehrle stands out from the rest. See if you can guess which data point is his: Buehrle’s got more than double the WAR of any of his low-strikeout peers, truly separating himself as the modern master of the contact pitcher. He was remarkably consistent, not only in his ability to take the ball every fifth day, but in his performance, too: Only once did Buehrle have a strikeout rate higher than league average — 2004, a five-win season with a K%+ of 101 — yet he was always at least league average pitcher — often much better — and was always something of an outlier. The way Buehrle succeeded was unique, of course. He got his ground balls, but he wasn’t the best at getting ground balls. He limited walks, but he wasn’t the best a limiting walks. He generated soft contact, but he wasn’t the best at generating soft contact. Buehrle simply avoided damage with his sub-90 mph fastball by throwing strikes while simultaneously avoiding the middle of the plate: That’s Buehrle’s entire career during the PITCHf/x era, and it’s something of a remarkable graphic. You see Buehrle living on the first-base edge of the zone, making sure to keep his pitches low, while also being able to spot the same pitch on the opposite side of the zone, for the most part avoiding the heart of the plate. Buehrle’s retained the ability to pitch this way until the end; just last year, he led all of baseball in the percentage of pitches located on the horizontal edges of the plate. We haven’t even gotten to the most extreme Buehrle-isms. Buehrle was known (and loved by sportswriters) for working considerably quicker than any pitcher of his time. Not only did Buehrle throw a pitch every 16 seconds, but he did even more to shorten the time of his games by getting tons of double plays and having the most efficient pickoff move of all time: When Sammy Sosa reached base against Buehrle on April 18, 2007 — the only batter to do so during Buehrle’s no-hitter that day — he promptly picked Sosa off first. And not only do Buehrle’s 100 total career pickoffs rank second all-time, but nobody’s pulled them off at a higher rate: Due in part to Buehrle’s ability to hold base runners on first, he never allowed any steals. In 16 major league seasons, just 59 runners successfully stole a base against Buehrle, with 81 being thrown out. The 59 steals in 3,283 innings is the third-lowest rate of steals against a pitcher in baseball history (again, minimum 2,000 innings), with only Terry Mulholland and Fritz Peterson posting more impressive figures than Buehrle. And, oh yeah, he could field his position pretty well, too, if the four Gold Gloves and eye-popping Defensive Runs Saved totals didn’t make that clear enough: The freakish durability, the pinpoint command to both sides of the plate, the pickoffs, the controlling of the run game, the double plays, the Gold Glove defense. Put it all together, and it starts to become clear how a lefty drafted in the 38th round out of Jefferson College with a sub-90s fastball can go join Jim Bunning, Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson, Addie Joss, Sandy Koufax and Cy Young as the only pitchers in baseball history to throw both a no-hitter and a perfect game, how that same lefty out of Jefferson College with the sub-90s fastball can help win a World Series while becoming one of the best pitchers in White Sox history and putting together a borderline Hall of Fame career. It would be a treat to see Buehrle continue pitching. After all, he’s still doing Buehrle things. He’s still not missing any starts, he’s still posting better than league average ERAs, he’s still getting an absurd percentage of called strikeouts and fielding his position well and picking runners off and, just last year, for the first time in his career, he didn’t allow a single stolen base. But if Buehrle wants to hang it up, then that’s his choice, and if that’s the case, then shout out to Mark Buehrle. Shout to Mark Buehrle for having an impressive and endlessly interesting career, and shout out to Mark Buehrle for teaching us so much more about a game that, despite how often we watch it and play and think and write and read about it, we’ll never truly understand.Stripe, the Silicon Valley e-commerce payments platform founded by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison, is growing up. It has been steadily adding a seasoned management team to prepare it for growth beyond the US. In the past year, the company began maturing its management structure with the hiring of former Google X division executive Claire Johnson as its new head of operations. The company also hired former Twitter executive Don O’Leary to spearhead the company’s European expansion from a base in Dublin’s Digital Hub and has been actively recruiting talented tech workers from all over Europe. The company has also hired Thrive Capital’s Will Gaybrick as its first CFO. Stripe, started by Irish brothers John and Patrick Collison, was recently valued at $5bn after raising just under $100m from investors including card giant Visa. Stripe was founded five years ago when Patrick was 22 and John was 19. The company has received investment from Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Sequoia Capital, Visa and American Express to name a few. Stripe enables internet sites to accept credit and debit card payments easily and without friction. Today, the company processes billions of dollars a year for customers that include Kickstarter and Salesforce. ‘We see our mission as increasing the GDP of the internet’ – JOHN COLLISON, STRIPE Speaking with Siliconrepublic.com at the Web Summit in Dublin this week, John Collison said the company is on track to grow from 300 or so employees today to 1,000 people. He said Stripe has had to mature its management team to cope with stellar growth. “We [Patrick and I] were the first people working on Stripe and we developed a lot of the ideas but you have to be very clear on where your own limitations are and the fact that we are now a 300-person company and we will soon be approaching a 1,000-person company. “And there are loads of things we don’t have experience doing and we want to do exceedingly well and so that’s why, last year, we hired Claire Hughes Johnson as COO, we recently hired a CFO, Will Gaybrick, and that for us is about bringing in expertise for things we don’t necessarily happen to be really good at.” Collison believes that while Silicon Valley is the epicentre of the technology world, US companies need to locate overseas to achieve international growth. “I don’t think any company seriously tries to scale internationally from Silicon Valley in the US. I don’t think you can have all your people in the US and build a competent international company and so we are trying to grow overseas, not just Europe, also in Australia. In Europe, we are hiring people in Dublin, London, Paris and Berlin. “Don O’Leary, formerly of Twitter, is heading up our Dublin office here and we are starting to build out for a number of roles for our European operation – multilingual support, sales, finance – and it is going well. We are pretty excited about it.” Taking the friction out of e-commerce John and Patrick Collison set out to tackle the frictions involved in online payment that they believed were holding entrepreneurs and established businesses back from creating digital businesses. “When you talk about friction, it can seem trivial, but what we mean is the effects and the knock-on effects that result in an impediment to what is happening online. “It is so hard to start an online business that some people don’t get over that hump – or are restricted from creating an international business. “We want to make it so easy and so, almost, default, to be getting up and running, selling online and internationally. “We see our mission as increasing the GDP of the internet, providing the tools and infrastructure. We are not an online shop ourselves, but we are providing the infrastructure that business run on to make being an online business easier.” If you have been paying close attention to the evolution of digital and mobile payments, Stripe has been at the heart of key evolutions such as Apple Pay and the processing of mobile payments by platforms like Twitter and Kickstarter. “It is all part of a larger thing,” Collison explains. “If you are starting a business tomorrow, we want Stripe to be at the heart of that. If you are setting up an online shop or a software-as-a-business product or a mobile marketplace, or you are building the next Uber or Hailo, we want Stripe to give you everything you need to run that online business “Apple Pay is one very effective piece of that puzzle where if someone is buying from you on an iPhone they no longer need to enter details by hand but just press their thumbprint sensor and they’re done. We have to think about Android users as well and so we want to provide the complete package for these online businesses, which will involve a whole lot of these components. “There is no silver bullet or one thing that will solve everything, it is about providing those platforms that make the whole thing easy for business.” The success code Irish policymakers and educators are still asleep at the wheel when it comes to realising the value of ensuring coding becomes a part of the school curriculum. If there is an example of why coding matters in terms of a thriving future, the example of John and Patrick Collison’s success so far is a glaring one. But John Collison goes a step further and says all entrepreneurs should have some coding ability. “Learning to code is hugely useful and it is encouraging to see resources going into it. When we started out we were mostly taking resources from different places on the internet and from books, whereas there are now lots of resources. “It’s not that you can’t start a company without knowing how to code – there are plenty of good examples – but it is so easy to just turn your thoughts to something concrete if the feedback cycle is so short you can do it yourself. “It’s hard to create furniture without woodworking skills, similarly, if building apps or web pages it is so much better to understand the medium and build prototypes. If the business is successful the ironic thing is you are not going to end up coding, you will code yourself out of a job. I don’t write any code for Stripe today but for that initial phase where you are seeing what works or doesn’t it is really valuable to know how to code,” he concludes. “Some of the best ideas sound kind of wonky at first or seem a little out there, but it is much better to pursue an original idea that sounds a bit weird than a clone of an existing business that will always be limited in its potential.”Emu oil has become popular recently due to health claims surrounding its uses and benefits. Before using emu oil, it is important to understand what it is used for and what possible health benefits it has. It is also important to learn about the possible risks and side effects of using the oil. What is emu oil? Emu oil and other emu products are becoming popular around the world. Emu oil and other emu products are becoming popular around the world. An emu is a flightless bird, scientifically named Dromaius novaehallandiae. The bird is native to Australia, but is now found in many countries, because of a rising popularity of nutritious emu meat and medicinal emu oil. Emu oil is a bright yellow liquid, made up of mostly fat, which is collected from the deposits below the skin of the bird. It is a widely available commercial product that may have some unique benefits. Once the fats are collected, they are passed through various filters and processes until pure oil is produced. The different types of emu oil depend on the different levels of filtration and processing. Most emu oils will go through full processing in order to reduce bacteria and contaminants. Some emu oils are refined more than others, in order to create higher contents of fatty acids. Organizations such as the American Emu Association have certification programs that aim to ensure that the emu oil people buy is pure, and that the emus enjoyed the best possible lives. Completely pure emu oil will always be fully refined. This is the type of emu oil that is studied for its beneficial effects. Benefits The use of emu oil originates from the Australian Aborigine culture. According to their oral history, emu oil has been used for over 40,000 years. The oil has been used to relieve minor aches and pains, help wounds heal quicker, and protect skin from the elements. The Native Australians first introduced emu oil into European culture as a natural sunscreen and moisturizer. European settlers soon adopted the use of emu oil and many other natural remedies that the Native Australians provided. Since then, people have attributed many more benefits to emu oil, although evidence is lacking to support many of these claims. Anti-inflammatory The most popular benefit of emu oil is its use as an anti-inflammatory. It also contains compounds that have antioxidant properties. In a review posted to the journal Nutrition, researchers noted that the potent anti-inflammatory effect of emu oil may be beneficial in treating conditions such as: ear inflammation inflammatory bowel syndrome arthritis In the case of arthritis, it is used as a massage oil. Emu oil is also said to prevent bone loss induced by chemotherapy. Enhancing skin moisture and absorption Emu oil is thought to have benefits for skin conditions and wounds. Emu oil is thought to have benefits for skin conditions and wounds. The skin easily absorbs emu oil. This can help lock in skin moisture, making the skin less prone to cracking or drying out. Emu oil may help reduce skin damage associated with cancer radiation. It appears that emu oil can pass this absorbable trait on to other compounds when they are mixed together. This property may explain why emu oil is regularly mixed into moisturizers containing other helpful compounds. Stimulating the skin The research also signals that applying emu oil to the skin may help increase the number of healthy skin cells. Emu oil stimulates the skin to reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, and rejuvenate aging or sun-damaged skin. Emu oil has also been recommended for use in the treatment of skin conditions, such as skin wounds and seborrheic dermatitis. It may also help with alopecia, rosacea, hypopigmentation, and shingles. Healing wounds Because of its painkilling effect, antioxidant levels, and ability to reach deep into the skin, emu oil can be applied to small wounds, cuts, bruises, or burns. It can help ease the pain of minor wounds, and the antioxidants may help protect the skin from additional damage. Bug repellant Applying emu oil to the skin before heading outdoors can help repel insects. This is partly due to substances called terpenes found in the oil. Many insects are disoriented or repelled by terpenes, and putting the oil on exposed skin can keep bugs at bay. Reducing cholesterol When taken orally, emu oil may reduce cholesterol in the body. In 2004, researchers found that hamsters that consumed either emu oil or olive oil had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those that received coconut oil in their diet. More trials are needed to substantiate these claims, but the results are promising. Treating ulcers According to some research posted to Pharmacy Today, emu oil may also help treat ulcers. In people who had ulcers, applications of various levels of emu oil had a protective effect. In some cases, the oil even reduced the size of the ulcers. Breast sensitivity According to a peer-reviewed article, posted to Nutrition, emu oil may also reduce the breast sensitivity common in breastfeeding mothers. When newborns latch onto the breast, some women may experience pain caused by an improper latch. This can result in soreness, engorgement, cracked and dry skin, and pain. These symptoms may be severe enough to cause some new mothers to stop breastfeeding. Researchers found that when breastfeeding mothers used an emu-based cream for a 24-hour period beginning soon after delivery, the breast areola and nipple skin was more hydrated. However, more research is needed before guidelines for breastfeeding will change to include emu oil. Before feeding her baby, a woman should wipe her nipple and breast with a warm cloth to remove any residual oil. This is because emu oil has not been proven safe for infants and children to ingest. It is also possible to be allergic to emu oil. Function Native Australians have used emu oil for thousands of years for its anti-inflammatory effects and benefits to the skin. Native Australians have used emu oil for thousands of years for its anti-inflammatory effects and benefits to the skin. While many topical creams claim to be effective for dry skin, arthritis, and inflammation, most creams and lotions are made up of large particles that cannot penetrate the skin. However, emu oil is made up of smaller particles, which allows it to carry many healthful compounds to deep layers of the skin. Emu oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), antioxidants, and compounds, including: Essential fatty acids: Emu oil is high in omega-3, omega 6, and omega-9 fatty acids. These help reduce inflammation, ease muscular pain, and arthritic joint pain. They may also help relieve signs of wrinkles, scars, and blemishes by nourishing the skin cells. Vitamin A: An antioxidant and essential nutrient, vitamin A is an excellent skin tonic, often found in topical anti-aging creams. Additional compounds like carotenoids, flavones, polyphenols, tocopherol, and phospholipids. Risks Emu oil is a natural product and there are few documented side effects. Some people may experience skin irritation when applying emu oil directly to the skin as a topical ointment. To avoid this, a person should apply a small amount of emu oil to a small patch of skin, such as the back of one hand. If an allergic reaction occurs, they should stop using the oil. It may also be important to consider the source of the emu oil. Emus thrive when they have plenty of room to roam and are able to eat a rich diet. Low-quality living conditions may result in inferior quality oil. It is best to buy oil from a reputable source, especially as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not regulate its production. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before using emu oil. It is important to consult a doctor about the possible uses of emu oil and if it will affect a pregnancy. Emu oil is available for purchase online, but you should check first with a health care provider to ensure it is suitable for you to use.Okay, truth...my daughter is 10 and in the 5th grade. Grandpa, an avid reader like myself, went out on a limb and bought the book for her last Easter. We struggle to find books that are in her 8.4-9.5 reading level, have age appropriate content with a plot she has the life experiences to connect to and comprehend, that are also challenging AND interest her...tall order. We have read all the popular series - adore Harry Potter, of course; tore through the "Greggor the Overlander" series, etc. - so even though in previewing the series I noticed it contains some very minor-vanilla...no F-bombs or S$$T level, mature-type language, and there are a couple scenes that hint at an intimate relationship in book 2 (trying not to spoil books), I gave the book a green light. We started reading it together, taking turns reading aloud, and were BOTH immediately, read 30-40 pages at a time, wake up needing to see what happens to Celena, come home from school hoping to fit in a read and "see what Celena has gotten up to now" before dance, hooked like I have never seen her before!!! And while she is an awesome reader, she is not, by any means a sit & read person, preferring to dance, sing, socialize, game, etc...yet another challenge to add to the list. The challenged are important to note because the way Maas has crafted the characters has achieved what NO OTHER series has for my daughter, and that is to draw her in to the point she NEEDS to keep reading, every single day. The characters are beautifully developed to the point where my daughter was crying when she thought her favorite character died, and was angry at who did die. Maas has painstaking developed 3-dimensional characters that are ever evolving, and that are relatable to all ages. She has also created an entirely new setting that is similar enough to other books of the same genre, like Hunger Games (she has read/watched all), yet it is entirely new & fresh. The writing is clear & thought-provoking, and she weaves in asides & flashbacks that challenge and engage readers. We have had the most incredible conversations and my daughter has made multiple connections to other texts, movies, life, and especially music/song lyrics while reading. These connections are the reason I personally & professionally recommend the series to children beginning at age 10 who are reading at a 6.5-7+ grade level, primarily due to the challenging vocabulary. The twists and turns, the co afflicts & themes, character interactions, vivid & selected detailing, and obviously careful/thoughtful word choices make this series, in my opinion, an award winning, best selling series. As a reading specialist and 18 year veteran teacher of struggling readers, I fully give not just this book, but the entire series 5 stars! I could rave on and on...but I don't want to give away a single detail and only, sincerely hope what I have shared has piqued your curiosity enough to give the series a try yourself, along with a loved one, and that through sharing our personal experiences with the books I have helped answer the question of reader age appropriateness & interest level. Buckle up...it's a wild, wonderful ride through Adarlan!Stephen Harper is already notorious for his obsession with information control and for avoiding contact with Canadian media, especially experienced political reporters, regardless of their political sensibilities. And if the Conservatives win the election this October, we may never get the straight goods again about what’s going on in Canadian public affairs. Already, with 3,325 government spin doctors hard at work, our contact with the prime minister comes mostly through carefully planned photo-ops, on-line propaganda, or carefully staged “interviews.” During the election campaign, this control will tighten to an amazing degree. Only people vetted by his political handlers will be allowed to come near the prime minister. While avoiding media, Harper has been busy creating a parallel political information machine, using the corporate funds his party receives to create what one communications expert has called a “public relations state.” The CBC: Stephen Harper’s prime target Underlying this relentless drive to shape what Canadians are told about him has been one abiding project for Stephen Harper: weakening the CBC. Despite being the pre-eminent source of news on public life in Canada, the CBC has been targeted in the prime minister’s search-and-destroy plans. For over a decade, he has been mobilizing forces to turn the national broadcaster into a spent force, both now and in the long run. While in Opposition, Stephen Harper said, at a May 18, 2005 press conference: “… When you look at things like main English-language television and probably to a lesser degree Radio Two, you could look there at putting those on a commercial basis." It was part of his general denial of a distinct “Canadian” culture, separate from the U.S. He acknowledged only that there are “regional cultures within Canada, regional cultures that cross borders with the US. We're part of a worldwide Anglo-American culture. And there is a continental culture." So if Harper believes Canada lacks a “Canadian” culture, and if the only thing he considers to be important is “the economy” – then he sees nothing wrong with turning the CBC into just another commercial station. There are three ways he intends to do this. Financial starvation and insider subversion First, there’s the approach he’s used since he got into power: cutting resources and stacking the CBC leadership with Conservative supporters. As this graph from the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting shows, Harper has incrementally reduced the CBC’s budget – not as fast as in the early Chrétien years, when the CBC operated on a much grander scale, but in a slow and inexorable fashion, now reaching all-time lows. Declining CBC funding over 1990-2014. Graph from Friends of CBC website. Another strategy has been to fill CBC's board with people who support his political aims – small government, reduced public services, and shrinking taxes. CBC Board members affiliated with the Harper government Included in the Conservative Party insider group that directs the affairs of the CBC is the president himself, lawyer Hubert Lacroix, well-recognized in his home province of Québec for his pro-business bias, and for his generally lukewarm defence of the public broadcaster. Creating a political atmosphere that renders the CBC vulnerable The second way that the Prime Minister is working to neutralize the CBC as an independent force is to create a regulatory environment that leads inevitably to the reduction of the scope and power of the national broadcaster. Back in 2008, when Harper was leading a minority government, he fulfilled a 2006 election promise and convened a session of the Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage focused on the CBC. Lacking majority powers, the Committee had only five out of 12 members from the Conservative Party, and as a result its report, “CBC/Radio Canada: Defining Distinctiveness in the Changing Media Landscape,” published in February, 2008, was quite supportive of the national broadcaster. It acknowledged, for example, that “the vast majority of witnesses called for an end to advertising on CBC/Radio-Canada television,” and that “in an ideal world there would be no advertising,” recommending “that the Government of Canada and CBC/Radio-Canada work toward decreasing CBC Radio-Canada's relative dependency on advertising revenues for television programming.” To accomplish this, the Committee also firmly recommended that the CBC receive “stable, multi-year funding… indexed to the cost of living. Funding should be for a period of not less than seven years and be established by means of the proposed memorandum of understanding.” The Senate sets up the dismantling of the CBC In 2010, CBC management was sharply criticized by various Conservatives for alleged “Liberal bias.” So, it commissioned a study to examine if this was so. The study showed that the CBC gave more time to Conservative MPs than MPs in all other parties (65 per cent of air time), and more than private broadcasters as well. Fast forward to 2015. A study was released a few weeks ago by the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications. This body had a majority of Conservative members (six out of nine), and no NDP or Party representation (both NDP and the Greens support expanded funding for the CBC). The Senators went off to the UK to study the BBC, famed around the world for exemplary coverage of public and world affairs – and a lack of commercial bias. The study noted that public funding of the BBC is three times greater than the CBC receives, and that the physical area covered is only 2.4 per cent of Canada, and that Canadian broadcasters have faced intense pressure from the much larger US industry for decades, and that broadcasting in Canada is complicated by two official languages and six time zones. (p.21-22) Funding for major public broadcasters including CBC and BBC. Then, under Stephen Harper’s watchful eye, they ripped the CBC apart, asking it to: Do more with less: “The Corporation must learn to manage itself better, using fewer resources to meet its mandate.” (p.39) Sell off all its dedicated and purpose-built facilities, and just rent space: “The committee recommends that the CBC/Radio-Canada divest itself of its current real estate holdings and lease facilities and office space required for its operations.” (An ominous prelude to more cuts?) (p.39) Stop whining about its lack of resources: “The CBC/Radio-Canada has never been satisfied with its level of funding.” (p.44) We should not be giving the CBC money, period, the study concluded. And in 2015, in contrast to 2007, the Senators declared that advertising on the CBC is a great idea. What the Senate ignored A table on page 58 of the Senate report shows clearly that CBC television, compared to private broadcasters, spends far more on Canadian documentaries, Canadian sports, Canadian sports, and far less on U.S. film, drama, music, human interest, award and reality shows. Its spending on news is nearly 60 per cent of the news coverage costs of the entire private sector broadcasting services put together. And its spending on Canadian programming is nearly $120-million greater than the entire private sector combined. Clearly, the CBC is Canada’s primary window on ourselves and our country, and relatively free of US broadcasting hegemony, in contrast to commercial media. But the Senators ignored this, and, still hewing to their line of “no more money,” citing witnesses who said the CBC “could certainly offer a lot more Canadian content without necessarily spending more.” They asked for more “amateur sports,” more “municipal and local affairs,” more programs like “Reach for the Top” which “promotes education and inspires our youth to reach for academic excellence.” The CBC could do everything, they implied, except report inconvenient news. Harper, the CBC and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) It just gets worse. Many readers have by now heard about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that massive corporate-dominated draft agreement that governments are negotiating behind closed doors to control the management of 40 per cent of the world’s economic output. The process has been driven by the dominant player in the Pacific Basin (for now) – the United States. So well-guarded are the negotiations, very little would be known about the actual content of this trade deal or about the positions of the various players involved in it without the efforts of Wikileaks, the international investigative journalism organization that specializes in displaying secret government and corporate documents of compelling public interest. Canada has been an observer of these negotiations since 2010, and an active participant since 2012. There are 16-17 Pacific Rim nations involved — but China, notably, is not one of them. Harper has made the completion of the TPP by the time of the election one of his major goals. Unfortunately for him, there are severe fault lines dividing countries in the negotiating process. Protests have emerged and are growing rapidly, outcry from citizens’ advocacy groups around the world. The TPP is several trade deals in one, but the part that relates to the future of the CBC addresses the issue of “state-owned enterprises.” These are legal entities that carry on commercial activities on behalf of a state government, while pursuing public policy goals as well. The CBC is a state-owned-enterprise of the Canadian government. The TPP would require enterprises like the CBC to become subject to “commercial considerations.” This means that the operation of the CBC would have to be based on the same rules as the operation of any private business, its focus profit and loss. The TPP process could also mean the CBC would have to open its doors to competitive bidding from other parts of the world, and buy services from any source outside the country that offered a service as cheap as or cheaper than a Canadian business. So one day, CBC podcasts could be sold from Calcutta or Taiwan, or CBC computer and other technical services could be carried out in China. Anti-TPP protests in New Zealand. Photo from Wikimedia Commons The TPP might very well require the CBC abandon any special arrangements with the federal government and function “impartially” - meaning just like any other business, and any provisions about supplying Canadian content, or acting as a vehicle for Canadian culture, could go out the window. The current government allotment — inadequate as it is — could be gone. If programs from another country such as the U.S. could be purchased for less than Canadian programming, no matter what their content, then the CBC might not be able to refuse to buy or lease them. In broad terms, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Harper wants desperately to see approved and implemented by the time of the election, would destroy the entire meaning and purpose of the CBC. It would also infringe on Canadian cultural expression and on the right of Canada to have a service of any sort – CBC, Canada Post, Canadian National Railways – that is expressly adapted to the needs of our country and its citizens. I would suggest that if you’re not concerned about the implications of this far-reaching and invasive agreement, which violates Canadian sovereignty and self-determination in very fundamental ways, then you’re living in a dream-world. The negotiations of the deal have just been suspended, but Canada has vowed to participate as soon as they restart. We’re at a crucial turning point. I believe we must defeat the Harper Conservatives, before they convert this country into a branch plant operated out of the headquarters of a collection of far-away multinational corporations. It’s crunch time.Justin, a participant in a class on opioid overdose prevention by nonprofit Positive Health Project, practices with naloxone on Tuesday in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Headlines about the opioid epidemic come with often staggering reports of the numbers of deaths, of overdoses, and of lives saved by Naloxone. According to data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 52,404 total deaths in 2015, or 144 drug overdose deaths per day. Overdoses are now considered the leading cause of death of people under the age of 50, according to a New York Times analysis using preliminary data. As staggering as those numbers are, though, there are many reasons to believe the numbers we have are unreliable. One recent study estimated that due to variations from state to state in filling out death certificates, opioid deaths may be underreported nationally as much as 24 percent. If that is true, it’s dangerous: It means that we aren’t fully grasping what is already considered an epidemic or responding appropriately. To help fight this epidemic, we need numbers that are accurate and reflective of the current moment. Community-based coalitions can have a stronger impact if they have access to timely, accurate data that reflect the situation on the ground. In April, the CDC presented a report explaining that opioid-related deaths might be underestimated for several reasons. For one thing, many autopsies show pneumonia as the cause even when the toxicology report shows a high level of opioids in the body. Furthermore, coroners’ guidelines state that a death can only be classified as an overdose if the toxicology report shows a certain blood level. That may seem reasonable, but drug levels can drop fairly quickly after death. If the medical examiner doesn’t do the autopsy soon enough, the toxicology report may not be accurate. In addition, rural counties faced with strained budgets don’t always do toxicology reports due to cost, and without a toxicology report, a death can’t be labeled as an opioid overdose. Lastly, lots of people die in ways that are related—but difficult to formally connect—to opioid addiction, like suicide or car accidents caused by driving while under the influence. More than 1,000 families affected by the opioid epidemic have contributed to the Celebrating Lost Loved Ones interactive map, a project I created to help break stigma and raise awareness about the epidemic after I lost my little brother JT to the opioid epidemic. He was the first person to be listed on the map. Read some of the biographies on the Celebrating Lost Loved Ones site, and you’ll see that many of the deaths don’t officially fall into the overdose category. Some of the families believe that their lost loved ones weren’t officially labeled overdose deaths because of their community’s strong desire to avoid any reporting of drugs. Regardless of the reasons why, it is clear our nation isn’t getting a full picture of this epidemic no matter how high the numbers may seem. One way to help tackle this problem would be for county and state health departments to start examining “opioid related deaths”—for instance, if the toxicology report shows traces of opioids in the system of a person who died by suicide or if recently used drug paraphernalia was found at the scene. Some agencies are starting to examine data in this way. For instance, Oakland County, Michigan, has created an opioid-related deaths map. While it still may not be comprehensive, it gives local officials a far more realistic picture of the state of opioid abuse. Duplicating that could be difficult for county governments with larger populations and massive numbers of autopsy reports, but perhaps they could use technology to comb through all these records to look for signs that opioids may have been involved. We also suffer from out-of-data information. Thanks to a lengthy process, it takes a while for an opioid death to be counted in statistics. Typically, a local county coroner or medical examiner will report data to the state health agency, which in turn passes the information to the CDC. The most recent data on the CDC website contains information on overdose deaths from 2015. But concerned citizens, nurses, elected officials, law, and health staff from government agencies need real-time data (or close to it) to support their efforts of education, prevention, and treatment. Having better information could help direct resources where and when they are most needed. To be exact, communities need access to three key datasets that could be monitored and mapped locally in real time: Death data from the local coroner or medical examiner. Overdose data from law enforcement agencies and their record management systems. Some overdoses may result in a death, though many cases people survive. What’s critical here is the location where these ODs are happening. Data about the number of naloxone saves (that is, people resuscitated using naloxone, an anti-overdose medication) from first responders such as fire departments, police or sheriff departments, and emergency medical services. Communities could also crowdsource this data. Naloxone is now readily available from pharmacies, and many local task forces offer trainings on how to administer. If the community helps track where naloxone saves are coming from, it
poll, said the week's events likely contributed to the shifts in support among Republicans and among those in an age bracket that includes parents, who may be swayed by debate over public safety. "Issues like terrorism and riots play to Donald Trump's narrative," Borick said. The results also suggest some Republicans who had been uncertain about the party's controversial nominee are showing greater support for Trump. "Partisans coming home to their nominee is an expected part of any campaign as you get into the closing days," said Chris Nicholas, a GOP consultant based in Harrisburg. "What's notable here is the very large shift and we're not close to the final days." A demographic analysis showed a double-digit jump in Trump's support among Republicans after Trump underperformed with that group previously. This week, 85 percent of likely GOP voters said they'd choose him over Clinton, compared with 71 percent in the prior survey. While Johnson had appeared to peel away some Republicans from Trump, that effect diminished this week, Borick said. Johnson fell by 6 points in the four-way matchup, while Trump gained by the same figure. In traditionally Republican regions outside the southeast and southwest, Trump gained 9 points and Clinton dropped by 6 points. He also gained among voters between 30 and 49 years old; Trump rose by 10 percentage points to tie with Clinton at 42 percent. The close margin reflects the emphasis both campaign have placed on Pennsylvania with increasingly frequent visits from the nominees and their surrogates. This week, Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama are expected to campaign in Philadelphia on behalf of Clinton, while vice presidential nominee Mike Pence is scheduled to appear in York. The poll also asked voters whether their support for Clinton or Trump stemmed more from that candidate's qualities or from a dislike of the other option. The results were similar for both candidates: A slightly larger group said they were voting for the candidates rather than against their opposition, but not by much. Roughly four in 10 said they were voting for Clinton based on her qualities, while 30 percent said they were choosing her because they want to stop Trump. For Trump, 38 percent said his qualities were the motivating factor, and 32 percent said they want to stop Clinton. One-quarter of Clinton supporters and 19 percent of Trump supporters cited a mix of factors behind their choice. "That says a lot about the negativity of the race," said Borick, adding that the results are similar to national surveys on what's driving supporters on each side. In the U.S. Senate race, which will help determine whether Republicans maintain control of the legislative chamber, Toomey's prospects rose alongside Trump's. McGinty, who previously served as an environmental aide in state and federal administrations, saw her support drop by 3 points compared with the last survey, while Toomey's rose by the same tally. Two in 10 voters, however, remain undecided as the Senate candidates and outside groups continue to flood state airwaves with attack ads. lolson@mcall.com Twitter @LauraOlson 202-824-8216Extreme and traumatic events can change a person -- and often, years later, even affect their children. Researchers of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich have now unmasked a piece in the puzzle of how the inheritance of traumas may be mediated. The phenomenon has long been known in psychology: traumatic experiences can induce behavioural disorders that are passed down from one generation to the next. It is only recently that scientists have begun to understand the physiological processes underlying hereditary trauma. "There are diseases such as bipolar disorder, that run in families but can't be traced back to a particular gene," explains Isabelle Mansuy, professor at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. With her research group at the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich, she has been studying the molecular processes involved in non-genetic inheritance of behavioural symptoms induced by traumatic experiences in early life. Mansuy and her team have succeeded in identifying a key component of these processes: short RNA molecules. These RNAs are synthetized from genetic information (DNA) by enzymes that read specific sections of the DNA (genes) and use them as template to produce corresponding RNAs. Other enzymes then trim these RNAs into mature forms. Cells naturally contain a large number of different short RNA molecules called microRNAs. They have regulatory functions, such as controlling how many copies of a particular protein are made. Small RNAs with a huge impact The researchers studied the number and kind of microRNAs expressed by adult mice exposed to traumatic conditions in early life and compared them with non-traumatized mice. They discovered that traumatic stress alters the amount of several microRNAs in the blood, brain and sperm -- while some microRNAs were produced in excess, others were lower than in the corresponding tissues or cells of control animals. These alterations resulted in misregulation of cellular processes normally controlled by these microRNAs. After traumatic experiences, the mice behaved markedly differently: they partly lost their natural aversion to open spaces and bright light and had depressive-like behaviours. These behavioural symptoms were also transferred to the next generation via sperm, even though the offspring were not exposed to any traumatic stress themselves. Even passed on to the third generation The metabolism of the offspring of stressed mice was also impaired: their insulin and blood-sugar levels were lower than in the offspring of non-traumatized parents. "We were able to demonstrate for the first time that traumatic experiences affect metabolism in the long-term and that these changes are hereditary," says Mansuy. The effects on metabolism and behaviour even persisted in the third generation. "With the imbalance in microRNAs in sperm, we have discovered a key factor through which trauma can be passed on," explains Mansuy. However, certain questions remain open, such as how the dysregulation in short RNAs comes about. "Most likely, it is part of a chain of events that begins with the body producing too much stress hormones." Importantly, acquired traits other than those induced by trauma could also be inherited through similar mechanisms, the researcher suspects. "The environment leaves traces on the brain, on organs and also on gametes. Through gametes, these traces can be passed to the next generation." Mansuy and her team are currently studying the role of short RNAs in trauma inheritance in humans. As they were also able to demonstrate the microRNAs imbalance in the blood of traumatized mice and their offspring, the scientists hope that their results may be useful to develop a blood test for diagnostics.Reinvent, innovation, mind-blowing, breakthrough, platform! It's like a game of business school bingo. It is breathtaking that people can talk about a taco with a Dorito shell like this. Taco Bell would like you to believe that Tacos Locos are the iPhone of Mexican fast food. Locos Tacos are meant to be a case study in technology, in innovation, in strategy. I take that seriously, at the very least as a societal bellwether. So I follow Taco Bell closely, posting about Taco Bell's "resident disruptor" last week. And this morning I received an email that shakes the very foundations of the Doritos Locos innovation story. Recall that part of the narrative of the taco is that no one had ever thought of it before. That's what made it so exciting. It was a breakthrough! A startlingly original idea! Mind-blowing! But what if Taco Bell people had thought of Dorito taco shells before? What if they, like almost anyone who has ever had a bag of Doritos or a crunchy taco, had considered the possibility of uniting these two faux-Mexican treats? That is exactly what happened, says David Peterman, who was the vice president of new concept operations at Taco Bell in the early 1990s, during the days of the Taco Bell chihuahua. "You should know that in approximately 1992, the idea of taco, tostada and taco salad shells coated with a variety of Dorito's flavorings from our sister company, Frito Lay was evaluated and pursued," Peterman wrote to me. "At that time, Frito Lay had recently completed a factory in Mexico that was capable of manufacturing the shells. However, Frito Lay management had no interest in producing the product and the then V.P. of Marketing at Taco Bell chose not to pursue the idea further." What! Slow down just a minute, Mr. Peterman. You're not saying that Doritos Locos Tacos were possible in the 1990s, when the Charlotte Hornets were a popular basketball team, are you? Yes, that is exactly what he is saying. "There is truly nothing new under the sun," he continued. "But for timing and Pepsico inter company exigencies these Taco Bell products would have existed decades ago." I hope you were sitting down when began reading this story. Because you should be floored now. In the food product world, that's like saying that someone thought of the iPhone before the iPhone! But actually, that is how innovation tends to work. There's a guy named Bill Buxton at Microsoft, an old-timer who worked at Xerox PARC, who maintains a collection of gadgets and gizmos. There are 25 touchscreen gadgets alone that precede the iPhone in his collection. There are smartwatches, too. And e-readers. This mobile revolution that we're living through was invented decades ago, not just with words, but with actual products. None of this is to take anything away from the Doritos Locos team or the iPod or iPhone teams, for that matter. It's just that we give way too much credit to the Big Ideas(TM), and not nearly enough to timing, execution, corporate politics, and luck. As Peterman put it: "I give much credit to the talented folks at Taco Bell who were able to bring these excellent products to market and in particular admire their ability to successfully navigate the seas of corporate politics." But The Doritos Locos Taco: A Triumph of Corporate Politicking just doesn't have that same ring, you know?We determined the prevalence of osteosarcopenic obesity (loss of bone and muscle coexistent with increased adiposity) in overweight/obese postmenopausal women and compared their functionality to obese-only women. Results showed that osteosarcopenic obese women were outperformed by obese-only women in handgrip strength and walking/balance abilities indicating their higher risk for mobility impairments. INTRODUCTION: Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) is a recently defined triad of osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and adiposity. We identified women with OSO in overweight/obese postmenopausal women and evaluated their functionality comparing them with obese-only (OB) women. Additionally, women with osteopenic/osteoporotic obesity (OO), but no sarcopenia, and those with sarcopenic obesity (SO), but no osteopenia/osteoporosis, were identified and compared. We hypothesized that OSO women will have the lowest scores for each of the functionality measures. METHODS: Participants (n = 258; % body fat ≥35) were assessed using a Lunar iDXA instrument for bone and body composition. Sarcopenia was determined from negative residuals of linear regression modeled on appendicular lean mass, height, and body fat, using 20th percentile as a cutoff. Participants with T-scores of L1-L4 vertebrae and/or total femur <-1, but without sarcopenia, were identified as OO (n = 99) and those with normal T-scores, but with sarcopenia, as SO (n = 28). OSO (n = 32) included women with both osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia, while those with normal bone and no sarcopenia were classified as OB (n = 99). Functionality measures such as handgrip strength, normal/brisk walking speed, and right/left leg stance were evaluated and compared among groups. RESULTS: Women with OSO presented with the lowest handgrip scores, slowest normal and brisk walking speed, and shortest time for each leg stance, but these results were statistically significantly different only from the OB group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a poorer functionality in women presenting with OSO, particularly compared to OB women, increasing the risk for bone fractures and immobility from the combined decline in bone and muscle mass, and increased fat mass.RENO, Nev. (AP) - Cole Huff drilled a jumper with 33 seconds left to play as Nevada erased a 17-point second deficit and knocked off UNLV, 76-72 Saturday night and claim the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in next week's Mountain West Conference tournament. The win gives the Wolf Pack a season sweep of UNLV. Kevin Olekaibe's jumper with 16:13 left in the game gave UNLV a 17-point lead, 54-37. Nevada (15-16, 10-8 Mountain West) scored the next 11 straight points, fueled by 3-pointers by Huff and Deonte Burton. Deville Smith hit a 3 for UNLV, but Huff and Burton both drilled 3s for the Wolf Pack and when Huff added a jumper with 10:35 left, Nevada trailed by just one, 57-56. Burton and Huff finished with 24 and 22 points, respectively. Smith and Jelan Kendrick finished with 16 points each for UNLV (19-12, 10-8).We're listing these as "Refurbished", but the boxes will be marked "Used - Good". These units will have minor cosmetic blemishes and have been returned, inspected, and restored to fully working condition by an Amazon technician. The units have been repackaged in a brown box. Advanced E-Ink Display Kindle's high-contrast e-ink display delivers clear, crisp text and images that you can read for extended periods without eye strain. Read in Bright Sunlight Kindle's screen reads like real paper, with no glare. Read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room. 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Read-to-Me With Text-to-Speech, Kindle Keyboard can read English-language content out loud to you. Special Offers Receive special offers and sponsored screensavers that display on the Kindle Keyboard screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen—they don't interrupt reading. Shipping Note: Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is not available for this item. A physical address is required for delivery. No Military or PO Box shipments available Warranty: 90 Day Woot Limited WarrantyChade-Meng Tan's job description would never get past most companies' human resources departments. As the head of mindfulness training at Google, his role is to enlighten minds, open hearts and create world peace. But he hopes that one day, his role will become commonplace. A growing awareness of the importance of our emotional fitness, he says, is mirroring the same journey of acceptance that physical exercise took in the last century. And he believes that scientific evidence of the benefits of the Buddhist practice of mindfulness will be instrumental into catapulting it into the very heart of the business world. Tan, who is officially known as the search engine giant's Jolly Good Fellow, likes to live up to his image of joking around and points out that mindfulness is moving away from its association with mysticism – or with people from San Francisco. "If you are a company leader who says employees should be encouraged to exercise, nobody looks at you funny," Tan says. "The same thing is happening to meditation and mindfulness, because now that it's become scientific, it has been demystified. It's going to be seen as fitness for the mind." A Fitbit for the mind Through the development of apps and other software, tech companies such as Google will have a major part to play in mainstreaming mindfulness, he predicts. In the same way that the pedometer has influenced exercise, these apps could similarly popularise mindfulness, Tan says. He speaks, for example, of devices that will be able to show how meditation impacts brain waves, potentially creating a whole industry of professional trainers. "Just imagine setting a goal like 'a year from now, I want to be able to calm my mind in 40% of the time it takes me now' and my personal trainer is accountable to that target," he says. But what has all this got to do with the cutthroat world of business? Tan says that mindfulness opens the doorway to loving kindness, which is at the heart of business success. "In many situations, goodness is good for business," he says. "If you, as the boss, are nice to your employees, they are happy, they treat their customers well, the customers are happy to spend more money, so everybody wins. "Also if you treat everybody with kindness, they'll like you even if they don't really know why. And if they like you, they want to help you succeed. So it's good for your soul and it's good for your career." But if that is so obvious, why is it so difficult for companies to practice altruism? Tan points to the fixation with the short-term which rewards those managers who drive profits at any cost, even if it eventually leads to a loss of talent and productivity. He suggests the other main reason is that employees often fall into the psychological trap of engaging in destructive behaviour by acting out their unconscious judgments. "If you don't have the foundation of peace, joy and kindness it is very hard, day to day, to always do the right thing," he says. "If somebody says something negative, your first thought is 'that guy is an asshole' and you want to defeat that guy. So it takes a certain amount of practice to say 'Wait a minute, that guy's just doing his job. He's a good person and so I have to work with him by understanding why he's doing that, and then help him succeed.'" Fighting instinct Tan says it takes some effort to fight the instinct to just do something destructive and get to that win-win mentality. "Anger is fuelled by fear, and in Buddhism there is a difference between anger and indignation," he says. "Anger is destructive; indignation is a state where you do feel the pain yourself, but you're out there to change the world because it's the right thing to do. The difference between the two is power. Anger arises from powerlessness; indignation arises from power. So it's about how we help people reduce fear and increase positive power?" For those who worry that mindfulness takes years to have any impact, Tan insists that it can create a measurable change in 100 minutes. For those who want a more fundamental impact that can change their lives, this can be achieved in 52 hours, although Tan says there are innumerable depths that mindfulness can help you to uncover. He jokes that he would like to think mindfulness has made him "less of an asshole than I used to be". But on a more serious note, he says that mindfulness has helped him develop "an ability to calm my mind on demand, and that by itself is huge. With calmness comes inner joy that is independent of your senses' pleasure or the ego's pleasure." So far, around 2,000 Google employees have been through its Search Inside Yourself mindfulness course, the most popular of the company's training programmes. Tan says research on long-term impacts hasn't yet been done, and he has only anecdotal evidence of the program's success. But the main barrier to expanding the programme is a lack of experienced trainers, whom Tan insists need to have completed at least 2,000 hours of meditation practice. That's because "when you're in front of a class, they don't remember what you say, they don't remember what you do; what they remember is how they feel, and that comes from how the trainer personifies the practice, even if they just sit there and say nothing." Could this work in finance? Google and other technology companies in Silicon Valley are receptive to mindfulness because they believe in being at the vanguard of change and innovation, Tan believes. So what approach would he take if he were suddenly transported to the altogether different culture of a Wall Street finance house? "I always align the qualities of peace, joy, compassion with success and profits," he says. "It's starting from where people want to start and helping people succeed in the way they want to succeed. "And I would say that if you want to try it, you're free to try it and if you don't try it and Joe does, Joe's going to make more money than you and you're free to come and try this any other time." While Tan has grand ambitions, such as training one million mindfulness teachers, he also aims to refine his own practice. His great wish is to enter Sotāpanna, Sanskrit for the stream of life, with the accompanying realization that there has never been an object called the self and suffering is therefore reduced from an ocean to a teardrop. "The current view of practice has been you have to work so hard to gain these states," he says. "I would like in my lifetime to reframe the whole practice, not as a sacrifice but as a doorway, as a path along which every step is joyful. If I can do that, then the practice becomes far more accessible, and then I can die." The values-led business hub is funded by SC Johnson. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here.Fires have spread beyond plantations deep into primary forests and national parks, the last strongholds of the endangered apes Raging Indonesian forest fires have advanced into dense forest on Borneo and now threaten one third of the world’s remaining wild orangutans, say conservationists. Satellite photography shows that around 100,000 fires have burned in Indonesia’s carbon-rich peatlands since July. But instead of being mostly confined to farmland and plantations, as they are in most years, several thousand fires have now penetrated deep into primary forests and national parks, the strongholds of the remaining wild apes and other endangered animals. Alarmingly, 358 fire “hotspots” have been detected inside the Sabangau Forest in Borneo which has the world’s largest population of nearly 7,000 wild orangutans. Elsewhere, fires are raging in the Tanjung Puting national park, home to 6,000 wild apes, the Katingan forest with 3,000 and the Mawas reserve where there are an estimated 3,500. “I dread to think what it will mean for orangutans. For them and other species, like the secretive clouded leopard and the iconic hornbill, the situation is dire and deteriorating by the day,” said Mark Harrison, director of the UK-based research and conservation organisation Orangutan tropical peatland project (OuTrop), which has been studying the tropical peat swamp forest of Sabangau since 1999. “In their undisturbed, flooded state, peatland forests are naturally fire-resistant. But decades of poor peatland management practices, including extensive forest clearance and canal construction, has drained the peat, putting the whole region at high fire risk when the inevitable droughts occur,” Harrison said. Prof Susan Page, a geographer at the University of Leicester and an expert on peatland conservation, said: “Dry peat ignites very easily and can burn for days or weeks, even smouldering underground and re-emerging away from the initial source. This makes them incredibly difficult to extinguish. Smouldering fires produce high levels of harmful gases and particulates.” Little is known about the precise effects of smoke inhalation on animals but the lungs of animals are similar to those of humans, so it is expected to make them sick and unable to feed. Teams of volunteers have been trying to put the fires out but many are out of control. In Sabangau forest one fire has already burned over 500 hectares and is threatening the renowned research station managed by the Centre for International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland (CIMTROP) at the University of Palangka Raya, according to OuTrop director of conservation, Simon Husson. The wildfires across Indonesia are now thought to be responsible for up to 500,000 cases of respiratory infections, and six provinces have declared a state of emergency. Indonesia's fires labelled a 'crime against humanity' as 500,000 suffer Read more “People are choking in the smoke and one of the world’s last great rainforests is burning down,” Husson said. “The only way to tackle this is with huge manpower on the ground, supported by intensive and sustained aerial water-bombing. Mobilising these resources requires raising international awareness of the catastrophe unfolding in Sabangau.” With two warships positioned off the island of Borneo to evacuate children and some of the most affected families, and no rain expected for at least one month, the pollution threatens to overwhelm the region’s already stretched health services. In Palangkaraya, capital of Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, where many of the most serious fires are raging, the office of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) reported that minute PM10 particles had reached the “very dangerous” level of 2,483 milligrams per cubic metre with visibility under 30m in 350 locations. The city’s chief medical officer stated that its health services had diagnosed 5,931 people with acute respiratory infections since July – around 3% of the population. Schools have been closed in the city for five of the last seven weeks. “We have days we call ‘Hari Kuning’ (‘yellow days’). This is when the dense, sound-deadening smog somehow absorbs the light from the invisible sun turning everything a surreal sepia colour,” one Palangkaraya resident told the Guardian. “Masks available locally are ridiculously inadequate – and some people don’t bother to wear anything at all,” she said. “Not everybody here seems to be aware of the health risks. There are already reports of miscarriages and premature deaths among babies, the elderly and infirm directly attributable to the smoke.” The smoke drifts across the region at heights of between 3000m-5000m and varies in intensity from day to day and island to island. “It’s been two months since people in Kerinci [central Sumatra], have seen blue skies.,” said Luke Mackin who works with ecotourism company wildsumatra.com. “The government has closed schools so that students can be safe at home – except people’s homes are not sealed at all, and are no safer than being at school. So, millions of children are missing out on their education. All of the tourism in the region is pretty much dead, which is devastating for the families in this rural area who rely on it,” said Mackin. The pollution will cost the Indonesian economy billions of dollars and has led to demonstrations. In Sumatra, hundreds of teachers rallied at the weekend in Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau province. “People are getting angry. They used to accept a certain amount of smog but this year it’s much worse,” said one protester.Enlarge 2007 AFP/Getty Images file photo More than 100 women gathered at a Paris stadium to breast-feed their children to promote World Breastfeeding Day. U.S. MOMS WHO BREAST-FEED U.S. MOMS WHO BREAST-FEED Percentage of U.S. mothers who... Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Survey, provisional data, 2006 births Breast-feeding may offer mothers long-term protection against a condition linked to diabetes and heart disease, researchers report today. The longer women breast-fed, the lower their chance of developing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors such as high blood pressure and high triglycerides associated with obesity, the scientists found. BREAST-FEEDING: May protect babies from neglect MOMS: Choices affect baby's whole life, aging well "Pregnancy may have some adverse effects on some of these cardiovascular risk factors," lead author Erica Gunderson says, "and lactation (breast-feeding) may offset some of these effects." The impact of breast-feeding on the risk of metabolic syndrome was "slightly stronger" in women who'd had gestational — or pregnancy-induced — diabetes, says Gunderson, an epidemiologist and research scientist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland. "This is the first study to really look at lactation and the metabolic syndrome in women with GDM (gestational diabetes)." Kavitha T. Ram, a New York Medical College obstetrician/gynecologist, called the study's suggestion that breast-feeding might reverse the metabolic changes associated with gestational diabetes exciting. "There's this emerging evidence that breast-feeding may confer long-term health benefits to the mom," says Ram, who wasn't involved in the study. About 18%-37% of U.S. women ages 20 to 59 have metabolic syndrome, Gunderson says. A study she published in August found women with gestational diabetes are 2½ times more likely than other women to develop the condition after pregnancy. Gunderson and her co-authors based their new findings on 704 women in an ongoing, government-funded study of heart-disease risk factors. When the women entered the study in 1985-1986, they were ages 18-30 and had never given birth; testing confirmed they didn't have metabolic syndrome. They all went on to deliver at least one child; only 16% had more than two children. They returned for measurements of metabolic syndrome components seven, 10, 15 and 20 years after entering the study; 120 developed metabolic syndrome. In women who didn't have gestational diabetes, breast-feeding cut metabolic syndrome risk 39%-56%. In those who did, it cut the risk 44%-86%. In both, the authors write in Diabetes: The Journal of the American Diabetes Association, the longer women breast-fed, the lower their risk. Breast-feeding is associated with a quicker loss of pregnancy weight, but that's only "a little bit of the explanation," Gunderson says. Another possibility, she says: Breast-feeding might minimize the accumulation of belly fat, fat linked to type 2 diabetes risk. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read moreAsians Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing racial group in the United States; their population is expected to double to more than 47 million by 2060. Yet the needs of these communities are rarely discussed,because AAPIs, in the aggregate, are also the highest-income and best-educated ethnic groups in the United States. A common perception is that they are the model minority: the doctors, techno wizards, and successful business owners. The success isn’t, however, evenly distributed, and these communities face serious problems, just as other minority groups do. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) often cites compelling data to make this case: Asian American and African American students have the highest rates of remedial coursework; one out of four Korean Americans go without health insurance; one of every three AAPIs is limited in English proficiency; and only 18 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders over the age of 25 hold a college degree. The model minority label makes things worse for large sections of these communities, because their needs are often overlooked or misunderstood and then rarely addressed in government programs and by social-service organizations. Lack of disaggregated data perpetuates this label. WHIAAPI convened a meeting of AAPI leaders last Monday at the White House to discuss this issue and to set the wheels in motion to correct it. The attendees included secretaries and senior administration officials from a range of government agencies. A handful of Congressmen were in attendance. I was also present. The consensus was that we needed to start by recognizing the hardship that the AAPI groups face; correct the dearth of research and data; increase educational opportunities,especially for certain AAPI sub-groups; improve access to health care; boost entrepreneurship; and use new technologies to reach them. Frank Wu, dean of the University of California’s Hastings College of Law, pointed out, for example, that AAPI students face an extra burden because of the stereotype that they are mathematics and science geniuses. Most are not, so there needs to be an effort to correct the misperceptions. In fact, Wu noted, most AAPI students are enrolled in community colleges, not four-year private institutions. Many of them are first-generation students, and some face language barriers, financial burdens, and significant family responsibilities. I highlighted the opportunities to use technology to bring together and uplift communities. Most apps that Silicon Valley is building, for example, are for the elite: to hire people to do chores such as laundry and grocery shopping; to rent vacation homes; to share photos; and to stream video. There is not enough focus on apps for social welfare, for teaching culture and languages, and for guiding new immigrants. We should be mentoring and supporting AAPIs in starting companies that address their community needs. I also advised the meeting to help minority groups build networks that allow them to help themselves. This is how Indians went from being perceived — and positioned — as low-level engineers to being over-represented in the ranks of CEOs in Silicon Valley in the 1990s. In the 1980s, there were hardly any firms founded by people born in India, despite tens of thousands of engineers’ having immigrated to the region. In 1999, seven percent of Silicon Valley’s start-ups were founded by Indians, according to UC-Berkeley Dean AnnaLee Saxenian. My research at Duke and Harvard showed that this proportion had increased to about 15 percent by 2005. An immigrant group that constituted hardly six percent of the valley’s workforce was achieving disproportionate success in a land and culture that was foreign to them. How had this happened? In short, it was through immigrants’ recognizing the disadvantages they had; learning from one another; and helping the next generation. One networking organization, the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), played a major role in the success of Indians. TiE helped to mobilize the information, know-how, skill, and capital needed for starting technology companies, and its members provided seed funding to start-ups. They came together to uplift their community and to give back to the country that had enabled them to achieve so much success. This is what all minority communities need to do. The White House Initiative on AAPIs, led by Kiran Ahuja, also staged a magnificent event at George Washington University the following day. It drew nearly 2,000 community members, federal officials, and others to share experiences and stories and to gain tools with which to mobilize their communities. President Obama inaugurated the White House Summit on AAPIs via video. It was a great start to the networking that AAPI communities need in order to uplift themselves, and it underscored the importance of showing up in D.C. to flex some AAPI muscle. My hope is that entrepreneurs can take the baton from Ahuja and perform the same magic for their communities that TiE did for Indians in Silicon Valley.AFP Liechtenstein is the focus of a growing tax evasion scandal. The Liechtenstein tax evasion scandal keeps getting bigger. Public prosecutors in Bochum, Germany, said on Tuesday they had found more than 200 million in funds hidden in Liechtenstein-based foundations, and that over 160 tax dodgers had confessed since the investigation was launched nearly two weeks ago. "By concealing this capital and the return on that capital, immense amounts of tax were evaded," the prosecutors' office said in a statement. It said the homes and offices of some 150 suspects have been searched so far following the purchase of DVDs containing the financial details of wealthy individuals with hidden funds in Liechtenstein foundations. Of the people under investigation, 91 admitted to the allegations and have already paid 27.8 million in back taxes, the office said, adding that the
ling the rubes who signed up for Trump University, makes him ready to deal with a guy who managed to survive a career at the top-level of the KGB only to make himself the presiding autocrat of the world's leading kleptocracy, I'd like to be there when he finds out how wrong he is. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.Wow! Mariah Carey a Hot Mess – Suffers Epic Meltdown in Times Square New Year’s Eve Wow! Mariah Carey suffered an epic meltdown for during her performance on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. This was really wild to watch… Her lip synching was awful and she looked like she didn’t know what was going on. And now, for the grand finale, 2016 is taking out Mariah Carey live on stage pic.twitter.com/kfBJxXjepB — The Ostrich (@ALostrich) January 1, 2017 She had plenty of police protection. That wasn’t the problem. What was that? Mariah Carey's backtrack went out and she didn't know what to do lmfaoooooooooooo pic.twitter.com/gzN4QsRPTP — Jahan (@H00PINATI) January 1, 2017 Oh my. What a meltdown! There was debate at my party if Mariah Carey was singing this live. I won. pic.twitter.com/JvaIdOS6OS — Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 1, 2017 Here is the full video… That was crazy. me watching Mariah Carey… pic.twitter.com/IV1jRQuAgr — Gabe Erwin (@gabe) January 1, 2017The revised edition contains a cleaner layout; the content has not changed. Savage Insider Issue 5: CONventional Gaming is dedicated to convention or one-shot styled adventures. Introducing new players to a system or setting is often done at conventions and via one-shot adventures. This issue provides four adventures of this design with six pre-generated characters each. In addition, there is a bonus fifth adventure without pre-generated characters. CONventional Gaming is a cross-genre issue with content that covers multiple genres and settings. To coincide with the use of these adventures for conventions, a general interest piece is included with tips for game masters running games at conventions. CONventional Gaming includes: Voyage of the Water Dragon pulp adventure Famine to Feast... For the Beast, For the Beast fantasy horror adventure for Judgment Day Angel of Darkness cyberpunk adventure for Interface Zero Breat Moss epic fantasy adventure for Kith'takharos Canis Lupus modern fantasy horror adventure for Judgment Day Tunse'al Setting Guide preview CONventional Advice general interest article about running convention games And more Look for new issues of Savage Insider every 3 months in January, April, July, and October with Premium Content releases in-between. Click on an image to see our other Savage Worlds RPG products Licensed Settings Savage Insider Magazine Universal Supplements Multi-Setting Bestiaries Thanks for checking out our other Savage Worlds products Keep checking back for new and revised Savage Worlds products to be releasedNews Release 12-042 Hot Meets Cold at New Deep-Sea Ecosystem: "Hydrothermal Seep" Habitats overlap at Jaco Scar in depths off Costa Rica Hydrothermal seep-dwellers: large tubeworm "bush" with more than 14,000 tubeworms. March 7, 2012 View a video showing life around a hydrothermal seep. This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts. Decades ago, marine scientists made a startling discovery in the deep sea. They found environments known as hydrothermal vents, where hot water surges from the seafloor and life thrives without sunlight. Then they found equally unique, sunless habitats in cold areas where methane rises from seeps on the ocean bottom. Could vents and seeps co-exist in the deep, happily living side-by-side? No one thought so. Until now. That's exactly what researchers uncovered during a submersible expedition off Costa Rica. They've coined a new term to describe the ecosystem: a hydrothermal seep. A description of the scientists' findings, including a large number of deep-sea species that previously had not been described, is published in a paper by Lisa Levin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., and colleagues. The paper appears in the March 7, 2012, issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Levin and the team were surprised to find a hybrid site in an area where only cold seeps had been reported. "The discovery shows that we still have much to learn about hydrothermal vents and methane seeps and about the vast depths of the oceans," said David Garrison, director of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Biological Oceanography Program, which funded the research. "We need to re-think the boundary," he said, "of where a vent begins or a seep ends." The most interesting aspects of the site, said Levin, "are the presence of vent-like and seep-like features together, a vast cover of tubeworms across large areas, and a wealth of new species." Called Jaco Scar, the site lies at a tectonic plate margin off Costa Rica. There an underwater mountain, or seamount, is moving under the tectonic plate. Jaco Scar's animals range from those that inhabit hot vents or cold seeps, to species that exist in both settings. In addition to tube worms, the team documented deep-sea fish, mussels, clam beds and high densities of crabs. Because so little is known about the deep ocean, the researchers say it's likely that other hybrid or "mosaic" ecosystems remain undiscovered, possibly with marine life specialized to live in such environments. "Plenty of surprises are left in the deep sea," said Levin. "There are new species, and almost certainly new ecosystems, hidden in the oceans." The human presence in Alvin, a submersible, deep-diving research craft was key to the findings. "The site had been visited by other researchers using remotely-operated vehicles," said Levin, "but it wasn't until human eyes saw shimmering water flowing under a tubeworm 'bush' that we really understood how special Jaco Scar is." Co-authors of the paper include Greg Rouse, Geoffrey Cook and Ben Grupe of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Victoria Orphan and Grayson Chadwick of the California Institute of Technology; Anthony Rathburn of Indiana State University; William Ussler III of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Shana Goffredi of Occidental College; Elena Perez of the Natural History Museum in London; Anders Waren of the Swedish Museum of Natural History; and Bruce Strickrott of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The research was also supported by the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology, University of Costa Rica. -NSF- Media Contacts Cheryl Dybas, NSF, (703) 292-7734, email: cdybas@nsf.gov Mario Aguilera, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, (858) 534-3624, email: maguilera@ucsd.edu The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, its budget is $8.1 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 50,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards. Get News Updates by Email Useful NSF Web Sites: NSF Home Page: https://www.nsf.gov NSF News: https://www.nsf.gov/news/ For the News Media: https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp Science and Engineering Statistics: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ Awards Searches: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/Composer Brian Tyler’s score for Marvel’s “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” will try to pay homage to the music of films like “Star Wars,” “Superman” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Those films “changed the game,” the composer said during the Musical Anatomy of a Superhero panel at Comic-Con on Thursday in San Diego. “It’s the template for ‘The Avengers’ coming up.” That’s good news for fans of superhero movie music who have seen a bi-polar split between the serious sound of more recent Batman and Superman movies at DC and the triumphant and bombastic sounds of Marvel’s films. “Marvel’s vibe is more old school, more heroic,” said Tyler Bates (“Guardians of the Galaxy”). “DC seems darker, post-apocalyptic.” John Ottman, who recently scored “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” said the now-classic “Superman” and “Batman” scores by John Williams and Danny Elfman served as a “resurrection of the film score. It gave license to the composer to write an original lyrical score which is rare these days.” “They brought back themes to scores,” added Blake Neely, who also composes around 35 minutes of music for each episode of “Arrow” and the upcoming series “The Flash.” “It gave kids tunes to sing after they saw these movies, which is definitely intimidating to us. There are certainly scores that have raised the bar so high you don’t want to top it.” Related 'Arrow' Star David Ramsey Breaks Down His Directorial Debut 'Captain Marvel' Lands Day-and-Date China Release With “The Avengers” sequel, Tyler (“Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World”) will attempt to reference the “Iron Man,” “Thor” and “Captain America” films in order to create a similar musical universe. “That’s the goal for sure,” he said. “You have to build in nostalgia and do it upfront so you can relate to it.” Tyler, who also scored the upcoming “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” said that film will feature a new theme, but still provide references to the animated series. The sound is mostly made up of an orchestra and choir. “It does have moments where we give the wink of the eye for sure,” Tyler said. For “Guardians of the Galaxy,” writer-director James Gunn told Bates “we’re making a space rock opera,” which led the composer to create “my most purely orchestral choral score ever, mostly because of time.” The film’s music features little of Bates’ signature guitar riffs, given that he only had three hours to record queues. “I wanted to keep it purely orchestral and draw inspiration from movies of the past rather than what’s happening currently,” he said. When asked how he balances both editing films and writing a score on his movies, with the composer recently doing double duty on “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Ottman said “I eliminate every joyful thing in my life; all dinners out, all movies, everything interpersonal is eliminated. That’s the only way I can do it. It sounds dour but it’s true.” Ottman initially planned to write the score for the “X-Men” film in December, but the date kept shifting and didn’t happen until the end of January. The music was recorded in April. “The advantage is I know the film and its issues better than anyone ever could,” Ottman said. “The problem is the time to write it.” When it comes to collaborating with directors or stars who also produce, Beck noted Tom Cruise “was definitely involved” with “Edge of Tomorrow.” “He has his fingerprints on it.” Beck, who also scored Disney’s “Frozen,” said he gets a lot of credit for writing the film’s hit song “Let It Go,” “and now I just say thank you.” Many of the songs already had been written, and “there are a lot of songs written for the movie that weren’t used than were used,” Beck said.The Age acting to stem deaths notice errors Updated The Age newspaper's editor-in-chief Andrew Holden says the paper is acting to reduce the number of mistakes in its deaths notices. Several readers of The Age called 774 ABC Melbourne to express their concern over the accuracy of notices in the paper's Tributes and Celebrations section. The paper outsourced the section in October 2013 to an American company, which uses a call centre in the Philippines. "They're making mistakes all the time," said one caller, Suzanne, who identified as a wedding and funeral celebrant. "It must be ghastly for people." Another caller, a funeral director, said the notices were being produced in American English and "impossible" deadlines meant notices were often not printed in a timely manner. Outsourced death notice error: Over the last 75 years it has been my privilege and delight to have Joan as a steadfast and loving friend, a source of inspiration. John will be sadly missed. The Age, Saturday May 10, 2014 Mr Holden said the paper has taken steps to stop such errors happening in the future. "I don't think anybody here would deny that it's been a difficult transition," he said. "There were certainly some awful errors which I've been made aware of over the last couple of months. "We met with the funeral directors association back in February and as a consequence of that chat we took three of the leading people here in Melbourne... to the call centre in Manila. "I'm told last week [there] was a 99 per cent accuracy rate for the funeral notices." Mr Holden said The Age would continue to outsource its call centre. Topics: print-media, death, melbourne-3000 First postedArchitectures, packaging and software are becoming core areas for semiconductor research and development, setting the stage for a series of shifts that will impact a large swath of the semiconductor industry. While there is still demand from the largest chipmakers for increased density at the next process node, the underlying economics for foundries, equipment vendors and IP developers are forcing the industry to slow down. For one thing, there are fewer “fast followers” due to consolidation over the past couple of years. In addition, the cost of migrating to the next node is prohibitive for an increasing number of applications, particularly in light of the diminishing returns on power and performance. This is evident in TSMC’s earnings reports, which show a general downward trend for revenue obtained from advanced nodes over the past eight years. TSMC is by far the largest foundry with 54.3% market share, according to Gartner, although it is not the only foundry manufacturing chips at the latest process nodes, or the only one seeing this shift. Source: TSMC quarterly earnings reports, 2008-2016. This doesn’t mean business at those nodes is slipping in real dollars, but it does indicate more activity for longer periods of time at all process nodes. All of the major foundries have recognized this, adding low-power and high-performance versions of processes at well-established nodes, as well as specialized processes that provide additional revenue sources. Even Intel, which has been an unwavering proponent of Moore’s Law and its two-year cadence, said last week it will increase the amount of time between nodes—essentially turning the “Tick-Tock” strategy it defined at the turn of the Millennium into Tick-Tock-Tock. “Moore’s Law is slowing down,” observed Kelvin Low, senior director of foundry marketing at Samsung. “We definitely see it becoming more challenging. Cost will be a huge factor. It will be more costly to develop new processes, and more costly to develop fabs. Rock’s Law says that the cost of building a new fab doubles every four years.” Plenty of options for most companies While this may limit how quickly advanced processor and large FPGA vendors move forward, for the vast majority of semiconductor companies the decision about what to do after 28nm is still several years out. Many chips, particularly analog, are being developed at 250nm or larger. Mainstream chips for the IoT, automotive, and a number of other vertical markets currently are somewhere between 130nm and 40nm. Even for chipmakers working at 40nm, 28nm is just one more shrink along a well-defined path, with the same economies of scale and power/performance improvements that previous nodes provided. The 28nm node still uses planar transistors, rather than finFETs, and only requires single patterning. “The necessity for moving to 28nm, and 28nm pricing, is still high,” said Walter Ng, vice president of business management at UMC. “In fact, the migration pace is increasing. We’re also seeing a lot more demand for capacity at 55/40nm, and the pricing is looking more palatable to a wider number of applications.” Meanwhile, GlobalFoundries and Samsung have developed 28nm FD-SOI planar processes to control current leakage, which has been a persistent design issue after 55nm. GlobalFoundries introduced a 22nm FD-SOI process, as well, adding another planar node that can limit leakage using forward and back biasing, with a performance boost over 28nm FD-SOI. GlobalFoundries said it also plans to add one more planar node somewhere in the 12nm to 14nm range at some as-yet undetermined date. “There are a ton of people still back at 40nm and 28nm who haven’t made a decision about where they’re going to go,” said Gary Patton, chief technology officer at GlobalFoundries. “They could go with finFETs, which do offer good performance. But they’re locking themselves into something with high design costs and high complexity. Or they can take the FD-SOI route. That’s much easier to design in at a lower cost point.” Betting on packaging These pre-finFET nodes are where many of the new application opportunities are cropping up, as well. The emphasis is on cost, time-to-market, and highly customizable designs. In addition, these chips are being developed in much smaller batches—thousands or millions, rather than hundreds of millions—which is why there is so much attention on multi-chip packaging approaches and methodologies. The goal is to mix and match chips or “tiles” developed at different process nodes. So while 22nm FD-SOI, and 28nm CMOS, are the last nodes before finFETs and double patterning, that still leaves most chipmakers with plenty of options well into the next decade without ever having to venture into the finFET world. “Packaging in multi-die solutions is gaining steam,” said Ng. “And it has a potential for gaining a lot more steam if the cost points come down a little. We are on the cusp of packaging solutions that will open up the ability for more applications to take advantage of multi-die packaging. There is a lot of integration going on already, both for time-to-market reasons as well as economic reasons. We believe that in the next few years, 2.5D and other solutions will be much more mainstream.” Numerous other companies agree. Marvell has bet heavily on multi-chip packaging as a future direction with its MoChi mix-and-match architecture because the economics of scaling no longer work for many applications. “It costs $300 million to develop a new SoC at 16/14nm,” said Zining Wu, CTO at Marvell. “Each chip will have to sell in volumes of 100 million just to break even.” That math hasn’t been lost on the foundries. “With system-level performance scaling every generation, the costs go up due to complexity and the lead time takes longer,” said Samsung’s Low. “High mobility materials can help, although there will be tradeoffs. So can system architectures, where you look at the problem in a different way and not just rely on silicon technology. You partition the system to achieve system-level performance scaling. With 2.5D and HBM-2, system-level performance increases, but the process technology does not shoot up as much as with other approaches because you can partition the problems.” Fan-out packaging also may be poised to turn a corner, according to a just-released report from Yole Développement. The research house said Apple’s adoption of TSMC’s Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) for its 10-application iPhone 7 could draw new players into that approach. Memory stacks Stacked memory, such as high-bandwidth memory, is a potential game changer for multi-chip packages. It has several key advantages over standard dual in-line memory modules, which are a staple of existing compute architectures. The first generation of HBM DRAM supported a transfer rate of 128 gigabytes per second. HBM-2, introduced this year by Samsung and SK Hynix, is twice as fast, with enormous capacity potential in stacked configurations. Perhaps even more important, it is a JEDEC standard (JESD235) and can be manufactured using existing CMOS processes, so it is expected to be able to achieve the same kinds of economies of scale that have defined DIMMs. Coupled with a less expensive interposer or some other interconnect, the price of multi-chip packaging could drop significantly. Until now, 2.5D packaging has been confined to relatively price-insensitive applications, such as enterprise networking switches and processors made by companies such as Cisco, Huawei, IBM and AMD, but if the prices drop sufficiently this could become a mainstream option. “The von Neumann architecture is 80 years old, and it presumes that every computation will pull data from memory, process it, and then send it back to memory,” said Steve Teig, CTO of Tessera. “The von Neumann bottleneck is area, cost, power and throughput. This allows us to finally get beyond the von Neumann architecture.” Other stacked memory types attempt to tackle the same problem. Micron’s Hybrid Memory Cube uses multiple layers on logic, connected by through-silicon vias. There also is 3D NAND for storage. But for off-chip memory, between SRAM and storage, it’s hard to beat the economies of DRAM, which is why HBM has garnered so much interest. Future foundry directions Put all these pieces together and it’s not hard to see why foundries, as well as OSATs such as ASE and Amkor, are promoting advanced packaging. TSMC’s InFO is a step in this direction, but the real performance and power improvements will come with economies of scale in 2.1D (organic interposer), 2.5D (silicon interposer), and monolithic 3D. The upfront investment for the entire supply chain is significantly lower, as well. The cost of developing a next-generation process at the most advanced nodes is estimated at $1 billion, according to industry sources. The cost of building an advanced fab at the most advanced nodes is somewhere around $14 billion. And the return on investment becomes much less certain as the mobility market flattens and fewer companies develop fewer designs at the most advanced nodes. When questioned, foundries tend to be cagey on this issue. There are no clear answers about ROI, and chipmakers developing high-volume chips at the most advanced nodes routinely play off one foundry against another to get the best pricing. As the number of chipmakers competing in this space shrinks, those economics become even more strained. Compare that with older nodes, where equipment and fabs are already fully depreciated and processes are stable, and the picture looks much different, even if it is somewhat convoluted. There are still a number of variables to consider on all sides, including green initiatives, according to Joanne Itow, managing director for manufacturing at Semico Research. “Operational savings from reductions in energy costs, lower chemical usage, reduced cleaning solvents, recovering and recycling materials such as water/gases/chemicals, look great for an environmental/social conscious strategy, but in addition it saves multi-millions of dollars. That helps to keep the break-even point from exploding out of reach. Type of product, management of equipment idle time, modular production lines and a number of other things impact fab operational feasibility even if capacity utilization isn’t at 90%. In general, capacity utilization at leading-edge fabs have gone up just because, other than advanced memories, the foundries are carrying the brunt of the load.” What this points to is a very complex business model in the future, requiring nimbleness in a part of the market that for years has been somewhat lumbering. “The ability to pull together different skill sets is becoming more of an advantage,” UMC’s Ng observed. “The key is the ability to isolate different pieces of a solution. That way you can optimize which piece of a module has to run at the highest performance to create the biggest bang. If you don’t have to touch a piece there is less risk, so you have to look at these modules at a system level.” Conclusion It’s not just chipmakers that are evaluating which way to go next. Using metrics such as performance per watt, throughput to memory, and operations per second, device scaling alone no longer wins the race at the most advanced nodes. And as the number of companies looking to shrink features continues to shrink itself, the economics of scaling will become less attractive to more companies. None of this will cause sudden shifts because development cycles for complex chips are still at least 18 months, and in many cases more than twice that. Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue that node progressions are slowing. That could open the door for chipmakers working at advanced nodes to commercially offer platforms developed at the latest nodes for other vendors’ multi-chip packages. It also raises the possibility that the number of foundries working at the most advanced nodes will shrink, particularly as the cost of developing IP rises beyond the means of IP companies to support all of the latest nodes. But for the first time in decades, all options are on the table and many more are in research—and no one is brushing them aside. Related Stories Consolidation’s Aftermath Why the latest round of acquisitions is causing angst in the semiconductor industry. 200mm Equipment Shortfall Older equipment is now very much in demand due to shifts in end markets and new options for packaging. Stacked Die Changes There are new and better options for packaging chips together as the semiconductor industry begins to figure out what works and what doesn’t.I’ve always been jealous of teachers, lawyers, and doctors. They go to a bar, a party, or even home for the holidays, mention what they do, and everyone nods, understands, and moves along. This isn’t the case for UX design … “Wait, a what?” Forget about friends and family; since leaving Google, I’ve found there to be more confusion than ever — even in the tech industry! — about the title I’ve been sporting on my business card since 2007. It surfaces when I make off-handed comments like, “I don’t care what shade of chartreuse you make the background; that’s not what I do.” The room goes silent, and the collective uncertainty is palpable. After a moment, one guy furrows his brow, cocks his head, and asks cautiously, “So wait … what do you do, then?” I’ll tackle that guy’s question with a story. Getting the toilet out of your kitchen Around the time I moved into my first Manhattan shoebox, a friend of mine was paying significantly less than I for an attractive, recently renovated apartment in a hip neighborhood. It should have cost $2500 a month … and she was paying $1400. Why? Because there was a toilet in the kitchen. Her landlord had done his due diligence picking out an idyllic shade of eggshell for the walls, the light fixtures were right out of a CB2 catalogue, and the floors didn’t have hairs trapped in the lacquer (like mine did). But no matter how many aesthetic improvements he’d made over the years, it didn’t improve tenant reluctance about paying top dollar for an apartment with a toilet in the kitchen. It is the UX designer’s job to make sure this doesn’t happen — but with technology instead of houses. Other team members are usually paid to prioritize other things: some will be focused on the business (“The margins will be killer if we can bulk order these kitchen toilets”), marketing types might be caught up in the positioning (“Life is easier with a toilet in your kitchen! Chop vegetables while you take care of other business!”), while the engineer is likely already engineering (“How can we connect the bathroom pipes to the kitchen in the most efficient way possible?”). It is the UX designer’s job to pause, consider the users’ experience, and ensure fundamental workflow design mistakes be avoided. She is also the one to remember that houses need doors, that the floor-to-ceiling windows would be gorgeous facing the sunset, and that the kitchen should be within earshot of the living room. She optimizes designs for people, situations, and problems. Aren’t we all UX designers? “Your job sounds like common sense to me. Anyone could do that.” Pull up a chair, UX cynic — I was expecting you. The toilet in the kitchen problem is admittedly a farcical, simplistic example. The real world is obviously more complex — and your need for a UX designer multiplies exponentially given the reality that you are often not the user. I’d like to repeat that actually. Your need for the UX designer multiplies exponentially given the reality that you are often not the user. You are not the user. Let’s extend the house metaphor. My husband and I share a two bedroom in Queens. A few months into cohabitation, he casually articulated his ongoing annoyance with the size of our closets. I’d never had a problem with this, and his comment took me by surprise. I’m also not a 6’2” male whose wardrobe is mostly comprised of broad chested suits … and I guess neither was our closet’s designer. The versatile user experience designer — A/K/A the user experience designer you want to hire — does not design products only for herself. She is able to assume another’s vista through empathy and research, and channel her created personas to design a user flow and experience that addresses key user concerns. This might mean ensuring a nonprofit homepage includes entry points for both donors and volunteers. It might mean ensuring your click targets (that look fine on a desktop) are large enough for the smallest smartphone. Or it might mean building a page that is compatible and easy to use with a screen reader. Where does the UX designer come from? A myriad of backgrounds and disciplines, really. In short, being a UXer means having the gut instincts and patience to understand the user, the user’s expectations, crafting an experience (a story, really) that makes sense, and being able to sell that vision and story. It doesn’t, however, have much to do with knowing any type of specific software (just like knowing how to use Microsoft Word does not make a person a “writer”). However, because user experience designers need to understand the medium for which they’re designing, you will find many UXers that possess other toolkits (visual designers, developers, etc.). So what does the UX designer produce? So is that it, you ask? Does a company’s resident user experience designer just troll around the office all day, sipping a latte and critiquing designers and engineers, passionately defending the best interests of the users? No (although that’s sometimes involved). The short answer is that the UX designer should create whatever deliverables best convey the desired workflow and ‘story’ they need to tell. However, there are a few deliverables that are common among UX ninjas — you’ll often hear “site maps,” “wireframes,” and “prototypes” referenced. A site map shows all the pages of a website or application, and how they fit together. An example site map audit I constructed for a nonprofit website: A wireframe, on the other hand (according to Wikipedia), is a “visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website.” Early wireframes are oftentimes like the beginning stages of planning a birthday party: “I know it’s going to be a big party, at some venue in New York, and it’s going to be fabulous … we’ll iron out the rest of the details later.” A site map/wireframe example for the Push the Limit mobile application: Finally, a prototype is a non-fully-functional version of a design, built for testing — either internally, or with users during usability studies. We might mix and match these tools, and they might look nice, but it’s important to reiterate: The UX deliverables’ power is not in their aesthetic — in the same way that you wouldn’t judge the literary merit of a book by its font (even though that sexy serif might be delectable). The power of user experience (as a discipline) is to ground design and development in the user’s experience. A final word It’s exciting to build things quickly. I love coding all night until the sun comes up, building without a care in the world about who might want or need my creation. And it’s fun (in that geeky kind of way) to spend hours upon hours deliberating whether your website “pops” more using a serif or a sans-serif font. These things are important — but without a broader sense of your user and their experience, you might end up with a big pile of useless code and fonts. Consequently, I would just ask that–before you put that house on the market, as you’re sanding the counters, picking out that perfect light fixture, or applying that final coat of paint–you consider calling in a user experience designer to make sure you don’t have any toilets in your kitchen.Two windows without signing anybody. That is Real Madrid's punishment for breaking FIFA's Article 19. They are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but it is unlikely they will be able to avoid it. Miki Soria However, there are a few players they can still add to their squad... the ones they currently have out on loan. Jesus Vallejo (Eintracht Frankfurt) The centre-back has not yet debuted for his parent club, spending last year on loan at Real Zaragoza, from whence he came, and now is playing in the Bundesliga. Burgui (Sporting Gijon) The wide man was on loan at Espanyol last season and now in the Asturias. One assist from his two games so far. Diego Llorente (Malaga) The young centre-back spent last season at Rayo Vallecano and now has headed to Malaga, where he's earned a place in Juande Ramos' team. Marcos Llorente (Alaves) One of the great prospects from Madrid's youth system, a midfielder of great quality and good on the ball. He is one of the more likely ones to feature for Madrid in the future. Borja Mayoral (Wolfsburg) The Germans paid 3 million euros to loan the forward, but has just played seven minutes so far, in the German Cup. Raul de Tomas (Real Valladolid) After a season on loan at Cordoba, where he scored six goals, the striker has been sent to Valladolid.In the early nineties, Twin Peaks set the bar for so many things other than cherry pie and damn fine coffee. And I’m not just talking kick-ass knitwear either… Ushering in the Golden Age of TV, Twin Peaks was a phenomenon. As with most things like this Twin Peaks spawned tonnes and tonnes of spin-off merchandise. Some things brilliant, somethings plain old weird. And somethings just plain bad… We’ve put together a list of 10 of the best Twin Peaks cool stuff from the nineties and present day for you to feast your eyes on. Fancy snuggling up in bed at night with the killers of Twin Peaks on your duvet? Or perhaps a Black Lodge style rug to adorn your living room? Check out the list below for the weird and wonderful Twin Peaks cool stuff. Let us know in the comments what you think, or if we have missed anything you think should be on the list. And don’t forget to re-tweet and share! “She’s dead… Wrapped in plastic…” Unwrap the mystery of Laura Palmer by taking a peak (puns intended) inside her diary as written by the daughter of David Lynch – Jennifer Lynch. This diary (as featured in Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me) chronicles the formative years of Laura’s life from the age of 12 to her death at the tender age of 17. Uncover the secrets of how Laura went from a sweet innocent small town girl to the Twin Peaks bad girl we know from FWWM. This was essential reading back in the nineties. And it still is today. If you are a Twin Peaks fan and don’t have a copy of this already then shame on you. Get it now! Check it out here: The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer Do you know how to get from Big Ed’s Gas Farm to the Diner? How about getting your hands on Norma’s recipe for her famous cherry pie? Or perhaps you are more interested in finding out what type of tree Log Lady’s Log is from (who doesn’t want to know!)? This essential guide to Twin Peaks, its places and people is a must read for any TP fan. Full of interesting, weird and wonderful juicy nuggets of TP facts – astound your friends with your amazing knowledge of all things Twin Peaks… Written by David Lynch and Mark Frost, if you don’t have this in your collection then now’s your chance – get reading here: Twin Peaks: An Access Guide to the Town “Diane! I’m holding in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies.” Who doesn’t want a look inside the mind of the ultimate G-Man? The affable, lovable, and brilliant Agent Cooper has his own biography. This is something I’ve recently stumbled upon that I never knew existed. This is a bit of a rarity – so something for those hardcore dedicated Twin Peaks collectors. Starting with Coop when he was just 13 years old (can you actually believe he was ever that old?!) this gives us a great insight into the mind and world of the heart and soul of the Twin Peaks Phenomenon. Have a closer look here: The Autobiography of F.B.I. Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes Another surprise was to find this little gem – the complete audio tape (yes tapes, I know. But if we’re old enough to remember Twin Peaks we’re old enough for tapes right?). This has the complete collection of all of Agent Cooper’s dictation tapes to our dearest Diane. Not only can we hear some of his familiar and oft-quoted Diane-isms, but it also has previously unheard tapes too. This is another Twin Peaks rare collectable for those die-hard fans. But it certainly is worth it. This is a real TP treat – get yourself some cherry pie, damn good coffee and fully immerse yourself in
to find the settings for your plugin because they aren’t buried within one of the built-in WordPress admin menus. Keeping that in mind, if your plugin is simple enough to only require a single admin page, then using one of the wrapper functions might make the most sense. But if you need more than that, creating a custom admin menu is the way to go. In much the same way that adding your own custom admin menu helps give the sense of a well-rounded plugin, plugin action links work in the same fashion. So what are plugin action links? It’s best to start with a picture: See the “Deactivate” and “Edit” links underneath the name of the plugin? Those are plugin action links, and WordPress provides a filter named plugin_action_links for you to add more. Basically, plugin action links are a great way to add a quick shortcut to your most commonly used admin menu page. $new_version = '2.0.0'; if (get_option(MYPLUGIN_VERSION_KEY)!= $new_version) { // Execute your upgrade logic here // Then update the version value update_option(MYPLUGIN_VERSION_KEY, $new_version); } If your plugin requires its own database tables, you will inevitably need to modify those tables in future versions of your plugin. This can get a bit tricky to manage if you’re not careful, but WordPress helps alleviate this problem by providing the dbDelta() function. A useful feature of the dbDelta() function is that it can be used for both creating and updating tables, but according to the WordPress codex page “Creating Tables with Plugins”, it’s a little picky: You have to put each field on its own line in your SQL statement. You have to have two spaces between the words PRIMARY KEY and the definition of your primary key. You must use the keyword KEY rather than its synonym INDEX and you must include at least one KEY. Knowing these rules, we can use the function below to create a table that contains an ID, a name, and an email: function myplugin_create_database_table() { global $wpdb; $table = $wpdb->prefix.'myplugin_table_name'; $sql = "CREATE TABLE ". $table. " ( id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL DEFAULT ’, email VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL DEFAULT ’, UNIQUE KEY id (id) );"; require_once(ABSPATH. 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php'); dbDelta($sql); } Important: The dbDelta() function is found in wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php, but it has to be included manually because it’s not loaded by default. So now we have a table, but in the next version we need to expand the size of the name column from 100 to 250. Fortunately dbDelta() makes this straightforward, and using our upgrade logic previously, the next version of the plugin will have code similar to this: $new_version = '2.0.0'; if (get_option(MYPLUGIN_VERSION_KEY)!= $new_version) { myplugin_update_database_table(); update_option(MYPLUGIN_VERSION_KEY, $new_version); } function myplugin_update_database_table() { global $wpdb; $table = $wpdb->prefix.'myplugin_table_name'; $sql = "CREATE TABLE ". $table. " ( id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, name VARCHAR(250) NOT NULL DEFAULT ’, // Bigger name column email VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL DEFAULT ’, UNIQUE KEY id (id) );"; require_once(ABSPATH. 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php'); dbDelta($sql); } While there are other ways to create and update database tables for your WordPress plugin, it’s hard to ignore the flexibility of the dbDelta() function. Know the Difference Between include, include_once, require, and require_once There will come a time during the development of your plugin where you will want to put code into other files so that maintaining your plugin is a bit easier. For instance, a common practice is to create a functions.php file that contains all of the shared functions that all of the files in your plugin can use. Let’s say your main plugin file is named myplugin.php and you want to include the functions.php file. You can use any of these lines of code to do it: include 'functions.php'; include_once 'functions.php'; require 'functions.php'; require_once 'functions.php'; But which should you use? It mostly depends on your expected outcome of the file not being there. include: Includes and evaluates the specified file, throwing a warning if the file can’t be found. Includes and evaluates the specified file, throwing a warning if the file can’t be found. include_once: Same as include, but if the file has already been included it will not be included again. Same as include, but if the file has already been included it will not be included again. require: Includes and evaluates the specified file (same as include), but instead of a warning, throws a fatal error if the file can’t be found. Includes and evaluates the specified file (same as include), but instead of a warning, throws a fatal error if the file can’t be found. require_once: Same as require, but if the file has already been included it will not be included again. My experience has been to always use include_once because a) how I structure and use my files usually requires them to be included once and only once, and b) if a required file can’t be found I don’t expect parts of the plugin to work, but it doesn’t need to break anything else either. Your expectations may vary from mine, but it’s important to know the subtle differences between the four ways of including files. Use bloginfo(‘wpurl’) Instead of bloginfo(‘url’) By and large, WordPress is installed in the root folder of a website; it’s standard operating procedure. However, every now and then you’ll come across websites that install WordPress into a separate subdirectory under the root. Seems innocent enough, but the location of WordPress is critically important. To demonstrate, in the “General Settings” section of the WordPress admin panel, you’ll find the “WordPress address (URL)” and “Site address (URL)” settings, and for sites where WordPress is installed into the root directory, they will have the exact same values: But for sites where WordPress is installed into a subdirectory under the root (in this case a “wordpress” subdirectory), their values will be different: At this stage it’s important to know the following: bloginfo(‘wpurl’) equals the “WordPress address (URL)” setting equals the “WordPress address (URL)” setting bloginfo(‘url’) equals the “Site address (URL)” setting Where this matters is when you need to build URLs to certain resources or pages. For example, if you want to provide a link to the WordPress login screen, you could do this: // URL will be http://mydomain.com/wp-login.php <a href="<?php bloginfo('url')?>/wp-login.php">Login</a> But that won’t resolve to the correct URL in the scenario such as the one above where WordPress is installed to the “wordpress” subdirectory. To do this correctly, you must use bloginfo(‘wpurl’) instead: // URL will be http://mydomain.com/wordpress/wp-login.php <a href="<?php bloginfo('wpurl')?>/wp-login.php">Login</a> Using bloginfo(‘wpurl’) instead of bloginfo(‘url’) is the safest way to go when building links and URLs inside your plugin because it works in both scenarios: when WordPress is installed in the root of a website and also when it’s installed in a subdirectory. Using bloginfo(‘url’) only gets you the first one. How and When to Use Actions and Filters WordPress allows developers to add their own code during the execution of a request by providing various hooks. These hooks come in the form of actions and filters: Actions : WordPress invokes actions at certain points during the execution request and when certain events occur. : WordPress invokes actions at certain points during the execution request and when certain events occur. Filters: WordPress uses filters to modify text before adding it to the database and before displaying it on-screen. The number of actions and filters is quite large, so we can’t get into them all here, but let’s at least take a look at how they are used. Here’s an example of how to use the admin_print_styles action, which allows you to add your own stylesheets to the WordPress admin pages: add_action('admin_print_styles','myplugin_admin_print_styles'); function myplugin_admin_print_styles() { $handle ='myplugin-css'; $src = MYPLUGIN_PLUGIN_URL. '/styles.css'; wp_register_style($handle, $src); wp_enqueue_style($handle); } And here’s how you would use the the_content filter to add a “Follow me on Twitter!” link to the bottom of every post: add_filter('the_content','myplugin_the_content'); function myplugin_the_content($content) { $output = $content; $output.= '<p>'; $output.= '<a href="http://twitter.com/username">Follow me on Twitter!</a>'; $output.= '</p>'; return $output; } It’s impossible to write a WordPress plugin without actions and filters, and knowing what’s available to use and when to use them can make a big difference. See the WordPress codex page “Plugin API/Action Reference” for the complete list of actions and the page “Plugin API/Filter Reference” for the complete list of filters. Tip: Pay close attention to the order in which the actions are listed on its codex page. While not an exact specification, my experimentation and trial-and-error has shown it to be pretty close to the order in which actions are invoked during the WordPress request pipeline. Add Your Own Settings Page or Admin Menu Many WordPress plugins require users to enter settings or options for the plugin to operate properly, and the way plugin authors accomplish this is by either adding their own settings page to an existing menu or by adding their own new top-level admin menu to WordPress. How to Add a Settings Page A common practice for adding your own admin settings page is to use the add_menu() hook to call the add_options_page() function: add_action('admin_menu','myplugin_admin_menu'); function myplugin_admin_menu() { $page_title = 'My Plugin Settings'; $menu_title = 'My Plugin'; $capability ='manage_options'; $menu_slug ='myplugin-settings'; $function ='myplugin_settings'; add_options_page($page_title, $menu_title, $capability, $menu_slug, $function); } function myplugin_settings() { if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) { wp_die('You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.'); } // Here is where you could start displaying the HTML needed for the settings // page, or you could include a file that handles the HTML output for you. } By invoking the add_options_page() function, we see that the “My Plugin” option has been added to the built-in Settings menu in the WordPress admin panel: The add_options_page() function is really just a wrapper function on top of the add_submenu_page() function, and there are other wrapper functions that do similar work for the other sections of the WordPress admin panel: add_dashboard_page() add_posts_page() add_media_page() add_links_page() add_pages_page() add_comments_page() add_theme_page() add_plugins_page() add_users_page() add_management_page() How to Add a Custom Admin Menu Those wrapper functions work great, but what if you wanted to create your own admin menu section for your plugin? For example, what if you wanted to create a “My Plugin” admin section with more than just the Settings page, such as a Help page? This is how you would do that: add_action('admin_menu','myplugin_menu_pages'); function myplugin_menu_pages() { // Add the top-level admin menu $page_title = 'My Plugin Settings'; $menu_title = 'My Plugin'; $capability ='manage_options'; $menu_slug ='myplugin-settings'; $function ='myplugin_settings'; add_menu_page($page_title, $menu_title, $capability, $menu_slug, $function); // Add submenu page with same slug as parent to ensure no duplicates $sub_menu_title = 'Settings'; add_submenu_page($menu_slug, $page_title, $sub_menu_title, $capability, $menu_slug, $function); // Now add the submenu page for Help $submenu_page_title = 'My Plugin Help'; $submenu_title = 'Help'; $submenu_slug ='myplugin-help'; $submenu_function ='myplugin_help'; add_submenu_page($menu_slug, $submenu_page_title, $submenu_title, $capability, $submenu_slug, $submenu_function); } function myplugin_settings() { if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) { wp_die('You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.'); } // Render the HTML for the Settings page or include a file that does } function myplugin_help() { if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) { wp_die('You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.'); } // Render the HTML for the Help page or include a file that does } Notice that this code doesn’t use any of the wrapper functions. Instead, it calls add_menu_page() (for the parent menu page) and add_submenu_page() (for the child pages) to create a separate “My Plugin” admin menu that contains the Settings and Help pages: One advantage of adding your own custom menu is that it’s easier for users to find the settings for your plugin because they aren’t buried within one of the built-in WordPress admin menus. Keeping that in mind, if your plugin is simple enough to only require a single admin page, then using one of the wrapper functions might make the most sense. But if you need more than that, creating a custom admin menu is the way to go. In much the same way that adding your own custom admin menu helps give the sense of a well-rounded plugin, plugin action links work in the same fashion. So what are plugin action links? It’s best to start with a picture: See the “Deactivate” and “Edit” links underneath the name of the plugin? Those are plugin action links, and WordPress provides a filter named plugin_action_links for you to add more. Basically, plugin action links are a great way to add a quick shortcut to your most commonly used admin menu page. Keeping with our Settings admin page, here’s how we would add a plugin action link for it: add_filter('plugin_action_links','myplugin_plugin_action_links', 10, 2); function myplugin_plugin_action_links($links, $file) { static $this_plugin; if (!$this_plugin) { $this_plugin = plugin_basename(__FILE__); } if ($file == $this_plugin) { // The "page" query string value must be equal to the slug // of the Settings admin page we defined earlier, which in // this case equals "myplugin-settings". $settings_link = '<a href="'. get_bloginfo('wpurl'). '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=myplugin-settings">Settings</a>'; array_unshift($links, $settings_link); } return $links; } With this code in place, now when you view your plugins list you’ll see this: Here we provided a plugin action link to the Settings admin page, which is the same thing as clicking on Settings from our custom admin menu. The benefit of the plugin action link is that users see it immediately after they activate the plugin, thus adding to the overall experience. Additional Resources I’ve covered a lot in this article, but there’s plenty more out there to keep you busy awhile. The most comprehensive documentation for WordPress plugin development can be found on the WordPress Codex, a huge collection of pages documenting everything that is WordPress. Further Reading I also suggest reading Joost de Valk’s article “Lessons Learned From Maintaining a WordPress Plug-In”, which provides more good tips on WordPress plugin development. (vf) (ik)World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on 10th September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries. It has devastating effect on the people left behind. Every year, more than 800,000 people die by suicide and up to 25 times as many make a suicide attempt. India accounted for the 1.35 lakh cases which is highest estimated number of suicides in any country of the world, according to a WHO report. Whats even more concerning is the gender divide while committing suicides. The male to female suicide ratio has been about 2.28:1. Given this grim scenario and no distress center or help for men from Government. A group of NGO’s working for men in India tried to spread awareness on Suicide Prevention Day. Vaastav Foundation a Mumbai based registered NGO that works primarily to prevent male suicides, provides emotional and moral support to men in distress, specially those who have been at the receiving end of the gender biased laws. They have released a video Live-In : Life-Out to showcase the growing number of married men suicides in India due to gross misuse of women centric gender biased laws. Another NGO Hridaya – Nest of Family Harmony in association with V Help Foundation organized an awareness march to imbibe sensitivity towards issues of men and highlight the gender bias men face in all walks of life. Hridaya wants government to make all laws gender neutral. Create a nationwide Mens Commision for adequate representation of males. They also want Men’s ministry to be commissioned on top priority to address all male issues and victimizations of men. These NGO’s also run SIF One – 09992498498 Helpline for distressed men.Although military and business organizations are like apples and oranges, they can learn from each other. \| Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch Military organizations dislike change. “It’s not a natural sort of thing for them to do,” says military historian Gil-li Vardi. “It’s very costly.” Yet they need to transform themselves constantly to remain effective. So how do they approach the need for strategic change? Where does it come from, who gets to decide it, and what factors shape it? Vardi, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, has spent her career trying to answer these questions. Using theories of sociology and organizational culture, she studies how militaries update their strategic thinking and operational habits — something every business must figure out as well. Her initial research focused on Germany’s armed forces after World War I, when a complete overhaul seemed warranted. “They lost a world war,” she says. “You’d think some of them would sit down and say, ‘Well, we lost that one; what went wrong?’ But they did none of it.” Instead, military leaders decided that their strategy was sound, and the politicians were to blame for Germany’s defeat. Next time, they vowed presciently, they would do the same thing — only bigger and better. If various members and groups within the organization don’t have a commitment to change, it will never happen. Gil-li Vardi Vardi chalks up Germany’s unwillingness to implement large-scale change to its long-standing commitment to tradition, and decided to compare it to a military that had none: the Israel Defense Forces. It wasn’t a completely arbitrary choice; Vardi, an Israeli citizen, had served two years as a lieutenant in the IDF intelligence corps. She knew the background. “Here’s an army that has a very clear birth — a big bang moment. There was no army one moment, and the next day there was an army,” she says. “If you think of any other modern army — say, the Indian Army, or the Jordanian Army — they’re all based on colonial forces that were trained and educated in colonial traditions. The IDF had no history.” With no tradition and no time to prepare, its leaders had to rely on “reflection in action,” Vardi says. “The amazing thing is that within two years, they came up with the basic patterns and strategies that would hold at least until 1982.” She attributes the IDF’s speedy formation to a combination of outside pressure — surrounded by enemies, Israel’s very survival was by no means a given — and clear vision, especially as it was articulated by the founding group of young officers who grasped instantly what the IDF needed to be. The takeaway, she says, is that while organizational culture is artificially imposed and can be manipulated, military organizations — especially those steeped in tradition — will not change unless the impetus comes from within. “If various members and groups within the organization don’t have a commitment to change, it will never happen,” she says. “External pressure is not enough.” The two best-known examples of successful “revolutions in military affairs” came from within the militaries themselves, she says: the rise of the Soviet Red Army in the 1920s and 1930s, and the U.S. military’s adoption of the “AirLand Battle” strategy in Europe in the early 1980s, which emphasized coordination between the Army and the Air Force, using ground forces on the front lines combined with air strikes to stop the forward movement of enemy reserves. Though military and business organizations are “like apples and oranges,” says Vardi, with “different goals, different purposes, and different patterns of behavior,” they can definitely learn from each another. She points out that most high-ranking military officers take at least some business courses so they can learn strategies for managing their “different kinds of dinosaurs.” Likewise, business leaders can benefit from studying military history, which Vardi compares to learning a foreign language. Whether or not they use “the language of military strategy” on a daily basis, it can change patterns of thinking and expand one’s worldview. Her course, Modern Military Strategy: The Changing Face of War, introduces students to that language and then asks them to apply it to modern-day conflicts. For instance, she might convene a mock National Security Council meeting and ask students to make policy recommendations for combatting the Islamic State. “I play the president, by the way, which I really, really like doing,” she says. Vardi’s own experience — as both a soldier and a military historian — shapes her views of organizational culture. One thing she’s learned, she says, is that every situation is unique, and there are few universal truths about how militaries respond. “Historians get very anxious when you try to ‘learn lessons’ from the past, and say things like, ‘Oh, [former Iranian president Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad is just like Hitler.’ No, he’s not. It’s never the same: The conditions are always different, the financial system is different, the leaders are different, the people are different.” Indeed, organizational assumptions are rarely correct; contrary to the image of militaries as hierarchical and regimented, she found the IDF to be chaotic and informal, with soldiers calling their commanders by their first names rather than “Sir.” And while Vardi’s personal experience in the military may have piqued her interest in the subject, she doesn’t believe it enhanced her grasp of military affairs. “I did not acquire any in-depth understanding of armies because I was an officer,” she says. “You don’t have to be a soldier to understand military history.”“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?” These words signal the end of Stand by Me, Rob Reiner’s classic 1986 film and one of the greatest coming-of-age stories ever told. They pinpoint in a single breath the peculiar state occupied by people as they’re growing up, encompassing the onset of puberty, the move to the next stage of school and the fast approaching realities of adulthood – particularly death. Stand by Me begins in the quaint rural town of Castle Rock, Americana personified. It’s the height of summer and things couldn’t be more idyllic or peaceful for the four best friends at the heart of the film. As the adult version of Gordie (Richard Dreyfuss) explains in his voiceover, “Everything was there and around us. We knew exactly who we were and exactly where we going.” Their childhood may have been stable, but these boys have hardly led a charmed life. Gordie (Wil Wheaton) is still coming to terms with a recent family tragedy, Teddy’s (Corey Feldman) dad is mentally scarred from his service in World War Two, and Chris’ (River Phoenix) family are just bad news. But they are shielded from the full force of these traumas by virtue of their youth and naivety. They are still just kids. When we join them, the friends are about to begin junior high, a new environment that forces them to acknowledge the reality of their lives. Before then, Chris could survive within his semi-criminal family. He may have been pre-judged by other kids and teachers, and marked out for failure accordingly, but he could survive. Yet as he prepares to begin at a new school his aspirations to make more of himself come into conflict with his family’s poverty and the prejudice against them. As he confesses to Gordie in one of the film’s most touching moments, he fears that he’s “never going to get out of this town.” Likewise, Gordie and his parents have suffered the hammer blow of his brother Denny’s death, but it’s clearly something none of them have processed fully. In their brief appearances Gordie’s parents sleepwalk through their day, haunted by grief. They keep Denny’s room untouched. Gordie himself has dreams of becoming a writer, but he’s more desperate to be liked than pursue that career. He either wants to please his dad, who wanted him to play football like Denny, or stay in his friendship group, even if that means ending up in shop class. The film finds the boys at a crossroads in their lives, where the safety and stability of childhood meet the unpredictable possibilities and realities of adult life. This duality is clear in every exchange between them. Half the time they’re grappling with the life-changing questions mentioned above: questions of life and death, whether your parents love you, what career you’re going to pursue. The rest of the time they talk what adult Gordie calls, “the kind of talk that seems important until you discover girls”; arguing about whether Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman or how great it would be to eat cherry-flavoured Pez for the rest of your life. That bizarre balance is summed up most succinctly in one exchange where Teddy asks the other boys, “Have you been watching the Mickey Mouse club lately? I think Annette’s tits are getting bigger.” The boys’ coming-of-age is symbolised by the journey they go on to find the dead body of Ray Brower. They escape the boundaries of their safe, stable lives in Castle Rock and head into the wild, ready for a confrontation with death. Along the way their youthful ignorance is hilariously exposed. None of them bring any food for the two-day trek. They don’t check when the trains are coming and almost get flattened. It’s a miracle they make it home alive. Two incidents in particular are representative of their transition into adulthood and the fears associated with it. First is their encounter with leeches as they mess around in a swamp-like pool in the forest. It’s all fun and games until someone spots a leech on Vern’s neck (Jerry O’Connell) and the boys rush to safety. They strip to their underwear, discarding leeches as they go, until only one remains… and it’s in Gordie’s pants. Staring down at possibly the most important thing in the world and the greatest source of anxiety for a 12-year-old boy, Gordie pulls the leech loose to a trickle of blood and promptly faints. Later, the boys reach Ray Brower, only to be confronted by Ace (Kiefer Sutherland) and his gang, a group of older teens intent on claiming the fame of finding the body for themselves. They represent the future for the boys, particularly Chris, whose brother “Eyeball” Chambers is part of the gang. They are the kind of no-good wasters Chris, Gordie, Teddy and Vern could end up becoming if things work out badly for them. In the presence of the body, mortality suddenly becomes a major concern as Ace pulls a flick-knife and Gordie draws the gun that Chris stole from his dad. Ray Brower was a kid, just like them, and Gordie is determined that in the end no one will take him. He’s not a prize to earn either group some brief local celebrity; he deserves respect and the chance to rest in peace. As Gordie knows from his brother’s death and their earlier trials on the train tracks, it could just as easily have been any of them. When the boys return to Castle Rock it’s clear nothing with ever be the same again. As an adult Gordie recalls, “We’d only been gone two days, but somehow the town seemed different. Smaller.” Of course, it wasn’t the town that had changed, it was them. It hadn’t become smaller; their horizons had grown wider. They were no longer limited to the safe confines of their town and the simple childhood they grew up with. Now they knew what the world had to offer, good and bad. They had come of age. Published 8 Aug 2016It was over. I knew it from the moment he appeared. The pride in me didn’t want to admit it, but I had learned to suppress that pride long ago. I observed the kid in front of me. He was young; about as young as I had been when I first started. Yet he was not smug. Despite what he just did, his eyes were more pleading than triumphant. Snow was covering his clothes and parts of his face, but he didn’t seem phased by the cold. It was likely that the adrenaline pumping through his system numbed him to the cold. “How did you do it?” I asked. The kid jumped at my voice. He quickly composed himself. “It wasn’t easy. That’s one thing I’ve learned. Life is never easy.” I nodded. Visions of my past flooded through my memory. “In fact, life is nearly impossible. Alone. That’s another thing I’ve learned. Friends are the most important thing to me.” More memories flooded my mind. A tear escaped my eye, trickling downward until the cold froze it. “Where are your friends now?” I asked. The kid shuffled his feet. “They’re away.” “Oh.” “Why are you here?” the kid asked. Not the question I expected. “I guess you’ve earned the answer. But come inside, it’s way too long of a story to tell in this cold.” I gestured to my cabin, and the kid reluctantly shuffled inside. Inside, I prepared two cups of cocoa and sat down in front of the kid. “I started my journey almost five years ago…”Google launches underwater Street View, a new virtual map of oceans Today, Google Maps unveils a new Street View feature: underwater panoramic views of six special sea spots. The idea is to create a virtual map of the oceans, documenting the state of fragile ecosystems as they change over time, and sharing a vivid experience of part of our world that few humans get to see up close and in person, in real life. The ocean collection on Google Street View is now available at maps.google.com/ocean, and includes coral reefs and the creatures who live in them, in Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii. The panoramic images were collected by Google's partner, The Catlin Seaview Survey (Google+). I spoke with Richard Vevers, Project Director at Catlin, and asked why the organization chose to partner with Google on this project. "The biggest problem with the ocean is that it's out of sight and out of mind for most of us," said Vevers. "99% of people have never gone for a dive and never will. One of the biggest issues around conservation is engaging people with the ocean, and this is a powerful way to accomplish that. It is a scientific project to create a baseline for observing how the oceans are changing, but it also creates awareness of why that matters." Jenifer Austin Foulkes, Manager with Google’s Oceans Program, says the mission is to make Google maps as comprehensive as possible by extending their reach underwater. "There's a great quote about conservation from ocean researcher Sylvia Earle—'With knowing comes caring, and with caring, there's hope." The images were collected over a period of six months by small teams of divers with three cameras on each underwater vehicle, capturing images every four seconds, which are then stitched together into 360º panoramas. There's more at the Catlin Survey website about the specific cameras used—the SVII camera, described as the world’s first tablet-operated underwater camera. They're using the Samsung Galaxy tablet to operate the SVIIs. "I've been diving for a long time and this is the first project in which we've used underwater scooters with cameras mounted on the scooters," the Catlin Survey's Vevers tells Boing Boing. "It was an amazing way to engage with marine life, they really loved interacting with us. We encountered big manta rays looking at their reflections in our windows, sea turtles, and all kinds of curious creatures." "The whole system was developed to make it simple to gather data, over three to four-day expeditions." Sites mapped which will be available today include the Great Barrier Reef, 2 sites in Hawaii, and one in the Philippines. More locations will follow, said Vevers. "This is to give people a taste of what's to come. People tend to think of the ocean as monolithic, but these are all very different environments. Even within the Great Barrier Reef, each site is very different." "We chose areas we believe people will be interested in, so we can really engage people in in the content, and get them to engage with and care about our oceans." More below about the project, from a joint press release: The first Catlin Seaview Survey expedition on the Great Barrier Reef set off on 16th September 2012. The survey on the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea runs until the end of December and will visit 20 separate coral reefs along the 2,300km reef on an unprecedented scale and depth range – including sections of the reef that have never previously been seen or studied before. It will then continue on to selected global locations in 2013 including Hawaii, the Philippines and Bermuda. There are two science components to the Catlin Seaview Survey: a Shallow Reef Survey and a Deep Reef Survey: · Shallow Reef Survey: The Shallow Reef Survey will involve scientists using state-of-theart digital technology to capture approximately 50,000 360-degree panoramic images of the reef that can be linked to create a virtual dive experience. Each image will be geo-located, with automated technologies for rapidly assessing the amount of coral cover and other life forms from locations at 20 separate coral reefs along the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef. This will provide a broad scale baseline for understanding change on coral reefs. · Deep Reef Survey: Using diving robots and other innovative instrument packages, the Catlin Seaview Survey Team will begin to explore deep water reef systems that are very rarely visited by humans, yet may hold some of the secrets of whether or not coral reefs could survive rapid climate change. Using a combination of HD cameras, deep-diving robots and survey equipment, the deep-water component will provide a comprehensive study of the health composition and biodiversity of the deep-water reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. It will also experimentally assess their susceptibility to increased temperatures and ocean acidification, which are byproducts of a changing climate. It’s entirely probable new species will be discovered in these deeper waters. To view the Google Street View underwater panoramas, visit maps.google.com/ocean.The Huffington Post website on Wednesday cited two unnamed women who said that U.S. Sen Al Franken grabbed their buttocks in separate incidents. Each woman spoke on condition of anonymity about events they said occurred during Franken’s first Senate campaign. One woman said Franken groped her when he posed for a photo with her after a June 2007 event hosted by the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus in Minneapolis. A second woman told HuffPost that Franken cupped her butt with his hand at a 2008 Democratic fundraiser in Minneapolis, then suggested the two visit the bathroom together. Franken issued a statement Wednesday saying, “It’s difficult to respond to anonymous accusers, and I don’t remember those campaign events.” He added, “I can categorically say that I did not proposition anyone to join me in any bathroom.” On Monday, Lindsay Menz accused Franken of groping her at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010. “My story is eerily similar to Lindsay Menz’s story,” one accuser said. “He grabbed my buttocks during a photo op.” The two most recent accusers, who said they were not familiar with each other’s stories, both spoke on condition of anonymity. Their stories are remarkably similar — and both women have been telling them privately for years, they said.The online streaming service made headlines with its recent announcement that employees would enjoy up to a year of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Netflix is being criticized for excluding some of its employees from the company's new parental leave policy, which gives workers up to a year of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a baby. Netflix was widely praised when it announced its new policy earlier this month. But a series of online petitions from activist groups have attacked the company for apparently excluding from the new benefits employees in its DVD-by-mail service. At least three online petitions – from workers' right group Coworker.org, political organization Democracy for America and women's rights group UltraViolet - are urging Netflix to extend the baby benefit beyond the around 2,000 workers in its streaming video operations to including the roughly 450 temporary, part- and full-time employees in its smaller, but still profitable DVD division. "Netflix is leaving workers who could benefit the most from a generous paid leave policy behind and that is offensive," Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of women's rights group UltraViolet, told AP. The protesting groups claim Netflix is unfairly favoring computer programmers and other technology specialists, who are already among the most highly-paid within the company, over lower-paid employees who sort discs and stuff envelopes at Netflix distribution centers. According to information shared by company workers on Glassdoor.com, an employer review website, Netflix pay ranges from $15 per hour for customer-service reps to more than $200,000 a year for software engineers. In a statement, Netflix said its DVD employees already receive higher wages and greater benefits than people in comparable jobs elsewhere. “We are regularly reviewing policies across our business to ensure they are competitive and help us attract and keep the best employees," the statement read. Netflix was founded on its DVD rental service but that portion of the company has long since been overtaken by its Internet SVOD service. Netflix is estimated to have more than 65 million SVOD subscribers worldwide but just 5.3 million DVD-by-mail customers and the latter figure continues to fall year by year. However, the DVD business continues to be highly
case is simple: Over the last four years, he has been the most consistent goalscorer for the US in any league, and has translated that to the USMNT since midsummer. He has nine goals in his last 10 US appearances, and does the fundamentals extraordinarily well. Johannsson, meanwhile, is third in the Golden Boot race in the Dutch Eredivisie with 17 goals in 30 starts and 32 overall appearances. The Eredivisie is a wide-open league by most modern standards, but those numbers should not be ignored. Klinsmann, of course, hasn't ignored them. Johannsson has been given plenty of time to get his feet with the US, and probably enters camp as the slight favorite to claim this spot. Neither of these guys can be used as a lone forward, by the way. And neither of them can do the hold-up work that Altidore and Johnson do, so they're really competing with each other for the "late-game attacking sub" spot. Johannsson has a bit more versatility as well as youth on his side, while Wondo is a Klinsmann favorite and showed good understanding playing alongside Dempsey vs. Mexico early in April. Chance Wondo will make the 23-man roster: 40 percent Chance Johannsson will make the 23-man roster: 60 percent Chasing EJ There are only two guys in the mix to overtake Johnson as the backup target forward. One is probably familiar to MLS fans, while the other isn't often seen on North American TVs. Juan Agudelo was one of the revelations of the 2013 MLS season, drawing some muted but understandable MVP buzz through summer before missing just enough time with injuries to fall back under the radar. But the one-time Red Bull wunderkind (hard to believe he's still just 21) stayed on Klinsmann's radar, and on the radars of several European teams as well before finally landing with Stoke City in the EPL. A work permit issue has forced Agudelo to go on loan to FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie, and while he's not putting up Johannsson-like scoring totals, he's shown both the strength and nuance in his hold-up work and playmaking that made him so valuable to the Revs last year. He's not the dominant athlete that Johnson is, but he's capable of making game-winning plays (just look at that goal above) that come out of a video game. If he makes the final roster, it'll because he did a lot of that sort of thing in training over the second half of May. The other guy in the mix is Rapid Vienna's Terrence Boyd, who's now finishing up his second season in top-flight football, and consequently his second straight season scoring double-digit goals. He has a knack, especially on set pieces, for getting into the right spot at the right time. Of course, it hasn't quite worked out just yet for either of these guys at the international level. Boyd has 13 caps but no goals, while Agudelo has scored twice in his 18 appearances. Chance Agudelo will make the 23-man roster: 15 percent Chance Boyd will make the 23-man roster: 5 percent That's probably about it for the forward contingent, though it wouldn't cause more than a tiny ripple of surprise if Klinsmann brought in one or two other guys. Herculez Gomez, who's been such a loyal servant to the US program and has the kind of grit that Klinsmann values, could sneak in despite a rough year with injuries and loss of form. He also left the door open for Mike Magee, though the 2013 MLS MVP probably needed a stronger start to the 2014 season to really make his case. It's also worth bearing in mind that Landon Donovan – who will get his mentions when I take a look at the midfield on Thursday – can and likely will play a few minutes up top, as he did in last summer's Gold Cup. Klinsmann could do the same with youngster Julian Green, should he make the 23. If you want to know what I think about that particular ball of twine, check back on Thursday.The Vitter campaign acknowledged the private investigator was working for them — but denied he was there to tape Newell Normand. \| AP Photo Vitter rivals pounce after private investigator's arrest A private investigator working for Sen. David Vitter's gubernatorial campaign was arrested Friday and charged with illegally recording a conversation involving a local sheriff, throwing a last-minute wrench into Saturday's all-party primary as other campaigns pounced on the news. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand told the Baton Rouge Advocate he noticed a man acting strangely while he was having breakfast with several friends at a local coffee shop Friday morning. Normand confronted the man, who denied any wrongdoing, but Normand noticed the man had recording software open on a handheld device. Later, a member of the group took a photo of the man, prompting him to flee out of the restaurant and the breakfast group to give chase. Normand eventually called into sheriff's deputies to search for the man, identified as Robert J. Frenzel, and arrested him for criminal mischief. Story Continued Below Frenzel, 30, works for J.W. Bearden & Associates, a Dallas-based private investigation firm. Vitter's gubernatorial campaign has paid the firm more than $135,000 for "legal services" during the campaign. Normand told the paper there was probable cause to charge Frenzel with interception of communications. In Frenzel's car, police found documents on Jason Berry, a blogger who has been posting unsubstantiated reports about Vitter's relationship with prostitutes. On his recording device, they found Frenzel had recorded several minutes of the group's conversation. In a statement to the Advocate, the Vitter campaign acknowledged Frenzel was working for them — but denied he was there to taping Normand and said he was focused on John Cummings, a prominent New Orleans-area attorney and backer of state Rep. John Bel Edwards, the major Democratic candidate in Saturday's primary. Normand, a Republican, is a backer of Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne in the governor's race. "This person works for a firm that we hired to do research, all within the bounds of the law," Vitter spokesman Luke Bolar said. "This includes John Bel Edwards' business associate and major donor, and his relationship with the John Bel Edwards campaign. It has nothing to do with Newell Normand." The arrest presents a last-gasp opportunity for two Republicans trailing Vitter in the contest to knock him out of the second runoff spot. Edwards, the lone Democrat, is thought to be guaranteed a spot in the runoff. Dardenne and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle are chasing a wounded Vitter for the second runoff spot. "So we know this about David Vitter. He's cheated, he's lied and now he's been caught spying," Dardenne says direct to the camera in a web ad his campaign shot late last night. "We're no stranger to political corruption, but they usually wait until after they're elected to betray our trust. This time, it's on us. We now know the real David Vitter. And today is our chance to say, 'No, we've had enough. We're better than this.'" "This is shocking and beyond troubling. It reeks of old-school politics," Angelle said in a statement. "The questions about David Vitter continue and he refuses to provide any answers. This is yet another reason why Louisiana can't afford to elect David Vitter governor." Early voting in the state started two weeks ago, and it's unclear how much a late-breaking news story could change Saturday's outcome. Normand told the Advocate he was determined to get to the bottom of why Frenzel taped the conversation. "What do I have to do with the governor’s race? Everybody knows I endorsed Jay Dardenne," Normand said. "Everybody at that table is very upset with this. I didn’t know we had become the state of Russia."What Is It? Find the Future: The Game is a pioneering, interactive experience created especially for NYPL’s Centennial by famed game designer Jane McGonigal, with Natron Baxter and Playmatics. Through a once-in-a-lifetime, overnight adventure played inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, and an ongoing online game, Find the Future: The Game combines real-world missions with virtual clues and online collaboration — all inspired by 100 works from the amazing collections of The New York Public Library. “The game is designed to empower young people to find their own futures by bringing them face-to-face with the writings and objects of people who made an extraordinary difference,” says McGonigal. Find the Future: The Game kicked off on May 20, 2011 as part of NYPL’s Centennial Festival weekend, with a “Write All Night” event inside the landmark building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Players (18 and older) explored the building’s 70 miles of stacks, and, using laptops and smartphones, following clues to such treasures as the Library’s copy of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson’s hand. After finding each object, each of the 500 players wrote short personal essays inspired by their quest — for example, how would they write the Declaration? Winning the game meant writing a collaborative book based on these personal stories about the future, and this volume will be added to the Library’s collections. Find the Future: The Game can be played by anyone across the city and the world using your smartphones or computers, or on free computers at any of NYPL’s 90 locations. Start playing now! Hosting generously provided byMarvel Heroes 2015 Random Hero Box Free Givweaway (More Keys) 0 Keys Are Left Marvel Heroes 2015 Random Hero Box Free Givweaway (More Keys) MMO Game: Marvel Heroes 2015 \| Area: International \| Official Website: Marvel Heroes 2015 FINISHED More Giveaways Instructions:Gazillion, publisher and developer of Marvel Heroes 2015 in collaboration with FreeMMORPGlist.Com MMOGratis.Com and GiochiMMO.it offering this Marvel heroes 2015 Random Hero Box Giveaway, we will add more codes today 27th March 2015 at 20h CET / 12pm PST.Random Hero Box (only one per account)Unlock any hero in the game (worth between $5-$14) with a Random Hero Box code.Check out the full roster in Marvel like Black Panther, Captain America, Ghost Rider, Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine and some more.Step 1. Make sure you never miss a giveaway, follow us on Google+,Facebook and Twitter:Step 2. Complete the captcha, then add your email to the field above (beside the Get Your Key button) you can only sign up once for this giveaway. If is the first time you use our system please check your email to validate it and add again the same mail in the field adove.Step 3. Log into your existing Marvel Heroes 2015 account or create a new one Here Step 4. Once you have logged in, click on Profile on the upper right hand corner.Step 5. Select Redeem Key on the right hand side menu.Step 6. Enter your code in the key box and hit Submit (Remember: Codes are case sensitive)Step 7. Success! Your code should have successfully been redeemed and will show on your Account SummaryStep 8. Jump into Marvel Heroes and claim your in-game goodies!Step: Share with your Friends:About this game:Marvel Heroes 2015 is a free to play action MMO which combines action RPG and MMO gameplay. It's set in the Marvel Universe, and players can play with their favourite Marvel Superheroes, such as Wolverine, Spiderman, Hulk or Thor.Is Assad’s “Brother” About to be President of Lebanon? Garrett Khoury Blocked Unblock Follow Following Dec 5, 2015 Bashar al-Assad’s boyhood friend is on the path to becoming the next President of Lebanon Sleiman Frangieh, a close personal friend of embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, is increasingly looking like he will be the next President of Lebanon. Lebanese politicians appear to be making progress on a deal that would end the 18-month stalemate over who would be the next President. Future Movement leader and former Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri shocked observers by endorsing Sleiman Frangieh, leader of the Marada Movement and previously a staunch opponent of Hariri’s. Under the National Pact, which divides political power among the main religious sects in Lebanon, the President must be a Maronite Christian and the Prime Minister a Sunni. The President is elected by the parliament. The last president, General Michel Sleiman, left office in May 2014, and since then no single candidate has been able to patch together enough votes to become President, and proposals to extend Sleiman’s term (as had been done with his predecessor Emile Lahoud, albeit under the direction of the occupying Syrians) were shot down. Parliamentary elections have had to be repeatedly postponed as well, because a President needs to be elected first, according to the constitution. Whereas Sleiman was seen as a decidedly independent candidate who could be a unifying force for Lebanon, Frangieh is the opposite. He was close friends with Bashar’s older brother, Bassel (his younger son is named for him), and regularly speaks and visits with Bashar, who Frangieh has said is like a “brother.” Frangieh spent much of his younger years in Syria after his father, Tony, was assassinated by rival a rival Maronite militia. He offered his full support for the Assad regime early on in the Syrian Civil War, and is a close political ally of Hezbollah. So enthusiastic is his support of Hezbollah that he even remarked that his generation was lucky to be “living in the days of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.” Peculiar Politics The endorsement of his candidacy by Sa’ad Hariri is one of the more curious moments in recent Lebanese political history. Hariri, whose own father Rafic was assassinated, has (like many) blamed Syria and Hezbollah for the murder. Syria issued an arrest warrant for Hariri in 2012 based on accusations of giving weapons and money to Syrian rebels, and he responded by saying that Assad has “all the characteristics of a monster,” and that he had lost the “moral, humanitarian, and political authority [to rule] and he will sooner or later stand before the justice wanted by the Syrian people.” He is also the leader of the March 14 Movement, which pushed to end the 30-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon. The March 14 Movement includes the Lebanese Forces, a Maronite party led by Samir Geagea, who is widely believed to have led the attack that killed Frangieh’s father. Strange bedfellows indeed. Hariri’s dramatic about-face has led many to speculate what he is getting out of backing Frangieh. He has been living in exile in Saudi Arabia since he was forced from office in 2011 when his national unity government collapsed after Hezbollah-aligned parties, including Frangieh’s Marada Movement, backed out when it became expected that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would indict Hezbollah members for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Most rumors point towards Hariri being offered a return from exile and becoming Prime Minister once again in return for supporting Frangieh’s candidacy. Frangieh has also reportedly been able to secure the support of Walid Jumblatt, the Druze leader of the Progressive Socialist Party who, like Hariri, has been a vocal opponent of the Assad regime during the civil war. However, Jumblatt’s nickname “The Weathervane” isn’t in reference to his aquiline nose, but to his tendency to move in whatever direction the political winds are blowing, so backing Frangieh wouldn’t be nearly as shocking as Hariri’s decision. Old, Bad Blood With two major possible opponents looking like they will be behind him, Frangieh looks like a serious candidate for the presidency. His most fierce opposition looks to be out of his own corner, from other Lebanese Maronites. This shouldn’t be surprising, though, considering how much bad blood there is among the main clans. Sami Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party and son of former president Amine Gemayel, has said that Frangieh must distance himself from the Assad regime. “We are being clear,” he declared, “if Frangieh sets aside his political affiliations, then we will have no veto against him. We have no personal veto against him.” “We will not give our votes to any nominee that has a political rhetoric that only represents one side of the Lebanese…The head of state should represent all the Lebanese.” Many in Hariri’s March 14 Movement had been looking to back Lebanese Forces candidate Samir Geagea who, as noted before, is implicated in the attack that killed Frangieh’s father (and mother and sister). The attack was ordered by none other than the Gemayel family, as part of an ongoing inter-Maronite feud over rackets, turf, and the Frangieh’s growing ties with the regime of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father. Tony Frangieh was infamously corrupt as a communications minister, and was said to be close friends with Rifaat Assad, Bashar’s uncle. It is also worth noting that it was President Sleiman Frangieh, grandfather of the current presidential candidate, who invited the Syrians to intervene in the Lebanese Civil War in 1976, setting off a three-decade long occupation. Another opponent of Frangieh’s is Michel Aoun, the preferred candidate of the Hezbollah-led March 8 Movement. His son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, has indicated that his Free Patriotic Movement, which Aoun founded and handed over to Bassil, was still backing their old leader for President. Aoun, who rose to prominence in the 80s by fighting the Syrians before going to into exile in France after the Syrian military chased him out, has been a loyal friend of Hezbollah since returning in 2005, after the final Syrian withdrawal. They, in turn, have backed him as their primary choice for the president. So, while the backing of Hariri and Jumblatt may be the start of a push that could actually make him president, Frangieh still faces many obstacles. Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai has stepped in to try to mediate between the Christian parties, making way for some sort of reconciliation that would get them to agree on a candidate. It Gets Even More Complicated Support from Hariri, though, means support from Saudi Arabia, who are the main benefactor of Hariri and the March 14 Movement. French President Francois Hollande also recently spoke over the phone with Frangieh, a move that is being seen as at least tacit support for his candidacy. The United States will most likely follow the French, backing any possibility that would end the current political crisis. If Frangieh’s presidential hopes are complicated due to his ties to the Assad regime and his opinions on the Civil War there, it is only a reflective of the greater strain the war has put on Lebanon in general. There are well over a million Syrian refugees in Lebanon now, ISIS has launched repeated attacks that have killed dozens, and the Lebanese military is engaged in ongoing operations against ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and their allies on the border with Syria and in cities like Tripoli. Frangieh’s staunchly pro-Assad stance may only bind Lebanon’s fate more closely to the civil war and invite more spillover from the fighting there. Complications arising from the Syrian Civil War are not the only problems that Lebanon’s next president will have to address. The country can’t be said to move from crisis to crisis, because that would imply that the preceding crisis has been solved, or at least to some degree brought under control. No, Lebanon just adds another crisis to the never-shrinking pile of crises it has accumulated since, well, independence in 1943. There is of course the famous trash crisis, now going on six-months old, which brought thousands onto the streets as part of the “You Stink” movement to protest the government’s inability to do something about Beirut’s mountains of garbage. Rainy winter weather is creating literal rivers of trash in the city, with some warning that a cholera outbreak is imminent. There’s also the energy crisis, going on for decades, with the government unable to create a solution and get reliable, 24-hour a day electricity. Unreliable access to electricity has for years been hurting Lebanon’s economy, crippling prospects for development and progress. And of course, no maelstrom of misery of this magnitude would be complete without a banking and finance crisis. Perhaps the biggest crisis of all, though is a crisis of governance. Lebanon is cracking under the weight of a broken government. Refugees (not just Syrian), corruption, energy problems, rivers of trash, jihadist-Salafist terrorism from the likes ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and friends, Hezbollah dragging the country into wars against Israel and in Syria, all of these problems and more have exposed the Lebanese government as, at best, incompetent. At worst, it possesses an almost complete inability to govern, let alone govern effectively. Which brings it all back to Sleiman Frangieh, who will have to perform a truly extraordinary tightrope act in order to get anything done. Not only will he have to balance the interests and conflicts of the entrenched sectarian powers, he will also have to deal with balancing the competing regional powers. An avowedly pro-Assad and pro-Hezbollah politician, he will not be able to just pander to them (and Russia and Iran, being their main backers), but will have to try to satisfy the other side, namely Saudi Arabia, France, and the United States. Perhaps, if Frangieh was to become President and Hariri were to become Prime Minister, their odd-couple act could actually work. Maybe their partnership is just the sort of government that is needed to build a bridge between the March 8 and March 14 Movements and actually get some work done. The Lebanese know better than to get their hopes up, though. Life just never seems to get easier for Lebanon.How to use Use Screen.rip to build... Auto-updating screenshots for landing pages and support articles Side-by-side comparisons for A/B tests Detect visual regressions Reproduce customers' screen for support requests Pair with Page.REST to build site galleries similar to Land-book ProductHunt style social sharing Want to see how it works? Play with the samples below. Change the URLs to any site you like. Simple GET request Making a GET request is the easiest way to take a screenshot. Provide the URL of the page as a query string. curl -X GET \ "https://screen.rip/capture?token=YOUR_TOKEN&url=https://producthunt.com" Clip part of the page You can configure how to capture the screenshot. Pass the configuration options as a POST request. In the example, we pass a CSS selector to clip the screenshot to capture only the tweet popup. curl -X POST \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "url": "https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/896523232098078720", "clip": ".permalink-tweet-container", "format": "jpg", "quality": 90 }' \ "https://screen.rip/capture" Run custom scripts The API supports running a script before taking the screenshot. In the example, we run a script to scroll to a specific section of the page and then highlight a paragraph of the article before taking the screenshot. curl -X POST \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "url": "http://cosmos.nautil.us/short/138/if-you-cant-find-dark-matter-look-first-for-a-dark-force", "runjs": "window.scroll(0, 2200); var r = document.createRange(); var p = document.querySelector(\"article p:nth-of-type(4)\"); r.selectNode(p); window.getSelection().addRange(r);" }' \ "https://screen.rip/capture" Generate PDFs You can use the API to generate PDFs of web pages. In the example, we use print a page to an A4. Note how we can use runjs option to remove elements from the page to improve readability. curl -X POST \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "url": "http://www.paulgraham.com/ramenprofitable.html", "format": "pdf", "runjs": "document.querySelector(\"table tbody img\").remove()", "pdf": { "scale": 2, "format": "A4" } }' \ "https://screen.rip/capture" More options Set cookies (capture pages behind logins) Set custom HTTP Headers Post data Resize the viewport Wait for an element to appear on the page Capture full page screenshots Export as PNG or JPG View complete documentation Screen.rip runs each request in a separate browser context and doesn't retain any data from a session.Songs from Released 1993 Format CD Label Jim Henson Records/BMG Kidz Cat no. 74860-30023-2 74860-35023-2 Ol' Brown Ears is Back is an album featuring Rowlf the Dog in new recordings of songs that had all previously been covered on The Muppet Show. Contents show] Rowlf, at the piano, gives ebullient introductions and banter as he sings and plays some of his (and the Muppets') hit songs. The album was released on CD and cassette in 1993 by BMG Kidz/Jim Henson Records. The cassette release included a poster depicting Rowlf behind the scenes, recording and prepping for the album. Although the album was first released in 1993 (three years after Henson's death), the songs were actually recorded by Jim Henson (as Rowlf) and Derek Scott (on piano) almost a decade earlier, in January 1984. The original recordings by Henson and Scott were re-worked by producer Robert Kraft and associate producer Chris Boardman for the release, adding a backing orchestra to the seasoned vocal and piano tracks. The original intentions for the raw tracks and the reason for the 9-year recording-to-release gap are unknown. The album's title, Ol' Brown Ears is Back, is a reference to Frank Sinatra's 1973 album Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back. Rowlf lipsynched to Memory Lane and You and I and George from this album on the The Merv Griffin Show in 1984, while promoting The Muppets Take Manhattan. Track listing Other releases Credits- Advertisement - Growing our consciousness is the most direct path out of suffering and self-defeat. Yet a lot of people believe that human nature, like the Ten Commandments, is set in stone. They say one's human nature is a granite-like formation that resists appeals to virtue and reason, thereby preventing us from evolving beyond our often self-centered, ignorant, or foolish ways. Our level of consciousness is likely to remain stationary only when we fail to explore our deeper dimensions. When we understand our psychological self, we become wiser, smarter, and happier. Without this self-knowledge, we fall under the influence of inner dynamics that produce suffering and self-defeat. We're smart, yet we're not necessarily sufficiently conscious. We're able to build complex technological systems--yet the toxic byproducts might be ruining our planet. Our advanced weaponry can also destroy life on earth if our primitive emotions and aggressive instincts prevail. Our consciousness is not keeping up with our cleverness. So what does it mean to be more evolved? A higher consciousness is ultimately associated with the quality of our self-knowledge. We learn what is precise and true about our unconscious mind, even though we might initially be appalled at what we're discovering. - Advertisement - This is the conundrum: To become more conscious, we have to learn what we don't want to know, and we have to recognize what we don't want to see. In essence, we expose from the depths of our psyche our compulsive participation in suffering and self-defeat. What does this mean? Let's look at examples from everyday life. For instance, how many jealous people know (or want to know) that they're strongly tempted to indulge in the unresolved negative emotions of rejection and betrayal? How many compulsive gamblers know that they're unconsciously addicted to the feeling of losing? How many envious people are aware that they're emotionally attached to the feeling of being deprived? How many greedy people know their greed covers up their entanglement in feelings of having little intrinsic value? How many angry people are conscious of the fact that they use their anger to cover up their emotional indulgence in some sense of being victimized, oppressed, or insulted? How many fearful people know that their fear is usually not based on reality factors in their environment, but instead is based on their lingering emotional memories of childhood helplessness and powerlessness? How many addictive personalities can see that their emotional attachment to unresolved inner passivity is stonewalling self-regulation? This list could go on and on. People tend not to be conscious of their inner conflicts and how these conflicts produce suffering and self-sabotage. The jealous person wants love but expects betrayal--sure enough, she provokes her partner into betraying her. A compulsive gambler wants to win but expects to lose--soon he's mortgaging his house to pay his gambling debts. The envious person wants to get some cherished object, yet inwardly circulates the pain of not having it--and often she chooses an object that's beyond reach. A greedy person wants riches in order to feel more important, substantial, and valuable--yet the riches produce a deeper emptiness. An angry person demands justice, not knowing that her anger is a defense covering up her willingness to suffer with a sense of injustice. A fearful person buys a gun for personal protection--and now his inner fear just shifts on to other targets such as the prospects of economic collapse, terrorist attacks, or Armageddon. - Advertisement - Without sufficient consciousness, we're tricked by our illusions. Such illusions are often produced by our psychological defenses. For instance, someone might believe that his donations to charity are based on his goodness and compassion when, in this case, the charitable gestures arise from his unconscious mind, based on his desire (as a defense) to look good to himself and others in order to maintain his idealized self-image. Underneath this self-image lurks someone who doubts his intrinsic value. His denial and ignorance of this state of affairs deprive him of wisdom and true compassion. The public's comprehension of how inner defenses shape our life is quite abysmal. Our species is stumbling down a blind alley, and more of us are needed to penetrate the barriers of self-deception. This article at PsychCentral.com, " 15 Common Defense Mechanisms," reveals the many ways that we produce illusions of reality. A person whose consciousness is evolving can identify which of these defenses he or she has been employing in everyday life. The resulting insight produces a growing intelligence that aids us in navigating and regulating our complex world. This improved intelligence enables us to focus on what's truly important and real, and to avoid faulty conclusions. Evolved consciousness dissolves the numbness, illusions, and inner conflict that impede our humanity, freeing us to become the creators of our destiny. It gives us wisdom, compassion, and direction. We're no longer so fearful of change or of death. We're more appreciative of our life and all life, including the life of our descendents. (A search of the internet reveals how little thought and affection are given to still-to-be-conceived humanity). With higher consciousness, we see our vital contribution to the state of the world. We take personal responsibility for what's not working. The feeling is, "I have to become wiser and stronger in myself in order to do something about the corruption that's undermining my country's institutions." We can comprehend the essentials of that corruption. More evolved, we're no longer so protective of personal advantages and egotism because our new consciousness informs us that our wellbeing is intimately connected to the wellbeing of all. We connect with the will and the power to do our best. At this point, what philosophers call "determinism" in human affairs becomes "free will." This concept of inner progress isn't just fanciful idealism. We very likely have to grow our consciousness to save ourselves from irreparable destruction. Right now, we're not able to unite with clear resolve because our lack of evolvement makes us too fearful, hostile, and self-centered. Opponents of the idea of evolved consciousness have followed the path of least resistance regarding their self-development. Their shallow consciousness makes them too fearful to give up outdated concepts and orientations, and it prevents them from connecting emotionally with the awesome value of future generations.Recommended Podcasts A weekly podcast covering the build up to, breakout of and consequences of various conflicts in history. The other side of the cold war - talking about politics in the EU, history of the USSR and the Eastern European region in general – including, but not limited to the current state of Russia, politics of the EU, history of the USSR and the region in general. From Washington to Obama, 10 American Presidents a podcast narrated by guest hosts. The life and legacy of an American President. Each show is intercut with music and where possible archive news clips or dramatisations to set a feeling of place and time. Why have kings, emperors, and governments killed and imprisoned people to shut them up? And why have countless people risked death and imprisonment to express their beliefs? Jacob Mchangama guides you through the history of free speech from the trial of Socrates to the Great Firewall. Stay up to date with Clear and Present Danger on the show’s website at freespeechhistory.com Leading up to Election Day 2016, The Washington Post's Presidential podcast explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises and redefined the role of commander-in-chief. A podcast about myths we think are history and history that might be hidden in myths! Awesome stories that really (maybe) happened! A History of the World in 100 Objects was a joint project of BBC Radio 4 and the British Museum, comprising a 100-part radio series of 15-minute presentations. The series used objects of ancient art, industry, technology and arms, all of which are in the British Museum's collections, as an introduction to parts of human history. From ancient times to the present a history of space exploration. A thrilling podcast about the History of the Modern World. Historian Brad Harris tackles the question of how our modern world came to be head on, revealing how the most important scientific, technological, and cultural advancements in history began, and inspiring us to keep reaching for new historical triumphs along the way. Podcast by Ottoman History Podcast The most exciting and important things that have ever happened on the planet! Featuring reports from the weird and wonderful places around the world where history has been made and interviews with some of the best historians writing today. Hardcore History discusses the issues and questions history fans love. Composed of standalone episodes and epic "miniseries" on wide range of topics. A weekly podcast tracing the rise, decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Now complete! Music, culture, the arts, maritime exploration - Renaissance England was an exciting place to be. So much happening! Breaks with Rome. Wars with France. And Scotland. And Spain! Twice a month, we'll look at some aspect of Renaissance England that will give you a deeper understanding into life in the 16th century.Page 2 Of 2 IGN: They’re going into the final episodes of Mad Men. If there was even a possibility -- and I know you probably don’t even know right now -- but if they said, “Hey, we wanted you back for Mad Men,” do you think you’d be able to jump down from Vancouver [where The Tomorrow People films] and do it? List: I have no idea. I’m sort of having a hard time wrapping my around the fact that that show is coming to an end. It seems like it’s gone really quickly, but at the same time you’re like, “Well, no, so many things of changed over the years.” The series has taken such an interesting journey, really. But in terms of knowing, I’m the last person to know anything, which I’m kind of okay with because then I never get in trouble. They just keep me in the dark, and then it’s safe, right? It’s just as exciting for me when I find out something on Mad Men, because I had no idea. Works for me. IGN: Prepping for this interview, I glanced back at my review of the “Far Away Places” episode of Mad Men and was reminded, “Oh, I wrote really nice things about Peyton List in that review!” List: [Laughs] Oh my God! Thanks! IGN: On Mad Men, often the supporting cast and the recurring characters, they’re around for awhile, we get to know them -- and then there’s an episode that really focuses in on them. When you got the “Far Away Places” script, did you go “Wow, okay! This is going to be interesting”? List: Yeah, I got that episode, and I’m like, “I’m sorry, we’re doing what? Okay!” But on that show you just trust and you’re like, “He’s a genius,” and roll with it. It seemed like everyone responded really well to that episode. But going in, I’m like, “What are we doing? What?” But no, it was interesting. It was cool. IGN: Was it fun for you to see the audience’s response? Because people went crazy for that episode. List: Yeah, yeah. Also, what was crazy about that episode was, you know, when they wrote it, the structure was like a normal episode where you had a storyline and you go to another storyline and another storyline -- commercial -- another storyline... then, they recut it. When they actually aired it, it was like vignettes, like 20 minutes of this, 20 minutes of this, 20 minutes of this. IGN: And you go back in time as each story begins, which was really interesting. List: Right, yeah. So I didn’t know that they were going to do that. That was sort of a different thing that they did when they did that episode. And it was such a different structure than what they were used to doing
. Their motivation is undoubtedly erotic, but for many of them it is also a political act, to denounce hypocrisy and the surveillance business and how it destroyed the very concept of privacy. It is clear how, in such a complex historical and cultural situation, so faceted and depending on technologies which are still too new to fully understand their consequences, it is impossible to completely frame the issue. It would be nice to have a simple recipe to solve the problem of online exposure – volountary or not. For me, born well in the previous century, it is natural to think «you must never save on digital media any material that might one day embarrass you», but I cans see how it places a heavy limit on human creativity, not to mention how such a solution clashes with my belief that you should never be ashamed of your sexuality. «Who cares what the people think» is a similarly dumb motto: sexophobia and discrimination may hit in the most unexpected ways, as I discovered myself when I became the casus belli for a crazy parliamentary interrogation aimed to ban scientific education about non-normative sexualities. If I don’t like appearing in pictures is also because I grew tired of threats (and in a couple of cases, of physical aggressions) from fanatics, so I sure won’t be the one to encourage people to take risks for futile ideals. I suppose the right answer sits somewhere in the middle and it is different for each one of us, depending on the context we live in and considering how we might live in the future. Back to the news, nobody even knows how Tiziana’s story really went. Was that infamous viral video really published by mistake, or was it an exhibitionism game that got out of hand? Somebody wrote that the other videos suggested a tentative debut in porn and a late change of mind. The only certainty is that no innocuous erotic romp should be paid such a high price. Among so many unknowns about the woman, the videos, the phenomenon in general and the future of digital communication, there is actually one more sure thing. Something we have complete control over and we always had. I’m talking about simple, mundane manners. Or, should this sound too quaint for you, about the most basic respect for our fellow human beings. However you look at it, undoubtably there was no reason at all to transform a silly blunder into unending psychological torture for its protagonist. I am not referring to the jokes among friends or the links we shared with them. Those were almost inevitable behaviors in the Global Village, and it would be hypocritical to deny that. They are however very different from the stalking Tiziana reportedly suffered in her hometown, with constant insults thrown at her and her innocent family. Or, limiting ourselves to the online world, from the half a million webpages Google says are dedicated to the ‘bravoh’ catchphrase; from the 146,000 videos containing that phrase in their title; from the juvenile parodies and the merciless clickbaiting tenacity that continued even when the news of the desperate run of the woman had been widely reported. Picking on someone who got caught literally with their pants down and begs to be left alone, harass somebody for their sexual preferences, react with such viciousness and lack of respect to a bit of harmless exhibitionism isn’t “fun”. It’s bullying. No excuse can justify it. While we wait for the world to evolve and learn to deal with the existence of sexuality, maybe we could all think about this and start our own evolution.This is my second edition of hand holding frame but, This time I made a greeting card mockup psd instead of business card mockup. I love making cute and hand crafted elements so, I decided its time to join some of the pre made designs images and elements I made. Features: There are so many things in this pack! You will like it since its 100% free and you can showcase your artwork or you can even display photo, product mockup designs. 1- Easy Background color change Template (Gradient Special) 2- 1x Hand image separate 3- Smart object card design (One click change your image) 4- Leaf images (Can be removed) 5- shadows and effects added 6- Free image use to display card 7- High quality image 1160×772 can be increased or decreased 8- Fully layered (Each and every element is fully packed in separate layers with names) Let me know how much you like it! Please leave a comment below and leave a review if you like. lets grow together share it!Know of a great short film that should be part of our Showcase? Email SFS@ngs.org to submit a video for consideration. See more from National Geographic's Short Film Showcase. The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's mission of inspiring people to care about the planet. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of the National Geographic Society.Know of a great short film that should be part of our Showcase? Email SFS@ngs.org to submit a video for consideration. David Welsford lives on a 28-foot sailboat calledthat he rescued from a scrap heap. With only the bare necessities, he still feels like the richest man in the world. Filmmaker Kevin A. Fraser offers a glimpse into Welsford’s daily routine and his musings on how life at sea has changed him.AutoGuide.com Buying a Ford GT won’t be quite as easy as walking into a dealership. Buyers interested in one of the 250 cars being produced this year will all have to apply online where they will be asked a multitude of questions to make sure they qualify. Ford wants the cars to go to loyal customers and people who will truly enjoy them. “There’s a loyal following to the car,” said Raj Nair, Ford’s product chief. “We want to prioritize people who are going to care about the car, keep the car and drive the car.” SEE ALSO: Here are 13 Glorious Official New Photos of 2017 Ford GT for You to Drool Over The lengthy application process will go online in February and will ask potential owners how active they are on social media, how many Ford vehicles they have owned previously, how often they plant to drive it and a number of other questions. “It will try to understand what your relationship with Ford is,” Nair said. Each potential owner will also have to sign an agreement to not sell the car for a predetermined amount of time, to avoid buyers flipping the car for a quick profit. Ford initially announced that they would build 250 GTs a year for “several years,” without specifying how long production would run for. The car will sell for around $400,000. [Source: Detroit News] Discuss this story at our Ford ForumBenefits of Treadmill Treadmill is a weather-friendly machine No matter if it is rain or shine, you can still do your cardio exercises on the treadmill anytime you wish to. When we run in the cold, it takes longer for the body to warm up, especially if there’s snow or ice, in which the tensed up muscles can compromise your running form, restricting your performance. You expend a lot more energy on challenging weather days, and the treadmill allows you to invest your energy where it counts – to get in your long, speed, tempo, and other runs. Additionally, your body will recover more readily with a treadmill run than with rather than a run outdoors in poor weather (you may even fall sick from it). Having such a convenient machine at home also lowers your risk of missing workouts due to weather issues and darkness. You can get in your workout anytime— you neither have to worry about finding a safe path or dodging cars in the dark nor worry about carry any heavy essentials (i.e. water bottle) with you. Treadmill is safe Treadmill running allows you to focus on the purpose of the workout without the risk of falling on slick surfaces, getting stained with muddy water or even get chased by wild animals. The speed and tempo of the treadmill is also customizable to personal’s preference – if the speed of the treadmill is too fast to catch up, you can adjust it to suit your own pace; there’s even an emergency stop button if things gets out of hand. As long as you maintain your treadmill regularly, treadmills are one of the safest exercises machine you can get for your own home. Treadmill is ultimately convenient Treadmill allows you to exercise at your own comfort zone. You do not have to particularly dress up to suit the outdoor climate, you can blast your own favorite workout music (if your siblings or spouse does not mind) or even restrict yourself from any entertainment whilst doing the workout. Comparing to the treadmills at the gym, individuals are usually restricted for 20-30 minutes per workout on the machine (especially during the peak hours). Unlike having a treadmill for yourself at home, you can use as long as you please and whenever you please. What’s more, to get into a fat-burning zone by running at a moderate pace, you are required to run more than 30 minutes! Treadmill is an effective training tool Studies have shown that running on treadmill can result in reduced stride lengths and higher stride frequencies on a treadmill as compared with ground running due to the feeling of instability while running on a treadmill. With higher stride frequencies, it places less impact on your base of the foot, reducing the stresses place on your body. All of these can also help to improve your form and running posture. Although some may argue that running on the treadmill does not give the same experience as an outdoor run, however, minor adjustments to the treadmill can be done to give the same workload done as though you are running on the outside – by increasing the incline level of the treadmill to one percent, it can help account for the lack of wind resistance. Treadmill can improve relationships We have spent most of our time at work or busy, and little time for communication with your partner. The lack of communication and bonding with your other half often lacks to a deterioration of relationship, whereby it is proven to be one of the major factor that usually leads to an unhappy ending of marriage – divorce. However, running side by side on a treadmill together with your partner provides you a golden opportunity to communicate. No matter difference in the speed of the run, your partner or you will never be distanced away from one another, since the treadmill is stationary. Rather than running in the silence and feel bored after a while, you are able to talk your hearts out whilst jogging on the treadmill. Enjoy this precious moment of bonding and improve your relationships as you get fitter together.The night started with a 93-mph fastball on the outside corner for a called strike. That was a secret code, a message just for you. When I'm on radio in Boston, my friend gives me a word, like "panther", and I have to mention it to let him know that I know he knows I know he's listening. Vogelsong was winking at you in the same way. Here's 93 on the outside. Wink. It calmed me the heck down. It should have done the same for you. Oooooh. Velocity and command. Hello, old new old Vogelsong. The velocity didn't last the whole game, but the effervescent voglesonginity of the evening did. This wasn't grind grind grind Vogelsong. This was the faux Maddux, the guy who made the All-Star Game one year and was shafted for the All-Star Game in the next. He was as good as the Giants needed him to be, for as long as they needed him to be. Considering that it possibly took an 18-inning game to get him in the rotation in the first place, that's above and beyond the call of fifth-starter duty. I'm not ashamed to admit my disturbing lack of faith in him -- I wanted him over Hudson only because I figured Hudson's hip was on fire -- but if you're going to troll the world, troll it with style. Clayton Kershaw couldn't win today. David Price and Max Scherzer couldn't win this week. The Nationals couldn't get a win for three of their four aces. When the dust settles, it's just Vogelsong with a sourpuss staring straight into your soul. None of this makes sense. None of this makes sense. Remember the team that was swept in San Diego? The team that went from June through most of August without winning series against an over-.500 team? The team that frittered away a 59-game lead in the NL West in 48 hours, the team without Matt Cain, Angel Pagan, and Michael Morse, the team that put one of the highest-paid starting pitchers in baseball in the bullpen because that's the only thing they could think to do with him? None of this makes sense. So as long as everything's busy not making sense, let us allow the player who makes the least amount of sense -- Ryan Vogelsong, forever and always -- usher us into this particular tea party. It's probably your unbirthday, you know. ★★★ The Nationals allowed just one earned run, you know. ★★★ One of these years, there will be a Giants/Dodgers NLCS. That year will be 2192, and I will be dead. My genetic code and memory imprints will have been uploaded into the mainframe, but the technowar of 2120 will destroy it all. When the Giants/Dodgers NLCS happens and your memory imprints allow you to experience its glory as if you were still alive, remember that I'm dead and happy. I did not want a Giants/Dodgers NLCS. I will never want a Giants/Dodgers NLCS. The Cardinals bore the rest of the world and I hate them, but I do respect their position as co-trolls of baseball. I respect nothing about the Dodgers. Okay, maybe Kershaw. And I still have a soft spot for Uribe. I like that Kenley Jansen throws a nanocutter of death that no one else can throw. Other than that, though. I couldn't imagine making it as far as the NLCS and watching them take the spoils. Instead, well, say, Dodger fans. Are you doing anything next week? Because do I have the postseason matchup for you... ★★★ If there's an iconic moment from this game -- and thank goodness it wasn't the Bryce Harper moonshot that the NSA wants us to believe was fair -- It was the Hunter Pence catch. Oh, Hunter Pence. Your browser does not support iframes. I know some of y'all were annoyed with Matt Vasgersian, but that was a heckuva call. Also, a good catch. Perhaps a great catch. If he doesn't get that, it's a triple with one out. Adam LaRoche flied out to end the inning, and maybe that's not the exact sequence that happens if Werth is on third, but I wouldn't want to risk it. That was the moment you'll remember thinking this stupid team had a chance. Yes, that's the one. That's the heart and soul of the team giving up his spine for your entertainment. You'll remember that. You'll remember that. Buy some shoes. ★★★ Hunter Strickland is not magic. This is good to know for the coming weeks. The first time we saw him, he was throwing 98 mph wherever he wanted. Right now, he's a little raw, a little unrefined. When he's facing one of the better fastball hitters in the world, he can be bested. He's still good, still a pitcher to take along with the wacky postseason journey. Just temper the expectations. After Bryce Harper hit his geometric dinger, he stared at Strickland the entire way around the bases. He yelled at -- fans? Strickland? -- people from the dugout. He was hyper Harper. It was obnoxious. I've used my national pulpit to spread the word of Harper before, and I probably will again, but that was obnoxious. I wasn't even mad, bro. The score was tied. The Giants had last licks. I waited for the walkoff that never came. Now the egg's on my face. Oh, how embarrassed am I that the winning run scored on a complete meltdown from a random reliever instead of a walkoff? I was worried for a moment that the iconic moment from the series was going to be Posey getting thrown out at the plate on a play that would have meant a run under the first Posey Rule incarnation instead of the second Posey Rule incarnation. Which was ironic because of Posey. Instead, the Giants stole the game fair and square. They waited for the other team to out-jackass them. Good work. Good strategy. ★★★ After that nonsensical seventh inning, after the Giants got a run but felt like they grounded into a double play at the worst possible moment, Sergio Romo came into the game. First batter: Denard Span, lefty. Romo didn't throw him anything over the plate, and Span popped out harmlessly. Second batter: Anthony Rendon. I can't express how much I loved this sequence. That last slider wasn't exactly buried out of the strike zone, but look at those first two pitches. Do something with that, Rendon. Third batter, Jayson Werth, who freaked me out more than any other Nationals hitter, save Harper, throughout the series. Don't look at the average. Look at the at-bats. He consistently had deep, tough plate appearances. Romo threw an insane/effective first-pitch fastball to steal a strike and a second-pitch slider to get the harmless fly ball. Romo isn't the rock star he once was around here. He's still a latent rock star, though. He's sneaking up on us. The eighth inning is his, just his, and he's doing amazing things with it lately. That was one of the best eighth innings he's ever pitched. ★★★ Ian Desmond didn't swing, and that was a stupid call. Feels wrong not to mention that at least once. ★★★ The Giants and the Cardinals again. The other league gets fresh blood. This league gets the default matchup because it cleared its cookies again. I'm fine with that. You fine with that? I'm fine with that. Matt Holliday's on the team, you know. Keep trolling the world, everyone. This makes no sense, and that's what's beautiful about it.Geneva: Developing countries, particularly India, are likely to face difficult prospects at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) eleventh ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires beginning 10 December. A group of industrialized countries and their allies in the developing world are considering launching plurilateral trade negotiations for establishing rules in investment facilitation, disciplines for small and medium enterprises, and even fisheries subsidies, said people familiar with the development. Such a development is being considered as part of a Plan B, if the Buenos Aires meeting fails to accomplish any substantive agreements on the outstanding Doha Development Agenda (DDA) issues because of differences among key members, said a South American trade envoy, who asked not to be named. A major industrialized country remains opposed to any substantive agreements based on the Doha agenda, including a permanent solution for public stockholding programs for food security—a key Indian demand. Plurilateral agreements are based on ‘coalitions of the willing’, instead of involving the entire membership of the WTO on a multilateral basis. Effectively, plurilateral negotiations will undermine the multilateral framework of the WTO on a permanent basis, the envoy argued. Further, plurilateral negotiations for crafting rules in investment facilitation, disciplines for small and medium enterprises, electronic commerce, and even fisheries subsidies, are much more harmful than plurilateral negotiations on tariffs, said another trade envoy from an African country, who asked not to be identified. India had consistently opposed any negotiations on investment facilitation and disciplines for MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) on the grounds that they were outside the WTO mandate. The Plan B has almost become an imperative due to a shortage of time and continued opposition from major industrialized countries, particularly the US, for finalizing outcomes based on the Doha work program in areas such as developmental flexibilities, domestic support for cotton, and permanent solution for public stockholding programs for foods security, the envoy suggested. The US along with other industrialized countries said on 14 September that they would not engage in any discussions for improving the special and differential flexibilities for developing countries in different WTO agreements in the Doha work program, as demanded by more than 100 developing and poorest countries. India strongly supported the demands by the African Group, ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) group, and the LDC (least-developed countries) group for improving special and differential flexibilities in different covered agreements, according to a person who attended the meeting Already, the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has signalled that the Buenos Aires meeting is “unlikely" to produce any negotiated outcomes. “There are some areas where the US would like to see action, but it appears that members are unable to agree on any issues," Lighthizer said, according to a report in Washington Trade Daily on 19 September. “At best, the Buenos Aries meeting will end with agreement on an agenda for moving forward on issues next year," Lighthizer added. Despite such strong signals from Washington, it is business as usual at the WTO. Roberto Azevedo, Director-General of the WTO, met the trade envoys of the European Union, China, India, Brazil, the US, and Japan, among others, on a one-on-one basis to elicit their assessment on the state of play in the negotiations. On 21 September, the director general convened an informal heads of delegations meeting to issue an ambiguous report on how the negotiations will be conducted in the run-up to the Buenos Aires meeting. Azevedo called for prioritizing issues that are do-able in terms of negotiated outcomes and the unresolved issues that will require a work program for further negotiations after Buenos Aires. He said these two baskets of issues must be finalized proceeding to Buenos Aires. The director general called for a consensual document on the format for conducting negotiations at Buenos Aires, so as to avoid the controversial Nairobi decision-making process, according to participants present at the meeting. The African Group of countries want “the principles of full participation, inclusiveness, and transparency, in the run up to, as well as during the MC11." “Buenos Aires must deliver on development-related issues in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Doha Development Agenda," a representative of the African Group said. “It is from this perspective that the African Group expects an outcome that will constitute a solid foundation for a bright future of our economies, particularly the elimination of imbalances inherited in the Uruguay Round Agriculture Agreement and provisions for special and differential treatment that create an enabling environment for industrialization in Africa," the representative said.Misled Millennials: How Fake News Could Set Los Angeles Down A Dangerous Path On March 7th, 2017, the L.A. electorate will vote on an aggressive piece of legislation, one which has been dangerously misrepresented on social media. Facebook 0 Twitter More 0 Image courtesy Pixabay If previous voter turnout is any indication, on March 7th, 2017, 10% of the Los Angeles electorate will determine the city’s future.Tucked away in the “Consolidated, Municipal and Special Elections” ballot is Measure S (formerly known as the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative). This aggressive piece of legislation would place an immediate two-year-long moratorium on most new development. If enacted, it would effectively halt many residential projects throughout a city in the midst of a severe housing shortage. The measure is the handiwork of the Coalition to Preserve LA, a NIMBY group committed to preventing an increasing population from “destroying the character of communities.” Supporters of the initiative tend to be older, whiter LA natives who wish to preserve outdated visions of the city. It’s unfair to imply that proponents of Measure S do not have any valid qualms. Los Angeles’s Planning Commission has largely failed to address concerns of gentrification or Art Deco preservation, let alone rising rents. The recent influx of tastelessly ostentatious complexes full of bad architecture and overpriced luxury condominiums is, admittedly, irritating. And so the temptation to slam the brakes on unchecked development is understandable. However, the initiative, while it may provide short-term relief, would be a great detriment to the city’s future growth. The LA rental market is already precarious enough. New construction has not been able to keep up with demand for residential units: the vacancy rate currently sits at an unsustainably low 2.7 percent. Los Angeles’s population increased by over 50,000 people in 2015, while the city only managed to construct around 12,500 apartments. The Los Angeles Times’s editorial board warns that if Measure S were enacted, it would exacerbate this deficit and lead to “higher housing costs, more homelessness and greater inequality.” A recent study (conducted by Beacon Economics) projects that if the measure were to pass, it would instantly eliminate 12,000 construction jobs and cause the city to lose out on over $70 million in taxes per year. Nevertheless, the Coalition to Preserve LA was able to gather over 104,000 signatures to force the measure onto the ballot. Although the “yes” vote trailed by seven points in a May 2016 poll (conducted by the firm Fairbank, Maslin, Metz & Associates), the survey unearthed an alarming statistic: 19% of the electorate is uncommitted—a terrifying number considering that last year’s March voter turnout was only 8.6%. If there is anything to be learned from 2016, it’s that an energized irrational minority combined with a large number of 11th hour undecideds can defeat an unenthusiastic, levelheaded majority. The proposal’s new momentum and lackadaisical opposition should have urbanists sweating. Particularly when young millennial voters—a demographic that could effectively stop this legislation in its tracks—continue to consume local news with misleading headlines that couch this dangerous legislation in righteous, progressive clothing. For example, this past fall culture and architecture publications quickly spread word online of the impending destruction of Los Angeles’s favorite record store (and one of the most significant of the Western United States)—Amoeba Music. In response, the website LAist published a story with the sensationalist headline, “Is Amoeba Going to Get the Wrecking Ball For A Big Fancy Tower? Let’s Hope Not.” The post was immediately assaulted with angry emojis and outraged 20-somethings. The top commenter proclaimed: “If Amoeba goes, I’m burning this city to the ground.” Grief over the fate of the institution’s flagship store is warranted, but the notion that greedy developers are demolishing a helpless cultural landmark—and replacing it with a bland 28-floor glass box—is a riling and inaccurate narrative. In reality, this is not a high-profile eviction. Amoeba’s owners willfully cashed in on the Sunset Boulevard property for a cool $34 million. Though the original journalism is in no way fictitious, its immediate presentation on Facebook failed to make this distinction, and opened the door for groundless interpretations. The Coalition to Preserve LA quickly capitalized on the story, spinning the incident as “a backroom deal at City Hall” that will “rob L.A. of another cultural treasure.” To LAist’s credit, a sidenote was added to the article, urging readers to not use Amoeba’s potential passing as a “reason to support That Terrible NIMBY Ballot Measure,” which the publication considers to be “dangerous and potentially disastrous.” The inclusion of this postscript is commendable, but is essentially an afterthought that isn’t nearly as sexy nor visible as its Facebook headline. The unwarranted indignation undoubtedly increased the measure’s momentum. But the prospect of a moribund Amoeba isn’t the only story potentially hoodwinking the electorate. Leonardo DiCaprio, who has transformed himself into one of highest profile environmentalists on the planet, supposedly endorsed the measure earlier this year. The A-lister’s alleged support was ceaselessly touted by the Coalition to Preserve LA as they scrambled to collect signatures to put the initiative on the ballot. However, the thing is that DiCaprio never actually endorsed it. It was only after being repeatedly pestered by Curbed LA and (its sister site) Vox that the Oscar winner clarified his position. The online publications called out the actor’s hypocrisy in supporting a measure that would reduce densification and public transit use, actions at odds with his environmental activism. Leo’s spokesperson then released a statement—two months after the Coalition to Preserve LA had begun to parade his name. DiCaprio’s representatives quietly refuted his alleged endorsement, justifying the confusion by insisting that the actor only signed a petition (sponsored by the Coalition to Preserve LA) to save a specific building in Hollywood, but by no means supported the measure at large. Following the statement, the Coalition to Preserve LA discretely and retroactively erased Leo from their entire campaign. DiCaprio now holds a reportedly neutral stance on Measure S, but has taken no action to correct the fallout from misinformation. Just as with Amoeba, the debunked story isn’t as visible. That, in a nutshell, was 2016, where fake news and endorsements can tip elections. But there is hope. Despite November 8th’s top-of-the-ticket tragedy, Los Angeles voters gave themselves a lot to be proud of. Voters passed: a $1.5 billion bond (Measure HHH) to provide housing and services to the county’s estimated 43,000 homeless people; a half-cent sales tax hike (Measure M) to fund an ambitious public transportation expansion plan (including light rail, subways, road repair, and other transit improvements to ease traffic across the LA basin); and a new law to streamline high-rise development (Measure JJJ) and provide more residential units, of which a significant percentage must be “affordable”. These progressive measures all handily passed thanks to overwhelming enthusiasm and turnout from millennial voters. In the case of Measure M, an estimated 85% of 18-to-29-year-olds supported the legislation. This bodes well for the future, as these changes will turn Los Angeles into a more unified metropolis and make it feel less like the loose collection of individual cities it currently is. It’s little surprise that two of these measures (M and JJJ) were actively opposed by the Coalition to Preserve LA. Their Measure S is an inappropriately drastic reaction that would directly sabotage many of the gains made through the passage of the aforementioned measures (and void most of JJJ). The Coalition hopes its measure will squeak by thanks to euphemistic, manipulative language and a pathetic voter turnout, which would play into the hands of conservative, anti-development voters. It’s up to millennials to vacate their online echo chambers and usher LA towards thoughtful growth—and that begins by saying “no” to this shortsighted measure. Thomas Musca was the assistant curator for the Architecture and Design Museum’s 2013 exhibition Never Built: Los Angeles. He is currently studying architecture at Cornell University and is a contributor to ArchDaily., a newspaper in Baton Rouge, La., reports law enforcement officials in the city are attempting to trick gay men into agreeing to have sex with them so they can book them into prison on counts of attempted crime against nature. The only problem is, you can't do that. The Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in 2003. Public sex acts and the solicitation of “unnatural carnal copulation” for money is illegal, but none of the men in any of the cases did either of those things. According to The Advocate, this has occurred at least a dozen times since 2011. A recent incident occurred at Manchac Park in Baton Rouge. District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office has not prosecuted any of the cases since no crime was actually committed. This is a law that is currently on the Louisiana books, and the sheriff is charged with enforcing the laws passed by our Louisiana Legislature. Whether the law is valid is something for the courts to determine, but the sheriff will enforce the laws that are enacted. It is frustrating that the police are using their resources to pursue issues like this and arrest people for attempting to pick someone up and go home with them. It's perfectly legal, and we would have to close down every bar in Baton Rouge if that weren't the case.Okay so i have been reading up for a day or so and i thought i would need to post this. Basically in past 2 days people found a way to use a deleted too called Source Film maker, the same tool used to make meet the team videos, that came with First tf2 public beta (2 years ago) i am not yet sure if it is okay to post links or anything as it COULD potentially be considered warez, but it is no different than the method to keep demos from getting broken. Anyway here are few videos of it in action and i will keep you guys up to date with any needed download links and such for this to work. Here are few sample videos of it in action. Not all very good as they are only tests. And the DODs video is made by valve apparently only shows what its capable of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPWuy75drdc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCeX0m3d49w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjA0M7raoqc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XasGXOF2zo0 (REALLY BUGGY) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYR1Hyti5G0 This also has a VERY cool feature called poster export, you can export images of any resolution, here are few examples. http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/483/poster3lv.jpg http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/8637/poster5p.jpg http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8021/poster6f.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7282/poster4i.jpg http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l166/noodleboy347/medic-03.jpg http://filebox.me/files/uy04s5sv5_meetmedic.png You could definietely say they were screencaps from new meet the team videos cause of the quality. Here is a guide to get it working. AND A VIDEO HERE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaHN1tHk1dI Step 1: Download Team Fortress 2 Beta. http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3819765/Team_Fortress_2_beta_NoSteam Step 2: Install it. DO NOT INSTALL IN STEAM FOLDER just in case they would be able to track it. (Yes i know install is weird, a naked guy with his dick censored skulls and some weird music playing but it works i used it.) Step 3: Open FINAL_FIXX.rar and put these files in the installation folder of your beta TF2. Replace everything. Step 4: Download the bin files. http://www.flamehaus.com/snakez/enginetools.zip Step 5: Open the.zip file and put everything in the bin folder of your beta TF2. Step 6: Make a shortcut of hl2.exe Step 7: Right click, go to properties and in the end of target field put this in “-game tf -applaunch 440 -window -noborder -novid -tools” without the quotes. Step 8: Launch the shortcut and it should now work. Now a little guide how to use it. 1. To use: Ctrl + L to load a map 2. Press the record button to record some actions. 3. Do Step 2 as many times as you’d like. 4. Click the Active Camera/ Work Camera button to take control of the camera. 5. Place camera. 6. Trim timeline down to properly record the shots. 7. Crank the motion blur and/or depth of field. 8. File > Export > Movie > change the renders settings to your liking. 9. Find something to do for a while because rendering takes forever. And here is a video tutorial for lazy people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsw-J_vS-Dg Use these commands in console to stop the round timer which gets very annoying. mp_waitingforplayers_cancel 1 ent_fire team_round_timer pause Here is a moving camera tutorial. SUPER USEFUL thanks to pandamobile. Here are few videos of it in use, VERY COOL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9XvVNwTlTQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Juj21Gylc Step 1. Record any action the way you normally would. Step 2. Rightclick on your shot in the sequence timeline and press ‘Set new camera’ Step 3. Click on the camera selector (Work Camera/Active camera button) above the viewport. Step 4. Now we record the path for your camera by moving as you would normally record action. (Sometimes it’s recommended that you tick the “Noclip” option before you start the recording). Step 5. Move about. Step 6. Press Esc when you’re done your camera-ing. Step 7. Rightclick on the Shot in the timeline. Hit “New Animation Set”, and select the camera you used for the recording. Step 8. Open the Animation Set Editor, and press the red circle. Step 9. Now you’ll see a shit-ton of lines everywhere on your timeline, and a bar around your time-mover-thingy. Step 10. Drag the right side of bar out (this part is still somewhat confusing to me, I’ll have to play around with it some more to figure it out 100%) to the end of your shot. Step 11. You can add effects like smoothing, jittering, etc. by grabing the sliders: http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6686/tutorial1v.png Step 12. Play around with it for a while, do a lot of test shots before trying anything in a film. Step 13. Press the Green Arrow to quit the edit-thing mode. Step 14. Right click on your shot > Zoom in Step 15. Make sure you’re all the way at the beginning of your clip’s timeline. Step 16. Un-tick “Take 1” (or which ever take your camera happened to be) and this will stop your arms from floating around with the camera. (If someone knows how to hide the view model, please tell me) Step 17. Right click on the clip, and Zoom out. Now you should have a fairly decent shot to use for your movies. Just be mindful, when you Un-tick the Camera’s take,
and a photographer down to the house to investigate Peggy’s claims of the supernatural. But as these things tend to do, as soon as they arrived in the home, all was quiet. Nothing. They waited several hours hoping for something, anything, to happen—it was only in the very moment that they decided to leave when the house came to life. Marbles and Lego bricks started flying around the room. “The photographer came back and a Lego brick hit him above the eye. He still had the mark a few days later. And then Maurice Grosse came in on the case,” Janet stated. Maurice Grosse was sent down by the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) to investigate Hodgson’s home. While he was doubtful at first, it didn’t take long before he realized that the house was inhabited by something otherworldly, channeling its energy on Janet, Peggy’s 11-year-old daughter. “When I first got there, nothing happened for a while,” he says. “But then I experienced Lego pieces flying across the room, and marbles. And the extraordinary thing was, when you picked them up they were hot, which is relevant to poltergeist type activity. I was standing by the table in the kitchen and a t-shirt leapt off the table and flew into the other side of the room whilst I was standing by it. I thought, ‘Well that’s good. Now I’ve really seen something’.” Grosse, alongside parapsychologist Guy Lyon Playfair, claimed to have witnessed almost 2,000 different supernatural incidents over the course of 18 months—objects flying across the room, the sounds of dogs barking in a room that had no animals, and scariest of all, a demonic voice coming from 11-year-old Janet. That demonic voice is said to have belonged to the home’s former tenant, Bill Wilkins, who was seemingly talking through the little girl. Janet became the center of the haunting, going into violent trances and being thrown out of her bed—family members even claim to have seen her levitating. “The levitation was scary, because you didn’t know where you were going to land,” she says. ” I remember a curtain being wound around my neck, I was screaming, I thought I was going to die. My mum had to use all her strength to rip it away. The man who spoke through me, Bill, seemed angry, because we were in his house.” Of course many people were skeptical of the entire thing, largely blaming it on the children who they thought must have been faking it. A couple of SPR experts actually caught the kids bending spoons, and questioned why no one was allowed to be in the same room as Janet when the demonic voice was coming from her. And while it’s very likely that the kids were exaggerating (Janet even admitted that they made up some of it), it’s hard to believe that they’d be able to fool a house full of adults for 18 months—especially when it came to objects floating around in the house. In 1980, she told ITV News, “Oh yeah, once or twice (we faked it), just to see if Mr. Grosse and Mr. Playfair would catch us. They always did.” So I bet you’re wondering where Ed and Lorraine Warren factor into all of this (so was I). It turns out that throughout the 18-month-long poltergeist, the house was visited by many paranormal researchers, including the Warrens. They visited the house in 1978 and were convinced that the supernatural were responsible, not the children. Ed Warren even said, “Those who deal with the supernatural day in and day out know the phenomena are there – there’s no doubt about it. Therefore, when people tell me they don’t believe in ghosts and spirit forces, what they’re really saying to me is they’re not familiar with the data on the subject. Yet the data is there – should one care to look. In fact, much of it has been collected under such rigid conditions as to make a lot of other scientific research pale in comparison. For example, take a case Lorraine and I began investigating this past summer [1978] in Enfield, England, where inhuman spirit phenomena were in progress. Now, you couldn’t record the dangerous, threatening atmosphere inside that little house. But you could film the levitations, teleportations, and dematerialisations of people and objects that were happening there – not to mention the many hundreds of hours of tape recordings made of these spirit voices speaking out loud in the rooms.” Whether or not the Warrens are a credible source is an entirely different subject, but it’s interesting to hear what one of the most famous paranormal researchers had to say about one of the most documented accounts of a poltergeist in British history. I will say, though, that throughout my research, I rarely ever saw the Warrens’ name mentioned. In fact, Sky Living’s recently released three-part series The Enfield Haunting—which is about this exact story—didn’t depict them in it at all. To this day, Janet and the people involved still believe that what went down in that house all those years ago was the real deal. She says, “I know from my own experience that it was real. It lived off me, off my energy. Call me mad or a prankster if you like. Those events did happen. The poltergeist was with me—and I feel in a sense that he always will be.” Below is a fantastic documentary on the subject, one that goes into much more detail than I did. Again, though, whether you believe in this stuff or not, it’s no doubt fascinating and really makes you wonder what else could be out there. What do you guys think? Like The Missing Reel’s Facebook page for more on the horror that matters! And don’t forget to subscribe to TMR by entering your email address at the right side of the page! Read more articles like this: The Conjuring and its True Story, Annabelle and her terrifying True Story, The Quiet Ones and its True Story, Winchester and the True Story behind the Mystery House Source: Daily Mail, Telegraph 1, Telegraph 2, Dangerous MindsQuincy Jones, the producer behind some of Michael Jackson’s most iconic records, has been awarded $9.4 million in a trial against Jackson’s estate over royalties, THR reports. Jones had been attempting to prove that he was denied $30 million in royalties. He sued in 2013, claiming that in addition to being owed significant money in royalties, he was denied his right to remix the music he created with Jackson. The lawsuit covered royalties from Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, the This Is It soundtrack, and two Cirque du Soleil shows. Jones said in a statement to THR: As an artist, maintaining the vision and integrity of one’s creation is of paramount importance. I, along with the team I assembled with Michael, took great care and purpose in creating these albums, and it has always given me a great sense of pride and comfort that three decades after they were originally recorded, these songs are still being played in every corner of the world. This lawsuit was never about Michael, it was about protecting the integrity of the work we all did in the recording studio and the legacy of what we created. Although this judgement is not the full amount that I was seeking, I am very grateful that the jury decided in our favor in this matter. I view it not only as a victory for myself personally, but for artists’ rights overall. Jackson’s estate conceded in court that Jones was owed less than $400,000 in royalties and claimed the producer hadn’t been paid that money due to accounting errors. They argued, however, that Jones wasn’t owed $30 million. Court testimony revealed that Jones received around $18 million in royalties following Jackson’s death. In addition to claiming that he was owed royalties from Jackson’s albums, Jones also claimed that he was entitled to profits from Jackson’s 1991 joint venture with Sony, a share of the net receipts for the 2009 film Michael Jackson’s This Is It, and net profits from movies instead of just licensing fees from songs used in soundtracks. The Jackson estate’s attorney Howard Weitzman previously told Billboard that if Jones was awarded a substantial amount of money, an appeal could happen. “If he gets [major] money obviously there is a process post-trial,” he said.The hydrogen economy is the use of hydrogen as a fuel, particularly for heating and hydrogen vehicles;[1] and using hydrogen for long term energy storage and for long distance transport of low-carbon energy. The hydrogen economy is part of the low-carbon economy being formed by the global energy transition away from the hydrocarbon economy, because hydrogen which is produced and used without releasing much greenhouse gas to the atmosphere helps to limit global warming. Although molecular hydrogen does not occur naturally in convenient reservoirs, the cost of producing it by steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage, water electrolysis or other methods[2] is close to the cost of burning natural gas directly for heat or electricity in some countries.[3] However if existing natural gas pipelines are not available, due to its bulk hydrogen may need to be converted to ammonia to be transported over long distances. And according to critics batteries are more suitable for powering vehicles than an expensive to build hydrogen infrastructure refuelling fuel cells.[4] South Korea and Japan,[5] which as of 2019 lack international electrical interconnectors, are investing in the hydrogen economy.[6] In the short term hydrogen has been proposed as a method of reducing harmful diesel exhaust.[7] Rationale [ edit ] Elements of the hydrogen economy A hydrogen economy was proposed by the University of Michigan to solve some of the negative effects of using hydrocarbon fuels where the carbon is released to the atmosphere (as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, etc.). Modern interest in the hydrogen economy can generally be traced to a 1970 technical report by Lawrence W. Jones of the University of Michigan.[8] In the current hydrocarbon economy, transportation is fueled primarily by petroleum and heating by natural gas. Burning of hydrocarbon fuels emits carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The demand for energy is increasing, particularly in China, India, and other developing countries. Proponents of a world-scale hydrogen economy argue that hydrogen can be an environmentally cleaner source of energy to end-users, without release of pollutants such as particulates or carbon dioxide. A 2004 analysis asserted that "most of the hydrogen supply chain pathways would release significantly less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than would gasoline used in hybrid electric vehicles" and that significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions would be possible if carbon capture or carbon sequestration methods were utilized at the site of energy or hydrogen production.[9] Hydrogen has a high energy density by weight but has a low energy density by volume. Even when highly compressed or liquified, the energy density by volume is only 1/4 that of gasoline, although the energy density by weight is approximately three times that of gasoline or natural gas. An Otto cycle internal-combustion engine running on hydrogen is said to have a maximum efficiency of about 38%, 8% higher than a gasoline internal-combustion engine.[10] The combination of the fuel cell and electric motor is 2-3 times more efficient than an internal-combustion engine.[11] Capital costs of fuel cells have reduced significantly over recent years, with a modeled cost of $50/kW cited by the Department of Energy.[12] Previous technical obstacles have included hydrogen storage issues[13] and the purity requirement of hydrogen used in fuel cells, as with current technology, an operating fuel cell requires the purity of hydrogen to be as high as 99.999%. Hydrogen engine conversion technology could be considered more economical than fuel cells.[14] History [ edit ] The term hydrogen economy was coined by John Bockris during a talk he gave in 1970 at General Motors (GM) Technical Center.[15] The concept was proposed earlier by geneticist J.B.S. Haldane.[16] A spike in attention for the concept during the 2000s was repeatedly described as hype by some critics and proponents of alternative technologies.[17][18][19] İnterest in the energy carrier resurged in the 2010s, notably by the forming of the Hydrogen Council in 2017. Several manufacturers released hydrogen fuel cell cars commercially, with manufacturers such as Toyota and industry groups in China planning to increase numbers of the cars into the hundreds of thousands over the next decade.[20][21] Current hydrogen market [ edit ] Timeline Hydrogen production is a large and growing industry, as of 2004. Globally, some 57 million metric tons of hydrogen,[22][23] equal to about 170 million tons of oil equivalent, were produced in 2004. The growth rate is around 10% per year. Within the United States, 2004 production was about 11 million metric tons (Mt), an average power flow of 48 gigawatts. (For comparison, the average electric production in 2003 was some 442 GW.) As of 2005, the economic value of all hydrogen produced worldwide is about $135 billion per year.[24] There are two primary uses for hydrogen today. About half is used in the Haber process to produce ammonia (NH 3 ), which is then used directly or indirectly as fertilizer. Because both the world population and the intensive agriculture used to support it are growing, ammonia demand is growing. Ammonia can be used as a safer and easier indirect method of transporting hydrogen. Transported ammonia can be then converted back to hydrogen at the bowser by a membrane technology.[25] The other half of current hydrogen production is used to convert heavy petroleum sources into lighter fractions suitable for use as fuels. This latter process is known as hydrocracking. Hydrocracking represents an even larger growth area, since rising oil prices encourage oil companies to extract poorer source material, such as tar sands and oil shale. The scale economies inherent in large-scale oil refining and fertilizer manufacture make possible on-site production and "captive" use. Smaller quantities of "merchant" hydrogen are manufactured and delivered to end users as well. If energy for hydrogen production were available (from wind, solar, fission or fusion nuclear power etc.), use of the substance for hydrocarbon synfuel production could expand captive use of hydrogen by a factor of 5 to 10. Present U.S. use of hydrogen for hydrocracking is roughly 4 Mt per year. It is estimated that 37.7 Mt/yr of hydrogen would be sufficient to convert enough domestic coal to liquid fuels to end U.S. dependence on foreign oil importation,[26] and less than half this figure to end dependence on Middle East oil. Coal liquefaction would present significantly worse emissions of carbon dioxide than does the current system of burning fossil petroleum, but it would eliminate the political and economic vulnerabilities inherent in US oil importation before the commercialization of tight oil in North America.[27] As of 2004 and 2016, 96% of global hydrogen production is from fossil fuels[28] (48% from natural gas, 30% from oil, and 18% from coal); water electrolysis accounts for only 4%.[29] The distribution of production reflects the effects of thermodynamic constraints on economic choices: of the four methods for obtaining hydrogen, partial combustion of natural gas in a NGCC (natural gas combined cycle) power plant offers the most efficient chemical pathway and the greatest off-take of usable heat energy. (needs reference) The large market and sharply rising prices in fossil fuels have also stimulated great interest in alternate, cheaper means of hydrogen production.[30][31] As of 2002, most hydrogen is produced on site and the cost is approximately $0.70/kg and, if not produced on site, the cost of liquid hydrogen is about $2.20/kg to $3.08/kg.[32] Production, storage, infrastructure [ edit ] Today's hydrogen is mainly produced (>90%) from fossil sources.[33] Linking its centralized production to a fleet of light-duty fuel cell vehicles would require the siting and construction of a distribution infrastructure with large investment of capital.[citation needed] Further, the technological challenge of providing safe, energy-dense storage of hydrogen on board the vehicle must be overcome to provide sufficient range between fillups.[citation needed] Methods of production [ edit ] Molecular hydrogen is not available on Earth in convenient natural reservoirs. Most hydrogen in the lithosphere is bonded to oxygen in water. Manufacturing elemental hydrogen does require the consumption of a hydrogen carrier such as a fossil fuel or water. The former carrier consumes the fossil resource and produces carbon dioxide, but often requires no further energy input beyond the fossil fuel. Decomposing water, the latter carrier, requires electrical or heat input, generated from some primary energy source (fossil fuel, nuclear power or a renewable energy). Hydrogen can also be produced by refining the effluent from geothermal sources in the lithosphere.[34] Hydrogen produced by zero emission renewable energy sources such as electrolysis of water using wind power, solar power, hydro power, wave power or tidal power is referred to as green hydrogen.[35] Hydrogen produced by non-renewable energy sources may be referred to as brown hydrogen. Hydrogen produced as a waste by-product or industrial by-product is sometimes referred to as grey hydrogen. Current production methods [ edit ] Hydrogen is industrially produced from steam reforming, which uses fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, or coal.[36] The energy content of the produced hydrogen is less than the energy content of the original fuel, some of it being lost as excessive heat during production. Steam reforming leads to carbon dioxide emissions, in the same way as a car engine would do. A small part (4% in 2006) is produced by electrolysis using electricity and water, consuming approximately 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity per kilogram of hydrogen produced. The Kværner-process or Kvaerner carbon black & hydrogen process (CB&H)[33] is a method, developed in the 1980s by a Norwegian company of the same name, for the production of hydrogen from hydrocarbons (C n H m ), such as methane, natural gas and biogas. Of the available energy of the feed, approximately 48% is contained in the hydrogen, 40% is contained in activated carbon and 10% in superheated steam.[37] Electrolysis of water [ edit ] H2 production cost ($-gge untaxed) at varying natural gas prices Hydrogen can be made via high pressure electrolysis, low pressure electrolysis of water, or a range of other emerging electrochemical processes such as high temperature electrolysis or carbon assisted electrolysis.[38] However, current best processes for water electrolysis have an effective electrical efficiency of 70-80%,[39][40][41] so that producing 1 kg of hydrogen (which has a specific energy of 143 MJ/kg or about 40 kWh/kg) requires 50–55 kWh of electricity. At an electricity cost of $0.06/kWh, as set out in the Department of Energy hydrogen production targets for 2015,[42] the hydrogen cost is $3/kg. With the range of natural gas prices from 2016 as shown in the graph (Hydrogen Production Tech Team Roadmap, November 2017) putting the cost of SMR hydrogen at between $1.20 and $1.50, the cost price of hydrogen via electrolysis is still over double 2015 DOE hydrogen target prices. The US DOE target price for hydrogen in 2020 is $2.30/kg, requiring an electricity cost $0.037/kWh, which is achievable given recent PPA tenders[43] for wind and solar in many regions. This puts the $4/gge H2 dispensed objective well within reach, and close to a slightly elevated natural gas production cost for SMR. In other parts of the world, steam methane reforming is between $1–3/kg on average. This makes production of hydrogen via electrolysis cost competitive in many regions already, as outlined by Nel Hydrogen[44] and others, including an article by the IEA[45] examining the conditions which could lead to a competitive advantage for electrolysis. Experimental production methods [ edit ] Biological production [ edit ] Fermentative hydrogen production is the fermentative conversion of organic substrate to biohydrogen manifested by a diverse group of bacteria using multi enzyme systems involving three steps similar to anaerobic conversion. Dark fermentation reactions do not require light energy, so they are capable of constantly producing hydrogen from organic compounds throughout the day and night. Photofermentation differs from dark fermentation because it only proceeds in the presence of light. For example, photo-fermentation with Rhodobacter sphaeroides SH2C can be employed to convert small molecular fatty acids into hydrogen.[46] Electrohydrogenesis is used in microbial fuel cells where hydrogen is produced from organic matter (e.g. from sewage, or solid matter[47]) while 0.2 - 0.8 V is applied. Biological hydrogen can be produced in an algae bioreactor. In the late 1990s it was discovered that if the algae is deprived of sulfur it will switch from the production of oxygen, i.e. normal photosynthesis, to the production of hydrogen.[48] Biological hydrogen can be produced in bioreactors that use feedstocks other than algae, the most common feedstock being waste streams. The process involves bacteria feeding on hydrocarbons and excreting hydrogen and CO 2. The CO 2 can be sequestered successfully by several methods, leaving hydrogen gas. In 2006-2007, NanoLogix first demonstrated a prototype hydrogen bioreactor using waste as a feedstock at Welch's grape juice factory in North East, Pennsylvania (U.S.).[49] Biocatalysed electrolysis [ edit ] Besides regular electrolysis, electrolysis using microbes is another possibility. With biocatalysed electrolysis, hydrogen is generated after running through the microbial fuel cell and a variety of aquatic plants can be used. These include reed sweetgrass, cordgrass, rice, tomatoes, lupines, and algae[50] High-pressure electrolysis [ edit ] High pressure electrolysis is the electrolysis of water by decomposition of water (H 2 O) into oxygen (O 2 ) and hydrogen gas (H 2 ) by means of an electric current being passed through the water. The difference with a standard electrolyzer is the compressed hydrogen output around 120-200 bar (1740-2900 psi, 12–20 MPa).[51] By pressurising the hydrogen in the electrolyser, through a process known as chemical compression, the need for an external hydrogen compressor is eliminated,[2] the average energy consumption for internal compression is around 3%.[52] European largest (1 400 000 kg/a, High-pressure Electrolysis of water, alkaline technology) hydrogen production plant is operating at Kokkola, Finland.[53] High-temperature electrolysis [ edit ] Hydrogen can be generated from energy supplied in the form of heat and electricity through high-temperature electrolysis (HTE). Because some of the energy in HTE is supplied in the form of heat, less of the energy must be converted twice (from heat to electricity, and then to chemical form), and so potentially far less energy is required per kilogram of hydrogen produced. While nuclear-generated electricity could be used for electrolysis, nuclear heat can be directly applied to split hydrogen from water. High temperature (950–1000 °C) gas cooled nuclear reactors have the potential to split hydrogen from water by thermochemical means using nuclear heat. Research into high-temperature nuclear reactors may eventually lead to a hydrogen supply that is cost-competitive with natural gas steam reforming. General Atomics predicts that hydrogen produced in a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) would cost $1.53/kg. In 2003, steam reforming of natural gas yielded hydrogen at $1.40/kg. In 2005 natural gas prices, hydrogen costs $2.70/kg. High-temperature electrolysis has been demonstrated in a laboratory, at 108 MJ (thermal) per kilogram of hydrogen produced,[54] but not at a commercial scale. In addition, this is lower-quality "commercial" grade Hydrogen, unsuitable for use in fuel cells.[55] Photoelectrochemical water splitting [ edit ] Using electricity produced by photovoltaic systems offers the cleanest way to produce hydrogen. Water is broken into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis—a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) process which is also named artificial photosynthesis.[56] William Ayers at Energy Conversion Devices demonstrated and patented the first multijunction high efficiency photoelectrochemical system for direct splitting of water in 1983.[57] This group demonstrated direct water splitting now referred to as an "artificial leaf" or "wireless solar water splitting" with a low cost thin film amorphous silicon multijunction sheet immersed directly in water. Hydrogen evolved on the front amorphous silicon surface decorated with various catalysts while oxygen evolved off the back metal substrate. A Nafion membrane above the multijunction cell provided a path for ion transport. Their patent also lists a variety of other semiconductor multijunction materials for the direct water splitting in addition to amorphous silicon and silicon germanium alloys. Research continues towards developing high-efficiency multi-junction cell technology at universities and the photovoltaic industry. If this process is assisted by photocatalysts suspended directly in water instead of using photovoltaic and an electrolytic system, the reaction is in just one step, which can improve efficiency.[58][59] Photoelectrocatalytic production [ edit ] A method studied by Thomas Nann and his team at the University of East Anglia consists of a gold electrode covered in layers of indium phosphide (InP) nanoparticles. They introduced an iron-sulfur complex into the layered arrangement, which when submerged in water and irradiated with light under a small electric current, produced hydrogen with an efficiency of 60%.[60] In 2015, it was reported that Panasonic Corp. has developed a photocatalyst based on niobium nitride that can absorb 57% of sunlight to support the decomposition of water to produce hydrogen gas.[61] The company plans to achieve commercial application "as early as possible", not before 2020. Concentrating solar thermal [ edit ] Very high temperatures are required to dissociate water into hydrogen and oxygen. A catalyst is required to make the process operate at feasible temperatures. Heating the water can be achieved through the use of concentrating solar power. Hydrosol-2 is a 100-kilowatt pilot plant at the Plataforma Solar de Almería in Spain which uses sunlight to obtain the required 800 to 1,200 °C to heat water. Hydrosol II has been in operation since 2008. The design of this 100-kilowatt pilot plant is based on a modular concept. As a result, it may be possible that this technology could be readily scaled up to the megawatt range by multiplying the available reactor units and by connecting the plant to heliostat fields (fields of sun-tracking mirrors) of a suitable size.[62] Thermochemical production [ edit ] There are more than 352[63] thermochemical cycles which can be used for water splitting,[64] around a dozen of these cycles such as the iron oxide cycle, cerium(IV) oxide-cerium(III) oxide cycle, zinc zinc-oxide cycle, sulfur-iodine cycle, copper-chlorine cycle and hybrid sulfur cycle are under research and in testing phase to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water and heat without using electricity.[65] These processes can be more efficient than high-temperature electrolysis, typical in the range from 35% - 49% LHV efficiency. Thermochemical production of hydrogen using chemical energy from coal or natural gas is generally not considered, because the direct chemical path is more efficient. None of the thermochemical hydrogen production processes have been demonstrated at production levels, although several have been demonstrated in laboratories. Hydrogen as a byproduct of other chemical processes [ edit ] The industrial production of chlorine and caustic soda by electrolysis generates a sizable amount of Hydrogen as a byproduct. In the port of Antwerp a 1MW demonstration fuel cell power plant is powered by such byproduct. This unit has been operational since late 2011.[66] The excess hydrogen is often managed with a hydrogen pinch analysis. Storage [ edit ] Although molecular hydrogen has very high energy density on a mass basis, partly because of its low molecular weight, as a gas at ambient conditions it has very low energy density by volume. If it is to be used as fuel stored on board the vehicle, pure hydrogen gas must be stored in an energy-dense form to provide sufficient driving range. Pressurized hydrogen gas [ edit ] Increasing gas pressure improves the energy density by volume, making for smaller, but not lighter container tanks (see pressure vessel). Achieving higher pressures necessitates greater use of external energy to power the compression. The mass of the hydrogen tanks needed for compressed hydrogen reduces the fuel economy of the vehicle. Because it is a small molecule, hydrogen tends to diffuse through any liner material intended to contain it, leading to the embrittlement, or weakening, of its container. The most common method of on board hydrogen storage in today's demonstration vehicles is as a compressed gas at pressures of roughly 700 bar (70 MPa). Liquid hydrogen [ edit ] Alternatively, higher volumetric energy density liquid hydrogen or slush hydrogen may be used. However, liquid hydrogen is cryogenic and boils at 20.268 K (–252.882 °C or –423.188 °F). Cryogenic storage cuts weight but requires large liquification energies. The liquefaction process, involving pressurizing and cooling steps, is energy intensive.[67] The liquefied hydrogen has lower energy density by volume than gasoline by approximately a factor of four, because of the low density of liquid hydrogen — there is actually more hydrogen in a liter of gasoline (116 grams) than there is in a liter of pure liquid hydrogen (71 grams). Liquid hydrogen storage tanks must also be well insulated to minimize boil off. Japan have a liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage facility at a terminal in Kobe, and are expected to receive the first shipment of liquid hydrogen via LH2 carrier in 2020.[68] Hydrogen is liquified by reducing its temperature to -253 °C, similar to liquified natural gas (LNG) which is stored at -162 °C. A potential efficiency loss of 12.79% can be achieved, or 4.26kWh/kg out of 33.3kWh/kg.[69] Storage as hydride [ edit ] Distinct from storing molecular hydrogen, hydrogen can be stored as a chemical hydride or in some other hydrogen-containing compound. Hydrogen gas is reacted with some other materials to produce the hydrogen storage material, which can be transported relatively easily. At the point of use the hydrogen storage material can be made to decompose, yielding hydrogen gas. As well as the mass and volume density problems associated with molecular hydrogen storage, current barriers to practical storage schemes stem from the high pressure and temperature conditions needed for hydride formation and hydrogen release. For many potential systems hydriding and dehydriding kinetics and heat management are also issues that need to be overcome. A French company McPhy Energy [3] is developing the first industrial product, based on Magnesium Hydrate, already sold to some major clients such as Iwatani and ENEL. Adsorption [ edit ] A third approach is to adsorb molecular hydrogen on the surface of a solid storage material. Unlike in the hydrides mentioned above, the hydrogen does not dissociate/recombine upon charging/discharging the storage system, and hence does not suffer from the kinetic limitations of many hydride storage systems. Hydrogen densities similar to liquefied hydrogen can be achieved with appropriate adsorbent materials. Some suggested adsorbents include activated carbon, nanostructured carbons (including CNTs), MOFs, and hydrogen clathrate hydrate. Underground hydrogen storage [ edit ] 'Available storage technologies, their capacity and discharge time.' COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Energy storage – the role of electricity Underground hydrogen storage is the practice of hydrogen storage in underground caverns, salt domes and depleted oil and gas fields. Large quantities of gaseous hydrogen have been stored in underground caverns by ICI for many years without any difficulties.[70] The storage of large quantities of liquid hydrogen underground can function as grid energy storage. The round-trip efficiency is approximately 40% (vs. 75-80% for pumped-hydro (PHES)), and the cost is slightly higher than pumped hydro.[71] Another study referenced by a European staff working paper found that for large scale storage, the cheapest option is hydrogen at €140/MWh for 2,000 hours of storage using an electrolyser, salt cavern storage and combined-cycle power plant.[72] The European project Hyunder[73] indicated in 2013 that for the storage of wind and solar energy an additional 85 caverns are required as it cannot be covered by PHES and CAES systems.[74] A German case study on storage of hydrogen in salt caverns found that if the German power surplus (7% of total variable renewable generation by 2025 and 20% by 2050) would be converted to hydrogen and stored underground, these quantities would require some 15 caverns of 500,000 cubic metres each by 2025 and some 60 caverns by 2050 – corresponding to approximately one third of the number of underground gas caverns currently operated in Germany.[75] In the US, Sandia Labs are conducting research into the storage of hydrogen in depleted oil and gas fields, which could easily absorb large amounts of renewably produced hydrogen as there are some 2.7 million depleted wells in existence.[76] Power to gas [ edit ] Power to gas is a technology which converts electrical power to a gas fuel. There are 2 methods, the first is to use the electricity for water splitting and inject the resulting hydrogen into the natural gas grid. The second (less efficient) method is used to convert carbon dioxide and water to methane, (see natural gas) using electrolysis and the Sabatier reaction. The excess power or off peak power generated by wind generators or solar arrays is then used for load balancing in the energy grid. Using the existing natural gas system for hydrogen Fuel cell maker Hydrogenics and natural gas distributor Enbridge have teamed up to develop such a power to gas system in Canada.[77] Pipeline storage [ edit ] A natural gas network may be used for the storage of hydrogen. Before switching to natural gas, the UK and German gas networks were operated using towngas, which for the most part consisted of hydrogen. The storage capacity of the German natural gas network is more than 200,000 GWh which is enough for several months of energy requirement. By comparison, the capacity of all German pumped storage power plants amounts to only about 40 GW·h. Similarly UK pumped storage is far less than the gas network. The transport of energy through a gas network is done with much less loss (<0.1%) than in a power network (8%). The use of the existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen was studied by NaturalHy[78] Infrastructure [ edit ] Praxair Hydrogen Plant The hydrogen infrastructure would consist mainly of industrial hydrogen pipeline transport and hydrogen-equipped filling stations like those found on a hydrogen highway. Hydrogen stations which were not situated near a hydrogen pipeline would get supply via hydrogen tanks, compressed hydrogen tube trailers, liquid hydrogen trailers, liquid hydrogen tank trucks or dedicated onsite production. Because of hydrogen embrittlement of steel, and corrosion[79][80] natural gas pipes require internal coatings or replacement in order to convey hydrogen. Techniques are well-known; over 700 miles of hydrogen pipeline currently exist in the United States. Although expensive, pipelines are the cheapest way to move hydrogen. Hydrogen gas piping is routine in large oil-refineries, because hydrogen is used to hydrocrack fuels from crude oil. Hydrogen piping can in theory be avoided in distributed systems of hydrogen production, where hydrogen is routinely made on site using medium or small-sized generators which would produce enough hydrogen for personal use or perhaps a neighborhood. In the end, a combination of options for hydrogen gas distribution may succeed. While millions of tons of elemental hydrogen are distributed around the world each year in various ways, bringing hydrogen to individual consumers would require an evolution of the fuel infrastructure. For example, according to GM, 70% of the U.S. population lives near a hydrogen-generating facility but has little public access to that hydrogen. The same study however, shows that building the infrastructure in a systematic way is much more doable and affordable than most people think. For example, one article has noted that hydrogen stations could be put within every 10 miles in metro Los Angeles, and on the highways between LA and neighboring cities like Palm Springs, Las Vegas, San Diego and Santa Barbara, for the cost of a Starbuck's latte for every one of the 15 million residents living in these areas.[81] A key tradeoff: centralized vs. distributed production [ edit ] In a future full hydrogen economy, primary energy sources and feedstock would be used to produce hydrogen gas as stored energy for use in various sectors of the economy. Producing hydrogen from primary energy sources other than coal, oil, and natural gas, would result in lower production of the greenhouse gases characteristic of the combustion of these fossil energy resources. One key feature of a hydrogen economy would be that in mobile applications (primarily vehicular transport) energy generation and use could be decoupled. The primary energy source would need no longer travel with the vehicle, as it currently does with hydrocarbon fuels. Instead of tailpipes creating dispersed emissions, the energy (and pollution) could be generated from point sources such as large-scale, centralized facilities with improved efficiency. This would allow the possibility of technologies such as carbon sequestration, which are otherwise impossible for mobile applications. Alternatively, distributed energy generation schemes (such as small scale renewable energy sources) could be used, possibly associated with hydrogen stations. Aside from the energy generation, hydrogen production could be centralized, distributed or a mixture of both. While generating hydrogen at centralized primary energy plants promises higher hydrogen production efficiency, difficulties in high-volume, long range hydrogen transportation (due to factors such as hydrogen damage and the ease of hydrogen diffusion through solid materials) makes electrical energy distribution attractive within a hydrogen economy. In such a scenario, small regional plants or even local filling stations could generate hydrogen using energy provided through the electrical distribution grid. While hydrogen generation efficiency is likely to be lower than for centralized hydrogen generation, losses in hydrogen transport could make such a scheme more efficient in terms of the primary energy used per kilogram of hydrogen delivered to the end user. The proper balance between hydrogen distribution and long-distance electrical distribution is one of the primary questions that arises about the hydrogen economy. Again the dilemmas of production sources and transportation of hydrogen can now be overcome using on site (home, business, or fuel station) generation of hydrogen from off grid renewable sources.[4]. Distributed electrolysis [ edit ] Distributed electroly
more susceptible to injury, as with any strenuous activity. Stretching the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders will ensure your joints and muscles are loose and warm, reducing the risk of repetitive strain injury caused by the gripping activities involved with playing guitar. Try playing less difficult pieces to start, then work your way up to something more complex. Posture Poor posture is a common contributor to pain from playing guitar. Awkward positioning of the back, neck and arms can lead to compression of the nerves, resulting in pain and discomfort. Your shoulders should be relaxed and comfortable. Make sure your guitar strap is the appropriate height and is not hindering natural movement of the shoulders. Try to avoid slouching as this can result in pain in the back and neck. Lastly, ensure your wrists are comfortable and your fretting or strumming technique is not putting unnecessary pressure on them – be aware of any strenuous positions and how you might be able to address the tension. Rest Playing guitar can be very engrossing and time may fly past without you feeling the need to take any breaks. However, rest is very important. There is no general rule to taking breaks, it is about being aware of your body and any pain or discomfort you may feel. Putting the guitar down and stretching every 30 minutes or so is an effective preventative measure. If you are suffering from an existing condition, you may need to rest for days in-between sessions. Your therapist can advise you on this further. Pre-existing Injuries Pre-existing injuries can make playing guitar very difficult without excessive pain or discomfort. Never disregard what your body is telling you and play through the pain, this can cause even more damage than before. If you are recovering from an injury, take it slow when returning to the guitar. This may require more frequent breaks, longer rest periods and strengthening exercises in-between sessions. Splinting Wearing a custom made splint is a great way to effectively manage hand and wrist pain when playing guitar. Splints can either be soft or made from thermoplastic and are fabricated to suit your needs. Get in touch with your hand therapist if you’d like to discuss splinting options. Treatment If you suffer from chronic pain in the hands during or after playing guitar, be sure to speak with your hand therapist for advice and treatment. While splinting may be required for more serious conditions in order to promote healthy movement, a therapist can also provide you with the following: • Advice about appropriate activity modifications • Median nerve gliding exercises to reduce nerve irritability • Graded strengthening exercises when appropriate • Range of movement exercises for uninvolved jointsBack in January, Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz (now executive chairman) announced that the coffee company would be hiring 10,000 refugees worldwide over the coming years in response to President Trump's then-pending immigration ban, with the first 2,500 of those jobs going to refugees in the United States. "I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a resolute promise," Schultz wrote at the time in an open letter to Starbucks employees around the world. "We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question." While the pledge was praised by many, it also appeared to hurt the company's sales: Analysts at Credit Suisse explained back in March that Schultz's decision may have had a negative short-term impact: "Our work shows a sudden drop in brand sentiment following announcement of the refugee hiring initiative on Jan. 29th," an analyst noted. But it seems that's not stopping Shultz—or Starbucks as a whole—from continuing their valuable efforts to help refugees around the world. Yesterday, the brand announced that the second phase of its promise is now being carried out. Over the course of the next five years, European stores—mainly those in England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands—are set to recruit 2,500 new refugee employees. To make matters even more poignant, the announcement was made on and in acknowledgment of World Refugee Day (June 20th). In a separate move on the same day, Starbucks also announced that they'll be recruiting 1,000 refugees to their Canadian cafés. That means the brand has already dedicated itself to 6,000 new refugee workers around the world of its stated 10,000 hirees goal. What remains to be seen is whether this mix of politics, human rights and consumer coffee will affect the brand (postively or negatively) in the long run.ORLANDO — A gunman who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State opened fire inside a crowded gay bar and dance club here early Sunday, leaving 50 people dead and 53 injured in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, authorities said. President Obama labeled the rampage "an act of terror and an act of hate." The gunman fired bullets seemingly at random inside the popular Pulse nightclub, forcing panicked patrons to dive onto the dance floor, crawl across the ground and scramble out a back entrance. He then held others hostage in a three-hour siege that ended when police stormed the building and killed him. Witnesses described scenes of horrific carnage. Victims flooded local hospitals with gunshot wounds to their chests, legs and arms. Some had their calves and forearms blown off, doctors said. Police said the toll could have been even greater had a SWAT team not rescued 30 people and shepherded them to safety. Many of the victims were Latino; the club was celebrating "Latin Night." "We're dealing with something we never imagined and is unimaginable," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, D, who declared a state of emergency in the city. The gunman was identified as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard who was born in New York to Afghan parents. After his initial assault on the dance club, Mateen called 911 and pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, according to U.S. law enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the FBI investigation is unfolding. During the call, Mateen made reference to the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, officials said. The shooting raised fresh alarm about the ability of overseas terrorists to wreak havoc on U.S. soil. But it also ignited fears of a broader campaign against the American gay, lesbian and transgender community as the first anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage approaches. In Washington, police stepped up patrols ahead of the Capital Pride Festival, one of dozens of gay pride events scheduled this month across the nation and around the world. "As Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people," Obama said during a brief speech at the White House, where he said the FBI is investigating the Orlando massacre as an act of terrorism. Until Sunday, the 2007 rampage at Virginia Tech — in which 32 people died — was the country's worst mass shooting. Throughout the day, relatives and friends of missing clubgoers gathered at a downtown Hampton Inn & Suites to await news of their loved ones. On Sunday evening, as the names of the dead began to trickle out, the scene in the hotel's sweltering lobby turned tragic. One woman sat in a chair next to a stack of pizza boxes, sobbing and screaming. Another woman crumpled in her chair, crying, and was taken out in a wheelchair. A third woman vomited into a trash can. Others hugged, shook and softly cried as grief counselors and law enforcement officials milled about. Condemnations of the carnage in downtown Orlando flooded the airwaves from officials and pundits across the political spectrum. But late Sunday, many questions remained unanswered. It was unclear, for example, how a lone gunman managed to hold so many people inside the nightclub for so long, whether any of the clubgoers tried to stop him and why police waited three hours to intervene. A clear timeline of events, including when the victims were killed and injured and who shot them, remained elusive. Authorities declined to offer details. But a senior U.S. law enforcement official said officers delayed their assault on the gunman because the active-shooter scene turned into a hostage negotiation once the gunman called 911. For three hours, the gunman was on the phone with police and no shots were fired. "That is when you do wait," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not an authorized spokesman. "It was appropriate." Police ultimately chose to end the standoff because of concerns about the health and safety of dozens of people who were injured and trapped inside. Officials at nearby Orlando Regional Medical Center said at least nine people died at the hospital or were dead when they arrived. It was unclear whether anyone was injured during the gunman's final shootout with officers, although authorities said one Orlando police officer was shot but that his Kevlar helmet saved him. The Islamic State has repeatedly executed gay people and released videos showing their gruesome executions. FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper said the bureau was still working to determine whether sexual orientation was a motive in the Orlando attack. He said investigators had found no indication that Mateen had outside help in planning the attack, nor any sign of other suspects or further threats to the public. Much was also still to be learned about Mateen's background, although details about his previous contacts with law enforcement officials began to emerge. Much like Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older of the two brothers who carried out the Boston Marathon bombing, Mateen had been on the FBI's radar. Hopper, who runs the FBI's Orlando office, told reporters that Mateen had twice been investigated by the bureau and was cleared both times. In 2013, Hopper said agents twice interviewed Mateen after he made "inflammatory comments to co-workers alleging possible ties to terrorists." The FBI closed the investigation after it was unable to verify the details of his comments, Hopper said. The following year, FBI agents examined possible ties connecting Mateen to Moner Mohammad Abusalha, the first American to carry out a suicide attack in Syria. Like Mateen, Abusalha lived in Fort Pierce, Florida. "We determined that contact was minimal and did not constitute a substantive relationship or a threat at that time," Hopper said. Meanwhile, Mateen's ex-wife said in an interview Sunday that he beat her repeatedly during their brief marriage and that Mateen, who was Muslim, was not very religious and gave no indication that he was devoted to radical Islam. "He was not a stable person," said the ex-wife, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared for her safety. "He would just come home and start beating me up because the laundry wasn't finished or something like that." On Sunday, the gunman was armed with a handgun and an assault rifle and was carrying additional rounds. "It appears he was organized and well-prepared," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. Mateen had legally purchased the two guns — which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said were a.223-caliber AR-15-type assault rifle and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol — within "the last few days," according to Trevor Velinor of the ATF. The AR-15 is the civilian variant of the M16 military rifle and is one of nation's most popular weapons. A standard magazine carries about 30 bullets. The violence in the crowded nightclub began as Saturday gave way to Sunday. About 2 a.m., Pulse Orlando posted an urgent message on Facebook: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." Within minutes, police vehicles and a SWAT team descended on the club. "I was there," Ricardo J. Negron posted on Pulse's Facebook page several hours later. "Shooter opened fire @ around 2:00am. People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed to go out through the outdoor area and just ran. I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well." Many of the injured were taken to the regional medical center, which was locked down until Sunday afternoon. The hospital permitted only two family members at a time to go inside, leaving 45 people waiting in the 84-degree heat. Some people emerged from the hospital with tears streaming down their faces. One woman lay on the ground, moaning "no" over and over until her family led her away. Joannette Martinez said her family became worried when they couldn't find her 24-year-old sister, Yilmary. It was Yilmary's first time at the club, Joanette said; she was celebrating a visit from her brother-in-law. "No one's told us anything," Martinez said as she sat on the sidewalk, her back to the hospital, after waiting for several hours. At the Hampton Inn & Suites, Jose Honorato waited with his seven siblings for word about his younger brother Miguel. "He was at the club with three friends. They made it out safely when the shooting started, but they don't know if he made it out," Honorato said. Honorato said he had called Miguel's phone, but it just kept ringing and went to voicemail. Police described a hellish scene inside the nightclub, which was strewn with bodies. "It's absolutely terrible," Mina said. "Fifty victims in one location, one shooting." The massive law enforcement response included a number of federal agencies. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, who was scheduled to attend a meeting in Beijing on cybersecurity, said Sunday that she was returning to Washington so she could monitor the investigation. At the White House, Obama met with FBI Director James B. Comey and then briefly addressed the nation, saying the entire country stands "with the people of Orlando, who have endured a terrible attack on their city." The president said it was too early to know "the precise motivations of the killer," but that the FBI would investigate possible links between the gunman and terrorist groups. Echoing comments he has made after other mass shootings, Obama said the bloodshed served to highlight how easily people can obtain guns in the United States. He also signed a proclamation honoring the victims and ordering that American flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday. In Orlando, Joshua and Mary Zika, who live less than a block from the nightclub, said they were particularly appalled that the shooter had appeared to target a particular group. "We're proud of our gay community in Orlando," Mary Zika said. By early Sunday evening, a Florida LGBT advocacy group had raised nearly half a million dollars for the victims. More than 11,000 people had donated to Equality Florida's GoFundMe page in six hours, raising more than $480,000. The funds will go directly to victims and their families, according to the page. Sunday's rampage followed another shooting in Orlando: The fatal slaying Friday night of a pop singer who was killed while signing autographs after a performance at an Orlando concert venue.The US embassy in Tripoli staged a dramatic evacuation in the early hours of Saturday, with other embassies debating whether to follow suit as Libya hovers on the brink of full-scale war. Efforts by diplomats and prime minister Abdullah al-Thinni to engineer a last-minute ceasefire between warring militias have collapsed and the capital echoes to the sound of artillery and rockets. Fighting is also continuing in the eastern city of Benghazi, part of a nation-wide struggle between an Islamist-led alliance and fragmented opposition. In Tripoli, thousands are fleeing their homes under a rain of rocket, tank and mortar fire. "They phoned us to tell us to get out," said Huda, a resident in the south-western Tripoli district of Seraj. "They told us: you have seen how the airport looks, this will be your district too." There are no accurate casualty figures because different militias take their wounded to their own hospitals, but estimates claim that more than 100 have died in two weeks of fighting. The health ministry said it had lost contact with its hospitals. Tripoli's airport is a smashed ruin after two weeks of attacks on it by a militia from Misrata against another from Zintan, which has held it since the 2011 Arab spring uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. In that uprising, Misrata, 120 miles west of Tripoli and Zintan, 90 miles south, were allies, forming the two most powerful militias which liberated the capital, backed by Nato bombing. Now they are at war. Misratan brigades are determined to capture the airport, a valuable strategic asset. But the bombardment has reduced much of it to rubble. The main building is wrecked, the control tower holed and on the scorched tarmac are the remains of 21 planes – much of Libya's small commercial fleet. Three volunteer pilots flew surviving jets to Malta last week. They may not be back for a long time. International authorities have ordered Libyan airspace to be closed on Monday and there is a last-minute scramble by foreigners and Libyans to get out. Many are streaming towards the Tunisian border crossing, with Egypt having already closed its own frontier after 21 of its border guards were killed in an ambush. The US embassy found itself in the middle of the battle, its position close to the airport road marking the frontline between the two sides. For two weeks its staff hunkered down in concrete bunkers, protected by 90 heavily armed marines. Two rockets landed outside the walls, but the embassy compound itself took no hits. Each night drones and an Orion surveillance aircraft flew low over the city. Ambassador Deborah Jones tweeted that there were no armed drones. But armed jets linger off the coast, with an aircraft carrier stationedover the horizon and back-up Marines deployed in Sicily. On Friday, after consultations with Washington, the order was given to pull out. Through the early hours, the sky echoed with the sounds of planes leaving. Memories are still fresh of the fate of the last ambassador, Chris Stevens, who died along with three staff when the US consulate in Benghazi was stormed by a militia two years ago. London has said nonessential staff have been evacuated and a final decision is expected to be taken by EU embassies on whether to evacuate over the next few days. The Americans leave a city on edge. Petrol shortages have left the streets mostly empty, but on Friday night thousands gathered for a peace rally in the central Algiers Square. Amid elegant Italian-era buildings and palm trees, they chanted "Libya Hoara!" (Libya Free!) and called for all sides to stop fighting. "This is not what I fought the revolution for," said Mohammed, a student who joined the rebels during the 2011 uprising. "We fought for peace, and instead we get this." In truth, the fighting never went away. The former general national congress, instead of disarming the revolutionary militias funded them and gave them official status. In June a new parliament, the House of Representatives, was elected and is due to start work next month in Benghazi, triggering a jostling for position among the militias that threatens all-out war. "I have been saying it all along: it has to get worse before it gets better," said Sami Zaptia, editor of the Libya Herald newspaper. The question all Libyans are asking is how much worse it will get.The lawsuit was originally filed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale University, the Urban Justice Center, and the National Immigration Law Center. “I will continue to do everything in my power to not just fight this executive order, but to protect the families caught in the chaos sown by President Trump's hasty and irresponsible implementation – including pressing DHS and CBP to provide a full list of those still detained and allow them access to legal service providers.” “That is why my office will be filing to join the federal lawsuit against President Trump and his administration. I'm proud to partner with these organizations to fight to permanently strike down this dangerous and discriminatory order. Select a Language Below / Seleccione el Idioma Abajo Disclaimer This Google™ translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. The Office of Attorney General's website is provided in English. However, the "Google Translate" option may assist you in reading it in other languages. Google Translate cannot translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. The Office of Attorney General does not make any promises, assurances, or guarantees as to the accuracy of the translations provided. The State of New York, its officers, employees, and/or agents shall not be liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of, or in connection with, the use or performance of such information, including but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy of any such information, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing, or copying of such materials. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. Close this box or use the [ X ]Dr. Mark Adickes discusses the good news for Baylor QB Seth Russell, who fractured a neck bone in the Bears' win over Iowa State, and when we may see Russell back on the field. (1:02) WACO, Texas -- Baylor quarterback Seth Russell fractured a neck bone near the end of the Bears' 45-27 win over Iowa State, the school announced. The injury occurred when Russell pushed forward on a 4-yard run with 5:36 left in the fourth quarter. Postgame X-rays and a CT scan revealed the fracture. He will see a specialist Monday. Baylor coach Art Briles told ESPN's Brett McMurphy that Russell would "probably be out awhile" but won't "find out for certain until Monday." "He's a tough guy. It's hard to see tough guys hurt," Briles said. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham took over on the Bears' next drive. He would get the start if Russell can't play for the second-ranked Bears, who have an off week before traveling to Kansas State for a Thursday night game Nov. 5. "This is a tough deal for Seth," Briles said. "Stidham is the best young quarterback I've been around. He's very polished." Coming into the weekend, Russell was leading the nation with 27 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. He added two touchdown throws and one pick Saturday. He threw for 197 yards on 16-of-37 passing. The Associated Press contributed to this report.A third drug suspension in three years was too much for the New York Giants, who announced Monday that they have waived safety Will Hill. Editor's Picks Graziano: Cardinals should cut Washington The Giants reached the point at which they no longer could tolerate the risk that Will Hill might disappear from their plans for a long time, Dan Graziano writes. The NFL announced Friday that Hill would be suspended for the first six games of the 2014 season because of his latest violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Hill also missed the first four games of the 2013 season and four games during the 2012 season for drug violations. After last year's suspension, Hill emerged as a strong performer as a starting safety for the Giants and was in line to start alongside Antrel Rolle in the secondary this season. Giants safety Will Hill had 77 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles last season. Harry E. Walker/MCT/Getty Images Several weeks ago, however, news broke that Hill had again violated the league's substance abuse policy and faced a suspension that could be a full year or longer. The appeal process resulted in the six-game suspension, which indicated that the league found at least some plausibility in Hill's version of the events that led to his latest failed test. Hill was a standout at Florida but went undrafted as a result of off-the-field concerns. The Giants knew of those risks when they signed him as an undrafted free agent. With Hill gone, the Giants are a bit thin at safety. The leading candidate to take Hill's spot is Stevie Brown, who had eight interceptions in 2012 but tore his ACL in the 2013 preseason and missed the entire season. The Giants also signed former Chiefs safety Quintin Demps in March, but they signed him primarily to be used as a kick returner. They drafted safety Cooper Taylor in the fifth round in 2013 and safety Nat Berhe in the fifth round this year. The Giants have flexibility to add a free agent, as the team picked up $5 million in new salary-cap space Monday when the post-June 1 release of center David Baas became official.The board has been put together and in a little over 24 hours, the Detroit Lions will be able to see exactly how the NFL draft they have planned for over the past five-plus months will actually shake out. In explaining his team’s draft process Monday, general manager Martin Mayhew said because the Lions are at the No. 10 spot, they have their initial draft board, will remove the quarterbacks and then have their essential Top 10 to work with Thursday evening. Other than the obvious that Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins is somewhere on their board, here is one man’s guess of what their Top 10 board could look like come Thursday -- pulling quarterbacks off, of course, since the Lions are not searching for one. Remember, this is just a guess. Detroit has not tipped much of anything off as to what their board would look like. 1.Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: The Lions have made no secret about their love for the player who caught 101 passes last season and is considered the top receiver in the draft. The Lions brought him in for a visit, brought his teammate, Martavis Bryant, in for a visit and also brought in his brother, Jaylen Watkins, a defensive back from Florida. They ate with Sammy at his pro day, and Mayhew believes he is a good fit for the organization. The question is whether Detroit could really go and get him as he will be long gone by No. 10. 2.Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: There’s no way Clowney is lower than third on any team’s draft board, and if he is, that team is likely kidding itself. Clowney is a transcendent talent who is the most physically gifted player in this draft and perhaps in the past four or five drafts. For Detroit to get him, it would likely have to trade all the way up to No. 1, but if he somehow fell to No. 3, then it might be worth it to pursue. 3.Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo: The second-best defensive player in the draft also fits a position of need for the Lions. While Watkins is often the talk of most trade-up scenarios, it is Mack who could be the player Detroit could end up targeting in that type of scenario. He is an instant playmaker who is a three-down linebacker and would give the linebacking corps an immediate upgrade in talent and depth. 4.Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: Many of the other rumors surrounding Detroit involve a lesser trade-up scenario for Evans, who was Johnny Manziel’s main target with the Aggies. The Lions would likely only have to go up to No. 7 to grab him, so it would cost less in return than Watkins. Lining him up with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate would give the Lions one of the scarier passing games in the NFC. 5.Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: He is the top tackle in the draft and almost certainly not going to be available for Detroit. If he somehow slipped to the Lions, they would find a way to make it work on the line, most likely moving 2013 left tackle Riley Reiff inside to guard. 6.Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: Matthews could be available, in theory, depending on how the top of the draft goes, what trades are made and the number of quarterbacks selected. He or Taylor Lewan are often considered the highest rated tackles in the draft behind Robinson. 7.Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: After the top six is where it gets tricky -- and this is likely where the Lions’ pick will come from. Dennard lacks the ideal size defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would like in a cornerback, but he could be the best cover corner in the draft and likely will be the first cornerback off the board Thursday night. Part of why I didn’t consider him in the NFL Nation mock is he wasn’t available as Minnesota took him at No. 9. 8.Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: Some will think this is high for Clinton-Dix, who I took in the NFL Nation mock draft Tuesday. Former general manager and ESPN analyst Bill Polian panned the pick and said cornerback was the more glaring need. That is a fair assessment, but safety is also a position of need for the Lions and Clinton-Dix is the best safety at a somewhat thin position compared to the rest of the groups in the draft. As I mentioned Tuesday and Wednesday, I believe the Lions will try to trade down. 9.Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: Not necessarily a position of need for Detroit, but he could very well be the best player available for the Lions at No. 10, and as I mentioned Wednesday, the player I believe the Lions should take at No. 10 if he’s available. Drafting Donald would offer Detroit flexibility on the defensive line, and he has experience in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme, which can help in Austin’s defense as he tries to turn it multiple. Plus, he can learn from Ndamukong Suh for a season before potentially stepping into a starting role if Suh or Nick Fairley departs Detroit in 2015. 10.Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: There are a lot of interesting connections for Fuller with Detroit. Both of his brothers have played for the Lions at some point in their careers. Vincent Fuller was a cornerback for Detroit in 2011 and Corey Fuller was drafted by the Lions last season and is on the roster for 2014. Kyle Fuller has outstanding ball skills, but isn’t as strong in coverage as Dennard. Next six: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan; Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU; Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame; Anthony Barr, DE/LB, UCLA; Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State; Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.As we approach the month of Margashira and eagerly wait to recite the glories of vAtapurAdhIsha by singing the mellifluous hymns of shrImannArAyaNIyam, the racing mind has already entered the limits of gurupavanapura. The heart of the parama bhAgavata Sri Narayana Bhattathiri sees in Shankara a parama vaiShNava for Shankara is a crystal mirror that reflects one’s own belief system, retaining always the light of kevalAdvaita: shrIsha~Nkaro.api bhagavAn sakaleShu tAvat tvAmeva mAnayati yo nahi pakShapAtI \| tvanniShThameva sa hi nAmasahasrakAdi vyAkhyad bhavatstutiparashcha gatiM gato.ante \|\| 5 \|\| O Lord, Jagadguru Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada is regarded widely as unbiased and equally respectful towards all saguNa mUrtis of Brahman. But it seems to me that it is your form as mahaviShNu that he is more attached to. He wrote commentaries on viShNu sahasranAma, on bhagavdgItA and not on shiva sahasranAma or shiva gItA. While he could have commented on many such works referring to shiva shivaparatayA) as parama puruSha, he chose to sing praises of shrImannArAyaNa even in works that refer to concepts beyond the saguNa mUrti. Traditionally, it is also believed that the final composition of sha~Nkara was shrImatpAdAdikesha stuti that celebrates the divya ma~NgaLa svarUpa of the parama puruSha. These suggest that Thou Lord were his iShTa mUrti. Like every bhakta who sees his iShTa as the Supreme, Bhattathiri sees shrIhari as the paramotkR^iShTa mUrti and states his reasoning for the same: vR^ikabhR^igumunimohinyambarIShAdivR^itte- Shvapi tava hi mahattvaM sarvasharvAdijaitram \| sthitamiha paramatman niShkalArvAgabhinnaM kimapi yadavabhAtaM taddhi rUpaM tavaiva \|\| Dear Lord! From various purANic episodes such as those of vR^ikAsura, bhR^igu, ambarISha etc., your atishaya mAhAtmya that transcends the glory of other forms such as sadAshiva becomes easily evident. We have also studied episodes such as indrayAga, nandaharaNa, bAlAnayana etc., where your mAhatmya has been described as transcending that of deities such as indra, varuNa, yama, anala, brahma and others. The reason such a statement can be made is because Thou verily are the Brahman without attributes who shines in forms such as brahmA and sha~Nkara. The same is stated in bhAgavata as below: sattvaM rajastama iti prakR^iterguNAstaiH yuktaH paraH puruSha eka ihAsya dhatte \| sthityAdaye hariviri~nchihareti saMj~nAH shreyAMsi tatra khalu sattvatanornR^iNAM syuH \|\| [1, 2, 23] But don’t we have similar statements about other forms like mahAdeva such as the one below: evameko mahAdevo mAyayA guNarUpayA \| nAmarUpakriyabhedaiH bhinnavat pratibhAsate \|\| Bhattathiri replies thus: mUrtitrayeshvarasadAshivapa~nchakaM yat prAhuH parAtmavapureva sadAshivo.asmin \| tatreshvarastu sa vikuNThapadastvameva tritvaM punarbhajasi satyapade tribhAge \|\| The shaivas describe the Supreme as Paramashiva or Sadashiva, who is panchAtmaka, embodying the five forms namely brahmA, hari, rudra, mahesha and sadAshiva. But you have been saluted as viShNuM pa~nchAtmakaM vande in bhAgavata and viShNu purANa indicating your abhedatva from the Supreme Vastu that the shaivas call sadAshiva. It is Your Supreme form that manifests as the triad in satyAdi lokas. While this does establish the fact that Thou are Supreme, is not shiva keshavAbheda stated repeatedly and variously: ahaM tvaM sarvago deva tvamevAhaM janArdana \| AvayorantaraM nAsti shabdairarthairjagatpate \|\| [harivamshe] The bhAgavata hR^idaya of Bhattathiri is immediately equipped with an answer to this argument: tatrApi sAttvikatanuM tava viShNumAhuH dhAtA tu sattvaviralo rajasaiva pUrNaH \| sattvotkaTatvamapi chaste tamovikAra- cheShTAdikaM cha tava sha~NkaranAmni mUrtau \|\| Among the three forms of the Supreme, it is the mUrti of mahaviShNu that is described as shuddhasattvamayI: rAjaso bhagavAn brahmA sAttviko viShNuruchyate \| IShattamoguNo rudraH sR^ijatyavati hantyajaH \|\| But has not the worship of mahAdeva been prescribed for all, by statements such as the one below: ambikApatirIshAna upAsyo guNamUrtibhiH \| IshvaraH paramAtmaiko mAyayA sa tridhA sthitaH \|\| Now Bhattathiri begins to explain his stand: taM cha trimUrtyatigataM parapUrushaM tvAM sharvAtmanApi khalu sarvamayatvahetoH \| shamsantyupAsanavidhau tadapi svavastu tvadrUpamityatidR^iDhaM bahu naH pramANam \|\| But Lord, you are the Supreme that is beyond the three guNAtmaka mUrtis that the shaivas describe as shiva. There is ample scriptural proof that sharva is thy aspect. To prove his point, Bhattathiri resorts to the example of Adi Shanakara, described verily as the Shankara, and the knower of All: mUrtitrayAtigamuvAcha cha mantrashAstra- syAdau kalAyasuShamaM sakaleshvaraM tvAm \| dhyAnaM cha niShkalamasau praNave khalUktvA tvAmeva tatra sakalaM nijagAda nAnyam \|\| The Great Guru composed a treatise on Mantra Shastra named prapa~nchasAra. He commences the work with the stuti of Thy mUrti: svaniShpattiM cha kR^ityaM cha te vichintya samAvidan \| vaktAramajamavyaktamarUpaM mAyinaM vibhum \|\| mUrtyAbhAsena dugdhAbdhau jhaShasha~NkhasmAkule \| marutsa~NghaTTanotkIrNalaharIkaNashItale \|\| shayitaM shAr~NgiNaM sharvashauripadmabhuvastathA \| X X X taM dR^iShTvA taralatmAno vidhyadhokShajasha~NkarAH \| atishThannitikartavyamUDhAstatrAbravIdajaH \|\| svAmin prasIda vishvesha ke vayaM kena bhavitAH \| kiM mUlAH kiM kriyAH sarvamasmabhyaM vaktumarhasi \|\| Thus, Adi Acharya has described Thou residing in mahAvikuNTha as transcending the
toward the interest of the new fat cats of campaign finance. The public, too, seems greatly concerned about money this election season. Citizens United is not even consistent with the court’s own recent actions. In Caperton v. Massey, Justice Kennedy and the four Citizens United dissenters recognized that a $3 million contribution to an independent group supporting the election of a West Virginia Supreme Court justice required that the justice recuse himself from a case involving the contributor supporting his candidacy. The Caperton Court pointed to the “disproportionate” influence of that spending on the race and at least an appearance of impropriety. It is also in tension with the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the laws barring independent foreign spending in U.S. elections. If such independent spending really “does not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption,” as Justice Kennedy wrote in Citizens United, what’s the danger if the Chinese or Iranian government wants to flood tight congressional races with millions of dollars? If the court were being honest in Citizens United, it would have said something like: We don’t care whether or not independent spending can or cannot corrupt; the First Amendment trumps this risk of corruption, at least when the spending comes from corporations and not foreigners. But the court didn’t say that, because it would have faced even greater criticism than it already has. So it dressed up its value judgment as a factual statement. Justice Ginsburg seems poised to use the Montana case to expose the false premise at the heart of the Citizens United case. If we are lucky, she’ll convince one of the justices in the Citizens United majority of the error of his ways. At the very least, she will speak truth to power.When describing what he believed to be the unrealistic alimony demands of a recently-divorced woman who had grown "accustomed" to a certain lifestyle, comedian Chris Rock said, “You go to a restaurant, you're accustomed to eating. When you leave, you're not eating anymore. They don't owe you a steak.” Fast forward to present day, and Rock may as well have been talking about the expiration of the payroll tax cut. As a reminder, while the fiscal cliff deal extended the income tax rates for 99% of Americans, one expiring provision that was not given new life by the 11th hour negotiations was the 2% reduction to an employee's share of Social Security payroll taxes. For 2011 and 2012, employees paid only 4.2% of their wages towards Social Security. Beginning January 1, 2013, that burden has reverted back to 6.2%. As a result, if you earn a salary, you may have noticed that your first paycheck in 2013 was 2% lighter than your last check in 2012, assuming equal pay. And that has some people awfully mad. Earlier today, a friend of mine sent me a link to the following editorial posted on investors.com, which took aim squarely at the now-expired payroll tax cut. It starts like so: Dyed-blue-in-the-wool supporters of President Obama are blue as can be after opening their paychecks and discovering that "ordinary folks," as the president likes to call them, got slapped with a sizeable tax hike on New Year's Day. There's just one problem with this sentence: The expiration of the payroll tax reduction is not a “tax hike.” When originally enacted in December 2010, the 2% reduction was originally scheduled to last only one year, its finite nature evidenced by its description in the statute as a “payroll tax holiday.” The point of the provision, as you might imagine, was to help lower and middle-class taxpayers weather the recession by putting more after-tax cash in their pockets. Specifically, the payroll tax cut replaced and expanded upon the “Making Work Pay Credit,” which during 2009 and 2010 saved individuals earning less than $75,000 up to $400 and married couples earning less than $150,000 up to $800. Because the 2% payroll tax cut reduction applied to the first $106,800 of a taxpayer's wages, the new law could save an indivdual as much as $2,136, or twice that for married couples. As 2011 drew to a close and the sun was due to set on the payroll tax cut, Congress did what it does best, agreeing to a last-minute, ill-conceived two-month extension that was not offset with any increased revenue or spending cuts. In February, they did it again, this time extending the 2% reduction through the end of 2012. Throughout this time, Americans got accustomed to their fatter paychecks. But if they’d been paying attention, they would have noticed that the end was near. Leading up to the Presidential election, neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney promised to further extend the payroll tax cut. In fact, if one were to dig deep into each man’s tax proposals, one would see that both Obama and Romney intended to allow the tax cut to expire. And effective January 1, 2013, it did. So as Chris Rock would explain, for two years the government was feeding us extra money in our paychecks. But just because we grew accustomed to it doesn't mean the government continues to owe it to us. Continuing on, the investor.com editorial goes on to add this little nugget: What does it say to these Obama supporters that the first thing the president does after being elected is raise the payroll tax for "ordinary folks" from 4.2% to 6.2%? If these Obama supporters are rational, hopefully the expiration of the payroll tax cut says to them, “Perhaps you’ll be able to collect pension checks when you retire.” Remember, our payroll taxes don’t go towards the President’s cigar-and-booze budget; rather, they are earmarked for Social Security, which as you may have heard, is in danger of going bankrupt in the coming decades. Continue the payroll tax cut, and you only increase the burden on our already strained trust fund balance. It's foolish to ignore the fact that the payroll tax reduction came with a sizeable price, costing the government nearly $240 billion in tax revenue over the two-year period. And since Congress did nothing to pay for these cuts, the bill simply got added to the country’s tab, further driving up the already bloated deficit. I would think that this would be a trend that neither political party would favor continuing. The investor.com piece then closes with this: Then he — or rather the White House auto-pen, since the president took Air Force One back to Hawaii to finish his $7 million-in-taxpayer-cost vacation — signs a deal slapping a middle-class family something close to just that "hit" in new taxes. Now this…this is just annoying, because the payroll tax debate was not a partisan one. Neither party intended to continue it, and if you want to start pointing fingers, it was the conservative corner of the Republican Party who fought like hell to prevent it from being extended back in February 2012. The moral of the story is this: I have no idea if the payroll tax cut should or shouldn’t have been further extended beyond 2012. That's a matter of policy on which I am not fit to opine. Logic tells me, however, that it's rather silly to react to the expiration of a temporary tax cut by calling it a "tax increase" and blaming the very person who enacted the cut in the first place.Senator McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has twice this month embraced technology leaders in his push to become president. On March 7 Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard, joined the Republican National Committee as Victory Chairman. And this last weekend Meg Whitman, the outgoing CEO of Ebay, became McCain’s campaign co-chair. Frankly, he’ll need the help. We endorsed Senator McCain as the best “Technology President” among the Republican candidates. But he has not defined his tech policies as specifically as Senator Obama has, and he trails Obama in use of the Internet to get voter engagement and donations. Hear our recorded interview with Senator McCain here. Fiorina and Whitman can help change all that. I spoke to Fiorina last week for thirty minutes about her new position with the campaign and the party. We spoke both about specific policy issues where McCain either hadn’t fully worked through his policies when we spoke, or where I wanted additional clarification (net neutrality, mobile spectrum auctions, China and H1B visas, specifically). The interview is up at TalkCrunch, and embedded below. The transcript of the conversation is also copied below. For the most part Fiorina is holding the line on tech issues. But she’s expressed a real willingness to explore new ideas when it comes to reaching out to voters on social networks, YouTube and other places on the Internet. But she wouldn’t get specific on upcoming plans, and much of what she said seems to be focused on raising cash as the first priority. As Obama has seen, simply engaging with people eventually leads to big donations. If the McCain camp wants to cut into his lead, they need to get started now. Listen now on TalkCrunch Transcript Of Podcast: Michael Arrington (MA): Hello this is Mike Arrington from Techcrunch, today I am speaking with Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard, and who was just named the Victory Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Carly, welcome to TechCrunch. Carly Fiorina (CF): Thank you Michael, its great to be with you, and happy birthday by the way. MA: Thank you very much. There is so much I want to talk to you about and I know I don’t have a whole lot of your time. Could we start just by telling me a little bit about what the position as Victory Chairman entails and how you ended up here? CF: My principal role as Chairman of Victory 08 is to be a primary advocate for John McCain and for the party. To provide my economic and business expertise to the Senator and the Party, and to of course help explain why we believe both John McCain and the Republican Party offer the best ideas for working families and small businesses in this country. MA: Obviously all the candidates are using the internet in this campaign in ways that no one has done before both for raising money as well as building support. Is that a big part of your job as well? CF: Well we certainly have to use the internet even more aggressively. The McCain campaign has done some good work on the internet and we’ve raised some good money; John’s had his million dollar days over the internet as well. Now we really have to gear up our efforts across all mediums so fundraising is certainly a big part of everyone’s time and attention right now on the internet and elsewhere. MA: If you look at Facebook and Senator McCain, and also MySpace, has a large following of supporters on both of those platforms. Do you see the social networks as being useful at all for fundraising or is it more just to communicate with members and to build support that way? CF: One of the things we’ve all kind of learned in this campaign and in particular in watching the Obama campaign is that any time you have an opportunity to communicate with people and connect with people you also have the opportunity to ask for their financial contribution and so we should be doing that all the time. When we reach people we should make sure they understand they have an opportunity to contribute at whatever level they can. MA: If you look at the pure statistics, Barack Obama has done such a good job in getting friends and followers on the social networks and getting individual people to donate small amounts of money mostly on the internet. What are your plans, and I know its early still, but what are your plans in the near future to counter that and push McCain forward in those spaces as well. Do you have any specific ideas yet? CF: It is too early for me to talk specifically about how were going to use the social networking sites although there are people thinking about that on Lou Eisenberg’s team. But what I would say is, again, every opportunity to communicate with people is an opportunity to ask for their contribution and as Barack has demonstrated small contributions can make as big a difference over time as big contributions, so nothing is too small. I would also say that it will be a focus of this campaign to go after young people more aggressively than we have to date. We need to broaden the appeal of the party and John McCain by making more diverse audiences aware of who he is and what he stands for and so you’re going to see John McCain reaching out to different members of the community than perhaps people would expect and you’ll see me doing that as well. MA: I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with Senator McCain. I spoke to most of the presidential candidates and so I got a feel for how they address Sillicon Valley and also social networking crowds, and when McCain was on the phone with me we spoke at length, he had a very laid back personality, obviously not all the time, but on the phone with me he was and very comfortable talking about technology even though he’s not a regular computer user he said. But he seems comfortable with the issues and also comfortable reaching out to even the youngest voters. CF: I totally agree with that, in fact just a little story here. I first met John McCain in 2000 not around his presidential campaign at that time but around the subject of internet taxation. And I remember being in his Senate office and talking with him about internet taxation and why that was a bad idea and it struck me then that not only did he get it totally but he was very focused on innovation and this is one of the things that attracted me to him. I think he really understands that government can play a role that motivates innovation and government can play a role to kill innovation. Innovation is the life blood of this nation and technology innovation has been a huge driver, obviously, not only of productivity but of jobs and wealth creation for people. So he does understand it and I think when young people get to know him he’s tremendously appealing to young people and he’s very comfortable with them and we need to allow that connection to happen more and more often. MA: Thats an interesting segue into some of the technology issues that we’ve addressed with the candidates and I’d love to get your take on a few of them as well as the policies are finalized for Sen. McCain. When I spoke to McCain he had some preliminary policies in place on a number of issues and they certainly make sense particularly with regard to his politics and generally speaking Republican politics, particularly how they handle financial issues and the markets and regulation, tend to work very well in Silicon Valley with a hands off approach. There are some issues that have come up more recently that in particular I’d love both your personal feedback on it and how the party will eventually go with this, that maybe don’t work quite so well and at least some people in Silicon Valley are calling for maybe a little bit more handholding by the US government. For instance, in China many US companies do business in China, either selling hardware to China which is ultimately used (some of it) to monitor their own population with the firewall there, or in the case of the search engines like Google and Yahoo and Microsoft actually setting up corporations there and providing services directly to Chinese citizens, but they’re all working under Chinese laws and in some cases as I’m sure you’re aware with Yahoo actually handing over personal information to the Chinese government that can be used in ways that some of us find reprehensible. Sen. McCain, we didn’t talk a whole lot about China other than he wanted to take a tough stance with them over time, but specifically I guess the question I have is do you think there should be limitations on what US companies can do in working with the Chinese government? CF: First let me say that I’m about to express my own opinion, and while I feel fairly comfortable that McCain and I are aligned on most things I haven’t had this specific conversation with him, so I want to be sure I’m upfront in saying I’m expressing my opinion… MA: And by the way I’m very interested in your opinion, long time Silicon Valley executive, you know these issues like the back of your hand. CF: Well thanks. First, I do not think it is in American interest to preclude American business’ from doing things that other businesses will do any way. For example, if the Chinese government can get technology or agreements from France or Russia or India and our government puts limitations on the American business communities’ ability to provide those same products or enter into those same agreements, that puts us at a competitive disadvantage, and I’ve taken that stand on the Hill for many many years. We need to be able to compete with everyone else in the world and the reality is that the Chinese can get whatever technology they want somehow. Because the truth is that little tiny microchips that sit in your BlackBerry are as powerful today as stuff that was a lot more expensive and a lot more complicated ten years ago, as you well know. However, I do think it is totally legitimate for the US government to say, “you know what as a member of the WTO, you actually have to abide by the rules and we’re going to inspect and expect your compliance to those rules.” I think it’s totally fair for the U.S. Government to say, “We expect transparency, we want to know what you’re doing with this stuff, and we’ll hold you accountable – hold you accountable in the ways that we can.” So I do think there’s a legitimate role for government but I don’t think the role should be, “Let’s prevent American businesses from doing business in China because we are afraid of what they might do with it.” And by the way I guess I would just say again as a personal matter, I think Yahoo! got the message loud and clear when poor Jerry Yang had to go up on the Hill and talk about what he’d done. I think that was a very impactful experience for him as a chief executive and for that company. MA: Representative Lantos said, “Morally you are pigmies” and Representative Smith compared Yahoo to Nazi collaborators in World War II. CF: I think that language was way, way, way over the top and I do not mean to condone that language in any way because I think it was just totally inappropriate. But I think the opportunity for a company that sells to consumers to have to explain their positions to consumers in transparent terms is appropriate. MA: You know it’s funny I actually agree with you. I’ve been criticized because China is the one area where it’s truly gray area that there is some bad stuff going on, but do we really hobble US companies when there are European companies ready and willing to jump in and fill the void? CF: I happen also on the board of something called Freedom House. Freedom house is a longstanding bipartisan organization originally founded by Eleanor Roosevelt. It’s really focused on how do we encourage the spread of freedom around the world. And one of the places where we’re engaged a lot is in China because we understand how the Chinese are beginning to use the Internet and we are working to try and encourage freedom on that new technology as well. MA: Let’s switch issues. I could talk about China for hours and I’m sure you could as well. But I’d like to talk about something I know you’re probably very familiar with – it’s H-1B Visas. And the problem is H-1B Visas obviously allow us being Silicon Valley and other startup companies to get educated foreign workers for a period of time to work legally in the United States. The problem with the issue is that obviously immigration as a larger issue is a very touchy subject in the US right now, one that Senator McCain talked in our interview about him being personally burned by it. He was hesitant to throw his weight behind an expansion of the H-1B Visa program which currently only allows 65,000 workers per year into the U.S. Speaking personally, what do you think the right thing to do H-1B Visas is? And assuming you like the program, is there a way that we can split the issues and convince the American public that H-1Bs are good? CF: I think first of all the H-1B Visa program is very important to the technology industry. The American people get concerned and understandably emotional about it when they perhaps don’t understand the differences between the H-1B Visa program and illegal immigration. So we have to make these differences clear because as McCain said, illegal immigration is a hugely emotional issue and it’s a very difficult issue in a state like California. So we have to be very open and specific about why the H-1B Visa program bears no resemblance to illegal immigration. We also then have to recognize that American workers all over this country are increasingly concerned about their ability to compete against foreign workers, whether those foreign workers are outside our country or whether they’re coming into our country. And I think that’s why McCain is so smart and so right to focus a lot of our platform on worker retraining. For example, to say “you know what we cannot leave workers behind in this country. We can’t have workers in their most productive years get laid off from a job that’s never coming back and not give them an opportunity to build new skills. And so I think If we can lay out for the American people a robust worker retraining program that really does give people an opportunity to compete for the new innovative jobs then they will have a different context in which to think about the H-1B visa program. If we don’t do that, I’m afraid people will say, “Well here’s another example of foreigners taking a job away from me.” But it’s clear to me that the H-1B Visa program is important and we have to continue to expanding it if we want our information technology industry to be the most competitive in the world. MA: And in particular so many entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley were born somewhere other than the United States. And as many of those people as we can get to move here, whether it’s to go to school and here and work here or just start their companies here, it’s good for our economy. And I understand it’s a sensitive issue but… CF: Well it’s good for our economy as you point out and I think the other thing we need to remind people of is that this country has been built on hardworking people who want to make a better life for themselves and their family coming here and staying here. And so it’s in our interest, as you point out, that people come here and choose to stay here and become American citizens and contribute to a productive economy. MA: The 700-Mhz spectrum auctions that are going on right now under FCC Chairman Martin were hugely debated last year with Google pushing the issue in particular by saying, “We need a change in the way mobile is handled in the US. And in particular, whoever owns this spectrum has to allow third party applications. They have to allow people to switch their handsets and service providers. They have to lease out their service to other businesses that want to provide their own services on top of that at fair rates.” The FCC came back and took a lot of this, and I think Chairman Martin, to his credit, really pushed for this. But some of the people that work with him may have been a little bit more conservative on the issue. But it seems like maybe we haven’t gone far enough. And I wonder what your personal opinion is on handling, in particular, mobile spectrum allocations and what kind of playing field do we create for the companies doing business there? And AT&T has been lobbying to say the government should be hands off, and that’s fine, but these are effectively virtual monopolies once they’ve been allotted, and so a hands-off approach can sometimes lead to bad situations like I believe we have with mobile today. This is another one where Senator McCain was a little bit standoff-ish on this position, and I’d love to get some feedback from you on what do you think we should do there? CF: First of all, again it’s my personal opinion and it’s a fascinating topic, and I think Senator McCain at this junction has just been focused on other issues. But I grew up in the telecommunications industry. I joined AT&T way back when it was Bell Systems in 1980. That’s how I know I’m much older than you are. And what’s going on with these mobile spectrum auctions reminds me of the fight that has gone on with landline infrastructure all along. And you know what the parameters of that fight are. The folks who are making the investments in building out the infrastructure want an opportunity to get a reasonable return on that investment. And the folks who are trying to put applications and services and features on that infrastructure want to get at it as cheaply as possible. That’s the tension. MA: Just to address that point: Google has argued that, sure, there’s clearly a huge capital outlay that needs to be put in place to deliver a service. But a big part of the cost is paying for the allocations themselves upfront and clearly the government will make more money (as they did in ’94) by obviously putting fewer rules on these allocations, so do you really think – and you obviously know more about this than me – do you really think that not allowing these restrictions could actually cause companies not to put enough capital into the networks? CF: First of all, I certainly agree with you that excessive regulation is never a good thing. But what’s worse for a business is an uncertain regulatory climate. So if you are a company and you’re having to make a decision to outlay billions of dollars, the worst thing for you is to not really know what the environment is going to be 2, 3, or 4 years from now. And so in the absence of certainty and predictability, folks who are investing in infrastructure are going to say, you know what, I want as much protection around my investment as possible because I don’t know what’s coming in the future. And so I think If we could create an environment – of course this is very difficult because it’s a politically charged subject – but if we could create an environment where investors could say “I understand the environment I’m going to be investing in, and it’s going to be predictable and stable,” then I think you would have an opportunity to lower some of those barriers. In the absence of certainty, investors will say “I want the maximum protection of my investment.” And companies like Google will say, ” I want the maximum access so that I can serve my customers as cheaply as possible.” MA: A related issue is net neutrality, which is such an obscure topic for most of America but it’s a big touch point, as you know, in Silicon Valley. The Republicans seem to be on the side of stand off on the issue until we clearly see something go wrong. The Democrats, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are saying, hardcore, go at it, enact legislation to say net neutrality is law, and that’s just the way it has to be. Do you think there’s room on the Republican platform to take a more proactive approach ensuring a level playing field to all service providers? CF: I think there’s room on the platform. I’m not making a prediction… MA: I led you right to where I wanted you to go… CF: Yea, I’m not making a prediction. John McCain has been very clear in saying that he would ban permanently taxation on the internet and taxation on mobile technologies, something the Democrats haven’t said by the way. And I think that he truly understands the role that these kinds of technologies play in growing the economy. But I don’t want to go much further than that because I haven’t had that conversation with him, but I would say that he has innovators at the heart of his policy making, as does the economic team. MA: So who’s going to be the vice president? CF: Well Mr. McCain will decide that and he will decide it in a timely fashion and it’s probably way too soon for him to decide that right now. MA: Didn’t think I’d get that one out of you. I guess to sort of end I’d love to talk a little bit about personal technology with you but just to go back to some of the plans you have for reaching out to voters and financial donators on the internet, is there anything we can expect from you in the near future that you might announce? Anything that we can sort of be excited about or look forward to with the McCain campaign coming up? CF: I can’t be too much more specific than I was before but let me just reiterate. We will be reaching out to a whole set of communities to remind people, and in some cases introduce people, to John McCain and to his policies and positions. So what that means is you’ll see John and others – myself included – coming to Silicon Valley. You’ll see him reaching out to the small business community, you’ll see him reaching out to Hispanics, to Asian Americans, going in perhaps unexpected places, going into the rustbelt to talk about the importance of innovation and the importance of job creation. I think it is in our interests as a party to get John McCain in front of as many people as possible because he is tremendously appealing and I think when we explain to people that the Republican Party really believes in giving as much money and choice and power to people as possible, instead of giving money and choice and power to government, I think that’s a message that people understand, it resonates with them and they can comprehend how that would make a difference around their own kitchen table or around their own small conference table in their business. MA: So I think one thing that would be really great from Silicon Valley’s perspective – of course McCain and of course you coming here would be huge in gaining support – but one thing I saw that Senator Edwards did almost two years ago was he came to Silicon Valley just to meet with 30 bloggers and he met with them in a conference room and he did nothing but listen and asked about Second Life and YouTube and Facebook and MySpace, and sort of took some of that advice. And now his campaign obviously sort of went sideways but it certainly made Silicon Valley feel good – I don’t know what the ROI was on that for him. If you look at some of the stuff that Barack is doing; today for instance a campaign – I think actually MoveOn is sponsoring this – but it’s letting anybody make their own user generated television ad, and they’ve going to pick a winner and actually put it on national television. That kind of stuff, at least in Silicon Valley and at least on the social networks gets a huge amount of attention with very little upfront cost to the campaigns, and it just seems that with your experience, I’d urge you to go wild with your ideas and to try all the different things that I’m sure are on your mind and just go for it with that community because I think they are so many of them that are waiting for McCain to jump in like that. CF: Thank you – I think it’s a terrific reminder, a terrific idea and you can expect us to follow up on that. I think you’re absolutely right. So we’re going to blame it on you! laughter MA: Any kind of attention, I like. Are you a Mac or an HP user? CF: I’m an HP user actually. MA: What kind of phone do you use? CF: Well now I have two BlackBerrys laughter MA: So we need to put you on a Mac and an iPhone. CF: Well you know it’s interesting; my husband uses the iPhone and he loves it. I have used it and I find it a little more difficult for business, and I find the screen a little tough; the touchscreen is tough for me, and actually a lot of women say that. The iPhone touch screen is hard for them and I don’t know why. MA: But that’s irrelevant; it’s just the cool factor of having it. It’s clearly not… CF: Hey hey! You know it’s not irrelevant; women purchase most of the technology today. laughter It matters! But anyway that’s what I’m using, a BlackBerry, an HP but some of my best friends use the Apple, it’s a wonderful system. I’m just still loyal to my company. MA: And that’s admirable but I think if you come to Silicon Valley, I think pulling out an iPhone might be a good PR move for you guys, so just think about that. I’d also like to open up TechCrunch to you guys. Barack Obama did this – if you have something to say to the community, you’d like to say it directly, consider the blog an open platform to do that. I’d love to help you with that message whether it’s something you write, McCain writes, campaign writes, anything like that. And I really want to thank you for your time. CF: Well listen – thank you Michael for yours and your ideas, and we will take you up on your last suggestion as well. We would love to be able to use TechCrunch as a platform, thank you for that. MA: Good luck, congratulations on the new position, and whatever comes next for you after the campaign, good luck with that as well, I can’t wait to hear what you do next. CF: Well thank you and happy birthday again, Michael, and we’re going to take you up on all your great ideas because I really appreciate them. MA: Thanks very much.What Benson Mayowa showed us in Preseason Week 1 was that he's a natural pass rusher who comes with a repertoire of moves that he can build on. As we saw with Bruce Irvin last year, a lot of young pass rushing prospects, when they first get into the League, have their speed and explosiveness, but due to the low degree of individual coaching that actually takes place at the high school and college levels, are relatively raw in terms of technique and don't often have a repertoire of moves that they have begun to refine yet. Thus, coaches and front office evaluators are banking on, to a certain degree, the ability of their coaches to teach and develop the player from a technical standpoint. So anytime you get a guy who has an array of moves that he can go to from day one, it makes not only the coaching & learning curve much more efficient, but enables that player to contribute much earlier in his developmental process. The impact of such early contribution us even further magnified with a guy like Benson Mayowa by the fact that he was discovered at a Regional Combine (as we've all heard repeated exhaustively over the last week). Let's look at the three techniques Moyowa displayed in Preseason Week 1, against the Chargers, when he compiled 1.5 sacks, and contributed at least three other QB hurries. 1. The Shoulder Dip - On several occasions, Mayowa displayed a natural ability to bend at the hip, dip the shoulder and get under the tackle to turn the corner. This move requires three key attributes (outside of the obvious one: speed) - hip flexibility, balance and understanding of leverage. Starting with leverage and working backwards, the goal with this move is to be able to get as low as possible, but maintain course by leaning into the blocker without losing footing. Flexibility and balance obviously contribute to establishing this position at the edge, and enable the rusher to shorten the distance he has to travel to clear the edge. Davis, Danny and I were texting about Mayowa over the weekend, and as Davis put it, "On the solo sack of Whitehurst, there is nothing much to say, except that I see what you see -- which is that Mayowa has speed to get to the edge, and the balance and flexibility to round the corner and work his way back without losing all his speed or falling to the turf. Conversely, look at how easily Powell is controlled by that right tackle." 2. The Hump Move - The second move that stood out from Mayowa - which we see on display when he hits Charlie Whitehurst just as he throws (1st gif below) and then again as converges on the combined sack with Heath Farwell (2nd gif below) - is what is technically referred to as a "hump move," which is an interesting way of referencing a move whereby the rusher fires to the outside shoulder of the tackle, before placing his inside hand under the armpit/shoulder of the tackle and throwing the tackle to the outside then subsequently redirecting with a step to the inside where ideally a rush lane is cleared to the QB. This move can work really well on right tackles who are typically a bit heavier footed and can struggle to redirect once their momentum is carrying them to the outside. Mayowa showed a good hump move from both sides of the formation. As Davis put it in our text-message conversation - "The QB hit is actually my favorite play, even though it does not result in a sack, per se. The ball is coming out quicker on this play, so it may actually be a better play than the solo sack. What is so interesting is that Mayowa demonstrates technique and vision to know when to do the hump move and when to try to bend the edge. He shows an ability to disengage and work back to the QB. No wonder Pete Carroll is excited." Three key aspects of this move are 1. selling the outside rush - convincing the tackle that he needs to focus all of his momentum and movement on sealing off the outside. 2. hand quickness and proper placement - getting the inside hand up and under the shoulder of the defender before he can get his own arms extended and keep you out of his frame; 3. agility and burst to redirect rapidly - the ability to stop at the edge and redirect laterally before the tackle can recover to mirror the rusher. We see Mayowa exhibit all three of these elements on several plays. This move became more effective for Mayowa after he had established that he could reach the edge and turn the corner, as it made his opponent(s) more focused on sealing off the edge and thus left them susceptible to the move back inside. From Davis - "Mayowa does a good job of locating the quarterback and shedding the left tackle, partially by using his right hand to punch, which causes the left tackle to lose his balance." 3. The Spin Move - Mayowa really only flashed this one on a single occasion that I saw, but just like the hump move, the key is selling an outside move first, then utilizing quickness and suddenness to plant the outside foot and instead of remaining squared up and using a hand to move the tackle, spinning back to the inside where the goal is to penetrate the "B" gap between the guard and tackle. This one requires a lot of quickness and a natural ability to maintain balance and position awareness coming out of the spin. As a finish to a good spin move, the rusher would place his outside forearm inside the rib cage or outside the shoulder of his opponent to maintain leverage and then disengage in closing. Mayowa flashed a bit of all of these elements in his lone spin-move attempt, and both hurried and hit the QB to disrupt the throw which fell incomplete. What jumped out at me the most in watching all three of these techniques repeatedly after the game, was how natural Mayowa went to these moves without hesitation. Many rushers, as they're learning certain moves or techniques, will appear as though they're thinking through each phase of the move, which often results in a sluggish or mechanical process and leads to ineffectiveness until they're able to refine it. Mayowa showed no
’s amazing to drive the car and see the road go past. I don’t know why we didn’t do it before." Expect to see owners draping their arms down to knee level to show off their $200k Patek Phillippes. McLaren If you’ve seen the inside of a 720S the interior doesn’t offer many surprises except that McLaren has clearly channelled the ergonomics of Alfa’s 1980s Milano and stuck the Starter button, electric window switches and even the door release leavers on the roof. There’s the familiar vertical media screen, the Power and Handling rotary dials and the 720’s flipabble digital instrument pack. An audio system is optional. McLaren Slide the brutal looking carbon seat forward and you notice the RND transmission selector moves with it. Swivel your body around and you’ll see the only storage space, a stash for two helmets, and beyond, a window into the engine bay, provided you haven’t opted for the blanked bulkhead. Can’t think why you would. McLaren McLaren will build 500 Sennas and they’re all sold, with an unspecified portion of each sale going to the Senna Foundation charity. If you missed out on a Senna, there’s always the track-only GTR version coming later. "I think there’s probably another 110 to 175 pounds to come off the curb weight by the time we’ve lost equipment like the lights," says Palmer with a smile. Don’t these people ever stop?For the last month, I've been writing about a woman who is now less than $1,000 and one week away from homeless. Her name is Debbie. She's in her early fifties, a remarried widow, and mother/grandmother living in Bradenton, Florida (south of Tampa). After nine months of scraping by on a shoestring income and combing every job opportunity, she's at the end of the road. (See Hello America, This is Your Wake Up Call (Part 1)) Of all the lousy times, now during the worst economic meltdown America has seen in nearly a century, she's facing eviction. In this last article about Debbie, I humbly asked all who feel moved to help prevent the tragedy of homelessness in America from happening again, and specifically to help me prevent it from happening to Debbie. Like so many stories, Debbie's seems to be going out not with a bang but with a whimper. Despite her circumstances, she remains selfless to the last as she writes: "Like my landlord said, pay by the 30th or leave the house. Right now I have no means whatsoever to pay the rent, so we have no choice but to go. No place to go but our car. After twenty years, it is all we own. I have already looked at rest stops and buildings with many offices and rest rooms that are in hallways thinking this is a good spot to come to wash up if I end up homeless. What a horrible thought but I have to think those thoughts, I have to. I have to have a plan and be strong and get all the tears out now so if it happens I won't upset my kids. God, I thought if I end up homeless without a plan and I fell apart in front of them they would just be so scared. Plus I don't want to make my husband feel like a failure. So I have to stay positive even in the darkest hour to spare my family any more pain than needed, I always listen to that song 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel. It gets me through sometimes."Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung flexed his administrative muscle on Wednesday, cancelling all bureaucratic appointments made by the Aam Aadmi Party government without consulting him in the past four days, deepening an unprecedented political stand-off in the Capital. The L-G's move came hours after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, complaining against Jung's conduct. "In Delhi, (the) central government is trying to run (the) government unconstitutionally through the L-G. Let the Delhi government function independently," the AAP chief said. The two men - who have a history of bitter confrontation - clashed afresh after Jungappointed IAS officer Shakuntala Doley Gamlin as acting chief secretary last week against the wishes of the CM. Since then, the stand-off has turned more hostile with each passing day, as the AAP and the L-G sparred over bureaucratic appointments, with Jungrepeatedly rejecting Kejriwal's nominees. The Centre, however, refused to enter the spat as home minister Rajnath Singh -whomJung reports to - asked the duo to sit together and find a solution. "I believe the L-G and the chief minister will definitely find a solution," Singh told reporters after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee, a day after both Kejriwal and Junglanded up at Rashtrapati Bhavan with their grievances. Singh denied talking to Mukherjee about the showdown but sources said the home ministry sought the opinion of the attorney general. "I have been sounded out by the ministry and am examining the matter," attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told HT. Jung had reportedly written to the CM on Tuesday, saying the AAP came to power with a political revolution and 'they must sit back and talk'. But with Kejriwal upping the ante,Jung dropped the conciliatory tone and asserted on Wednesday he was the sole authority in matters of ordering transfer and posting of officials. In three separate letters, he cancelled all AAP appointments, including that of Rajendra Kumar as principal secretary (services) and Arvind Ray as principal secretary (general administration department). Both had replaced Anindo Majumdar, who was removed by Kejriwal on Saturday for issuing Gamlin's appointment letter. The scramble for controlling the city stems from Delhi's complicated position as a union territory functioning as the Capital, because the state government has no power over a number of important departments and agencies that function under the L-G, who reports to the Union home ministry. Jung reminded Kejriwal of this peculiar situation in his letter, saying the AAP was trying to "obfuscate the special position that Delhi has, as the national capital, which is significantly different from other states". "Delhi is a union territory with a legislative assembly and not a state and therefore has important points of distinction," the L-G office said. Jung's repeated rejection of AAP appointments had angered the Delhi government, with deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia saying on Monday that they wouldn't comply with any of the L-G's orders. But Jung hit back in his letter, saying Sisodia was "fundamentally at variance with the Constitution" since service matters were assigned to the L-G under the powers delegated to him by the President. Meanwhile, the Delhi government also held a three-hour-long meeting with top officers to clarify any confusion about rules. First Published: May 20, 2015 11:53 ISTPrincess Pricklepants was very excited. She had just gotten a brand new to her laptop off eBay that was only slightly used. It was a perfect purple plastic powerhouse for the Princess. She decided that with this new laptop she would sit in her apartment, write down all her really profound thoughts, and then post them on a blog. It would be magnificent. A hedgehog blog. Probably nobody had ever thought of this before. She powered up the purple thing. It was a little slow. After a few minutes she finally got the internet booted. Annoyingly the internet on this computer only had one website. No wordpress. No google. No AOL. No Yahoo! Just myspace. And not even the new myspace, this internet had the old terrible version installed. And not even the whole myspace. Just one page by someone called Barbie Bakunin. A Barbie Anarchist Blogger. “Whoever you vote for, the government wins. Let’s go shopping.” This was more than a little frustrating. She did not want to read this, she wanted to log onto wordpress to write about the things hedgehog royalty think about. “No malls or credit cards – this implies the abdication of reason and justice; it is the most decisive negation of liberty, and necessarily ends in enslavement.” It was starting to get to her. “Freedom is disobedience. Let’s bake cookies.” She thought. And brooded. And peed just a little on the floor and wall, though it will clean up hopefully. More brooding. Staring into the void, the void stared back. Maybe the pee wouldn’t clean up. Hello darkness my old friend. Angrily, Princess Pricklepants began to approve of violence as a means of fighting the oppression of Barbie blogs. She tried to smash the system. Then, on reflection, she realized that it was probably her ISP. She called technical support and after many hours she had reset the BIOS, reformatted, reinstalled, upgraded her RAM, set alternate DNS servers, installed a new JVM, ejected the cup holder, tried turning it off and back on again, and did some other things. It started working, though she had no idea why. (But it was probably DNS since there seemed to be no way it could be.) Soon she would blog. To be continued…ADP, released their proprietary private payrolls jobs report for September 2012. This month ADP is reporting a gain of 162,000 private sector jobs. August 2012 was revised down by 12,000 to 189,000 private payrolls gains. In stark contrast, the BLS reported 103,000 private sector jobs for August 2012. ADP also revised down their July private sector jobs by 17,000 to 156,000. Graphed below are the reported private sector jobs from ADP. This report does not include government, or public jobs. ADP rarely mirrors the BLS employment report on a month to month basis. ADP's reported private job growth was 144,000 in the service sector. This is the 5th month in a row most of the jobs have been in services. The goods sector only gained 18,000 jobs. ADP's Manufacturing tally, part of the goods sector, grew by 4,000 jobs, not a good showing. Construction gained 10,000 jobs, as reported last month and the best monthly showing since March, although ADP reports the unusual warm weather in winter was the cause for March's increase. ADP's financial services jobs increased by 7,000 jobs, making it a 14 month job gain streak in the private financial sector. This report, if it matches Friday's official unemployment report, would overall imply overall modest job growth. Governments have just been shedding jobs, which are part of the BLS report. The U.S. needs about 100,000 jobs per month, minimum just to keep up with population growth, with the same lousy labor participation rate. ADP captures jobs by business size, which is one of the best features of this report, due to it's relativity using the same statistical methods and timeline. In September: Employment on large payrolls—those with 500 or more workers—increased 17,000 and employment on medium payrolls—those with 50 to 499 workers—rose 64,000 in September. Employment on small payrolls—those with up to 49 workers—rose 81,000 that same period. Of the 64,000 jobs created on medium-sized payrolls, 10,000 jobs were created by the goods-producing sector and 54,000 jobs were created by the service-providing sector. Below is the graph of ADP private sector job creation breakdown of large businesses (bright red), median business (blue) and small business (maroon). For large business jobs, the scale is on the right of the graph. Medium and Small businesses' scale is on the left. Large business, who lobby Congress for their bad trade deals, more offshore outsourcing and more foreign guest worker importation and labor arbitrage, are almost absent from job creation in terms of hiring Americans. Notice how large businesses cliff dove in 2008, shedding employees, and have not returned at all to pre-recession employment levels. This pattern actually starts just about the time offshore outsourcing and the China PNTR came into effect, year 2000. Small businesses, on the other hand, have increased employment. May I suggest that small businesses are not international, they are not signing offshore outsourcing contracts and moving jobs to India and China. Multinationals, on the other hand, the below decade trend line clearly shows these so called U.S. corporations have abandoned the U.S. worker, on whole. Small businesses usually contain newly started businesses more by percentages as well. There is a historic strong mismatch between ADP and the BLS jobs report on a month to month basis. To date, the number of private nonfarm payroll jobs ADP reports versus what the BLS reports and on a month-to-month and even cumulative basis do not match. This monthly error is often large, especially when looking at small job growth overall, or less than 400,000 jobs per month, on a month to month comparison basis. The monthly BLS jobs survey (CES) has a 100,000 payroll jobs overall margin of error. The below graph shows shows how many private sector payroll jobs, each month, ADP was off by in comparison to what the BLS reported. This is a monthly graph, not cumulative. As we can see, it's rare where the two monthly reports get the exact same private payrolls growth numbers. When the below graph bar is negative, that means the BLS reported a larger number of jobs than ADP did, when the graph bar is positive, it means ADP reported larger private payrolls. Again, these are private sector jobs which is different from the BLS headline number. This graph is updated with the BLS jobs report. Below is the cumulative difference between what the ADP reports as the private nonfarm payroll jobs vs. the BLS (ADP minus BLS). This line shows the divergence, over time in number of nonfarm private payroll jobs reported between the two reports. The difference was stabilizing around 400,000, now increasing once again. This article is updated with the August BLS private non-farm payrolls data. While ADP notes a simple correlation of 0.95, well, a 5% error between monthly reported jobs numbers is an average, and we can see on some months the differences are quite large and around 2008, the difference started to hit about 900,000 jobs. That said, the reported job growth is so piss pour, statistically we're rolling around in the margin of error each month. ADP does use the same seasonal adjustment as the BLS, but their other methodology and even sampling size are different, proprietary. That said, ADP has now put up some details of their methodology to explain the statistical differences between their estimate, the actual mathematics, vs. the BLS. This is new, and good ADP is disclosing their entire methodology so we may get more apples to apples comparisons of the two reports. The graph below is the monthly change of private jobs as reported by ADP. Regardless of the statistical differences between ADP and the BLS, September's report indicates moderate job growth, not the soaring robust growth the United States needs. Sorry folks, 150k range job growth numbers do not mean the Gods are now shining upon us. Here is last month's ADP private sector jobs report overview, only graphs revised.Equality is “nonsense” and fairness is “for losers”; white men are rapidly losing their status in culture and politics, and Donald Trump has irreversibly changed the world - according to the guy who’s attributed to coining the term “Alt Right” in America, Richard Spencer. Richard joined Hack during the last 48 hours of the most remarkable race to the White House the world has ever watched. What is the Alt Right? For Richard, who is also the President of white nationalist think tank the National Policy Institute, and the editor of Alt Right publication Radixjournal.com, the Alt Right was sparked from deep frustration among white men. “It feels like all of politics and culture are united against us. That our status is falling. That our future is being cut off. So there’s a lot of rightful frustration, amongst white men,” Richard told Hack. “I think white men are really facing some tremendous struggles. It seems like all culture is against us. Whenever people use words like, ‘we need more diversity at this corporation,’ what that means is - less white men, period. Richard Spencer's interview on Hack provoked some visceral reactions from triple j listeners. Skip Twitter Tweet FireFox NVDA users - To access the following content, press 'M' to enter the iFrame. "I realised he was for real, and I almost vomited" #triplejHack caller in disbelief at @RichardBSpencer — triplejHack (@triplejHack) November 7, 2016 “The things that I care about are not fairness or equality, or this kind of nonsense. What I care about is greatness, beauty, achievement. Those are the great values that we should hold. And not something like fairness - fairness is for losers.” Alt Right enters the political debate Donald Trump wouldn’t classify himself as Alt Right. Richard Spencer doesn’t call Trump Alt Right either; but says he’s going in the “right direction” with his policies on immigration and foreign affairs. Skip Twitter Tweet FireFox NVDA users - To access the following content, press 'M' to enter the iFrame. It is amazing how often I am right, only to be criticized by the media. Illegal immigration, take the oil, build the wall, Muslims, NATO! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016 But Trump’s views on immigration, foreign policy and economic issues have had even lifelong Republicans like former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage distance themselves from the Republican nominee - and vote for Hillary Clinton instead. But the influence of the Alt Right in the Presidential race goes beyond the movement’s endless tweets, blogs, and articles calling Donald Trump a “prophet”. It’s been big enough for Hillary Clinton to take notice. In a speech in August this year, Clinton denounced the Alt Right’s ties to Donald Trump - claiming the movement had “taken over” the Republican party. “The de facto merger between [politically conservative news website] Breitbart and the Trump campaign represents a landmark achievement for the Alt-Right. A fringe element has effectively taken over the Republican Party,” Hillary Clinton said. “Trump is the beginning” Richard Spencer knows tomorrow’s election result might not turn out the way he hopes. But the Alt Right movement won’t have been for nothing if Trump loses, Richard says. “I think that Donald Trump is the kind of first step toward this new kind of politics that I’ve been outlying. It’s maybe the first awkward, maybe vulgar step in that direction. “I think that’s a very good thing. And I think Donald Trump has appealed to the right people around the world. “Is Donald Trump perfect? Of course not. Is Donald trump vulgar and somewhat embarrassing? Of course he is. But there’s something about him. “I will be sad of course [if Hillary Clinton wins]. However I am part of a movement that is bigger than Trump. Trump was a first step towards an awakening of identity politics, towards an awakening of a new European spirit in the world. He might not be the man to bring this to fruition. And so if he loses - I will be sad, I truly want him to win. But if he loses I’m not going to give up on my dream. This is bigger than Trump and we’re just going to forward. Trump has awakened something in the world, and it’s not going to go back to sleep again. “Some things have been said that can’t be unsaid. And so we’re just going to move on, with or without him.” Listen to Richard Spencer’s interview on Hack below.By Lucy H. Westmoor, Ph.D. Editor’s Note: This is from a talk given by Dr. Lucy Westmoor at a gathering of young single adult brothers. It is a companion piece for the similar talk given to LDS young single adult women by Larry L. Eastland, published by Meridian Magazine. The opinions expressed are solely those of Dr. Westmoor, and reflect neither those of the editor nor The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Introduction “6Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8But he refused…. 11One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house…. 19When his master heard the story his wife told him,… 20Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” (Gen. 39:6-20, NIV) You’re Handsome You’re handsome. Do you know that? You’re supposed to be. People probably don’t tell you that enough, but it’s true, every last one of you. Don’t be sad, little guy. Artists since the beginning of time have painted your figure, and especially your private parts, on papyrus, ivory, copper, stone, canvas, doodle papers, and bathroom stalls. They have sculpted you all over the world. Writers have attempted to describe your strong, masculine bodies in literally millions of words through all time. Composers have lauded your most distinguishing features in the greatest works of music—from “My Ding-a-Ling” by Chuck Berry to “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel. This should make you feel special, because women, on the other hand—with the minor exception of porn and everything else on the internet and in writing—are merely depicted in terms of their accomplishments in the public sphere, in business, the military, as doctors and lawyers, etc. You don’t want that for yourselves—your God-given manly beauty makes you special. You are free to rise above the confusing and complicated world of commerce, academics, and politics, and take your place on the pedestal as an object of manly beauty. Think of the story of “Beauty and the Beast,” where some evil witch victimizes the poor Prince by taking away one of his greatest possessions—his beauty—until he is saved by the noble and brave Belle. The Prince lives happily ever after because he got his beauty back. So, it is little wonder that women look at you, admire you, and to one extent or another, lust after you. They—we (because I know I’m getting on in years, but some of you guys are dang hot)—notice just about everything about you, including your body parts and the way you dress. We notice how much of you is showing on the outside. If: You wear a shirt that is unbuttoned low enough that we can see even a part of your chest hair, the sisters (those women that will be leering at you from across the hall as you exit this chapel) cannot help but look. You are beautiful in our eyes. If your slacks are so tight that they show the outline on your sword of Laban, we admire it. If you wear a tank top, some lusty female eyes will see any movement that shows your pectorals and deltoids. If you lean over and you reveal the outline of your buttocks, Belle will see whatever the Prince reveals. This is because our Heavenly Parents created you to be handsome in Eve’s sight. It’s called “attractive” because it “attracts” our eyes and more (you know what I’m talking about). And, it has worked for 6,000 years. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24, NIV) And so, you want to look handsome, interesting, and yes, desirable. The Heavenly Mother intended it that way. When Her husband said a man shall be united to his wife and they shall become one flesh, He wasn’t talking about mud wrestling. He was talking about intimacy, the most trusting relationship between a man and a woman. Yes, I know that naked mud wrestling is one kind of mud wrestling, and that’s a form of intimacy, but you get my point. On Being a Man Let me tell you how to be a proper man: The bible says of David, “He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” (1 Sam. 16:18, NIV). Of Joseph, the bible says, “Joseph was well-built and handsome.” (Gen. 39:6, NIV). Of Absalom, the bible says, “In all of Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absolom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.” (2 Sam. 14:25). Whatever the bible praises, you know must be right. How Women See You There are some differences between how you see the issue of modesty—or immodesty—and how women see it. Men and women are simply different; they process images differently. While men are attracted to women’s inner beauty, women only appreciate men for their physical beauty and their body parts. Yes, men are objectified in our society. I’m not out to change that, but I’m just saying that you ought to be aware of it. Accept it quietly, and don’t struggle. So, boys, be careful about what you are marketing. The message you are sending when you dress immodestly to be more attractive—and the message women are receiving—are two very different messages. And, here rests the challenge you face when determining how to dress and how to act. When all is said and done, you are little more than a walking billboard. What you may see as being simply more attractive—desirable—by being less modest than you have been taught, women will see as an invitation to touch, to enjoy, to try to force you to “come to bed with me” as Potiphar’s wife did when she saw Joseph. Remember: Potiphar’s wife desired him by only seeing his hot slave body while he was doing chores around the royal palace. She knew nothing about him. She didn’t care about Joseph’s feelings, or education, or how Joseph’s day was going. All she cared about was his hot, sweaty slave body. And if you’ve seen old bible movies from the 1950s like they had when I was growing up, you’ll know that Egyptian slaves were very hot, and they went around all tan, shirtless with ripped muscles, and wearing skirts. Who could blame Potiphar’s wife, really? What women see they want to possess. So, what you show they desire. They’re like machines. The more you show, the greater the invitation to them, as they see it, to do something they should not do, because the message received is that it is OK with you, or you wouldn’t be dressing, or undressing, that way. Whether you intend it or not, that is the message they believe you are sending—an invitation to do much more than simply admire. An invitation to caress and possess. To please and seize. To grab and nab. She might even caress and possess you without your consent. Think of what a tragedy that would be—a tragedy that might be prevented if only you had dressed modestly. Do not believe that lust will make her love you. I have counseled too many of the sisters who are currently in a lustful relationship doing things they know are wrong including improper touching and oral sex. When asked, “Do you love him? Are you thinking of marrying him?” the heartbreaking answer is “no.” Frankly, I can tell you as a woman that if we can have our way with a man, he becomes worthless to us. He is a licked popsicle—a chewed gum stick to be discarded. If he doesn’t care enough about his virtue to dress modestly so that we will not be tempted to caress and possess him, then he doesn’t deserve our love or respect. The Question: “Do You Live the Law of Chastity?” I point this all out because the issue of sexual morality is a very broad one, and one that must be viewed as an issue of desire, not just of actions. To enter into a Mormon temple to be given in marriage to your eternal wife, you must be live the Law of Chastity. But let me ask, where does the Law of Chastity begin? Infidelity or impurity does not begin with the final act. Does the law of chastity begin when a young man decides just how clingy his bike shorts can be to his brazen serpent and still not be considered too immodest? Does it begin when a woman decides just how far her hands can wander on a boy whom she is dating before she has entered forbidden territory? In the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, we read: The law of chastity applies not only to behavior but also to dress, speech, and thought. Latter-day Saints are counseled to dress modestly, to use dignified language in speaking of bodily functions, and to cultivate virtuous thoughts. Accordingly, they are to avoid anything pornographic in literature, movies, television, and conversation. Though many outside the Church regard [self-abuse] as normal, LDS leaders teach that the practice is wrong, one that feeds base appetites and may lead to other sinful conduct. Similarly, unmarried couples who engage in petting or fondling are breaking the law of chastity, and stimulating impulses that may lead to other sin. Counsel So, I am here today to counsel you as someone who has lots of experience loving and being loved, and wants to impart to you the benefits of her knowledge so that you can receive the exquisite joys I have experienced in a lifetime of loving my little Mister and being loved by him in return, bless his heart. If you have not made the decision to dress and act modestly, do so today. Unless you have already lost your virtue, it is not too late. Be attractive. Dress attractively. As the legendary songwriter Right Said Fred wrote: “Cause I’m a model, you know what I mean And I do my little turn on the catwalk. Yeah, on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah, I shake my little touche on the catwalk.” I have been told that my remarks today should be like your underwear: the subject should be fully covered, but clearly brief. Or briefs, or whatever. So, I’m not asking you to look like the Amish or wear a long beard and a turban, I’m asking you to be conscious of the message you are sending, and to send a message of interest and intrigue, yet modestly and wonderful attractiveness. You think that’s a difficult line to walk? Maybe, but strait is the gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth to sexymodesty. After all, betting is evil, but I would wager with you that in 90 percent of the cases, the next young woman with whom you are affectionate will not be your wife. So, you will be allowing someone else’s wife to share intimacies and she will be sharing intimacies with you, someone else’s husband. It’s just like wife swapping, except that none of the four participants are yet married, but if you were to travel in a time machine and see your future wife getting intimate with some other future guy, how would that feel? What do you think would happen if the future husband of the woman you are being intimate with came back in a time machine to kick your shapely little butt? Make sure you have no regrets by doing something you shouldn’t—starting with the message you are sending. Women can’t be held responsible for interpreting the way you dress as an invitation for sex. Nature Please don’t take anything I’m saying as blaming one side or the other. As my great-great grandmother used to say to Daniel Boone: “You can’t keep the flint in one drawer and the stone in another, and ever get a spark.” Or maybe she said, “You can’t keep your flint and stones in your drawers, without starting a fire.” I can’t really remember, but the point was that I’m just looking out for you poor boys. I know from my own experience that women can be assertive and manipulative, so I have to protect you so you don’t get taken advantage of. Sex is Natural Sex is natural. It is basic. It can be overpowering. You do not need to advertise it. We know it’s there. Boy, do we know it’s there! We think about it all the time and we constantly imagine you naked, whether you show us skin or not. So what’s the point of being immodest? Do you remember that the Prophet Joseph Smith taught us that we always existed? Always. First as intelligences, and then through the power of procreation Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother got together and after nine months we became little spirit children. But this life, right here and now, is the first time, in all of these eons of time in which we have existed, when the Heavenly Parents have given us the power to create, their very own power. So, it is sacred and eternal. And, if we use it properly, it will be ours for all of eternity. If not, then we will lose it again forever. We will be like Barbie and Ken dolls forever in the afterlife. Use it properly, or lose it, I always say. Let Me Be Direct So that there is no misunderstanding about what I am saying, I’m going to stop beating around the bush now and be both blunt and indelicate, and dare I say offensive: 1. Do not allow her to touch you below the waist. That includes feet, because there’s nothing worse than a female foot fetishist. You are to stay away from her private areas. 2. You are not to lay on top of each other, and you are not to pretend sex with your clothes on or off. Sex is sex... whether there is penetration or not. It may not be intercourse, but if it quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck. (But don’t have sex with ducks.) Back at BYU, we used to call this “Levi lovin’.” Now that I’ve told you exactly how it’s done, don’t do it! 3. No oral sex. As we used to say back at BYU, “oral ain’t moral.” The used to say the same thing at Oral Roberts University, but it meant something different there. 4. No self-abuse together, or alone, or on the phone, etc. Self-abuse is worse than child abuse, because the abuser and the abused are the same person. So you get the guilt from being the abuser, and the shame from being the abused, all at the same time. If you are self-abused, be sure that you report it to the police, because most instances of self-abuse remain unreported. If you don’t know what to do, call an abuse hotline and tell them what you’ve done. 5. Keep all of your clothes on. Leave hers on her. She is not to place her hands on your clothes or under your clothes in any area that I have just described as forbidden. (Remember, that includes feet. Yuck!) In fact, just keep your clothes on always. If you have to shower, just take off parts of your clothes one at a time and wash the exposed parts, making sure that you are never fully nude. Nudity is evil in all forms. 6. Pornography and self-abuse are violations of the moral code just as any arousal of sexual passions outside the bounds of marriage are. In fact, porn and self-abuse are basically in the same category as adultery. If you have already stepped into the seedy underworld of porn and self-abuse, all is not lost. There are twelve step programs that you can join. Someday, you can overcome your addiction and become a productive member of society again. 7. In any circumstance, when affection turns to arousal, you’ve gone too far. It is a sin to be aroused for any reason, unless you are asleep and it happens in your dreams. If you ever get aroused, seek out the counsel of your Bishop immediately, before it is too late. It doesn’t matter what time it is. Call him at two o’clock in the morning if you have to. He needs to know, before it gets out of hand. Literally. Honor Her Leadership Help her honor her leadership by honoring your manhood. I’m counting on you to make her a better leader than she thinks she can be. Good men have made women better leaders from the beginning of time. We almost always exclusively celebrate the accomplishments of women, after all, but you boys also have an important role in their accomplishments. Michael Burlingame, a history professor at Connecticut College and the author of The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln, wrote: Mary Lincoln also took the broom to her husband, according to Hillary Gobin, a neighbor of the Lincolns’ in the 1850s. Mrs. Gobin recalled her mother saying that Mary and Abraham Lincoln ‘were very unhappy in their domestic life, and she was seen frequently to drive him from the house with the house with a broomstick.’ As a young girl, Lizzie DeCrastos visited the Lincoln home with her mother and observed Lincoln flee out the door as his angry wife attacked him with ‘very poorly pitched potatoes.’ A servant girl recalled that one day as Lincoln prepared to leave for Taylorville, ‘His wife ran him out of the house half dressed—as she followed him with a broom.’ Lincoln told the servant ‘not to get scared’ but to go into the house and fetch him some clothes, which he donned and then ‘went up town through the woodhouse & alley.’” (p. 277) So on the one hand, Abraham Lincoln was the legendary President of the United States who saved the nation from dissolution, won the Civil War, and freed the slaves. On the other hand, his wife beat the crap out of him. So the philosophic question of the day is: Would you take that as a deal? Would you exchange a tremendous professional triumph for a severe personal blow? On the one hand, being the greatest President of the United States of all time is nothing to sneeze at. Lincoln has earned the admiration of his peers in a way very few experience. Some men might value that. He has gone down in the history books and will be revered as a great president. Nonetheless, if you had to take more than three seconds to think about this question, you are absolutely crazy. Marital happiness is far more important than anything else in determining personal well-being. If you have a successful marriage, it
systems. For instance: One can convert a length (of, say, an interval) into an (unsigned) real number, or vice versa, once one fixes a unit of length (e.g. the metre or the foot). In this case, the coordinate system is specified by the choice of length unit. One can convert a displacement along a line into a (signed) real number, or vice versa, once one fixes a unit of length and an orientation along that line. In this case, the coordinate system is specified by the length unit together with the choice of orientation. Alternatively, one can replace the unit of length and the orientation by a unit displacement vector along the line. One can convert a position (i.e. a point) on a line into a real number, or vice versa, once one fixes a unit of length, an orientation along the line, and an origin on that line. Equivalently, one can pick an origin and a unit displacement vector. This coordinate system essentially identifies the original line with the standard real line. One can generalise these systems to higher dimensions. For instance, one can convert a displacement along a plane into a vector in, or vice versa, once one fixes two linearly independent displacement vectors (i.e. a basis) to span that plane; the Cartesian coordinate system is just one special case of this general scheme. Similarly, one can convert a position on a plane to a vector in once one picks a basis for that plane as well as an origin, thus identifying that plane with the standard Euclidean plane. (To put it another way, units of measurement are nothing more than one-dimensional (i.e. scalar) coordinate systems.) To convert an angle in a plane to a signed number (modulo multiples of ), or vice versa, one needs to pick an orientation on the plane (e.g. to decide that anti-clockwise angles are positive). To convert a direction in a plane to a signed number (again modulo multiples of ), or vice versa, one needs to pick an orientation on the plane, as well as a reference direction (e.g. true or magnetic north is often used in the case of ocean navigation). Similarly, to convert a position on a circle to a number (modulo multiples of ), or vice versa, one needs to pick an orientation on that circle, together with an origin on that circle. Such a coordinate system then equates the original circle to the standard unit circle (with the standard origin and the standard anticlockwise orientation ). To convert a position on a two-dimensional sphere (e.g. the surface of the Earth, as a first approximation) to a point on the standard unit sphere, one can pick an orientation on that sphere, an “origin” (or “north pole”) for that sphere, and a “prime meridian” connecting the north pole to its antipode. Alternatively, one can view this coordinate system as determining a pair of Euler angles (or a latitude and longitude) to be assigned to every point on one’s original sphere. The above examples were all geometric in nature, but one can also consider “combinatorial” coordinate systems, which allow one to identify combinatorial objects with numerical ones. An extremely familiar example of this is enumeration: one can identify a set A of (say) five elements with the numbers 1,2,3,4,5 simply by choosing an enumeration of the set A. One can similarly enumerate other combinatorial objects (e.g. graphs, relations, trees, partial orders, etc.), and indeed this is done all the time in combinatorics. Similarly for algebraic objects, such as cosets of a subgroup H (or more generally, torsors of a group G); one can identify such a coset with H itself by designating an element of that coset to be the “identity” or “origin”. More generally, a coordinate system can be viewed as an isomorphism between a given geometric (or combinatorial) object A in some class (e.g. a circle), and a standard object G in that class (e.g. the standard unit circle). (To be pedantic, this is what a global coordinate system is; a local coordinate system, such as the coordinate charts on a manifold, is an isomorphism between a local piece of a geometric or combinatorial object in a class, and a local piece of a standard object in that class. I will restrict attention to global coordinate systems for this discussion.) Coordinate systems identify geometric or combinatorial objects with numerical (or standard) ones, but in many cases, there is no natural (or canonical) choice of this identification; instead, one may be faced with a variety of coordinate systems, all equally valid. One can of course just fix one such system once and for all, in which case there is no real harm in thinking of the geometric and numeric objects as being equivalent. If however one plans to change from one system to the next (or to avoid using such systems altogether), then it becomes important to carefully distinguish these two types of objects, to avoid confusion. For instance, if an interval AB is measured to have a length of 3 yards, then it is OK to write (identifying the geometric concept of length with the numeric concept of a positive real number) so long as you plan to stick to having the yard as the unit of length for the rest of one’s analysis. But if one was also planning to use, say, feet, as a unit of length also, then to avoid confusing statements such as “ and “, one should specify the coordinate systems explicitly, e.g. “ and “. Similarly, identifying a point P in a plane with its coordinates (e.g. ) is safe as long as one intends to only use a single coordinate system throughout; but if one intends to change coordinates at some point (or to switch to a coordinate-free perspective) then one should be more careful, e.g. writing, or even, if the origin O and basis vectors of one’s coordinate systems might be subject to future change. As mentioned above, it is possible to in many cases to dispense with coordinates altogether. For instance, one can view the length of a line segment AB not as a number (which requires one to select a unit of length), but more abstractly as the equivalence class of all line segments CD that are congruent to AB. With this perspective, no longer lies in the standard semigroup, but in a more abstract semigroup (the space of line segments quotiented by congruence), with addition now defined geometrically (by concatenation of intervals) rather than numerically. A unit of length can now be viewed as just one of many different isomorphisms between and, but one can abandon the use of such units and just work with directly. Many statements in Euclidean geometry involving length can be phrased in this manner. For instance, if B lies in AC, then the statement can be stated in, and does not require any units to convert to ; with a bit more work, one can also make sense of such statements as for a right-angled triangle ABC (i.e. Pythagoras’ theorem) while avoiding units, by defining a symmetric bilinear product operation from the abstract semigroup of lengths to the abstract semigroup of areas. (Indeed, this is basically how the ancient Greeks, who did not quite possess the modern real number system, viewed geometry, though of course without the assistance of such modern terminology as “semigroup” or “bilinear”.) The above abstract coordinate-free perspective is equivalent to a more concrete coordinate-invariant perspective, in which we do allow the use of coordinates to convert all geometric quantities to numeric ones, but insist that every statement that we write down is invariant under changes of coordinates. For instance, if we shrink our chosen unit of length by a factor, then the numerical length of every interval increases by a factor of, e.g.. The coordinate-invariant approach to length measurement then treats lengths such as as numbers, but requires all statements involving such lengths to be invariant under the above scaling symmetry. For instance, a statement such as is legitimate under this perspective, but a statement such as or is not. [In other words, co-ordinate invariance here is the same thing as being dimensionally consistent. Indeed, dimensional analysis is nothing more than the analysis of the scaling symmetries in one’s coordinate systems.] One can retain this coordinate-invariance symmetry throughout one’s arguments; or one can, at some point, choose to spend (or break) this coordinate invariance by selecting (or fixing) the coordinate system (which, in this case, means selecting a unit length). The advantage in spending such a symmetry is that one can often normalise one or more quantities to equal a particularly nice value; for instance, if a length is appearing everywhere in one’s arguments, and one has carefully retained coordinate-invariance up until some key point, then it can be convenient to spend this invariance to normalise to equal 1. (In this case, one only has a one-dimensional family of symmetries, and so can only normalise one quantity at a time; but when one’s symmetry group is larger, one can often normalise many more quantities at once; as a rule of thumb, one can normalise one quantity for each degree of freedom in the symmetry group.) Conversely, if one has already spent the coordinate invariance, one can often buy it back by converting all the facts, hypotheses, and desired conclusions one currently possesses in the situation back to a coordinate-invariant formulation. Thus one could imagine performing one normalisation to do one set of calculations, then undoing that normalisation to return to a coordinate-free perspective, doing some coordinate-free manipulations, and then performing a different normalisation to work on another part of the problem, and so forth. (For instance, in Euclidean geometry problems, it is often convenient to temporarily assign one key point to be the origin (thus spending translation invariance symmetry), then another, then switch back to a translation-invariant perspective, and so forth. As long as one is correctly accounting for what symmetries are being spent and bought at any given time, this can be a very powerful way of simplifying one’s calculations.) Given a coordinate system that identifies some geometric object A with a standard object G, and some isomorphism of that standard object, we can obtain a new coordinate system of A by composing the two isomorphisms. [I will be vague on what “isomorphism” means; one can formalise the concept using the language of category theory.] Conversely, every other coordinate system of arises in this manner. Thus, the space of coordinate systems on A is (non-canonically) identifiable with the isomorphism group of G. This isomorphism group is called the structure group (or gauge group) of the class of geometric objects. For example, the structure group for lengths is ; the structure group for angles is ; the structure group for lines is the affine group ; the structure group for -dimensional Euclidean geometry is the Euclidean group ; the structure group for (oriented) 2-spheres is the (special) orthogonal group ; and so forth. (Indeed, one can basically describe each of the classical geometries (Euclidean, affine, projective, spherical, hyperbolic, Minkowski, etc.) as a homogeneous space for its structure group, as per the Erlangen program.) — Gauges — In our discussion of coordinate systems, we focused on a single geometric (or combinatorial) object : a single line, a single circle, a single set, etc. We then used a single coordinate system to identify that object with a standard representative of such an object. Now let us consider the more general situation in which one has a family (or fibre bundle) of geometric (or combinatorial) objects (or fibres) : a family of lines (i.e. a line bundle), a family of circles (i.e. a circle bundle), a family of sets, etc. This family is parameterised by some parameter set or base point x, which ranges in some parameter space or base space X. In many cases one also requires some topological or differentiable compatibility between the various fibres; for instance, continuous (or smooth) variations of the base point should lead to continuous (or smooth) variations in the fibre. For sake of discussion, however, let us gloss over these compatibility conditions. In many cases, each individual fibre in a bundle, being a geometric object of a certain class, can be identified with a standard object in that class, by means of a separate coordinate system for each base point x. The entire collection is then referred to as a (global) gauge or trivialisation for this bundle (provided that it is compatible with whatever topological or differentiable structures one has placed on the bundle, but never mind that for now). Equivalently, a gauge is a bundle isomorphism from the original bundle to the trivial bundle, in which every fibre is the standard geometric object G. (There are also local gauges, which only trivialise a portion of the bundle, but let’s ignore this distinction for now.) Let’s give three concrete examples of bundles and gauges; one from differential geometry, one from dynamical systems, and one from combinatorics. Example 1: the circle bundle of the sphere. Recall from the previous section that the space of directions in a plane (which can be viewed as the circle of unit vectors) can be identified with the standard circle after picking an orientation and a reference direction. Now let us work not on the plane, but on a sphere, and specifically, on the surface X of the earth. At each point x on this surface, there is a circle of directions that one can travel along the sphere from x; the collection of all such circles is then a circle bundle with base space X (known as the circle bundle; it could also be viewed as the sphere bundle, cosphere bundle, or orthonormal frame bundle of X). The structure group of this bundle is the circle group if one preserves orientation, or the semi-direct product otherwise. Now suppose, at every point x on the earth X, the wind is blowing in some direction. (This is not actually possible globally, thanks to the hairy ball theorem, but let’s ignore this technicality for now.) Thus wind direction can be thought of as a collection of representatives from the fibres of the fibre bundle ; such a collection is known as a section of the fibre bundle (it is to bundles as the concept of a graph of a function is to the trivial bundle ). At present, this section has not been represented in terms of numbers; instead, the wind direction is a collection of points on various different circles in the circle bundle SX. But one can convert this section w into a collection of numbers (and more specifically, a function from X to ) by choosing a gauge for this circle bundle – in other words, by selecting an orientation and a reference direction for each point x on the surface of the Earth X. For instance, one can pick the anticlockwise orientation and true north for every point x (ignore for now the problem that this is not defined at the north and south poles, and so is merely a local gauge rather than a global one), and then each wind direction can now be identified with a unit complex number (e.g. if the wind is blowing in the northwest direction at x). Now that one has a numerical function u to play with, rather than a geometric object w, one can now use analytical tools (e.g. differentiation, integration, Fourier transforms, etc.) to analyse the wind direction if one desires. But one should be aware that this function reflects the choice of gauge as well as the original object of study. If one changes the gauge (e.g. by using magnetic north instead of true north), then the function u changes, even though the wind direction w is still the same. If one does not want to spend the U(1) gauge symmetry, one would have to take care that all operations one performs on these functions are gauge-invariant; unfortunately, this restrictive requirement eliminates wide swathes of analytic tools (in particular, integration and the Fourier transform) and so one is often forced to break the gauge symmetry in order to use analysis. The challenge is then to select the gauge that maximises the effectiveness of analytic methods. Example 2: circle extensions of a dynamical system. Recall (see e.g. my lecture notes) that a dynamical system is a pair X = (X,T), where X is a space and is an invertible map. (One can also place additional topological or measure-theoretic structures on this system, as is done in those notes, but we will ignore these structures for this discussion.) Given such a system, and given a cocycle (which, in this context, is simply a function from X to the unit circle), we can define the skew product of X and the unit circle, twisted by the cocycle, to be the Cartesian product with the shift ; this is easily seen to be another dynamical system. (If one wishes to have a topological or measure-theoretic dynamical system, then will have to be continuous or measurable here, but let us ignore such issues for this discussion.) Observe that there is a free action of the circle group on the skew product that commutes with the shift ; the quotient space of this action is isomorphic to X, thus leading to a factor map, which is of course just the projection map. (An example is provided by the skew shift system, described in my lecture notes.) Conversely, suppose that one had a dynamical system which had a free action commuting with the shift. If we set to be the quotient space, we thus have a factor map, whose level sets are all isomorphic to the circle ; we call a circle extension of the dynamical system X. We can thus view as a circle bundle with base space X, thus the level sets are now the fibres of the bundle, and the structure group is. If one picks a gauge for this bundle, by choosing a reference point in the fibre for each base point x (thus in this context a gauge is the same thing as a section ; this is basically because this bundle is a principal bundle), then one can identify with a skew product by identifying the point with the point for all, and letting be the cocycle defined by the formula One can check that this is indeed an isomorphism of dynamical systems; if all the various objects here are continuous (resp. measurable), then one also has an isomorphism of topological dynamical systems (resp. measure-preserving systems). Thus we see that gauges allow us to write circle extensions as skew products. However, more than one gauge is available for any given circle extension; two gauges, will give rise to two skew products, which are isomorphic but not identical. Indeed, if we let be a rotation map that sends to, thus, then we see that the two cocycles and are related by the formula . (1) Two cocycles that obey the above relation are called cohomologous; their skew products are isomorphic to each other. An important general question in dynamical systems is to understand when two given cocycles are in fact cohomologous, for instance by introducing non-trivial cohomological invariants for such cocycles. As an example of a circle extension, consider the sphere from Example 1, with a rotation shift T given by, say, rotating anti-clockwise by some given angle around the axis connecting the north and south poles. This rotation also induces a rotation on the circle bundle, thus giving a circle extension of the original system. One can then use a gauge to write this system as a skew product. For instance, if one selects the gauge that chooses to be the true north direction at each point x (ignoring for now the fact that this is not defined at the two poles), then this system becomes the ordinary product of the original system X with the circle, with the cocycle being the trivial cocycle 0. If we were however to use a different gauge, e.g. magnetic north instead of true north, one would obtain a different skew-product, where is some cocycle which is cohomologous to the trivial cocycle (except at the poles). (A cocycle which is globally cohomologous to the trivial cocycle is known as a coboundary. Not every cocycle is a coboundary, especially once one imposes topological or measure-theoretic structure, thanks to the presence of various topological or measure-theoretic invariants, such as degree.) There was nothing terribly special about circles in this example; one can also define group extensions, or more generally homogeneous space extensions, of dynamical systems, and have a similar theory, although one has to take a little care with the order of operations when the structure group is non-abelian; see e.g. my lecture notes on isometric extensions. Example 3: Orienting an undirected graph. The language of gauge theory is not often used in combinatorics, but nevertheless combinatorics does provide some simple discrete examples of bundles and gauges which can be useful in getting an intuitive grasp of the concept. Consider for instance an undirected graph G = (V,E) of vertices and edges. I will let X=E denote the space of edges (not the space of vertices)!. Every edge can be oriented (or directed) in two different ways; let be the pair of directed edges of e arising in this manner. Then is a fibre bundle with base space X and with each fibre isomorphic (in the category of sets) to the standard two-element set, with structure group. A priori, there is no reason to prefer one orientation of an edge e over another, and so there is no canonical way to identify each fibre with the standard set. Nevertheless, we can go ahead and arbitrary select a gauge for X by orienting the graph G. This orientation assigns an oriented edge to each edge, thus creating a gauge (or section) of the bundle. Once one selects such a gauge, we can now identify the fibre bundle with the trivial bundle by identifying the preferred oriented edge of each unoriented edge with, and the other oriented edge with. In particular, any other orientation of the graph G can be expressed relative to this reference orientation as a function, which measures when the two orientations agree or disagree with each other. Recall that every isomorphism of a standard geometric object G allowed one to transform a coordinate system on a geometric object A to another coordinate system. We can generalise this observation to gauges: every family of isomorphisms on G allows one to transform a gauge to another gauge (again assuming that respects whatever topological or differentiable structure is present). Such a collection is known as a gauge transformation. For instance, in Example 1, one could rotate the reference direction at each point anti-clockwise by some angle ; this would cause the function to rotate to. In Example 2, a gauge transformation is just a map (which may need to be continuous or measurable, depending on the structures one places on X); it rotates a point to, and it also transforms the cocycle by the formula (1). In Example 3, a gauge transformation would be a map ; it rotates a point to. Gauge transformations transform functions on the base X in many ways, but some things remain gauge-invariant. For instance, in Example 1, the winding number of a function along a closed loop would not change under a gauge transformation (as long as no singularities in the gauge are created, moved, or destroyed, and the orientation is not reversed). But such topological gauge-invariants are not the only gauge invariants of interest; there are important differential gauge-invariants which make gauge theory a crucial component of modern differential geometry and geometric PDE. But to describe these, one needs an additional gauge-theoretic concept, namely that of a connection on a fibre bundle. — Connections — There are many essentially equivalent ways to introduce the concept of a connection; I will use the formulation based primarily on parallel transport, and on differentiation of sections. To avoid some technical details I will work (somewhat non-rigorously) with infinitesimals such as dx. (There are ways to make the use of infinitesimals rigorous, such as non-standard analysis, but this is not the focus of my post today.) In single variable calculus, we learn that if we want to differentiate a function at some point x, then we need to compare the value f(x) of f at x with its value f(x+dx) at some infinitesimally close point x+dx, take the difference, and then divide by dx, taking limits as, if one does not like to use infinitesimals: In several variable calculus, we learn several generalisations of this concept in which the domain and range of f to be multi-dimensional. For instance, if is now a vector-valued function on some multi-dimensional domain (e.g. a manifold) X, and v is a tangent vector to X at some point x, we can define the directional derivative of f at x by comparing with for some infinitesimal dt, take the difference, divide by dt, and then take limits as : . [Strictly speaking, if X is not flat, then x+vdt is only defined up to an ambiguity of o(dt), but let us ignore this minor issue here, as it is not important in the limit.] If f is sufficiently smooth (being continuously differentiable will do), the directional derivative is linear in v, thus for instance. One can also generalise the range of f to other multi-dimensional domains than ; the directional derivative then lives in a tangent space of that domain. In all of the above examples, though, we were differentiating functions, thus each element in the base (or domain) gets mapped to an element in the same range Y. However, in many geometrical situations we would like to differentiate sections instead of functions, thus f now maps each point in the base to an element of some fibre in a fibre bundle. For instance, one might want to know how the wind direction changes as one moves x in some direction v; thus computing a directional derivative of w at x in direction v. One can try to mimic the previous definitions in order to define this directional derivative. For instance, one can move x along v by some infinitesimal amount dt, creating a nearby point, and then evaluate w at this point to obtain. But here we hit a snag: we cannot directly compare with, because the former lives in the fibre while the latter lives in the fibre. With a gauge, of course, we can identify all the fibres (and in particular, and ) with a common object G, in which case there is no difficulty comparing with. But this would lead to a notion of derivative which is not gauge-invariant, known as the non-covariant or ordinary derivative in physics. But there is another way to take a derivative, which does not require the full strength of a gauge (which identifies all fibres simultaneously together). Indeed, in order to compute a derivative, one only needs to identify (or connect) two infinitesimally close fibres together: and. In practice, these two fibres are already “within O(dt) of each other” in some sense, but suppose in fact that we have some means of identifying these two fibres together. Then, we can pull back from to through to define the covariant derivative: . In order to retain the basic property that is linear in v, and to allow one to extend the infinitesimal identifications to non-infinitesimal identifications, we impose the property that the to be approximately transitive in that (1) for all x, dx, dx’, where the symbol indicates that the error between the two sides is o(\|dx\| + \|dx’\|). [The precise nature of this error is actually rather important, being essentially the curvature of the connection at x in the directions, but let us ignore this for now.] To oversimplify a little bit, any collection of infinitesimal maps obeying this property (and some technical regularity properties) is a connection. [There are many other important ways to view connections, for instance the Christoffel symbol perspective that we will discuss a bit later. Another approach is to focus on the differentiation operation rather than the identifications or, and in particular on the algebraic properties of this operation, such as linearity in v or derivation-type properties (in particular, obeying various variants of the Leibnitz rule). This approach is particularly important in algebraic geometry, in which the notion of an infinitesimal or of a path may not always be obviously available, but we will not discuss it here.] The way we have defined it, a connection is a means of identifying two infinitesimally close fibres of a fibre bundle. But, thanks to (1), we can also identify two distant fibres, provided that we have a path from to, by concatenating the infinitesimal identifications by a non-commutative variant of a Riemann sum: (2) where ranges over partitions. This gives us a parallel transport map identifying with, which in view of its Riemann sum definition, can be viewed as the “integral” of the connection along the curve. This map does not depend on how one parametrises the path, but it can depend on the choice of path used to travel from x to y. We illustrate these concepts using several examples, including the three examples introduced earlier. Example 1 continued. (Circle bundle of the sphere) The geometry of the sphere X in Example 1 provides a natural connection on the circle bundle SX, the Levi-Civita connection, that lets one transport directions around the sphere in as “parallel” a manner as possible; the precise definition is a little technical (see e.g. my lecture notes for a brief description). Suppose for instance one starts at some location x on the equator of the earth, and moves to the antipodal point y by a great semi-circle going through the north pole. The parallel transport along this path will map the north direction at x to the south direction at y. On the other hand, if we went from x to y by a great semi-circle going along the equator, then the north direction at x would be transported to the north direction at y. Given a section u of this circle bundle, the quantity can be interpreted as the rate at which u rotates as one travels from x with velocity v. Example 2 continued. (Circle extensions) In Example 2, we change the notion of “infinitesimally close” by declaring x and Tx to be infinitesimally close for any x in the base space X (and more generally, x and are non-infinitesimally close for any positive integer n, being connected by the path, and similarly for negative n). A cocycle can then be viewed as defining a connection on the skew product, by setting (and also and to ensure compatibility with (1); to avoid notational ambiguities let us assume for sake of discussion that are always distinct from each other). The non-infinitesimal connections are then given by the formula for positive n (with a similar formula for negative n). Note that these iterated cocycles also describe the iterations of the shift, indeed. Example 3 continued. (Oriented graphs) In Example 3, we declare two edges e, e’ in X to be “infinitesimally close” if they are adjacent. Then there is a natural notion of parallel transport on the bundle ; given two adjacent edges,, we let be the isomorphism from to that maps to and to. Any path of edges then gives rise to a connection identifying with. For instance, the triangular path induces the identity map on, whereas the U-turn path induces the anti-identity map on. Given an orientation of the graph G, one can “differentiate” at an edge in the direction to obtain a number, defined as +1 if the parallel transport from and preserves the orientations given by, and -1 otherwise. This number of course depends on the choice of orientation. But certain combinations of these numbers are independent of such a choice; for instance, given any closed path of edges in X, the “integral” is independent of the choice of orientation (indeed, it is equal to +1 if is the identity, and -1 if is the anti-identity. Example 4. (Monodromy) One can interpret the monodromy maps of a covering space in the language of connections. Suppose for instance that we have a covering space of a topological space X whose fibres are discrete; thus is a discrete fibre bundle over X. The discreteness induces a natural connection on this space, which is given by the lifting map; in particular, if one integrates this connection on a closed loop based at some point x, one obtains the monodromy map of that loop at x. Example 5. (Definite integrals) In view of the definition (2), it should not be surprising that the definite integral of a scalar function can be interpreted as an integral of a connection. Indeed, set, and let be the trivial line bundle over X. The function f induces a connection on this bundle by setting The integral of this connection along is then just the operation of translation by in the real line. Example 6. (Line integrals) One can generalise Example 5 to encompass line integrals in several variable calculus. Indeed, if is an n-dimensional domain, then a vector field induces a connection on the trivial line bundle by setting The integral of this connection along a curve is then just the operation of translation by the line integral in the real line. Note that a gauge transformation in this context is just a vertical translation of the bundle by some potential function, which we will assume to be smooth for sake of discussion. This transformation conjugates the connection to the connection. Note that this is a conservative transformation: the integral of a connection along a closed loop is unchanged by gauge transformation. Example 7. (ODE) A different way to generalise Example 5 can be obtained by using the fundamental theorem of calculus to interpret as the final value of the solution to the initial value problem for the ordinary differential equation. More generally, the solution u(b) to the initial value problem for some taking values in some manifold Y, where is a function (let us take it to be Lipschitz, to avoid technical issues), can also be interpreted as the integral of a connection on the trivial vector space bundle, defined by the formula Then will map to, this is nothing more than the Euler method for solving ODE. Note that the method of integrating factors in solving ODE can be interpreted as an attempt to simplify the connection via a gauge transformation. Indeed, it can be profitable to view the entire theory of connections as a multidimensional “variable-coefficient” generalisation of the theory of ODE. Once one selects a gauge, one can express a connection in terms of that gauge. In the case of vector bundles (in which every fibre is a d-dimensional vector space for some fixed d), the covariant derivative of a section w of that bundle along some vector v emanating from x can be expressed in any given gauge by the formula where we use the gauge to express w(x) as a vector, the indices are summed over the fibre dimensions (and summed over the base dimensions) as per the usual conventions, and the are the Christoffel symbols of this connection relative to this gauge. One example of this, which models electromagnetism, is a connection on a complex line bundle in spacetime. Such a bundle assigns a complex line (i.e. a one-dimensional complex vector space, and thus isomorphic to ) to every point in spacetime. The structure group here is U(1) (strictly speaking, this means that we view the fibres as normed one-dimensional complex vector spaces, otherwise the structure group would be ). A gauge identifies V with the trivial complex line bundle, thus converting sections of this bundle into complex-valued functions. A connection on V, when described in this gauge, can be given in terms of fields for ; the covariant derivative of a section in this gauge is then given by the formula . In the theory of electromagnetism, and are known (up to some normalising constants) as the electric potential and magnetic potential respectively. Sections of V do not show up directly in Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism, but appear in more complicated variants of these equations, such as the Maxwell-Klein-Gordon equation. A gauge transformation of V is given by a map ; it transforms sections by the formula, and connections by the formula, or equivalently . (2) In particular, the electromagnetic potential is not gauge invariant (which broadly corresponds to the concept of being nonphysical or nonmeasurable in physics), as gauge symmetry allows one to add an arbitrary gradient function to this potential. However, the curvature tensor of the connection is gauge-invariant, and physically measurable in electromagnetism; the components for of this field have a physical interpretation as the electric field, and the components for have a physical interpretation as the magnetic field. (The curvature tensor can be interpreted as describing the parallel transport of infinitesimal rectangles; it measures how far off the connection is from being flat, which means that it can be (locally) “straightened” via some choice of gauge to be the trivial connection. In nonabelian gauge theories, in which the structure group is more complicated than just the abelian group U(1), the curvature tensor is non-scalar, but remains gauge-invariant in a tensor sense (gauge transformations will transform the curvature as they would transform a tensor of the same rank). Gauge theories can often be expressed succinctly in terms of a connection and its curvatures. For instance, Maxwell’s equations in free space, which describes how electromagnetic radiation propagates in the presence of charges and currents (but no media other than vacuum), can be written (after normalising away some physical constants) as where is the 4-current. (Actually, this is only half of Maxwell’s equations, but the other half are a consequence of the interpretation (*) of the electromagnetic field as a curvature of a U(1) connection. Thus this purely geometric interpretation of electromagnetism has some non-trivial physical implications, for instance ruling out the possibility of (classical) magnetic monopoles.) If one generalises from complex line bundles to higher-dimensional vector bundles (with a larger structure group), one can then write down the (classical) Yang-Mills equation which is the classical model for three of the four fundamental forces in physics: the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear forces (with structure groups U(1), SU(2), and SU(3) respectively). (The classical model for the fourth force, gravitation, is given by a somewhat different geometric equation, namely the Einstein equations, though this equation is also “gauge-invariant” in some sense.) The gauge invariance (or gauge freedom) inherent in these equations complicates their analysis. For instance, due to the gauge freedom (2), Maxwell’s equations, when viewed in terms of the electromagnetic potential, are ill-posed: specifying the initial value of this potential at time zero does not uniquely specify the future value of this potential (even if one also specifies any number of additional time derivatives of this potential at time zero), since one can use (2) with a gauge function U that is trivial at time zero but non-trivial at some future time to demonstrate the non-uniqueness. Thus
he said in reference to his testy call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, "but it wasn't that important." There were substantive answers. For the first time, he addressed detailed questions about Flynn's resignation and made it clear that it was Flynn's deception of Vice-President Mike Pence about the content of the call - not the call itself - that was the problem. Members of the media raise their hands to ask a question to US President Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg "I fired him because of what he said to Mike Pence. Very simple," said Trump. "I didn't direct him [to make the call], but I would have directed him because that's his job... I didn't direct him, but I would have directed him if he didn't do it. OK?" He was asked repeatedly whether he could say no members of his campaign team were in contact with Russian intelligence agents during the election - something he prevaricated on at first, with answers such as: "Russia is fake news. Russia, this is fake news put out by the media." US President Donald Trump answered detailed questions on Michael Flynn's resignation. Credit:Bloomberg But then he seemed to deny the specific allegations in the Times story: "I have nothing to do with Russia. To the best of my knowledge no person that I deal with does." However, the overwhelming theme of the day, the one he himself kept returning to, was his war on the mainstream media, their "dishonesty" and "lies", and the repeated assertion that so many outlets were publishing, in his view, "fake news". This is clearly the fight he came to have, and where he wanted to keep the focus. US President Donald Trump continued his attack on the media. Credit:Bloomberg During the press conference he variously attacked The New York Times ("failing"), CNN ("so much anger and hatred"), the BBC ("just like CNN") and The Wall Street Journal ("almost as disgraceful as the failing New York Times"). For the second time in two days, he heaped praise though on Fox News' breakfast chat show, Fox & Friends ("they're very honourable people"). Pushed on how he could condemn reporting on leaked information - thus suggesting it was true - while also calling the news "fake", the President expressed no problem with this contradiction. "The leaks are absolutely real," he said. "The news is fake because so much of the news is fake." The open format did give journalists a chance to challenge him on some falsehoods directly. During his lengthy preamble, he once again repeated the lie that his electoral college victory was "the biggest since Ronald Reagan". An MSNBC reporter took him up on that, telling him his tally was lower than both Barack Obama and George Bush snr, and asked: "Why should Americans trust you?" Trump replied curtly: "I don't know, I was given that information." As the press conference moved past the one-hour mark, there were several extraordinary exchanges with individual reporters that raised eyebrows in the room. Becoming irritated with the repeated questions on Russia and Flynn, he scouted around for a "friendly reporter". He settled on a journalist from Ami, a weekly Orthodox Jewish news magazine published in New York, who rose out of his chair and asked the President about rising anti-Semitism in the US and recent bomb threats made against 48 Jewish community centres. The President grew visibly irritated, putting up his hand to cut off the reporter and complaining: "He said he's going to ask a simple easy question, and it's not, not a simple question, not a fair question, OK sit down," before going on to say he was "the least anti-Semitic person". In another strange exchange, April Ryan, a black reporter, asked if Mr Trump was going to meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). "Do you wanna set up the meeting?" he replied. "Are they friends of yours?" He went on to say a meeting had been set up and then cancelled. The CBC tweeted soon after that they had written to Trump in January and he had never replied. The faces of some news anchors in the wake of the conference captured the disbelief that many might have felt watching this rambling, pugnacious display. It was "wild" and "unhinged", said CNN's Jake Tapper, adding "it was an airing of grievances, it was Festivus" - the fictional Seinfeld holiday where George Costanza's father rants about his grievances from the preceding year. Even over on Fox News, the moderate daytime anchor Shepard Smith declared the display was "crazy". But to other sections of the media, and perhaps the country, that ferociously back Trump, the event was a ringing success. The Drudge Report's headline declared "Trump eats the press", while Fox News host and Trump cheerleader Sean Hannity called it "amazing" and a "beatdown" of the media. Here, they saw a return to the good old days of the election campaign, where Trump would repeatedly taunt the media from the stage while a crowd cheered. Loading Trump has scheduled a campaign-style rally in Florida this Saturday - an unconventional move for a President just a month into office. He loves the crowds, and knows that they loved the rousing, chaotic, pugnacious campaign that he ran all the way to victory last year. This press conference was a reminder that he's also counting on the same wild, aggressive confrontations with the media that he had during the campaign to carry him through his time in the White House - especially perhaps, during weeks like this one, when his administration is on the ropes.Learn how to write your first playbook with Ansible. This tutorial shows you how to bootstrap your server for future Ansible runs as well as adding some security. PLEASE NOTE: This tutorial comes from my course called Discover Ansible and assumes you installed Ansible and configured it to use a hosts file in a specific location. # Create certificates folder and copy SSH public key cd ~/apps/ansible mkdir certificates cp ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub certificates # Create crypted password # If you are using an environment different from your server (e.g., a Mac), # run this command on your server instead mkpasswd --method=SHA-512 -S # if needed to run mkpasswd sudo apt-get install whois Create ansible/bootstrap.yml --- - name: Bootstrap server for future ansible runs hosts: all remote_user: root vars: user_name: creston user_pass: $6$gGF67h7gg6$gHpPcLliXbq4wGX8SywQ4BLf/iUaRYNzlN6IBsN1YXI.o/ITmqfeirKcYTenyTo67csjdUTRHTsGVtE0zd9sZ1 tasks: - name: Update apt cache apt: update_cache=yes - name: Safe aptitude upgrade apt: upgrade=safe async: 600 poll: 5 - name: Add my user user: > name={{ user_name }} password={{ user_pass }} shell=/bin/bash groups=sudo append=yes generate_ssh_key=yes ssh_key_bits=2048 state=present - name: Add my workstation user's public key to the new user authorized_key: user: "{{ user_name }}" key: "{{ lookup('file', 'certificates/id_rsa.pub') }}" state: present # notify: restart ssh - name: Change SSH port lineinfile: dest: /etc/ssh/sshd_config regexp: "^Port" line: "Port 30000" state: present # notify: restart ssh - name: Remove root SSH access lineinfile: dest: /etc/ssh/sshd_config regexp: "^PermitRootLogin" line: "PermitRootLogin no" state: present # notify: restart ssh - name: Remove password SSH access lineinfile: dest: /etc/ssh/sshd_config regexp: "^PasswordAuthentication" line: "PasswordAuthentication no" state: present - name: Reboot the server command: /sbin/reboot handlers: - name: restart ssh service: name=ssh state=restarted Run your bootstrap playbook from ~/apps/ansible ansible-playbook bootstrap.yml Please go ahead and leave a comment below if you have any questions about this tutorial.1 of 21 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Visual treasures and tradition in Japan’s Kanazawa View Photos Once known for geishas and teahouses, this town has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Caption Once known for geishas and teahouses, this town has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Young women celebrating their coming of age wear traditional Japanese attire while visiting the Higashi-Chaya-gai, a historic geisha teahouse district in Kanazawa, Japan. Linda Davidson/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. In Japan, history is frequently right around the corner: a venerable little shrine, a neighborhood temple that’s survived both war and redevelopment, maybe even a castle. But the sense of being immersed in the past is rare. Even Kyoto, famed as the country’s redoubt against modernity, has no large area that meets the Western definition of a historic district. But there is another city that, like Kyoto, was spared U.S. firebombs during World War II. Kanazawa is not quite a Japanese Williamsburg, but it does contain numerous neighborhoods of Edo period (1603-1868) structures. Long more popular with Japanese than foreign visitors, the north-coast city became much more accessible last year with the opening of a new Shinkansen line. The high-speed trains hurtle from Tokyo in under 21/ 2 hours. It’s a hop worth making. The train station, like Kyoto’s, is emphatically modernistic. But it does bow to the past with a mammoth wooden gate called Tsuzumi, after the hand drum it somewhat resembles. The gate faces east, toward the center city and a large bus plaza. Unlike most Japanese cities of its size, Kanazawa has neither a subway nor trams. The main attractions are mostly within walking distance, but a loop bus circles past them, either clockwise or counter. Outside the Kanazawa Station concourse is the red-colored Tsuzumi Gate in Kanazawa. The design of the gate is based on tsuzumi, traditional Japanese hand drums. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) One morning in late July, the argument for the bus was immediately evident. Kanazawa is one of the wettest non-tropical cities in the world, soggy in summer and snowbound in winter. Midsummer in Japan can wilt even an August-tested Washingtonian, and if Kanazawa felt no muggier than the rest of the country, the breezes off the Sea of Japan were bringing more dampness, not relief. Heading clockwise, the bus’s first notable stop is the Higashi (“east”) Chaya-gai, with many wooden structures and a reminder of the Japanese genius for euphemism. “Chaya” means teahouse, but tea wasn’t the principal attraction of this area, once known for geishas. Today, a few preserved geisha houses, notably the elegant Shima, are open to the public. Built about 200 years ago, it was among the city’s first two-story structures when erected. Inside is a collection of instruments of the sort played by hostesses and a view of a tiny garden, misted by fake rain sprayed from an apparatus that’s conspicuously modern. [Caribbean turquoise, Santorini white, Miami Beach pink: The vivid colors of travel] In a Western precinct that preserves the bygone, such machinery would be carefully hidden. But that’s not the standard in Japan, where overhead electric lines and even satellite dishes are often seen in neighborhoods of historic homes, temples and warehouses. Many of the area’s other buildings have been converted to gift shops and restaurants. The number of the latter that serve only sweets and (nonalcoholic) drinks may surprise first-timers in semi-historic Japan, but such establishments abound everywhere in the country with a steady flow of tourists. According to its sign, a teahouse that actually serves tea has been in business since 1625, although its 17th-century clients probably wouldn’t recognize the place. One eatery serves a rice-ball lunch for $15, which would be exorbitant except that the price includes a lesson in making them. At the shops, wares range from art to kitsch; one refined establishment was selling $2,900 teapots and $10 bottles of “Ninja Saurce.” ‘Gold swamp’ Kanazawa means “gold swamp,” a name traced to a legend about a peasant who found gold in a bog. The story is unlikely, but the city’s craftspeople have taken it to heart. Kanazawa is home to virtually all of Japan’s gold-leaf production. Since gilding is essential to Buddhist art, business is golden. In Higashi Chaya-gai, several shops sell gilded items, ranging from jewelry to cosmetics to postcards. The largest is Hakuza (“gold-foil place”), whose products include gold-infused liquor and green-tea cake edged in edible gold. The shop boasts the world’s first gilded outside wall, although the siding — on a small warehouse that also has a glittering interior — is not exactly outside. It’s in an interior courtyard, sheltered from the juicy air. Gold leaf items for sale in the Hakuza shop. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Adjacent to the teahouse area is Utatsuyama (“rabbit dragon mountain”), a hilly district packed with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. There are no major edifices, but the small compounds and winding lanes make for a picturesque (if often sweaty) stroll. On the west side of town, the balance is reversed: There’s a smaller old teahouse district, abutting Teramachi (“temple town”), one of Japan’s largest temple precincts. Kanazawa’s other major historic area is the Nagamachi (“rowhouse town”) Samurai District, a residential area in which a few houses have been converted to museums. Most of the buildings don’t actually date to the samurai era, but the newer ones respect the traditional style. I walked this area in the early morning, before the museums were open, but was able to explore some small gardens and outbuildings. The sun was not yet scalding overhead, and I was refreshed, at least psychically, by the waters of the narrow canal that bisects the neighborhood. A miniature world These old-fashioned areas set Kanazawa apart from most Japanese cities, yet are not the town’s primary attraction. That’s Kenrokuen, generally ranked as one of the country’s top three gardens. The 28-acre expanse was created by and for the Maeda clan, which ruled the area, during the 17th to 19th centuries. It’s on a hill, affording views of the city, while man-made summits within the garden provide vantage points on the nearly 9,000 trees (supported by ropes during heavy snows) and other features. A teahouse, built in 1774, is the oldest surviving structure; a geyser-like fountain, powered by natural water pressure, was the first in the country. Karasakinomatsu pine trees with an array of rope supports at Kenrokuen Garden. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Kenrokuen means “garden of six attributes,” a reference to a Chinese poet’s checklist of essential characteristics: antiquity, artifice, panoramas, seclusion, spaciousness and waterways. As is typical of Japanese gardens. Kenrokuen offers a circuit through various landscapes and suggests an entire world, albeit miniaturized and much tidier than the real one. At the center is Kasumi Pond, the Pacific of this demimonde. [Why you should stay in a Japanese ryokan] On an adjacent bluff, and linked by a short bridge, is Kanazawa Castle. It’s impressive at first glimpse, but the fortress won’t make any top-three lists. As a second look reveals, it’s mostly brand new. A few parts remain from the original, but the bulk of the castle has been built since 1989, replacing the buildings of a university that relocated nearby. Yet the pristine white walls and gull-winged roofs make a dramatic setting for what has become a pleasant landscape. Kenrokuen was once the castle’s outer garden; now the castle grounds have become a sort of annex of the adjacent landmark. Japanese tourist sites are always flanked by drink vending machines, which are especially welcome in the summer. But the castle has something I’d never seen before: an air-conditioned vending-machine lounge. It was more crowded than the walkway along the parapets. Mix of old and new Down the hill from Kenrokuen and the castle is the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, which has no interest in such dated phenomena as cubism or abstract expressionism. Opened in 2004, the museum emphasizes interactive and site-specific work, such as Argentinian Leandro Erlich’s “The Swimming Pool,” which simulates the experience of gazing through water from above or below. One of the most engaging pieces is outside: Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s “Color Activity House” overlaps curved glass walls in cyan, magenta and yellow, which combine to yield various hues from different points within or without. I didn’t have time for the city’s many other museums, which include collections not only of art, history and traditional crafts but also (Japanese) modern literature and (international) phonographs and records. At the last, an Edison wax-cylinder machine is demonstrated thrice daily. I also skipped Myoryu-ji — the so-called “ninja temple,” full of secret rooms and passages — because it must be visited on pre-booked tours that offer commentary only in Japanese. Amid the hustle and bustle of city life, the main gate to the Oyama Jinja shrine stands tall. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Instead, I followed a sculpture-lined path along the canal that edges the castle’s mount, headed toward my hotel and the bustling, seafood-heavy Omicho market. Along the way, I visited Oyama (“big hill”) Shrine, whose name refers to the location of the castle that towers over it. The shrine is notable for a gatehouse with a most un-Japanese touch: stained glass windows. Despite such curiosities, Kanazawa’s temples and shrines are no match for Kyoto’s. But thanks to the new Shinkansen line, there’s no need to pick one city over the other. The next day, I boarded a limited express for the two-hour trip to Kyoto. The total traveling time from Tokyo was only slightly longer than if I’d gone to Kyoto directly. Jenkins writes about film, music and visual art for The Washington Post and NPR. More from Travel: Fawning over fauna: A guide to Tokyo’s menagerie of animal cafes Going Our Way: A plan for first-timers in Japan Carrying a ‘throwaway’ wallet and other tips in avoiding travel scamsHierarchy Power structures establish various s ystems to ensure the organisation of interrelationships and the dis tribution of resources throughout a group, community, or ecosystem. In human terms, these systems become our tribes, societies, and civilisa tions. The dominant power structure in the Western world at this time is capitalist, colonial, and hierarchical, w ith resources being distributed ( or, more accurately, hoarded ) from the top down. Before capit alism, many of us who have desce nded from the nations of Europe have a cultural history of feudalism or some other social- ranking hierarchy. Feudal society is the root stock of cap italism. One of the primary differences subsumed from this medieval power structure by early capitalism wa s the waged exchange of labour. The feudal peasants were non-waged , that is, not paid in monetary currency for their labour . I nstead, they were paid by an exc hange of resources such as land, shelter, and farming rights. Both capit alist and feudal hierarchies were architected to direct and control the circulation of currency from those at the top, who are the elite and few, down to those at the bottom, who are the poor and many. Capitalism depends on unrestrained growth and production, the manufacturing of material goods, and the extraction of resources to meet these ends. Colonisation, the imperious expansion of geographic, cultural, and political boundaries becomes requisite — with all its cruelty and overconsumption — as a result of this excessive and continuous reach to sustain the unsustainable. When contemplating the quagmire of obstacles and institutions within our capitalist society that interfere with the equitable and just interchange of currency and access to resources, I find myself motivated to explore less oppressive economic, social, and political human relationships. In doing so, I have become aligned with that ever-gallant and hopeful group of folks dismissed as unrealistic dreamers. We ‘dreamers’ always hold fast to the truth that the wilful designation of creation and power can be delineated into a network of horizontal or lateral functions that make greed, conquest, and competition unnecessary and invalid, except in extreme conditions. In the words of Larry Wall, creator of Perl, the open-sourced computer programming language: ‘There is more than one way to do it.’ Perl, and Wall’s band of merry hackers, revolutionised the internet with a coding script that encourages other programmers to interject or hack, as they say in the business, their own design style and innovations that contribute to improvements and success for everyone using the network.¹ These internet wizards built the bridge between those of us who simply want to use the internet and those who actually understand it. I personally am not remotely skilled in the exotic language of programming or the strange tongue of capitalist economics. As one called to the path along the hedges, in the woods, the fields, the gardens, and all the green, untamed and untrailed places, I have found another way to do things in learning the ways of the world beneath the dark shadows of treetops and in the soils with the rooted ones. As a folk herbalist practising in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, I live remotely, keeping a distant participation to some degree (perhaps never enough?), in the mainstream rush and panic of daily life in the ‘real’ world of productivity, competition and corporate time sheets. My work with others, however, brings me into direct contact with the consequent ills, both physical and emotional, of life within the overworked, overstimulated and ‘red in tooth and claw’ system. My long hours and days gathering and growing the herbs to share with my clients, family, neighbours and friends feels like a different world or alternate reality in contrast to the interface I must make with the civilised world of offices, fluorescent lights and concrete. While I truly love all parts of my work, this polar interchange always clearly elucidates for me the distinct difference between the world of unruly winds and wild waters, and the tame and burning filaments of electricity enslaved within the lightbulb. Much of my herbal work is spent with a shovel, basket and clippers as I dig and gather roots, leaves, flowers, bark and berries that are prepared into teas and other herbal formulations. I make every practical effort to harvest from local sources. This requires me to be tuned into to the seasonal cycles and growing patterns of wild plants. I also grow a variety of herbs in my own garden, and have become acutely tuned into conservation and ethical harvesting techniques that ensure the long-term survival and proliferation of our wild medicine plants. This art and practice of traditional herbalism has deep roots into the history of every culture on earth. These roots have twisted, turned and intertwined throughout thousands of years of human civilisation, often being lost and forgotten as the quality of our communal engagements and our narrative with the world has placed humans on top of a hierarchy that centralises power into an above-ground, rootless, disembodied, hegemony. That said, I think it’s important here to acknowledge that hierarchies occur naturally in wild communities, especially in herd animals, and that hierarchy is not always played out as an oppressive power structure. It can be an excellent tool for ensuring survival, protection and the health of a herd or community when based on consensus, synergy and cooperative principles. Becoming radicle Radicle: a rootlike subdivision, the portion of the embryo that gives rise to the root system of the plant — biology-online.org Radicle describes the first part of the seed to emerge after germination that subsequently becomes the primary root. Radicles and the roots they become are a most powerful natural force that, as every city sidewalk knows, will crack and divide concrete. The soil depends upon these mighty revolutionaries to deeply move, turn and aerate the surface of the planet so that life can ascend from it. Plants ‘know’ that in order for productive growth to be sustained, they must first set their roots and begin to make contact with the vast and nutritious field of minerals and essential microbes within the substratum. Plant roots have many different and effective growing styles, but my favourite are those that are rhizomatic. A rhizome is actually an underground stem that is rootlike; it spreads horizontally, sending out shoots and creating a lateral chain of connection where new sprouts can emerge. Rhizomes are non-hierarchical and extremely resilient because even if you dig up one part, the other sections will continue to grow and proliferate. Rhizomes have no top or bottom, any point can be connected to any other. They can be broken off at any point and will always be able to start up again. Their network can be entered at any point; there is no central origin. And because there is no central regulatory force, rhizomes function as open systems where connections can emerge regardless of similarities or differences. Freedom of expression exists within a rhizome. Rhizomes, therefore, are heterogeneous and can create multiplicities, or many different roots, that are sovereign but still in contact and communication with all other parts of the system. This is in contrast to, for instance, a tree, which has a central origin or trunk from which all of its roots and branches emerge. Disconnected from that source, they are no longer in direct contact with their growing system. As author and storyteller Martin Shaw writes about ‘the rhizomatic universe’ in his book A Branch From the Lightening Tree:I cannot begin to express how amazed I have been with the success Charmy’s Army has seen in just the first three weeks of January. If this pace keeps up, this year will be simply amazing. SKETCH COVER COMMISSIONS – I have received 4 sketch cover commissions in the first three weeks. If I can hold to 4 commissions per month for the year, I will I will double my sales total from last year. Holding to 4 per month will be impossible of course, but you never know. If I can average two per month, I will equal last year’s sales. That would be awesome because once I add in whatever sells at my shows, I will be ahead for the year. To order a commission, just pop over HERE to begin your order. PATREON PLEDGES DOUBLED – In the month of January, my monthly pledges DOUBLED!!!! Of course, I was only getting $9 per month from my supporters so I was not getting rich, but that $9 helped pay for art materials. Now I am at $20 per month! That will help me buy a table at a show every year. Now THAT is awesome! Couple that with my newspaper income and I can now have TWO TABLES paid off at every show. The next goal is to have four tables and lodging paid off. To support my comic strip, check out my PATREON SUPPORT PAGE HERE. The more money you support me with, the more rewards you receive. NEWSPAPER LAUNCH – I picked up another newspaper this month! That means I have DOUBLED my run. Sad, right? NO WAY!!!! I am now in TWO PAPERS and soon I will be in HUNDREDS!!!! Watch for me to start running in North Carolina in the Aberdeen Times in February. This year is going to be a thrill ride. It’ll have it’s UP and DOWNS. There are always a lot of DOWNS… but what is a roller coaster without a few gut busting drops? All in all, by year’s end this comic strip will have grown and blossomed into the most mesmerizing comic strip on the market. And you ALL can say that YOU WERE THERE to witness this!!!! – Davy AdvertisementsDavid S. Bennahum travels to ground zero of the global epidemic, the hot zone that spawned the infamous Bulgarian computer viruses. What do you think of Bulgaria? "I hate it." What do you think of Vesselin Bontchev, I asked. "He is an idiot!" And Sarah Gordon? "She is a nice lady." I held the telephone close to my ear. Through the broad windows of my hotel room I stared at Mount Vitosha, the tip of its rounded peak glistening with faint traces of June snow. The city of Sofia spread out below. What about Dark Avenger, what do you think of him? "I do not want to talk about him. That time is gone. It is finished! I will not talk about it." Those were his longest answers. How hard it was to speak with him, always answering "yes" or "no" to my questions. Angry, threatening to stop talking, yet staying on the phone with me. For all his fury, he would not hang up first. I did. Todor Todorov - or Commander Tosh, as some call him. Founder of the Virus Exchange BBS. How to define him? An anarchist hacker? A virus writer who hatched some of the most destructive code known? Perhaps it's best to call him a Pravetz kid - one of thousands of Bulgarian children who, under communism in the early 1980s, grew up using a Pravetz 82 microcomputer. Made from reverse-engineered and copied Apple IIe parts, the machine had spawned a culture, and a legacy, that no one in the Bulgarian Politburo had anticipated. That's what Todorov is, a Pravetz kid, I thought to myself days after we spoke on the phone, as I walked down the hall of his old high school to Room 28. Room 28. I've waited a long time to get here. What remnants could there be, of the time in the waning days of communism when teens, high on power, did things few grown-ups could understand, just on the other side of the locked door marked 28? Eight years ago, this room in the National Mathematics High School was a cybernetic hot zone, ground zero of an epidemic algorithm: the Bulgarian computer virus. In 1989, the first Bulgarian viruses appeared. By the end of the year, one called Dark Avenger had spread with enough velocity to attract media attention. At first, just a few hesitant articles appeared, mentioning the new, particularly virulent strain. Dark Avenger secretly attached itself to MS-DOS.com and.exe files, adding 1800 bytes of code. Every sixteenth time the infected program was run, it would randomly overwrite part of the hard disk. The phrase "Eddie Lives... somewhere in time" would appear, followed by garbage characters. Embedded in the code was another message: "This program was written in the city of Sofia © 1988-89 Dark Avenger." The computer, self-destructing, would eventually crash, some precious part of its operating system missing, smothered under Dark Avenger's relentless output. Programs passed along in schools, offices, homes - from one disk to the next they carried the infection along, and in 1991, an international epidemic was diagnosed. One-hundred sixty documented Bulgarian viruses existed in the wild, and an estimated 10 percent of all infections in the United States came from Bulgaria, most commonly from the Dark Avenger. Dataquest polled 600 large North American companies and Federal agencies early that year, and reported that 9 percent had experienced computer virus outbreaks. Nine months later, it found the number had risen to 63 percent. Anecdotal stories, of companies losing millions in sales and productivity due to virus attacks, became commonplace. The press seized upon the threat. The war drums of fear beat first in Europe, closer to the epicenter. Papers carried lurid pieces describing the havoc it wreaked. The tattoo was quickly amplified in the US. "Bulgarians Linked to Computer Virus," read a headline in The New York Times. Time and The Washington Post ran similar stories. Dark Avenger and a handful of other viruses - Michelangelo, Jerusalem, Pakistani Brain, Frodo - transformed the way people experienced computers. These plagues launched a lucrative new industry, the antivirus trade, and left in the minds of PC users a palpable fear that any file, no matter how innocuous, might carry with it a rapacious, information-destroying disease. Then, as suddenly and strangely as it appeared, the Bulgarian computer virus phenomenon evaporated. By 1993, Bulgaria was no longer a significant source of new viruses. But the damage was done. At its peak, in 1990-91, both the alarm and the reality of the Bulgarian blight had spread exponentially, from computer to computer, and mind to mind. Today, Bulgaria exists as a kind of cybernetic bogeyman, the birthplace of viruses. A small destitute nation on the fringes of Southern Europe, a nation that, a generation earlier, had been largely agricultural - how was it possible that this land produced such fecund viruses? Perhaps the former East Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, or even Russia - countries long industrialized, with a history of producing mathematicians and scientists - these were likelier candidates; yet, relative to Bulgaria, these countries were an insignificant source. Confusion was understandable. In 1991, few foreigners knew that Bulgaria had, in a series of Five Year Plans approved by the Politburo, created socialism's first and only centrally planned home-computer industry. In the late '80s, students in Bulgaria had access to more computers than their peers in any other Eastern European country. They did what young people do when they first meet machines - they played, they explored, they programmed. The Bulgarians were busy building a digital culture of their own, feasting off the fruits of Marxism-Leninism. And then, one forbidden fruit came to be known. In 1988, the Bulgarian computer-hobbyist magazine, Computer For You, founded in 1985, translated a German article about viruses into Bulgarian. It was a simple article, just an introduction to computer viruses. But it helped spread the idea. Several months later, the first pernicious homespun code appeared. I came to Sofia looking for the source, the place where it all began, the equivalent of Patient Zero, the first incidence of digital infection in the nation. I wanted to know who had hatched it and how, what strange permutations of culture, computers, and people had met in the right mixture, their contact producing strains of viral code that spread around the world. I came to understand that Room 28 was as close as I could get to the epicenter, short of entering the mind of Dark Avenger. I came to Room 28 because Anton Ivanov told me about it. State-owned subversion "The original viruses came from the National Mathematics High School," Ivanov says, strung out on adrenaline, nicotine, a beer buzz hitting both of us as we sat at the dilapidated cafe in the basement of the state-owned Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. "Everybody was writing viruses at that time. This was the time when the so-called" - Ivanov's sarcasm was strong - "general computing initiative finally started to have a big influence." That initiative put thousands of computers - illegal clones of the Apple and IBM PCs, hacked, reverse-engineered and built by Bulgarian factories - into high schools. The National Mathe-matics High School received several of the Apple IIe machines. This school was one of the best. Only a small number of kids, those who excelled on a standardized exam, could enter. And Room 28 is where the computers went. Ivanov was one of the kids who hung out there. So was his schoolmate Todor Todorov. There, amidst the Pravetz clones, Ivanov learned to program. Today, he is the system administrator for the mathematics laboratory and the laboratory of computer virology at the Academy of Sciences, where antivirus software is written. Ivanov presses down on the end of his cigarette, until the filter looks like the fins on a rocket ship, with smoke coming out the wrong end. Two of his closest friends have just left the country to work as programmers in the United States. Ivanov makes about US$20 per month, a little less than the national monthly average. His annual budget for a network of 2,000 users is roughly US$2,000, which he shares with three other research facilities. He has one assistant. Ivanov is stressed. Eight years ago, things were different. He would go to school where each day brought new adventures in Room 28. While he says he never wrote viruses, he watched Todorov, and Todorov's good friend Ivalio Peev, trade tips on how to write them. Peev would later help Todorov build his Virus Exchange BBS. Kids collected the corrupting code the way American youths collect baseball cards, swapping infected disks, and bringing new viruses to Room 28 for inspection. "The first Dark Avenger virus was a piece of junk," Ivanov says, thinking back to 1988. "And I know the two people who made the virus work." He laughs. "The things that kids do in high school," he says. I ask him if it was Todorov and Peev. Ivanov bends the fins on his rocket ship and shrugs. When I press him for an answer, he says, "Everyone was writing viruses." Bulgaria today is a land of economic destitution. There are two classes: a thin layer of rich, many of them black marketers or members of the mafia, and a huge mass of poor whose only internal division is their level of education. You can make US$30 a month with a PhD, or the same with no degree at all. The talents that are rewarded here have to do with survival, not necessarily creativity or intellect. After the eerily peaceful collapse of communism in 1989, not really from revolution, but rather from some sort of exhaustion, the Bulgarians elected a government made up of exsocialists. Drug running, fuel and arms smuggling to neighboring Serbia during the Balkan war - these were the new industries. The old industry to best survive was piracy. Where once Bulgaria produced thousands of Apple IIe and IBM clones, retooled factories now churn out pirated compact discs. The country produces an estimated 25 million pirated audio CDs
indicates a failure in relations and a breakdown in social harmony which Jews, above all others, claim to want to bring to the world. Explanations for such failures, which are too obvious to ignore, therefore require interpretation and the attribution of blame. In these cases, errors in perceptual causation are obvious. Jewish historiographical accounts of anti-Jewish riots are replete with references to individual incidents which are often seen completely in isolation from wider contexts or ‘systems.’ This narrow focus is a key feature of this aspect of self-deception. Similar to my remarks on the 19th-century Russian ‘pogroms,’ Sergei Pavliuchenkov has noted that Jewish historians have tended to focus on the violence itself rather than attempting to place it in some kind of context or subject it to deeper analysis — which would inevitably bring a Jewish role to light. Pavliuchenkov states that “as a rule…the literature about them simply notes the fact of these pogroms without going into the reasons why they occurred.”[24] The same point is even more explicitly stated by Albert Lindemann: “Pogroms, anti-Semitic affairs, and descriptions of the ideas of anti-Semitic authors and agitators are described with moral fervor, rhetorical flair, and considerable attention to the details of murder, arson, and rape. Background, context, and motives are often slighted or dealt with in a remarkably thin and tendentious manner.”[25] These are clear examples of the self-deceptive process involving a “focus on individuals rather than systems” and, as this article will go on to fully demonstrate, it is rife in Jewish historiography. It is also extremely obvious in the Frankfurt’s School efforts to locate the origins of anti-Semitism within the psyche of an allegedly pathological individual. In all cases the focus is narrowed to the most extreme point. Along with truth, all nuance, scale and complexity is lost. A second contributor to error in perceptual causation is self-interest in the attribution of blame. Jews have an obvious interest in portraying Jewish behavior as irrelevant to anti-Semitism, and the result has been the development of a vast body of work, in the form of Jewish historiography, which serves group goals more than it does historical truth. Jewish-authored historical accounts very often confirm and advance existing Jewish beliefs in the blameless victimhood of their people, and do so in a way that enhances group allegiance and the self-esteem of group members. Kevin MacDonald writes that “Jewish historiography, written almost exclusively by Jews, has been characterized by a great deal of self-conscious case making and defense of perspectives that portray Jewish behavior in a positive light.”[26] But, as Lindemann stresses, “history should not be written in the same way that cases are presented to a jury.”[27] Historically cherished myths like Jewish powerlessness are also very intimately related to key Jewish self-concepts in the present. As Lindemann states, “the centuries of powerlessness have provided, they believe, the ultimate foundation for Jewish ethics and a sense of transcendent purpose as a people.”[28] Any acceptance of blame for historical failures would thus have repercussions not only on perceptions of the past, but on the carefully constructed self-concept of modern Jews. Jewish historiography therefore plays a vital role in the self-deceptive process, as it works tirelessly to throw a veil over the uncomfortable and the incongruous, and put a spotlight on real or imagined virtues and achievements. As a consequence, to the neutral scholar Jewish accounts of anti-Semitism come across as a fundamentally bizarre and disjointed corpus of literature. Lindemann comments on “disappointing intellectual standards,” “doubtful conclusions,” and notes the existence of a “profound aversion to conceptualizing Jews as ordinary or flawed (‘human’) individuals.”[29] Aside from positive in-group implications, Jewish self-interest in the attribution of historical blame also carries negative implications for out-group members. Lindemann notes a “parallel instinct to view surrounding Gentile society as pervasively flawed, polluted, or sick.”[30] By and large, this particular canon of work is characterized by a marked detachment from empirical reality, with both internal and external repercussions. One of the predominant explanations for this detachment is the strong presence of Jewish self-interest in the attribution of blame. The ‘veiling’ part of this process is essentially the third contributor to error in perceptual causation — the blurring of moral responsibility through acts of omission. Tenbrunsel and Messick explain that “whereas lies of commission are direct misstatements of the truth, lies of omission are acts of deception that occur because someone withholds information that deceives the target.”[31] These elements of error in perceptual causation are important because they enable distance from historical truth and deny the need for change within the group. Jews enable themselves to erroneously believe that changes in their behavior cannot fix the problem of anti-Semitism because it is, exclusively, a problem of non-Jewish society. 4.) The fourth enabler of self-deception is an inability to acknowledge the constrained representation of the Self. Our view of the world is biased, constrained by who we are. In a sense then, any pretensions we may have to uniquely objective comprehension of the world around us would be a form of self-deception. The ability of Jews to form an objective comprehension of outsiders, and the impact of their behavior on outsiders, is likely to be greatly diminished by group traits such as collectivism, authoritarianism, ethnocentrism, and the resultant practice of moral particularism. Nonetheless, historical and contemporary Jewry has been characterized by precisely the same pretensions to uniquely objective comprehension of the world around us that one would expect from a group in which self-deception is dominant. Examples aren’t difficult to find, and are often breath-taking in the scale of their conceit. For example, in Creating a Judaism without Religion: A Postmodern Jewish Possibility, S. Daniel Breslauer states that American Jews see themselves “as insiders who are also outsiders,” and that this ambiguous status gives them a unique insight into American society and the world at large. Breslauer is himself a victim of this self-deception, writing that “as both insiders and outsiders Jews can look at both sides of [a given social problem].”[32] Breslauer then takes his argument a step further by lauding American Jewry as an “ethical hero” which thanks to its uniquely objective take on American society can “be discriminating in the choice of heroic action.”[33] Other scholars have noted Jewish claims to a “stranger’s social objectivity.”[34] David Dresser and Lester Friedman endow American Jewish filmmakers with an almost mystical power of objective insight into American culture, claiming that their works “revolve around examinations of the greater society, their insights piercing deeply into American majority and minority culture.”[35] Of course according to Dresser and Friedman, while this unique power derives from the filmmakers’ Jewishness, this Jewishness does not in any way taint the objectivity of their ‘insights.’ This absurd, yet widely subscribed to, theory of uniquely unbiased Jewish populations acting selflessly to rescue the world is another strong indicator of self-deceptive processes within the group. It is also closely related to the concept of Jews as a ‘light unto the nations’; Yuri Slezkine in The Jewish Century points to the “strong sense of moral superiority over the host society” prevalent in Jewish populations.[36] Essentially, since Jews believe they stand outside and above non-Jewish society and its codes, they also adhere to the fiction that they are uniquely qualified to pass judgment on that society and its codes. Here one sees the interplay between two self-deceptive enablers: ‘slippery slope’ thinking and claims to unique objectivity. Having established and clarified these theoretical concepts and definitions, we can now proceed to a deeper analysis of Jewish self-deception in historiography, culture, and politics.Trump Orders Largest National Monument Reduction In U.S. History Enlarge this image toggle caption Howard Berkes/NPR Howard Berkes/NPR Updated at 9:30 p.m. ET On a visit to Utah on Monday, President Trump announced his proclamations dramatically shrinking the size of the state's two massive national monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Taken together, Trump's orders mark the largest reversal of national monument protections in U.S. history. The change has already been challenged in court by conservation groups. The Bears Ears National Monument will go from roughly 1.3 million acres to roughly 228,000 — only about 15 percent of its original size. And Grand Staircase will be diminished by roughly half, from its nearly 1.9 million acres to about 1 million. The specific numbers were provided to reporters by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke prior to Trump's announcement in Salt Lake City. "No one values the splendor of Utah more than you do," Trump told an enthusiastic crowd Monday, "and no one knows better how to use it." He noted that before making the decision, he had discussed it with Zinke and the state's two GOP senators, Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee. Both senators have been outspoken critics of the two national monuments — both protected under the 1906 Antiquities Act by Democratic presidents — framing them as significant federal overreach that deprives Utahans of their own land. And Trump echoed those criticisms Monday. "These abuses of the Antiquities Act give enormous power to faraway bureaucrats at the expense of the people who actually live here, work here and make this place their home," Trump said. His decision caps months of speculation and a controversial review of the boundaries of large national monuments that protect more than 100,000 acres of U.S. public land. The review, conducted by Zinke, originally looked at more than two dozen national monuments designated by presidential decree since the 1990s. Utah, with its new Bears Ears monument and the Grand Staircase National Monument, has always been at the center of the debate and largely what spurred the review. Trump's predecessor, President Barack Obama, created Bears Ears shortly before leaving office, while the Grand Staircase monument dates to the Clinton administration. And depending on which side you're on, Monday's announcement is either about an overreaching federal government that prevented development on large amounts of federal land with little local support or it's the latest example of the U.S. government breaking promises with Native Americans and eroding environmental protections. The case to reduce the monuments Utah's Republican congressional delegation, along with county commissions and conservative groups, pressed the administration to open up these federal lands once more for private use. "President Trump's decision to reduce these monuments allows us to still protect those areas that need protection, while at the same time keeping the area open and accessible to locals who depend on this land for their daily lives," said Matt Anderson of the Utah-based Sutherland Institute. Anderson says large, public-land national monuments hurt rural counties. These areas already have large amounts of federal public land, he says, where cattle grazing, mining and other types of private enterprise are heavily regulated. Rural Utah is still fuming from President Bill Clinton's designation of the Grand Staircase in 1996, which grandfathered in existing cattle-grazing leases and other uses but also nixed a proposed coal mine. Clinton signed the proclamation at the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, and Utah officials at the time said they were blindsided. "When you designate a large national monument, you restrict access to the land and you block traditional uses of the land," Anderson said. The home of Bears Ears, rural San Juan County, is often cited as one of Utah's poorest, and more than 60 percent of all its land is owned and managed by the federal government. Enlarge this image toggle caption George Frey/Getty Images George Frey/Getty Images "A sad day for Indigenous people and for America" During his speech Monday, Trump said the national monument designations also "prevent Native Americans from having their rightful voice over the sacred land where they practice their most important ancestral and religious traditions." Many tribal leaders and activists are likely to deeply object to this assessment. For months, they have passionately campaigned to preserve the national monument designations — and now, upon hearing Trump's proclamations, they are promising to sue. "The Navajo Nation has made repeated requests to meet with President Trump on this issue. The Bears Ears Monument is of critical importance, not only to the Navajo Nation but to many tribes in the region," Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said in a written statement. "The decision to reduce the size of the Monument is being made with no tribal consultation," he said. "The Navajo Nation will defend Bears Ears. The reduction in the size of the Monument leaves us no choice but to litigate this decision." "Bears Ears National Monument is not just for Native Americans but for all Americans," Vice President Jonathan Nez said. "This is a sad day for Indigenous people and for America." Bears Ears is considered some of the most culturally significant land in the American Southwest. Its famous Red Rock Canyon country is dense with ancient artifacts, cliff dwellings and sacred burial grounds. Just a couple of years ago, some of the land was proposed for additional federal protections, but a bill backed by Utah's House Republicans stalled in Congress. Then, last year, the Obama administration held meetings in the region before declaring it a national monument in late December under the 1906 Antiquities Act. Tribal leaders took to the streets of Salt Lake City over the weekend to protest the president's decision. At a rally Saturday, Ethel Branch, attorney general of the Navajo Nation, predicted the president wouldn't even set foot on or see the land in question. "I want him to visit Bears Ears before he takes any action," Branch told a cheering crowd at a rally outside the Utah Capitol. But Trump did not visit Bears Ears. The monument is more than a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City, and the president's tight schedule, which included a trip to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Welfare Square, brought him home to the White House by the end of the day. Enlarge this image toggle caption Howard Berkes/NPR Howard Berkes/NPR Next stop: the courtroom The Navajo Nation isn't the only group to announce its intention to sue the Trump administration over his proclamations. Conservationists have also voiced their objections — and their plans to bring those objections to court. By late Monday, 10 conservation groups had filed a lawsuit, alleging that Trump's action was "unlawful" and an abuse of his authority. The suit argues that the law "authorizes Presidents to create a national monument; it does not authorize Presidents to abolish them either in whole or in part, as President Trump's action attempts to do." "I think the only thing this administration understands is lawsuits," Yvon Chouinard, founder and CEO of outdoor gear company Patagonia, told CNN. "We're losing this planet, and we have an evil government. And not just the federal government, but wacko politicians out of Utah and places. I mean, it's evil. And I'm not going to stand back and just let evil win." The company is not a party in the conservationists' lawsuit. Republicans in Congress have proposed changes to the Antiquities Act, which was originally intended to protect against the looting of ancient artifacts from public land, to make it harder for presidents to use it as a means to create large national monuments. The law, as written, authorizes the president to designate these monuments — but it is gray on the matter of whether a president can actually shrink or abolish a large, already-existing monument. Sixteen presidents have used the Antiquities Act to create public-lands monuments, but legal experts say that the task of modifying public lands has historically been the role of Congress. "President Trump's dramatic reduction of the Bears Ears National Monument is a direct attack on the Antiquities Act and America's public lands. We intend to challenge this action in federal court," Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said in a statement Monday after the announcement. "Rolling back the designation of Bears Ears leaves thousands of extraordinary archaeological sites vulnerable to looting and vandalism. The President's action also opens the remarkable Bears Ears' landscape to incompatible oil and gas development." she said. "This arbitrary review and illegal action will not go unchallenged," said Nicole Croft, executive director of Grand Staircase Escalante Partners. Environmentalists like Croft fear the decision could set a precedent for future presidents to unravel protections on federal land. "The experience of exploration, wonder and humility at the grandeur of the natural world is one our children and their children deserve, and that is what this administration is trying to rob from our future," she said.Get the biggest daily stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Fianna Fail has demanded an “urgent review” of the mental health budget after the Government said it intends spending just €15 million in 2017, instead of the agreed €35.4million. The party’s mental health spokesman, James Browne, said FF is pushing for “a significant increase in funding and spending for mental health services”. He said his party were determined to pursue the plan for mental health services outlined in the ‘Vision for Change’ policy document. He said: “Fianna Fáil is calling on the Government to set out how exactly it intends on achieving full implementation of the country’s mental health strategy. “We have made it clear that mental health spending can’t be put on the backburner, so it’s time for Fine Gael and their Independent colleagues to spell out their plan for mental health services. “One key measure which we want to see is the introduction of a multi-annual plan for the development of mental health services. “Currently the Government allocates funding to mental health on a year to year basis. This is preventing long term planning and development from taking place. “Instead there should be a multi-annual plan so that our mental health services can be developed with certainty.” Mr Browne said he was calling for the debate because policy on the issue has been “consistently left behind.” He said: We know that in terms of international standards and in terms of what we were spending previously in this country on mental health, it has always been left to the side. “We’ve seen significant delays in all aspects of mental health. Under the Vision for Change for example, there was only 53% of staffing levels needed.” He added that parents across the country were experiencing delays of between 18 and 22 months before their children were given any form of assessment. He also said there were real difficulties in attracting to psychiatric nurses to the system “because they’re so underfunded and because they’re so unsupported.” Mr Browne noted that he had some indications that the government will support the motion. Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform Dara Calleary warned that any agreements on public sector pay must not impact on services such as mental health.Longtime fans of From Software who long for the perspective of the King's Field series in Dark Souls may want to take note of a set of tweaks that enable first-person view in the Windows PC version of the game. A word of warning though; its creator says the notoriously difficult role-playing game becomes "next to unplayable" from first-person. YouTube user and Dark Souls modder "Soul Slasher" posted the above video this week of the game from first-person, a feat accomplished by equipping certain armor, changing the size of the player's body and head size to zero (or smaller) and moving the game's camera in closer to the action. The result is a mostly functional first-person perspective, though with some awkwardly floating arms. Mods featured in the video are available at NexusMods, where a more capable first-person mod for Dark Souls will assuredly appear someday soon.Russia has fallen behind the United States and China as the world's leading launcher of space rockets. Russia will finish 2016 with just 18 launches, according to open source data, compared to China's 19 and America's 20 launches. It is the first time Russia has ever trailed the Chinese in annual launches. Alexander Ivanov, deputy chief of Russia's Roscosmos space agency, said on Nov. 29 that the launch rate has decreased because Moscow's space strategy has changed. Currently, it's top priority is reviving existing and aging satellite groupings. But there are other reasons Russia's launch rate may be falling behind. Since the late 1960s Russia has been an undisputed leader in annual launch rates – a figure that spoke to the general health of its space program and aerospace industry. At the peak of the Soviet space program, Russia often launched around 100 rockets a year. Since 1957, Russia has launched over 3,000 rockets – roughly twice as many as the U.S. Though the Soviets accomplished many important first in space prior to 1967, the United States launched more rockets per year. The U.S.S.R. remained dominant until the 1990s, when the U.S. briefly overtook Russian launches. Post-Soviet Russia gain climbed to the top in the mid-2000s. Read our in-depth look at Russia's latest attempts to compete with U.S. private space startups: Russia's S7 Takes a Giant Leap Into Space The rate is again declining with the Russian economy in crisis, space budgets have plummeted. Funding for the next decade of Russian space activity stands at just 1.4 trillion rubles ($21.5 billion), a figure that was only finalized after three rounds of cuts to proposed funding, which began at 3.4 trillion rubles ($52.3 billion). The U.S. space agency, NASA, received a budget of $19.3 billion in 2016 alone. To make matters worse, Russian rockets are becoming uncharacteristically undependable. Historically reliable vehicles like the Proton rocket have seen a slew of catastrophic and embarrassing launch failures over the past few years. Quality control issues now plague Russian space production lines. Meanwhile, foreign competitors like the California-based Space Exploration Technologies are encroaching on the international satellite launch market that has propped up the Russian space industry since the 1990s. Overall, both the Russian and the U.S. governments are responsible for fewer and fewer launches as the private sector assumes more of the burden. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported, as Roscosmos did, that 2016 is the first year Russia fell behind the U.S. in launches. In fact, the Soviet Union was initially behind the U.S. from about 1957 to 1967, and briefly again during the late 1990s.Results from a Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute clinical trial show that treating heart attack patients with an infusion of their own heart-derived cells helps damaged hearts re-grow healthy muscle. Patients who underwent the stem cell procedure demonstrated a significant reduction in the size of the scar left on the heart muscle by a heart attack. Patients also experienced a sizable increase in healthy heart muscle following the experimental stem cell treatments. One year after receiving the stem cell treatment, scar size was reduced from 24 percent to 12 percent of the heart in patients treated with cells (an average drop of about 50 percent). Patients in the control group, who did not receive stem cells, did not experience a reduction in their heart attack scars. "While the primary goal of our study was to verify safety, we also looked for evidence that the treatment might dissolve scar and regrow lost heart muscle," said Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, the director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute who invented the procedures and technology involved in the study. "This has never been accomplished before, despite a decade of cell therapy trials for patients with heart attacks. Now we have done it. The effects are substantial, and surprisingly larger in humans than they were in animal tests." "These results signal an approaching paradigm shift in the care of heart attack patients," said Shlomo Melmed, MD, dean of the Cedars-Sinai medical faculty and the Helene A. and Philip E. Hixon Chair in Investigative Medicine. "In the past, all we could do was to try to minimize heart damage by promptly opening up an occluded artery. Now, this study shows there is a regenerative therapy that may actually reverse the damage caused by a heart attack." The clinical trial, named CADUCEUS (CArdiosphere-Derived aUtologous stem CElls to Reverse ventricUlar dySfunction), was part of a Phase I investigative study approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. As an initial part of the study, in 2009, Marbán and his team completed the world's first procedure in which a patient's own heart tissue was used to grow specialized heart stem cells. The specialized cells were then injected back into the patient's heart in an effort to repair and re-grow healthy muscle in a heart that had been injured by a heart attack. The 25 patients -- average age of 53 -- who participated in this completed study experienced heart attacks that left them with damaged heart muscle. Each patient underwent extensive imaging scans so doctors could pinpoint the exact location and severity of the scars wrought by the heart attack. Patients were treated at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Eight patients served as controls in the study, receiving conventional medical care for heart attack survivors, including prescription medicine, exercise recommendations and dietary advice. The other 17 patients who were randomized to receive the stem cells underwent a minimally invasive biopsy, under local anesthesia. Using a catheter inserted through a vein in the patient's neck, doctors removed small pieces of heart tissue, about half the size of a raisin. The biopsied heart tissue was then taken to Marbán's specialized lab at Cedars-Sinai, using methods he invented to culture and multiply the cells. In the third and final step, the now-multiplied heart-derived cells -- approximately 12 million to 25 million -- were reintroduced into the patient's coronary arteries during a second, minimally invasive [catheter] procedure. Patients who received stem cell treatment experienced an average of 50 percent reduction in their heart attack scars 12 months after infusion while patients who received standard medical management did not experience shrinkage in the damaged tissue. "This discovery challenges the conventional wisdom that, once established, scar is permanent and that, once lost, healthy heart muscle cannot be restored," said Marbán, The Mark S. Siegel Family Professor. The process to grow cardiac-derived stem cells involved in the study was developed earlier by Marbán when he was on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University. The university has filed for a patent on that intellectual property and has licensed it to a company in which Dr. Marbán has a financial interest. No funds from that company were used to support the clinical study. All funding was derived from the National Institutes of Health and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.Edison’s link to the death of Topsy the elephant may not be entirely grounded in reality. ©ullstein bild/ Getty Images The shortest possible answer is that he didn't, at least not directly. Thomas Edison, one of the giants of American history, is often credited (or more accurately, maligned) with using electricity to kill an elephant as part of a publicity stunt. Edison may have been a flawed man, but he probably had nothing to do with elephant murder, although a cursory glance at his background makes it easy to see why many people attribute this act of cruelty to him. The story begins — and ends — with darkness, both literal and figurative. In the late 1880s, human civilization was still cloaked in darkness. Gas lamps were the primary source of light. Electricity was a novelty, light bulbs were a curiosity, and engineers battled to lay the groundwork for electricity distribution standards that would in many ways dictate the course of humankind. There were two standards in play, including alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). In what became known as "The War of the Currents," proponents for each standard touted their method as safer as and more efficient than the other. In one corner was Edison and the DC standard he advocated. In the other was George Westinghouse, who gambled on AC. DC electrical currents work well at short range. In fact, if you look at the labels for many of your electronics you'll see that they are in fact DC. But DC loses its oomph over a distance, making it hard for power companies to transmit over miles of power lines. AC, on the other hand, can be sent through power lines much more efficiently and then converted to DC at the outlet for home use. AC, then, was the inevitable winner in the war, but that didn't stop Edison from launching a propaganda campaign against Westinghouse and AC. Edison went so far as to round up stray animals and use AC to electrocute them in front of journalists in order to demonstrate that AC was more dangerous than DC. Purportedly, as the War of the Currents came to an end, Edison opted for one last stand in hopes of swaying the public that his DC standard was safer and better than AC. His hope was that a widely reported spectacle might stop AC from spreading and instead make DC the current of the future. As the story goes, Edison found his target in Topsy, a murderous circus elephant that was slated for death. But as is so often the case, that tale is not quite so simple. Topsy's life ended a century ago, snuffed out in front of a carnival crowd that gathered for a spectacle that became a milestone for both technological progress and animal cruelty.There's been an awful lot of talk about "fake news" lately. Everyone's up in arms about the stuff. But what never fails to amaze is the lies that liberal politicians tell on a daily basis and how no one -- certainly not the mainstream media -- calls them out on it. The whopper of them all is, of course, Bill Clinton saying, "I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Now, he DID have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, and after he uttered the same denial under oath, he was found guilty of perjury and had his law license revoked. The MSM, and the Democrats they support, soon found a new tack to dismiss the horndog's behavior. They said it was all much hubbub about SEX, just sex. And sex is a private matter (even if it is the president of the United States having sex in the Oval Office with an intern his daughter's age). Anyone who said otherwise was simply on a witch hunt to persecute the poor ol' POTUS. Then there was Joe Biden's plagiarism. He lifted a bunch of passages from speeches that were far better written than he was capable of penning himself, so he simply stole them. He fobbed the whole thing off on coincidence -- he must've just remembered those words another guy wrote and though he had written them. But while he had to drop out of the presidential race in 1988, he came back as vice president in 2008, and now he is a hero of the Left, who pleaded with him so they wouldn't be stuck with... Hillary Clinton is perhaps the biggest liar out there. Herr lies over her cattle futures investment, her Rose Law Firm papers, the White House travel office, Whitewater, Benghazi, her secret email service -- that's just a few, but our fingers got too tired to list the rest. Her best one was when she said she dodged sniper fire on a trip to Bosnia; video shows her accepting flowers from a little girl on the tarmac after her non-eventful arrival. Don't forget the new leader of the Democrats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Warren checked the “Native American” box on her applications to University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, seemingly to receive a leg up. (She received both jobs, by the way.) There has been no proof to substantiate Warren’s claim that she is “part Delaware” and “part Cherokee.” Now comes Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat. He told reporters on Wednesday that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch told him that he found President Trump’s tweets mocking judges “demoralizing” and “disheartening.” No one questioned the source, instead just running the juicy story -- Nominee Bashes President. But Blumenthal is a proficient liar -- at least until he got caught. Like Hillary, and Brian Williams, he made up some war heroics. “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Blumenthal said in March 2008. "But Blumehthal according to the Times, obtained five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took steps to avoid going to war," the New York Times wrote. Blumenthal also said he was captain of the Harvard Swim Team. He didn't. Blumenthal's then-campaign manager Mindy Myers called the Times story "an outrageous distortion." It wasn't. And Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications director Eric Schultz blamed Republicans for Blumenthal's lies. "Its no surprise Republicans would want to smear Dick Blumenthal," he said. Trump eviscerated the known liar. "Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie), now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?" Trump said Thursday in a tweet. But you'll keep seeing this story all over the MSM because, as you already know by now, a lie isn't a lie when a Democrat utters it.Chris Christie is not only being driven out of Donald Trump’s transition team, but out of Trump’s inner circle entirely. Word is, Trump is so disgusted by Christie’s handling of Bridgegate (and possibly the fact that Christie is such a shameful ass-kisser) that he no longer wants anything to do with him. “Trump thought it was shameful that Christie didn’t take the fall for [convicted aide] Bridget Kelly,” said a source close to the transition team. “Trump is really angry that Christie is sending a soccer mom to jail. He believes 100 percent that Christie was behind it all.” Christie’s former deputy chief of staff was convicted in federal court earlier this month along with former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni. They were charged with causing dangerous traffic tie-ups on the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 as political payback for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich not endorsing Christie. It would appear, at least in the eyes of these insiders, that women with kids getting hurt in politics is the worst thing in the world. “Trump really doesn’t like it when married women with kids get hurt in politics,” said the source. “Trump was pretty disgusted with Christie.” Christie’s failure to take responsibility for Bridgegate was the final straw in an already eroding relationship, said a second source, who is close to the Trump campaign. “She was a factor in the decision because Trump didn’t like seeing her crying,” the source said. Pay careful attention to the wording in those statements: “factor in the decision” and “already eroding relationship.” Trump and Christie have apparently not been getting along for a while. There had been some whispers that Trump picked Pence for Vice President because he wasn’t just another “Yes” man. The same can be said of Kellyanne Conway, who was able to explain to Trump why polls actually mattered. Both of their presences seem to have made an impact on the once thought doomed campaign. Christie, however, was ready to bow down and kiss Trump’s ring. He didn’t add anything of any real value to Trump’s campaign. It could be that Christie was so upset that he got nothing for his loyalty that the relationship began to break down, and Bridgegate simply was the final straw. Whatever it was, Trump is more than likely better off without the New Jersey governor.Weird Al is getting a bit weirder for day three in the eight days of music video releases to promote his new album, Mandatory Fun. This third parody is of Lorde's breakout single "Royals," which Al twists into a strange infomercial for aluminum foil. The song, called "Foil," translates surprisingly well, but it's partway through that things start to get really odd. "Oh by the way I've cracked the code," Al sings. "I figured out these shadow organizations / and the Illuminati know / that they're finally primed for world domination." Patton Oswalt costars in the video, and Reno 911! stars Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant cameo as secret agents to wrap things up. Al is now through several of the biggest parodies on his new album. Yesterday, he released a video for "Word Crimes," a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," and on Monday, he released "Tacky," a parody of Pharrell's "Happy.""Thank you for giving Kat such a great experience. She had a wonderful time. You guys are terrific. The great parental bonus -- and I'm sure you hear this all the time -- is the photographs and the daily email. We get to see what the kids are seeing and we get to see the group and we get to see our teen. What could be better? Viewing the pictures became our evening ritual: out on the deck overlooking suburbia, sipping cold drinks, and oohing and ahhing over the photos, feeling almost like we were there. I'm sure you're awash in praise like this -- as you should be. Kat had such an enriching trip. Thank you very much! With any luck she'll be back next summer." Tom and Madora K., Old Lyme, CT ParentCatnip lightsaber (for Vader), wool socks, book by fave author, and earrings! Thanks a million santa! Sorry for the slow post. I thoroughly enjoyed every gift. You are amazing. I can't say enough how excited I was to get all those fantastic items. After receiving the socks and lightsaber I donned the socks and set the Saber on top of my feet for a snapchat. Wasn't sure what the Saber was exactly, but thought it was cool regardless. Before I got the pic, my cat went batshit and attacked my feet. Suspecting the socks were an unknown material to him I took them off and made a note not to wear them around him again. Only realised it was a cat toy after telling a friend the story.By Dan Merica and Daniel Burke, CNN Follow @DanMericaCNNFollow @BurkeCNN (CNN)– For more than two decades, the Rev. R. Guy Erwin couldn't officially be a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. On Friday, he was elected a bishop. Erwin's election signals a shift not only for the ELCA – the nation's seventh largest church – but also for American Christianity. Only one other mainline Protestant denomination, the Episcopal Church, has elected openly gay and lesbian bishops. “In these days such milestones seem to be coming at an ever-faster rate," Erwin told CNN, "and eventually what seems revolutionary now will seem normal and predictable." With more than 4 million members
ers? (This claim is contained in a graphic accompanying the text) FairMormon Response Fact checking results: This claim contains propaganda - The author, or the author's source, is providing information or ideas in a slanted way in order to instill a particular attitude or response in the reader Logical Fallacy: Texas Sharpshooter—The author located some pattern in the data that he or she believes was the cause of something else, despite the lack of any supporting connection, and asserted that this was, in fact, the actual cause. Notes This is simply sarcastic hyperbole. The Book of Abraham was received by revelation, and it is evident that we don't have all of the papyri (remember the missing originals for Facsimiles 2 and 3?). The Kinderhook hoax was discussed in theyears ago. No translation of the Kinderhook plates was ever produced beyond the single paragraph that can be directly related to the Grammar and Alphabet of the Egyptian Language, which demonstrates that Joseph didn't attempt to translate them by revelation. According to the author, this is all supposed to disprove the Book of Mormon by inference?The author believes that he has found a pattern that fits his presumption that the Book of Mormon cannot be true.Five Leading Russian Universities Start Offering Cryptocurrency Courses Many universities across Russia have added new courses to their existing finance curricula that are focused on cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, and blockchain technology. They will offer these courses for the first time this academic year due to high demand. Also read: Russia’s Finance Ministry Drafts Law to Legalize Cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrency Courses A number of top universities in Russia will begin offering special courses and master’s degree classes devoted to the topics of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology for the first time this year, the universities told RT. The courses will be incorporated into the schools’ existing programs in the academic year 2017-2018. The publication interviewed five universities in particular. Moscow State University (MSU) is a reputable, coeducational public research university. Sergey Studnikov, a managing board member of the MSU economical faculty, runs the Financial Analytics master’s program. He told the news outlet about the school’s new cryptocurrency courses: We will have master classes immediately for several programs – for this we invite industry representatives. At the Higher School of Economics (HSE), which is one of the leading and largest universities in Russia, the topic is included as part of the school’s Financial Technologies course. This course is part of the Financial Technologies and Data Analysis master’s program which was jointly launched this year with the state-owned Russian banking and financial services company, Sberbank. The Saint Petersburg State University of Economics (Spbgeu) is devoting two sections of its existing program on banking, finance, and financial markets to cryptocurrency and blockchains. According to an associate professor of the school’s Faculty of Economics and Finance, Denis Gorulev, “to introduce a separate course here, we rely on a number of formal things – this needs to be coordinated with the Ministry of Education a lot and for a long time.” High Demand for Crypto Classes Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), also known informally as Phystech, describes itself as “a top 5 Russian university that is highly regarded by scientists, students, and engineers alike.” The institute will teach the IT component of blockchain technology. According to a director of the MIPT’s School of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Andrey Raigorodsky, this field is in high demand among both students and employers. “This year we have a couple of special courses,” he told RT, adding that: This topic is extremely popular. There is strong demand from the school’s industrial partners, he detailed. “For example, Sberbank is working with us now – they have opened a new scientific laboratory, where research on this topic is being conducted.” The National University of Science and Technology (Misis) is Russia’s primary technological university in the field of steel-making and metallurgy. This summer, Misis and government-owned bank Vnesheconombank (VEB) signed an agreement to create a center for new materials and breakthrough technologies with a focus on blockchain technology, the university told RT. Students will study blockchain technology at the new training center, the publication wrote, adding that: In particular, students of MSU, HSE, Misis, MIPT and Spbgeu will learn about Bitcoin and other aspects of innovative financial technologies. What do you think about Russian universities offering Bitcoin and blockchain-focused courses? Let us know in the comments section below. Images courtesy of Shutterstock, MSU, HSE, MIPT Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital... Hello everyone, I would like to start by wishing all our international players the best as they represent their countries over the next few days. Unfortunately, two of the players who had been called-up were unable to join as they suffered injuries in the Premier League game with Leicester City on Saturday. Michail Antonio was withdrawn from the England squad because he suffered a muscle injury. He will be unavailable for the first team for three to four weeks. Winston Reid was withdrawn from the New Zealand squad after he suffered a muscle injury early in the game. Winston will be out for five weeks. Pedro Obiang suffered a nasty high ankle sprain injury while making a challenge during the second half. He underwent surgery in London on Tuesday evening and is now recovering at home. Unfortunately, he will be unavailable for a significant period, and will be ready for next season’s preparation in July. Domingos Quina has entered the second phase of his rehab and is now working on an individual basis in the gym. Captain Mark Noble will resume training with the first team later this week and be available to face Hull City on 1 April. Angelo Ogbonna is progressing well after his knee surgery in late January and, if his rehab remains on schedule, he will return to training with the first team in around four to five weeks. Finally, we have Diafra Sakho, who returned to training with the Under-23s this week in controlled sessions, meaning that we tailor the sessions to manage his workload, gradually building him up. He has worked hard this week and will join the first team soon. However, we must be mindful that Diaf is essentially at the start of his own personal pre-season training schedule. When players return from their off-season, they will go through four to five weeks of pre-season work to build up their strength and fitness and, after undergoing back surgery and three months of rehab, a player needs time to reach sufficient fitness levels before we can contemplate making him available for selection in the Premier League. Stijn Vandenbroucke Head of Medical and Sports ScienceWashington, D.C. With the terror-inspired attack in San Bernardino, Calif., following closely on the heels of mass shootings in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Roseburg, Ore., New York's Democratic U.S. senators continue to push uphill for gun legislation in Congress. But in a quiet and under-the-radar way, it is the National Rifle Association and its allies that are making progress on their legislative agenda on Capitol Hill. One example: Buried in the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama the day before Thanksgiving, is language that prohibits the Environmental Protection Administration from regulating spent ammunition shells and shots as toxic substances under federal law. "Prohibiting the EPA from banning traditional ammunition is a huge victory for hunters, recreational sportsmen and our military," the NRA said in its release. "This ensures that our military, hunters and sportsmen will have access to traditional ammunition at a reasonable cost." In a news release, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, based in Newtown, Conn., just six miles from the site of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass-shooting, hailed approval of "a top legislative priority." The law will preserve "our hunting and recreational shooting heritage" against encroachment by "radical anti-hunting organizations," NSSF said. Passage of the ammunition measure may seem like yet another unremarkable trip through Washington's lawmaking sausage factory. But in reality it speaks volumes about the continued lobbying clout of the NRA and particularly the NSSF. With mass shootings dominating the news at regular intervals, Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have pursued legislation to expand background checks, prevent those on the terrorism watch list from buying guns, and impose stiff penalties for gun straw purchasing and trafficking. They have called on the American people to "rise up" and overcome congressional inaction by sheer force of numbers. But while it shuns major proposals such as background checks, Congress is willing to hand pro-gun allies small victories such as the one involving ammunition and the EPA. In that case, dominant Republicans were aided by a few rural "Red State" Democrats such as Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy on Dec. 14, 2012, the NSSF has expanded its presence on Capitol Hill to the point where its annual spending on lobbying now exceeds that of the much-larger and better-funded NRA. And even though it's the lobbying against expanded background checks and other such measures that gets the headlines, the smaller (but still significant) items such as the EPA ammunition bill represent the bread and butter of gun lobbying. NSSF represents 12,000 gun manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, publishers and shooting-range owners. The group says its mission is "to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports." The dispute underlying the ammo measure is unusual on a number of fronts. First, it pits the gun lobby not against its usual opponents — advocates of gun control such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Rather, it is environmental organizations who fought the NSSF and NRA over the environmentalists' contention that the main component of U.S. ammunition — lead — is hazardous to birds and wildlife who might ingest spent pellets. Also, notwithstanding President Barack Obama's advocacy for expanded background checks and other gun-control measures, Obama's EPA also opposed the environmentalists in arguing that regulation of ammunition is beyond the agency's legal limits. In New York, the SAFE Act's regimen of tough gun-control regulations remain highly unpopular with New York's hunting constituency, estimated at 700,000 by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation. And although Gov. Andrew Cuomo was instrumental in winning legislative approval for the SAFE Act in the wake of the Newtown massacre, he has tried mightily not to alienate New York's hunters. In 2013, he boasted about reducing in-state hunting license fees by 24 percent, noting that New York was fourth in the nation for hunter spending that generated $290 million in state and local taxes. But it is unlikely he has made much in the way of inroads. "I choose not to comment on any of this right now," said Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. Controversy over guns actually has proved to be a positive for the gun business. Gun manufacturing in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2008, according to data gathered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Very few firearms companies publicly report revenues but those that do are seeing profits up in recent years. The largest rifle manufacturer in New York by far is Remington in Ilion, maker of the Bushmaster AR-15 variant used by Adam Lanza in the Newtown mass shooting in 2012. The second largest is Just Right Carbines of Canandaigua, which makes a lightweight carbine rifle that shoots 9mm pistol ammunition. In the pistol category, the largest in New York is Kimber Manufacturing in Yonkers, which features a replica of the original model 1911.45-caliber pistol used by U.S. military forces in World Wars I and II. On the EPA ammunition-regulation front, the pro-gun side scored a major legal victory a year ago when a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington sided with the agency in resisting a petition from 101 environmental organizations to get the agency to regulate spent ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Such regulation was necessary to "protect wildlife, human health and the environment against the unreasonable risk of injury from bullets and shot containing lead used in hunting and shooting sports," the environmental groups said. Among those species at risk were bald eagles and condors. The NSSF countered that there was "simply no sound scientific evidence" that "traditional" ammunition is a hazard to wildlife. The appeals court panel disagreed with the environmental groups, pointing to the law's specific exclusion of bullets and shot from the definition of "chemical substance" subject to EPA regulation. Regulating spent ammunition would require EPA to regulate "cartridges and shells — precisely what (the Toxic Substances Control Act) prohibits," the panel wrote. One of the environmental groups' lead lawyers, Bill Snape of the Center for Biological Diversity, insisted advocacy for controlling lead ammunition will continue. "The NRA certainly did win a round in that battle, but the effort to regulate ammunition is not over," he said, insisting the groups' bid for EPA regulation was never about stopping hunters or limiting guns. They want to see hunters switch to "green" ammunition made with copper or copper alloys, he said.In a long piece detailing Obama’s badly botched approach to medical marijuana, the San Francisco Chronicle has a rather ridiculous quote from the White House: A White House spokesman said that its position on medical marijuana "has been clear and consistent." "While the prosecution of drug traffickers is a core priority, targeting individuals with cancer and serious illnesses is not the best allocation of federal law enforcement resources," said the spokesman, Adam Abrams. It’s really an amazing thing to say, considering that literally nobody understands what the hell Obama’s position on medical marijuana is supposed to be anymore. To describe as “clear and consistent” something that has created sweeping confusion across the country is hilariously dishonest and insulting, but I guess it’s exactly the kind of crap we ought to expect from these people at this point. I’d just love to hear someone at the White House explain to me why it is that their “clear and consistent” messaging about medical marijuana policy was so thoroughly misunderstood by the mainstream media, the medical marijuana industry, and the numerous state governments that invested countless hours developing new regulatory mechanisms as a direct result of the Obama administration’s statements. If every single interested party is horribly confused, then you are not in a good position to claim that you’ve been communicating clearly.Former President Barack Obama, left, laughs with Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam during a rally in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) The Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. -- Barack Obama is back -- at least for a moment. The 44th president made his first public campaign appearances Thursday since leaving office, attempting to rally the spirits of sullen Democrats and offer a lift to a pair of gubernatorial candidates in the final weeks of their campaigns. But Obama's mere single-day return to the public fold also conjured up bittersweet feelings around the gravity of his party's loss in last year's presidential election and the void his departure has left among Democrats searching for a new leader. While Obama purposely did not mention President Donald Trump by name in either of his stops in Virginia or New Jersey, he made sure to channel the foreboding mood of his party and ratchet up the urgency around the low-profile off-year races on the ballot this November. He tailored his remarks to the contests at hand and avoided directly confronting his successor, but it was clear in both content and tone that his overarching message was a veiled response to the Oval Office's current occupant. "Folks don't feel good right now about what they see. They don't feel as if our public life reflects our best. Instead of our politics reflecting our values, we've got politics infecting our communities," Obama said during an evening rally for Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ralph Northam, the current lieutenant governor. But Obama balanced that dour sentiment with his signature battle cry for hope and optimism, even dusting off his old campaign slogan, "Yes we can!" "There are people all across this country that want to do things better," he said, raising his voice over the deafening applause inside the Richmond Convention Center. Given Trump's incessant criticism of Obama and his drive to undo much of Obama's legislative legacy, it was an open question whether the former president would use the day to respond to the current one. But an aide to Obama says the former president wanted only to "speak to our better values and ideals" by making a policy-driven case for the candidacies of Northam and Phil Murphy, the Democratic candidate for governor in New Jersey. "It's in no one's interest – including the former president's, the Democratic Party's, or the country's – for President Obama to become the face of any resistance or the party," says the Obama aide. "He is acutely aware that when he consumes political oxygen, it can stifle the attention that should be on current and emerging leaders in the party." In a 30-minute address in Richmond, wearing a royal blue shirt without a tie under a navy jacket, a noticeably relaxed Obama completed the obligatory task of heaping praise on Northam, who holds a single-digit advantage over Republican Ed Gillespie in most public polls, as well as the others at the top of the Democratic ticket in Virginia. But he repeatedly acknowledged the sinking feeling Trump's election caused his supporters and warned that they couldn't be complacent at any turn in fighting it. "Do you want a politics of division and distraction or do you believe in a better kind of politics, one where we work together and listen to each other and move this country forward?" he asked. He razzed Democrats for taking a feckless approach to non-presidential elections, but implored that now, "the stakes don't allow you to sleep." "I don't want to hear folks complaining and not doing something about it," he said. Then he needled the young people in the audience. "I think that it's great that you hashtag and meme," he chided to laughs. "But I need you to vote!" The Democratic crowd reveled in Obama's presence, with many audience members donning 2008 campaign T-shirts, stickers and buttons. In Newark, New Jersey, chants of "four more years" filled the room as he took the podium. "I've missed him since January 20th!" gushed Becky Bowers-Lanier, an attendee at the Richmond event. "The crowd was fabulous. The people who were waiting in line -- young, old, black, white, brown. I'm sorry, I'm stereotyping, but I don't think you see that at a Republican event. Every time I see Trump, the folks behind him are white." Standing towards the back of the civic center, Bowers-Lanier met Wendy Alsop-Corbin, an African-American Democrat from Hanover, Virginia, and they swapped stories of previous Obama events they had been to. Neither minded that Obama decided against taking on Trump. In fact, they said they're glad he didn't. "He is a classy man. He does not have to. Like Michelle [Obama] said, 'When they go low, we go high,'" Bowers-Lanier said. Added Alsop-Cobrin, "He won't stoop to that level. That would be beneath him. That would tarnish him completely. He doesn't need to. He's got other surrogates telling Trump, 'You're a f---ing liar.'" Yet Obama still found roundabout ways to counter Trump's most caustic charges. For instance, he noted he visited Walter Reed -- the U.S. Army's flagship medical center -- consistently throughout his eight years in office, only days after Trump accused him of not calling Gold Star parents who had lost children in war zones. Standing in the commonwealth still wounded by August's hate-fueled violence in Charlottesville, he even gently waded into the debate over Confederate statues by saying the conversation over the nation's checkered heritage should be conducted with an aim towards healing. "You notice I haven't been commenting on politics lately," he said. "But here's one thing I know. If you have to win a campaign by dividing people, you're not going to be able to govern them. You won't be able to unite them later, if that's how you start." At the afternoon stop in New Jersey, where polls have shown Murphy holding a formidable lead for 14 to 18 points over Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Obama cautioned against complacency, making a glancing reference to Hillary Clinton's defeat almost a year ago. "You can't take this election for granted. You can't take any election for granted," he said. "I don't know if ya'll noticed that. You've gotta run through the tape." As Obama has now visited both states with governor's races this year, it's noticeable that Trump hasn't yet appeared in either. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Gillespie is treating Trump "as a communicable disease," as his campaign deliberates whether the president's divisive imprint is worth the risk in a state Trump lost. Northam charged that Gillespie is "cut from the same cloth" as Trump and said of Republicans, "All they're trying to do is take Barack Obama's name off everything he did." For Obama though, his return to politics was an adept balancing act of keeping the focus on the candidates at hand, while oh-so-gently and subtly countering a presidency that is completely antithetical to his own. He accomplished that, without (yet) provoking a presidential tweet. For many Democrats, Obama's reemergence was as much a therapy session as a call to arms. Said one woman to a reporter walking out of the speech in Richmond, "It was like putting lotion on a sunburn."Every once in a while I come across a blog post or a presentation that helps me figure out something that has been bothering but I was having problems articulating. Lately I've been struggling to come up with strategies to help developers figure out when they should REALLY be writing tests for their code. If you believe in the power of TDD, then the answer is "you write tests from the beginning of the project and forever after." I am a believer that TDD can be a very powerful design tool for building things at the unit / module / component level. Then some people asked me my thoughts on the comments by the creator of the Rails project about the usefulness of dependency injection. As happens when I am feeling frustrated, I started firing out the tweets on my feelings on testing and the lonely Crusade that I am on. Then I saw a talk by Dan North called "Decisions, Decisions" at the recommendation of Ian Barber that made me realize that someone else has articulated my feelings on when you should be doing testing. Slides for the presentation can be found here. You should watch the whole presentation. So many decisions about programming are made without understanding, REALLY understanding the trade-offs involved when making one decision vs. another. Let's look at TDD vs. Test whenever. The trade-off being made here is not about quality of code or guarding against regressions. It's about opportunity cost. This had occurred to me but I had dismissed it as being "anti-testing". But I think I was wrong, and here's why. In that awesome presentation he talks about "patterns" he observed on the team he was working with at the time. He was amazed at how much work this team was getting done, so he spent time analyzing what they were doing and trying to turn some of their activities into patterns of behaviour. Repeatable processes are good, right? The one that he saw being related to writing was a pattern he called "Spike and Stabilize." Basically, you write code without any tests until it becomes a solid part of your application's architecture. Once this code has proven it's usefulness, you start writing comprehensive tests in order to verify that it is in fact doing the job and doesn't break going forward. This is so obvious to me now. Clearly, you are leaving yourself open to the potential of writing not just application code but testing code that gets tossed away if the idea you are implementing is unable to prove it's value. Opportunity cost is huge and often dismissed by developers too. If you have some prototype code, or even functionality with a half-life measured in 3-month-increments, what else could be worked on while tests for this code are being written? Could this hybrid approach be an easier sell to skeptical managers or other stakeholders? That's hard to say. The "too busy to write tests" camp still has many members, and is still seems that it takes catastrophic failures before many people join the Testing Crusade. To be perfectly clear: I find great value in prototyping code and then committing to tests once the prototype is ready to move to a more stable environment. I try and do prototyping before I commit to writing code, because I often feel that way. My prototypes are usually command-line scripts that try and accomplish the task I've been assigned. That way, it's easier to actually write some tests once I know what I'm doing and guard against regressions later. The key to all this is being able to identify at what stage in this particular pattern your code is at. Is it still a spike, meaning you are working out implementation details and trying to figure out if it will even have the desired result? Or is it stable, providing solid value to the application as a whole and ready to be wrapped in tests to protect against regressions? Next time you are thinking about "I need some tests for this", consider the Spike and Stabilize pattern. The answer might be "you need tests...but not yet."Republicans’ spectacular failure to repeal and replace Obamacare threatens to sabotage another cornerstone of their agenda, tax reform — because of simple math. The GOP was counting on wiping out nearly $1 trillion in Obamacare taxes to help finance the sweeping tax cuts they’ve got planned for their next legislative act. And now it’s unclear where all that money will come from. Story Continued Below “This does make tax reform more difficult, but it does not in any way make it impossible,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said at a news conference on Friday. “We will proceed with tax reform.” While Obamacare taxes will remain, he said, “We’re going to fix the rest of the tax code.” But losing the revenue from Obamacare repeal is fueling speculation that Republicans will settle for just tax cuts rather than sweeping reform. President Donald Trump on Friday seemed to lament not taking up tax reform first. "Right now we'll be going for tax reform, which we could have done earlier, but this really would have worked out better if we could have had some Democrats' support. Remember this, we had no Democrats' support. So now we'll go for tax reform, which I have always liked," he said. But now Republicans will have to look elsewhere for money to meet their top targets: bringing the corporate tax rate down to 20 percent from 35 percent, cutting the top individual tax rate to 33 percent from 39.6 percent, and generous new writeoffs for business investments. “We’re going to analyze the complete impacts here. But clearly it makes a big challenge even more challenging," said House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas). Even if the Republican health care plan had succeeded, tax reform wasn't going to be easy. The House, Senate and businesses are already clashing over key elements of a House GOP plan, notably a provision known as "border adjustability" that would tax imports but not exports. Ultimately the issue centers on House Republicans’ desire to pass a tax overhaul that would raise the same amount of money as the current tax code. Eliminating taxes tied to the Affordable Care Act would have made reform cheaper by pulling down the budget baseline of how much money was expected to come in to the federal government. About $43 trillion in revenue is expected from the 2018 federal fiscal year through fiscal 2027, according to projections from the CBO, a sum that includes money raised by ACA taxes. “That is a huge issue,” a corporate tax adviser and ex-House staffer said on condition of anonymity to protect client sensitivities. But Republicans may have to trim their sails. Rather than dramatically rewriting the tax code, they might fall back on their bedrock policy of tax cuts, perhaps with a smattering of policy changes and money raisers to offset some of the cost. Earlier this week, analysts at Goldman Sachs put the odds of a tax cut at 80 percent, even if the Obamacare replacement plans collapsed. But Brady said Republicans wouldn't settle for just tax cuts. Morning Tax Sign up for our tax policy newsletter and stay informed — weekday mornings, in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. “Tax rates alone will not make America competitive. We know China, Germany, Canada, Mexico are not just beating us on low rates, they’re beating us by not taxing worldwide, they’re beating us with border adjustability,” he said. Lawmakers closely aligned with the president are worried about the broader political consequences of failure to repeal the 2010 health law. “If this goes down, we don’t get tax reform, we don’t get infrastructure,” said Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), the first lawmaker to back Trump’s campaign. “We may lose the Senate. We may lose the House.” Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee is ready to get to work. “Tuesday morning is our first tax reform meeting,” said committee member Kenny Marchant (R-Texas). Colin Wilhelm and Brian Faler contributed to this story.Like Julavits’s childhood diaries, every entry in “The Folded Clock” begins, “Today I.... ” As in, “Today I was stung by a wasp,” and “Today I heard an ambulance siren,” and “Today I tried again to read the Goncourts,” and “Today I found a Rolodex in a trash can at J.F.K.,” and “Today I thought I might educate my husband about birth control pills,” and “Today I heard a terrible noise,” and “Today I examined the Rolodex I found at J.F.K.” After that first sentence, each today pitches recklessly and headily into the essay it will become, a meditation on desire perhaps, or ghosts, or time. Today does not remain today, but ranges into the past and future, following an associative course guided by an unpredictable mind. The result is that each day feels very full, although little happens. And this fullness becomes a reminder of how a life can be improved by the passing of time. “The Folded Clock” is, among other things, an ode to maturity, or whatever you want to call that effect of time that enables you to understand Foucault now as you did not when you were 19. Image Heidi Julavits's international driver's license. My Foucault-friend, who is now an anthropologist, observes that in the West we tend to think of made things as being false. We like to imagine that facts are found, not made. And if the story of a life is true, then we have trouble accepting that it might also be crafted. But plots don’t just happen to us, we invent them for ourselves. “When writing novels I cannot seem to escape the trap of a plot,” Julavits remarks. She finds her escape in “The Folded Clock.” It is happily plotless, though it is not without narrative, and certainly not shapeless. The book is structured around reoccurrences of objects, ideas, of signs and symbols that gather meaning each time they return. The intricate structure calls to mind fractal patterns or Renaissance sketches of eddying water, and the real achievement here may be that Julavits manages to make it appear unintentional. The order does not feel made, but found. Wearing, as it does, the guise of a diary, “The Folded Clock” is particularly dependent on the well-crafted persona of its narrator — witty, sly, critical, inventive and adventurous. This is someone who finds an old tap handle so impossibly beautiful, she carries it around in her purse. Who retrieves Rolodexes from trash cans. Who remarks, in a meditation on loss, “Because I lost a necklace in a river I learned that the state of Vermont has a scuba diving club.” This is not just a likable self, this is a self who likes herself. Considering that we are, as Americans, rather messed up around the whole concept of self, and that our culture tends to encourage self-loathing, particularly in women, I feel compelled to clarify that there is nothing wrong with a narrator who likes herself. On the contrary. I had the sense, reading “The Folded Clock,” that a permission was being granted for which I was grateful. I was reminded, in an elliptical way, of the moment in James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” when he writes, “I acted in New Jersey as I had always acted, that is as though I thought a great deal of myself — I had to act that way — with results that were, simply, unbelievable.” Baldwin was performing radical self-regard, and he was punished for it. The situation may be considerably less fraught for Julavits, but I don’t admire her self-regard any less.CLOSE More people have died this year while trying to take the perfect selfie than from shark attacks because they lose sight of their surroundings. Sean Dowling (@seandowlingtv) has more. Buzz60 Stock image of diver and shark. (Photo11: abadonian, Getty Images/iStockphoto) Next time you aim to channel your inner Kim Kardashian and snap a selfie, you might want to think twice. A Japanese tourist reportedly died of a heart attack after falling down a staircase at the Taj Mahal's Royal Gate while attempting to take a selfie, the BBC reports. Another man recently shot himself while posing for a selfie, and in 2014, a couple fell off a cliff while trying to snap a picture of themselves. Citing numerous selfie-related accidents, the Russian Interior Ministry launched an information campaign to teach citizens how to take safely a selfie in July. Noticing a trend in selfie-related deaths, Mashable decided to dig a little deeper. The outlet compared selfie-related deaths to shark attacks, and found more people died while trying to take a selfie this year than were killed by sharks. In 2015, 12 people died while attempting to take a selfie and eight people died from shark attacks, according to Mashable. The selfie-related injuries and deaths have prompted many places to ban selfie sticks. Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter. Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Kva8I4Stream the World Cup on your TV if you don't have cable It’s the World Cup! ESPN, the broadcaster with the rights in the US has a streaming service. However, try and access the stream and you’ll be prompted to sign in to your cable subscription. Why doesn’t ESPN sell direct access to their streaming service? Complicated contracts and deals. Hopefully that will change over time. During the last summer olympics, I had good luck streaming the olympics TV from the UK using a VPN service. What’s the best way to get the World Cup on the TV in your living room if you don’t have a cable subscription? I’ve got a couple of great options for you other cord-cutters to get the World Cup on your TV. Streaming the World Cup from the UK using Hola.org A friend told me about Hola.org, a browser plug in that allows you to stream from different countries. Install the “Hola.org” plug in on Chrome. Connect to either the BBC stream or the ITV stream. Hola should automatically change to “UK” mode and load the site. If you need a post code in the UK - Here’s the one for the TV Licensing (the government organization that collects tax dollars and pays for TV). BS98 1TL Stream the game This is the easiest way to start streaming the game, but I’ve found that the stream doesn’t stay consistently good. Even on the paid tier, the stream via Hola.org is quite inconsistent on my fiber internet. Streaming the World Cup from the UK using Vyprvpn Option two is just marginally more complicated and that’s to pay for it VPN access. The downside here is that it sends all your internet traffic to the remote server, not just a single tab in the browser. Some quick research online for “Fastest VPNs for streaming” had Vyprvpn topping some chart. I’m always skeptical of VPN review sites, but it wasn’t a bad sign that they might be a decent option. Sign up for VyprVPN (3 day trial, and 50% off the first month)- I don’t get any kickback on this… I’m just a happy customer. Connect to servers in the UK using the Vyprvpn app. Connect to either the BBC stream or the ITV stream. Stream the game I’ve found that Vyprvpn’s service is much more reliable. It might buffer once every 20 minutes and the quality of the picture doesn’t degrade. Getting your streaming World Cup game on a TV using Chromecast Getting it on a computer is fine, but the ideal is that it’s on your TV. First, you’ll need a Google ChromeCast, a $35 device you plug in to your TV. Once that’s up and running. Install the “Google Cast” plugin for Chrome. While streaming the game from the BBC or ITV, click “Cast” You’ll get your game on the TV Happy watching!Negating Predicate Functions in JavaScript Originally published in the A Drip of JavaScript newsletter. While you may not have heard the term, chances are you've used predicate functions before. A predicate is essentially a function that determines whether something is true or false based on its arguments. It is common (though not necessary) for predicates to be named "isX", such as isEven or isNumber. Suppose that we have a program which deals with cataloging comic book heroes and villains represented as simple objects: var superman = { name : "Superman", strength : "Super", heroism : true }; And as part of that program we have a number of predicates that might look something like this: function isSuperStrong ( character ) { return character. strength === "Super" ; } function isNotSuperStrong ( character ) { return character. strength!== "Super" ; } function isHeroic ( character ) { return character. heroism === true ; } function isNotHeroic ( character ) { return character. heroism!== true ; } // Outputs: false console. log ( isNotSuperStrong ( superman )); // Outputs: false console. log ( isNotHeroic ( superman )); As you can see, this is a bit repetitive. But the problem isn't that the code is longer. Rather, the problem is that for each pair of predicates (the "is" and "isNot") we are defining our core logic twice
: Hitler demands an emergency decree to overcome the crisis. There is little resistance, and the decree is signed "for the protection of the people and the State". According to the decree, "Restrictions on the personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press; on the rights of assembly and association; and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed." The Nazi dictatorship is established.The Hegelian Principle was first described by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a 19th century German philosopher. The principle defined a method used to produce a oneness of mind on any given issue or thought. Since its conception, it has been used repeatedly and very successfully to gain power, status, money and control. The original terms for the three steps were Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis.Under Hegel's theory, one type of government or society (Thesis) would give rise to another that was the opposite of this type of government or society (Antithesis). This would result in conflict between the two types since they were opposites. After thesis and antithesis ideas battle each other for an extended time without either side winning, both sides become ready for change. This change (Synthesis) is then brought about by the creation of a third type of government or society.These three steps are easily seen in the example of the Nazi rise to power, in which the Democratic government battled the Communist form of government. When the public was conditioned to ask for change, a new government system was installed.The principle is often seen at work in the downhill slide of education toward the goal of ensuring children grow up unable to be intelligent participants in their democracy.Step One - The federal government wants to assert control over the educational system, previously the providence of the states. As a way of doing this, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is created as a tool to gain power by doling out money to the school districts if they would accept the strings attached. Slowly but surely the pot of federal dollars that could be had is increased, while state support is undermined. Under ESEA mandates, academic programs are replaced by social programs.Step Two - As academic programs are displaced, test scores drop, and juvenile problems increase as children become more and more illiterate, and parental and public outcry becomes louder. Teachers are made the fall guys for the illiteracy of their students. Attempts at fixing the problems involve the creation of ever more social programs, and fail to address the issue of children's failure to learn. Parents are blamed as schools make inroads into controlling the parent/child relationship by pitting parents against their own children over school issues. Education reform is officially sanctioned as Bush announces himself the education president, proclaiming that "The people have been heard. We must do something about our ailing education system."Step Three - We are in step three now. Progressive socialist education is upon us. We are creating a generation of people incapable of thinking, reasoning, speaking and questioning. The individual will soon be extinct, having been stripped of his uniqueness and become no more than a commodity to be valued accordingly. With the loss of uniqueness goes the loss of independence and the ability to advocate for one's self. The new generation emerges as a willing participant in its own enslavement.Reference:Hornberger, Jacob "How Hitler Became A Dictator",Barbara is a school psychologist, a published author in the area of personal finance, a breast cancer survivor using "alternative" treatments, a born existentialist, and a student of nature and all things natural.Nick Bostrom’s book Superintelligence might just be the most debated technology book of the year. Since its release, big names in tech and science, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, have warned of the dangers of artificial intelligence. Bostrom says that while we don’t know exactly when artificial intelligence will rival human intelligence, many experts believe there is a good chance it will happen at some point during the 21st century. He suggests that when AI reaches a human level of intelligence, it may very rapidly move past humans as it takes over its own development. The concept has long been discussed and is often described as an “intelligence explosion”—a term coined by computer scientist IJ Good fifty years ago. Good described the process like this: “Let an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can far surpass all the intellectual activities of any man, however clever. Since the design of machines is one of these intellectual activities, an ultraintelligent machine could design even better machines; there would then unquestionably be an ‘intelligence explosion,’ and the intelligence of man would be left far behind.” Bostrom says that once this happens, if we aren’t prepared, superintelligent AI might wipe us out as it acts to achieve its goals. He draws the analogy to humans redeveloping various ecosystems and, in the process, causing animal extinctions. “If we think about what we are doing to various animal species, it’s not so much that we hate them,” Bostrom told IEEE Spectrum. “For the most part, it’s just that we have other uses for their habitats, and they get wiped out as a side effect.” In one scenario Bostrom outlines, an AI programmed to make as many paper clips as possible might move against humans as it calculates how likely we are to turn it off. Or it might view us as a source of atoms for more paper clips. Broader and seemingly beneficial goal setting might backfire too. For example, a machine with the goal of making humans happy might decide the best way to do this is by implanting electrodes in our brains’ pleasure centers—this “solves” the problem, but undoubtedly not to the liking of most implantees. How then can we reap the vast problem-solving powers of superintelligent AI while avoiding the risks it poses? One way might be to develop artificial intelligence in a “sandbox” environment, limiting its abilities by keeping it disconnected from other computers or the internet. But Bostrom thinks a superintelligent AI might easily get around such controls—even perhaps, by being on its best behavior to fool its handlers into believing it’s ready for the real world. Instead, according to Bostrom, we should focus on the AI’s motivations. This is, as outlined before, a very tricky problem. Not least because human values change over time. In short, we aren’t smart enough to train a superintelligent AI—but it is. Bostrom suggests we program a superintelligent AI to figure out what we would have asked it to do if we had millennia to ponder the question, knew more than we do now, and were smarter. “The idea is to leverage the superintelligence’s intelligence, to rely on its estimates of what we would have instructed it to do,” Bostrom suggests. (Check out this IEEE Spectrum podcast for a good synopsis of Bostrom’s argument.) Why think about all this in such detail now? According to Bostrom, while the risk is huge, so is the payoff. “All the technologies you can imagine humans developing in the fullness of time, if we had had 10,000 years to work on it, could happen very soon after superintelligence is developed because the research would then be done by the superintelligence, which would be operating at digital rather than biological timescales.” So, what do you think? Can artificial intelligence save us from artificial intelligence? Image Credit: Shutterstock.com; Nick Bostrom/AmazonKickstarter is broken. Last week, after 30 days of investigations about a very suspicious project, I published an open letter to Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler. He replied over the weekend (read the comments), after the project succeeded, only to confirm most of my doubts. Here are my reply and comments. Read also: “Kickstarter failed us” from Raphaël de Courville. ————— Dear Yancey, You guys are really hard to reach! I’ve been trying to get in touch for over a month, but didn’t get any significant feedback until now, so I read your letter with great attention. Let’s be clear: Holus has been advertising a “revolutionary 3D holographic experience” what is basically a “2D display reflected on a piece of glass“. As you confirmed, they used: – misleading use of the words “3D” and “holographic” (the fact that other companies also did it, is not a valid excuse, imho). – prohibited CGI (silently replaced after 75% of the backers were fooled, and already pledged $220.000 CAD ). H+ clearly broke your rules, but still, their project succeeded. What is the point of having rules, if these are not enforced? I feel sorry for the 496 backers who will never receive the “3D holograms” they paid for. It’s hard to believe you’ve chosen to support this project, this sends a terrible message to your community, and a serious breach of trust, but it’s your call. Kickstarter has been passive aggressive while covering up the Holus project. You say you’re grateful for the contribution of your community but these are the facts: – YOU DID NOT REPLY to the official ‘reports’ made from day 1 (except email auto-replies). – YOU DID NOT LISTEN to the experts: Jason Sapan has been making real holograms in NYC for over 40 years, he warned you about the fraud. – YOU DIDN’T CARE TO COMMENT the 3 in-depth articles (1 – 2 – 3) written by Raphaël de Courville about his investigations on the scam. – YOU DELETED the embarrassing questions asked in the project comments (see screenshots). – YOU DID NOT MODERATE messages from suspicious accounts (1 – 2) and Holus partner comments (1) who broke another rule. – BACKERS WERE NEVER INFORMED about the replacement of prohibited CGI and removal of staff pick status. An now you’re telling us that “Staff pick badges aren’t part of Kickstarter“, I think it’s an alerting sign of the lack of supervision on your platform. In my opinion, your monitoring system is opaque, and open discussion is discouraged. It would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. My studio is full of awesome projects I pledged from your website, but currently I think Kickstarter is broken, and I’ll be boycotting it until some actions are taken to better protect your community. Sincerely, Joanie Lemercier Comments comments Powered by Facebook Comments(l-r) John Denham, Matthew Stansfield, Matthew Lisk, David Harsley, Robin Hollyson, Chris Knight, and Adam Toms (Picture: PA) A gang of paedophiles who raped and abused babies, toddlers and children in attacks that were streamed over the internet are facing lengthy prison sentences. The sex ring preyed on the families of the youngsters they targeted, in one case grooming a mother and father before their baby was born. Members would often travel long distances to carry out the sickening attacks together or watch the abuse over the internet if only one had access to a victim. Chilling online chat revealed that members of the gang, who live across the UK, would offer advice and guidance to others on drugging their young victims. Seven men – aged between 30 and 51 and including three convicted sex offenders – were brought to justice following an investigation led by the National Crime Agency. The shocking details can be reported in full for the first time after the trial of John Denham, 49, from Wiltshire, and Matthew Stansfield, 34, from Hampshire, ended today at Bristol Crown Court with their convictions. Robin Hollyson, 30 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Robin Hollyson, 30 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Chris Knight, 35 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Chris Knight, 35 (Picture: National Crime Agency) MORE: A vigilante gang has been finding suspected paedophiles online and assaulting them Advertisement Advertisement The others – Robin Hollyson, 30, from Bedfordshire; Christopher Knight, 35, from Manchester; Adam Toms, 33, from Somerset; David Harsley, 51, from Humberside and Matthew Lisk, 32, from East Sussex – had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges they faced. They all face significant prison sentences and some could be jailed for life when they return to court on a date to be fixed. Hollyson, who was previously known as Robin Fallick, Stansfield and Harsley are already convicted sex offenders while Denham, who changed his name from Benjamin Harrop, was a respected youth football coach. John Denham, 49, (Picture: National Crime Agency) John Denham, 49, (Picture: National Crime Agency) David Harsley, 51 (Picture: National Crime Agency) David Harsley, 51 (Picture: National Crime Agency) In total they faced more than 30 charges, including the rape of a child, conspiracy to rape a child, sexual activity with a child and administering a substance with intent against three victims – a baby, a toddler and a pre-school age child. But investigators, speaking before today’s verdicts, believe there are other victims. MORE: Girls locked in bedroom every night so mum can sleep with paedophile The gang hid behind a veil of respectability with careers and families to habitually target children under the age of five in Yorkshire, the South East, and the South West. Police described the men as ‘monsters in disguise’, working together to commit some of the most ‘vile and depraved’ child sex offences the authorities have ever seen. The NCA, which led the investigation, said the perverts met after discussing their sexual interests in young children on legitimate social media and adult sex sites. Advertisement Advertisement The gang was described as ‘incredibly skilled’ at grooming victims’ families, even striking up relationships with pregnant women to abuse their babies. Graham Gardner, deputy director of investigations at the NCA, said the ring ‘has got tentacles that go round the world’. Adam Toms, 33 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Adam Toms, 33 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Matthew Lisk, 32 (National Crime Agency) Matthew Lisk, 32 (National Crime Agency) Matthew Stansfield, 34 (Picture: National Crime Agency) Matthew Stansfield, 34 (Picture: National Crime Agency) MORE: Paedophiles ‘using bitcoin’ to buy child sexual abuse images online, watchdog finds The men, who did not know each other outside of their involvement in the abuse, led respectable lives – including a married former actor and a businessman – and concealed their activities from the outside world until they were unmasked. Mr Gardner said: ‘They don’t stand out as monsters, but they are monsters in disguise. We rarely see criminal behaviour involving the sexual abuse of children to this degree. ‘This is serious organised crime at its worst. The men involved in this group actively targeted families to facilitate the sexual abuse of their children, toddlers and babies. ‘The depravity of these men appeared to know no bounds and is without doubt as vile as we have seen.’ The NCA launched its investigation, codenamed Operation Voicer, last September after Toms contacted police and admitted he had abused a child. MORE: ‘Hero’ who won award for rugby tackling mugger is outed as paedophile Their inquiries led to the unmasking of the ring operating across the UK, which had links to other paedophiles across the world. Advertisement In the weeks that followed, the other six members were arrested and a further two victims were identified. Another 21 children have been the subject of safeguarding measures in relation to the investigation. The NCA has worked closely with the Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Humberside, Wiltshire and Sussex forces, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and nine local authorities. Police combed the suspects’ electronic communications and established that contact between them began on adult online sex forums, which are publicly accessible and legal to use. Investigators recovered Skype chat logs that recorded conversations between the men, which were described as ‘disgusting’ and ‘abhorrent’ by police.D.C. Republicans began to fear Southerland's seat might slip away early this summer. How to blow an easy GOP win MARIANNA, Fla. — It should’ve been an easy year for Rep. Steve Southerland, but instead of waltzing to reelection, the two-term congressman has served up a case study in how to blow a relatively safe Republican seat. He started campaigning late, got crosswise with women by holding a men-only fundraiser, warred behind the scenes with his party over strategy and fretted over anonymous quotes criticizing his reelection effort. Story Continued Below In the meantime, a threat emerged in the hard-charging Gwen Graham, who put 36,000 miles on her Chevy Equinox traversing this district and drumming up support among rural Republicans and Democrats alike, appearing with her popular father, a former governor and senator. Even though this district is rural, conservative and a pocket of deep resentment toward D.C. Democrats, Southerland finds himself in a multimillion dollar brawl with Election Day rapidly approaching. The contest has shocked Washington Republicans, who resent that they have to spend millions of dollars to prop up a member of the House Republican leadership in a district where President Barack Obama’s approval ratings hardly crack 30 percent. ( Also on POLITICO: GOP schooled on education politics) Washington Republicans began to fear the seat might slip away early this summer, when operatives at the National Republican Congressional Committee urged Southerland to fire back at Graham’s television ads. But Southerland turned down the advice, saying he knew how to run his race. He called Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy — his close friend — and NRCC Chairman Greg Walden to complain about anonymous comments surfacing in news stories criticizing his campaigning. The rare power struggle is resolved, Southerland and other Republican sources say, and he’s “thrilled” they are back on the same page. He and committee members now strategize on a weekly call. But some Republicans in Florida and Washington are still skeptical he can pull it out. Southerland dismisses criticism, brushing off the tight race as nothing more than the result of the jump-start from Graham. ( POLITICO's Polling Center) “It’s easy to score touchdowns when the defense isn’t on the field — I would hope,” Southerland said in an interview, leaning against his pickup truck here in this rural town of 6,100. “And daddy in tow,” he added, a reference to Bob Graham’s constant presence on the trail. Southerland maintains that he has a lead, and the district is snapping back to its natural tendencies. Voters here supported Mitt Romney, John McCain and Southerland in the past two elections. Internal polling shows the race is very tight. As far as tensions with the NRCC, Andrea Bozek, a spokesman for the group, said “this kind of gossip is eye-roll inducing.” And she noted the NRCC has been working with Southerland. ( Also on POLITICO: Gwen Graham: 'I am not Nancy Pelosi') But Southerland, who sits on the executive committee and has a daughter who works at the party committee, seems bruised by the experience. “Let me tell you something about my understanding of leadership and team building,” Southerland said, when asked about the NRCC. “It’s very different than what D.C. thinks a team is. D.C. has this idea that a team is a group of people that all tell each other what they want to hear. And everybody says what the leader wants to hear. That’s not a team. You look at what I’ve always valued, is honesty. I’ve always valued people of differing views.” He added that “leadership means not being intimidated by different opinions.” He thinks that as Election Day nears, people will focus more intently on the two candidates and recognize that the Democratic Party has left them and Graham is nothing but a liberal masquerading as a moderate. He says on repeat that his family has been here for 200 years, and it’s “a district we know the rhythm of.” It’s a backhanded way of saying that Graham doesn’t belong. Graham, meanwhile, says she’s found loads of disaffected Republicans who think Southerland is the embodiment of dysfunction. Defeating Southerland, she says, is a way to begin breaking the gridlock. Most Democratic polling shows Graham in a strong position to win. She says she even spoke to one Republican member of Congress who urged her to defeat Southerland. She declined to say who. The race is close enough that groups have poured roughly $8 million in television advertising into the Dothan, Alabama, and Tallahassee media markets — almost $6 million of which is coming in the last two months of the race. The spots are so pervasive that after a recent debate in Panama City, Southerland and Graham stood next to each other in a television studio watching campaign advertisements air ad nauseam. In the final two months of the campaign, Republicans will air $2.9 million worth of ads, and Democrats will air $2.7 million. It’s a sum neither campaign can get their head around, and both sides say they wish the advertisements would come down. They fear their message is being muddled. “We have been telling our district for months now, you’re going to see a congressional race that you’ve never seen before,” Southerland said. “That kind of money is not common here. In our media markets, Tallahassee and Panama City, that goes a long way. Especially with a governors race going on.” Despite all the money, the contest between Southerland and Graham matters precious little when it comes to control of the House. The race — and gush of cash — helps reinforce the new phenomenon in the era of the shrinking congressional map: each seat is a prizefight. But, more importantly, if Southerland loses to Graham, it would strip Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and McCarthy (R-Calif.) of a critical link to the conservative right. In the waning weeks, as Southerland and Graham traverse a district that stretches across two time zones on I-10, the race is publicly cordial, but serious tension is simmering below the surface. The two hugged at a debate in Tallahassee last week and agreed on a host of policy issues. But when the two are apart, the tension appears. To underscore how nasty the contest has become, Southerland won’t even answer whether he thinks Graham is qualified to serve in Congress. Follow @politicoMECCA (Reuters) - A recent surge in cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a sometimes deadly virus, in Saudi Arabia has ebbed in the run-up to Islam’s annual haj pilgrimage, the kingdom’s Health Minister Khaled al-Falih said on Thursday. A Muslim pilgrim wears a protective mask in the emergency department at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Mecca September 30, 2014. REUTERS/ Muhammad hamed As pilgrims poured into Mecca from around the world, the Health Ministry said it had confirmed two more cases of the disease in Riyadh on Thursday, but the number of cases has declined since last month, Falih said. Most medical staffers touring hospitals and medical centers around Mecca on Wednesday covered their noses and mouths with masks, as did traffic policemen and army personnel deployed to secure the flow of busses carrying pilgrims into the holy city. “With the help of God and then with the measures taken by the ministry of health we hope to prevent the virus from getting to the pilgrims,” said Falih in a news conference. So far around 1.2 million Muslims have arrived in the kingdom for haj. In past years it has drawn up to 3 million pilgrims, but authorities have limited numbers in the past two years because of construction work around the Grand Mosque. Saudi Arabia has banned the slaughter of camels around the holy cities during the pilgrimage. The animals have been found to carry the virus and scientists say they are the most likely source of primary infections of people. Seven people in the city of Medina who have been infected by MERS have been moved to Riyadh as a precaution to avoid any spread of the disease near the pilgrimage sites, Falih said. “The spread has begun to shrink and we are optimistic the days of spreading are gone and are behind us,” said Falih. The kingdom has mobilized 25,000 medical staff from different cities into Mecca for the haj season.First Campaign – Data Profiling (2013) The Client provided Callbox a list of their existing customers to be updated and profiled. The data profiling campaign wasn’t ran generically as merely updating wrong information, but rather implemented based on the Client’s specific process that required further research and data recording to complete the action. Client’s Process: To call all the contacts in the list Verify all the details: name of pic, company name, job title, email address and direct line In case of “no answer”, the caller will have to look up the phone number for the company’s main switchboard, and attempt to verify the contact’s details; while for contacts who have left the company, the caller must use publicly available sources like Google and LinkedIn All information gathered shall be saved and sent to Client every 2 days Note: The caller must not find/replace a contact and email address other than what’s in the list. First Campaign Result Second Campaign – Data Profiling (2014) The second campaign worked on profiling more databases but delved more into the sources from which and how the information was verified which required accuracy in call disposals.The Leads were classified as: Profiled by phone Profiled by online sources Employment validated Employment invalidated Unreachable/No updates Aside from updating and cleansing the list, a step-by-step Question-&-Answer form was to be filled out by the caller in a spreadsheet that will detail how the data verification was done for each call. Below are just 5 of the 11 questions and possible answers: Did the phone number we provided work? Yes/No (Yes=the phone rang; No=the phone number was invalid or has been disconnected) If yes, Did someone answer the phone? Yes, the lead him/ herself; Yes, someone other than the lead; No, nobody answered the phone) If yes: Were you able to speak to the lead? Yes/No If yes: Did the lead confirm the job profile and contact information we have on file for them? Yes/No Did the lead give you updated information that is reflected in the spreadsheet? Yes/No Second Campaign Result Third Campaign – Survey, White Paper (2015) In the third campaign period, both types were divided into four technology segments. Each had a corresponding question: Big Data Question: Does the business plan to purchase or upgrade big data technologies in the next 12 months? Cloud Infrastructure Question: How does the business deploy server resources in the next 12 months? Desktop Virtualization Question: Does the business plan to upgrade or invest in desktop virtualization solutions within the next 12 months? Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Question: Will the business be implementing or undertaking a DR related project in the next 12 months? Answers to the survey were uploaded via links provided by the Client. Third Campaign Result The results of all the three concluded campaigns were precedent to the upcoming campaign which the Client will be launching early 2016, with the same Callbox team. Callbox is customer satisfaction-driven. We translate your business thoughts into ideal opportunities, project plan schemes into materialized tasks, and goals into achieved targets.VMware security response is aware of the security vulnerability in bash known as “Shell Shock” disclosed today (CVE-2014-6271, CVE-2014-7169). We are currently investigating the issue. 9/25 Update We’ve published VMware Knowledge Base article 2090740, which provides the current state of our investigation into the bash issue. The article will be updated when we know more. 9/26 Update We’ve updated VMware Knowledge Base article 2090740 and added a list of Virtual Appliances that are going to be re-released with a fix for the bash issue. 9/27 Update We’ve added ESX(i) 4.0 and ESX(i) 4.1 to VMware Knowledge Base article 2090740. In an exception to the existing VMware lifecycle policy, we will release patches for ESX 4.0 and ESX 4.1 which are out of support. ESXi 4.0 and ESXi 4.1 are not affected. 9/30 Update VMware Knowledge Base article 2090740 now points to VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2014-0010 which lists VMware product updates and patches that address the bash issue.Yesterday, Dove riled Garden Staters and gralmitophobes by revealing a new New Jersey billboard telling the state to take the nickname "Armpit of America" as a compliment. The ad, part of their new campaign pushing armpit love, didn't go over so well with Jersey denizens though, and Dove is apparently dropping it. The Englewood Hills-based Unilever, which makes Dove, issued the following statement last night: Our intent with the 'Dear New Jersey' ad was to call attention to the fact that armpits can and should be considered beautiful and ask women everywhere to accept this as something that is okay. We did not wish to cause any misunderstanding or offense. We take feedback from our community very seriously and will not be running this billboard advertisement. Armpit love, we hardy knew ye.Spread the love As The Free Thought Project has predicted on numerous occasions, Harvey Weinstein’s demise is allowing for the era of secrecy and silence involving pedophilia in Hollywood to finally be exposed — forcing change. On Friday, youth talent agent Tyler Grasham was fired from APA talent agency following sexual abuse allegations from many of the actors he represented. According to the Daily Mail, the allegations first surfaced on social media and expanded to include many high-profile actors. Grasham is a veteran of the industry and has represented child actors for decades. Former child star Blaise Godbe Lipman posted a “#MeToo” open letter on Instagram and Facebook accusing Grasham of abusing him and leveling allegations that the APA knew about it, yet chose to do nothing. Following Lipman’s revelation, the allegation ran its own course, a route that has now led to Grasham’s firing. Lipman said that he was a minor when, while attempting to get him to sign with APA, the talent agent got him drunk and then sexually assaulted him: “Tyler Grasham, under the pretense of a business meeting regarding potential agency representation at APA Agency, fed me alcohol while I was underage and sexually assaulted me. [The] APA AGENCY HAS KEPT THIS MAN EMPLOYED, WORKING WITH KID ACTORS. I FIND IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THEY DO NOT KNOW OF HIS PREDATORY BEHAVIOR, USING HIS POSITION WITHIN THE COMPANY TO PREY ON NAIVE KIDS.” In a recent interview, Lipman described the incident in question, which took place when he was 17. “We were at his apartment when he got on top of me and fondled me. I pushed him off without trying to upset him,” he said. “It was a very precarious position to be in, not to insult someone who was in a position of power.” Other young men have since come forward sharing similar stories of abuse, all involving Grasham. On Thursday, film and TV editor Lucas Ozarowski, 27, came forward with a similar accusation. He claimed Grasham attempted to get him drunk and take advantage of him. Ozarowski said the agent took him back to his home after the boy got drunk and then began to “aggressively grope” him until he forced the former APA agent off of him and left. On Friday, following Lipman and Ozarowski’s allegations, Orphan Black star Jordan Gavaris, 28, also came forward and accused Grasham of sexually harassing him. Gavaris also took his allegations to social media. “When I was 21, Tyler Grasham repeatedly harassed me about my sexuality, and forcibly implied he could ‘protect me’ if I joined his roster,” Gavaris tweeted, adding “APA was well aware of Grasham’s reputation, as was most of this town.” When I was 21, Tyler Grasham repeatedly harassed me about my sexuality, and forcibly implied he could “protect me” if I joined his roster… — Jordan Gavaris (@JordanGavaris) October 20, 2017 But that if I didn't, my career may be derailed. — Jordan Gavaris (@JordanGavaris) October 20, 2017 Also on Friday, a more serious allegation of pedophilia was leveled by Brady Lindsey, 19, against Grasham. Lindsey reportedly said the talent agent wanted him to move from Utah to California and start a family with him when the boy was only 16. “I didn’t know who he was. He said he was a big-time agent in L.A. and he worked at APA…It was all talk of getting me gigs, but not being able to sign me up at the agency until I was already getting work.” But Lindsey said there was nothing sexual involved until after he turned 18 and moved to California where he met with Grasham who then allegedly invited Lindsey to his home for dessert. It was at Grasham’s home that Lindsey said the talent agent made “unwelcomed advances” to “kiss and cuddle” which Lindsey said he consented to. After Grasham was outed as a serial sexual harasser with pedophilia leanings according to the allegations, Canadian child actor Finn Wolfhard, 14, who plays Mike Wheeler in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things” quit the agency altogether. Whether or not Wheeler was abused remains to be revealed. While multiple accusations have been made by former child and adult actors alike, Grasham becomes the first one to be exposed and fired. Hopefully, this trend continues and these monsters fall like dominos."Activision are (sic) like a machine," [...] "I have to be careful what I say about these guys because I know them so well and they'll cane me. "But Activision are (sic) a machine. They're very good, and you know what, what people don't realise (sic) with Activision is, the two studios working on the Call of Duty franchise are collaborative studios. That's unheard of. All the assets are reusable, so they're not wasting time. "They wanted some of the Rockstar guys, yeah. Well it's smart, because Britain's pretty ahead in mobile programming. We're pretty good at it. Yet again, we're good at it but we don't talk about it too much because we're British." United Kingdom games industry expert, Andy Payne revealed that Activision's latest studio is going to work on Call of Duty Mobile. Activision Leeds is the latest studio to become involved in the development of Call of Duty games and is said to be working on handheld games only. Speaking to VideoGamer, when asked about Activision, Payne had this to say:He also spoke about U.K. based studios, and how they were responsible for some of the best mobile games today, in particular, he was referring to the Rockstar team behind Grand Theft Auto games for iOS and Playstation Portable:However, it is to be noted that both Call of Duty: World At War Zombies and Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies were also developed by London based studio, Ideaworks. Payne did not reveal much about the title, but confirmed that the studio is going to develop "all handheld versions, iOS versions of Call of Duty." This is exciting news for any fan of the hit first person shooter. After all, Call of Duty has probably reinvented online first person shooters. The iOS titles have both been ports of a small mini-game present in Call of Duty console titles. Yet, they still retain console quality gameplay and graphics. With Gameloft currently offering the best first person shooters in the App Store ( Rainbow Six and the Modern Combat series) it would be wise for Activision to step it up. A fully featured Call of Duty title, like the one on the Playstation Vita, would be a fantastic addition to the App Store.Spread the love Montpelier, VT — Those members of government who are willing to challenge the status quo and stand against injustice are few and far between. Those members of government who not only stand against injustice but take action to reverse are all but entirely mythical. However, Vermont governor Peter Shumlin is one of those people. Peter Shumlin just announced one of the boldest moves by a politician in recent history — he is going to pardon thousands of people whose lives were ruined by the war on drugs. “Today I am announcing an effort using the Governor’s pardoning power to expedite our move to a saner drug policy and criminal justice system,” the Governor said on Thursday. “Decriminalization was a good first step in updating our outmoded drug laws. It makes no sense that minor marijuana convictions should tarnish the lives of Vermonters indefinitely.” According to the most recent data in 2014, police arrested 1,561,231 people for drug violations in a single year — 83 percent were possession only. Of that 1.5 million, 700,993 arrests were for marijuana — 88 percent of those arrests were for people possessing the plant only. “It could have happened in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. There are thousands of them,” said Shumlin. Year after year, and now, decade after decade, millions of otherwise entirely innocent people have been deprived of their freedom, kidnapped, had their lives ruined, were thrown in a cage, or killed by police officers who are just doing their job while enforcing this immoral war on drugs. Given these numbers, everyone in America is either related to or knows someone who has been arrested for drugs. An unfortunate minority have even seen their family members or friends slain in the name of this immoral war. The effects of police ruining so many lives enforcing drug laws have created the hostile environment in which we find ourselves today. For those who were caught with an amazingly beneficial plant, many of them had their lives ruined as the mark on their permanent records has left them unable to find work — thus increasing their chances of turning to a life of crime. Shumlin’s program seeks to reverse this dangerous and immoral cycle. “We’ve got folks who got charged for an ounce or less of marijuana in a different era when we were running a failed war on drugs. Let’s give those folks the opportunity to have a clean record,” Shumlin said. Unfortunately, for the rest of the United States, this program is only available in Vermont. According to WCAX, the deal is as follows: if you’ve been convicted in Vermont of possessing an ounce or less of marijuana, the
the day that what you saw was a common vulture. That’s the trouble with being a “lifer.” You get complacent and you think that just because you’ve always known about tithing and Primary, you can shift into a lower gear. But believe me, the minute you do that, some crackerjack convert will zoom past reciting The Articles of Faith in four languages, and there you’ll be, wondering if they’re in the Doctrine and Covenants, or the Pearl of Great Price. It’s somewhat like teaching your kids to ski. You spend hours and hours and wait years and years until your kids can ski as well as you do, and finally they ski with you for one day. Then whoosh! They’re off to the face of Mount Dracula and you never see them on the Mom ‘n’ Pop slopes again. New converts know there’s a mountain of material to conquer and they sign right up at the local Institute, purchase lifetime passes to all LDS seminars, buy all the BYU religion manuals, and fearlessly ask all the good questions in Gospel Doctrine class-the ones you never ask because you were born into the church and you’re supposed to know all this. We lifetime members also glimpse the same mountain, but we sit on a rock and gasp at its immensity, rather than pick up our feet and climb the cliffs. As a Californian, I run into this all the time. Just the other day a convert was telling me about the missionaries who were sent to the miners at the Gold Rush. Another new member chimed in about the Mormons who published the first two newspapers in San Francisco, and before we were out of the cultural hall a recently-baptized sister pointed out that the first English-speaking school in California was started by-you guessed it-Mormons. Many of them know the Bible backwards and forwards, they read every church book imaginable, and they’ve memorized enough LDS leaders’ names to complete the genealogy of half the population of Utah. If a question arises about church administration or ordinance protocol, you can be a new member will have the answer. And it’s good for us to see the new converts soaking up knowledge the way we ought to be; it makes us step up our game and realize there’s much more to learn than we absorbed just by attending seminary. I tell you, at this rate, false doctrine hasn’t got a chance. Listen to The Joni Hilton Show, live weekdays from 9:00 to 10:00am on AM950 KAHI Radio and streaming live at www.kahi.comVoters who supported President Donald Trump in last year’s election think most mainstream media reporting counts as fake news, according to a new poll. Voters who backed Hillary Clinton say the term applies to most Trump administration statements. And a majority of Americans believe both Trump and the media dish out fake news on more than rare occasions. When the term “fake news” burst into the political discourse last fall, it referred mostly to unscrupulous websites adopting the look of legitimate news outlets to spread blatantly untrue stories. It’s since been co-opted as a cudgel against pretty much any news source or article seen as inconvenient. Much of the public, too, has quickly come to see the utility of the term. Seventy-three percent of Americans say they’ve heard of fake news, a new HuffPost/YouGov survey finds, and 43 percent have personally described something as fake news. To be clear, "fake news" does not equal stories that are unflattering. — Arnie Seipel, NPR (@NPRnie) February 16, 2017 I mean, it does now. Hooray for the fluidity of language. https://t.co/bTQusHpX56 — Danielle Kurtzleben (@titonka) February 16, 2017 Trump supporters, initially seen as the primary targets of fake news, are now the most likely to brandish the term against others. Sixty-four percent of Trump supporters say they’ve described something as fake news, compared with 43 percent of Clinton supporters and 32 percent of those who didn’t vote in last year’s election. Sixty percent of Americans say that Trump and his advisers say things that could be described as fake news at least sometimes, with 35 percent saying they say such things most of the time. Just 25 percent think the White House rarely or never traffics in fake news. Mainstream news outlets fare only slightly better, with 62 percent saying the mainstream media report fake news at least sometimes, although just 24 percent think they do most of the time. Only 27 percent believe the mainstream media rarely or never reports fake news. A similar percentage, 65 percent, think liberal media outlets or social media accounts report fake news at least sometimes, while 62 percent say the same of conservative media outlets or social media accounts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are most likely to label sources as full of fake news when they’re in ideological opposition to their own beliefs. Seventy percent of Clinton voters, but just 4 percent of Trump voters, say that Trump’s administration delivers fake news most of the time. Fifty-six percent of Trump voters, but just 6 percent of Clinton voters, think that most of what the mainstream media reports is fake. The Huffington Post Partisans are also inclined to think that the people who disagree with them are more likely to be susceptible to fake news. By a 51-point margin ― 56 percent to 5 percent ― Clinton voters say that conservatives are more likely than liberals to believe fake news. By a 62-point margin ― 65 percent to 3 percent ― Trump voters say that liberals are more likely to do so. The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Feb. 10 to Feb. 13 among U.S. adults, using a sample selected from YouGov’s opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population. The Huffington Post has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls.You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov’s nationally representative opinion polling. Data from all HuffPost/YouGov polls can be found here. More details on the polls’ methodology are available here.SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Helaman Hansen, 64, of Elk Grove, was found guilty today by a federal jury for operating an elaborate adult-adoption fraud scheme that targeted undocumented aliens, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. After an 11-day trial, the jury found Hansen guilty of 12 counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private financial gain. According to evidence presented at trial, between October 2012 and January 2016, Hansen and others used various entities such as Americans Helping America (AHA) to sell memberships in what he called a “Migration Program.” A central feature of the program was the fraudulent claim that immigrant adults could achieve U.S. citizenship by being legally adopted by an American citizen and completing a list of additional tasks. At first, memberships were sold for an annual fee of $150, but that fee gradually grew and eventually was as high as $10,000. According to evidence presented at trial, although some victims completed the adoption stage of the “Migration Program,” not one person obtained citizenship. As early as October 2012, Hansen had been informed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that aliens adopted after their 16th birthdays could not obtain citizenship in the manner Hansen was promoting. Despite that notification, Hansen and others acting at his direction induced approximately 500 victims to pay more than $1 million to join the fraudulent program. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorneys André M. Espinosa and Katherine T. Lydon are prosecuting the case. Hansen is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on August 3, 2017. Hansen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of mail fraud and wire fraud. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of encouraging and inducing illegal immigration for private financial gain. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.A man allegedly shot his elderly wife while she slept as he could no longer afford her medical bills. William J. Hager confessed to killing his wife Carolyn hours before police arrived at his Florida home on Monday, according to reports. He is said to have told officers he had been contemplating killing her for several days because she had been in pain. Hager told police his wife - who had been ill for 15 years - had stated in the past she wanted to die, but had never specifically asked him to kill her. NBC stationWPTV reported Hager had filed for bankruptcy in 2011 as the couple were struggling with mounting medication bills. An arrest affidavit stated drank coffee after the killing before calling his daughters. Hager has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held at St Lucie County Jail.Residents of a small Texas town were appalled this week when they awoke to find tiny worms had infiltrated their tap water. Dozens of households in the Houston suburb of Old River-Winfree found the little red critters wriggling in the bath water and tea kettles starting Tuesday morning. Some even said the problem was so bad, the worms were even clogging faucets and sprinklers and the whole town is now demanding answers. 'That's worms! That is so worms!' resident Tammy Early exclaimed to KHOU. 'That's just gross. Oh my God, I'm freaking out right now.' Scroll down for video Gross! Residents of a small Texas town were appalled this week when they awoke to find tiny worms had infiltrated their tap water The issue has been going on for several days and started right around the time local provider J&S Water reported a power outage during which equipment was damaged. The company flushed the system and issued a boil water alert Tuesday, but claimed they never found any worms at their plant. J&S said they've tested their water multiple times and that the worms must come from another source such as pipes. Widespread: Dozens of households in the Houston suburb of Old River-Winfree found the little red critters wriggling in the bath water and tea kettles starting Tuesday morning The issue has been going on for several days and started right around the time local provider J&S Water reported a power outage during which equipment was damaged. Around thirty residents of the subdivision in town gathered at the J&S facility on Wednesday, many of them holding plastic baggies and water bottles filled with the unwelcome visitors But residents disagree. 'For the record, we have replaced our pipes over and over again and it is PVC pipe. There's nothing coming from our pipes,' said Tara Miles. Around thirty residents of the subdivision in town gathered at the J&S facility on Wednesday, many of them holding plastic baggies and water bottles filled with the unwelcome visitors. The town's mayor was there to ease tensions and offered free bottled water and told residents where they could shower at an unaffected city facility.Ankara: India's GDP can expand by a whopping 27 per cent if the number of female workers increases to the same level as that of men, International Monetary Fund's chief Christine Lagarde said on Sunday. This is much higher than the positive impact a 50-50 gender parity in workforce can have on the economies of the US and Japan at 5 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. Speaking at the launch of W20, a grouping of women leaders from the world's 20 largest economies including India, Ms Lagarde said that "it is an absolute economic no-brainer" that empowering women boosts economic growth. "For example, we have estimates that, if the number of female workers were to increase to the same level as the number of men, GDP in the United States would expand by 5 per cent, by 9 per cent in Japan, and by 27 per cent in India," Ms Lagarde said in a written keynote speech she had prepared for the event. "These estimates, while of course tentative, are significant and large enough to be taken seriously. This applies particularly to countries where potential growth is declining as the population is ageing," she added. While she could not read out the entire speech due to paucity of time, a copy of it was released later by IMF. Ms Lagarde also said only big words should not matter for women and they must verify the delivery of the promises made for the women empowerment. She also said that men have a key role to play in the empowerment of women and quoted Indian-origin Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as saying, "Women are increasingly seen, by men as well as women, as active agents of change -- the dynamic promoters of social transformations that can alter the lives of both women and men." Referring to the G20 pledge of November 2014 to reduce the gap in women's labour force participation by 25 per cent by 2025, Ms Lagarde said this would have the benefit of creating an estimated 100 million new jobs for the global economy. "That was The Promise of 2025. Today, I want to focus on how to deliver on that promise... By the latest estimate, there are more than three and half billion reasons why gender equity matters," she said while adding that women's empowerment is not just a fundamentally moral cause, it is also an absolute economic no-brainer. Ms Lagarde also said that getting more women into secure and well-paid jobs raises overall per capita income. "For Turkey, it has been estimated that gender parity in employment could increase per capita income by 22 per cent. The same kind of gains are also possible for many other countries," she added. According to Ms Lagarde, greater gender equality not only raises absolute income, it also helps to reduce income inequality. "A forthcoming paper by our staff examines this relationship by comparing a so-called Gender Inequality Index to measured income inequality. The results have been quite striking - it suggests that a boost to education and employment chances for women could lead to improvements in income equality of a magnitude that historically took decades to achieve," she said. Listing out other benefits of female empowerment, Ms Lagarde said it can reduce poverty. She called for collective action to ensure that gender equality goals of 2025 are achieved and said IMF has also enhanced its focus on macroeconomic effects of gender gaps. "This has included new research, for example, on women's role in the economy and legal barriers to female participation. Perhaps even more importantly, we are now looking to apply this research in our policy advice to our member countries," she said. The IMF chief listed three key policy areas for women's empowerment as the education, getting a job and having a family. She said that a number of countries with highly educated women still have low levels of female labour force participation. Ms Lagarde said further that the recent IMF research noted that almost 90 per cent of countries have at least one important legal restriction that makes it difficult for women to work. "In half of the countries we studied, when gender equity was constitutionally granted, female labour force participation increased by at least 5 per cent over the following 5 years." She further said that women's pay was another barrier, as women get just three-quarters of what men earn with the same level of education and in the same occupation. "Infrastructure can be an obstacle too. Without access to basic transport or energy sources, women find it very difficult to work outside the home. In rural South Africa, for example, electrification increased female labour force participation by 9 per cent," she said. Ms Lagarde also flagged unequal access to finance as a key impediment and said in emerging and developing countries, 70 per cent of female-owned small and medium-sized enterprises are either unserved or under-served by financial institutions. "Increasing financial inclusion for women is an issue that I plan to emphasise at the UN Summit on the Post-2015 Development Agenda later this month. It is crucial to delivering on the 2025 objective," she added. Ms Lagarde said the special role that women play in family life also comes in way of gender equality at workplace and suggested measures like paid parental leaves including paternity leaves as well as affordable and high-quality childcare facilities. "This raises a salient point: men - not only as partners, but also as fathers, sons, and brothers - have an important stake in empowering women. Not only does this help their partners, daughters, mothers and sisters to achieve their potential, it also helps build a stronger society for all," she said. "Policymakers and employers can work hand-in-hand to provide affordable and high-quality childcare. Research suggests that cutting the cost of childcare by half could increase the number of young mothers in the labour market by 10 per cent. "Tax reform can also help. In too many countries, the tax system discourages secondary earners-who are often women-from working. Replacing family taxation with individual taxation can reduce marginal taxes on these secondary earners, thereby encouraging women to work. "This package of parental leave, childcare, and a fairer tax system can enable women to combine a job with a family. Along with investing in girls' education and easing women's entry into the labour market, it also supports women's economic empowerment," she added. Ms Lagarde said that the G20's pledge to reduce the gap in women's labour force participation by 25 per cent over the next decade holds the potential to empower women in a historic way. "More than this, it holds the potential to boost growth, raise overall per capita income, tackle poverty, and reduce income inequality for people all over the world. In short, this can be a game-changer for the global economy. But the promise can only be fulfilled if words become actions. "We need to work together - the G-20, the W-20, the IMF's 188 member countries - to transform aspiration into reality," she added.The Perth Glory coach is no longer muted and will return to the sideline for the big game against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. He was relegated to the grandstand and forbidden from match-day contact with his players as a result of his finger-pointing rant at referee Alan Milliner at halftime of the round-three game against Melbourne City. Lowe admitted he over-stepped the mark on that occasion. His passion means he is often great theatre on the sideline and his media conferences are very entertaining because he has a terrific personality and says what he thinks. Asked if he saw himself as actively promoting the game and whether he regarded that as one of his responsibilities, Lowe told The World Game: "I think so, as long as you do it the way I do it in the press conferences and not the way I did it on the pitch. "You've got to promote the game in the right way. I just think it's pointless being bland and cliched, you're not saying what you're actually thinking. "I think if you've got something to say, say it, and try to say it in a way that doesn't upset people, and if you can have a laugh along the way, hey, why not?" Lowe said he was just being himself. "If you try to be somebody you're not, eventually you get found out," he said. "I just call it as I see it, as best I can, and I guess there has always been a bit of humour there, or a bit of sarcasm. Where I came from, all my mates were like that, so if you didn't get in first then you got done." Lowe became something of a cult figure when he first emerged as an A-League coach, because he was so lively on the sideline, but he said he had made a conscious effort to bring the level down there. "It's good to be a character, but not a caricature," he said. "Early on when I got in I was jumping all around in the dug-out and I tried to calm that down a little bit. "Now that I've done that, maybe you get people to look at you for the right reasons, that you can actually do the job."Got one of those shiny Mac laptops, but Linux has you realising computer freedom is best? This is the definitive guide! UPDATED FEBRUARY 2019 Using a Macintosh is (mainly) a delight. The hardware is solid, fast, and beautiful, but over time, macOS has become dumbed down and in some places, downright silly. I long since realised that I could do exactly what I wanted to do with my macbook using Linux, rather than being encumbered by having to follow the ‘Apple’ way of doing things. I never looked back. Here’s the definitive guide to installing Linux on a Mac. DISCLAIMER: This is an advanced tutorial which sometimes works at the command line and can cause irreparable damage to your data. If you do proceed, make sure you have backed everything up with TimeMachine or such like tools. The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide cannot be held responsible for any damage caused as a result of following this tutorial. This tutorial has been tested on a late 2013 Macbook Pro Retina 15″, however it should work with any EFI based Mac (more on that in a bit). The EFI based Macintosh started around 2008 (you can check the list of the Apple EFI systems here). This should include Macbook Pros, Macbook Air, iMac and probably Mac Pro’s… Update: Apple’s new P2 ‘Secure boot’ chip To find out if you have the T2 chip: 1. press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple () menu > System Information. 2. In the sidebar, select either Controller or iBridge, depending on the version of macOS in use. 3. If you see “Apple T2 chip” on the right, your Mac has the Apple T2 Security Chip.. Unfortunately, from 2018, Apple decided to add a new ‘secure boot’ T2 chip into their mac hardware. This basically means that you can’t use anything other than macOS on Apple hardware, however it is possible to switch off secure boot. See the image to the right to show you how to find out if your machine has the T2 chip. If you have said T2 chip, then you’ll need to disable the secure boot option in order to install Linux on your mac. Note that I haven’t tested this (I don’t have a new mac), so please let me know in the comments if it works for you. You’ll need to start your mac into the Recovery mode and launch the Startup Security Utility. To do this, just follow these steps: Turn on your Mac (or restart it if it’s already on), then press and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately after you see the Apple logo. Your Mac starts up from macOS Recovery. When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar. When you’re asked to authenticate, click Enter macOS Password, then choose an administrator account and enter its password. Now look at the options, there should be an option for ‘Secure Boot’. Switch it off by selecting ‘No security’. There should also be an option about ‘External Boot’. Ensure that this is set to ‘Allow booting from external media’. The Startup Security Utility defaults enforce the highest security by default. This won’t let you install Linux on your mac, let alone boot from a USB stick. Dual Booting with Mac OS (yes, you can keep MacOS!) I am writing this assuming that you want to keep Mac OS X on your hard drive and that you wish to dual-boot it at any time. You should have plenty of free space on your disk drive (the more the better), so either delete some cruft or move some of your old data onto a separate external archive hard drive (because I know you got one or ten of them lying around!). I used MacOS Mojave, which is the latest version of macOS at the time of writing. Recently Apple introduced a ‘security feature’ called ‘SIP’ (System Integrity Protection) which you will additionally have to overcome if you are using El Capitan or newer. More on that in a bit. We will be installing Ubuntu. This tutorial was written with Ubuntu, but this should apply to any Linux distro more or less, although your mileage may vary with Video stuff particularly. NOTE: You may have to install an EFI boot manager (rEFInd) and/or do a few gnarly things to get your hardware working before it is Linux ready, so if you get stuck at any point, read towards the end part of this guide. The tutorial you are about to read has four main steps. These are: Downloading and ‘burning’ your Linux distro of choice to a USB stick. Partitioning your hard drive Installing Linux Finishing up, which includes: Adding driver. Disabling SPI and enabling EFI. Nice to have items, including being able to see your Macintosh files from Linux. Step 1: Downloading and ‘burning’ your Linux distro image of choice to a USB stick. Next, unless you haven’t already downloaded the Linux distribution of your choice, it’s time to go grab it. You’ll find that you’ll download a.iso file, which we will need to ‘burn’ onto a USB stick. Make sure you have a 4GB or bigger USB stick that you don’t care about deleting ready for use. For this particular tutorial, we are using Ubuntu, however most other Linux distributions should work. Using more hard-ass systems like Arch or Slackware, or even Debian, this will be more challenging. This guide is challenging enough, so do what you will, but I recommend you stick to the easier distros to begin with like Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Make sure you download the x64 version of the distribution you choose, if there is an EFI boot version, choose that also. Using Etcher to ‘burn’ your ISO image to a USB stick. There is now a snazzy tool called Etcher (you can download it for free from balena.io/etcher. This would now be my choice for downloading and burning a Linux distribution download to a USB stick because it’s literally as easy as popping in your USB stick and pressing go! Now that you’ve got your ISO file downloaded, and you’ve downloaded BalenaEtcher, Fire up Etcher, and follow these steps: Click ‘Select Image’. Select the Linux ISO file that you just downloaded. Insert your USB stick that you want to put the Linux distribution onto (note it will be completely wiped). Click ‘Select Drive’. In many cases, this might not even be necessary (Etcher is clever enough to see the USB stick and select it for you). Click Flash! Etcher in action – a super quick and easy tool to put your Linux ISOs onto a USB stick. Yep, that’s it! If there is any reason why you can’t get this to work, then you can follow the ‘old fashioned’ way of doing it over on this short guide. Step 2: Partitioning your Macintosh hard drive This step chops your disk up the way you want it – some space for macOS, some space for Linux. This is called ‘Partitioning’. Make sure that you delete as much junk from your mac before you start, that way you can give as much space as you can to Linux. To modify your partition table in macOS simply look in your Utilities folder, you’ll find Apple’s Disk Utility. If you like, quickly scan your hard drive for errors, just to make sure it’s all sweet before we get down to business. Repair any errors you may find. Once you are ready, you will see a list of internal drives on the left hand side. Your Disk Utility may look different if you are using an older version of macOS, but it still offers the ability to resize a volume. If you are using a recent version of MacOS, you’ll find that macOS now uses a notion of disk containers. To see everything that’s going on, you’ll need to click the icon to the top left, it should show you ‘Show Only Volumes’ or ‘Show All devices’. Select Show All Devices. The screenshot below shows this action. Select ‘Show All Devices’ from the top left menu in Disk Utility. On the hard drive that your macOS partition exists on, click on the top drive, not any subsequent partitions listed below it. Click on the ‘partition’ button (it looks like a pie chart in modern versions of the utility). In newer versions of macOS, they prefer you to use these ‘container volumes’. That’s fine for macOS, but you want a partition to put Linux on. If you see the above dialogue box appear, make sure you click ‘Partition’. Next, you’ll see the partition pie chart. You will see you can move the slider around the pie to resize your partition(s). Pull the size slider back for the Mac OS partition to release the free space on the disk. Make a blank partition until you have enough space for your new Linux system. Make it as much space as you are willing to, I gave my Linux partition 100 GB. It’s essential that you choose to format the partition as MS-DOS (FAT) format. I gave it the name ‘Linux’ so that it’s easy to tell what it is. Once you’ve done that, click Apply. Click the Partition button. You’ll see the box to the left. Apply the changes by clicking the Partition button and let the resize operation complete. If you have an SSD, this should be relatively quick (a few minutes). For older hard drives, this is going to take some time! You’ll probably see this message, just click ‘Continue’. NOTE: I also recommend also making a swap partition, although this isn’t completely necessary. To do this, simply follow the steps you did above but make a smaller partition, eg 8GB. The below screenshots show the creation of a SWAP partition and the final ‘picture’ of what your macOS disk should look like. Step 3: Installing Linux on that Mac! Woo-hoo! This is the fun part! Now we get to install the operating system that your Macintosh has been longing for. Using a USB or Thunderbolt Ethernet Adapter is going to save you a lot of headaches! Switch your Macintosh off completely. Connect your Ethernet to Thunderbolt adapter (or USB Ethernet Adapter) and your USB drive we made earlier. If you don’t have one of those ethernet adapters, life is going to be tricky for you, you are going to have to download the wireless drivers and install them manually to get things working. If you don’t have one of the adapters, ask a friend for one, or buy one cheap from Ebay or such like. It will save your sanity. Turn on your computer and hold down the option/alt key. You’ll see a menu pop up which you can see your Macintosh HD as well as the USB stick. It will be named EFI Boot or something similar. Use the cursor keys or mouse to select that and hit return. PS: Make sure you revert to using your laptop’s keyboard and mouse for the time being (your bluetooth keyboard, and probably your mouse won’t work until paired). Hold down the alt/option key whilst starting up your mac and you’ll see this screen. Shortly after, you’ll see the Ubuntu installer start up. Follow through the steps as usual. You’ll get to a screen that says ‘Updates and other software’. Make sure you tick the box that says Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi. Make sure to select a normal installation, and tick the box ‘Install third-party software’. The next step, and arguably the most important step in the entire process is about installing Linux on the partitions you previously configured in the Disk Utility. You’ll see a dialogue saying ‘Installation type’. Make sure that you choose the option ‘Something else’. If you select the other options, these will delete your installation of macOS and make you have a bad day (TM). In installation type, ensure you choose ‘Something else’. In the next dialogue, you’ll see the partition table (and probably some empty partitions too). If you created a swap partition as per my example, you’ll see two FAT32 partitions. One will be the small 8GB SWAP partition, the other 100GB (in my case) is the main Linux partition. You can see the two fat32 partitions created with the Apple Disk Utility. In my case sda3 (8.7GB) and sda4 (99.8 GB). You’ll probably see three FAT32 partitions. One of them will be near the start of the disk and won’t resemble the capacity of the partitions you created. This is the EFI boot partition. It’s tiny (209.7 MB). Make sure you leave this partition well and truly alone, otherwise you’ll possibly not be able to boot your mac! If you didn’t create a swap partition, don’t worry, you can still do so by locating the empty partition you made and create 2 partitions out of it. Simply make a big partition and a small partition (roughly 8-16 GB in size). The big partition should be the remainder of the free space. The big partition should be ext4 in type, and should be formatted with the mount point of “/”. The small partition should be formatted as swap. It’s time to set up the partitions to use Linux. To do that, I selected my first (smaller) partition, the one that’s 8.7GB. I’m going to use that as the Swap partition. Select that partition by clicking on the entry for it in the list of partitions. In my case, that’s /dev/sda3. It must be of type fat32. Once you click on it, click the button that says ‘Change’. A dialogue saying ‘Edit partition’ will appear. Leave the size as it is, but click on the drop down which will probably say ‘do not use’. Select ‘swap area’ from this list. Press OK. Next, you want to allocate the large partition to be the main Linux partition (it’s called /). Click on the large partition created in Disk Utility (in my case, /dev/sda4). It also has a type of fat32. Clicking the ‘Change’ button will bring up the now familiar Edit Partition dialogue box. Again, leave the size as is, and from the ‘Use as’ drop-down, select ext4. Click on ‘Format this partition’ if it isn’t already ticked. By default, the mount point will be / – leave that as is. Click OK. If you’ve done everything right, you’ll now have two partitions. One which is small, of type swap and the other, the larger of the two, will be formatted as Linux ext4. These partitions will lie in amongst the other ‘unknown’ partitions (these are your macOS partitions). This is what my setup looked like before pressing the Install Now button. Once you are happy, click the Install Now button. You’ll see a dialogue box asking you to confirm the changes are to be written to disk. This is your last chance before Ubuntu goes off and does it’s thing to your disk. Again, I can’t stress how important it is that you’ve taken that Time Machine backup with your mac before you do this. Anyway, I’m sure you’ve backed everything up… right? 🙂 So click on ‘Continue’ and let the good times roll! Everything else should be pretty standard as per the normal Ubuntu installation. Once the install has finished, the installer will tell you to remove the installation medium. Remove the USB stick and it enter to restart the computer. Once you hear the tell-tale Apple chime, hold down the alt/option key. Once again, you’ll see your MacOS hard drive, as well as the newly installed Linux system. It’ll probably be called ‘EFI Boot’. Make sure you select that. That’s it! With any luck, Ubuntu should start up in a few moments and you’re able to use your snazzy mac hardware with a better operating system! However, you may note that you probably won’t have a few things that work out of the box. Most of these will be be covered off on the next step. Step 4: Finishing up and fixing a few problems CPU Running Hot? If, like me, you notice that the mac starts running hot and the CPU fans are burning away then have a look at the output of the CPU history in the resources view of the System Monitor app (or using top at the terminal), you’ll probably find that a ‘kworker’ process is chewing up CPU. This is a well known bug, so to fix this, run the following commands at the terminal: $sudo -s grep. -r /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/ You’ll see a list of probably 70 or so lines relating to the firmware that works with ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface). Most of these are doing their thing quite happily, but you’ll find one (or maybe even two) of them that has a number like gpe16 has a large number beside it. It’ll look like this: /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/gpe16: 225420 STS enabled unmasked When you think you’ve found it, you can simply disable it, but first, just back up the file, just in case you make the wrong change. Note I am using gpe16 as that’s the one I found the problem with, yours is probably different: cp /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/gpe16 /root/gpe16.backup echo "disable" > /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/gpe16 If after a few seconds (say 30-60), the CPU fans stop whirring, and system monitor/top starts showing normal usage statistics, then you know it’s the right one. If it isn’t the right one simply echo “enable”, rather than disable. To make the change permanent, do the following tasks, again at the terminal, changing the value ’16’ to the value you used: # crontab -e --Add the below line to the crontab, so it will be executed every startup/reboot: @reboot echo "disable" > /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/gpe16 -- Save/exit. Then, to make it work also after wakeup from suspend: # touch /etc/pm/sleep.d/30_disable_gpe16 # chmod +x /etc/pm/sleep.d/30_disable_gpe16 # vim /etc/pm/sleep.d/30_disable_gpe16 -- Add this stuff: #!/bin/bash case "$1" in thaw\|resume) echo disable > /sys/firmware/acpi/interrupts/gpe16 2>/dev/null ;; *) ;; esac exit $? Accessing your Macintosh files from Linux Sponsored Link: Tech Tip: Windows business applications including Office 365 can be accessed from PCs/Macs/Android/iOS/Linux devices with virtual desktop hosting and other cloud servers and services with full support from Apps4rent.com Okay cokey. Now here’s the thing. Apple can be real pains
specifically identified based on their input and output voltage and other electrical characteristics. Put simply, distribution transformers are the pieces of equipment that take the high-voltage power from transmission lines and step that power down to its safe, final voltage before it is sent to the customers (in their homes, commercial buildings, etc.). These distribution transformers can be found either on a utility pole or in a locked box on the ground. Depending on the area, a single distribution transformer might serve one customer (in a remote rural area) or it might serve many customers (in a dense urban area). Further, a single large industrial facility might require multiple distribution transformers of its own. The full current test procedure for distribution transformers can be found here, which specifies the test system accuracy required; the methods for measuring resistance, losses, and efficiency value of the transformer; and the test equipment calibration and certification. What is being requested This RFI is the beginning of a full rulemaking cycle on the test procedures for distributed transformers, so this is the opportunity for stakeholders to make an early and strong impact on the direction of the rulemaking. The main issue that was brought up during the 2013 energy conservation standards rulemaking with regard to the test procedure was the appropriateness of the PUL specification. The discussion of this issue centered on the idea that the PUL on which the transformers were tested, and thus the PUL on which the resultant declared efficiencies were based, are potentially not representative of the PUL at which the transformers would operate during actual use. If this is the case, then customers seeking out the transformer that would use the least energy might be misled, and transformers that actually save more energy than others in use might be found non-compliant with regulations. To address this issue, DOE is requesting comment on the following: Issue 1: Any data or information on the PUL used during the first year of service for distributed transformers; Issue 2: Typical PUL values used in the population of distributed transformers; Issue 3: Whether data provided by manufacturers represents first year of service or full lifetime; Issue 4: Whether transformer loads increase over time; and Issue 5: How much the efficiency of a transformer effects the purchasing decision of customers. DOE is also going to investigate the issue of temperature correction and if the current practice of calculating losses by assuming the temperature inside the transformer is equal to an outside ‘reference’ temperature. The concern is that the temperature inside the transformer is surely higher than an outside temperature, meaning the energy losses in practice would be higher than what is being calculated. To address this, DOE is requesting comment on the following: Issue 6: Any data or information about whether calculating losses at ambient temperature or internal temperature is more representative of real transformer performance; and Issue 7: Whether temperature varies with PUL. The current test procedure specifies efficiency by a single tested PUL. DOE has engaged in some discussion on whether this is appropriate, if a different reference PUL should be used, or if transformers should be tested at multiple PULs. To this end, DOE is requesting comment on: Issue 8: Any data or information on the continued use of a single PUL test requirement compared with the alternatives; Issue 9: How accurate would testing at multiple PULs be to the distribution of real-use transformer operations and how much would that increase testing costs; Issue 10: How many PULs would be appropriate at which to test in a scenario of testing multiple PULs; and Issue 11: Whether there are alternative metrics that should be considered to determine transformer efficiency. Lastly, DOE also seeks comment on the sampling process and calculation methods used in the test procedure. The specific types of comments DOE seeks are the following: Issue 12: Whether the sampling requirements of units to be tested should be adjusted; Issue 13: Whether the efficiencies advertised by manufacturers typically represent the minimum efficiency standard, the maximum represented efficiency they are allowed to use, or some other metric; Issue 14: Comment on DOE’s requirements related to alternative methods for determining energy efficiency (AEDMs); and Issue 15: Whether the AEDM provisions are useful and if manufacturers use them. Again this RFI is just the beginning of the rulemaking process for the distributed transformer test procedure, but it also represents the best time to get involved if these test procedures affect you. The above issues are just the ones that DOE specifically is looking to hear about, but stakeholders are more than welcome to address any other topics they find important. As mentioned in the Policy Rulemaking Process for Dummies article, comment periods such as this one represent the best opportunities to directly impact potential regulations that could have real impacts on you or your business. Note: I have in the works a post on how to submit the most effective public comments, so if there appears to be interest on this post regarding the net metering RFI then I’ll make sure to move up publication of that subsequent post to be helpful for commenting on this Notice in advance of the comment submission deadline. Update: See here for my post on how to make the most effective public comment on a public rulemaking. Summary of RFI details DOE published RFI asking for comments on development of the technical and economic analyses regarding whether the existing test procedures for distributed transformers should be amended (82 FR 44347). Some key specific topics DOE is interested in receiving comments on include: Ways to streamline and simplify testing requirements; Measures DOE could take to lower the cost of testing requirements; The relation between PUL being tested and PUL actually used in the field for distribution transformers; Whether current temperature correction in the test procedure is flawed; How testing based on a single PUL affects the final posted efficiency of equipment; and The appropriateness of the sampling and calculation methods currently used. Comments are to be submitted by October 23, 2017. Further information is available at the Notice’s online docket, and questions can be directed to Jeremy Dommu at the DOE Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis or Mary Green at the DOE Office of the General Counsel. As always, feel free to contact me through the Contact page or commenting below if you have any questions you think I could answer as well. If you enjoyed this post and you would like to get the newest posts from the Chester Energy and Policy blog delivered straight to your inbox, please consider subscribing today. To see further assessment of energy conservation standards, see this post on the request for information for net metering, this assessment of the changes brought to energy conservation standards from the Trump administration, and this overview of the federal rulemaking process. About the author: Matt Chester is an energy analyst in Washington DC, studied engineering and science & technology policy at the University of Virginia, and operates this blog and website to share news, insights, and advice in the fields of energy policy, energy technology, and more. For more quick hits in addition to posts on this blog, follow him on Twitter @ChesterEnergy.Taiwan elected its first female president on Saturday, a member of a pro-independence party, in a victory over her nationalist rival that caused China to issue a stern warning of caution. Tsai Ing-wen, 59, called for unity during her victory speech on Saturday, stating she would seek a “consistent, predictable and sustainable” relationship with China after it was announced she had taken approximately 56 percent of the vote. “Both sides have a responsibility to do their utmost to find mutually acceptable ways to interact with respect and reciprocity and ensure no provocation and no surprises,” Tsai said, who leads the Democratic Progressive Party. The two governments have been meshed for decades in a confusing diplomatic tangle but have increasingly been linked economically, also forming a relative level of peace over the last eight years. China views Taiwan as a secessionist province, one that it has threatened to retake with force, while Taiwan calls itself a sovereign state. The scenario began playing out after World War II, when allied forces handed control of Taiwan to China. China has been aiming hundreds of missiles at Taiwan since members of Chinese nationalists fled the mainland and Communists came to power during China’s civil war, according to Reuters. Taiwan has a separate constitution and democratic elections and uses its own military force with 300,00 active troops. President-elect Tsai favors independence for Taiwan but had struck a conciliatory note during her campaign with the island’s mainland neighbor, though she indicated she would not budge on issues of Taiwan’s sovereignty. “Our democracy, national identity and international space must be fully respected and any suppression would undermine the stability of cross-strait relations,” she said. After her victory, China on Saturday said it would not allow an independent Taiwan, stating that the two governments would eventually be merged into one. “On important issues of principle like protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity our will is as hard as rock,” said a statement released by Chinese state media. The United States on Saturday congratulated Tsai and said it holds “profound interest” in maintaining stability between China and Taiwan.The history of mankind has been full of surprises, impossible achievements, and anomalous features that have left a mark on our civilization. While there are many things that history has helped us understand, there are some things that no one, not even mainstream historians have been able to fully understand. History has proven to be far more surprising than what many people believe. Here below we have 6 of History’s greatest mysteries that continue to baffle mainstream scholars. The Piri Reis Map and the maps that predate it There are a number of archeological discoveries that question our past, this is the case of the map which was found in 1929, during the restoration of the Topkapi palace in Istanbul Turkey, which describes in high detail the geography of the American Continent with such a precision that it looks as if it was put together with the aid of aerial photography. However, the map was made at a time when mainstream history tells us there were no flying vehicles on Earth and mankind’s technology was very limited. The map composed by Ottoman admiral Piri Ibn Haji Muhiddin Memmed, aka Piri Reis is in fact part of maritime navigation collection called Bahriye which is basically composed by 210 partial maps, dated around 1513 and 1528. The perfection and details displayed on the map have been the subject of debate for years among scholars who cannot understand nor explain how this map even exists. Today, numerous enigmas remain about the Piri Reis map, especially in regards of Latin America and the Southern regions of our planet. This Turkish Admiral did not only draw the outline of the nearly unexplored South American region, detailing rivers, mountains and lakes that were believed to be unknown at that time in history, but he managed to accurately depict the geography of Antarctica, a continent that wasn’t officially investigated until the twentieth century… The only thing we can conclude is that, somehow, someone knew how our planet looked like thousands of years ago from the air… and the Turkish Admiral managed to obtain this information and create the most enigmatic map we have discovered to date, a map that challenges history as never before. The Shroud of Turin The well-known Shroud of Turin is perhaps one of the greatest mysteries in modern-day history. According to claims from the Vatican, the Shroud of Turin isn’t an authentic artifact, but that hasn’t stopped people from further investigating the mysterious past connected with it. The imprint seen on the Shroud of Turin seems to depict the image of a bearded adult male. On the surface of the Shroud traces of blood are seen which suggest whoever wore it had a violent end. Many researchers believe that the Shroud of Turin belonged to Jesus Christ. The weave of the fabric suggests that it dates back to the time of Jesus Christ and the blood patterns present on it indicate to crucifixion as cause of death. While many people doubt that it was the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, there are many researchers around the world who firmly believe that Jesus Christ came in contact with the Shroud of Turin in the distant past. The biggest debate surrounding the Shroud is the date of origin. Some scientists believe the shroud dates back to the 13th or 14 century, while many others believe it could be much older. Whether the Shroud of Turin belonged or not to Jesus Christ, it surely remains as one of the biggest mysteries in history. The mysterious Voynich Manuscript This ancient document which was named after Polish antiquarian Wilfried M. Voynich who discovered it in 192 in a monastery in Italy remains as one of the biggest mysteries in the history of mankind. The mysterious book, containing pictures and an unknown and undecipherable language is estimated to have been written around 800 years ago by an unknown writer using an unknown writing system. Many believe that the Voynich manuscript is some sort of pharmacological book since many of its depictions illustrate ancient medical treatments, but strangely it also seems to contain an early cosmological map. What has baffled researchers mostly about the Voynich manuscript is without a doubt the language or writing system it contains and the illustration of unknown plants and cosmological charts which has led many to believe it was a manual written by a being not from Earth. However there is a group of people who believe the Voynch manuscript is an elaborate hoax and that the words and depictions are meaningless and purely fictional. This ancient text is currently located at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University and no one has been able to decipher it. Gunung Padang: The Oldest Pyramid in the world? Our list wouldn’t be complete if we did not mention lost civilizations, an unknown history and breathtaking constructions that challenge our modern day capabilities. One of those ancient ‘lost’ civilizations could be around 20,000 years old and found in Indonesia. If these structures prove to be the real deal (they are being battered by mainstream scholars and tagged as a hoax) then we are looking at a whole new page in our history books, one that changes everything we know about civilizations, origin of mankind and humans on Earth. No one knew that the Pyramid was a pyramid until geological surveys were done in 2011. According to stamens from Geologist Dr Danny Hilman could hide the remains of a lost temple that could date back 20,000 years. Hilman believes that the site (Gunung Padang) is of great cultural and historical importance since it contains the remains of a huge Pyramid that was built some 20,000 years ago, by a lost civilization, adding that it may have been built for worship or as a giant astronomical instrument. The first radiocarbon dating was done by Danny Natawidjaja producing dates around 500 to 1,500 BC which was in the limits of accepted dates by mainstream scholars. However, everyone was in for a surprise when Natawidjaja and his team extended their investigation using tubular drills that allowed them to carbon date much deeper levels of the structure. The first samples showed evidence of manmade structures far beneath the surface. However, that wasn’t the most surprising discovery… organic materials which were brought up in the drill cores began to yield older and older dates – 3,000 BC to 5,000 BC and as the team drilled further down the dates were shockingly old… and at depths of around 90 feet, radiocarbon dating showed that the structure dates back around 20,000 BC to 22,000 BC. Like many other discoveries in the past, Gunug Padang has been dubbed by many mainstream scholars as a hoax and nothing more. While studies seem to point otherwise, it seems that the mysterious Pyramid of Indonesia and the 20,000 years old civilization behind it will remain for some time, one of history’s greatest enigmas. The Nazca Lines The Nazca lines are without a doubt one of the most mysterious features in South America. These enigmatic geoglyphs have captured the amazement of researchers and tourists alike. People have wondered what their real purpose was for years, yet no one can accurately explain their purpose and origin. Were these giant figures meant to be seen from above? Do hey mimic constellations in the sky? What were the ancient’s trying to say to future generations? Were the Nazca lines mere ancient art? If so… why would ancient mankind create art that cannot be fully appreciated from the ground? It seems that whatever way you look at the Nazca lines, trying to explain them while maintaining a close mind like most researchers is something impossible. What if the answer to the enigmatic Nazca lines is right in front of us, yet we do not want to accept it? An important question we need to ask is, if the Nazca lines were actually ancient art, or a way for ancient man to communicate, than why are there magnetic anomalies present at the Nazca lines? According to reports, scientists from the University of Dresden researched the Nazca lines. They measured the magnetic field and they found changes in the magnetic field under some of the lines at Nazca. Electrical conductivity was also measured at Nazca where tests were performed directly at the Nazca lines and next to them and the results showed that electric conductivity was 8000 higher on the lines than next to them. According to the researchers approx. eight feet beneath some of the lines there are magnetic field anomalies. There is something at Nazca that makes it unique, different from any other place on Earth but we simply do not know what it is. There are over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 animal and plant designs, also called biomorphs. The largest figure found at Nazca stretches about 200 meters across, while the longest glyph found at Nazca goes for 9 miles. Atlantis: Myth or reality? The first writings about Atlantis come from the famous book “Dialogues” written by the Greek philosopher Plato in the fourth century BC. According to Plato, the stories of Atlantis were passed to him by his grandfather, who had heard the story about ancient Atlantis from an Athenian statesman called Solon who learned about the existence of Atlantis from an Egyptian priest who claimed that Atlantis existed nine thousand years ago before that. “Through violent earthquakes and floods, in a single day and night of misfortune … [the whole race] … was swallowed up by the Earth and the island of Atlantis … disappeared into the depths of the sea.” – Plato. Since then, numerous hypotheses have circulated among scholars, researchers and explorers about the existence and mysterious disappearance of the city-continent. While many people firmly believe that one day, someone will find the long-lost city-continent of the Atlantean empire, somewhere underneath our planet’s oceans, others believe that Atlantis was just the product of Plato’s imagination and that this mighty empire only existed in the famous book “Dialogues” written by the Greek philosopher. However since we cannot say for certain, Atlantis and the story behind it remains as one of history’s greatest enigmas.1. Dwight tried to gift a cat to Angela after mercy killing her previous cat, what was the previous cat’s name? 2. The gift cat to replace it, what was his name? 3. What is the security guard's name? 4. What was any of Ryan's nicknames? (NOT The Temp) 5. What is the name of Michael's Greek character? 6. On the Fun Run, Jim and Pam buy at item from a yard sale and Jim gets to carry it. What is the item? 7. What is the name of the manufacturer of Michael's lady suit that he accidently cross-dressed in? 8. What is the name of Michael's overweight character? 9. Jim impersonates Dwight and calculates the total cost for the ensemble. How much was it? 10. What is Michael's middle name? 11. What is Dwight's middle name? 12. What is Ryan's middle name? 13. Who wins the Halloween costume contest? 14. What was that character (Halloween contest winner) dressed as? 15. What was the creepy unmovable painting in Jim's parents’ house of? 16. What is the county they all live in and that Dwight is a volunteer sheriff’s deputy in? 17. Who is head of accounting? 18. What is Creed's job? 19. What is Kevin's made up number to balance the books because he's bad at math? 20. Jim makes up a customer name when doing a simulation call with Dwight. Mr. _____, firstname lastname and full name are all acceptable answers. 21. Michael cooked his foot on his George Foreman grill. What was he trying to cook on it originally? 22. Andy gives everyone neon pink caps while on an educational work retreat to a war site. What was written on the hats? 23. Dwight gets a concussion and addresses Pam as what name? 24. Dwight is trying to catch the flasher, he addresses Phyllis as what name? 25. What is the name of the cat Angela wants Oscar to save from the fire? 26. The last person to steal from Creed Bratton? 27. What is the mascot character Dwight plays every year for Earth Day? 29. What was the name of the employee Michael fired in the second season? And Dwight later rehired in the last episode? 30. What is Meredith's job? 31. First and last name of Michael's James Bond-like character?Our favourite attraction in the park by some margin was Submarine Adventure, an underwater exploration featuring actual sea life rather than the visual trickery found on the 20000 Leagues ride at Tokyo DisneySea. The boarding process involved descending several steps into a sealed ride vehicle which then proceeded through an elaborately designed tank with a variety of Lego models and hundreds of real fish. Photographs were actively encouraged, and we rode twice in order to get the best possible selection. (Readers retracing our steps should be aware that the best view is on the right hand side of the submarine based on the direction of travel; those who only have time to ride once should make an effort to sit there). The park currently has two coasters placed side by side. The better looking of the two and the easier to photograph is Dragon's Apprentice (#2381), a second generation Zamperla 80STD with a castle turret in its centre and a hugely elaborate train sculpted to look like a Duplo model. There were a few minor bumps around the course, though nothing unmanageable, and in any case the overall comfort level was far better than earlier models. With that done we went for two laps on the larger Dragon (#2382), a cut back version of the usual installation that was enjoyable despite having no indoor drop section and no queue through a castle building. From there we went to the Lost Kingdom Adventure target shooter, which featured the same empty base arrangement seen in Dubai, presumably to allow for expansion at some point in the future if required. The lion's share of points obtainable during the ride were from a purple target in the final scene, and while I still lost to Megan (as usual) the difference was very small indeed. Our first stop was at Miniland, a collection of model buildings including many local landmarks connected by a miniature Shinkansen. A landscaped version of Mount Fuji stood at one end, surrounded by a traditional village with a temple at its center. At the other end was a scale model amusement park with an unequivocally Japanese ferris wheel with sealed cars, a wave swinger, a carousel, and a variety of other attractions. There was a streetscape based loosely on Akihabara that was fabulously detailed, with whimsical billboards that the builders evidently had a lot of fun creating. There was even a fully working Lego Submarine with a sign indicating that it could dive up to sixty-five centimetres. Our itinerary had us spending a maximum of two hours at the park, an estimate based on what we'd needed to enjoy Legoland Dubai at the start of the year. This guess turned out to be utterly inadequate for what is by some margin the most elaborate and detailed member of the Legoland family, with bright colours everywhere and things to discover around every corner. I particularly liked the many locally inspired models and jokes, including a miniature Godzilla ravaging a building, an elderly man reading a paper titled old news, a police officer writing a speeding ticket for a woman with comedy jewellery, and a passed out medieval knight sleeping off a few too many drinks. There were also cast members wandering the park in elaborate Lego costumes, including one resembling an ancient Egyptian mummy and another dressed as Count Dracula, and all were happy to pose for photos. We stayed thirty minutes longer than intended, and would have remained longer still were it not for our already constrained afternoon at Nagashima Spa Land ; those planning their own trips should take note. The newest park in the Legoland family opened in April of this year on a small plot of land close to Kinjo pier in Nagoya. The location of the site is about as good as one gets for a tourist attraction, in that it sits right next to a pedestrianised area filled with shops and restaurants, a popular museum operated by Central Japan Railways, and Kinjō-futō Station on the Aonami Line. The short walk from there to the park entrance took us past Furniture Dome, Laundry Town and the improbably named Swanky Market, which we'd almost certainly have investigated if the day hadn't been tight on time. I'd fully expected admission tickets to carry a premium reflecting the Lego brand, but I was taken aback by the ¥6900 (~€52) price per adult charged at the gate for a single day. This sum made it the second most expensive park of our trip, coming in five percent higher than the daily rate charged at the Tokyo Disney Resort (though still well clear of the prices at Universal Studios Japan ). I've since discovered that there are ten percent discounts for online purchases, though it's worth noting that these have to be booked a week in advance and the dates cannot be changed. Nagashima Spa Land 15th September 2017 It is possible to travel between Legoland Japan and Nagashima Spa Land by public transport, but the quickest routing goes via the centre of Nagoya, takes ninety minutes, and involves two trains and a bus. We decided it was much more time efficient to take a taxi across the bay, which Google Maps estimated to be a fifteen minute journey. The fare came to ¥6000, which divided four ways wasn't drastically more than the slower option would have been. When we arrived at the park I thought briefly about trying to save some money by using individual ride tickets, but decided that it was more trouble than it was worth. This turned out to be the right decision, as we rode enough to pass the break-even point. The park has a pair of Mack mice placed side by side, but the two sides are only run together on busy days. On my visits in 2005, 2007, and 2015 the right hand track was in use with the left hand track standing idle. Today however it was the other way round. I've always made a point of counting coasters with more than one track as a single credit, applying this rule without discrimination to parallel layouts like Steeplechase and drastically different routings like the late and much lamented Dragon Challenge. This approach makes logical sense for rides that share common supports and hardware, but it has never been ideal for standalone attractions that just happen to be placed side by side. The problem became apparent to me some years ago when Bobbejaanland sold one of its two mice to Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, splitting a ride that I'd considered a single credit between two countries. The same issue has also cropped up at German fairgrounds, where travelling mice have been known to operate both side by side and separately. After a lot of deliberation I've decided that Wild Mouse (Left) (#2383) is a new credit for my list, and I promise that's not just because we waited thirty minutes for it! With that out of the way we headed over to the latest addition to the park, a brand new S&S Free Spin that the park has christened Arashi (#2384). There was a sign at the entrance advertising a thirty minute wait next to another indicating priority access with a zero minute wait could be purchased from a vending machine for ¥500 per person. The money-grabbing nature of this messaging was made even more shameless by the fact that the left hand side of the station was not in use today, reducing capacity to four per train instead of eight, while presumably also increasing sales. The queue appeared to be moving very slowly, and with that in mind we decided it was worth buying priority tickets. Moments later we were standing in the pre-boarding area. The reason for the painfully slow throughput became apparent moments later as we were required to put everything that could possibly be considered as a loose object into a locker. With that done, a member of staff used a hand-held metal detector on each of us in turn to make sure that we'd not kept anything with us. It can be argued that these steps make sense for a ride like a Free Spin, though it would be infinitely more efficient to do them before guests arrive in the ride station. As it was it took a little over three minutes from the point that we passed through the gate to the point that our train was dispatched, giving a total throughput of less than eighty guests per hour. Last year I wrote about my first experience of a Free Spin, describing it as "somewhat tamer than I'd expected". This version of the design was a very different beast, possibly because its balance was upset by having four empty seats. Regardless of the cause the car began to snap backwards and forwards in a horribly violent way from the moment it left the lift hill, almost as if the seats were spring-loaded. Meanwhile the restraints became progressively tighter, adding additional discomfort to the mix. As if that were not enough, there was a metallic protrusion on the bottom of Megan's seat that scraped skin off her ankle. The result was a disaster that I wouldn't have ridden a second time if paid to do so, and a definite contender for the worst coaster in Japan. We decided to recuperate by going to Steel Dragon 2000. There was a sign at the entrance indicating a scheduled thirty minute maintenance check at 2:00pm, but we decided to join the queue anyway. Sure enough the ride closed down at the appointed time while two engineers made their way up the lift hill with their toolboxes. Twenty minutes later they were back at ground level having finished their task, and they headed away. One might have hoped that the ride would reopen early, but it wasn't to be; the operators stood around doing nothing for ten minutes until the end of the designated window. Once again it was necessary to move everything to a locker before being scanned with a hand-held metal detector, though in this case we did at least have the benefit of a decent coaster. The first drop was absolutely magnificent, as was the second. There was a minor rattle in the helix section of the layout, but not enough to impede overall enjoyment. We disembarked and headed to White Cyclone, one of just four wood coasters remaining in Japan following the demolition of Aska last year. We arrived at the entrance to find no queue whatsoever, which in hindsight should have told us something. With a completely open choice we selected the front car. The section of track between the station and the base of the lift was uncomfortable, but it was nothing compared to the rest of the course which was both dull and brutally rough in equal measure. When we came to a halt on the brake run I spoke my mind, declaring that there was nothing wrong with the ride that couldn't have been fixed with a firebomb. By this stage we were basically out of time, as we had to retrieve our luggage in time for a series of trains bringing us to our overnight hotel next to Narita Airport. However, we managed to shoehorn in a quick run through the Haunted House before bidding goodbye to Bruno and Anita and heading to the exit.Bad idea to rein in regulators These should be tough times for deregulators, who critics now link to a host of recent calamities: a massive oil spill, an economic collapse that has cost millions of jobs, countless food and toy recalls and repeated tragedies in mines and other workplaces. Much of Congress’s activity over the past few years has been dedicated to cleaning up these messes — equipping agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission with the resources and laws they need to keep Americans safe. Story Continued Below So why, in the past week alone, have House Republicans held four hearings attacking government regulations? This rash of hearings is not just showmanship. This session, Congress will consider the REINS Act, which would require congressional approval of any major regulations before they could take effect. In effect, the bill would take important decisions about our health, safety and economy out of the hands of experts and put them in the hands of politicians beholden to corporate lobbyists and campaign contributors. Few rules, however sound, would survive this special-interest gauntlet. The House is also due to vote on a rule that would require 10 House committees to investigate the agencies within their jurisdictions. These measures are nothing short of an attack on good government: an attempt to block government agencies from protecting our air, water, economy and lives. The new House majority apparently wants more mayhem. Its strategy is to talk about the purported burdens of regulation on “job creators” — the large corporations that seem to outsource and downsize at will. House Republicans and their business allies bemoan the costs of regulations, fixating on a recent study claiming that regulations cost $1.75 trillion annually. This study, however, relies on flawed methodology, fails to disclose its calculations, overstates costs and completely ignores the other half of the equation: benefits. Indeed, for all their talk of the costs of regulation, House Republicans would do well to recognize the benefits. The Office of Management and Budget publishes a yearly analysis of major regulations issued over the previous 10 years. Last year’s report found the costs ranged from $43 billion to $55 billion. The benefits ranged from $128 billion to $616 billion. That means that the benefits of regulations exceed the costs by 230 to 1,430 percent. That is an astonishing rate of return. It turns out that most regulation is so cost-effective that we should think of it as an investment. Even though most regulations save money and protect U.S. lives and jobs, the new Republican majority seems bent on stymieing and repealing as many regulations as possible. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, made news last month when he sent letters to 150 businesses and trade groups asking them which regulations they want revoked. This is akin to soliciting advice from foxes on how to build a henhouse — or perhaps how to carve a fox-size hole in the henhouse wall. We hope that House Republicans remember the recent failures of deregulation and take a close look at regulations. They have a lot to learn. David Arkush is director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division.As the November mid-term elections draw near, race arsonists’ political distractions are seen in full action. Facing defeat at the polls, the Left is desperately resorting to its only remaining trick. With different styles and brands of utopian-driven influence — from the dependent welfare state of the American Democratic party, the socialism of Marxist/Leninists’ Workers’ Paradise, the Open Society of Soros’ idol Karl Popper, or any of the current collective salvations of social justice — examining the tactics as they occur is an enlightening exercise. On Sunday’s This Week, President Obama’s defacto spokesman, V.P. Joe Biden, was sent to poison the well. Host Jake Tapper asked, “The NAACP had a convention in the last week, and they passed a resolution saying that elements of the Tea Party are racist. Do you think elements of the Tea Party are racist?” The presidential reply is as follows: Well, the truth is that at least elements that were involved in some of the Tea Party folks expressed racist views, you saw that on television. But, I don’t think — I don’t — I wouldn’t characterize the Tea Party as racist. There are individuals who are either members of or on the periphery of some of their things, their — their protests — that have expressed really unfortunate comments. And, again, it was all over TV, all over your network, you know? A black Congressman walking up the stairs of the Capitol. But, I don’t believe, the president doesn’t believe that the Tea Party is, uh, is a racist organization. I don’t believe that. Very conservative. Very different views on government and a whole lot of things. But it is not a racist organization. The day before, on Geraldo at Large, New Black Panther Party leader Malik Zulu Shabazz, in more blunt language, likewise endorsed the NAACP: “A black man, really, or a black leader cannot be a racist… I have the right to use different language… We endorse fully the NAACP resolution.” Obama’s mentor, Saul Alinsky would describe his disciple as a “realistic radical,” while denouncing Shabazz as a “rhetorical radical.” The failed attempt by radicals and their propagandist water-carriers to demonize the Tea Party recalls a 1972 incident at Tulane University in which Saul Alinsky himself instructed students in how to disrupt a Vietnam speech by then UN representative, George H.W. Bush. Alinsky told them to dress as Ku Klux Klan, cheer and wave ‘K.K.K. Supports Bush’ signs. David Horowitz writes: Lenin once said that the purpose of a political argument is not to refute your opponent “but to wipe him from the face of the earth.” Therefore seize on any weapon, in this case a symbol of one of the greatest evil that any Americans were ever associated with, and use it to obliterate everything good America ever did. If America’s cause in Vietnam is the Ku Klux Klan, then its cause is evil and America is evil. Déjà vu… As with contemporary Soros-paid stooges, Obama, the New Black Panthers, the Congressional Black Caucus, or NAACP don’t care about the facts of the Tea Party movement. Smearing the Tea Party as “racist” is a political weapon, intended to demand its members be ‘wiped from the face of the earth,’ or, at least, to neutralize any influence they can have on domestic politics. Biden’s implicit endorsement of the NAACP’s “racist” resolution is practiced in the art of deception-by-equivocation, mis-communication. Mr. Shabazz’s in-artful declaration is intentional shock and awe rhetoric. Regardless, the true meaning and important historical value of the very word ‘racism’ is in swift decline. The abuse of the word has been freely accepted and projected by the unscrupulous Cry-Wolf Left. With the help of the compliant media, it has brandished this weapon successfully for decades. It is impossible for it to resist another round. Leftists’ irrational “Racism!” shibboleth — destroyed by Andrew Breitbart’s $100K United Negro College Fund reward for proof of (planted) “elements that were involved in some of the Tea Party folks’ expressions of racist views… all over TV” — is shamefully now a presidential talking point. Alinsky would be proud of this Big Lie. But, his tactics now boomerang on radicals more often than not: Rule#4: Make opponents live
the series’ first minute, Link catcalls Zelda with a crack about how nice her breasts look from the balcony above. Such antics don’t exactly connote strapping heroism. Incredibly, the 1989 cartoon series is not even the worst attempt at characterizing Link and Zelda. In the early 1990s, Nintendo licensed the Zelda brand to Philips for three games on its ill-fated CD-i console. Philips crammed its Zelda games with animated and live-action cutscenes—the most ambitious narrative effort in a Zelda game at the time—but the result was tragically amateurish. The live-action scenes could have been produced by an affluent high school’s drama club, and the animation is about what you’d expect from the Russian studios to which the job was outsourced just a year after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Throughout these games, Link wanders around muttering Zeldafied clichés like “I’m so hungry, I could eat an Octorok!” (Don’t ask.) Zelda fans mostly pretend these games were never made. Nintendo’s most notorious narrative failure by far, however, is the 1993 film adaptation Super Mario Bros., the noir-ish tone of which was completely at odds with the lighthearted atmosphere of the games. As Blake J. Harris recounted last year in his industry history Console Wars (which itself is on its way to a film adaptation), pretty much everyone involved knew they were making a horrible movie. Budget overruns, for instance, forced the producers to drop a climactic scene in which Mario climbs the Brooklyn Bridge to defeat his antagonist by dropping a cartoon-like bomb on his head, a maneuver consistent with the mechanics of Mario and similar games; instead, Harris writes, “they opted for the much cheaper alternative of Mario simply shooting King Koopa with a gun.” Morale got so low that the film’s costars, Bob Hoskins, and John Leguizamo, took to drinking on the set, which, according to Harris, “may or may not have been the reason behind Leguizamo crashing a car … which resulted in Hoskins having to wear a cast that could be seen in various scenes throughout the film.” * Then there’s that word, legend, implying that Zelda’s would-be screenwriters have a deep well of myth and lore from which to draw. Not so. In its earliest games, the franchise just piggybacked on the legacy of the Crusades. The original Zelda’s box art prominently includes a crest and, with no real explanation, a distinctly medieval “lion rampant” more or less identical to those found on the Royal Banner of Scotland and coats of arms from Finland to the Philippines. Further buttressing Zelda’s vaguely medieval European setting, Link’s shield is emblazoned with a cross, apparently Christian, plain as day even at a mere three pixels by four. Crosses also appear on unfortunately named enemies like Darknuts and Wizzrobe, and more crosses still pop up in rows to mark graveyard areas in both the first Zelda and its 1988 sequel. And the “Triforce”—the iconic triangle comprising three smaller triangles that serves as the series’ principal MacGuffin—is practically begging to be compared to the Christian Trinity. Zelda reached peak Christianity in the early nineties, when Japanese promotional materials for A Link to the Past showed Link kneeling solemnly before a crucifix in a dimly lit church. Ironically, that game ended up dropping the explicit Christian imagery and introducing its own polytheistic theology—the game’s original, Japanese title was The Triforce of the Gods, plural. It still featured a church and priests, but in the North American release these features were rebranded as a “sanctuary” and “wizards.” The story of Hyrule’s gods was fleshed out a bit more in 1998’s Ocarina of Time, and since then the series has kept about the same distance from real-world references as any pulp fantasy novel. Even more difficult than pinning down a TV-friendly Zelda story, however, will be capturing the game’s fundamental appeal: its sense of exploration and discovery. To experience The Legend of Zelda is, more than anything, to spend a lot of time chopping down bushes and blowing up rocks in the hope that such actions uncover some hidden cavern. In a 2010 profile, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto told The New Yorker that this aspect of the games was based on his boyhood wanderings through the Japanese countryside; as both a longtime Zelda fan and a former Boy Scout, I can confirm that the games do somehow replicate some of the magic of chancing upon a cave in the woods. This sense of discovery even transcends the player’s television set: several early games’ cartridges were painted gold, as if they came not from a toy store shelf but from underneath a mossy stone. Earlier this week, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said that The Wall Street Journal’s original report of a Zelda TV series was “not based on correct information.” His comment falls short of a complete denial, and the company, at any rate, has a long history of denying product rumors that turn out to be true. At the very least, though, Nintendo appears to appreciate the challenge of translating its masterpiece to an unfamiliar medium, whether with Netflix or some other studio. If the company is going to take that risk, I just hope it chooses its partners wisely. As we know from the series’ very first line of dialogue, it can be dangerous to go alone. Ted Trautman has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Slate, Wired, and others. He lives in San Jose.Researchers at Vienna University of Technology (known as TU Wien) in Vienna, Austria, have developed the world’s first two-dimensional microprocessor — the most complex 2D circuitry so far. Microprocessors based on atomically thin 2D materials promise to one day replace traditional microprocessors as well as open up new applications in flexible electronics. Consisting of 115 transistors, the microprocessor can run, simple user-defined programs stored in an external memory, perform logical operations, and communicate with peripheral devices. The microprocessor is based on molybdenum disulphide (MoS 2 ), a three-atoms-thick 2D semiconductor transistor layer consisting of molybdenum and sulphur atoms, with a surface area of around 0.6 square millimeters. For demonstration purposes, the microprocessor is currently a 1-bit design, but it’s scalable to a multi-bit design using industrial fabrication methods, says Thomas Mueller, PhD., team leader and senior author of an open-access paper on the research published in Nature Communications.* New sensors and flexible displays Two-dimensional materials are flexible, making future 2D microprocessors and other integrated circuits ideal for uses such as medical sensors and flexible displays. They promise to extend computing to the atomic level, as silicon reaches its physical limits. However, to date, it has only been possible to produce individual 2D digital components using a few transistors. The first 2D MoS 2 transistor with a working 1-nanometer (nm) gate was created in October 2016 by a team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists, as KurzweilAI reported. Mueller said much more powerful and complex circuits with thousands or even millions of transistors will be required for this technology to have practical applications. Reproducibility continues to be one of the biggest challenges currently being faced within this field of research, along with the yield in the production of the transistors used, he explained. * “We also gave careful consideration to the dimensions of the individual transistors,” explains Mueller. “The exact relationships between the transistor geometries within a basic circuit component are a critical factor in being able to create and cascade more complex units. … the major challenge that we faced during device fabrication is yield. Although the yield for subunits was high (for example, ∼80% of ALUs were fully functional), the sheer complexity of the full system, together with the non-fault tolerant design, resulted in an overall yield of only a few per cent of fully functional devices. Imperfections of the MoS 2 film, mainly caused by the transfer from the growth to the target substrate, were identified as main source for device failure. However, as no metal catalyst is required for the synthesis of TMD films, direct growth on the target substrate is a promising route to improve yield. Abstract of A microprocessor based on a two-dimensional semiconductor The advent of microcomputers in the 1970s has dramatically changed our society. Since then, microprocessors have been made almost exclusively from silicon, but the ever-increasing demand for higher integration density and speed, lower power consumption and better integrability with everyday goods has prompted the search for alternatives. Germanium and III–V compound semiconductors are being considered promising candidates for future high-performance processor generations and chips based on thin-film plastic technology or carbon nanotubes could allow for embedding electronic intelligence into arbitrary objects for the Internet-of-Things. Here, we present a 1-bit implementation of a microprocessor using a two-dimensional semiconductor—molybdenum disulfide. The device can execute user-defined programs stored in an external memory, perform logical operations and communicate with its periphery. Our 1-bit design is readily scalable to multi-bit data. The device consists of 115 transistors and constitutes the most complex circuitry so far made from a two-dimensional material.When you witness it, you are left in disbelief; how can it be happening? But it is occurring daily; what seems to be purposeful hindrances to I had already observed a power point presentation on Fragmentation of the West Bank, one of many presentations that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) displays for those interested in conditions in the Palestinian West Bank. An OCHA source told me that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed surprise with the same presentation; he hadn’t been informed of the shown and known restrictive conditions. Evidently, Tony Blair had been unaware of the separation wall that separates Palestinian communities and families, that chokes the Palestinian economy and obstructs daily exchanges between peoples, He was not sufficiently informed of a planned North South super highway for only Israelis that will divide the West bank in half, of the other highways that slice through Palestinian lands and completely bar farm homes from agriculture; of checkpoints every five miles, flying checkpoints, road barriers, berms, trenches, settler bypass roads, blocked Palestinian village roads, and travel restrictions to Jerusalem. All of this was emphasized in another presentation by Machsom Watch’s Hanna Baraj. Machsom Watch consists of a group of women who rise at 5 AM daily, go to 40 checkpoints and investigate human rights violations. Ms. Baraj related horror stories; of Palestinians who cannot receive visitors, of a child who had cancer but the parents did not have permission to accompany the child to a hospital in Jerusalem, of women who cannot obtain passports or identity cards and are locked in their homes. Her exposition led to one conclusion: The entire purpose of the restrictions on freedom of movement is to make life impossible for the Palestinians. OCHA Field Support Officer, Dr. Tim Williams, transformed the visual and auditory presentations to real life. He provided a guided tour from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and parts of the West Bank. Start on Road #1, along the Green Line that leads to the Mandelbaum Gate, a former checkpoint between Israeli and Jordanian sectors of Jerusalem. Pass the Mandelbaum gate and arrive in East Jerusalem. - Advertisement - The Palestinians in East Jerusalem who refused Israeli citizenship after the 1967 war are now stateless. To make their lives worse, Israel has halted re-unification of families that are separated between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Approximately 100,000 persons have applied for reunification. Most persons who had a spouse and children in both areas are denied access to their families. Some parents can’t register children or obtain birth certificates. For these parents it means not being able to move to a job in another country without leaving the child. Entering Bethlehem means being greeted by the separation wall which runs close to homes. The former popular Bethlehem has shrunk in size and economy. Israel decided to incorporate 22% of Bethlehem land into Jerusalem. The government also contrived to route the wall so that it cuts across the Jerusalem/Bethlehem highway and closes the previously used road to Bethlehem. This road brought tourists past the souvenir shops, which are now mostly closed. Hotels are only 10% occupied. The livelihoods of many Bethlehem citizens have disappeared. To obtain employment, laborers line up at 3AM at checkpoints they must pass through in order to go to Jerusalem and work. The checkpoint funnels persons through a small fenced area, similar to a stockyard, bringing them to a turnstile and to security control. The once busy and proud Bethlehem is now a decaying town; empty shops, empty homes, empty tourist attractions. If the Christian Lord could rise again, he would be alone. The UN claims decaying Bethlehem water pipelines lose 25% of the water. The former Palestine Authority intelligence headquarters, bombed by Israeli jets on March 5, 2002, remains a bombed out group of senseless buildings. - Advertisement - At a hilltop site in Gush Etzion, (Bloc of the Tree), the famous Zionist constructed villages, which were destroyed and abandoned under Jordanian rule, but have returned to grow to 40,000 settlers since Israel’s occupation after the 1967 war, Israel’s modification of the land is apparent. Israeli setlements dot the landscape. Several temporary vans with antennae are in view on the top of the hill. Two Israelis come jogging from the incipient settlement. An old Palestinan village is obvious in the near distance. We are told that its cisterns have been dampened and the village is static – building of new homes is not permitted, except for special circumstances. A new narrow road winds its way in the distance. The direct road which led to the main road has been blocked, bypassed, reblocked and on and on. A super highway, for settlers only, cuts through Palestinian lands and separates the homes from the agriculture and gazing. Children who tend goats after school must walk several hundred yards from their homes in order to cross the road and find the goats. A Palestinian only road is being constructed under the superhighway. Fruit trees have been destroyed to provide this road, which at its low level, is subjected to flooding. The road is not finished. Hebron is the other principal Palestinian city in the southern part of the West Bank. Gill Swain, voluntary member of the Ecumenical Accompaniers in Hebron, is the Hebron guide. The Ecumenical Accompaniers in Hebron do just what their nomenclature indicates; they accompany Hebron Arabs in everyday functions and prevent harrassment from illegal settlers. Entrances to the old market, where the supposed Abraham’s tomb is located, have been blocked by checkpoints. Arab children, who attend schools in the old section, must pass through metal detectors at these checkpoints. Most shops and homes along the principal street of the old wholesale market have had their locks broken and remain empty. The guide stops and talks to a man, an illegal settler, under house arrest. Nevertheless, the man walks the streets. The illegal settlers now control the central part of the old city. They mingle together, obviously not working, in a housing project hidden from the main street. Their children, many of them, run and play. The settlers are reticient to talk, saying they will only talk if we promise to tell the truth. When asked why the Palestinians are no longer here, the settler responds he doesn’t know – an example of what he characterizes as the truth. Outside the settlement is a huge banner that proclaims: Return Stolen Jewish Property – a reference to the1929 riots when about 65 Jews were killed and all Jews eventually left Hebron. The sign is raised over Arab stores, all of which have been destroyed and are now locked and unused; although the proprietors must pay taxes and the leasees must pay rents. The illegal settlements have destroyed Palestinian life in the central market of Hebron. When the Israeli military attempted to evict the settlers, the settlers broke windows and ruined the Palestinian shops. For an incomprehensible reason, the settlers have returned to their positions and the Palestinian shops and houses remain empty These settlers make claim to properties “taken” from Jews during riots against Hebron Jews back in 1929, but do not display any rights of inheritance or deeds to any of the properties. Can this claim of a ‘collective right’ have a legal basis? Contrast the Hebron settlers’ illegal positions and false claims with Palestinians, who have legal deeds to properties in Israel, and are prevented from recovering their properties. Close to the security checkpoint and directly opposite to a settlement of 30 families at Beit Hadassah, Palestinian children attend a school. Each day the entrance to the steps leading to the school is blocked by a car, just a petty expression that characterizes the meaness of the Hebron settlers. - Advertisement - Separate roads, separate schools, separate shops, separate everything – isn’t that apartheid? President Jimmy Carter didn’t err in calling it apartheid. He could have termed it a super apartheid, nothing comparable to it in the western world of the present century. Dan Lieberman, November 20, 2007 danlan2000@att.net Dan Lieberman has been active in alternative politics for many years. He is the editor of Alternative Insight, a monthly web based newsletter.An Oxford University researcher and author specializing in neuroscience has suggested that one day religious fundamentalism may be treated as a curable mental illness. Kathleen Taylor, who describes herself as a "science writer affiliated to the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics," made the suggestion during a presentation on brain research at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales on Wednesday. In response to a question about the future of neuroscience, Taylor said that "One of the surprises may be to see people with certain beliefs as people who can be treated," The Times of London notes. “Someone who has for example become radicalised to a cult ideology -- we might stop seeing that as a personal choice that they have chosen as a result of pure free will and may start treating it as some kind of mental disturbance," Taylor said. “In many ways it could be a very positive thing because there are no doubt beliefs in our society that do a heck of a lot of damage." The author went on to say she wasn't just referring to the "obvious candidates like radical Islam," but also meant such beliefs as the idea that beating children is acceptable. Taylor was not immediately available for comment. This is not the first time Taylor has explored the mind processes of a radical. In 2006, she wrote a book about mind control called Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control, which explored the science behind the persuasive tactics of such groups as cults and al Qaeda. "We all change our beliefs of course," Taylor said in a YouTube video about the book. "We all persuade each other to do things; we all watch advertising; we all get educated and experience [religions.] Brainwashing, if you like, is the extreme end of that; it's the coercive, forceful, psychological torture type." Taylor also noted that brainwashing, though extreme, is part of a the "much more widespread phenomenon" of persuasion. That is, "how we make people think things that might not be good for them, that they might not otherwise have chosen to think." However, Taylor has also been a voice of caution in terms of the ethics of delving too deeply into the human brain's mysterious workings. "Technologies which directly scan or manipulate brains cannot be neutral tools, as open to commercial exploitation as any new gadget," Taylor wrote in a blog post for The Huffington Post in 2012. "The brain supremacy offers chances to improve human dignity, but it also risks abuse."Security firm RSA has been the victim of an "extremely sophisticated" attack that has resulted in exfiltration of certain private information, announced Executive Chairman Art Coviello in an open letter published yesterday. The company also filed a note with the SEC, warning of possible risks due to the attack. Since 2006, RSA has been part of EMC. Some of the information taken relates to the company's SecurID security token hardware and its smartphone-based software equivalent. SecurID tokens are used in two-factor authentication systems; to authenticate, users use both a password and a number generated by the SecurID token. Each token generates a sequence of six-digit pseudo-random numbers, with a new number generated every 60 seconds. The number entered by the user must match the number that the authentication server expects the token to generate, and so allows the server to prove that the user not only knows the password, but also is in possession of the token. Each token has a unique 128-bit seed value to initialize its sequence of numbers. Every user account in the authentication server is associated with the seed of their respective token; this allows the server to know what random numbers to expect. RSA's announcement was not specific in the information it gave, so exactly what this means for SecurID isn't clear. In the likely worst case, the seed values and their distribution among RSA's 25,000 SecurID-using customers, may have been compromised. This would make it considerably easier for attackers to compromise systems dependent on SecurID: rather than having to acquire a suitable token, they would be required only to eavesdrop on a single authentication attempt (so that they could determine how far through the sequence a particular token was), and from then on would be able to generate numbers at their whim. This would substantially undermine the security of SecurID installations in customer systems, but would be easy (if a little expensive) to fix: simply re-issue new tokens to everyone. An even more grave, but a perhaps less likely, outcome is that RSA internally documented some significant weakness in their number generation algorithm—for example, some effective mechanism of reconstructing a token's seed simply by examining a few of the numbers generated. This would give attackers the same ability to generate numbers without possessing tokens—and would also mean that not only was every current token compromised, but also every possible replacement was also compromised. It would necessitate replacement with an entirely new system, with an entirely new generation scheme. Such attacks are already possible, but currently require many hundreds of numbers to be known by the attacker before the seed can be re-created. More benign outcomes are also possible. The formal algorithm used to generate the numbers might have leaked, for example. Though this algorithm is meant to be secret (so that you have to buy RSA hardware and software if you want to use SecurID), it has already been successfully reverse engineered; disclosure now can't damage the system's security. The statement from RSA says that the company is confident that the information lost does not enable any "direct attack" on SecurID, which would tend to rule out the possibility of seed reconstruction and similar attacks, but warned that it could be used to "reduce the effectiveness" of the system. The SEC note included a bunch of generic best-practices steps that customers should take to ensure their systems remained secure, but nothing that gave any particular indication of what information was compromised—nor enough for RSA customers to know whether their system security has been materially weakened by the hack. The attack was described as an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT). This is the same class of attack that was made against Google in Operation Aurora, the Stuxnet attacks on Iran, and more recently against the French Ministry of Finances. The hackers—widely presumed to be working for the Chinese government—use 0-day attacks to get their specific, tailored malware onto the computers of targeted organizations. These programs will generally use rootkit techniques to both persist on infected systems and prevent detection by generic anti-malware software. Once installed, this malware is then usually controlled remotely, enabling it to perform new tasks and spread using new techniques. Because these attacks are specific to a particular victim or victims, typical anti-malware software won't detect it, and because it tends to spread using 0-day attacks, operating system patching equally provides little defense. Though of no great concern to end-user security, APTs are set to become an ever larger part of the threat landscape for major corporations and governments.Few Catholic artifacts are as mysterious and as fraught with controversy as the foreskin of Jesus Christ, the only part of the Messiah left on Earth after his Divine Ascension. After being lost for almost 1500 years, Christ's foreskin (known as the Holy Prepuce) was discovered in the small Roman town of Calcata, disproving a theory by 17th century theologian Leo Allatius that it ascended into heaven to become the rings of Saturn. The Holy Foreskin was immediately attributed with numerous divine miracles, including perfumed mists and freak storms. It supposedly had divine attributes: rubbing it upon the eyelids of the blind could make them see. But in 1900, another holy foreskin showed up, this time in France. At this point, even the Catholic Church was starting to be a little bit ashamed of their little slice of Jesus and it was decreed that anyone who even spoke of the Holy Foreskin would be excommunicated and burn in hell forever. Yet that didn't stop people from obsessing about it and in 1983, it mysteriously disappeared. Now David Farley of Slate wonders what happened: was it really stolen by sacrilegious thieves? Or were black-masked ninjas on a cleaning mission from the Vatican itself responsible for spiriting away the decaying sheath of Christ's dick in the middle of the night? We may never know what really happened to Jesus' foreskin. Fore Shame [Slate]One common Canadian stereotype is that all Canadians like hockey. Obviously that's not true. There are probably some Canadians out there somewhere who don't like hockey, just like there are probably some Americans who don't like college football. However, these people are very difficult to find and even if we did find them, we wouldn't want to get to know them. Who do they think they are anyway, refusing to give in to a stereotype? The good news is that you don't even need to worry about finding these Canadians at all. Canadian hockey fans more than overcompensate for those who don't enjoy the sport. And when we say "overcompensate" we mean "go freakin' nuts whenever hockey is discussed at any level." No where is ludicrous display of obsession more obvious than when Team Canada plays in a tournament. Any tournament. "Team Canada" is a truly uniting force in this country. Sure, Canadian hockey fans spend most of their time fighting out brutal rivalries between Montreal and Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton and Vancouver and not burning stuff after a loss, but international hockey is different. These tournaments allow Canadians to get together and join in a united front. They allow the people of Canada the chance to wave their flags and paint their faces and sing the national anthem in true drunken glory. Normally Canadians shy away from being patriotic, but not when international hockey is concerned. When it comes to hockey, Canadians are willing to do anything to support the team. But they don't just offer support. You see, when you're "Team Canada" you're expected to win. That guy who painted his body to look like a Canadian flag isn't hoping for a good showing or a competitive run that comes close to victory. He wants his team to win. He wants to celebrate over the battered bodies of his enemies with an unhealthy dose of poutine, Canadian beer and showmanship. That means that every single aspect of any team representing Canada is analyzed extensively. Is Hockey Canada choosing a bunch of under 20 year-olds to play a sport? Yes? Well there had better be a ridiculous amount of over the top coverage! Canadians wouldn't have it any other way. And if these kids lose the game? Prepare for meltdown. ___________________Following up on the success of their flagship gimbal stabilizer, DJI has announced the Ronin M, which is half the weight of the original and can carry loads up to 8lbs. With the halved weight limit, the Ronin M is going to be an excellent gimbal option for many of the smaller cameras out there today, from mirrorless cameras like the GH4 and A7s to Blackmagic's cameras and beyond. It seems that DJI is taking a similar road to Freefly by segmenting their lineup of stabilizers by carrying capacity. Here's a brief look at the Ronin M from Dan Chung the fine folks over at News Shooter: And here's the teaser for an upcoming promotional short film shot exclusively with the Ronin M. The film, simply entitled Lifted will be released on Friday the 17th: Here are the specs that we know so far for the Ronin M: Weight: 5 lbs For camera/lens combos up to 8 lbs (3.6 kg) Over 6 hours of battery life Fully Removable handles Two regulated 12V P-taps, one 500mAH full-size USB connector, and a DJI Lightbridge connector Quick release system for the top handle allows users to mount the DJI Ronin-M easily to jibs, cranes, tripods, and many more. Solid, one-piece, magnesium camera-support frame provides extreme structural rigidity. Fully compatible with the optional DJI Ronin Thumb Controller The DJI Ronin M is expected to come in below the $2000 mark and should be available for pre-order by the end of the month. No Film School's complete coverage of NAB 2015 is brought to you by Color Grading Central, Shutterstock, Blackmagic Design, and Bigstock.Visa Pressmeddelande Volvo Car Group presenterar sin Concept Estate på bilsalongen i Genève På bilsalongen i Genève kommer Volvo Car Group att presentera den tredje i en serie av konceptbilar – Concept Estate – en fortsättning på det beundrade yttre designspråk vi såg exempel på i de första två konceptbilarna. Den här gången avslöjas också för första gången hur interiören i Volvos kommande modeller kommer att se ut och fungera. Det mest slående hos interiören i Concept Estate är enkelheten. Det traditionella utbudet av knappar och reglage har ersatts av en stor pekskärm på mittkonsolen. Skärmen påminner om en surfplatta och visar tydligt att interiören hör hemma i 2 000-talet. -Vår grundidé är att ordna reglage och information på ett helt intuitivt och användarvänligt sätt.Allt finns precis där man förväntar sig att det ska vara, vilket gör körningen roligare, effektivare och säkrare, säger Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design på Volvo Car Group. Volvo Concept Estate Tillsammans med Volvos skräddarsydda programvara, kommer pekskärmen att utgöra den huvudsakliga kontrollcentralen för Volvos nya användarupplevelse. Den ersätter alla knappar och reglage förutom vissa basfunktioner som volym, spela upp/pausa, varningsblinkers och uppvärmning av rutorna. Pekskärmens funktion är också helt integrerad med den digitala instrumentgruppen framför föraren. -Att inte behöva hantera en massa knappar och reglage för ett ökande antal funktioner är som att släppas fri från ett par handklovar, säger Robin Page, Design Director Interior på Volvo Car Group. -Det har också gjort det möjligt att skapa en vacker interiör kring den stående pekskärmen.Konceptbilen visar hur det här användargränssnittet kommer att integreras i vår nya bilgeneration. Volvo är företaget som definierade om kombibilen genom att kombinera funktionalitet, slitstyrka och användbarhet med prestanda. V70 och XC70 tillhör de mest respekterade kombibilarna på marknaden och nya Concept Estate visar hur företaget skulle kunna utnyttja det här arvet för sina kommande modeller. Volvo Concept Estate Volvo har haft stor framgång med sina konceptbilar. Concept Coupé utnämndes av en ledande tysk biltidning till "Car of the Show" på Frankfurts bilsalong och Concept XC Coupé fick ta emot det prestigefyllda "Eyes ON Design"-priset på bilmässan i Detroit. Det internationella intresset för Volvos konceptbilar har intensifierats eftersom de ger de första riktiga ledtrådarna kring hur den helt nya och efterlängtade XC90-modellen och efterföljande bilar kommer att se ut. Volvo XC90 lanseras senare i år. Att lära av historien Bakdelen på Concept Estate påminner en del om Volvo 1800 ES från början av 1970-talet. -Bilarna i 1800-serien är sanna Volvo-ikoner, kända för sina vackra former och detaljer. Att låna detaljer från dessa modellers utsida och interiör har dock ingenting med retro-design att göra. Vi använder dessa diskreta antydningar om ett storslaget förflutet för att skapa en framtid där rena och sköna linjer blir en välkänd del av Volvos identitet, säger Thomas Ingenlath. Den diskreta inspirationen från 1800-serien kan också skönjas i ett antal detaljer på insidan av Concept Estate, till exempel den tvåekrade ratten, instrumentpanelen och intrumenttavlorna. Robin Page förklarar: -De första fyra decennierna i Volvos historia karakteriserades av klassisk hantverk och material av hög kvalitet. Nu slår vi ihop den här väsentliga delen av vårt märkes-DNA med senare tiders fokus på teknik och smarta funktioner. I Concept Estate har vi dessutom inspirererats av den mer kreativa sidan av Skandinavien. Resultatet är en exotisk inredning med genuina material och ett fantastiskt detaljarbete. Volvo Concept Estate Vacker och annorlunda När vi applicerar allt detta på en kombibil – själva essensen av praktisk Volvo-funktionalitet – får vi en bil som är både vacker och annorlunda. Det generösa avståndet mellan instrumentbrädan och framaxeln, den låga huven, den slanka silhuetten och glastaket bidrar alla till intrycket av en dynamisk och sportig, men ändå rymlig tredörrars kombibil. Kontrasten mellan den mörkt päronbruna lacken och de glänsande, femekrade 21-tumshjulen bidrar till bilens moderna och coola aura. Precis som med Concept Coupé och Concept XC Coupé, karakteriseras fronten på Volvo Concept Estate av en ny form på motorhuven och en "svävande" grill, flankerad av strålkastarna med de nya T-formade DRL-ljusledarna. Bakljusens form är en annan distinkt detalj i Volvo Cars nya formspråk. Svensk inifrån och ut De utåtriktade och färgstarka trenderna i dagens svenska livsstil och design har varit starka inspirationskällor för designteamet. Samtliga passagerare omfamnas av orange säkerhetsbälten och samma accentfärg återfinns i de exklusiva, vävda yllemattorna från den svenska textildesignern Kasthall. Växelspaksknoppen i kristall från Orrefors/Kosta Boda glöder också med ett orange sken, medan takklädselns och stolsryggarnas svartvitrutiga ylletyg adderar en viss lekfullhet till utrymmet. - Det svenska samhället genomsyras av kreativitet, såväl när det gäller design och teknik som mode, musik och konst. Vi har utnyttjat all denna inspiration för att kunna skapa ett nytt, spännande uttryck för den svenska själen, säger Thomas Ingenlath. Känslan av ett skandinaviskt vardagsrum Den svenska atmosfären i Concept Estate understyks också av en instrumentbräda som är täckt av tjockt, naturgarvat sadelläder från Tärnsjö, träinlägg av vaxat naturligt åldrat trä och bearbetade detaljer i koppar. -Interiören är ovanligt färgstark. samtidigt som ljuset från glastaket och stolarnas ljusa skinnklädsel från Bridge of Wear hjälper till att skapa den ljusa och trivsamma stämning som är så utmärkande för ett svenskt vardagsrum. En miljö som känns så behaglig att du inte vill lämna den i första taget, säger Robin Page. Specialdesignat kubbspel Den behagliga atmosfären i kupén kanske inspirerar passagerarna till att stanna för en picknick och ett parti kubb. Det specialdesignade spelet syns genom bagagerumsgolvet. -Kan ni inte reglerna?Inga problem. De finns tryckta på det genomskinliga golvet. Regn är heller ingen ursäkt.I bagaget finns även exklusiva regnrockar från Stutterheim, förklarar Robin Page.The Obama administration wants to make sure people in Afghanistan and Pakistan heard six key sentences in the president’s announcement about sending more troops – telling them “America seeks an end to this era of war and suffering.” The State Department took President Obama’s comments and similar remarks made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (they also promised the U.S. has no interest in “occupying” Afghanistan) and translated them into several languages to be spread via compressed video that can be watched on cell phones and mobile devices. Clinton taped videos directly
forden für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland in Gold (Combat medal for the merits for the People and Fatherland) and other awards. The building, Schmellwitzer Straße 2, Cottbus, stands to this day. sources building vs. airplane Empire State Building vs. B-25 Mitchell, New York; 1945 On Saturday, July 28, 1945, William Franklin Smith, Jr., was piloting a B-25 Mitchell bomber on a routine personnel transport mission from Bedford Army Air Field to Newark Airport. Smith asked for clearance to land, but was advised of zero visibility. Proceeding anyway, he became disoriented by the fog, and started turning right instead of left after passing the Chrysler Building. At 9:40 a.m., the aircraft crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building, between the 78th and 80th floors, carving an 18-by-20-foot (5.5 m × 6.1 m) hole in the building where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the South side opposite the impact and flew as far as the next block, dropping 900 feet and landing on the roof of a nearby building and starting a fire that destroyed a penthouse art studio. The other engine and part of the landing gear plummeted down an elevator shaft. The resulting fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. It is still the only fire at such a height to be brought under control. Fourteen people were killed. {Wikipedia} On the evening of May 20, 1946, a United States Army Air Forces Beechcraft C-45F Expediter airplane crashed into the north side of the building. The twin-engined plane was heading for Newark Airport on a flight originating at Lake Charles Army Air Field in Louisiana. It struck the 58th floor of the building at about 8:10 PM, creating a 20-by-10-foot (6.1 m × 3.0 m) hole in the masonry, and killing all five aboard the plane, including a WAC officer. The fuselage and the wing of the splintered plane fell and caught onto the 12th story ledge. Fog and low visibility were identified as the main causes of the crash. At the time of the accident, LaGuardia Field reported a heavy fog that reduced the ceiling to 500 feet (150 m), obscuring the view of the ground for the pilot at the building's 58th story level. Parts of the aircraft and pieces of brick and mortar from the building fell into the street below, but there were no reported injuries to any of the estimated 2,000 workers in the building, nor anyone on the street. {Wikipedia} Groeneveen & Klein-Kruitberg vs. Boeing 747-258F, Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam; 1992 At 6:35:42 pm local time, the aircraft nose-dived from the sky and slammed into two high-rise apartment complexes in the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood, at the corner of a building where the Groeneveen complex met the Klein-Kruitberg complex. It exploded in a fireball, which caused the building to partially collapse inward, destroying dozens of apartments. The cockpit came to rest east of the flats, between the building and the viaduct of Amsterdam Metro Line 53; the tail broke off and was blown back by the force of the explosion [...] First responders came upon a rapidly spreading fire of "gigantic proportions" that consumed all 10 floors of the buildings and was 120 meters wide, the length of a football field. There were no survivors from the crash point; only those who managed to escape from the remainder of the building. Witnesses reported seeing people jumping out of the building to escape the fire. {Wikipedia} World Trade Center North Tower, South Tower & Salomon Building vs. Boeing 767-223ER & Boeing 767-222, New York; 2001 Two [...] planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed, with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. Pentagon vs. Boeing 757-223, Washington, D.C.; 2001 The impact severely damaged an area of the Pentagon and caused a large fire. A portion of the building collapsed; firefighters spent days working to fully extinguish the blaze [...] Flight 77, flying at 530 mph (853 km/h, 237 m/s, or 460 knots) over the Navy Annex Building adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, crashed into the western side of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C., at 09:37:46. The plane hit the Pentagon at the first-floor level, and at the moment of impact, the airplane was rolled slightly to the left, with the right wing elevated. The front part of the fuselage disintegrated on impact, while the mid and tail sections moved for another fraction of a second, with tail section debris penetrating furthest into the building. In all, the airplane took eight-tenths of a second to fully penetrate 310 feet (94 m) into the three outermost of the building's five rings and unleashed a fireball that rose 200 feet (61 m) above the building. In all, there were 189 deaths at the Pentagon site, including the 125 in the Pentagon building in addition to the 64 on board the aircraft. Bank of America Tower vs. Cessna 172, Tampa, Florida; 2002 The impact killed the teenager and damaged an office room. There were no other injuries. {Wikipedia} Pirelli Tower vs. Rockwell Commander 112, Milan, Italy; 2002 The vibration of the crash caused shop windows to break and littered the surroundings with debris and glass. The pilot and two lawyers present inside the building died. Between thirty and forty people were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, while fire-fighters contained the fire that resulted from the crash. {Wikipedia} Belaire vs. Cirrus SR20, New York; 2002 The aircraft struck the north side of the building [...] causing a fire in several apartments, which was extinguished within two hours. Both people aboard the aircraft were killed in the accident: New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his certified flight instructor Tyler Stanger. Twenty-one people were injured, including eleven firefighters. An apartment resident [...] was hospitalized for a month with severe burns incurred when the post-impact fire engulfed her apartment. {Wikipedia} Generic brick building vs. Boeing 747, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2013 Images from Twitter appear to show the plane was taxiing when one of its wings sliced through a brick building on the edge of the runway. {Telegraph} edit: forgot a wordAntennas of the former National Security Agency (NSA) listening station are seen at the Teufelsberg hill, or Devil's Mountain in Berlin, November 5, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. contracting companies such as Cisco, which manages much of the German armed forces’ data, should be contractually barred from passing sensitive information to the U.S. security services, a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives was quoted saying. German news magazine Focus on Saturday cited Hans-Peter Uhl, parliamentary spokesman on interior policy for the conservatives, as saying Cisco needed to be required by contract not to pass sensitive material to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). He said the German government wanted to monitor U.S. contracting companies more closely in future. A spokeswoman for the German government declined to comment on the Focus magazine report. Reports earlier this year that the NSA had tapped phones and emails in Europe, including Merkel’s mobile phone, caused outrage in Germany, where memories remain of eavesdropping by the Stasi secret police during communist rule in East Germany. U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday tried to strike a middle ground on questions about surveillance practices by the NSA, saying some checks were needed on the system but “we can’t unilaterally disarm.”The journey to the Overwatch League took a big step forward today with the official announcement of the league's first seven owners, which is an 85.7 percent match to the list of teams that leaked last week. The seven teams represent "just our first announcement," Overwatch League Commissioner Nate Nanzer said, adding that "additional announcements about other teams joining the league" will be made between now and its launch later this year. “Overwatch already connects over 30 million players worldwide. The Overwatch League will celebrate and reward our most accomplished players and give fans more opportunities to engage with each other,” Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. “We’re excited to be working with leaders from esports and traditional sports to celebrate our players and to establish the Overwatch League.” The first seven confirmed owners are: Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and the New England Patriots (Boston) Jeff Wilpon, Co-Founder and Partner of Sterling.VC and COO of the New York Mets (New York) Noah Whinston, CEO of Immortals (Los Angeles) Ben Spoont, CEO and Co-Founder of Misfits Gaming (Miami-Orlando) Andy Miller, Chairman and Founder of NRG Esports (San Francisco) NetEase (Shanghai) Kevin Chou, Co-founder of Kabam (Seoul) "The interesting difference in the Overwatch League structure versus some other esports leagues is the fact that we're anchoring teams to cities, [which] we think is going to unlock a tremendous amount of revenue for teams that don't exist in esports today. You look at traditional sports, teams make a lot of money because of the fact that they have a venue where they can sell tickets and concessions and merchandise and all those things. It doesn't exist in esports today, and we think the time is right," Nanzer said. "There are huge audiences all over the world that love to engage in this content live, we see it every year at BlizzCon and all the other events we put on, and we think by putting teams in cities around the world, it'll give more fans a chance to engage in content live, connect with other fans, share their passion for competitive Overwatch, and create a league for the long term." Nanzer said that Blizzard has been "very thoughtful" in its approach to structuring the Overwatch League. Teams will earn equal shares of "league-wide net revenues," but they'll also keep the majority of local revenues—"a very small percentage" will go back into the League pool—generated through licensing, sponsorships, sales of physical and virtual merchandise, and the operation of up to five amateur esports tournaments in their home market each year. "We looked a lot at our history at Blizzard, begin involved in esports for nearly two decades, and we looked at a lot of traditional sports and looked at what structures make the most sense," he explained. "We've come up with a league where we really think it's going to create consistency and stability for teams and players and fans, which I think is really important for esports. The city-based format, with home and away matches, we think is going to be really important in sort of taking esports to the next level." The first season of the Overwatch League will be played exclusively in an esports arena in Los Angeles, however, "to give our teams time to build their local capability. There's a lot of work that goes into turning the lights on at a venue and making sure that they have the infrastructure in place in order to host home games. So we're giving our teams some time to do that and we're hopeful that we'll be up and running with the home-away format as soon as our teams are ready. And while Nanzer declined to confirm or comment on Overwatch franchise fees, which have been rumored to be $20 million or more, he did say reports that Blizzard has had difficulty attracting teams to its new league are "just not true." "We've had a tremendous response. Case in point is the seven teams that we're announcing today, three of which are endemic to esports—Who better to validate the opportunity than brands that are competing in esports today? They see the opportunity that the Overwatch League presents," he said. "These seven teams that we're announcing today represent just the first seven teams that we've signed, but we're in active conversations with numerous parties in regions all over the world, and continue to see tremendous interest in what we're building." An official start date for the Overwatch League still hasn't been revealed, but it remains set to debut later this year. Find out more at overwatchleague.com.Up to six medical marijuana dispensaries could be established in Harford County, but the actual number, as well as their specific locations, will not be made public until the state commission regulating the fledgling industry approves their licenses. Dispensary locations are posted on the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s website only after the panel approves the license, Executive Director Patrick Jameson said following a meeting of the commission Monday in Bel Air. Commission staff learn the location of the growing or processing facility, or the dispensary, once the applicant files for an inspection, according to Jameson. The applicants must pass a state inspection of their facilities — which are subject to municipal or county zoning approvals — as well as pass criminal background checks and reviews of their finances and business plans and operating procedures. They must also show they have legal control of the property for their facilities, either through a lease or purchase. The applicants must show they have received local approvals for their facilities, according to Jameson. “Zoning is a critical thing that has to be taken care of,” he said. Those approvals are the responsibility of local governments, however. “We have nothing to do with local zoning,” Jameson said. “That’s all a city, municipality or county’s decision.” The commission approved five growers and processors, as well as one laboratory for analysis of the products, for licenses during its session Monday. Three growers, including Shore Natural Rx LLC, of Worcester County, SunMed Growers LLC, of Cecil County, and Grow West MD LLC, of Garrett County, were approved. SunMed’s growing facility is in Warwick, which is in southern Cecil County, according to the company’s Facebook page. Two processors, Chesapeake Alternatives LLC, of Queen Anne’s County, and Pro Green Medical LLC, of Frederick County, were also approved. The commission also approved a license for Advent Laboratories Inc. to operate an independent testing laboratory in Baltimore County. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler represents law enforcement on the commission. Gahler said later that he still opposes recreational use of marijuana, but he wants to be part of ensuring the medical marijuana industry is properly regulated. “I have said I want to do it the right way, so I guess this is my challenge” to make sure it is done the right way,” he said. Up to two standalone dispensaries — not including those operated by growers — can be established in each of Maryland’s 47 state senatorial districts. Senate District 7 covers eastern Baltimore and western Harford counties, District 34 covers central and southern Harford and District 35 covers eastern Harford and western Cecil County. Six dispensary applicants, or two per district, have been pre-approved for the districts that cover Harford County. No growers or processors have been pre-approved for Harford, according to the commission. Pre-approval means the applicants filed their initial application and passed preliminary inspections of their finances and backgrounds, which clears them to move to the second — and final — stage involving more intense reviews of finances, the backgrounds of the applicants and their business associates and employees and facility inspections. Applicants have up to 365 days after they are pre-approved, to get their operations and facilities ready for final approvals, according to commission staff. “Once these companies, the growers, processors and dispensaries, become licensed it is incumbent upon them to operate with the highest ethical standards and create and process and dispense the best pharmaceutical-grade medicine possible for our patients,” Jameson said as he delivered his executive director’s report to the commission. Dispensary applicants have until early December to get ready. Only one applicant, out of 102 pre-approved, has received a dispensary license so far. The Wellness Institute of Maryland, of Frederick County, got its license approved in early July, The Baltimore Sun reported. “The commission is moving expeditiously to get the industry up and running,” Jameson said after Monday’s meeting. J. Darrell Carrington, a medical cannabis industry consultant and lobbyist, noted it wouldn’t make sense for applicants to announce their locations until they are approved for a state license. Carrington, who attended and spoke during the public comment portion of Monday’s meeting, is the medical cannabis director for Greenwill Consulting Group LLC, of Annapolis. “We didn’t want companies to have to go through the expense of securing a lease or purchasing a building and then finding out they didn’t actually get a [license],” he said after the meeting. Carrington worked with state legislators, as the head of the Maryland Cannabis Industry Association, when the laws governing medical marijuana were being developed. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2013, but it came with an exacting regulatory process. Carrington said the one-year period after pre-approval gives applicants “ample time” to secure a lease or complete the build-out of their facilities. Jameson also addressed, during his director’s report, public expectations about the supply of medical cannabis once the industry is up and running. “While I have no intention of speaking for industry operators, I must reiterate this is a new industry in the state of Maryland, and because this industry is in its infancy, no one should have any expectation that the market will be fully supplied at the outset of the program,” he said. The commission took public comments on a proposal to expand the number of pre-approvals for processors beyond the currently mandated 15. The commission did not make a decision Monday, though. Chairman Brian Lopez said the commission will “probably” make a decision at its next meeting, scheduled Nov. 16 at the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore. Monday’s public speakers included licensees and industry advocates. “It was always the intention of the General Assembly for there to be an unlimited number of processors,” Carrington, the industry lobbyist, said. He noted allowing more pre-approvals “will increase significantly the minority participation in this particular program.” Jake Van Wingerden, owner of SunMed and chairman of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association, argued against additional licenses, though. “We believe it is premature to add any additional licenses at this time before a marketplace has even been established,” he said.I saw another Rebel flag tee shirt the other day. Such “Southern Heritage” apparel reminds me of my old college history professor. “A lot of white Southerners,” said he, a Louisianan, “still have a loser’s complex from the Civil War.” The flag shirt was on a white teenager. He was gabbing with a buddy; based on their accents, I suspect they are sons of the South. “Never Surrender” and “Protect Your Heritage” were printed on the shirt below a cluster of four flags that flew over the Confederacy in 1861-1865. “Never surrender?” The kid’s Rebel heroes gave up unconditionally in 1865. “Heritage?” The Confederates bolted the Union in 1860-1861 and provoked America ‘s bloodiest war because they feared President Abraham Lincoln and his Northern “Black Republican” party would make them give up slavery. I wonder if the teen is a fan of Alexander H. Stephens, the Confederate vice president. Soon after he took office, Stephens opined that the Declaration of Independence was flat wrong about all men being created equal. Said Stephens: “Our new Government is founded exactly upon the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition.” Stephens also claimed that that the Confederate States of America was “the first Government ever instituted upon principles in strict conformity to nature and the ordination of Providence, in furnishing the materials of human society.” Hence, according to Stephens, God was cool with white folks enslaving black folks. Throughout the Confederacy, white men of the cloth were wont to preach that slavery was heaven ordained. Anyway, I imagine the national sesquicentennial observance of the Civil War is boosted the sale of “Southern Heritage” stuff, from caps and shirts to Rebel flag license plates and bumper stickers. Confederate Flag Waving Southern Heritage Confederate banners are flapping from flagpoles all over Dixie and even in border states like Kentucky, where I was born, reared and still live. At the same time, I’m pretty sure another reason for the in-your-face Rebel revanchism is because we have an African American president. “The fetishism surrounding the Confederate battle flag is akin to periodic locust infestation,” said John Hennen, a Morehead, Ky., State University historian and author. “The worship of this icon to treason and white supremacy will lie dormant for a while and then emerge with a vengeance whenever willfully ignorant whites — not limited to the old slave state South, by the way — sense that minorities are stepping out of line.” Indeed, after the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan hoisted the Confederate banner as they beat, chased away and murdered newly-freed slaves. (The current Klan is partial to the Rebel flag, too.) In the 1960s, Klan members and like-minded Southern whites waved the Confederate flag in fierce — and often violent – opposition to federal laws aimed at ending years of Jim Crow segregation and race discrimination. Of course, white people of the “Southern heritage” persuasion insist that their ancestors’ Confederacy was all about “states’ rights” and not the South’s peculiar institution. By “states’ rights,” the Confederates meant Yankee Republican Washington had no right to ban bondage in the slave states or even to stop slavery’s spread into the territories. Hennen added that after Reconstruction — when the Jim Crow era started — “there was a conscious effort by white Southerners to deny that the Civil War had anything to do with slavery. Oh, no, they said they fought in defense of local sovereignty.” Hennen said “local sovereignty” in the antebellum South meant preserving slavery and white supremacy. “The contemporary ‘never surrender’ and ‘heritage’ tee-shirt cannot be separated from that legacy.” Berry CraigSTREAK OVER! Game Recap: football \| 9/2/2016 2:49:00 AM 21 Cheyney 1-0 20 Lincoln (Pa.) 0-1 Score By Quarters Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total Cheyney 14 0 0 0 7 21 Lincoln (Pa.) 0 14 0 0 6 20 Box Score Full Schedule Roster Next Game: California University of Pennsylvania 9/10/2016 - 1:00 PM Wolves Capture "Battle of the First" and End Streak with 21-20 Victory Team Statistics Team Statistics Game Stats CHEY LUPA First Downs 19 14 Total Offensive Yards 313 216 Passing Yards 108 85 Rushing Yards 205 131 Penalty Yards 10-81 12-93 3rd Downs 7-17 3-13 4th Downs 3-4 1-2 Time Of Possession 50:12 24:48 Game Stat Leaders Passing Leaders Rushing Leaders Receiving Leaders Defense Leaders #15 Dominick Trautz CMP 10 TD 1 YDS 108 INT 2 #26 James Madlock III Avg 6.1 TD 1 YDS 92 GAIN 99 #23 Brandon French Avg 3.0 TD 1 YDS 73 GAIN 85 #15 Dominick Trautz Avg 7.0 TD 0 YDS 14 GAIN 14 #17 Marcus Lyles No 4 TD 1 YDS 48 Long 13 #11 Nigel Wiley No 3 TD 0 YDS 44 Long 28 #4 Shadeed Cheeseboro No 1 TD 0 YDS 12 Long 12 #5 Keyson Dingle Tackles 10 TFL 2.5 Sacks 0.0 YDS 0 #28 Marvin Easter Tackles 9 TFL 0.0 Sacks 0.0 YDS 0 #14 Jamiel Hines Tackles 6 TFL 1.0 Sacks 0.0 YDS 0 LINCOLN, Pa. – Jr. QB Dominick Trautz connected on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jr. Marcus Lyles in the first overtime, and Jr. Brendyn Van Demark converted the score to give Cheyney University a seven-point lead. The game was then in hands of a defense that dominated through most of the game, and when Marvin Easter III knocked down a pass in the endzone on a two-point conversion, the Cheyney Wolves ended a 43-game winless drought with a 21-20 victory in overtime in the "Battle of the First" at The Lincoln University Thursday night. The Wolves held a 21-14 lead in the first overtime when Lincoln quarterback Khari Nquzi connected on a nine-yard td pass to Larquise Hobbs, on fourth and goal from the 9, to extend the game for one more play. With an injured place-kicker, the Lions, who did not attempt a kick during the game, went for the win on the two point-conversion, but Easter III broke up the pass and CU players and fans stormed the field in celebration. The last Cheyney victory also came on September 1, in 2012 a 34-21 win at Lincoln. The Wolves got off to a fast start, after forcing a three and out from Lincoln on the opening possession of the game, Cheyney was able to begin its opening drive of the season at the Lions 34 yard line following an 8-yard punt. The Wolves took just six plays to take advantage of the field position and put up the first score of the season on a 6-yard dash to the corner from Brandon French. Cheyney forced another punt and looked poised to extend it lead, when it marched deep into Lions territory, but the Wolves, could not convert a fourth and five at the Lincoln 20, and turned the ball over on downs. Once again the defense stepped up and forced a quick punt. With a drive start at the Lincoln 42, the Wolves faced a third and two at the Lions 34 when R-Fr. James Madlock III, who led Cheyney with 92 yards rushing on 15 carries, electrified the crowd with a dazzling tackle-breaking, ankle-breaking run to put the Wolves ahead 14-0 and what looked like on their way to an easy victory. The Lions had other thoughts, a 59-yard punt return set up Lincoln at the Cheyney 15 and three plays later All-CIAA running back Stephen Scott went in from the two. The Wolves, All-PSAC defensive end Joseph Bryant then stopped Scott on the two-point rush to keep it at a 14-6 Cheyney advantage.. Nzquzi then rumbled in from six-yards out, on the final play of the first half, and converted the two-point-attempt with a completion to Andre Price and the game was tied at 14-14 at the break. Despite having the ball for over eight minutes on a 16-play opening drive, and for all but six plays in the third quarter, the Wolves could not put any points on the board and the contest remained deadlocked late into the fourth quarter. It appeared that Cheyney was destined to fall in heart breaking fashion when William Reyes grabbed his second interception of the game off a tipped pass and was heading down the sideline for what looked like the deciding score, but great hustle by the Wolves and a penalty on the Lions gave Lincoln the ball at the Cheyney 29- yard line with 1:11 to play. Lincoln converted a third and short to move the ball inside the Cheyney 20, but a bad snap on first down set the Lions back and led to overtime. The Wolves had the first opportunity from the 25, but could not move the ball on the first three plays and face a fourth and 10 from the 25, when Trautz was able to find a seam in the Lions defense and scramble for twelve yards and a first down. Three plays later he put the Wolves ahead to stay with the TD pass to Lyles. Madlock III rushed for a team-best 92 yards and a score on just 15 carries for a 6.1 yards per carry average, French powered his way to 73 yards and a score, Lyles led the receiving core with four catches for 48 yards and the winning TD reception, Nigel Wiley added 44 yards on three catches and Trautz threw for 108 yards a score and 2 int's. Scott led all runners with 108 yards, but it took him 31 carries, he also had a team-high 48 yards on four reception. Brendyn Van Demark was three-for-three on the all-important extra points in the contest. Jr. Keyson Dingle led the Wolves with 10 tackles, Easter III added nine tackles a fourth quarter interception in the endzone and two pass break-ups. Jr. Jamiel Hines and Fr. Michai Beal recorded six stops each, Bryant added five tackles including a forced fumble and stuffing Scott on a fourth down play and a two-point conversion attempt and R-So. Jordan Richardson also made five stops for the Wolves. The Wolves are next in action at O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium for the home opener on Saturday, September 10 for a 1:00 PM kick-off against PSAC West opponent California (Pa). Print Friendly Version LINCOLN, Pa. – Jr. QBconnected on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jr.in the first overtime, and Jr.converted the score to give Cheyney University a seven-point lead. The game was then in hands of a defense that dominated through most of the game, and whenknocked down a pass in the endzone on a two-point conversion, the Cheyney Wolves ended a 43-game winless drought with a 21-20 victory in overtime in the "Battle of the First" at The Lincoln University Thursday night.The Wolves held a 21-14 lead in the first overtime when Lincoln quarterback Khari Nquzi connected on a nine-yard td pass to Larquise Hobbs, on fourth and goal from the 9, to extend the game for one more play. With an injured place-kicker, the Lions, who did not attempt a kick during the game, went for the win on the two point-conversion, but Easter III broke up the pass and CU players and fans stormed the field in celebration.The last Cheyney victory also came on September 1, in 2012 a 34-21 win at Lincoln.The Wolves got off to a fast start, after forcing a three and out from Lincoln on the opening possession of the game, Cheyney was able to begin its opening drive of the season at the Lions 34 yard line following an 8-yard punt. The Wolves took just six plays to take advantage of the field position and put up the first score of the season on a 6-yard dash to the corner fromCheyney forced another punt and looked poised to extend it lead, when it marched deep into Lions territory, but the Wolves, could not convert a fourth and five at the Lincoln 20, and turned the ball over on downs.Once again the defense stepped up and forced a quick punt. With a drive start at the Lincoln 42, the Wolves faced a third and two at the Lions 34 when R-Fr., who led Cheyney with 92 yards rushing on 15 carries, electrified the crowd with a dazzling tackle-breaking, ankle-breaking run to put the Wolves ahead 14-0 and what looked like on their way to an easy victory.The Lions had other thoughts, a 59-yard punt return set up Lincoln at the Cheyney 15 and three plays later All-CIAA running back Stephen Scott went in from the two. The Wolves, All-PSAC defensive endthen stopped Scott on the two-point rush to keep it at a 14-6 Cheyney advantage..Nzquzi then rumbled in from six-yards out, on the final play of the first half, and converted the two-point-attempt with a completion to Andre Price and the game was tied at 14-14 at the break.Despite having the ball for over eight minutes on a 16-play opening drive, and for all but six plays in the third quarter, the Wolves could not put any points on the board and the contest remained deadlocked late into the fourth quarter.It appeared that Cheyney was destined to fall in heart breaking fashion when William Reyes grabbed his second interception of the game off a tipped pass and was heading down the sideline for what looked like the deciding score, but great hustle by the Wolves and a penalty on the Lions gave Lincoln the ball at the Cheyney 29- yard line with 1:11 to play.Lincoln converted a third and short to move the ball inside the Cheyney 20, but a bad snap on first down set the Lions back and led to overtime.The Wolves had the first opportunity from the 25, but could not move the ball on the first three plays and face a fourth and 10 from the 25, when Trautz was able to find a seam in the Lions defense and scramble for twelve yards and a first down. Three plays later he put the Wolves ahead to stay with the TD pass to Lyles.Madlock III rushed for a team-best 92 yards and a score on just 15 carries for a 6.1 yards per carry average, French powered his way to 73 yards and a score, Lyles led the receiving core with four catches for 48 yards and the winning TD reception,added 44 yards on three catches and Trautz threw for 108 yards a score and 2 int's.Scott led all runners with 108 yards, but it took him 31 carries, he also had a team-high 48 yards on four reception.was three-for-three on the all-important extra points in the contest.Jr.led the Wolves with 10 tackles, Easter III added nine tackles a fourth quarter interception in the endzone and two pass break-ups. Jr.and Fr.recorded six stops each, Bryant added five tackles including a forced fumble and stuffing Scott on a fourth down play and a two-point conversion attempt and R-So.also made five stops for the Wolves.The Wolves are next in action at O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium for the home opener on Saturday, September 10 for a 1:00 PM kick-off against PSAC West opponent California (Pa). Players Mentioned Bio Keyson Dingle #5 LB 6' 1" 210 lbs Jr. Bio Marvin Easter #28 CB 6' 3" 180 lbs Sr. Bio Brandon French #23 RB 6' 1" 185 lbs Jr. Bio Jamiel Hines #14 DB 5' 8" 167 lbs R-Jr. Bio Marcus Lyles #17 WR 5' 8" 155 lbs R-Jr. Bio James Madlock III #26 RB 5' 8" 150 lbs R-Fr. Bio Jordan Richardson #6 LB 5' 10" 205 lbs R-Jr. Bio Dominick Trautz #15 QB 6' 1" 185 lbs Jr. Bio Brendyn Van Demark #87 K -P 6' 3" 180 lbs Jr. Bio Nigel Wiley #11 WR 6' 0" 170 lbs Jr. TweetTwo years ago, India's solar market was basically non-existent. According to the World Resources Institute, the country had 2.9 Gigawatts (GW) of solar installed at the end of 2015, about as much as the U.S. installs each quarter. But the country is in desperate need for new, cheap electricity and has found that solar energy is more cost-effective than coal or natural gas. And that's driving a boom that could help reshape the power centers of solar demand. India's solar growth From its tiny base, India installed 4.3 GW of solar power in 2016. Installations have surged to 4.76 GW in the first half of 2017, according to Mercom India Research. They predict that in 2017, 10.5 GW of solar will be installed in India. The surge in installation is part of India's plan to build 100 GW of solar by the end of 2022, which would likely make it a top three solar market along with China and the U.S. Solar auctions have been incredibly successful in India, recently getting low prices of 3.7 cents per kWh. And because of those auctions, the pipeline of projects under construction is 12.2 GW, with another 6.3 GW of auctions on the horizon. Everyone wants in on the action Every major solar company has its eyes on getting a piece of India's solar market. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) has supplied over 1 GW in the market and is positioning its Series 6 thin film product as an ideal option for the country's large desert regions. SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) has built 5 Megawatts (MW) in India, but its presence is small. That could change as the company begins selling P-Series and Oasis solutions in India. Management has said that they expect India to be a big market in the future, and the next few quarters could be key for future growth in the region. JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS) was awarded Solar Module Company of the Year - International Manufacturer by Solar Quarter. And it recently supplied 65 MW of modules to Energon Solar for a project in Medak, Telangana, India. Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ) has supplied over 300 MW to projects in India and sees the company as a key market. China is still the company's biggest market, but India could be No. 2 in coming years. What to watch in India Given India's reliance on auctions, companies could win large amounts of business in a single day. Keep an eye on the named winners of auctions in coming months because it could drive sales and the utilization of manufacturing capacity higher for winners. India is becoming a key market that every major solar company has to
Monicanaples. Advertisement Getting Around: Read more! And a warning from dailybugle: Remember DC is split into 4 quadrants. As a result, there are MANY duplicate addresses, so make sure you know if you’re going to Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, or Southeast.” Advertisement Some of the popular federal institutions are bogged down with heavy security. Ridley90 has a shortcut: The Capital and Library of Congress are connected via pedestrian tunnel. If you are already through security at one, you can bypass the long security line at the other by taking the tunnel. Bars: “Petworth Citizen and Reading Room is a bar that has a community library.” — llaalleell “Stop in Off the Record at the Hay Adams hotel. Awesome little basement bar where you’re sure to run into someone you recognize from the news.” — windupbird81 “Best bar in the city, by far, is the Black Cat. But it’s only for normal people. If you’re a pretentious blowhard who ‘only drinks craft cocktails,’ it’s not the place for you.” — pravan1066 “Dirty Habit: The bar in the Hotel Monaco is exceptional. The food is good, if not a bit shwanky. But you’re really there because the entire center courtyard of the building is part of the bar. Great spot to relax outside with friends and get away from the noise of the city.” — hokiefez “If you’re into beer at all, stopping at Churchkey is a must. One of the best draft beer bars in America. If you’re lucky you can find some beers made in VA/MD that aren’t distributed in stores (Aslin, Veil, Burley Oak, etc.).” — danielahn31 “Dan’s Cafe is the only bar you need to go to in Adams Morgan.” — Scrumdiddliumptious “Adams Morgan is the college dive bar area, though it has some real nice rooftop bars and whiskey joints (Jack Rose and Bourbon).” — BeGood “Wonderland Ballroom: local favorite dive bar. Gibson: speakeasy for craft cocktails. H St Country Club: bar with mini golf upstairs. Jackpot: basement bar with amazing selection of craft beers.” — GotThemHacks “The best Capitol Hill bar is Tune Inn.” — amildlyamusingstory Restaurants: “Champagne buffet brunch at Freddie’s Beach Bar (a gay bar) was rated one of the best in the country. Make reservations, trust me.” — automaticdoor “Le Diplomate is good food and if you can get a reservation a worth it meal for both the food and the people watching. Red Hen is also a very, very good meal and the service is excellent.” — FacePalmHeadache “Maketto on H St. is a coffee shop / restaurant / heaven on earth that has free yoga Sunday mornings on the roof when it’s nice.” — imissdc “Check out Ambar restaurant! For $50 a person it’s all you can eat/all you can drink. Make reservations as the seating area is small but everything we tried was amazing! Also, maybe don’t take the ‘all you can drink’ quite as literally as I did. 6 old fashioned’s in 2 hours was such a delicious mistake though.” — checkert “The Spanish restaurant Jaleo — the one near the Nat’l Portrait Gallery — is just spectacular.” — booktart “Eat ethnic food. All of it. Any of it. For cheap. Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide is a good resource.” — imissdc Advertisement Museums: “Try the food at the Native American Museum. When I visited, it was all based on indigenous foods, which beats Burger King by a mile.” — Mr-intrepid “I’d say the Building Museum and the Newseum, maybe the National Museum of Women in the Arts and NatGeo if there are good exhibits.” — llaalleell “Don’t forget about the Portrait Gallery itself. One of my favorite museums. Half portrait gallery, half American Art Museum. It’s truly spectacular, and never super busy since it’s off the mall.” — ent_whisperer “The Spy Museum is definitely a cool spot for you to take the family. A lot of exhibits and stuff that interests both the parents and keeps kids entertained. Plus it has a pretty awesome store.” — classiclyclassic And a word of warning: “Security at the museums was tighter that airport security—I completely forgot about a wallet ninja tool I had with me and was asked to get rid of it before being allowed back in - this had been with me through Dublin airport without an issue. Eat before you go to the Mall—food in the museums is ridiculously expensive compared to a normal eatery.” — Detritus Advertisement And More: A few greatest-hits lists: Read more! Advertisement Read more! Read more! The best music venues, from Seanballard: For house & techno fans, Flash is a truly first class experience with top grade speakers, visuals, and culture. U St Music Hall is better for dubby more bass heavy shows. Soundcheck brings some good artists but culture is bad and sometimes speakers aren’t greatest and not by other great bars. And 18th St. Bar is my fave in DC with multiple rooms w different themes with awesome music. Advertisement The best view, from Stulgs: My favorite view is from POV at the W Hotel in DC. You’re basically on ‘top’ of the white house and have great views of the monument as well. Sure, a bottle of beer is like $12, but I think the view is worth it. The best way to drink at Minibar, from DL Thurston: A Minibar-specific hack: My wife and I did the non-alcoholic drink pairings, because neither of us were wine people. By the end of the meal, people were leaning over trying to figure out what we were getting, because while the win drinkers were getting their tenth sip of a different wine, we were getting this odd and inventive little drinks that actually matched the feel of the place better. Plus it’s cheaper, but that’s not the reason to do it. Advertisement The best view at a Nationals ballgame, from TomL-DMV: If you are going to a Nationals game always buy the cheapest seats available, then stand up in the center field bar, which is probably a better view. The best airport, from jdfighter: Don’t fly into Dulles, it’s terrible. Fly into Reagan if you can, but if not fly into Baltimore (BWI), it’s about the same distance from downtown as Dulles really (maybe a 10 minute difference), and it’s an easy train ride and better airport over all. Advertisement For dozens more suggestions, check out the original thread. Leave your own tips there or here, and come back Monday to give tips on a Texas megacity.Singer I has announced her departure from KBS’s “The Unit.” Previously known for being B1A4 member Baro’s little sister, I debuted as a solo artist in 2017, but took on the idol rebooting show as she expressed interest in promoting as a girl group member. However, on November 24 at 9 a.m. KST, I announced that she would be focusing on her health and would be departing from the show. I’s agency WM Entertainment uploaded a statement onto her fan cafe, announcing that she would be unable to further participate in “The Unit” due to fatigue, and that she would be focusing on recovering for the time being. I received attention on the show as she received a “6Boot,” meaning that all judges gave her a Boot, and she also was the center of the Green Team during the group mission. The official statement is as follows: “Hello. This is WM Entertainment. I will no longer be taking part in KBS’s “The Unit,” as she has decided that due to fatigue and other health problems, she is unable to accurately show her skills. We hope that fans will understand the difficult decision she had to make. We will work hard in order to help I recover. We hope that you will continue to cheer her on and give a lot of love. Thank you.” Source (1)Why It Can Be More Affordable to Live in an “Expensive” City So, how did Washington, D.C. — widely perceived as one of the most expensive cities in the country — end up topping a “most affordable” housing list? First and most importantly, adjust for average income levels. Then, factor in transportation costs. Using that formula, the D.C. region is tops among 25 American metro areas in a new study from the Center for Housing Policy and the Center for Neighborhood Technology that looks at the ability of moderate-income households to shoulder the burden of housing and transportation costs [PDF]. The notoriously pricey Boston and San Francisco also make it into the top six. The joint study came up with some other surprising findings. For example, it turns out it’s more affordable to live in New York City than it is to live in Cincinnati, based on the metrics used. And in general, renters fare better than homeowners in covering their costs of living. In all 25 cities, middle-class households spent more than half of their incomes on combined housing and transportation costs between 2000 and 2010. Miami had it worst, with housing and transportation eating up 72 percent of the average income. The study, titled “Losing Ground,” focuses on the disparity between income levels and steadily rising housing and transportation costs. Over the decade, researchers found, for every $1 in income gains, combined housing and transportation costs rose $1.75. “Losing Ground” follows a 2006 study from the same organizations that took the novel approach of factoring in transportation costs to gauge the affordability of different metro areas. Measuring affordable living by looking strictly at housing costs, without including transportation, “tends to mislead people,” said Scott Bernstein, president of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, in a teleconference yesterday. Gathering this information comprehensively, he said, “has profound implications for a set of policy choices.” Comparing certain cities highlights the need to consider transportation (calculated here as transit fares or the costs of driving and owning car). Take Cincinnati, which ranks in the middle of the pack for affordability despite significantly lower-than-average housing prices. In this study, walkable, transit-rich New York City ranks as more affordable – its low transportation costs, together with strong incomes, help water down the impact of pricey housing. One key detail: The new study defines “moderate incomes” differently for each metro area, looking at households earning between 50 and 100 percent of that area’s median income. So in Miami, a “moderate income” ranges between $25,444 and $50,888; in D.C., it’s $44,531 to $89,063. In the lowest-ranking cities – after Miami, it’s Riverside, California; then Tampa, Los Angeles and San Diego – incomes simply weren’t high enough to offset the expense of housing and transportation. For example, even though Miami’s housing and transportation costs ranked slightly lower than average, its low incomes inflated the burden of those costs. Robert Hickey of the Center for Housing Policy noted that the area has seen a lot of job loss. “When people lose their jobs or downshift to a part-time job… that doesn’t mean that their housing and transportation costs go down,” he said. In expensive cities like D.C., Boston, and San Francisco, higher incomes helped cushion the shock. In all three cities, housing costs were higher than average – in D.C., transportation prices were also notably higher – yet those costs consumed a lower fraction of total income. The study made an important change from its 2006 precursor by including homeowners who had paid off their mortgages, as opposed to only those who were in the process of doing so. But either way, renters did better. The typical moderate-income renter spent 55 percent of their income on housing and transportation, compared to 62 percent for both types of homeowners. The report doesn’t theorize much on why this is, though one researcher pointed out yesterday that renters are more likely to live in places where they’re spending less on housing and, especially, transportation. Less surprising is the study’s neighborhood-specific data, which found that households located closer to downtown cores and transit lines paid significantly less for housing and transportation combined, compared to those located further out. Transportation made the big difference there. In the D.C. area, “if you try to save money by trying to buy an apparently cheaper house in Virginia, which is not by a Metro line [or train] … you’ll pay for it” in higher costs for car ownership and travel, Bernstein said in an interview yesterday. The study’s takeaway is “that we must expand affordable housing in places where transportation costs are low,” said Chris Estes, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference. “We really have to intervene in the housing market to make sure folks have the possibility to live there.” Estes advocated for “nonpartisan, long-term solutions” to avoid pushing low- and moderate-income households “to the outskirts” of transit-rich urban centers. The study itself doesn’t get terribly specific in prescribing policy solutions, but it does suggest that metro areas need to tweak their zoning and regulations – and get creative with financing solutions – to center housing around transit investments. In these “location-efficient” spots, policy makers should work to preserve existing affordable housing and encourage more of it, and to reduce the costs and barriers to land acquisitions and new housing developments. Meanwhile, areas where housing is already affordable need to get more transit-accessible and pedestrian-friendly. At the federal level, the study points to proposed reforms to the Federal Transit Administration’s “New Starts” program as one way to incentivize both maintaining and developing affordable housing along new and expanded transit lines.A black trans woman in her 20s was found murdered in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood, but police are still investigating the crime as the death of a man. The wave of unrelenting violence against transgender women of color has claimed another life this week. A black trans woman in her 20s, identified only as T.T., was found murdered in Chicago Sunday, Windy City Times reports. As has become incredibly common, initial police and media reports misgendered T.T., and it wasn't until friends spoke up publicly that it was known that the victim was a trans woman. A vigil was held Monday for T.T. in Garfield Park, the west side neighborhood where she was found, where local friends came to remember the woman's life. One of those friends, Jaliyah Armstrong, told Windy City Times that T.T was a very happy person and that she was "laughing all the time." Armstrong went on, "You could be going through a bad day, but once you saw [T.T.], she was such a happy, cheerful person, all that changed." T.T. hoped to become a hairdresser, Armstrong added. The Advocate spoke with Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer Michelle Tannehill, who repeatedly insisted that the police do not currently believe that the victim was a trans woman. She said police were proceeding with investigation of the case as a the homicide of a man, and had no suspects or potential motive at this time. T.T. is at least the 20th transgender person known to have been murdered in 2016, the vast majority of them being trans women of color. This summer has been especially deadly, with six trans women of color reported murdered since June. Trans women of color face incredible levels of homicide in the U.S., and the number of trans women of color murdered has risen every year for the last several years. By comparison, 21 trans women were reported murdered in all of 2015, and 12 such deaths were reported in 2014. It is believed that far more trans women of color are murdered each year than are reported in the media, as police departments often fail to disclose or document the fact that victims are transgender. [RELATED: These Are the Trans People Killed in 2016]The WordPress developers have announced the release of version 1.1 of WordPress for Android which allows users to post to and edit their blogs from an Android mobile device using the popular blogging software. The first major point update for WordPress for Android includes a number of changes and new features over the original 1.0 release. The latest release features several improvements to the user interface, including changes to the home and comments view, and the ability to take a picture and add it to a blog entry directly from a users Android device. Other updates include moderation options for comments and the option to select multiple categories at once when adding or editing a post. In addition to English, the latest update also includes localisations for German, French, Finnish, Indonesian and Slovak languages. Users interested in contributing to the application are encouraged to do so via the WordPress for Android project developer portal. More details about the release can be found in the release announcement. WordPress for Android 1.1 is available to download via the Android Market. Like WordPress, WordPress for Android is released under the GNU General Public License. See also: WordPress Foundation launched, a report from The H. (crve)It has beefed up its green credentials, but Wal-Mart's stance on unions and sheer global scale still provoke as much fear as admiration It hardly shrieks of billion-dollar glamour. The US nerve centre of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, consists of a collection of low-slung prefabricated buildings along a four-lane highway in north-western Arkansas. Wal-Mart's head office is hundreds of miles from the nearest big city. It isn't even handy for the state capital, Little Rock, which is three and half hours' drive away. But hopeful merchants beat a path from all corners of the world to hawk their wares here, in a series of bare Perspex rooms along a "supplier corridor". Staff work in spartan cubicles and reminders of the retailer's low-cost culture are constant – in an employee lounge an honesty box invites payment for tea and coffee with a blunt message: "Drinks are not free." It was nearby, in the main square of the modest town of Bentonville, that Wal-Mart's founder, Sam Walton, opened a discount store, Walton's Five and Dime, in 1951. That shop, now a museum, helped spawn a retail empire that spans 8,100 stores in 15 countries generating $401bn (£248bn) of revenue annually. With a market capitalisation of $210bn, Wal-Mart is worth as much as the gross domestic product of Nigeria. Four of America's 10 richest individuals are from Wal-Mart's low-profile Walton family, which still owns a 40% controlling stake. The company's portfolio ranges from superstores in the US to neighbourhood markets in Brazil, bodegas in Mexico, the Asda supermarket chain in Britain and Japan's nationwide network of Seiyu shops. Wal-Mart gets many of its products from low-cost Chinese suppliers. The pressure group China Labour Watch estimates that if it were a country, Wal-Mart would rank as China's seventh largest trading partner, just ahead of the UK, spending more than $18bn annually on Chinese goods. A Wal-Mart store in Beijing. Photo: Getty Perhaps more than any other firm in America, Wal-Mart divides opinion. Unions loathe its relentless downward pressure on wages and its refusal to allow workers to organise. The company has been accused of unfair treatment of older, more expensive, employees. It is facing one of America's largest class-action lawsuits alleging wage discrimination against women and its hypermarkets are routinely blamed for squeezing small shops out of business. "This is a company with a record of exploitation," says Jill Cashen, spokeswoman for a pan-union campaign group, Wake Up Wal-Mart. "They have not shared their wealth. When you spend your money at Wal-Mart, you're contributing to the wealth of one very rich family and not very many other people." In reply, Wal-Mart's executives say the company is "saving people money so they can live better". They trumpet the availability of Wrangler jeans for $11.50, laptops for $298 and even an entire Thanksgiving turkey dinner for eight people at $20. Wal-Mart maintains that it is on the side of hard-working families who need to save every penny they can – and the company intends to spread this message globally. Wal-Mart spent $4.1bn on international expansion in the year to January 2009, and intends to spend between $4.2bn and $4.4bn in the current fiscal year, excluding acquisitions. About a quarter of its sales are outside the US. But oddly, few of its foreign customers are aware that they are shopping at an American multinational. Unhappy early experiences outside American shores have prompted an outbreak of new thinking at Wal-Mart. The company has embraced something of a "stealth" approach to growth. Its stores are emblazoned with an array of different names around the world – Maxibodega in Costa Rica, Todo Dia in Brazil, Despensa Familiar in Honduras and the awkward-sounding Best Price Modern Wholesale in India. "We learned very early in the process that you simply can't take a superstore in the US, pull it out of the ground and plant it in another country and expect that to be a successful strategy," says Mitch Slape, Wal-Mart's head of international business development. During earlier decades, the firm's approach to expansion was simple. It built US-style out-of-town discounting superstores around the world and expected shoppers to flock there for bargains. But this didn't always work. Travel patterns, family roles and shopping habits vary. Ventures into Germany and South Korea came to a sticky end with expensive exits in 2006. Under the new approach, the "front end" of Wal-Mart's stores can look like enlarged family-run convenience stores. The contents, to some extent, are locally focused. Chinese stores offer live crustaceans, while south American outlets are heavy on spicy beans. But the "back end" is a duplicate of the US model. "From the customer point of view, it might appear to be a certain brand," says Slape. "But everything that is 'back of house' – systems, processes, buying – we can leverage a lot of that globally." Part of its pluralistic new approach comes from experience in Britain, where Wal-Mart bought Asda for £6.7bn a decade ago. The chain has been a moderate success, delivering consistent results, but Wal-Mart has been frustrated in its efforts to expand. Frustrated, Wal-Mart's former chief executive Lee Scott, who retired this year to make way for new incumbent Mike Duke, reportedly pondered a complete exit from the UK – but ultimately opted to stay put. Insiders say that competing in Britain's feverishly competitive supermarket industry has taught Wal-Mart a good deal. Asda is now something of a centre for excellence for its global grocery sales. The head of global marketing for Wal-Mart is based at Asda's head office in Leeds. And, in an example of Wal-Mart's global distribution muscle, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that the best-selling wine in the whole of Japan is an own-label Asda Bordeaux. Britain is Wal-Mart's fourth-largest overseas chain, with 368 Asda outlets, behind Mexico's 1,322 stores, Brazil's 373 sites and Japan's 371 shops. All are dwarfed by the 4,200-strong network of Wal-Marts in the US. Smaller territories include Canada with 313 stores, China at 266 and a newly acquired 238-strong chain in Chile. Russia and India are next in line for focus and Wal-Mart won't be taking half measures – the company only bothers to enter a market if it thinks it can be one of the top few players. "It's important for us to be in one of the top three positions," says Wan Ling Martello, chief financial officer of Wal-Mart's international operation. "We have to have scale – otherwise it doesn't quite make sense." That scale gives Wal-Mart muscle – and it is this brawn that, in the eyes of critics, can give it an unpleasantly bullying demeanour. At the very centre of the company's business model is a constant effort to drive down costs to an absolute minimum. Every pound, penny and tenth of a penny per unit of stock turns into millions in a firm of Wal-Mart's size. "With the scale the company has, the economies of scale it can command, it basically extracts every last nickel out of its suppliers," says Michael Bride, deputy overseas organising director at the United Food & Commercial Workers Union in Washington. "If you're a Chinese supplier and Wal-Mart is pressing you down, you probably can't go and negotiate your electricity rates or your rent down. But you can cut costs when it comes to labour." An investigation of five factories supplying Wal-Mart by China Labour Watch found "illegal and degrading conditions" according to a report released in November by the New York-based human rights group. At one plant in Dongguan, which supplies candles and Christmas tree lights, it found that workers were required to work 24-hour overtime shifts during busy periods and painted a bleak picture of pay as low as 44 cents (27p) an hour, bathrooms without running water and unsanitary canteens. Although Wal-Mart uses independent auditors to check on ethics at its suppliers, the group found evidence of workers being obliged to sign false pay receipts. Wal-Mart responded to the report by saying it had begun an immediate inquiry into the factories: "We take reports like this very seriously and we will take prompt remedial action if our investigations confirm any of the findings." While imbued with an innate conservatism by its founding family, Wal-Mart moved in recent years to introduce higher environmental standards. As of 2007, it says it succeeded in cutting the amount of waste it sent to landfills by 55%. Wal-Mart also wants to be 100% driven by renewable power and recently said that it was purchasing sufficient wind energy in Texas to account for 15% of its electricity in the US. Under a newly launched "sustainability index," Wal-Mart's suppliers must report to the company on their greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction initiatives and ethical sourcing. The company is working towards a labelling system to inform customers of the sustainability of each and every product. Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart's senior vice-president for sustainability, says saving on waste is a no-brainer: "At first it was a little bit of a reaction to the negative pressures as a company we'd been receiving. But very early on, from day two, there was a tremendous appetite not only from an environmental point of view but from a business point of view to do what we're doing." Yet even these efforts, argue critics, are modest in the context of larger questions over the globalisation of Wal-Mart's business. Wake Up Wal-Mart campaigner, Jill Cashen, says: "It's one thing to bring in a product, ship it from the other side of the planet and stick a label on it telling customers it's sustainable. How much greener would it be if it was produced within 100 miles of where it was sold?" In North America, Wal-Mart is unashamedly anti-union. When, in a rare case in 2005, workers at a Quebecois Wal-Mart store voted in favour of collective representation, Wal-Mart simply shut it down. The case went to Canada's supreme court, which last month accepted Wal-Mart's explanation that the location was unprofitable. Overseas, Wal-Mart has proved more flexible – it has worked with unions in Argentina, Brazil and in China, in accordance with local laws. But there are still strong reservations in the public mind about the way Wal-Mart does business. Back in Arkansas, the Walton family are taking a stab at posterity through the construction of an impressive $50m glass and wood art gallery, Crystal Bridges. Designed by an acclaimed Israeli architect, Moshe Safdie, the 100,000 sq ft (10,000 sq metre) complex is bankrolled by Sam Walton's daughter, Alice, and is intended to put Bentonville on the cultural map with a collection of American art from colonial times to the present. But even on Wal-Mart's home turf, visitors are far from unanimous in their verdicts on the company. "It's a symbol of free enterprise – the success of the free enterprise system," says John Niccum, a pensioner visiting Sam Walton's original Five and Dime store, now a museum. But Kay Heaton, an AT&T telecoms employee from Missouri, is dubious: "It's beating the heck out of the little man. It kills the little guy who offers an independent service, from an independent business." Founding father Samuel Moore Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, was born on 29 March 1918 on a farm in Oklahoma. His father moved the family from town to town in the 1920s after quitting farming and becoming a mortgage broker. When the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, Walton took any job that was going to supplement the family income but eventually graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a business degree. Three days after leaving college, in 1940, he joined JC Penney on the retailer's management trainee scheme, where he picked up some of the traits that were to characterise his business life, including his penchant for "managing from the floor". He was paid $75 a month. When the US entered the Second World War in 1942, Walton joined the army intelligence corps and when fighting ended, he borrowed $20,000 from his father-in-law and used his own savings of $5,000 to buy a store in Newport, Arkansas. He quickly proved his business acumen by snapping up a women's lingerie distributor two years later, when rayon women's underwear was becoming all the rage. Walton had to sell his Newport store after failing to renew the lease, but he did not let the setback slow him down. He snapped up another in Bentonville and renamed it Walton's Five and Dime. By the end of the Fifties he had more than a dozen stores across Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. But the first to be branded Wal-Mart – a name created by Walton's assistant Bob Bogle – did not open until July 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. It was an instant hit but the second, launched two years later, nearly ended in disaster. Opening in a heatwave, the store soon reeked of manure from donkeys been hired for children's rides. The company officially incorporated as Walmart Stores in 1969 and the following year, Walton raised $5m by taking the company public on the New York Stock Exchange. The chain rapidly expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, opening its 1,000th store in 1987, and Walton lived to see it overtake Sears in 1991 to become the largest retailer in the US. He died in 1992 as the richest man in America, though he still drove a battered pick-up truck and made a habit of getting $5 haircuts. Richard Wray • This article was amended on Wednesday 13 January 2010. Wal-Mart has 266 stores in China, not Cuba as we said. This has been corrected.LIVERPOOL -- Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko says this season will be "totally different" for him after taking part in a full preseason at the club. Sissoko joined Spurs for £30 million, then a joint club-record fee, from Newcastle on transfer deadline day last summer, but he struggled in his first season in North London. He started just eight Premier League games, failed to score and, in November, manager Mauricio Pochettino took the unusual step of publicly criticising his effort in training and matches. The France international was linked with a move away from the club this summer but he has started the season well, featuring in all four matches and impressing in Saturday's 3-0 win at Everton. Sissoko says his lack of a preseason for Newcastle while he waited for a transfer after Euro 2016 was the reason for last term's form and he adds it will be different this year, even though he missed Spurs' July tour of the United States with a virus. "This season is totally different because I had the preseason with the team. Last season I signed at the last minute and didn't have the preseason so it was difficult," Sissoko told reporters at Goodison Park. "Now I feel good and ready to fight like everyone, and try to give my best for the team. I hope I will do well this season and we will all do well in the league, in the Champions League and in the cups. "When you start you're always happy. The manager gave me my chance and I tried to give my best and I think I did well like all the team, so I'm happy." Sissoko was unlucky not to open his account for the club after Ashley Williams blocked his goal-bound effort on Saturday, while Harry Kane, who scored either side of Christian Eriksen's goal, waited too long to play in the midfielder soon after. Moussa Sissoko joined Tottenham from Newcastle in 2016. Reuters/Dylan Martinez "I had some chances but I didn't score -- that's football, so I hope next time it will be in, but the most important thing was to have a good game. I hope my goal will come soon," he said. Sissoko spent a season playing alongside new Tottenham signing Serge Aurier, an unused substitute at Goodison Park, at Ligue 1 club Toulouse and he says the Ivory Coast international has the right qualities to replace Kyle Walker, who joined Manchester City in July. "He is a similar player [to Walker]," Sissoko said. "He will be good for us, he will help us to go as high as possible. We have a lot of ambition this season and I hope we will do well all together. "I don't have to talk a lot about him -- everyone knows him because he played for Paris Saint-Germain and he's played some massive games in the Champions League as well. "He's a very good player who's strong defensively, and then he can attack as well. With the style we play, I think he will be comfortable in the team." Meanwhile, Aurier has said that he "felt like a prisoner" at PSG after his conviction for assault last September following an altercation with a police officer outside a Paris nightclub in May 2016. The 24-year-old was given a two-month "convertible" prison sentence, as well as a €600 fine and a €1,500 damages bill. Aurier maintains his innocence and the charge has since been downgraded to a fine, enabling him to successfully receive a U.K. visa and work permit. "There had been a problem, a problem we all know about. From there, I was like a prisoner. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't express myself, I couldn't talk anymore. I wasn't talking to the press anymore," Aurier said in a video interview with Bros. Stories. "For me, that meant withdrawing into myself. It was a never ending saga. When I was somewhere with the players, I was avoiding people's stares. I stopped feeling at ease, I wasn't taking pleasure anymore. That's what made me decide it was the right time to leave."This is the 6th and last budget passed under the Aquino administration Published 10:43 AM, December 22, 2015 MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday, December 22, signed into law the P3.002 trillion national budget for 2016. The 2016 budget is the biggest national funding to date. In a speech in Malacañang, the President said: "Malinaw po: Ang buong budget gaya sa imprastraktura ay binubuo gamit ang masusing pag-aaral ng mga suliranin at ng kaakibat nitong wastong solusyon. Ang bawat ipinapatayong kalsada, tulay, daungan, paliparan, paaralan, farm-to-market roads, at iba pang imprastraktura sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa ay bahagi ng ating estratehiya tungo sa malawakang kaunlaran." (It's clear that the entire budget is based on a serious study of problems and solutions to them. Each road, bridge, school, airport, or farm-to-market road that is built is according to our strategy of inclusive growth.) Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said: "With this budget, we have doubled the national budget since 2010 and we are providing the largest sectoral allocation to social services. This budget also caps the administration's record of enacting the budget in time for a perfect 6 straight times." According to him, next year’s budget is double the first budget that Aquino passed in 2010, which was P1.645 trillion. It is also the 6th and last budget to be passed under the current administration. In the last 5 years, the Congress and the Executive had promptly passed the budget, preventing a re-enactment of the previous year’s appropriation scheme. A budget re-enactment occurred at least 4 times during former President Gloria Macapagl-Arroyo’s decade-long rule. Biggest shares In a statement, Abad said the 2016 GAA is higher by P396 billion or 15.2% than the P2.606-trillion 2014 national budget. The focus continues to be on social services that directly benefit individual citizens, such as education and health, both with increased budgetary allocations at P436.5 billion and P128.5 billion, respectively, he added. "It can be gleaned that for every P100 of the 2016 budget, around P64 will be spent on social and economic services. This clearly shows how the government is wisely investing on its people, with the foresight of supporting services that will keep serving their needs long into the future," said Abad. Aquino said Abad made sure that the money will be well spent. "Masusi niyang sinuri ang bawat pahina at detalye ng librong ito, at sinigurong walang mawawaldas ni isang kusing." (Abad scrutinized each page and detail, and made sure that not a single cent will be wasted.) The 2016 budget contains increased funding for different government agencies. Among those that received the highest allocations are: Department of Education (DepEd) - P411.905 billion; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - P384.287 billion; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) P124.229 billion; Department of Health (DOH) - P123.510 billion; Department of National Defense (DND) - P117.521 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - P110.816 billion; Department of Agriculture (DA) - P48.447 billion; State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) - P47.414 billion; Department of
you tell. It's important your partner doesn't know where you're going. Women's Aid has useful information about making a safety plan that applies to both women and men, including advice if you decide to leave. Helping a friend if they're being abused If you're worried a friend is being abused, let them know you've noticed something is wrong. They might not be ready to talk, but try to find quiet times when they can talk if they choose to. If someone confides in you that they're suffering domestic abuse: listen, and take care not to blame them acknowledge it takes strength to talk to someone about experiencing abuse give them time to talk, but don't push them to talk if they don't want to acknowledge they're in a frightening and difficult situation tell them nobody deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser has said support them as a friend – encourage them to express their feelings, and allow them to make their own decisions don't tell them to leave the relationship if they're not ready – that's their decision ask if they have suffered physical harm – if so, offer to go with them to a hospital or GP help them report the assault to the police if they choose to be ready to provide information on organisations that offer help for people experiencing domestic abuse Media last reviewed: 16/06/2017 Media review due: 16/06/2020Concern over gas prices has fallen steeply in the past few months, but a gas tax hike remains unpopular. The percentage of Americans for whom gas prices are at least a somewhat serious problem has fallen 20 points over the last three months, according to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll. Just a quarter currently say gas prices are a problem for their family, down from 45 percent in last November, and nearly 80 percent in 2012. An even smaller fraction -- 6 percent -- say the price is a serious problem. Chart created using Datawrapper. Lower gas prices have somewhat energized advocates for raising the federal gas tax, which hasn't gone up since 1993. Money from the gas tax goes to the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for building and repairing infrastructure, and is set to run out around May. "If something like this is going to be done, now is the time to do it,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who last year co-sponsored a bipartisan gas tax bill, told The New York Times. Yet only 25 percent of Americans in the latest HuffPost/YouGov poll approve of the proposal to raise the gas tax by 12 cents over the next two years -- and to continue to increase it in accordance with inflation -- in order to fund highway road improvements. Fifty-five percent oppose the increase, and another 20 percent are unsure. Republicans reject the idea of a tax hike by a margin of more than 3-to-1. Democrats are more evenly divided but still opposed, with 36 percent favoring the idea and 41 percent opposing it. Just 31 percent of Americans think gas taxes should be used to pay for road repairs and construction, with more favoring the use of road tolls, vehicle registration fees or driver's license fees. And most of the public is not too concerned about the state of their local infrastructure: Only 20 percent describe the conditions of bridges in their area as bad, while 29 percent say the same of local highways. Polls suggest the shifting opinions on gas prices have had little effect on the public's willingness to pay more in taxes. While a June 2014 HuffPost/YouGov survey found a plurality of support for increasing spending on infrastructure, only 30 percent favored a proposal to increase the tax by 6 cents. A 2013 Gallup poll similarly found that just 29 percent would support a 20-cent increase to "improve roads and bridges and build more mass transportation in your state." Passing a tax increase also remains a tough sell to federal officials. While members of both parties have named infrastructure funding as a possible opportunity for bipartisan agreement, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said earlier this month that he didn't believe a tax hike had the votes to pass. “In fairness to members of Congress, votes on gas tax are really tough," President Barack Obama, who has also steered clear of calling for an increase, said last December. "Gas prices are one of those things that really bug people. When they go up, they are greatly attuned to them. When they go down, they don’t go down enough. And so, historically, I think there has been great hesitance." The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted Jan. 26-28 among U.S. adults using a sample selected from YouGov's opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population.A rally outside the Supreme Court on March 2. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images For decades, conservative legislators have worked to roll back abortion rights through laws ostensibly designed to protect women. Republicans across the country have successfully passed mandatory ultrasounds, waiting periods, and “informed consent” measures, as well as draconian clinic regulations obviously designed to shutter abortion providers. With many of these laws faring poorly in court, however, some legislators have turned to a different tactic: outlawing abortion based on certain fetal characteristics, such as sex and disability. Most recently, Indiana became the eighth state to ban abortion because of the fetus’ sex; at least eight other states are currently considering similar bills. These measures might seem to put abortion rights supporters in a tough spot: The American conversation about abortion centers around women’s equality, yet sex-selective abortions would appear to undermine that equality by perpetuating sex discrimination. Columbia Law School professor Carol Sanger disagrees: She believes these laws unduly restrict women’s autonomy and violate the constitutional guarantee of liberty. On Wednesday, we spoke about the dangers that sex-selective abortion bans pose to women and society. Our conversation has been edited and condensed. How do these new abortion restrictions differ from what we’ve seen in the past? For a long time after Roe v. Wade, states passed “women-protective” laws, like “informed consent” rules—telling women, “We care about how you’re going to feel after your abortion, so we really want you to know all this information beforehand.” Of course, restricting abortion was the real purpose of these laws, not protecting women. These new restrictions go much further, simply banning abortions in certain cases. It’s very clever. They’re a much bolder move in terms of challenging the basic abortion right. It’s a move from the woman to the fetus—which, of course, has always been the central concern. These laws say, not only do we think the fetus is a vulnerable entity—a “child,” even—but we need to protect the most vulnerable of fetuses. We’ll pick out girl fetuses, disabled fetuses, and say: You can’t abort them. These laws say to women: Hey, we thought you cared about discrimination against women. If you do, support these laws, and put your money where your mouth is. So you don’t think the legislators behind these laws really care deeply about preventing sexism. If they do, then this is a strange place to make an intervention designed to improve our society—by saying, let’s stop this problem right at abortion, rather than saying, “Let’s have a society where being a woman isn’t a disadvantage.” Or, on the disability issue, “Let’s make being disabled in our country less of a burden.” These laws didn’t come out of the feminist movement. They didn’t come out of the disability rights movement. They came out of conservative state legislatures that were trying to figure out how to whittle away abortion rights on ethical-sounding grounds. But what if these laws were passed in good faith? Leaving aside the politics, is there really something fundamentally wrong with sex-selective abortion bans? Well, first of all, do we know if lots of American women are actually getting sex-selective abortions? They aren’t. Researchers have found that if sex-selective abortions happen at all in the United States, they are extremely rare. So this is symbolic legislation. And it sends the message that women are out there slaughtering girl fetuses. Well, they’re not—there’s nothing to support that. So the legislation is meant to call women out. It’s meant to say, “Well, if you support abortion rights, you aren’t really much of a feminist.” And it’s a wedge issue: “Let’s start with the girl fetuses, that’ll shut feminists up. Then let’s move to disability and ban abortion based on that.” Both categories make women seem cruel if they want to abort. You think these laws actually denigrate women then? They’re a way to slice into the basic abortion right. When legislators pass a law like this, there must be a reason. And the reason is that they’re trying to hack away at the constitutional right to an abortion. I don’t think those statutes will be upheld. Do you mean you think the courts will find them to violate the Constitution? Yes. In the United States, we don’t require women to give a reason for wanting an abortion. That violates the basic idea of autonomy in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The main point of Roe is that everybody has the right to decide whether she wants to become a parent or not. Casey said women have the right to make this decision about your body and the shape of your life in this circumstance, which is so fundamental to how we live, whether we have children or not. There’s not even a hint of anything in these foundational cases that suggests the specific characteristics of the fetus matter. It’s just not there. And in Casey terms, these laws are definitely a “substantial obstacle” to a women’s right to have an abortion. They’re prohibitions! And Casey says that, prior to fetal viability, states aren’t allowed to do that. Personally, do you have any qualms about sex-selective abortions? I’m not for abortion for sex grounds. But I don’t think the people who proposed these sex-selective abortion bans are interested in improving the status of women in other ways. These laws are an intervention into the abortion right. They diminish women’s autonomy.The young teenager Jadav “Molai” Payeng decided to help nature out a little bit and started planting trees over thirty years ago. He planted the seeds next to a very and deserted sandbar closely to his birthplace in the Assam region, India. Jadav wanted to create a habitat for wildlife and oppose people who were cutting trees down. swiggle1 dot pattern2 National Geographic Source: National Geographic Jadav later decided that he would dedicate his life to building his own forest and planting trees. For almost every day for 37 years, the man planted seeds and has successfully built a whole new ecosystem. It’s estimated that the forest now approaches a size of 1,360 acres. For comparison, Central Park only has a surface area of 778 acres. swiggle1 dot pattern2 National Geographic Source: National Geographic The turning point for Jadav was when he found a number of dead snakes in the sandy area after a flood. The deceased reptiles encouraged him to build a habitat where animals wouldn’t need to feel threatened or have their homes taken away from them. “The snakes died in the heat, without any tree cover. I sat down and wept over their lifeless forms. It was carnage. I alerted the forest department and asked them if they could grow trees there. They said nothing would grow there. Instead, they asked me to try growing bamboo. It was painful, but I did it. There was nobody to help me. Nobody was interested,” the now 47-year-old said to The Times of India. swiggle1 dot pattern2 National Geographic Source: National Geographic The very dedicated Indian arborist has truly built an ecological paradise for wildlife, a fantastic example of how beautiful nature can be. Jadav’s forest is the home to over 115 elephants, a number of rhinos, deer and even a couple of tigers. “I will continue to plant until my last breath,” Jadav said. A fantastic story! Please SHARE this with your friends and family. Follow your friends or be the first to join our group Meet the Man Who Planted a ForestThis man began planting a forest in 1979—and now it’s the size of Central Park. http://on.natgeo.com/1Woq730 Posted by National Geographic on Tuesday, 10 May 2016 Source: National GeographicWASHINGTON, D.C. -- The ever-widening gulf between the views of Republicans and Democrats is one of the most significant trends to emerge in U.S. society in the past two decades. This trend is most evident in presidential job approval ratings, but a new Gallup analysis finds that political polarization also exists in Americans' opinions on many other issues. However, the pattern is not universal. On a few issues, Republicans' and Democrats' views have grown increasingly aligned. And, on other issues, the partisan gap has remained fairly consistent, even as both groups' views have shifted. Although it is not a comprehensive summary of all attitudes that Gallup has measured over the years, the table that follows summarizes the trends in partisan attitudes on several major policy positions. The baseline year for each trend is Gallup's initial measurement, typically 2000 or 2001, while the most recent results are from either 2016 or 2017. As Parties Disagree on Policy, Public Opinion Has Grown More Polarized Many of the increasingly polarized issues are ones on which the leaders in each party have taken strong public positions and that are often included in official party platforms. Global warming is one such example. Since Gallup began regularly asking public opinion questions about global warming, Democrats have always been substantially more likely than Republicans to be concerned about the phenomenon. But in the mid-2000s, the partisan gap began to grow, largely because of a growing skepticism within the ranks of the GOP. This year, 89% of Democrats said they worry "a great deal" or a "fair amount" about global warming, compared with 40% of Republicans -- a gap of 49 percentage points. This gap was 14 points in 2000. Gun control is another important example. The difference between the percentage of Republicans who think gun laws should be stricter and the percentage of Democrats who think gun laws should be stricter grew by 28 points between 2001 and 2016. It's worth noting, however, that some aspects of the gun control policy debate are less divisive among the public, such as the requirement that all gun purchasers be subject to background checks. Shifts in Republicans' and Democrats' views of Cuba reflect specific events. Since Democratic President Barack Obama announced the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2014, Democrats have become far more likely than Republicans to have a favorable view of that country. Other issues with a partisan gap that has grown by 20 or more points include: The amount of power the federal government has. The partisan gap has grown by 44 points since 2002, with Republicans now much more likely to say they believe the federal government has too much power. The partisan gap has grown by 44 points since 2002, with Republicans now much more likely to say they believe the federal government has too much power. The level of immigration allowed into the U.S. The gap between Republicans and Democrats has grown by 29 points since 2003, largely due to Democrats' lessened tendency to take the position that immigration should be decreased. The gap between Republicans and Democrats has grown by 29 points since 2003, largely due to Democrats' lessened tendency to take the position that immigration should be decreased. The government's responsibility for ensuring all Americans have healthcare coverage. Even in 2001, Republicans were much less likely than Democrats to say the federal government should be responsible for ensuring all citizens have healthcare coverage (45% vs. 75%, respectively), but from 2006 to 2009, GOP support for this position fell 20 points to 21% in 2009 -- and it has not recovered considerably since. Even in 2001, Republicans were much less likely than Democrats to say the federal government should be responsible for ensuring all citizens have healthcare coverage (45% vs. 75%, respectively), but from 2006 to 2009, GOP support for this position fell 20 points to 21% in 2009 -- and it has not recovered considerably since. Whether to prioritize protecting the environment or developing energy sources. The gap between the parties has grown by 23 points from 2001 to 2017, as higher and higher levels of Democrats believe the priority should be given to environmental protection. Republicans' support for protecting the environment over developing energy has not increased as greatly. The gap between the parties has grown by 23 points from 2001 to 2017, as higher and higher levels of Democrats believe the priority should be given to environmental protection. Republicans' support for protecting the environment over developing energy has not increased as greatly. Sympathies with Israel, Palestine, both or neither in the Middle East situation. Since 2002, sympathy for Israel has grown mightily among Republicans, climbing from 66% to 83% in 2017. Democrats' views on the matter have changed little in the past 15 years. Since 2002, sympathy for Israel has grown mightily among Republicans, climbing from 66% to 83% in 2017. Democrats' views on the matter have changed little in the past 15 years. Satisfaction with the K-12 public education system in the U.S. As Gallup found in 2016, political polarization regarding the educational system is relatively new -- but certainly real. As noted in the Gallup analysis, this polarization has been driven largely by Republicans, who are notably less happy with the educational system now than they were at the turn of the century. Democrats' level of satisfaction with the system, by contrast, has stayed about the same. Gallup Analytics Subscribe to our online platform and access nearly a century of primary data. Learn more Gap on Several Social Issues Constant; Healthcare Has Narrowed the Most On values or moral issues, the trends in polarization are mixed, but the partisan gap on many such issues has mostly stayed the same over the nearly two decades examined here. Even for issues where the partisan gap has grown -- abortion and the death penalty -- the growth has not been as considerable as it has for issues such as gun control, global warming or immigration, all of which have seen the gap between the parties grow by more than 20 points over time. The partisan gap regarding whether the death penalty should be a punishment for murder grew 18 points between 2000 and 2016; the gap as to whether abortion should be legal under any circumstance has grown 11 points since 2001. Meanwhile, on several issues, the gap between Republicans and Democrats has barely changed in the last 15 to 20 years, with the size of the gap moving by no more than five points over that time. These issues include having a baby outside of marriage, same-sex marriage, doctor-assisted suicide and legalization of marijuana, all of which have seen both Republicans and Democrats taking socially liberal positions. Nonetheless, the two partisan groups continue to hold significantly differing opinions on each, even as the gap between their positions has remained relatively constant over time. Meanwhile, the partisan gap on the perceived quality of healthcare in the U.S. has narrowed significantly, from 21% in 2001 to 0% in 2016. But the narrowing itself results from partisan tendencies. After the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Republicans became less likely to rate the quality of healthcare in the U.S. positively, while Democrats became more upbeat about the subject. Bottom Line The results of this analysis certainly support the conclusion that Americans' party identification has become an increasingly powerful lens through which they view the world around them, as Republicans and Democrats over the years have increasingly diverged in their opinions on a number of important policy and social issues. The reasons for this increased polarization are complex, but the implications are potentially profound. Elected officials, who themselves increasingly represent more polarized constituents, will find it harder to work in a bipartisan way to address challenges and develop policy solutions when the people of the country hold substantially differing positions based on their party identification. The inability of members of Congress in recent months to develop a plan to change the Affordable Care Act underscores this phenomenon. In similar fashion, it's not likely to be any easier to achieve consensus on other looming issues such as tax reform and immigration.Blaine, WA. 3954 miles. After an absolutely beautiful morning ride out of Sandpoint across the natural bridge in the lake I instantly found myself in traffic for the first time in almost a week. From Coeur d’Alene all the way through Spokane it was rush hour and even though I ride in NYC traffic every day it was disorienting after the days of remote highway riding. By the time I got back on RT 2 and clear of the bustle I breathed a heavy sigh of relief and settled in a for what would turn out to be a very very long run through eastern Washington. I guess I have never thought too much about the state of Washington. I assumed it was the Pacific Northwest and that conjures a certain image. So as the landscape slowly turned from vast grassland into high desert I didn’t know what to make of it. By the time I passed the massive electrical dam in Coulee City I would have thought I was in New Mexico. It was close to 100 degrees without a cloud in the sky and the only word I can use is wasteland. For 50 miles or more I did not see another car or human built structure. I would expect this in certain parts of the country but finding yourself in it with no warning is a bit terrifying. My phone overheated within minutes and even though I was reasonably sure I knew how far I was from civilization there is always a little voice in your head saying “Are you sure you didn’t make a wrong turn?” The buzzards don’t make it any better. Eventually I made it to apple orchard country. I never knew that high desert was the ideal climate for growing apples. When I heard of Washington apples I had thoughts of lush green fields. Instead they are mathematically planned acres worked by armies of migrant labourers with crates of apples stacked on the side of the road 50 feet high. I stopped at a small grocery store in Brewster and found they cooked the most amazing Mexican food in the back. On the way out of town I first passed the lakefront mansions of the orchard owners and then the shanty towns that house the workers. It was a pretty stark disparity within half a mile and I don’t think I’ll ever take a bite of an apple without thinking of it. From there the desert continued almost endlessly, but very very slowly the landscape began to green and then the pine trees began to reappear. As I climbed out of the desert the temperature dropped and soon I was at the edge of the North Cascades. For yet another day I was completely unprepared for what I was about to see. After the Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone, and the great basins of Montana I managed to find the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The Cascades don’t get the publicity of Yellowstone or Yosemite but that only keeps the crowds away. I can’t describe how incredible the afternoon was riding through this range. The motorcycle gods were smiling today. You have to see it to believe it. (Time for another bike rant. I don’t think you could draw up a better motorcycle road. Not the hairpins of Big Horn or Beartooth that require 2nd gear riding, the Washington Pass is more like a European GP track through the most beautiful scenery you have ever seen. The Thruxton pulled through every curve as I drew the lines with my eyes. As corny as it sounds it was like the bike was an extension of me and when I got to the other side I wasn’t even tired because I had barely had to use my upper body for countersteering. The combination of FAST twists and hard low gear riding was as much fun as I’ve ever had on a bike. I hate admitting this publicly but I talked to the bike the whole way and I swear she talked back to me. I told her this was what she was made for and she answered by hugging every corner like she wanted it and I swear she pulled the throttle on me a few times wanting to go faster. When I got to the other side I gave serious consideration to turning around and doing the 100+ miles back again.) Now officially into the PNW it was a fairly uneventful ride up I-5 to Blaine, WA, which is the northwestern most point in the continental United States. It isn’t the Pacific yet, but when I got to the Canadian border and saw the bay it finally hit me that I had traversed the continent. 3500 miles through every kind of terrain, I looked out on the water as the sun was setting and all I could think was “Pull a left and head back.” And so tomorrow starts the run down the coast to Mexico. You really can’t make this stuff up. Wyatt Neumann was a phenomenally talented photographer and director, a loving husband and father, and a passionate motorcyclist. On June 11th he was doing what he loved riding in Delaware when he suffered a brain aneurysm which caused him to lose control of his motorcycle. He died shortly after. Wyatt was instrumental in both inspiring this trip and planning many of its routes and logistics. The title of this site was unapologetically stolen from his series of photographs from his own travels. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. A memorial fund has been established to help his family in this very trying time. Please consider donating. Any amount will help. Thank you. 48.993723 -122.747119 AdvertisementsThis article is from the archive of our partner. Since his defense strategy, claiming that a 16-year-old rape victim wasn't "so" drunk, has failed, the lawyer for one of the two Steubenville football players convicted of rape plans to appeal a guilty verdict, and is now claiming that the 16-year-old rapist's brain wasn't "developed" enough and his client should not have to be on a sex offenders list for life. Walter Madison, the attorney for Ma'lik Richmond, went on Piers Morgan Tonight on Tuesday, explaining why he would appeal Sunday's verdict by 37-year juvenile court judge Thomas Lipps, and especially his sentencing of Richmond to at least one year in a rehabilitation center and the requirement to register as a sex offender. You can watch the video below, but here's the key "logic" from Madison: I don't believe that a person at 75 years old should have to explain for something they did at 16 when scientific evidence would support your brain isn't fully developed... when evidence in the case would suggest that you were under the influence. [...] "We have the right to appeal and that is a right we will be exercising," said Walter Madison, Richmond's attorney. To review: Madison is arguing that a 16-year-old's brain is not fully functional enough to determine whether raping an unconscious girl is a bad decision. This comes after Madison made news during his last media tour, when he insisted before last week's rape trial that the Jane Doe victim's silence and unconsciousness amounted to consent. He said before the trial that the girl "made a decision to excessively drink... and leave with the boys," and that an Instagram photo of the girl being dragged by the then-suspects "doesn't suggest that a person is substantially impaired." The defense team for Richmond and Trent Mays then went on to argue in court that the girl's level of drunkenness should determine consent. Also, as Judge Lipps reminded the perpetrator and his family before delivering the sentencing (which may not include extra time in juvenile detention or a lifetime on an offenders list based on behavior), if Lipps had decided to try Richmond and Mays as adults, they would have faced first-degree felony charges and much harsher penalties.Last March, I had to move out of the apartment on Oktyabrskaya Street in Moscow where I lived for 10 years. In a big city with lots of available places, I did not expect it to be hard to find a new room, and I made my first pick shortly after going online. There was one thing that I more or less ignored: Like many of the listings, the description of the rental contained the phrase “Slavs only.” In Moscow, many believe that migrant laborers from the Caucasus region and Central Asia rent accommodations in order to convert them into so-called rubber apartments, cramming 10 or more people into them. Foreign workers, or gastarbeiters, who come here ready to work all sorts of jobs, are usually identifiable by thick southern accents. But that was not me. As an Armenian raised and educated in Moscow, I have always considered myself a Muscovite, part of Russian society. Although I am not Slavic, I think and speak in Russian, and my Armenian is limited. I don’t condone the racial stereotyping, but the “Slavs only” notices in the real estate listings did not make me raise an eyebrow. When I dialed the number for the place I liked, the agent was very polite. He liked that I was local and worked for a good firm near the Belorusskaya metro station downtown. We were preparing to set up a meeting, but then he asked for my name.Adult film star Sunny Leone will complete one year in India in November. She made her much-hyped grand entry into the world of Indian showbiz through TV reality show Bigg Boss 5. All through she was in news due to her porn star status, which eventually got her Pooja Bhatt's Jism 2. After the film, Sunny Leone got other Bollywood projects offer and in order to fulfill her commitments towards work she decided to shift base to Mumbai from Los Angeles.Her husband Daniel Weber also reportedly decided to live in India. Unfortunately, despite hiring agents, they have so far been unsuccessful in finding a house for themselves. They have money, are famous, then what could be the reason? It seems Sunny's porn star status is coming in between. They are facing difficulty in getting clearances from residential societies to occupy an apartment.Buzz is that the housing societies are hesitant to rent out a place to an adult film star. We wish her all the best. More on Sunny Leone: Sunny Leone says no to Bigg Boss 6 It is true that the fame and recognition that Sunny Leone got was entirely due to her inclusion in the house of Bigg Boss. But Sunny would definitely not like to go to Bigg Boss 6. Sometimes back, she told a news agency, "I would never go back to the house again... it is insane, it is crazy. But what it did for me is it opened the doors, opened a new world - something that I had never imagined." Read the full story. Want to be successful mainstream actress: Sunny Leone After the success of Jism 2, porn star and Bollywood newcomer Sunny Leone now aims to establish herself as one of the successful mainstream actresses of B-town by dabbling in different kinds of roles in the near future. "My full concentration is now on Bollywood. I want to do different and all kinds of roles, especially playing meaningful characters. I want to establish myself as a successful mainstream actress," said Sunny Leone. Read more.. Sunny Leone is not ashamed of her past! Riding high on the initial success of her debut Hindi film 'Jism 2', Indo-Canadian adult movie star Sunny Leone said she would spend the next two years acting in Bollywood. "I am amazed by the love I am getting from the people here in India. In the next couple of years, I will be busy doing films here. And I am going to give it all the attention possible," Sunny said. Read the full story.Oculus is getting ready to launch its consumer Rift virtual reality headset so at TechCrunch Disrupt NY I’ll be sitting down with the man who made it. Nate Mitchell is the co-founder and VP of Product at Oculus. While visionary Palmer Luckey and CEO Brendan Iribe get a lot of attention, its Mitchell who’s in charge of engineering, product, its Story Studio content team, and making VR something that everyone wants to strap to their face. The Rift launch will causes massive waves in the VR industry that come with lots of big questions. How much will it cost? Where will it be sold? How will the Oculus app store work? What will be its revenue cut? There’s also plenty to ask about what’s left to do before the Rift hits stores. Sources say Oculus is experimenting with a wide variety of possible controllers for the headset, from gloves to joysticks. What can we expect? And how is it working with developers to make sure top-notch VR experiences are available day one? And with Magic Leap raising a stunning $500 million and Microsoft HoloLens wowing the public, what does Oculus think about augmented reality? We’ll get Mitchell’s perspective on as many of these questions as we can. Mitchell joins other notable Disrupt NY speakers, including Tinder’s Sean Rad, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and Vine’s Jason Mante. The show runs May 4-6 at the historic Manhattan Center. Tickets are still available. Our sponsors help make Disrupt happen. If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact sponsors@beta.techcrunch.com. [Image Credit: Hector Janse van Rensburg]The Countless Achievements of a Math Master By David Brown Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, April 9, 2007 You should approach Joyce's "Ulysses" as the illiterate Baptist preacher approaches the Old Testament: with faith. -- William Faulkner Let's approach Leonhard Euler and his work the same way. It will make things a whole lot easier. If one is not a mathematician (and except for a few of you out there, who is?), it's going to be impossible to actually understand why Euler was such a great man. Other people will have to tell us, and we should probably believe them. In 1988, the journal Mathematical Intelligencer asked its readers to list the most beautiful equations in mathematics. Of the top five, Euler, who was born in Basel, Switzerland, 300 years ago next Sunday, discovered three of them, including No. 1: ei(pi) + 1 = 0. (The other two were from Euclid, who worked in the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C.) In 2004, Physics World put the same question to its readers. Of the top 20 equations, Euler had two. The one listed above, known as "Euler's equation," was second only to James Clerk Maxwell's equations describing electromagnetism, which were counted as one entry. Some have called Euler the "Mozart of Mathematics," not only because of his genius but because of his prodigious output. Before his death at 76, he had written more than 800 papers and books on pure and applied mathematics. In 1775, he composed about one paper a week, ranging in length from 10 to 50 pages. (Twenty papers is considered a good lifetime output for modern mathematicians.) His collected works fill 25,000 pages in 79 volumes, including five of correspondence to the leading thinkers of his day. Amazingly, that's not all of it. More letters and a dozen notebooks will be published over the next decade. If the past is a guide, they are likely to contain work that in some sense is original even today. Three centuries after his birth, Euler is far from a household name (unless you live in Switzerland, where his face used to be on the 10-franc note). He didn't jump out of the bathtub and run naked through the streets, like Archimedes. His head didn't get hit by an apple, like Newton's. He didn't figure out, before age 10, how to add every number from 1 to 100 in less than a minute, like Gauss. Nevertheless, he's right there with them. "The four greatest mathematical scientists of all time are Archimedes, Isaac Newton, Leonhard Euler and Carl Friedrich Gauss," said Ronald S. Calinger, a historian of mathematics at Catholic University. He is nearly done with the first book-length biography of Euler written in English. William Dunham, a professor of mathematics at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, added that Euler is "an amazingly seminal figure in physics, as well. He wrote about optics, classical mechanics, fluid mechanics and astronomy -- in those days it was all sort of one big subject." Euler (pronounced "oiler") was the first child of a pastor and his wife. His father had a talent for mathematics and instructed Leonhard, who enrolled in the University of Basel at age 13. There, he studied under Johann Bernoulli, one of Europe's eminent mathematicians, and met Bernoulli's sons, Nicholas and Daniel, who were to become famous scientists themselves. Daniel was to be Euler's best friend. The younger Bernoullis went to St. Petersburg to join the Russian Academy of Sciences. Soon after arriving, they persuaded Catherine I, Peter the Great's widow, to invite Euler, too. He arrived in 1727, at age 20. Euler spent about 30 years in Russia in two long stints, interrupted by about 25 years in Berlin, to which he was called by Frederick the Great of Prussia. He never returned to Switzerland, possibly because he was offended that his Dutch-born wife would not qualify for citizenship. Now, Switzerland is honoring him as both a native son and an example of the achievements of the Swiss diaspora. It is issuing a stamp with his image on it. Consulates around the world are holding lectures and other events marking the tercentenary of his birth. "He is at the very top," said Daniela Stoffel, head of cultural affairs at the Swiss Embassy here. As one would expect, Euler was good at all kinds of things. His first language was German. He wrote principally in Latin, with many papers in French (the language of the Prussian court) and a few in German. He spoke Russian. A few letters to London's Royal Society in English survive. As a young man, he studied Greek and Hebrew. Euler contributed to essentially every field of mathematics -- calculus, geometry, number theory and the vast realm of applied mathematics. "He was a universalist when that was still possible," said Dunham, who has just edited a book, "The Genius of Euler," published by the Mathematical Association of America. Nevertheless, Euler's greatest achievements may lie in what became mathematical analysis, which includes calculus and differential equations. Although Newton and Gottfried Leibniz discovered calculus, Euler systematized it, made hundreds of discoveries and invented differential equations, which he successfully applied to mechanics and astronomy, transforming them from geometry-based disciplines to fully calculus-based ones. He almost single-handedly invented the calculus of variations, which among other things allowed the Apollo
I could not imagine anything close to this experience being possible in F1 with so many vested interests and egos in the way. I will always be an F1 fan at heart, but I can see the Formula E, not only in it’s racing but in everything it does really could lead the future of Motorsport. I was left with no question as to why Mumm Champagne left F1 to focus on Formula E, and why it was the right call. To see more photos of my Mumm Champagne Formula E experience, check out my Instagram page here, or click on my facebook gallery here.Photo Since opening its first roaster in Bogotá in 2006, the Colombian company Devoción has sourced and roasted what its owner Steven Sutton categorizes as “third-wave coffee,” a term he reserves for the highest-quality artisanal beans. Now, Sutton and his business partners sell 150 tons of coffee each year in the United States and Colombia. And this fall, in anticipation of its first stateside outpost, a flagship roaster and cafe that opens in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood on November 16, Devoción invited T onto its coffee farms for a peek at where it all began. Photo Colombia is the only country in the world that can harvest coffee crops all year. Devoción’s quality-control manager, Nelson Vargas, typically spends 60 hours a week driving through the country’s lush mountain regions like Tolima, Valle, Caldas and Amazonia to check in with more than 400 remote farms to document and track the progress of their crops. He and Sutton work exclusively with farmers whose lands look like they have been abandoned and left to grow wild, as they believe the coffee produced on such untouched plots have more character — a depth of flavor that mirrors the environments in which they grow. Many of the farms are in former conflict zones controlled by the FARC and paramilitary groups. “For us, big farms don’t work,” Sutton explains. “We get better flavors from these farms, in our opinion, because we’re collecting beans that are organic, naturally occurring in nature and not cross-bred to produce higher yields.” One such farm, Don Alfredo Cano Horje’s coffee plantation, where Devoción buys a varietal called Red Barrel, takes nearly eight hours to reach. The dirt roads to get there, just outside the village of Venecia, are mostly mountain switchbacks that cut through banana groves, widened in parts to accommodate roadside arepa stands. The coffee fruit of the Red Barrel is roughly the size and shade of a ripe cranberry. Unlike bigger farms that clear-cut mountainside plots and plant coffee hybrids in long, neat rows, Horje’s plantation grows wild on steep hillsides beneath a grove of old clementines. “The more fruits and flowers growing near the coffee, the more complex its beans will be,” explains Sutton, who argues that because coffee has an abundance of aromatic and flavor compounds, it offers a larger range of tasting notes than wine. Below, Devoción takes T on a tour through the process of making its coffee, sales of which benefit nearby indigenous groups like the Karmata Rua Antioquia and help rehabilitate communities through the sponsorship of local schools. Sutton believes that without building up these communities, the future of his business hangs in the balance. “It’s easy to make big profits on bad ingredients at the expense of others,” he says. “I am just so happy to say that that’s not what we’re about.” Devoción’s Botica del Cafe opens Nov. 16 at 69 Grand Street, Brooklyn, 718-285-6180.If you thought we had moved past the stereotype that gay men are little more than limp-wristed, leather-wearing fairies who scream “Yaaass queen” and snap at each other, you’d be wrong. Need proof? Look no further than Smite, an online game with millions of registered players. It recently added a new, unlockable costume for one of its many characters: Chiron, a bow-and-arrow wielding centaur. This alternate costume, which Smite calls a “skin,” is titled “Fabulous.” It looks like this: Not only does “Fabulous” alter Chiron’s appearance, but it also includes a number of special dialogue lines that he’ll recite in certain contexts. Some are sexual and flirtatious — like “Hello, Daddy,” and “Who do I need to spank?” — but others simply reference random memes that have migrated from gay Twitter to the mainstream over the last decade. For example, at the beginning of the trailer that announced this skin, Chiron says, “Come on, gods and goddesses, let’s get smiting,” a reference to Laganja Estranja’s iconic workroom debut in season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The memes don’t stop there. Here are a few more lines Chiron says while a player has the “Fabulous” skin equipped: • “Yaaass queen.” • “I don’t know her.” • “Oh em gee, slay.” • “That’ll cost you, girl.” • “Oh no baby, what is I doing?” • “I like my men like I like my cream: whipped.” • “Ooh, it might look better in leather.” Seriously. Watch the trailer. It’s worse than you think: There’s an important difference between “laughing at” and “laughing with” Hi-Rez Studios, the company that makes Smite, obviously intended for this skin to be funny, but it feels like a case of “laughing at” rather than “laughing with.” And, in the world of gaming, where LGBTQ people often feel like outsiders in worlds that seem designed for heterosexual men, that distinction is an important one. For example, in the context of RuPaul’s Drag Race — a show that’s very much made by and for gay people — Laganja’s over-the-top, feminine mannerisms aren’t mean-spirited. She’s not attempting to represent an entire subculture. She’s just one of a dozen queens interacting with other queer people, all of whom express their identities in different ways. But in the context of an online game, it’s not quite that simple. Unlike a show about drag queens, online games very much feel like they’re made by and for straight people. Women, people of color and LGBTQ people are constantly made to feel like they don’t belong by their fellow players — and this sort of gay minstrelsy is just another sign that people like me are not welcome here. This sort of gay minstrelsy is just another sign that people like me are not welcome here. Tweet Moreover, Hi-Rez’s satirization — a generous word to use, frankly — of gay culture isn’t even particularly clever. It feels like Hi-Rez asked a 13-year-old boy to list out common “gay things,” then filtered his suggestions through a garish Lisa Frank hellscape. In short, Chiron’s new skin is little more than a commodification of actual gay culture — an insensitive, finger-pointing caricature of what someone on the outside thinks being gay is. And that’s a shame, because Hi-Rez’s peers in gaming have been doing an increasingly impressive job of depicting thoughtful, multi-faceted queer characters. In 2017, Smite ’s gay caricature feels shockingly outdated In the adventure game Gone Home, for instance, developer Fullbright managed to paint a picture of a nuanced, young woman coming to terms with her same-sex attractions solely through little scraps of paper and voice recordings hidden around a house. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare wrote the trans character Krem with the help of consultants to make sure he was depicted accurately and tastefully. It feels like Hi-Rez asked a 13-year-old to list common “gay” things, then filtered his suggestions through a Lisa Frank hellscape. Tweet It’s not as though the medium of an online competitive game was the limiting factor for Hi-Rez. Despite the fact that Blizzard’s multiplayer shooter Overwatch is structured in much the same way as Smite, it managed to reveal that its title character, Tracer, was a lesbian in a surprisingly thoughtful way — through a holiday-themed comic in which you discover the person she’s shopping for is her girlfriend, Emily. But why aren’t rainbows coming out of her ears? This is far too subtle. Blizzard Entertainment Can you imagine if Blizzard instead had shared this bit of character development through a new costume in which Tracer dons a rainbow jumpsuit, has little vagina-shaped charms dangling from her pistols and zips around quoting Indigo Girls songs? Who thought this was a good idea? Perhaps the worst part is that this Chiron skin doesn’t seem to be intended to communicate that the character is actually gay. It’s simply a costume apparently intended to make players laugh and say, “Wow, gay people are wild!” No, it’s not Hi-Rez’s responsibility to carefully craft the next queer gaming icon. And to be absolutely clear, it’s not as though Chiron’s other skins are thoughtful, nuanced parodies. Hi-Rez, by and large, paints in pretty broad strokes. For example, Chiron also has a Canada-themed skin called “Constable Moosejaw” where he’s dressed as a giant Moose wearing a Mountie’s uniform and says things like, “Sorry for being sorry.” So, the “Fabulous” skin isn’t so much an example of blatant homophobia as it is an unfortunate side effect of Smite’s simplistic sense of humor. It’s just unfortunate that Hi-Rez decided to move its character design crosshairs from something relatively inoffensive, like “Canadian people say sorry a lot,” to gay men — a group that continues to be the target of hateful violence for simply existing. The “Fabulous” skin isn’t so much an example of blatant homophobia as it is an unfortunate side effect of Smite’s simplistic sense of humor. Tweet During a Twitch stream where members of the Hi-Rez team showed off the new Chiron skin, art director Chuk Vinson brought up the game Dream Daddy, a dating simulator that’s garnered a lot of positive attention for its tender, earnest depictions of queerness. “Dream Daddy was not even a thing when we decided to do [the Chiron skin] — just pointing that out,” he said, pre-emptively defending himself against accusations that they copied the idea to include gay people. Hi-Rez might have waited to play the dating sim before releasing this skin, however. Dream Daddy, though imperfect, at least manages not to mock the culture it borrows from. Hi-Rez did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. More gaming news and updates Check out the latest from Mic, like this article about why popular Overwatch streamers are jumping ship to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Also, be sure to read this essay about the ways in which Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice tries to — but doesn’t always succeed at — showing what it’s like to live with schizophrenia. Finally, check out this game about making friends with dogs at parties and this article about our hopes for Wolfenstein 2’s engagement with modern-day white supremacy.'How does it feel to be the poster boy for the SNP," Nicola Sturgeon asked and the impish gleam in her eye was unmistakable. Scotland's deputy first minister had espied me on Thursday in the cafe of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood where I was waiting for my lunch companion, Joan McAlpine, the nationalist MSP for the South of Scotland and an old friend from the time when we had worked on Glasgow's Herald newspaper. Four days earlier my latest column had been published in the Scottish edition of the Observer. In it, I had suggested that Scottish independence was fast becoming an attractive option for those, like me, who had previously held strong unionist views. The Scotsman's esteemed arts critic and political commentator, Joyce McMillan, had espoused similar sentiments a few days before. On my own column's completion and having given it the usual legal once-over to ensure that no people or animals had been hurt in its creation, I hit "send" and permitted myself the thought that it might elicit a wee frisson among one or two of my nationalist acquaintances. I also braced myself for some abuse from a couple of Labour-leaning friends. No more, no less. I thought little more of it beyond the mild panic, common to most columnists immediately prior to publication that, in retrospect, perhaps I could have chosen to deploy some phrases more artfully. The first indication that it may have struck a chord beyond its normal constituency came two days later when my son Brendan phoned and began to speak Klingon. "Your column is provoking a firestorm in cyberspace," he said. "The online comments are well over a thousand, it's being re-tweeted everywhere, it's sharing on Facebook at a rate of knots and it's beginning to trend." This, roughly translated, suggested that an interesting week lay ahead. Having now had time to re-read last week's column, I suppose it looks like I'm experiencing a dark night of the soul, politically speaking. Faced with the most reactionary Westminster government in living memory, I feel Labour's response has been tepid and careful when what is required is some old-fashioned, tub-thumping street radicalism. And, yes, a bit of class warfare. The depth and extent of the benefit cuts, their indiscriminate discrimination, if you like, looks very much like class warfare to me. The SNP, meanwhile, are positioning themselves as the go-to party for enterprising social justice on these islands. They're moving to a place with which I feel very comfortable. The following day I took a call from a senior Labour figure who politely and sincerely asked what was going on and what, specifically, were my problems with the Labour party. This chap is a fluent communicator and a lucid thinker and I always feel like one of the Wurzels when discussing politics with him but I managed to keep him engaged for half an hour or so. By then I was receiving emails with links to assorted nationalist blogging sites hailing my apparent volte-face as an event akin to Jeremy Clarkson becoming the champion of cycle lanes. I ought to point out here that my relationship with the Cybernats, as they are sometimes dismissively described, has been, well … a thorny one. Most professional journalists will tell you loftily that they pay no attention to the bloggers. "They are amateurs and bampots," is the common refrain, but they are lying. The best of them have very healthy readership figures and the writing is often of a high standard, if a little rebarbative here and there and sometimes obsessive. Following one article I wrote a year or so back, in which I had been unkind once more to the SNP, one of them elegantly slaughtered me in a piece entitled "We Need to Talk About Kevin". I can't really complain, though. In another piece I described the Cybernats as gargoyles and social misfits. After all, we're talking about the future of Scotland here and we Caledonians are nothing if not disputatious. "If you see a fight," an old black human rights activist once declared, "get in it." The same ought to apply to the debate on Scottish independence. Some people will get hurt and there may be casualties but best not to take things personally. I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea that a newspaper columnist should seek primarily to influence one side of a debate and, in any case, I'm not sure that we journalists don't occasionally overstate our importance in the scheme of things. But I suppose it's good for our flagging self-esteem when, occasionally, people attach some weight to our opinions. Or, as one Twitter-user tweeted in response to another who had been kind about my article: "I wouldn't go that far; it's not as if there was much competition." It would be premature to say that I will come out for an independent Scotland when the referendum is held at the end of next year. But if it were to occur tomorrow I would be far more likely to vote Yes than if it had been held 12 months ago. The Labour and socialist roots in my family run deep and there has been no discernible trace of Scottish nationalism. My father was a trade union activist in Glasgow and my grandfather was a prospective Labour parliamentary candidate in the north of the city before his untimely death. Nationalism was never a consideration for them simply because there was never a realistic prospect of an independent Scotland in either of their lifetimes. Although I have supported the existing UK constitutional arrangements, my unionism had similarly never been tested by the prospect of Scottish independence. That all changed when the SNP gained a working majority at the Scottish election in 2011. A referendum on independence inevitably had to follow and so it was time for all Scottish unionists to consider and evaluate Scotland's future anew. No previous generation of Scots since the 1707 Treaty of Union has been tasked with that which has fallen to my generation: to decide the future of Scotland and the United Kingdom in a single Yes/No ballot. It is a privileged responsibility and, as such, one that calls for all Scots to reconsider where their existing loyalties lie. It's simply not acceptable for any Scot to close his mind to the idea of life in an independent Scotland and to declare the contest over 22 months before the referendum takes place. And it is time too for English people seriously to consider if their royal throne of kings and their scepter'd isle will be diminished in any way without Scotland. It is difficult too to understand how any person living in Scotland can express fear about the prospect of independence when around one million of our fellow citizens are wondering how they will live when the Westminster government's benefit cuts truly begin to bite. And how long will it take the SNP to accept and deploy David Cameron's gift to them contained in his proposed EU referendum: that if sufficient numbers of English people exercise their vote in 2017 then every Scottish vote will be rendered meaningless? Holyrood's wood-panelled restaurant is unostentatious rather than opulent but the lunchtime menu showcases the best, and simplest, of Scotland's larder. Many of the dishes also appeared at the Burns Supper held the previous night for representatives of the 90 or so foreign consulates resident in Edinburgh. My former colleague tells me about Sergei from the Russian consulate whom she met at the event and who told her how he had been taught the poetry of the Alloway ploughman at his mother's knee. Perhaps he may also have known that Scots helped establish his great nation's army and featured in Napoleon's inner sanctum. He wouldn't be expected to know that we founded the American navy … and the Argentinian one. In every corner of the globe Scots have helped others to determine their own future. It would be absurd to scorn us simply for seeking to determine our own. Scottish nationalism and me, can we last the distance? If I were them I wouldn't place too much stock in my musings. As soon as I had announced my (partial) epiphany, the results of a Scottish social attitudes survey revealed that only 23% wanted outright independence. Later still, Alex Salmond, our first minister, stops for a chat. "I was interested in what you had to say last week," he said. "Och, I'm just having a debate with myself," I reply, affecting bashfulness. "Well, let us know who wins," he says. My SNP politician count now stands at four in one day; at this rate I'll be donning a kilt before the weekend and calling my children "bairns". And did I mention that the social attitude survey also reveals that a majority want the Scottish Parliament to make all decisions affecting Scotland? This game still has a long way to go.The military pay raise is shrinking. The military housing stipend is shrinking. The military commissary benefit is under fire. And now Congress may start charging active-duty families for medical care. If lawmakers follow through with the least generous pay-and-benefits proposals under consideration as part of the federal government's 2017 budget process, next year could be one of the toughest in recent memory for military families’ finances. Even advocates accustomed to the political fights over service members' quality-of-life issues say they’re surprised at just how much lawmakers seem to be targeting military benefits. And they worry it won't hit troops' wallets alone, but their morale too. It's a stunning turnaround for those who provided troops and their families with generous incentives throughout much of the post-9/11 era. Since 2013, when Washington first fought to curtail defense spending, annual pay raises have averaged just 1.1 percent. Retention bonuses — worth tens of thousands of dollars during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — have dropped off as combat deployments slowed and the services were forced to reprioritize their funding. Last year, Congress passed sweeping retirement reform legislation, the first significant move to dial back the military's long-term personnel costs. There are new rules requiring military families to pay more out of pocket for their housing, which can have varying impacts depending on local rental markets. × Fear of missing out? Fear no longer. Be the first to hear about breaking news, as it happens. You'll get alerts delivered directly to your inbox each time something noteworthy happens in the Military community. Thanks for signing up. By giving us your email, you are opting in to our Newsletter: Sign up for the Early Bird Brief Now lawmakers are zeroing in on health care. A new enrollment fee, approved by the House and awaiting action in the Senate, would require new troops to pay for access to the military medical system starting in 2018 for their families. Troops already serving would be grandfathered in, but would see higher co-pays. Grocery discounts could start to dry up. Even the new GI Bill, perhaps the most extravagant benefit afforded to military personnel today, is being reviewed with an eye toward limiting what the government previously agreed to pay for some military spouses and kids to attend college. All of it is necessary, officials say, to help offset unsustainable costs. Yet as service members' wages lag behind those in the private sector, what's known as the military-civilian "pay gap," several small cuts add up can add up quickly. And that too comes at a cost. "There's so much that needs to be done to make the military health care system work for families before we talk about charging them for that care," said Joyce Wessel Raezer, executive director of the National Military Family Association. "The Defense Department keeps saying they'll protect readiness by asking families to pay for it, and thinking that families will suck it up and take one for the team," said Joyce Wessel Raezer, executive director of the National Military Family Association. "It's a spiral that's going to end up hurting families and hurting the military." Today, military and civilian pay is about on par. In the 1990s, the pay gap topped 13 percent, said Steve Strobridge, government relations director for the Military Officers Association of America. That era saw a host of changes on par with those being debated now. H ousing was shifted off-base. P ersonnel programs were slashed. "It's part of the long-term cycle, especially when [military members'] sacrifices fall out of the news," he said. "But that doesn't make it easy for the folks who have to live through it." Here's a look at the paycheck pinches troops are facing in the near future: Smaller pay raises M ilitary pay raises have fallen below private sector rates for the last three years. If the Senate and the White House get their way, 2017 will follow that pattern. The Obama administration proposed a 1.6 percent bump for next year, half a percentage point below the anticipated rise in private sector wages. Senate lawmakers have advanced a budget bill that matches that plan, calling the figure disappointingly low but still enough to ensure all troops see their pay go up. But House lawmakers have advanced two separate plans calling for a 2.1 percent boost in military pay next year — "a full raise," in their words — that costs $330 million more but better compensates service members, they say. House leaders have pushed, unsuccessfully, for bigger pay raises in each of the last three years. And big-picture funding concerns in the Senate make it unlikely to happen again this year. If that’s the case, 2017 will be the seventh consecutive year in which military pay raises fall below 2 percent. For Army specialists with three years service, a 1.6 percent pay raise amounts to about $36 more a month in spending money. At 2.1 percent, they would receive another $11. That’s not much, but Raezer noted for many junior troops, every dollar counts. That money could cover a few lunches or a pharmacy co-pay — small but consequential items, especially if someone can’t afford them. A fourth year of lower pay raises also means the pay gap reopens. If the 1.6 percent rate becomes law, as expected, the gap will be a little more than 3 percent, according to MOAA's estimates. That means the Army specialist — any service member in the E-4 pay grade — will earn around $800 less in annual salary than her comparable civilian counterparts. [[[WILL ADD E-4, O-3 COMPARISON CHART HERE]]] Smaller housing stipends The fate of next year’s military pay raise is still in doubt. But troops’ housing stipends are guaranteed to get trimmed. Last year, Congress approved a reduction in the annual basic housing allowance increase for the next three years, lowering from 100 to 95 percent the amount of rent this stipend covers. "That's extremely frustrating," Raezer said. "Here's a benefit that works well, that helped the department deal with the lack of adequate housing for families, and now they're dismantling that." No family's housing stipend will see a decrease next year, but the trims mean that troops will be paying a larger share of their rent costs for years to come. For a married E-4 with children dependents, living in the community outside Fort Bragg in North Carolina will mean picking up $35 a month in housing costs. For the same service member living outside Camp Pendleton in California, the out-of-pocket cost rises to $67 a month. In separate veterans legislation, lawmakers have toyed with the idea of cutting the housing stipend for individuals using the post-9/11 GI Bill. A House plan would cut in half the stipend for dependents using the education benefit. A Senate plan would cap increases in every GI Bill recipient's housing payouts, similar to the active-duty housing trims. Both the shrinking pay raise and shrinking housing benefit come as the military is shifting to a new 401(k)-style retirement system, one where troops are being encouraged to save more money to help pay for their retirement. But Raezer said that's going to be a tough sell if troops are being "nickled and dimed" in other areas of their finances. Smaller commissary benefit Congress is moving away from the decades-old system of selling groceries at cost, with no profit. And that could mean a higher food bill for military families. Lawmakers have included major reform provisions in their pending defense policy bills that would allow commissaries to establish a "variable pricing program." Officials would be able to set prices "in response to market conditions and customer demand," according to the House plan. According to the Defense Commissary Agency’s calculations, the average overall savings is 30 percent, based on a comparison of thousands of items. A 5-percent surcharge is used to pay for construction and renovation of stores. So a military family who shops on base pays, on average, $70 for groceries that would cost $100 at a market in town. The new plan would allow the commissary agency to increase some prices to help pay for operating costs, currently at $1.4 billion. The Defense Department has said it aims to save $512 million in annual taxpayer dollars by fiscal 2021. For military families, this raises an important question: Will that savings be realized by eating into the discounts now afforded to military families? "It's a radical change in the commissary's mission," said Eileen Huck, deputy director of government relations for the National Military Family Association. "The role has never been to generate revenue. It's been to provide a benefit, and this would fundamentally change the mission. "Lawmakers and defense officials have talked about the importance of the savings, but we don't know how the new plan will play out, how it will affect the benefit," she said. "Our fear is that it will lead to increased prices." Marcie Garcia, tour participant, chooses the health food during a Cooking Matters Tour at the commissary, Oct. 9, 2014. (Official Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Julio McGraw/ Released) Marcie Garcia, tour participant, chooses the health food during a Cooking Matters Tour at the commissary, Oct. 9, 2014. Photo Credit: Pfc. Julio McGraw/Marine Corps Defense officials are required to develop a new savings baseline before implementing variable pricing. F uture savings will be measured against that baseline. Advocates are concerned about how that baseline will be determined. Lawmakers want safeguards to protect the commissary benefit, including quarterly reports, and the ability to infuse taxpayer dollars if there are problems. That's separate from a Senate plan to privatize the commissary system. Senators want to test this concept at at least one commissary — but no more than five — on major military bases. Huck said this raises even more uncertainty. "We're concerned that once you bring in a business or entity to run commissaries, they may raise prices, and that would reduce the benefit for military families," she said, calling all these ideas "uncharted territory when it comes to commissaries." Paying for health care Both the House and the Senate are planning major overhauls to the military health system, alterations that could radically change hospital hours, patient access to doctors and troops' quality of care. But it also could cost troops more, and for the first time require active-duty families to pay a yearly charge for their medical care. Under the House bill, everyone now serving or retired would continue to pay the current fee structure. That means no enrollment fee for the families of active-duty troops to get military medical care. However, starting in 2018, anyone who enlists or receives a commission would start paying annual fees for family access to medical care. Current targets put the price at $180 for an individual spouse or dependent and $360 for a family using the new Tricare Prime plan, or $300 for an individual and $600 for a family for a new Tricare Preferred plan. The Senate would not charge active-duty personnel any annual enrollment fees for Tricare, but service members and families who use private care could still feel a pinch. The proposal calls for raising co-payments for private care and increasing the catastrophic cap for active-duty families to $1,500, up from $1,000. Pharmacy copayments also would increase for these family members if they don't pick up their prescriptions at a military pharmacy or get them by mail, under the Senate plan. A South Arkansas Community College practical nursing student gives a flu shot during the Arkansas Department of Healths mass flu clinic in El Dorado, Ark., on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/The El Dorado News-Times, Michael Orrell) Flu Shot Photo Credit: Michael Orrell/AP Staff members on both the House and Senate side said the goal is to persuade the military health system to increase access and improve quality in return for allowing the Defense Department to raise fees. Strobridge said he believes the proposal to charge new active-duty families for health care will not survive the legislative process but the proposed and increased fees for working aged retirees likely will become law, given they appear in both versions. Higher health care costs for personnel and retirees likely won't hurt recruiting, since most join the armed forces for reasons other than employment benefits, he said. But they could hurt future retention. "It's not unprecedented for Congress to look at almost anything, whether it's the pay-raise caps, the housing allowance cuts, the commissary proposals," he said. "They changed retirement and now they are looking at changing health care and a whole host of things. I'm not sure this is the end of it." Why now? In part, this squeeze on military benefits is connected to long-held Pentagon worries about personnel costs eating into the overall defense budget. Another reason is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are fading from national consciousness. Troops' advocates say the main culprit is sequestration, and spending caps that Congress approved five years ago in an effort to rein in government spending. "It turns out that setting arbitrary budget caps for 10 years may not make sense when you get to year five," said Ray Kelley, director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars' National Legislative Service. "And when you need immediate defense spending relief, you can't get that from cancelling long-term contracts. You get it from scaling back pay and benefits." Lawmakers have couched many of their proposed trims by noting that they’re following recommendations from military leaders themselves, and that many of the congressional ideas don’t cut as deeply as some of the Pentagon proposals. Without absolving military leadership, advocates note that many of those decisions are being forced by Congress’ spending caps, which lawmakers have repeatedly decried and repeatedly failed to resolve. "So, instead they toy with this benefit and that benefit to make [the budget] work just for now," Kelley said. "Congress aren't the ones being pressed by sequestration. You've already asked so much of so few for so long, and now you're asking them to take less and pay a little more. That's going to make people walk away." Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com. Patricia Kime covers military and veterans health care and medicine for Military Times. She can be reached at pkime@militarytimes.com.(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear about the potential disruption in health insurance coverage for millions of people if Obamacare subsidies are struck down in the nearly three dozen states that didn't set up their own exchanges. Behind the scenes in these states, insurers are scrambling to keep the subsidies in place, as I and my colleagues wrote over the weekend. [The Supreme Court is deciding a case that could derail Obamacare. Here's what you need to know.] Without the subsidies, the situation would quickly become pretty chaotic for insurers, who've largely benefited from the law so far. Most of the uninsured would no longer be subject to Obamacare's individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance because they wouldn't then have access to "affordable" coverage, as the Affordable Care Act defines affordability. But all of the law's other features that increase the cost of health insurance, such as guaranteed coverage regardless of preexisting conditions, would remain in place. The history of similar state-level health reform efforts that enacted these consumer protections without the mandate and financial assistance shows health insurance rates skyrocketed and healthier people dropped out of the insurance markets. The timing of the Supreme Court decision could make a tough situation for insurers selling on the ACA exchanges even tougher. They're going to be filing 2016 rates over the next few weeks and months, before the Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision in late June. If the subsidies are struck, it's expected that healthier and low-income people would be the first to drop coverage — and quickly — after their monthly premiums increased on average by nearly 75 percent. That would then drastically alter the insurers' assumptions about who would sign up for 2016 health plans — they'd have a costlier population to cover, but the 2016 rates would already be locked in. Neither Republicans nor Democrats have offered much hope that Washington could come up with a quick and workable fix if the subsidies are suddenly stripped from millions of people. The Obama administration — which doesn't want to give the Supreme Court any reason to think that an adverse ruling wouldn't cause chaos — says there's nothing it could do administratively. Republicans, on the other hand, want to show the court that a ruling against the Obama administration would not be disruptive. A trio of senior Republican senators wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Sunday that they had a plan to offer temporary financial assistance to those who would lose the subsidies. But they didn't provide key details -- such as how long they'd provide the aid, and what it would be worth -- and their offices haven't said when they might release more details. It's also questionable how much support there would be for such a measure among Republican lawmakers. Actuaries, who work for the insurers, are pushing for the Obama administration to let insurers to change their 2016 rates this summer if the subsidies are invalidated in the federal exchange states. They've also suggested allowing insurers to now propose two sets of rates — one if the federal subsidies survive, and another if they don't. "Otherwise, insurer solvency could be threatened," a professional society representing actuaries recently wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. It might be easier for insurers to drop out of these exchanges entirely. The ACA contains a provision that would discourage this behavior, locking out insurers from the exchanges for five years if they leave the marketplace. However, the threat of losing the exchange business might not be enough to keep insurers in the market if there's no immediate fix on the horizon, said Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation. "A lot of it will hinge on insurers’ perceptions of whether a fix is coming and when," Levitt said. "They would immediately start losing money, as healthy people drop out and sick people stay in." The most obvious solution, and the one insurers are lobbying for, would be for states to set up their own exchanges, since those subsidies aren't being threatened in the lawsuit, King v. Burwell. But there are huge political and logistical challenges to making that happen. Jesse Thomas, chief executive of a start-up health insurer in Ohio that received $130 million in federal loans, said his group is working to build support for a bill establishing a state-run exchange if the federal subsidies are struck. Thomas, who runs InHealth Mutual, also said he's thinking of how to further expand the business into the small group market if the Supreme Court rules against the government. Thomas estimates that about half of the 22,000 people his company enrolled in 2015 health plans are in Ohio's exchange. "We've pivoted before," said Thomas of InHealth Mutual, referring to the Obama administration's 2013 decision to allow people to stay longer in their existing health plans. "We'll pivot this time, and we'll get a broader spread of our risk." Joel Ario, who previously ran the HHS office overseeing exchanges, said he would expect the battle over state-run exchanges to mirror the Medicaid expansion. Some Republican states would establish an exchange, while others would refuse. The Obamacare divide among the states would grow even deeper. "It would be pretty ugly and divisive for the country
per, a disruptor,” Gelfond said. “With VR, both studios and exhibitors see this as a significant ancillary revenue stream. They are looking at ways to monetize their content across different platforms.” He said that the financing model for Hollywood content could be similar to that for theatrical movies, with the studios taking 50% of the proceeds for creating the content, and the exhibitor and operator taking the rest. Gelfond said that the VR experiences would be complementary to the movie-going experience rather than an alternative. He cited the example, as yet unrealized, of a VR version of the scene in “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” in which Tom Cruise climbs up the Burj Khalifa tower. VR users could do the same while their friends could be firing down on them from above. In the case of 3-D movies, it took James Cameron’s “Avatar” to ignite the public’s enthusiasm for the medium, and Gelfond said he was looking forward to seeing what leading filmmakers would do with VR. He noted that Michael Bay is creating a VR Experience for “Transformers: The Last Knight” and the Russo brothers were doing the same for “Avengers: Infinity War.” Eventually, IMAX also plans to distribute content produced by the studio-caliber VR camera it is developing with Google. Gelfond underscored the need for the technology to last. “I’m not really interested in putting the IMAX brand and resources into a fad, so we want to really make something that is sustainable.” He added: “There are a lot of reasons to go slow and not be a first mover in VR, but given IMAX’s experience in technology, the power of our brand, our relationships with studios and exhibitors, I thought that if anybody was going to go first it should be us, but I have no pretense – we don’t have all the answers. I think it is going to evolve in its own way and I just hope we are part of the right way.”Dina Manzo appeared on WWHL with Andy Cohen last night and during the show a clip of the RHONJ reunion was preivewed. In the clip Dina talks very candidly about her family issues with Jacqueline and Chris Laurita. In the clip an emotional Dina says “I kept my mouth shut for four years Jacqueline opened the door by coming back on the show. RIght now I don’t want to make a relationship with Jacqueline I don’t. I will say Chris reached out when he heard I was separated and I could not have been happier but that lasted all of fifteen minutes….and we had a plan to meet and I don’t want to get into it obviously not everyone was on the same page.” After the clip was shown Andy asked Dina why she is all the sudden so vocal about the rift, Dina goes on to say “Because like I said I’ve kept my mouth shut all these years and that didn’t help so maybe if I talk this will go away.” Well Dina’s comments rubbed Jacqueline Laurita the wrong way because she took to Twitter in a frenzy to tell her side of things. Andy Cohen even read one of Jacqueline’s tweets to Dina and Dina responded by saying ” That’s not true I…just because you say it doesn’t mean its true. I wanted to meet with my brother more than anything.” Jacqueline then re-tweeted a fan who went on the attack against Dina. Dina replied to all of Jacqueline’a tweets with one simple message. I think that some people need to step away from Twitter and put down their phones. Anyone who saw the clip on WWHL could hear the pain and sadness in Dina’s voice when she talked about her brother Chris Laurita. It’s pretty sad that this family can’t figure out a way to mend fences and move on. Hopefully Chris and Dina will get to reconnect sometime soon and clear the air. As for Dina and Jacqueline’s relationship I think its dunzo and there’s not a chance in hell it will be mended. It sad to watch families fight no matter what the circumstances are. What do you think about Jacqueline’s Twttier rampage? Do you think Dina and Chris Laurita will make up? Do you think Dina and Jacqueline will ever get a long again? Follow AllAboutTRH On Instagram Here Follow Us On Twitter Here And Like Us On Facebook HerePepsi launched a campaign, proclaimed the “wrong lucky number”, caused huge riots In 90s Coca-Cola were outselling Pepsi-cola by a huge distance (75% to 17% market share). In order the change the situation Pepsi-Cola Philippine Inc. came up with an ingenious marketing plan called the “The Number Fever” in 1992. The underside of the bottle caps of some of their best selling drinks - Pepsi, Mountain Dew and 7 Up - would have a 3-digit number and a cash prize amount ranging from 1000 pesos to 1 million pesos imprinted on them. The grand prize of one million pesos (about $40,000 U.S.) was to be given to one lucky winner who had the winning number, announced at the end of the promotion. It was a huge success. Pepsi’s sales shot up nearly 40 percent over the next couple of weeks. Impressed with the initial success, Pepsi increased the number of prizes to 1500 and in order to reach even customers all across the country. By the time it was over, an estimated 31 million people had participated in it which was more than half of Philippines’ population at that time. But that’s not the end - they had to announce a winner. After they did it - the real hell started. Here’s why - although all caps were imprinted with cash prize amounts, buyers wouldn’t know if they had won until the three digit number was announced. Two months after the campaign was started, Pepsi finally announced the number “349” as the winner and that whoever had the winning cap would take home the promised sum of one million pesos. But they missed a key point here. According to their original plans, they were not supposed to consider certain numbers and “349” was one of them, because they had printed 800,000 caps with the number “349” Pepsi folks understood they are in some serious problem when tens of thousands of Filipinos soon began demanding billions of dollars that Pepsi technically owes them. Pepsi was trying to save themselves and told the winners that the caps didn’t contain the correct security code. Pepsi records show that at least 32 delivery trucks have been stoned, torched or overturned. Armed men have thrown homemade bombs at Pepsi plants and offices. In the worst incident, police say a fragmentation grenade tossed at a parked Pepsi truck in a Manila suburb Feb. 13 bounced off and killed a schoolteacher and a 5-year-old girl and wounded six other people. Other sources mention even larger numbers - nearly 40 company trucks were burned in the attacks, 3 people dead in Davao City. At last count, more than 22,000 people have filed 689 civil suits seeking damages from Pepsi, plus more than 5,200 criminal complaints for fraud and deception, the company says. It is believed this marketing fail was caused by D.G.Consultores, a Mexican consulting firm that Pepsi had hired to randomly preselect the winning numbers and give a list of the 60 winning combination with their corresponding security codes. Pepsi had clearly instructed them not to consider certain numbers and number “349” was one of them. The consultants somehow missed the memo and doomed Pepsi. In the end, Pepsi’s budget of $2 million in prize payouts changed into over $10 million in restitution and legal fees. It was an expensive lesson. And one more thing - an earlier Number Fever promotion in Chile also ended in a public outcry (but without lethal riots) after a fax resulted in the wrong winning number being released to the public. This incident happened a month before riots in Philippines. That’s the same mistake repeated twice in a month. Aftermath. After 14 years, in 2006, the Supreme Court of the Philippines cleared Pepsi of all criminal charges saying it found “no proof of negligence” by the company and said they should not be held liable for the riots. Nonetheless, enough damage had already been done. Follow Marketing Shmarketing on Facebook, Twitter, Google plus.A coroner has ruled out foul play in the case of missing prison boss David Prideaux, finding he died from either a medical problem or accident while deer hunting in the Victorian high country. Mr Prideaux, general manager of maximum-security Barwon Prison, went missing while on a hunting trip with his brother-in-law near Mount Buller on June 5, 2011. An extensive search of the area over the five following days failed to find any trace of the father of two, who was 50 at the time. Police investigated speculation his disappearance was related to the 2010 bashing murder of gangland boss Carl Williams, who was an inmate at Barwon, and three alleged sightings of the prison boss. But deputy state coroner Iain West said he agreed with the view of police, who believe Mr Prideaux died as a result of "a major medical event of serious accident that caused him to be incapable of movement or communication".Despite Google’s optimism that community editing would increase Google Maps’ accuracy, pranksters abused the Map Maker editing tools. One recent prank, in which trees were rearranged to form a Google Android icon peeing on the Apple logo, seems to have pushed Google’s tolerance too far: The company is temporarily suspending the Map Maker tools while it finds a solution beyond “ auto-approve almost everything.” Ours is a big world, with new streets paved and parks built every day, so Google relies on its community members to help accurately update Google Maps using the Map Maker project. Map Maker was introduced in 2008 and used a system of local power users as moderators to review edits. That structure has put undue power in the hands of anonymous individuals, but it has not caused major headaches for Google until lately. Unfortunately, finding a few prank map edits raises questions about how many more slipped under the radar, so Google has taken the laborious path of manually checking every edit in the backlog–which means those edits could take months to be implemented, says Google Map Maker product manager Pavithra Kanakarajan in a blog post. And since they cannot manually approve new edits quickly enough, Google is temporarily shutting down further edits starting May 12. Way to ruin it for everyone, pranksters. In the meantime, Google is building an actual automated solution that will be able to pick out egregious prank edits. Trying to outsmart the snickering pranksters of the Internet? Good luck winning that arms race, Google. [via Search Engine Land]Pittsburgh receiver Tyler Boyd and defensive end Rori Blair have been suspended for the season opener against Youngstown State for separate DUI incidents this offseason, coach Pat Narduzzi announced Monday. Boyd was sentenced to one year of probation after he was charged with DUI in June. Blair was charged with driving under the influence of drugs after an arrest in March. "In addition to their game suspensions, Tyler and Rori have been, and will continue to be, subject to internal discipline and accountability," Narduzzi said in a statement. "The situations were very disappointing and both young men have expressed their regret. Our expectation is that each of them, as well as our entire team, will learn from their mistakes and be better for it moving forward." Boyd has posted consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and is expected to be an integral part of the offense. Blair, who overcame a stroke in high school, led the team with 5.5 sacks last season and is expected to start.CHELSEA will be playing in front of twice as many fans as they’re used to next month with their friendly match against Sydney FC on course for a sellout. Tickets flew out the door in just a few hours yesterday with fans desperate to catch a glimpse of the English Premier League champions at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on June 2. Chelsea’s home ground, Stamford Bridge, has a capacity of just over 40,000, while there will be close to 84,000 fans for the blue-on-blue clash at ANZ. It will almost feel like home, too, for the English giants — one end of the ground will be renamed the Shed End for the game. Round 21 Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Visit Match Centre Given Chelsea’s standing in global football, it came as no surprise how quickly the tickets sold. The demand was as high as it was for Manchester United’s visit two years ago and Chelsea’s Asia Pacific boss, Adrian New, was thrilled by the response. “We were always confident that we’ve got a big fan base wherever we go in the world and we knew we had three million fans in Australia somewhere, but to see just how quickly the tickets are selling is just fantastic,” he said. “Obviously it’s going to be a sell out, it’s not there yet, but it’s really fantastic to see them flying out the door.” It will be an extraordinary week for Sydney FC fans, who will get to see the EPL’s young player of the year, Harry Kane, in action for Spurs on May 30, followed by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, who was named the Premier League’s best. But first up for the Sky Blues, and the priority for now, is this weekend’s massive A-League semi-final against Adelaide United. Just over 20,000 tickets have been sold for the match at Allianz Stadium, with officials expecting up to 30,000 on the day.WASHINGTON ― Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) received a standing ovation from senators of both parties on his return to the Senate on Tuesday to cast the deciding vote allowing debate to proceed on Affordable Care Act repeal legislation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) even gave him a hug. McCain was diagnosed with a fatal form of brain cancer last week that was found during surgery to remove a blood clot above his eye. Fellow senators, many of whom have worked with him for decades, were understandably moved by his return. McCain’s cancer was detected thanks to his taxpayer-provided health insurance. He left his sick bed ahead of treatment to clear an obstacle to a bill that, even with major changes, would deprive millions of Americans access to health insurance. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated last week that a revised version of the Senate bill that included some concessions to moderate lawmakers would result in 22 million fewer people having health insurance than under current law. McCain, in a speech following the vote, called for bipartisan cooperation on health care and revealed he would not vote for the GOP’s legislation in its current form. “I will not vote for this bill as it is today,” McCain said, emphasizing every word. “It’s a shell of a bill right now ― we all know that. I have changes urged by my state’s governor that will have to be included to earn my support for final passage of any bill.” Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) used Obamacare funds to expand Medicaid in the state in 2013, and has spoken out against the Republican legislation’s rollback of that increase in coverage. Last month, her successor, Gov. Doug Ducey (R), said he was still examining the bill. McCain’s office referred HuffPost to a statement earlier this month in which he announced his concerns about the impact of the GOP health care bill on the state’s Medicaid program. McCain said if the bill proceeded, he would introduce amendments to address those concerns, including by extending the phase-out period of Medicaid expansion funding to allow states like Arizona time to adjust. “This legislation should reward states like Arizona that are responsibly managing their health care services and controlling costs – not penalize them,” McCain said in the statement. Handout. / Reuters Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) delivered a speech calling for bipartisanship on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Even with $200 billion to offset Medicaid cuts in a bid to mollify skeptical senators, any version of the GOP health care bill that passes the Senate would deprive millions of Americans of health insurance. Without serious reductions in Medicaid spending and subsidies for people buying coverage on the exchanges, the bill would lose the support of even more conservative senators than it already has. One alternative being floated, nicknamed a “skinny” repeal bill, would undo the individual mandate, the employer mandate and a medical device tax, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would leave 15 million fewer people with insurance coverage. Unless there is an unforeseen change, the motion to proceed with debate sets 20 hours on the clock for the Senate to discuss the legislation, before it can vote on any repeal bill. The vote is expected to follow a vote-a-rama, in which senators consider last-minute amendments at rapid-fire speed, without debate ― a largely symbolic process that rarely results in major changes. So, one way or another, McCain’s vote to proceed effectively is a yes on depriving people of health insurance. Several peer-reviewed studies have attributed holes in insurance coverage, which persist under Obamacare, albeit at a lower rate, to the deaths of thousands of Americans. Those figures are sure to increase without Obamacare’s protections. For moderate Republican senators Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), concerns about the bill’s impact on their constituents ― regardless of the final form it takes ― were enough to vote against proceeding on debate. Unlike Murkowski and Collins, McCain voted to repeal Obamacare without a replacement in December 2015 ― before Donald Trump’s election made repeal possible. In his speech Tuesday, McCain denounced the secretive process that allowed the Obamacare repeal to be shepherded through Congress thus far. He argued for a “return to normal order” that would include committee hearings on the law’s impact and opportunities for Democrats to offer amendments. “The administration and congressional Democrats shouldn’t have forced through Congress, without any opposition support, a social and economic change as massive as Obamacare,” McCain said. “And we shouldn’t do the same with ours.” It’s the kind of above the fray, pox-on-both-their-houses rhetoric that earned McCain his “maverick” moniker ― notwithstanding his consistently partisan voting record. But McCain got the history of Obamacare’s passage wrong. As Time noted, the Democratic-controlled Senate committees with jurisdiction over the legislation held some 100 hearings on Obamacare in 2009 and 2010. Senators had 35 weeks to review the text of Obamacare. In the Senate Finance Committee, Democrats took particular pains to solicit Republic input and support, getting then-Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to vote it out of committee. Snowe ultimately voted against the bill on the Senate floor. Current GOP leaders gave senators one week to review the text of a failed first version of the Senate bill last month. Now, Republicans are not even sure what they are going to be voting on ― and they are unlikely to get more than a week to review it. Several Senate Democrats defended McCain’s speech. “I think his vote was in some ways less important than his speech... because I think it shows what’s inside him and where he’s going to go ultimately,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “His words are very powerful, but I think again, we’ll have a chance to see exactly whether [Republicans] act on those words or not,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) noted that McCain may yet vote against the final bill. “This isn’t the only important vote Republicans will cast during this debate,” Murphy said. “I thought his speech was good, and there’ll be more votes.” Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, showed no such reluctance to criticize McCain. 80,000 a year get a diagnosis of brain cancer. How many won't be insured after this vote, next vote? I know of one who will be insured — Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) July 25, 2017 As events unfolded, McCain’s somber pronouncements rang even hollower than skeptics had predicted. Hours after speaking, he voted for the very Obamacare repeal bill he claimed earlier in the day he could not support without significant changes. The bill nonetheless failed thanks to the defections of nine other Republican senators.Jose Mourinho has ordered his advisers to make no further public comment on his links with the Manchester United’s manager’s job, Indepdendent.ie understands. Jose Mourinho has ordered his advisers to make no further public comment on his links with the Manchester United’s manager’s job, Indepdendent.ie understands. Sources close to Mourinho have been active in leaking information confirming his interest in the United job and revealing the preliminary talks they held with Old Trafford chiefs last month, but the former Chelsea boss fears additional publicity could scupper his chances of landing the Old Trafford hot-seat. Mourinho is said to be ‘embarrassed’ by his continued links with United while his friend and former mentor Louis van Gaal remains in place and will only confirm his interest in the job publicly if the Dutchman leaves. Now Mourinho has told his advisers to follow his vow of silence on his links with United as he aims to win over members of the Old Trafford board who remain vehemently against his appointment as Van Gaal’s successor. Mourinho was in Italy yesterday as he watched his former club Inter Milan in action and he used the trip to reiterate that he will not return to the Serie A club as manager next season. Subsequent comments from the sister of former Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti appeared to suggest the Portuguese tactician expects to be taking over at United next season, as she hinted a deal may already have been struck. “Right now he’s happy, he’s going to Manchester,” stated Bedy Moratti. Mourinho also used his trip to Italy to confirm that he would not be returning as Inter Milan manager next season, despite reports in recent days that he was being lined up to take over from Roberto Mancini at the San Siro. Van Gaal’s next big test as United boss will come when his side take on Shrewsbury in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night, but it seems increasingly likely that his days as the club’s manager are coming to an end sooner rather than later. Senior members of the United hierarchy remain determined to block Mourinho’s coronation as the club’s next manager, but there is a growing sense that those voices will be overlooked by a club eager to restore their reputation as trophies winners on the world stage in double quick time. Van Gaal could remain in place as United boss until the club can no longer qualify for the Champions League, with the contractual pay-off he could expect to receive reduced if he fails to secure a return to Europe’s elite competition for next season. The club followed as similar path when they opted to dismiss David Moyes, with his departure confirmed shortly after United were mathematically ruled out of a top four finish in April 2014. Fresh reports on Sunday claimed that Ryan Giggs remains the popular choice among some of United’s hierarchy to step. Read more here: Win One of Five Pairs of Tickets to Ireland v France - Click here Online EditorsOur affable captors. I listened to Sam Seder’s interview with Jill Stein. And while I think she sidestepped his questions about the strategic reasons a person might hesitate to vote Green, what jumped out at me was that she said the Democratic party is unsalvageable. Even though I have a lot of ambivalence about President Obama, it makes me uneasy to say the the Democratic party as a whole is beyond repair. A friend of mine involved in Occupy once suggested that the reason I feel this way is because of my efforts in local Democratic politics. That might be true. I have spent a lot of time, money and shoeleather volunteering for Democrats. I’ve made some great friends and learned a lot. To abandon the party now, when it includes people like Tony Avella, and Sandra Fluke feels wrong. If I did leave, where would I go? The Green Party seems like the obvious answer. I did vote Green for NYC Mayor in 2009, and I was voting for Bill Talen, not against Thompson or Bloomberg. Listening to Jill Stein was kind of anticlimactic. She couldn’t answer Sam Seder’s questions about his concerns that promoting the Green Party would elevate the Republican Party. She said that Obama is a hypnotic orator, which has weird and racist undertones. I think that Sam Seder was right when he said that the liberals were co-opted by anti-Bush organizing during the Bush administration, and that we only have the Occupy Movement because we now have Democrats in office who we can try to persuade. Voting for her would seem more like a vote against Obama than one for her. Yes, she voted for the Iraq War and he signed DOMA and made life shittier for poor people and called it “Welfare Reform” (which included the beginning of federally funded abstinence only sex education, btw) but they are so DAMN ADORABLE!! I was mulling this over in my head and I thought about groups like the Sierra Club and the AFL-CIO. They have even less of a choice than individual voters. Obama hasn’t delivered much of anything on environmental policy, and has failed to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. But environmental and labor groups must continue to endorse Democrats. Republicans would be actively destructive to those causes, and these groups would lose access and power if they endorsed a 3rd party candidate. This was underscored when the Sierra Club tweeted the praises of Obama’s speech to the DNC, even though he was talking about “clean coal” and making what some say were references to increasing fracking (he said we should use more natural gas). Obama at DNC: We’ve doubled our use of renewable energy & 1000s of Americans have jobs today building wind turbines & long-lasting batteries — Sierra Club (@Sierra_Club) September 7, 2012 But as I tweeted, I know why they said this. President Obama needs to win Pennsylvania and Ohio, so he must speak favorably of coal. He uses the false frame of “clean coal” because most Americans don’t know that that’s greenwashing. The Sierra Club has no choice but to ignore what they clearly know to be bad policy. They either fall in line and endorse him or get left behind. This weighed heavily on me as I watched the rest of his speech. As soon as I saw through what was behind the President’s mention of clean coal, it was difficult for me to focus. I did appreciate his vision of an America where everyone is equal and free: If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election. If you reject the notion that our government is forever beholden to the highest bidder, you need to stand up in this election. If you believe that new plants and factories can dot our landscape; that new energy can power our future; that new schools can provide ladders of opportunity to this nation of dreamers; if you believe in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules, then I need you to vote this November. America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now. Yes, our path is harder – but it leads to a better place. Yes our road is longer – but we travel it together. We don’t turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that Providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on Earth. It was as if he was drawing a line in the sand, and I resent that. President Obama expects us to believe in the facade of “clean coal” even though he must know that a pursuit of it would be counterproductive to his stated desire to combat climate change. And yet, here he was saying really moving things about freedom, justice and equality. It’s quite disorienting. I have long said that I am not disappointed with President Obama because when I voted for him I knew that I was voting for a centrist and not a Liberal. I thought that I could deal with his pie in the sky bipartisan ideas, and I am glad to see that much of this year’s DNC was about drawing contrasts between the parties and calling out obstructionism. I’m not the only Liberal with a deep ambivalence for President Obama. But politics is as they say, the art of the possible. There are those who wear their self righteous indignation with President Obama and the Democratic party like a badge of honor. I think that we should ask questions of our leaders. But we won’t get answers if we play games and grandstand. There are outlets other than politics for people enraged by the United States human rights violations of the 21st century. The prison reform movement and Amnesty International come to mind. But while the tactics used in the video did get a lot of page-views, did they effect policy? Did they inspire anyone to run for office or make a donation or write a letter? Was anything changed, even to the level of an individual’s opinion? What it comes down to is that the Obama Administration has a tangible list of accomplishments that have real positive impacts on the lives of people. This cannot be ignored. It’s easy to resent the Democrats for not doing what I want them to do. It’s even easier to resent them for being what I believe to be my only option. But I take full responsibility for my own role in the process. I write to my representatives, and I support candidates who really, really get it. There are two ways out of this hostage crisis. One is to work harder. The other is to give up.WASHINGTON—Saying he has come to dread the end of each day’s session, recently sworn-in U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch revealed to reporters Wednesday that he remains bashful about showering in front of his new colleagues. Gorsuch, who reportedly changes clothes in the Supreme Court locker room by clutching a towel to his waist and attempting to shimmy his briefs down his legs, said he feels nervous removing his robes when his fellow justices are present and is accustomed to far more privacy than what the court’s communal showers provide. Advertisement “I wish there were stalls or even just a few curtains, because I’m really not comfortable stripping down around all these older justices that have been doing this forever,” said Gorsuch, who is typically the last of the court’s nine members to leave the bench and file into the locker room, where dirty, sweat-stained robes are casually removed and flung in the direction of a laundry cart. “I’ve been skipping the showers and just rubbing a little deodorant under my robes before going home, but that feels kind of gross. And waiting for everyone to leave doesn’t work because [Chief Justice John] Roberts takes super long showers and always stays late.” “Maybe if I just run in and do a really quick rinse it won’t be that bad,” continued the 113th person to serve on the nation’s highest court. Gorsuch confirmed that none of his colleagues seem to share his reservations about appearing naked before one another, noting that Justice Clarence Thomas doesn’t hesitate to tear off his perspiration-drenched robe and hop into one of the ice baths following a long day of legal deliberations. The newest and youngest member of the court added that he was especially caught off guard by 80-year-old Justice Anthony Kennedy’s tendency to wander from locker to locker in the nude as he animatedly recounts and breaks down each of the day’s key arguments. Advertisement According to Gorsuch, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is known to bring six-packs of Budweiser into the shower following a big victory in a landmark case, which he said is a type of behavior he never observed while on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals back home in Colorado. “There’s usually a lot of whooping and hollering after a verdict is handed down, and it can get a bit rowdy in there,” said Gorsuch, who was assigned a rusted metal locker that has reportedly remained dented since a frustrated Warren Burger slammed his fist into its door after dissenting in the 5-4 ruling of Furman v. Georgia back in 1972. “Last week Kennedy slingshot his dirty jockstrap into the face of one of the clerks passing out fresh robes, and Roberts hasn’t been able to get his gavel down from the ceiling since [Justice Elena] Kagan stuck it up there with athletic tape. People are always telling me how [Antonin] Scalia loved to sneak up on people changing and snap his towel on their asses, so I’m at least glad I wasn’t around for that.” “Although yesterday, when [Justice] Sonia [Sotomayor] saw I was going to wear my old swim trunks in the shower, she dumped talcum powder all over my head and called me a ‘textualist little bitch,’” the 49-year-old jurist added. Advertisement Gorsuch went on to say that he is equally reluctant to lower his guard around Justice Samuel Alito, who is known to press his buttocks in the faces of unsuspecting court members when they’re sitting on the locker room’s bench and bending down to tie their shoes. Reflecting on the poor hygienic habits of his colleagues, including the propensity of some to urinate while in the shower, the former appellate judge shared with reporters his fears of contracting a staph infection like the one that spread through the locker room and prematurely ended the 1999 session of the Rehnquist court. “I realize this stuff comes with the territory, and eventually I’ll have to bite the bullet and hit the showers like everyone else,” said Gorsuch, who acknowledged he has already come to accept the open secret of the court’s widespread prescription painkiller abuse. “It’s not that I’m a prude or anything—I just feel a little self-conscious.” Advertisement “Especially after seeing [Justice Stephen] Breyer’s monster cock,” he added.I'm a pretty big fan of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo, for the simple reason that it's one of the single greatest epics in comic book history. The mix of meticulously researched history, funny animal comics and high adventure, along wth Sakai's legendarily consistent high level of craftsmanship, has made it an amazing comic. That said, I never expected it to make the transition from the page to the stage. And yet, that's exactly what's happening in London, as the Southwark Playhouse's Stewart Melton has adapted Usagi Yojimbo as their annual Christmas play -- and not only that, but it seems to be getting rave reviews for its use of live music and a whole lot of swordplay. From what I can gather from the trailer above and the description at the Southwark Playhouse's website, Melton's version of Usagi Yojimbo focuses on an origin story for Miyamoto Usagi -- not the massive battle where he got his scar and became a ronin with the death of his master, but his younger days training to be a samurai with his lion sensei, Katsuchi. Along with the facepaint and ears that tend to be pretty necessary when a person is playing a rabbit, the show's getting a lot of praise for its use of live music and projection, both of which are featured in the trailer. The show's running through January 4, so if you're in or around London, it might be worth the trip to check it out for yourself -- and let me know if it's as awesome as it looks. [ via Robot 6 ]Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has decided not to throw Sunday at the NFL combine, league sources said last night. Bridgewater is one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft, and joins Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr as those who will wait to throw at their Pro Days. Blake Bortles is still scheduled to throw for coaches and scouts here. Top quarterbacks are deciding more and more to throw to familiar receivers at their home campus, rather than here in Indianapolis, and NFL teams don’t really have a problem with that. The Raiders. who pick fifth, are closely evaluating the four quarterbacks, as well as those in the free agent market. They need a starting quarterback, as Matt McGloin is set in the No. 2 role and Terrelle Pryor is not really in their future plans.The Rouen Huskies have won the 2015 Championship in the French Division I. They used a pair of 6-4 wins over the Montpellier Barracudas at home in front of an attendance of about 1,000 to prevail 3-1 in the best-of-five final series. Both teams had split the first two contests in Montpellier one week ago. In game three on Saturday Bastien Dagneau went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI to lead Rouen to the 6-4 victory. The Huskies took the lead in the second and held on to the advantage in the end, when the Barracudas tried to rally. Jeffrey McKenzie pitched eight innings for the win. Fred Walter had two hits and a run for Montpellier. On Sunday Dagneau drove in three more runs in another 6-4 win. Owen Ozanich, who was named Finals MVP afterwards, issued three runs in seven innings for the win. Rouen led 5-1 after the second, but Montpellier again put three runs on the board in the last two frames, but failed to complete the comeback. McKenzie got the last out with the bases loaded to seal the championship for the Huskies. It’s the 11th championship in France for the Rouen Huskies. They are returning to the throne after one year hiatus due to the Templiers Senart championship last season. Montpellier Barracudas – Rouen Huskies 19/09 – 16:00 4 – 0 Montpellier Barracudas – Rouen Huskies 20/09 – 11:00 0 – 3 Rouen Huskies – Montpellier Barracudas 26/09 – 16:00 6 – 4 Rouen Huskies – Montpellier Barracudas 27/09 – 11:00 6 – 4 Photo by Rouen HuskiesImage: kenary820/Shutterstock PayPal is battling a growing chorus of opposition to its refusal to serve customers in the Palestinian territories, as British politicians join a US campaign group and hundreds of Palestinian nationals in calling for the payments service to lift its Palestinian blackout. PayPal operates in 203 countries worldwide, but has never allowed Palestinian users to sign up with addresses located in Gaza or the West Bank, despite continued pressure from residents in the regions. PayPal's opponents argue that Palestine's technology sector is being crippled by the decision to not roll out its services to Palestinians. PayPal claims that the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza simply do not meet the service's regulatory requirements. The company told Motherboard in an email that there are
. This inversion introduced the pernicious spirit of revenge and hatred into the creation of values. Therefore morality, as we understand it, had its roots in this vengeful will to power of the powerless over the powerful — the revolt of the slave against the master. It was from this imperceptible, subterranean hatred that grew the values subsequently associated with the good — pity, altruism, meekness, etc. Political values also grew from this poisonous root. For Nietzsche, values of equality and democracy, which form the cornerstone of radical political theory, arose out of the slave revolt in morality. They are generated by the same spirit of revenge and hatred of the powerful. Nietzsche therefore condemns political movements like liberal democracy, socialism, and indeed anarchism. He sees the democratic movement as an expression of the herd-animal morality derived from the Judeo-Christian revaluation of values. Anarchism is for Nietzsche the most extreme heir to democratic values — the most rabid expression of the herd instinct. It seeks to level the differences between individuals, to abolish class distinctions, to raze hierarchies to the ground, and to equalize the powerful and the powerless, the rich and the poor, the master and the slave. To Nietzsche this is bringing everything down to level of the lowest common denominator — to erase the pathos of distance between the master and slave, the sense of difference and superiority through which great values are created. Nietzsche sees this as the worst excess of European nihilism — the death of values and creativity. Slave morality is characterized by the attitude of ressentiment — the resentment and hatred of the powerless for the powerful. Nietzsche sees ressentiment as an entirely negative sentiment — the attitude of denying what is life-affirming, saying ‘no’ to what is different, what is ‘outside’ or ‘other’. Ressentiment is characterized by an orientation to the outside, rather than the focus of noble morality, which is on the self. While the master says ‘I am good’ and adds as an afterthought, ‘therefore he is bad’; the slave says the opposite — ‘He (the master) is bad, therefore I am good’. Thus the invention of values comes from a comparison or opposition to that which is outside, other, different. Nietzsche says: “... in order to come about, slave morality first has to have an opposing, external world, it needs, psychologically speaking, external stimuli in order to act all, — its action is basically a reaction.” This reactive stance, this inability to define anything except in opposition to something else, is the attitude of ressentiment. It is the reactive stance of the weak who define themselves in opposition to the strong. The weak need the existence of this external enemy to identify themselves as ‘good’. Thus the slave takes ‘imaginary revenge’ upon the master, as he cannot act without the existence of the master to oppose. The man of ressentiment hates the noble with an intense spite, a deep-seated, seething hatred and jealousy. It is this ressentiment, according to Nietzsche, that has poisoned the modern consciousness, and finds its expression in ideas of equality and democracy, and in radical political philosophies, like anarchism, that advocate it. Is anarchism a political expression of ressentiment? Is it poisoned by a deep hatred of the powerful? While Nietzsche’s attack on anarchism is in many respects unjustified and excessively malicious, and shows little understanding of the complexities of anarchist theory, I would nevertheless argue that Nietzsche does uncover a certain logic of ressentiment in anarchism’s oppositional, Manichean thinking. It is necessary to explore this logic that inhabits anarchism — to see where it leads and to what extent it imposes conceptual limits on radical politics. Anarchism Anarchism as a revolutionary political philosophy has many different voices, origins and interpretations. From the individualist anarchism of Stirner, to the collectivist, communal anarchism of Bakunin and Kropotkin, anarchism is diverse series of philosophies and political strategies. These are united, however, by a fundamental rejection and critique of political authority in all its forms. The critique of political authority — the conviction that power is oppressive, exploitative and dehumanizing — may be said to be the crucial politico-ethical standpoint of anarchism. For classical anarchists the State is the embodiment of all forms of oppression, exploitation and the enslavement and degradation of man. In Bakunin’s words, “the State is like a vast slaughterhouse and an enormous cemetery, where under the shadow and the pretext of this abstraction (the common good) all the best aspirations, all the living forces of a country, are sanctimoniously immolated and interred.” The State is the main target of the anarchist critique of authority. It is for anarchists the fundamental oppression in society, and it must be abolished as the first revolutionary act. This last point brought nineteenth century anarchism into sharp conflict with Marxism. Marx believed that while the State was indeed oppressive and exploitative, it was a reflection of economic exploitation and an instrument of class power. Thus political power was reduced to economic power. For Marx the economy rather than the State was the fundamental site of oppression. The State rarely had an independent existence beyond class and economic interests. Because of this the State could be used as a tool of revolution if it was in the hands of the right class — the proletariat. The State was only dominating, in other words, because it was presently in the hands of the bourgeoisie. Once class distinctions have disappeared, the State will lose its political character. Anarchists like Bakunin and Kropotkin disagreed with Marx precisely on this point. For anarchists, the State is much more than an expression of class and economic power. Rather the State has its own logic of domination and self-perpetuation, and is autonomous from class interests. Rather than working from the society to the State, as Marx did, and seeing the State as the derivative of economic relations of capitalism and the rise of the bourgeoisie, anarchists work from the State to society. The State constitutes the fundamental oppression in society, and economic exploitation is derived from this political oppression. In other words, it is political oppression that makes economic oppression possible. Moreover for anarchists, bourgeois relations are actually a reflection of the State, rather than the State being a reflection of bourgeois relations. The ruling class, argues Bakunin, is the State’s real material representative. Behind every ruling class of every epoch there looms the State. Because the State has its own autonomous logic it can never be trusted as an instrument of revolution. To do this would be to ignore its logic of domination. If the State is not destroyed immediately, if it is used as a revolutionary tool as Marxists suggest, then its power will be perpetuated in infinitely more tyrannical ways. It would operate, as Bakunin argues, through a new ruling class — a bureaucratic class that will oppress and exploit workers in the same manner as the bourgeois class oppressed and exploited them. So the State, for anarchists, is a priori oppression, no matter what form it takes. Indeed Bakunin argues that Marxism pays too much attention to the forms of State power while not taking enough account of the way in which State power operates: “They (Marxists) do not know that despotism resides not so much in the form of the State but in the very principle of the State and political power.” Oppression and despotism exist in the very structure and symbolism of the State — it is not merely a derivative of class power. The State has its own impersonal logic, its own momentum, its own priorities: these are often beyond the control of the ruling class and do not necessarily reflect economic relations at all. So anarchism locates the fundamental oppression and power in society in the very structure and operations of the State. As an abstract machine of domination, the State haunts different class actualizations — not just the bourgeoisie State, but the worker’s State too. Through its economic reductionism, Marxism neglected the autonomy and pre-eminence of State — a mistake that would lead to its reaffirmation in a socialist revolution. Therefore the anarchist critique unmasked the hidden forms of domination associated with political power, and exposed Marxism’s theoretical inadequacy for dealing with this problem. This conception of the State ironically strikes a familiar note with Nietzsche. Nietzsche, like the anarchists, sees modern man as ‘tamed’, fettered and made impotent by the State. He also sees the State as an abstract machine of domination, which precedes capitalism, and looms above class and economic concerns. The State is a mode of domination that imposes a regulated ‘interiorization’ upon the populace. According to Nietzsche the State emerged as a “terrible tyranny, as a repressive and ruthless machinery,” which subjugated, made compliant, and shaped the population. Moreover the origins of this State are violent. It is imposed forcefully from without and has nothing to with ‘contracts’. Nietzsche demolishes the “fantasy” of the social contract — the theory that the State was formed by people voluntarily relinquishing their power in return for the safety and security that would be provided by the State. This idea of the social contract has been central to conservative and liberal political theory, from Hobbes to Locke. Anarchists also reject this theory of the social contract. They too argue that the origins of the State are violent, and that it is absurd to argue that people voluntarily gave up their power. It is a dangerous myth that legitimizes and perpetuates State domination. The Social Contract Anarchism is based on an essentially optimistic conception of human nature: if individuals have a natural tendency to get on well together then there is no need for the existence of a State to arbitrate between them. On the contrary, the State actually has a pernicious effect on these natural social relations. Anarchists therefore reject political theories based on the idea of social contract. Social contract theory relies on a singularly negative picture of human nature. According to Hobbes individuals are naturally selfish, aggressively competitive and egotistic, and in a state of nature they are engaged in a war of “every man, against every man” in which their individual drives necessarily bring them into conflict with one another. According to this theory, then, society in a state of nature is characterized by a radical dislocation: there is no common bond between individuals; there is in fact a constant state of war between them, a constant struggle for resources. In order to put a stop to this state of permanent war, individuals come together to form a social contract upon which some kind of authority can be established. They agree to sacrifice part of their freedom in return for some kind of order, so that they can pursue their own individual ends more peacefully and profitably. They agree on the creation of a State with a mandate over society, which shall arbitrate between conflicting wills and enforce law and order. The extent of the State’s authority may vary from the liberal State whose power is supposedly tempered by the rule of law, to the absolute State power — the Leviathan — dreamt up by Hobbes. While the models may vary, however, anarchists argue that the result of this social contract theory is the same: a justification of State domination, whether it be through the rule of law or through the arbitrary imposition of force. For anarchists any form of State power is an imposition of force. The social contract theory is a sleight of hand that legitimates political domination — Bakunin calls it an “unworthy hoax!” He exposes the central paradox in the theory of the social contract: if, in a state of nature, individuals subsist in a state of primitive savagery, then how can they suddenly have the foresight to come together and create a social contract? If there is no common bond in society, no essence within humans which brings them together, then upon what basis can a social contract be formed? Like Nietzsche, anarchists argue that there is no such agreement that the State was imposed from above, not from below. The social contract tries to mystify the brutal origins of the State: war, conquest and self-enslavement, rather than rational agreement. For Kropotkin the State is a violent disruption of, and an imposition upon, a harmoniously functioning, organic society. Society has no need for a ‘social contract’. It has its own contract with nature, governed by natural laws. Anarchism may be understood as a struggle between natural authority and artificial authority. Anarchists do not reject all forms of authority, as the old cliché would have it. On the contrary, they declare their absolute obedience to the authority embodied in what Bakunin calls ‘natural laws’. Natural laws are essential to Man’s existence according to Bakunin — they surround us, shape us and determine the physical world in which we live. However this is not a form of slavery because these laws are not external to man: “those (natural) laws are not extrinsic in relation to us, they are inherent in us, they constitute our nature, our whole being physically, intellectually and morally.” They are, on the contrary, what constitute man — they are his essence. Man is inextricably part of a natural, organic society according to Kropotkin. Anarchism, then, is based on a specific notion of human essence. Morality has its basis in human nature, not in any external source: “the idea of justice and good, like all other human things, must have their root in man’s very animality.” Natural authority is implacably opposed to “artificial authority.” By artificial authority Bakunin means power: the political power enshrined in institutions such as the State and in man-made laws. This power is external to human nature and an imposition upon it. It stultifies the development of humanity’s innate moral characteristics and intellectual capacities. It is these capacities, the anarchists argue, which will liberate man from slavery and ignorance. For Bakunin, then, political institutions are “hostile and fatal to the liberty of the masses, for they impose upon them a system of external and therefore despotic laws.” In this critique of political authority, power (artificial authority) is external to the human subject. The human subject is oppressed by this power, but remains uncontaminated by it because human subjectivity is a creation of a natural, as opposed to a political, system. Thus anarchism is based on a clear, Manichean division between artificial and natural authority, between power and subjectivity, between State and society. Furthermore political authority is fundamentally repressive and destructive of man’s potential. Human society, argue the anarchists, cannot develop until the institutions and laws which keep it in ignorance and servitude, until the fetters which bind it, are thrown off. Anarchism must, therefore, have a place of resistance: a moral and rational place, a place uncontaminated by the power that oppresses it, from which will spring a rebellion against power. It finds this in an essential human subjectivity. Human essence, with its moral and rational characteristics, is an absent fullness that lies dormant in man, and will only be realized once the political power negating it is overthrown. It is from this place of absent fullness that will emanate the revolution against power. The innate morality and rationality of man will counteract political power, which is seen as inherently irrational and immoral. According to anarchist theory, natural law will replace political authority; man and society will replace the State. For Kropotkin anarchism can think beyond the category of the State, beyond the category of absolute political power, because it has a place, a ground from which to do so. Political power has an outside from which it can be criticized and an alternative with which it can be replaced. Kropotkin is thus able to envisage a society in which the State no longer exists or is needed; a society regulated not by political power and authority, but by mutual agreements and cooperation. Such a society is possible, according to anarchists, because of the essentially cooperative nature of man. Contrary to the Darwinist approach that insists on an innate competitiveness in animals — the ‘survival of the fittest’ — Kropotkin finds an instinctive cooperation and sociability in animals, particularly in humans. This instinct Kropotkin calls mutual aid and he says: “Mutual aid is the predominant fact of Nature.” Kropotkin applies these findings to human society. He argues that the natural and essential principle of human society is mutual aid, and that man is naturally cooperative, sociable and altruistic, rather than competitive and egotistic. This is the organic principle that governs society, and it is out of this that notions of morality, justice and ethics grow. Morality, Kropotkin argues, evolves out of the instinctive need to band together in tribes, groups — and an instinctive tendency towards cooperation and mutual assistance. This natural sociability and capacity for mutual aid is the principle that binds society together, providing a common basis upon which daily life can be conducted. Therefore society has no need for the State: it has its own regulating mechanisms, its own natural laws. State domination only poisons society and destroys its natural mechanisms. It is the principle of mutual aid that will naturally replace the principle of political authority. A state of ‘anarchy’, a war of “all against all” will not ensue the moment State power has been abolished. For anarchists, a state of ‘anarchy’ exists now: political power creates social dislocation, it does not prevent it. What is prevented by the State is the natural and harmonious functioning of society. For Hobbes, State sovereignty is a necessary evil. There is no attempt to make a fetish of the State: it does not descend from heaven, preordained by divine will. It is pure sovereignty, pure power, and it is constructed out of the emptiness of society, precisely in order to prevent the warfare immanent in the state of nature. The political content of the State is unimportant as long as it quells unrest in society. Whether there be a democracy, or a sovereign assembly, or a monarchy, it does not matter: “the power in all forms, if they be perfect enough to protect them, is the same.” Like the anarchists, Hobbes believes that the guise taken by power is irrelevant. Behind every mask there must be a pure, absolute power. Hobbes’ political thought is centered around a desire for order, purely as an antidote to disorder, and the extent to which individuals suffer under this order is incomparable to the suffering caused by war. For anarchists, on the other hand, because society regulates itself according to natural laws and because there is a natural ethics of cooperation in man, the State is an unnecessary evil. Rather than preventing perpetual warfare between men, the State engenders it: the State is based on war and conquest rather than embodying its resolution. Anarchism can look beyond the State because it argues from the perspective of an essential point of departure — natural human sociality. It can, therefore, conceive of an alternative to the State. Hobbes, on the other hand, has no such point of departure: there is no standpoint that can act as an alternative to the State. Society, as we have seen with Hobbes, is characterized by rift and antagonism. In fact, there is no essential society to speak of — it is an empty place. Society must therefore be constructed artificially in the shape of the absolute State. While anarchism can rely on natural law, Hobbes can only rely on the law of the State. At the heart of the anarchist paradigm there is the essential fullness of society, while at the heart of the Hobbesian paradigm there is nothing but emptiness and dislocation. Manicheism However it may be argued that anarchism is a mirror image of Hobbesianism in the sense that they both posit a commonality that derives from their indebtedness to the Enlightenment. They both emphasize the need for a fullness or collectivity, some legitimate point around which society can be organized. Anarchists see this point of departure in the natural law which informs society and human subjectivity, and which is impeded by the State. Hobbes, on the other hand, sees this point of departure as an absence, an empty place that must be filled by the State. Hobbes’ thought is caught within the paradigm of the State. The State is the absolute conceptual limit, outside which are the perils of the state of nature. Political theories such as this, based on the social contract, are haunted by the threat that if one gets rid of the State, one will revert back to a state of nature. Anarchism, because it proceeds from a radically different conception of society and human nature, claims to be able to transcend this quandary. But can it? Anarchism operates within a Manichean political logic: it creates an essential, moral opposition between society and the State, between humanity and power. Natural law is diagrammatically opposed to artificial power; the morality and rationality immanent in human subjectivity comes into conflict with the irrationality and immorality of the State. There is an essential antithesis between anarchism’s uncontaminated point of departure, constituted by essential human subjectivity, and State power. This logic which establishes an absolute opposition between two terms — good and evil, black and white, humanity and the State — is the central feature of Manichean thought. Jacques Donzelot argues that this logic of absolute opposition is endemic to radical political theory: Political culture is also the systematic pursuit of an antagonism between two essences, the tracing of a line of demarcation between two principles, two levels of reality which are easily placed in opposition. There is no political culture that is not Manichean. Moreover, anarchism, in subscribing to this logic and making power the focus of its analysis, instead of economy as Marxism did, has perhaps has fallen into the same reductionist trap as Marxism. Has it not merely replaced the economy with the State as the essential evil in society, from which other evils are derived? As Donzelot argues: which — that capitalism is not the unique or even principle source of evil on earth that one rushes to substitute for the opposition between capital and labour that between State and civil society. Capital, as foil and scapegoat, is replaced by the State, that cold monster whose limitless growth ‘pauperises’ social life; and the proletariat gives way to civil society, that is to say to everything capable of resisting the blind rationality of the State, to everything that opposes it at the level of customs, mores, a living sociability, sought in the residual margins of society and promoted to the status of motor of history. Opposing living sociability to the State, in the same way that Marxism opposed the proletariat to capitalism, suggests that anarchism was unable to transcend the traditional political categories which bound Marxism. As Donzelot argues, Manicheism is the logic that skewers all these theories: it is the undercurrent that runs through them and circumscribes them. It does not matter if the target is the State, or Capital, or anything else; as long as there is an enemy to destroy and a subject who will destroy it; as long as there is the promise of the final battle and final victory. Manichean logic is, therefore, the logic of place: there must be an essential place of power and an essential place of revolt. This is the binary, dialectical logic that pervades anarchism: the place of power — the State — must be overthrown by the essential human subject, the pure subject of resistance. Anarchism ‘essentializes’ the very power it opposes. Manichean logic thus involves a reverse mirroring operation: the place of resistance is a reflection, in reverse, of the place of power. In the case of anarchism, human subjectivity is essentially moral and rational while the State is essentially immoral and irrational. The State is essential to the existence of revolutionary subject, just as the revolutionary subject is essential to the existence of the State. One defines itself in opposition to the other. The purity of revolutionary identity is only defined in contrast to the impurity of political power. Revolt against the State is always prompted by the State. As Bakunin argues: “there is something in the nature of the State which provokes rebellion.” While the relationship between the State and the revolutionary subject is one of clearly defined opposition, the two antagonists could not exist outside this relationship. They could not, in other words, exist without each other. Can this paradoxical relationship of reflection and opposition be seen as a form of ressentiment in the Nietzschean sense? I would argue here that, although there are differences, the Manichean relationship of opposition between the human subject and political power that is found in anarchism obeys the general logic of ressentiment described above. This is for two reasons. Firstly, as we have seen, ressentiment is based on the moral prejudice of the powerless against the powerful — the revolt of the ‘slave’ against the ‘master’. We can see this moral opposition to power clearly in anarchist discourse, which pits the essentially ‘moral’ and ‘rational’ human subject against the essentially ‘immoral’ and ‘irrational’ quality of political power. It is evident in the opposition of natural to artificial authority that is central to anarchism. Secondly, ressentiment is characterized by the fundamental need to identify oneself by looking outwards and in opposition towards an external enemy. Here, however, the comparison to anarchism is not so clear-cut. For instance, one could conceivably argue that anarchist subjectivity and ethics — the notion of mutual aid and assistance — is something that develops independently of political power, and that therefore it does not need an oppositional relationship with the State in order to define itself. However, I would suggest that although anarchist subjectivity does develop in a ‘natural’ system which is radically exterior to the ‘artificial’ system of political power, it is precisely through this assertion of radical exteriority that ressentiment emerges. Anarchism subscribes to a dialectical logic, according to which the human species emerges from an ‘animal-like’ state, and begins to develop innate moral and rational faculties in a natural system. However the subject finds this development impeded by the ‘irrational’, ‘immoral’ power of the State. Thus the subject cannot achieve his full human identity as long as he remains oppressed by the State. This is why, for Bakunin: “The State is the most flagrant negation...of humanity.” The realization of the subject is always stultified, deferred, put off, by the State. This dialectic of Man and State suggests that the identity of the subject is characterized as essentially ‘rational’ and ‘moral’ only in so far as the unfolding of these innate faculties and qualities is prevented by the State. Paradoxically the State, which is seen by anarchists as an obstacle to the full identity of man, is, at the same time, essential to the formation of this incomplete identity. Without this stultifying oppression, the anarchist subject would be unable to see itself as ‘moral’ and ‘rational’. His identity is thus complete in its incompleteness. The existence of political power is therefore a means of constructing this absent fullness. I would argue, then, that anarchism can only posit the subject as ‘moral’ and ‘rational’ in opposition to the ‘immorality’ and ‘irrationality’ of political power. In the same way the identity of the ‘slave’ is consolidated as ‘good’ by opposing itself to the identity of the ‘master’ which is ‘evil’. Nietzsche would see in this an attitude of ressentiment par excellence. So the Manicheism that inhabits anarchist discourse is a logic of ressentiment that for Nietzsche is a distinctly unhealthy outlook, emanating from a position of weakness and sickness. Revolutionary identity in anarchist philosophy is constituted through its essential opposition to power. Like Nietzsche’s reactive man, revolutionary identity purports to be unpolluted by power: human essence is seen as moral where power is immoral, natural where power is artificial, pure where power is impure. Because this subjectivity is constituted within a system of natural law — as opposed to artificial law — it is a point which, while oppressed by power, remains outside power and unpolluted by it. But is it? Bakunin himself throws some doubts on this when he talks about the power principle. This is the natural lust for power which Bakunin believes is innate in every individual: “Every man carries within himself the germs of the lust for power, and every germ, as we know, because of a basic law of life, necessarily must develop and grow.” The power principle means that man cannot be trusted with power, that there will always be this desire for power at the heart of human subjectivity. While Bakunin intended to warn others of the corrupting danger inherent in power, he has perhaps unconsciously exposed the hidden contradiction that lies at the heart of anarchist discourse: namely that, while anarchism bases itself upon a notion of an essential human subjectivity uncontaminated by power, this subjectivity is ultimately impossible. Pure revolutionary identity is torn apart, subverted by a ‘natural’ desire for power, the lack at the heart of every individual. Bakunin suggests that this desire for power is an essential part of human subjectivity. Perhaps the implication of Bakunin’s power principle is that the subject will always have a desire for power, and that the subject will be incomplete until it grasps power. Kropotkin, too, talks about the desire for power and authority. He argues that the rise of the modern State can be attributed in part to the fact that “men became enamoured of authority.” He implies, then, that State power is not completely an imposition from above. He talks about self-enslavement to law and authority: “Man allowed himself to be enslaved far more by his desire to ‘punish according to law’ than by direct military conquest.” Does the desire to “punish according to law” grow directly out of humanity’s natural sense of morality? If this is the case, can human essence still be seen as unpolluted by power? While anarchism’s notion of subjectivity is not entirely undermined by this contradiction, it is nevertheless destabilized by it: it is made ambiguous and incomplete. It forces one to question anarchism’s notion of a revolution of humanity against power: if humans have an essential desire for power, then how can one be sure that a revolution aimed at destroying power will not turn into a revolution aimed at capturing power? Will to Power Has anarchism as a political and social theory of revolution been invalidated because of the contradictions in its conception of human subjectivity? I do not think so. I have exposed a hidden strain of ressentiment in the essentialist categories and oppositional structures that inhabit anarchist discourse — in notions of a harmonious society governed by natural law and man’s essential communality, and its opposition to the artificial law of the State. However I would argue that anarchism, if it can free itself from these essentialist and Manichean categories, can overcome the ressentiment that poisons and limits it. Classical anarchism is a politics of ressentiment because it seeks to overcome power. It sees power as evil, destructive, something that stultifies the full realization of the individual. Human essence is a point of departure uncontaminated by power, from which power is resisted. There is, as I have argued, a strict Manichean separation and opposition between the subject and power. However I have shown that this separation between the individual and power is itself unstable and threatened by a ‘natural’ desire for power — the power principle. Nietzsche would argue that this desire for power — will to power — is indeed ‘natural’, and it is the suppression of this desire that has had such a debilitating effect on man, turning him against himself and producing an attitude of ressentiment. However perhaps one could argue that this desire for power in man is produced precisely through attempts to deny or extinguish relations of power in the ‘natural order’. Perhaps power may be seen in terms of the Lacanian Real — as that irrepressible lack that cannot be symbolized, and which always returns to haunt the symbolic order, disrupting any attempt by the subject to form a complete identity. For Jacques Lacan: “...the real is that which always comes back to the same place — to the place where the subject in so far as he thinks, where the res cogitans, does not meet it.” Anarchism attempts to complete the identity of the subject by separating him, in an absolute Manichean sense, from the world of power. The anarchist subject, as we have seen, is constituted in a ‘natural’ system that is dialectically opposed to the artificial world of power. Moreover because the subject is constituted in a ‘natural’ system governed by ethical laws of mutual cooperation, anarchists are able to posit a society free from relations of power, which will replace the State once it is overthrown. However, as we have seen, this world free of power is jeopardized by the desire for power latent in every individual. The more anarchism tries to free society from relations of power, the more it remains paradoxically caught up in power. Power here has returned as the real that haunts all attempts to free the world of power. The more one tries to repress power, the more obstinately it rears its head. This is because the attempts to deny power, through essentialist concepts of ‘natural’ laws and ‘natural’ morality, themselves constitute power, or at least are conditioned by relations of power. These essentialist identities and categories cannot be imposed without the radical exclusion of other identities. This exclusion is an act of power. If one attempts to radically exclude power, as the anarchists did, power ‘returns’ precisely in the structures of exclusion themselves. Nietzsche believes that this attempt to exclude and deny power is a form of ressentiment. So how does anarchism overcome this ressentiment that has shown to be so self destructive and life-denying? By positively affirming power, rather than denying it — to ‘say yes’ to power, as Nietzsche would put it. It is only by affirming power, by acknowledging that we come from the same world as power, not from a ‘natural’ world removed from it, and that we can never be entirely free from relations of power, that one can engage in politically-relevant strategies of resistance against power. This does not mean, of course, that anarchism should lay down its arms and embrace the State and political authority. On the contrary, anarchism can more effectively counter political domination by engaging with, rather than denying, power. Perhaps it is appropriate here to distinguish between relations of power and relations of domination. To use Michel Foucault’s definition, power is a “mode of action upon the action of others.” Power is merely the effect of one’s actions upon the actions of another. Nietzsche too sees power in terms of an effect without a subject: “... there is no being behind the deed, its effect and what becomes of it; ‘the doer’ is invented as an afterthought.” Power is not a commodity that can be possessed, and it cannot be centered in either the institution or the subject. It is merely a relationship of forces, forces that flow between different actors and throughout our everyday actions. Power is everywhere, according to Foucault. Power does not emanate from institutions like the State — rather it is immanent throughout the entire social network, through various discourses and knowledges. For instance, rational and moral discourses, which anarchists saw as innocent of power and as weapons in the struggle against power, are themselves constituted by power relations and are embroiled in practices of power: “power and knowledge directly imply one another.” Power in this sense is productive rather than repressive. It is therefore senseless and indeed impossible to try to construct, as anarchists do, a world outside power. We will never be entirely free from relations of power. According to Foucault: “It seems to me that...one is never outside (power), that there are no margins for those who break with the system to gambol in.” However, just because one can never be free from power does not mean that one can never be free from domination. Domination must be distinguished from power in the following sense. For Foucault, relations of power become relations of domination when the free and unstable flow of power relations becomes blocked and congealed — when it forms unequal hierarchies and no longer allows reciprocal relationships. These relations of domination form the basis of institutions such as the State. The State, according to Foucault, is merely an assemblage of different power relations that have become congealed in this way. This is a radically different way of looking at institutions such as the State. While anarchists see power as emanating from the State, Foucault sees the State as emanating from power. The State, in other words, is merely an effect of power relations that have crystallized into relations of domination. What is the point of this distinction between power and domination? Does this not bring us back to original anarchist position that society and our everyday actions, although oppressed by power, are ontologically separated from it? In other words, why not merely call domination ‘power’ once again, and revert back to the original, Manichean distinction between social life and power? However the point of this distinction is to show that this essential separation is now impossible. Domination — oppressive political institutions like the State — now comes from the same world as power. In other words it disrupts the strict Manichean separation of society and power. Anarchism and indeed radical politics generally, cannot remain in this comfortable illusion that we as political subjects, are somehow not complicit in the very regime that oppresses us. According to the Foucauldian definition of power that I have employed, we are all potentially complicit, through our everyday actions, in relations of domination. Our everyday actions, which inevitably involve power, are unstable and can easily form into relations that dominate us. As political subjects we can never relax and hide behind essentialist identities and Manichean structures — behind a strict separation from the world of power. Rather we must be constantly on our guard against the possibility of domination. Foucault says: “My point is not that everything is bad, but that everything is dangerous...If everything is dangerous, then we always have something to do. So my position leads not to apathy but to a hyper- and pessimistic activism.” In order to resist domination we must be aware of its risks — of the possibility that our own actions, even political action ostensibly against domination, can easily give rise to further domination. There is always the possibility, then, of contesting domination, and of minimizing its possibilities and effects. According to Foucault, domination itself is unstable and can give rise to reversals and resistance. Assemblages such as the State are based on unstable power relations that can just as easily turn against the institution they form the basis of. So there is always the possibility of resistance against domination. However resistance can never be in the form of revolution — a grand dialectical overcoming of power, as the anarchists advocated. To abolish central institutions like the State with one stroke would be to neglect the multiform and diffuse relations of power they are based on, thus allowing new institutions and relations of domination to rise up. It would be to fall into the same reductionist trap as Marxism, and to court domination. Rather
of firms receiving TARP money, the powers granted to Feinberg through legislation allow him to review compensation, and "where appropriate, negotiate appropriate reimbursements." "The significance is greater than the dollar value alone," said Brandon Rees, deputy director of AFL-CIO's office of investment. "It illustrates the power of CEOs to dictate every term in their compensation agreement... If the CEO wants to go to Aspen, or the South of France for his vacation, and wants to fly on the corporate jet, well then, he should expend the vast sums of compensation shareholders have given him to do that."[YOUTUBE]U6b2MQ1QCaw[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]dqAOJVzVPW0[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]w9bKrXU-aCc[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]tuiSoGhUxNQ[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]oVi_OZWBy2M[/YOUTUBE] XDA:DevDB Information XDA Labs, App for all devices (see above for details) Contributors Version Information Hi everyone,We (at XDA) have been working on something.This is XDA Labs. The name isn't final, and this is not the "official" launch... but we are (quietly) giving you guys a chance to try it out so we can get some feedback. So....what is it?First and foremost, it's a speedy way to access the forums (ad-free!). You'll see a lot that's familiar with XDA One, because we merged the code into Labs and made a handful of much-needed improvements.Second, it's a new way to access all the Xposed modules you love.And third, it's a way to distribute apps-- and eventually all sorts of stuff that people upload to XDA. It is 100% pro-developer in that 1) we allow all types of apps (including stuff not allowed on Play), 2) we don't remove apps without warning and without communication to the developer, 3) we enable developers to sell apps, receiving 100% of the proceeds directly, 4) we accept Bitcoin payment, which is fast, easy, and low cost, and 5) we utilize alpha, beta and stable release channels so devs can have control in how they distribute apps to users.If you are a developer and want to add your app, go here: https://labs.xda-developers.com/ Otherwise...use the app, and tell us what you think! Again, Labs is very much Beta right now so keep your expectations in check! bitpushr, rwestergrenBeta1.1.62018-03-192015-11-052018-03-19Tiniko Thompson will go to trial in the murder of Miami Police Officer Carl Patrick after her bid to have the charge dropped under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law was rejected. (Published Friday, April 17, 2015) The woman charged with shooting and killing her Miami Police officer boyfriend lost her bid to have her case dismissed under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. A judge ruled Friday that Tiniko Thompson will head to trial in the shooting death of Officer Carl Patrick. Thompson, who has claimed self-defense, will remain behind bars without bond. "What she did, she did wrong," Patrick's mother, Lucille Patrick, said after Friday's hearing. "He was a good man, I'm proud of him in his grave today." Thompson, 46, was arrested on a murder charge in the May 2014 death. At the "Stand Your Ground" hearing earlier in the week, Thompson's attorney argued that the shooting was unintentional, and that Patrick was to blame. Thompson and Patrick lived together in Pembroke Pines. She said he beat and abused her and that she killed him, with his gun, while they were fighting. Thompson, then a Miami Police public service aide, claims Patrick had the gun in her mouth, feared for her life and wrestled the gun away and killed him. "She says 'he didn't have a right to stick a gun in my face and to beat me, I was fighting for my life,' and there's nothing to refute that," attorney Rod Vareen said. Days after the shooting, Thompson told NBC 6 in an exclusive interview that the shooting was an accident. "She comes into the courtroom on Wednesday and for the first time says 'I had the gun and I had to shoot him because I was in fear of death or great bodily harm,'" prosecutor Shari Tate said. "That's why the prior two statements when she says she shot him were important." Thompson's trial is scheduled for October.It was a scary moment at Oilers practice on Monday as Viktor Fasth collided with Anton Lander during a rush. Fasth remained still on the ice for quite some time while being attended to by the team’s training staff. The response by the staff was quick and after several minutes of attention, Fasth was up and being helped off the ice. Despite appearing woozy on his skate off the ice, it is not believed to be a concussion per Head Coach Dallas Eakins. “I didn’t see it,” Eakins said. “He got driven into the net off a rush and banged his head. He wasn’t concussed or anything but I guess sprained his neck. He’s going to go see the docs and if we have to call someone up, we will.” The two options in Oklahoma City currently are Richard Bachman and Laurent Brossoit. Bachman has played in 42 games with OKC, posting a 20-17-4 record and a 3.08 goals against average and.907 save percentage. Brossoit, 21, has had a stellar ECHL campaign but has played just eight games with the Barons, recording a 3.60 GAA and.888 save percentage.Men are under rising pressure as they struggle to balance increasingly demanding work schedules with a growing role in everyday parenting, experts say. "What some of the research is showing is that men are becoming as work-life stressed as women have been historically," says Jennifer Tipper, publications editor for the Vanier Institute for the Family in Ottawa. With Father's Day looming, retailers are bombarding people with traditional pitches for things like shirts and ties, but life for modern dads is becoming as much about child-rearing as their careers. A 2010 report from Statistics Canada shows that the percentage of men outside Quebec accessing parental benefits has increased, from nine per cent in 2004 to 13 per cent in 2009. The increase is even more dramatic in Quebec — rising from 22 per cent in 2004 to 79 per cent in 2009. The percentage jump in la belle province can be largely attributed to the Parental Insurance Program, a piece of legislation introduced in 2006 that includes a five-week leave for fathers. Less time with the kids Yet while Canadian men are becoming more active in the early lives of their children, statistics suggest that overall, they’re spending less time with them. According to a 2007 Statscan report, fathers spent an average of 250 minutes a day with their children in 1985; in 2005, that number had shrunk to 205. This is leading to a "work-life conflict," something that men are reporting across North America. A 2008 report by the Families and Work Institute in New York says that the work-life conflict of American men increased from 34 per cent in 1977 to 49 per cent in 2008. Karen Messing, an ergonomist and professor of workplace trends at the Université du Québec à Montréal, says that nowadays, men and women are both putting in longer hours. But she says that men in particular "are working extreme schedules." She says the expanding information technology sector is particularly taxing. Because clients and collaborators can be located anywhere in the world, Messing says companies look at their employees with "a presumption of permanent availability," regardless of their domestic commitments. Messing says the retail sector presents its own problems for families – namely "unpredictable and variable schedules." Not only are men logging more overtime — often unpaid — but workplace experts say there is still strong cultural reinforcement of the idea that fathers are the breadwinners and mothers are largely responsible for the smooth running of the household. The result is that fathers are being torn between work and family responsibilities, without the scheduling flexibility that some employers extend to mothers. Men still seen as providers "There’s a persistent expectation that men continue to be the provider," says Kerry Daly, dean of the college of social and applied human sciences at the University of Guelph and former co-chair of the Father Involvement Research Initiative (FIRA). Daly says that bias can still be felt at the office. Although employers generally expect that a working woman may at some point ask for maternity leave, Daly says companies are generally less accepting when men request similar leave. "When men ask for parental leave, they’re more likely to get ridiculed or get questioned about taking time off," he says. "There’s an underlying skepticism around it, coupled with a greater sense of interrogation or at least implicit questioning of their loyalty to the organization." Nora Spinks, executive director at the Vanier Institute of the Family, reveals a little-known trend that illustrates the changes in modern parenting. Men are taking greater advantage of parental leave, but they are increasingly taking it concurrently with their spouses. Spinks says it’s partly because fathers want to have a more active role in the early life of their children, but it's also because helping care for a newborn is a role traditionally held by grandmothers, who are increasingly unable to fill it. "Now, grandmothers are in the paid labour force," Spinks says, because they can’t afford to retire as early as they might have a generation ago. "So dads are taking concurrent parental leave by default and by design." As a result of both cultural expectations and financial considerations, experts say many fathers are feeling overwhelmed. "Today’s dads are still expected to earn a pay cheque, but they are also expected to be helping with homework, changing diapers, making cookies, driving to soccer," says Tipper. "The ‘double day’ is no longer something that only women experience."The Challenges of Social Media for Climate Change Experts Suay M Ozkula Blocked Unblock Follow Following May 18, 2017 For the past three decades the world has become increasingly digitalised. Digital media have become ubiquitous to the point of being invisible, a phenomenon achieved through converging technologies and social communications. While Web 1.0 enabled large-scale global communications and networks already in the 1990s, Web 2.o offered a two-way or many-to-many interactive communication model; it made digital media social. For climate change experts ranging from humanitarian organisations, scholars, activists, policymakers, to the scientific community, this trend has had contentious effects. Social media have shown to be a double-edged sword, offering both vast opportunities and also extensive challenges. Controversies around social media feature in the private and public sector, and they are ever present in digital research. The field is underlined with uncertainty, a theme that has strongly featured in my previous research. When I asked humanitarian actors about how social media affected their work, there was little agreement. Social media are and remain a complex, contentious, and uncertain field. Benefits of Social Media One of the many controversies around social media is whether its benefits outweigh its challenges. Social media have been praised for offering new ways of communicating, advertising, campaigning, participating, and mobilising. Aside from offering new routes, social media have also been seen as particularly valuable due to being fast — even immediate, integrative, cheap (compared to alternatives), global, mobile, multimedia, and for providing more direct and equal access to and for large audiences. As such, social media should be beneficial for social and political actors, and therefore for climate change experts. Challenges of Social Media — a territory of vast data However, despite its many affordances, social media have also created new challenges in the socio-political sphere, in particular with regards to the vast amount of data now available. There are challenges around the organisation, management and standardisation of information, in particular information overload — which may lead to what has been called ‘information fatigue’ and even ‘compassion fatigue’ (Brophy and Halpin, 1999; Kavada, 2005: 210). Aside the amount of data now available, its quality has also been contentious. Scholars have raised concerns around data currency, accuracy and credibility, easy manipulation, adaptation or misuse of content, literacy barriers and English language dominance, data verification, and general reliability. For climate change experts this means that despite the new opportunities it offers, the web remains an uncertain, dispersed, and complex field. Social media have therefore added to the complexity of an already complex subject (see Schäfer, 2012; Pearce et al., 2015). Challenges of Social Media — the lack of filters & control Other issues arise in the lack of filters and control in digital space, which leaves individuals open to harm. In the last two decades, the web has come under continuous critique for not protecting individuals from commercial exploitation, government surveillance, privacy breaches, and harm through other individuals such as trolling and cyber-stalking. As a politically and scientifically controversial phenomenon and a highly contentious item on the global public policy agenda, climate change has historically attracted a lot of tension and has therefore been particularly prone to trolling (e.g. Molloy 2016 in The Telegraph). More recently, with Donald Trump’s US presidency, the issue has received strong public reactions via social as well as traditional media (e.g. Kastrenakes, 2017). Thus, while social media have offered new opportunities to respond to the public Climate Change debate, the resulting dialogue has not always been constructive or positive, but has also shown to be ideological and vitriolic and may include trolling. Challenges of Social Media — widening participation In part, the fiery debates are a result of the widening participation in public debates through digital media. With social media being open to the general public, the new terrain for climate change debates integrates organisations, institutions, policymakers, as well as individuals. Its, essentially, open to everyone. Popularity of a given space is, however, based on Google’s search engine listings and therefore on advertising or search term popularity (Kavada, 2005), and partly on popularity among individuals’ personal digital networks. Therefore, more formal outlets such as institutional websites or posts are in direct competition to individuals’ content production and circulation — user-generated content. While traditional power dynamics still exist in digital space, the web also offers opportunities for counter-movements and niche communities. As a result, climate change communications have become more mainstream, but as a complex scientific and political issue climate change communications faces challenges. Making Climate Social Overall, the challenges of social media for climate change communications are tied to a variety of factors, for example information overload, lack of formal control or filters, and widening participation on the social web. While social media have created more diversity through integrating new actors, media channels, platforms, and contents, more diversity has also created more complexity and fragmentation. — Those effects are palpable across sectors. Following and participating in climate change debates online is therefore increasingly difficult for experts in the field, despite the many affordances of digital technology. Social media are essentially busy due to the large amount of users, vast data, and the lack of controls and filters to manage the new spaces. Thus, social media remain contentious for climate change communications. Aside cyber-optimism and pessimism, social media have without doubt created a range of new challenges for climate change experts. In an attempt to provide more clarity, Making Climate Social will collect data and visualize climate change communications and actors over the next few months. In particular, MCS will answer who is active on climate change on social media platforms (types of actors), what types of climate change debates take place on those platforms, and how topics, actors, and debates compare across different spaces? Updates on the social media climate change discourse can be followed via Twitter on @MakCliSoc and here on the project blog. References Brophy, P. and Halpin, E. (1999). Through the Net to freedom: information, the internet and human rights. Journal of Information Science, 25(5), 351–364. Kastrenakes, J. (2017). Conservatives are trolling Trump with climate change ads on Fox News and Mornin Joe. The Verge [Online]. Last updated: 01.05.2017. Available from: https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/1/15503648/conservative-climate-change-tv-ads-trump Kavada, A. (2005). Exploring the role of the internet in the ‘movement for alternative globalization’: The case of the Paris 2003 European Social Forum. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 2(1), 72–95. Molloy, M. (2016). Astrophysicist destroys climate change troll with brilliant comeback. The Telegraph [Online]. Last updated: 17.08.2016. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/17/astrophysicist-destroys-climate-change-troll-with-brilliant-come/ Pearce, Warren and Brown, Brian and Nerlich, Brigitte and Koteyko, Nelya (2015) Communicating climate change: conduits, content, and consensus. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 6 (6). 613–626. Schäfer, M. S. (2012). Online communication on climate change and climate politics: a literature review. WIREs Climate Change, 3(6), 527–543.Against the backdrop of recent Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) gains in Ramadi and Palmyra, a number of American diplomats, pundits, and military analysts have argued that U.S. interests would be better served bypassing Baghdad and supplying arms directly to Sunni tribes and/or Kurdish Peshmerga. Other pundits have even gone so far as to revive then-Senator Joseph Biden’s proposal to divide up along ethnic and sectarian lines. Both such proposals are wrong-headed, and not only detrimental to Iraqis, but they would also be disastrous for U.S. national security. Some of these proposals are based on myths, and others simply misunderstand Iraqi politics and society. Sometimes, it’s necessary simply to debunk falsehoods: First, is Iraq an artificial country? Those who suggest dividing Iraq often suggest it was an artificial country, merely the result of British diplomats and adventurers drawing lines on map after World War I. The actual situation is more complicated. Even if its borders were haphazardly drawn, the concept of Iraq, much as the concept of Syria, Egypt, or Yemen, dates back centuries if not millennia. Nineteenth century Persian diplomatic correspondence references Iraq, but the name Iraq dates back to before the coming of Islam, and often appears in medieval Arabic literature. Regardless, even if a Western diplomat or historian wanted to label Iraq a completely artificial country, the fact of the matter is that it has existed within the same set of borders for nearly a century; 95 years of a common history within common boundaries builds identity. Second, why not divide Iraq anyway? Recently, some pundits have revived the idea of dividing Iraq. Let’s pretend that ethnic and sectarian divisions are clear cut (they’re not) and that division wouldn’t Certainly, the Kurds want independence, but Iran—fearful of how that precedent might impact Iran’s own restive Kurds—have made clear that they will spare no means to sabotage that ambition. As for the Sunnis, how would division and independence resolve the problem of the Islamic State? Simply put, it wouldn’t: Rather, a Sunni entity would simply normalize the Islamic State. And if the fear is Iranian dominance of Iraq, then stripping away the Sunnis and the Kurds simply makes Iranian dominance over a Shi‘ite rump state easier. Third, isn’t the Islamic State the result of political failures in Baghdad? No. There have been failures in Baghdad, but the Islamic State neither formed in a day in reaction to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s raid on a protest camp in Al-Anbar, nor would a broad-based government that incorporates everyone to their maximum demands resolve the problem. Sure, some Sunni political activists feel disenfranchised by the largely Shi’ite political order? Certainly, but there are many outlets for political discord. Enslaving women, burning children, defenestrating gays, and filling mass graves are the symptoms of psychopathy, not legitimate political protest. Nor do proponents of the idea that Baghdad causes the Islamic State consider that group’s presence in countries like Libya where sectarianism is not a concern. Simply put, political grievance isn’t the common denominator; rather, an extreme reading of Sunni Islam is. Fourth, why support Iraq when its army doesn’t fight? Ashton Carter is probably the secretary of defense with the best command of defense issues in a generation, but his remark that the Iraqi Army had “no will to fight” at Ramadi was not only factually incorrect but also insulting and tone deaf. After all, the Iraqi Army (and the hashd, the popular mobilization forces) had fought in Ramadi for months before their collapse amidst an Islamic State assault involving multiple truck bombs. While the Kurdish Peshmerga had anti-tank missiles, the United States had not provided them to the Iraqi army. It had nothing in its arsenal to take out the armored trucks before they put Ramadi’s defenders in the kill zone. And as for American airpower? At the critical moment it was nowhere to be found. So much for all the assurances from the Obama administration that, post-withdrawal, the United States could (and would) provide security or gather adequate intelligence. Fifth, Did Baghdad betray “the Surge?” No. The surge was good military strategy in the short-term, but it ensured long-term political instability. When assessing the surge, it’s crucial not to allow hagiography for some of the American commanders trump the reality of what the surge meant for Iraqi politics. The problem was that the surge was based on the notion that violence could bring both financial reward and political power. Rather than demand that Sunni politicians accept the post-2003 order, it empowered them absent any permanent acceptance on their part of the post-Saddam political order. Many of the entities the surge created were just as sectarian and contrary to the constitution as the Popular Mobilization Forces are today. As for the Sunni tribes, there’s often a conceit in America that when they work with American forces, it is because of a match of mind and heart but when they work with terrorists, radicals, and insurgents, it is something else entirely. The fact of the matter is that allegiance is transient for many tribes, and that it is poor policy to assume that any amount of political concession can permanently recruit them onto the right side. At the very least, the surge as with de-Baathificaton created a political Trojan horse and, more likely, set the stage for a bidding war for loyalty that the United States could never win. Sixth, but wasn’t Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pro-Iranian after 2010? Sure, Nouri al-Maliki began leaning evermore toward the Iranians after the White House announced its intention to withdraw from Iraq, and he grew more sectarian as he had to fend off challenges from various Shi‘ite parties that accused him of being too moderate. But, why should that surprise? Iraqi politicians are, well, politicians. Why can Secretary of State John Kerry be for something before he was against it and not expect Iraqi politicians to be equally venal and opportunistic? The same holds true for Ahmad Chalabi, Ibrahim Jaafari, Masoud Barzani, and Jalal Talabani. It really is amazing that American politicians feel they can scapegoat foreign counterparts and just expect them to take it. Seventh, why not give arms directly to Sunni tribes or the Kurdish Peshmerga? Given the rapidly changing loyalties of the Sunni tribes, arming them directly would be akin to arming Al Qaeda. It’s the same quixotic quest as searching for moderate Syrian opposition four years after their betrayal. Iraqi forces fleeing the Islamic State abandoned weaponry, and that’s bad. But many Sunni tribesmen and former regime elements simply joined the Islamic State. And, as for the Kurdish Peshmerga: First, the Kurds have been acquiring weaponry directly for several years and, second, Kurdish leaders continue to stockpile that weaponry for their own political benefit rather than deploy it where it’s needed. To work outside of Baghdad and arm the Sunnis and Kurds directly is the single best action to take if the goal is to undercut Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and give the pro-Iranian factions the perfect talking point to bash anyone that suggests considering let alone deferring to the American position. Eighth, why not work with Iran to defeat terrorism in Iraq? Make no mistake: Iran is just as much of a threat to Iraqi sovereignty and regional security as is the Islamic State. If the Iranian government were really so antagonistic to the Islamic State, however, then perhaps in the years before the United States became involved in an air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, then Tehran would have had its client, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, use his air force to bomb the Islamic State’s headquarters in Raqqa rather than use his then-uncontested control of the skies to drop barrel bombs on civilians. Even if Iranian leaders have come to recognize the threat the Islamic State poses, they are not an altruistic power. It is the Qods Force—and not ordinary Iraqi volunteers joining the fight against the Islamic State—that promulgate corrosive sectarianism. It should be the goal of the United States to ensure Iraqi sovereignty and defeat all extremism, not simply swap one flavor for another.An Ohio priest has been charged with soliciting sex despite being HIV-positive. The Rev. James McGonegal, pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Cleveland, was arrested Friday afternoon in Edgewater Park, reported The Plain Dealer. An off-duty Metroparks ranger said the priest told him he was “cruising” and offered $50 to help him “get off” before exposing himself and masturbating while sitting in his Jeep SUV. Officers said the 68-year-old McGonegal had three cock rings and a bottle of “Pig Sweat” poppers, or isobutyl nitrite, in his vehicle when he was arrested. The ranger said McGonegal told him about his HIV status after he was taken into custody. The priest was charged with public indecency and abusing harmful intoxicants. McGonegal was released Saturday morning on personal bond from Cleveland City Jail, and a priest in residence asked parishioners to pray for him during evening Mass but did not specify the reason. But word quickly spread among the church’s parishioners. “I don’t feel it’s my place to judge or punish or forgive,” parishioner Larissa Thomas told WJW-TV. “That’s something that he has to work out with God and the courts.”An inaugural ride on a new line meant to speed train service in Washington state turned deadly Monday after an Amtrak train carrying more than 80 people derailed outside of Tacoma — causing several train cars to tumble from a highway overpass and killing at least three people, officials said. More than 70 people were taken to nearby hospitals, officials said. At least two people are in critical condition, while 11 other people are seriously injured, hospital officials told The Associated Press. At least one person was taken into surgery. Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Brooke Bova told reporters Monday evening that three people have been confirmed dead. The Associated Press initially reported six people were dead, citing a U.S. official. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency after Amtrak train 501 derailed around 7:30 a.m. along Interstate 5 as it was leaving the new Tacoma station. A U.S. official told The Associated Press the death toll is expected to rise and track obstruction is being investigated as a possible cause of the derailment. The train was traveling southbound from Seattle when it derailed. Washington State Trooper Brooke Bova said 12 train cars and two engines jumped the tracks. Thirteen total cars were derailed. President Trump tweeted Monday afternoon: "The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!" "My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the train accident in DuPont, Washington. Thank you to all of our wonderful First Responders who are on the scene. We are currently monitoring here at the White House," Trump said in a follow-up tweet. Police previously said several cars were struck by the Amtrak train cars, injuring multiple drivers on the highway. No motorists’ deaths were reported, according to Pierce County officials. Amtrak said 77 passengers and seven crew members were on board the train, part of its "Cascades" service from Seattle to Portland, Ore. It received reports of passengers and crew members injured that were taken to the hospital. Service for two Amtrak Cascades trains were canceled. A highway camera showed at least one train car toppled onto the road, causing a traffic jam. Photos tweeted by Public Information Officer Bova showed one detached and smashed on the ground. Another car was dangling from the overpass. Chris Karnes, who was on the train — three or four cars back from the front — told The Associated Press: "I'm not sure what got hit. I'm not sure what happened." Bova told Fox News' "Happening Now" that people are advised to avoid Interstate 5 and that clearing the area will be an “all day” process. Kaines, the chair of Pierce Transit's advisory board, said on Twitter, "The train has derailed. Emergency crews are on the scene. Massive damage. People are hurt." He said the train appeared to have hit a truck, adding that the car was "destroyed." The train was going 81.1 mph moments before the derailment, according to transitdocs.com, a website that maps Amtrak train locations and speeds using data from the railroad's train tracker app. The maximum speed along the stretch of track, known as Point Defiance Bypass, is 79 mph, according to information about the project posted online by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Wendy Simmons told Q13 Fox she arrived shortly after the derailment as people were helping the injured. “First responders actually climbed up into the dangling cars to get people out,” Simmons said. "People were pulling first aid kits out of their cars — putting jackets on people." The National Transportation Safety Board said a "go-team" is departing from Washington, D.C., to investigate Monday's derailment. The Federal Railroad Administration also tweeted it has investigators en route to the scene. FBI officials in Seattle are also on scene for additional support, as officials told Fox News that local law enforcement are the "primary responding entities." The Washington State Department of Transportation said that drivers should expect long delays and avoid the area. Southbound Interstate 5 near DuPont was closed shortly after the derailment after traffic backed up for miles. Amtrak President and co-CEO Richard Anderson said that Amtrak employees "are deeply saddened by all that has happened today. We will do everything in our power to support our passengers and crew and their families." Washington Sen. Patty Murray tweeted she was "heartbroken by the news." Monday was the first day of schedule changes to include two new round trips between Seattle and Portland, according to the Amtrak website. Amtrak train 501 is part of the new route running between Portland and Seattle daily. The Washington Department of Transportation spent $180.7 million project on passenger train improvement project, which sped up service by removing passenger trains from a route along Puget Sound that's bogged down by curves, single-track tunnels and freight traffic. Monday's accident came just two weeks after Lakewood mayor Don Anderson made a chilling comment saying it was only a matter of time a deadly derailment will occur, according to KOMO News. He advocated for grade separations to protect people from trains. "Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens,” Anderson said at the time. The southbound lanes of Interstate 5, which see about 60,000 vehicles per day, are expected to be closed for "an extended period," according to the WSDOT. The derailment was Amtrak's 26th within the U.S. since 2014, and the fourth in the state of Washington since 2014. Fox News' Nicole Darrah and Shira Bush and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Jules Wainstein was not made to feel comfortable in her Hamptons home when she (foolishly) invited the Real Housewives of New York over for some lox and schmear. Admitting she was hurt to see the snark being spewed behind her back by besties Carole Radziwill and Bethenny Frankel, Jules says she is still hopeful in getting to know them better. But Jules has high praise for Countess Luanne deLesseps, who she deems to be “nothing but sweetness.” Oh, newbie housewife! Beware of first impressions…they evaporate quickly in the face of narcissism and delusion! Jules reflects on Bethenny’s “birthday tailgate” party first: “Here we are in the Hamptons, my home away from home. I ‘m loving that John and Dorinda [Medley] were with us that weekend, because we had such a great time having them; tons of fun, laughs, and an all-around good time as always. We are all here to celebrate Bethenny’s birthday on Saturday, a tailgate-themed party, and I always love a good festive theme. The party was very well done, every ‘I’ was dotted and every ‘T’ crossed, yet the energy was off.” CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR MORE! Although tension was high in Bethenny’s backyard, Jules shares, “The one good thing, though, is that I got to meet Luann for the first time! She is absolutely lovely, fun, warm and welcoming. I loved my first impression of her – she was nothing but sweetness.” Moving on to brunch, Jules defends the construction zone that is her house, noting how she told people straight up to bring their own hard hats! She shares in her blog, “I love to entertain. There is nothing better than being surrounded by friends and family. It makes me happy to see people smile and having fun while hosting. I love meeting new people and starting new friendships. I’ve always been great at that.” RELATED: Carole Radziwill Defends Friendship With Bethenny Frankel However, brunch didn’t last long enough for many friendships – or eating – to get off the ground. Jules laments, “I was disappointed that the girls couldn’t stay long. At the time, I was hoping to get to know everyone better and them to know me. It was hurtful to hear some things that were said in my home behind my back, and even out of my home, but maybe the ‘smorgasbord’ that divided us really was the issue.” In reference the the eating disorder Bethenny has been accusing Jules of all season (whether by insinuation or overtly), Jules wryly defends, “I may not be a bagel lover, but I do love me some Goldberg’s lox and veggie shmear – it is my absolute favorite! Trust me, I had tons of it through the morning.” Promising us a longer glimpse into the Depths of Jules, RHONY‘s newest housewife asks viewers to stay tuned for this week’s episode, “where you will get to know more about my story.” TELL US – WERE BETHENNY AND CAROLE RUDE TO JULES? IS JULES’ IMPRESSION OF LUANNE ACCURATE? IS THE EATING DISORDER STORY LINE GOING TO HAUNT JULES ALL SEASON LONG? Photo Credit: BravoThe news: In case the United States' problem with homelessness wasn't bad enough, a forthcoming National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) report says that 33 U.S. cities now ban or are considering banning the practice of sharing food with homeless people. Four municipalities (Raleigh, N.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Daytona Beach, Fla.) have recently gone as far as to fine, remove or threaten to throw in jail private groups that work to serve food to the needy instead of letting government-run services do the job. Why it's happening: The bans are officially instituted to prevent government-run anti-homelessness programs from being diluted. But in practice, many of the same places that are banning food-sharing are the same ones that have criminalized homelessness with harsh and punitive measures. Essentially, they're designed to make being homeless within city limits so unpleasant that the downtrodden have no choice but to leave. Tampa, for example, criminalizes sleeping or storing property in public. Columbia, South Carolina, passed a measure that essentially would have empowered police to ship all homeless people out of town. Detroit PD officers have been accused of illegally taking the homeless and driving them out of the city. The U.N. even went so far as to single the United States out in a report on human rights, saying criminalization of homelessness in the United States "raises concerns of discrimination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." "I'm just simply baffled by the idea that people can be without shelter in a country, and then be treated as criminals for being without shelter," said human rights lawyer Sir Nigel Rodley, chairman of the U.N. committee. "The idea of criminalizing people who don't have shelter is something that I think many of my colleagues might find as difficult as I do to even begin to comprehend." Image Credit: Affordable Housing Institute Meanwhile, the programs in place to support the homeless are typically inadequate, making claims that ending food-sharing is for their own good specious at best. According to government data, about 600,000 people are homeless on any given night. Some 20 states bucked a nationally declining homeless rate from the height of the recession, increasing in measures of homelessness from 2012-2013. According to the NCH, one survey of homelessness found 62,619 veterans were homeless in January 2012. Other at-risk groups for homelessness include the seriously ill, battered women and people suffering from drug addictions or mental illness. The economy isn't helping. More Americans live in poverty than before the recession began in 2008 and the number of households living under the poverty line has reached levels unseen since the 1960s. Some
water bottles, and helmet; as he wrote, had it depended on the soldiers in charge they would also have given him a weapon and hand-grenades. He used his spare time to meet a Vietnamese professor of nuclear physics to whom he had been referred by an Israeli friend. The professor told him — in strict confidence, since saying anything contrary to the official line was dangerous — that the Viet Cong were much stronger than the Americans knew or wanted to know. Later during his visit he also had occasion to meet with the South Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and minister of defense, General Nguyen Van Thieu, as well the chief of the general staff of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Both owed their positions to the Americans who had connived in Diem’s assassination and both, he thought, were highly intelligent men. Both, interestingly enough, reserved their greatest admiration not for some American commander but for the North-Vietnamese General Giap. Giap had been the hero of the struggle against the French. Now, they fondly hoped, he might force Hanoi to make peace. On 27 July he joined a river patrol. The patrol consisted of three fast boats, each one manned by four “nice kids” and commanded by an officer. They were armed with heavy machine guns and light automatic cannon; as he noted, it was the first time since the Civil War when the US Navy had embarked on river operations. They raced along at 25 knots an hour, using visual navigation to find their way by day and infrared at night. From time to time they would stop to search one of the thousands of South Vietnamese boats carrying provisions from the Delta to Saigon. The searches woke up old memories. They reminded him of the ones that the British used to conduct when trying to fight Jewish terrorists in Palestine; offensive, but largely useless. The US sailors checked papers, took a perfunctory look at the load of the boats they stopped, and proceeded on their mission. While he did not think the boats they examined actually carried weapons, had they wanted to do so it would have been easy enough. As to thoroughly checking each and every boat, it was clearly impossible. On 28 July he went aboard the largest aircraft carrier then cruising off the Vietnamese coast, USS Constellation. He was a professional military man and had often read and heard about such ships; yet what he now saw made a “breath-taking impression” on him. The vessel constituted five acres of sovereign American territory that could go anywhere without having to worry about troublesome allies. Isolated at sea, the crew did not constitute a security problem and the lack of anything else to do made them work all the harder at their jobs. The ship was protected “from the air, the sea, the ground, outer space, and under water”; if Dayan was being ironic — after all, the enemy consisted of little men wearing straw hats — he did not say so. The product of this floating factory was firepower. Every ninety minutes, amidst a numbing outburst of fire and noise, flights of combat aircraft took off to strike at targets in Vietnam; but when it came to specifying the precise nature of those targets his hosts refused to answer his questions. As always, Dayan was impressed by the Americans’ pride in themselves, their nation, and their mission. He ended the day by noting that they were “not fighting against infiltration to South [Vietnam], or against guerrillas, or against North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, but against the entire world. Their real aim was to show everybody — including Britain, France, and the USSR — their power and determination so as to pass this message: wherever Americans go, they are irresistible.” The next month — he stayed until 27 August — was spent visiting various units throughout South Vietnam. First he went to see the Marines, joining a company that was patrolling only about a mile south of the Demilitarized Zone in order to prevent infiltration from the North. The company commander was a first lieutenant by the name of Charles Krulak. For two nights and three days they humped up and down amidst the vegetation that covered the hills. They waded through streams and sometimes almost drowned in them; at one point Dayan himself lost his foothold and had to be pulled out. Yet throughout all that time the only target at which they opened fire was some kind of unidentified animal. Apparently it had been wounded, and the noise it made kept the entire unit awake for an entire night. Thirty-five year later General (ret.) Krulak, ex-commandant of the Marine Corps, told me that, as they set up camp one evening, Dayan had asked them what they were doing there. He gave it as his opinion that the American strategy was wrong. They should be “where the people are,” not vainly trying to chase the Viet Cong in the mountains where they were not. A few days later his wish to see the War “where the people are” was granted. Near Da Nang, he visited another Marine unit that was engaged in pacification. The Marines were responsible for security — he noted their excellent discipline — whereas most of the actual work was done by civilians. Once again, he found the Americans on the spot committed and immensely proud of what they were doing to bring a ray of light into a troubled world. Once again, he left the district clear in his own mind that much remained to be done; so much so that it was doubtful whether the Americans were making any progress at all. Nor was he impressed with the attempts to help the South Vietnamese peasants improve their standard of living by introducing new agricultural methods, better livestock, and so on. One is reminded of the figures coming out of Iraq concerning schools and clinics reopened, doctors’ pay raised, and the like. Back in Paris Niceault had told him the “battle for hearts and minds” would not work, given that that the Vietnamese had their own cultural traditions — as well as “immensely beautiful women” — and that “Californization” was the last thing they wanted. This, moreover, was a field where he had some experience. With US financial backing, during his term as minister of agriculture (1959–63) he had sent Israeli experts to carry out agrarian reforms in various Asian and African countries. Some of those countries he had visited in person, only to find out how hard it was to make a long-established culture change its ways. Clearly doing so in the midst of a war, when every achievement was under constant threat from Viet Cong terrorists, was much harder still. Another extremely interesting visit was the one he paid to 1st Air Cavalry Division. Organized only a few years previously, it was the most up-to-date fighting force in the entire world. Not to mention the incredible economic, industrial, and logistic power that made such a unit possible in the first place; and, having done so, supported it in battle thousands of miles away from home. Operating under conditions of absolute air superiority — as was also to be the case in Iraq, in all South Vietnam there was not a single enemy aircraft — the division did exactly as it pleased. It required no more than four hours’ warning to land an entire battalion at any location within its helicopters’ range. As it turned out, though, often four hours were four hours too many. Arriving at the selected spot, the troops would find that the enemy had gone. It must have been during his stay with 1st Cavalry that the following incident took place. As was his custom Dayan wanted to visit the front, which in the case of Vietnam meant going on patrol. His hosts reluctantly agreed, but fearing lest something might happen to the celebrity for whom they were responsible selected a route that was supposedly free of the Viet Cong. As often happened, their information proved wrong. They came under fire and were “pinned down,” as the phrase went. Looking around from where he was lying, the American captain in charge discovered that Dayan had disappeared. In the end he located him; the middle-aged visitor from Israel was sitting comfortably on top of a grassy knoll. With great effort, the captain crawled to him and asked what he was doing. “What are you doing?” was the answer he got: “get your — up here, and see what this battle is all about.” The way he saw it, the problem was intelligence. “According to Norton’s (commanding officer, 1st Air Cavalry) information, there was a Viet Cong division in this highland area. It was not concentrated in a single base but split into several battalions, each about 350 men strong. It was Norton’s plan to land a battalion… in the Vietcong divisional area and then, in accordance with the developments of the battle, to rush in additional ‘reaction troops’ to reinforce, seal off, and carry out flank attacks. All this was fine, except for one small item missing in the plan: the exact location of the Viet Cong battalions was not known. Air photos and air reconnaissance had failed to pick out their encampments, entrenched, bunkered and camouflaged with the jungle vegetation. The US intelligence sources were largely technical — air photos and decoded radio intercepts, for Viet Cong units from battalion strength and up used transmitters. Only scanty information could be gleaned from POWs. Many of the latter spat in the Americans’ face and swore to die rather than talk.” Contrary to what had been written about the enormous logistical requirements of the US troops — from iced beer to go-go girls — he was impressed by the Spartan nature of the arrangements. The Americans were prepared to improvise at a moment’s notice; throw a flack jacket into the helicopter, hop in, and off you go hunting VC. The entire Division was “a huge force, fast and efficient. It used its weapons — including artillery support and tactical and strategic air support — very effectively indeed”; in Dayan’s view, it was as superior to other forces as the German tanks had been to their enemies at the beginning of World War II. “[Its] battle procedures operated like an assembly belt. First came the shelling of the landing zones by ground artillery. Then came aerial bombardment. And the landings themselves were covered by ‘gunships,’ the accompanying, close-support, heli-borne, units firing their rockets and machine guns almost at our feet.” It was an amazing operation, “but where was the war? It was like watching military maneuvers — with only one side.” “Where were the Viet Cong? And where was the battle? The Viet Cong were there, a few hundred yards away. And the battle came half an hour later when the company which had landed 300 yards to our south ran into an ambush after it had started moving off.” Within minutes the company was shot to pieces, suffering 25 dead and some 50 wounded including its commander. Calling in their firepower, 1st Cavalry gave pursuit. Meeting resistance they would radio for the B-52s bombers; to what effect, was not clear. To recount each and every detail of Dayan’s visit would be tedious. Everywhere he was met with the greatest courtesy and was given a fairly free hand to see and ask what he wanted. As he noted, American officers were committed, very hard working, and as frank as circumstances permitted; many of them enjoyed the War which, at this time, was still in its “forward” phase. General Westmoreland he found pleasant and informal. It was true he seemed to lack the “astute expression” that Dayan had discerned with some other senior generals. Still there could be no question of American officers being incompetent oafs who delighted in setting alight Vietnamese huts and were fragged by their own men; that image only rose after the War and as a direct result of it. One of their problems was the need to get their names mentioned by the media so as to advance their careers. This, Dayan thought, did not turn them into better persons or, what was more important, better commanders. He admired the American rank and file, particularly the Marines and the Green Berets. They were physically fit, very well trained, and, this being 1966, still did their job willingly. They were, to use his own Hebrew phrase, “golden guys”; the fact that they were being rotated in an out of the country too fast to learn its ways and become really effective in doing their work was scarcely their fault. He was even more impressed by the tremendous military-industrial muscle that enabled 1,700 helicopters to be deployed in a single theater of war. It also enabled a single operation by a single South Korean infantry company to be supported by no fewer than 21,000 artillery rounds. As he noted, this was more than had been expended by all Israeli forces in the wars of 1948 and 1956 combined. Still, nothing could make up for the lack of accurate and timely tactical intelligence. Partly its absence was due to cultural obstacles; wherever he went, translators were very much in demand and, of course, said exactly what they pleased. Partly it was due to the physical conditions of the country, and partly to the nature of the War itself. In Dayan’s own words, the information available to the Americans was limited to: “1. What they could photograph; 2. What they could intercept (SIGINT); and 3. What they could glean from low-ranking prisoners.” As a result, most of the time they were using sledgehammers to knock holes in empty air. So far they had not succeeded in inflicting unacceptable losses on the enemy who kept reinforcing. Even if they did succeed, militarily, it was hard to see how the South Vietnamese would be able to set up a viable government in the shadow of the gigantic machine that “protected” them; whether that machine would ever be withdrawn was anybody’s guess. As to what he was told of the war’s objectives, such as defending democracy and helping the South Vietnamese people, he considered it “childish” propaganda; if many of the Americans he met believed in them, clearly nobody else did. Over a year before the Tet Offensive proved that something was very, very wrong, he left Vietnam with the definite impression that things were not going at all well. In his own words, “the Americans are winning everything — except the war.” Perhaps this was one reason why, instead of flying home by way of the United States as both Taylor and McNamara had asked him to do, he chose the other route. When he wanted to he could be very tactful and rubbing salt into the Americans’ wounds was the last thing he wanted. The trip did, however, provide a welcome opportunity to keep his military knowledge up to date. Some people claim that the US won the War in Vietnam, to which I can only say that I strongly disagree. Others argue that Vietnam differed from Iraq, saying that it was essentially a conventional war that was lost because the American civilian leadership failed to provide its Armed Forces with proper strategic direction. It is of course true that there are considerable differences between the two. Still, recalling Dayan’s observations, I think there are three main reasons why the similarities are more important. First, according to Dayan, the most important operational problem the US Forces were facing was intelligence, in other words the inability to distinguish the enemy from either the physical surroundings or the civilian population. Had intelligence been available then their enormous superiority in every kind of military hardware would have enabled them to win the War easily enough. In its absence, most of the blows they delivered — including no fewer than six million tons of bombs dropped — hit empty air. All they did was make the enemy disperse and merge into the civilian population, thus making it even harder to find him. Worst of all, lack of accurate intelligence meant that the Americans kept hitting noncombatants by mistake. They thus drove huge segments of the population straight into the arms of the Viet Cong; nothing is more conducive to hatred than the sight of relatives and friends being killed. Second, as Dayan saw clearly enough, the campaign for hearts and minds did not work. Many of the figures being published about the progress it was making turned out to be bogus, designed to set the minds of the folks at home at rest. In other cases any progress laboriously made over a period of months was undone in a matter of minutes as the Viet Cong attacked, destroying property and killing “collaborators.” Above all, the idea that the Vietnamese people wanted to become Americanized was an illusion. All the vast majority really wanted was to be left alone and get on with their lives. The third and most important reason why I think Vietnam is relevant to the situation in Iraq is because the Americans found themselves in the unfortunate position where they were beating down on the weak. To quote Dayan: “any comparison between the two armies… was astonishing. On the one hand there was the American Army, complete with helicopters, an air force, armor, electronic communications, artillery, and mind-boggling riches; to say nothing of ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and equipment of all kinds. On the other there were the [North Vietnamese troops] who had been walking on foot for four months, carrying some artillery rounds on their backs and using a tin spoon to eat a little ground rice from a tin plate.” That, of course, was precisely the problem. In private life, an adult who keeps beating down on a five year old — even such a one as originally attacked him with a knife — will be perceived as committing a crime; therefore he will lose the support of bystanders and end up by being arrested, tried and convicted. In international life, an armed force that keeps beating down on a weaker opponent will be seen as committing a series of crimes; therefore it will end up by losing the support of its allies, its own people, and its own troops. Depending on the quality of the forces — whether they are draftees or professionals, the effectiveness of the propaganda machine, the nature of the political process, and so on — things may happen quickly or take a long time to mature. However, the outcome is always the same. He (or she) who does not understand this does not understand anything about war; or, indeed, human nature. In other words, he who fights against the weak — and the rag-tag Iraqi militias are very weak indeed — and loses, loses. He who fights against the weak and wins also loses. To kill an opponent who is much weaker than yourself is unnecessary and therefore cruel; to let that opponent kill you is unnecessary and therefore foolish. As Vietnam and countless other cases prove, no armed force however rich, however powerful, however, advanced, and however well motivated is immune to this dilemma. The end result is always disintegration and defeat; if U.S troops in Iraq have not yet started fragging their officers, the suicide rate among them is already exceptionally high. That is why the present adventure will almost certainly end as the previous one did. Namely, with the last US troops fleeing the country while hanging on to their helicopters’ skids. Martin Van Creveld is professor of history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has written a number of books that have influenced modern military theory, including Fighting Power, Command in War, and most significantly, The Transformation of War. He is also the author of The Rise and Decline of the State. The Best of Martin Van CreveldThis is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. NERMEEN SHAIKH: To talk more about the presidential race and to look at some of the questions not being raised at the debates, we’re joined by Andrew Bacevich, a retired colonel and Vietnam War veteran. His new book, America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History, will be published next month. He is professor emeritus of international relations and history at Boston University, also author of several other books, including Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War. His son was killed in action in Iraq in 2007. AMY GOODMAN: Andrew Bacevich’s most recent article is headlined “The Six Questions Missing from the 2016 Election Debates.” He’s joining us now from Boston. Andrew Bacevich, welcome back to Democracy Now! So what is missing from these debates? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, from my point of view, the big thing that’s missing is a willingness to take on board the progress, or lack thereof, of U.S. military involvement in the Islamic world. Certainly, there is attention in the campaign given to the ISIS campaign, the campaign against ISIS. But let us note that even as the ISIS campaign unfolds, we’re still involved in Afghanistan. You noted in your news roundup, we’ve just had a major bombing incident in Somalia, followed by a special operations raid. Last week in The New York Times, there was an article discussing the plans within the Obama administration perhaps to launch a major air campaign in Libya. And it seems to me to be time for the American people, or for those aspiring to be the next commander-in-chief, to take stock of this military involvement in the region, which has been going on for decades now, and to ask, “How are we doing? Are we winning? What are the prospects?” And to pose those questions in a serious way would, I think, contribute to a conclusion that the militarization of U.S. policy in that part of the world has been utterly counterproductive and is making things worse, not better. NERMEEN SHAIKH: Andrew Bacevich, a lot of people in the U.S. would disagree with the claim that ISIS is not the principal threat facing Americans today. So could you explain why you think that’s not the case? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, I think ISIS is a—poses an existential threat to the countries in the region. It threatens the state structure that was created in the aftermath of World War I. And therefore, from that point of view, the powers in the region, whether we’re talking about Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq and others, they have a profound interest in bringing about the destruction of ISIS. But by any realistic measure, ISIS poses only a modest threat to the United States of America. It doesn’t have an air force. It doesn’t have a navy. It consists of a relatively small number of fierce fighters, not particularly well armed. And the notion that ISIS somehow threatens us, I think, is really absurd. NERMEEN SHAIKH: Do you think that there’s any evidence to suggest that the next administration, whether it’s Republican or Democrat, will be less interventionist in the Muslim world? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, if we look at the remaining Republican candidates, they are all clearly different flavors, but they’re all militarists. I would certainly evaluate Secretary Clinton as an exceedingly hawkish Democrat. Her principal achievement, if you want to call it that, as secretary of state was in pushing the intervention in Libya, which has produced catastrophic consequences. Senator Sanders, however, is largely—it seems to me, hasn’t laid out his position. One might anticipate that given his general left-leaning view of the world, that he might be somewhat less inclined to rely on U.S. military power, might be more willing to consider alternatives to military power, but he has not yet, at least to my knowledge, really spelled out in detail where he stands on these matters. And frankly, I wish he would. I think he—I think he needs to, in order to move his candidacy beyond the economic and social justice themes that have been the core of his campaign thus far. AMY GOODMAN: Well, you know, last night at the Univision debate, we just played that clip of Bernie Sanders saying, overall, when he was talking about Latin America, everyone from Nicaragua to Chile and the ouster of the democratically elected leader Salvador Allende, said he was opposed to, you know, U.S. interventions for regime change. And then, this was Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at the Democratic presidential debate in [New Hampshire] accusing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of being, quote, “too much into that regime change.” SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: There’s some difference of opinion with Secretary Clinton on this. Our differences are fairly deep on this issue. We disagreed on the war in Iraq. We both listened to the information from Bush and Cheney. I voted against the war. But I think—and I say this with due respect—that I worry too much that Secretary Clinton is too much into regime change and a little bit too aggressive without knowing what the unintended consequences might be. Yes, we could get rid of Saddam Hussein, but that destabilized the entire region. Yes, we could get rid of Gaddafi, a terrible dictator, but that created a vacuum for ISIS. Yes, we could get rid of Assad tomorrow, but that would create another political vacuum that would benefit ISIS. So I think, yeah, regime change is easy, getting rid of dictators is easy. But before you do that, you’ve got to think about what happens the day after. HILLARY CLINTON: Now, with all due respect, Senator, you voted for regime change with respect to Libya. You joined the Senate in voting to get rid of Gaddafi, and you asked that there be a Security Council validation of that with a resolution. All of these are very difficult issues. I know that; I’ve been dealing with them for a long time. And, of course, we have to continue to do what is necessary when someone, like Gaddafi, a despot with American blood on his hands, is overturned. But I’ll tell you what would have happened. If we had not joined with our European partners and our Arab partners to assist the people in Libya, you would be looking at Syria. Now the Libyans are turning their attention to try to dislodge ISIS from its foothold and begin to try to move together to have a unified nation. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: I was not the secretary of state. AMY GOODMAN: That was Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, last year. Andrew Bacevich, respond. ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, I think that she’s putting a fairly optimistic take on the prognosis in Libya. And I think Senator Sanders’s critique of her interventionism, her penchant for interventionism, deserves a far more serious response than she offers. She tends to shrug off the Iraq vote. She tends to shrug off the Libya experience as, you know, “Well, we did our best, and so what?” And I think that my point here is not— AMY GOODMAN: Isn’t she just trying to get away from it? ANDREW BACEVICH: —is not the partisan one— AMY GOODMAN: Isn’t she just trying to get away from it, because, I mean, that you could say that that’s one of the key reasons that President Obama is president today? He opposed the Iraq War, and she voted for it. And now she’s dealing with the same thing with Bernie Sanders, who continually raises that key issue, that she voted for war with Iraq. ANDREW BACEVICH: Yes, but the point here really is one that needs to look beyond partisanship. That is to say, who gets the better in these debates? The real issue that, it seems to me, never gets fully addressed is this larger question of what the militarization of U.S. policy, in particular, in the Islamic world has yielded over a period of now several decades. The issue is not, specifically, what went right or wrong in Iraq, right or wrong in Libya. The issue really is, given the magnitude of the U.S. military involvement in the region, in one country after another, whether our purposes were supposedly to bring order, spread democracy, pacify, advance human rights, the total sum of our activity has produced next to nothing that is positive, has imposed great costs on ourselves and on many other nations and peoples, and shows no evidence of producing anything more positive tomorrow or the next year. So there is a need to take stock of U.S. military involvement in the region to recognize its failure, and therefore to consider alternatives. And it’s my personal judgment that there are alternatives to the militarization of U.S. policy. And quite frankly, I’d like to hear Senator Sanders be the one to begin to articulate what those alternatives might be. NERMEEN SHAIKH: And in your view, Andrew Bacevich, what are some of the alternatives to the militarized foreign policy, U.S. foreign policy, that we’ve seen so far? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, let me give you, very briefly, a three-point strategy. First of all, point number one of this strategy is self-protection. Earlier, we talked about whether or not ISIS poses a particular threat to the United States. The threat’s minor. But we need to do a better job—certainly, we need to do a better job than we did on 9/11—at simply erecting barriers to keep the bad guys from getting at us. And that is primarily a function of domestic agencies—FBI, the Coast Guard, the TSA, border agencies. Keep the bad guys out. Point number two in this strategy—and this alludes to my previous point about it is the nations in the region who are really affected by ISIS—point number two is to, as a diplomatic task, get those nations to recognize that they have a common interest in dealing with ISIS. Yes, they are divided among themselves on any variety—other variety of fronts—religious, sectarian, historical. But their common interest in dealing with ISIS is preeminent and ought to provide the basis for a collaboration against ISIS. Point number three, again, the big question, the big issue, it seems to me—and I know that President Obama believes this—is the difficulty of some in the Islamic world of finding a path that will reconcile belief, faith, with secular modernity. Peaceful coexistence between the West and the Islamic world will require that reconciliation between faith and modernity occurring. But it has to occur on terms of the people within the region. So, point number three, really, of that strategy is to encourage that reconciliation; to demonstrate, through our own behavior, that faith and modernity need not be at odds; and to encourage exchanges—cultural, educational—between ourselves and, in particular, young people in the Islamic world, that will help demonstrate that we are not the enemy. Now, that’s a strategy that does not involve U.S. military power in any significant way. It’s a strategy that would have to unfold over decades. But it is a preferable alternative to permanent war, and that’s where we are now. AMY GOODMAN: Andrew Bacevich, what is the media not asking? What is your critique of the media right now? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, my critique of the media is that they allow this preoccupation with what happened yesterday, the day before, to transcend or to remove any larger awareness of what the United States has attempted to do, has accomplished or not accomplished, and at what cost over a period of decades. I mean, for all practical purposes, the U.S.-Iraq War of 2003-2011 has already been forgotten, not to mention the U.S. war in Iraq of 1990-'91, not to mention U.S. involvement in the Iran-Iraq War of 1980 to 1988. If you—if one takes on board that entire experience, military—U.S. military experience in and around Iraq over a period of decades, it's hard for me to imagine that you can look at what’s going on now and say, “Well, gosh, if we just defeat ISIS, everything is going to be—everything is going to be hunky-dory.” The media is too focused on the immediate past and ignores the deeper past. AMY GOODMAN: I want to go to your piece, “Has Trump Already Won?: He Has Already Changed the Republican Party and American Democracy Forever.” But I want to start by playing two short clips. This is Trump this week responding to Anderson Cooper on CNN’s question of whether Islam is at war with the West. DONALD TRUMP: I think Islam hates us. There’s something—there’s something there that—there’s a tremendous hatred there. There’s a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. AMY GOODMAN: And now I want to turn to Donald Trump at the Republican debate in Greenville, South Carolina, Trump denouncing the Iraq War, calling it a “big, fat mistake.” DONALD TRUMP: Obviously, the war in Iraq was a big, fat mistake. All right? Now, you can take it anywhere you want. And it took Jeb—it took Jeb Bush, if you remember, at the beginning of his announcement, when he announced for president, took him five days. He went back. It was a mistake, it wasn’t a mistake. Took him five days before his people told him what to say. And he ultimately said it was a mistake. The war in Iraq, we spent $2 trillion, thousands of lives. We don’t even have it. Iran is taking over Iraq, with the second-largest oil reserves in the world. Obviously, it was a mistake. JOHN DICKERSON: So— DONALD TRUMP: George Bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty. We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle East. AMY GOODMAN: So there was Donald Trump taking on Jeb Bush, George Bush’s brother. He would then pull out of the race. And today, actually, Jeb Bush is meeting with Kasich, Rubio and Cruz, but not meeting with Trump, before the big debate tonight. But look at those two quotes, Andrew Bacevich, fitting in with saying Muslims should be banned from the U.S., saying Islam hates America, and then George Bush lied about the—lied us into the Iraq War. ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, the Iraq War was a big, fat mistake. I mean, Trump, in many respects, is a blowhard, but from time to time he actually says something that is true. What’s not true is his characterization of Islam. It’s not simply that it’s not true; it’s that it’s utterly counterproductive. It cannot provide the basis for any sort of meaningful policy, unless somehow or other a president Trump would be interested in promoting some sort of Armageddon-like conflict between the West and Islam. I mean, my—one of my points with regard to Trump is this. There are those who compare him to a fascist. I don’t think he’s a fascist, because however evil it may have been, fascism did imply some sort of a coherent ideology. Trump has no ideology. He shoots from the hip. He contradicts himself. He speaks in generalities. He has a remarkable aptitude, I think, for manipulating and exacerbating anger and alienation in a certain part of the American population. So he’s not so much a fascist, I think, as he is a representative of a kind of a personality cult. And in a sense, that would make him that much more dangerous, were he ever to become president, because we actually don’t know what he stands for, and therefore what he would do if in the position of commander-in-chief. NERMEEN SHAIKH: Well, you’ve suggested that departing from U.S. foreign policy orthodoxy often has fatal consequences. And I want to ask about another point that Trump has made, and this on Russia. In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper in October, Trump was asked about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Trump denounced Snowden and said he would get along very well with Russian President Vladimir Putin. DONALD TRUMP: I think he’s a total traitor. And I would deal with him harshly. And if I were president, Putin would give him over. I would get along with Putin. I’ve dealt with Russia. Putin hates— ANDERSON COOPER: You think you’d get along with Putin? DONALD TRUMP: I think I’d get along with him fine. I think he’d be absolutely fine. NERMEEN SHAIKH: That was Trump speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper in October, saying that he, Trump, would get along very well with Putin. In December, Trump defended Putin after the Russian president called Trump a, quote, “very colorful, talented person.” Trump responded by saying it is, quote, “a great honor to be so nicely complimented.” In a series of interviews, Trump disputed reports of the Kremlin’s involvement in the killing of journalists, saying, quote, “Our country does plenty of killing also.” Andrew Bacevich, your response? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, I mean, I think it’s frankly a bit silly to talk about the relationship with the leader of Russia in terms of “getting along with.” Putin is not interested in, quote-unquote, “getting along with” the United States. Putin is a—is a thug. But in his own way, he is a relatively serious statesman playing a game that is defined by power and interests. I think, in many respects, Putin’s primary interest is trying to maintain his status within Russia at a time when the Russian economy is clearly having a very difficult time. So, a posture of blustering, of insisting upon the rest of the world giving respect to Russia, the respect that it deserves, plays well, I think, with his domestic constituents and helps to ease his domestic problems. But the notion that Putin wants to get along well with us, I think, is frankly absurd. But what’s also, of course, not to be admitted, I think, or acknowledged or accepted is that Russia actually represents a very limited threat to the United States of America. There are those on the right in the United States who somehow think that Putin’s Russia can be equated to Stalin’s Soviet Union, and therefore every time Putin exercises a modest amount of muscle, that somehow that ought to lead to a U.S. military response. I think that that also would be a reckless way to approach Russia. AMY GOODMAN: We don’t hear very much about nuclear weapons. Why do you think this is a key question that is being missed for all of these candidates to have to address, Professor Bacevich? ANDREW BACEVICH: Well, it beats me. I mean, I am astonished that there has been so little attention given to the Obama administration’s announced plans to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal with smaller nuclear weapons, which, to some people, might sound reassuring. “Smaller” means, actually, more usable and, arguably, more likely to be used. The modernization program involves new ballistic missiles, a new manned bomber for the Air Force, new missile-launching submarines. This is a program—it’s publicly announced—that probably will cost a trillion dollars or more between now and its projected completion, roughly around 2045, in time for the 100th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Neither party, certainly none of the candidates, to my knowledge, have questioned whether this is going to be money well spent, why we need an expanded arsenal, how this plays with regard to the professions by, what, the last 10 presidents, all of whom have indicated that they would like to see nuclear weapons eliminated altogether. It’s another blindspot, it seems to me, in our political discourse that is baffling. NERMEEN SHAIKH: Well, another
into political advocacy,” said David Farmer, the communications director of Mainers for Health Care, which is campaigning in favor of the Medicaid expansion. “The right wing has successfully turned ‘welfare’ into an inflammatory word, going all the way back to Ronald Reagan and his welfare queen story. They push the idea that welfare is people getting something they do not deserve. People also generally think of welfare as a cash-type benefit. But Medicaid is not a cash program. Medicaid pays your provider just like my insurance pays my provider.” Though white people are by far the biggest beneficiaries of U.S. government safety net programs, invoking the specter of minorities on the dole has long been a racial dog whistle. In 2014, an outside attack ad targeting the Democrat challenging LePage for the governor’s seat asked: “Should your taxes pay welfare benefits to illegal immigrants?” The governor of one of the nation’s whitest states, LePage has played into these fears and stereotypes by blaming immigrants and people of color for the state’s rate of drug trafficking and crime, explicitly labeling them “the enemy.” LePage’s allies have echoed his message that Medicaid expansion will benefit undeserving immigrants. The Maine Heritage Policy Center, one of the conservative groups mobilizing against the Medicaid expansion, has written repeatedly that it will lead to “non-citizens” obtaining free health care, even though the expansion changes nothing about Medicaid’s eligibility rules apart from raising the income level slightly above the federal poverty line. The Maine Heritage Policy Center is currently petitioning the secretary of state to describe the Medicaid expansion initiative as “welfare” instead of “insurance.” Farmer noted to TPM, however, that Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services lists MaineCare, its Medicaid program, as a health insurance program. “It’s not reasonable to argue that Medicaid is not insurance. It’s purely political,” he said. “When the federal government calculates the uninsured in the country, Medicaid counts as insurance. This is just a messaging opportunity and an effort to try to take what is a bipartisan issue and make it partisan.” The vote on the Medicaid expansion will come at a time when Maine’s electorate is particularly fired up about health care, and about Medicaid in particular. This spring and summer, Maine voters furiously lobbied Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to oppose a slate of bills that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act and gutted Medicaid. Their efforts paid off when she became the deciding vote—along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John McCain (R-AZ) to kill the legislation. When she landed back in Maine after that vote, she got a hero’s welcome. “I got off the plane, and there was a large group of outbound passengers, none of whom I happened to know, and spontaneously some of them started applauding, and then virtually all of them started to applaud,” she described to CNN. “It was just amazing.” No matter what the final wording on the ballot ends up being, pro-expansion organizers like Farmer see the state’s outsized involvement in the national health care fight as a sign of things to come on the local level, and think other states could follow Maine’s example. “Maine people were activated on a level none of us had ever seen before,” he told TPM. “I think this vote [to expand Medicaid], if we’re successful, will reinforce to a national audience that people do support affordable access to health and will go to the ballot box for it.”In today’s speech on Signals Intelligence Programs, President Obama outlined a number of “concrete and substantial reforms that [the] Administration intends to adopt administratively or will seek to codify with Congress.” Despite the President’s description of these reforms being “concrete,” many of the proposals are admittedly broad and often left to Congress, the Attorney General, or other member of the Administration is the job of sorting out much of the details; and when evaluating proposals and reforms such as these, it’s important to remember that the devil will most certainly be in the details. Nevertheless, today’s speech is an important juncture in the ongoing debate surrounding intelligence reform. The full text of the speech, in case you missed it, is available here. To help sort the substance of the speech from the rhetoric and to get us to the meat and potatoes of the proposals, I’ve outlined below a quick, but complete, recap of all the reforms announced by the President and included excerpts of the relative portions of his remarks: Approval of Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-28: “I have approved a new presidential directive for our signals intelligence activities, at home and abroad. This guidance will strengthen executive branch oversight of our intelligence activities. It will ensure that we take into account our security requirements, but also our alliances; our trade and investment relationships, including the concerns of America’s companies; and our commitment to privacy and basic liberties. And we will review decisions about intelligence priorities and sensitive targets on an annual basis, so that our actions are regularly scrutinized by my senior national security team.” Annual declassification review of certain FISC opinions with broad policy implications: “Going forward, I am directing the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Attorney General, to annually review – for the purpose of declassification – any future opinions of the Court with broad privacy implications, and to report to me and Congress on these efforts.” Establishment of a panel of “outside advocates” for certain cases before the FISC: “To ensure that the Court hears a broader range of privacy perspectives, I am calling on Congress to authorize the establishment of a panel of advocates from outside government to provide an independent voice in significant cases before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.” Additional protections for activities under Section 702: “Specifically, I am asking the Attorney General and DNI to institute reforms that place additional restrictions on government’s ability to retain, search, and use in criminal cases, communications between Americans and foreign citizens incidentally collected under Section 702.” Additional transparency for NSLs: “... we can – and should – be more transparent in how government uses this authority. I have therefore directed the Attorney General to amend how we use National Security Letters so this secrecy will not be indefinite, and will terminate within a fixed time unless the government demonstrates a real need for further secrecy. We will also enable communications providers to make public more information than ever before about the orders they have received to provide data to the government.” New approach to Section 215 bulk collection that would include (i) only allowing for “two-hop” analysis instead of the current three; (ii) requiring FISC approval to query the database (with an emergency exception); and (iii) developing new approach for storage of metadata database: “Effective immediately, we will only pursue phone calls that are two steps removed from a number associated with a terrorist organization instead of three. And I have directed the Attorney General to work with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court so that during this transition period, the database can be queried only after a judicial finding, or in a true emergency.” “Next, I have instructed the intelligence community and Attorney General to use this transition period to develop options for a new approach that can match the capabilities and fill the gaps that the Section 215 program was designed to address without the government holding this meta-data. They will report back to me with options for alternative approaches before the program comes up for reauthorization on March 28. During this period, I will consult with the relevant committees in Congress to seek their views, and then seek congressional authorization for the new program as needed.” Specifying certain limits on overseas collection: “... the new presidential directive that I have issued today will clearly prescribe what we do, and do not do, when it comes to our overseas surveillance. To begin with, the directive makes clear that the United States only uses signals intelligence for legitimate national security purposes, and not for the purpose of indiscriminately reviewing the emails or phone calls of ordinary people. I have also made it clear that the United States does not collect intelligence to suppress criticism or dissent, nor do we collect intelligence to disadvantage people on the basis of their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. And we do not collect intelligence to provide a competitive advantage to U.S. companies, or U.S. commercial sectors.” “In terms of our bulk collection of signals intelligence, U.S. intelligence agencies will only use such data to meet specific security requirements: counter-intelligence; counter-terrorism; counter-proliferation; cyber-security; force protection for our troops and allies; and combating transnational crime, including sanctions evasion.” Developing additional protections for non-US persons overseas: “Moreover, I have directed that we take the unprecedented step of extending certain protections that we have for the American people to people overseas. I have directed the DNI, in consultation with the Attorney General, to develop these safeguards, which will limit the duration that we can hold personal information, while also restricting the use of this information.” Changes to certain government organization surrounding SIGNIT: “Finally, to make sure that we follow through on these reforms, I am making some important changes to how our government is organized. The State Department will designate a senior officer to coordinate our diplomacy on issues related to technology and signals intelligence. We will appoint a senior official at the White House to implement the new privacy safeguards that I have announced today. I will devote the resources to centralize and improve the process we use to handle foreign requests for legal assistance, keeping our high standards for privacy while helping foreign partners fight crime and terrorism.” Comprehensive review of big data and privacy:Where to Stream: Buffy the Vampire Slayer More Options Of all the great things about television, the greatest is that it’s on every single day. TV history is being made, day in and day out, in ways big and small. In an effort to better appreciate this history, we’re taking a look back, every day, at one particular TV milestone. IMPORTANT DATE IN TV HISTORY: December 14, 1999 PROGRAM ORIGINALLY AIRED ON THIS DATE: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Hush” (Season 4, Episode 10). [Watch on Netflix] WHY IT’S IMPORTANT: It’s easy to say now, but I honestly believe this: if Buffy the Vampire Slayer were airing today, it would a much bigger contender for prestige and awards. A world where Tatiana Maslany is pulling in Emmy nominations for Orphan Black is a world that would have been ready to give Buffy its due. At least at the Golden Globes, right? Alas, Buffy was never nominated in major series or acting categories, and it was only nominated once for writing. That nomination came for the fourth-season episode “Hush.” It’s kind of funny that Buffy‘s one brush with awards attention was for an episode in a season that a lot of people saw as the show’s weakest to date. Buffy’s transition from high-school to college left the show’s metaphorical structure a bit adrift. (“High school is hell” works great, but the college years are a lot less didactic and universally experienced.) But “Hush” was the one moment where everybody could agree. It was a phenomenal — and phenomenally ambitious — hour of television. The premise was deceptively simple: demons called The Gentlemen came to Sunnydale one night and, like a page out of Grimm, stole the voices of everyone in town. The next day, with the citizenry rendered mute, confused, and scared, The Gentlemen started stealing hearts. Uh, literally, not in the teen-idol way. With their voices gone, Buffy and her crew have a hell of a time figuring out how to fight back against their new enemy. Joss Whedon, unsurprisingly, has a ball with the comedic aspects of his new silent-movie playground. The classroom tutorial where Giles lays out the exposition about the Gentlemen might be the greatest single scene in series history. That one episode could blend cleverness, humor, and also the bone-chilling creature design of The Gentlemen, which will assuredly keep you from getting a good night’s sleep for some time, makes “Hush” well worthy of the praise it receives. The conversation about Buffy‘s best episode of all time usually goes like this: “Hush,” except “The Body,” except “Once More with Feeling.” Each one represents Buffy breaking format in some way in order to deliver some crucial moment with maximum impact. In “The Body,” that’s Joyce’s death, obviously. In “Once More with Feeling,” it’s Buffy confessing she was in heaven to her friends/kissing Spike. In “Hush,” it’s Buffy and Riley discovering each other’s secret identities. Big moment. Bigger moment when you can’t talk about it. [You can watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s “Hush” on Netflix.]Remember section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act — and the bulk telephone records metadata program the government conducted pursuant a controversial interpretation of that authority? Remember how section 215 is set to expire on June 1 — which is why folks were so confident that Congress would just have to consider at least some meaningful surveillance reforms after and in light of the Snowden revelations? Remember how the Senate version of the USA FREEDOM Act died in late November — but at least some folks on this blog were confident that there’d still be some momentum for some kind of reform in the weeks and months leading up to that June 1 deadline? Well, it’s now March 19. June 1 is 73 short days away — which, as slowly as things move through this Congress, might as well be next week. And, so far as I can tell, no one on the Hill is talking about section 215. Don’t just take my word for it, though; at a roundtable lunch today sponsored by Third Way, Rep. Adam Schiff — the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence — confirmed that there are, at the moment, no “high-level” discussions currently underway about section 215 (and I like to think he’d know). As Congressman Schiff suggested, among other things, the absence of significant advance debate dramatically increases the likelihood that there will simply be a last-minute push to reauthorize section 215 in its current form (since there wouldn’t be time for meaningful debate over reforms/alterations to the existing language and statutory authorities). Even though such a result would vindicate a post I wrote after USA FREEDOM died last November, it would be more than just a missed opportunity on Congress’s part. Far more importantly, although many might argue that it would simply shift the onus for resolving the legality of the telephone metadata program to the courts, it seems likely that, given what we now know about the government’s interpretation of section 215, there’d be no way to view such a “clean” reauthorization as anything other than congressional ratification of that (dubious) reading of the statute — which would leave the Fourth Amendment challenge as the only remaining issue to be resolved by the Second, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits (and, perhaps, the Supreme Court). In other words, the closer we get to June 1 without meaningful discussion in Congress about section 215 reform, the more likely it is that we’ll get a result that’s worse than no reform–unqualified congressional validation of the government’s deeply contested interpretation. That’s not reform; that’s entrenchment.The Wonnv Retro Mini Cruiser 22 inch Complete Skateboard is 22″ Light Up Clear Banana Skateboard. It is complete with Light Up Board, Wheels, Metal Trucks, ABEC-7 Bearings, and High-Quality Bushings. The set also includes 6″ Metal Trucks, High-Speed ABEC-7 Bearings, High-Quality Bushings, and Hardware. It has a unique Textured Waffle Pattern on Deck and designed for Maximum Grip. The Deck measures about 22 x 6 x 4″. It has a 6″ Truck Axle and 3″ Truck Hanger. It requires 2 AAA Batteries and is recommended for skaters who are 6 years old and Up. It has a 5 rating on Amazon. Today's skateboarders are founders in this sport—they're pioneers—they are the first. There is no history in Skateboarding—its being made now—by you. The sport is being molded and we believe that doing the right thing now will lead to a bright future for the sport. Already, there are storm clouds on the horizon with opponents of the sport talking about ban and restriction.[16] Following The Real video, the brand released full-length videos at regular intervals, with each release being celebrated as a classic overview of the era involved. 1997’s Non-Fiction, featuring founder Jim Thiebaud and a revamped team including the likes of Mark Gonzales, Keith Hufnagel, Joey Bast, Drake Jones and one-time Real female rider Jamie Reyes is seen these days as one of the precursor’s of skateboarding’s general shift away from unbridled technical progression towards a heavier emphasis on style. Diamond has been a household name in streetwear for their dope caps, tees, hoodies, and sneaker collab hype that have had the Internet going nuts for years, but the brand's roots are in skate. While the list of collaborations and rapper co-signs is long (too long to list here), but for skate nerds the team is way more impressive—Raven Tershy, Ryan Sheckler, Torey Pudwill, Shane O'Neil, Stevie Williams, Paul Rodriguez… The list goes on. Ancheer 31″ Pro Skateboards are made of 7-ply maple wood and finished with anti-slip grip tape. It includes 60mm PU wheels ideal for riders who want to carve out sections, obtain speed and higher off the ground for tricks. It features 6″ Tony Hawk Signature aluminum trucks and 32″ long deck with double kick tail which is ideal for perfecting your favorite tricks. It comes with ABEC-7 skateboard bearings. It has style and quality which is expected from the most influential skateboarders of all time. It is one of the best-rated skateboards on Amazon with a rating of 4.8. Thunder trucks are solid, with some great innovations. Thunder's light truck range claims to be the lightest available, with the quickest turning. Thunder's team is also pretty impressive, with Thomas, Appleyard, Marks, Steamer, Ellington. The list is actually pretty huge. If having a lot of pros ride the same trucks as you is important (which isn't a bad idea - these people are skating in competitions, and want the best!), then take a look at Thunder. The nose and tail of a standard skateboard curve upward slightly to make tricks easier to perform. On most decks, the nose and tail are shaped slightly different. The nose is usually wider, longer and steeper than the tail which aids in nose-based (nollie) tricks, and also helps you differentiate the nose from the tail. Some shaped boards have very different nose and tail dimensions, and some old school boards lack noses all together. Graphically speaking, Welcome is very distinctive, with an emphasis on hand drawn imagery and references to esoteric and occult themes mixed with bright colourways. Welcome Skateboards also offer a detailed shape guide on their website, detailing the exact dimensions of all of their 38 custom shapes, which again differentiates their product from many of the skateboard brands on the market. There’s a bit of self-induced CONFUSION with Kryptonics inc. When they first came out, they made, literally, a Revolutionary Wheel, one that BOUNCED. That resilience made them VERY Fast on rougher surfaces, and perhaps even stickier (for a given hardness) than other wheels. You can buy that type of wheel (as a ‘Re-Issue’ “C-Series” in 55,60,65,70+75 mm sizes) now, and it’s STILL HIGH QUALITY, FAST, + STICKY! Even by today’s ‘longboard Race’ criteria, these are wheels to be reckoned with. Taotao Girls Skateboards comply to United State Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Standard. It has a 24″ X 6″ Maple Double Kickside Deck. It features 608Z Bearings, 3.5″ Plastic Truck & Base, and 50 x 30 mm PVC Wheels. The Safety helmet, Knee and Elbow Pads also comply to CPSC Standard. It has a Cool Pink Aloha Graphic Design with an Amazon rating of 4.3. Skateboard decks width is probably one of the most important factors to consider when buying a deck. Decks typically range from 7.25-8.5″. 7.5″,7.75″, and 8.0″ tend to be the standard widths if most decks and the general rule is that the bigger your feet are the wider the deck you should get. Thinner decks are slightly easier to flip, however they are harder to land on due to the decreased surface area. This is a tradeoff you have to consider, but the typical rule of thumb for younger guys is that you get wider decks the more advanced and larger you get. Street skaters typically also like smaller decks as they are easier to navigate and carry around in crowded cities and areas. Decks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can choose a mini-board, a cruiser, a drop-through, or a standard deck for your favorite set of wheels and hardware. Widths range too from a few inches with a 22-inch board to the wide size of a true cruiser. Some decks are flat as possible while others are significantly concave for optimized turning. You can buy a deck with artwork and grip tape already attached for a quick install or you can get a bare-bones wooden deck to truly customize. What the fuck is Bro Style? That's what a lot of skate nerds found themselves wondering at the end of 2012. Bro Style crept onto the scene with a goofy guerrilla-style internet marketing campaign that involved little more than the thumbs up logo. Little by little, product started to trickle out—beanies, snapbacks, pocket tees, socks, and other odd ephemera—and a few video clips. Bro Style is still something of a mystery, but one thing is clear, it's not meant to be taken too seriously. And that is seriously important for the skate industry to remember.In the sparsely populated Karoo desert in the heart of South Africa's Northern Cape, the spirit of apartheid lives on. I spent a few days in Orania, a town established in 1991 where no black people live. I was part of a BBC crew, including Zimbabwean journalist Stanley Kwenda, who were accredited to visit. And during that time, I did not see any other black people in the town of 1,000 - an unusual experience in modern South Africa. It is an Afrikaner-only town, where only Afrikaans is spoken, because of fears about "diluting culture". "We do not fit in easily in the new South Africa. It [Orania] was an answer to not dominating others and not being dominated by others," says Carel Boshoff Jr, the community leader. Mr Boshoff is one of the leaders of the town founded by his father Carel Boshoff Snr, an Afrikaner intellectual and son-in-law of apartheid architect, Hendrik Verwoerd. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Zimbabwe-born Stanley Kwenda takes a tour of South Africa's all-white town of Orania The town was founded by Mr Boshoff Snr as a registered company shortly before white-minority rule ended in the rest of the country. Mr Verwoerd's grandson tells me that his people were faced with a tough question about their future when the black government was elected in 1994. "In terms of Afrikaners who had been standing very close to the state, when the policies such as black economic empowerment and affirmative action came into place, Afrikaners needed to seriously think about their future. It wouldn't make sense not to," he said. Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) was introduced to encourage more black participation in business. Orania has also proved to be the answer for those Afrikaners who felt displaced in the land their people had ruled for many decades. "I see nothing wrong with apartheid," says Martin Kemp, one of the older residents. "Of course you get the petty apartheid: 'You use this toilet I use that toilet', I don't think that was necessary but the real apartheid as Dr Verwoerd saw it, there was nothing wrong with it," he said. We were taken on a guided tour of the town's facilities by John Strydom, a retired doctor. The town's leaders insist that Orania is misunderstood. "We are not against black people. We are for ourselves," is their message. However, black people cannot live here. Prospective residents are screened by the town council using a strict criterion, which includes first and foremost being an ethnic Afrikaner. It is not enough to simply speak Afrikaans, as is the case with many black and mixed-race South Africans. Eerie place As we sat down with Mr Boshoff for a cup of what the cafe described as "proper Boere [Afrikaner] tea… strong", I took in some of the surroundings. Near the entrance of the gated community was a statue of Mr Verwoerd, one of a few of the apartheid-era prime ministers, and the Orania flag - with similar colours to the old republic's orange, white and blue stripes - which hung proudly. The town was quiet; the sound of birds and rustling leaves interrupted by a few cars passing by. It is an eerie place for an outsider. Afrikaners in South Africa: Image copyright AFP Afrikaners are descendants of Dutch, German and French settlers who arrived in the 17th Century The Dutch, who arrived in 1652, took over land from local people and put them to work as farm workers Afrikaners dominated South Africa for many decades and introduced the apartheid system which was based on racial segregation Orania was established in 1991, by Afrikaner intellectual Carel Boshoff Snr The town is built on 8,000 hectares of farmland along the Orange River The town boasts amenities such as shops, hair salons, a library, a post office, a hotel, a couple of schools - and churches, a lot of churches. But beneath the surface of this solitude lurks a fear that leads people to abandon high-paying jobs in the city for lowly jobs in this arid land. "The levels of crime and violent crimes in South Africa are definitely pushing powers that bring people to Orania. Many of them have been victims of crimes," says Mr Boshoff. South Africa is considered to be one of the most violent societies in the world, with one of the highest murder rates. Official statistics suggest that most crimes actually happen in poor communities between people known to each other, but this has not stopped the fear of crime in other communities. 'Little giant' As a result, Orania officials say the town has had an annual growth rate of nearly 10% since its inception. The Afrikaner community's totem is "the little giant", a man with rolled-up sleeves who features in the flag and the local money, the Ora which is pegged to the South African rand. Image caption All jobs are done by local people in Orania - no outside workers are brought in Image copyright AFP Image caption Orania has its own currency pegged to the South African rand The people do their own work from gardening to plumbing, bricklaying and waste-collection - jobs usually done by black labourers in the rest of the country. We sleep with the doors unlocked. You can walk in the street at 3am without any fear Quinton Diedrichs, Bar owner "It takes some adjusting to. It is more difficult for some people because they are used to how things were done in South Africa, they are not used to manual labour," says Mr Strydom. The locals explain that one of the goals in Orania is to help create a generation of pure Afrikaners untouched by the "outside world". Bizarrely, the town's existence is protected by South Africa's constitution through a clause that ensures the right to self-determination - introduced to reassure those worried about the transition to democracy. With its old Cape-Dutch styled houses it is like stepping back in time, but some families fear this place could eventually be too small for their children. 'Respect' Theunie Kruger moved from Johannesburg recently after he was offered a job in Orania. Mr Kruger says his two children are enjoying life in the countryside but he and his wife are preparing them for a world where there is not just one race or culture. "There is no tertiary institution here for example. They need to be equipped to handle the outside world," he says. Image caption Theunie and Annelize Kruger say they are preparing their children for a multi-racial world "I teach them that there is no difference in skin colour. I teach them if they respect the people in Orania they must also respect the people outside Orania," his wife Annelize adds. Another couple, George and Tisha van Staden, say they are still adjusting to Orania's rules, which include getting permission from the town council before receiving visitors. "We understand it but it's a bit frustrating at times," Mr Van Staden says. 'Defend with our lives' At the local bar, framed newspaper articles hang on the wall and Afrikaner memorabilia adorns the place. The owner, Quintin Diedericks, is well-travelled but became disillusioned with South Africa and moved to Orania with his wife, a beauty therapist, about four years ago. Image caption Busts of old Afrikaner leaders overlook Orania Image copyright AFP Image caption Orania, established in 1991, has its own school "It's very safe here. We sleep with the doors unlocked. You can walk in the street at 3am without any fear. You don't have that where you live," he tells me. He blames FW de Klerk, the last Afrikaner to rule South Africa, for the plight of his people. We can't get jobs. It's like we are being punished for the past Drinker in an Orania bar "He gave away the country for nothing. We had the army," he says and stops abruptly, beginning to shake his head. Inside the dimly-lit pub, a game of rugby is on the TV, apart from a few odd glances, no-one seems to pay much attention to Stanley or me. A few more locals do come over to our table and conversation is polite and largely politically correct, much like in the rest of South Africa. The pernicious issue of jobs and pro-black policies rears its head. One local explains it as "reverse racism". "We can't get jobs. It's like we are being punished for the past," he says. They seem oblivious to the oppression of black South Africans during apartheid. For them it was a system that gave order. "It [apartheid] didn't affect me. So many people get aggravated now for things they didn't even witness. It's over, move on," says Yolandie Jonk, 29, a call centre agent. As the sun sets, the bronze busts of Afrikaner leaders spanning over many decades - Paul Kruger, JBM Hertzog, DF Malan, JG Strijdom and, of course, Mr Verwoerd - look protectively over the town. Held in disdain elsewhere, they are Orania's heroes - yet it is difficult to see how the community will be able to remain so completely isolated in such an inter-connected world. But as one pub drinker put it - being an Afrikaner in Orania is "something we will defend with our lives if we need to". Correction: We have removed from this report a suggestion that black people do not go to Orania, although none actually lives there. Amendments have also been made to clarify the town's ownership and some issues regarding the identity of contributors. You can hear a BBC World Service programme about Orania on Tuesday 7 October.It's not a foolproof disguise, but Bill Gates is happy with it. Sometimes, it really is that simple. In response to a question during his annual Reddit AMA (ask me anything) session, Microsoft cofounder and richest man in the world Bill Gates says it doesn't take too much for him to blend in with the crowd. "I sometimes wear a hat," Gates writes. "For example when I did college tours with my son I wanted the focus to be totally on him. A lot less people recognise me when I have a hat on or else they realise I am trying to be incognito." Gates did not specify what type of headwear he prefers when going undercover, though there are probably a few styles that can be crossed off the list: A classic "porkpie" hat, a la Walter White, seems too dressy for a tech tycoon keeping a low profile, and other styles like a tam-o'-shanter or a fez would also likely be too conspicuous. READ MORE: Bill Gates is on his way to becoming the world's first trillionaire A baseball cap, on the other hand, seems like a good choice. While there aren't many photos of the pretty straight-laced Gates wearing anything other than business casual, here's a picture of the man in his Seattle Seahawks gear: And this video, made to thank participants in his 2016 Reddit AMA, shows him wearing a variety of, um, headgear: Gates isn't the only tech celebrity with a penchant for using hats as a disguise. When the late Apple founder Steve Jobs met in secret with the publisher of the New York Times at a private Manhattan dinning room in 2010, New York magazine reported that the Apple VIP was spotted sporting "a very funny hat — a big top hat kind of thing." The hat disguise is not exactly foolproof. But that's OK, writes Gates: "Mostly when people do recognise me they are super nice so I don't feel it is a burden to be noticed most of the time." And hey, that kind of simple disguise has worked just fine for Clark Kent and Superman for the better part of a century now. - This story was first published at BusinessInsider.com.auOne of the most important aspects of immigration reform is bolstering enforcement of existing immigration law. While most unlawful immigrants come to the U.S. seeking a better life for themselves and their families, there are too many others who commit crimes against Americans, including murder. These crimes are especially devastating for the victims’ loved ones because they could have been prevented if our laws were actually enforced. We have recently introduced legislation, the Davis-Oliver Act, to give law enforcement at all levels the tools and resources they need to keep America safe and secure. This is a vital first step – but not the only step – in modernizing our broken immigration system. Under President Obama, interior enforcement deteriorated dramatically as his administration refused to enforce immigration laws, rewrote the law through executive action, and implemented policies that enabled millions of unlawful and criminal aliens to remain in the United States free from any possibility of removal. These policies had—and continue to have—dramatic consequences. The rule of law was undermined as hundreds of thousands of Central American unaccompanied minors and families arrived at the Southwest border during the Obama years and were released into the U.S. And too many Americans were killed or seriously harmed at the hands of unlawful immigrants who joined gangs and/or committed crimes. The Trump administration has begun to reverse the Obama Administration’s disastrous policies and is enforcing the law as written. President Trump has issued executive orders to strengthen the interior enforcement and implement strong border security measures. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are already implementing these executive orders and there have been quick results. Illegal border crossings at the Southwest border have dropped dramatically in 2017, due in large part to consistent enforcement of the law and the strong message that the U.S. no longer tolerates illegal immigration. Despite the progress made within the Executive Branch, our laws still need to be improved to provide the Trump administration with the additional tools it needs and to ensure that all future administrations continue to enforce the law. This week, the House Judiciary Committee will take up a bill to improve the interior enforcement of our immigration laws to prevent criminal aliens from roaming free in our communities. The Davis-Oliver Act is named after Placer County Detective Michael Davis, Jr., and Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver, who were murdered by an unlawful immigrant in California in October 2014. The bill removes the ability of any president to unilaterally shut down immigration enforcement by granting states and localities the authority to enforce federal immigration laws consistent with federal practices. Local law enforcement officers are trusted to enforce many federal laws, including homicide, rape, and drug laws – but not immigration laws. The Davis-Oliver Act would change that. The Davis-Oliver Act also ensures that unlawful immigrants convicted of drunk driving are deported. Drunk driving is currently not a deportable offense and many offenders have been released into communities, even when their recklessness results in the death of Americans. For example, in January 2016, 21-year-old Sarah Root was killed in Omaha, Neb., after an unlawful immigrant driving drunk struck her car. She had just graduated from college. To make matters worse, the person responsible was released from custody and is still on the loose. This common sense bill also protects public safety by enhancing penalties for deported felons who return to the United States. And it also strengthens current law to penalize sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. These changes are desperately needed. In 2015, Kate Steinle was murdered in San Francisco, a known sanctuary city, by an unlawful immigrant, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who had previously been deported five times and was convicted of multiple felonies. Another criminal immigrant, also deported at least five times, Nicodemo Coria-Gonzales, is suspected of being responsible for nearly a dozen sexual assaults in Austin, Texas. He allegedly kidnapped a woman and attempted to light her on fire using gasoline, and kidnapped and raped a 68-year old woman. We cannot allow dangerous unlawful immigrants to repeatedly enter the U.S. without consequence. The Davis-Oliver Act is not the end of the House Judiciary Committee’s efforts to improve our nation’s immigration system, but it is a critical first step. The most important duty of the federal government is to keep Americans safe, and for far too long our immigration laws and lack of enforcement have been failing the American people and harming too many lives. The Republican Congress is working with the Trump administration hand in hand to ensure our laws are enforced and improved, and to enhance public safety. We have much work to do and are committed to ensuring our immigration system is enforced in order to better protect the American people.Tether has always been a controversial token - claimed to be redeemable for fiat currencies but shunned by the fiat banking system. However, the rapid expansion in Tether supply has raised concerns about whether this could be one of the reasons for the overall cryptocurrency boom. What is Tether? According to the Company's website, Tether is a cryptocurrency whose value is anchored or 'tethered' to the value of
change, as will 30 percent of parasitic worms. These are conservative figures, born of research that has been heavily skewed toward North America, says Carrie Cizauskas from the University of California, Berkeley, who was involved in the study. “There’s hardly any data across Africa. There’s very little parasite research in global-biodiversity hot spots, which are also likely to be parasite-biodiversity hot spots.” With a more detailed portrait of our parasitic planet, Cizauskas says that scientists can work out which groups are most in need of saving. The very concept of saving parasites is so counterintuitive that Cizauskas and her colleagues found it hard to publish their studies on parasite extinction risk. Reviewers would say, “Why should we conserve these things that everyone thinks are gross?” This attitude seems especially trenchant, but as I’ve written before, history suggests that it can change. Microbes were once seen as germs; now, we’re starting to appreciate how important those in our bodies are for our health. Top predators were once seen as competitors or trophies; now, conservationists talk about protecting or even reintroducing them. Parasites could get the same reputational makeover. “People ask me if I dreamed about being the curator of the National Parasite Collection when I was five,” Phillips says. “No, not at all. But dreams change over time.” We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) spoke by phone Friday morning, Beijing time. The White House says that during the call, “President Trump agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our ‘one China’ policy.” The position is a change from Trump’s earlier questioning of the policy. While the call has been mostly interpreted as stabilizing for shaky U.S.-China relations, others argue that the concession gives China an “upper hand" in the dynamic between the worlds two biggest economies. In China, the state-owned Global Times notes in an editorial that “since assuming office, Trump and his team have changed their rhetoric about China. Trump has stopped openly challenging China's core interests, and instead showed respect to Beijing. The change creates an impression that Trump is learning about his role in the realm of Sino-U.S. ties. He's now sending a new message that he does not want to be a disruptor of the Sino-U.S. relations.” The op-ed adds that the Trump-Xi phone call, “is a sign that some confusion in the relationship has been sorted out at the current stage. The Sino-U.S. ties have, after a little shiver, returned to where they are supposed to stand.” In Taiwan, Presidential Office Spokesperson Alex Huang (黃重諺) said, “Taiwan and the U.S. have been in close contact and communication regarding this development, and continue to take an effective ‘zero surprise" approach.” Huang also said, “The U.S. administration including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has on multiple occasions reiterated its support for Taiwan and its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act, and for this Taiwan is most grateful.” The New York Times, in an article headlined, “Trump, Changing Course on Taiwan, Gives China an Upper Hand,” quotes Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, in Beijing, and an adviser to China’s State Council. Shi said, “Trump lost his first fight with Xi and he will be looked at as a paper tiger [...] This will be interpreted in China as a great success, achieved by Xi’s approach of dealing with him.” Taiwan Sentinel editor-in-chief J. Michael Cole writes, “While vague, the White House statement’s reference to President Trump’s agreeing to honor our — that is, the U.S.’ — ‘one China’ policy should be sufficient to please Beijing while reassuring Taipei that Washington has no intention to revise its official position, such as adopting the more definitive language contained in Beijing’s ‘one China’ principle.” Cole also points out, “Although Mr. Trump’s apparent (and not entirely unexpected) shift toward continuity may disappoint the more impatient segment of Taiwan’s green camp who were hoping for a break with the longstanding status quo, his decision to do so should dispel fears in Beijing and remove some of the incentives it had for punishing Taiwan. By doing so, President Trump may therefore have removed some of the variables that could have contributed to instability in the Taiwan Strait at a time when Washington is still fleshing out its policies for the wider Asia Pacific.” Change in course The incoming Trump administration late last year sent shockwaves through foreign policy community after a phone call on Dec. 2, 2016, between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) and then President-elect Trump. The call, thought to be the first time a president or president-elect of the United States has directly contacted the leader of Taiwan since 1979, marked a break with convention, as China has for decades blocked formal relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. Days later, Trump, during an interview with Fox News Sunday, signaled the potential for a change in the U.S. position on China. "I fully understand the 'one China' policy, but I don't know why we have to be bound by a 'one China' policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade," Trump told Fox. Trump has also been a vocal critic of China’s military build-ups in disputed territories in the South China Sea. In a series of tweets following the call with Tsai, Trump said, “Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into […] their country (the U.S. doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!” Rex Tillerson, then nominee for Secretary of State, on Jan. 11 testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. as part of the confirmation process for his role. During the hearing, Republican Sen. Cory Gardner asked the former ExxonMobil chief executive what the position on Taiwan and the one-China policy would be under the new administration. Tillerson noted the “important commitments” made to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) the Six Assurances Accord and said the U.S. should express a “reaffirmation” of those. “I think it is important that Taiwan knows we are going to live up to the commitments under the Relations Act and Six Issues Accord,” he said. “That in of itself is a message.” Tillerson said the action was part of a broader “whole of China” approach the U.S. would take in the region. The TRA, which dates back to 1979 after the U.S. established diplomatic ties with Beijing, enables continued non-official ties between Washington and Taipei including the authorization of the American Institute in Taiwan. The Six Assurances includes the promise the U.S. will not set a date for ceasing arms sales to Taiwan and it will not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. Writing about the TRA in 2009, the former head of American Institute in Taiwan Richard Bush noted that the TRA’s security-commitment “falls short of a defense treaty.” Editor: Olivia YangFor Robert J. Shea, Jr., Devoted father, partner, friend, and son: It was two years four months ago. Two years to see his son finish college; to travel the country and perhaps the world; to say goodbye to friends and family; to live his final days to their fullest. Two short years would never be enough, but we would make them last. That was the plan. But he’ll never hold my diploma or scale a distant mountaintop. We never got our two years, my father and I — his battle with lung cancer ended Tuesday, February 5th at 12:13PM. He was fifty-four. Had you asked me a year ago, I would have told you that I’d lived my life without regret. How wrong I would have been. There are a thousand things I wish I’d told my father and a thousand more I wish I hadn’t, things that weigh on me even now. Questions left unasked, telephone calls not returned, visits postponed, always because we had the time. And then suddenly we didn’t. From two years to one week, seven days when we should have had hundreds or thousands. If only we’d had more time. He should have cheered as I left university, completing a journey he never could. He should have stood beside me on my wedding day. He should have held my child and watched him grow. These and other moments in a son’s life no father should ever miss, moments no son should ever face without his father. Yet all I can offer in exchange is an empty seat in a place of honor. It will never fill the void or ease the pain, but in time, it may suffice. He was a man like any other, deeply flawed and greatly loved. There were long absent years and longer tearful nights, a young boy waiting for a man who never came. But time heals all things, as it healed the bond between my father and I. He inspired me to live a life he never could, to reach heights of which he could only dream. If I was his pride, he was my joy, infinitely patient and encouraging. The harshest nor’easter couldn’t dull his spirit; my father didn’t want to survive, he wanted to live. There were missteps, of course, wrongdoings and failures. One marriage undone by hardship, another by a medical mistake. He was an imperfect man born to an imperfect world, but who of us is any different? What matters is who we are at the end, and there my father stood tall and proud. A beloved son and partner, an admired parent, a dedicated humanitarian. He saw a brighter, happier future, wanting only to hasten its arrival. If only he could be here when it came. Perhaps he saw enough. When he was ten, men left Earth to walk the Moon. Boston sports, long his dearest passion, finally reign supreme. His state legalized same-sex marriage and the nation elected its first African-American president. His partner’s daughter was engaged, his son happy and successful. I wish my father could have seen more. But he died without pain at peace with the world, the last words he heard, “I love you, Dad.” For my father, I imagine that was enough. A Hebrew proverb may put it best: “Say not in grief, ‘He is no more,’ but live in thankfulness that he ever was.” I can’t help but mourn the life he might have led, the memories we might have made. But I remember the man he was, the guiding hand and the warm embrace. The kind word and the knowing smile. The promise that no matter the darkness, tomorrow would dawn a better day. I love you, Dad. May you rest in peace, wherever you are now. AdvertisementsCisco to the rescue, once again. In tonight's premiere of The Flash, Barry (Grant Gustin) has been in the speed force for six months (in earth time, at least), and now there's an evil samurai intent on fighting him and only him, or he'll destroy all of Central City. While the team knows and has generally accepted that Barry's in the speed force for a reason (because if he's not, the speed force will also destroy Central City), Cisco (Carlos Valdes) reveals in this exclusive clip that he's actually been working on a plan ever since the night Barry sacrificed himself. Strangely, it's Iris (Candice Patton) who's most resistant to the plan, but she's got a point. How does Cisco know he can close the speed force? How does he know the speed force won't take Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) instead? How does she know that Barry is even still alive?In 1945, workers at Brown University’s biology department were clearing out storage space when they stumbled on a giant trove of natural and ethnographic specimens and artifacts. The collection had belonged to the Jenks Museum of Natural History and Anthropology, founded at the school in 1871 and dismantled in 1915 to make way for new classrooms. Inexplicably, the workers drove 92 truckloads worth of the carefully curated objects to the banks of the Seekonk River, where they unloaded them into a common dump. Now, the collection has been resurrected from that mire by “The Jenks Society for Lost Museums” — a group of students and professors from Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design — with the help of artist Mark Dion. Like previous attempts to reimagine destroyed museums, their three collaborative installations, on view at Rhode Island Hall, recreates parts of the museum while challenging assumptions about permanence in museum work. Dion seems a natural fit for the project, having made his name as an artist/archeologist/historian/detective (of sorts). In 1999, he combed the muddy banks of the Thames River in front of Tate Modern, turning up a vast miscellany of clay pipes, plastic toys and even a human shinbone that he later displayed in a Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinet. Last year, he recreated the office of a half-fictitious curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, spinning a tale about anticommunist paranoia in 1950s America. The Lost Museum also centers on a strange character: John Whipple Potter Jenks — the museum’s founder and namesake, a man whose tombstone unfortunately reads, “This museum, the fruit of his labor, will be his abiding monument.” Poor Jenks. Though he created two other museums, the one at Brown was his crowning achievement. And the taxidermist, teacher and A Popular Zoology author funded much of it with his own pocketbook. In 1876, for example, he spent a small fortune on a Shetland pony that reputedly once belonged to Queen Victoria. By the 1890s, his museum contained more than 50,000 preserved animals, plants, fossils, minerals and other curiosities — most of which were destroyed after his death. Today, none of his museums, nor his countless taxidermy projects (save for a few hundred rodents he sent to the Smithsonian), survive. It’s fitting that the first part of the exhibition recreates Jenk’s cluttered, messy workshop. Every object in it — tools, starfish, a picture of a cow, copies of Darwin and the Bible, canes — tell a psychological story. They profile a passionate, obsessive collector, hungry not only to understand the natural world around him, but also to impart that knowledge to his students through an expansive teaching collection. He never guessed that later generations wouldn’t value it; that after a massive world war some might be more interested in looking to the future than cataloguing the past. But that was then. We all know that nostalgia for the past is one of the most recurring sentiments today. Naturally, the second installation contains replicas of Jenks’ discarded, forgotten artifacts, created by 80 different artists and housed in a reimagination of the storeroom where the objects languished for years. Each of these are painted white like ghosts. They include mounted butterflies, stuffed toucans, and fossilized trilobites — creatures that had wildly differing lives of their own before their afterlife at the museum began. They never expected the immortality that arrival in a museum confers; neither were they likely disappointed when the river swallowed them up instead. Not all of Jenks’ collection suffered that fate, though. The third part of the exhibition features a long case in the lobby containing a few artifacts that survived. Most are too decayed to be included in ordinary museum collections — a fact used to the show’s advantage. Rather than being organized by classification, geography, or chronology, they’re arranged by the extent to which they’ve fallen apart. The best preserved sit at far left; moving to the right, they begin to disintegrate, until all you see are the museum tags hinting at what once was. Ironically, it’s these half-preserved objects that illustrate just how unnatural museum preservation really is — another of man’s countless interventions in nature, in history, in life and death, in time. That museums confer eternal life is the great conceit of museums everywhere. No matter how precious, every book, folio, painting or stuffed pony — from the Bodleian Library to the Louvre —will eventually return to dust. The Lost Museum reminds us to enjoy them while we can. The Lost Museum will be on display in Rhode Island Hall (Brown University, 60 George Street, Providence, Rhode Island), which was the Jenks Museum’s original home, through May 2015.Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on Friday filed to sell up to $24.3 billion in stock, making it the biggest U.S. initial public offering ever. Alibaba is selling 123 million of the 320 million American Depositary Shares slated for the IPO at between $60 and $66 per share, according to a filing. Shareholders including Yahoo, Ma and executive vice chairman Joe Tsai are offering the remainder. Yahoo cut its stake in the company to 16.3 percent from 22.4 percent and SoftBank cut its stake to 32.4 percent from 34.1 percent earlier, Dow Jones reported. Alibaba's intent is to sell about 320.1 million ADS, worth just over $21 billion at the maximum offering price. Read MoreAlibaba shares slated to start trading Sept. 19 However, it is also accounting for the possibility that underwriters may choose to buy more shares after the offering, which is why it listed a proposed maximum offering price of $24.3 billion. The much-anticipated sale or IPO could raise more than $20 billion, making it the biggest technology listing in the United States. The intended deal size would make the Chinese e-commerce company the biggest IPO in U.S. history, followed by Visa, ENEL SpA, and Facebook, according to Renaissance Capital.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2010. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) When Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) steps down from the Senate in early 2017, Mormonism will lose its highest-ranking elected official -- and the most high-profile example that yes, there is such a thing as a Mormon Democrat. Mormons are the most Republican religious group in America, and they are moving to the right. A 2007 Pew study found about 66 percent identify with the party. By 2012, Pew found that figure had risen, and 74 percent of Mormons identified as Republican. During an address at Brigham Young University in 2007, Reid talked about what it was like being a Democrat in a deeply Republican faith. "It is not uncommon for members of the Church to ask how I can be a Mormon and a Democrat," he said. "Some say my party affiliation puts me in the minority of our Church members. But my answer is that if you look at the church membership over the years, Democrats have not always been the minority, and I believe we won't be for long. I also say that my faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it." It's true that Mormons haven't always been as Republican as they are today. Here's a chart from Seeking the Promised Land: Mormons and American Politics by David Campbell, John Green, and Quin Monson (it's a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of Mormonism and politics) that shows how that's changed since 1896. It specifically tracks only Utah Mormons, but it's telling. When Mormon Dem Harry Reid was elected to Congress in the '80s, about 70% of Utah LDS voted GOP vs. nearly 90% today. pic.twitter.com/H7sjtU2GLo — Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) March 27, 2015 When Reid was first elected to Congress in the 1980s, about 70 percent of Utah Mormons voted Republican. By 2012, that figure reached 90 percent -- though having a fellow Mormon on the ticket in 2012 certainly could be a factor in the record-breaking percentage. Reid's prediction that Democrats won't always be in the minority in the church came several years before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would show it doesn't toe the party line on some hot-button Republican issues. In 2010, the church backed immigration proposals that kept families together and focused on criminal activity rather than federal violations, and this year, Utah's LGBT and religious protections legislation was applauded by LGBT groups, while social conservatives were mostly unimpressed. [How much influence can a church have over its members' political beliefs? A Mormon case study] Mormon Democrats are more likely to be women and less likely to be white, mirroring Democratic demographics nationally, but unlike national trends, they're also more likely to be older. Mormons over the age of 65 are 51 percent Republican, compared with 69 percent of those under 30. So while Mormons very well may one day become more Democratic, it just might take awhile for a new generation to start voting. But by then, they won't have the high-profile example of Reid to look to.Get ready to pay more for multiplayer gaming on your Xbox 360. Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE has been hailed by some as the pinnacle of online console gaming, but should we really have to pay to play online? You’ve just splurged 200 quid on an Xbox 360 and spent another pretty penny on a bunch of multiplayer games. But when you want to take Halo ODST or Gears of War 2 for a spin online, you’re met with a charge. You’ve already bought the console, the games, and pay a monthly fee for your broadband, so why should you have to pay a subscription to Microsoft for all of the Xbox 360’s online gubbins? The issue has been around for years, but yesterday Microsoft announced an Xbox LIVE price hike. From 1 November, a one-month’s subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold will cost £5.99 instead of £4.99 in the UK. Unlike in the US, which will now cost an extra $10 a year, there’ll be no change to the UK’s yearly cost of £39.99. Is Xbox LIVE still the best? Xbox LIVE has been around for eight years, debuting on the original Xbox and later expanding onto the 360 in 2005. Most would agree that it revolutionised console gaming for good, putting online services right at the centre and forcing other gaming companies, like Sony and Nintendo, to push their own online offerings. Sure, Microsoft’s service has long been ahead of the pack, but the gap between its competitors is closing. Sony offers its PlayStation Network to PlayStation 3 gamers for free – and with additions like trophies and cross-game text chat, Microsoft’s justification to charge is becoming very taut. Of course, people will pay, because what other option do they have? But does it really offer value for money? Should you really have to pay to play a game you’ve already bought? Shouldn’t online gaming be free? I don’t really have much issue with paying for premium extras, but coughing up for online gaming itself seems like a cost too far. Especially when the service is still plastered with ads even when you do pay. You don’t get that with your BBC licence. Sure, Microsoft has server costs to pay (not for the games themselves – most are peer-to-peer) but Sony gets by without charging (its new PlayStation Plus service still offers free online gaming) and PC gamers don’t have to pay either. Why can’t online gaming be built into the cost of the game itself? Of course, you can buy your subscriptions when they’re on sale – but it’s the principle that counts. It’s a tax on gaming that you almost feel obliged to pay. It’s also my view that if we didn’t have to pay for the service itself, we’d feel much happier to spend our cash on extras we actually want. At least, I know I would.I never really understood the faith when I was a kid. I grew up in it. That was all. I was raised Catholic, and that was as much as I knew. I didn’t really understand what made the faith so special and so necessary in life. I was naïve to the true presence, the ultimate importance of the sacraments, and going to Church was just a chore that mom made us do; but some days we could miss it if we were too tired. Yeah… major fail, right? It goes on! My understandings of the sacraments were just textbook definitions that really didn’t demonstrate their importance. Prayers were just memorized. There was little to no heartfelt praise within school or the family for the faith. I do put some blame on the school system for the lack of a truly alive faith. In the 6th grade and on, I began to rely on God for some kind of answer. I wanted a release from people, from pain of the world. That was the year I decided to be a nun, and much later that I wanted to be a mother. I discuss this change in my previous post, “In Pursuit of Chastity”. In grade 7 I joined the choir at the church and became a little more excited about the faith. Praise and worship and being part of a group were helping me to feel the Lords presence. I was on a slow uphill to a revelation. Then grade 8 showed up and I plunged into a depression where I prayed for God to kill me. Yes, I prayed, with tears in my eyes that God would kill me so I wouldn’t have to and that I would be safe, at peace, and loved. I was completely alone and I felt abandoned by my friends as they moved on into high school before me. I had no one to love me, and I felt that I couldn’t offer enough to people. I felt so small and unimportant that I thought He was the only one that would possibly love me. I feel that I understood that the Lord had that power and He could do just about anything. What I didn’t understand was that He had plans for me, and was calling to me to find a hope and love in Him. In high school, I continued to struggle with my depression. I had to see a social worker by my own choice in order to have some form of closure. My family went through significant emotional trauma. My sister at the age of 16 got pregnant. My mom, thinking she had taught us the importance of marriage and sexual morality, felt heartbroken. We all did. We were heartbroken and scared. I couldn’t talk about it to anyone, so I relied on God and my writing to my future spouse to help me find purpose. I prayed still for God’s presence. I prayed for love in a way He planned out. I was getting a little closer. I prayed for chastity, for healing, and strength. I prayed for understanding. It wasn’t until university that I found I was not only challenged in the faith, but I also grew spiritually. Starting my relationship with Mike was the beginning for me. In friendship and in a courting relationship, I learned more about my value. I learned about love, about what the faith was meant to be, how to live the faith, and how powerful it was. He introduced me to Chris and Julie (the other members of Team Orthodoxy), and I began to learn so much about my faith and I fell in love with it. I began to recognize the power and sanctity of the sacraments. Their importance boggled my mind. God was really working in my life. My eyes were being opened to the crises that surrounded me and also the ones in my own heart. I had to start thinking more critically of my life and what I was doing. Being a Catholic was harder than I thought it was. By that, I mean actually practicing the faith and standing firm in the beliefs. Even in my own family, I can see that being a Catholic doesn’t really hold as much significance in their lives as it does in mine. I know about the Eucharist, Adoration, Confession, and the Sacrament of Marriage in ways that I attempt to explain to family members, but often it falls on deaf ears or they take the modernist secular approach to the teachings of the Church rather than accept them as truth (ie: reinterpret them to suit their own desires). As part of Team Orthodoxy, I always keep in mind that being a Catholic is hard. In a world that really wants to tear down the Church, I have learned that I need to hold my ground firmly. Being part of Team Orthodoxy has been one of the greatest contributions to my faith today, along with the help of Christ and with prayer. Friendships focused on Christ and getting each other to Heaven taught me to not only love myself, but to allow God to love and to be open in allowing Him to do whatever He desires to do in my life. -CatholicRukiEDITOR'S WARNING: Video includes foul language in Spanish. Over in the third tier of Argentinian football, Wednesday evening's Torneo Federal tie between Deportivo Roca and Cipolletti had to be scuttled with over 20 minutes left to play after a fairly innocuous yellow card offence quickly spiralled into utterly chaotic scenes involving several multi-man brawls, riot police and a total of 12 red cards being shown. The madness began when Cipolletti defender Marcos Lamolla was cautioned for a fairly unremarkable foul on Roca's Fernando Fernandez, who subsequently conspired to earn a second yellow himself for dissent. The pair then scuffled intermittently before Lamolla was also shown a second yellow by the increasingly irritated referee as tensions bubbled over and all hell broke loose. Referee Facundo Espinosa confirmed to reporters after the final whistle that, as well as dismissing Fernandez and Lamolla, he also sent off a further 10 players during the ensuing riot and that he had logged the names of all the guilty parties in his official match report. "Both teams' players were disgraceful, they didn't behave like professionals," admitted Roca coach Diego Landeiro after the game. "It was a disgrace and it means lots of work down the drain. I'm very bitter."MUSIC NEWS - Neko Case's acclaimed new album Middle Cyclone, on Anti- Records has debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200, just behind U2 and Taylor Swift! This marks the highest opening to date in 2009 by an independent release on Billboard's main album chart. Middle Cyclone (buy copy here) also bows at #1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. Her strong showing is in part to her recent television appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC and The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, as well as widespread critical acclaim for Middle Cyclone. Case kicks off a US tour March 31 at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, TX, and will perform on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS on April 15 (see itinerary below the break). Neko's last album, 2006's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood debuted at #52 on the Billboard Top 200. What some of the print critics are saying about Neko Case and Middle Cyclone: "Her voice is a force of nature." - THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE "'The best album of her career by a generous margin." - THE NEW YORKER "America may need Neko Case's back-to-nature fantasias more than ever." Rating: 9 out of 10 - SPIN MAGAZINEAfter a commercial break, Anderson Cooper came back on the air with the actual text of the Guttmacher Institute report and essentially called Kellyanne Conway a liar to her face We’re so used to Republican operatives going on cable news shows and lying with impunity that it has become newsworthy when a news host exposes one of them in a lie in real time during a broadcast. This happened recently on CNN when Soledad O’Brien challenged disgraced former Bush I chief of staff John Sununu, a Mitt Romney surrogate, during an interview after he trotted out the Romney campaign’s lie that Pres. Obama had “gutted Medicare.” Similarly, Anderson Cooper challenged Republican operative/pollster Kellyanne Conway when she attempted to distort a conversation about Missouri tea party candidate Todd Akin’s claim that women’s ovaries naturally repel the sperm of rapists by interjecting a false claim (at about 03:30 in the video above) that there has been a rise in sex-selection abortions in the United States: KELLYANNE CONWAY: The “Washington Post” reported on August 10th that there are Democrats who are going to the convention in Charlotte who want their plank expanded. They feel that it’s too draconian. It doesn’t allow for partial birth abortion bans. It doesn’t ban sex selection. You’ve got all these little baby girls being killed just because they’re girls in this country — COOPER: Wait, wait. CONWAY: I mean, Paul, under what — COOPER: Excuse me, where is that happening? CONWAY: Excuse me? COOPER: Where, as you say, we have all these baby girls being killed in this country because — on sex selections, on abortions? Where — (CROSSTALK) COOPER: Where is the evidence on that? CONWAY: The Guttmacher Institute which is the research on Planned Parenthood has data on sex selective abortions. And actually Congress — the House just passed a bill to ban that. I’m not sure it ever went to the Senate. And I’m sure President Obama would veto it if it was put on his desk — COOPER: But statistically, there’s not really much evidence that that is actually occurring in the United States. Amongst some immigrant groups in small numbers it may be occurring but in no statistical measure is it significant. CONWAY: Well, we should look at Guttmacher Institute’s statistics to really illuminate us on that. But it does — it does occur because there’s so much science now people can — they can know the gender of their baby and they make their choices accordingly. COOPER: It occurs overseas a lot but again I don’t think the evidence is here in the United States. I’ll double-check it. But I just read earlier. CONWAY: Thank you. Later, after a commercial break, Cooper came back on the air (at minute 06:46) with the actual text of the Guttmacher Institute report and essentially called Conway a liar to her face: COOPER: Before the break, Kellyanne, you mentioned the Guttmacher Institute information on sex, selective abortion in the United States. Here’s what they actually say in a May 30th press release titled “Sex Selective Abortion Bans: A Disingenuous New Strategy to Limit Women’s Access to Abortion.” The study acknowledges the practice does go on overseas as we mentioned and perhaps in certain Asian-American communities in the United States in small numbers. But, quote, “In the United States, meanwhile, there is limited data indicating that sex-selective abortion may be occurring in some Asian communities. Although the U.S. sex ratio at 1.05 males for every female is squarely within biologically normal parameters.” So I just wanted to put that out there. If Kellyanne Conway looks familiar, it’s because she was one of chorus of media types and GOP activists — all of whom happened to have blond hair — who turned their daily spittle-spewing bile about the Clintons in the 1990s into lucrative careers up through today. In addition to Conway, whose name was Kellyanne Fitzpatrick then, the other Clinton-hating blonds were MSNBC host Chris Matthews (who has since had a change of heart), Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham and Barbara Olson. Barbara Olson, who wrote two anti-Clinton books, died in the plane that hit the Pentagon on 9/11. Her husband Ted Olson was the lawyer for George W. Bush in the landmark Bush v. Gore case in 2000 in which the Supreme Court selected Bush over Vice Pres. Al Gore to be president. Ted Olson is is best known now as the conservative lawyer on the legal team fighting to overturn Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage amendment to the California Constitution. * Partial transcript of “AC 360” segment with Paul Begala and Kellyanne Conway follows on the next page.Ask a conscientious American mom about her baby's nap routine and she's probably going to mention the standard safety measures: laying junior on his back, keeping stray stuffed animals and blankets out of the crib so he doesn't suffocate, kissing the crucifix that hangs over the bed exactly 12 times so Jesus will keep the baby safe during his nap, and then keeping the baby monitor on and by your side while he sleeps. Ask Nordic women the same question and they'll say something along the lines of "Stick 'em outside" and then go back to being insanely beautiful. Asa Eriksson via BBC Continue Reading Below Advertisement No, that's not a stock photo with a white background. That's snow. The thermometer reads -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). For generations, Northern European moms have seen the bitter air of Old Man Winter as a healthy supplement to their babies' routines, as if babies are like cheese and will get moldy if left at room temperature. Talk to any Nordic mom and she'll tell you that exposing babies to the elements makes kids stronger, more resilient, and able to handle the elements later, which may not be true from a science perspective but is sure as hell metal. Imagine standing outside a Swedish day care in January and seeing a whole row of baby strollers full of napping kids. In Finland, they recommend putting babies in the cold at two weeks old. Do you even know what a 2-week-old baby looks like? It's an overgrown marshmallow. Via Babycenter.com Continue Reading Below Advertisement Obviously, the tots are wearing multiple layers of clothes and covered with blankets and probably have tiny little roaring fireplaces in their strollers. Parents even put cream on their little cheeks so the babies don't get chapped in the biting wind. Northern European parents aren't monsters, after all. Are these kids perpetually afflicted with colds or pneumonia? Are the parents just too stupid to figure out that noses aren't supposed to run 24/7 and chronic, hacking coughs are a bad thing? Of course not. But researchers are on the fence as to whether outside naps are good or bad for babies. Some studies indicate that kids who manage more hours outside end up taking fewer sick days from school during the year. Other studies found the opposite. So we're going to conclude that unless Europe starts unleashing mutant Mr. Freeze kids on the world, no one is nearly as worried about babies napping in subzero temperatures as we are.In a survey of 115,000 active-duty and reserve
it was mostly relegated to snippets of nap-time-construction-time and after-night-night-total-darkness-build-hours. However, I finally declare this beeyotch 99% done and ready for occupants! Who wants the grand tour? Just ignore the ugly tall unfinished fence post that’s part of my ugly tall garden deer fence. I wanted the coop in here so they could free range every now and then helping to clear the garden of weeds and bad bugs, while being protected from our friendly free range canine neighbors. Feast your eyes on the prettiest little coop Joanna has ever co-owned. Such is the life of a lucky Gentleman Farmer’s wife. The entire 8’x12′ structure is protected by half inch hardware mesh that encapsulates the 4’x8′ elevated, enclosed hen house. Every chicken book in our Metro library system (because I read them all) says you want a minimum of four feet indoor space and/or eight feet outdoor space per chicken. Initially, I’m targeting five chickies, so I (over) designed this beast to give them plenty of wing-stretching space. That hardware mesh is buried about twelve inches into the ground to thwart any raccoons, skunks, coyotes, or other hungry diggers looking for a free meal. The girls can access their Deluxe Apartment in the Sky through their very own ladder. See the Eye Hooks on either side? They help secure the front wall. It’s hinged and can be held open to access the inside for cleaning. “Open Sesame”. More fittingly for tasty pets, maybe it should be “Open Sesame Seed Bun”. On the right you’ll see a 2″-3″ diameter limb I scavenged and cut. It’s perfect for use as a roost at night. To the left are their nesting boxes which they’ll hopefully overflow with eggs. It’s very important the roost be higher than the nests. Chickens evolved in the wild roosting in trees at night as high as they could get. If your nests are above your desired roost, that’s where they’ll sleep (and make a terrible mess) each night, thereby soiling your eggs. Yes, I did line the floor with a scrap piece of linoleum Dad found at a garage sale. You might recall the dude can find you anything. This should greatly assist clean up. The floor will be covered in about two inches of sand (you’ll see in later pictures). A few seconds of scooping every few days keeps things nice and tidy up here. Yep, let’s definitely keep this area clean. Chickens share nesting areas. A rule of thumb is you should have one box for every three to four hens. So I went overkill here, but since I could theoretically house up to 10-12 birds in this structure, I might as well give them some options. Above you can see the sand that still needs spread out. There are a lot of different bedding options, but I’m trying sand because it best dries the droppings, reducing smell and easing clean up. A note: You don’t want fine play sand. Rather, look for washed “construction sand” or “river sand” that is coarser. The most suitable (and cheapest) stuff I could find was at Home Depot and labeled as “all purpose sand”. Purchasing pullets (female chickens less than a year old) or hens (older than a year) will set you back between $4-$12 each around these parts, so I made sure to adequately protect my investment and load test to exceed weight specifications before their arrival. The entire top is open, but protected by hardware mesh so nothing can climb the walls and drop in for a chicken smorgasbord. I made sure the mesh “ceiling” is over six feet tall so we can walk in and work comfortably without having to stoop. There are a few inches between the mesh and the sloped metal roof to provide plenty of ventilation, which is essential for healthy living quarters. You definitely do not want ammonia building up inside a dirty coop. I built a small outside access door that opens into the back of the nesting boxes. That way we can gather breakfast without having to enter the main structure. Both this access door and the human door on the front are locked with carabiners. I read that raccoons are able to open anything a two year old toddler can open. Let’s hope these do the trick. Voila. Open that door each morning and fill up your carton with natural, organic backyard eggs. Not these plastic easter eggs made in China. They train our young girls where they should be laying. When the girls see egg-shaped thingies in a safe comfy spot, they learn it’s a good place to lay and will head there when nature calls. Golf balls can also be used in this role, but I don’t have any on hand since a golf course is a terrible use of land that would otherwise make a great rifle practice range. There you go. I hope you enjoyed your look around. I know. I know. It’s so breathtakingly beautiful you’ll throw a tantrum when it’s time to leave. Tantrum. Every. Time. For now these are our only occupants, thanks to people practically giving away 1960s era decorations on Craigslist. We’ll be sure to update you when they get some hot female company. –Mike Question of the Day: Pretend you’re my wife. Would you only be interested in chicken keeping for the Photography?Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell takes a photo with high school Republicans during a campaign rally on Oct. 22, 2014, in Vanceburg, Kentucky. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Forget the U.S. Senate. Even if Republicans seize control of the chamber, their policy-changing prospects will be limited at best. The election night results you should really keep an eye on involve candidates whose names you don’t know in races that rarely, if ever, cross the national radar. These election contests could affect how high your taxes are, whether your neighborhood abortion clinic stays open, and just how much influence unions have in your state. Spoiler: State legislatures matter—a lot. If there’s one truth of divided government, it’s that the most significant legislative action often happens on the state level instead of in gridlocked Washington. While the U.S. Congress has been bogged down in a morass, state legislatures with single-party rule have been hopping. In the last few years, for instance, the Republicans who control Texas’ legislature and governorship have passed bills banning abortion after 20 weeks, tightening regulations on abortion clinics, reducing the number of required standardized tests for students, running the table on tort reform, and requiring photo ID to vote. And just like Republicans running for federal office are expecting a wave or wavelet of sorts next week, their state-level counterparts are aiming to take control of a few more legislative chambers—potentially with substantial policy consequences. Let’s start with Iowa. Though the state’s representation in Congress is perfectly bipartisan—one Republican and one Democratic senator at the moment, as well as two Republicans and two Democrats in the House of Representatives—its statewide government is almost entirely dominated by the GOP. The Republican governor, Terry Branstad, will waltz to re-election, and Republicans have a six-seat majority in the state legislature that they expect to hold comfortably. Democrats still control the state Senate by three seats, but Iowa’s Republican State Leadership Committee is bullish about its prospects of flipping that chamber. In part, their confidence is spilling over from how much positive attention the party is getting for its other candidates. State Sen. Joni Ernst’s stronger-than-expected campaign to fill the state’s open Senate seat has been a jolt for Iowa Republicans. Some expect having Ernst at the top of the ticket could have a felicitous down-ballot effect on Election Day. Likewise, the number of 2016 presidential contenders schmoozing their way through the state—Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Rick Perry, and Gov. Bobby Jindal, to name a few—is having an energizing effect on the party’s base. Republicans by no means have the state Senate locked up. But if they win it, the Hawkeye State might look a little more like the Lone Star State. Abortion restrictions, for example, would likely be a top agenda item. Jenifer Bowen, the director of Iowa Right to Life, said state Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal’s refusal to allow votes on pro-life legislation is the main reason Iowa doesn’t have laws barring late-term and telemedicine abortions. “We know Gov. Branstad is eager to sign pro-life legislation,” Bowen said. If Democrats’ slim margin in the state Senate doesn’t hold up, Branstad will soon have a chance to reach for his pen. Republicans are also poised to take over the entire state government in Arkansas. They claimed both the state House of Representatives and state Senate in 2012—one of the few bright spots for Republicans on that night—and Republican nominee Asa Hutchinson is likely to defeat Democrat Mike Ross in the contest for the open governorship. Likewise, Republican Rep. Tim Griffin should have no trouble becoming the next lieutenant governor. Arkansas was one of the last holdouts for Democrats in the South. After next Tuesday, it probably will be no more. And for Arkansans, that likely means one thing: tax cuts. A conservative insider based in Washington with close ties to the state’s Republicans said Hutchinson has been gathering tax-cut ideas and that it’s highly likely the state will shortly get rate-reducing tax reform. If Iowa is poised to look a bit more like Texas, then Arkansas is heading Kansas-ward. The West Virginia House of Delegates is another chamber that has national Republicans feeling confident this election cycle. That’s because there is a realistic chance that Republicans could hold both chambers of the legislature as well as the governorship in 2016. If that happens, it will probably be bad news for unions, as the kind of tough-on-labor legislation that has passed in Wisconsin and Michigan could be at the top of the docket for Mountain State Republicans. Another potential historic win that has Republicans keeping their fingers crossed: the Kentucky state House of Representatives. Flipping that chamber wouldn’t have the kind of immediately foreseeable policy consequences as in other states, but it would be a big psychological victory for the GOP; Republicans haven’t held it since before the Great Depression. So while there will be plenty of buzz this coming Tuesday night about historic wins and game-changing losses in Congress, remember that the contests you hear about least may be the ones that matter most.Boko Haram carried out one of its deadliest attacks yet earlier this month, on the Nigerian town of Baga. It is difficult to verify the number of people killed but one woman who survived the attacks has told the BBC Hausa service about life in the town. She managed to escape from Baga and has asked to remain unnamed. "Boko Haram fighters are currently in control of the town. When they attacked, they destroyed shops and burnt down our houses. There are lots of bodies scattered on the street and some have started decomposing. The militants gathered the old men who could not leave the town and some strong women and forced them to bury the corpses because of the stench - I saw all of this. Under control Many of the women could not escape during the attack and we were all brought with the old men to the palace of the traditional ruler. I spent a week there. In the mornings and evenings the insurgents would gather the women together and preach to them. Boko Haram at a glance Image copyright AFP Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja Abducted hundreds, including at least 200 schoolgirls Controls several north-eastern towns Launched attacks on Cameroon Soldiers without weapons Who are Boko Haram? Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram Two days after the attack, a man who claimed to be Abubakar Shekau [the leader of Boko Haram] came and addressed us. He said: "Today, where is your government from local to highest level? You are now under our control." And he preached to us. After that, Shekau and many of the insurgents left the town in the hands of some Boko Haram members who are from Baga. These men have taken control of the young women in the town. They rape and abuse our daughters. In the evening they choose ones who are neither pregnant nor nursing mothers and take them away. They don't bring them back until the morning. If it is not rape what are they doing to them? Marriage But there are some young women who show interest in the Boko Haram militants and want to marry them. I saw about 25 of them who were having good relationships with them. The Boko Haram fighters have also taken over the hospitals. In the mornings, the militants come and ask if there is any woman who is not feeling well and they take her to hospital. They took away all the goods in the market before destroying it. I counted close to 20 vehicles full of goods from the market and they feed the women from this. One day we begged the militants to let us go home to shower and change our dirty clothes. Some of them agreed and escorted us to the house. They waited outside while we went in. We then got out from the other end of the house and fled. That is how we escaped."In my mind, there are few higher callings in the baking world than cookies, and simply no higher cookie callings than shortbread, so I cannot think of a better place to start my Week-O-Cookies. They are firm enough to pack in a tin but manage to taste soft. Bites seem to dissipate in your mouth, but not so quickly that you feel you were shorted. They get better with age–and really, who doesn’t want that? And while I will never, ever (ever) complain about a plain one made with some of that Danish butter with sea salt flecks, I’m continually impressed by the myriad of ways shortbread can be adapted and still be as delicious as the original. Dorie Greenspan’s Espresso-Chocolate Shortbread are an awesome example of this, and were the first time I have had a coffee-flavored cookie that really, truly tasted first and foremost like coffee. The tiny chocolate bits are reminiscent of Everyone’s Favorite Dorie Cookie, the World Peace variety, but even cooler in this because they’re more contrasted to the cookie flavor. But here is where I tell you the secret that I hope will blow your mind, even though I haven’t tried it myself–yet. Toffee-Coffee. I mean, how amazing would that be? Specifically I’m thinking of one of my favorite readily-available toffee chocolate bar, Ghiradelli’s Toffee Interlude. And look at that–exactly the four ounces the recipe requires! I consider it a sign, kismet. Do tell me if you try the coffee-toffee combination. Though it’s hard for me to imagine these cookies getting any better, this might be their only chance. And every cookie deserves a chance, right? Smitten Kitchen Went to Aruba and All I Got Were These Lousy Cookies! Deb and Alex have flown the snowy, slushy and biting cold coop this week for warm, sandy island shores and countless tubes of SPF 50, so comment responses are going to be slow until they return. In our absence, we leave you with a Week of Cookies–this is recipe one of four. One year ago: Zucchini Latkes Espresso-Chocolate Shortbread Cookies Adapted from Baking: From My Home to Yours I have to admit that one of the coolest things about this is the rolling-in-a-bag technique. Why have I never thought of this before? This is a common refrain whenever I make Dorie recipes. Makes 42 cookies 1 tablespoon (about 4 grams) instant espresso powder 1 tablespoon (15 ml) boiling water 2 sticks (8 ounces or 225 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2/3 cup (80 grams) confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon coarse, sea or kosher salt 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour 4 ounces (115 grams) bittersweet chocolate (plain, or a toffee variety), finely chopped, or 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional) 1. Dissolve the espresso in the boiling water, and set aside to cool to tepid. 2. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is very smooth. Beat in the vanilla, espresso and salt, then reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. Don’t work the dough much once the flour is incorporated. Fold in the chopped chocolate with a sturdy rubber spatula. 3. Using the spatula, transfer the soft, sticky dough to a gallon-size zipper-lock plastic bag. Put the bag on a flat surface, leaving the top open, and roll the dough into a 9 x 10 1/2 inch rectangle that’s 1/4 inch thick. As you roll, turn the bag occasionally and lift the plastic from the dough so it doesn’t cause creases. When you get the right size and thickness, seal the bag, pressing out as much air as possible, and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or for up to 2 days. 4. Position the racks to divide the oven into thirds and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. 5. Put the plastic bag on a cutting board and slit it open. Turn the firm dough out onto the board (discard the bag) and, using a ruler as a guide and a sharp knife, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer the squares to the baking sheets and carefully prick each one twice with a fork, gently pushing the tines through the cookies until they hit the sheet. 6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point. The shortbreads will be very pale–they shouldn’t take on much color. Transfer the cookies to a rack. 7. If you’d like, dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar while they are still hot. Cool the cookies to room temperature before serving.FCC Temporarily Stops Taking Net Neutrality Comments So FCC Can 'Reflect' from the reflect-away dept Okay, let's be quite clear here: this is not some crazy new thing that the FCC is doing, but it's important for members of the public to understand what's happening. As lots of people have been commenting (some of which are fake) on the FCC's proposed plan to rollback net neutrality, the FCC will be temporarily be shutting down the ability to comment. This is not in response to the fake comments. Nor is it in response to the site being overwhelmed -- whether by John Oliver or [snort!] random DDoS attacks that no one else can see. Rather it's... to give the FCC a moment of peaceful reflection. No really: Under the Commission’s long-standing rules that apply to all proceedings, all presentations to Commission “decision-makers” that concern a matter listed on the Agenda are prohibited during what is known as the Sunshine Agenda period. This means that during this brief period of time, members of the public cannot make presentations to FCC employees who are working on the matter, and are likely to be involved in making a decision on it, if the underlying content of the communication concerns the outcome of the proceeding. Thus, for example, during this brief period of time, the Commission’s rules generally prohibit members of the public from submitting comments through the Commission’s website addressing the merits of the Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or any other item to be considered at the May 18 meeting. The Commission adopted these rules to provide FCC decision-makers with a period of repose during which they can reflect on the upcoming items. Apparently, the geniuses at the FCC don't know how to just not read the incoming comments for a few days. Imagine if other businesses put up signs that said "Please, no emails, I need a period of repose to reflect on upcoming business." Most people would think that's crazy. Look, if the FCC wants time alone, it should either just stop looking at the comments for a few days or build a system that holds the comments in transit until the "Sunshine" period is up. While I'm sure some folks will insist that this is being done to stop the public from commenting, that's not true. It's just a dumb rule that the FCC has that it should dump, in part because of just how clueless and out of touch it makes the FCC look. Meanwhile, if you do still feel the need to comment, the EFF is doing what the FCC itself should do and has set up its own page at DearFCC.org to hold any comments after midnight tonight (when the Sunshine period goes into effect) until comments open up again. That form is useful, though I generally don't like form mailers that have text that you cannot change, as the EFF's does (it lets you add in additional comments, but has some permanent text). Update: Strike that, I'm wrong. While it does have some pre-filled text, when you click to the next page you can change all of it, and aren't limited to their language at all. Either way: the important thing is this: if you want to add your comments to the record on net neutrality (AND YOU SHOULD), you should get in a comment today or you'll need to wait a week or so until comments open up again. Meanwhile, since the FCC apparently needs this brief respite to "reflect" on "upcoming items" such as net neutrality, does this mean that we won't be seeing Ajit Pai or his staffers being quoted in the news and on Twitter mocking those who oppose his plans? Or, is that still allowed while they "reflect"? Filed Under: comments, fcc, net neutrality, sunshineGetty Images When addressing the reports of resentment toward quarterback Russell Wilson because he’s treated differently by the organization, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman didn’t deny that Wilson is treated differently. Instead, Sherman said that most quarterbacks are treated differently. Recently, Vikings offensive lineman Alex Boone disputed the notion of a quarterback double standard in a visit to PFT Live. “I don’t know any team that would treat their quarterback differently or coddle them,” Boone said. “I think that kind of comes from upstairs maybe in different places. I know as far as here, our teams keeps everybody accountable and holds everybody to the same standard.” Regardless of whether it happens elsewhere, the “everybody does it” explanation helps obscure the apparent reality that it happens in Seattle, and in turn to sidestep questions regarding whether the dynamic leaves any of the players held to a higher standard miffed. And while everyone currently seems to be on the same page in Seattle (the decision to make Sherman available to reporters on Wednesday arguably was part of the “all is well” effort), all that matters is whether the inevitable adversity of a football season will bring them together or yank them apart — and whether the reporters who undoubtedly will be scouring the locker room for anyone who will say anything remotely inflammatory manage to find it.It’s easy win a debate against a libertarian. Just keep asking them questions. Sure, they might have a few answers for how private police would work, or the courts, or the post office, but just keep asking them how everything would work, and they’re bound to trip. This could be called “The Government of the Gaps” argument. Whenever there is a hole in the free-market, people assume that the government should fill it. This “Government of the Gaps” thinking puts libertarians on the defensive. Some economists and libertarians have attempted to close the gaps by answering literally every question about how an international society for individual liberty would work. Who would build the roads? No problem. Disease? Done! How about national defense? Piece of cake. The books “The Machinery of Freedom” by David Friedman and “Short Answers to the Tough Questions“, by Mary Ruwart do an excellent job of answering every question one could possibly ask, and if that’s not enough, there are more books with answers. However, no matter how many answers there are, there will always be a new gap to find. “Okay,” the big government guy will say, “So you’ve told me how private post-offices would work, but how many employees will they have? What color will the post-offices be? What if they’re paid too little? Who will design the stamps?” As long as libertarians are on the defensive, they are prone to tripping over one of these questions, and falling victim to the Government of the Gaps argument. However, there is a solution. The Government of the Gaps argument itself can be challenged. For example, if libertarians ask, “Why does government have authority in the first place?” it puts those who believe in the authority of government on the defense. Philosophers over the years have tried to answer this problem of political authority, but according to philosophy professor Michael Huemer, no one has a good theory yet. In his book, “The Problem of Political Authority“, Michael Huemer goes through every philosophical justification for government’s authority, and shows enormous holes all the arguments. These are not minor gaps either. These are major, glaring holes in the justification for the state’s authority — big enough to drive a bus through. He knocks down social contract theory with ease. He bats away democracy so quickly it’s laughable. He gives the consequentialists and the utilitarians a pummeling so hard, you almost feel sorry for them. He even gives the non-aggression principle a run for it’s money. And at the end of the match, no one is left standing. According to Huemer, the burden of proof should be on those who believe in the authority of government, not on those who don’t. To quote Penn Jillette, “My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don’t know what’s best for other people.” Well said, Penn.Product Description Shining, The: Special Edition (BD) Amazon.com ]]> Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is less an adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling horror novel than a complete reimagining of it from the inside out. In King's book, the Overlook Hotel is a haunted place that takes possession of its off-season caretaker and provokes him to murderous rage against his wife and young son. Kubrick's movie is an existential Road Runner cartoon (his steadicam scurrying through the hotel's labyrinthine hallways), in which the cavernously empty spaces inside the Overlook mirror the emptiness in the soul of the blocked writer, who's settled in for a long winter's hibernation. As many have pointed out, King's protagonist goes mad, but Kubrick's Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is Looney Tunes from the moment we meet him--all arching eyebrows and mischievous grin. (Both Nicholson and Shelley Duvall reach new levels of hysteria in their performances, driven to extremes by the director's fanatical demands for take after take after take.) The Shining is terrifying--but not in the way fans of the novel might expect. When it was redone as a TV miniseries (reportedly because of King's dissatisfaction with the Kubrick film), the famous topiary-animal attack (which was deemed impossible to film in 1980) was there--but the deeper horror was lost. Kubrick's The Shining gets under your skin and chills your bones; it stays with you, inhabits you, haunts you. And there's no place to hide... --Jim EmersonDon't you feel privileged as a man to die for freedom, to provide a good life for family, so that twisted feminists can dish out trash in order to promote themselves as...important? How is male privilege used as a form of control? How does male privilege support domestic violence? What is the impact of men abusing their male privilege? On their partners? On their children? On their relationships? On their selves? On society in general? They pose a real and dangerous threat to our families and our children. The pain society is experiencing today is not imposed by men, but by feminist clowns, which their right to crap shit out of their mouths is protected by an overwhelming majority of....men... The pain society is experiencing today is not imposed by men, but by feminist clowns, which their right to crap shit out of their mouths is protected by an overwhelming majority of....men... Male privilege is the belief that men are entitled to certain privileges that women are not, simply because they are men.Another organisation "infested" with the parasite of the twisted radical anti male feminist doctrine.WE are sooooo privileged!!!!Men traditionally have dominated the family, politics, law, finance, education, the police, the military, and more. They have the power to gain and maintain controlIt fosters the belief that women are weak, dependent, and not capable of making life choices for themselves and that men have the authority to make those decisions for them. When this authority is challenged, abusive men react by using controlling and abusive behaviors, including violence, in order to maintain control and retain the privileges they believe they are entitled to..It devalues her worth as a human being and her abilities. It fosters an unhealthy dependence and self-doubt. It destroys self-esteem. She may feel trapped, angry, powerless, unfulfilled, resentful, and worthless. She learns to be manipulative in order to get what she wants.Same as above as well as “this is how it is in the real world.” Girls learn submission; boys learn aggression. Both learn it’s okay to be abusive, controlling, and violent. Both learn that violence is the way that a person gets what they want. The cycle continues.Healthy relationships are based on mutual caring, understanding, respect, and equality. Male privilege by its very nature destroys the qualities of a healthy relationship.By abusing their privilege, these men will never become fully functioning human beings because, emotionally, they will never grow up. They never learn what a caring, mutually respectful relationship is all about.Male privilege fosters a system of inequality in which no two people are equal. They may have power over some but there will always be someone more powerful than them. The name of the game then becomes “pass on the pain.”Their is a point of reason here to say that some in our society abuse their freedoms, and it is "not" men, whenever a group attacks another, simply to benefit themselves, this group must and will be eradicated.The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has said that he backs halving the legal time limit for women to have abortions, from 24 weeks to 12. The intervention by Hunt reignited hostilities over one of the most polarising issues in politics on the eve of the Conservative party conference. Coming just days after Maria Miller, the women's minister, backed calls for a reduction in the legal limit for abortions, Hunt's comments deepened fears among pro-choice campaigners that abortion laws are set to come under renewed assault. "There's an incredibly difficult question about the moment we should deem life to start," said the health secretary, who had held off on publicly stating his current position on abortion since he was given the portfolio in last month's reshuffle. "I'm not someone who thinks that abortion should be made illegal. Everyone looks at the evidence and comes to a view about when that moment is and my own view is that 12 weeks is the right point for it." His comments were described as "shocking and alarming" by Diane Abbott, the shadow minister for public health, who added: "It does seem as if the Tories are gearing up for another assault on women's reproductive rights. "It's almost like he has plucked 12 weeks as a figure out of thin air, but it's very alarming that the secretary of state for health wants to take a position on women's reproductive rights that is not based on medical evidence. "We're seeing a sustained ideological attack on the science, and the rights that British women and families have fought for. There is no evidence to support a reduction in the abortion time limit and this view is supported across the medical profession. "It's a really frightening thing for the sorts of decisions he is going to make on reproductive rights. The Tories seem determined to open up this front on what the Americans call 'values'." Hunt's remarks caused surprise among health experts. Although 91% of abortions take place before 12 weeks, health professionals warned that a cut-off for terminations at that point would curtail testing for conditions such as Down's syndrome and rush women into having abortions they might come to regret. Dr Kate Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, questioned the basis for Hunt's reference to making his decision after looking at evidence. "What evidence is he thinking of? I can't think of anything." She warned that, if women were not allowed legal terminations, they would resort to buying abortion pills over the internet and embarking on other risky courses of action. Hunt, who made his comments in an interview with the Times (paywall), denied that his stance was a consequence of his Christian belief: "I don't think the reason I have that view is for religious reasons. "There are some issues that cut across health and morality, a bit like capital punishment does for crime. There are all sorts of arguments in favour and against in terms of deterrence and justice, but also there is a fundamental moral issue that sits behind it. I think abortion is one of those issues." Clare Murphy, head of public policy for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, meanwhile said that the proportion of abortions taking place after 12 weeks had remained fairly static at about 8% of all abortions. Hunt's intervention was welcomed by Nadine Dorries, the backbench Tory MP who last year launched a failed parliamentary bid to strip abortion providers of their role in providing pregnancy counselling. She said on Twitter that she was "delighted" with his comments and reiterated that she would re-introduce an amendment to reduce the time lime to 20 weeks, adding that three quarters of GPs wanted a reduction from 24. However, Hunt's preference for 12 weeks placed him at odds not just with Miller, who favours 20, but also a significant number of Tory MPs and party members who are pro-choice. Political commentators have questioned the wisdom of sparking a political row over such an emotive issue as the party heads into its conference. Tory MP Amber Rudd announced in July that she was to launch an inquiry into unwanted pregnancy in an attempt to prevent the issue being hijacked by anti-abortion advocates in her own party. A spokesman for No 10 said that the prime minister did not share Hunt's view about a cut to 12 weeks. Cameron said during the last general election campaign that he would support a reduction to 20 or 22 weeks.New DayZ Dev Video Reveals Major Changes for 2018 As of last week, DayZ has been on Steam Early Access for four full years. Last month, developer Bohemia Interactive shared the news that the long-awaited DayZ Beta (designated version 0.63) would not release before the end of this year. They were extremely candid about their own failings and fan-disappointment in that announcement, but they promised that the wait will be worth it. Today they’ve released a year in review video that’s transparent in regards to the obstacles faced porting DayZ from the dated ARMA II engine to the entirely new and more flexible Enfusion Engine, which has been in development in tandem with DayZ. Several members of the team remark on all of the improvements that the new engine will allow for once DayZ enters beta in 2018, showcasing improved animations, gameplay mechanics, combat, and more with gameplay footage. The video sends a hopeful message for patient fans. According to Bohemia, 2018 will be the year of DayZ. It’s confirmed to go into beta, arrive on Xbox One Game Preview, and finally have a formal launch all next year. As a big fan of the game that’s been sitting on the sidelines until the game entered beta, I’m excited and hope to jump back into the dangerous countryside of Chernarus once more and experience true survival-based terror. Reception to the game’s final release will be interesting to watch.Maryam Rajavi welcomes a distinguished delegation including John R. Bolton from US -Grand Gathering for a Free Iran- Paris, July 1, 2017 \| Maryam Rajavi Advertising campaigns don’t come cheap and those paying want value for money. The Mojahedin Khalq (MEK) annual event at Villepinte in France to celebrate so-called armed struggle and promote violent regime change against Iran is about showcasing the MEK to build a brand presence in political and media circles. The Mojahedin Khalq (MEK) brand, like any other brand, depends for its success on advertisement and consumer support. Support for the MEK is strongest in America where reports that the Trump administration will adopt a policy of regime change toward Iran has led to speculation this will involve the MEK. Clearly the anti-Iran elements which pay for the MEK believe they are getting value for money. What does the MEK offer for their dollar? First and foremost, anyone who believes the MEK has renounced violence and terrorism should revisit their recent history (perhaps consult their Farsi language websites for MEK narratives rather than the English language NCRI propaganda). After losing their benefactor Saddam Hussein in 2003 the MEK, from its Iraqi base in Camp Ashraf and headquarters in Paris, engaged in active support for the Saddamist led insurgency which was expanded by AQI and more recently the failed efforts of Daesh to overrun Baghdad. It took twelve years for the government of Iraq to succeed in its demand that America remove the group from Iraq. Taking the MEK off America’s terrorism list in 2012 (followed by British and European Union terrorism lists) was a pragmatic move to allow the relocation of the group in third countries. Of course, the American government had no intention of relocating the group to the US. Why would they when France and Albania would host the group instead. The MEK has never dropped its agenda of supporting terrorism. Even after arriving in Albania, the MEK’s support for Daesh and violent extremists has been fully in step with prominent war-mongers; those who don’t mind the violent imposition of an inhumane so-called caliphate on millions of citizens in the Middle East so long as Iran is contained.However, this US-centric view of the situation is not echoed by Europe. The visits by John Bolton and Senator John McCain to the
, as well as Microsoft Windows 10 IoT edition. You will need the latest NOOBS image for the Wireless LAN and Bluetooth drivers to be installed. We sell a pre-imaged NOOBS card on it's own or you will find it included in our Pi 3 B+ Essentials Kit and Pi 3 B+ Starter Kit. Faster processing Improved thermals on the Pi 3 B+ means that the CPU on the BCM2837 SoC can now run at 1.4GHz, a 17% increase on the previous Pi 3 model (which ran at 1.2GHz). Video performance on Pi 3 B+ is similar to the previous generation Pi 3, the VideoCore being clocked at 400MHz for video processing and the 3D graphics processor running at 300MHz. Faster wireless A significant change on the Pi 3 B+ compared to the Pi 3 is the inclusion of a new faster, dual-band wireless chip (CYW43455) with 802.11 b/g/n/ac wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.2. The dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless LAN enables faster networking with less interference (although the higher bandwidth has less range), and the new PCB antenna technology should allow better reception. Bluetooth allows you to use a wireless keyboard/trackpad without extra dongles, keeping things nice and tidy. Faster ethernet The Pi 3 B+ has significantly faster wired networking, thanks to an upgraded USB/LAN chip, and you should see speeds that are 3-5x faster than on previous models of the Pi, at least 300Mbit/s. GPIO and layout The GPIO header remains the same, with 40 pins, as on the previous three models of Pi. However, it should be noted that the new PoE header pins may contact components on the underside of some HATs, like Rainbow HAT. Some standoffs will prevent any mischief from occurring though! The metal shielding on the wireless circuitry and the SoC may also cause shorts against larger components on the underside of HATs, pHATs, and SHIMs. In the first two cases, standoffs will help again; in the latter, a couple of small pieces of insulating tape or Kapton tape will prevent any shorts. Note that older Pibows will not fit the new Pi 3 B+! Because of changes to some components on the topside of the board, we've redesigned our Pibow and Pibow Coupé cases to ensure they fit snugly. The new Pibows are backwards compatible with the previous model Pi 3.Nine voters cast the first ballots of the N.H. primary in Dixville Notch right as the clock hit midnight on Feb. 9. (Reuters) In sweaters, knit hats, gloves and mittens, they came. They came in service of democracy and freedom; they came to boost tourism and media attention to worked-over New England towns that have seen better days. They came to exercise their God-given constitutional right to vote for a presidential candidate and, in theory, to be the “first” in the nation to do so, in a primary at least. They came in a dark, inevitably frozen winter evening. And they came at midnight, braving the beasts that roam the wilderness to make their marks on ballots — and leave their mark on history. The results of New Hampshire midnight voting are in — and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, senator from Vermont, and Republican contender John Kasich, governor of Ohio, have won big, each taking two of three small Granite State districts that, combined, measured the opinions of 65 voters. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, also a Democratic candidate, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) each logged a victory as well. All told, Sanders won the support of 17 voters and Clinton got nine. On the Republican side, Cruz, Kasich and Donald Trump each had nine votes. [Presidential hopefuls make a final N.H. sprint in wild 2016 campaign] “We’re a pretty small town in an out-of-the-way place in mountains, and live fairly quiet lives most of the time,” Mark Dindorf, a selectman from Hart’s Location, said in a telephone interview shortly after midnight. “It’s interesting that we attract this degree of attention every four years.” Though Dixville Notch, an unincorporated town about 20 miles from the Canadian border, gets more media play, Dindorf said Hart’s Location was the first New Hampshire town to experiment with “first in the nation” status, reporting the results of the 1948 primary as early as 7 a.m. Just after midnight Tuesday, Sanders defeated Clinton there 12-7, and Kasich bested Trump 5-4. For Hart’s Location, a town of less than 50 people, the glory was fleeting. “We’ll soon drift back into relative obscurity,” Dindorf said. Before12:01 could strike, the results were in! Did you follow us on Twitter tonight for live updates? Posted by The Balsams Resort on Monday, February 8, 2016 Meanwhile, in Dixville Notch, a place with an even smaller population, live CNN coverage documented Sanders’s thrashing of Clinton, 4-0. Kasich edged out Trump, 3-2. Vote totals were written with Sharpies on poster board. [In Dixville Notch, the economy dried up, then the candidate appearances did] “This is an example of American democracy where 100 percent of the voters come out and vote,” Tom Tillotson, the 71-year-old town moderator of the event for decades, told the network. “It’s also a part of a primary process where it’s sort of an endangered species where the candidates actually go out and talk to the voters, and anything we can do to keep that alive helps our political process.” (Kasich was the lone presidential candidate to visit Dixville Notch.) And, in Millsfield — a town of about 25 people that is reviving its midnight-voting tradition after an apparent decades-long hiatus and a battle with Dixville Notch over bragging rights — Clinton beat Sanders, 2-1. Cruz ruled the Republican field with nine votes; runner-up Trump got only three. [Two New Hampshire towns are fighting for the prestige of the ‘midnight vote’] “It went very smoothly,” Roland Proulx — selectman and owner of the Log Haven Restaurant and Lounge, which hosted the voting — said in a telephone interview. “We were able to conduct the election in six minutes’ time. And it took about that same amount of time to count the votes. The results were up at 12:12. And I proceeded to scan the info and send it out to various news media.” He added: “People have come from near and far who just like to witness the tradition. It’s fun to have that energy here as well.” Sadly for the winners — and happily for the losers — coming in first with a few scores of voters means nothing in a state of roughly 1.3 million people. Dixville Notch is not even great at predicting Democratic nominees; its record on Republican nominees is better, despite the occasional tie. Still, some candidates were willing to squeeze this victory, however minor, for whatever momentum it was worth. Early momentum as @JohnKasich wins GOP vote in Dixville Notch! Let's keep it going, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/CtXnCn9c4Z — John Kasich (@JohnKasich) February 9, 2016 Honored to have the unanimous support of the people of Dixville Notch. First votes cast in the #FITN. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 9, 2016 Midnight voting, the theory goes, means a lot more for the towns that embrace it than for the candidates they embrace. In this economically depressed corner of the United States, even unincorporated areas with rising unemployment rates and declining populations get to hog the national spotlight, if only for a few minutes at midnight every four years. “It would be great for the area, and maybe not bad for business,” Proulx told The Washington Post’s Ben Terris last year. 1 of 42 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Highlights from Bernie Sanders’s campaign, in pictures View Photos The senator from Vermont is Hillary Clinton’s rival in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Caption The senator from Vermont is Hillary Clinton’s rival in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. June 14, 2016 Bernie Sanders arrives at the Capital Hilton to meet with Hillary Clinton in D.C. Matt McClain/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. This post has been updated.Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. Aug. 14, 2016, 3:22 PM GMT / Updated Aug. 14, 2016, 3:22 PM GMT By Elisha Fieldstadt Two disparate portraits of America have emerged in the 2016 presidential race. In one, the GOP warns that the U.S. is in dire straits. And the party's nominee, reality TV star Donald Trump, claims only he can pull the country back from the brink. Trump and his supporters clamor to "Make America Great Again" — which begs the question: When was it so great and when exactly did it go downhill? The Republican National Convention followed this theme, focusing on making America "safe again," "work again," "first again" and "one again" — suggesting that the American people are largely defenseless, unemployed, failing and divided. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Convention had a much different tone. "America is already great," President Obama declared in a rousing convention speech. "America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength, our greatness does not depend on Donald Trump." Hillary Clinton, in her speech accepting the Democratic nomination, acknowledged that the country faces challenges, but she added that the strengths of its citizens will help to make America "greater than ever." So which is it? Is America in peril or on the path to become better than ever? Judge for yourself — with the help of nine simple charts: Crime In his nomination acceptance speech, Trump said that homicides increased by 17 percent in America's 50 largest cities last year. That statistic is accurate, and the homicide increase in those cities is consistent with the increase in murders across the nation last year — a spike of 19 percent, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association. The association attributed the jump in part to a lack of support for released prisoners, easy access to guns and, in some cities, failing public schools. But the big picture shows that murders and other violent crimes have been on a steady decline for the past two decades. The violent crime rate has nearly been slashed in half since 1995, according to the FBI. Immigration Trump wants to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. He launched his campaign last summer by claiming, "The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems." He went on to say that a lot of those problems are coming over the southern border — specifically singling out Mexico. In 2012, about 357,000 people were apprehended at the southwest border and, in 2014, more than 479,000, according to U.S. Border Patrol. But the number decreased to about 331,000 in 2015. And the number of unaccompanied minors caught at the border was nearly cut in half between 2014 and 2015, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew also found that more Mexican immigrants returned to Mexico than have migrated to the U.S. between 2009 and 2014. The net loss was 140,000 immigrants. Terror With a spate of recent terror attacks abroad, domestic attacks and the rise of extremist groups like ISIS, Americans may feel unsafe and fearful that terror can touch them anywhere, from a sporting event to their workplace. Eighteen people died in U.S. terror attacks in 2014, according to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses for Terrorism (START). Comparatively, nearly 30,000 died in traffic accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. From 1995 to 2003, there were at least 30 terror attacks a year on U.S. soil, according to START. But the annual terror attack tally didn't exceed 20 between 2006 and 2014. Erin Miller, a program manager with START, told NBC News that the terror attack rates don't follow a single pattern. But some years show a “trend” in types of attacks, she said. In 1996, for instance, a relatively high 62 attacks were carried out in the U.S., half targeting pro-abortion facilities, including clinics. Race Relations The deaths of black men and women at the hands of police in recent years have undoubtedly put a microscope on race relations in communities around the country. After two black men were fatally shot by police officers in the span of as many days and two separate police departments faced deadly attacks in as many weeks, Obama worked to assure the public that the U.S. was "not as divided as some have suggested." Related: Five Times the U.S. Was More Divided Over Race An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll late last year showed perceptions of race relations had reached a 20-year low. Only 34 percent of Americans said race relations were good or very good, down from 77 percent who said race relations were good immediately following Obama's first presidential victory in 2008. When broken down by race, 61 percent of black Americans believe race relations are bad, while 45 percent of white Americans feel the same, according to Pew. National Debt Trump noted in his nomination acceptance speech that the national debt has doubled since Obama took office. TIME: 5 Things Most People Don’t Understand About the National Debt The national debt in January 2009 was $10.6 trillion. It is now $19.4 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Jobs An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll in 2014 showed 57 percent of Americans believed the country was still in a recession, even though it had been over for five years. Many Americans still have a grim view of the economy — especially those who are out of work. But overall employment is about 7 percent higher than when Obama first took office. It's worth noting, however, that many Americans workers have left the labor force as discouraged job seekers have stopped looking and as baby boomers retire. It’s also worth noting that millions of Americans just aren’t feeling the effects of the economic rebound — and that has a lot to do with geography. Many economists have observed that while major urban areas like New York City and San Francisco are home to booming tech start-ups and thriving real estate markets, wide swaths of the Midwest and the South are struggling to keep up. And the wealth distribution gap is widening. PEW found that nearly half of U.S. income went to upper-middle-class households in 2014, compared with less than a third in 1970. Still, the economy overall has added more than 9 million jobs since Obama took office — recovering the jobs lost during the recession, and then some. Education According to the most recent National Center for Education Statistics data, the high school graduation rate hit an all-time high of 82 percent during the 2012-2013 school-year. The survey before that, during the 2005-2006 school-year, showed 71 percent of students graduated high school. The jump is encouraging, but statistics show graduation rates vary greatly by race. Eighty-seven percent of white students graduated in 2012-2013, while 70 percent of Native American students graduated. Health Care In the first quarter of 2015, the rate of Americans without health insurance dipped to its lowest point — 11.1 percent — since Gallup started tracking the amount of insured people in 2008. In the third quarter of 2013, the uninsured rate had peaked at 18 percent, according to Gallup. "The uninsured rate has dropped sharply since the most significant change to the U.S. health care system in the Affordable Care Act — the provision requiring most Americans to carry health insurance — took effect at the beginning of 2014," Gallup said. The Obama administration's law affected all demographics, but the groups that saw the biggest coverage spikes were low-income and Hispanic Americans, who were most likely to lack health insurance, according to Gallup.On Tuesday, Richard Spencer—who is the actual throw-up in the back of your mouth—visited Auburn University in Alabama to spew his white nationalist rhetoric. Following the donnybrook that happened in Berkeley, Calif., last week, every media outlet prepared for another showdown between his supposed legion of neofascists and students opposed to his nonsense. I even went to bear witness to the expected tumult. After his appearance, headlines everywhere documented the thousands of protesters, the brief skirmishes and the First Amendment legal battle that paved the way for his speech. There is one thing they all failed to mention about the brouhaha that ensued: Advertisement No one really cared. That’s right. The whole “celebrity founder of a nationwide ‘alt-right’ movement” narrative is a scam. Richard Spencer is simply an overhyped, racist, Kardashian-like curiosity. He is a media-driven drama queen starring in a reality show that no one cares to watch. He has very few fans and almost no devotees. Richard Spencer is a hoax. When news outlets report the story of Spencer traipsing around the country on his college tour, they leave out the part where he is almost never invited to these colleges. There was no neo-Nazi student group at Auburn that scrounged up the money to hear his convoluted theories. When he appeared at Texas A&M in December, it was because some random dude who wasn’t even a student rented a conference room on campus. Advertisement Spencer is exploiting a loophole at many public universities that allows anyone to reserve space at taxpayer-funded institutions. According to Auburn’s student newspaper The Plainsman, Spencer forked over $700 to rent James E. Foy Hall, plus additional security fees. There was no more demand for Spencer at Auburn than there was for the Black Student Union fashion shows held in the same room when I was a student at Auburn. Even some of the protesters admitted that they had gathered because of media reports or had just stumbled across the protesters on their way to class or to the library. While there were a few dedicated anti-fascist protesters and students holding signs opposed to Spencer’s visit, there wasn’t a palpable sense of outrage. Mixed in with signs of “Fascism Is Wack” and “Will trade racists for refugees” were students just there for the memes, or some who wanted to remind people that J. Cole went platinum with no features. Advertisement Many of the people who lined up to attend Spencer’s speech were there either to disrupt him or out of curiosity. “We just want to hear what he has to say,” said one of the black students in line to fill the 400-seat room. One of Auburn’s football players, a senior who milled outside among the few hundred protesters, added, “To be honest, I just heard of the guy today.” And the hordes of white supremacists who showed up for the showdown? Nonexistent. One brave guy holding a homemade sign who looked like a mix between Hulk Hogan and Jed Clampett tried vigilantly to argue that the Holocaust never existed, but his argument was quickly taken apart by students with inarguable facts and one woman who poured her can of soda over his head (ironically, a Pepsi). A few yokels wearing Trump hats waited outside but were not allowed in. Advertisement And this is Spencer’s little secret: He has no following. He gets online donors to sponsor his appearances (this one sponsored by a white supremacist website), and he pulls the strings of the national press like a puppet master, letting it hype up his traveling circus. In reality, he’s the white nationalist version of a club promoter—with beautiful women and bottles of champagne on the flyer calling it the “Scorpio bash of the year,” but when you get to the party, it’s usually just a few lame guys drinking Bud Light and women taking Snapchat selfies in the bathroom while Drake whines over the speakers. Ain’t nobody checking for Richard Spencer. He’s a product of self-promotion and fake news. He’s a charlatan trying to create his own The Real Housewives of White Supremacy. Cardi B has almost 10 times the measly little 56,000 Twitter followers that Spencer has. Who do you think would get more people to hear them speak at a local university? Which is why, by the time his speech was over, the room was almost empty. No one even wanted to hear what he had to say. The few people who stayed were actually chased off campus by protesters, while Spencer sneaked out a back door and left. The two arrests that happened weren’t even news compared with what happens on a football Saturday afternoon in “The Loveliest Village on the Plains.” Advertisement In the end, there is as much reason to fear Richard Spencer as there is to fear Honey Boo Boo. He has convinced mainstream media to hop on his merry-go-round of circular logic where large crowds show up because the news keeps reporting that large crowds will show up. We should be concerned about the rise of the white nationalist movement, but being mad at Spencer is like losing a baseball game in Philadelphia and getting mad at the Philly Phanatic—he’s just a mascot. The systemic, ingrained 400-year-old version of American white supremacy has no face and is much more dangerous than a douchebag we all know had his high school girlfriend stolen from him by a black guy. As I was leaving Auburn, I heard a young gentleman of no color try to explain to a black woman why Spencer had a right to speak at the university. He spoke about the First Amendment, freedom of speech and the Constitution. The black student interrupted him: “Would you let him speak in your living room?” Advertisement “No,” he replied. “How about in your front yard?” “Of course not,” he answered. “Well then, don’t tell me about how I should act, then,” she retorted. “I live here.”Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page suggested sending then-candidate Donald Trump to meetings with Russian officials in May 2016, according to emails read during Page’s testimony to the House Intelligence Committee last week. In a May 16, 2016, email to fellow campaign staffers Walid Phares and J.D. Gordon, Page wrote that he had been making his “key messages as low-key and apolitical as possible” but that he recently “got another idea. If [Trump] would like to take my place of honor and raise the temperature a little bit, of course I’d be willing to yield this honor to him.” During Page’s testimony, he confirmed that the “honor” was going to Russia. Page testified that he was unaware that fellow foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos was also lobbying the Trump campaign to send Trump to Russia at the same time. Papadopoulos, who was in communication with Russian officials, sent at least 11 emails from March to August 2016 proposing a Trump trip to meet with Russian officials. In other emails read during Page’s House testimony, he boasted to campaign staff of receiving “incredible insights and outreach” from Russian legislators and senior members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration. Page testified that those insights were just observations from a speech he attended.ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — When the bomb went off at St. Mark’s Cathedral one week ago, William Frances had one thought: “Oh, my God, it’s happening again.” Six years earlier, Mr. Frances lost his mother, his sister and a cousin in a bombing at another Alexandria church that left him devastated. Now he prayed he hadn’t lost anyone else. “I had enough,” he recalled. “I said: ‘Please, God, no more. Please.’” The coordinated suicide attacks on St. Mark’s, Egypt’s historic seat of Christianity, and at another church, in the city of Tanta, took 45 lives and dealt a heavy blow to the country’s embattled Coptic Orthodox minority. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for both attacks. The bombing in Alexandria, a bustling seaport of crumbling elegance, also dredged up painful memories of 2011 church attack that, despite years of investigation, remains unsolved. The trail is stone cold: Not only have the Egyptian police failed to arrest those responsible for the bloodshed, they can’t even say which group carried it out.The Prime Minister has all but confirmed New Zealand will send training troops to Iraq, to assist in the fight against Islamic State. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson He said he would lay out the details of a deployment to Iraq in Parliament tomorrow, insisting it would be strictly limited to a training role. The Cabinet considered the proposal today, to send about 100 defence personnel to Iraq - it would be training troops as well as soldiers to protect them. It is likely they would team up with their Australian counterparts in a joint training force. But Mr Key insisted he was not sending New Zealand soldiers to war. "On the basis that New Zealand is sending trainers, you know we're obviously sending them to an environment which we'd accept is a dangerous environment. "We'd certainly accept that they'd be there to train Iraq forces to stand up against the threat from ISIL but it's quite different from sending New Zealand combat forces." Mr Key said New Zealand troops would not be accompanying Iraqi troops in combat zones But he said they would be given the flexibility to protect themselves, even if that's 'beyond the wire' - if New Zealand's trainers were to come under attack. "In the event that they'd have to defend themselves, if that was the situation, then theoretically they could do that at the real margin but in principle, in the hypothetical situation if there was some firefight down the road, and the Iraqis were being overpowered, they couldn't go and assist that." The Government has previously indicated New Zealand soldiers would not have a status of forces agreement but would operate under diplomatic passports. Mr Key indicated intelligence gathering could also be part of the support offered. "Intelligence gathering has been a function that we've done in the past in lots of locations and we've certainly done that in places like Afghanistan, and that's been well and truly documented." Mr Key will make a ministerial statement to Parliament tomorrow, which will lay out the details of the deployment. It's expected there will also be an announcement about a joint Australia New Zealand training force, out of Canberra tomorrow. No vote on Iraq decision Once the decision is announced, it will be taken to Parliament for a debate only. Earlier today, Mr Key told Morning Report it did not need to go to a vote as the proposal was for training forces not combat troops. "I don't think the issue here is that it needs to pass a Parliamentary vote," he said. "We wouldn't normally do that when we're sending training forces if that's what we ultimately do. "On the basis that Cabinet makes a positive decision today, we're not sending troops going into a combat role." However, he said, if it was put to a vote he was confident it would win support. At present, ACT is the Government's only backer for the move, and National is down one vote due to the resignation of its Northland MP, Mike Sabin. In the meantime, with the support of ACT's one vote, the Government would get 60 votes on the Iraq deployment, and would need 61 to won a majority vote in the 120 seat Parliament. If it wins the Northland by-election, National's 59 seats would be restored to 60. Labour Party leader Andrew Little said there should be a vote in Parliament. "It gives an indication about where Parliament, as the representative of all New Zealanders stands on an important issue like this," he said. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said Mr Key was bypassing a parliamentary vote because he knew he would lose it. "This should be with the sanction of Parliament. It is emerging now that they do not have a majority in Parliament. This decision therefore should be revoked and not proceed until there is a majority of Parliament." The Greens said while the Prime Minister legally had the right to deploy soldiers, it was politically improper to do that without putting it before Parliament first. One of National's allies, United Future leader Peter Dunne, has said an intervention would only make matters worse, as history had shown time and time again in that region. Australia 'likely partner' Some Australian newspapers have reported that New Zealand and Australia will form an ANZAC force. Mr Key would this morning say only that Australia would be the logical partner if co-operation were planned. "It's highly likely that if we go into a partner training capacity in Iraq... it's obviously very likely that partner would be Australia," he told Morning Report. "But the makeup and structure of that hasn't been decided by Cabinet yet and we'd want to communicate that tomorrow on the basis we make that decision."Michael Jackson Death Trial Jackson Family Loses Michael Jackson Death Trial -- Jackson Family LOSES Breaking News The Jackson family just LOST their bid to holdaccountable for's death.The jury ruled AEG Live did hire. That's huge. The jury then ruled Conrad Murray was NOT unfit or incompetent to treat MJ. Katherine and the kids lose.So here's the thing. The question that ruined Katherine's case was whether Murray was competent to handle Jackson when he was hired, and the jury said he was. Ironically, a jury in the criminal case ruled Murray then went off the rails and did things that ultimately killed MJ. But because he was competent at the outset -- the Jackson family lost.The jury foreman confirmed this during a post-court news conference where he said they felt Murray was competent to do the job for which he was hired -- a good general practitioner. However he added, "That doesn't mean we felt he was ethical. Had that question been in there, it could have been a different outset.and Michael's 3 kids were suing, claiming the company negligently hired and supervised Dr. Conrad Murray and pushed MJ way beyond the limits for his "This Is It" tour.AEG claimed Michael hired Murray and what went on between them was a secret to all... including AEG.Ms. Clover argued that this was one of the few film genres that regularly asked male audiences to identify with a triumphant female protagonist. It gave teenage boys license to indulge a gender-bending fantasy that was, she wrote, “unapproved for adult males.” While these scholars argued that horror taps into positive emotions that are otherwise repressed, other psychoanalytic theories saw horror in the opposite light: as a safe and cathartic way to deal with darker feelings. In his 1980 essay “The Aesthetics of Fright,” the critic Morris Dickstein described horror as a “routinized way of playing with death, like going on the roller coaster.” Photo But not all theories of horror have been psychoanalytic, trading on notions of repression and release. In 1990 the philosopher Noël Carroll, a staunch critic of the psychoanalytic approach, published “The Philosophy of Horror,” in which he proposed that the pleasure of horror movies is due not to whatever psychic substratum the monster represents, but rather to the peculiar curiosity it inspires. The defining characteristic of the monster, Mr. Carroll argued, is that it’s hard to classify, categorically incomplete or contradictory, or just generally hard to understand. The monster in the “Frankenstein” series, for instance, is what Mr. Carroll called a “fusion figure,” made of spare parts, including different brains. The horror is rooted in the unknown, but this strangeness also sparks curiosity and fascination. Horror plots are often constructed to emphasize the mystery of the nature of the monster. Most of “The Exorcist,” for example, is taken up with the intricate detective work of a mother trying to figure out what is wrong with her daughter. One virtue of Mr. Carroll’s theory is that it captures the paradoxical nature of horror’s allure: the very oddity that makes monsters repulsive is precisely what makes them attractive. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. In today’s age of increasingly explicit cinematic violence, the scholarly focus has gravitated to the basic pleasures of gore. In “The Naked and the Undead,” Cynthia Freeland, a feminist critic who teaches philosophy at the University of Houston, argues that certain kinds of graphic violence are so skillfully theatrical that they evoke a “perverse sublime.” Their far-fetched extremity also gives the audience the distance needed to relish the bloodbaths. Ms. Freeland cites the ghoulishly over-the-top scenes in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” including a sparks-flying chain saw duel between the masked killer Leatherface and a vamping Dennis Hopper that, just to make things more interesting, adds a hatchet and grenade into the mix. In an essay that will be published later this year in “The Wiley-Blackwell History of American Film,” Adam Lowenstein, an associate professor in English and film studies at the University of Pittsburgh, also emphasizes the aesthetic of horror. For him, meticulous camerawork, pacing and artful splatter are a kind of carefully staged showmanship that the audience appreciates as pure performance. He calls it “spectacle horror.” When Laurie Strode discovers a trio of dead bodies in “Halloween” — one emerging swinging from a closet, another from a cabinet — it’s a highly staged sequence in which the director, John Carpenter, is “quite literally pulling the strings on this series of attractions,” Mr. Lowenstein writes. What are we to make of all these theories? Now that horror is a standard feature of the mainstream cultural menu, the genre has increasingly become like any other where craft and beauty are drawing cards. But what will always distinguish horror is its unique capacity to make us tremble. And it’s unlikely that any single theory will ever entirely explain that appeal, for fear is as personal and subjective as beauty. To be sure, the psychoanalytic approach, drawing as it does on feelings and impulses born early in childhood, captures something important; adults forget just how terrifying being a small child can be. But children also adapt quickly, and not all frights are unpleasant: peekaboo, after all, is one of the first games any child plays, and “Hansel and Gretel” introduces readers to cannibalism before inviting them to celebrate the burning of a witch. Advertisement Continue reading the main story If getting scared is one of our first pleasures, then maybe horror movies are just a reminder of how much fun we used to have.Dozens of protesters are gathering outside a massive new Scientology centre in Dublin. The leader of the secretive religion David Miscavige is expected to attend the grand opening of the facility in Firhouse. Hundreds of Scientologists from across Europe and around the world have been flown in to attend the event. However, locals and protesters have expressed "serious concerns" amid allegations of "cultish" activities. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described Scientology as a cult at his party Ard Fheis in the RDS. He said he does not want to see Scientology's European base established here but does not think banning them is the best strategy. "These types of cults can be very damaging to people, particularly to young people. The best way forward needs to be examined, it may not be legislated. I think ultimately in situations like this it is about education," he said. Scientology's website denies it is a cult. "[Scientology] is a religion in the fullest sense of the word.“Cult” is usually meant in a disparaging sense to imply a secret or closed group with limited membership and mysterious beliefs," the website reads.Anna was standing in a large living room, but something was...wrong. It was as if only half of her consciousness was present. Her awareness of the room around her flickered constantly. One second, everything was perfectly coherent. The next, it was all a blur. Still, she was able to perceive her surroundings with relative clarity. The room was brightly lit thanks to the sunlight shining in from the wide glass windows. All of the furniture looked antique; it was a style she had never seen before. A dozen or so men and women were sitting in various couches or chairs that were scattered around the room. Some were deep in discussion, while others were relaxing calmly. None of them seemed to notice her. "Ahh-" a deep groan on the far side of the room attracted her attention. To her surprise, the speaker was a young girl no older than thirteen. And yet the entire room fixated upon the sound as if their lives depended on it. An older man hurried to the girl. Anna's grasp on reality grew more and more tenuous as the scene played out. In the back of her mind, she could hear a soft yet commanding voice calling to her. For the moment, she resisted the sensation. "Quiet, everyone!" The man ordered. "Annette, are you...?" The world blurred out, and by the time Anna returned, his sentence had been finished. Everyone in the room was staring at the young girl intently, but Annette was hardly taking notice. She was staring at the floor, her eyes completely blank. Then she began to speak. Her words were so quiet that they were almost inaudible; they were spoken in a dry, dull tone. Anna tried to get closer, instinctively knowing that this was a speech she would want to hear, but her legs had turned to jelly. The Knight did her best to listen, but she could only make out a handful of words from the girl's speech. Her awareness of reality was flickering faster now, and the voice in the back of her head continued to intercut her thoughts. "Two...pass...land...flower...Anna!...reborn...flesh...first...name...We have to get ready!...crown...weakened...wiped...returned...betrayal...domain...shall know-" "Wake up!" \ The Knight bolted upright in her bed. Sitting beside her was Elsa, a look of exasperated disapproval resting on her face. "Anna, I know you enjoy your sleep, but the first guests have already arrived. And the ball starts in less than a few hours." Anna nodded, still in a daze from her dream. Elsa's gaze softened, as she perceived the disturbed look in the Knight's eyes. "Bad dream?" she questioned. "Usually you're a light sleeper; it took me forever to wake you up.
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"Both Los Alamos and Sandia have a long history with Cray, going back to the beginning of the supercomputer era," said Gary Grider, a division leader at Los Alamos. "That history continues with the Trinity platform that will provide next generation supercomputing in support of the US nuclear security enterprise." In the Terminator films the US government develops a computer system called Skynet which is designed to have command over all computerised military hardware and systems, including America's entire nuclear weapons arsenal. Currently the NNSA use an older supercomputer developed by Cray known as Cielo. The new XC machine is expected to deliver more than eight times greater applications performance than Cielo. "It is a real honour that one of the largest contracts in our company's history has come from one of our most important customers," said Peter Ungaro, president and CEO of Cray. "The NNSA has consistently deployed the world's most advanced supercomputing systems to support their critical mission of ensuring the health of our nation's nuclear stockpile." The Cray system that will be provided for the Trinity platform will include a "multi-petaflop supercomputer" with a storage solution that includes 82 petabytes of capacity with1.7 terabytes per-second of sustained performance.The Pathetic Reality of Adobe Password Hints Mark Burnett Blocked Unblock Follow Following Dec 18, 2013 The leak of 150 million Adobe passwords in October this year is perhaps the most epic security leak we have ever seen. It was huge. Not just because of the sheer volume of passwords, but also because it’s such a large dump from a single site, allowing for a much better analysis than earlier sets. But there’s something unique about the Adobe dump that makes it even more insightful — the fact that there are about 44 million password hints included in this dump. Even though we still haven’t decrypted the passwords, the data is extremely useful One thing I have pondered over the years in analyzing passwords is trying to figure out what the password is. I can determine if the password contains a noun or a common name, but I can’t always determine what that noun or name means to the user. For example, if the password is Fred2000, is that a dog’s name and a date? An uncle and his anniversary? The user’s own name and the year they set up the account? Once we know the significance of a password we gain a huge insight into how users select passwords. But I have never been able to come up with a method to even remotely measure this factor. Then came the Adobe dump. The sheer amount of data in the Adobe dump makes it a bit overwhelming and somewhat difficult to work with. But if you remove the least common and least useful hints the data becomes a bit more manageable. Using a trimmed down set of about 10 million passwords, I was able to better work with the data to come up with some interesting insights. Just glancing at the top one hundred hints, several patterns immediately become clear. In fact, what we learn is that a large percentage of the passwords are the name of a person, the name of a pet, the name of a place, or an important date. Take dates for example. Consider the following list of top date-related hints: In all, there are about 420,000 passwords with a date-related hint which represents about 3.6% of the passwords in the working set. We see similar trends with dog names which account for 375,000 passwords or 3.2% of the total (plus another 120,00 that mention “pet”): One interesting insight offered here is something we already know but find difficult to measure: password reuse. Surely a large percentage of these users have the same password across multiple sites, but it is interesting to see that about 361,000 users (or 3.11%) state this fact in their password hints: Keep in mind that these are just those passwords that admit to reuse in the hint. The number of passwords actually in use across multiple sites certainly is much greater than this. Looking at the three lists above, we see that nearly 10% of the passwords fall into just these 3 categories. Adding names of people and places will likely account for 10% more. So what did we learn by analyzing these hints? First, that you should never use password hints. If users forget their password, they should use the password reset process. Second, that decades of user education has completely failed. No matter how much we advise not to use dates, family names or pet names in your passwords and no matter how much we tell people not to use the same passwords on multiple sites, you people will just do it anyway. This is why we can’t have nice password policies.The Phasavaeng family pond is roughly 20 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and circled by a rocky path. It sits in a shady garden wedged between concrete homes, where the songs of birds and boisterous hens mostly drown out the sound of mopeds buzzing up and down the roads in this corner of Sekong, a small, impoverished city in southeastern Laos. The family suspects that a few bombs remain in the muck at the bottom of the pond, but nobody wants to go down there to check. Loy Phasavaeng poses with one of her granddaughters in front of the bomb-crater pond in her backyard in southern Laos. Bomb craters are not just vestiges of war. They are geographic testaments to the anthropogenic force of bombs. Loy Phasavaeng, a woman in her mid-70s, is the matriarch of the family. She is seated in a red plastic chair on the packed soil between her house and the pond. Her daughter, Phounsy Phasavaeng, now in her 40s, stands beside Loy, and tall stalks of bamboo, as well as coconut and banana trees, lean in around them. Morning glory, taro, and flowering lotus plants sit atop the pond, where flopping fish send ripples through the murky water. “It’s all food,” says Phounsy, who was born and raised in this part of Laos, where most people still fish, forage, and farm their own meals. Loy says she was born in a small village 50 miles away, where life was also a matter of what she calls “self-help.” There were no markets, no trade. Nature supplied most things — cotton for clothes, wood for homes, foods from the forest. And when Loy grew up to have a family of her own, they planted rice, taro, cassava, and sweet potatoes there. And they survived. Until they didn’t think they would. Back in 1965, Laos was fully caught up in the violent ideological struggles of the Vietnam War and its proxies, and Loy says she recalls a particular day when she was working in the rice fields with her infant son — her firstborn — tied to her back. At some point she saw smoke, and she was terrified. “A lot of airplanes came,” Loy says, “and dropped many bombs.” Phounsy, who has been translating for her mother, begins to weep as Loy recalls the sense of panic she felt, knowing that her baby might be left motherless and alone if she were to be killed that day. For a moment, she says, she wondered if it would be best if they both died together. The family settled in Sekong after being displaced for more than a decade after the bombing stopped. Mother and son survived, but the bombs kept coming — 2.5 million tons of them delivered by the United States alone — for another eight years. In that time, Loy says, neighbors fled, while others disappeared. At one point, Loy says, the Phasavaeng family dug a hole in the ground and burrowed inside. “We survived by hiding, sleeping in the bunker for many years,” she says. When the war ended, the Phasavaengs moved from place to place, seeking suitable land to farm and opportunities for the children to attend school. In 1984, they settled in Sekong, where the land, including the small plot they acquired, was still scarred by bomb craters large and small, and littered with baseball-sized bomblets — the unexploded submunitions dispersed by larger cluster bombs. Locals call these “bombies,” and even now, 40 years later, millions of them remain, camouflaged as rocks or clumps of dirt, but still deadly. “We collected more than 100 in the garden,” Loy says. A bomb-clearance team piled them into a crater and burned them all. Then the Phasavaengs did what many Laotians have done: They turned that crater into a fishpond, where her family raises tilapia, both for food and for sale. And why not? That hole is here to stay. Millions of craters are, and villagers across the country turn them into fishponds, garbage dumps, wastewater pits, and plant nurseries. People put the earth back to use — as they found it. In this short documentary, filmmaker Jerry Redfern explains how bombs permanently alter landscapes, and the lives of people who live among the craters. The craters are not just vestiges of war. They are geographic testaments to the anthropogenic force of bombs. Research shows that when a bomb bursts, it alters long-term soil formation, vegetation growth, and hydrology. It also affects how people use the land in the future. It’s a phenomenon so disruptive that it has given rise to a new field of science with an evocative name: bombturbation. Simply put, bombturbation is the cratering of a land surface and “mixing the soil with an explosive device,” says Joseph P. Hupy, a geographer at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the father of the field. The device can be an aerial bomb, a propelled explosive, or an “in situ” bomb such as a landmine. If you look at a cross-section of undisturbed soil, you’ll see horizons: surface vegetation and organic matter over topsoil, subsoil, parent material (partly weathered rock), and bedrock. A bomb blast shatters those horizons. It releases forceful energy that creates a supersonic shock wave, penetrating soil and rock, setting sediment in motion, and ejecting materials at high speed. A crater forms — its shape and dimensions dependent on the type and strength of the explosion, and the ground where it occurs. Explosions at or below the surface typically result in craters surrounded by a rim of ejected debris. Bedrock is often exposed in the bottom. If you look at a cross-section of undisturbed soil, you’ll see horizons. A bomb blast shatters those horizons. Each crater is unique, and its future depends on its environment. Over time, leaves and forest litter accumulate in the crater (if they are there), and water percolates through (or not). Organic matter seeps into the underlying bedrock, and microbes flourish (or not). Regardless of local conditions, the crater fosters a new soil environment that would not have evolved otherwise. Different plants take root. Runoff patterns shift. Creatures — human or otherwise — adapt to that new landscape in different ways. It’s not necessarily good or bad, but it’s changed — and that’s critical. “When you start obliterating landscapes like this and engaging in bombturbation,” Hupy says, “it’s important to understand the long-term implications.” These combat scars are found not just on the former battlegrounds of the Vietnam conflict, including Laos and Cambodia, but in the rolling fields and farms of France, Belgium, Germany, and other countries pockmarked by the First and Second World Wars; in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the modern, war-torn Middle East; and everywhere else subjected to the percussion of heavy artillery. The number is nearly impossible to tally, but Hupy puts bomb-induced soil displacement in the 20th century alone in the billions of cubic meters. “I came out of World War I research thinking that landscapes were forever altered by the disturbance,” says Joseph P. Hupy, a professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In other words: Humans are an impactful lot — so much so that many scientists argue that we deserve our own geologic epoch, called the Anthropocene. Some go even further, identifying an era they call the Technocene, to delineate a period of human and technological domination. But whatever the name, our prolific production, use, and dissemination of everything from aluminum and concrete to plastics and fertilizers is leaving a distinctive signature on the planet – not least in the form of sediment layers that are unlike those of earlier epochs. And of all the ways humans affect the planet, “warfare is among the most destructive,” writes the biologist L. Wayne Dwernychuk. After all, the environmental toll of preparing for, fighting, and then cleaning up after a war is its own form of shock and awe. It has often involved not just jets, tanks, guns, and ammunition, but billions of gallons of fuel, tens of thousands of uniforms, and the erection of city-sized camps. It involves training sites and testing grounds, and it leaves behind, in varying degrees, a brutalized landscape of scorched earth, polluted fields, dead wildlife, spoiled habitat, and untold millions of tons of leftover ordnance. The terrain is never the same after war — which is why many scientists argue that bombturbation is a key marker of the Anthropocene. It’s “just one component of the bigger picture …,” Hupy says, “of how we’re shaping the face of our planet.” Of all conflicts, the American War (as it is known in Southeast Asia) or the Vietnam War (as it is known in the United States) was the most environmentally catastrophic to date. Environmental destruction, in fact, was a primary military strategy, and the results endure today in millions of acres of denuded hills and damaged forests, as well as physical deformities attributed to Agent Orange and a scarred landscape of some 26 million craters. “Craters pock every area of South Vietnam: forests, swamps, fields, paddies, roadsides,” Arthur H. Westing and E. W. Pfeiffer wrote in 1972, more than a year before the onslaught ended. Laos alone was hit with more than 4 billion pounds of bombs targeting the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the southeast, and communist insurgents in the north. More bombs were dropped on Laos, per capita, than on any other nation, in any other conflict, anywhere, ever. ▲ Loy Phasavaeng sits in front of a bomb crater, created during the Vietnam War, in Sekong, Laos. The crater now serves as the family’s fish pond. Each crater is unique, and its future depends on its environment. Here, trees grow up in a bomb crater in rural Sekong Province. Bomb removal personnel carry the remains of a 500-pound American bomb dropped in rural Sekong Province. The partial bomb still had its fuses, which remain deadly. Laos bears the distinction of being the most bombed nation, per capita, on earth. These craters dot the landscape around Phonsavanh in the northern part of the country. Each crater is unique, and its future depends on its environment. Here, trees grow up in a bomb crater in rural Sekong Province. Bomb removal personnel carry the remains of a 500-pound American bomb dropped in rural Sekong Province. The partial bomb still had its fuses, which remain deadly. Laos bears the distinction of being the most bombed nation, per capita, on earth. These craters dot the landscape around Phonsavanh in the northern part of the country. Almost a decade after the Phasavaeng family converted their crater into a fish pond, Hupy was studying for his Ph.D. in soil geomorphology more than 8,000 miles away in Michigan. “Soil is always being mixed,” he says. People dig, animals burrow, ice freezes and thaws, earthquakes fissure the land, and meteorites leave cavities when they crash. All of this disrupts, blends, or destroys soil horizons. The process, called pedoturbation (general mixing of soil), is divided into at least 11 subcategories based on what’s doing the mixing and how: aeroturbation (gas, air, wind), floralturbation (plants), crystalturbation (mineral crystals such as salts), aquaturbation (water), and so on. In 2001, the young Hupy took a trip to Camp Grayling, a military training center in northern Michigan, to do a little soil research. The camp sits on 147,000 acres. Guardsmen practiced in the background as Hupy dug about. “We kept hearing the dull boom of the artillery rounds going off,” he says. Later, back in class, his adviser, Randy Schaetzl, joked, “Yeah Joe, bombturbation too, huh?” Hupy chuckled and jotted in his notes: “Bombturbation. Cool topic. I should pursue this.” Hupy grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (known as the U.P.). He was always interested in military history, hearing stories from his grandfather, who was shot down in World War II while flying an artillery spotter plane. His grandfather survived, and later earned his law degree under the GI Bill. “I thrived on the story of his life,” Hupy says, “but in particular his WWII stories.” But back in Hupy’s college days, he found a dearth of information on his interest area — the ways battles shape the environment. So he took Schaetzl’s offhand comment and made “bombturbation” a thing. “How many people can say that they kind of started a little branch of science?” Schaetzl says proudly of his former student, with whom he wrote the groundbreaking introductory paper on the topic. Back in Hupy’s college days, he found a dearth of information on his interest area — the ways battles shape the environment. So he made “bombturbation” a thing. Hupy can, and it’s now an accepted subfield of geomorphology. Hupy, now 40, is a go-getter: a fast-talking, high-metabolism personality always on the move. He set off to study the soils and long-term effects of craters, traveling first to the World War I battlefield of Verdun, in France, and later to Khe Sanh, in Vietnam’s central highlands. “I found two very different landscapes,” he says, but in both, the soil, hydrology, and vegetation were still altered decades after the bombs fell. The 1916 battle of Verdun, between France and Germany, was one of history’s most destructive. An estimated 700,000 soldiers were wounded or killed, and up to 60 million artillery rounds were fired over almost 80 square miles of land. That single conflict left a dimpled landscape of craters up to 50 feet in diameter. Once-smooth slopes are now rumpled and runoff is impeded. Meanwhile, water, leaf litter, sediment, and other debris accumulate in crater bottoms. In upland areas, the cratering met an impermeable layer of rock, which prevents water from moving through. “You had stagnated soil development, and you had huge accumulations of organic matter,” Hupy says. But perhaps the biggest shift was sociological. Before the war, Verdun was an agricultural landscape with villages of thousands of people. No more. The war evicted residents, and the government later turned Verdun “into one gigantic mass grave,” Hupy says. A memorial was built for the dead, and forests have returned in the absence of people. Hupy has turned “bombturbation” into an accepted subfield of geomorphology. After all, intense bombing pushes a landscape onto “a different path of development,” he says. Khe Sanh is different. “When you look at Vietnam, it’s almost the opposite,” Hupy says. In 1968, more than 200 million pounds of munitions were expended by the U.S. here in pivotal fighting against the North Vietnamese Army. Dense, triple-canopy rainforest surrounded Khe Sanh before the war. Almost none remains. The population surged after war. Ethnic communities were resettled in heavily bombed areas, which they kept devoid of trees, Hupy says. Economic reforms in the late 1980s sent even more people to the region. Craters were planted with coffee, and cattle grazed the lands between. Today, the geomorphology of Khe Sanh is a result of postwar economics, Hupy says, but it might not have happened that way without bombs clearing the way and leaving craters. Dodging leeches and unexploded bombs, Hupy painstakingly gathered microtopographic data and soil samples from Khe Sanh’s craters. He found darker, wetter soils inside craters compared with those outside. Coffee planted in craters appeared to be more robust than coffee plants elsewhere. Moisture was higher and winds were lower inside craters than outside. Craters seemed to serve as little nurseries for plants, protected from grazing. (Cattle don’t go into craters.) Across the border in Laos, researchers have also found evidence that the bombings altered local river flows. Two hundred miles southwest of Khe Sanh, scientists studied decades of hydro-meteorological data from a Mekong River Basin catchment and found sharp increases in runoff from the time of the bombings that remained higher than pre-war levels until the early 2000s. They suspect a cause-and-effect relationship. Bombings are a catalyst for landscape change. Economics, politics, and history, among other cultural factors, determine where that change leads. “The principle is to compare the amount of water coming from rainfall (the input) to the water flowing down the rivers (the output),” says Alain Pierret, a biophysicist with the French National Institute for Research and Development. “The basic hypothesis is that part of the rainfall will infiltrate and part will run off the soil surface and increase the river flow.” If rainfall remains steady but flow increases, “then we can suspect that runoff is increasing and that it might be related to a change in land surface properties such as deforestation,” he says. This is key: When a landscape is heavily bombed, the original forest canopy is often replaced by new vegetation with shallow roots; the new plants do not suck up as much moisture through roots and pores, and less moisture is converted to vapor. River runoff increases. That is what researchers found in a southern Lao catchment: no significant change in rainfall but a peak in river discharge after the bombings climaxed. “Warfare-induced deforestation has more profound and durable hydrological effects than previously thought,” Pierret and his research partner, hydrologist Guillaume Lacombe, conclude. By contrast, at a second catchment area in the north that was not bombed as much, a massive demographic shift occurred as villagers fled and Communists took over. Farms and cultivation fields were abandoned, and forests regrew. Consequently, runoff decreased after 1975. As in Khe Sanh, war sparked a sociological shift that in turn altered geomorphology. This notion is central to Hupy’s ideas — an evolution in his original thinking. “I came out of WWI research thinking that landscapes were forever altered by the disturbance, and they alone set how that geographic landscape evolved,” he says. “This approach had the blinders of a geomorphologist seeking the pure, untouched landscapes.” But at Khe Sanh, “I saw firsthand how economic activities are deforesting the land, and the bombings are not the reason for the lack of forest.” Rather, bombings are a catalyst for landscape change. Economics, politics, and history, among other cultural factors, determine where that change leads. Loy Phasavaeng would never have had this tilapia pond if it weren’t for those bombs. She would never have lived in Sekong. She certainly wouldn’t have sat in this chair telling me about the limbless bodies found in the fields, the malaria she and her children contracted, or the wisdom she’s gleaned as a small-scale farmer. (Chicken dung is great for growing spring onions, she insists.) And she wouldn’t be sitting here with an American sharing her hopes that one day there will be no more wars and no more bombs, anywhere. “Please don’t do war,” she says. This is her message to America. ▲ In February of 2016, Song, shown here, was cooking dinner in the northern province of Phongsali when the garbage pit behind her thatch house exploded. The pit was actually an old bomb crater, and the explosion came from a long-buried American cluster bomb. (Map by Undark/iStock.com) Right around the time we talk, a crater explodes 800 miles away in a little village called Sophoon in the far northern province of Phongsali. Sophoon is a village of craters. A few years back, a local kid named Dwee counted 58 — and he probably missed some. It was an evening in late February of this year and a 70-year-old woman named Song was cooking dinner in her kitchen when BOOOM!, a blast from the backyard knocked her flat. “I saw smoke from the explosion come up to the sky,” she says. “It was a big bang, and I fell down.” A man named Bing Paeng had piled dry leaves and yard scraps into an old crater in the backyard. He lit the fire and stood there for a few minutes, then went to the neighbor’s house to watch TV. That’s when the fire burst. Shrapnel scars on nearby trees and tiny metal balls found on the site indicate that a BLU-26 bomblet had been buried in the crater and exploded from the heat. Bing won’t burn rubbish there anymore, but he worries others might. Often, when people find ordnance in their yards or fields, they toss it into a crater. It’s a depository for garbage of all types. Ask anyone in Sophoon, and they’ll tell you craters make practical dumps. You’ll find craters behind the local clinic filled with dirty needles and other medical waste. You’ll find a crater with ducks swimming through wastewater piped from a house uphill. And you’ll find craters put to production. Bing has another in his yard that stays moist through the year. He grows coffee and small coconut trees there until they are robust enough to transplant. Craters send the residents of Sophoon on a different path of development. And you wonder: What are the ripple effects of all that? Talk to Paeng’s neighbor Noi, and she’ll show you the crater she filled with dirt to make a garden for sugarcane, lettuce, and lemongrass. Then talk to her sister, Awn, and she’ll tell you what a pain it is to fill a crater so a house can be built on top. It takes rocks dug from the nearby riverbed, then dirt found or bought from somewhere else. It takes a rental truck and sometimes labor that costs up to $1,000. And that takes saving up the profits from years of raising chickens, ducks and pigs. “We cannot fill up the hole in one go,” she says. Craters send the residents of Sophoon on a different path of development. And you wonder: What are the ripple effects of all that? What happens to the river when its rocks are dug for filling holes? Or to the hillsides where dirt is extracted so a house can be built? Do wastewater craters encourage mosquitoes? Do they correlate with an increase in disease? (Westing and Pfeiffer wondered this back in 1972. They found craters that penetrated the water table, offering year-round breeding grounds and “greatly increasing the hazards of malaria and dengue fever.”) Much remains to be studied. As Chu Thai Hoanh, emeritus scientist and former principal researcher with the International Water Management Institute, says, the long-term effects of bombings on the landscape should be considered before making decisions in war. Warfare is much more widely accepted as a facet of the Anthropocene than it was during Hupy’s first forays onto battlefields. But bombturbation, as a geomorphologic field, remains mostly his own. Other scientists have written on increased dust storms in Iraq in the wake of bombings that destroyed the region’s topsoil, or Agent Orange in the food chain among villagers using bomb craters as fishponds in Vietnam. Others wonder if century-old pits in Greece are further examples of bombturbation, or whether battlefield remnants (explosives, human bones) might one day fossilize into the geologic record. But almost everything written on bombturbation loops back to Hupy’s research in France and Vietnam. Every scientist contacted for this story agrees: Bombturbation is worthy of further study. A cluster munition canister is stacked with other scrap metal on the outskirts of Sophoon, a town in northern Laos. Human perceptions of the environment are shaped by what we see. But what we see isn’t always the whole story. It’s easy to look at Southeast Asia today and see changes far more pronounced than a collection of old craters. Roads, dams, mines, plantations, and massive logging operations all reshape the land. Laos has highways, homes, and cell phone towers in previously uninhabited areas. Vietnam has 94 million people today, up from 48 million in 1975. Many of the newcomers never saw the land before the bombs fell and the craters were formed. “Bombing was in the remote areas with low population,” Hoanh says, whereas development is everywhere. “Therefore people may have the impression that the effects of the latter are more significant.” “There were a lot of changes after the war,” Loy says. Her village was uprooted, her farm was ruined, and her home was re-established in a city that didn’t exist previously. In fact, when we look at many of those roads, dams, mines, plantations and other forms of development today, we are viewing a postwar landscape shaped by its history. Is the land damaged? Is it moving towards recovery? “It’s difficult to say,” Hupy says, “but it’s definitely been pushed on a different path of development.” Sitting on the edge of the fishpond, Loy tells me how the bombs that fell half a century ago have altered her environment ever since. And it’s not just about landscape, she says. Her whole life shifted with the bombings and their aftermath. “There were a lot of changes after the war.” Her village was uprooted, her farm was ruined, and her home was re-established in a city that didn’t exist previously. Her family used to grow rice; now they have a small garden and fish. When Loy looks at the pond behind her, she doesn’t see a crater. She sees a symbol of everything else. There is a distinct relationship between the bombings and the way people live today, says Jim Harris, founder of a nonprofit called We Help War Victims. He spends months each year clearing unexploded bombs in remote areas of Laos, and he has accompanied us to this meeting with Loy. The stories of elders who survived the war help Harris understand how the bombings shape life and environment today. “There’s a symbiotic relationship between what we’ve done to the land and what the land has done to us,” he says. And it’s evident right here in Loy’s yard. “We created the bomb crater,” Harris says, “but the bomb crater creates us.” Karen J. Coates is a journalist and author who reports primarily on food, environment, health and human rights. She and her husband, photographer and videographer Jerry Redfern, co-produced the 2013 book “Eternal Harvest: The Legacy of American Bombs in Laos.”SEARCH GAME: Windows Tools CD/DVD tools Ransomware Removal Tools Gameguru Mania News - Jul,08 2016 - view all view only briefly view only gameguru review view only preview view only media view only movie view only demo view only patch view only interview view only tech view only mod&map view only gold view only freegame view only console Elite Dangerous: Arena for Free - freegame (hx) 09:00 PM CEST - Jul,08 2016 - Post a comment / read (4) Frontier Developments announces that Elite Dangerous: Arena is available for free this weekend, and everyone who downloads a copy from the Frontier Store or Steam between now and 1:00 pm EDT Monday will get to keep it forever. Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) has made the PC version of Elite Dangerous: Arena free on Steam and FrontierStore.net until 10am PST on Monday July 11. Elite Dangerous: Arena thrusts players into first-person dogfights against the galaxy's greatest pilots in the ultimate 34th century gladiatorial contest, featuring: â€‹Four agile, combat-honed space ships. Choose from the fast and aggressive Federal and Imperial Fighters, the damage-dealing Eagle or the heavyweight Sidewinder. Multiple tactical options with custom loadouts unlocked by ranking up. Four Arenas: Elevate's towering view, Cluster Compound's mining facility, Asteria Point's cavernous space station and Ice Field's frozen asteroid belt. Eight-player Free for All, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag game modes. Realistic, agile starship handling powered by Elite Dangerous' advanced simulation technology. Elite Dangerous: Arena will be completely free on Steam and the Frontier Store this weekend. Players who download Elite Dangerous: Arena between now and 10am PST on Monday July 11 will receive the game for free, and will retain access to the game permanently. This 100 percent discount will bring a host of Commanders to the CQC Arena. Recruit some new wingmates and launch into CQC combat now! last 10 comments: Csimbi (09:05 PM CEST - Jul,08 2016 ) Recent: Mostly Negative (51 reviews) lol Seems people don't like it even for free Tom (10:04 PM CEST - Jul,08 2016 ) Csimbi> Recent: Mostly Negative (51 reviews) lol Seems people don't like it even for free If you got Elite Dangerous you don't need this anyway. tiamat (10:34 AM CEST - Jul,09 2016 ) Csimbi> Recent: Mostly Negative (51 reviews) lol Seems people don't like it even for free There seems to be some sort of movement on Steam to trash the game. A recent patch improved the NPC AI so you were no longer shooting fish in a barel and rather than adapt a lot of players loudly complained and demanded the AI be downgraded as AI that fights back apparently ruins the game. This was mostly people who had used exploits or crutches to obtain lot of money and bought huge ships they had no idea how to actually fly. Admittedly a quickly fixed weapon bug made it all worse. Reviews on Steam have always been mostly unfair as many bought the game without any research and expected it to be something very different. A lot complain it is too hard to learn yet refuse to go through the tutorials and youtube vids (there was next to no guidenace when I started). A lot of others expected some scripted storyline depite the fact that no Elite game has ever really had one. th4t1guy (04:10 PM CEST - Jul,09 2016 ) quote: movement on Steam What does that even mean? Maybe the reviews are bad because the game is legitimately bad? Maybe when someone creates an account, launches the game, and the game asks for an authentication code in an email that never arrives, then complains that the code will be invalid if you close the game.... just maybe....that game is a load of hot steamy bullshit? All comments Add your comment (free registration required)New cost and ridership estimates look to be reasonable for an intercity bus service between Cedar Rapids, North Liberty, Coralville and Iowa City — at least, compared to an alternative of light rail — according to a recently released transportation study. For years, officials have sought transportation solutions to better connect a growing but diffusely populated region and expand the labor pool. Some rail advocates still clamor for a light rail network, but the recently-completed Iowa Commuter Transportation Study reached a similar conclusion to a 2006 report: light rail is too expensive, with unpredictable long-term demand. The cost and operation of an intercity bus, on the other hand, is much more palatable and would attract hundreds of riders a day, the commuter study found. It was identified as the top recommendation of the study, which was finalized, submitted to the Iowa Legislature and released to the public this month. “I find the study to be well done and realistic in the amount of commuters and its cost estimates,” said Brandon Whyte, multimodal transportation planner for the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization. “Not only do I find it realistic, I am encouraged that implementation is reasonable. Will it happen? I don’t know, but it is certainly a reasonable and worthwhile thing to consider.” The Iowa Department of Transportation, which commissioned the study, had previously revealed intercity bus service would be a main recommendation. However, cost estimates hadn’t been finalized until the study was released. Other recommendations included public van and car pools bolstered by rideshare technology, as well as subscription bus service that’s tailored to a specific location, a group of large employers, or a single employer. For the intercity bus service, the cost estimates include low to high ranges that depend on whether it’s publicly or privately run and whether new or used buses are purchased. The study claims that the most feasible of four options is a two-way system with 30 minute departures during peak morning and evening hours. A one-time startup cost for six buses could be as low as $990,000 or as high as $2.8 million, and annual operations would cost $676,000 up to $1 million, according to the study. However, ridership — projected at 563 people paying a $7 round-trip fare per day — could cover the bulk of ongoing costs, according to the study. Costs for vehicle storage or facilities, such as establishing park and rides, aren’t factored in. If those costs must be covered, it could add $3
at the moment," Masidi Manjun, Sabah state minister of tourism, culture and environment, said by email. Natural gas is readily available offshore, he noted, and will generate the reliable electricity needed for economic growth. "This includes the development of new resorts, especially beach resorts, that are in short supply at the moment." He predicted renewable energy will have a significant role—in the future. Natural Gas for Now Activists knew a year ago this could be the outcome, at least in the short term. "The government is going with the natural gas option to fuel our immediate energy needs," while making "cautious moves towards renewable energy," said Cynthia Ong, executive director of Malaysia-based Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP). "During the anti-coal campaign, we took the position that the state needed to explore using its own natural gas resources (offshore) over importing coal... and of course we advocated strongly for renewable energy." An environmental impact assessment hasn't been completed for the gas plant, but concerns aren't likely to be as high as they were for the coal plant. Gas is a cleaner fuel, and the plant will be in an industrial area far from the ecosystems that ignited the coal debate. Sabah, on the northern end of the island of Borneo, is part of a region known as the Coral Triangle. Its rugged terrain and coral reefs have brought it world acclaim for its biodiversity and beauty. The coal plant was planned along Sabah's coastline, 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the border of the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Malaysia's largest animal park and one of the last remaining habitats for the Sumatran rhinoceros. The world's smallest rhinoceros at only about 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) tall, the Sumatran rhino is one of the most critically endangered species on Earth, with only 200 remaining in areas of Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Poachers, hunters, and encroaching habitats have trimmed the number of rhinos on Borneo to an estimated 30 to 50. (For some rhinos, it's too late already. The Javan rhino in Vietnam recently was declared extinct by conservationists for many of the same reasons. In South Africa, more than 1,000 rhinos have been slaughtered in the past six years.) The Tabin reserve also includes Pygmy elephants, Bornean orangutans, sun bears, and leopards. But in addition to being an important wildlife habitat, Sabah's east coast has experienced unplanned power outages due to the lack of electrical capacity. Almost all of its power comes from dirty and unreliable diesel plants that the government wants to replace with cleaner sources. Currently, fossil fuels account for about 90 percent of power capacity in Sabah. The challenge, is "how to green the mix in an economically viable way," says Daniel Kammen, director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Ong recruited Kammen, an adviser to National Geographic's Great Energy Challenge initiative, in 2010 to study energy options for a coalition of five nongovernmental organizations dubbed GREEN Surf (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future). Kammen's research team concluded that hydropower and biomass waste projects could be cost-competitive with coal, with geothermal slightly less so (but competitive with natural gas). The researchers highlighted palm oil waste as having the potential to produce up to 700 megawatts of power by 2020. Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world, and Sabah has more acreage under cultivation—3.5 million acres in 2010—than any other region of the country. "Our process was to do the math, do the assessment, come up with a plan," Kammen said in an interview. "We went in not knowing what would work out." Kammen traveled to Sabah to present his findings at a public meeting that was broadcast on local television. He also met individually with local officials, meetings he believes were critical to helping persuade government officials to back down from the proposed coal power plant. By that time, the coal controversy already had stretched over several years, with two previous proposed sites dropped partly because of community opposition to such environmental impacts as ash ponds and carbon dioxide emissions. LEAP and other environmental and civil society organizations also had complained that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the coal plant failed to adequately consider impacts on marine and animal life, and climate change. They said the assessment also listed species that aren't present in Sabah while omitting others such as the rhinoceros. Ong said those involved in the EIA process showed a lack of understanding of principles of environmental protection. For example, during one informal meeting, she recalls, a consultant working on the EIA said there was "no issue with fish, because fish could swim away." Ong said many government officials were supportive of the anti-coal campaign in private meetings, but "the way politics works in Malaysia if the top guy says something you don't oppose it." But she said she believes the proposed coal plant became such a hot local political issue that Prime Minister Najib Razak felt compelled to stop it. A statement issued in February 2011 by Musa Aman, Sabah state government's chief minister, indicated that Najib made the call in recognition that "one of Sabah's greatest assets is its natural attractions and still somewhat pristine environment." Najib has been trying to position Malaysia as a leader in reducing carbon emissions. At the 2009 climate change conference in Copenhagen, Najib pledged to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. Malaysia enacted a renewable energy law in 2011 that, among other things, created a Sustainable Energy Development Authority. A premium tariff was established, enabling renewable energy producers to sell their power to utilities at prices roughly 50 percent above the current rate. In Sabah, two oil palm biomass plants totaling about 25 megawatts of capacity have qualified for that premium tariff, as well as two small hydro plants totaling about 6.5 megawatts of capacity, according to Malaysia's Sustainable Energy Development Authority. A company named Tawau Green Energy plans to build a 30-megawatt geothermal plant on Sabah's east coast. But the tariff isn't available for new renewable energy projects in Sabah at this time, said SEDA spokesman Wei-nee Chen. He said by email that the central government "is in talks with the state government of Sabah for them to contribute to the renewable energy fund. Once an agreement has been reached, then the (premium) tariff will be opened to Sabah for new projects." Kammen's research team calculated that the income from electricity sales at the current tariff wouldn't quite be enough to cover the cost of operating an oil palm waste plant. But the researchers said the projects could be cost-competitive when taking into account potential carbon credits. Creating a Renewable Industry Palm biomass projects aren't without environmental concerns. Louis Verchot, the leading climate change scientist for the Bogor, Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research, said using oil palm waste to produce electricity generally is a good idea because such waste usually is burned or left to decompose slowly. However, he cautioned, if palm oil waste production generates profits, it could create economic incentives to expand oil palm plantations, leading to more deforestation. Malaysia already has suffered greatly from deforestation of its hardwoods and peatlands. Verchot's team has published several analyses over the past two years that have shown that such biomass cultivation has a negative effect on the atmosphere and on natural habitat. That's especially true if the cultivation occurs on peatlands, which naturally store carbon. Ong said her group has had a few meetings with Sabah's big oil palm players on the possibility of generating electricity from palm oil waste. But, she said, "It was a little bit of a challenge to convince them to pioneer what was basically going to be a new industry. The bottom line is their focus." LEAP instead is working with a group of indigenous oil palm farmers on a small project to convert waste into biomass pellets, in hopes of proving its viability as a commercial enterprise. Ong said she is optimistic about renewable energy over the long term, but believes it will be up to the people to engage the government and "provoke and take leadership in pioneering the renewable energy industry." LEAP is putting together a Southeast Asia renewable energy group and also has been asked to help an anti-dam group in Sarawak, Sabah's Borneo neighbor. Said Masidi Manjun, Sabah's environment minister: "Renewable energy will not only have a significant role in the future but perhaps is the only viable option if the world is serious about conservation and tackling climatic change.... This is the way forward-that is, if we are interested in saving the world."If you work in the information security industry, you probably are already well aware of the growing competition and commoditization in the marketplace. Overseas companies and small consultancies are charging lower rates, which can make it hard for companies to show why their higher rates are justified. The truth is that pure, technical experience is no longer enough. It may have been, a few years ago, when competition in our industry was low, but it’s not enough anymore. Even if you know for a fact that you have one of the best, most technically skilled InfoSec teams out there, it doesn’t mean anything unless you are communicating that to your potential clients. This article (the first in a series) takes a look at some of the reasons behind the industry commoditization. It will also, hopefully, start you out on a journey of optimizing and standardizing your company’s methodology and client-facing communications. Increasing Competition and Commoditization You probably already know many of the factors leading to lower average rates in the industry, but here’s a quick rundown: Overseas competition: There are a growing number of overseas InfoSec companies, almost all charging significantly lower rates than the rates of companies in developed countries. There are a growing number of overseas InfoSec companies, almost all charging significantly lower rates than the rates of companies in developed countries. Small companies: There are an increasing number of small InfoSec startups. Their lower overhead means they can charge lower rates. There are an increasing number of small InfoSec startups. Their lower overhead means they can charge lower rates. Freelancers: Similarly, there are many freelancers (some perhaps are your ex-employees), doing jobs for lower-than-average rates. Similarly, there are many freelancers (some perhaps are your ex-employees), doing jobs for lower-than-average rates. Software applications: There are a growing number of pentesting applications and tools, which can serve to level the playing field a bit. More importantly, though, it makes it seem to potential clients as if pentesting is more of an interchangeable commodity than it actually is. All of these factors are creating what has been called a “race to the bottom”. InfoSec companies who were having no problem charging their normal rates a few years ago are now feeling the pressure to match lower rates from competitors or overseas companies to keep their lights on. For all of these reasons, it is no longer enough for an InfoSec company to be great. They must show and prove their greatness. Proving Value to Clients For many InfoSec companies, the concept of trying to communicate their strengths to clients is a foreign concept. So many InfoSec companies are focused almost entirely on staying up-to-date on technology and vulnerabilities, and working on their projects. This is understandable; the work is very important. Without high-quality work, nothing is possible. But competing in this modern, highly competitive marketplace means you must find ways to show why the work is high-quality. For many InfoSec companies, this will mean making adjustments to their fundamental business philosophy. It will mean focusing, as an organization, on the many ways it’s possible to improve your processes and to showcase those processes. A Cultural Shift For many companies primarily focused on the projects right in front of them, this will be a complete cultural shift. An analogy could be made to the major cultural change that happened in American car manufacturing in the 1980s, as companies like Ford and General Motors realized it was necessary to emulate the philosophies of Continual Improvement used by Japanese industry. (If you’d like to learn more about those cultural changes, click here.) In a similar way, InfoSec companies must adapt a new mindset focused on the client experience and client-facing communication. Improving Processes The biggest part of improving the client experience (and potential client experience) is in optimizing and standardizing your processes and procedures. A few examples of how process improvements will help you prove your worth to clients: The Power of Consistency Your methodology must be truly consistent. Many companies say things like: “Our process is standardized. We always do x, y, and z on every project we work on.” But in reality, there may be significant variance in methodology from project to project. Different team members and managers may work on every project, and they may have different methods and styles. The company may pay lip service to the idea of consistency, but it may not value it in practice. Being truly consistent means setting that principle as a real requirement on every project. There have to be standards in place. Those standards and systems need to be clearly communicated to every team member. Managers must communicate why those systems are in place and why they are important. There must be concrete measures in place to ensure guidelines are maintained so that, if there is a problem with a project or with a team member’s performance, it can be spotted and addressed. In many InfoSec companies, the culture will make this difficult. (And we’ll talk more about ways to overcome these cultural obstacles in a future article.) But process consistency is vital. Clients want to know what to expect when they hire you and rehire you; this is especially true for the biggest clients. Consistent processes will demonstrate to your clients (especially your repeat clients) that you value consistency. And with greater consistency, it will be easier to demonstrate what exactly makes your team valuable. The Power of Reports Most InfoSec companies understand that reports are valuable, but they don’t truly understand just how valuable. A report is not just a way to communicate technical vulnerabilities and assessments. It is an opportunity. A report can be an opportunity to: Showcase your consistent processes: If your methodology and business processes are fantastic, and consistent, then a report is a way to showcase your methods and how you thoroughly arrived at your results. You must find a way to work your methodology cleanly into your reports. And you must find a way to make that a part of your process that happens every time. Proving the right team was on the job: Clients want to feel assured that you have the best people on the job. Reports are an opportunity to show to clients that the people working on their project are highly qualified. (We’ll talk more about the importance of this perception in a future article.) Get repeat business: When you send deliverables, you are also, indirectly, pitching a client on future work. A report can showcase the benefits of your methodology, which can be a convincing sales message in itself. The report can also communicate the benefits of regular testing to make sure pentesting catches new vulnerabilities. For example, your team might notice problems outside of the scope of the investigation; the report is an opportunity to point out those issues and recommend future responses. Collaboration and reporting platforms are becoming more and more a must-have for InfoSec companies. These programs help ensure all team members are on the same page and speed up your reporting process. They also make it easier for certain types of communications to wind up in your reports every time, which is important for showcasing your consistency. The Power of Customer Service and Follow-up For many InfoSec companies, the idea of customer service is foreign. Following up with clients, or asking for feedback on projects, may not be part of a company’s culture. But this will need to change if a company wants to be optimally competitive. Companies will need to focus more on the client experience. Managers will need to communicate to team members why customer service is valuable, and what “customer service” means in our project-based, extremelytechnical industry. Clients will need to be prompted for criticisms (and, concurrently, testimonials) so that processes can be continually improved. Managers and employees must understand that asking for feedback, and ensuring client happiness, is not a “soft” side of the business. Getting feedback from clients is part of a process of continual improvement. Without knowing what makes clients satisfied or frustrated, it’s impossible to improve your service. Or, more importantly, the perception of your product. These are the same philosophies that helped Japanese auto manufacturers climb to dominance after World War II: a continual focus on their users’ experience and a continual focus on process improvement. Change Is Possible At this point, you might be thinking something like, “These are all great, lofty ideas, but you have no idea what it’s like at my company. These things would be impossible to implement here.” But process improvements and cultural improvements are always possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re a manager or owner trying to implement a top-down improvement process, or a team member trying to convince the higher-ups that there’s a better way of doing things. Change is possible; it will just require intelligent planning and, sometimes, patience and persuasion. In the coming articles in this series, we’ll be looking at some specific strategies and tips you can start putting in place immediately. These strategies will help you optimize your processes and differentiate your company from your competitors. We will also focus on helping you prove the value of these ideas to your own team, because that is often the most important and difficult part of any institutional change.Puerto Rico is on course to default on some of its debts on Monday, deepening a crisis that has been escalating steadily for months. But the seemingly arcane dispute over the island's public finances masks a struggle for wealth and power in which the peculiarities of Puerto Rico’s political status and Wall Street greed play a leading role. Puerto Rico has $70 billion in total debt that its government says it cannot pay. No matter who wins, the vast majority of the 3.5 million U.S. citizens who call the island home aren't likely to see relief any time soon. Here are seven key facts to understand the debt crisis of a place most Americans know only as a vacation destination: 1. Puerto Rico is defaulting on a very small portion of its debt. Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has said the island will not make a $35.9 million payment to its Infrastructure Finance Authority and another $1.4 million payment it owes its Public Finance Corp. That is a small fraction of the $1 billion in debts that comes due on Jan. 4, including a $328.7 million installment of general obligation debt, which the island’s constitution requires it to prioritize paying above all others debts. Puerto Rico already defaulted on payments owed to the Public Finance Corp. in August. Still, the government has had to resort to extreme measures to make the payments on which it is not defaulting. Garcia Padilla told Reuters that the government had to take $163 million in revenues from other agencies in order to meet its Jan. 4 obligations, including the island’s highway, convention center and busing authorities. Puerto Rican news outlet El Vocero also reported on rumors that the government will use money from the public employee pension fund to meet its Jan. 4 payments. The pension administrator said it has been selling assets, but only uses the proceeds to fund retirement benefits. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/ASSOCIATED PRESS Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Javier Garcia Padilla testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 1, 2015. 2. Puerto Ricans have already suffered tremendously to meet their obligations. Among the government's tactics to save money is to postpone income tax refunds for an unknown number of Puerto Ricans. José Javier Colon, a professor of political science at the University of Puerto Rico, is one of them: he has yet to receive a refund of $2,000 that is owed him, he said. “The situation is very dire,” Colon said. “For me it is difficult to understand that people are questioning how severe the financial crisis is.” For me it is difficult to understand that people are questioning how severe the financial crisis is. José Javier Colon, University of Puerto Rico While Puerto Rico may technically be able to make its payments, as David Dayen notes in The American Prospect, it cannot do so without destroying its already-depressed economy. Puerto Rico is trapped in a vicious cycle where the very austerity measures it has taken to meet short-term obligations to creditors -- such as laying off 30,000 public sector workers and increasing its sales tax from 7 percent to 11.5 percent -- have devastated its economy, depleting revenue sources and requiring even more drastic steps just to keep up with payments. One-third of the money coming into Puerto Rico’s coffers annually now goes toward paying creditors. The island’s economy has shrunk 10 percent since 2006 and it now has a poverty rate of 45 percent. The departure of 300,000 Puerto Ricans for the mainland United States in that time -- including 84,000 people in 2014 alone -- means that the burden of debt repayments will fall on an even smaller, poorer pool of island residents. The government's latest move could be a play for time, posits Charles Venator, an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut who specializes in Puerto Rican politics. Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure Finance Authority and Public Finance Corp, the two entities the government will miss repaying on Jan. 4, will likely challenge the government in court. That means it could take a year before a court forces the government to pay up, Venator estimates. That will give Garcia Padilla extra time to pressure Congress to grant the island bankruptcy powers, as he did Tuesday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images A ship passes past part of the wall that makes up La Fortaleza in Old San Juan, the original capital city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 3. Puerto Rico cannot declare bankruptcy without Congress' permission -- and Congress has not been forthcoming. Normally, when a U.S. government, corporation or individual can no longer afford to pay back its lenders in full, it has the right to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, a judge or arbitrator forges a compromise between the parties that typically forces creditors to take a loss, enabling the borrower to recover. The city of Detroit, for example, sought bankruptcy protection in July 2013, allowing it to cut 74 percent of its unsecured debt. As a commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico cannot declare bankruptcy or otherwise restructure its debt without congressional approval. A Democratic-backed proposal to grant the island bankruptcy authority over some of its debts did not make it into the omnibus spending bill that Congress passed Dec. 18. Puerto Rico has tried to restructure its debt to public corporations -- a lower-priority category of debt than the constitutionally protected class of “general obligations” -- using a local bankruptcy law. But a federal court, siding with creditors who challenged the provision, ruled that federal laws barred the island from restructuring that debt. The Supreme Court will hear Puerto Rico’s challenge of the lower court ruling early this year and likely make a ruling by the end of June. Christopher Gregory/Getty Images The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's Palo Seco power plant stands in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The government is fighting to restructure debts it owes the company's investors. The Obama administration seemingly dealt Puerto Rico a setback in its fight for financial independence last week when it argued in a brief for a separate case that the island is a territory that lacks virtually any standing as a sovereign entity -- and will continue to do so unless it achieves statehood or independence. But Venator speculates that the maneuver may be designed to place the onus squarely on Congress by effectively saying the island is the sole responsibility of the U.S. That would certainly be consistent with an approach recently outlined by Antonio Weiss, the Treasury Department official overseeing the administration’s response to the crisis. “Resolving Puerto Rico’s crisis requires congressional action,” Weiss said in a Dec. 9 speech at the Peterson Institute. It is not likely that a resolution developed by a Republican-controlled Congress will be one that Puerto Rico’s Democratic-controlled government or suffering population find favorable. Congressional Republicans have been less eager than Democrats to help Puerto Rico, arguing that the island must reduce social program spending and enact other fiscal reforms first. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has assured House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that the House will take action to aid the island by the spring, though it is unclear if that would include debt restructuring. Peter Foley/Getty Images Protesters demonstrate at the Puerto Rican debt talks outside Citibank Inc. headquarters on Park Avenue in New York City, on July 13, 2015. 4. Wall Street "vultures" are making a killing off the island. Puerto Rico's terms of repayment are particularly onerous because so much of its debt is now controlled by big U.S. hedge funds. In the last year, as Puerto Rico’s spiraling debt effectively prevented it from borrowing on ordinary credit markets, creditors began selling off Puerto Rican debt, as David Dayen reported in The American Prospect. A select group of big investors, most of them hedge funds, stepped in to buy the debt for a mere fraction of its original value. These hedge funds are known as “vultures” because of their attempts to squeeze a profit from a penniless debtor’s proverbial carcass. Vultures buy the debt of cash-strapped sovereign nations -- think Greece and Argentina -- at discounted rates from other investors, who have grown scared they will not be paid back. Then the vultures use every means at their disposal -- the courts, political lobbying, the media -- to ensure that they are paid back at the full-dollar value of the discounted debts they purchased, as well as interest. In Puerto Rico’s case, investors can buy Puerto Rican government bonds from other bondholders for as little as 30 cents on the dollar of their original value and enjoy income from interest rates that go as high as 11 percent. Hedge funds also gave Puerto Rico a much-needed cash infusion in 2014, buying $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds that no one else was willing to buy. It was a good deal for the investors: Puerto Rico’s bonds are tax exempt in all 50 states and the interest rate was 8.7 percent, amounting to what The New York Times estimates was “in effect, a 20 percent return.” What is more, Puerto Rico is constitutionally bound to prioritize payment of the general obligation bonds above all else. Andrew Harrer/Getty Images Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, initially supported a Senate bill granting Puerto Rico bankruptcy authority but later reneged. 5. Other hedge funds have fought to prevent Puerto Rico from gaining bankruptcy powers. There are competing interests at play in the web of investors in Puerto Rican debt. Some of the vulture hedge funds, like those that own the higher-priority general obligation bonds, are supportive of attempts to force investors in Puerto Rico’s public corporations to accept losses. At the same time, other hedge funds, which own debt from Puerto Rico’s public corporations and other entities that would be affected by restructuring, have helped thwart the island’s attempts to persuade Congress to grant it bankruptcy power. Prior to the bankruptcy provision House Democrats tried to get into the omnibus bill, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was working closely with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on a similar bill granting Puerto Rico powers to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy on some of its debts and give towns and public corporations bankruptcy powers as well. But a group of hedge funds that includes D.E. Shaw -- a firm headed by top Hillary Clinton donor David Shaw -- played a key role in defeating the bipartisan effort with a multi-front lobbying offensive, as The New York Times reported at length. Blue Mountain, another hedge fund in the group, launched a sophisticated astroturf campaign casting the bill, which would cost taxpayers nothing, as a “bailout” that would harm ordinary seniors whose retirement plans rely on returns from Puerto Rican bonds. Rubio withdrew his support under pressure, contributing to the bill’s ultimate collapse. Puerto Rico has little room to take advantage of the apparent divisions between vulture hedge funds and those that have invested in its public corporations. Whether it faces endless legal battles against Wall Street lawyers over the terms of its exorbitant payments to the vulture hedge funds or voluntary negotiations with public corporation bondholders without being able to leverage the threat of bankruptcy, odds are there is a lot more financial pain in the island’s future. Boston Globe/Getty Images John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, is one of the deep-pocketed investors who has moved to Puerto Rico to take advantage of tax exemptions. 6. Puerto Rico is already a tax shelter for Wall Street billionaires. Meanwhile, Wall Street is encouraging the island to enact more austerity to come up with the money needed to pay its debts. A July report commissioned by hedge funds invested in Puerto Rican debt breaks new ground on the subject. It calls for the commonwealth to roll back labor protections, privatize public assets, lay off more public employees and raise sales taxes. Puerto Rico’s previous governor, Republican Luis Fortuño, enacted several tax incentives in 2012 aimed at attracting foreign investors in hopes of boosting the island's finances. The main one was Act 22, a law exempting all of an individual’s investment income from income taxes once the person became a permanent resident of the island. To critics, the calls for belt-tightening and higher taxes are hypocritical. In the wake of the new laws, many hedge fund executives have themselves moved to the island and bought property there as a tax avoidance scheme. Hedge funds have a vested financial interest in promoting regressive tax regimes and lax regulation in order to maximize profits on their new investments in Puerto Rico. Those policies, by definition, may not be in “the best long-term interest of Puerto Rico,” as Matt Fabian of the research firm Municipal Market Analytics told The Huffington Post in July. Christopher Gregory/Getty Images The La Perla shanty town sits just a few steps from the upscale neighborhoods of Condado and Old San Juan on Nov. 12, 2013, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 7. Wall Street and Congress share blame for Puerto Rico's accumulation of debt in the first place. To hear some commentators tell it, Puerto Rico is in a mess entirely of its own making, and any attempt to provide it relief will only encourage the island’s bad behavior. There is some truth in their argument. Successive Puerto Rican governments decided to issue more and more debt to cover costs, rather than make fiscal adjustments, when the island’s economy began generating less revenue than it had in the past. Puerto Rico’s debt increased every year since 2000, a report commissioned by the current government has found. The island’s utility monopolies are notoriously inefficient. The state-owned power company relies on expensive and dirty fossil fuel imports to generate electricity for the island and is not transparent about the high rates it charges customers. The World Bank ranked the island 57th in the world in terms of ease of doing business, just below Mongolia and above Costa Rica. (The United States is ranked seventh.) Creditors who bought those bonds knew that there was an increasing gap between the economic activity of Puerto Rico and its debts. José Javier Colon, University of Puerto Rico But all of that ignores two essential factors underlying Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. Puerto Rico ramped up its debt accumulation in response to an economic calamity Congress largely created. From 1976 to 1996, Puerto Rico’s economy grew steadily thanks largely to Section 936 of the U.S. tax code, which exempted U.S. manufacturers on the island from taxes. In 1996, the Clinton administration and Congress passed a 10-year phase-out of the exemption, but as The American Prospect noted, “Congress did not replace Section 936 with an economic development plan for Puerto Rico to offset the impact.” Manufacturers left Puerto Rico in droves as the exemption faded away and the island’s economy has never really recovered. Another odd rule related to Puerto Rico’s reliance on the U.S. also hinders the island's economic potential. The Jones Act prohibits foreign-flagged ships from carrying cargo from one U.S. port to another. As a result, foreign ships with goods destined for the mainland U.S. cannot stop at Puerto Rico first -- or vice versa -- without transferring the cargo onto a U.S. ship. The law is blamed for the high price of imported consumer goods in Puerto Rico. In addition, U.S.-based investors actively participated in, and even encouraged, Puerto Rico’s debt binge. Puerto Rico’s municipal bonds, which are uniquely exempt from local, state and federal taxes in all 50 states, provided returns that were too hard to pass up. It is an opportunity to deal with a politically and economically bankrupt territorial system created by Congress. Charles Venator, University of Connecticut Investors often bought the bonds despite their inherent risks, said Colon, of the University of Puerto Rico. “Creditors who bought those bonds knew that there was an increasing gap between the economic activity of Puerto Rico and its debts,” Colon said. “The financial sector made lots of money off those bond sales.” The sector's role in creating the crisis does not eliminate the need for political and fiscal reforms in Puerto Rico, Colon insisted. But it does undermine arguments against granting Puerto Rico authority to declare bankruptcy over at least some of its debts, which Colon said is “essential.” Venator sees a long-overdue resolution of Puerto Rico’s ill-defined political status as a possible silver lining of the debt crisis. “It is an opportunity to deal with a politically and economically bankrupt territorial system created by Congress,” he said. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly suggested that U.S.-based labor union pension funds were significant purchasers of Puerto Rican municipal bonds. Also on HuffPost:Last January, Berkeley Latinx Studies major / nonbinary pronoun activist Pablo “They” Gomez was arrested on charges of murdering a woman he didn’t know, schoolteacher Emilie Inman, and stabbing nonfatally fellow SJW activist Kiana Schmitt. The stabby little social justice jihadi was found sane enough to stand trial on a 2-1 vote. Monday was the first hearing since then. Gov. Jerry Brown, Zillionaire Tom Steyer, and They From Berkeleyside: UC Berkeley student told friend after fatal stabbing: ‘It’s your time now’ By Emilie Raguso Nov. 13, 2017, 10:36 p.m. … Gomez, 22, was also a UC Berkeley student at the time of the killing for which they* have been charged. They wore red jailhouse scrubs over a purple T-shirt at the Alameda County Superior Court hearing in Oakland, and kept their small hands clasped together on the table for much of the day. At times, they propped up their elbows and rested their face on their hands as they listened without reaction to the testimony that would determine the direction of the case. * Gomez’s pronoun is “they.” Read more about personal gender pronouns. Each instance of “they” in this story refers to Gomez alone. Authorities say Gomez fatally stabbed a stranger, 27-year-old Emilie Inman, at her Ashby Avenue home near Alta Bates hospital on Jan. 6. … Defense attorney George Arroyo, with the Alameda County public defender’s office, kept his questions brief. He focused on testimony related to his client’s possible break with reality during events that led up to the killing and the non-fatal stabbing of Gomez’s friend, Kiana Schmitt. The star witness and her socially constructed eyebrows. … As her small black service dog, which wore a bright green vest, at times licked tears from her face, Schmitt described her memories, to prosecutor John Ullom, of the day she said she was stabbed by her “close friend,” Gomez. The two had known each other for about a year as of January when the incidents took place. Gomez, Schmitt and several other people had driven up to Berkeley together in Schmitt’s car from Southern California on Thursday, Jan. 5, she said. Cal’s spring semester was to begin the next week. Along the way, Schmitt said Gomez talked passionately about a midnight ceremony Gomez had planned for the night ahead for Día de Los Reyes, or Three Kings Day. The ceremony is also called Epiphany. Gomez talked during the drive about having had visions and spiritual transformations, and described the upcoming ceremony as an important spiritual event in their Mexican indigenous culture. Gomez also described plans to leave Berkeley the next day for Mexico, Schmitt said. Later that night, at UC Berkeley’s Afro House student cooperative, Gomez brought a number of items to be used for the ceremony, including a bandana, a flower and a lighter. They laid the items out in a sort of altar, Schmitt recalled. … … Some of the friends, including Gomez, went “to smoke.” … About an hour later, Gomez appeared suddenly and was obviously “distressed,” Schmitt said. A scarf was draped over their body. They wore no shirt or pants, and were barefoot. … “They ran up to my car, motioned for me to open the door and then they got in,” she said, of Gomez. She noticed that Gomez’s hair, which had been waist-length the prior night, had been cut very short. When Schmitt called her friend by the name “Pablo,” Gomez answered, “I’m not Pablo. I’m Ray now,” according to her testimony. Gomez directed Schmitt to drive to a friend’s house south of campus … According to later court testimony by Berkeley Police Sgt. Peter Hong, the case agent, Gomez did have a friend who used to live at the house, but she had moved out a year prior. That woman told police Gomez had only visited her there once, but that the two were friends through “activist circles” and would see each other at “activist events.” As Schmitt described what happened next, she began to get upset. Throughout her testimony, she pet her dog often, stroking the small animal’s ears and holding the dog close to her chest. Schmitt said Gomez was “talking to themselves, muttering,” and told her, “Oh, there’s a woman in the sky. Can you see her?” “What are you talking about?” Schmitt asked Gomez. … At noon Monday, when Grant described trying to find Emilie Inman’s body, it was the first time her name had been mentioned in the court proceedings, which had begun before 10 a.m. … Emilie Inman, RIP As he described the scene, Inman’s parents held hands, and her father cried audibly for the first time throughout the day’s proceedings. … Judge Desautels said it did appear, based on the evidence, that Gomez could have committed murder… She ordered Gomez to continue to be held without bail, and ordered Gomez to return to court Nov. 27 for the next hearing in the case. Earlier in the morning, before the proceedings began, Inman’s mother attempted to take a moment to introduce herself to,
, who, in addition to malnutrition, face abuse and exploitation, including through forced marriage, sexual abuse, and harmful child labour. One of the greatest dangers is hunger. More than a quarter of all Afghanistan’s provinces have acute malnutrition rates above 15 per cent, classifying them above emergency thresholds. Out of the total of 1.8 million people requiring assistance for malnutrition, at least 1.3 million are children under the age of five. As of September 2016, only a quarter-million children had been admitted for treatment, a fraction of those estimated to be in need, according to the report findings. The food situation in the country overall is dire, with crops last year producing less than in 2015, leaving a gap of 1.2 million metric tons. The report noted that while fighting, a sudden increase in returnees from Pakistan and an economic slowdown affected the country, the food gap is also the result of localized floods and dry spells, a locust infestation, and wheat rust.A Georgetown University student group called Unsung Heroes works to acknowledge campus employees such as janitors, bus drivers and security guards. The group raised funds to help Oneil Batchelor, a Jamaican immigrant and janitor starting a catering business, a life-long dream. (Facebook.com/unsung.heroes.organization) A Georgetown University student group called Unsung Heroes works to acknowledge campus employees such as janitors, bus drivers and security guards. The group raised funds to help Oneil Batchelor, a Jamaican immigrant and janitor starting a catering business, a life-long dream. (Facebook.com/unsung.heroes.organization) Every night, they had the same routine. The Georgetown University business student would settle in for his cram session — soda, chips, books lined up. And the janitor would come in to start his night shift — polishing each of the windows in the study room, moving amid all those books and chips and sodas. Invisible. “There was this space, like ice separating us,” said Oneil Batchelor, an immigrant from Jamaica. The janitor worked around the students — many of them in their 20s like him, many with entrepreneurial ambitions like him — for nearly a decade before one of them finally broke that ice last year. A nod one night. A hello the next. Georgetown University business major Febin Bellamy, left, talks with janitor Oneil Batchelor, who wants to open chicken joint. Students raised $2,500 and got him catering gigs. (Andy Hogg/Unsung Heroes) And within weeks, Batchelor and the student, Febin Bellamy, were having long talks about being immigrants, about wanting to be entrepreneurs, about politics and history and music. Bellamy even went to Batchelor’s church and met his 6-year-old daughter. After he formed that bond with the once-invisible worker, Bellamy couldn’t stop noticing the others. “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” the 22-year-old said. The minimum-wage cafeteria workers dishing up food, the locker-room attendant scrubbing the stinkiest places, the maintenance man doing backbreaking work in the garden while students maneuver around him, heads bowed to their phones. [He made a promise to help others. Now he’s giving tents to the homeless.] It’s not just affluence, age and pedigree that create this yawning gap at a school where tuition and room and board run more than $65,000 a year. “Everybody’s in their own world,” Bellamy said. “A lot of students have good hearts and were raised right. It’s just not always easy for them to get to know people around them.” Georgetown students raised more than $5,000 for Umberto “Suru” Ripai, a cashier at Leo O’Donovan dining hall. He will be able to visit his family in South Sudan for the first time in 45 years. (Andy Hogg/Unsung Heroes) Each of those workers has a story. Many of them are immigrants, and their collective histories of war and flight and families left behind offer a master class in geopolitics. No tuition needed. Bellamy understands because these are his people. His family immigrated to the United States from India when he was 5. When they got to New York, his mother worked as a nursing assistant and his father as a customer service rep while they were going to college at night and raising a family in the few hours left over. Bellamy started at a community college and then transferred to Georgetown as a junior. He knows the scrap and fight the folks fixing pipes and cleaning bathrooms have inside them. So he had a brainstorm. What if he found a way to introduce the workers to the students? And that idea went from a class project in April to a fundraiser making real change today. He did it in the language his peers understand: a Facebook page. He calls it Unsung Heroes, and he began posting little profiles of workers around campus. Students learned that the guy who cleans the business school windows, Batchelor, left a place of little opportunity in Jamaica 20 years ago and dreams of opening his own jerk-chicken joint someday. They learned that one of the cooks at the Leo O’Donovan Dining Hall, José Manzanares, saw family members killed in El Salvador’s civil war and escaped when he was a teenager. [Rescued from the Nazis, these Jews believe in helping Muslim refugees] They realized that every time Memuna Tackie, the woman vacuuming the carpet at the stately Riggs Library, asked a question about an English word, they were helping the immigrant from Ghana study for her citizenship test. The guy who runs the cash register at the dining hall? Umberto “Suru” Ripai hasn’t seen his family in what is now South Sudan for 45 years. And that crossing guard who smiles at all the students, even when they don’t smile back? Anthony “Tracey” Smith’s dad was killed in a crosswalk. Smith decided he wanted to protect pedestrians, and that’s why he took the job at Georgetown. The stories got shared. And liked. And loved. “I walk through campus now, and people are waving at me, saying hi all the time,” Batchelor said. It gets even better. The students also learned about some of the hopes percolating, as windows are washed and floors are scrubbed. And they’re helping. Turns out that Batchelor really is a gifted cook. Students who read about him encouraged him to hold fundraisers serving his now-famous-on-campus chicken. They raised $2,500, got him catering gigs and helped him put up his own web page, Oneil’s Famous Jerk. “It’s like the door has cracked open in front of me,” he said. “And I can smell the air coming through. The inspiration.” That cafeteria cashier at Leo’s? The same students who once silently handed their meal cards to Ripai just raised more than $5,500 on a GoFundMe page for him to go to South Sudan to visit. That’s enough money for two round-trip tickets. He’s planning his journey now. Smiling yet? Bellamy hopes to expand Unsung Heroes to other campuses nationwide. A social entrepreneur, he calls it. I call it awesome. Talk about an antidote to the divisiveness and bile of this election season. Say all you want about tax returns and emails and locker rooms. This is what makes America great, Americans. Twitter: @petuladFinal Motion for SFVCOG March PP 2013 First, a caveat: don’t get too excited. The above list of projects recommended recently by the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments are just that — recommendations. And, as usual, funding is always an issue. But I thought I’d post the motion because I know from reader comments and email there’s quite a bit of interest in some of the above. In particular, the idea of connecting Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport by transit is appealing; getting between Pasadena and Burbank by transit often involves a trip through downtown Los Angeles. I’m also a big fan of speeding up the long Metrolink trip (up to two hours, 10 minutes) between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster, which are about 70 miles apart. By the way, Metro’s long range plan has a couple of similar projects, although both are in the tier 2 unfunded section (basically meaning they’re in the back of the line for funding for now). These include a Red Line extension to Bob Hope Airport and an undefined “transit corridor” between the NoHo Red Line station and the Gold Line’s Del Mar station in Pasadena. One last note: it’s worth noting the four names on the motion for the Metro Board: Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Glendale Councilman Ara Najarian, city of Los Angeles appointee Mel Wilson and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Interesting. Like this: Like Loading...While bouncy fun may sound like a great plan at a kid’s birthday or other child-minded event, bounce houses are anything but fun when it comes to your child’s health and safety. This summer an in-depth investigation by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) prompted lawsuits to be filed by CEH and the California Attorney General against many leading makers, distributors and suppliers of bounce houses, also known as jump houses or inflatable jumpers. Lead limits were through the roof with many of these bounce houses. One major brand was tested as containing more than 70 times the federal limit for lead in kids’ products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. More independent CHE testing showed that the massive amounts of lead from bounce houses expose children to lead at levels that violate California law. Why the lead? According to CHE, bounce houses are most often made with vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), a “poison plastic.” PVC as you likely know is usually made with lead. In turn, lead can cause all sorts of damage from learning disorders to brain and nerve damage to hearing problems to stunted growth and more. That’s why we’re always suggesting you avoid lead and PVC based products here at Inhabitots. Most of the research available today says that most likely there are no safe levels of lead exposure for young children. Before you panic! It’s important to note that not all bouncy houses were found to contain unsafe lead levels. However, since there aren’t any safe lead levels for kids that’s not too reassuring. Jumping around in a bouncy house containing any lead probably isn’t the safest plan. That said, say you go to a kids’ birthday party and they have a bouncy house. Should you be a killjoy or allow your kid to jump? You can ask which company supplied the bouncy house. CHE named the following companies in their lawsuits – Cutting Edge Creations, Inc.; Funtastic Factory, Inc. dba Einflatables.com; The Inflatable Store, Inc/Leisure Activities Co., Ltd.; Jump for Fun, Inc.; Magic Jump, Inc.; Thrillworks, Inc; Bay Area Jumps. You can allow your child to jump but make sure he washes his hands after and that until he does his little hands should stay clear of his mouth. Research shows that washing up can in fact reduce lead exposure. You should wash up too — especially if you’re pregnant and helping your child in and out of a bouncy house. Avoid lead elsewhere. How often does your child really encounter a bouncy house? For the typical child, the risks of lead exposure from old paint, imported toys and other PVC items are greater than the risks of lead exposure via bouncy houses. For your own parties skip the bouncy house. When you factor in PVC, lead and transport emissions, bouncy houses simply aren’t an eco-friendly birthday option. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. [images: via Flickr user chimothy27 and basykes]JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri House members have given initial approval to a prescription drug monitoring program. Lawmakers debated the legislation Tuesday after House leadership spent about three weeks trying to smooth over disagreements between Republicans. It was approved 91-68. A monitoring system is aimed at informing doctors and pharmacists when similar prescriptions were recently written or filed. Bill sponsor Rep. Holly Rehder said that system would help get painkillers off the street and decrease opiate overdoses. House Speaker Todd Richardson supported the monitoring program, but some other Republicans called it an unconstitutional invasion of privacy. Rep. Jay Barnes said the database wouldn't stop people determined to feed their addictions. Missouri is the only state without a prescription drug monitoring program. The bill needs another vote to go to the Senate.If you're still using a BlackBerry smartphone with a "physical" QWERTY keyboard, or if you've switched platforms but still harbor fantasies about a return to the good old days when you didn't spend as much time cursing your on-screen keypad as you do typing on it, the BlackBerry Classic is the smartphone you've been waiting for. BlackBerry returned to its roots with the Classic, which was officially launched this morning in New York City. The device looks like a larger, more modern version of the hugely popular BlackBerry 9900, a "classic" BlackBerry that was initially released more than three years ago, in the summer of 2011. Brian Sacco The BlackBerry Bold 9900, BlackBerry Q10 and BlackBerry Classic The most notable change in the Classic compared to the current crop of BlackBerry 10 smartphones is the return of the "tool belt," or the horizontal set of four navigation keys and a central trackpad, that humbly sits atop the BlackBerry keyboard. "When we launched some other previous devices, there was something missing in our lineup," says Sonia Moniz-Bennett, BlackBerry's senior manager of product marketing. "We didn't deliver in terms of keeping the familiarity. Our customers told us, 'We want the belt back.' We realize that we missed giving these folks what they wanted [with first few BlackBerry 10 devices], and that's why we're delivering this." [Related Review: Hands On With the New BlackBerry Passport Smartphone] Moniz-Bennett sums up the BlackBerry Classic in four words: Familiar design, faster results. The Classic's target users are "people using a 9900 that haven't given it up," according to Warren Pamukoff, a BlackBerry analyst relations manager. So while the tech world often focuses on market share to compare today's major mobile platforms, and tech specs when considering the latest mobile devices, the goal of the BlackBerry Classic isn't to grow the user base or outdo competitors with more storage space or a faster processor. Instead, BlackBerry wants to make sure it doesn't lose any more loyal customers who are still clinging to their plastic QWERTY keyboards. As a longtime BlackBerry user who loved his Bold 9900 dearly, I'm very much BlackBerry's target Classic user. However, I'm also a loyal iPhone and Android user, and as such, the BlackBerry platform's weaknesses couldn't be clearer. There's a lot to like about the BlackBerry Classic, but it's also hard to ignore its shortcomings. I've divided this BlackBerry Classic review into three sections: strengths, weakness, and, finally, a conclusion to sum up my thoughts. First up, details on those strengths. (You can also jump right to the conclusion.)With so much doublespeak coming from FBI Director James Comey, we thought it would benefit our readers to have a running account of the FBI’s investigations of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, the Trump surveillance matter, and other political issues that are under investigation. Our apologies if we offend the good men and women of the FBI who are loyal to America and honor the rule of law, but clearly you are complicit in the ruination of the FBI’s reputation if you don’t start speaking up about your apparently compromised director. Check back often as we will continue to post articles that track the FBI’s possible lawless involvement in the surveillance of American citizens and activities that appear to be giving cover to America’s top criminals– pedophiles, politicians, and presidents. March 6, 2017 – Having thrown the Justice Department under the bus yesterday, it appears the FBI Director has not managed to pass the hot potato of blame/responsibility for Trump’s wiretap accusations. As The Hill reports, a White House spokeswoman on Monday said she “doesn’t think” Trump accepts Comey’s denial of the president’s claims. As a reminder, a New York Times report Sunday said Comey asked the Justice Department to publicly reject the president’s claims. Senior U.S. officials told the Times that Comey has said the president’s wiretapping allegations are false and asked the Justice Department on Saturday to publicly correct the record. The FBI and DOJ declined to comment to the newspaper. November 7, 2016 November 6, 2016 – FBI Director James Comey is passionately defending the integrity of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email setup, arguing that critics are unfair to suggest that agents were biased or succumbed to political pressure. “You can call us wrong, but don’t call us weasels. We are not weasels,” Comey declared Wednesday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “We are honest people and … whether or not you agree with the result, this was done the way you want it to be done.” November 6, 2016 – The latest decision by Comey will surely be his undoing. For the second time he has profoundly violated his oath of office in broad daylight. His professional misconduct has also revealed the fact that he does not work for the American people; rather, he works for the Clinton Crime Family. Because his decision flies in the face of proper law enforcement, he has set himself up, as well as the FBI, for a major fall. The career agents will no longer tolerate an inside man for the Clinton Crime Family working in their office. Not only is the credibility of the agency sullied forever, the agents themselves can no longer walk around with anything but shame and humiliation. October 29, 2016 – Having been the whipping boy of Republicans everywhere since July, following his announcement the FBI would not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton, then shockingly making the “most hated list” of every Democrat with the even more stunning news the FBI had reopened its probe of Hillary Clinton, bureau director James Comey just can’t seem to win. So in an attempt to justify his actions, a “leaked” memo emerged which explains why Comey took the unusual step of deciding to inform Congress that the FBI had reopened its investigation into Clinton’s private email server. The memo reveals two main arguments: a sense of obligation to lawmakers and a concern that word of the new email discovery would leak to the media and raise questions of a coverup. October 31, 2016 – As America inches toward open revolt over the runaway criminality and collusion of the democrats and the media, another kind of revolt is taking place inside the FBI. According to multiple sources in the independent media — now the only remaining “free press” in America — FBI director James Comey was forced into announcing a reopening of the criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server by “livid” FBI agents who threatened to go public if Comey didn’t act. James Comey, long since suspected to be a Clinton operative who deliberately allowed Hillary Clinton to get away with a vast number of felony crimes and national security violations, now finds himself with his back against the wall. October 31, 2016 – Look, Comey’s not stupid. The Washington Post reported that he was only notified of the discovery of these new emails last Thursday. He knew the guy running the Clinton investigation was likely dragging his feet until after election. He also knew that if he did nothing given this new discovery and it turned up damning evidence against Clinton, Republicans would rake him over the coals for taking part in a conspiracy. So he did what any bureaucrat would do in that situation: He covered his you know what. He notified Congress of the new discovery, which let the cat out of the bag. October 31, 2016 – In a separate FBI investigation involving Weiner’s alleged sexting messages with a 15-year old minor, the phone in question was handed over to the FBI. The investigating teams of both the Weiner and Hillary cases compared notes and apparently additional emails not already issued by WikiLeaks or already in FBI possession recently came to light on Weiner’s phone. The legions of rank and file FBI agents were already fuming over Comey’s complete ethical and legal lapses in his choice not to indict Hillary. Joe diGenova believes that FBI personnel forced Comey’s hand to reopen the investigation after giving him the ultimatum that if he failed to do so, the FBI defiantly would. October 17, 2016 – Operation Cross Country X Press Conference September 29, 2016 – During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) pressed Comey about whether he was testifying that Clinton didn’t know what a classified marking is. “No, not that she would have no idea what a classified marking would be,” Comey responded. “It’s an interesting question whether she … was actually sophisticated enough to understand what a C in [parentheses] means.” “You asked me if I would assume someone would know,” he added. “Probably before this investigation, I would have. I am not so sure of that any longer. I think it’s possible — possible — that she didn’t know what a C meant when she saw it in the body of an email like that.” September 28, 2016 – The morale throughout the entire FBI is at an all-time low because of this festering predicament. Agents no longer have any confidence in their leader to do the right thing. Various levels of management under Comey have been seriously politicized. There is only one remedy for this rapidly deteriorating situation. Comey must resign. There is no other way to re-establish the reputation of the FBI. In the absence of an unconditional resignation of Director Comey, he must be removed by his own people. They must demand — en masse — that he resign effective immediately. September 28, 2016 – In bluntest terms, the FBI performs a function similar to that of the 20th century KGB. It creates high-profile “criminal cases” to reinforce elite memes. For instance, banking elites are currently fixated on creating a “war on terror.” The FBI is charged with finding and arresting terrorists to buttress this narrative. Almost all of the terrorists that the FBI has arrested in the recent past have significant questions attached to them. There are cases to be made probably for every one of them that the individual is either nor responsible for the incident or was incited and supported by the FBI in such a way as to bring the episode to fruition. September 28, 2016 -At every turn, Comey simply explained and re-explained the logic of determining that there was no evidence to move forward with prosecution of Hillary Clinton for mishandling emails of the most sensitive kind – and with little new information to bolster his perspective. September 28, 2016 – As FBI Director, it appears that you have profoundly violated your oath of office; you have broken department rules and regulations, you have betrayed you own agents and staff; and you have betrayed the American people. You, Mr. Director, need to resign post haste. You have single-handedly destroyed the rule of law throughout the United States of America. By allowing Ms. Clinton to escape a totally justified prosecution, you have sent a message to every criminal in the nation that they can simply assert their lack of intent for any crime they have committed. September 28, 2016 – Video: During the hearing, which touched on issues including ISIS and domestic terror, Comey was asked about the immunity deal that the FBI granted Hillary Clinton‘s former chief of staff Cheryl Mills in connection with their investigation of Clinton’s private email server. Comey explained that the deal was specific to Mills’ laptop, and not a broader immunity deal. September 28, 2016 – A review of FBI Director James Comey’s professional history and relationships shows that the Obama cabinet leader — now under fire for his handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton — is deeply entrenched in the big-money cronyism culture of Washington, D.C. His personal and professional relationships — all undisclosed as he announced the Bureau would not prosecute Clinton — reinforce bipartisan concerns that he may have politicized the criminal probe. These concerns focus on millions of dollars that Comey accepted from a Clinton Foundation defense contractor, Comey’s former membership on a Clinton Foundation corporate partner’s board, and his surprising financial relationship with his brother Peter Comey, who works at the law firm that does the Clinton Foundation’s taxes. September 28, 2016 – Allegations of impropriety were exacerbated by the FBI’s decision to, not once but twice, dump information on the media late on a Friday afternoon in an obvious attempt to “bury the story.” The latest 189-page, Friday afternoon document dump included, among other things, new revelations thatHillary maintained a gmail account while Secretary of State and that Obama, after previously denying knowledge of Hillary’s private server, actually communicated with her on that server using a pseudonym. September 27, 2016 – FBI Director James Comey went further Tuesday in clearing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of legal wrongdoing for her secret email account, saying he saw no evidence that she lied to investigators or that she broke federal laws.Mr. Comey also defended his decision to grant Mrs. Clinton’s chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, limited immunity for the classified emails found on her laptop, saying he and his agents were working on a timeline and wanted to get access to the computer without a long legal battle. September 4, 2016 – Video: Hillary Final Collapse. Criminal Evidence Is Staggering. August 3, 2016 – In Clinton’s case, the FBI did not find evidence “sufficient to establish” that she knew she was receiving or sending classified information and that it was against the law, Comey said. “I think she was extremely careless. I think she was negligent. That I could establish. What we can’t establish is that she acted with the necessary criminal intent,” he insisted. “‘Should have known,’ ‘must have known,’ ‘had to know’ does not get you there. You have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they knew they were engaged in something that was unlawful.” July 8, 2016 – In 2004, Comey, then serving as a deputy attorney general in the Justice Department, apparently limited the scope of the criminal investigation of Sandy Berger, which left out former Clinton administration officials who may have coordinated with Berger in his removal and destruction of classified records from the National Archives. The documents were relevant to accusations that the Clinton administration was negligent in the build-up to the 9/11 terrorist attack. On Tuesday, Comey announced that despite evidence of “extreme negligence by Hillary Clinton and her top aides regarding the handling of classified information through a private email server, the FBI would not refer criminal charges to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Justice Department. July 8, 2016 – Obama, Clinton et alia absolutely had to distract, divert and misdirect in the wake of the unparalleled damage that FBI Director James Comey has inflicted on the FBI, on the Justice Department, and on the Obama Administration. TPTB know full well that the only way to effectively distract from such an overwhelming political bloodbath (Comey’s performance in Congress) is to outdo it with a real bloodbath. July 7, 2016 – Video: Judge Napolitano sounds off on FBI July 7, 2016 – Truly, the FBI Director has plunged the nation into a full-blown constitutional crisis because of his profound inability to simply label a crime a crime, and a lie a lie. How does an FBI Director manage the rest of the nation’s crime business if he has such a difficult time with an obvious crime spree by a criminal character whose whole career is full of criminal activity. Clearly Director Comey should be relieved of his duties pronto before he permits other serial criminals to get away with their crimes, especially those might rise to high office within the US Government. July 7, 2016 – Video: FBI director James Comey recommends no criminal charges against Hillary Clinton July 7, 2016 – Video: Comey said this week that while the former Secretary of State and her staff were “extremely careless” the the handling of sensitive materials, it did not fit the bill for “gross negligence,” the legal standard meaning a person consciously and voluntarily disregarded the need to use reasonable care. July 7, 2016 – In his testimony before the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee on Thursday, FBI Director James Comey explained that if a member of the FBI had handled classified information in the manner Hillary Clinton had on her private email servers, there would be a number of consequences. “There are often very severe consequences in the FBI involving their employment, their pay, their clearances,” said Comey, who was responsible for recommending that no charges be placed against Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton for her mishandling of classified information. “I Hope folks walk away understanding that just because someone’s not prosecuted for mishandling classified information, that doesn’t mean if you work in the FBI there aren’t consequences.” July 6, 2016 – Not only is the Attorney General of the United States, Lorretta Lynch, the US Attorney who gave drug money laundering bank, HSBC, a free pass with a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, but the head of the FBI, James Comey, was plucked by Obama from a plum job at HSBC, which Comey took in January, 2013, just after HSBC got the deferred prosecution deal. Comey’s job for HSBC was as a leading member of the bank’s “Financial System Vulnerabilities Committee,” formed immediately after HSBC settled with the federal government for laundering hundreds of millions of dollars for the deadly Mexican drug cartels. July 6, 2016 – But despite finding that 110 emails contained classified information, 8 contained top secret information, and nearly 2,000 additional were emails classified later, Comey’s final assessment was to recommend against an indictment: “OUR JUDGMENT IS THAT NO REASONABLE PROSECUTOR WOULD BRING SUCH A CASE.” July 6, 2016 – FBI Director James B. Comey the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, essentially eviscerated the rule of law. He destroyed the US Constitution. He violated various and sundry federal laws and state statues. He accomplished this feat of constitutional destruction in a matter of a few minutes, and then walked away from the podium without so much as taking a single question. Comey will go down in history as the man who put the final nail in the coffin of the American Republic. However, James Brien Comey is merely the BCCF inside man who was appointed United States Deputy Attorney General by President George W. Bush. He was then appointed Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by President Barack Obama. There is no other position within the federal government and law enforcement that is more controlled by the WSG than the FBI Director. Only the US Attorney General is more controlled for quite obvious reasons. Hence, it is almost certain that Comey has been a BCCF inside man throughout his entire career, fastidiously groomed to do a job that only certain types of personalities (and bloodlines) can ever do. July 5, 2016 – There is no question that Director Comey offered much unsolicited and very damning evidence pointing to a criminal indictment during his one-sided press conference today. That may be his way of stealthily taking Clinton down. However, the rule of law doesn’t work that way. As one of the top law enforcement officers in the land, he has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and to enforce the federal statutes. An FBI Director has an even greater obligation to take this solemn responsibility very seriously when responding to misconduct by the highest ranking officials in government because of the tremendous damage that can be caused with certain violations of law. July 5, 2016 – “From the group of 30,000 e-mails returned to the State Department, 110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information, which is the lowest level of classification. Separate from those, about 2,000 additional e-mails were “up-classified” to make them Confidential; the information in those had not been classified at the time the e-mails were sent, ” James Comey. ___ http://aim4truth.org/2017/03/23/lawless-in-america/A teen from St. John's has the next few years of his career planned out as he works toward his goal of becoming a professional hockey player. Alex Newhook, 16, will soon be playing with the Victoria Grizzlies in the British Columbia Hockey League, and has already taken a scholarship to play with the NCAA Boston College Eagles when he reaches university age. Nothing is set in stone after that, but Newhook said like many young hockey players, he definitely visualizes himself going to the NHL. "It's cool to look at yourself there and it's cool to see that it is possible," he told CBC Radio's the St. John's Morning Show. "That it could be me someday, if I keep working hard and everything pans out the way it could." Alex Newhook began his hockey career in St. John's before heading off to Ontario, B.C. and soon the United States to pursue his dream of going pro. (Submitted) Newhook first left home when he was 14 to play hockey at a prep school in Aurora, Ont. During his two years there he got more serious about the sport and eventually got picked up by Victoria at 16 — the youngest age possible. I think the NCAA path... gives you more time to develop before potentially going pro. - Alex Newhook During his last year playing in Ontario, Newhook took the league scoring title with 82 points in 40 games. His mother Paula told CBC it wasn't easy seeing her son leave home at such a young age, but she has absolutely no regrets. "We kind of had to let him follow his dream and, after a couple months of being at St. Andrews, we realized it was the right decision," she said. "Just seeing what he was accomplishing being away and the stats he was putting up in hockey, he was a very happy kid and he reassured us that it was the right move." The college path There's more than one path Newhook could have taken to pursue his NHL dreams, such as playing with a major juniors league like the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league. Newhook moved to Ontario last year to play with the York Simcoe Express in the provincial triple-A league, and took the league scoring title with 82 points in 40 games. (Submitted) Instead, he decided to go the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) route by accepting the Boston College scholarship, which will let him complete a university degree while developing his skills and reputation on the ice. "I think the NCAA path, as opposed to the major junior path, is kind of a path where it gives you more time to develop before potentially going pro," he said. "It also gives you your schooling right there. So even if something doesn't happen, if I get injured or something happens, I still get my degree right there."Welcome to EATMOREKALE.com. My name is Bo, the “Eat More Kale” guy, Muller-Moore. I’m a t-shirt artist. Since 2001 I’ve printed and sold “Eat More Kale” t-shirts far and wide. I’m asked all the time, “Hey Bo what does EAT MORE KALE mean? Well, it means a lot of things to a lot of people. Most obviously, it’s about eating more KALE therefore eating healthier. Eat More Kale is also about supporting small business. For years I was a one man show. My shirts are distinctive, offbeat, one-of-a-kind works of art. I’m happy now to actually employ a handful of local friends to help me keep up with my expanding micro-business. That said, I have no giant call-centers to hide behind and I don’t need them. I am one man, with some good friends who are also handy with squeegees and that’s how I like it. When you see someone wearing one of my t-shirts you will instantly recognize its personal style, character and the care we took to craft it. Eat More Kale is a movement, a t-shirt revolution. OK, that may be an overstatement. I can assure you though, I don’t know of any other t-shirt design that leads to more fun or more conversations. I’m proud to print Vermont’s One-at-a-time Original Design T-shirts.Buy Photo Audrey Dubose comforts family and friends at the vigil. "It was unjustified. My son had no business getting killed," she told the press after the event. (Photo: The Enquirer/Cameron Knight)Buy Photo MOUNT AUBURN – Ebony Johnson wailed at the corner of Valencia and Rice, the grief nearly doubling her over. Across the street, three men sang woeful tunes and tapped bongos aside a makeshift memorial for 43-year-old Samuel Dubose, a man Johnson said was her cousin by biology only. In reality, he was more a brother, she said. In the wake of Dubose’s Sunday shooting death by a University of Cincinnati police officer during a traffic stop, Johnson said she’s worried that people will take one look at his lengthy rap sheet – and his suspended driver’s license – and figure he had it coming. What they really should be asking, she said, is: How does a missing license plate escalate to a shooting? “People see an arrest record like that, and they automatically say, ‘Oh, that’s why they killed him,’” said Johnson, 38. “It wasn’t like that. He’s never been violent.” CLOSE Jabari Dailey, a lifelong friend of Samuel Dubose who was shot and killed by police during a Mount Auburn traffic stop said the community is schocked and devastated by his death. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy Over the past 20 years, Dubose has been charged more than 75 times in Hamilton County. Most of the charges were indeed non-violent: driving without a license, joyriding, having windows tinted too dark, misdemeanor drug possession. An assault charge in 2013 was dismissed. He’s faced eviction seven times, and he had his license suspended indefinitely in January by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. University police were still piecing together what happened after the 6:30 p.m. traffic stop. At a Monday news conference, Chief Jason Goodrich said Officer Ray Tensing spotted Dubose driving without a front license plate at Vine and McMillan near the UC campus and followed him about a half-mile. Tensing asked for a driver’s license, which Dubose couldn’t produce. He gave the officer a bottle of alcohol instead, Goodrich said. The two men struggled at the door of the car, and Tensing fired once, fatally striking Dubose, Goodrich said. The car, now driven by a dying man, traveled a block farther before coming to a rest on the
due to its new air filtration system (though it’s now also available with the Model S). Now Tesla is about to start deliveries in the country and it will establish ‘operational headquarters’ in Beijing to manage its expansion in the country. The news came from China Daily confirming that the company signed a contract with the Beijing municipal government, to locate its operational headquarters in an expansion of its sales headquarters, which have been in Beijing since the automaker entered the Chinese market in 2014. The same report suggests that Tesla is about to start delivering the Model X in China “ahead of schedule”, but that would be inaccurate since we reported back in February that Tesla disclosed to its customers in China that the company was aiming for deliveries in Q2, which would have been ahead of other markets outside the US. China Daily talked with Tesla’s Vice President of Asia-Pacific, Ren Yuxiang, during the Beijing international fair for trade in services this week: “Participating in the fair was a new move for Tesla. We hoped the fair could offer a different approach to reach our potential customers, and a new platform to broadcast the concept of electric cars,” Ren said. Last month, Ren disclosed that Tesla received a lot of Model 3 reservations from China – making the country the second biggest market for the Model 3. The US being the first. As for the Model X, Ren said that Tesla is now taking orders in the country and people can configure the vehicle on its website. The automaker is also expected to build a factory in China before the end of the decade in order to create manufacturing capacity for local demand. Earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the automaker plans on securing a location and a local partner for a manufacturing facility in China by the middle of the 2016.Below is the text of Sofi Oksanen’s remarks at the International Conference on “The Legacy of Totalitarianism Today” in the Parliament of The Czech Republic June 12, 2014: originally published by The European Platform for European Memory and Concience. During this spring the western media has continuously asked me the same questions, country to country and from interview to interview: What does Putin want? What is the next country that will come under attack? Who is the next one? These two questions include already the presumption that Russia will never return Crimea to Ukraine. I say this because no journalist has asked me once when the invasion of Crimea will end and it seems to me they don’t ask about it because they already believe it never happens and I’m sure, if everyone is made to believe so, it indeed never happens. They don’t ask about it also because they no longer follow the story of Crimean invasion, their interest in that story disappeared soon after the peninsula was illegally annexed to Russia. Perhaps the traditional dramaturgy of Western news journalism is to be blamed –it follows always the figure who has given their face to the incident, in this case Putin, and that made him the protagonist of the story. And when his focus intentionally turned to other subject matters, the media followed his gaze, leaving Crimea behind. Or did the public eye forgot the peninsula because the buzz was already in the Eastern Ukraine offering more visible action, easy to sell, and by doing so they followed Moscow’s wishes? Or is the reason for loosing interest the cruel fact that West don’t know Crimean peninsula well enough to care and most of the people have never visited the place? Would the reception be different, if the protogonist of the invasion was no Putin, but a Crimean tatar who was forced to leave his home and flee to other parts of Ukraine? Or if the protagonist was a local high school student who is not allowed to study in his native language anymore? Or can we simply blame the fact that Russia has made it very hard to get the news coverage from Crimea, at least for Western media? Or it is because Western media didn’t start to follow Crimean events before the situation was already very heated so they actually didn’t get the beginning of the invasion which actually happened a long time go. Russia started to send the agents of influence to the territory a way back and changing the attitude into anti-Ukraine and anti-Western has been under process for years. That is the story Western media missed, but it was a story that should’ve been covered at least later on. The image of how a country is invaded and what happens in the country before and after that, would provide the readers information about the fact that an occupation is always preceded by psychological campaigns of hatred and after the occupation it’s always accompanied by mental occupation, changing of public values and educational content, sweeping the culture of the native inhabitants off the map. The news coverage of international crises however always shrinks down to the speeches of presidents and diplomats and the moving of forces. It was easy for Moscow to deduce, how easily the Crimean peninsula would be forgotten abroad since Russia has plenty of experience in forcible annexations as do the former Soviet countries have experience of it. These recurrent questions about the speculation of Putin’s intentions and next target also tell about something else: the next target is already there and it is a concrete area or state, we just don’t know which one. This presumption is based on old-fashioned images of warfare. At the same time the West unconsciously repeats the questions that the Moscow- based oligarchs want the West to repeat. They want us to speculate on Putin’s intentions and thus strengthen the Putin myth. They want us to fill our heads with this kind of mulling because this way the West is brought to a state of uncertainty and confusion, just how it is convenient for Russia. The classic “divide and conquer” works always and all the others states are driven to ponder about their own safety, for who would want to be the next. In this situation the reversal of the invasion of Crimea does not hold much importance. The silent acceptance of the Crimean annexation inevitably raises questions among all the neighboring countries of Russia: is this how the others would react if also a part of our country were to be occupied by Russia? Would it be accepted as quietly, as swiftly? Demonstrations against it would only be held by the nationals living abroad. There would be no international movement to return the stolen land. The invasion would just happen and it would be allowed to happen, because most of the neighboring countries and former Soviet countries are small states that most of the westerners have never visited or are able to place on the map. It is hard to lose sleep for these areas and with the news on Crimea disappearing from local newspapers the issue is accepted by simply forgetting. The way how other countries react to the invasion of Crimea is a message to us, the citizens of neighboring countries and Eastern Europe. What is left unasked is, against what or who has Putin’s Russia been at war with since his ascension? This is the human mind. The western set of values and the western mind. The Putin clique has fought against this for a long time. Back to militarism After Putin’s ascension to power, his first actions included giving the ex-president Yeltsin immunity from prosecution, new military doctrine, reintroduction of compulsory weapons training, raising the defense spending by 50 % and a law that allows the concealment of information for certain civil servants. Putin’s first orders did not concern factors that would target strengthening the state’s democracy or improving the living conditions of the population succumbing to poverty. They were targeted to militarize the state. Despite this, the western leaders concentrated on praising Russia’s steps towards democracy. Already during his first two months in the office Putin gave 11 decrees 6 of which concerned the armed forces. Now the Defense Forces receive 25 % of the state budget, in the next two years this number will be 33 %. At least 70 % of the higher officials in Russia are part of the FSB and at least 200 000 people have been known to work for it. Putin’s rise to power did not just signify a new leader for the country, but a new system of power. This system could be seen already then. Even Stalin who had been banned since his death (1953) was dug up. The rehabilitation of this dictator started with Putin’s elections: one of the future president’s campaign slogans was “Young Stalin”. The next face of Russia was a third generation KGB man who started placing his former KGB friends in key positions. At a time when Kremlin started pressuring the media, the media houses in the West were facing a crisis. The Western media was closing its offices in Moscow and correspondents were being sent home. The western countries no longer considered Russia important enough to have their own correspondents on the spot and neither did they pay attention to Russia constructing an information front brick by brick, even though being an independent journalist in Russia had become one way of committing suicide. In 2011 Russia spent 1,3 billion dollars on international propaganda –more than on fighting unemployment. The budgets of Russian news agencies were tripled at a time when the country was already facing economic stagnation. In 2005 the successful English language TV channel RT, Russia Today, was created. Its broadcasts are watched in a hundred countries and it is found in most hotels’ channel selections in various countries. Western PR offices such as Ketchum, Gplus and Portland PR were recruited to take care of the fact that Kremlin- approved messages were passed in West without mapping their background connections. In addition to PR agencies, media and direct propaganda Moscow networks with the western extreme-right and conservatives. In 2011 Russia spent 1,3 billion dollars on international propaganda –more than on fighting unemployment. At the moment the citizens of Russia are being fed a set of values and conception of history that is hostile to the West. Russia has been advocating a new history policy for years. In this new policy facts do not matter, only ideas whose purpose is to arouse patriotic feelings and national pride. Russia’s history task force is now preparing a new set of school books and the project is led by the duma’s former speaker Sergei Naryskin, a former KGB officer. Recently in Siberia, they introduced a new alphabet charts that is to be spread to schools through the whole country. With these charts children are taught moral values and alphabets at the same time: all positive things are linked to patriotism and Russia, all negative things to the West, Ukraine and Euromaidan. Naturally Wikipedia was already labelled as an invention of the CIA. All of these operations are forming a picture of a state for who the control of land masses is not enough, but the control also extends to knowledge and values. That is the geopolitics of knowledge and values. And this is how the people are given a message: only the state offers its citizens reliable and safe information. According to opinion polls most of the citizens accept the state shaping the news in cases of national interest. Soon the nation will accept even more since after 2011 the education budget was cut down by 30 %. According to the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, the Russian budget figures are that of a country preparing for war and repression. “Putin no longer needs the intelligentsia or educated people. Those kind people ask unnecessary questions and they are harder to turn into zombies”, Nemtsov says. The president of Russia seems to love the stupid, those struggling with their health, alcoholics and those with sexually transmitted diseases because even though figures concerning these issues are not beautiful, there have been no raises for education, health care or infrastructure. All the money is being channeled to the army and this is justified by creating images of hostile imaginary enemies from the West. The silovik clique of Moscow has already understood that it makes no sense for Putin to seek the support of the urban Russians who, being fluent in foreign languages, have seen the world outside Russia. Because of this, the siloviks seek the support of the conservative and older groups of the population in who the state propaganda easily sinks. In the same way the ruling elite has already realized that brainwashing is much cheaper than physically modernizing the army. That is exactly why it makes sense to invest in it, both at home and abroad, and why getting the physical army to a top condition is already of less importance. All this is made possible by the fact that Russia is for the first time in its history led purely by the intelligence services. When during the Soviet times the party existed above the KGB, now there is not even that. Some Russian scholars think that even though for example Yuri Andropov was a leader of the KGB he would not have even thought of bringing it to the government. The Czar’s Ohrana and KGB were there to protect the government and nation, not to be the government. Knowledge is a cheap and universal weapon Whereas scientific communism was being studied in the Soviet Union, Putin’s Russia is now feeding people scientific patriotism. After Putin’s rise to power propaganda and the information war became an academic discipline. In the past few years numeral related research centers have been established –The scientific and methodological Association of higher education facilities of Russian federation covering Information Security, with 74 research and science institutions was founded following an initiative from the FSB. According to the information safety doctrine established in 2000, the key threats of the state include spreading disinformation about Russia and its officials. Then again, the use of soft power is represented by the Russkiy Mir foundation that was established in 2007 following Putin’s initiative. One year later foreign minister Lavrov announced that Russia’s national politics would be developed through soft power and Russkiy Mir would be one of the forms. Its purpose is to challenge Western values outside of Russia. President Putin’s campaigns in the recent years have aimed to neutralize the West’s information attack. From the point of view of the Moscow silovik clique, Russia has been under a Western information attack already for years and putting together Russia’s own information front is the answer to this. In order to understand this way of actions and how far reaching it is, one must remember that same as in the Soviet Union, Russia is continuously fighting an information war during both war and peace, not just in crisis situations. The ideological basis relies heavily on a geopolitical doctrine. According to it, knowledge is a dangerous weapon. It is universal and it does not mind national borders. Knowledge is easily accessible and easy to use. It is also cheap compared to hard weapons. (The goal of psychological warfare is to help states to reach their goals both at home and abroad, it is easy to focus and customize according to the target.) The current psychological warfare is based on practices and techniques that were developed during Soviet times. These techniques of influencing and leading people have already been tested and found to be effective then. One of the new practices is the use of professional troll army who writes comments in the internet and social media. Professional Russian Actors hardly have time to dry the dye on their hair as they sprint from one Ukrainian city to another to give statements pretending to be concerned locals. In the media there are constant references to concentration camps and the national Socialist Germany. Lately the national TV of Russia showed a perfectly normal construction site in Donetsk and claimed it to be a concentration camp for the Russian speaking community. The reportage was accompanied by ominous music and hazy pictures from the shower room. This reportage by the TV journalist Arkady Marmontov was shown right after a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry (27.4.). Deep concern was raised in connection to construction sites that resemble the Nazi concentration camps. Russia is fighting this full-on information war on all fronts of the society and the means are clear: provocation, intimidation, projection and propaganda. Divide, confuse and conquer. Even though the modernization of the visible army would not be the most successful area of this crusade against the West, in its information war Russia is highly post-modern and progressive. It knows how to link old effective-proven methods with new tools. The information war is selective, unexpected and both surprising and not surprising at the same time as well as discontinuous and continuous at the same time. The goal is long-lasting and we have no information about its long-lasting effects. Instead, Moscow knows that even in times of modern media it is possible to wipe out events like Tiananmen massacre from national memory. We know about it, Chinese in their own country do not and despite this China is still a welcome business partner for the West. We, who have personal experiences of the times of Soviet occupation, know that even an occupation can be portrayed to the outside world in a way that appears fully voluntary. We know that the West was full of people who thought that the collectivization in the Soviet Union was based solely on free will and these people are very surprised when they find that the truth was quite the opposite. We know that the spine, values, memory and history of the nation can be wiped from the map. This is precisely why we don’t laugh when we see the propaganda slogans in Eastern Ukraine that might seem quite ridiculous to the Western eye. During the Soviet occupation our everyday life was full of as ridiculous propaganda slogans from one decade to another. Moscow’s power clique has already seen how the imitation of democracy was believed in the West. In the same way the Soviet Union was allowed to imitate the friendship between nations and even though many outside the Soviet Union did not believe in this, they still pretended to. Moscow knew that the West believed the play of democracy because the West believes, what is easy and practical for trade relations never mind the facts and blatant evidence. Moscow was certain that the bluff would pass since it had done so before. At the same time the East-European and Baltic countries had been the targets of different degrees of aggressions for years, not to mention Georgia whose Western orientation did not please Moscow. These countries have continuously had to listen to Moscow declare them as imaginary states, who don’t actually have the right to independence. The denial of the occupation of the Baltic countries has been a self-evident approach. Even before his presidency, Putin helped in organizing a referendum in the Russian speaking area of Narva in Eastern Estonia in 1993. The purpose of the referendum was autonomy. However, the referendum of Narva did not have the support of Kremlin and it failed as an initiative that was against the Estonian constitution. In Estonia people have talked about a kind of “information space”, where the Russians and also Estonian Russians live because they follow the Russian media and thus the state propaganda which is their main source for news. The term information space should become a part of the vocabulary in other countries as well. Its consequences were seen for example (24.5.) in Sillamägi in Estonia at a traditional Slavic festival where the Ukrainian youths of the procession were attacked by Russian speakers. This incident took place in an EU and NATO country. The Russian information space has infiltrated even here and now it is necessary to take action to dismantle it. Time of identifications The postmodern time in the West has been a time of different identifications: recognizing depression has been an issue in psychology, gender studies have shed light on recognizing inequality and the identification of racism and anti-Semitism are considered important everywhere. In Finland, identifying bullying at work and at school has been talked about a lot. It has been understood that faults in society can only be addressed if they are made visible and they are openly discussed. Identifying faults and analyzing structures supporting them can be difficult because the dominating truth and conception is always on the side of the one with the power. That party can always make its voice better heard and can define what is “natural”. For example even just a hundred years ago it seemed unnatural women to have a right to vote. Now only few could think of a more natural thing. Taking down myths supporting oppression can take years of hard work. The decolonization of the Soviet Union was left for the Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries because Russia and the Western countries did not indicate wide interest for this process. That is why there are still images created by the Soviet narration on the loose even in the West and they have characterized the discussion about Ukraine. The actions of Russia are often explained by great power politics and this concept makes it seem almost natural. Naturalizing Russian colonialism strengthens those myths that the Russian propaganda supports. One of these is for example the myth of Ukraine’s “natural” link with Russia even though Kiev existed long before Moscow and Ukraine was not a part of Russia. Rather, in the Ukrainian history being part of Russia is an anomaly. The countries occupied by the Soviet Union and the countries of the Eastern Bloc were never subjects in the Soviet Union and these so called “new Europeans” were not that either for a long time after the lifting of the Iron Curtain. The Soviet Union had swept away the history of these countries on the European map and created a world where it was “natural” for these countries to belong to the sphere of Russian influence. Corresponding naturalization of the colonialism is not allowed to other former empires and it is very hard to imagine that similar arguments could be used to justify the expansive behavior of any other great power. It is utterly impossible to imagine that for example Germany would snatch an area of land belonging to another state and justify if by saying that the area formerly belonged to Germany. How do other states then allow Russia to behave this way if it is not possible for others? How is it any more “natural”? Even though the violation of the integrity of the Ukrainian territory has been widely condemned, because of the Russian speaking population many still think the occupation of Crimea somehow more “natura”l that for example Russia’s hypothetical invasion in an area where there is no Russian speaking population. However, could anyone imagine the response of a Spanish invasion in the Spanish speaking areas of South America? Russia is allowed the indirect area of influence; a way of thinking that does not belong in the 2000’s, because the West could not recognize Russia’s imperialistic traits. Still in the West we continuously talk about Russia experts who the West is supposed to have a lot of. Especially Finland likes to think of itself as a country with a strong knowledge of Russia. If the West has as many experts on Russia as is says, how is it possible that the invasion of Ukraine came as such a surprise? This is why we need to ask whether we have to prepare for the West putting on their same sunglasses if Russia steps back to hibernate for a while before getting ready for some new plans, and will we again be surprised when we realize that the West has not learned anything and is still unable to recognize the clearly imperialistic actions when Russia is in question. Russia is being led by men with KGB training who are professionals of the human mind and experienced in propaganda. They are the experts of psychological warfare. They know how the western mind works; they know what kind of narratives the news use here. They know that Crimea cannot hold the West’s interest for long, whatever happens there. They bet that the West will not learn since it has not done so before either. The condescending approach to the warnings of the eastern European countries on Russian politics also shows that unconsciously the western countries have joined the old Russified images of Eastern Europe as an area of some kind of lower people and countries of ignorance. The West thought itself to be right in the case of Russia because the West has always considered its information more valuable. The West, that is, the Old Europe is the subject in Europe, the producer of the dominating truth and the East is the New Europe, an object and area of cheap produce, cheap labor many of the problems which are not thought to arise from the state of post-colonialism. The countries have been described as countries of transition and as post-Soviet, but the context of colonialism has been unfamiliar. However, that is precisely the right context to describe the situation and to help the western countries to picture the situation of these countries better – we do understand in the West that the history of slavery is one of the problems of the modern day Africa. Now and then the Russian-related warnings of the East-European and Baltic countries have been met as the ramblings of a traumatized patient. The violence, and that is precisely what an occupation is, that has been experienced by the victims is often played down as if they did not have “real” information about the event but subjective experiences of a history of oppression. However, the hard information comes from countries with no such experiences. At the same time it would be impossible to imagine that if one of the Jewish organizations reacted to the public use of a swastika, their behavior would be treated as “post-holocaustic stress disorder”. That would be downright funny. The dominating theory of evil in the 20th century had to do with the Gestapo and the National Socialist Germany because we have condemned the National Socialist Germany, seen movies about the holocaust and read several books on the issue. In the 2000’s the dominating theory of evil is that of the Al Qaida and Osama Bin Laden. In this situation it was easy for the Moscow silovik clique to act in the West. They are white men who do not represent “The Other”. They do not have a turban, their wives don’t wear a scarf but high heels. Thus they did not seem threatening in the 2000’s and they do not look like the menaces of the post-modern world. The Western film industry has depicted the KGB men primarily as funny guys with fur hats at the Red Square, and books about gulags are read less than books about the holocaust. Additionally the occupation lasting fifty years meant that the post-colonial countries had to restructure the past, find information based on facts and to learn a language in which to tell about these issues that had been silenced for fifty years. The Russian leadership has continuously tried to intervene in this reprocessing of the past and tried for years to infiltrate the neighboring countries’ intelligence services not even talking about the closing of archives. All this has made it even more difficult for Eastern Europe to convey information about their recent past to the West. Provided that the KGB would have been condemned in the same way as the Gestapo or Al Qaida, the Moscow silovik clique would never have made it to power. The former KGB men would not be ruling Russia and neither would the new upper class of Russia be the FSB. Neither would Russia be building its future with the tools of post-modern imperialism that is so hard for the West to recognize, because our schoolbooks never tried to analyze the colonialistic nature of the big neighbor. We never were given the tool box for that. Let this new cold war be a lesson, why it is so important to remember and condemn the human rights violations of the past as well as recognize them. By Sofi OksanenIf the shade of John Pierpont Morgan lingers in downtown New York, it must be smiling. The company that still bears the 19th-century banker's name was in the thick of a financial rescue operation last week, and not for the first time. On Friday, in the latest installment of Wall Street's subprime saga, JPMorgan Chase and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York stepped in to provide beleaguered Bear Stearns with some much-needed funding. (See "Bear On The Bubble") While the prognosis for the bumbling Bear is not particularly bright, the 28-day respite from a growing liquidity crisis gives regulators some breathing space to figure out how to ease fears in the global financial system. Bailouts have a place in JPMorgan Chase's history. Twice, John Pierpont Morgan, founder of the company's predecessor, J.P. Morgan & Co., used his financial leverage to uphold America's fledgling financial institutions. His self-appointed position as the country's foremost economic safeguard presaged the 1913 Federal Reserve Act, which created a reserve banking system responsible for monitoring the American money supply. In 1895, the U.S. government turned to Morgan when the Treasury's dwindling gold supply incited widespread panic. With the help of President Grover Cleveland, Morgan formed a private syndicate to purchase Treasury bonds in exchange for $65 million in mostly European gold, thus replenishing the government's precious supply at a time when the dollar was still backed by the precious metal. Morgan came to the government's aid again in 1907 when depositors lost confidence in U.S. banks, inciting a wave of large-scale withdrawals. Morgan used his financial dominion to mobilize bankers, pooling funds to assist flailing banks and effectively quashing the panic. Considered one of history's most important financiers, Morgan was born into a family of successful bankers. In 1871, he became a partner in the firm Drexel, Morgan, which eventually became J.P. Morgan & Co. Morgan's firm lent to corporations at a time when most bank's limited their lending to governments. The approach was especially forward-thinking in that it coincided with spreading industrialization in the United States. By 1902, Morgan was the country's largest railroad magnate. He spearheaded the transformation of Edison Electric into General Electric, the merger of trans-Atlantic shipping lines into the International Merchant Marine and financed Carnegie Steel's merger with several small companies, creating U.S. Steel, the world's first billion-dollar corporation. JPMorgan Chase was formed in 2000 when Chase Manhattan acquired J.P. Morgan. Both banks had participated in the 1998 Fed-organized bailout of Long-Term Capital Management, a hedge fund that, similar to Bear Stearns, turned out not be quite as smart as it had liked to think.Flockers is a modern day take on the classic A to B puzzle genre with a generous helping of sinister foreboding and dark humour for good measure. For many years sheep have been an integral part of the Worms™ legendry weaponry. Now you must save them from their explosive fate and escape the fearsome factory. Flockers invites you to step hoof into this sinister, steampunk inspired world as you navigate the hapless sheep through a plethora of dark, heinous puzzles in an attempt to save them from their impending doom. Key features: 25 levels with more levels planned during Early Access 2 menacing themes with more planned during Early Access Level Editor – Create your own deadly puzzles Steam Workshop Support - Share your own creations easily through Steam Workshop Collectibles and Rewards Steam Leaderboards Plus lots of updates planned for Early Access Team17 announces they plan to offer Early Access tonext week, saying their Lemmings homage will hit Steam in alpha form on May 6th. Word is: "Those who purchase the game while it’s in Early Access will get the game at a discounted price from its full launch and also receive both a digital artbook and digital soundtrack." Here are some new screenshots, and here's more on Early Access:DELAWARE COUNTY - A reserve police officer was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife Friday morning. Officers were called to a home on North County Road 600 West in Delaware County Friday morning for a reported shooting. Deputies found 32-year-old Lisa Hankins shot several times. She was taken to Ball Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police arrested Ben Hankins, a reserve police officer in Gaston, for one count of murder. Investigators say the couple was having problems in their marriage and that the shooting was a domestic situation. According to police, the couple has three children. Ben Hankins works for the Indiana Department of Correction. According to the Muncie Star Press, the nearby Wes-Del Community Schools was on lockdown or about 45 minutes following the shooting. The newspaper also sought comment from the Gaston Police Department. Cpl. James Dixon declined comment about the shooting.In the wake of the global financial meltdown, Jacobin magazine has emerged as the preeminent mouthpiece for a resurgent Marxist intelligentsia. It attracts a steady stream of articles from academics who, in uncharacteristically readable English, preach about the inequity of liberalism. It can claim two issues with titles like “Liberalism is Dead,” and none, henceforth, that have shined such a harsh light on conservatism. Conservativism, as its contributors consistently note, can only be defeated if liberalism is brought low. This abiding antipathy for the democratic tradition is hard to reconcile with the magazine’s masthead. Though all stripes of revolutionaries have routinely been attacked as “Jacobins,” the term refers specifically to a radical contingent of the quintessentially liberal French revolution. Real Jacobins helped birth capitalism out of the womb of a bloodied aristocracy and counted themselves radicals because they fought for ideals like the rule of law and the disestablishment of state churches. Far from eager apostles of the socialist millennium, they exiled Babeuf, the Abraham of revolutionary communism, from their group. Jacobin, however, is not as incongruous a title for a Marxist publication as it seems. In fact, this species of evasion defines modern Marxism. As a former fellow traveler myself, I can testify that there are still Spartacists who convene regularly in the tenement closets of Oakland to drape themselves in full Soviet regalia. However, most people find such an honest embrace of communism ludicrous. Marxism thrives precisely in proportion to how much it backpedals from its identity. If Bhaskar Sunkara had named his publication Stasi or Bolsheviki instead of Jacobin, today he would be vying for the attention of the East Bay Express instead of the New York Times. That the Marxist left is more drawn to one of the bloodiest sects in the liberal tradition than any of the artifacts of its own history testifies to the intellectual dissonance that is hiding just under the surface of the movement. Marxism offers exactly one thing: a gigantic corporate buyout, in which a single firm — the state — consolidates all the smaller firms with lead and rope. No one believes in that vision anymore. The essential paradox of modern Marxism is that it has largely exorcised the ghost of its core tenet, socialism. Jacobin confronts the history of socialist governments only glancingly, if at all. It rarely considers what socialism would mean in practice. When it tries to flesh out its millennium, the response is rambling, imprecise, and often concludes by acknowledging that socialism might just be a rebranded reformist capitalism. The magazine assiduously avoids discussing even the socialism of its own age. While it glories in the supposed collapse of liberalism, it has demonstrated utter indifference to the spectacular decline of modern socialism. Gifted a seemingly invincible natural bounty of petroleum, Venezuelan socialism has still run aground. Hollande, France’s socialist president, hit 4 % approval; by comparison Clinton is a modern day folk hero — the Garibaldi of the pant suit nation. Jacobin followed the French elections closely. Yet somehow, it failed to observe that the root of the chaos lies in the epochal disintegration of one of Europe’s historic Marxist parties. This half-hearted Marxism was born in the university. The basic tenet of academic Marxism is that the Rheinlander laid out a useful paradigm for understanding society that can be treated mostly separately from the plan of action he proposed. Marxism provides a systematic approach to social analysis, gives easy answers to complex questions, and makes even small incidents relevant to a universal theory of history, easily contextualizing scholarship in a deep pool of literature. In the university, Marxism became a tool for critiquing the status quo, nearly, if not entirely disentangled from a concrete vision of the future. This was explicitly the case for C. Wright Mills, whose “Letter to the New Left” helped birth the trend. Mills believed that without ideology, social analysis devolved into the mere chronicling of disconnected facts. Yet, when asked by an exasperated scholar if he believed in anything at all, the motorcycle riding iconoclast declared simply “German motors.” There is something admirable about this attitude. There is no more extreme example of scholarly objectivity than treating a millennial religion dividing the world into hostile, warring camps with the same detachment as a geometrical theorem. But Mill’s argument only holds if Marxism is carrying its weight, improving analysis, rather than just weighing it down with the inertia of a scholarly culture that prizes hermetically-sealed self-referentiality. The better part of “Marxist” scholars have, in fact, been steadily bashing apart the edifice of Marxist theory without the wherewithal to understand what they were doing. One could spend a lifetime struggling in vain to find an argument for communism in the Communist Manifesto. Marx derided those who believed that communism was morally correct as “utopian socialists” whose silly faith in ideals was at odds with the mechanistic nature of a fundamentally material world. Marxism was prophecy. Communism was inevitable, not right. When it proved to be neither, scholars took to explaining why that was the case. But, if Marxism is not inevitable, it is nothing. Ronald Reagan, with his abiding fear that the Evil Empire would spread without intervention, was, in this sense, a much better Marxist than David Roediger could ever hope to be. Without this sense of inevitability, Marxism lacks most of its intellectual heft. Its prophetic qualities made Marxism a predictive model that intellectuals could use to understand historical development. But the same scholars who purport to abide by this model have taken brickbats to it. We now know that race, nationality, and religion do, in fact, divide the proletariat, preventing the formation of working class consciousness. We know that the most socially active classes are generally the propertied and relatively independent middle classes, historically farmers, perhaps students today. Even working class consciousness in England, one of the strongest such examples, is now understood as a historic accident rather than the product of inevitable and generalizable forces. If Marxists no longer believe that history is driven by the economic interests of defined and conscious classes, in what sense are they Marxists? What does Marxism contribute to our understanding of the world? In fact, academic Marxism no longer seems to be a model so much as a series of bad habits that help scholars reach interesting, but ultimately unwarranted, conclusions. It is the language of German idealism — passed down since Hegel — with its large, sweeping, platonic vocabulary that guards against the sort of nuance that would complicate grandiose conclusions. It is the presumption that systems of power are always operating in preconceived ways, supplying scholars with knee-jerk conclusions that require no empirical evidence. “Capitalism,” “imperialism,” and the “state” function in consistent ways; any dark fact of modern reality can be attributed to these vast, all-powerful phenomena. A recent issue of Jacobin inexplicably argues that “bourgeois” rule of law enabled Trump (because of Louis-Napoléon?). Armed with a worldview that provides answers without regard for facts, Jordan Von Manalastas is confident that the rule of law is the problem, even though the courts have checked the president several times, whereas it was Manalastas’ proletarian godhead that originally manifested the orange menace from under its hardhat. The example of socialism in practice should have long since banished to the dustbin of history this presumption that all social ills can naturally be attributed to a particular social system. If Manalastas is concerned with the abuses of bourgeois rule of law, does he long for a return to the arbitrary retribution of the Gulag? Jacobin routinely attributes “Islamophobia” to a system of capitalist imperialism. Do they not remember that Marx derided religion as the “opium of the people?” Have they forgotten that Stalin shuttered Mosques or that Al-Qaeda was born in the struggle against Soviet intolerance?
, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people have tasked us to do and get this done,” he said. “This year, before Christmas. That must be our commitment.” Share How the states and territories voted Share ‘Love has had a landslide victory’ Australian Marriage Equality co-chair Alex Greenwich has led celebrations from the Yes campaign’s Sydney event. “Love has had a landslide victory,” he told the crowd of thousands. “This is an unequivocal mandate to get in and get this done.” Share Australia votes Yes Australians have voted in favour of changing the law to allow same-sex marriage. Australian Statistician David Kalisch announced the results of the ABS postal survey from Canberra, confirming the survey had delivered a Yes result. Of 12.7 million votes, 61.6 per cent were returned in favour of same-sex marriage. The final participation rate accounted for 79.5 per cent of eligible voters. Mr Kalisch announced every state and territory recorded a majority Yes vote. Share No campaign gathers in private function The No camp has gathered at a Sydney CBD hotel ahead of the announcement but media will not be allowed to film the group’s reaction to the result. About 100 people have begun arriving for the morning tea, including at least one of the women who appeared in a controversial Coalition for Marriage ad, Dr Pansy Lai. Their reaction to today’s announcement will not be filmed as the event is closed to the media until after the result when Lyle Shelton of the Australian Christian Lobby is expected to give a speech. Share ‘Don’t keep dragging us under the bus’ Magda Szubanski has issued a last-minute plea to politicians to quickly deal with marriage reform legislation in the event of a Yes vote. “If it’s a Yes, I would hope that this would be expedited really quickly and that they don’t keep dragging us under the bus,” she told The Morning Show. “They already threw us under the bus, all of them, don’t keep dragging us under the bus. “Please get this done — if it’s a Yes — quickly, cleanly and with as little pain as possible.” The popular comedian and same-sex marriage advocate said her biggest concern today — no matter the vote’s outcome — was for “kids out there in hostile environments with people around them who don’t support them, who are going to be feeling terrible”. Szubanski said the main message she wanted to get out today was to those kids, assuring them that they are supported. Share Thousands gather ahead of announcement Thousands of people have started gathering at Sydney’s Yes campaign announcement, one of at least 20 organised events around the country today. Rainbow flags are the accessory of choice and the crowd, while happy, are also nervous. Talking to news.com.au from the event in Prince Alfred Park, some have admitted to being concerned about the ramifications of a No result. “We’re keeping fingers, toes and just about everything else crossed,” said one. Equality Campaign head Tiernan Brady, director of Australians for Equality, said: “There’s a lot of butterflies in a lot of stomachs across Australia as we wait for a result.” Share How the announcement will play out We’re less than an hour out from learning the result of the same-sex marriage survey and campaign events are getting under way. The result will be revealed at 10am AEDT, live from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra. Australian statistician David Kalisch will be on the mic announcing the final tally. Ahead of the public announcement, Mr Kalisch will inform Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, as well as a select number of representatives from both the Yes and No camps. After the answer is revealed, the Yes campaign and parliamentary sponsors of the same-sex marriage bill have press conferences scheduled. We’re expecting to hear from the No campaign as well, but they haven’t made any public announcements about how they will respond to the news. Share ‘A great day for our country’ Liberal MP and same-sex marriage advocate Tim Wilson has declared today’s same-sex marriage survey announcement will mark a “great day” for Australia. “I think Australians are going to come out in very strong numbers and send a message to the community that they want a more equal, more inclusive society. One where everyone’s treated with respect and dignity, where we believe in a society built on commitment and responsibility,” he told Sky News. “I think it’s going to be a great day for our country.” Share Ian Thorpe: ‘I’m not prepared for a No’ Olympian and same-sex marriage advocate Ian Thorpe is putting his trust in polls today and says he’s “cautiously optimistic” about this morning’s same-sex marriage survey result announcement. “I’m confident because of how many people have responded to the survey, 80 per cent, and because we’ve had past surveys indicating that it will be a yes, that’s where the confidence comes from,” he told Sunrise. Thorpe said a Yes result would send an important message to young Australians struggling with their sexuality. “What this message would send to young people who may be struggling with their sexual identity, is that the country supports you and the person you happen to love,” he said. Thorpe said he was “not prepared for a No”. “It’s why we’ve been working diligently on making sure that this will be a Yes,” he said. Share ‘The world is watching you, Australia’ British actor Matt Lucas has warned Australia the world will be watching as the same-sex marriage survey results are released. The popular Little Britain comedian took a break from promoting his book to voice his support for marriage reform, and reminded Today viewers that today’s vote was a significant world event. “What a big day it is in Australia today. The world is watching you, Australia,” he said. Lucas said as a gay man, he hoped the decision “goes the right way”, and joked that “gay marriage should be mandatory”. Later in the interview, Lucas repeated there was global anticipation for the results. “Gay marriage has happened in the UK, it has happened in America, and you know what, nothing bad has come of it,” he said. “It is happening, and I think it is time. Obviously it is up to the Australian people to decide.” US broadcaster NBC has also noted the significance of today’s decision. In an online article published today, the news outlet focused on the “toxic debate” that the same-sex marriage vote has spawned. NBC said the vicious campaign was “surprisingly toxic for a country known for its laid-back attitude and vibrant gay and lesbian culture”. Share What if it’s No? Labor Senator Penny Wong says if the same-sex marriage survey returns a No result, then Labor would aim to legislate for marriage equality. “That would be pretty hard, wouldn’t it,” she told ABC radio when asked about the possibility of a vote against same-sex marriage. “It would be emotionally difficult for a lot of people. Even if there’s a No vote, if we want the next election we will legislate. We would have to pick ourselves up.” Share Bernardi ‘won’t be invited to any gay marriages’ Today host Karl Stefanovic has predicted Senator Cory Bernardi won’t be receiving any invitations to gay weddings as the No campaigner pledged to press ahead fighting for “religious freedoms” provisions to be built into the Marriage Act. The independent Senator, who has been a vocal spokesman for the campaign against same-sex marriage, said Liberal voters had been “betrayed” by members of the party’s leadership who have encouraged the same-sex marriage vote. “During the campaign they told us that they would defend these things. This is why this has been a disingenuous campaign and the Liberal voter base has been betrayed by those within the Liberal Party,” Senator Bernardi said..@corybernardi and @AlexGreenwich join us to discuss the impending result of the #MarriageEquality survey. #9Today pic.twitter.com/mOCh8yksFw — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 14, 2017 Senator Bernardi went head-to-head with Yes campaigner Alex Greenwich on the Nine breakfast show, who shut down the Senator’s argument. “People have been voting for marriage equality. They have not been voting to increase discrimination,” Mr Greenwich said. “Australians have come together like never before to more our country forward, not backwards as Senator Bernardi wants us to go. “We are not going to go back to an Australia where we have a sign out the front of the shop that says who you will serve and who you won’t serve.” Share Turnbull returns for gay marriage result Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has arrived back in Australia in time for the release of the final same-sex marriage postal survey results. Mr Turnbull, who touched down in Canberra after five days in southeast Asia, has slapped down a late push by conservative colleagues to water down anti-discrimination laws if the Yes vote prevails. He’s expected to clash with MPs supporting a bill intended to protect religious freedoms. The PM says conservative Liberal Senator James Paterson’s bill “makes legal discrimination that is illegal”. ShareA marijuana mutiny? According to a prosecutor in Missoula County, Mont., potential jurors made it clear they wouldn't convict anyone for possessing a few buds of pot. District Judge Dusty Deschamps found it impossible to seat a jury, and decided to work out a plea bargain for the man in question, Touray Cornell, instead. The Missoulian reports: "I thought, 'Geez, I don't know if we can seat a jury,' " said Deschamps, who called a recess. And he didn't. During the recess, Paul and defense attorney Martin Elison worked out a plea agreement. That was on Thursday. On Friday, Cornell entered an Alford plea, in which he didn't admit guilt. He briefly held his infant daughter in his manacled hands, and walked smiling out of the courtroom. "Public opinion, as revealed by the reaction of a substantial portion of the members of the jury called to try the charges on Dec. 16, 2010, is not supportive of the state's marijuana law and appeared to prevent any conviction from being obtained simply because an unbiased jury did not appear available under any circumstances," according to the plea memorandum filed by his attorney. "A mutiny," said Paul. "Bizarre," the defense attorney called it. In his nearly 30 years as a prosecutor and judge, Deschamps said he's never seen anything like it.A RESOLUTION to expand access to VIP services for the spouses and children of former parliamentarians mercifully fell off the wagon last evening during the Senate session. Three of the lawmakers involved in garnering support for it withdrew their names, and the remaining who had signed it failed to show up when it was brought up for discussion. The country needs fewer VIP services, not more. The resolution in question would have allowed access to the so-called blue passport issued to dignitaries to ease passage through various processing requirements at airports abroad. Reportedly, the resolution had been brought up at the urging of a few former senators, including a former chairman of the upper house, who argued that they faced “embarrassment” at seeing their families undergo additional processing at foreign airports when they themselves were exempted. The senators who supported the resolution initially did so arguing that its impact would be minimal, and that it would not expand the VIP culture at all. This was a shameful little moment in the upper house, betraying legislative business at its worst. It was an absurd move to bring up this resolution in the first place, and to go around trying to garner support for it. The powers of parliament do not exist to serve the personal needs of parliamentarians, they exist to serve the people of Pakistan. One silver lining in the episode is the scale of the VIP culture that was revealed in the run-up to the resolution’s presentation on the floor. All sitting and former members of the upper and lower house are entitled to many VIP services. According to one senator pushing for support, all government servants above grade 16 enjoy some measure of VIP service, as do members of the military above a certain rank and their spouses. This creates a separate tier of citizens altogether — one that is seen as above the other tiers. The level of frustration and anger in the public against such practices is clear. The space, culture and perverse incentives they create need to be shrunk, and not expanded. Those who initially lent their support to this disgraceful resolution, only to withdraw it once the heat was turned on, would be better advised to spend their time in the Senate looking for ways to restrain the expansion of the upper tier of citizens, with the ultimate aim of doing away with it altogether. Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2015Snapshots differentiate molecules from their mirror image Max Planck researchers are able to reveal the spatial structure of chiral molecules Small difference, large effect: Most biological molecules occur in two variants, an original and its mirror image. As a result, they are related to one another like the left hand to the right. For instance, the left- and right-handed variant of the same molecule makes lemons smell different from oranges. This so-called chirality also plays an important role in pharmaceutical research. Working in close collaboration, physicists from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and chemists from Heidelberg University have now developed a method which, so to speak, takes a snapshot of chiral molecules and so reveals their spatial atomic structure. The molecule's handedness, or chirality, can be directly derived from this information. Molecular mirror images of, so-called enantiomeres, of dideuterooxirane (grey: hydrogen, green: deuterium, blue: carbon, red: oxygen). © Rupprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg/O.Trapp Molecular mirror images of, so-called enantiomeres, of dideuterooxirane (grey: hydrogen, green: deuterium, blue: carbon, red: oxygen). © Rupprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg/O.Trapp Many biological processes are entirely dependent on whether the participating organic molecules are left- or right-handed. Researchers refer to molecules which occur in two forms that are the mirror image of one another as "chiral" molecules. Scientists would therefore like to know how the atoms are arranged relative to one another in such molecules. In scientific jargon this is known as the absolute configuration, and it can be used to identify the molecule's handedness. While methods for determining the handedness of chiral molecules are indeed available, they do not reveal the absolute configuration without making use of theoretical models. Moreover, no measurement method has previously been available which is capable of investigating the handedness of individual chiral molecules in the gaseous state. The researchers working with Holger Kreckel and Andreas Wolf of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and Oliver Trapp from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Heidelberg have, for the first time, been able to determine the sense of handedness, or chirality, of a gaseous sample, a chiral epoxide, by directly imaging its molecular structure. To this effect, Trapp's team of chemists firstly produced a compound with defined handedness by transferring the handedness of a derivative of naturally occurring tartaric acid onto the target molecule dideuterooxirane. Kreckel and his team then carried out their measurements using minuscule quantities of this substance in highly dilute concentrations. The team at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics took the electrically neutral molecules and produced ions with a single positive charge by removing a single electron from each molecule. These ions can be boosted to very high speeds in a particle accelerator. The accelerated ions then pass through a very thin diamond foil. In under one femtosecond (one millionth of a billionth of a second), the foil strips the binding electrons from the molecules. All that remains are highly charged atoms which vehemently repel one another. Having lost the electrons that "glue" the molecules together, the fragments now fly apart. A combination of mass spectrometry and subsequent Coloumb explosion enables an analysis of the chirality of molecules, in this case oxirane. © Herwig, Zawatzky, Wolf, Trapp, Kreckel A combination of mass spectrometry and subsequent Coloumb explosion enables an analysis of the chirality of molecules, in this case oxirane. © Herwig, Zawatzky, Wolf, Trapp, Kreckel After passing through the foil, the fragments move further apart from one another. However, the atoms retain their relative positions. As the time of flight increases, an ever larger, three-dimensional image of the molecule, retaining the underlying geometry, is obtained. Once it reaches a 3D detector, the image of the molecule has already grown to a few centimetres in size, and the detector records this structure. In order to meet the demanding requirements which apply to measuring chiral molecules, the detector arrangement was optimised to detect up to five fragments at once. The image on the detector shows the absolute configuration which in turn directly reveals the molecule's handedness. The pioneering work for this multiparticle "Coulomb Explosion” detection scheme was carried out at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. "The way the experiment is set up, it would also permit the investigation of chiral fragments of molecules", explain the researchers. This is because, in the described experiment, a mass-selective filter upstream of the diamond foil selects molecule fragments of a desired mass. The filter can be adjusted such that only the chiral fragment of interest is directed onto the foil and is thus recorded by the detector. It is precisely this combination of mass spectrometry with a Coulomb explosion measurement that the researchers believe will be attractive to future applications with chiral molecules. In future, the Heidelberg-based researchers are hoping to expand their expertise in detecting the handedness of chiral molecules. They already have their eyes on another method in which the chiral molecules are accumulated in an ion storage device prior to the Coulomb explosion. CJM/HROn the evening of March 25, the hashtag #CadaanStudies ("cadaan" meaning "white" in Somali) emerged amongst Twitter timelines as a small collective of Somali academics and writers spoke out, 140 characters (or less) at a time. Initiated by Safia Aidid, a Canadian Harvard PhD candidate, the hashtag gradually became a commentary on the whiteness and privileges prominent within academia. More specifically, the online conversation served as a direct response to the launch of the Somaliland Journal of African Studies (SJAS), a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that claims a particular focus on East Africa—the absence of a single Somali editor, advisory board member, or contributor left many pointing out that the only thing Somali about this journal is its title. Founded by Rodrigo Vaz, a white male MSc candidate for The School of Oriental and African Studies at University of London, the journal was made in collaboration with University of Hargeysa's Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Yet somehow, it lacks any Somali involvement. This fundamental error is one often repeated in academia or any platforms that narrate the black or African experience. "The content of [our] first issue had, unfortunately, no papers on Somalia...or by Somalis for a simple reason: we received none," says Vaz on the public criticism SJAS has received. "I take the blame for that. This happened likely because the call for papers didn't reach as many students and scholars as we would like to. That is something we are working on." The content featured in SJAS's first issue involves no representation or inclusion of Somalia and its people, but rather material regarding the ECOWAS mission in Sierre Leone, migrant domestic work in South Africa, and the relationship between ethnicity and violence in Kenya elections. (They are currently in the midst of preparing the second issue.) But its description stating that SJAS is dedicated to "covering an academic research area in clear expansion" led many to wonder if this journal was simply created by an aspiring young, white academic hoping to attain credit in an area with growing scholarship that's still garnering little attention. "The Horn of Africa and the Somali diaspora are 'hot' topics of academic and policy interest, and concern to many states, institutions and organizations for a number of reasons: states and their collapse, civil war and post-conflict society and restructuring, religion, radicalism and terrorism, gender, migration/diaspora, assimilation," said Aidid, a few days after #CadaanStudies attracted the attention of Somali academics and activists globally. (With 44,995 Somalis reportedly situated in Canada as of 2011, it is currently the country's largest African diaspora.) Twitter activism is nothing new. In the case of #CadaanStudies, people used social media to deconstruct the privilege within academia while connecting communities internationally, strengthening the message that black voices will no longer be undervalued in African and Black studies. "The #CadaanStudies hashtag, Safia, and many others are completely right on this... reversing that is our top priority right now," said Vaz. #CadaanStudies assembled 1,500 tweets in its first few days of inception and its Storify has been viewed around 1,200 times. "It wouldn't be a stretch to say that is information and debate [that has reached] more people than [those that] have downloaded most academic articles," said Aidid on the outreach of her hashtag. This is a larger conversation about challenging the right for white scholars to frame Somali and African narratives. #CadaanStudies — Hawa Y. Mire (@HYMire) March 25, 2015 Without Somalis, there is no Somalia, there is nothing to study. You cannot continue to produce w/o Somalis engaged. #CadaanStudies — Hawa Y. Mire (@HYMire) March 25, 2015 Richard Burton in 1850s called Somalis superstitious for believing mosquitos carry malaria #CadaanStudies pic.twitter.com/m8UiyVLmfB — safia aidid (@SafiaA) March 26, 2015 Somalis are saying enough is enough w racist academic depictions. The academy, the media, western policy: all need a refit #CadaanStudies — Rima Berns-McGown (@rimabernsm) March 28, 2015 could you imagine if we spearheaded a European scholarly journal w/o a single European represented? so why is it okay now? #CadaanStudies — King Riya. (@HausOfRiya) March 25, 2015 He thinks Somalis r not interested/qualified enuf 2 b part of a journal dat claims 2 b about Somalis? #Cadaanstudies pic.twitter.com/YrUfw0GXPG — Saynab Mahamud (@Zaynabu) March 25, 2015 Critically engaged scholarship that interrogates its colonial foundations. Self-reflexive methodology and analyses. #CadaanStudies — safia aidid (@SafiaA) March 28, 2015 When an East African panel looks like this. #CadaanStudies pic.twitter.com/oYfiVPOJKS — Muna Abdi (@Muna_Abdi_Phd) March 27, 2015 Vaz, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of SJAS, has yet to take to Twitter to respond to any of the hundreds of tweets directed to him: "My team and I want to show results attached to our words. Replying to the comments about SJAS without concrete measures would be empty talk. Once we have results to show, which should happen very soon—this week—we will upload them on the website and social media platforms. Until then, 140 characters won't do," said Vaz. There is, of course, a long history of white people finding something untapped outside of their own peripheries and attempting to claim full ownership of it. Somali Studies as a field has formal origins in the 18th and 19th centuries, and during its time as an existing scholarly field, it has had an overwhelming presence of white academics who have intellectualized what has always been common knowledge to Somalis themselves. " Abdul-Rahman Jama, a blogger and Oxford University student, believes that Somali Studies still maintains a "colonial flavour" in its production of knowledge on account of white academics: "The technique is simple; collect local stories, publish them as exciting new research, publish them, get further funding [and] repeat," he said. The knowledge that is produced becomes groundbreaking information despite it already being common knowledge to its "subjects." "There has been certainly, and unfortunately—for colonialist reasons and legacies—a disproportion of white scholars on many levels of study fields, African studies included. That should change and if SJAS can contribute to that, then I can only be glad," said Vaz when asked if he recognized the ways in which the mistakes of SJAS thus far were reminiscent of a history of white monopolization in academia. The conversation revolving around #CadaanStudies went far beyond these fundamental questions, however, when Markus Hoehne, a white German anthropologist and a co-editor of SJAS, discovered Aidid's initial announcement of her intended Twitter debate via her personal Facebook page. In one of his many responses to the growing concern of SJAS's lack of Somali presence, Hoehne insisted that there is a general absence of Somalis in academia because they don't seem to value scholarship. He went further to claim that this issue would subside if Somalis were willing to do the work. "To add insult to injury, he suggested the reason none of us could grasp this is because we are Somali, and could benefit from looking 'beyond your Somali navel.' So not only was he wrong, he was wrong in the most patronizing and insulting way possible," said Aidid. She has since then published an open letter, A Collective Response to Dr. Markus Hoehne and the Somaliland Journal of African Studies, which has gathered signatures from over 200 academics, writers, and activists, primarily of Somali or African descent. "I completely disagree with Markus Hoehne's remarks. Not only they are disrespectful to all Somali academics in Somalia and Somaliland... they were unnecessary and needlessly provocative," said Vaz on whether Hoehne's comments were reflective of the journal. "SJAS doesn't subscribe to statements made by its advisory board members, whose responsibility and accountability for what they say or do starts and ends with them." Hoehne's comments ignited a further firestorm of debate, including responses from Somali activists, academics and writers, which led to his public response in the Sahan Journal that ran a few days after the same publication ran Somali writer Hawa Y. Mire's essay: "#CadaanStudies, Somali thought leaders and the inadequacy of white colonial scholarship." "It is not just that Somalis are absent from academia. Why are they absent? Who benefits from this absence? Because we know who it benefits and it is not us," asks Illyas Abukar, a PhD candidate of University of Maryland College Park. The online conversation has shed light on the continuous and prominent issues that lay within the production of knowledge about Africans and black people. #CadaanStudies challenges us to continuously ask the question: Who is granted the privilege of telling these narratives and why? Huda Hassan is a Somali-Canadian writer based in Toronto. You can follow her on Twitter.Filed on July 5, 2016 \| Last updated on July 5, 2016 at 02.09 am Ahmed Al Menhali detained by US Police over false accusations of being linked to Daesh says his arrest is pre-planned An Emirati man who was arrested by US Police over false accusations of being linked to Daesh refused to accept apology from American officials. Speaking over the phone, Ahmed Al Menhali, businessman and a father of three, told Khaleej Times he will not settle for less than $200 million compensation over physical, psychological and financial damages "the attack" has resulted in. "I could see the hate in their eyes. Their intention was to kill me," said Al Menhali, who was in Ohio's Cleveland for business and medical check-ups following health complications including a previous stroke. Deeply regrettable, says US embassy On the official Facebook page of the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Barbara Leaf noted that "the unfortunate incident that Al Menhali endured in the US is deeply regrettable." "We were heartened to see that the City Mayor and Chief of Police met with Al Menhali and apologised, saying no disrespect was intended and that it was regrettable that he was put in that position because of a false accusation," the statement adds. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has summoned the US Deputy Chief of Mission Ethan Goldrich over the case. According to Wam, US Deputy Chief of Mission apologised for the incident and affirmed that the embassy will be in contact with the concerned authorities in Ohio to clarify the matter. He noted that the United States respects the right of different nations to wear their national dress, adding that this incident was an exception which was unacceptable. He added that the incident disrupted a $70million business deal he has been working on for a year with a pharmaceutical company in San Diego and discussions on latest findings in the health industry. He called the incident an attempt to disrupt businesses that can bring income to GCC countries. "The UAE gets most of its profits from the pharmaceutical industry or the oil field. People involved did not want Arab countries to develop in the medical field." Al Menhali, who wore the kandoora (national dress), was detained after a clerk at Fairfield Inn and Suites in Avon called the police and claimed he pledged allegiance to Daesh. He fainted as police released him and was taken by the ambulance to St John Medical Centre. He said that the police and officials' apology was carried out without full investigation with the hotel or the clerk herself. He said it was "merely a cover" on the hate incident that targeted him. "I am happy an apology came through. It means that there's a step forward, but that does not mean their apology is accepted nor that I will give up on my right," Al Menhali said. "People's life is not a game in an armed officer's hands." The 41-year-old businessman stressed that the hotel clerk knew the reason behind his visit and had the intention of disrupting his business. 'It was plotted' Al Menhali said the clerk, a 22-year-old woman, tried to keep him in the lobby for as long as possible. "She tracked me and planned to call the police as I was in the lobby. Every time I wanted to leave, she found ways to keep me." He described the police's treatment to him as "inhumane" and "demeaning." "When they first yelled at me to get down, I thought there was a problem at the hotel from which they were trying to protect me," said Al Menhali. As the police approached him, he said having history of a previous stroke posed challenges for him to abide by their requests. "I could barely move, so I found it difficult to get on the ground. I feared they would kill me if I didn't listen to their orders." He added that the police pressed forcefully on his back, which caused him several injuries. They forcefully threw his mobile phones on the ground, which, for him, is not an action normally committed against a suspect. "They did not even stop to investigate or talk to me. I was not treated like a suspect, but I was a target. I felt like they attempted a murder even if it was a mistaken one." Al Menhali, who is still in the US to continue his treatment, added that his health condition has not stabilised yet. "I feel dizzy the whole time and I am still in a lot of physical pain. I cannot sleep as I see nightmares every time I close my eyes." Not the first time Al Menhali said the incident was not his first encounter with the police. Officials previously stopped him three times over resident calls that viewed him as a threat due to his traditional dress. While the previous times he received a 'polite' treatment, Al Menhali said he cannot forget the manner the officials detained him without any communication that invaded his rights. Asked whether he would go to the US again, Al Menhali said he would only if he was secured by UAE government. He stressed that he cannot forgive the hotel clerk until a full investigation showed the nature behind the incident. sherouk@khaleejtimes.com Also read: 'Racist' act by US police sparks outrage in UAE Share More > Vote Click/tap here to subscribe to Khaleej Times news alerts on WhatsApp. Make sure you save the phone number under Contacts on your phone for uninterrupted service. ERROR: Macro /ads/dfp-ad-article-new is missing!Thank goodness a major game studio is making a multiplayer pirate ship game. Even better news: the very basic version of Sea of Thieves on display at E3 out here in Los Angeles is a lot of fun. On Monday night, we shot video of teams of five players apiece sailing their big pirate ships into battle in this as yet undated Xbox One and PC exclusive. The video should give you a good sense of how it all works, but for those who can’t watch or listen, here are some basics: Sea of Thieves is a shared-world game, which means it’s not quite an MMO but is intended to constantly have players run (sail) into each other as they go on adventures. Think Division Dark Zone, perhaps. It’s from Rare, the storied Microsoft-owned studio that has been trying to make a comeback after a multi-year dalliance with motion-controlled sports games. The game is very early on. Producer Joe Neate told Kotaku that Rare wants to get toward a beta that lots of players can try but that’ll be pretty raw compared to most modern console betas. Even that doesn’t have a date on it. The developers have some small-ship designs for one or two players, but they’re showcasing big five-person ships at E3. Players can play music and drink, though the latter makes your character very hard to control More usefully, players can assume various roles on the ship: steering, raising/lowering sails, firing cannons, navigating from up in the crow’s nest, raising and lowering the anchor and plugging any leaks below decks. There are more roles than players, and all of them require help from others. The person steering, for example, can’t see where they are going, because the sails are in the way. Someone else needs to tell them where to go. Raising the anchor is faster when two or more people do it. The basic gameplay shown at E3 involves sailing a ship amid a group of small islands, approaching and attacking rival players’ ships and hoping to put enough holes in them that they fill with water and sink. The game demands teamwork and can be tough. The ships turn slowly. The wind has a major effect on speed. You need to plan moves early, work as a good team and still hope your cannons will hit. Players are armed with blunderbusses, but Neate said the developers deactivated that option for E3 to encourage people to do more ship combat. Players can also use virtual buckets to get water out of their ship and stop from sinking, but Neate said that too was deactivated in the E3 demo to ensure that matches would end more quickly. There will be more of a structure to the final game, with missions and exploration, Neate said. You’ll be able to acquire and upgrade the look and functionality of ships. But that’s not in the E3 demo. If you want to see even more footage of the game, there’s a direct feed trailer that Microsoft presented Monday morning. This game is fun in its current form, folks. Hopefully Microsoft and Rare can build a good game around it.Google is launching yet another crazy moonshot project. This one is a prototype called "Project Tango," which squeezes 3D computer vision technology—similar to that used in the Xbox Kinect—into a smartphone. The device is being cooked up by Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, which just moved over from Motorola. Johnny Lee, the Technical Program Lead at ATAP, described the project: Project Tango strives to give mobile devices a human-like understanding of space and motion through advanced sensor fusion and computer vision, enabling new and enhanced types of user experiences – including 3D scanning, indoor navigation and immersive gaming. The computer vision is enabled by a new co-processor from Movidius, called the "Myriad 1." The chip was designed from scratch to bring Kinect-style computer vision to smartphones, where size and power-draw are a huge challenge. In fact, the man quoted above, Johnny Lee, is a former Microsoft employee and worked on the Kinect technology before jumping to Google. Google's goal with Project Tango is to produce the hardware, ship the phone out to developers, and see what they come up with. TechCrunch, which was pre-briefed on the device, says Google is giving the device out to 200 developers, and signups for access start today. Developers that apply will have to pitch their ideas to Google. The computer vision isn't meant to enable Leap Motion-style hand waving for input, but to let the phone know where it is in 3D space. The rear of the phone is packed with sensors that would allow the device to "scan" a room and build a 3D model of it, which apps could interact with. This sounds like Google is making an augmented reality platform that could really tell what is in a room, instead of crudely guessing the room geometry based on a 2D camera feed. The Prototype device is a 5-inch Android phone with two computer vision co-processors. The rear of the prototype has a 4MP camera, a depth sensor, and a second camera for motion tracking. All of these components are on the top and bottom of the device, so you can still hold the phone slightly normally while all the 3D sensing is going on. Google says the sensors allow the device to make "over a quarter million 3D measurements every second, updating its position and orientation in real time, combining that data into a single 3D model of the space around you." Google Glass is basically a shrunk-down Samsung Galaxy Nexus, so it's clear what the future of a project like this is. For now, the technology will only fit in a smartphone, but Glass is only a few years behind cutting-edge smartphone hardware. If you're a developer with a cool idea for this, you can pitch your idea to Google here and hope to be one of the lucky 200.CLOSE Darby McCarthy isn't hiding anymore. After a plea deal led to convictions for her abusers, the 21-year-old is sharing her story. Mariah Timms/DNJ Buy Photo Darby McCarthy talks about her years of abuse. Photo taken on Tuesday June 20, 2017
(by specialty and by percent of population) in a geographic area necessary to provide adequate medical care, including such care in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care institutions, in such area.We have only a handful of words to describe processing methods, for example washed, wet, honey, or natural, but each of these words can encompass very different and complex steps. The steps and time involved in what someone would describe as “washed” process vary wildly based on the climate, altitude, cultivar, ripeness, tank design and myriad other variables impacting fermentation kinetics. A coffee could spend anywhere from 8 hours to 72 hours in contact with the mucilage (fermenting) before it is washed. The words “fully washed” might not even mean that a coffee was fermented – but even if you know with certainty that it had been fermented, a coffee dry-fermented for 8 hours will likely taste different from one fermented underwater for 40 hours; or one fermented at 700 meters altitude (MASL) at 80°F versus 1500 MASL and 55°F; or one fermented in wood versus ceramic tanks. And so on. Not only do the words we use to describe the process lack specificity, there is little known about the flavor effects of different processes’ steps or the microbes involved during those steps. This is the focus of my work. Before I could change the way coffee was physically processed by highlighting the effects of the microbes involved, I had to update producers' definition of “fermentation”. I had been trying to educate producers about the flavor effects of different strains of yeast and bacteria, but I was getting nowhere. I finally realized few people understood the value of fermentation in the first place. I was using the word “fermentation” to describe a metabolic process whereby yeast and bacteria transform sugars into energy and flavor compounds. Yet the most common working definition for coffee purposes was “the step where the pulped coffee sits in a tank until the mucilage falls off”. This was like trying to teach roasters to roast with a declining rate of rise and realizing that they don’t understand the effect the thickness of the probe has on that curve. In the wine industry, fermentation is extensively studied because it is a necessary step in winemaking: you can’t have wine without it. I noticed the coffee industry used the same word, but it had a very different meaning to almost everyone I talked to. I think the main reason for the discrepancy is that “fermentation” is optional in coffee; it’s just one method of isolating the seed from a cherry. In addition to being optional, it is also not restricted to a single process as commonly thought. Fermentation is not only happening in tanks with wet process/washed coffees, it is an element in honey and dry/natural processed coffees as well. In every process where fermentation occurs there is the opportunity to impact flavor. Fermentation begins the moment that microbes, which exist on virtually every surface, find an entry point into the fruit. The opportunity for fermentation happens as soon as the fruit is picked or when there is damage to the skin (exposing juice) while the cherry is still on the tree. To address the risk of a spontaneous fermentation in winemaking, some wineries pick at night (the coolest part of the day, to slow down microbial action), spray their grapes with sulphur dioxide to inhibit the wild yeast population coming in from the field, or store picked grapes in dry ice until they are ready to begin the fermentation with known and selected microbes. Fermentation is a natural process that happens without human intervention. Winemakers actively chose whether they will risk a spontaneous fermentation or select their microbes and control the process. Even if they choose to use wild yeast and not commercial yeast, they are still making a decision that actively impacts flavor. Most commercial producers of fermented products (wine, bread, cheese, beer, chocolate) inoculate their fermentation. Inoculation is rare in the coffee industry because the focus has been on reducing the risks of processing, and the rewards have been poorly understood.22 December 2016 Older people who help and support others live longer. These are the findings of a study published in the journal “Evolution and Human Behavior”, conducted by researchers from the University of Basel, Edith Cowan University, the University of Western Australia, the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin. In contrast to most previous studies on the topic, the researchers deliberately did not include grandparents who were primary or custodial caregivers. Instead, they compared grandparents who provided occasional childcare with grandparents who did not, as well as with older adults who did not have children or grandchildren but who provided care for others in their social network. Older people who help and support others are also doing themselves a favor. An international research team has found that grandparents who care for their grandchildren on average live longer than grandparents who do not. The researchers conducted survival analyses of over 500 people aged between 70 and 103 years, drawing on data from the Berlin Aging Study collected between 1990 and 2009. Emotional support The results of their analyses show that this kind of caregiving can have a positive effect on the mortality of the carers. Half of the grandparents who took care of their grandchildren were still alive about ten years after the first interview in 1990. The same applied to participants who did not have grandchildren, but who supported their children – for example, by helping with housework. In contrast, about half of those who did not help others died within five years. The researchers were also able to show that this positive effect of caregiving on mortality was not limited to help and caregiving within the family. The data analysis showed that childless older adults who provided others with emotional support, for example, also benefited. Half of these helpers lived for another seven years, whereas non-helpers on average lived for only another four years. Too intense involvement causes stress “But helping shouldn’t be misunderstood as a panacea for a longer life,” says Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. “A moderate level of caregiving involvement does seem to have positive effects on health. But previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has negative effects on physical and mental health,” says Hertwig. As it is not customary for grandparents in Germany and Switzerland to take custodial care of their grandchildren, primary and custodial caregivers were not included in the analyses. The researchers think that prosocial behavior was originally rooted in the family. “It seems plausible that the development of parents’ and grandparents’ prosocial behavior toward their kin left its imprint on the human body in terms of a neural and hormonal system that subsequently laid the foundation for the evolution of cooperation and altruistic behavior towards non-kin,” says first author Sonja Hilbrand, doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Basel. Original source Hilbrand, S., Coall, D. A., Gerstorf, D., & Hertwig, R. (2016) Caregiving within and beyond the family is associated with lower mortality for the caregiver: A prospective study. Evolution and Human Behavior (2016), doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.11.010 Further information Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, Kerstin Skork, Tel. +49 30 82406 211, E-Mail: skork@mpib-berlin.mpg.de, und Nicole Siller, Tel. +49 30 82406284, E-Mail: siller@mpib-berlin.mpg.deTen years ago this summer, my daughter Lahna died due to complications from Trisomy 18. This article describes the immediate grief aftermath of her death. Mississippi Man and I grew stronger as individuals and as a couple, but it hasn’t been easy. The day after Lahna died, I woke up with a few seconds of peace. When I remembered Lahna was gone, I sobbed. After I pulled myself together, we left home to visit the funeral home. I sat in the passenger seat with anger in my heart for every single car that drove past us. How did they look so normal? Didn’t everyone know that my daughter had died? My world felt over, but no one flinched. THE FUNERAL HOME John M. Ireland, the owner of a local funeral home, had come to get Lahna after she passed away. If you are in the Oklahoma City area I cannot recommend his funeral home enough. I desperately wanted to see my daughter again. Not holding my baby or being able to see her for 12 hours was agonizing. I felt that if I could see her one more time, it would bring me peace. Staff told me that although they could let me see her, she would no longer look like the daughter that I loved so much. They also warned me that seeing her in that state might cause more harm than good. Mississippi Man agreed, and I did not see her. We went into a room there to look at tiny baby coffins. It was overwhelming. I don’t remember crying in that room, but I do remember an inability to think. My heart was racing and I felt completely broken. Why did they have coffins for tiny babies? Mississippi Man and I decided to have Lahna cremated, and bought a beautiful tiny urn online. LETTERS TO LAHNA When Lahna was still in the NICU, I had kept a journal in a Tinker Bell notebook. I wrote it in order to show her as a teenager everything she had overcome. Instead, now I had this horrible chronicle of false hope and devastation. In the same journal I wrote Lahna letters that will never reach her. I have never shared these notes before today. I wrote several times in the weeks and months after she passed. They slowed to about one letter a year over the next decade. The ANGER A grief counselor from the hospice group came to our home with clay. We were to each make a sculpture while talking about Lahna at the kitchen table. I was so angry at the entire situation, but especially angry that I couldn’t save her. During her struggles I had never given up hope that she would prove all the experts wrong. They didn’t know MY daughter. She was stronger. I was angry that I had pressured Mississippi Man have a baby. I had baby fever but he was concerned we weren’t ready. My husband’s heart broke, and I had destroyed him by insisting on this baby. How could I have known this would be the outcome though? Babies aren’t supposed to die. BACK TO WORK I went back to work in the immunization clinic one week after Lahna had died. I was under a fair amount of pressure to return to work. The military trains to help soldiers overcome trauma. They help the soldier (or Airman in my case) return to normal daily routines to help them move on. So my commander and first sergeant were eager to get me “back into the swing of things”. In hindsight this was a horrible idea. I was under incredible stress as we prepared for flu season and then an inspection. Grief was compartmentalized, meaning I shoved the pain into a box while at work. I occasionally locked myself into a bathroom and bawled. When Lahna should have been 3 months old, I knew. When she would have turned 6 months, or a year old, I knew. I never had to do the math, her “age” was ingrained into me. Seeing babies that would have been the same age as my daughter tore scabs off my healing heart. My interpersonal relationships at work suffered. I had no patience at all. To throw myself into my work and ignore my pain, I became driven. I vaccinated 90% of the base with the flu vaccine within a week, but had been short with people and demanding. I had no compassion. I had been a leader, but had turned into a cold manager. SUICIDAL THOUGHTS I wanted to kill myself to be with Lahna. I felt that I was on earth to be a mother, but why should I be here without my baby? Work was a disaster. I fell asleep crying and holding Lahna’s blanket and urn every night. In the mornings I had 1-2 seconds of consciousness before breaking again. This had lasted for months. The rest of the world had moved on but I couldn’t. It was agony. Mississippi Man and I grieved differently. He cried the night she passed away, but I have never seen him cry again. I felt that I was to blame for her death. I did everything “by the book” during the pregnancy, but must have fucked something up. I had killed my daughter and broke my husband’s heart. Luckily my husband took me to the mental health clinic and I spoke to a counselor. He had me sign a contract that I would not kill myself. I told Mississippi Man that I would never make him go through the pain of losing me like we had Lahna. Recovery Grief is…well it’s a motherfucker. I didn’t want to be happy ever again. Then about 2 years after her death, I actually wanted happiness. I wanted to let go of the grief and sadness. I didn’t want to feel guilty for smiling and laughing. The problem was that I couldn’t let go of that sadness. A cloud had captured my heart. Grief began to loosen its grip on me. I felt like I was progressing, but I would somehow go “backwards” several steps. The constant crying resumed. I ate an incredible amount of food to help push those painful emotions down. Grief isn’t linear, there’s no one direction to recover from grief. Grief TODAY This summer marks 10 years since Lahna left us. It’s hard to imagine that it’s been so long since I’ve been able to hold her in my arms or kiss her sweet face. I think about my firstborn every day. Lahna will forever be my baby. I hope and pray there is a heaven and that she’s there with loved ones. Here on earth, although I still struggle with depression, I am very happy. I have a very good life and I am so lucky to have my husband and kids. My kids know her name, and they know very well that they have a sister in heaven. Somehow, although they never met her, both of my kids feel a deep connection to Lahna and miss her. Mississippi Man and I have a strong marriage. If we were able to survive losing her, we are able to survive anything together. I want to help people, so that Lahna’s legacy will be one of helping others. She changed people who met her, and she continues to do that when I share her story. If this page has helped you or you’d like to talk, please contact me below or on Facebook. I urge you to share this story with others you think might appreciate reading it. If reading our story has benefited you, please consider donating to The Decent Mom. Your donation pays for the web hosting and server updates. I want to continue reaching as many people as possible, and I need your help. If you missed part one of this series, you can find it here: Lahna and Trisomy 18: When My Baby Died Share this: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Print Email Reddit Related Comments commentsTwo days ago, I’d never heard of Senate Bill 1007. But online, there were rumblings of “a big issue that seems to be largely under the radar right now,” as Reddit user bwolfe put it. SB 1007 would expand current law to further protect the state from liability in the case of accidents or injuries on public lands or on “voluntary trails” created by hikers and climbers. Largely ignored by the media, this bill certainly was on the radar of Hawaii’s hiking and rock climbing communities. An online petition, hosted on Change.org, has more than 1,700 signatures. On Facebook, a number of Hawaii outdoors clubs have cut-and-paste language from the petition, urging its members to sign it, and more urgently, submit testimony. Hundreds of people did. So much testimony has come in that the House Judiciary Committee clerks say they can’t count it all yet. It likely will take a few more days for the testimony to be uploaded to the Hawaii Legislature’s website because of the volume. On Thursday, dozens of people packed into a small hearing room at the State Capitol for a hearing on the bill, some in full hiking and climbing gear. House Judiciary Vice Chairwoman Sharon Har struggled to keep things moving quickly. The bill has ramifications beyond the niche community that is championing it. There are potentially millions of dollars in taxpayer money on the line. In 1999, a rock fall at Sacred Falls killed eight people and injured 50 others. The park still remains closed indefinitely. And in 2012, relatives of two hikers who died at Kauai’s Opaekaa Falls in 2006 won a $15.4 million settlement, $5.4 million of which came from state coffers, and the remaining amount funded by the state’s excess insurance carrier. Elizabeth Ann Brem of California and her cousin Paula Andrea Gonzalez Ramirez of Colombia hiked on a “voluntary trail” created by residents to visit the falls. That trail has since been shut down. The public continues to create “voluntary trails” and the state is looking to protect itself from liability. “We’re not asking for complete immunity,” state Attorney General David Louie told lawmakers at the hearing. “We’re asking for a reasonable protection.” Daniel Quinn, state parks administrator, also testified in favor of the bill. “There are trails that are shut down,” Quinn said. “Without it, we won’t have a clear definition of what is our duty to warn. … Otherwise we could just have signs all over the place.” And it’s impossible to fence off or post signs on every dangerous area in Hawaii and the 33,857 acres within the state’s park system. Gov. Neil Abercrombie‘s administration got some support from a number of hikers and rock climbers. “This is a good start toward preventing our natural resources from unnecessary closures,” said hiker Michael Bishop. Another woman said she would move away from Hawaii if her weekend rock-climbing getaways were curbed in any way. Mike Solis, who owns a mountain bike company and hosts several races throughout the state, said Hawaii’s outdoors community largely understands the risks they take. “There’s always a little bit of liability as we put these races on,” Solis testified. “We understand that our actions are our own. I don’t expect the state to be liable for my actions. I am happy to share in that liability or responsibility.” Thursday’s debate was largely one-sided. One of the people people to oppose the bill was Robert Toyofuku of the Hawaii Association for Justice, a group of attorneys that came out against a similar proposal last year. “I think this is going to create another problem because now the task force … has to try to discover non-natural conditions and warn of non-natural conditions,” Toyofuku said, to eye rolls and groans. Some people seemed to fear that not passing this bill would result in more trail closures. But that’s not necessarily the case. The state doesn’t arbitrarily close down trails. And passing this legislation also doesn’t necessarily mean places like Sacred Falls will open back up. Still, the bill was passed out of committee. It’s still got a bit more of a climb, but thanks to social media and online activism, Hawaii’s climbers will be hooked in on the way up.Get ready for more rocks and more excitement in the Grand Slam of Curling series. The five-rock rule has been approved for both the men’s and women’s divisions at all Grand Slam of Curling events for the 2014-15 season. Under the five-rock rule, teams are not permitted to eliminate their opponent’s rocks that are sitting in the free guard zone until five stones have been played in every end. Players can still hit the guards; they just aren’t allowed to knock them out of play. This can lead to a quarry of rocks to build up on the sheet and create high-scoring games. “We want to open up the game a little more, create more offence,” said Pierre Charette, World Competitive Curlers Association director of competition. “Make it more difficult to protect a lead because the GSOC is not afraid to try new stuff in order to keep the game exciting and current for the players and the fans.” Curling has come a long way since the days when there wasn’t even a free guard zone. As the quality of ice increased and players improved over the years, blank ends and low-scoring games were all-too common. The free guard zone was introduced in the 1993-94 season to help alleviate the issue and make the game more entertaining for fans. Canada approved a three-rock rule while the World Curling Federation adopted a four-rock version. This made it difficult for Canadian teams who had to adjust at the world championships and Canada finally switched to the four-rock rule for the 2002-03 season. The Grand Slam of Curling gave the five-rock rule a test drive at the 2011 Canadian Open. Winnipeg skip Mike McEwen was skeptical about the rule at first but was won over after his team ran the table at the event, posting a perfect 8-0 record to win the Canadian Open title. McEwen wondered if the five-rock rule was “the next evolution” in a blog for thegrandslamofcurling.com and said simply yes. “For the most part, especially when the game is close, you won’t even notice a difference,” McEwen wrote. “But, when a team is down is when the five-rock FGZ shines — the leading team on the scoreboard is forced to continually battle multiple-rock situations. … Defending becomes more complicated and that’s what everyone wants to see: head-scratching, finesse shot-making, clutter and more rock explosions!” Team Glenn Howard lead Craig Savill said he was immediately impressed with the five-rock rule. “With the incredible hitting ability of the top teams in our game, it seems that once a team is up two or three, the game is all but over. With the five-rock rule (as opposed to the four-rock rule) there seems to be a better chance at a comeback,” Savill said. “At the very least, the team that is ahead must still be offensive and leave rocks in play, creating chances for the losing team to score points. As a fan, I would rather see lots of rocks in play than a bunch of wide-open ends with little to no offence. “Playing the five-rock rule, I never felt comfortable with any leading knowing that a three- or four-ender was always in play. It will be interesting to see how teams’ strategy evolves throughout the year as they play more games under the five-rock rule. For now, I can’t wait to get back on the ice to play under the new Grand Slam rules.” Both the National and Players’ Championship events implemented the rule last season. St. John’s skip Brad Gushue praised the five-rock rule after finishing runner-up at the National. “The good thing about it was when they got a deuce on us, we knew if we executed we would have an opportunity to score two as well. You never feel like you’re out of the game even if you get three or four down,” Gushue said. “It’s a lot of fun; a lot more rocks in play. It gives us an opportunity to really out-strategize the opponent a little bit more than with the four-rock rule.” The Grand Slam of Curling series kicks off with the Masters running Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 in Selkirk, Man.A Southwest Research Institute-led team has discovered an elusive, dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the "big four" dwarf planets populating the Kuiper Belt region at the edge of our solar system. The findings are detailed in the paper "Discovery of a Makemakean Moon," published in the June 27 issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters. "Makemake's moon proves that there are still wild things waiting to be discovered, even in places people have already looked," said Dr. Alex Parker, lead author of the paper and the SwRI astronomer credited with discovering the satellite. Parker spotted a faint point of light close to the dwarf planet using data from Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3. "Makemake's moon -- nicknamed MK2 -- is very dark, 1,300 times fainter than the dwarf planet." A nearly edge-on orbital configuration helped it evade detection, placing it deep within the glare of the icy dwarf during a substantial fraction of its orbit. Makemake is one of the largest and brightest known Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), second only to Pluto. The moon is likely less than 100 miles wide while its parent dwarf planet is about 870 miles across. Discovered in 2005, Makemake is shaped like football and sheathed in frozen methane. "With a moon, we can calculate Makemake's mass and density," Parker said. "We can contrast the orbits and properties of the parent dwarf and its moon, to understand the origin and history of the system. We can compare Makemake and its moon to other systems, and broaden our understanding of the processes that shaped the evolution of our solar system." With the discovery of MK2, all four of the currently designated dwarf planets are known to host one or more satellites. The fact that Makemake's satellite went unseen despite previous searches suggests that other large KBOs may host hidden moons. Prior to this discovery, the lack of a satellite for Makemake suggested that it had escaped a past giant impact. Now, scientists will be looking at its density to determine if it was formed by a giant collision or if it was grabbed by the parent dwarf's gravity. The apparent ubiquity of moons orbiting KBO dwarf planets supports the idea that giant collisions are a near-universal fixture in the histories of these distant worlds.ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Shortly after midnight on January 24, a 16-year old boy from Powder Springs, Georgia, crashed his car into an oncoming vehicle. Garrett Reed, a star football player at Harrison High School, died instantly. Police believe he had been drinking. Kecia Evangela Whitfield, 43, is charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor and reckless conduct. According to police, the investigation revealed that a classmate's mother served alcohol to Reed. Police charged 43-year-old Kecia Evangela Whitfield with furnishing alcohol to a minor and reckless conduct, both misdemeanors. Whitfield was released on a $10,000 bond and awaits a court date in April. Records on file with the Cobb County solicitor general's office indictate she has not yet entered a plea or obtained a lawyer. She did not return CNN's phone calls. If convicted, she could receive up to a year in jail and fines totaling thousands of dollars. Toxicology reports for Reed will be released in six weeks, officials said. His death stunned the small community of Powder Springs and sounded an alarm for parents. "What we have to realize is that our kids do think they are invincible," said Patti Agatston, a mother of another Harrison High School teenager who lives in Reed's neighborhood. "We can't be enablers. We've got to be adults and say 'no.' " At least ten states including Virginia, Minnesota and New Mexico-and Georgia, where Garrett's accident occurred, allow parents to give their own child alcohol, according to the Alcohol Policy Information System, a federal website that tracks alcohol laws. The alcohol can typically be given to the minor in the guardian's home or a private setting and there are no age limits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, nowhere is it legal to give alcohol to other people's children. Officials say teen binge drinking is reaching epidemic proportions, and states and municipalities are scrambling to implement "social hosting" laws that carry stiff fines for parents whose homes are used for drinking parties, whether they know about them or not. At least 24 states have enacted social hosting laws that fine parents several thousand dollars for each offense, said Jim Mosher, an expert tracking alcohol policies at the National Conference of State Legislatures. The fines, he said, are an effective deterrent. A 2005 study conducted by the American Medical Association reported that about one-third of teens said it was "easy to obtain alcohol" from their parents. That figure jumps to 40 percent when it comes to getting alcohol from a friend's parent. One out of four teens said they had attended a party where minors were drinking in front of parents. Some communities are using their zoning powers to create local social hosting laws. These laws usually result in misdemeanor charges and jail time is rare. Prosecutors' offices are often busy with other cases and don't bother to charge unless there is a serious incident or accident, policy experts said. "It's very difficult for us to knock on a random door and say 'are you drinking?' " said Sgt. Dana Pierce of the Cobb County Police Department, the agency responsible for investigating Reed's case. "We usually have to respond to some kind of nuisance call." In Massachusetts in January, a court sentenced a mother to jail for serving alcohol to minors at a party in her home. A teenage boy died in an auto accident after leaving her party. In Charlottesville, Virginia, two adults served jail time in 2007 for providing alcohol at their son's 16th birthday party. Some parents consider giving a teenager a drink a rite of passage -- and that contributes to high teenage drinking rates, said Richard Yoast, director of the Department of Healthy Lifestyles and Primary Prevention at the American Medical Association. "It's a myth that adults and children are buying into, and it creates pressure on the child to drink," Yoast said. "The biggest problem to overcome is the fact that parents feel like they are helping their kids," said Denise Thames, director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Georgia, "They often forget they are in fact breaking the law." The affluent suburbs near Powder Springs, where Reed's accident took place, are not immune. Police say there were several teenagers hanging out with Reed the night he died, including Whitfield's stepson. Several of Reed's close friends at Harrison High School said alcohol is easy to get in their community and students can find a drinking party each weekend if they want to. It is easier to get alcohol from older friends and relatives or parents than buying it with a fake ID, they said. "As long as you have money, you can get it," said Eric Stallworth, a senior at Harrison High School, who was close friends with Reed. He described his friend as a charismatic and popular boy, who was fiercely competitive when it came to sports and dreamed of playing college football. While there is no county or city ordinance on social hosting in Powder Springs, or in Georgia, some parents are fighting back. The Cobb Alcohol Task Force, which also serves Powder Springs, is a volunteer group working to reduce teens' access to alcohol. The group launched a campaign called "Adults Who Host Lose the Most" to educate the public about the dangers of illegally providing teens with liquor. Surveys in Cobb County show the campaigns are working slowly, said Cathy Finck, Cobb Alcohol Task Force coordinator. In 2007, 68 percent of 10th grade students said obtaining alcohol was easy, a decrease from 73 percent the previous year. But that may not be enough to stop a fatal accident such as Reed's. "Unless you get everyone to do it, kids will find out one place where they can get alcohol and you will have these kinds of incidences," Finck said. "Everyone has to get on board." Ultimately, parents need to step up and take responsibility, said Shawna Snapp of Blue River, Oregon. Her son, Ryan Snapp, nicknamed "Snapper," died two years ago in a car accident. He was 17 and the teenage driver had been drinking alcohol obtained from an adult. "We're not here as parents to be their best friends," Snapp said. "We are here to guide them for life." All About Mothers Against Drunk Driving • GeorgiaMythic humanoids are mythological creatures that are part human or resemble humans through appearance or character. Categories of mythic humanoids [ edit ] The multitude of mythic humanoids can be divided into four categories. Human skinned humanoids [ edit ] These humanoids can pass unnoticed in human society if their attributes are small enough to go unnoticed. Their ears may be slightly misshaped, their eyes may not line up, or their height may not measure up, but their difference in appearance can be attributed to genetic mistakes or mutation. Sometimes they live separated from society, live in alternative realities, or appear at night or under specific circumstances. This category includes elves, fairies, nymphs and house spirits. Monster skinned humanoids [ edit ] Portions of these humanoids are clearly not of human make. They may have drastic differences in skin color and eye type and may have scales, fur, claws, and tails. The average person may find them quite unpleasant and untrustworthy because they are not entirely human. Monstrous humanoids [ edit ] These humanoids are likely to instill fear and revulsion. They may walk, talk, and think like a human, but they are obviously not human. Temporary form humanoids [ edit ] These are creatures that may temporarily disguise or transform into a human shape, but have entirely different true forms. Human skinned [ edit ] Monster skinned [ edit ] Adlet Dog-like humanoids in Inuit folklore. Asterius Two sacred kings of Crete, as well as a river and its god in Argos. Blafard Albinos long surmised to be the result of some kind of simian crossbreeding. Boggart Household spirits or genius loci. Centaur / Kentaurides Men and women with the lower bodies of horses. Cynocephaly Dog-headed humans. Ent Nature spirits that resemble trees. Fairy Spirits commonly depicted as having beautiful insectoid wings. Faun Humans with the horns and lower bodies of goats. Garuda Vishnu's bird-like mount. Goblin Small, grotesque humanoids. Gorgon Female creatures commonly depicted with beastly features. Harpy Female creatures with bird wings. Jengu Beautiful, mermaid like creatures. Jinn Genie-like beings. Lamia A beautiful, child-eating demon. Lich Undead magicians and kings which strove for eternal life. Manticore A creature with a man's head, a lion's body, bat wings, and a scorpion tail. Mermaid / Merman Women and men with the lower bodies of fish. Minotaur A human with the head and sometimes legs of a bull. Mothman A winged, legendary man with the features of a moth. Nāga Humans with the lower halves of snakes. Ogre / Ogress Large, grotesque humanoids. Orc / Ork Humanoids with grey skin and tusks. Pan A god with the horns and legs of a goat. Sandman A man who puts people to sleep and brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of sleeping humans. Satyr / Satyress Ithyphallic men with goat-like features. Siren Dangerous women that lured sailors to their death with their voices. Sphinx A creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Tikbalang Tall, bony creatures with the features of a horse. Troll Large, grotesque humanoids. Triton The Greek messenger of the sea and a son of poseidon Yacuruna Hairy beings with deformed feet and their heads turned backwards. Monstrous humanoids [ edit ] Abarimon A savage race of people with backwards feet. Ala A female demon that brings bad weather to farms. Aswang Shapeshifting Philippine ghouls. Baba Yaga A legendary witch who flies around in a mortar, wields a pestle, and lives/travels in a chicken-legged hut. Black Annis A blue faced crone or witch with iron claws. Blemmyes A headless man with facial features on their chests. Boogeyman A featureless, androgynous creature used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. Bunyip Large, water-dwelling creatures. Caliban The subhuman son of the witch Sycorax. Cyclopes Grotesque, one-eyed humanoids. Draugar Undead creatures that guard their burial mounds. Gargoyle Carved or formed grotesques said to scare away demons - they are the ''stone-by-day", nocturnal protagonists of Disney's Gargoyles 1990s animated TV series. 1990s animated TV series. Ghoul Evil flesh-eating spirits. Giant / Giantess Extremely large humanoids. Gigantes Extremely large humanoids. Gnome Small humanoid spirits. Goblin Small, grotesque humanoids. Gorgons Female creatures commonly depicted with beastly features. Gremlins Grotesque, mischievous creatures who love to sabotage machinery. Grendel A giant monster. Hag A wizened old women. Hecatonchires Hundred-handed giants. Hibagon The Japanese equivalent of Bigfoot. Hitotsume-kozou A Yōkai that takes on the appearance of a bald, one-eyed child. Hobgoblins Mischievous household spirits. Jenny Greenteeth A green-skinned river hag. Jotuns A Norse mythological race that live in Jötunheimr. Kappa A turtle-like yōkai which is about the size of a child. Manananggal A self-segmenting humanoid which preys on humans. Mangkukulam A person employing or using Kulam. Mummy A deceased human or animal whose skin and organs have been preserved. Nukekubi Rokurokubi whose heads come off and float about. Orcs Humanoids with grey or green skin and tusks. Ogre / Ogress Large, grotesque humanoids. Oni Yōkai which are similar to ogres/demons. Pugot A mythical fiend found in the Ilocos region. Rokurokubi Yōkai with long necks or removable heads. Samebito A humanoid with inky black skin, emerald green eyes, a demonic face, and a beard like a dragon's. Succubus / Incubus Seductive female and male demons. Titan Gigantic humanoids. Tiyanak A vampiric creature in Philippine mythology that imitates the form of a child. Troll Large, grotesque humanoids. Trow Short, ugly spirits. Undine Female water spirits. Wendigo A cannibal, monster, or evil spirit native to the northern forests of the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes Region of both the United States and Canada. Wechuge Cannibal said to be a person, monster, or a demonic presence who has been possessed or overwhelmed. In return
the slightest. She’s also clearly not super excited to be talking about her childhood or about the roundabout path that led to her career in comedy, and probably won’t put herself through any more of these ordeals than she has to, which is all the more reason to give the episode a listen. [Dennis DiClaudio] [Subscribe on iTunes] Advertisement How crazy would it be if the political beef between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump hit the podcast level? Trump has yet to release an official cast, but this premier episode of With Her, launched on what one could call the Clinton Podcast Network, topped the charts upon its release. Sixteen minutes in length, this phone conversation between the former secretary of state and With Her co-host Max Linsky is an obvious humanizing effort that kind of does the trick. When anxiously asked how he should refer to the Democratic nominee, Mrs. Clinton says, “You can call me Hillary, you can call me Mrs. Secretary, you can call me Hey You. Anything you want.” The most intriguing line of discussion has to do with the Democratic National Convention. Clinton, who often appears scripted, reveals what it felt like to walk on the stage and address her party and the nation. “I can’t back out now!” she laughs. “It was both a liberating moment and a crushing sense of responsibility.” With Her is off to a great start, and if this podcast evolves from the checklist of softball questions that are asked here, it will succeed. [Tim Barnes] We see what you said there “[John] Ford said to me one time ‘Oh, that was just an accident. Most of the good things in pictures happen by accident.’ And I had made one film, and I thought, ‘Really?’”—Peter Bogdanovich, Bret Easton Ellis Podcast Advertisement “Everybody thinks I’m so nice… No, I’m just tired. [Laughs.] I’m exhausted, okay?”—Delilah Rene Luke on recording her syndicated nighttime radio show, Pop Culture Happy Hour “It’s a TV show about competitive dumping! Like, that’s what it is. It’s the Olympics of dumps.”—Griffin McElroy on Bachelor In Paradise, Rose Buddies “In this part, I wanted the rap feel. But I can’t rap. If I try to rap, the tone of my voice is just like ‘Girl, come on. This is not Sesame Street.’” —Andra Day on the bridge of “Forever Mine,” Song Exploder Advertisement “You don’t look like you’re being driven by dark forces. I’m sure you love a good steak once in a while.” —Werner Herzog being Werner Herzog, WTFImage copyright AFP Image caption Before the match fans were warned not to use racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic language Two men have been arrested for posting anti-Semitic tweets following Tottenham Hotspur's match with West Ham. A 24-year-old man from Croydon and a 22-year-old man from Wiltshire posted the comments about Hitler and the gas chambers after the Premier League match on 6 October. Both men were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. Another 48-year-old man, from Canning Town, was arrested on 5 December on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. Jewish following What is the Y-Word? The word 'yid' means Jew in Yiddish In itself, it does not have any negative connotations It is thought it was used as an insult in the 20th Century, especially around the time of Oswald Mosley and the Black Shirts in the 1930s Some Spurs fans say they have reclaimed the word, turning it into a badge of honour and deflecting the offensive meaning attached to it by some opposing fans The Y-word: Should Tottenham fans be allowed to use it? Police had warned fans before the fixture not to use the word "yid" and said supporters who did so could be committing a crime. Traditionally Spurs have a large Jewish following and have been the target of abuse from opposition fans, although some fans of the club use the term themselves. West Ham told supporters that anyone caught behaving in a racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic way would be punished to the full extent of the law. Officers in Haringey launched an investigation after being made aware of the messages on the social networking site Twitter. All three men have been bailed until January. In November, a 55-year-old man from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was arrested and cautioned for malicious communications after posting anti-Semitic tweets before the Spurs and West Ham match.Debra Bruno is a freelance writer and editor. When Michael Guerra, a blunt-talking Brooklyn real estate broker, installed 24 solar panels on his Park Slope rooftop in 2012 during a home renovation, all he knew was that he liked the idea of being able to supply his own green electricity—and to run his air conditioning in the summer without paying exorbitant charges. So he got as many panels as his utility and the state would allow. “I’m the guy who wanted solar panels on his roof since Jimmy Carter was president,” says the 54-year-old. Then one day in 2016, he got a knock on his door. Sasha Santiago had been on a nearby rooftop and spied Guerra’s solar panels; he used Google Earth to home in on the right building. “A strange man rang my bell and—I’m not kidding—said, ‘Hi, I’m Sasha. Can I talk to you about a microgrid?’” Guerra says. “I said, ‘What’s that?’” Santiago explained that the company he worked for, Brooklyn-based LO3 Energy, was running a pilot program that would permit renewable energy users like Guerra to sell power directly to their neighbors. In effect, the neighbors would become their own small power grid in the middle of the most populous city in the country. “Oh, this is shared economy. This is Airbnb, this is Uber, this is 21st century,” Guerra remembers thinking. He agreed to be part of the project on President Street. Residents with solar panels on one side of the street sold environmental credits to residents on the other side of the street who had no solar of their own. New York state allows electricity consumers to use their own solar panels to supply their electricity, but any power produced that the customer doesn’t use feeds back into the larger grid, with consumers being paid for those kilowatt hours. The microgrid system that LO3 had devised would essentially cut out the middleman, using a phone app and smart meters to enable neighbors to strike deals for how much electricity they want to buy from one another and at what price. The technology that makes this possible, Santiago explained to Guerra, is blockchain, the same secure information exchange that makes bitcoin trading possible. “The idea with blockchain is that everything is done peer to peer,” says Duke University economist Campbell R. Harvey. “With a microgrid, people that have solar panels can actually trade amongst themselves. They don’t have to have a centralized person in the middle that is taking a piece of the action.” In a time when the national electricity grid could be vulnerable to terrorism and climatic events, a new technology “could potentially resolve some of these problems,” he says. Story Continued Below Brooklyn, he says, is “a glimpse of the future.” * Blockchain has been looked at for everything from medical records and voting to international money transfers and even online poker. Its value is the way it maintains the integrity of a transaction by breaking it into small blocks of data that are not controlled by one person and therefore can’t be tampered with. LO3, which began as an energy think tank in 2012, saw that blockchain would be perfect for creating energy markets, says Scott Kessler, LO3’s director of business development. The sale and purchase of electricity depends on the fast and secure processing of enormous amounts of continually changing data—the availability of a particular type of energy, its value at that instant and any ceiling the consumer might have placed on a contract price. Lawrence Orsini, founder and CEO of LO3 Energy, on a Brooklyn rooftop. \| Sasha Santiago, Brooklyn Microgrid Blockchain enables the meters to communicate reliably with one another, but it’s the phone app that really puts the control in the hands of the microgrid consumers. The app “acts as your bidder” in the energy marketplace, Kessler says, enabling consumers to determine “what is their willingness to pay for energy.” Buyers interested in simply getting the best price could opt out of any sort of green energy, relying on whatever energy source is available from ConEd, Kessler notes. Or, “they could play with the percentage and see how cheap can I go to get local green energy.” “The idea is that it isn’t just rich people with solar panels selling energy to each other, but really, it’s the entire community … So if you’re low-income and you need the cheapest power you can get, we’ll still provide that to you. We don’t want to be dictating.” Picking Brooklyn as the location of the experiment made sense for several reasons, says Kessler. The community is “environmentally conscious”—not only are there a number of solar panels already set up on rooftops, but many Brooklynites already buy green power and receive a renewable energy credit from ConEd, the New York electric utility. Brooklyn has a vested interest in “energy resiliency.” When Hurricane Sandy hit Brooklyn, the Gowanus Canal flooded for blocks and power was knocked out to many of the high-rise public housing buildings. “You had folks in wheelchairs with no access to elevators for a week or two, without power, so it was a really bad situation,” Kessler says. With enough battery storage, a microgrid could potentially survive a power outage that affected much larger portions of the city. The borough’s economic and architectural diversity, from industrial warehouses to historic brownstones, made it a good test subject, Kessler says. That mixture could offer LO3 great feedback about the kinds of energy that might be needed in the future. * The pilot program was successful enough that the microgrid will go live later this year. The next phase of the project will involve 300 households or small businesses that have signed letters of interest, along with 50 generation sites—all solar except for one small wind turbine. In total, those producers generate about 1.5 megawatts of electricity, still just a small portion of the needs of Brooklyn’s nearly 3 million residents. But the point is not to replace the whole grid, but to show that small grids can serve local communities. It’s hard to get any more local than Roger and Barbara Ditman. Roger, 75, and Barbara, 73, bought their four-story brownstone on 10th Street in 1973 for $63,000. (Today it’s worth $3.5 million.) About five years ago, the retired couple paid $40,000 to install 16 solar panels on their roof—panels that now supply about 95 percent of the home’s electricity. With the solar production and various state credits for the solar panels, the investment is almost paid off, Roger Ditman says. Signing up for the Brooklyn Microgrid means that their excess electricity could be bought in the community. “To me, it’s the next step,” says Roger Ditman. “It’s taking advantage of something that is totally free. It helps the atmosphere, it helps the country, and it helps the community. What we’re not using gets made available to our neighbors and to the larger community, as opposed to using energy that comes from Arizona.” Michael Guerra compares the microgrid to the changes in telephone service. “There used to be a central switching station. Now if you look at voice-over IP, you’ve got routers that are distributed around that are talking to one another,” he says. “Microgrid controllers can do the same kind of thing with electricity. They can isolate problem spots,” and create a kind of “island” that would be producing electricity when the rest of the city might be dark. “After I learned about it,” Guerra says, “I thought, ‘This is definitely happening. This can’t not happen.’” This article tagged under: BrooklynIn the binary system J0806, two white dwarf stars orbit one another every 321 seconds. Scientists think the stars, about 1,600 light-years away, are spiraling in toward one another and will eventually merge. More than four-fifths of the single points of light we observe in the night sky are actually two or more stars orbiting together. The most common of the multiple star systems are binary stars, systems of only two stars together. These pairs come in an array of configurations that help scientists to classify stars, and could have impacts on the development of life. Some people even think that the sun is part of a binary system. Binary classifications Binary stars are two stars orbiting a common center of mass. The brighter star is officially classified as the primary star, while the dimmer of the two is the secondary (classified as A and B respectively). In cases where the stars are of equal brightness, the designation given by the discoverer is respected. Binary pairs can be classified based on their orbit. Wide binaries are stars that have orbits that keep them spread apart from one another. These stars evolve separately, with very little impact from their companions. They may have once contained a third star, which booted the distant companion outward while eventually having been ejected themselves. Close binaries, on the other hand, evolve nearby, able to transfer their mass from one to the other. The primaries of some close binaries consume the material from their companion, sometimes exerting a gravitational force strong enough to pull the smaller star in completely. [Infographic: How 'Tatooine' Planets Orbit Twin Stars of Kepler-47] The pairs can also be classified based on how they are observed, a system that has overlapping categories. Visual binaries are two stars with a wide enough separation that both can be viewed through a telescope, or even with a pair of binoculars. Five to 10 percent of visible stars are visual binaries. Spectroscopic binaries appear close even when viewed through a telescope. Scientists must measure the wavelengths of the light the stars emit and determine their binary nature based on features of those measurements. Eclipsing binaries are two stars whose orbits are at an angle so that, from Earth, one passes in front of the other, causing an eclipse. This feature is based on the line of sight rather than any particular feature of the pair. Astrometric binaries are stars that seem to dance around an empty space; that is, their companions cannot be identified but only inferred. Such a companion may be too dim to be seen, or could be hidden in the glare from the primary star. Stars referred to as double stars are two that appear close together in the sky visually, but are not necessarily anywhere near one another in space. Discovery and evolution The first binary stars seen were visual binaries. In 1617, at the request of a fellow scientist, Galileo Galilei turned his telescope toward the second star from the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, discovering that one star seemed to be two; ultimately it turned out to be six. In 1802, Sir William Herschel, who cataloged about 700 pairs of stars, first used the term "binary" in reference to these double stars. Stars travel around the galaxy, and sometimes a massive star captures a passing one, creating a new binary pair. But this is a rare event. More commonly, the envelope of gas and dust that collapses in on itself to form a star splits and forms two or more stars instead. These stars evolve together, though not necessarily identically. How a pair of stars evolve depends on their distance from each other. Wide binaries have very little effect on each other, and so they often evolve much like single stars. Close binaries, however, impact each other's evolution, with mass transfers changing the composition of the stars. If one star in a close binary system explodes in a supernova or sheds its outer layers and forms a pulsar, often the companion is destroyed. If it survives, it continues to orbit the newly formed body, perhaps passing on more of its material. Binary star systems provide the best means for scientists to determine the mass of a star. As the pair pulls on each other, astronomers can calculate the size, and from there determine characteristics such as temperature and radius. These factors help characterize single main sequence stars in the universe. Stars in multiple systems can have a direct impact on life. A host of planets have already been found orbiting multiple stars. The orbit of these stars can affect the evolution of life, which needs a relatively stable system to develop in. Though binary and multiple systems appear initially daunting, given that one or more stars are constantly moving closer and farther from the planets and changing the amount of light, heat and radiation they receive, systems such as wide binaries or close binaries could actually produce conditions where life could eventually evolve. [9 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life] In 2015, astrophysicist Paul Sutter — a research fellow with the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste — wrote on Space.com that it seems unlikely that life could exist in most binary systems. "While binary systems certainly have a habitable zone, where liquid water could potentially exist on the surface of a planet, life might find it difficult to gain a foothold. Orbiting two stars at once, as our friend Kepler-47c does, makes life very elliptical, occasionally bringing the planet out of the zone. Life doesn't take too kindly to frequently freezing over," he wrote. "Orbiting just one star in a binary system? Well, sometimes you'll have two stars in your sky at once, which can be a tad toasty. And sometimes you'll have a star on each face of the planet, ruining the night. And don't forget the double-doses of UV radiation and solar flares. With that kind of instability, erraticism and irradiation, it's hard to imagine complex life evolving with the kind of regularity it needs." The closest star system to Earth — Alpha Centauri — includes a binary pair of stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B. The third star, Proxima Centauri, is roughly one-fifth of a light-year away (roughly 13,000 sun-Earth distances; some astronomers debate whether Proxima Centauri should be considered part of the same system.) While no stars in the habitable zone have been found in the binary star part of Alpha Centauri, the planet Proxima Centauri b was announced in 2016 in the habitable region of its star. However, scientists are divided as to whether a red dwarf star such as Proxima Centauri has stable enough "space weather" to prevent radiation or heat surges diminishing the chance for life on a nearby planet. The red giant star Mira A (right) and its companion, a close binary pair. (Image: © Margarita Karovska (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) and NASA) Is the sun a binary star? In the 1980s, scientists suggested the presence of Nemesis, a second star — either a brown dwarf, dim red dwarf or white dwarf — in the sun's system as a reason behind the periodic mass extinctions that occurred in Earth's history, which some paleontologists suggest have occurred in 26-million-year cycles, though the cyclical nature is under debate. In 2010, NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) began searching for brown dwarfs, though it isn't searching specifically for one in the solar system. But if a companion exists, WISE should turn it up. Neither WISE nor the Two Micron All Sky Survey has turned up signs of a companion, and on NASA's "Ask an Astrobiologist," David Morrison, an astrobiology senior scientist, stated that such an object would have been clearly detected by these sensitive telescopes. In 2017, a study showed that almost every star like the sun likely had a companion when they were born. A survey using the Very Large Array in New Mexico and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii examined dozens of systems and found that the younger ones generally had a wide separation, and the older ones had a narrow separation. Modeling suggested that most stars would form with a distance between them, and then either move closer together or drift apart, breaking gravitational bonds. In the case of the sun, it's still unclear if Nemesis did exist. If it had, the sun's sibling likely moved away billions of years ago. Some scientists suggest that there is evidence out there for a Nemesis. Evidence they cite includes the distant orbit of dwarf planet Sedna, the well-defined edge of the Kuiper Belt (a debris disk in our solar system), and the orbits of objects in the Oort Cloud (icy rocks beyond Pluto's orbit). Separately, there are research teams pursuing the track of a purported "Planet Nine" ice giant planet that is at the edge of our solar system. In 2016, Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown (both researchers at the California Institute of Technology) stated that Planet Nine may be altering the orbits of objects in the Kuiper Belt.It’s 10:45 on an early April morning in New York City. The sun’s finally shining after a week of rain and the wind is keeping things cool. The Raptors are at Madison Square Garden, looking to secure their second consecutive 50-win season. PJ Tucker strolls down a back hallway inside the Garden, decked out. He’s wearing a designer windbreaker, sunglasses, skinny jeans and the “Atmos” Nike Air Max 1 with no socks. In the locker room, he pulls out a pair of “Red October” Nike Air Yeezy 2s. He reveals a red pair of the Nike Kobe A.D. in his stash, too. Then the NBA’s sneaker king starts to unlace the KAWS Air Jordan IVs. Raptors equipment manager Paul Elliott, who’s balancing one leg on a scooter after Achilles surgery, looks on with a huge smile. As if that wasn’t enough heat, the rest of the Raptors locker room is full of the latest from the Swoosh, the Three Stripes and Under Armour. Delon Wright sits next to Tucker in the “Red Hot Santa” UA Curry 3. Kyle Lowry’s rocking a clean cool grey adidas Crazy Explosive Low PE. Cory Joseph has an all-black pair of Nike Kyrie 2s. DeMar DeRozan slips into his Kobe A.D. PEs—his special “Compton” colorway has a rendering of the street he grew up on featured in the sockliner. “I don’t know if it’s a competition,” says Norm Powell, with a crispy red pair of the latest Kobe model on his feet, about the Raptors being the NBA’s best sneaker team. “I think, especially me, I try to keep up with Tuck and Deebo. The Kobes, they’re always coming out with something new I haven’t seen. I tried to beat DeMar out a little bit with my custom shoes, but he has so many different colorways. It’s hard to keep up.” Yeah, it is. No other team in the League has the sneakers to keep up with Toronto. No other team walks around with the quiet confidence of the Dino squad. With all the silhouettes around the team, they put on a fashion show every game. DeRozan and Lowry are top tier members of Nike and adidas, respectively. Young fellas like Wright, Powell and Joseph make it a point to gear up in neck-breaking colorways each night. And PJ Tucker’s the League’s reigning sneaker king. After the Raptors pick up an easy win over the Knicks, Tucker sits at his locker, checking his phone. Norm Powell, half joking, half not, yells over to Tucker, asking for his KAWS IVs. “Ain’t that right, PJ? You gonna gimme those kicks?” Tucker, the king, doesn’t even look up. Heavy is the head that wears the (sneaker) crown. — Scroll the gallery above to see the Raptors’ best sneakers. Photos courtesy of Getty.Police arrest 315-pound man found with 40 bags of heroin and crack hidden in his BELLY BUTTON Randall Streeter, who is 5'5" was brought into custody after a traffic stop and is being held on a $1 million bail bond Caught: Randall Streeter was arrested with heroin, crack and prescription drugs in his navel on May 29 in Greenville, North Carolina Police in North Carolina have arrested a drug trafficker found with 40 bags of heroin, crack cocaine and Percocet pills hidden in his navel. Greenville Regional Drug Task Force took Randall Streeter - who is 5'5" tall and weighs 315 pounds - into custody along with a passenger after pulling over the car he was driving. During the May 29 stop agents seized 150 bags of heroin and $1,200 in addition to the drugs found on Streeter and the arrests were the culmination of a month-long investigation. The total estimated street value of the narcotics found in Streeter's navel and in the car along with passenger, Marshall Wayne Wilson, was approximately $6,800. Streeter was charged with heroin trafficking and is currently in Pitt County Detention Center under a $1,000,000 secured bond. Wilson, the passenger, was also charged with drug offenses and is also being held in Pitt under a $75,000 secured bond. According to police, Streeter is suspected of dealing huge amounts of heroin in Greenville and is also linked to numerous prostitution cases. According to WATE.com the method Streeter used to conceal the drugs is commonly known in eastern North Carolina as a 'Percocet Pouch'. Recovered: The total estimated street value of the heroin was approximately $6,800.00 dollars Navel: The drugs were found in Streeter's naval and $1,200 was recovered from the car he was driving This news comes one day after it was revealed a man was arrested in Cuba after attempting to board a flight to America with 66 rare birds sewn inside his trousers. The bird man was seized at Ignacio Agramonte International Airport in the Cuban city of Camaguay and was picked up because of the curious bulges in his trousers.Everest Autumn 2000 Presents Everest Autumn 2000! Ski Everest Climb Updates below Mt. Everest, October 7, 2000 It was a historical day for Slovenian. Davo Karnicar, of Jezersko, Slovenia, accomplished an uninterrupted ski descent from the top of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest (8,848m). At 8 a.m. local time (4.15 CEST), Davo started his historical ascent, fulfilling his longtime dream to which he had aspired since 1996 when a snowstorm halted his efforts. Today, in only five hours, Davo skied uninterruptedly (without taking skis off) from the top of the mountain to base camp at 5,340m. Davo Karnicar and Franc Oderlap began their ascent of Everest on Wednesday early in the morning. They left base camp, climbed the notorious Icefall, and reached Camp II well before noon. In a coordinated effort the Sherpa climbers has set out the same day for Camp IV to set tents. One of them had to return due to altitude sickness. After a good night's sleep, the Slovenian mountaineers on Thursday morning headed for Camp II, heavily loaded with gear. On Friday, they traversed below the Lhotse face over the Geneva Spur and the Yellow Band, the highest-lying tectonic joint in the world, and reached Camp IV at the South Col at an altitude of 7,950m just after noon. Davo was in a very good mood, feeling the Everest summit at his hand's reach. After setting up two tents together with the Sherpa climbers, Davo and Franc put every effort into taking in some food and drink - quite a strenuous pursue at such an altitude. To his own surprise, Davo consumed a large portion of tsampa mixed with cottage cheese which the Sherpas prepared. At five p.m., the two Slovenians tucked into one sleeping bag - it would be too heavy to carry two - and slept for three hours with additional oxygen. Upon waking up, they were more exhausted than before, yet concentrated enough to prepare the gear and get dressed. They set out at 10.30 p.m. Franc put on apparel filled with down; Davo two fleeces, a windstopper and an anorak. It was a romantic night, Davo was joking: the moon was shining brightly. Davo put on ski boots and protectors, while Franc wore high altitude hiking shoes. They both put on crampons, as the slopes were icy and the snow compressed by wind. Where the snow was breakable crust, they were trudging a new path through the snow; while elsewhere the path was already made by the Korean team. When just below the Hillary step, Davo contacted base camp via radio. Conditions at the most dangerous section were ideal. It took Davo therefore only half an hour to reach the summit from the south peak. On top the weather was wonderful, offering great views of Lhotse, Makalu and the neighboring peaks. At this early hour, 7 a.m., it was extremely cold on the Earth's tallest point. After one hour of preparations, photographing and warming-up, Davo skied down, while Franc Oderlap, Ang Dorjee Sherpa - who summited for a seventh time - and Passang Tenzing Sherpa descended on foot. The most difficult section of the ski descent was not, as Davo had supposed, the Hillary step, but the steep section leading to the south peak, with a considerable threat of avalanches. At Camp IV, Davo put on a camera weighing three kilos - which is why he decided not to ski with it right from the top. After several steep sections, he reached Camp III where he met other climbing members of the expedition, Tadej, Urban, Matej, Grega and Jurij the doctor. Yet the adventure was far from over. The Icefall was still to be skied, an immense psychological test for any skier. Davo was skiing under the haunting ice blocks, which can unexpectedly break and fall at any time. The merry atmosphere at base camp was beyond description. We opened a bottle of champagne and toasted to Davo, who didn't go to sleep for a long time, though very tired. The Slovenian team Update: Back Home! Davo and the SI.MOBIL Extreme Ski Everest team back in Slovenia! Davo Karnicar and the rest of the team today landed at the Ljubljana Brnik airport, where they were greeted by many sports enthusiasts who via the internet and other media followed the progress of the expedition and its successful bid. After a short press conference, the entire team headed for Jezersko (Davo's home town), where at 1 p.m. a party began to honor Davo and SI.MOBIL Extreme Ski Everest 2000's fantastic achievement. Update: Celebration in Kathmandu All expeditions which have conquered any eightthousander traditionally meet at Rum Doodle restaurant to celebrate the successful bid. Members of expeditions put their signatures on a huge white sole, which is later hung on one of the restaurant walls. The bar on the first floor, named after a non-existent "highest" mountain, 40,000.5 feet, is reserved for Everest summiters. The bar and the restaurant yesterday hosted SI.MOBIL Extreme Ski Everest 2000 expedition, representatives of the Nepalese Ministry of tourism and of the Wilderness Experience agency, as well as some Davo's wife and friends who came to Nepal on a trekking. The summiters put their names into a special book and on a board, and receive'summiters' cards. Dispatch 10/16/2000: Expedition arrived at Kathmandu The SI.MOBIL Extreme Ski Everest 2000 expedition were today taken by helicopter from Namche Bazar to Kathmandu. After settling in at the hotel, the team was invited to an official reception given by the Nepalese Ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation. Everest North Side Autumn Update 10/16/2000: Everest North Side - No Summit! Climbers of the 2000 Korean Quomolangma Expedition (Leader: Chang Byung Ho) attempting Everest from the North side via the North Col - NE Ridge route for this fall season were not lucky enough as their counter parts in the south to set their feet on the Earth's highest point due to adverse weather condition. Two members and two Sherpa from this lone expedition climbing Everest from the North side made the first summit attempt on the 3 October from a final camp at 8350m. They reached a point near the Second Step and then strong winds prevented them from climbing further. Lead climber of the team Ha Chan Soo and partner Shin Don Min made a second summit attempt on the 8 October. However, adverse weather condition compounded with severe physical exhaustion disoriented their progress above the Second Step and the expedition team decided to call of the expedition. Strong wind also ripped apart their tents at Camp II. In the recent years, this is the season (Autumn) with least expedition teams on the mountain. Both in the 98 and 99 autumn there were more than 3 expeditions on the mountain from this route. However, no climbers reached the summit of Everest in 99 autumn season as well. Three expedition team climbing Everest from the other side of the mountain (two Koreans and one Slovenian) via the South Col SE Ridge route were successful in placing climbers on the summit. A lone North American climber with one Sherpa team did arrive at Everest base camp on the North side to give company to the Koreans but they decided not to proceeded above base camp. Ang Karma Sherpa Windhorse Trekking (P) Ltd. Dispatch 10/15/2000: At Namche Bazar After a few minor incidents, the SI.MOBIL Extreme Ski Everest 2000 team safely arrived at Namche Bazar. All formalities have been settled, and the team is to take a helicopter directly for Kathmandu tomorrow. The entire expedition is to stay in Kathmandu till 28 October, when they are to fly to Vienna, to continue for Ljubljana, Slovenia, the following day. They are expected at the Ljubljana Brnik airport on Sunday, 29 October, at 10.40 a.m. CEST. Dispatch 10/13/2000: Grega Lacen arrived at Ljubljana. Grega Lacen, who left Nepal earlier than the rest of the expedition because of his frostbitten toes, arrived at Ljubljana yesterday evening. Grega's frostbitten toes will be from today on treated at Barotech Institute, Ljubljana, by means of a hyperbaric chamber. Expedition left the base camp This morning the expedition set out for Namche Bazar. Today the team members will sleep in Periche. Ang Dorje will stay at the base camp until enough yaks are available for transporting the rest of the equipment. Interview with Davo after arrival to base camp The whole ascent to Mount Everest took us four days, which is very normal, I think. We made a night summit bid because I wanted to ski when there is the least wind. So we started towards the summit on Friday at around 10 p.m. We were on top on Saturday between six and seven in the morning. We were very much surprised there was so much snow there! The Hillary step, the steep crest and huge amounts of snow which threatened to avalanche - these are the main characteristics of this first uninterrupted skiing from the top of the tallest mountain on this planet. Davo, what about the Hillary step and the Icefall? Well, the Hillary step was a problem already for the first climbers. For me, it turned out to be less dangerous than the pointed crest from the Hillary step to the Icefall. The Icefall is, of course, a huge sliding ground which can be avoided if approached from the left side, skiing along the main line leading into the serac, which is all the time falling from the Lho La saddle. 15 minutes before I skied there one major fall took place, so I knew it would take some time before another one. Somewhere faster, somewhere slower I in the end made it through the icefall. Were you happy with the equipment you chose - skis, boots etc.? Yes, very much so. All the gear was tested before, there weren't any problems at all. The Elan skis turned very adequate - light enough to bring them to the top and very functional in all sorts of snow that you come across when you ski down 4,000 vertical meters. What about the camera on the helmet, did you use it from Camp IV? Yes, I even managed to see a few shots, they are very good; we are also waiting for Ang Dorjee who filmed arrival to the top and the first meters of skiing. Quite a few shots were made from a distance through a telelens. Davo, how are you feeling, what are your plans for the following days? At this moment - to regain strength. Slowly, slowly I'm also becoming aware of the whole thing. It is something that was in my head for a long long time - I had it over in my thoughts so many times. Now it came true - it came true what I came here for. I've got no frostbites, rather fine. Update: 10/13/2000 To Summary the Korean Summits of Everest that have been reported so far this Autumn 2000 by the Ministry of Tourism in Nepal: Kim Hwan Koo & Kim Seong Cheol both on 10/4/2000; Members of the Korean Lhotse Expedition. On the Other Korean Expedition, Kim Woong Sik, Hong Sun Dok and Cho Cheol Hee all of the Chung-Buk Korean Expedition reached the Summit on 10/4/2000. Kim Hong Bin, the climber with no hands was a member of this Chung Buk Korean Expedition. Kim's hands were amputated after he attempted to summit McKinley in 1991. Kim failed to Summit Everest... Summary of the Slovenia Summits: Davo Karnicar, Franc Oderlap, Sherpas Ang Dorjee Sherpa (again!!! He is a famous Sherpa climber.) and Pasang Tenzing. Second group - Matej Flis, Grega Lacen and Tadej Golob also summited Everest. Other Everest News: The Korean climber with "no hands" has given up... Davo Karnicar accomplished a full top to bottom ski descent from Everest! Previous Updates 10/5/2000 to 10/13/2000 Previous Updates 9/24/2000 to 10/4/2000 Previous Updates 9/18/2000 to 9/23/2000 Previous Updates 9/13/2000 to 9/17/2000 Previous
Denmark. "Over the course of several thousand years, human-driven selection caused major physical changes, turning the unproductive plant into modern maize, commonly known as corn. Maize as we know it looks so different from its wild ancestor that a couple of decades ago scientists had not reached a consensus regarding the true ancestor of maize." To better understand the domestication history of the world's most produced crop, Wales and his colleagues, including Jazmín Ramos-Madrigal, sequenced the genome of a 5,310-year-old maize cob from central Mexico. The cob, known as Tehuacan162, was excavated from a cave in the Tehuacan Valley in the 1960s, during a major archaeological expedition lead by Richard MacNeish. Fortunately, the Robert S. Peabody Museum in Andover, MA, took excellent care of the ancient maize specimen--one of the five oldest known in the world--for decades. Wales explains that this particular cob and the DNA within it had been unusually well preserved. "Archaeological specimens frequently have high levels of bacterial DNA due to decomposition and soil contaminants," he says. "However, during genetic testing of ancient cobs, we were astonished to find that 70 percent of the DNA from the Tehuacan162 cob was from the plant!" Most other ancient samples contain less than 10 percent plant DNA. Tehuacan162 didn't have hard seed coats like its wild ancestor would have. But, the ancient cob is less than a tenth of the size of modern cobs, at less than two centimeters long. In addition, the ancient cob produced only eight rows of kernels, about half that of modern maize. That led the researchers to suspect that its genes would offer clues on the early stages of maize domestication. To make the most of the small sample, Wales and Ramos-Madrigal used cutting-edge paleogenomic techniques. They extracted DNA with a method designed to recover ultra-short DNA, taking special care to avoid losing any genetic material. As a result, the researchers were able to prepare sufficient DNA for sequencing while still preserving enough of the sample to determine the cob's precise age via radiocarbon dating. The new findings offer an informative snapshot in the 10,000-year evolutionary history of maize and its domestication, the researchers say. In addition to elucidating how maize provided a dietary foundation for ancient civilizations like the Maya, such studies can also aid in understanding and improving commercially important lines of modern maize, the researchers say. "This is only the beginning of the story," Ramos-Madrigal says. "Humans dispersed maize across the Americas very quickly and very successfully. We want to know how humans dispersed it, which routes they took, and how maize adapted to such diverse environments." ### This research was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation, the Danish Council for Independent Research, and the Danish National Research Foundation. Current Biology, Ramos-Madrigal et al.; "Genome Sequence of a 5,310-Year-Old Maize Cob Provides Insights into the Early Stages of Maize Domestication" http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)31120-4Blue Abyss The planned pool in Colchester, Essex, would become the world's deepest pool if built A university is discussing plans to build the world's deepest swimming pool for spaceflight research. The planned 50 metre deep pool at the University of Essex would be far deeper than US space agency Nasa's own 12 metre deep training pool in Houston, USA. If it goes ahead, the project is expected to cost £40m. The pool would create similar conditions to that of outer space and deep sea environments. ALlsport/getty images Olympic diving pools, including the one that Tom Daley (above) used in London in 2012, are 5 metres deep The developers of the pool say it could be used for human spaceflight research programmes, environmental monitoring, training in diving techniques, and aerospace development. The world's current deepest pool is the Y-40 diving pool in Montegrotto Terme, Italy, which is 42 metres deep.Normally we don't go into the findings of particular pieces of legislation, but the Student Loan Ranger thinks findings like this are refreshing and show Rep. Clarke is living in the reality most of us inhabit, including: Total outstanding student loan debt officially surpassed total credit card debt in the United States in 2010, and is on track to exceed $1,000,000,000,000 during 2012; Excessive student loan debt is impeding economic growth in the United States. Faced with excessive repayment burdens, many individuals are unable to start businesses, invest, or buy homes; Because of soaring tuition costs, students often have no choice but to amass significant debt to obtain an education that is widely considered a prerequisite for earning a living wage." If you want to hear more from Rep. Clarke, you can watch him introduce the bill in the House. But right now we're going to do what the Student Loan Ranger does best: explore the details. The act would create a new 10/10 Loan Repayment Plan (with new forgiveness provisions), cap interest rates for all federal loans, greatly improve Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and convert some borrowers' private loans to federal loans. That's a lot! Here's more information on four key parts: 1. 10/10 Loan Repayment Plan: Cleverly called 10/10, the plan caps payment amounts at 10 percent of a borrower's discretionary income (the same 10 percent cap as President Obama's Pay As You Earn proposal in terms of payments) and can provide forgiveness in 10 years. The forgiveness provision kicks in after a borrower makes 120 payments, which must be either payments under the 10/10 plan; payments that were not less than they would have been under the 10/10 plan; or "payments" of $0 during a month the borrower was in deferment due to an economic hardship. [Learn more about deferment.] For borrowers on or after the date of enactment, forgiveness is limited to $45,520 in principal and fees plus the interest accrued on the principal and fees. That's a huge amount! There is no forgiveness cap for borrowers who predate enactment. And because prior payments can count, many borrowers who have been repaying their loans for 10 years or more could be eligible for complete forgiveness right away. One of the Student Loan Ranger's reservations about the plan is that it currently requires borrowers to agree to have their payments electronically debited from a bank account, which could penalize low-income borrowers who may not have bank accounts. We're also concerned that requiring borrowers who leave the plan to repay on a standard plan could put some into a catch-22 where they can't afford payments in 10/10 but also can't afford to leave. Finally, we're hoping that the plan will be open to help all borrowers with federal loans, without having to meet a threshold like the "partial financial hardship" required for Income-Based Repayment. 2. Capping interest rates for all federal loans: The act would cap the interest rate on federal loans at 3.4 percent. This is great news for borrowers, since the interest rate is set to be 6.8 percent for all federal Stafford loans as of July 1, 2012. [Find out more about changes to graduate Stafford loans.] 3. Improving Public Service Loan Forgiveness: The act would also provide for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 60 monthly payments instead of 120. It is impossible for us to overstate how much this would help borrowers who have committed to careers at relatively low-paying public interest jobs, who could actually start saving for their kids' education and perhaps owning their own home half a decade earlier than they anticipated. 4. Refinancing private education loans: Certain eligible borrowers would be able to obtain a Federal Consolidation Loan to discharge private loans (which lack the protections of federal loans). While we have a few questions about the details, such as whether this would be open to borrowers who had to borrow private loans in addition to federal loans, overall, this would be an incredible help to borrowers struggling with private loans. This is an act that really needs public support if it is going to move out of the House Education and the Workforce, House Armed Services, and House Foreign Affairs committees it has been referred to. If you agree with the plan, the Student Loan Ranger urges you to sign the SignOn.org petition and to personally call your Representative and Senators. And use the Twitter function on this post to tell all your friends about the act. Of course, you can also keep in touch with us via Twitter (use #studentdebthelp) and Facebook. And register for one of our upcoming student debt relief webinars to get the details you need to know on existing student debt relief programs.Easy pick for Minifigure of the Week is this Medieval Warrior by Kristov. Where to start? This guy is decked out in all kinds of custom accessories and paint. The focus for us here at BrickWarriors is on the custom pieces, so we'll go in that direction. Kristov took our Demon Helmet, Double Flail, Dragon Sword (my personal favorite sword item), and City Watch Armor and brought them to the next level with a custom paint job, accentuating the little details to really bring this Medieval Warrior to life. The detail is stunning; just check out the alternating chains on the Double Flail, between a cast iron finish and a silver metal of some sort. My favorite part of this custom minifigure is the tucked away Dragon Sword in the sheath. Even when it's 75% hidden, Kristov still went through the trouble of adding a cloth to the handle for better grip when the Medieval Warrior's main weapon of choice fails him. Superb job![Karl E. H. Seigfried is the author of The Norse Mythology Blog, named the world’s Best Religion Weblog in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He wrote all Ásatrú definitions in the Religion Newswriters Association’s Religion Stylebook and has written on myth and religion for the BBC, Herdfeuer, Iceland Magazine, Interfaith Ramadan, MythNow, On Religion, Religion and Ethics, and Reykjavík Grapevine. He currently teaches courses for the Newberry Library’s Continuing Education Program while working on his fourth degree, an MA in Religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School.] In the online world of Ásatrú and Heathenry, the reprimand “stop mixing religion and politics” is a regular refrain. On Facebook and Twitter, on blogs and websites, in discussion groups and comment sections, accusations are often made that a given individual or group is polluting the religion with personal political bias. This phenomenon is not specific to a particular position; invective is hurled from both ends of the political spectrum. From one side come cries of “SJW.” Given the ideologies of many who favor its usage, I long thought this stood for “Single Jewish Woman,” but it is actually used to accuse an opponent of being a “Social Justice Warrior.” Logically, this implies that the accuser is a “Social Injustice Defender,” but logic is not often strong in online confrontations. “Cultural Marxist” is another term popular with the same social set. I assumed it was used for people who demand free streaming music as a basic human right, but it refers to those who supposedly aim to destroy “Western culture” by promoting democracy, intellectualism and protection of minority rights – despite the fact that many would consider these to be bedrock ideals of “the West.” Ironically, those Heathens who decry multiculturalism are arguing for a society in which members of marginalized minority faiths like Ásatrú are denied their rights by members of majority faiths whose prejudices are pandered to by corporate candidates and corporate media. From the other side comes the No True Heathen fallacy, which asserts that no Heathen would subscribe to extremist philosophies such as “white nationalism” or conspiracy theories such as “white genocide.” When Heathens repeatedly pop up who promote these concepts, the boundaries of the assertion are reset to state that no true Heathen would hold these beliefs. This is parallel to the meme stating that members of ISIS are not true Muslims and that members of the KKK are not true Christians, despite the fact that ISIS clearly declares itself to be thoroughly Muslim and the KKK has long been rooted in Protestantism. Likewise, the intersection of Heathenry with extremist ideology has a lengthy and continuing history that has been well documented by academics. Declaring that agreement with liberal politics is the litmus test to be considered a “true believer” strangely puts progressives in the position of arguing for a reactionary notion of religious purity and identity policing. The one thing both sides agree on is that the other is injecting politics into religion, while they themselves are simply expressing the true spirit of Heathenry. Each accuses the other of hijacking Heathenry to promote their political views. However, the idea that religion and politics are somehow separable goes against Heathen history, mythology and theology. History Before the conversions to Christianity, variations of the term goði were used in the Nordic lands. The title, dating to the fifth century or earlier, referred to an individual who held dual secular and sacred roles, who was both chieftain and priest. The goðar (plural) in pagan Iceland traveled each year to the national Althing, the island’s version of the great assemblies that were known throughout the Germanic world. Throughout the north, these meetings ranged in size and jurisdiction from local to national as they straddled the sacred and the profane. Archaeological and written sources from the first century through the thirteenth attest to the sacred nature of the cultural institution that decided political, economic and legal matters. A third-century votive inscription on Hadrian’s Wall in England set up by Frisian auxiliaries in the Roman army refers to Mars Thingsus (Mars of the Thing), the god who presided over the assembly. The large annual assembly of the continental Saxons appears to have featured large-scale religious rituals. The ninth-century Life of Saint Lebuin , most likely written by a Saxon author, mentions that the meeting included prayer to pagan gods. Given this history, is it so odd that modern Heathen leaders who have appropriated the ancient title of goði speak on secular issues? The allsherjargoði (very roughly translated as “high priest”) of Iceland’s Ásatrúarfélagið (Ásatrú Fellowship) has spoken out in support of gay marriage rights in Iceland, which has drawn the ire of right-wing Heathens and the support of left-wing ones. The alsherjargothi (an Americanized spelling) of America’s Asatru Folk Assembly has publicly spoken out against Muslim immigrants in Germany, which has brought down the fury of left-wing Heathens and the cheers of right-wing ones. In both cases, supporters insist the leader they like is expressing the deepest ideals of the religion, and opponents declare that the leader they don’t like is perverting the religion for political ends. At root, this is a basic human inability to see faults in ourselves that we observe in others. This tendency tends to terminate any attempt at decent discussion by degenerating into denunciation and name-calling. I am not in any way suggesting a moral equivalency between the two leader’s positions or arguing that we should not speak out strongly against those who we believe promote troubling views. Instead, I am offering the idea that responses to statements such as these should move beyond what amount to accusations of heresy and demands for silencing that sometimes become what the media calls fatwas. Historical goðar were involved in both religious and political matters, and they arguably would not have made much distinction between the two spheres. Members of the community sometimes strongly disagreed with prominent people, just as they do now. If historical Heathens could argue issues at the assembly without calling for excommunication or declaring someone anathema for holding a political view they found distasteful, maybe we can likewise respond to opposing opinions without demanding that there should be no discussion allowed. Mythology Referring to mythological lore to support one’s political ideas has always been popular. The poems of the Poetic Edda provide problems for both sides of the political aisle, yet both happily quote them to shore up their positions. One oft-cited verse from Hávamál (“Sayings of the High One,” i.e. Odin) has been read in radically different ways. Away from his arms in the open field A man should fare not a foot; For never he knows when the need for a spear Shall arise on the distant road. Some Americans read the text fairly literally, arguing that it gives a Heathen stamp to the notion of gun ownership and carrying rights. Some Icelanders read it metaphorically, suggesting that it is a poetic image about being intellectually prepared for the struggles of life. The literalists argue that they are following what the text actually says, the liberals that they are finding what it really means. The argument between these two modes of reading religious texts is nothing new. Just ask your local rabbi. In the fourth century, the Christian bishop Gregory of Nyssa famously wrote on the difficulties of choosing between literal and allegorical readings. Interestingly, allêgoria posed a bit of a problem for early Christians, since the method was associated with the old pagan philosophy. In any case, both readings of the Hávamál verse owe more to modern cultural concepts than they do to ancient Heathen views. One side is justifying conservative American ideas of gun rights, the other is expressing liberal Icelandic ideas of intellectual life. Both use the same verse from the Old Icelandic literary heritage as a touchstone for their modern views. The poem Rígsþula (“Lay of Ríg,” a god usually taken to be Heimdall) causes some political problems for both right and left. It tells how the wandering god fathers the social classes of slaves, free farmers and nobles before tutoring Konr ungr (“young kin,” but a word-play on konungr, “king”) in the way of a ruler. Is this a religious or a political text? For those who argue against multiculturalism, the poem presents a god with a Celtic name in a narrative that – with its religious endorsement of a caste system and a descended god who teaches royal behavior – is closer to the sacred social structures of the ancient Hindu epics than it is to the Protestant work-ethic expressed in the Nine Noble Virtues. For those who champion progressive Heathenry, the poem shows that the gods gave social inequality to you. Rígsþula is awkward for both sides, but it clearly mixes the sacred and the social. Like those in so many other religious traditions, we pick and choose which parts of the lore to emphasize and which to minimize. Another poem that is problematic for all concerned is Hárbarðsljóð (“Song of Graybeard,” i.e. Odin), which features a verbal sparring match between Thor and a disguised Odin as they compare their accomplishments. One of the best-known moments is Graybeard’s taunt that “Odin owns the nobles who fall in battle \| and Thor owns the race of thralls.” The rugged individualist crowd is faced with a poem portraying Odin himself stating that class warfare continues into the Heathen afterlife. By rallying the slaves in Þrúðheim (“Home of Power”), is Thor acting like a Social Justice Warrior? By hosting them in his hall, is he providing public assistance to the poor? On the other hand, the progressive pagan crowd is faced with the inconvenient truth that the one thing the wise god and the protecting god agree on is that it would be fun to rape a young woman together. Somehow, this section of the poem doesn’t get publicly mentioned very often. The victim the gods discuss is a “linen-white girl,” which (if the internet was a logical place) should lead to protests and petitions against Thor and Odin by the far-right crowd that rants against Idris Elba playing Heimdall (“the whitest of the gods”) and thinks there’s an international conspiracy against white women. Even leaving an in-context interpretation of “white” aside, the fondness of the gods for rape is problematic for both sides. Should we pretend this poem never existed? Should we tell the gods to stop talking about hot-button political issues? Theology Contemporary Heathen theology also argues against the separation of religion and politics. To say that Heathenry is a “world-accepting” religion is to say that Heathens move in the world. Our focus is on the lived life, on the world around us as we move from the past through the present and into the future. If we disengage Heathen life from the wider world and insist that Heathen action only happens in religious contexts, then we are drawing a hard line between the sacred and secular much stronger than that in any ritual hallowing. If “Heathening” only means participating in and discussing ritual and belief, then it also means disengaging from the world – the very antithesis of “world-accepting.” Few seem to argue for any such extreme disengagement, but it is not uncommon to come across use of the Old Icelandic term for “within the yard” to state “not my innangarð, not my problem.” The Heathen mantra that “we are our deeds” asserts that what matters is what we do. Like the Hindu concept of dharma, the Heathen idea of right action defines the making of a good life. What is important in life is how we act in the world, not just how we behave while participating in blót. If Heathen ethics only affect our behavior around other Heathens, we imitate “Sunday Christians” by becoming “Sumbel Heathens,” and we imitate the “churchy” by becoming “kindredy.” It would be quite odd for members of a religion that seeks to reconstruct or reinvent practices of the wide-ranging wanderers of the Migration Period and the Viking Age to turn inwards to innangarð insularity. To say we have a “Heathen worldview” suggests that we see the world beyond our doorstep and take action within it. None of the above argues against the separation of church and state, which most of us agree is good policy, despite the fact that it owes more to the Enlightenment than to the Heathen Age. Rather, this article addresses how we address the interaction between the religious and political beliefs of both ourselves and those with whom we disagree. For Heathens, religion and politics are always already linked. By acknowledging that, maybe we can move beyond the childish name-calling and purity inquisitions to discuss the issues and challenges of living in the world today – and how we can each take action that is consistent with our own diverse Heathen worldviews.A declaration of war is a formal act by which one state goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act (or the signing of a document) by an authorized party of a national government, in order to create a state of war between two or more states. The legality of who is competent to declare war varies between nations and forms of government. In many nations, that power is given to the head of state or sovereign. In other cases, something short of a full declaration of war, such as a letter of marque or a covert operation, may authorise war-like acts by privateers or mercenaries. The official international protocol for declaring war was defined in the Hague Convention (III) of 1907 on the Opening of Hostilities. Since 1945, developments in international law such as the United Nations Charter, which prohibits both the threat and the use of force in international conflicts, have made declarations of war largely obsolete in international relations.[1] Few nations have formally declared war upon another since then. In addition to this, non-state or terrorist organizations may claim to or be described as "declaring war" when engaging in violent acts.[2][3] These declarations may have no legal standing in themselves, but they may still act as a call to arms for supporters of these organizations. Definitions [ edit ] Theoretical perspectives [ edit ] A definition of the three ways of thinking about a declaration of war was developed by Saikrishna Prakash.[4] He argues that a declaration of war can be seen from three perspectives: Categorical theory, under which the power to declare war includes "the power to control all decisions to enter war". This means that the power to 'declare war' in effect rests with the ability to engage in combat. , under which the power to declare war includes "the power to control all decisions to enter war". This means that the power to 'declare war' in effect rests with the ability to engage in combat. Pragmatic theory, which states that the power to declare war can be made unnecessary by an act of war in itself. , which states that the power to declare war can be made unnecessary by an act of war in itself. Formalist theory, under which the power to declare war constitutes only a formal documentation of executive war-making decisions. This sits closest to traditional legal conceptions of what it is to declare a war.[5] Types of declarations [ edit ] An alternative typology based upon the form of the declaration is formulated by Brien Hallett [6] according to 1) the degree to which the state and condition of war exists, 2) the degree of justification, 3) the degree of ceremony of the speech act, and 4) the degree of perfection of the speech act: Degree of existence of the war A conditional declaration of war declares war conditionally, threatening war if the grievances listed are not acknowledged and the preferred remedies demanded are not accepted. of war declares war conditionally, threatening war if the grievances listed are not acknowledged and the preferred remedies demanded are not accepted. An absolute declaration of war declares war absolutely due to the failure of negotiations over the grievances and remedies found in the conditional declaration. It ends absolutely the state and condition of peace, replacing it with the state and condition of war until such time as peace is restored. Degree of justification of the war A reasoned declaration of war justifies the resort to war by stating the grievances that have made peace intolerable and the remedies that will restore peace. of war justifies the resort to war by stating the grievances that have made peace intolerable and the remedies that will restore peace. An unreasoned declaration of war does not justify the resort to war, or does so only minimally. Degree of ceremony with which the speech act was made A formal or solemn declaration of war is a declaration made by the constitutionally recognized nation following the appropriate laws, rites and rituals. of war is a declaration made by the constitutionally recognized nation following the appropriate laws, rites and rituals. An informal or unsolemn declaration of war is a declaration made in an irregular manner either by a constitutionally unrecognized nation or by the constitutionally recognized nation using unlawful, inappropriate procedures. Degree of perfection with which the speech act was made A perfect declaration of war is a formal, solemn speech act made in accordance with the proper laws, rites, and rituals. of war is a formal, solemn speech act made in accordance with the proper laws, rites, and rituals. An imperfect declaration of war is an informal, unsolemn speech act not made in accordance with the proper laws, rites and rituals. History [ edit ] The practice of declaring war has a long history. The ancient Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh gives an account of it,[7] as does the Old Testament.[8][9] However, the practice of declaring war was not always strictly followed. In his study Hostilities without Declaration of War (1883), the British scholar John Frederick Maurice showed that between 1700 and 1870 war was declared in only 10 cases, while in another 107 cases war was waged without such declaration (these figures include only wars waged in Europe and between European states and the United States, not including colonial wars in Africa and Asia). In modern public international law, a declaration of war entails the recognition between countries of a state of hostilities between these countries, and such declaration has acted to regulate the conduct between the military engagements between the forces of the respective countries. The primary multilateral treaties governing such declarations are the Hague Conventions. The League of Nations, formed in 1919 in the wake of the First World War, and the General Treaty for the Renunciation of War of 1928 signed in Paris, France, demonstrated that world powers were seriously seeking a means to prevent the carnage of another world war. Nevertheless, these powers were unable to stop the outbreak of the Second World War, so the United Nations (UN) was established following that war in a renewed attempt to prevent international aggression through declarations of war. Denigration of formal declarations of war before WWII [ edit ] In classical times, Thucydides condemned the Thebans, allies of Sparta, for launching a surprise attack without a declaration of war against Plataea, Athens' ally – an event that began the Peloponnesian War.[10] The utility of formal declarations of war has always been questioned, either as sentimental remnants of a long-gone age of chivalry or as imprudent warnings to the enemy. For example, writing in 1737, Cornelius van Bynkershoek judged that "nations and princes endowed with some pride are not generally willing to wage war without a previous declaration, for they wish by an open attack to render victory more honourable and glorious."[11] Writing in 1880, William Edward Hall judged that "any sort of previous declaration therefore is an empty formality unless the enemy must be given time and opportunity to put himself in a state of defence, and it is needless to say that no one asserts such a quixotism to be obligatory."[12] Agreed Procedure for the Opening of Hostilities according to the Hague Convention [ edit ] The Hague Convention (III) of 1907 called "Convention Relative to the Opening of Hostilities"[13] gives the international actions a country should perform when opening hostilities. The first two Articles say: Article 1 [ edit ] The Contracting Powers recognize that hostilities between themselves must not commence without previous and explicit warning, in the form either of a reasoned declaration of war or of an ultimatum with conditional declaration of war.[14] Article 2 [ edit ] The existence of a state of war must be notified to the neutral Powers without delay, and shall not take effect in regard to them until after the receipt of a notification, which may, however, be given by telegraph. Neutral Powers, nevertheless, cannot rely on the absence of notification if it is clearly established that they were in fact aware of the existence of a state of war.[15] Formal declarations of war during World War I [ edit ] Formal declarations of war during World War II [ edit ] After World War II [ edit ] In 1989, Panama declared itself to be in a state of war with the United States.[16] On 13 May 1998, at the outbreak of the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, Ethiopia, in what Eritrean radio described as a "total war" policy, mobilized its forces for a full assault against Eritrea.[17] The Claims Commission found that this was in essence an affirmation of the existence of a state of war between belligerents, not a declaration of war, and that Ethiopia also notified the United Nations Security Council, as required under Article 51 of the UN Charter.[18] In December 2005, the government of Chad declared that a state of war existed with Sudan, after Sudan hosted Chadian rebel groups that were behind fatal cross border raids.[19] In 2008, after armed clashes broke out during the Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict, Djibouti's President Guelleh, when asked if his country was at war with Eritrea, replied with "absolutely".[20] On 11 April 2012, Sudan declared war on South Sudan after weeks of border clashes.[21] Declared wars since 1945 [ edit ] Declarations of war, while uncommon in the traditional sense, have mainly been limited to the conflict areas of the Western Asia and East Africa since 1945. Additionally, some small states have unilaterally declared war on major world powers such as the United States, United Kingdom, or Russia when faced with a hostile invasion and/or occupation. This is a list of declarations of war (or the existence of war) by one sovereign state against another since the end of World War II in 1945. Only declarations that occurred in the context of a direct military conflict are included. Legality of declarations of war since 1945 [ edit ] The United Nations Charter is the foundation of modern international law.[30] The UN Charter is a treaty ratified by members of the UN, which are therefore legally bound by its terms. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter generally bans the use of force by states except when carefully circumscribed conditions are met, stating: All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.[31] This rule was "enshrined in the United Nations Charter in 1945 for a good reason: to prevent states from using force as they felt so inclined", said Louise Doswald-Beck, Secretary-General International Commission of Jurists.[32] Therefore, in the absence of an armed attack against a country or its allies, any legal use of force, or any legal threat of the use of force, has to be supported by a United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing member states to use force. United Nations and war [ edit ] In an effort to force nations to resolve issues without warfare, framers of the United Nations Charter attempted to commit member nations to using warfare only under limited circumstances, particularly for defensive purposes. The UN became a combatant itself after North Korea invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950, which begun the Korean War. The UN Security Council condemned the North Korean action by a 9–0 resolution (with the Soviet Union absent) and called upon its member nations to come to the aid of South Korea. The United States and 15 other nations formed a "UN force" to pursue this action. In a press conference on 29 June 1950, U.S. President Harry S. Truman characterized these hostilities as not being a "war" but a "police action".[33] The United Nations has issued Security Council Resolutions that declared some wars to be legal actions under international law, most notably Resolution 678, authorizing the 1991 Gulf War which was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. UN Resolutions authorise the use of "force" or "all necessary means".[34][35] Requirements by country [ edit ] Commonwealth realms [ edit ] Throughout the Commonwealth realms (the UK, Australia, Canada, et al.) the formal right to declare war rests with the monarch, currently Elizabeth II, as part of the royal prerogative and exercised by the Prime Minister (for example in the UK) or that realm's written constitution. In the United Kingdom parliamentary approval is often sought to deploy combat forces overseas, for example in the Iraq War and airstrikes on Daesh (ISIL), but this is not a legal requirement. Finland [ edit ] According to article 93 of the Finnish constitution, the President of Finland may declare war, or declare peace, with permission from the Parliament of Finland.[36] France [ edit ] According to Article 35 of the French constitution, the French Parliament has the authority to declare war. [37] Germany [ edit ] Article 115a says that unless attacked by an opposing military force, Germany must vote a two-thirds majority vote in the Bundestag if the federal republic is under the threat of war.[38] Ireland [ edit ] Article 28.3.1° of the Constitution of Ireland states that "war shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann." Ireland has taken a policy of non-alignment (what many confuse with neutrality see: Irish Neutrality) in military terms and is thus not a member of NATO. Italy [ edit ] According to the 11° article of the Italian Constitution, Italy rejects war as an instrument of aggression.[39] Parliament has the power to declare war if it is it necessary to create an order that ensures peace and justice among Nations;[40] the most reliable authors exclude that among the circumstances in which it can be declared the state of war under Article 78 of the Constitution may be included also the state of internal civil war.[41] Japan [ edit ] According to Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, war is unconstitutional. This article within the Constitution of Japan was intended to prevent the country from being needlessly aggressive in multinational affairs after World War II. Mexico [ edit ] According to Article 89 § VIII of the Mexican Constitution the President may declare war in the name of the United Mexican States after the correspondent law is enacted by the Congress of the Union.[42] Spain [ edit ] According to the Spanish constitution of 1978, Art. 63, the King, with prior authorization by the Parliament, has the power to declare war and make peace. Sweden [ edit ] According to 2010:1408 15 kap. 14 § entitled "Krigsförklaring" (declaration of war) the Swedish cabinet (regeringen) may not declare Sweden to be at war without the parliaments (riksdagen) consent unless Sweden is first attacked.[43] United States [ edit ] In the United States, Congress, which makes the rules for the military, has the power under the constitution to "declare war". However neither the U.S. Constitution nor any Act of Congress stipulate what format a declaration of war must take. War declarations have the force of law and are intended to be executed by the President as "commander in chief" of the armed forces. The last time Congress passed joint resolutions saying that a "state of war" existed was on June 5, 1942, when the U.S. declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.[44] Since then, the US has used the term "authorization to use military force", as in the case against Iraq in 2003. Sometimes decisions for military engagements were made by US presidents, without formal approval by Congress, based on UN Security Council resolutions that do not expressly declare the UN or its members to be at war. Part of the justification for the United States invasion of Panama was to capture Manuel Noriega (as a prisoner of war)[45] because he was declared a criminal rather than a belligerent.[citation needed] In response to the September 11 attacks, the United States Congress passed the joint resolution Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists on September 14, 2001, which authorized the US President to fight the War on Terror.[46] See also [ edit ]Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell and her Democratic opponent Chris Coons met tonight for their first candidate forum. And of course, O’Donnell tried to clear the air and dispel the negative scrutiny of
Prince) as Yūko Kamishiro Ayumu Murase (Chaika - The Coffin Princess Avenging Battle, Haikyu!!) as the mysterious boy The game's story will follow either a female or male protagonist, depending on the player's choice. When strange phenomena begin occurring, the protagonist becomes a "Cybersleuth," and searches for the truth behind the mysteries along with his or her Digimon and their other human allies, Arata Sanada and Nokia Shiromine. Media Vision is developing the game and Masafumi Takada (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc) is composing the music. As with the Digimon World Re:Digitize PSP game and its 3DS port Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode, artist and manga creator Suzuhito Yasuda (Durarara!, Yozakura Quartet, Kamisama Kazoku) will once again provide the character designs for the game. Manga artist Oh! great (Air Gear, Tenjho Tenge) will also design a monster for the game. The game will involve an active turn-based battle system featuring combo attacks using multiple Digimon along with unique specialty attacks. The main character will have the “Connect Jump” ability, a power he/she obtained during an accident which allows him/her to travel to and from the local server of the digital world. After diving into the network dungeon which normal users cannot access, the player is able to hack through dense security by collecting Digimon. The game will ship in Japan on March 12.A woman from Elliot Lake, Ont. has filed a $1 billion class-action lawsuit against Loblaw Companies Ltd. after the company revealed it participated in industry-wide price-fixing of bread for 14 years. Irene Breckon, a senior citizen and anti-poverty activist, is the lead plaintiff in the case on behalf of all Canadians who purchased bread at the grocery chain's stores beginning in January 2001. Breckon is being represented by Toronto-based law firm Sotos LLP. The suit also names George Weston Ltd., Canada Bread Company and Walmart Canada Corp. among the defendants. "I'm very involved with many, many people who have very little," Breckon said in an interview with CBC News. "They don't have money for the basics, and then when you find out that these large corporations are cheating us, it's just wrong." She says she remembers paying up to $3.18 per loaf bread and speculates that the companies made more than $1 billion from the inflated pricing. "A dollar a loaf of bread for 14 years — that's a lot of money." On Tuesday, George Weston and Loblaw revealed their participation in the price-fixing arrangement. They were granted immunity by the Competition Bureau, which is now investigating at least seven other companies. Loblaw has since offered a $25 gift card as an apology to customers. Breckon says the gift card doesn't make up for the money she and other people have lost. "When I heard about the Loblaw card I thought, '$25, that's nothing! Compared to the what they've overcharged me over 14 years.'" The statement of claim for the class action can be found online on the Sotos LLP website. In order for the class-action lawsuit to proceed, it will have to be certified by a judge.Let me be clear. Given my experience of, you know, existing as a woman here on earth, I’ve never been under any other impression about the fact that women, their bodies, experiences, and sexuality are always and constantly up for grabs, and usually, not by us. Our sexual existence gets swallowed up, appropriated, and spat back out in a twisted version of some bullshit fantasy cum shame prose cum evolutionary psychology – oxytocin attachment-slut shaming bullshit. I myself have even had a few sips of this Kool-Aid. Add this to the logic of many of the Reddit users who, like Violentacrez, believe that having a female body in public is enough to damn you to a vicious consumption, whether consensual or not. In most of these cases, it’s the usually not. Kira Cochrane, who recently penned the piece, Creepshots and revenge porn: how paparazzi culture affects women, writes, “What unites creepshots, the Middleton photographs, the revenge porn websites, is that they all feature the same fetishisation of non-consensual sexual activity with women who either you don’t have any access to, or have been denied future access to. And it’s really this product of rage and entitlement.” It only hammers home the point that having a female-identified body in the culture we live in means that technically, by these laws, your body is not your own. Existing guarantees hardship. Talking about it guarantees more. But as someone who has slowly but surely put more of their self into the public world – whether talking about sex or performing about sex, I can’t say that my stomach didn’t drop considerably over the idea of images of women, whether consensual or not, up for grabs on the Internet, hanging around in jpeg files, waiting to be unleashed in a world that is unrepentant and unforgiving of any independent display of sexuality. My stomach sinks for the first time thinking about all the photos I’ve ever taken, and more importantly, all the photos I’ve ever had taken, while casually hanging out in a thong and pasties. It was an internalized shame that I haven’t felt since a whole sexual assault ago. Where was this sick feeling coming from? I’ve had guys come up for a photo, which is fine. But sometimes, these guys want 3, 5, no 15 more photos, and each time, a hand moves where I don’t want it to, they get a little closer, and someone screams, “Show me your tits!” I become a person not posing for a photo, but a thing studied and documented, groped and grabbed. I’ve had moments when men have started taking photos of me and ended up trying to take them of my crotch or attempting angles that would somehow unearth other strategically covered places. I’ve had moments when I’ve shoved guys off me for grabbing me on my breasts the second before the camera goes off, guys trailing me, demanding another photo, crying, “Why are you being an uppity bitch. I just want another photo of you.” It’s a behavior that only cements the entitlement of creep shots and the exploitation of young, underage women like Amanda Todd and Amber Cole. Add to this racialized differences and how these cases are covered by media outlets, and you recognize even more damaging stereotypes about visible sexuality in young women and who gets to be a victim and who gets to be gossip fodder, the girl with the branded scarlet A. Everything is fair game, it seems. So that sickly feeling? It’s the same sickly feeling I get when I have some dude saunter over to me, with a shit-eating grin on his face, and the first words to me are, “Oh, so you’re the stripper.” Let me be clear: I’m not mad you think / know / assume / found out / are trying to insult me or whatever. I know who my foremothers are, and frankly, I think making a dig at me in that way is enough of a compliment to reward myself by buying a new pair of shoes. No, when someone poses that question, or really, the statement, it’s the way that something like that is said, the under-text of what it actually means – and I know exactly the way you mean it. I know what you are implying by the way you look at me or my peers, the way you say it to me, and the way you use your body to exert yourself over me, as if I was to be simultaneously intimidated, shamed, and charmed. The way the hate and superiority rolls off the tongue. It’s not about sex. It’s about a person thinking they have found the absolute worst thing to use against you: your sexuality, remixed. Watch some people throw the word “stripper” around or how they react around half-naked women doing entertaining things for pleasure or money and you will watch a social exercise in how much work we actually need to do to undo the way people perceive women’s sexual lives. By the way, gentlemen who do that, I can spot you a mile away and please be aware I will have no mercy. But it always comes back to this: sexual behavior, especially if it has gone public, is a marker, an indicator, and above all, a cemented free pass for everyone around you to righteously judge and shame. It must be policed, it must be judged, it must be used to make examples, not to accept lived realities. The logic moves as follows: if you are a woman just out in the world, you should expect photos you did not consent to ending up on a thread called “Creepshots: upskirts and little sluts.” If you are a woman of color, you are fetishized, a complex person whose sexuality that has been packaged and advertised as hyper or submissive, but always ready to serve someone’s narrow world view. If you are fourteen and taking photos of yourself, then you should have known better, you should have expected in your teenage mind that you would and should be demonized across grown adults twitters feeds and blogs. If you do not meet the quota of what normalized views of “attractive” are, then your body is subjected to a different type of sexualized shame, one that usually combines a demand that you at once hate yourself, and be grateful for the often degrading attention you receive. If you are a woman who takes her clothes off for money, value, or fun, then you are everything that everyone hates because you are breaking the rules and need, no should,and deserve, to be punished. In every aspect. By the nature of rape culture, I am indeed, asking for it. Which brings me to the presumption I would love to finally destroy: the nature of when you are asking for it. The idea that there is even a choice to me is null and void, because in the current world that we live in, it seems like we are just always asking for it, right? One of the first questions I always get when I tell people what I do is, “Don’t you get harassed?”And the answer is yes, but not nearly as often as I am harassed when I am fully clothed and minding my own business. The entitlement works the same, it just changes by the context. But is there a difference in intention between the man on the street who follows you and yells at you and the guy who demands you take one more photo? Is there a difference between the man who, after you rebuff his advances, calls you a whore, a slut and an uppity bitch and the man who walks straight up to you and expects his dick to get sucked because you happen to be wearing a bedazzled thong? Is there a difference between a man who thinks that one type of woman should be respected and another type should not, if that difference comes by the idea of what he considers is acceptable sexual behavior for women? Realistically, I am a woman who is taking my clothes off on a stage and I know the novelty and subversiveness of that in this current cultural period. That’s why I do it. Do you know how freeing that can be? The joy that can be experienced? Plus, it’s not always the photos themselves that I find myself waking up at three in the morning worrying about. It’s the idea of what those photos can mean outside the context of the realm I inhabit – how it puts me at risk for future endeavors. I would be lying if I didn’t say that part of me doesn’t live in a risk-management scenario, one where the worst-case scenarios always comes forward and inspires anxiety attacks. The what if’s and maybe’s regarding the future are bad enough without the fear of wondering if they will not understand or accept this. Will or will they not think I am capable of having a job? Will or will they not prove themselves to be beyond a certain way of trained thought that instantly compartmentalizes the behavior of women? And why don’t we live in that world yet? I ask myself consistently why we do not live in a world where women can talk about sex openly, be sexual beings and still be viewed as whole, complete people and not live in fear of losing your job like Tiffany Webb, run fleeing from what you enjoyed like Rebecca Watson, be marginalized for professionalizing it, or carry the burden of being vilified by adults at thirteen or fourteen. Is there a world where you don’t have to expect to end up on forum chains like Chokeabitch, Rapebait, and Jailbait? What will it take to get to that world where women can talk openly and without judgement about sex, whether it’s pleasure, pain, commodification, violence, transaction, or imposed distance? It is an emotional labor that can be taxing, to live with the idea that your body, however you present it, will at some point be consumed beyond your control. I like to remind myself that at the end of the day, the joy will always hopefully outweigh the things that are set to destroy the hearts and minds of women. These are the things that remind me that yes, we do live in a culture that demands women live up to a certain role and when you finally do or don’t, you will be punished either way. Which way do you want to be punished? For doing what your heart desires? Or for doing what you thought would keep you safe and didn’t? Did you even have a choice to begin with? Did any of us ever have a choice?Media playback is not supported on this device Rio 2016 Olympics: Djokovic in tears after defeat Olympic Games on the BBC Hosts: Rio de Janeiro Dates: 5-21 August Rio time: BST -4 Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, Red Button and up to 24 HD video streams on mobile, desktop, connected TVs and app, plus follow on Radio 5 live and via live text commentary. Top seed Novak Djokovic was beaten in the first round of the Olympic men's singles by Juan Martin del Potro. The Serb, who lost to Del Potro in the bronze-medal play-off at London 2012, was again overpowered by the Argentine, who won 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2). The world number one, 29, was in tears as he left the court after the match, which lasted two and a half hours. "This is one of the toughest losses in my career," said Djokovic, who was trying to win his first Olympic title. Djokovic became the first man for 47 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles by winning the French Open in June. He suffered a shock third-round loss to American Sam Querrey at Wimbledon but won his 30th Masters title in Toronto last week. "It's not easy to handle, especially now, just after the wounds are still fresh," he added after failing to improve on the bronze he won at the 2008 Olympics. "But you have to deal with it. It's not the first or the last time that I have lost a tennis match. But the Olympic Games, yeah, it's completely different." Del Potro will face Portugal's Joao Sousa in the second round on Monday. The 27-year-old, a former US Open winner, has dropped to 141st in the world after two years of injury problems but did not face a single break point on his serve against the 12-time Grand Slam champion. "It was a wonderful evening from the beginning," said Del Potro. "After all the effort I've put in to get back to playing tennis, I've defeated the number one. It was a dream night." Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.Literature In his eyes Ch1 The sun was low in the sky when he finished packing his things. He looked out over the terrain as the sun finished vanishing over the horizon. Those last few seconds where blinding, but worth it as the vibrant colours started to emerge and dance on the clouds. Nothing compared to her beauty He thought to himself. It had been over a year now since he last saw her, and he would bet that he was just a shadow in her memory now. He wrote to his cousin, always trying to subtly ask about her friends leaving the object of his affection until last, to seem less obvious. He knew of her what his cousin told him, it seemed that of all her friends they where the most at odds. He remembered the first letter he had received from his cousin when she first came to the settlement. She wrote of a mare who would whine the whole time and complain about the dirt and the lack of anything 'civil'. At the time he scoffedCall it the baby bust. Even as the world’s population surpasses 7 billion, some countries are facing significant population declines. Mary Brinton’s new research indicates that a complex clash between countries’ gender norms and changing economic realities could explain why, in many developed nations, fewer women are having children. “In global terms, we could think, ‘Well, low fertility is a great thing for the maintenance of the planet,’” Brinton, Reischauer Institute Professor of Sociology and chair of the Sociology Department, told an audience at Harvard Kennedy School Sept. 13. “But for individual countries, it’s definitely … regarded as a problem that needs to be addressed.” The presentation, sponsored by the Women and Public Policy Program’s weekly lunchtime seminar series, highlighted research from a working paper by Brinton and Dong Ju Lee, a graduate student in sociology at Harvard. The work is part of the Project on Gender Equity and Low Fertility, a year-old initiative funded by the National Science Foundation that Brinton is running, along with collaborators in Spain, Japan, and Sweden. Many countries in Southern Europe and East Asia now have a birthrate — the number of children born to each woman, on average — below 1.5, a ratio well below what is needed to ensure steady population replacement from one generation to the next. (Most experts put that figure at 2.1, to account for some infant mortality.) The implications of a rapidly aging population — growing health care costs, increasing burdens on the younger, working-age population — are enough to keep “policymakers in East Asia and Southern Europe awake at night,” Brinton said. And while an influx of immigrants can help to keep populations from shrinking, some researchers and policymakers are turning their attention to finding other ways to boost birthrates. Demographers call the phenomenon “lowest-low fertility,” and over the past two decades more and more postindustrial countries have found themselves facing it. The puzzle for Brinton and other researchers lies in the fact that traditionally family-oriented societies, such as Italy and Japan, aren’t immune to the problem — in fact, they appear to be slightly more prone to low birthrates than their more progressive neighbors. “The countries that are suffering from the very lowest fertility are not the countries that have the highest percentages of married women in the labor force,” Brinton said, although that tended to be true in the past. “Instead, the countries that have a high rate of female labor force participation among married women tend to have slightly higher fertility.” To learn why that might be, Brinton and Lee studied existing survey data provided by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development from 24 postindustrial countries that gauged men’s and women’s attitudes toward gender roles in the home and the workplace. In countries with more conservative respondents (those who viewed men as breadwinners and women as primary caregivers), Brinton and Lee found, birthrates were lower. However, countries whose citizens tended to hold strictly egalitarian views — who believed that all men and women should work outside the home, for instance, or that being a housewife is not a fulfilling role — also had lower birthrates. Societies that tend to have steady birthrates appear to be those with flexible attitudes toward women’s roles in the home and the workplace, which “allows people to do family in various ways,” Brinton said. The United States and Great Britain both fall into that category, according to the data. That flexibility is increasingly important in today’s economy, Brinton said. In countries where women cannot easily exit and reenter the workforce, having children may seem like an untenable burden for a woman who values her career. As many postindustrial societies face economic slumps, the pressure on men in conservative-minded, “male breadwinner” countries is compounded. Young men wait to start families until they can provide for them, which in countries such as Japan and Italy has resulted in delaying the average age of marriage and thus of childbirth for both men and women. “We don’t think it’s all about the economy,” Brinton said. “We think there’s this mixed explanation that’s based on the dominant norms of a society about men’s and women’s roles, labor market structure, and the [country’s] economic conditions.” For the next stage of the project, Brinton and her graduate students will look at how the attitudes measured in the gender surveys have changed over time. They’re also conducting in-depth interviews with young women and men in the countries they’ve surveyed, to try to capture more nuanced attitudes on questions of gender roles in the home and the workplace — and how those might be tied to their views on having children. “The texture of people’s lives, how they’re making decisions, and how they feel judged by other people for those decisions, and how they feel about themselves — whether they’re being a ‘bad mom’ or a ‘bad father’ — those are all important,” Brinton said. “We only know anecdotally about those things. I think we can do better than anecdotes.”9 Important Tips to Avoid a Tax Audit in 2014 Summary: In 2012 about 1.5 million Americans were audited by the IRS, the number although fluctuates a bit year-by-year, remains around this number. Many of those who got audited were chosen based on simple mistakes that could have been avoided. Knowing why the IRS audits and whom they audit will help you understand your risk and prevent you from getting audited as well. One thing to consider when preparing for tax season is to avoid rounding number and estimating. The IRS checks and checks to make sure all the figures add up in a sensible fashion. Even if you do provide exact numbers, taking the time to double-checking your math will go a long way. Furthermore, when filling out your tax papers, making sure you fill out each line appropriately and accurately. Although filling out the papers can be time consuming and tedious, taking care to not miss information such as your social security number, and correct address will make sure to not raise the IRS red flags. Moreover, keeping track of records more than just simple receipts will make sure you can provide proof for any claims and clear up and miscommunications or mistakes that may be made during the tax process. Keeping note of bank transfers and other transactions involving money will be highly effective. Remember if you are self-employed and not filing a corporate tax return it is important to keep extra precaution, as they are 10 times more likely to be audited. Self-tax preparation can heighten your chances of getting audited so getting your taxes done by a tax preparer is another great way to avoid getting audited. Original Article: 9 Tips to Avoid a Tax Audit Last year, about 1 percent of 143 million tax returns were audited by the Internal Revenue Service. Put another way, that is nearly 1.5 million Americans who had to endure what the IRS more politely calls an "examination." 1. Know your risk You want to be able to document every deduction and keep that proof for at least three years from your filing date. Certain ZIP codes, like those in higher-income neighborhoods, have a higher audit rate, says tax attorney Frederick W. Daily, author of five tax-related books, including Stand Up to the IRS. Self-employed workers also tend to get a red flag, especially when they claim a business operating loss "of any size," says Daily. Also on the IRS's radar: those whose overall deductions approach 50 percent of their reported gross income. 2. Avoid round numbers A tax return with lots of round numbers — $1,200 in travel expenses or $1,500 in charitable contributions — suggests that you're just estimating those claims, "and the IRS loves to go after people who don't keep good records," says Daily. "You don't need to include cents, but use the closest accurate dollar amounts, such as $1,260 or $1,525. 3. Explain on paper what you can't with e-filing Do-it-yourself tax preparation software makes for easier and more accurate tax return preparation. But you can get into trouble if you file electronically with software that has no capability to include disclosure statements. You should include such explanations "whenever there's something unusual in your return," says Eva Rosenberg, who is an accountant and an "enrolled agent," a person authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS. If you use a software program, Rosenberg suggests not using its e-filing feature if there's anything that might leave an IRS officer wondering. "Print out your return and attach an explanation statement and mail it in," she says. A new feature this year: "You will able to include PDF attachments with certain forms. Ask if your software supports this."In many cases, a type-written note will suffice to explain such red-flag issues as losses for a small business, a high mortgage-interest deduction or a home office deduction for a regular W-2 employee. In other cases, you'll be able to attach signed documents related to charitable contributions or dependents. 4. Double-check your math It's no surprise that sloppy arithmetic on a paper return can flag an audit. "People list correct numbers but on the wrong line," says Rosenberg. So make sure sums are not only correct but in the correct place. 5. Mind each line Don't forget the easy stuff — your Social Security number, address and signature. "It's a myth that if you fail to sign your return, you will automatically be audited," she says. "The IRS will simply send it back for your signature. But if you repeatedly forget to sign and the IRS believes this is a deliberate pattern, you could face fraud penalties, and unwanted attention on your future returns." 6. Don't claim to be "too generous" The IRS knows that many taxpayers are extraordinarily generous, at least in the charitable contributions they declare. Claims of giving, say, 10 percent of income may trigger attention, as the norm is about 2 percent. So if you're a self-described philanthropist, be prepared to back up claims with written proof. As you give, collect letters or receipts from charities, both for monetary and in-kind donations — especially those over $250. "When you donate to Goodwill, it's no longer enough to leave a bag of clothing outside the door," says H&R Block master tax adviser Elaine Smith. "You need a receipt." For a big item such as a donated car, you used to be able to deduct fair market value, no matter what the charity did with the car. Now you can claim that amount only if the charity uses the car. If it's sold at auction, you can only deduct the usually much lower price that the car actually commanded. Your receipt should specify what happened to the car, and, if it was sold, for how much. And you should have detailed paperwork on any car donation worth $500 or more. 7. Keep records beyond receipts If audited, you might need to demonstrate that a restaurant receipt actually represents dinner with a potential client, not a night on the town with your spouse. "Receipts don't talk," says Daily, so jot down notes as you go along and keep records. "It can be nothing more than 'dinner with John Smith, prospective sales client,' " he says. But such a log will add credibility to your claim. It's unlikely the IRS will contact your dinner partner, unless there's suspected fraud. 8. Self-employed? Consider incorporating The self-employed who file a Schedule C rather than a corporate return are reportedly 10 times more likely to be audited. "One way to lower that risk is to have an entity, such as an LLC [limited liability company], or any other kind where you can file with a different tax ID number," Daily says. 9. Track your bank transfers If your return is flagged, the auditor will run a total of all the deposits in your bank accounts. "If you move a lot of money between different accounts, it could appear as though you have three or four times more money than you really do," Rosenberg says. Be prepared to document these transfers carefully to show that a deposit doesn't necessarily equal new income. Not having such proof causes "more trouble in audits than any other issue," she says. What triggers an audit? A return can be flagged randomly in an IRS study of the behavior of similar taxpayers, such as those in the same profession. But more often, audits result from: Document mismatches: This includes the income you report not jibing with figures in W-2s, 1099s and other statements. A high DIF score: A top-secret IRS computer program, the Discriminant Inventory Function System, assigns a score to each individual return. "For instance, DIF compares your auto deductions with others in the same profession, your income in relation to others in your ZIP code," says Daily. The further your amounts are outside the averages, the higher your DIF and chance of audit. High income: If you make under $200,000 a year, your chances of an audit are about 1 percent. But based on 2012 audits, the risk approaches 4 percent among people making $200,000 to $1 million and is over 12 percent for those earning more than $1 million. Source: http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-03-2013/9-tips-to-avoid-tax-audit.html Disclaimer: This article was shared for informational purposes only. National Tax Relief is not responsible for any claims, advice or errors that might exist in the articles. Third party websites or analyses presented.The telematics box fitted to your car records how you drive. It will measure how smoothly you drive by looking at your acceleration, braking and speed. It also measures when you drive and how long you go without taking a break. To ‘drive like a girl’ and earn the maximum Reward Points you need to: Drive smoothly and generally avoid rapid acceleration and harsh braking, unless it is an emergency Drive at a speed appropriate for the road you are on Avoid regular driving at night, especially between the times of 11pm and 4am Take breaks on long journeys. You can keep track of how safely you’re driving by logging in to Your Portal. What to avoid Harsh acceleration and braking We have all seen the stereotype “boy racer”. They might speed right up to your bumper and almost ram into your car when you stop. They might pull alongside you at the traffic lights, revving their engine and roaring off the second the lights change. They might overtake you on a blind bend or refuse to wait for a safe gap to turn right. Their normal driving style is jerky, including rapid acceleration and heavy braking. If you consistently drive like this with drive like a girl you won’t get a discount and your renewal premium will go up. Drive like a girl drivers consider hazards around them and leave plenty of space between them and the car in front. They drive with patience and a sensible consideration of the road. Their driving style will be smooth. Please note that emergency stops will NOT affect how many Reward Points you earn – we are looking for your normal, everyday driving style. Excessive Speed Driving too fast for the road you are on will reduce the number of Reward Points you earn, affect your renewal premium and could lead to the cancellation of your policy. For further information please refer to your Private Car Policy Document. Night driving Statistically, more serious accidents happen at night. We won’t penalise you for driving at night providing you drive at a speed which is safe for the road and the conditions you are travelling in. However, if you do speed between the hours of 11pm and 4am this will seriously reduce how many Reward Points you earn. Driving without a break on long journeys Tiredness is one of the biggest causes of accidents, so make sure you take regular breaks. Don’t drive for longer than 2.5 hours at a time and take a break for at least 20 minutes.Tasmania backs the devil as the state emblem despite endangered status Posted The endangered Tasmanian Devil has been chosen as the state's official animal emblem. Governor Kate Warner announced the decision — made public on Sunday — at a government meeting held late last week. Until now, Tasmania was the only state without an animal emblem. Queensland's animal emblem is the koala, New South Wales' is the platypus, Victoria's is the leadbeater's possum, South Australia's is the southern hairy-nosed wombat and Western Australia's is the numbat. The Australian Capital Territory does not have an official animal emblem, though its bird emblem is the gang-gang cockatoo. Surprisingly, the animal emblem of the Northern Territory is not the crocodile, but the red kangaroo. The Government took public submissions to decide which animal should be given the honour. Minister for the Environment Matthew Groom said the Government had considered all of the public submissions received through the consultation period and that the Tasmanian Devil overwhelmingly had the most public support. "Declaring a formal animal emblem provides us with an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and promote our unique native fauna, particularly the Tasmanian Devil," he said. It is hoped the animal's new status will raise international awareness of facial tumour disease, which is threatening the species. It is estimated 90 per cent of the wild devil population has been wiped out by the infectious devil facial tumour disease. Last year the danger of extinction was lessened by a successful national breeding program that resulted in 600 devils in sustainable insurance populations spread across 31 zoos. "While the insurance population program has been a resounding success we must continue to do all we can to encourage support in the fight against disease and to secure its future in the wild," Mr Groom said. The Tasmanian Devil joins the state's floral emblem, the Tasmanian blue gum. Topics: human-interest, animals, tasBy Jack Perry Whatsupic -- Has anyone noticed some of the crap coming out of American presidential candidates? They've moved on from hating Hispanics and now targeted another favorite hated demographic: Muslims. Presidential candidate Ben Carson said quite a bit about Muslims and, really, everyone who is that "other". You know, another race that looks different, perhaps dresses different, has culturally-distinct foods, often a different religion. Carson said this: "There is such a thing as an American dream and the American way. Anybody is welcome to come to America, but they don't get to change who we are." Who we are...yes, and who are we, Ben? This is the country that was founded and settled through the extermination and forced relocation into concentration camps called "reservations" of the indigenous population so their land could be confiscated and given to settlers. Now, that's usually called genocide, but America celebrated that with endless movies and books called "Westerns" that glorified the death marches and U.S. Cavalry einsatzgruppen for decades. Plus, they opened "boarding schools" where Native American children were snatched from their families and forced to attend. So they could be taught the "American way". Does this sound familiar America? It should. We needed to build this thing called the Transcontinental Railroad. It was dangerous work. So, Irish and Chinese were brought over to do the labor. People that America wouldn't miss if they died chiseling out railroad passes from sheer cliffs, hanging in baskets suspended 300 feet up. After the railroad was completed, we had all these Chinese people here who everyone was afraid would "take American jobs". So, there were things formed called "Anti-Chinese Leagues" and anti-Chinese riots became commonplace in mining camps throughout the American West. In many mining towns, laws were passed forbidding the Chinese from doing anything besides operating laundries and restaurants. Because, see, they weren't adapting to the "American way" and they were "taking American jobs". Kind of like we're hearing about Hispanic immigrants now. Does this sound familiar, America? It should. From 1860 on, we had waves of immigrants that came in and each one was met with disgust and distrust. Those Irish? All Papists; can't be trusted. And breed like rabbits, too. Italians? Also Catholic. Can't be trusted because their allegiance is to the Pope, not America. Eastern European Jews? They dress funny, don't speak English, and their food smells weird. Sings would be posted back then: "Now Hiring! Hebrews Need Not Apply." America said they needed quotas on how many of "these people" were let in, lest we lose "who we are". Does this sound familiar, America? It should. Those Mexicans, too, how about them? Well, the American Southwest---Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and more territory---was part of Mexico. Then there was the Mexican-American War which the U.S. basically started on a false pretense. By the way, many poets and writers who are now known as "great American writers of literature" were adamantly against that war back then. Many of the American classics of literature were written by anti-war pacifists. Yes, little things America doesn't tell you these days. But, see that whole "Remember the Alamo" thing? That's another lie. What happened was, Mexico allowed Americans to settle in Texas, a Mexican land, so long as they obeyed Mexican law. That meant not keeping slaves because slavery was illegal in Mexico. Guess what the Texans did? Brought in slaves, of course. That was the "American way of life" back then. Mexico sent troops to enforce the law and this eventually caused the siege of the Alamo and started the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American War was ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. That ceded over to the victorious United States those Mexican territories that are now the American Southwestern states. Ok, so now America starts whining because Mexicans are coming in to what was once Mexico just a bit over 170 years ago? But, yet, America fully supports the "right" of Jews to return to Israel some 2,000 years later even when there were other people living there by then? It can't be both. Either borders are a comic farce or they are not. Hey, wasn't it Ronald Reagan who stood near the Berlin Wall and gave a famous speech where he told Soviet Premier Gorbachev, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Yet
. And I hope that we will from Washington to Springfield to everywhere across America come to agreement about that. Now, I understand that just saying these things together may upset some people. I’m talking about police reform just a few days after a horrific attack on police officers. I’m talking about courageous, honorable police officers just a few days after officer- involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota. I’m bringing up guns in a country where just talking about comprehensive background checks and getting assault weapons off the streets gets you demonized. But all these things can be true at the same time. We do need criminal justice reform to save lives and make sure all Americans are treated as equals in rights and dignity. We do need to support our police departments that are trying to get it right and honor the men and women who protect us every day. We do need to do more to stop gun violence. We may disagree about how to do these things, but surely we can all agree with those basic premises. And I hope and pray the past week has showed us how true they are. Now, these are the issues on many of our minds right now. And if we stop there, that would leave us with plenty of work to do. So I wish I could say that was everything that we must address. But these events are taking place against a much broader backdrop of fear and anxiety. So I think we have to face all of it. CLINTON: We do need to make sure our economy works for everyone, not just those at the top. The changes that have roiled our economy over the past few decades are not just numbers on a page that economists study. They are real forces that families are dealing with up close and personal every day. Not long ago, I met with factory workers here in Illinois, whose jobs are being sent abroad, and heard how painful the consequences have been for them and their families. I’ve talked to workers across our country who have seen good jobs lost to technologies, who keep being told to get more training, even though that often doesn’t lead to a good new job on the other end. These economic disruptions have stripped too many people of their sense of security and dignity, and that can have devastating consequences. We have to ask ourselves, why are drug addiction and suicide on the rise in parts of our country? That’s not just about economics. It is about something deeper that is connected to economics — a sense of dislocation, even a pessimism about whether America still holds anything for them, or cares about them at all. That’s why I pledge that in my first 100 days as president, we will make the biggest investment in new good-paying jobs since World War II. We need more jobs you can support a family on, especially in places that have been left out and left behind, from Coal Country, to Indian Country, to inner cities, to every place that has been hollowed out when a factory closed or a mine shut down. Because everyone in America deserves that fair chance in the race of life that President Lincoln described. Now, I realize that our politics have contributed to the sense of division that many Americans feel right now. And as someone in the middle of a hotly-fought political campaign, I cannot stand here and claim that my words and actions haven’t sometimes fueled the partisanship that often stands in the way of progress. So I recognize I have to do better, too. I’m running for president with the belief that we need to face up to these challenges and fix them in order to become a stronger, fairer country. And in times like these, we need a president who can help pull us together, not split us apart. (APPLAUSE) And that is why I believe Donald Trump is so dangerous. His campaign is as divisive as any we have seen in our lifetime. It is built on stoking mistrust and pitting American against American. It is there in everything he says, and everything he promises to do as president. It is there in how he wants to ban Muslims from coming to the United States and toyed with creating a database to track Muslims in America. It is there in the way he demeans women, in his promotion of an anti-Semitic image pushed by neo-Nazis, and in the months that he spent trying to discredit the citizenship and legitimacy of our first black president. Last night, in an interview, he said that he understands systemic bias against black people because, and I quote, “Even against me, the system is rigged,” unquote. Went on to say, “I can relate to it very much myself.” CLINTON: Even this, the killing of people, is somehow all about him. It is there in his proposals on immigration. He says he’ll round up 11 million people and kick them out. He’s actually described a special deportation force that would go around America, pulling people out of their homes and workplaces, pulling children out of school. I got a letter from a mother the other day who said her adopted son asked her with a shaky voice if President Trump would send him back to Ethiopia. When kids are scared by political candidates and policy debates, it is a sign that something has gone badly wrong. And we see it in the violence that Donald Trump encouraged toward protesters at his rallies and the strange things he has said about the violence that will occur if we don’t elect him. He says that if he doesn’t win in November, “We,” and again, I quote, “won’t even have a country anymore. America’s not going to continue to survive.” I do not know what he’s talking about. (LAUGHTER) But… (APPLAUSE) I do know we don’t need that kind of fearmongering, not now, not ever. And he’s gone even further than that. He has taken aim at some of our most cherished Democratic values and institutions. He wants to revoke the citizenship of 4 million Americans born in this country to immigrant parents and eliminate the bedrock principle, enshrined in the 14th Amendment, that if you’re born in America, you’re a citizen of America. He said that a distinguished American born in Indiana, a judge, can’t be trusted to do his job because his parents were Mexican. He called him a “Mexican judge” over and over again. He knew the judge had been born in Indiana. But it was a cynical, calculated attempt to fan the flames of racial division and designed to undermine people’s faith in our judicial system. Why would someone running for president want to do that? And even that’s not all. He says, as commander in chief, he would order our troops to commit war crimes and insisted they would follow his orders, even though that goes against decades of military training and the military code. He’s banished members of the press who have criticized had him. Is there any doubt he would do the same as president? Imagine if he had not just Twitter and cable news to go after his critics and opponents, but also the IRS, or for that matter, our entire military. Given what we have seen and heard, do any of us think he’d be restrained? And he has shown contempt for and ignorance of our Constitution. Last week he met with House Republicans in Washington to try to assuage their serious concerns about him. One member asked whether he’d protect Article One, which defines the separation of powers between Congress and the Executive Branch. Here’s the answer he reportedly gave. “I want to protect Article One, Article Two, Article Twelve.” Well, here’s the thing. There is no Article Twelve. (LAUGHTER) Not even close. That was a serious question from an elected representative and he either didn’t care enough to answer it seriously, or he didn’t know where to begin. Even the most stalwart Republicans were alarmed by that. And well, they and we should be. CLINTON: The very first thing a new president does is take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. To do that with any meaning, you’ve got to know what’s in it. And you have to respect what’s in it. (APPLAUSE) I do wish Donald Trump would listen to other people once in a while. He might actually learn something. But he’s made it clear that’s not his thing. As he has said, he only listens to himself. This man is the nominee of the party of Lincoln. We are watching it become the party of Trump. And that’s not just a huge loss for our democracy, it is a threat to it. Because Donald Trump’s campaign adds up to an ugly, dangerous message to America — a message that you should be afraid, afraid of people’s whose ethnicity is different or religious faith is different, or who were born in a different country or hold different political beliefs. Make no mistake, there are things to fear in this world and we need to be clear-eyed about them. But we are each other’s countrymen and -women. We share this miraculous country. This land and its heritage is yours, mine, and everyone’s willing to pledge allegiance and understand the solemn responsibilities of American citizenship. That’s what “indivisible” means, that big word that every grade school student knows, that we’re in this together even if that’s not always easy. So let’s think better of each other. Let’s hold together in the face of our challenges, not turn on each other or tear each other down. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of police officers, kissing their kids and spouses goodbye every day and heading off to a dangerous job we need them to do. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of African Americans and Latinos and try as best as we can to imagine what it would be like if we had to have the talk with our kids about how carefully they need to act… (APPLAUSE) … how carefully they need to act because the slightest wrong move could get them hurt or killed. And yes, let’s put ourselves in the shoes of Donald Trump’s supporters. We may disagree on the causes and the solutions to the challenges we face, but I believe, like anyone else, they’re trying to figure out their place in a fast-changing America. They want to know how to make a good living and how to give their kids better futures and opportunities. That’s why we’ve got to reclaim the promise of America for all our people no matter who they vote for. And let’s be more than allies to each other. Let’s take on each other’s struggles as our own. My life’s work is built on the conviction that we are stronger together, not separated into factions or sides, not shouting over each other, but together. Our economy is stronger when everyone contributes to it and everyone can benefit from the work they do. Our communities are stronger when we all pull together to solve our problems and restore our faith in each other, and by doing so in the promise of America. CLINTON: Our country is stronger when we work with friends and allies to promote peace, prosperity and security around the world. This is an idea that goes back to the founding of America, when 13 separate colonies found a way despite their differences to join together as one nation. They knew they were not stronger on their own and neither are we. I’ve had the great delight of seeing the musical “Hamilton.” And I hope more people at least get a chance to listen to the score and to hear the words. There is a great song by the character playing George Washington, who sings “History’s eyes are on us.” That was true then and that’s true today. If we do this right, and if we have the hard conversations we need to have, we will become stronger still, like steel tempered by fire. Now, don’t get me wrong; fierce debates are part of who we are. They started at my dinner table with my father and have continued ever since. It is who we are. You’re reminded of that when you read history, when you think about the Lincoln-Douglas debates, debate over the right way forward. And sometimes we have to balance competing values like freedom and order, justice and security, these are complementary values of American life. That isn’t easy. Previous generations have had to overcome terrible challenges, and no one more so than Abraham Lincoln. But in the end, if we do the work, we will cease to be divided. We, in fact, will be indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And we will remain, in President Lincoln’s words, “The last best hope of Earth.” Thank you, all, very much.Welcome to the second edition of our rundown of some of the stranger bits of science news from the past week. Last week's headline story was about a chimp that prepared weaponry to assault tourists at a zoo in Sweden. This week, we have another story on our nearest relatives (at the species level) arming themselves. The victims: bees. The BBC has a story, with accompanying videos, about how chimps in the Republic of Congo have decided that the difficult-to-access nests of stingless bees are worth the hassle, which may involve pounding open tree trunks using tools they prepare. Not much planning involved, but definitely a bit of weaponry. Magnetic cows: This one had me at the title: "Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields disrupt magnetic alignment of ruminants." The first sentence did not disappoint, either, stating, "resting and grazing cattle and deer tend to align their body axes in the geomagnetic North-South direction." The question here was whether this was truly magnetic sensing, or some sort of visual orientation. The researchers got their answer by observing that grazing near the electromagnetic fields of high-voltage power lines reoriented the herd, suggesting that cows have an innate ability to sense magnetic fields. It's an excellent example of what's often termed a "natural experiment," if you'll accept that there's almost nothing natural about power lines. I wonder how cows align themselves in Australia... Butchers should stick with the cows: Another winning title: "Furious Rabies after an Atypical Exposure." This one focused on two apparent cases of rabies that turned up in hospitals in Hanoi, without any apparent contact with the standard vectors of rabies transmission. The authors suggest that the victims picked up the disease when butchering dogs and cats, which are part of the local diet. Definitely not coming to a chemistry set near you: Those of you who don't read Derek Lowe's In the Pipeline blog don't know what you're missing. He's a synthetic chemist, and a lot of the content focuses on his inside view of the pharmaceutical industry, but he sporadically cuts loose with a look at some of the chemicals that nobody in their right mind would work with. These are always based on publications that indicate someone, in fact, has worked with them, which gives you some hint about the number of chemists whose minds are not quite right. Here, for example, is his description of one recent synthesis: The experimental section of the paper enjoins the reader to wear a face shield, leather suit, and ear plugs, to work behind all sorts of blast shields, and to use Teflon and stainless steel apparatus so as to minimize shrapnel. Hmm. Ranking my equipment in terms of its shrapneliferousness is not something that's ever occurred to me, I have to say. It's safe to assume that any procedure which involves considering which parts of the apparatus I'd prefer to have flying past me will not get much business in my lab, no matter how dashing I might look in a leather suit. Dry humor++; would read again—as, in fact, I just did. No free lunch, version II: Last week, we described how blocking incoming sunlight to limit climate change would mean we'd have a harder time replacing fossil fuels with solar power. This week, we're still on fossil fuels. A recent study shows that, while using detergents to clean up oil spills may help the birds and mammals we can see, it can increase the toxic effects on fish 100-fold. Music really may be a universal language: In a cross-cultural experiment, westerners and members of Africa's Mafa culture were exposed to each other's music. Everybody correctly figured out whether the tune was happy, sad, or fearful, and preferred the songs as they were performed, rather than one in which the spectrum of the sound was modified. Full disclosure: I have not checked the paper's methods section to see what playlist was used.Announcing transformers-eff In my last post, I spent some time discussing a few different approaches to dealing with computational effects in Haskell - namely monad transformers, free monads, and the monad transformer library. I presented an approach to systematically building mtl -like type classes based on the idea of lifting languages for a given effect into larger monad transformer stacks. This approach felt so mechanical to me I set about exploring a way to formalise it, and am happy to announce a new experimental library – transformers-eff. transformers-eff takes inspiration from the work of algebraic effects and handlers, and splits each effect into composable programs for introducing effects and handlers that eliminate these effects. As the name indicates, this work is also closely related to monad transformer stacks, as they provide the implementation of the specific effects. I believe the novelty in my approach is that we can do this entirely within the system of monad transformers, and this observation makes it very convenient to create re-usable effects. Core API Before looking at an example, I want to start by presenting the core API. First, we have the Eff monad transformer: If you squint, you’ll see that Eff has the familiar shape of a monad transformer - it transforms a given monad m, providing it access to effects described by f. As Eff f m is itself a monad, it’s possible to stack Eff s together. The type parameter f is used to indicate which effects this Eff transformer talks about. Next, the library provides a way to eliminate Eff by translating it into a concrete monad transformer: Translations are defined by a single function that is very similar to the type of “lifts” we saw in my previous blog post. The difference here is that the homomorphism maps into ContT, which allows the translation to adjust control flow. For many effects it will be enough to simply lift directly into this, but it can be useful to inspect the continuation, for example to build non-deterministic computations. Finally, we have one type class method: However, this type class is fairly constrained in its instances, so you should read m as actually being some sort of monad transformer stack containing Eff f. Examples Let’s dive in and look at some examples. Reader effects Last post we spent a lot of time looking at various representations of the reader monad, so let’s see how this looks under transformers-eff. We already have a definition for our language, r -> a as we saw last week. While we could work directly with this, we’ll be interpreting into ReaderT so I’ll use the Reader newtype for a little extra readibility. Given this language, we just need to write a translation into a concrete monad transformer, which will be ReaderT : This is a little dense, so let’s break it down. When we call translate, we have to provide a function with the type: The ReaderT r m part is coming from the type we gave in the call to translate, that is – the type of effToReaderT. We don’t really need to concern outselves with continuations for this effect, as reading from a fixed environment does not change the flow of control - so we’ll begin with lift. We now have to produce a ReaderT r m a from a Reader r a. If we notice that Reader r a = ReaderT r Identity a, we can make use of the tools in the mmorph library, which lets us map that Identity to any m via hoist generalize. We still need a way to easily introduce these effects into our programs, and that means writing an mtl type class. However, the instances require almost no work on our behalf and we only have to provide two, making this is a very quick process: I then provide a user-friendly API built on this lift operation: Finally, most users are probably more interested in running the effect rather than just translating it to ReaderT, so let’s provide a convenience function to translate and run all in one go: In total, the reader effect is described as: A logging effect We also looked at a logging effect last week, and this can also be built using transformers-eff : The interpretation here is given an IO action to perform whenever a message is logged. I could have implemented this in a few ways - perhaps lifting the whole computation into ReaderT (message -> IO ()), but instead I have just used IdentityT as the target monad transformer, and added a MonadIO constraint onto m. Whenever a message is logged, we’ll directly call the given IO action. As you can also see, I’ve used a free monad as the source language for the effect. This example demonstrates that we are free to mix a variety of tools (here free monads, MonadIO and the identity transformer) in order to get the job done. What does this approach bring? Less type class instances We saw above that when we introduced our EffLog type class, it was immediately available for use along side EffReader effects - and we didn’t have to do anything extra! To me, this is a huge win - I frequently find myself frustrated with the amount of work required to do when composing many different projects together with mtl, and this is not just a theoretical frustration. To provide just one example from today, I wanted to use ListT with some Yesod code that required MonadLogger. There is obviously no MonadLogger instance for ListT, and it’s almost unsolvable to provide such an instance withoutrs/o using orphan instances - neither one of those libraries should need to depend on the other, so we’re stuck! If you stay within Eff, this problem doesn’t occur. Many will be quick to point out that in mtl it doesn’t necessary make sense to have all transformers compose due to laws (despite the lack of any laws actually being stated…), and I’m curious if this is true here. In this library, due to the limitation on having to write your effectful programs based on an underlying algebra, I’m not sure it’s possible to introduce the problematic type class methods like local and catch. One effect at a time In the mtl approach a single monad transformer stack might be able to deal with a whole selection of effects in one go. However, I’ve found that this can actually make it quite difficult to reason about the flow of code. To provide an example, let’s consider this small API: If we just try and apply runDb to findOllie, we’ll get runDb findOllie :: (MonadError QueryError m, MonadIO m, MonadPlus m) => m Person We still need to take care of MonadError and MonadPlus. For MonadError I’ll use ExceptT, and for MonadPlus I’ll use MaybeT : runMaybeT (runExceptT (runDb findOllie)) :: IO (Maybe (Either QueryError Person)) Next, let’s consider a few scenarios. Firstly, the case where everything succeeds - > runMaybeT (runExceptT (runDb findOllie)) Just (Right Person...) However, that query could fail, which would cause an error > runMaybeT (runExceptT (runDb findOllie)) Just (Left "Table `person` not found") Still as expected. Finally, person 42 might not actually be me, in which case we get > runMaybeT (runExceptT (runDb findOllie)) Just (Left "") Huh? What’s happened here is that we’ve hit the MonadPlus instance for ExceptT, and because our QueryError is a String we have a Monoid instance, so we were given an “empty” error. This is not at all what we were expecting! While this example is a contrived one, I am very nervous that this accidental choice of instances could happen deep within another section of code, for example where I expect to do some local error handling and accidentally eliminate a chance of failure that I was expecting to deal with elsewhere. In transformers-eff this is not possible, as each Eff deals with one and only one effect at a time. This could be done with mtl by introducing a separate type class for failure and only adding an instance for MaybeT, we are working around the problem by convention, and I would much rather bake that in to the types. Fast code The underlying implementation of Eff is built on top of continuations, and due to aggressive inlineing, GHC is able to work some serious magic. In fact, in all the benchmarks I’ve produced so far, Eff is as fast as transformers, and even comes out slightly faster in one (though within the same order of magnitude). Compatible with the rest of Hackage As Eff is just another monad transformer, you can stack in other monad transformers. Note that by doing this you may lack the type class instances you need, so explicit lift ing might be necessary. I mainly expect this being useful by putting Eff “on the top” - for example I can use Eff locally with in a Snap monad computation, provided I eventually run back down to just Snap. This is the same pattern as locally using transformers. You can contact me via email at ollie@ocharles.org.uk or tweet to me @acid2. I share almost all of my work at GitHub. This post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.BY: Follow @LizWFB Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dar Place was two feet away when his friend and fellow soldier took his own life during the Gulf War. Two decades later, like so many other veterans, Place is still haunted by the plague of suicide in the military. "I personally saw my driver after Desert Storm in his tank put a gun underneath his mouth and pull the trigger, while I was no further away from him than I am from you right now," Place told the Washington Free Beacon at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. He was one of the dozens of activists with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) who planted thousands of flags to honor veterans who had killed themselves. By noon, 1,892 American flags graced the Mall, representing the number of veterans who have taken their life this year alone since January 1st—an average of 22 per day. Former soldiers and survivors gathered to raise awareness about the epidemic, and lobby Capitol Hill to pass a bill addressing gaps in mental health. The message of the campaign is "We’ve Got Your Back," and for Place, serving in the Army is a "family business." "My son is still in active duty, he’s been an infantryman," he said. "I was in the 101st Airborne Division, he was in the 82nd Airborne Division, and just like his old man was when I was a young enlisted man, he kind of followed in my footsteps." "I served in the 82nd in Desert Storm," Place said. "So twice, I was on the initial invasion into Iraq, and then later on he came in to Iraq as I was coming out. And then he went on to the 82nd Airborne, and he went into Afghanistan as my unit prepared to relieve his unit in place in Afghanistan." Place retired in November. He is working with IAVA to help his fellow veterans get the help they need. "My son has had three of his close friends who have lost the fight to suicide," he said. "I have several friends who have either attempted or lost the fight to suicide. As a Battalion Commander, I had—for two years in command—multiple ideations, and a couple of attempts." Nearly 50 percent of IAVA members know someone who served in Iraq or Afghanistan who has either committed or attempted suicide. "I’m in that 50 percent number," said Derek Bennett, who served two tours in Iraq before leaving the Army in 2007. "This is an aspect of the war we feel has not received the awareness that is due." The number of suicides among active-duty military personnel eclipsed the number of casualties in the War on Terror in 2012. The number of young veterans taking their own life has increased dramatically since 2009, and a record 349 active-duty service members committed suicide last year. IAVA honored veterans from all wars who have died from suicide on Thursday. One of the groups’ allies in Congress is Sen. John Walsh (D., Mont.), the first Iraq war combat veteran to serve in the Senate. "This is a personal issue to me," Walsh said after the flags were placed. "I commanded an infantry battalion in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, where I took, what I like to say, over 700 of Montana’s finest young men and women into combat in Iraq for over a year. When we returned home, one of my young Sergeants died by suicide." Walsh introduced the Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans Act, which would allow veterans to receive mental health care for up to 15 years following active-duty service. Currently, soldiers can only get care from Veterans Affairs for 5 years. The legislation would also modernize the way the VA prescribes medication, and attempt to make mental health jobs at the agency more competitive with the private sector. Paul Rieckhoff, the founder and executive director of IAVA, said his group has held over 100 meetings in Washington this week, including with the Department of Defense, White House, and Capitol Hill, to raise awareness and lobby for Walsh’s bill. "It’s a personal issue for all of us," he said. Rieckhoff mentioned Clay Hunt, a former Marine corporal, who received the Purple Heart after being shot by a sniper in Afghanistan. After leaving the service in 2009, Hunt worked with Rieckhoff and IAVA’s "Storm the Hill" suicide prevention campaign, and helped build bikes for "Ride 2 Recovery," which holds bike races to help wounded combat heroes. But in 2011, Hunt took his own life, shooting himself in his apartment. "The flags we’re planting today are in memory of Clay Hunt and so many others," Rieckhoff said. "We know that Clay’s with us here, I spoke to his mother last night, and she’s behind us, and so many other families are behind us." Another family stricken by military suicide are the Ruocco’s. Major John Ruocco, U.S. Marine Corps, was a decorated Cobra gunship pilot and father of two sons. "He flew his last 75 missions in Iraq on his last tour," his wife Kim said on Thursday. "Upon his return, he suffered from post-traumatic stress, depression, and was suffering quite a bit." "My husband was not afraid of combat zones, or flying into fire, but he was afraid of asking for help," she said. "He was afraid of letting people down, like most of our marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors." "His last words to me on the day that he died was, ‘I’m going to get help, but we are going to lose everything because of it,’" Ruocco said. "He thought that going for treatment for his injuries would forever change the way people viewed him. He died of stigma, and stigma still continues to be one our biggest battles in our [fight] against suicide." Ruocco is now the manager for Suicide Outreach and Education Programs at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). TAPS helps at least three survivors who call the organization every day, seven days a week. Bennett said the message he wants to send to his fellow veterans is "you’re not alone." "You’re not John Rambo, this country shouldn’t think of you as an outlier," he said. "We all go through this experience together." Place wanted to emphasize that "it’s not weakness" for veterans to seek help. "We think it is," he said. "That’s the problem, we’re taught in the military to be strong and be tough, and endure, and when we’re in those dark places we don’t want to reach out for help, because we think it shows weakness." "I know there’s a lot of folks out there that might think that suicide is a scapegoat, it’s an escape, and you’re quitting, but when you’re a young person, and you’ve seen the things that we’ve seen, you’ve had to do some of the things that we’ve had to do, it can wear on you," Place said. "It’s really that invisible wound. And the toughest part is admitting it, admitting that you need help."This paper examines Piantadosi, Tenenbaum, and Goodman's (2012) model for how children learn the relation between number words ("one" through "ten") and cardinalities (sizes of sets with one through ten elements). This model shows how statistical learning can induce this relation, reorganizing its procedures as it does so in roughly the way children do. We question, however, Piantadosi et al.'s claim that the model performs "Quinian bootstrapping," in the sense of Carey (2009). Unlike bootstrapping, the concept it learns is not discontinuous with the concepts it starts with. Instead, the model learns by recombining its primitives into hypotheses and confirming them statistically. As such, it accords better with earlier claims (Fodor, 1975, 1981) that learning does not increase expressive power. We also question the relevance of the simulation for children's learning. The model starts with a preselected set of15 primitives, and the procedure it learns differs from children's method. Finally, the partial knowledge of the positive integers that the model attains is consistent with an infinite number of nonstandard meanings-for example, that the integers stop after ten or loop from ten back to one. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Texas has seceded twice in its history. The attempt during the Civil War didn’t go well but one could say breaking away from Mexico did. And there are those who would like to try secession again from the United States. The Texas Nationalist Movement says they are building momentum and voters could soon have their say about Texas independence. On a recent Saturday afternoon about 20 people have gathered at the Center for Life on San Antonio’s north side. Their demographics are generally white and older. They don’t look like a band of rebels looking to overthrow the U.S. government, but that’s why Richard Reinhard and other here are. “I love the United States of America but the Unites States of America isn’t the United States of America anymore. I’m not a radical by any means. I’m 73 years old and I don’t want no call with anybody but hey you got to take a stand somewhere along the way and this is it,” he said. Reinhard expresses a common complaint these days that national politics has gotten off track. “I consider the government we have right now to be socialist. The Republican Party has relented as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been Republican all my life. This Democratic Party we have now is not democrat. I don’t even consider them American to tell you the truth, that’s just my opinion,” he said. Linda Lang says she is also dissatisfied with where the nation is heading and she’s willing to support Texas independence as a way to express her frustration. “They say it probably can never happen. But I want a voice and I want Texas to maybe set a good example that we aren’t going to sit back and take everything dished out by Washington D.C. They’re taking away out rights – our religious rights,” she said. Lang came to hear a plan that could once again make Texas an independent nation. “Take Texas back from fear, doubt and hopelessness to share the message with the people of Texas that the power is in their hands, that Texas would be better off as an independent nation but more than that should be,” said Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement to the room of people. In front of the room, pacing in front of a wall sized photograph of the Alamo Miller delivers his speech that explains the dream. “We want a free fair and binding vote on Texas independence. And that’s why we’re doing this. Because we’re tired of the elected officials no longer being leaders,” he said to the group. With the confidence and bravado of a skilled salesman Miller makes his pitch. He’s selling a vision and he first needs to make the listeners believe that the dream can be made real. And that he has a viable plan to make it real. Step one of that plan is to get the question of secession in front of voters. “We are collecting 75 thousand signatures to place the issue of Texas Independence as a non-binding referendum on the Republican Party primary ballot in 2016,” he said in an interview. If the question “The State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation – for or against” gets on the March first ballot and if it passes, that won’t bring back the Republic of Texas. But if it passes Miller said, then they have the ammunition to demand action from state leaders. “For example having Governor Abbott call a special session to address this topic,” he said. Miller says the legislature could take up independence and would put the issue binding issue on the ballot and Texas would have a referendum like Scotland had last year. Never mind that Scotland voted to remain in United Kingdom. And never mind that this whole scheme probably unconstitutional. The Texas Secretary of State’s office, which oversees elections in the state, says Miller is correct. He can put this issue on the GOP ballot if he gets that required number of signatures. And the Republican Party of Texas would have no say in the matters. A state GOP official who was unwilling to be recorded says that makes them uneasy because this is uncharted territory. But the interesting question is how would state leaders react? Miller says he might have an alley in the governor’s mansion. “You can only look to the term that Greg Abbott had as attorney general and see how many times he was in court fighting the Federal Government on certain issues,” he said. Since becoming Governor Texans have also seen Abbott call on the Texas State Guard to monitor the U.S. Army’s training exercise Jade Helm 15. And Miller said Abbott’s signing of the new state law creating a Texas Gold Depository is a significant step towards preparing for secession. “We were active on that bill from the moment it first saw the light of day in 2010. We’ve been advocating not just for repatriating the gold that Texas owns back here but to incorporate that into a state bank system that can be utilized as a federal reserve once independence is achieved,” he said. In the signing statement for HB 483 Abbott did not acknowledge the Texas Nationalist Movement or mention anything concerning a long term plan for Texas Independence. Nevertheless, Miller says the passage and the signing of the Texas Gold Depository law was a victory for the Texas Nationalist Movement and it’s a victory that he plan to build on.Historical chart of USK Anif and Liefering league performance FC Liefering squad league match vs. TSV Hartberg (17 April 2015) FC Liefering is an Austrian association football club. It currently plays in the First League, the second
and Phillippe Coutinho have made a big impact for Tite, especially the Manchester City star, who had direct hand in all three goals on a stunning senior international debut against Ecuador, before scoring three more in the next four matches. This youthful Brazil side look a real force going forward, with Neymar maturing into crucial attacking figurehead. In the very impressive 3-0 win over Argentina, Neymar netted his 50th international goal, to go with efforts from Coutinho and Paulinho, in a very comfortable win. Suarez biting back? "I admitted my mistake, that I had done wrong, as many people make mistakes, something normal in the life of a human being." Those were Luis Suarez's words after his made his return to the Uruguay side having been banned from international football for 636 days after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup group match in Brazil. He made his comeback in March last year and his performances have suggested he's keen to make up for lost time. His team have won all of their home matches during qualification in convincing fashion, conceding just one goal, and also picked up a 2-2 draw away in Brazil, where Suarez scored. Luis Suarez celebrates his goal for Uruguay against Colombia A World Cup without Suarez just wouldn't be the same. He'll be keen on writing the wrongs of his behaviour in Brazil by leading Uruguay to Russia. They are halfway there. Keep track of all the World Cup Qualifiers on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps.For any other use, see Hush (disambiguation) Hush (Tommy Elliot) is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Hush first appeared in Batman #609 (January 2003), as part of the 12-issue storyline Batman: Hush. He was created by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. Publication history [ edit ] Hush resurfaced in Batman: Gotham Knights, and later in Detective Comics and Batman: Streets of Gotham. He has recently reemerged as the architect behind several of the events of Batman Eternal. Fictional character biography [ edit ] Origin [ edit ] Dr. Thomas "Tommy" Elliot was a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, and was also born into a wealthy family. The two boys often played a Stratego-esque minifigure game together, and Tommy taught Bruce to think like his opponents and to use their abilities against them in order to win, which proved useful years later when the latter became Batman. Tommy despised both his abusive father and his frail, submissive mother, who came from poverty and willingly endured every abuse dealt to her and her son to keep her lavish lifestyle. For all their failings, however, Tommy's parents made sure he was well-educated, in particular teaching him about the philosophy of Aristotle, which he often quotes. Driven by his desire for independence and wealth, Tommy severed the brake line of his parents' car, causing a crash that killed his father and injured his mother; his mother, however, was saved in an emergency operation by Dr. Thomas Wayne, which enraged young Elliot. While at a summer camp with Bruce, Tommy attacked a boy and ended up in a psychiatric ward; he blamed Bruce and his mother for his outburst. He is released by an intern named Jonathan Crane, who becomes the villain Scarecrow. During the next few years, Tommy tended to his mother. When Bruce's parents were murdered, Tommy resented him for inheriting the Wayne family fortune, just as he had hoped to do with his parents' money. Shortly before Bruce returned to Gotham City, Tommy befriended a young woman named Peyton Riley (who would later become the second Ventriloquist) – a relationship of which his mother never approved. When Tommy's mother recovered from cancer, she disowned him, subsequently cutting him off from the Elliot family fortune in retaliation for his continuing relationship with Peyton. As a result, Tommy killed her by smothering her with a pillow, while Peyton killed their lawyer and destroyed Mrs. Elliot's new will. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, his mother had died of a household accident. Finally the sole recipient of his family's fortune, Tommy abandoned Peyton and began traveling the world, as Bruce had. Although he went on to Harvard University and became a successful surgeon, Tommy continued to harbor an irrational grudge towards his childhood friend. At some point in his career, Edward Nygma, also known as the Riddler, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and eventually hijacked one of Ra's al Ghul's Lazarus Pits to regain his health. During this mystical treatment, which renders the participant temporarily insane, the Riddler experienced an unexpected epiphany: he realized that Bruce Wayne was Batman. Soon afterwards, the Riddler attempted to sell Tommy the secrets of his newfound revelation in exchange for a large cash sum. Tommy, by this time having discovered Nygma's criminal background, instead offered to pay him to kill Bruce. Realizing that they shared a common hatred for Wayne, Tommy and the Riddler decided to pool resources to bring him down. To this end, Elliot created for himself the persona of "Hush". Riddler said that the name started out as a joking reference to the need to keep Tommy's identity secret, but became a more permanent alias when Scarecrow started to sing the lullaby "Hush, Little Baby".[2] Hush character arc [ edit ] In their attempt to destroy Batman, Hush and the Riddler manipulated several other villains into unwittingly helping them. These included the Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and Clayface. They even manipulated some of Batman's closest allies (Superman, Huntress, and Catwoman) against the Dark Knight, utilizing such methods as Poison Ivy using her pheromones to control the Man of Steel and Catwoman and Hush's seemingly benevolent funding of Huntress's vigilante activities. Part of their plot included fooling Bruce into believing the Joker had murdered Tommy; Clayface shapeshifted into Tommy's corpse in order to create this illusion. Batman: Hush Vol. 2 (December 2003). Pencils by Jim Lee. Cover toVol. 2 (December 2003). Pencils by Jim Lee. With these villains as their pawns, Hush and the Riddler set up an elaborate plot against Batman. Jason Todd, who was believed to be dead for years, entered the pact with the villains and gave them insights on how Batman thought. Using the shapeshifting abilities of Clayface, they created a decoy of the former Robin; Hush collaborated with Riddler, Todd, and Clayface to use the Dark Knight's guilt over his ward's apparent death against him at Todd's gravesite.[3][4][5] Around this time, Hush cured the disfigured Harold Allnut, a longtime associate of Batman. In return, Harold 'bugged' the Batcave with several devices that altered Batman's mind, but nevertheless remained loyal to the Caped Crusader; he was certain that Batman would triumph over whatever followed. Hush then killed Harold in front of Batman, and immediately engaged the Dark Knight in battle. Batman was at first disoriented by Hush's quoting of Aristotle, prompting him to briefly wonder if Hush is Maxie Zeus. He noticed that Hush used Deadshot's two-gun fighting style, and theorized that he was either the assassin himself or one of his protégés. When Tommy finally revealed himself to a worn-out Batman, the Dark Knight was saved only by the intervention of Harvey Dent, whose Two-Face persona had been unwittingly wiped out by Tommy when he repaired Dent's disfigured face. Once again on the side of the law, Dent shot Hush twice, throwing him off a bridge. Although Batman was sure that Hush was his childhood friend Thomas Elliot, he wasn't able to unmask him.[6] Hush Returns [ edit ] Still out to destroy Batman and determined not to let the rest of the villains get in his way, Hush quickly carved out a niche for himself, beating his former accomplice the Riddler to within an inch of his life. Hush even drives the Joker out of the city, thus proving to the Clown Prince that Hush can be a threat to him. He also temporarily killed Poison Ivy during a failed attempt to recruit her. Hush Returns. Cover to Batman: Gotham Knights #60 (December 2004). Pencils by. Cover to#60 (December 2004). Pencils by Jae Lee Following a short-lived alliance with JLA nemesis Prometheus, Hush began to torment Bruce Wayne with help from Clayface. Exploiting the latter's shapeshifting abilities, Hush was briefly able to shed doubt on his true identity and had Alfred Pennyworth framed for murder, using samples taken from the new Clayface to infect Alfred with a virus that would allow Elliot to control him. Hush also attempted to analyse samples taken from Clayface with the goal of duplicating Clayface's shape-shifting abilities for himself without the usual side-effects such as loss of a default human form, eventually attempting to perfect this analysis by releasing Cassius Payne from prison, reasoning that samples from Cassius would be more useful as he is the only 'pure' Clayface... the only one who was never human in the first place. After Clayface realised that he was being manipulated, he provided Batman with a sample of himself to find a cure for Alfred's condition despite knowing that this would not leave Batman with time to cure him, and also ensured that Alfred's name would be cleared by ensuring that his final appearance after death would be a form whose fingerprints so closely resembled Alfred's that the detectives would assume that they had made a mistake. (The aforementioned events occur in issue #50–55 and #61–72.) Payback [ edit ] The Joker eventually returned to Gotham City with an army of trained pigeons and retaliated (in Batman: Gotham Knights #73–74). He captured Hush and kept him sedated for three weeks, during which time he implanted a pacemaker into his body, effectively gaining control of his heart. At the Joker's mercy and unable to remove the device himself, Hush turned to the one man he felt he could trust (or rather, predict): Bruce Wayne. Bruce consented to help Hush on the condition that he allow himself to be treated in, and confined to, Arkham Asylum. Hush agreed, and then immediately escaped after being told that the surgery had been a success. He was intercepted by Batman before he could confront the Joker and demanded that Batman allow him to kill the Joker. Batman seemed to agree and began to leave, but then revealed that he had tricked Hush – the pacemaker was still in his body, and he had been allowed to escape from Arkham. At that moment, the Joker arrived, and Hush begged Batman not to leave him. The issue (and the Batman: Gotham Knights series) ended unresolved. Hush returned in the later Man-Bat miniseries,[7] and is later shown remembering how painful it was to remove the pacemaker alone, and how the time between Gotham Knights and Heart of Hush was mostly spent recovering from the damage suffered, confirming that Batman did desert Hush at the conclusion of "Payback". "Heart of Hush" [ edit ] Hush returned in Detective Comics #846-#850, in the story "Heart of Hush", which tied together with "Batman R.I.P.". In this arc, set a few nights before the events depicted in "R.I.P.", Hush was portrayed in a slightly different thematic fashion than in his prior appearances. His past as a surgeon was made into a major aspect of his modus operandi. In the first issue, Hush revealed that his return was hastened when he began to hear whispers of the Black Glove's upcoming attack on Batman. Believing that it was his right and his right alone to kill Batman, Hush sought to beat the Black Glove to the punch. In the second part, Hush teamed up with the Scarecrow. He performed routine plastic surgery on his own face, only later revealing the result was nigh identical to Bruce Wayne.[8] Hush then ambushed and subdued Catwoman after she scratched off a portion of his facial bandages, recoiling in horror at what she saw. He then cut out her heart, putting her on life support supplied by Mr. Freeze, and delivered her to Gotham General Hospital. To himself, Hush thought about how he had begun formulating his plan after Batman had abandoned him. While Catwoman was left in Doctor Mid-Nite's care, Batman squeezed the location of Hush's headquarters from Scarecrow. Hush ambushed Batman by showing him the room containing Catwoman's heart, alive and pumping, at which time he pumped Batman with a paralyzing gas. He then confessed to Batman his plan: using his newfound resemblance to Bruce, he would kill and disfigure him to steal his identity, eliminating those who knew him best and would regularly interact with Bruce, and then he would retire with the Wayne fortune, reasoning that the other heroes would accept that Batman had earned the right to end his career. However, Batman was able to stave off the effects of the paralysis gas, recover Catwoman's heart, and warn Alfred of Hush's deception. Although Alfred disarmed Elliot, Hush managed to get into the Batcave where he nearly killed Batman, but Alfred's continuing interference and the arrival of Nightwing and Robin turned the tide. Hush retreated on the Whirly-Bat (a one-man helicopter), but his bandages became tangled in the rotor and it exploded. Batman, Nightwing, and Robin could find no trace of Hush, save some bloody bandages, and concluded that he was dead. Catwoman, not taking chances and seeking some form of closure for her predicament and current condition (Doctor Mid-Nite made it clear that it was unlikely that she would ever regain her physical prowess), had Oracle, Holly Robinson, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Slam Bradley track down Hush's secret bank accounts and stashes of cash and cut them off. Hush, wounded but alive, limped off to plot his next move. Later, posing as Bruce Wayne, Hush traveled to Australia and Vietnam looting the cash accounts of Wayne Enterprises' subsidiaries. He was captured by Catwoman, who knew perfectly well he was not the real Bruce Wayne. She brought him to Nightwing and Robin, who kept him contained in a secret safe house. Hush, still wearing Bruce's appearance, decided to fake his surrender, waiting for the right moment to escape. Batman reborn [ edit ] In Streets of Gotham, Batman's biological son Damian Wayne visited Hush in his cell as the new Robin, and they played chess. When Damian left to deal with a new crisis, Hush surmised that Firefly was behind the attack. He noted how Gotham City had fallen apart in Batman's absence, and pondered how to use the current situation to his advantage.[9] Hush faked experiencing spontaneous combustion, and when Alfred arrived at his cell to assist, Hush overpowered him and escaped. He then re-emerged as Bruce Wayne, claiming that he would donate a billion dollars a month to Gotham City until the financial crisis was over. Dick and Damian, along with the Outsiders and assorted other superheroes, explained to Hush that they would always watch and control him- with the other heroes acting as a 'board of directors' intended to'supervise' his financial dealings- and that someone will always be ready to take him down if he steps out of line. With no other option available to him, Hush reluctantly agreed to play Dick Grayson's puppet, posing as Bruce Wayne, and thus keeping the public from realizing that Bruce was dead.[10] Though this ruined his original plan to sap the Wayne fortune, Hush did not allow it to halt his scheming altogether. Hush had appeared, notably as a member of the Gotham Shield Committee, around Gotham quite frequently, often attempting to make connections. When Ra's al Ghul arrived in Gotham, promising to ruin the Wayne family in retaliation against Red Robin, he immediately sought out Hush.[11] Faced with the prospect of Hush using Ra's al Ghul's support to turn on the Bat-family again, Tim Drake activated a contingency plan set in place by Wayne himself to transfer controlling interest in Wayne Enterprises to Drake "if something should happen". This left Hush with no official standing in the company.[12] "House of Hush" [ edit ] Hush reappeared in Streets of Gotham for the story arc "House of Hush" beginning in #14.[13] He attempted to push the boundaries of his new role as Bruce Wayne, such as recommending that convicted criminals be allowed back on the streets. However, this plan backfired when the criminal Jane Doe—a woman who lost her face in an accident and had resorted to cutting off the faces of others—became obsessed with 'Bruce Wayne' after he had her released. She infiltrated his life by taking the face of his new assistant, and subsequently cut off Elliot's new face with the intention of becoming Bruce Wayne herself. Batman caught her and Hush, and they were both sent to Arkham. During the events of Batman: Gates of Gotham, Hush was freed from Arkham by a new villain named the Architect. As this happened, Red Robin, Nightwing, and Blackbat realized that the Elliot family was connected to a series of bombings that destroyed three historical Gotham bridges. Nightwing found Hush, who had been betrayed by the Architect and strapped to a bomb, but was forced to sacrifice Wayne Tower to save his life.[14] The New 52: "Batman Eternal" [ edit ] In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Hush first appears in issue twenty-one of Batman Eternal as the apparent mastermind behind Commissioner Gordon's downfall and Carmine Falcone's return. After injecting Alfred with fear toxin, Hush was seen communicating with Jason Bard about taking control of Gotham.[15] In issue twenty-six, a slightly revised origin for Hush was revealed; he was still Tommy Elliott, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, but in this version, his parricide is explicitly described as a way for him to get closer to Bruce (who had started distancing himself from Tommy after the death of his own parents) rather than as a way for him to receive his inheritance.[16] In issue thirty-two, Hush turned public opinion against Wayne Enterprises by blowing up one of Batman's hidden weapon caches (known to be connected to Wayne Enterprises after the events of Batman Incorporated) below Gotham, killing an unknown number of civilians, policemen and military personnel. He was able to enter the cache with DNA taken from Alfred Pennyworth.[17] After having blown up another weapon cache and having been shot through the shoulder with a grappling hook by Julia Pennyworth, Hush gave up his location to Batman to face him in a final showdown. They met and fought in a weapon cache below the Martha Wayne Foundation hospital, which Hush had rigged to explode as a backup plan. Batman defeated Hush, but was then informed that the government had seized control of Wayne Enterprises and its holdings due to its involvement in the catastrophic explosions around Gotham. He also found out that perhaps Hush was not the mastermind behind the events of Batman Eternal; instead he would have been invited beforehand to take advantage of the imminent downfall of Commissioner Gordon. Hush then taunted Batman, stating, "Maybe you're right Bruce, maybe I'm not you. But right now, who would want to be?"[18] Hush was then kept as prisoner in the Batcave, but broke out with the help of the then unknown mastermind behind the current threat. Hush proceeded to sabotage the equipment of several members of the Batman Family via the Batcomputer as they fought various villains, including crashing the Batwing with Batman still in it. He was then returned to captivity after having been ambushed by Alfred Pennyworth, Alfred harshly informing Tommy that he was hardly going to be locked up in his own home.[19] DC Universe: Rebirth [ edit ] After DC Comics' new line-wide relaunch Rebirth, Hush first appeared in a single-panel cameo in issue 19 of Batman (vol. 3), wherein he is an inmate at Arkham Asylum and beaten up by Bane.[20] Then, in the one-shot Batman: Prelude To The Wedding: Nightwing vs. Hush #1, Hush is 'tipped off' to Batman's upcoming wedding by the Joker. Hush attempts to attack Batman's bachelor party, causing a disaster to distract Superman and then attacking Batman and Nightwing. In the course of the confrontation, Hush's attack disrupts a dimensional gate Superman had provided that was intended to take Batman to a peaceful pocket universe, resulting in Hush and Nightwing being trapped in an in-between place for individuals who have lost all sense of individual identity. As Hush's rants affirm his inability to forge a life for himself outside of an obsession with Bruce Wayne, he reveals that he has given himself plastic surgery to look like Dick Grayson to try and recapture his old friendship with Bruce. Nightwing, despite feeling some sympathy for Hush, nevertheless leaves him behind in the pocket dimension while he escapes back home.[21] Characterization [ edit ] Personality [ edit ] Being a victim of abuse and a neglectful, submissive mother rendered Thomas Elliot sociopathic. Before even his teenage years, he was already operating on a high level of sociopathy, going so far as severing the brake line of his parents' car to gain independence from them and inherit the Elliot family fortune. When Bruce Wayne's parents died and he inherited the Wayne family fortune, as well as independence, from them - the very two things Tommy sought to gain from his parents' death - Tommy developed an irrational hatred for his childhood friend, spawned from the fact Bruce's father Thomas Wayne was the one who operated on and saved his mother, foiling the young Elliot's plan of parricide, and that via the death of his parents', Bruce had gained everything he wanted. This deep-rooted hatred would then carry on into Tommy's adulthood, resulting in him adopting his Hush persona. Elliot also seems to be obsessed with mystery and subterfuge, preferring to operate from the shadows and having cast doubts over his own identity and motivations several times. Skills and abilities [ edit ] Thomas "Tommy" Elliot has spent most of his life honing his skills enough to be a match for the Dark Knight. One of the finest surgeons in Gotham City, Thomas Elliot has an incredible, genius-level intellect and is also a master planner, with tactical skills rivaling those of the Caped Crusader. Hush's greatest asset is his talent for thinking like his opponents and for using their abilities against them. Ironically, Bruce Wayne received his strategic skills from Elliot during their childhood before their respective parents' deaths. Hush is an expert marksman, able to shoot two batarangs out of the air and set off C4 explosive using twin M1911.45 caliber pistols, his weapons of choice. While not possessing the kind of martial arts training that Bruce Wayne acquired, Hush has proven his ability to fight hand-to-hand; he shows expertise and competence, being able to fight almost on par with Batman. He has performed breakthrough medical operations, such as removing Harold Allnut's hunchback and giving him the ability to speak, repairing Harvey Dent's face, inventing a virus which accelerates Killer Croc's devolution, and tearing out Catwoman's heart without doing any lasting damage. Hush is also able to perform plastic surgery on himself, using minimal anesthetic and sheer force of will. He's implied to have removed the pacemaker installed on his own heart by himself, and has shown the ability to grant himself the appearance of someone else, such as Bruce Wayne, using only a long series of planned surgeries on his own face, with the aid of a simple mirror. Thomas Elliot previously had access to the vast resources of his family fortune, putting him on par with Bruce Wayne in wealth, and so he is able to fund his more expensive plans. He is also able to buy the cooperation of the main villains in Gotham, like Mr. Freeze. However, since the "Heart of Hush" storyline, Catwoman has tapped his resources, reducing him to poverty. He then put in motion a plan to use his newfound resemblance to Bruce Wayne to leech off the Wayne fortune, cutting off the Batman Family from it as well. This plan was thwarted when he underestimated his foes, finding himself merely a puppet of the Batman Family and their allies as he serves to create the impression that Bruce Wayne is still alive. Other versions [ edit ] Batman Beyond [ edit ] The 2010 Batman Beyond miniseries revealed that Bruce Wayne's last fight with Hush occurred on a rainy night and consisted primarily of a rooftop chase. As a last-minute means of escape, Elliot dove into an open window, only to be shot by the homeowner who mistook him for an invader. With Batman severely injured and not on good terms with the police, he left Hush's body without examining it himself. Bruce seemed initially satisfied with the official police identification of the body as Elliot's. However, he later admits suspecting that Hush's skill for strategy and plastic surgery could have fabricated the entire scenario. Some time after the events of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Terry McGinnis discovers the former Signalman murdered in a manner reminiscent of Two-Face's M.O. He subsequently tracks the murderer to a hospital where an aged Jervis Tetch is being held and finds a bandaged man standing over a badly injured nurse. The man flees as Terry rushes over to the nurse, who says the man uttered a single word, "Hush".[22] Returning to the cave, Terry learns what happened in Bruce's last fight with Hush. Terry soon discovers that the reformed villain, Armory, has been killed with sharpened umbrellas (the Penguin's weapon of choice). Attempting to stay ahead of their foe, Terry and Bruce search out the Calendar Man (Julian Gregory Day). Upon confronting Day, Terry is suddenly ambushed by Hush, who broke in beforehand.[23] During Terry's fight with the new Hush, it is revealed that this Hush is not only capable of matching the current Batman in a fight, but is also aware of Bruce Wayne's identity as Batman. He regards Terry as an impostor with no understanding of what it means to be Batman. He also regards his murders of Batman's rogues gallery as orphaning Batman all over again by killing his enemies as the only loving family he has had. Hush escapes by throwing the Calendar Man out the window with a bomb attached to Day's chest. Terry chooses to try and save Day, but fails. Confirming that Tim Drake was under constant physical and psychological observation since his time as the Joker, Terry eliminates Drake as a suspect and proceeds to confront Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Hush is revealed to have hired the new Catwoman to plant a tracking device on Batman, before proceeding to strangle her as part of his vendetta. A brief scene with Amanda Waller and a woman identified as Doctor Reid suggests a connection between Project Cadmus and Hush. However, Waller insists that they keep their knowledge of this Hush quiet.[24] Using the new Bat-Wraith (a robot designed to replace Terry as Batman), Bruce intervenes in Hush's attempt to kill Catwoman. Hush demonstrates a knowledge of Bruce's old methods—including his equipment trials with Alfred and his habit of making the logo on his chest heavily armoured—and manages to shut down the robot. Hush then proceeds to attempt to hack the Bat-Wraith, which forces Bruce to use the self-destruct. Terry subsequently attempts to trap Hush by posing as current Bat-foe Mad Stan, only to be defeated and exposed by Hush's use of Shriek's technology. Hush unmasks himself, appearing to be a bitter and enraged Dick Grayson.[25] He spares Bruce and Terry so that they can witness him in action saving Gotham. Bruce then directs the new Catwoman on how to treat Terry's injuries. The new Hush is subsequently revealed as a clone of Grayson. Waller, determined to provide the world with a Batman, cloned Grayson based on DNA and memory readings taken after Grayson's last fight as Nightwing. Waller believed that Grayson was more stable than Bruce and would therefore be easier to control. Doctor Reid also reveals herself to be the granddaughter of the original Hush (Nora Elliot before her marriage), seeking to atone for her grandfather's sins.[26] Hush sends a transmission to the Batcave, revealing that he has taken control of the Bat-Wraiths. He threatens to destroy Gotham in order to save it by setting off bombs along a fault line and triggering a new earthquake. The wounded Terry is aided by Dick Grayson despite Bruce and Terry's concerns about his old injuries. They are joined by Catwoman who is seeking revenge for Hush's attack on her. The three track down Hush, but are unable to convince him that he is merely a clone. The group is only able to defeat him when Bruce temporarily overrides Hush's control of the Bat-Wraiths. Hush is then accidentally impaled and killed on a Bat-Wraith when Terry throws him off of the real Grayson, the clone being impaled by a Bat-Wraith coming out of a pit that it had previously fallen into before both fall back into the pit. Terry grimly notes that the lack of a body means they can only think the clone is dead rather than being sure of it. Waller later had Reid taking the blames for Hush's actions in order to continue her work.[27] Absolute Power [ edit ] In an alternate timeline where Batman saved his parents while travelling back in time, Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliott were still friends as adults.[28] Flashpoint [ edit ] In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Hush is subsequently killed by Batman.[29] Batman: Arkham Knight [ edit ] Hush appears in Batman: Arkham Knight comic. As it turns out, Hush's new face was part of a plan that had taken the Arkham Knight years to put into action. Thinking that he was truly Bruce Wayne, Ratcatcher tried to kill him but was disappointed when Hush's bandages came off and his scars were revealed. Two Gotham cops tried to help Hush also believing that he was Wayne, but were overwhelmed by Ratcatcher's rats. Arkham Knight, who'd been following Hush, saved him from Ratcatcher and both of them escaped before Batman showed up. In a safehouse, Hush was patched up and given a sample of Clayface mud that would heal his surgery scars on the proviso that he wouldn't reveal his new face again until the plan was ready. In other media [ edit ] Television [ edit ] Hush was originally going to be featured in a planned DTV set on the animated series The Batman, along with that universe's versions of Riddler, Catwoman, Joker, Clayface, Mr. Freeze and Penguin. The project was later scrapped by DC and WB. There is some sketch art of Hush in Legions of Gotham. [30] Hush was also going to be introduced in the episode "Rumors", written by Joseph Kuhr. DC didn't like the idea, and the villain Rumor (voiced by Ron Perlman) was created in his place. [31] , along with that universe's versions of Riddler, Catwoman, Joker, Clayface, Mr. Freeze and Penguin. The project was later scrapped by DC and WB. There is some sketch art of Hush in. Hush was also going to be introduced in the episode "Rumors", written by Joseph Kuhr. DC didn't like the idea, and the villain (voiced by Ron Perlman) was created in his place. A young Tommy Elliot is featured in the TV series Gotham, portrayed by Cole Vallis in Season 1 and by Gordon Winarick in Season 4.[32][33] He is portrayed as a student at Bruce Wayne's school Anders Preparatory Academy. Tommy first appears in the episode "The Mask" where he makes fun of Bruce's recently deceased mother and then beats Bruce up. With Alfred Pennyworth's encouragement after training him how to fight, Bruce later shows up at Tommy's door and beats him to a pulp with his father's old watch. Alfred ends Bruce's attack and advises Tommy not to talk about anything negative about Bruce's parents next time he sees him. Bruce and Alfred then leave Tommy's residence. In the episode "A Dark Knight: A Day in the Narrows", Tommy no longer causes problems for Bruce and has repented for what he did to him claiming that he acted like a jerk the last time they interacted. Bruce joins Tommy, Grace Blomdhal, Brant Jones, and Emma Hsueh for a night on the town. Film [ edit ] Hush appears in Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants, voiced by Dave B. Mitchell. He appears as an inmate at Arkham Asylum who claims he doesn't belong there and needs to be released to an uncaring Penguin, who just walks by him. , voiced by Dave B. Mitchell. He appears as an inmate at Arkham Asylum who claims he doesn't belong there and needs to be released to an uncaring Penguin, who just walks by him. According to some concept art, Hush was originally planned to be featured in The Lego Batman Movie. [34] . Hush will be the villain of an upcoming 2019 animated film Batman: Hush [35] Video games [ edit ] Lego Batman [ edit ] Hush is a playable character in Lego Batman: The Videogame. He can be unlocked after rescuing all the civilian hostages throughout the game. [36] He uses two handguns as weapons, and can build objects and shoot faster than other characters. When left idle, he raises his hand to his mouth and makes a "hush" expression. He is also unlockable through the "Villain Hunt" minigame in the Nintendo DS version. . He can be unlocked after rescuing all the civilian hostages throughout the game. He uses two handguns as weapons, and can build objects and shoot faster than other characters. When left idle, he raises his hand to his mouth and makes a "hush" expression. He is also unlockable through the "Villain Hunt" minigame in the Nintendo DS version. Hush appears in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, voiced by Nolan North. He appears as a boss fight and an unlockable playable character. , voiced by Nolan North. He appears as a boss fight and an unlockable playable character. Nolan North reprises his role as Hush in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.[37] Batman: Arkham [ edit ] While Hush does not make a direct appearance in Batman: Arkham Origins, he is mentioned by Alfred as having called to invite Bruce over for a celebration with alcohol, following a successful surgery that he performed on a pair of conjoined twins (the Abramovici brothers). Alfred also states that during the call Elliot was slurring his words and was "none too pleased" to learn that Bruce couldn't join him that night, to which Bruce replies, "that's Tommy", signifying friendship and a familiarity with Elliot's personality. Bruce agrees to call him back later, unaware of his old friend's vendetta. In Bane's hideout, there are newspapers that state the "Identity Thief" has struck again, foreshadowing the events in Arkham City. , he is mentioned by Alfred as having called to invite Bruce over for a celebration with alcohol, following a successful surgery that he performed on a pair of conjoined twins (the Abramovici brothers). Alfred also states that during the call Elliot was slurring his words and was "none too pleased" to learn that Bruce couldn't join him that night, to which Bruce replies, "that's Tommy", signifying friendship and a familiarity with Elliot's personality. Bruce agrees to call him back later, unaware of his old friend's vendetta. In Bane's hideout, there are newspapers that state the "Identity Thief" has struck again, foreshadowing the events in. While Hush does not physically appear in the video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, Thomas Elliot's name is featured on an asylum schedule inside Arkham's old medical building. The notice in question seems to indicate that Elliot works double shifts at the facility. , Thomas Elliot's name is featured on an asylum schedule inside Arkham's old medical building. The notice in question seems to indicate that Elliot works double shifts at the facility. Hush appears in the Batman: Arkham City, [38] side mission "Identity Theft", voiced by Kevin Conroy. Initially part of an independent medical team working inside Arkham City to service the prisoners, he was implicated in the theft of aid supplies. Prior to being confronted, Elliot reportedly removed his face. Over the course of the game's storyline, Hush resurfaces as a serial killer who dissects his victims' faces before brutally murdering them – earning the moniker 'Identity Thief' from the Gotham press. Although these actions were written off by Arkham City's private security force as the product of gang disputes, Batman proves more diligent in his investigation – allowing players to track his quarry to a crude surgery theatre. It is revealed that Hush is now mimicking Bruce Wayne down to the smallest detail, having used Arkham City inmates as "donors" for his facial reconstruction. Elliott, apparently ignorant to Wayne's double identity, remains at large, warning that he will continue seeking revenge on his childhood acquaintance. , side mission "Identity Theft", voiced by Kevin Conroy. Initially part of an independent medical team working inside Arkham City to service the prisoners, he was implicated in the theft of aid supplies. Prior to being confronted, Elliot reportedly removed his face. Over the course of the game's storyline, Hush resurfaces as a serial killer who dissects his victims' faces before brutally murdering them – earning the moniker 'Identity Thief' from the Gotham press. Although these actions were written off by Arkham City's private security force as the product of gang disputes, Batman proves more diligent in his investigation – allowing players to track his quarry to a crude surgery theatre. It is revealed that Hush is now mimicking Bruce Wayne down to the smallest detail, having used Arkham City inmates as "donors" for his facial reconstruction. Elliott, apparently ignorant to Wayne's double identity, remains at large, warning that he will continue seeking revenge on his childhood acquaintance. Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Hush in Batman: Arkham Knight, appearing as part of the Most Wanted side mission "Friend in Need". Although he is not seen in costume, he appears disguised as Bruce Wayne. During the midst of Scarecrow's takeover of Gotham City, Hush impersonates Bruce Wayne (following the events of Batman: Arkham City where his face was grafted to look identical to Wayne) and enters Wayne Tower. He captures
2 until end of turn. You don't choose a target for Lurking Chupacabra's ability until after your creature has finished exploring. If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. Effects that trigger when a creature you control explores, such as that of Lurking Chupacabra, trigger if appropriate. Makeshift Munitions 1R Enchantment 1, Sacrifice an artifact or creature: Makeshift Munitions deals 1 damage to target creature or player. You can't sacrifice the same Treasure to pay both 1 and "sacrifice an artifact or creature." Mark of the Vampire 3B Enchantment — Aura Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has lifelink. Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant. Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle 2W Legendary Creature — Vampire Cleric 2/2 Whenever one or more nontoken Vampires you control attack, create a 1/1 white Vampire creature token with lifelink. Once you attack with one or more nontoken Vampires, Mavren Fein's ability will create a Vampire token even if some or all of those Vampires leave the battlefield or are removed from combat. New Horizons 2G Enchantment — Aura Enchant land When New Horizons enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Enchanted land has "T: Add two mana of any one color to your mana pool." You can cast New Horizons even if you control no creatures. If the land this Aura would enchant is an illegal target by the time New Horizons resolves, the entire spell is countered. It won't enter the battlefield, so its ability won't trigger. Otepec Huntmaster 1R Creature — Human Shaman 1/2 Dinosaur spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. T: Target Dinosaur gains haste until end of turn. To determine the total cost of a Dinosaur spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the creature remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was. Perilous Voyage 1U Instant Return target nonland permanent you don't control to its owner's hand. If its converted mana cost was 2 or less, scry 2. If the target permanent is an illegal target by the time Perilous Voyage resolves, the entire spell is countered. You won't scry. Use the permanent's converted mana cost as it existed on the battlefield to determine whether you scry. If a permanent has X in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. Pious Interdiction 3W Enchantment — Aura Enchant creature When Pious Interdiction enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life. Enchanted creature can't attack or block. If the creature this Aura would enchant is an illegal target by the time Pious Interdiction resolves, the entire spell is countered. It won't enter the battlefield, so its ability won't trigger. Pirate's Cutlass 3 Artifact — Equipment When Pirate's Cutlass enters the battlefield, attach it to target Pirate you control. Equipped creature gets +2/+1. Equip 2 (2: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.) You can cast Pirate's Cutlass even if you control no Pirates. Pounce 1G Instant Target creature you control fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) If either or both targets are illegal when Pounce tries to resolve, no creature will deal or be dealt damage. Priest of the Wakening Sun W Creature — Human Cleric 1/1 At the beginning of your upkeep, you may reveal a Dinosaur card from your hand. If you do, you gain 2 life. 3WW, Sacrifice Priest of the Wakening Sun: Search your library for a Dinosaur card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. You don't choose whether to reveal a Dinosaur card from your hand until the triggered ability of Priest of the Wakening Sun resolves. You may respond to the triggered ability by taking an action to get a Dinosaur card into your hand, such as activating its second ability. While resolving Priest of the Wakening Sun's triggered ability, you can't reveal multiple Dinosaur cards to gain more life. You can reveal the same Dinosaur card for multiple Priests of the Wakening Sun or for the same one over multiple turns. Turn Over Primal Amulet 4 Artifact Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a charge counter on Primal Amulet. Then if there are four or more charge counters on it, you may remove those counters and transform it. // Primal Wellspring Land (Transforms from Primal Amulet.) T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. When that mana is spent to cast an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was. Effects that reduce the generic mana cost of a spell can't reduce that spell's colored mana requirements. Primal Amulet's last ability triggers once you've completed casting a spell. Notably, you can't use Primal Wellspring to pay for the spell that gives Primal Amulet its fourth counter. If a fourth charge counter is put on Primal Amulet by something other than the resolution of its ability (as modified by any applicable replacement effects), you won't be able to remove those counters and transform it yet. You'll have to wait until you cast an instant or sorcery spell again. The mana produced by Primal Wellspring can be spent on anything, not just an instant or sorcery spell. Any instant or sorcery spell you spend the mana on will be copied, not just one that requires targets. The delayed triggered ability from Primal Wellspring's mana ability will trigger even if Primal Wellspring leaves the battlefield before that mana is spent. If more than one mana produced by a Primal Wellspring is spent to cast a single instant or sorcery spell, the delayed triggered ability associated with each mana spent will trigger. That many copies will be created. It doesn't matter if this mana was produced by one Primal Wellspring or by multiple Primal Wellsprings. Primal Wellspring's delayed triggered ability can copy the spell even if that spell is countered before the ability resolves. If a copy is created, you control the copy. That copy is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger. The copy will then resolve like a normal spell, after players get a chance to cast spells and activate abilities. The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal). If the copied spell is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode. You can't choose a different one. If the copied spell has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy has the same value of X. You can't choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too. For example, if you sacrifice a 3/3 creature to cast Fling, and you copy it, the copy of Fling will also deal 3 damage to its target. Rallying Roar 2W Instant Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Untap them. Rallying Roar affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won't get +1/+1. Untapped creatures you control get +1/+1 even though Rallying Roar doesn't untap them. Rampaging Ferocidon 2R Creature — Dinosaur 3/3 Menace Players can't gain life. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, Rampaging Ferocidon deals 1 damage to that creature's controller. Spells and abilities that cause players to gain life still resolve while Rampaging Ferocidon is on the battlefield. No player will gain life, but any other effects of that spell or ability will happen. If an effect says to set a player's life total to a number that's higher than the player's current life total while Rampaging Ferocidon is on the battlefield, the player's life total doesn't change. Rampaging Ferocidon's last ability triggers whenever any player has a creature enter the battlefield, including you. If another creature enters the battlefield at the same time as Rampaging Ferocidon, its last ability triggers. Ravenous Daggertooth 2G Creature — Dinosaur 3/2 Enrage — Whenever Ravenous Daggertooth is dealt damage, you gain 2 life. If your life total is brought to 0 or less at the same time that Ravenous Daggertooth is dealt damage, you lose the game before its enrage ability resolves. Revel in Riches 4B Enchantment Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, create a colorless Treasure artifact token with "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control ten or more Treasures, you win the game. If you don't control ten Treasures as your upkeep begins, the second ability of Revel in Riches won't trigger. You can't take any actions during your turn before your upkeep begins. If you don't control ten Treasures as the second ability of Revel in Riches resolves, you won't win the game. If an opponent's creature dies at the same time that Revel in Riches is destroyed, you'll get a Treasure. If the second ability of Revel in Riches causes you to win the game, please refrain from throwing your Treasure tokens into the air as this may distract or injure other players. Rile R Sorcery Rile deals 1 damage to target creature you control. That creature gains trample until end of turn. Draw a card. If Rile targets a creature with 1 toughness, that creature won't be destroyed until after you've drawn a card. Its abilities may affect that draw or trigger on that draw if appropriate. If the damage that would be dealt by Rile is prevented, the creature still gains trample until end of turn. If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Rile resolves, the entire spell is countered. You won't draw a card. River Heralds' Boon 1G Instant Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature and a +1/+1 counter on up to one target Merfolk. You can choose one Merfolk creature as both targets for River Heralds' Boon. You can also choose two different Merfolk creatures. Rowdy Crew 2RR Creature — Human Pirate 3/3 Trample When Rowdy Crew enters the battlefield, draw three cards, then discard two cards at random. If two cards that share a card type are discarded this way, put two +1/+1 counters on Rowdy Crew. Once Rowdy Crew's triggered ability begins to resolve, no player may take other actions until it's done. Notably, you can't discard or cast any of the cards you draw to try to rig the results of the random discard. The card types that can appear on the discarded cards are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type that appears on some older cards). Legendary is a supertype, not a card type. The discarded cards just need to share one card type. For example, Rowdy Crew will get two +1/+1 counters if you discard an artifact creature and an enchantment creature. Rowdy Crew doesn't get more than two +1/+1 counters if the discarded cards happen to share more than one card type. Ruin Raider 2B Creature — Orc Pirate 3/2 Raid — At the beginning of your end step, if you attacked with a creature this turn, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to the card's converted mana cost. If the mana cost of the revealed card includes X, X is considered to be 0. If the revealed card doesn't have a mana cost (because it's a land card, for example), its converted mana cost is 0. The converted mana cost of a split card, such as cards with aftermath from the Amonkhet block, is based on the combined mana cost of its two halves. Ruthless Knave 2B Creature — Orc Pirate 3/2 2B, Sacrifice a creature: Create two colorless Treasure artifact tokens with "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." Sacrifice three Treasures: Draw a card. You can sacrifice Ruthless Knave to pay the cost for its first ability. The Treasures you sacrifice to activate Ruthless Knave's last ability can't also be sacrificed for mana. Sanctum Seeker 2BB Creature — Vampire Knight 3/4 Whenever a Vampire you control attacks, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. In a Two-Headed Giant game, Sanctum Seeker's ability causes the opposing team to lose 2 life and you to gain 1 life. Sanguine Sacrament XWW Instant You gain twice X life. Put Sanguine Sacrament on the bottom of its owner's library. Sanguine Sacrament causes you to gain an amount of life equal to twice the number chosen for X as a single life-gain event. An ability that triggers "Whenever you gain life" will trigger only once. Savage Stomp 2G Sorcery Savage Stomp costs 2 less to cast if it targets a Dinosaur you control. Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Then that creature fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) You can't cast Savage Stomp unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don't control as targets. If either target is an illegal target as Savage Stomp resolves, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage. If the creature you control is an illegal target as Savage Stomp tries to resolve, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on it. If that creature is a legal target but the other creature isn't, you'll still put the counter on the creature you control. Turn Over Search for Azcanta 1U Legendary Enchantment At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. You may put it into your graveyard. Then if you have seven or more cards in your graveyard, you may transform Search for Azcanta. // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin Legendary Land (Transforms from Search for Azcanta.) T: Add U to your mana pool. 2U, T: Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a noncreature, nonland card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. If a seventh card is put into your graveyard by something other than resolving Search for Azcanta's triggered ability, you won't transform it yet. You'll have to wait until your next upkeep. If you have seven or more cards in your graveyard, you may transform Search for Azcanta while resolving its triggered ability even if you choose not to put the top card of your library into your graveyard. If you don't put the top card of your library into your graveyard while resolving Search for Azcanta's triggered ability, you'll leave it on top of your library (and probably draw it during your draw step). Settle the Wreckage 2WW Instant Exile all attacking creatures target player controls. That player may search his or her library for that many basic land cards, put those cards onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle his or her library. Settle the Wreckage targets only the player. Creatures with hexproof that player controls will be exiled as this spell resolves. That player can find fewer basic land cards than the number of exiled creatures, whether because he or she wants to or because he or she doesn't have that many basic land cards left. The number of lands that player may find is the number of attacking creatures that were exiled, even if some of those creatures were tokens, weren't creature cards, or didn't end up in exile (most likely because one was that player's commander in the Commander variant). Shadowed Caravel 2 Artifact — Vehicle 2/2 Whenever a creature you control explores, put a +1/+1 counter on Shadowed Caravel. Crew 2 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 2 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.) Noncreature permanents such as Shadowed Caravel can have +1/+1 counters put on them. Those counters remain on it while it's not a creature, and will apply if it becomes a creature. If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. Effects that trigger when a creature you control explores, such as that of Shadowed Caravel, trigger if appropriate. Shapers' Sanctuary G Enchantment Whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may draw a card. The triggered ability of Shapers' Sanctuary resolves before the spell or ability that caused it to trigger. Players can cast spells and activate abilities after the triggered ability of Shapers' Sanctuary resolves but before the spell or ability that caused it to trigger does. Notably, the card you draw may be able to counter that spell or ability. Siren Stormtamer U Creature — Siren Pirate Wizard 1/1 Flying U, Sacrifice Siren Stormtamer: Counter target spell or ability that targets you or a creature you control. Siren Stormtamer's activated ability can target a spell or ability that has multiple targets, as long as at least one of those targets is you or a creature you control. Siren's Ruse 1U Instant Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. If a Pirate was exiled this way, draw a card. Once the exiled creature returns, it's considered a new object with no relation to the object that it was. Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist. The returned creature won't be the target of any spells or abilities that targeted it before. Any spells that don't target it, such as Star of Extinction, will still affect it. If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield. You'll draw a card if the creature was a Pirate as it was exiled, even if it doesn't return to the battlefield (most likely because it's a token) or if it returns to the battlefield but isn't a Pirate anymore (most likely because it's copying something else). Skulduggery B Instant Until end of turn, target creature you control gets +1/+1 and target creature an opponent controls gets -1/-1. You can't cast Skulduggery unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don't control as targets. If either target becomes illegal after you cast Skulduggery but before it resolves, the other is still affected as appropriate. Slice in Twain 2GG Instant Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Draw a card. If the target artifact or enchantment is an illegal target by the time Slice in Twain resolves, the entire spell is countered. You won't draw a card. If, on the other hand, the target is a legal target but isn't destroyed (most likely because it has indestructible), you'll draw a card. Sorcerous Spyglass 2 Artifact As Sorcerous Spyglass enters the battlefield, look at an opponent's hand, then choose any card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities. You can choose any card name, even if that card doesn't normally have an activated ability. You're not limited to the names of cards you saw in the opponent's hand. You can't choose the name of a token unless that token has the same name as a card. Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "[Cost]: [Effect]." Some keyword abilities (such as equip and crew) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. Triggered abilities (starting with "when," "whenever," or "at") are unaffected by the last ability of Sorcerous Spyglass. An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate. Sorcerous Spyglass affects cards regardless of what zone they're in. This includes cards in hand, cards in the graveyard, and exiled cards. Spell Swindle 3UU Instant Counter target spell. Create X colorless Treasure artifact tokens, where X is that spell's converted mana cost. They have "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." For spells with X in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine the spell's converted mana cost. You may target a spell that can't be countered. When Spell Swindle resolves, the target spell will be unaffected, but you'll still get Treasures. Steadfast Armasaur 3W Creature — Dinosaur 2/3 Vigilance 1W, T: Steadfast Armasaur deals damage equal to its toughness to target creature blocking or blocked by it. Tapping an attacking or blocking creature doesn't remove it from combat. If the target of Steadfast Armasaur's ability survives the damage, Steadfast Armasaur will deal combat damage to and be dealt combat damage by that creature as normal. If Steadfast Armasaur is no longer on the battlefield as its ability resolves, use its toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how damage is dealt. Storm Sculptor 3U Creature — Merfolk Wizard 3/2 Storm Sculptor can't be blocked. When Storm Sculptor enters the battlefield, return a creature you control to its owner's hand. Storm Sculptor's last ability doesn't target the creature you'll return to hand. You choose one as the ability resolves. No player may take actions between the time you choose a creature to return and the time you do so. Storm Sculptor's last ability isn't optional. If Storm Sculptor is the only creature you control when the ability resolves, you'll have to return it to its owner's hand. Sun-Crowned Hunters 4RR Creature — Dinosaur 5/4 Enrage — Whenever Sun-Crowned Hunters is dealt damage, it deals 3 damage to target opponent. If your life total is brought to 0 or less at the same time that Sun-Crowned Hunters is dealt damage, you lose the game before its enrage ability resolves. Sunbird's Invocation 5R Enchantment Whenever you cast a spell from your hand, reveal the top X cards of your library, where X is that spell's converted mana cost. You may cast a card revealed this way with converted mana cost X or less without paying its mana cost. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Casting Sunbird's Invocation won't cause its own ability to trigger. The ability of Sunbird's Invocation resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It will resolve even if that spell is countered. If you cast a spell as part of the resolution of the ability, that spell resolves before the spell that caused the ability to trigger. For spells with X in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine the spell's converted mana cost. If the spell's converted mana cost is 0, you do nothing as the ability of Sunbird's Invocation resolves. If a revealed card in your library has X in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. If you cast one of the revealed cards, you do so as part of the resolution of the triggered ability. You can't wait to cast it later in the turn. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored, but other restrictions (such as "Cast [this card] only during combat") are not. If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Costly Plunder, those must be paid to cast the card. The converted mana cost of a split card, such as cards with aftermath from the Amonkhet block, is based on the combined mana cost of its two halves. Sword-Point Diplomacy 2B Sorcery Reveal the top three cards of your library. For each of those cards, put that card into your hand unless any opponent pays 3 life. Then exile the rest. You reveal all three cards before opponents choose whether to pay life for any of them. In a multiplayer game, each opponent in turn order chooses whether to pay life for one card before proceeding to the next card. You choose the order to perform this process for the cards, but opponents may discuss them before making any choices. Opponents will then know choices made by earlier opponents when making their choices. Tempest Caller 2UU Creature — Merfolk Wizard 2/3 When Tempest Caller enters the battlefield, tap all creatures target opponent controls. Tempest Caller's ability targets only the player. Creatures with hexproof that player controls will be tapped as that ability resolves. Turn Over Thaumatic Compass 2 Artifact 3, T: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. At the beginning of your end step, if you control seven or more lands, transform Thaumatic Compass. // Spires of Orazca Land (Transforms from Thaumatic Compass.) T: Add C to your mana pool. T: Untap target attacking creature an opponent controls and remove it from combat. Removing a creature from combat doesn't change the fact that it attacked, even though it's no longer an attacking creature. Notably, raid abilities will still be satisfied if every attacking creature is removed from combat. Tilonalli's Knight 1R Creature — Human Knight 2/2 Whenever Tilonalli's Knight attacks, if you control a Dinosaur, Tilonalli's Knight gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If you don't control a Dinosaur as Tilonalli's Knight attacks, its ability won't trigger at all. If you don't control a Dinosaur as the ability of Tilonalli's Knight resolves, that ability has no effect. Once the ability of Tilonalli's Knight resolves while you control one or more Dinosaurs, Tilonalli's Knight gets +1/+1 for the rest of the turn even if you no longer control a Dinosaur later in the turn. Tilonalli's Skinshifter 2R Creature — Human Shaman 0/1 Haste Whenever Tilonalli's Skinshifter attacks, it becomes a copy of another target nonlegendary attacking creature until end of turn. If the target of the ability of Tilonalli's Skinshifter becomes an illegal target, Tilonalli's Skinshifter won't become a copy of anything. It will remain a 0/1 attacking creature. Tilonalli's Skinshifter copies the printed values of the target creature, plus any copy effects that have been applied to it. It won't copy counters on that creature or effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. Notably, Tilonalli's Skinshifter won't copy effects that make a noncreature permanent become a creature. If this causes Tilonalli's Skinshifter to stop being a creature, it's removed from combat. If Tilonalli's Skinshifter copies a creature that's copying something else, it will become whatever the target is copying. If an effect from a resolving spell or ability, such as that of Rallying Roar, begins to apply to Tilonalli's Skinshifter before it becomes a copy of another creature, that effect will continue to apply. Because attackers have already been declared, any abilities Tilonalli's Skinshifter copies that trigger when it or other creatures attack won't trigger. Once the ability of Tilonalli's Skinshifter resolves, its new characteristics don't change if the characteristics of the copied creature change or if the copied creature leaves the battlefield. Tilonalli's Skinshifter remains a copy of the creature through the end step. Damage is removed from it at the same time that it stops being a copy. Tishana, Voice of Thunder 5GU Legendary Creature — Merfolk Shaman / Tishana, Voice of Thunder's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand. You have no maximum hand size. When Tishana enters the battlefield, draw a card for each creature you control. The number of creatures you control is counted only as Tishana's last ability resolves. If Tishana is still on the battlefield, it'll count itself. If Tishana enters the battlefield while you have no cards in hand, it will be put into your graveyard for having 0 toughness before its triggered ability resolves. Because damage remains marked on a creature until it's removed as the turn ends, the damage Tishana takes during combat may become lethal if cards leave your hand later in the turn, such as by casting them in your postcombat main phase. Tocatli Honor Guard 1W Creature — Human Soldier 1/3 Creatures entering the battlefield don't cause abilities to trigger. Triggered abilities use the word "when," "whenever," or "at." They're usually written as "[Trigger condition], [effect]." Replacement effects, such as a permanent entering the battlefield tapped or with counters on it, are unaffected. Abilities that apply "as [this creature] enters the battlefield" are replacement effects. Tocatli Honor Guard's ability stops a creature's own enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities as well as other triggered abilities that would trigger when a creature enters the battlefield. This includes abilities that would trigger when Tocatli Honor Guard itself enters the battlefield. The trigger event doesn't have to specify "creatures" entering the battlefield. For example, Contraband Kingpin has an ability that says "Whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, scry 1." If an artifact creature enters the battlefield under your control, that ability won't trigger. If a noncreature artifact enters the battlefield under your control, the ability will trigger. Look at the permanent as it exists on the battlefield, taking into account continuous effects, to determine whether any triggered abilities will trigger. For example, if you control March of the Machines, which says, in part, "Each noncreature artifact is an artifact creature," each artifact will be a creature at the time it enters the battlefield and will not cause triggered abilities to trigger. If Tocatli Honor Guard and another creature enter the battlefield at the same time, neither creature entering the battlefield will cause triggered abilities to trigger. Turn Over Treasure Map 2 Artifact 1, T: Scry 1. Put a landmark counter on Treasure Map. Then if there are three or more landmark counters on it, remove those counters, transform Treasure Map, and create three colorless Treasure artifact tokens with "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." // Treasure Cove Land (Transforms from Treasure Map.) T: Add C to your mana pool. T, Sacrifice a Treasure: Draw a card. If a third landmark counter is put on Treasure Map by something other than the resolution of its first ability (as modified by any applicable replacement effects), you won't remove those counters, transform Treasure Map, or get Treasures yet. You'll have to wait until you activate its first ability again. If Treasure Map leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, you can't put a landmark counter on it. However, if it somehow already had three landmark counters on it before it left the battlefield, you'll get three Treasures. Trove of Temptation 3R Enchantment Each opponent must attack you or a planeswalker you control with at least one creature each combat if able. At the beginning of your end step, create a colorless Treasure artifact token with "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." Each opponent only has to attack you or a planeswalker you control with one creature total, not one creature for you and one for each planeswalker you control. Other creatures are free to attack other players or other planeswalkers, or to not attack at all. If a creature isn't able to attack you or a planeswalker you control for any reason (such as being tapped as its controller's declare attackers step begins or being affected by "summoning sickness"), that creature doesn't have to attack. If no creatures a player controls are able to attack you or a planeswalker you control, Trove of Temptation's requirement has no effect during that combat. If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either. In a Two-Headed Giant game, each of your two opponents must attack your team or a planeswalker you control with at least one creature if able. Attacking a planeswalker your teammate controls doesn't satisfy Trove of Temptation's requirement. Combat damage from creatures attacking your team may be assigned to your teammate. Vampire's Zeal W Instant Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. If it's a Vampire, it gains first strike until end of turn. If the creature is a Vampire, it gets +2/+2 and gains first strike. If the creature becomes a Vampire later in the turn, it won't gain first strike. Turn Over Vance's Blasting Cannons 3R Legendary Enchantment At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. If it's a nonland card, you may cast that card this turn. Whenever you cast your third spell in a turn, you may transform Vance's Blasting Cannons. // Spitfire Bastion Legendary Land (Transforms from Vance's Blasting Cannons.) T: Add R to your mana pool. 2R, T: Spitfire Bastion deals 3 damage to target creature or player. The card exiled by the first ability of Vance's Blasting Cannons is exiled face up. Casting the exiled card follows the normal rules for casting that card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if you exile a creature card this way, you must wait until your main phase to cast it. If you don't cast the exiled card, it remains in exile. The second ability of Vance's Blasting Cannons resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered. The second ability of Vance's Blasting Cannons counts all the spells you've cast, including Vance's Blasting Cannons itself if you cast it this turn. The ability won't trigger unless Vance's Blasting Cannons is on the battlefield as you cast your third spell of the turn. Vanquisher's Banner 5 Artifact As Vanquisher's Banner enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. Whenever you cast a creature spell of the chosen type, draw a card. The choice of creature type is made as Vanquisher's Banner enters the battlefield. Players can't respond to this choice. The bonus starts applying immediately. The last ability of Vanquisher's Banner resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if the creature spell is countered. Verdant Rebirth 1G Instant Until end of turn, target creature gains "When this creature dies, return it to its owner's hand." Draw a card. If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Verdant Rebirth resolves, the entire spell is countered. You won't draw a card. Verdant Sun's Avatar 5GG Creature — Dinosaur Avatar 5/5 Whenever Verdant Sun's Avatar or another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you gain life equal to that creature's toughness. The entering creature's toughness is determined as the ability of Verdant Sun's Avatar resolves. If that creature has left the battlefield, use its toughness as it last existed on the battlefield. If the creature's toughness was less than 0, your life total won't change. Vineshaper Mystic 2G Creature — Merfolk Shaman 1/3 When Vineshaper Mystic enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target Merfolk you control. You can't target the same Merfolk twice to have it receive two +1/+1 counters. Vineshaper Mystic can be the target of its own ability. Vona, Butcher of Magan 3WB Legendary Creature — Vampire Knight 4/4 Vigilance, lifelink T, Pay 7 life: Destroy target nonland permanent. Activate this ability only during your turn. Vona's last ability can be activated during any step or phase of your turn, including the combat phase. It's possible to attack with Vona and then activate its ability before blockers are declared. Doing so won't remove V
York Police Department won't talk about it. Nor will the department acknowledge whether it recorded its broadcast of demonstrators at the rally, which would be a violation of a court order that prohibits police from routine filming of public demonstrations where crimes are not in progress. At the rally, the TARU officers even denied the broadcast truck was being operated by police, instead telling an APBnews.com reporter it was owned by an independent film crew. When the reporter discovered the truck was actually being operated by the NYPD, the officers recanted their initial statement, acknowledging they were transmitting live video of the rally to police headquarters for police brass to watch. Later, police spokesmen rebuffed queries about the vehicle and police video broadcasts. "We're not interested in everybody knowing what the Police Department has," said New York City police spokesman Detective Walter Burnes. "What we use it for is police business. We're not going to talk about it." Burnes' supervisor, Lt. Stephen Biegel, agreed. "It's a piece of equipment that we're not going to talk about," said Biegel. The NYPD's information blackout on its broadcast capabilities may go beyond public relations belligerence. A legal consent decree prevents police from videotaping public demonstrations such as the Million Youth March. The order, known as the Handschu Consent Decree, prohibits police from photographing or filming attendees at an event, unless a crime or confrontation is under way or imminent, said Will Harrell, director of the Police Accountability Project of the National Lawyers Guild. It's unclear whether NYPD video crews who filmed the march attempted to circumvent the legal decree by broadcasting the event to police headquarters but not recording it. Police declined to discuss their actions. Repeated messages left with the press offices of the NYPD and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani went unanswered. "The whole idea was that people shouldn't be intimidated by police videotaping," said Harrell. Although the police declined to describe their live broadcast system, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) records -- along with a contractor hired to establish the network -- reveal a sophisticated private system that can stream live video broadcasts via microwave from a 300-mile radius around the city. In New York [as elsewhere in America], police video is relayed from the unmarked ENG truck or a pair of microwave-transmitting helicopters to the closed police network via antennas and relay transmitters on tops of buildings. FCC records show that the NYPD uses antennas that bristle from the heights of Manhattan's tallest buildings, including the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building. The city owns more than two dozen FCC licenses for mobile microwave transmission. The FCC's records show the NYPD also owns licenses for use of three microwave broadcast frequencies that lie in a portion of the spectrum reserved for covert police operations. During investigations, police can use small, sophisticated cameras to broadcast live surveillance images to a nearby ENG truck, which can relay them to headquarters. "They could implant a system in a telephone pole, disguising it to look like a transformer -- but it's a camera with a microwave unit," said Howard Epstein of Consolidated Spectrum Services of Atkinson, N.H. He said police use tiny surveillance cameras disguised within a pair of glasses or a pendant that can transmit live images via microwaves. "This allows them to covertly monitor any number of illegal operations that take place," said Epstein. Epstein is a private contractor hired by the New York police to research frequencies and purchase FCC licenses. His name is listed as a technical contact on some of the NYPD's broadcast licenses. Epstein said he's helped the NYPD license and operate air, land and covert frequencies. He's also set up frequencies and obtained microwave licenses for law enforcers in Pima County, Ariz.; Nassau County, N.Y.; Spokane, Wash.; and for the Maine State Police. (Written by Jime Krane and published 15 November 1999 by APBnews.) Contact the New York Surveillance Camera Players By e-mail SCP@notbored.org By snail mail: SCP c/o NOT BORED! POB 1115, Stuyvesant Station, New York City 10009-9998A Girl Scouts troop leader in California has been arrested and charged with stealing thousands of dollars in cookie sale profits, the Pasadena Star-News reports. Ana Isabel Juarez, 30, is accused of misusing a Girl Scouts debit card tied to a South El Monte/El Monte-based troop's cookie account between September 2011 and March 2012, according to the paper. Girl Scouts officials discovered that more than $4,000 in cookie money was missing from the troop's account following a month-long effort to sell thousands of boxes of cookies. Another $2,000 is also missing from the account, Girl Scouts officials told the paper. Juarez was arrested April 17 on suspicion of felony grand theft, the paper reports. Now, troop parents are scrambling to make up for the dough they lost in the year's biggest fundraiser. "The moms and I are disappointed. We are very angry," Verna de los Reyes, a co-leader of the troop, told the Pasadena Star-News.PrintReleaf has an immediate opening for a full-stack Ruby on Rails developer to join our growing software development team. At PrintReleaf we are building the world’s first platform for automated reforestation. We measure paper consumption at businesses, equate it to the number of trees deforested to produce that paper, and automate the reforestation of those trees at planting projects around the world. The PrintReleaf product layer is powered by Ruby on Rails: everything from our suite of dashboard and account management applications, to our public APIs and marketing site. As a developer on the product team, you build and maintain customer-facing and internal web applications and APIs using modern tools and an open-source stack. We use Rails 4.2 on Ruby 2.2 with Postgres and Redis. We use Linux on AWS in production, and we automate our infrastructure and deployments using tools like Terraform and Ansible. You have: Professional or open source experience building web software with Ruby on Rails Strong understanding of the Ruby language and ecosystem Experience with the RSpec unit testing library Authored, documented, and maintained RESTful APIs Solid background with relational databases (Postgres) Familiarity with Git and GitHub An analytical mind and a determination to get to the bottom of problems Excellent verbal and written communication skills Bonus: Rails 5 experience Extra bonus: design chops, HTML+CSS, responsive development, JavaScript frameworks (Angular, React, etc.) You should: Be comfortable and productive working independently and on small teams Think asynchronously and be comfortable with developing and running code in a distributed environment Have an opinion on test-driven development Enjoy taking things apart to see how they work Take pride in a well built and well specified system Have a passion for developing a product that provides a sustainable environmental solution You would:Patricia Brennan strolls through an outdoor aviary with a net in hand. She scoops up a duck, turns it onto its back, and applies pressure to its belly. "If you know exactly where to press, you can pop the penis out," she explains. "They're quite cooperative. The males get used to being handled." The biologist didn't plan to spend more than a decade coaxing ducks to reveal their genitals to her. It wasn't until the end of graduate school that she realized birds could have penises at all. And with good reason: the vast majority of birds – 97 percent – don't. Ducks are among the small minority that does. Owing to an odd quirk in their physiology, ducks develop their penises anew each year. When the changing amount of daylight signals the start of breeding season, their genitals begin to grow. At the end of the breeding season, they shrink. But Brennan, who is based at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and her team have found that ducks’ social scene can have an effect too. Duck penises evolved their corkscrew shapes as a result of conflict with females. Brennan wondered whether competition among males could also influence their penis development. To find out, she and her team sorted two species with very different mating systems, ruddy ducks and lesser scaups, either into pairs or into groups of five females and eight males, all housed in naturalistic outdoor aviaries. The highly promiscuous ruddy ducks never form pair bonds, and almost all copulations are forced. Lesser scaups do form pair bonds, and attempt forced copulations with other females somewhat less often. View Images "They're quite cooperative," biologist Patricia Brennan says of her research subjects. "The males get used to being handled." Photograby by Patricia Brennan As the researchers expected, the lesser scaups housed in groups grew longer penises than those housed in pairs. The results were published Wednesday in the journal The Auk. Meanwhile, ruddy ducks already have enormous penises that stretch nearly as long as the rest of their bodies. Brennan didn't see how the ruddy ducks could possibly grow them even longer. In one way, she was right: most group-living ruddy ducks did not develop longer penises. Instead, she was surprised to find, they hardly grew penises at all. These ducks formed dominance hierarchies. One male at the top grew a really long penis and kept it throughout the breeding season. Subordinate ducks, unable to grow longer penises, demonstrated a different strategy. "Everybody else grows a penis very quickly, trying to sneak in some copulations before the [dominant] male starts beating them up," says Brennan. After breeding, their penises then shrink back to a non-reproductive state just as rapidly. If they're lucky, they can get away without incurring the wrath of the boss duck. The impacts of communal life on each species reveal a unique aspect of duck biology: the social milieu has a stark effect on penis growth. The only other animal known to modify its genitals according to the social environment is the hermaphroditic acorn barnacle, a crustacean that grows a longer penis when its colony is sparsely populated so it can better reach its nearest neighbor. These patterns are only possible because these animals have the unique ability to regrow their genitals each year, says University of Southern California biologist Matt Dean, who wasn't involved in the study. Other vertebrates do annually grow and shrink their testes, but it's very rare for animals to enlarge and reduce the penis itself. "It's when the conditions vary year to year that plasticity itself becomes advantageous," he says. "If you don't need it, maybe don't grow it." Or at least, don't grow it quite as long.7 years ago (CNN) - Mitt Romney had "no idea" George H.W. Bush was going to publicly support his bid for the White House Thursday, saying at an event in New Hampshire the backing from the former president meant more personally than it did politically. "I had no idea that was coming," Romney said, adding he thought of Bush as a "hero." Romney's comments came after Bush told the Houston Chronicle the former Massachusetts governor was the "best choice" for the 2012 Republican nomination. The Texas newspaper noted Bush's support did not constitute an official endorsement. Bush and his family live in the state of another presidential hopeful, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, complicating the notion of a full-scale endorsement. In the interview with the Chronicle, Bush explained why he wasn't backing Perry. "I like Perry, but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere; he's not surging forward," Bush said. He also added: "I've got to be a little careful, because I like Perry; he's our governor." Bush praised Romney's "stability, experience, principles," saying the candidate was more even-keeled than his competition. "I just think he's mature and reasonable – not a bomb-thrower." Bush met with Romney as recently as the beginning of December, when the candidate visited the former president and his wife Barbara at their home near Houston. At the time, Romney aides said the trip wasn't meant to secure an endorsement, noting the two politicians were long-time friends. On Thursday, Romney's spokeswoman Andrea Saul wrote on Twitter the candidate called Bush to thank him for his support. At his New Hampshire event, Romney said he thanked Bush "for his support, his leadership, his heroic life, and his friendship." –CNN's Rachel Streitfeld and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.Aurora, Illinois -- ironically named only in retrospect -- was one of the early places to experiment with artificial moonlight. The town contracted with Charles Francis Brush, an inventor and an entrepreneur and one of Edison's chief competitors in the race to electrify America. In his wonderful book The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America, Ernest Freeberg describes what it's like to be a town lit, suddenly, by imitation moons. Brush installed his enormous lights, Freeberg notes, via six iron towers studded across Aurora -- structures "rising like gigantic pencils over the city's rooftops." Stretching high above the skyline, Brush arc lamps provided intense light to the areas directly below them. They also, Freeberg writes, "bathed the surrounding fields and 'lonely outskirts' of the city with something like 'full summer moonlight.'" In comparison with this display of power, the old gas lamps lining the streets below the towers began to look quaint -- "more decorative," Freeberg writes, "than useful." Light was, suddenly, everywhere, even and especially where nature had not intended it to be. Night became not-night. The day broadened its reach. And joy ensued. One visitor from Chicago described Aurora's citizens to be "in a state of delighted enthusiasm over the splendid practical results." The moonlight towers, he declared, were a "most brilliant success." But the towers, it turned out, were neither entirely brilliant nor entirely successful. The problem with a singular light source is the singularity: The light comes, inevitably, at an angle. The powerful illumination from one of Aurora's manmade moons could be easily blocked by anything that got in its way, be it a tree or a building or a human body. People complained about the disorienting shadows cast by the arc lights, Freeberg notes. They complained about the jarring effects of walking from day to night in the space of a few footfalls. Brush, aware of this problem, focused his moon tower efforts on Midwestern cities that had the twin virtues of being both geographically flat and designed on a grid, thus mitigating the problem of the angles. Still, it soon became clear that many moons would be required to illuminate even the smallest of towns. "Inevitably," Freeberg writes, engineers "added more towers, replacing a single false moon with a constellation of brilliant stars." The man-made heavens made their way to Detroit. Aldermen of the city, Freeberg notes, were eager to swath their city in the grandeur that would come with being "the best lighted in the world." They contracted with the Brush Company to erect 70 light towers around the city, each one massive and measuring at least 150 feet in height. Brush, recognizing the publicity that could come with lighting the world's best-lighted city, offered to install the mini-moons at no cost to Detroit -- and, to sweeten the deal, promised to charge the city the same rate for electricity that it was already paying for gas. The arrangement was a business transaction with celestial overtones: Brush promised Detroit and its citizens not just the awe of cities that still toiled in the dark, but "a light equal to first-class moonlight." During the hot summer of 1882, the installation of the new moon towers became its own kind of brilliant spectacle. People gathered to witness the building of structures that represented Progress and Ingenuity and, in a very real sense, The Future. They also gathered to witness some drama. Since electrical engineers were just learning their trade -- that trade, in Detroit's case, being the erection of 150-foot-tall poles anchoring 500 pounds worth of lights -- accidents were, perhaps, inevitable. And falling towers -- thin metal, plus gravity -- had an uncanny way of slicing through roofs as they toppled toward the ground.OTTAWA—Quebec’s ongoing political fixation with secularism and religious symbols has jumped into the federal NDP leadership race, creating a new schism among candidates on the eve of the contest’s only entirely French debate in Montreal on Sunday. This week, Quebec MP Guy Caron resurrected the discussion at the federal level, prompting a rehash among contenders of the lingering question — playing out currently in Quebec City — of religious symbols such as the niqab and their place in the public service. Guy Caron participates in the first debate of the federal NDP leadership race in March. Caron, of Quebec, put out a "Québec 2019" platform that includes a section of secularism. ( Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo ) The only politician from the province in the race, Caron put out a “Québec 2019” platform. It included a section on secularism, which stated that a political consensus is emerging among leading right- and left-wing parties in the province to support a government bill that bans face coverings such as the niqab in the public service. Caron said that although he personally disagrees with the bill he would respect a Quebec decision to restrict what religious symbols a public employee can wear to work. This is in line with Caron’s plan to “modernize” the NDP’s stance on Quebec, where the party would recognize the province’s distinct history and its “authority” to legislate on issues of secularism. Read more: Article Continued Below Religious rights may dominate remaining weeks of NDP leadership campaign: Hébert “I do not believe that the state should dictate what people can wear,” his platform states. “Many Quebecers agree with me, but in the end I am convinced that the final decision must remain with Quebec’s National Assembly.” That has Caron at odds with at least two of his opponents in the leadership race. Ontario MP Charlie Angus told the Star he values the separation of religion and state, having been threatened with excommunication by his own church when he voted in favour of marriage equality in 2005. Angus added, however, that questions of religious accommodation and minority rights — in this case the right to wear religious symbols such as the niqab — are best left to the courts. “I don’t trust politicians to tell women how to dress. I also know that any legislation at the provincial or federal level has to be charter compliant and that’s the way it should be,” Angus said in the statement. “I joined the NDP because of our long tradition of fighting for minority rights even when such issues weren’t popular. I will continue that proud tradition as NDP leader.” Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, also in the running for federal leader, said Friday she also opposes the idea of a government restricting what people can wear when working for the public service. Article Continued Below “For me, that’s simply a line in the sand that can’t be crossed,” Ashton said, adding that, at the same time, she is troubled by suggestions that people in Quebec with strong opinions on secularism are somehow intolerant. “Ultimately what we have to be doing is fighting against discrimination, including Islamophobia, including racism, which of course continues to be prevalent across the country,” she said. The final candidate in the race, Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh, did not respond to questions about secularism and religious symbols, but a campaign spokesperson said he would be available to comment Saturday. The issue of state secularism has roiled Quebec since the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, when the government began to be uncoupled from the Catholic Church, which provided schooling and social services for decades in the province. More recently, the Parti Québécois courted controversy with its proposed secularism charter, which sought to bar some religious symbols, such as burkas and niqabs, from the public service, during a failed bid to retain power in the 2014 provincial election. A similar discussion rumbled through the 2015 federal election, when NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair came out forcefully against a proposed ban on face coverings — such as a niqab — when people vote or become citizens. Some NDP insiders, including Olivia Chow, a former MP and widow of Mulcair’s predecessor, the revered leader Jack Layton, have argued Mulcair’s position led to a marked decline in support from Quebec voters. Karl Bélanger, a former NDP operative who worked with Layton and Mulcair, said it is not surprising that an issue dominating the political conversation in Quebec would leak into the federal leadership race. “No single issue cost more votes to the NDP (in 2015) than this one, so of course it is resonating today, because there is no solution to this debate at this point,” he said. “At the end of the day, there’s no clear path forward for the party to deal with the issue.” Aside from the likelihood of discussion on secularism and religious rights, the debate will be closely watched for the performance of anglophone candidates, said political analyst and former NDP operative Ian Capstick. This particularly applies to Angus and Singh, who are generally perceived to be less fluent in French than Ashton and — obviously — Caron, he said. “I’m not certain that either of them has demonstrated proficiency in the French language up to this point, and they have one chance to fix that — this weekend,” Capstick said. “This is critical. This will be the real test to see how well those men can actually speak French.” The debate is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday. Read more about:This story is part of a special series that explores energy issues. For more, visit The Great Energy Challenge. How much fuel went into producing the food on your plate? Chances are, it was a lot more energy than you will ever get out of eating that meal. By some estimates, it takes about 10 calories of fossil fuels to get each calorie of food from farm to fork in the American food system. But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to a study published Monday in the May/June edition of Agronomy Journal. Farmers can slash their fossil fuel use, while still growing bumper crops and turning a profit—all with the help of a little more crop rotation, concluded the team of researchers from Iowa State University after a six-year study. In tests on a research farm in Iowa, the team mixed oats, alfalfa, and other crops into the rotation along with corn and soybeans, the two mainstays of the U.S. Corn Belt. Fertilizing naturally With a more diverse set of crops, the farms needed only a fraction of the normal amounts of synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, both of which are typically manufactured from natural gas. One key was using alfalfa, which captures nitrogen from the air and stores it in the soil. Thanks to this natural fertilization, the fields planted with alfalfa needed only about one-quarter the usual amount of nitrogen from chemical fertilizers. The approach would be a major departure for most U.S. grain farms, which are accustomed to a two-year rotation—planting corn one year and soy the next, then repeating the cycle. Agronomy professor Matt Liebman and a team of researchers at Iowa State University found that a farm could cut its fossil fuel use in half by shifting to a four-year cycle—adding a year of another grain, such as oats, and a year of alfalfa, a legume, to the typical corn-soy rotation. These low-energy fields produced as many calories worth of crops, and generated about the same amount of money. "Our interest was not just how much corn we might be able to produce, but how much income might be generated on the farm," Liebman said. The alternative approach required planning, labor, and one other important element—livestock. The researchers fed cows on corn, oats, and the hay from alfalfa, and then spread the cows' manure back on the fields. This contributed to fossil fuel savings by further reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers to provide received key nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. "Manure is an excellent way to recycle these back to the fields," Liebman said. However, the alternative methods did take twice as much labor, the study found,. ”We're not talking about huge amounts of back-breaking toil," Liebman said. "It's driving a tractor, and cutting hay, and then raking and baling it—and that's all done with machinery." Incentive to Change These complex rotations of crops have many benefits besides saving fossil fuels, said crop scientist Bill Deen of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. The approach increases soil carbon levels and reduces erosion, he said. There is a downside, however: "While complex rotations are desirable, there is limited market incentive to use them," Deen said, because there's a small market for crops such as alfalfa. Deen said that another approach to saving fossil fuels is to grow alfalfa and other plants as "cover crops," which are left on the field rather than being harvested. "I think cover crops make more sense than trying to introduce crops with limited market opportunity," Deen said. Liebman’s team notes that Iowa had a long history of farms that mixed crop and livestock production. But a combination of low energy prices and high labor costs contributed to the adoption of the conventional two-year corn and soybean rotation the researchers conclude. But grain farmers have found their reliance on fossil fuels can turn costly when oil prices spike. Also, farmers have been watching closely the possibility of federal action on global warming, which could cause fossil fuel prices to rise even more. The Iowa State researchers argue that if fossil energy prices rise, but crop values don't keep up, farmers might have the incentive they need to shift to a more diversified cropping system. "As fossil energy becomes more expensive,” Liebman said, “the conventional systems will be at a disadvantage."Suicide Solution Randy Rhoads’ time in the spotlight as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist was oh so brief, but in the two records he recorded with the former Black Sabbath frontman, Rhoads left an indelible impact thanks to his phenomenal, neo-classical guitar style. Rhoads single-handedly helped spawn the neo-classical metal genre, while also influencing thousands of guitarists after his death (in a plane crash) in 1982. Here are five of the best songs Rhoads recorded with Ozzy from theandalbums. “Suicide Solution”, off the Blizzard of Ozz record, features Rhoads churning out one of his finest, angry-sounding riffs. With a solid backbeat from bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake, Rhoads is free to incorporate his signature screams and bends, giving the track added depth. Suicide Solution has become one of Ozzy’s trademark songs over the years. For a really amazing version, check it out live on Ozzy’s Tribute album to hear how Rhoads really flexes his guitar muscle. It’s the track that saw Ozzy getting sued in 1986 by a California family after their son committed suicide while listening to it. The case was dismissed in 1988. Mr. Crowley If ever there was a song that can be described as neo-classical heavy metal, it’s “Mr. Crowley” from the Blizzard of Ozz album. The keyboard intro lays down the mood, while the lyrics about Aleister Crowley, who was denounced as a satanist and would surely have been denounced as a heretic in the Middle Ages, add to the aura of the song. Rhoads main riff is intertwined with bursts, string scratches and fills, while the solos are stellar. The mid solo reminds one of a violin virtuoso playing lead guitar. The outro solo is Rhoads using trills, runs and lightning-fast picking. Amazing stuff. Again, the Tribute version kicks ass. I Don't Know The opening track from Blizzard, this would have been everyone’s first listen to Randy Rhoads, and he made sure people knew he meant business, laying down a blistering opening riff, then throwing in a classic little run at the 0:28 mark. With that 30 seconds or so, Rhoads announced to the world he was onto something. The song blends heavy power chords with a jazzy interlude in the bridge. Then the solo takes it to another level as Rhoads dazzles with de-tuned phrasings, runs, his classic deep bends and speedy hammer-pull combos. For an Ozzy song, I don’t know is a thrill-a-minute ride on the crazy train. Over The Mountain The first song from the Diary of a Madman record, Over the Mountain sees Rhoads showing his rhythm chops with the chugging main riff, interspersed with his usual phrasings. Ozzy’s in fine form, singing about altered reality and getting high. Then the solo is one of Rhoads’ most memorable, marrying a harmonized passage with a series of partially slurred whammy bar phrases for a strangely unsettled vibe that’s almost like two solos in one. The epic string scratch that caps the solo off nicely carries back into the final verse and riff. S.A.T.O. One of the most unheralded of Ozzy’s songs, S.A.T.O. (from Diary of a Madman) is one of those tracks that carries you off on a journey, not across the sky, but across the ocean. To that end, most people think S.A.T.O. stands for Sailing Across The Ocean, however, Sharon Osbourne has said it actually stands for Sharon Arden Thelma Osbourne. Sharon is Ozzy’s current wife, while Thelma is his ex. In terms of the music, it’s a tour de force, giving you the feeling you’re stuck on ship, getting tossed about in a heavy storm. The solo is simply phenomenal — a two-part session of amazing lead fretwork from Rhoads. And the final verse carries the song to its climax, with Rhoads using the wah pedal to take it to another level. S.A.T.O. is one of Ozzy’s best songs, period. Check out why Sharon Osbourne is the biggest bitch in rock.A bloated and burned juvenile sperm whale that had been found dead on June 15, 2010 in the Gulf Of Mexico. (Courtesy of Greenpeace) It's difficult to measure just how many sperm whales were affected, but one arresting photo of a rotting, burnt sperm whale carcass circulated widely after researchers saw the animal from a ship about 77 miles from the Deepwater Horizon site in June 2010. A 2013 study of sperm whale skin samples found higher than usual levels of genotoxic metals in Gulf of Mexico whales after the spill, with the whales closest to the site of the spill with the highest levels.The genotoxic metals, including nickel and chromium, are capable of damaging DNA, causing lasting genetic impacts on generations of whales. In the short term, even a few whale deaths can affect an entire population as sperm whales, already an endangered species, give birth to very few calves."As soon as we get to the level of three deaths caused by human interaction -- and this would include the oil spill -- that would jeopardize that particular sperm whale population," Celine Godard-Codding, an environmental toxicologist at Texas Tech University, told National GeographicAs a Louisiana Disability Attorney, I understand that attending and participating in a Social Security disability benefits hearing can be scary for you. In fact, most of my clients have never been through anything similar to their disability hearing. I usually hold a meeting with my clients in advance of the hearing where we discuss “the lay of the land.” That is, what you will likely see when you walk into the room and what you should expect. The Room Layout at a Social Security Disability Benefits Hearing Most hearing accommodations are very similar, although there are some slight variations if you have a live hearing versus a video hearing. The hearing room is usually just a modified office in an office building or local Social Security Office. It is generally not a big open courtroom like you see on television. The typical hearing room will usually include: A table with a microphone and computer for you and/or your disability attorney Space with a computer and microphone for the vocational expert An area for the judge’s aide/hearing reporter, in most instances The judge’s bench with a computer, or if a video hearing, a video screen where the ALJ will appear. What Happens at a Social Security Disability Hearing? I also like to make sure that my clients understand that the hearing is closed to the public. This is not like a regular courtroom where anybody can listen in to the proceedings. The hearing is a private matter and the only people in the hearing room are the participants, and possibly a witness (but the witness may not stay for the entire proceedings). Social Security Disability Hearing Tips You will be sworn in and will declare to tell the truth. You must take your oath seriously. You should speak loudly and use clear words to give your testimony. This means no nodding, or shaking your head, no “uh-huhs” or “nh-unhs,” because an audio recording cannot accurately grasp what you are trying to convey. If your testimony requires you to point or indicate a portion of your body, you should also verbally state which body part you are discussing. For example, while pointing to your lower back to show the judge where you are in pain, you should also state, “my lower back from behind my stomach down to my tailbone.” If a question can be easily answered using “yes” or “no” do that, but if you need to give an additional explanation, make sure to add that in as well. Do not talk at the same time as anyone else. So, wait for the question to be completely asked before you start your answer. If you do not understand a question, ask that it be repeated. If you need to take a break, or stand up/walk around, etc., request permission from the judge. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing (no tank tops, shorts, hats, etc.). Do not chew gum, tobacco, candy, etc. during the hearing. If you need lozenges due to illness, make sure you alert the judge at the beginning of the proceedings. The biggest tip I could give to you is to be prepared—know what you have to prove and have a plan for doing it. If you are uncertain about this, a local SSDI lawyer can help you. These are a few basic Social Security disability hearing tips that are generally applicable. In some cases, additional things may be added due to a specific judge’s preferences. If you need assistance with your Louisiana Social Security disability hearing, please give us a call at 985-240-9773 or fill out our quick disability claim evaluator.Welcome to the Character Survey! Personal Section Thank you for beginning this character survey. The data collected from this survey will help identify how people describe various personality types. This information will be utilised to develop believable perceived personalities for characters in games. Please fill in the whole survey truthfully, thanks again for your contribution to my studies! If you have any further questions regarding this survey, you can email me at jahall@lincoln.ac.uk Please enter your age and gender below: Gender: Male Female Other Prefer not to say Age: Next Please use the sliders below to state (honestly) how much of each trait you believe you have (-10 being not at all, 10 being a lot): Openness to experience: Conscientiousness: Extraversion: Agreeableness: Neuroticism: Next Please answer the following questions: Year of birth: Geographical Territory: North America Southern or Central America Western Europe or UK Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia Africa Middle East Australasia Other (please specify): I typically play computer or videogames: Every Day Every Week Occassionaly Rarely Never I would consider myself: Hardcore Gamer Something between hardcore and casual gamer Casual Gamer I have no idea! I work in: A non-videogames related industry (or I don't work/am a student) Video game development Video game publishing Video game retail Video game press Video games in some other context (e.g. research) I prefer the following way of playing games: Single player alone Single player with other people helping or pad passing Multiplayer, in same room Multiplayer, over the internet Team play or clan play over the internet Virtual worlds or MMORPGs My attitude to videogame stories is: Stories are very important to my enjoyment in video games Stories can help me enjoy a video games Stories are not important to me in video games I prefer games without a story I don't play video games Name three games that exemplify what you enjoy about games (these don't have to be videogames - any game you enjoy counts): I live with, and/or like living with: A cat or cats A dog or dogs Both cats and dogs Neither "Exploring to see what you can find." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Frantically escaping from a terrifying foe." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Working out how to crack a challenging puzzle." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "The struggle to defeat a difficult boss." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Playing in a group, online or in the same room." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Responding quickly to an exciting situation." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Picking up every single collectible in an area." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Looking around just to enjoy the scenery." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Being in control at high speed." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Devising a promising strategy when deciding what to try next." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Feeling relief when you escape to a safe area." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Taking on a strong opponent when playing against a human player in a versus match." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Talking with other players, online or in the same room." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Finding what you need to complete a collection." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Hanging from a high ledge." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Wondering what's behind a locked door." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it! "Feeling scared, terrified or disturbed." I love it! I like it It's okay I dislike it I hate it
.) History [ edit ] The first digital pocket watch was the invention of Austrian engineer Josef Pallweber who created his "jump-hour" mechanism in 1883. Instead of a conventional dial, the jump-hour featured two windows in an enamel dial, through which the hours and minutes are visible on rotating discs. The second hand remained conventional. By 1885 Pallweber mechanism was already on the market in pocket watches by Cortébert and IWC; arguably contributing to the subsequent rise and commercial success of IWC. The principles of Pallweber jump-hour movement had appeared in wristwatches by the 1920s (Cortébert) and are still used today (Chronoswiss Digiteur). While the original inventor didn't have a watch brand at the time, his name has since been resurrected by a newly established watch manufacturer.[1] Plato clocks used a similar idea but a different layout. These spring-wound pieces consisted of a glass cylinder with a column inside, affixed to which were small digital cards with numbers printed on them, which flipped as time passed. The Plato clocks were introduced at the St. Louis World Fair in 1904, produced by Ansonia Clock Company. Eugene Fitch of New York patented the clock design in 1903.[2] 13 years earlier Josef Pallweber had patented the same invention using digital cards (different from his 1885 patent using moving disks) in Germany (DRP No. 54093).[3] The German factory Aktiengesellschaft für Uhrenfabrikation Lenzkirch made such digital clocks in 1893 and 1894.[4] The earliest patent for a digital alarm clock was registered by D.E Protzmann and others on October 23, 1956, in the United States. Protzmann and his associates also patented another digital clock in 1970, which was said to use a minimal amount of moving parts. Two side-plates held digital numerals between them, while an electric motor and cam gear outside controlled movement.[2] In 1970, the first digital wristwatch with an LED display was mass-produced. Called the Pulsar, and produced by the Hamilton Watch Company, this watch was hinted at two years prior when the same company created a prototype digital watch for Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.[5] Throughout the 1970s, despite the initial hefty cost of digital watches, the popularity of said devices steadily rose. Over the years, many different types of digital alarm clocks have been developed. In the Soviet Union, the 7-segment digital clocks were known as Elektronika 7. Construction [ edit ] Digital clocks typically use the 50 or 60 hertz oscillation of AC power or a 32,768 hertz crystal oscillator as in a quartz clock to keep time. Most digital clocks display the hour of the day in 24-hour format; in the United States and a few other countries, a commonly-used hour sequence option is 12-hour format (with some indication of AM or PM). Some timepieces, such as many digital watches, can be switched between 12-hour and 24-hour modes. Emulations of analog-style faces often use an LCD screen, and these are also sometimes described as "digital". Displays [ edit ] A digital clock's display changing numbers To represent the time, most digital clocks use a seven-segment LED, VFD, or LCD for each of four digits. They generally also include other elements to indicate whether the time is AM or PM, whether or not an alarm is set, and so on. Setting [ edit ] If people find difficulty in setting the time in some designs of digital clocks in electronic devices where the clock is not a critical function, they may not be set at all, displaying the default after powered on, 00:00 or 12:00.[6][7] Digital clocks that run on mains electricity and have no battery must be reset every time the power has an accident or if they are moved. Even if power is cut off for a second, most clocks will still have to be reset. This is a particular problem with alarm clocks that have no "battery" backup, because even a very brief power outage during the night usually results in the clock failing to trigger the alarm in the morning. To reduce the problem, many devices designed to operate on household electricity incorporate a battery backup to maintain the time during power outages and during times of disconnection from the power supply. More recently, some devices incorporate a method for automatically setting the time, such as using a broadcast radio time signal from an atomic clock, getting the time from an existing satellite television or computer connection, or by being set at the factory and then maintaining the time from then on with a quartz movement powered by an internal rechargeable battery. Commercial digital clocks are typically more reliable than consumer clocks. Multi-decade backup batteries can be used to maintain time during power loss. An LCD battery-operated clock without alarm A premium digital clock radio with digital tuning A basic digital clock radio with analog tuning Uses of digital clocks [ edit ] This digital clock has been attached to an oven. This digital clock reacts to temperature. Because digital clocks can be very small and inexpensive devices that enhance the popularity of product designs, they are often incorporated into all kinds of devices such as cars, radios, televisions, microwave ovens, standard ovens, computers and cell phones. Sometimes their usefulness is disputed: a common complaint is that when time has to be set to Daylight Saving Time, many household clocks have to be readjusted. The incorporation of automatic synchronization by a radio time signal is reducing this problem (see Radio clock).Scientists may learn a lot about autism from studying a group of people who don't have the disorder. Joanne Ruthsatz, assistant professor of psychology at The Ohio State University at Mansfield, is one of the first researchers to have uncovered the link between prodigy and autism. In a new book, Ruthsatz and a co-author explain how what she has learned about child prodigies may help us not only understand autism, but could point the way to new treatments. "Our evidence suggests that prodigies are people who should have autism, but don't. They share many of the same characteristics of people with autism, but not the deficits," she said. "We believe that, for prodigies, there is a resilience gene or genes that are holding back the deficits associated with autism and allowing the talent to shine through." Ruthsatz discusses her research in the book The Prodigy's Cousin: The Family Link between Autism and Extraordinary Talent, written with her daughter, journalist Kimberly Stephens. The book highlights Ruthsatz's 18 years of research on prodigies, which led to her discovery of a family link to autism. The first prodigy she studied, in 1998, had a cousin with autism. She has now studied more than 30 prodigies -- the largest research sample of these rare individuals every created. She has found that more than half of them have a close relative with autism. Some of them have several relatives affected by autism. "We've learned this isn't a coincidence. These prodigies and their relatives with autism have a genetic link in common," she said. In a study published last year, Ruthsatz and her colleagues discovered a mutation on chromosome 1 that prodigies share with their relatives with autism, but not with their other relatives. "It's a fascinating link, but it is just the beginning of the genetic research," she said. "I am very excited about what the DNA studies are going to tell us." Ruthsatz is working with a research team from McGill University in Canada to uncover DNA evidence of a resilience gene or genes in prodigies. Trying to learn about a disease by studying people who don't have it is not a new thing in science, Ruthsatz said. In the book, the authors discuss how HIV researchers learned a lot by studying people who should have had HIV, but didn't. These scientists found a genetic mutation that doesn't allow for receptor sites to form on immune cells that are killed by the virus. For the lucky people with this mutation, HIV literally washes right through their body. "The people with this mutation are the prodigies of the HIV world; researchers studied them so they could help their 'cousins' who contracted HIV," she said. With their genetic link, it is not surprising that prodigies and people with autism have much in common. Prodigies have autistic characteristics, such as extraordinary attention to detail and a tendency toward obsession. These similarities may point to new ways to think about autism, and ways to help some of the children who have it, she said. One promising avenue involves what is called "training the talent." When parents of prodigies realize that their child has an extraordinary talent in art or math or astronomy, they understandably try to nurture that talent, even if it seems to border on obsession. Children with autism also often have obsessions with particular subjects or talents. But because of their troubles communicating and showing emotions, parents often don't let them follow these obsessions. Ruthsatz has uncovered a few instances, however, where parents have let their children with autism pursue their passions. "Instead of focusing entirely on trying to teach the children to speak or to make eye contact, the parents let their child do the thing they love to do, whatever that is," she said. "In some cases, the children get excited about their particular talent, they get good at it, and they want to communicate about it. The speech and communication and social skills come along with their growing ability." This is treating children with autism as if they were prodigies by focusing on their strengths and ignoring the deficits, she said. In some cases, those deficits become less pronounced as they follow their talents. Ruthsatz cautioned that this approach doesn't work with all children with autism and has not been scientifically tested yet. It is unlikely that any one treatment will help all children with autism because the condition seems to be a set of related but distinct disorders. "Trying to find a treatment that works for everyone based solely on similarity of symptoms is like trying to treat all people who have trouble breathing by giving them a Heimlich: It will help those who are choking, but it's probably not the best answer for a person having an allergic reaction," Ruthsatz and Stephens write in the book. While the search for treatments continues, Ruthsatz said there is still much more to learn from prodigies. "We're really just at the beginning of this research. I'm excited about what we will be discovering in the future." Get more information at: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316774/the-prodigys-cousin-by-joanne-ruthsatz-and-kimberly-stephens/9781617230189/When it comes to playing, Ellie is always on the hunt for new things to do. She is my busy little bee and she loves to role play with dolls, her friends and her sibilings. Now that Ellie is in school (I know, where did the time go?) I’ve been looking for things to keep her busy in the mornings before she goes to school. For morning playtime, I like things that are easy to clean up and also things that she can enjoy by herself. One of Ellie’s latest obsessions is her new ZipBin® Everyday Princess® Dollhouse Backpack and accessories from Neat-Oh! The ZipBin Dollhouse Backpack unzips into a two-story, castle themed dollhouse, complete with a slide and swimming pool. The ZipBin dollhouse is easy for little kids to unzip and setup on their own and makes for fun playtime at home or on-the-go. Everyday Princess dolls and accessories. In addition the the ZipBin, Ellie loves herdolls and accessories. Ellie loves how easy it is to get everything out, set it up, and have lots of fun. As a mom, I love that it is something she doesn’t need help with and that it gives her some independence. I also think it is great to listen to her sit and play with her dolls and create and tell stories with them. Watching her play has become a lot of fun lately. This is another line of toys that Ellie will sit and play with and she doesn’t get bored. We have struggled in the past with finding items to keep her busy and I find that when she can create and tell stories, her mind is occupied for hours. One of our favorite features about the ZipBin is that once Ellie is done playing, she can zip everything up in her backpack and put it away or take it with her. One of our favorite features about theis that once Ellie is done playing, she can zip everything up in her backpack and put it away or take it with her. Collect All ZipBin® Toy Boxes! In addition to the Dollhouse Backpack, you can also find the Mini Mansion, Pony Playset, Pony Rainbow Park and Princess Purse as pictured below. Everyday Princess Dolls & Accessories You can also find a variety of Princess Dolls and pets along with their accessories to play with. We have really enjoyed our fun to toys from Neat-Oh! and of course, Ellie is already asking for more of the dolls and now she needs a pony too! Win It Enter for your chance to win one item of your choice from this line! This giveaway will end on 9/20/2016 at 11:59pm CST. Winner’s will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond with their mailing information to claim their prize. The Megalomaniac Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Any questions, please contact us. *The Megalomaniac Mommy policies on giveaways can be found here. Neat-Oh!Diane Haithman contributes to Deadline’s TCA coverage. BBC America’s drama Orphan Black stars Tatiana Maslany as young woman who witnesses the suicide of her clone. Series co-creator (with John Fawcett) and writer Graeme Manson described the show as “near-fi” not “sci-fi” today at TCA. “We’re a sci-fi show, but we’re set in the here and the now,” he said. “That’s really important to us, that the juice feels real. It’s not space ships and warp drives.” Related: ‘Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan’ “A Love Letter” To ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Mason said the show began gestating about 10 years ago, when creative partner Fawcett said. “Wouldn’t it be cool if you were standing in a train station and you looked across the tracks and you saw yourself, and then your eyes met and yourself stepped in front of a train?” He added that the pair had tried to make the project work as a feature film but “we just couldn’t contain the story in a couple hours of a feature. As the cable TV landscape changed around us, we realized it would be a great series.”UPDATE: Sony has spoken out about the No Man's Sky launch fiasco. Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida said he could understand why some fans were unhappy with the game, because Sean Murray and Hello Games promised features that didn't make it to the final game. "I understand some of the criticisms especially Sean Murray is getting, because he sounded like he was promising more features in the game from day one," he told Eurogamer. "It wasn't a great PR strategy, because he didn't have a PR person helping him, and in the end he is an indie developer. But he says their plan is to continue to develop No Man's Sky features and such, and I'm looking forward to continuing to play the game." Yoshida also said that No Man's Sky hadn't hurt the Sony brand, and that he was amazed by the game's strong sales. Original story: No Man's Sky may have experienced a number of issues at launch, but that hasn't stopped it racking up a major PS4 sales milestone. According to new Sony data, No Man's Sky was August's best-selling game on the PlayStation Store, and not just in Europe, but in North America, too. Topping the North American sales chart is particularly impressive given that Madden NFL 17 was also released in August. And as Sean Murray and the rest of the team at Hello Games works on new updates and gameplay patches, modders have once again been hard at work creating new content for the game on Steam. New No Man's Sky mods have attempted to make the game look more like it did in the E3 trailer, while another covers planets in darkness. One of the more useful PC mods makes it easier to find transmission towers and crashed ships.Part 1 Part 2 I noticed that the quite often problem I face when I work with Gradle - is tasks ordering (either existing or my custom ones). Apparently my build works better when my tasks are executed at the right moment of the build process :) So let's dig deeper into how can we change tasks execution order. dependsOn I believe the most obvious way of telling your task to execute after some other task - is to use dependsOn method. Let's consider existing task A and we need to add task B which executes only after task A is executed: This is probably the easiest thing you can do. Given that tasks A and B are already defined: task A << {println 'Hello from A'} task B << {println 'Hello from B'} What you need to do - is just tell Gradle that task B depends on task A B.dependsOn A This means that whenever I try to execute task B - Gradle will take care of executing task A as well: paveldudka$ gradle B :A Hello from A :B Hello from B Alternatively, you could declare such a dependency right inside task configuration section: task A << {println 'Hello from A'} task B { dependsOn A doLast { println 'Hello from B' } } Result is the same. But what if we want to insert our task inside already existing task graph? The process is pretty much the same: original task graph: task A << {println 'Hello from A'} task B << {println 'Hello from B'} task C << {println 'Hello from C'} B.dependsOn A C.dependsOn B our new custom task: task B1 << {println 'Hello from B1'} B1.dependsOn B C.dependsOn B1 output: paveldudka$ gradle C :A Hello from A :B Hello from B :B1 Hello from B1 :C Hello from C Please note, that dependsOn adds task to the set of dependencies. Thus it is totally fine to be dependent on multiple tasks: task B1 << {println 'Hello from B1'} B1.dependsOn B B1.dependsOn Q output: paveldudka$ gradle B1 :A Hello from A :B Hello from B :Q Hello from Q :B1 Hello from B1 mustRunAfter Now imagine that our task depends on 2 other tasks. For this example I decided to use more real-life case. Imagine I have one task for unit tests and another for UI tests. Also I have a task which executes both unit & UI tests: task unit << {println 'Hello from unit tests'} task ui << {println 'Hello from UI tests'} task tests << {println 'Hello from all tests!'} tests.dependsOn unit tests.dependsOn ui output: paveldudka$ gradle tests :ui Hello from UI tests :unit Hello from unit tests :tests Hello from all tests! Even though tasks unit and UI tests will be executed before task tests, the order of execution for tasks ui and unit is not determined. Right now I believe they will be executed in alphabetical order, but this behavior is an implementation detail and you definitely should not rely on this fact. Since UI tests are executing much longer than unit tests, I want my unit tests run first and only if everything OK - proceed to executing UI tests. So what should I do if I want my unit tests run before UI tests? One way for solving this would be to make UI test task depend on unit test task: task unit << {println 'Hello from unit tests'} task ui << {println 'Hello from UI tests'} task tests << {println 'Hello from all tests!'} tests.dependsOn unit tests.dependsOn ui ui.dependsOn unit // <-- I added this dependency output paveldudka$ gradle tests :unit Hello from unit tests :ui Hello from UI tests :tests Hello from all tests! Now my unit tests are getting executed before UI tests! Great! BUT! There is one really big fat nasty problem with this approach! My UI tests do not really depend on unit tests. I wanna be able to run my UI tests separately, but now every time I want to run my UI tests - my unit tests will be run as well! That's where mustRunAfter method comes into play. It tells Gradle to run task after task specified as an argument. So essentially, we do not introduce dependency between our unit tests and UI tests, but instead we told Gradle to give unit tests priority if they are executed together, so unit tests are executed before our UI test suite: task unit << {println 'Hello from unit tests'} task ui << {println 'Hello from UI tests'} task tests << {println 'Hello from all tests!'} tests.dependsOn unit tests.dependsOn ui ui.mustRunAfter unit output paveldudka$ gradle tests :unit Hello from unit tests :ui Hello from UI tests :tests Hello from all tests! And the dependency graph looks like: Notice that we lost explicit dependency between UI tests and unit tests! Now if I decide to run just UI tests - my unit tests won't be executed. Please note that mustRunAfter is marked as "incubating" (as of Gradle 2.4) which means that this is an experimental feature and its behavior can be changed in future releases. finalizedBy Now I have task which runs both UI and unit tests. Great! Let's say each of them produces test report. So I decided to create a task which merges 2 test reports into one: task unit << {println 'Hello from unit tests'} task ui << {println 'Hello from UI tests'} task tests << {println 'Hello from all tests!'} task mergeReports << {println 'Merging test reports'} tests.dependsOn unit tests.dependsOn ui ui.mustRunAfter unit mergeReports.dependsOn tests Now if I want to get test report with both UI & unit tests - I execute mergeReports task: paveldudka$ gradle mergeReports :unit Hello from unit tests :ui Hello from UI tests :tests Hello from all tests! :mergeReports Merging test reports It works, but... it looks sloppy.. mergeReports task doesn't make a lot of sense from user (by user I mean developer :) ) perspective. I want to be able to execute tests and get merged report. Obviously, I could add merge logic inside tests task, but for the sake of this demo - I want to keep this logic in separate mergeReports task. finalizedBy method come to the rescue. Its name is quite self-explanatory - it adds finalizer task to this task. So let's modify our script as follows: task unit << {println 'Hello from unit tests'} task ui << {println 'Hello from UI tests'} task tests << {println 'Hello from all tests!'} task mergeReports << {println 'Merging test reports'} tests.dependsOn unit tests.dependsOn ui ui.mustRunAfter unit mergeReports.dependsOn tests tests.finalizedBy mergeReports Now I'm able to execute tests task and I still get my merged test report: paveldudka$ gradle tests :unit Hello from unit tests :ui Hello from UI tests :tests Hello from all tests! :mergeReports Merging test reports Please note that finalizedBy is marked as "incubating" (as of Gradle 2.4) which means that this is an experimental feature and its behavior can be changed in future releases. This is pretty much it - with these 3 tools you can easily tune your build process! Happy gradling!Story highlights Chris Brown must do "community labor" doing graffiti or beach cleanup or other tasks Judge reinstates his probation; doesn't weigh in on debate if he'd already done some The decisions come a day after a hit-and-run charge against Brown is dropped The singer is on probation for the 2009 beating of Rihanna Chris Brown once put out an album named "Graffiti." Now, he could find himself removing it. That's one of the tasks that the singer will have to do -- with others including beach cleanup or work for Caltrans, the California agency responsible for highway, bridge and rail construction and maintenance -- per a judge's order Friday. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Brandlin signed off on 1,000 hours of such "community labor" for Brown as agreed to by the singer's camp and prosecutors. The judge also reinstated probation for Brown "under the original terms and conditions" that stemmed from his previous run-ins with the law, incidents that in some ways have defined him as much as his talents and popularity as an artist. Brown sat quietly through Friday's court hearing in Los Angeles, with two brief exceptions: When he told Brandlin, "yes," he accepted the agreement and later that he had no further questions. Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Friends since 2005, Chris Brown and Rihanna went public with their romantic relationship in 2008. The couple went their separate ways after Brown pleaded guilty in June 2009 to assaulting the Barbadian singer on the eve of the 51st Grammy Awards. They then reconciled for a bit, only to break up again. Here's a look back at their rocky relationship: Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – In August 2007, Brown and Rihanna joined Timbaland, center, and Robin Thicke onstage during MTV's "Total Request Live" in New York Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – The couple spent time together on the beach in Barbados in August 2008. Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Rihanna and Brown danced together at a club in Paris in December 2008. Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – In December 2008, Brown and Rihanna performed onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball in New York. Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Brown stood beside his lawyer, Mark Geragos, at court in Los Angeles in March 2009. Brown was charged with assaulting Rihanna on February 8. "I'm in shock, because, first of all, that's not who I am as a person, and that's not who I promise I want to be," Brown told Larry King in August 2009. Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Months after the incident, Rihanna left a preliminary hearing at court in Los Angeles in June 2009. "We just fell really fast, and the more in love we became, the more dangerous we became for each other -- equally as dangerous -- because it was a bit of an obsession," Rihanna said during a 2009 interview with Diane Sawyer Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – In June 2010, Brown performed a tribute to Michael Jackson during the BET Awards in Los Angeles. After Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna, a restraining order mandated that the pair cut off communication and remain a certain distance apart. Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Rihanna performs onstage during the 2011 Grammy Awards. In February, Schnegg lifted the "stay away" order imposed on Brown. Hide Caption 9 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Brown with a cake at a party in New York honoring the March 2011 release of his "F.A.M.E." album. Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown The "Birthday Cake" singer opened up to Oprah about the night that changed everything between her and Brown during an August 2012 interview. "I lost my best friend," she said. "Everything I knew switched -- switched in a night -- and I couldn't control that, so I had to deal with that, and that's not easy for me to understand." Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – In 2012, the pair shocked onlookers when they cozied up to one another at a Lakers game on Christmas. Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Rihanna opened up to Rolling Stone about her repaired relationship with Brown in the magazine's February 1, 2013 issue, and by February 6, the pair were seen cruising in Brown's car. Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – And by the Grammy Awards two weeks later, the pair were seen cuddling in the audience. Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – The rumors about the pair's romantic status heated up around Rihanna's 25th birthday in late February 2013 when the two were seen vacationing together. Hide Caption 15 of 16 Photos: Photos: Rihanna and Chris Brown Rihanna and Chris Brown through the years – Although Rihanna was infamous for sharing cozy photos of herself with Brown on Instagram, he clarified in early May 2013 that they weren't a couple. "[A]t the end of the day, shawty doing her own thang, she on the road. It's always gonna be love. I'm a grown man, just gotta fast forward," he told an Australian radio station. "I'm always gonna love that person. I can't be focused on wife-ing someone that young. I need to be the best Chris Brown I can be." Hide Caption 16 of 16 JUST WATCHED Chris Brown prays for Justin Bieber Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Chris Brown prays for Justin Bieber 01:57 JUST WATCHED Chris Brown's biggest regret Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Chris Brown's biggest regret 03:13 JUST WATCHED Did Adele yell at Chris Brown? Replay More Videos... MUST WATCH Did Adele yell at Chris Brown? 01:35 The judge closed the session by telling Brown he must contact his probation officer within 48 hours. His next court appearance is set to start at 2 p.m. November 20. The dropping of a hit-and-run charge against the singer on Thursday laid the groundwork for Friday's action. The accuser in that case, Olga Gure, told investigators Brown "went ballistic" and screamed at her after his Range Rover rear-ended her Mercedes on a Los Angeles street. The trigger for Brown's alleged rage was that Gure took a photograph of him and his girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, to document the scene because he allegedly refused to show her his driver's license, she said. When Brown tried to grab the camera, Tran screamed, "Don't touch her, don't touch her," Gure said. Whatever was documented in the police report, Brown's lawyer said this week that Gure "did not want to pursue this." Mark Geragos said that the accuser did not get any money in her settlement with his client. This incident was one of several high-profile headaches Brown has had over the years. The most well known offense came in February 2009, when he was charged with domestic violence for punching his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, inside a rented Lamborghini on a Hollywood street. The altercation left the face of Rihanna, also a chart-topping singer, bruised and bloody on the eve of the Grammy Awards. He entered a guilty plea seven months later and was sentenced to serve five years probation and ordered to spend more than 1,400 hours in "labor-oriented service." The judge allowed him to serve the sentence in Richmond, Virginia, under the direct supervision of the police chief. In a court filing in February, prosecutors accused Brown of not completing the community labor. District Attorney Jackie Lacey said then the paperwork the singer submitted to prove he'd done the work was "at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting." Geragos fired back, calling the prosecution's motion "fraudulent." Judge Brandlin made a point Friday not to pick sides on this debate over Brown's previous service, saying "the court does not make any findings regarding the alleged violation in this matter."We get letters. This week we heard from a reader who, to protect her privacy, I'll refer to as Rapunzel. Rapunzel had a bad experience with a piece of jewelry she'd ordered from an online merchant. It seems that Rapunzel had ordered a necklace, which she expected to look like this: What actually arrived looked like this: But by the time this reached me, the necklace was not Rapunzel's problem. This is not a post about cheap cosmetic jewelry. This is a post about baseless threats of suit to suppress a dissatisfied customer's speech, spurious allegations of crime, stalking, and the most bone-headedly aggressive customer service department on the entire world wide web. "A bunch of mindless jerks who'll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes." — Douglas Adams. This is a post about alwaysinfashion.com, the "Online Store of Polish & Russian Amber and Murano Glass Jewelry," whatever that is. Now ordinarily I would not lift a finger to assist someone who had purchased a trinket online and found its appearance … something less than what was advertised. I would politely commiserate, then point out that I charge more to make one telephone call than the trinket is worth. To her credit, Rapunzel did not seek my assistance in getting a refund. She had dealt with that herself. After sending an inquiry, she found that the company's return terms (a refund only if the offending merchandise is shipped first-class mail to Italy, at the buyer's expense) were unsatisfactory, and advised the company that she would write a negative review of the product, and her experience with the company. That's when things got weird. That's when Rapunzel received this email, from "sales" at alwaysinfashion.com: Mrs. Rapunzel, We are a reliable and well known company and people on the internet talk about Us very positively. You have received the items that You have ordered and paid for, that is it. Thousands of customers are happy for the quality of our products and for our professionalism and We must suppose that You agreed with them since You have decided to place on order from our company. Be aware that You have threatened, tried to blackmail and accused our company of Scam with your e-mail. This something really serious and inacceptable therefore We will send a copy of your e-mail and all your data to our lawyers. If You keep on with your defamations and write anything on blogs, forums or social networks, We will immediately start a lawsuit against You. Sales Department Alwaysinfashion.com (Emphasis in original) This email brings several thoughts to mind. First, it's good to know that Ignatius J. Reilly is alive and well, and working in customer service. Second, the circular logic that leads alwaysinfashion.com to suppose that Rapunzel, a first time customer, "must have agreed" with the thousands of customers happy for the quality of its products and professionalism, before she ever received a product, is breathtaking. Third, my co-blogger Ken has said, rightly, that vagueness is one of the hallmarks of a poor legal demand. When the threatening party cannot identify a specific defamatory statement, that's a sign of bullying and bluster. In this case, alwaysinfashion.com goes one better: The company threatened Rapunzel with litigation before she wrote a single word about its product. Fourth, well, you'll see… "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." — Hunter S. Thompson. After receiving alwaysinfashion's thug-missive, Rapunzel replied, stating she would communicate with the company no more, but asserting her right to express her honest opinion of the product, as well as the fact that alwaysinfashion had threatened to sue her, to others. I believe she has done so at this point. Later this week, unsolicited, this popped into Rapunzel's in-box. Mrs. Rapunzel, These are the facts: 1)You placed an order of two Amber necklaces ATN002 (realized with irregular beads softly rounded in matte and cognac color) promptly shipped and delivered to You. 2)You liked so much Our Amber necklaces that You have tried to get another couple for free adducing unfounded reasons. 3)After Our denial, your opinion about Our products and Our company suddenly changed: Our necklaces became “sub par” items and We became scammers. Objectively if You feel yourself victim of a scam, the only logical thing to do is to ask for product return instructions and surely not to ask for other two pieces of the same item. You also asked for an expedited shipping since you:” really wanted to have this amber for the trip”. Moreover your scam allegations are based on your personal idea that beads color is an evidence of Amber quality. Please show Us your credentials as jewelry expert or send Us a copy of the documentation that certify your statements. Mrs. Rapunzel You can be sure that We will leave reviews and post on social networks about your blackmail and threatens and We surely inform about this matter all the companies You work for in Oklahoma [REDACTED BY PATRICK] This is our last warning to You Mrs. Rapunzel: If You keep on with your defamations and write false reviews or lies on blogs, forums or social networks, We will immediately start a lawsuit against You. This is our last e-mail and We assure You, Mrs. Rapunzel that the next communication will be sent from Our lawyers along to a claim for damages. Sales Department Alwaysinfashion.com Believe it or not, there is a charitable interpretation of this email. I will assume, charitably, that the mastermind behind alwaysinfashion.com's sales team learned English as a second language. And one could assume, charitably, that alwaysinfashion's threat to "leave reviews and post on social networks about your blackmail and threatens" is a poorly phrased way of stating, "We will post detailed rebuttals of your online criticisms of our products
On the surface, textures, shadows and lighting have been added and modified. Certain design liberties have been taken overall, but that means that enemies are sometimes better lit in the older version of the game. This is especially true for cloaked Covenant creatures, where they're almost entirely invisible in the new Halo 2. Advertisement I expected that the Master Chief Collection would be an enjoyable trip across a nostalgic era of gaming in my life. But the inclusion of the playlist feature amplifies that effect by mixing chapters by themes, and even between Halos 1-4, giving you an entirely new frame of reference for the experiences you had up to a decade ago. 343's managed to stitch the games together in unexpected ways, giving it new life. The first playlist I tried out is called Final Four, and it's pretty self explanatory: you play through the final chapters of each of the Halo games. Advertisement Watching the Halo games change mission to mission, in what feels like one "game," is odd to wrap your head around. It's such a stark contrast to watch the Halo games change through the years, but just over a few hours. I thought back years ago and recalled the first time I had to decide to forgo my grenades in favor a newly-featured dual-wielding option, and how the needler weapon really shined in Halo 2. And then, soon after, I was juggling various equipment that granted my Master Chief extra abilities in Halo 3. I remembered how much Halo had changed, and how much it didn't—how it retained a lot of the core of what made it such an enjoyable shooter experience, and how I'd always try to push Wraiths and Warthogs and Scorpions into places they weren't meant to go, no matter which Halo it was. Or how nothing was cooler than jumping, on foot, to steal a Banshee out of the air. All those great, memorable, "Halo" moments were mine to rediscover, and to compare side-by-side, throughout the years but in one sitting. Some playlists will even let you focus on the vehicle-based missions, if you're in the mood for ultimate destruction. Or, if you need some brushing up on Halo history, you can re-experience the timeline of the story, strung together thanks to those dedicated playlists 343 put together. It's the difference between watching a show as it airs, throughout the span of a few months, or watching it all in one delightfully shameless binge session. It almost gives you a renewed understanding and appreciation for the story, if you're into that kind of thing. In Halo 2, you can experience only the Arbiter's storyline, or just Master Chief's. You can decide to play through all the Halo ring missions. Or you can choose to fight the Flood, one mission after the next—though I have no idea why you'd do such a thing to yourself. Advertisement I, sadly, haven't been able to play any multiplayer yet, mostly because the collection won't be released until next week and multiplayer just isn't the same without its public servers. But I can't wait to find Halo's multiplayer servers repopulated again, to play through favorite maps and rediscover some of the exploits that 343 decided to leave in for old time's sake. The Halo series released at an interesting juncture of my relationship with games. I was in high school and didn't know any fellow gamers at the time. Gaming was my silent hobby. I grew up playing games with my cousins and my brothers, but I was mostly on my own come high school years. None of my friends knew what a "first-person shooter" was, let alone "Halo." Most of my gaming experiences, therefore, were fairly lonely. But Halo initiated a different kind of pattern for me and games. I eventually played co-op with friends I'd made online playing through rounds of multiplayer and kept that habit up, through the years and through different games, until I'd made real-life gamer friends of my own. I knew the re-release of one of my most played franchises in a package like this would be an exciting opportunity to relive all those experiences, and now to possibly do so with some of those aforementioned real-life friends. Advertisement But there's another very good reason for why the Master Chief Collection is worthwhile, and it's one that's relevant to replayers and first-timers alike. The collection, as seen through the eyes of many sets of playlists, is everyone's opportunity to enjoy Halo exactly in the order and fragments they like. Can't finish a mission? No problem. Hate the Flood? Can't blame you. Just feel like reliving the glory days of early Halo multiplayer? Sure. That's just fine, too. Even Frankenstein Halo is a good time.The site came with a tagline: “Dirty Deeds by Big Government.” In addition to rebutting the F.T.C.’s allegations, it leveled accusations of its own. The site contended, for instance, that the leading F.T.C. lawyer in the case had improperly called Mr. Johnson while he was in jail, interfering with his right to due process. (Professor Vladeck said the “F.T.C. had no choice but to contact Jeremy directly” because the agency believed Mr. Johnson was acting at that time as his own lawyer in the civil case.) When F.T.C. lawyers investigated, they discovered that Mr. Johnson, along with his brother Andy Johnson and others, had registered at least 30 domain names — including FTCscam.com and FTCCorruption.com. Calling Jeremy Johnson’s activities “shenanigans” and “harassment” (and his opinions “meritless and scandalous”), government lawyers filed an emergency motion, asking a judge to shut down the sites. Judge Roger L. Hunt of the Federal District Court denied the F.T.C.’s motion in the main, ruling that Mr. Johnson could continue to express his opinion as long as the sites did not misrepresent themselves as government entities. Mr. Johnson has since toned down EvilFTC.com. Mr. Johnson had won the first skirmish in his campaign against the government, but the judge did admonish him not to go too far. Referring to a site that Mr. Johnson had set up to criticize the receiver, which he called “RobbEvansfraud.com,” Judge Hunt said, “You need to understand, sir, you are accused in this case of using the Internet to deceive people.” The judge added: “When you use this procedure, process of multiple Web sites, which, in the court’s view, deceive or intended to misrepresent or deceive or mischaracterize the court, its appointed receiver or a governmental agency, it’s going to be difficult for you to convince me that you do not use the Internet to deceive at the time of trial.” But the judge’s warning did not seem to daunt Mr. Johnson’s campaign. In January, a video appeared on YouTube accusing federal prosecutors in the criminal case of threatening Mr. Johnson and his family with the aim of pressuring him to accept a plea deal. (Prosecutors have publicly denied the accusations.) “Jeremy felt it was better to get the truth out than to sit and be quiet, which is not his nature,” said Mr. Ruben, his uncle.Several months after going to auction with Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, the Wu-Tang Clan has yet to sell their final album, only one copy of which is reported to exist in the world. The album features 31 tracks, all eight living Wu-Tang MCs, and will not be heard by the listening public for 88 years — as per a copyright clause designed by RZA and controversial Wu-Tang affiliate Tarik “Cilvaringz” Azzougarh. According to online auction house Paddle8, the sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin has not been finalized, although the house “continues to work with the seller to vet a number of offers from serious potential collectors.” The album went to auction in early March, reportedly with a base price of $5 million dollars. The brainchild of self-described Wu-Tang “abbot” RZA and his protégé Cilvaringz, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin also aspires to the status of an expensive art object. The physical album is contained within two nickel-silver boxes that were hand-carved by a Moroccan artist and a team of ten workers over the course of three months. Of course, an 88-year copyright would not prevent a potential buyer from playing the songs to the public for free. It remains to be seen whether the sale of the album is being held up by lack of viable interest, or if the red tape that comes with such a rare item — under such an extreme copyright — is slowing the pace of the sale. Since March, the album has proven a source of controversy not only among fans, but also between members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Method Man, whose album The Meth Lab is out this week, was the loudest opponent of the album. “I’m tired of this shit and I know everybody else is tired of it, too,” he told XXL, “Fuck that album, if that’s what they are doing.” Ghostface Killah was somewhat more muted. “It could be good and it could be bad,” he told CBC Music in April. “My first thing was like, no, give it to the people,” he added, “Then I look at it, like 88 years, most of us is going to be gone by that time, but…it might give Wu-Tang another burst in 80 years.” RZA’s response to Method Man was unambiguous. He took to Twitter to defend the album’s eight decade copyright: Y'all misinformed homies better go roll that sHhh light that Shhh and smoke that shhh and calm down. Y'all falling for the pork in the bun — RZA! (@RZA) March 5, 2015 FYI. @methodman was misinformed by @xxl and you guys are riding a wave into rocks. Do the knowledge before you speak. #wutang — RZA! (@RZA) March 5, 2015 The response by Wu-Tang Clan members may have been a reaction against the back room development and marketing strategy behind the album. The process seems to have been restricted to RZA and Cilvaringz. And it was Cilvaringz — who also conceived of Snowballs, a cooling underwear that improves men’s sperm quality by icing the testicles — who appears to have pushed for selling the album at auction. “Initially we wanted the buyer to do whatever he wanted with it,” Cilvaringz told Scluzay.com. But later, after assessing “commercial interest” in the project, Cilvaringz and RZA “began to understand that allowing it to play out in that way would undermine its trajectory as an art piece.” Art piece or not, the trajectory of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin has been non-existent. It may as well remain in the hands of the men who made it, in fact, given that the potential buyer will be unable to hear the album until she pays several million dollars. Flavorwire heard a 13-minute sample of Shaolin at MoMA PS1 in March. The verdict? It’s hard to say. But it did feature Cher.My job as a field instructor for a wilderness school in the Colorado Rockies was in some ways the perfect job for introverted me: long periods of time in wild places away from the distractions of modern society. In other ways it was an absolute nightmare: 24 hours, 7 days a week of being “on” facilitating a group of people. It was sheer joy mixed with utter, soul crushing self-doubt. In retrospect, over fifteen years later, there is so much I wish I could share with my 20-year-old self about that job. During those years instructing, I wasn’t even aware of the term introvert, nor did I know that I very much was one. All I knew was I felt vastly different from the other staff. While they were cracking jokes, vying to be the one answering questions at staff training, and facilitating fun group games, I was in the corner making lists of how I was not like the majority of my cohort. I internalized these feelings, and despite all of the positive feedback from peers and supervisors about my teaching skills, technical knowledge, and ability to facilitate a group, I felt a deep sense of “less than.” I constantly compared myself to my extroverted co-workers. I failed to recognize the unique gifts I brought to the role. I have since found a greater sense of understanding and peace with my introversion and with what I can contribute in both my personal and professional lives. If I could go back to my younger self, I would offer a compassionate hug and tell her to not be so damn serious about things. I would remind her that as an introvert, she has so much to offer, like: Introverts have the ability to connect interpersonally on a rich and deep level. I excelled at connecting one-on-one with students. This often led to great conversations and a higher level of connection that students valued. One of the most often repeated pieces of feedback I received from student evaluations was: “Amy was a great listener, I really felt seen by her”, or some iteration of that sentiment. There is a strong element of power and healing in the act of feeling seen by another. The world needs a wide variety of role models in leadership positions. Not everyone relates to the typical “leader” that we have in our western society (i.e. extroverted, aggressive, directive, fast to speak, etc.). People often relate to and find inspiration in leaders that have similar characteristics to themselves. Since over 30 percent of the population is introverted, it would make sense that we need introverts in leadership roles to serve as role models. Introverts and highly sensitive people tend to have a keen ability to notice and pick up on the finer nuances in group dynamics. During staff check-ins, I would often be surprised that my co-workers would miss out on some of the group dynamics bubbling beneath the surface. Since introverts tend to be observers and take in details, I was aware of negative dynamics, and I found healthy ways to address them, before things got problematic. The world is a loud place and people often value the quiet voice. Once I found confidence in my voice, I realized that my team appreciated the well-placed and thoughtful additions I added to meetings. I didn’t go for quantity with my comments, but I did go for quality. This became apparent, and I gained respect from my colleagues for my perspective. We introverts often feel extremely alienated in work settings. It’s easy to internalize this feeling of separateness and lose sight of all we have to offer. Professional settings benefit from a wide range of personality types and perspectives. It’s a matter of finding peace with who we are and finding ways to play to our strengths. Whether on a dusty trail in the Colorado Rockies or a crisp boardroom in New York City, please remember we “quiet people” are so important, and dare I say, needed. Never doubt this. Image credit: Kubra Kactioglu Did you enjoy this article? Sign up for our newsletters to get more stories like this. Read this: 21 Undeniable Signs That You’re an IntrovertVANCOUVER – She goes by Tank, a natural shortening of her surname, although the nickname has its origins in her physical style of play and what she jokingly refers to as days as a “child labourer.” Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi hasn’t been much of an armoured invader or destroyer inside enemy territory so far in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. No goals, no assists, just two shots on target in four games. But there remains in coach John Herdman an unwavering belief that one of the stars of the London 2012 Olympics for Canada might yet spring a successful ground attack. Maybe even in Saturday’s quarter-final matchup against England at BC Place Stadium. The Ancaster, Ont., native is 33 now and, some have suggested, a bit past her prime. It didn’t help that she took a nearly two-year sabbatical after the Olympics to complete chiropractic studies. But despite the presence of forwards Adriana Leon, 22, and Jonelle Foligno, 24, on the roster, it’s the veteran Tancredi whom Herdman started in three of Canada’s first four matches at the tournament. It’s Tancredi whom Herdman continues to believe can conjure up some of the magic that saw her score four group-stage goals at the Olympics, including two in a comeback draw against Sweden, and assist on two of Christine Sinclair’s three goals in the heartbreaking 4-3 semifinal loss to the United States. “She’s shown she gets up for big games,” said Herdman, adding that “experience can get you through.” Tancredi says that when you’ve faced adversity and pulled through in do-or-die situations as the Canadians did in that Olympic tournament, you develop a sense of calmness you can call on later. “It’s something I’ve really worked on in my game, being more composed and I think that composure comes with a little age, obviously. A lot of it when you’re young is reacting on impulse, getting out on the field and going 90 miles an hour for 90 minutes and then dying. “I’m more composed now. When things get frantic, I can keep the ball for the team, hold it up just a little longer, look for the right options.” Tancredi played 77 minutes in the opening game at this World Cup, a 1-0 Canada win over China, was on the field for the full 90 in the scoreless draw with New Zealand, came off the bench for 29 minutes in the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and played the first 69 minutes in the 1-0 knockout-round win over Switzerland. “I think it’s gone OK,” she says. “The only thing I ask of myself is, ‘Am I getting better as the tournament has gone on?’ I think I’m on track. I feel there’s momentum in my game, personally, and that I’m doing all I can for the team.” At 5-9 and 160 pounds, Tancredi isn’t afraid to use her body to challenge defenders. Mixing it up physically has always been part of her game, which suggests perhaps some battles with brothers growing up. “I wish. I had one younger sister. But my dad (Peter) is a tough guy. He came here as an immigrant (from Italy) when he was 18 and he’s always worked hard. He works in construction, builds houses.” When she was younger, Melissa worked for dad, laying sod and doing other heavy-lifting jobs. “I was a child labourer,” she says with a laugh. “So I guess I kind of learned about hard, physical work from him.” Today, Peter is easily spotted at Canada’s games. He wears a red-and-white flag-adorned hard hat with the words Proud Dad of No. 14 on the front, Mr. T on the side and We Believe on the back. Tancredi, who finished her schooling in 2012-13 in St. Louis where she tried to stay soccer fit playing with a 14- and 15-year-old boys team, says there’s a bit of a family debate going on right now, though, about where she’ll start a chiropractic practice. She interned in Chicago last year while playing with the National Women’s League team there, but has spent much of the past eight months in Vancouver with the national team. “I keep going back and forth between Vancouver and Chicago,” says Tancredi. “My parents want Chicago because it’s closer to (their home in) Ontario.” Tancredi, who has a master’s degree in sports science and rehabilitation in addition to her doctorate in chiropractic, says she’d like to be part of the Canadian program’s medical staff once her playing days are over. Before then, however, there’s a World Cup semifinal round to get into. And, maybe, a key goal on Saturday afternoon. “I do feel it’s coming, honestly. When it’s the right time it’s going to come.” gkingston@vancouversun.comEDUCATION Secretary Michael Gove is facing questions about his involvement in the Government’s handling of fraud allegations against a flagship free school which led to a police investigation being delayed for more than five months. Labour front bencher Kevin Brennan has tabled a series of questions to both Mr Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May about the scandal surrounding the school in Bradford. Major controversy ensued after it emerged a mistake by the national fraud reporting unit led to the Department for Education’s (DfE) findings against the Kings Science Academy not being properly passed onto police. Mr Brennan has now asked Mr Gove whether he authorised the decision to report the case against the school with a phone call to Action Fraud rather than detailing the findings in writing. The Shadow Education Minister has also asked when the Education Secretary or ministers in the department were told police were taking no further action. A DfE investigation in May found the school had admitted submitting fabricated invoices to the Government. A report from this probe was leaked to the media last month, prompting the DfE to publish it along with a statement which said the matter had been passed to the police who had decided to take no further action. It then emerged, however, that an administrative error by Action Fraud had led to the matter being passed on to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau for information only, meaning no criminal investigation had taken place. West Yorkshire Police force have since been passed the case and is investigating. Three men have been interviewed under caution. Mr Brennan had previously asked for a recording of the call the DfE made to Action Fraud in April when it first reported the matter but Education Minister Edward Timpson said the DfE does not possess a recording. Now Mr Brennan has asked the Home Secretary to publish all telephone conversations between Action Fraud and the DfE relating to Kings Science Academy. The Government has said the DfE reported the matter to Action Fraud in April and was told police were taking no further action when it contacted the fraud unit asking for an update in September. The Home Office has previously said on behalf of Action Fraud that an administrative error led to the case “being categorised as an information report, rather than a crime report”. It also said Action Fraud had apologised to the DfE and was reviewing its processes. Mr Brennan has called on the Home Secretary to publish the findings of this review. A Home Office spokesman said Mr Brennan’s written questions would be answered “in due course” by a Minister but declined to comment further. Mr Brennan has also asked Mr Gove what disciplinary sanctions he has considered using in relation to the leadership of the Kings Science Academy following the DfE investigation. A DfE spokeswoman said it had issued a warning notice to the school in May which required them to take action to address failings in their financial management. The notice, published last week, warns additional governors may be appointed to the school. The DfE spokeswoman also insisted it had “followed all correct procedures in reporting this incident”.Toledo is the fifth most sinful city in the United States, according to a report by online real estate site Trulia. In the spirit of Mardi Gras, the site ranked major U.S. cities based on the seven deadly sins, also known as the cardinal sins: Lust: Number of adult entertainment venues Gluttony: Rates of obesity, binge drinking and smoking Greed: Number of racing and gambling venues and residents’ reported charitable donations Sloth: Number of residents who have not exercised in 30 days Wrath: Per capita violent crime Envy: Inequality in home prices Vanity: Number of beauty and tanning salons and plastic surgery offices These are the 10 most “sinful” cities in the country: 1. New Orleans, Louisiana 2. Atlantic City, New Jersey 3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 4. Tampa, Florida 5. Toledo, Ohio 6. Louisville, Kentucky 7. Shreveport, Louisiana 8. Las Vegas, Nevada 9. San Antonio, Texas 10. Columbus, Ohio On the other hand, these are America’s most “saintly” cities (those that scored as the least sinful): 1. Provo-Orem, Utah 2. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah 3. Fort Collins, Colorado 4. Tuscaloosa, Alabama 5. Raleigh, North Carolina 6. Claremont, New Hampshire-Lebanon, Vermont 7. Boise, Idaho 8. Asheville, North Carolina 9. Greeley, Colorado 10. Cambridge, Massachusetts You can find the full report by clicking the related link on this page.Sheila Dillon debunks the myths and discovers the science behind sourdough bread. Sheila Dillon finds out why sourdough bread is undergoing a major revival. It is the world's oldest leaven bread dating back to Ancient Egypt and it is now experiencing a renaissance. Baker Dan de Gustibus explains how the bread is made from a sourdough starter, a mixture of flour and water which is left to ferment until wild yeasts and bacteria start breeding. But there are many myths around this sourdough starter - bakers compete over who can trace back the oldest lineage. Yeast technologist Dr Bill Simpson debunks these myths to explain the truth behind how sourdough works. And food historian Erica Peters explains why she thinks the famous San Francisco sourdough isn't linked to the Californian Gold Rush, despite its claims. Presenter by Sheila Dillon and produced by Emma Weatherill.Canada is the "most admired" country with the "best reputation" in the world, according to an annual survey ranking the reputations of developed nations across the globe. The 2015 report from the Reputation Institute ranked Canada as the most reputable country in the world, based on a variety of environmental, political, and economic factors. The Reputation Institute's Fernando Prado says Canada offers "something good" in many different categories evaluated in the survey. "We all love Canada because of several things," Prado told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday. In particular, he praised Canada for its "effective government," "absence of corruption," "friendly and welcoming people" and welfare support system. However, there were a few categories where Canada lags behind, Prado said, explaining that Canada has a perceived lack of strong brand names and companies, and is not considered a particularly important contributor to the global culture. Despite its "less positive" scores, Canada's well-rounded performance in most categories helped it regain top spot on the Reputation Institute's list, after it fell to second place in 2014. Canada held down top spot for three consecutive years prior to that, from 2011 to 2013. "Overall, Canada is a country that can offer something good in all different aspects," Prado said. The Reputation Institute surveyed approximately 48,000 residents of G8 countries to gather the data for its rankings. Survey respondents were asked to rank the reputations of the world's 55 wealthiest nations (based on GDP) in a variety of categories. Norway placed second on the list, followed by Sweden, Switzerland, and Australia. The United States slotted into 22nd spot. The Reputation Institute also produced a separate list ranking countries based on what their citizens said about their homelands. Australia ranked first on this "self-image" list, followed by Canada, Russia, India and Germany, with the U.S. in sixth place. Russia had the largest gap between their self-image and how they are perceived by other nations. Russian citizens scored their country as the third-most reputable country in the world, but other nations ranked them 52nd out of 55 countries, ahead of only Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq. The gap between internal reputation and external reputation was also large for China, India and the United States. The Reputation Institute bills itself as "the world's leading research and advisory firm for reputation."Five months into the Andrew Friedman regime, it’s becoming clearer and clearer how his Los Angeles Dodgers are going to operate. They covet roster flexibility. They prioritize growing high-end talent internally. They’re in the midst of assembling a think tank of behind-the-scenes people to investigate every little area in which they can improve. And when it won’t have a deleterious effect on the aforementioned areas, they will flex their Venice-quality financial muscle. Hector Olivera with the Cuban team in 2009. (AP) The former three make the latter so very scary to the other 29 teams in baseball, which have seen the New York Yankees spend, spend, spend their way to middling results because they hemmed themselves in with an aging and inflexible core, biffed on the farm and never built the analytics warehouse a team with such financial resources warrants. It’s why Tuesday, even as the Dodgers gave more years and dollars to Cuban infielder Hector Olivera than any other team was willing, it was difficult to fault them with profligacy. Scroll to continue with content Ad The $62.5 million Olivera is set to receive didn’t blow away the next-best offer like Los Angeles’ $42 million for Yasiel Puig did. The six years were one more than others were willing to offer. And the $28 million signing bonus – well, that was them doing their best Ronnie Coleman impersonation. The deal, first reported by MLB.com, is pending a physical, which should warrant close consideration. Story continues Concern percolated about the health of Olivera’s right elbow, and while scrapping the deal at this stage is unlikely, the contract includes a rare provision: If Olivera needs Tommy John surgery at any point in the deal, the Dodgers get to tack on a seventh year for just $1 million, sources told Yahoo Sports. It is similar to the clause in Cardinals starter John Lackey’s contract that has him playing for the major league minimum this season because his ulnar collateral ligament failed and warranted surgery. Though the throwing arm is far less important for hitters than pitchers, the health of Olivera’s elbow loomed over negotiations with all teams. [Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball: Sign up and join a league today!] Never in doubt was Olivera’s bat, the sort of right-handed presence the Dodgers could use in a lineup larded with left-handed hitters. Olivera, 30 in April, impressed scouts at showcases and figures to slot himself somewhere near the top of the Dodgers’ lineup once he arrives. When that will be remains unclear. Olivera still needs a visa and some in-game fine-tuning, considering he has logged all of 273 plate appearances since 2011. A reported blood clot in his non-throwing arm kept him out in 2012, and his defection wiped out 2014. In the short-term, Olivera looks like depth for the Dodgers. How soon he slots in at third base, his likely position, depends on his performance as well as incumbent Juan Uribe’s. Olivera could fill in at second base, too, though third is his likeliest landing spot, particularly with the paucity of free-agent third basemen this offseason. The Dodgers faced an offseason with three empty infield positions with the pending free agency of Uribe, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and second baseman Howie Kendrick. Olivera’s signing more or less guarantees the Dodgers will stick with 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect Corey Seager at shortstop for at least a few years, and whether they decide to lock up Kendrick, deal for a second baseman or plug super-utilityman Kike Hernandez into the slot, they’ve got options, which is all the Dodgers ever want. Olivera, left, is congratulated by his Cuban teammates in 2009. (Getty Images) Trading Dee Gordon and Dan Haren for Hernandez and catcher/second baseman/third baseman Austin Barnes highlighted this desire for elasticity among hitters. In the era of 12-man pitching staffs, a five-player bench in the National League runs far deeper with players who can double switch to multiple positions. Another player who fit that standard: Cuban teenager Yoan Moncada, who signed with the Red Sox for a $63 million outlay. The Dodgers’ ultimate lack of involvement with Moncada speaks to other parts of their strategy. Had they signed Moncada, the Dodgers would have been shut out of the forthcoming international signing class, which is expected to include Cuban right-hander Yadier Alvarez, a Moncada-level talent. The ability to get Alvarez, and any other under-23 Cuban, with the knowledge that whatever penalties are levied likely will be moot with an international draft targeted for 2017, is the sort of maneuver that defines these Dodgers: think like a small-market team, spend like a big-market behemoth. [Baseball is back! Check out Yahoo For Spring Training for the best spring training pics.] It’s why they didn’t trade Joc Pederson, who’s going to win their center field job, why they wouldn’t listen on Seager or 18-year-old Julio Urias, the best left-handed pitching prospect in the minors, why they’re thrilled with the revelation that was first-round pick Grant Holmes. The Dodgers don’t want to be the Yankees, with a development pipeline that stagnated for a decade. They’re building an R&D department combining the finest ideas of the Rays (Friedman) and A’s (general manager Farhan Zaidi) with the sort of unparalleled financial backing an $8 billion TV contract allows. It’s why the $8 million they gave Cuban pitcher Pablo Fernandez, widely panned as an overpay by other teams, amounts to a rounding error for the Dodgers. The money allows them to take risks other teams can’t, creates a playing field that is far from the level of Bud Selig’s Utopia. Other teams might have liked Olivera more than the Dodgers, but no team liked him enough to scare them off. Tuesday reminded everyone just how formidable a force the Dodgers really are. Olivera is theirs, warts and all, for a hefty price but nothing compared to what top-end MLB free agents get on the open market. So it goes with the Dodgers: always searching for a slight advantage, a tiny crack into which they can slide themselves and leverage just a little more value, the richest kid on the block who also happens to be the smartest. More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:Right now, Houston is going through one of the most severe storms ever to hit the USA. The main conversation on today’s news was whether the Mayor (who has authority to do such things) should have evacuated the City prior to the arrival of Hurricane Harvey. For a start, NOAA did not forecast a direct hit on the City. But it was forecast that potentially devastating rains were on the way. Houston has been here before, of course, in 2005 when the then Mayor did order that the city be evacuated. And around 100 died, as a result of the gridlock and heat. But let’s think about what an uncontrolled evacuation of Houston would mean. This is the map of the Houston highway system. And here is is on Google maps. While there is, of course, a Houston evacuation plan, assuming you want to avoid the Gulf of Mexico, the main routes are via the north and west: I69 to the north-east, I45 to the north, US Route 290 to the north-west, and I10 to the west. Now let’s consider the capacity of these roads. The capacity of roads in the US is given by the Department of Transportation’s Highway Capacity Manual. While there is a whole science devoted to calculating freeway flow measurements, you need to take into account not only the capacity of the road (the number of cars), but also their speed. Combining these gives us a flow rate, i.e. the number of cars that will pass a point in a particular length of time. We can look at the academic literature to see what this is. Dixit and Wolshon (2014) have a nice study where they looked at maximum evacuation flow rates. Their Table 2 shows the empirical data, but it’s around 1,000 vehicles per hour per lane. Assuming the Houston metro system evacuation routes of the north and west are around 4 x 4 lanes. Give a factor of 1.5 for contraflows, and you have around 25 lanes. So that’s 25 x 1000 = 25,000 vehicles per hour. And let’s assume an occupancy of 4 passengers per vehicle (i.e. most would evacuate by car). So that’s 100,000 passengers per hour. The problem with Houston is that it’s the USA’s fourth largest city. And that means it’s big. It (Greater Houston) has a population of 6.5 million. So that means 6.5 million / 100,000 = 65 hours. Non stop, day and night. Without accidents. A very bold move for a hurricane that was not due to hit directly. And tropical storm watches are only typically issued 48 hours before winds are due to strike. By not evacuating, resources are kept in Houston rather than being disseminated across the locations of incidents caused by evacuating traffic. The real test however comes in the days and months ahead, where the process of rescue, recovery, and rebuilding is critical. References Dixit, V. and Wolshon, B. (2014) ‘Evacuation Traffic Dynamics’, Transportation Research Part C, 49, 114-125Scarcely four years have passed, yet they feel like a lifetime. In January 2011, they came in their thousands to watch Andy Schleck spearhead the launch of the new Leopard Trek team at Luxembourg’s Coque Arena. 30 kilometres away, at a rather more low-key gathering in his home town of Mondorf-les-Bains on Thursday morning, Schleck confirmed that his career as a professional cyclist had come to an end at the age of 29. Related Articles News shorts: More Schleck rumours, Colombia team confident of Pro Continental licence Gallery: Andy Schleck's cycling career in photos Andy Schleck retires from professional cycling Cycling reacts to Andy Schleck's retirement Andy Schleck: Yes I miss cycling Without a result of note over the past three seasons, rumours of Schleck’s imminent retirement had been circulating for some time, and when he called a press conference two days ago, the announcement seemed inevitable. “Now I have to confirm the speculation. In 2015 I will not be a professional cyclist anymore, which hurts me a lot but I had no real decision. It was taken from me by my crash in the Tour in the UK,” Schleck said on Thursday morning. Schleck ruptured both the collateral and cruciate ligaments in his knee during a crash on stage 3 of the Tour de France, and while surgery in Switzerland to repair the damage to the ligaments was successful, he was beset by repeated inflammations of his knee as he attempted to return to training in Mallorca later in the summer.
that I wouldn’t entirely rule them out, and they could see Gray as a way to stabilize the relief corps in front of Jansen. That wouldn’t match up with Slusser reporting that the team wanted to use him as their closer, but maybe in this instance, closer was just short-hand for high leverage reliever? I don’t know. This feels like a stretch. That leaves the Nationals and Diamondbacks. The Nationals are the easy guess, since they have the most glaring need for a closer in baseball, but Dusty Baker has made it pretty clear that he wants an established ninth-inning guy, a “proven closer”. While the Nationals front office might be inclined to try something unusual with Gray in the ninth inning, I don’t know that Baker would be all that on board with converting a starter to reliever mid-season and handing him the ninth inning for the first time in his life, and he almost certainly wouldn’t use Gray in the multi-inning role. I think the Nationals are more likely to acquire a traditional reliever and use him like a traditional reliever. By process of elimination, that would leave the Diamondbacks. It’s pretty rational to not trust Fernando Rodney, despite the fact that he already has 20 saves. While Archie Bradley has been excellent in relief work this year, they might prefer to keep his multi-inning flexibility for earlier in the game. With Zack Godley stabilizing the back of the rotation, they could theoretically believe that Gray would help them more in October as a multi-inning closer than as a starter who might only throw once in a five game series. So if anyone is kicking this idea around, I’m betting it’s Arizona. But in the end, I still think the idea is too weird to actually come to fruition. If the Astros are serious about acquiring Gray to upgrade their rotation, I have a hard time seeing a team like the Diamondbacks outbidding them to experiment with Gray in relief. While the value gap between starters and relievers is shrinking, I don’t think we’re yet at the point where it would make sense for a team to pay the deadline premium for a quality starter, and then ask him to do something he’s never really done before in his career in the midst of a playoff push.An 83-year-old woman with a badly infected lower jaw had the entire thing replaced with a 3D printed titanium/bioceramic replica. The surgery was performed by doctors from the University of Hasselt (Belgium) in collaboration with Dutch surgeons. The 3D printer prints titanium powder layer by layer, while a computer controlled laser ensures that the correct particles are fused together. Using 3D printing technology, less materials are needed and the production time is much shorter than traditional manufacturing. The mandible was finally given a bioceramic coating compatible with the patient's tissue by BioCeramics in Leiden. The artificial jaw weighs 107 grams, it is only 30 grams heavier than a natural jaw, but the patient can easily get used to it. The operation was performed in June last year in the hospital in Sittard-Geleen. One day later the lady could start talking and swallowing.The ways asylum requests in Germany are handled differ greatly from state to state. Data published by Germany's Funke media group on Friday revealed just how much the so-called "adjustment protection rate," which measures the proportion of asylum seekers who received asylum or recognized refugee status, varied for Iraqi and Afghan nationals. Read more: An 'upper limit' on refugees — by any other name For example, the protection rate for Iraqi refugees in Bremen during the first six months of 2017 was more than 96 percent. In Berlin, meanwhile, only around 50 percent of Iraqis were granted asylum or refugee status in the same period. Watch video 03:37 Share Refugees and the battle against bureaucracy Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2iCvg Refugees and the battle against bureaucracy For Afghan nationals, the protection rate ranged from 31 percent in Brandenburg to 65 percent in Bremen. For asylum seekers from Iran the rate ranged from 38 percent (Bavaria) to 85 percent (Bremen). For refugees from Syria, the rate was over 99 percent across all German states. The German government disclosed the data following an official parliamentary inquiry by Ulla Jelpke, member of the Bundestag for the Left party. Jelpke expressed deep concerns over the wide gaps in accepted requests. "It cannot be denied that there are very different acceptance rates among federal states without any plausible explanation," she told the Funke group. "It is unacceptable that Afghan refugees living in Brandenburg or Bavaria only have about half the chance of staying and attaining protected status as their compatriots in Bremen." dm/bk (dpa, KNA)The US military has been ignoring warnings that its spending in Afghanistan is funding Al Qaeda and the Taliban. And John F. Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), appears to have had enough. He issued a blistering cover letter with SIGAR's quarterly report to Congress today that called into question what "appears to be a growing gap between the policy objectives of Washington and the reality of achieving them in Afghanistan." The US has $20 billion of Afghan reconstruction spending scheduled, and a further $10 billion requested for the 2014 budget. But after 11 years of war, there are "serious shortcomings in US oversight of contracts: poor planning, delayed or inadequate inspections, insufficient documentation, dubious decisions, and - perhaps most troubling - a pervasive lack of accountability," Mr. Sopko wrote. Good intentions, he added, appear to be running way ahead of commitment to execution. But Sopko's greatest degree of scorn is reserved for ongoing contracting with businesses that his office is convinced finance the insurgents trying to topple the US-supported Afghan government and kill US troops. "In conclusion I would also like to reiterate the concerns I raised in our last report about the Army's refusal to act on SIGAR's recommendations to prevent supporters of the insurgency, including supporters of the Taliban, the Haqqani network and al-Qaeda, from receiving government contracts. SIGAR referred 43 such cases to the Army recommending suspension and debarment, based on detailed supporting information demonstrating that these individuals and companies are providing material support to the insurgency in Afghanistan. But the Army rejected all 43 cases. The Army Suspension and Debarment Office appears to believe that suspension or debarment of these individuals and companies would be a violation of their due process rights if based on classified information or if based on findings by the Department of Commerce. I am deeply troubled that the U.S. military can pursue, attack, and even kill terrorists and their supporters, but that some in the US government believe we cannot prevent these same people from receiving a government contract." The US has struggled to not finance insurgents in Afghanistan for years now, particularly via pay-offs to warlords close to the Taliban for safe passage of the ammunition and other goods that the US needs to fight the Taliban. And providing funds to insurgents isn't the only situation where US government behavior is at odds with its stated objectives. While the US has made opium eradication a feature of the war in Afghanistan, it continues to do business with an airline that US investigators believe is one of the country's largest opium smugglers.Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. July 15, 2017, 2:36 AM GMT / Updated July 15, 2017, 2:36 AM GMT By Pete Williams Lawyers for the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court Friday to let the government use the list it compiled in late June for deciding who can apply for a visa under the limited enforcement of the president's executive order on travel. Only the Supreme Court "can definitively settle whether the government's reasonable implementation" of the justices' earlier ruling is faithful to it, Justice Department lawyers said in a court filing late Friday. A federal judge in Hawaii ruled Thursday that grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and siblings-in-law must be added to the list of close family members who can still get visas to travel to the United States during the 90 days while the executive order is in force. The State Department said on June 29 that only parents, parents-in-law, spouses, fiancés, children, and children-in-law would be exempt from the ban on visas for travel to the United States from six predominantly Muslim countries. It acted after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 26 that while portions of the travel ban could be enforced, people overseas "who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship" with a relative or organization in the United States would be exempt. Responding to a motion by the state of Hawaii to broaden the exceptions, U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson said the State Department's definition of close family member "represents the antithesis of common sense." Grandparents, he said "are the epitome of close family members" and past Supreme Court decisions have defined the term much more broadly. Watson also said the government wrongly determined that refugees would be subject to the ban even if they have an agreement with an American resettlement organization. Such an arrangement "is formal, it is a documented contract, it is binding," he wrote. "Bona fide does not get any more bona fide than that," he added. But in asking the Supreme Court to put that ruling on hold, the Justice Department said Friday that the Hawaii judge's interpretation "encompasses not just close family members but virtually all family members" and reads the term "close" out of the Supreme Court's late June decision. As for the refugee provision, the Justice Department said the only contract agreement is between the resettlement agency and the federal government, not between the agency and the refugee. Reading the ruling as the Hawaii judge does strips the Supreme Court's decision of any practical consequence, the administration lawyers said. Watson declined to put his own ruling on hold while the Trump administration sought an appeal, but the government asked the Supreme Court to block it in order to prevent "needless uncertainty" about the executive order's enforcement until the justices can resolve the issues. The Supreme Court will probably ask the Hawaii challengers to respond before deciding what to do.Forget Middle Earth, because your dream of living like Bilbo Baggins is now just one pre-fab home away from becoming a Hobbiton reality. While various hobbit fans around the world have got their shovels out and constructed their own habitable holes in the ground, one company has decided to make life much easier. Green Magic Homes offers pre-fabricated shells that can be assembled in various combinations to create the space you want. Once you have the floor plan figured out, all you have to do is screw the different components together and seal them. Once you’ve assembled the modules, just add dirt and grass. Photo: Green Magic Homes Then for the fun part – adding dirt, grass, plants and even trees on top. Not only does it help to look the part of a secret hobbit hideaway, but the dirt and vegetation also serves a practical function. The dirt covering the walls and roof add to the stability and strength of the structure, so that the roof is not a dead load. The vegetation scaling the walls and roof of the home also acts as a natural insulator, which means the home will remain cool in summer and warm in winter. The windows and doors, which are made from aluminium, are round in shape, in keeping with true hobbit architecture. The pre-fab homes are also quick to assemble. The modules can be shipped and a three-bedroom house takes about five or six days to construct. According to the company, the technology is suitable for all sorts of landscapes and climates. They can be built in the flat desert or a steep slope in the snow.During a talk at the CIO Network, techno-philanthropist and entrepreneur Peter H. Diamandis said, "I'm sort of a libertarian capitalist at heart, but we're heading towards a future of socialism." And he's not wrong. Capitalism might've helped bring about advanced technological innovations over the decades, but as a result, the socio-economic system is providing the very tools needed to eventually replace it as a whole. For capitalism to thrive, labor must be maintained and profits continue being accumulated. The problem, however, is the contradiction of which arises within the capitalist system when automation becomes involved. The more automation increases, the less relevant labor becomes within the mechanism of production. Believe it or not, this understanding was in consensus between two radically different economic theoreticians: Karl Marx and Adam Smith. Whether it was Marx's emphasis in Das Kapital on "living labor" (human) being replaced by "dead labor" (machines) or Smith's own emphasis in Wealth of Nations that "the invention of a great number of machines which facilitate and abridge labour...enable one man to do the work of many," it was agreed that automation will eventually result in the mass decrease of human labor within the workforce. Neo-luddites believe this to be a detrimental move in the wrong direction. I, on the other hand, believe this to be one of humanity's ultimate steps toward progress. The goal is a completely automated society, whereby all management and production is maintained via artificial intelligence (AI) and/or automated machinery. At this point, society will have reached what economics theorist Jeremy Rifkin refers to as zero marginal cost. What this means is that the state of automation is so advanced that its operation and production of items are at no cost to the consumers whatsoever, thus no need for labor and no need for income. In today's world, we can argue that the production of books, music, and other digital content is now at a near-zero marginal cost, whereby its operation and production of items are next to nothing in cost. As a result, this has empowered creators all throughout the world in ways we've never seen before in history.1 of 25 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Chaos postpones Trump rally View Photos GOP front-runner Donald Trump cancels a Chicago event citing “growing safety concerns” created by thousands of protesters inside and outside the arena. Caption GOP front-runner Donald Trump cancels a Chicago event citing “growing safety concerns” created by thousands of protesters inside and outside the arena. March 11, 2016 Trump supporter Birgitt Peterson, center, of Yorkville, Ill., argues with protesters after the canceled Trump rally in Chicago. She later said her gesture was an attempt to make a point to protesters. “I’m not a Nazi,” she told the New York Times. E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. Hillary Clinton’s statement in response to an outbreak of violence at Republican Party front-runner Donald Trump’s Chicago rally was aimed at encouraging political unity. But instead, many reacted to her statement with disappointment. In Cleveland Saturday, March 12, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized GOP front-runner Donald Trump for "ugly, divisive rhetoric" that she said encourages aggression and violence which is not only wrong, but dangerous. (Reuters) “The divisive rhetoric we are seeing should be of grave concern to us all,” Clinton said in the statement issued after midnight on Saturday morning. “We all have our differences, and we know many people across the country feel angry.” “We need to address that anger together,” she added. Clinton then evoked the massacre in Charleston, S.C., which left nine African American churchgoers dead. She pointed to it as an example of how the country can overcome its divisions. “The families of those victims came together and melted hearts in the statehouse and the Confederate flag came down,” Clinton said. “That should be the model we strive for to overcome painful divisions in our country.” Trump was never mentioned in the statement itself. And unlike some of Trump’s Republican rivals, who laid the blame for inciting violence squarely on his shoulders, Clinton avoided addressing Trump’s role at all. Amid growing security concerns, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign canceled a Chicago rally on March 11. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post) The decision left some puzzled. “Problematic use of Charleston. Why is racial healing always dependent on black forgiveness?” noted Chad Williams, chair of African and Afro-American studies at Brandeis University. Problematic use of Charleston. Why is racial healing always dependent on black forgiveness? #Charlestonsyllabus https://t.co/AkPe4oI1Xc — Chad Williams (@Dr_ChadWilliams) March 12, 2016 Goldie Taylor, editor-at-large at the Daily Beast, also took issue with the statement. “Refusing to directly call out Trump is a problem,” she said. Refusing to directly call out Trump is a problem. https://t.co/XKLrq8vUb0 — Auntie Goldie (@goldietaylor) March 12, 2016 “Clinton’s response seems more concerned about the fact that protesters fought back than with the racism and nativism of Trump’s rallies,” added Eddie S. Glaude Jr., a professor of African-American studies at Princeton University. Clinton's response seems more concerned about the fact that protesters fought back than with the racism and nativism of Trump's rallies. — Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (@esglaude) March 12, 2016 Clinton has in the past called out Trump directly — from the stump and online — for campaigning on what she has called “bluster and bigotry.” Later on Saturday, Clinton addressed Trump more directly in a statement, criticizing him for encouraging violence at his rallies. "The ugly, divisive rhetoric we are hearing from Donald Trump and the encouragement of violence and aggression is wrong, and it's dangerous," Clinton said at an event in St. Louis. "If you play with matches, you're going to start a fire you can't control." "That's not leadership. That's political arson," she added. [Hillary Clinton: Donald Trump might ‘start a fire’ he can’t control] In recent weeks, she has used Trump as a foil for her own message, adding a line to her stump speech that plays off of Trump’s slogan Make America Great Again. “We don’t need to make America great again, we need to make America whole,” Clinton said. In St. Louis, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says "if you see a bully, stand up to him" and calls on Americans to "stand together against division." (Reuters) As recently as this week, Clinton tweeted at Trump blaming him for failing to denounce violence at his rallies. “Condoning violence against protesters and press at your rallies is the real disgrace,” she said. .@realDonaldTrump: condoning violence against protesters and press at your rallies is the real disgrace. #GOPdebate — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 11, 2016 But while Friday night’s melee in Chicago prompted some conservatives, including Trump’s rival, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, to note the well-documented history of violence at Trump’s events, Clinton stayed silent on the issue. “Tonight the seeds of division that Donald Trump has been sowing this whole campaign finally bore fruit, and it was ugly,” Kasich said in a statement.Out of the entire atmospheric makeup, only one to two percent is made up of greenhouse gases with the majority being nitrogen (about 78 percent) and oxygen (about 21 percent). Of that two percent, “planet-killing” carbon dioxide comprises only 3.62 percent while water vapor encompasses 95 percent. And of the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, humans cause only 3.4 percent of annual CO2 emissions. What does this all boil down to? As shown by the accompanying graph, not very much. Indeed, anthropogenic effects are real but carbon is such a small portion of the natural cycle, and let’s not forget both the sun and carbon are needed for natural cycles that are good for the earth such as photosynthesis—the process by which plants turn sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. (For more, check out this Global Warming Primer published by the National Center for Policy Analysis.) Perhaps the most alarming part is the price tag associated with attempting to reduce such a small part of the atmosphere and something we really cannot control. Our analysis shows the cumulative GDP losses for 2010 to 2029 approach $7 trillion. Single-year losses exceed $600 billion in 2029, more than $5,000 per house¬hold. Job losses are expected to exceed 800,000 in some years, and exceed at least 500,000 from 2015 through 2026. It is important to note that these are net job losses, after any jobs created by compliance with the regulations–so-called green jobs–are taken into account. In total, the “climate revenue” (read: energy tax) could approach two trillion over eight years. Keep in mind, this is all for negligible environmental benefits. The science behind global warming is anything but conclusive. Many leading climatologists conclude that climate models aren’t incredibly accurate and even have different opinions (for instance whether it is the sun or oceanic changes) as to what the dominant causes are of global warming and cooling. Nevertheless, it’s easy to pretend the science on global warming is conclusive when environmentalist extremists suppress dissenting opinions. Economist Walter Williams provides a few examples and draws an interesting parallel: There’s a much more important issue that poses an even greater danger to mankind. That’s the effort by environmentalists to suppress disagreement with their view. According to a March 11 article in London’s Sunday Telegraph, Timothy Ball, a former climatology professor at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, has received five death threats since he started questioning whether man was affecting climate change. Richard Lindzen, professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT, said, “Scientists who dissent from the alarmism have seen their funds disappear, their work derided, and themselves labeled as industry stooges.” Nigel Calder, a former editor of New Scientist, said, “Governments are trying to achieve unanimity by stifling any scientist who disagrees. Einstein could not have got funding under the present system.” Suppressing dissent is nothing new. Italian cosmologist Giordano Bruno taught that stars were at different distances from each other surrounded by limitless territory. He was imprisoned in 1592, and eight years later he was tried as a heretic and burned at the stake. Because he disagreed that the Earth was the center of the universe, Galileo was ordered to stand trial on suspicion of heresy in 1633. Under the threat of torture, he recanted and was placed under house arrest for the rest of his life.” That was 1592. After 400 and some odd years, one would think it’d be a little different.“They probably wouldn’t be as surprised in a state like Texas, but in California, they’re a little surprised that it is a possibility,” Morris says. The school board votes on the policy April 11. It was created based on recommendations from various entities, including the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Kingsburg Police Department. The policy allows for up to five employees with gun permits to carry concealed weapons in holsters. They’ll be trained, Morris says, and anonymous. “This isn’t the wild, Wild West,” he says. “We just want to protect children.” He says he feels good about the policy because he’s the one in charge. He’ll decide which employees carry guns based on several criteria, including evaluations, discipline records and an interview with him. “I can tell you, I’m not out there recruiting folks right now, but I have had folks come to me and say ‘Hey, Mr. Morris, if this becomes a reality, I am interested in the process.’ ” Morris says there wasn’t a particular incident that prompted the school board to create a policy, just a concern that there weren’t enough measures in place to keep children safe. 'What if the teacher loses it, or shoots someone by accident?' “In the severe case, God forbid, that something happen where our kids or staff are in grave danger, the response time would need to be immediate,” Morris says. The high school’s campus is open. Unlike many Central Valley high schools, there are no gates or fences. At lunchtime, students on their way to a pizza parlor talk about the policy. “It could [make it] safer,” one student says. Another asks, “But what if at the same time, someone jacks the gun?” "What if like the teacher loses it?” another student asks. “What if the teacher shoots someone by accident?” Parent Michele Lopez voiced similar concerns. “We don’t know what kind of temper that teacher has,” she says. “So that’s really what my biggest fear is. I don’t know how they’re gonna react when they pull the gun out.” She says she was surprised when the district introduced the idea. “There’s hardly ever any crime here,” she says. But the district’s five school board members are all for it, as are plenty of parents, like Olga Frandsen. “It’s not a gated high school so anybody can walk on campus and cause a threat. For the safety, I believe it’s a good thing,” she says. “You watch the news, there’s a lot of bad stuff happening around the world.” At a downtown Christian coffee shop called Common Ground, manager Lori Querin gives the idea two thumbs up. She says teachers are defenseless without weapons. “By the time you get a broomstick to whack a guy or try to tackle him, he’s already shot you,” she says. In fact, there’s enough support in this small conservative town that faculty who are against the gun policy are afraid to speak to the media. One teacher says the school is pretty much split down the middle on the policy, but those who are against it don’t want to jeopardize their jobs by speaking out. Teachers say they found out about the policy only after the school board introduced it and it was covered by the press. At least one other California school district has a written gun policy. Folsom-Cordova Unified School District in Sacramento allows a few staff with gun permits to bring the guns on campus. However, those guns are stored in a locked gun vault; teachers don’t wear them in a concealed holster in the classroom. The district has about 20,000 students. Kingsburg High has about 1,200 students.Don’t allow the disinterest of someone close, discourage you from creating what your soul needs. Every bouquet may have a thorn or two. Handle it carefully and you’ll still enjoy the beauty and aroma without getting hurt. You don’t need others to help you walk the path of discovery and creation. You simply need the desire to walk forward one step at a time. Additional Insight: When we place expectations on others, we’re setting them up to fail. And we fail ourselves as well, if we become upset when they don’t live up to those standards. Asking for something always puts you at risk for being turned down. That’s ok. We all have choices and when someone says no to us, we can’t become angry or upset. Sometimes being turned down is the best thing that could ever happen to you. As it pushes you to learn, change and take ownership of your own life. It’s easy to blame others for the failings we face in life. But more often than not, we are given the insight to what the future may bring and we ignore it. Instead of heeding the message from those gut feelings, we often dismiss them as silly or nothing more than worry. But if can take the warning early enough to make change, we can often improve the outcome. Don’t rely on the fear of change and hope for the best. Then try to find external reasons why the hope didn’t pan out. Today the Fae are reminding us that we all have the ability to lead our own path and walk in the direction we need to go. No one else can lead your life for you. Don’t give your choices over to someone else who may not have your best interest at heart. They may prefer to look for ways to keep you under their thumb for their own selfish and fearful reasons. Like yesterday’s message, it’s time to let go of the negative in your life and stand on your own feet. The swords remind us that we have the strength, fortitude and endurance to succeed when we put our mind/body/spirit into action for a common cause. Visualize your goal, put action behind the effort, and align your energies with the Divine force in your life to achieve the dream. You aren’t really alone when you have faith. Faith in yourself, your abilities and the energy; both physical and spiritual, that you put out into the Divine Universe to manifest your own success. “Have Faith, Not Hope. Hope is a beggar. Faith is a Believer. Hope walks through the fire. Faith leaps over it.” ~ Springwolf 2014 Inspired by Jim Carrey Each time you begin to worry about a challenge you face, have faith. Every time you begin to fear what might happen in a negative way, believe in yourself. Allow yourself to be optimistic that every thing really is going to be ok and go your way. Put forth the energy, action and faith to leap over the struggles and leave them behind as you make your way toward accomplishment. Additional Reading: Personal Readings From Springwolf If you enjoy our Daily Tarot Meditation Insights, check out the additional Services from Spring’s Haven. We offer both in-house and email/phone/Skype consultations. As a Ministerial organization, all our consultations are private and strictly confidential. We use the Mystic Faery Tarot by Linda Ravenscroft, the Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti and the Steampunk Tarot by Aly Fell for our daily drawings. You can learn more about these beautiful decks on Amazon.com. Read more about the Tarot and our Tarot Meditation insights. Springwolf Reflections 2016 Motto: I let go of worry and trust the Divine will care for me and my family. I am filled with prosperity for financial and healthy abundance. © 2016 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved. AdvertisementsCHAPTER VIII THE WORLD AS IT COULD BE MADE IN the daily lives of most men and women, fear plays a greater part than hope: they are more filled with the thought of the possessions that others may take from them, than of the joy that they might create in their own lives and in the lives with which they come in contact. It is not so that life should be lived. Those whose lives are fruitful to themselves, to their friends, or to the world are inspired by hope and sustained by joy: they see in imagination the things that might be and the way in which they are to be brought into existence. In their private relations they are not pre-occupied with anxiety lest they should lose such affection and respect as they receive: they are engaged in giving affection and respect freely, and the reward comes of itself without their seeking. In their work they are not haunted by jealousy of competitors, but concerned with the actual matter that has to be done. In politics, they do not spend time and passion defending unjust privileges of their class or nation, but they aim at making the world as a whole happier, less cruel, less full of conflict between rival greeds, and more full of human beings whose growth has not been dwarfed and stunted by oppression. A life lived in this spirit--the spirit that aims at creating rather than possessing--has a certain fundamental happiness, of which it cannot be wholly robbed by adverse circumstances. This is the way of life recommended in the Gospels, and by all the great teachers of the world. Those who have found it are freed from the tyranny of fear, since what they value most in their lives is not at the mercy of outside power. If all men could summon up the courage and the vision to live in this way in spite of obstacles and discouragement, there would be no need for the regeneration of the world to begin by political and economic reform: all that is needed in the way of reform would come automatically, without resistance, owing to the moral regeneration of individuals. But the teaching of Christ has been nominally accepted by the world for many centuries, and yet those who follow it are still persecuted as they were before the time of Constantine. Experience has proved that few are able to see through the apparent evils of an outcast's life to the inner joy that comes of faith and creative hope. If the domination of fear is to be overcome, it is not enough, as regards the mass of men, to preach courage and indifference to misfortune: it is necessary to remove the causes of fear, to make a good life no longer an unsuccessful one in a worldly sense, and to diminish the harm that can be inflicted upon those who are not wary in self- defense. When we consider the evils in the lives we know of, we find that they may be roughly divided into three classes. There are, first, those due to physical nature: among these are death, pain and the difficulty of making the soil yield a subsistence. These we will call ``physical evils.'' Second, we may put those that spring from defects in the character or aptitudes of the sufferer: among these are ignorance, lack of will, and violent passions. These we will call ``evils of character.'' Third come those that depend upon the power of one individual or group over another: these comprise not only obvious tyranny, but all interference with free development, whether by force or by excessive mental influence such as may occur in education. These we will call ``evils of power.'' A social system may be judged by its bearing upon these three kinds of evils. The distinction between the three kinds cannot be sharply drawn. Purely physical evil is a limit, which we can never be sure of having reached: we cannot abolish death, but we can often postpone it by science, and it may ultimately become possible to secure that the great majority shall live till old age; we cannot wholly prevent pain, but we can diminish it indefinitely by securing a healthy life for all; we cannot make the earth yield its fruits in any abundance without labor, but we can diminish the amount of the labor and improve its conditions until it ceases to be an evil. Evils of character are often the result of physical evil in the shape of illness, and still more often the result of evils of power, since tyranny degrades both those who exercise it and (as a rule) those who suffer it. Evils of power are intensified by evils of character in those who have power, and by fear of the physical evil which is apt to be the lot of those who have no power. For all these reasons, the three sorts of evil are intertwined. Nevertheless, speaking broadly, we may distinguish among our misfortunes those which have their proximate cause in the material world, those which are mainly due to defects in ourselves, and those which spring from our being subject to the control of others. The main methods of combating these evils are: for physical evils, science; for evils of character, education (in the widest sense) and a free outlet for all impulses that do not involve domination; for evils of power, the reform of the political and economic organization of society in such a way as to reduce to the lowest possible point the interference of one man with the life of another. We will begin with the third of these kinds of evil, because it is evils of power specially that Socialism and Anarchism have sought to remedy. Their protest against Inequalities of wealth has rested mainly upon their sense of the evils arising from the power conferred by wealth. This point has been well stated by Mr. G. D. H. Cole:-- What, I want to ask, is the fundamental evil in our modern Society which we should set out to abolish? There are two possible answers to that question, and I am sure that very many well-meaning people would make the wrong one. They would answer POVERTY, when they ought to answer SLAVERY. Face to face every day with the shameful contrasts of riches and destitution, high dividends and low wages, and painfully conscious of the futility of trying to adjust the balance by means of charity, private or public, they would answer unhesitatingly that they stand for the ABOLITION OF POVERTY. Well and good! On that issue every Socialist is with them. But their answer to my question is none the less wrong. Poverty is the symptom: slavery the disease. The extremes of riches and destitution follow inevitably upon the extremes of license and bondage. The many are not enslaved because they are poor, they are poor because they are enslaved. Yet Socialists have all too often fixed their eyes upon the material misery of the poor without realizing that it rests upon the spiritual degradation of the slave.[59] I do not think any reasonable person can doubt that the evils of power in the present system are vastly greater than is necessary, nor that they might be immeasurably diminished by a suitable form of Socialism. A few fortunate people, it is true, are now enabled to live freely on rent or interest, and they could hardly have more liberty under another system. But the great bulk, not only of the very poor, but, of all sections of wage-earners and even of the professional classes, are the slaves of the need for getting money. Almost all are compelled to work so hard that they have little leisure for enjoyment or for pursuits outside their regular occupation. Those who are able to retire in later middle age are bored, because they have not learned how to fill their time when they are at liberty, and such interests as they once had apart from work have dried up. Yet these are the exceptionally fortunate: the majority have to work hard till old age, with the fear of destitution always before them, the richer ones dreading that they will be unable to give their children the education or the medical care that they consider desirable, the poorer ones often not far removed from starvation. And almost all who work have no voice in the direction of their work; throughout the hours of labor they are mere machines carrying out the will of a master. Work is usually done under disagreeable conditions, involving pain and physical hardship. The only motive to work is wages: the very idea that work might be a joy, like the work of the artist, is usually scouted as utterly Utopian. But by far the greater part of these evils are wholly unnecessary. If the civilized portion of mankind could be induced to desire their own happiness more than another's pain, if they could be induced to work constructively for improvements which they would share with all the world rather than destructively to prevent other classes or nations from stealing a march on them, the whole system by which the world's work is done might be reformed root and branch within a generation. From the point of view of liberty, what system would be the best? In what direction should we wish the forces of progress to move? From this point of view, neglecting for the moment all other considerations, I have no doubt that the best system would be one not far removed from that advocated by Kropotkin, but rendered more practicable by the adoption of the main principles of Guild Socialism. Since every point can be disputed,
up. “He was so overwhelmed by just the generosity of a coffee that he just couldn’t stop crying,” she said. After speaking to him and realizing there were no available beds in local shelters, she decided to use her winnings on a hotel room for Williams. Read more Touched by the gesture, Williams said he “couldn't believe there's somebody like her.” Andrade later posted about her meeting with Williams on her Facebook page, and started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the man in need. The story spread quickly, prompting local residents to get involved. A local barber came to the hotel to give Williams a haircut, and other residents donated warm weather gear. A child made Williams a Valentine's Day card, which said: “Know that you are loved this Valentine's Day!” “There’s a lot of good people in this world,” said Williams. “I’m overwhelmed with all the help, and I just want to thank everybody.” At the time of publication, Williams' GoFundMe page has raised $5,358, surpassing the requested amount of $5,000.Reach out to Trump voters, Rep. Adam Smith tells 900 at Seattle town hall U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., dean of Washington's congressional delegation. "We have to reach out to people who voted for Trump. The assumption that people were out of their minds is incorrect." U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., dean of Washington's congressional delegation. "We have to reach out to people who voted for Trump. The assumption that people were out of their minds is incorrect." Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Reach out to Trump voters, Rep. Adam Smith tells 900 at Seattle town hall 1 / 3 Back to Gallery The biggest-ever town hall crowd for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., during two decades in Congress, was 75 people -- until Saturday, when he was greeted by 900 at a multi-round discussion in the Rainier Valley. Smith had a long-haul message for the impatient anti-Trump crowd: "Patience and persistence" are required. "You have to build a movement -- slowly." As well, "do not undermine what you are trying to do." He made one exception, namely the eviscerating cuts faced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "On this I would urge massive pressure," said Smith. The big town hall was a serious, prolonged Q&A session, largely devoid of the posturing, feel-good symbolism of so many Seattle rallies. It featured just one screaming crazy, and one guy bearing a bad-penmanship banner calling for less investigation of Russian hacking and more probing of Clinton emails. "It feels like we are circling the drain for my country; it feels like everything is ineffective," one constituent told Smith. The congressman replied that critics of the 45th president cannot just sing to the choir. "We have to reach out to people who voted for Trump," said Smith. "The assumption that people were out of their minds is incorrect." How? Smith noted years of financial scandals and revelations about the libertine lifestyle of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi: None of it stuck. The opposition finally switched to arguing that Berlusconi's policies were bad for Italy. Then, he lost. "That's what we have to do with Trump; go after his policies," said Smith. Despite the charged national climate, constituents hit on specific concerns: Understaffing of the Seattle VA hospital, the plight of people with disabilities if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, and security of Americans working abroad. A man named Wendell Miller, with family members who have done U.S. embassy work abroad, raised the question of security budgets. "We have people with no protection trying to carry on the duties of representing our country," he said. "The Department of Defense does not handle security for the State Department," Smith said in reply. He explained that embassy security budgets are inadequate and have been cut by Congress, even as it has loaded up the Pentagon with new spending. The Trump administration is calling for a budget-busting Defense budget. Smith is a legislator at heart, not a hell raiser. He has served on the House Intelligence Committee and is the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, panels that require bipartisan work. He is appalled at the new presidency. "I pride myself at being able to work with anybody," Smith added. "That said, I cannot work with this president." Trump appealed to "hatred, bigotry and misogyny" in getting elected, Smith said. The president is out to "terrorize" immigrants. And attacking and seeking to browbeat the press is "one of the first steps toward a fascist society." Smith is a veteran of talking calmly to blustering Fox News hosts, and locally has argued intelligently with KVI host John Carlson. "God help me, I have even been on Dori Monson," he said Saturday. But a blustery president threatens to create "big-time problems," Smith said. He noted that White House "chief strategist" Steve Bannon has become a cover boy for al-Qaida, and argued that demonizing Muslims "plays right into the hands" of recruiters for the terrorist organization. Russia has been intervening in elections, not only in the United States but pushing "right wing fascist candidates in France and Germany." "What he (Vladimir Putin) wants to do," Smith argued, "is make the world safe for dictatorships." "We need a special prosecutor to find out what happened," said Smith, who once chaired the House Subcommittee on Terrorism. A pair of more radical questioners groused that Washington's congressional delegation is not doing enough to fight Trump, with one woman challenging Smith to take unspecified "extraordinary measures." Been there, done that, Smith responded. As chair of the terrorism subcommittee, Smith dealt with and came to know retired Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump's since-fired national security director. Smith came out with a statement that Flynn was "unhinged from reality" and "not qualified to be a security guard at the (U.S. Capitol) Mall." The congressman's judgment was borne out in the early weeks of the Trump presidency.5 years ago Washington (CNN) - The leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence committees said Sunday that terrorists have gained ground in the past two years and that the United States is not any safer than it was at the outset of 2011. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Michigan, agreed that despite the death of Osama bin Laden and drone strikes aimed at decimating al Qaeda's leadership, President Barack Obama's administration has lost ground in the ongoing battle with global terrorism. Follow @politicaltickerFollow @jhseher "Are we safer now than we were a year ago, two years ago?" host Candy Crowley asked Feinstein on CNN's "State of the Union." "I don't think so," the Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman replied. "I absolutely agree that we're not safer today," Rogers added. Rogers warned that the Obama administration's successes against high-value targets have fostered a false sense of security. "People think that, well, we've got this thing beat," Rogers said. "And that's just not the case." In the wide-ranging joint interview with Crowley, Feinstein and Rogers detailed an international climate growing more hostile toward the United States. Feinstein said increasingly fundamentalist Islamist groups are gaining power and winning the minds of the disenfranchised in the Middle East and Near Asia. "I see more groups; more fundamentalist, more jihadist, more determined to kill to get to where they want to get," Feinstein said. As evidence the U.S. is in greater danger, the California lawmaker cited a rise in fatalities from terrorist-related activities and increasingly specialized and dangerous technology available to terrorists. Feinstein specifically highlighted bombs as a growing threat to American security - and not the kind of improvised devices that plagued U.S. armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, or rudimentary explosives like the pressure-cooker bomb used by the Boston marathon bombers. She said terror groups had already tried, on four separate occasions, to send these newer, more deadly explosives into the United States. "There are new bombs, very big bombs, trucks being reinforced for those bombs," Feinstain said. "There are bombs that go through (metal-detecting) magnetometers." Rogers said the evolving nature of the terror threat - both an increase in the number of al Qaeda affiliates globally and the group's shifting strategy - has produced an enemy that, even if it’s not outright winning, has disproven Obama's claim the group is "decimated." "Al Qaeda as we knew it before is metastasizing to something different," Rogers said. Rogers said the terrorist network has changed its modus operandi. Rather than placing a premium on sophisticated, simultaneous large-scale terror attacks - like those of September 11, 2001, and embassy bombings throughout the 1990s - the new breed of al Qaeda is more decentralized, he said, something that will make it "exponentially" harder to stop the next attack from happening. "They've now switched to this notion that smaller events are OK, so if you have more smaller events than bigger events, they think that might still lead to their objectives and their goals," Rogers said. Rogers said the potency of the al Qaeda threat comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the American intelligence apparatus working to root out the next terror events. "The pressure on our intelligence services to get it right, to prevent an attack, are enormous," Rogers said. Rogers said a wave of disclosures about U.S. intelligence collection - revelations prompted by leaks from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden - has turned public opinion against agencies that are working to defend the United States. "Our intelligence services are not the bad guys," Rogers said. Rogers said the disclosures are not just a source of consternation among counterterrorism officials, but also a serious risk to national security. In describing the headaches posed by the drips from Snowden's spigot of classified documents detailing National Security Agency operations, Rogers said the revelations about the agency's methods of surveillance have already prompted three al Qaeda affiliates to change the way they communicate. With every disclosure, he said, it becomes more and more likely that a planned attack will slip through the intelligence web. "I can't tell the thousands of man-hours they have spent trying to prepare people to understand fact from fiction, what is happening versus what is not happening," Rogers said.RIYADH: Armed forces from around 20 countries including Pakistan and Malaysia are gathering in northern Saudi Arabia Sunday for "the largest, most important military manoeuvres" ever staged in the region, the official news agency SPA reported. The "Thunder of the North" exercise involving ground, air, and naval forces sends a "clear message" that Riyadh and its allies "stand united in confronting all challenges and preserving peace and stability in the region", SPA said. Saudi Arabia is currently leading a military campaign against Houthi rebels in its southern neighbour Yemen. Related: Pakistan will not send ground troops as part of Saudi-led military alliance: Aziz Last December, it also formed a new 35-member coalition to fight "terrorism" in Islamic countries. Sunday's announcement also comes as the kingdom, a member of the US-led coalition targeting the Islamic State group, said it has deployed war planes to a Turkish air base in order to “intensify” its operations against IS in Syria. SPA did not specify when the military exercise will begin or how long it will last. However, the agency called it the “most important and largest in the region's history” in terms of the number of nations taking part and the weaponry being used. Twenty countries will be taking take part, SPA said. Among them are Saudi Arabia's five partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Chad, Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Senegal and Tunisia, it added. Also Read: Troops already in Saudi Arabia, says minister A Saudi source said on Thursday that members of the new "anti-terrorism" coalition will gather in Saudi Arabia next month for its first publicly announced meeting. Riyadh has said the alliance would share intelligence, combat violent ideology and deploy troops if necessary.Franke James doesn’t have a famous name and she didn’t call Environment Minister Peter Kent a piece of excrement to highlight an issue. But the Toronto artist and environmental activist has shown no shortage of political acumen in her bid to fight back against a Conservative government she says has bullied her. NA-ARTIST15 Holding one of her books titled Prime Minister, visual artist Franke James feels she's been blacklisted by the Harper government because of her criticism of his climate change policies. ( BERNARD WEIL / TORONTO STAR ) Michaela Keyserlingk, holding a picture of her late husband Robert, was threatened with a lawsuit by the Conservative party for using its logo in a website opposing Canadian asbestos exports. ( Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) Cindy Blackstock, founder of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, found that the federal government began snooping on her after she launched a human rights complaint on behalf of aboriginal children. ( Pawel Dwulit / for the Toronto Star ) She has used access to information requests, help from political allies and publicity in the media to highlight her belief that the Conservatives withdrew funding for a European tour of her art and then badmouthed her privately to shut it down because they didn’t like her view of the country’s inaction on climate change. She is third person to pass through this column in recent months who feels she has been spied on, smacked down or targeted by a mean-spirited, micromanaging government or Conservative party always on the lookout for enemies of the state. One is an artist, one an aboriginal advocate and one a widow. All three have fought back. And all three are women. Article Continued Below We like to say that two is a coincidence and three is a pattern. There really is no evidence the Conservatives actually target women or that women have proved more adept at getting up off the canvas and fighting back. But there are enough signs out there to raise the question. Cindy Blackstock is an advocate for aboriginal children who accessed her government files to show the government had been tailing her and spying on her after she launched a human rights complaint regarding the Conservatives’ treatment of aboriginal children. Michaela Keyserlingk, who lost her husband to asbestos-related cancer two years ago, was threatened with legal action by the Conservative party because she was using the party logo in her campaign to stop Canadian asbestos exports. She stood firm, told them what they could do with their legal threat and found political activism. James may be the most effective of the trio. The government originally did offer $5,000 in funding to help support a 20-city educational art tour James had planned, beginning in Croatia. The money was later withdrawn, as was any moral support. Article Continued Below Ottawa originally denied it and called her claims of blacklisting a “fantasy.’’ But James didn’t allow the story to stop there. She raised money to display her “banned” art work on bus shelters in the shadow of Parliament Hill. She made noise in the media, and this weekend she was the subject of a New York Times environmental blog entitled Canada’s Approach to Inconvenient Art. Most importantly, she obtained documents that appear to show the money had been approved, then withdrawn, and that the government may have actively dissuaded a non-profit organization from proceeding with the tour. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has taken up James’s case, placing a number of questions on the Commons order paper last week, asking the Conservative government “what specific criteria and evidence did the government use to determine that Ms. James’ art exhibition would constitute a threat to the interests of Canada?” When the Star first broke the James story last summer, Tonda MacCharles reported a Canadian official railing against the initial funding for the tour to our embassy in Zagreb saying: “Don’t you know this lady speaks against the Canadian government?” Given the international condemnation endured by the Conservative government last week after Canada became the first country to withdraw from Kyoto, its actions against an artist whose criticism is more whimsical than wicked looks ever more petty. This pettiness extends to its dealings with Blackstock and Keyserlingk and only highlights three of the most egregious failings of this government: its pariah status on the environment, its inexplicable defence of asbestos exports and its inaction on the aboriginal file. James thinks the Conservatives have underestimated the power of women. “I think more people who are blacklisted and bullied by the Harper government need to speak up — and loudly. It’s only by shining a bright light on their bullying that we can make them change,” she says. It’s a tall order but three women took steps in that direction in 2011. Tim Harper is a national affairs writer. His column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read more about:In surprising news to old boys’ clubs everywhere, research findings indicate appointing women to company boards and installing them in C-suites has correlated with positive bottom-line performance. Several studies have shown when boards had at least one woman on them the absolute, and relative share prices–as well as overall financial performance of these organizations–surpassed those of companies who host boardrooms comprised solely of men. This noteworthy outcome has generated heated debate between two camps: those that believe women are critical to the success of any enterprise, and those that think women are merely coincidental to performance outcomes of these companies, for whom success was already on the docket regardless of a board’s gender makeup. The debate can be neatly summed up by the old chicken or egg argument: Are organizations performing better because women are on boards and C-suites, or are women being appointed to boards and C-suites of organizations that already are–or are on the cusp of–performing well? While the research never addresses the chicken-egg conundrum, a logical way to explain this is why a interesting relationship exists. We just have to do some simple math. Think back to high school when we learned transitive theory in mathematics. The theory asserts if A=B and B=C, then A=C. In our explanation: A = Women B = Successful teams C = Financial performance First, we need to agree boards and C-suites are teams; not just a collection of executives. According to the Business Dictionary, an executive is a person or group appointed and given the responsibility to manage the affairs of an organization, and has the authority to make decisions within specified boundaries.Continue Reading Below Advertisement The Motion Picture Association of America has a lot of goddamn nerve. It's so in love with the idea of suing Internet users for downloading movies that it asked the feds to save the 25 petabytes of Megaupload user data compiled while building the case against that site so it can file some lawsuits of its own in the future. Former MPAA head Jack Valenti was fond of saying that there's no such thing as fair use, meaning you don't get to share any movie you own with anyone, ever, without paying, but they have no problem making illegal copies of movies when it serves their needs. For instance, the MPAA was once caught burning illegal copies of the documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated to distribute to employees. Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images "It isn't piracy if we don't call it that." Continue Reading Below Advertisement Like we said, a lot of goddamn nerve, and the MPAA's disregard for the same copyright laws it fights so hard to enforce doesn't end with a few illegally copied DVDs. A blogger who wrote his own blogging engine called Forest Blog found that the MPAA was using his work on one of its sites, but had removed any linkbacks or attribution that would indicate where the software they were using came from. The saddest part of that fiasco was that they were totally within their rights to do that if they had simply paid the developer in question a license fee of just $25. The MPAA argued that the site in question wasn't technically public yet (although you could obviously find it with little effort), and that they would have paid up in the event that it went live. Meanwhile, the MPAA once forged ahead with a $100,000 lawsuit against a man for downloading one movie that it could not even find on any of his four computers. We added that emphasis because fuck these people so hard. Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images "He mentioned the movie twice on Twitter. I'm ruling that a green light." Continue Reading Below Advertisement And we still aren't done. The MPAA took its copyright watchdogging in a terrifying new direction a few years back when it introduced rootkit software to be installed on college campuses. They claimed that it was merely for each school's own internal data-gathering needs, but privacy experts pointed out that it would also be a great way to allow anyone to spy on your network while hiding the fact that they're doing so. Thankfully, we never had a chance to find out. Shortly after posting their new weapon of awful online, it was noted that the software was based on a GPL (general public license) version of Linux called Xubuntu. That GPL requires any program built using that code to have its source code released and licensed under the GPL also. The MPAA refused to do that, forcing an Ubuntu developer to send a takedown request to the ISP hosting the shady software. OpenCage No one at the MPAA has a large enough beard to properly run Linux. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Not long after that, the link to the software was taken down. Count that as a minor victory, while also assuming that, in the days since this embarrassing incident, the MPAA has probably just found newer and better ways to spy on you. For more people who probably should've quit while they were ahead, check out 5 People Who Screwed Things Up for Everybody and 6 People Who Died In Order To Prove A (Retarded) Point. If you're pressed for time and just looking for a quick fix, then check out The Worst Snack Slogan of All Time. And stop by LinkSTORM because it's full of that humpty hump. Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Then sign up RIGHT NOW and pitch your first article today! Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Mediocre? Even rudimentary? Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? You can create an infographic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow! And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to get sexy, sexy jokes sent straight to your news feed. Are you on Google+? So are we!The German activist who charged at ECB President Mario Draghi at a press conference, tossing confetti over him and shouting “End ECB Dick-tatorship”, has said she was shocked at how easy it had been to carry out her stunt. ”I was stunned and surprised at how well it worked out and that I managed to get inside the building at all. It felt very high risk and all the time I was thinking this could easily not work,” Josephine Witt told the Guardian, a day after her protest at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt. The 21-year old philosophy student revealed she had registered as a journalist under the name of Vice Media, the news website which has a German edition, for whom Witt does not work. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Josephine Witt makes her point felt. “I went through the normal registration process, and once there, through the airport-style controls and showed my ID. They check your bags, but I only had paper in mine which I thought was not unusual for a journalist,” she said. ”As we were waiting for the press conference to start I heard some journalists saying, ‘These ECB press conferences are usually quite boring,’ and I thought to myself: ‘Maybe this time it’ll be a bit different.’” Soon after Draghi began his statement on monetary policy, Witt, dressed in a black T-shirt bearing the slogan “End ECB Dick-tatorship” climbed on top of the desk where Draghi was speaking, and threw a pile of leaflets at him. She then showered him in white confetti, while all the time repeatedly chanting “End ECB Dick-tatorship”. Witt, who lives in Hamburg, was quickly dragged off by security guards and arrested but later released. It is unclear whether the ECB will press charges against her. She said that after last month’s protests outside the ECB’s new headquarters, in which anti-austerity demonstrators clashed with police, she had wanted to stage her own peaceful demonstration inside the bank. ”After the aggressive police tactics used outside the ECB, I wanted to show a positive way of non-radical, peaceful protest inside the devil’s den,” she said. “What could have been better than dancing on the table of that unelected man in his ivory tower? “The picture of Mario Draghi’s face was priceless – he was scared, surprised and shaken, and gone was the big poker-faced banker – it was suddenly just an ordinary man there in front of me,” she said. “What I wanted to demonstrate is that economics are not just some god-given thing that we have to accept and go along with. We can try to change our economy. If the ECB was a democratically elected institution we could use it far more for the better.” Witt said she was convinced that Europe needed a “new narrative”. “We have this image that the northern countries are disciplined and hard-working and the southern countries are just lying on the beach doing nothing. This is a racist narrative that’s dividing our united Europe. The ECB and the troika is only feeding into this, but we can’t let it divide our continent.” She said she was also angry at the economic imbalances that have emerged since the financial crisis began, balances which had also affected Germany. “Just as it’s untrue to say the Greeks are lying on their backs, neither is it true that all Germans are rich,” she said. “The gap between the rich and the poor is bigger here than it’s ever been before.” Witt is part of the European feminist Femen protest movement and has previously participated in high-profile attacks against Vladimir Putin at a trade fair in Hanover, a topless protest in Tunisia for which she spent four weeks in jail, and a Christmas Day protest in Cologne Cathedral for which she is still going through a court process. But in Frankfurt she insists, she was acting alone. “It was refreshing to know that under the right circumstances I could get just as good a response by not staging a topless action,” she said. “By the response alone I got from people all round the world, I think it was a big success. “I got tonnes of emails, some blogposts about me, from Canada to Australia people were congratulating me and thankful for what I did, and that made it worth it. There were only some macho responses commenting on my underwear, but they were in the minority.” Josephine Witt (@josephine_witt) so i jump on draghi's desk, and people discuss my undies... #FEMINISM #MORE_FEMINISM ;) pic.twitter.com/kZcNGE9bnf Witt’s parents, a physiotherapist mother and a father who has a solar panel business, have become used to the drama of their daughter’s activist lifestyle, she said. “My parents saw it on the news. They won’t be very proud of their daughter, but they sent me a text message to check I was OK,” she said. Witt said she had a “list in my head” of other figureheads she plans to attack. She added that the standout difference between the Putin and Draghi attacks was that while Putin’s lack of facial expression “showed just how much plastic surgery he’s had, from what I saw close up, Draghi clearly hasn’t had much done.”Iraqis have been complaining about electricity at least since the United States toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. In the resulting security vacuum, widespread looting, which American troops had no orders to prevent, dismantled much of what had been left of the electricity grid, already eroded by years of sanctions and war. “Maku kahraba! Maku amn!” were the complaints leveled by pretty much all Iraqis to any American they came across back in those first days of the American occupation. “There is no electricity. There is no security.” In that order. Iraqis in Baghdad had been used to a fairly reliable supply of electricity. Mr. Hussein had kept the capital disproportionately supplied, with few power failures. It was different in the southern provinces, where residents are predominantly from the oppressed Shiite majority, which had risen up against Mr. Hussein in 1991 and was brutally suppressed. Many areas there got only a few hours of power a day. American occupation officials evened out the supply all over the country — making it more equitable but also shocking residents of Baghdad who were suddenly subjected to the long powerless days that other Iraqis had been used to. The cuts were also new and enraging to people in the Sunni heartland in the north and west, the fulcrum of Mr. Hussein’s residual support and of the brewing insurgency against the occupation. Among the failures of the American administration of Iraq was the inability to meet repeated promises to get the electricity back up to the levels under Mr. Hussein. Occupation officials put out charts trumpeting modest improvements. But a combination of insurgent attacks, incompetence and corruption kept the system struggling, both then and after political power was nominally handed to an Iraqi government in 2004. The problems have continued since American troops left in 2011. More than once, Iraqis sleeping on their rooftops to keep cool have been killed by stray gunfire. Many Iraqis have air-conditioners in their homes, but during power cuts only some can afford to pay for generators. Those who can must often scale back to fans and simple air coolers because there is not enough power for air-conditioners while on generator power, and sometimes even when on the regular grid.PHOENIX -- Arizona right-hander Ian Kennedy will miss his next start after cutting his right index finger while doing the dishes this week. Kennedy was scheduled to start one of the games in Monday's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers, but will now be replaced by left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who will be recalled from Triple-A Reno. Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said Kennedy cut his finger a couple of days ago and threw a bullpen session on Saturday with a Band-Aid on it. He said the Diamondbacks considered several options that might allow Kennedy to pitch on Monday, including glue, but the team decided not to interfere with the healing process. Gibson also said he hopes Kennedy will not have to go on the disabled list. He is 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA.Abstract “Ban-the-Box” (BTB) policies restrict employers from asking about applicants’ criminal histories on job applications and are often presented as a means of reducing unemployment among black men, who disproportionately have criminal records. However, withholding information about criminal records could risk encouraging racial discrimination: employers may make assumptions about criminality based on the applicant’s race. To investigate BTB’s effects, we sent approximately 15,000 online job applications on behalf of fictitious young male applicants to employers in New Jersey and New York City before and after the adoption of BTB policies. These applications varied whether the applicant had a distinctly black or distinctly white name and the felony conviction status of the applicant. We confirm that criminal records are a major barrier to employment: employers that asked about criminal records were 63% more likely to call applicants with no record. However, our results support the concern that BTB policies encourage racial discrimination: the black-white gap in callbacks grew dramatically at companies that removed the box after the policy went into effect. Before BTB, white applicants to employers with the box received 7% more callbacks than similar black applicants, but BTB increased this gap to 43%. We believe that the best interpretation of these results is that employers are relying on exaggerated impressions of real-world racial differences in felony conviction rates. Original Article Share ThisVeoh Still Not Dead Enough For Universal Music; Asks Court To Rehear Case Yet Again from the again? dept The new opinion effectively rewrites the DMCA to provide different rules for copyright infringement on the internet. It improperly shifts the burden of online copyright enforcement to content owners whose businesses depend on payment for the use of their works, while broadly shielding internet service providers ("ISPs") who use and reap financial benefits from those works (without compensating their owners) even when they have the right and ability to police their sites. The Opinion upends the carefully-crafted balance embodied in Section 512 of the Copyright Act. And, as explained below, the Opinion fails to clarify the limits or scope of the DMCA's "safe harbors." first, the holding that section 512(c)'s safe harbor for infringement "by reason of the storage at the direction of a user" actually encompasses all "access-facilitating processes that automatically occur when a user" uploads, streams or downloads infringing material eviscerates both the language and structure of the DMCA. Congress created four discrete safe harbors, each addressing different activities. After the Opinion, Section 512(c), now applicable to "access-facilitating processes," swallows several of the other supposedly different and discrete safe harbors whole. Second, the Opinion ignores longstanding copyright law to hold that an ISP does not have either actual or red flag knowledge of infringement unless it has received information identifying "specific instances of infringement." Section 512(c)(1)(A) requires no such thing. As a result, content owners must now incur the expense of continuously scouring hundreds of thousands (or indeed millions) of constantly changing internet websites, to attempt to locate copies of their works and then send take-down notices or otherwise advise ISPs of these "specific instances of infringement" on their sites. The Opinion requires a world wide web game of "Whack-A-Mole" to police infringement. Third, as a consequence of the Opinion's interpretation of Section 512(c)(1)(B), websites like Veoh, which (a) copy, perform, and distribute (by offering digital downloads), tens of thousands of infringing works, (b) receive a direct financial benefit from the infringement in the form of advertising revenues that directly increase with each view of an infringing video by a user, and (c) have the "right and ability to control" the infringement as those terms have historically been understood in copyright law, nevertheless get a free pass under the DMCA unless they also engage in an undefined "something more" -which apparently must be akin to inducing infringement. If the Opinion is left standing, ISPs like Veoh will have no obligation either to affirmatively police their site (indeed, they are disincentivized from doing so lest they find an infringing file which would give them "actual" or red flag knowledge), to adopt readily available technical solutions to mitigate infringement, or to obtain authorization from content owners. I sometimes wonder about the lawyers representing the major labels, and their ability to continually bill those supposedly struggling labels top dollar in quixotic attempts to fight any and all innovation. We've written plenty of times about Universal Music Group's legal crusade against online video site Veoh. Veoh was a site not unlike YouTube, but Universal Music sued it years back, eventually losing badly, as the court made it clear that Veoh was protected by the DMCA's safe harbors. UMG appealed and, even though Veoh had won the case, the company itself shut down, later admitting that the legal bills from the UMG case were too much. On appeal, UMG lost again as the appeals court once again pointed to the DMCA's safe harbors. Not able to accept a loss, UMG asked the court to rehear the case, which it did. End result? another big loss for UMG.Apparently, no one at UMG is getting the hint. The company has now filed, yet again, asking the court to rehear the case. UMG argues that the rulings against it, arguing that the court misinterpreted parts of the DMCA's safe harbor. As in the Viacom v. YouTube case, we see Universal Music here trying to completely rewrite the DMCA -- pretending that it means something that it clearly doesn't, and which many courts have rejected. I can't see how that's a wise use of UMG's money.Specifically, it argues that the DMCA has always intended the burden for copyright enforcement to fall on service providers.Almost nothing there is true. The ruling is entirely consistent with other rulings on the DMCA. The entire point of having safe harbors in the first place is because the burdenbe on the copyright holder, since the service provider is never in the position to know that a work is definitely infringing, since the work may actually be authorized. Basically, this is a case where Universal Music's lawyers are presenting their wishful thinking of what the DMCA should be, even though that has been rejected by the courts over and over again. There are three key points that Universal Music is making -- all of them laughable.First, it's arguing that Veoh doesn't qualify for safe harbors because the safe harborsapply to storage, and that anything else (such as the display of the work) is not covered.This would basically disregard all of the caselaw surrounding the DMCA since its inception, and pretend that the key safe harborsapply to web backup/storage. Any service provider (such as a webhost) that allows users to display the content they store wouldn't be eligible under this interpretation. And, of course, that's crazy. Anyone who was around for the original fight that brought about the DMCA's safe harbors knows that it was the telcos who fought for those safe harbors. To think that they were only fighting to protect web backup services is laughable. There is simply no support for this argument, and no court has agreed.They also argue that this ruling "eviscerates" the "red flag knowledge" part of the DMCA.Again, this argument is wishful thinking. The whole reason why red flags only concern, as outlined in multiple other cases, is because "general knowledge" that there is some infringing works on a site doesn't do anything useful, as the site would have no meaningful way of dealing with it at that stage, not knowing what is actually infringing.Finally, UMG tries to pretend (despite tons upon tons of caselaw to the contrary) that the DMCA's safe harbors cannot apply to a service provider like Veoh, because of its own total misreading of one of the safe harbor clauses (which the court read properly).First of all, Veoh's dead, so it's not like it will have anything to do, but that's a separate point. More importantly, UMG's interpretation of almost every key point is questionable here. Veoh qualifies for the safe harbors because it's a service provider. It does not "receive a direct financial benefit from the infringement" because it is receiving financial benefit the exact same way no matter whether the content is infringing or not. Veoh received financial benefit fromof hosting videos. That has nothing to do with whether or not it financially benefits directly
ar, who told him that Blackwater was training Pakistani forces. Since the Nation story originally ran, Blackwater has continued to work under the Obama administration. In June, the company won a $100 million global contract with the CIA and continues to operate in Afghanistan, where it protects senior US officials and trains Afghan forces. Earlier this year, Blackwater's owner, Erik Prince, put the company up for sale and moved to the Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Whether Blackwater or former Blackwater operatives continue to work in Pakistan is not known. What is clear is that there is great reason to believe that the October 2009 cable from Ambassador Anne Patterson describing US special operations forces activities in Pakistan represents only a tiny glimpse into one of the darkest corners of current US policy in Pakistan. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. By Jeremy Scahill Reprinted with permission from The NationA new study could establish the existence of a correlation between Donald Trump supporters and white supremacists. At least on social media. The study, conducted by Demographics Pro, a social media research company, looked at a random sample of 10,000 Trump supporters on Twitter. They were identified as backer of Trump based on hashtags used in their tweets. Then, researchers wanted to see if any of them are following white supremacists’s twitter accounts by looking at list of 10 popular Twitter accounts, including former KKK leader David Duke, Neo-Nazi activist Jason Bergkamp (who tweeted, for example, a picture of a squinting white man with the caption: “when you spot a Jew and left your gas tank at home.”) Others on the list included Ann Kelly from the White Genocide Project and many “alt-right” accounts. The results showed a whopping 35.5% of pro-Trump Twitter users following one or more white nationalists. When a similar test was conducted with Twitters users identified as Hillary Clinton supports, no such correlation was found. Only 16 of the 10,000 Clinton supporters sampled had been following white supremacists on Twitter. The study does not offer a scientific measure of racist sentiments among Trump supporters, nor is it clear that those Trump backers who follow white supremacist Twitter accounts necessarily identify with their views, but it does offer yet another possible explanation to the increase of social media racist discourse during this election season. Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com or on Twitter @nathanguttman This story "35% of Donald Trump Twitter Supporters Also Follow White Supremacists" was written by Nathan Guttman.If you need a vacation and lack funds and resources for the traditional trip, consider becoming a WWOOFer. The WWOOF movement originally started in 1971 so workers in London could spend weekends in the country while learning about growing food. WWOOF refers to farms participating in the World Wide Organic Organization of Farming, a network of farms spread out across the U.S. and the globe that hosts visitors to their farms. Visitors work at assigned tasks on the farm in exchange for meals and board. As many of the hosts have minimal restrictions around lengths of time for WWOOFers, vacationing or time off in between jobs can be an excellent opportunity to get your hands dirty and learn more about growing food. When planning your time as a WWOOFer, make sure to double check expectations for each farm and plan carefully. Here are the top five reasons to WWOOF as a vacation: 1. Spending time outside can be an excellent way to combat stress. A study published by Landscape and Urban Planning found that adults living in areas with the largest amounts of green space reported less feelings of stress than of those who spent most of their time in urban settings. Just think of your stress levels dropping for each day spent in the sun and fresh air. 2. It is an affordable option for travel. With room, food and board covered, your only expense while volunteering as a WWOOFer can be for traveling. Many of the farms exist far from populous centers with little distractions for spending money. 3. Don't worry if you don’t have any farming experience. If you are concerned about lack of experience while volunteering as a WWOOFer, most farms take volunteers of all levels of experience. They only expect you to show up at a farm armed with a positive attitude and flexibility to suit the daily needs at the farm. Keep in mind that you may have to assist with some mundane tasks like weeding, but plant care and upkeep at an organic farm can be labor intensive. 4. An important component of WWOOFing involves the educational aspect. If you want to know about growing your own food, hands on education is the best way to educate yourself about food growth. Even if you have no outdoor space, any knowledge about gardening can be employed for indoor and smaller spaces. Many farms provide more than just an opportunity to grow food. As a WWOOFer, you can also learn how to build structures, make food, and care for animals. 5. The community and networking potential is an amazing opportunity within itself. Many of the farms have a variety of volunteers coming in and out on a weekly basis. With more than 1,000 hosts in the U.S. and more spread out across the planet, becoming a WWOOFer can provide countless contacts for meeting other guests and volunteers. With careful planning, WWOOFing can be an excellent time away from daily life to unwind and connect with nature. Rebecca D’Angelo, a past WWOOFer, decided to spend time on a farm after she graduated from college. “I didn’t have a job after college and I love working outdoors. Doing so has gotten me through some tough transitions,” said D’Angelo. She added that she WWOOFed at farms in Maine and Connecticut. Make sure to research and communicate with your potential farming hosts while organizing your WWOOFing adventure. Ensuring that you and your hosts are on the same page before you arrive will definitely make your WOOFing experience a positive one. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Striking Photos Show What Kids Around the World Eat for Lunch 12 Fruits and Veggies You Should Avoid (If Buying Non-Organic) 3 Young Entrepreneurs Find Revolutionary Way to Cut Out Food WastePrevious 1 2 3 4 5 Page 3 Next Page 3 of 5 Mind-Numbing Titillation to Speedy Web Mail A nation turned its lonely eyes to Jennifer Ringley and watched, stupefied. Oddpost made the experience of using a Web-based mail system feel as fast and efficient as working with a desktop app. Here are four more milestones in the development of the Web. 11. Candid Camera April 1996: JenniCam goes live. For more than seven years, Jennifer Ringley trained the unblinking eye of a Webcam on her life--first as a free art project, later charging subscriptions of $15 a year to cover bandwidth costs for the site's 20 million visitors. Though she occasionally appeared in the nude and had sex on camera, the content tended to be less pornography than a window on a tedious round of unexceptional experiences shared with everyone. (Ironically, the once extremely public Ringley is now something of a recluse; e-mail messages we sent to her last known address went unreturned.) But JenniCam paved the way both for a burgeoning X-rated cam industry and an entire generation of Web exhibitionists (see MySpace.com). It turned Orwell's notion of Big Brother on its ear: Instead of a government spying on us, we'd spy on each other (and maybe make a few bucks along the way). Reality TV shows like The Real World, Survivor, and Big Brother and viral video sites like YouTube owe a debt to Jennifer Ringley, who at least for a while made the mundane day-to-dayness of her life seem fascinating. 10. You and 3,255,620 of Your Closest Friends March 2003: Friendster makes the connections. MySpace is huge and Facebook is the flavor of the month, but neither of them--nor the gazillion other social networks that have sprouted up like kudzu--would be here if it weren't for Friendster. Opening its digital doors to the public in March 2003, the site was the first to reveal the interconnections between its users. Founder Jonathan Abrams says he came up with the idea for Friendster after being put off by the creepy anonymity of online dating sites. "I wanted a different kind of online experience that would integrate the online and offline worlds and bring your real-life social context with you onto the Web, something where you could network with people like we do in real life," he writes in an e-mail missive. The idea caught fire. By July 2003, Friendster had over 1 million users. But connecting the dots between that many people brought the site to a virtual standstill, and Friendster was soon surpassed by more-nimble competitors. A series of bad business decisions didn't help. The story of Friendster became a textbook case of how not to manage a startup. Ironically, Friendster is enjoying something of a comeback, riding the social networking wave that it helped create. In addition, Abrams has launched Socializr, a site that helps people plan social events in the real world instead of merely the virtual one. 9. Act Globally, Think Locally October 24, 1995: Craig Newmark unveils his list. Like many seminal Web events, Craigslist started out as a quirky side project seemingly devoid of commercial possibilities. In March 1995, Craig Newmark quit his job as a software architect for Charles Schwab in San Francisco and started a mailing list where subscribers could share information about interesting cultural events in the Bay Area. "I was reflecting on how much people helped each other out on the Net, in those days, on the WELL and usenet news groups," he says via e-mail. As the list grew, people began posting messages looking for apartments, jobs, and other topics. In October of that year, Craig turned his private list into a public Web site at Cnewmark.com. In September 1997, Craig's list became Craigslist.org. In early 1998, the site began charging a nominal fee for job listings (though the vast majority of ads remain free), and in 1999 Craigslist.org incorporated and began paying its employees. Today, there are 450 local versions of Craigslist in 50 countries, and more than 25 million people visit them each month. The service has been credited (or blamed, depending on your point of view) with taking the classified ad market away from established newspapers. But Craigslist's greatest contribution may be in proving that, like politics, the greatest global movements are always local. 8. Odd Pioneers February 16, 2003: Web mail service Oddpost debuts. In 2003 anyone who used Hotmail or Yahoo Mail probably had a desktop e-mail program as well. That's because using Web mail services was torturous. Making any change to your inbox--such as filing a message in a folder or deleting spam--required lots of clicks and a round trip to the service's servers, while you drummed your fingers and waited. Oddpost managed to make a Web mail service feel as if it were running on your hard drive. You could drag and drop message files to organize your inbox and preview messages instantly. Yahoo liked it so much that it bought the company and used the technology as the basis for its new mail service. Oddpost powerfully illustrated what could be done within a browser, and soon that kind of functionality (based on programming platforms like AJAX and Ruby on Rails) began showing up in Web-based word processors, spreadsheets, photo editors, and pretty much anything else a venture capitalist could shake a few million dollars at.evanthebouncy! Profile Joined June 2006 United States 1885 Posts Last Edited: 2016-07-14 12:38:46 #1 ## Lure Farming vs Pokestop Farming ## previous blog post where I introduced pokestop farming: http://www.liquiddota.com/blogs/511601-pokemon-go-alternative-high-level-exp-farming abstract (aka TL;DR): Ever sick of trying to catch a 300 cp pidgey? In this blog, we considers two ways of farming experiences: sitting near a lure cluster and catch everything, or going on a bike spinning pokestops and occasionally catching. In this comparison study we find that with a generous approximation, lure farming yields a rate of 300 exp / min, while pokestop farming yields a rate of 309 exp / min. We'd like to advocate pokestop farming because it is faster and more healthy, and without the pokemon cruelty of poke-trafficking and cannibalism. Today I decided to do a full comparative study between lure farming vs pokestop farming, as a follow up to yesterday's blog post on the issue. + Show Spoiler [quick_recap] + Pokestop farming offers the following advantages: 1) It's healthy. You're on a bike, physically active. That's what pokeGo should be about, instead of sitting on a bench breaking your thumbs. 2) You get to encounter rare pokemons more often (as of today it's shown to be not entirely true) 3) you can STILL farm pidgeys, arguably even better. This is a huge benefit. You are traveling long distances, and you can pick and choose which pokemon to capture, and which one to ignore. 4) you can hatch eggs. 5) you get to make decisions on the fly, which is fun: do I catch this pokemon or spin more stops? Is my route optimal? 6) most importantly, really, it's just more fun... riding around, multitasking, instead of watching the freaking same pidgeon evolving animation n times in a row, it's mind destroying. 7) it's free. no incense, no lure modules. Definitions: lure farming: camp out next to a cluster of pokestops with lures attached and catch everything in sight pokestop farming: move between pokestops at a rapid rate (on a bike) and selectively catch pokemons # Lure Farming Study # I headed out earlier today with some friends and stumbled upon a group of people farming pokemons near a lure cluster. The cluster consists of 3 pokestops in close proximity. I sat next to them and applied an incense to myself. The session ran for 30 minutes, and here is the result, with number of pokemon overlayed raw exp gain using lure farming Overall, a total of 5205 experience gain, and 40 pokemons captured The pokemons caught during the lure farming session + Show Spoiler + Of the 40 pokemons captured, the following are useful for further exp gain via evolution: -- pidgey: 4 -- ratata: 9 -- caterpee: 1 -- pidgeoto: 1 For the rest 25 pokemons not suitable for evolution, let's make a very generous over approximation and say we caught 25 additional ratatats. -- additional ratata: 25 Quick Reference from previous blog, regarding the exp value for pokemons when smelted for candy: -- pidgey/pidgeotto/caterpie is worth 166 additional experience from evolution -- ratata is worth 83 additional experience from evolution note: I'm ignoring the additional candy u get from evolution itself, so these number should be bit higher. If all these pokemons are transfered to make candies for evolution, here are the additional exp gain: pidgey/caterpee/pidgeotto: 6 * 166 = 996 ratatats: 34 * 83 = 2822 Result: In 30 minutes, we gained 5205 + 996 + 2822 = 9023 experience, or 300 exp / min # PokeStop Farming Study # I did the usual pokestop farming using the same route from yesterday during night time when nobody is around campus. + Show Spoiler + My strategy is as follows: If there's a pidgey, always try to catch it If there's a fun pokemon, yolo catch it anyways if there's a ratata not too painful to catch, try it If there's more pokestops to be spun, bike there and spin ASAP If the pokestops are not fully refreshed (rarely happens), look around and catch a ratata + Show Spoiler + Here is a screenshot of me half-way through the run, as you can see on my route some pokestops are not yet refreshed, so I opt to catch the ratata close to me instead. Here is a screenshot of me half-way through the run, as you can see on my route some pokestops are not yet refreshed, so I opt to catch the ratata close to me instead. Here is the result of my run. I had to stop early at 26 minutes because a lot of my eggs are going to pop, and I didn't want to complicate my measurements yes, I spent 10 dollars the first day to buy incubators before I realized they're a huge scam T__T yes, I spent 10 dollars the first day to buy incubators before I realized they're a huge scam T__T raw exp gain from pokestop farming As we can see, we gained a total of 5960 experience, and caught 16 pokemons on this run Here are the pokemons captured: + Show Spoiler + Of the pokemons captured, these are suitable for additional exp gain via evolution: -- pidgey: 10 -- pidgeotto: 1 -- ratata: 3 If these pokemons are transferred for additional exp gain: pidgey/pidgeotto: 11 * 166 = 1826 ratata: 3 * 83 = 249 Result: In 26 minutes, we gained 5960 + 1826 + 249 = 8035 experience, or 309 exp / min ## Conclusion ## Even making a very generous approximation, assuming the 25 random pokemon caught during my lure session are all ratatas, which can be used for evolution, the pokestop farming method yields more exp / min. Thus we can say as far as this comparison goes, it is more efficient to farm pokestops if you live in an area with a large number of pokestops, such as university campuses. Farming with lure is actually better for capturing moderately rare pokemons. These are not helpful if you want to focus on gaining exp, because you really only want pidgeys. On the otherhand, if you are farming pokestops, you're covering a larger area and can pick out pidgeys on the go. ## Q&A: ## When is this even viable? A spin gives you 50 exp. A good basline to aim for is 200 exp / min, which means you want to spin about 4 pokestops every minute. Plan a route to see if this is possible. Just remember you can always still catch pidgeys / ratatas in the down time. What about lucky eggs? I evolve all my catch in a batch and get tons of exp!! Notice that I actually farmed MORE pidgeys on the pokestop scheme, a total of 10 pidgeys vs 4 when I'm using lures. In general you are guaranteed to find more pidgeys when you're traveling from area to the next. With lures you are better at finding rarer pokemons Is lure farming daed gaem? No ofc not. You cannot ride bikes for 2 hours straight I'm assuming, at best 1 hour. So this should be a compliment to lure farming, that is more healthy, and with higher benefits. Lure farming is such a good social activity, I'd not pass it for anything else How do you have so many pokestops!? I live near an university campus. I go there around 3am in the morning and ride around campus, which has no traffic lights / cars, and pokestops aplenty. I truly think it is a huge unfair advantage I have, but hopefully I am using it to the best of my abilities as not to squander the resources, and making this blog post. How do you go through them so fast? I ride a bike with my right hand and swipe with my left hand. Keep your bike seats low so you can stop. I usually stop very briefly to make sure I get the signs. The GPS is slightly laggy so your location on the map is a bit behind of where you actually is, so get closer first. My pokestops are buggy! Make sure you spin it only when you're close (i.e. the icons are blue not purple/pink). Memorize where you need to be before spinning it, go there first then spin. Do not exit from the spinning page until you see the rewards popping out, then you can exit (you do not have to touch to collect the rewards). I see a pidgey / ratata, should I catch it or continue to the next signs? A pidgey is worth 5 spins, a ratata is worth 3 to 4 spins. You should optimize if you can catch them before you can spin that many pokestops. Generally, for a pidgey just go for it, ratata only if CP is sufficiently low. closing remarks / shameless advertisements Hopefully this is entertaining to read at least! If you want to "support" me please check out my cooking videos, you know you want to walk to the grocery store! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSspGV5tkNJ9q_ZCboYzTcQ I mostly do quick (15 min) home-made Chinese food shot in real-time. remember to upvote if you come from reddit, you've read this far upvote por favor! previous blog post where I introduced pokestop farming:Today I decided to do a full comparative study between lure farming vs pokestop farming, as a follow up to yesterday's blog post on the issue.Definitions:camp out next to a cluster of pokestops with lures attached and catch everything in sightmove between pokestops at a rapid rate (on a bike) and selectively catch pokemonsI headed out earlier today with some friends and stumbled upon a group of people farming pokemons near a lure cluster. The cluster consists of 3 pokestops in close proximity. I sat next to them and applied an incense to myself.The session ran for 30 minutes, and here is the result, with number of pokemon overlayedOverall, a total of 5205 experience gain, and 40 pokemons capturedThe pokemons caught during the lure farming sessionOf the 40 pokemons captured, the following are useful for further exp gain via evolution:-- pidgey: 4-- ratata: 9-- caterpee: 1-- pidgeoto: 1For the rest 25 pokemons not suitable for evolution, let's make aover approximation and say we caught 25 additional ratatats.-- additional ratata: 25Quick Reference from previous blog, regarding the exp value for pokemons when smelted for candy:note: I'm ignoring the additional candy u get from evolution itself, so these number should be bit higher.If all these pokemons are transfered to make candies for evolution, here are the additional exp gain:pidgey/caterpee/pidgeotto: 6 * 166 = 996ratatats: 34 * 83 = 2822I did the usual pokestop farming using the same route from yesterday during night time when nobody is around campus.My strategy is as follows:If there's a pidgey, always try to catch itIf there's a fun pokemon, yolo catch it anywaysif there's a ratata not too painful to catch, try itIf there's more pokestops to be spun, bike there and spin ASAPIf the pokestops are not fully refreshed (rarely happens), look around and catch a ratataHere is the result of my run. I had to stop early at 26 minutes because a lot of my eggs are going to pop, and I didn't want to complicate my measurements + Show Spoiler [eggs!] + As we can see, we gained a total of 5960 experience, and caught 16 pokemons on this runHere are the pokemons captured:Of the pokemons captured, these are suitable for additional exp gain via evolution:-- pidgey: 10-- pidgeotto: 1-- ratata: 3If these pokemons are transferred for additional exp gain:pidgey/pidgeotto: 11 * 166 = 1826ratata: 3 * 83 = 249Even making a very generous approximation, assuming the 25 random pokemon caught during my lure session are all ratatas, which can be used for evolution, the pokestop farming method yields more exp / min. Thus we can say as far as this comparison goes, it is more efficient to farm pokestops if you live in an area with a large number of pokestops, such as university campuses.Farming with lure is actually better for capturing moderately rare pokemons. These are not helpful if you want to focus on gaining exp, because you really only want pidgeys. On the otherhand, if you are farming pokestops, you're covering a larger area and can pick out pidgeys on the go.When is this even viable?A spin gives you 50 exp. A good basline to aim for is 200 exp / min, which means you want to spin about 4 pokestops every minute. Plan a route to see if this is possible. Just remember you can always still catch pidgeys / ratatas in the down time.What about lucky eggs? I evolve all my catch in a batch and get tons of exp!!Notice that I actually farmed MORE pidgeys on the pokestop scheme, a total of 10 pidgeys vs 4 when I'm using lures. In general you are guaranteed to find more pidgeys when you're traveling from area to the next. With lures you are better at finding rarer pokemonsIs lure farming daed gaem?No ofc not. You cannot ride bikes for 2 hours straight I'm assuming, at best 1 hour. So this should be a compliment to lure farming, that is more healthy, and with higher benefits.Lure farming is such a good social activity, I'd not pass it for anything elseHow do you have so many pokestops!?I live near an university campus. I go there around 3am in the morning and ride around campus, which has no traffic lights / cars, and pokestops aplenty. I truly think it is a huge unfair advantage I have, but hopefully I am using it to the best of my abilities as not to squander the resources, and making this blog post.How do you go through them so fast?I ride a bike with my right hand and swipe with my left hand. Keep your bike seats low so you can stop. I usually stop very briefly to make sure I get the signs. The GPS is slightly laggy so your location on the map is a bit behind of where you actually is, so get closer first.My pokestops are buggy!Make sure you spin it only when you're close (i.e. the icons are blue not purple/pink). Memorize where you need to be before spinning it, go there first then spin. Do not exit from the spinning page until you see the rewards popping out, then you can exit (you do not have to touch to collect the rewards).I see a pidgey / ratata, should I catch it or continue to the next signs?A pidgey is worth 5 spins, a ratata is worth 3 to 4 spins. You should optimize if you can catch them before you can spin that many pokestops. Generally, for a pidgey just go for it, ratata only if CP is sufficiently low.Hopefully this is entertaining to read at least!If you want to "support" me please check out my cooking videos, you know you want to walk to the grocery store!I mostly do quick (15 min) home-made Chinese food shot in real-time.remember to upvote if you come from reddit, you've read this far Life is run, it is dance, it is fast, passionate and BAM!, you dance and sing and booze while you can for now is the time and time is mine. Smile and laugh when still can for now is the time and soon you die!Gun Control: Was Harry Reid right to Reject It? National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre on Sunday declared that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg “can’t Buy America” when it comes to the national gun debate.He described Bloomberg as "reckless" and "insane."Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” LaPierre was reacting to Saturday’s announcement by Bloomberg of a new $12 million television ad campaign from Mayors Against Illegal Guns to help push senators in key states to back gun control efforts, including comprehensive background checks."He can't spend enough of his $27 billion to impose his will on the American people," LaPierre asserted."He's going to find out that this is a country of the people, by the people and for the people and he can't spend enough of his [money] to try to impose his will on the American public. They don't want him in their restaurants, they don't want him in their homes, they don't want him telling them what food to eat - they sure don't want him telling them what self-defense firearms to own. And he can't buy America," LaPierre said "He's so reckless in terms of his comments on this whole gun issue."Host David Gregory asked if LaPierre was prepared for Bloomberg seemingly gearing up to become the left's alternative to the NRA. LaPierre scoffed at what he described as a hollow threat."We have people all over, millions of people, sending us 5, 10, 15, 20 dollar checks telling us to stand up to this guy that says that we can only have three bullets, which is what he said. Stand up to this guy that says ridiculous things like, 'The NRA wants firearms with nukes on them.' I mean it's insane the stuff he says," LaPierre said.Bloomberg, appearing earlier in the program, predicted that there would be a political backlash against lawmakers who disregard the will of the people."We're trying to do everything we can to impress upon the senators that this is what the survivors want, this is what the public wants," he explained. "If 90 percent of the public want something, and their representatives vote against that, common sense says, they are going to have a price to pay for that."LaPierre also flashed a newly released study pinpointing Chicago as 90th — out of 90 jurisdictions — in enforcing existing laws against felons carrying weapons.“Why is Chicago dead last in enforcement of the gun laws against gangs with guns, felons with guns, drug dealers with guns?” he asked Gregory.LaPierre insisted that the push for universal background checks on American gun owners is “a dishonest premise” that will lead to the creation of a list that will be abused by the government and media.“Criminals aren’t going to be checked,” he said. “The shooters in Tucson, in Aurora, in Newtown, they’re not going to be checked. They’re unrecognizable.”LaPierre also said the NRA-supported instant-check system on gun dealers around the county also falls short.“We’re a billion dollars into this system now,” he said. “It’s not fair. It’s not accurate. It’s not instant. They don’t prosecute any of the criminals that they catch. It’s a speed bump for the law-abiding.“They want to take this current mess of a system and expand it, now, to 100 million law-abiding gun owners,” LaPierre continued. “There is going to be a list created. That list will be abused."Some newspaper will print it all. Somebody will hack it. We want to do the real things that make people safe. What’s appalled me about this whole debate is how little it’s had to do with making people safe and how much it has to do with this decade-long agenda to attack the Second Amendment.”Greg Norman out of hospital after chainsaw accident, says he is 'lucky' to still have left hand Updated Golf great Greg Norman says he is "damaged" and lucky to still have a left hand after a chainsaw accident. Australia's former world number one posted a photo to Instagram of himself lying in a US hospital bed with his left arm heavily bandaged. Norman, 59, issued a warning alongside the photo and suggested he had come close to severing one of his hands. "Working with a chainsaw ALWAYS be respectful of the unexpected. I was one lucky man today. Damaged, but not down & out. Still have left hand," he wrote. Norman last week posted a photo of himself working with a chainsaw to cut back a small tree at what appears to be one of his seaside properties. He posted a follow-up photo on Sunday at the "scene of the crime" of the injury after being released from hospital with a large pink cast on his arm. "Thank u all for your concern & good wishes. All well the morning after the accident. Here I am at the scene of the crime w/my new fashion statement!" he wrote. Norman had one of the most high-profile careers in golf, winning two British Opens and reigning as world number one for 331 weeks in the 1980s and 1990s. AFP Topics: accidents, disasters-and-accidents, sport, golf, united-states, australia First postedThe NFL has no plans on backing down when it comes to Ezekiel Elliott. On Tuesday, the two sides argued their case in front of a Texas federal judge, with the Dallas Cowboys' running back seeking a temporary restraining order against the NFL citing a league-orchestrated conspiracy on the heels of Elliott's appeal hearing. The outcome of the courthouse battle is still pending with a verdict to come by close of business Friday, but it was what happened while the two sides were occupied that added more fuel to the flames. Follow @VoiceOfTheStar on Twitter for up-to-the-second news and analysis! Appeals officer Harold Henderson opted to uphold the six-game suspension against Elliott. And just when you thought Tuesday was in the books in that regard, the league attempted to one-up the NFLPA by filing suit in New York federal court -- after unsuccessfully convincing the Texas judge to relinquish jurisdiction. They're officially asking a New York judge to uphold Henderson's ruling, despite a Texas judge pondering an injunction. BREAKING: NFL files lawsuit in New York federal court to confirm arbitration in Ezekiel Elliott case pic.twitter.com/36VhvrAUCW — Dan Werly (@WerlySportsLaw) September 6, 2017 The NFL is arguing that the proper jurisdiction for the case is NY, not in Texas where Elliott's team filed the other lawsuit. https://t.co/4jzjZapLZK — Dan Werly (@WerlySportsLaw) September 6, 2017 For his part, Elliott is willing to go the distance -- which has the Supreme Court as the finish line. A source says #Cowboys Zeke Elliott will fight #NFL's six-game suspension "to victory or the complete exhaustion of his legal options." — Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 6, 2017 Catch up on every twist and turn of the Ezekiel Elliott case in this full write-up. There's simply no telling where this all truly ends or what the next legal move is, but there's still an injunction motion awaiting resolution in Texas -- which granted could virtually guarantee the case remains in that state. The NFL is refusing to concede to that, however, as it's been known to have a much higher success rate when the battle is in their own backyard. Stay tuned, folks. This is only the beginning of a legal war that could drag on for months. The Cowboys are gearing up for a run at Super Bowl 52! Don’t miss any breaking news, take a second to sign up for our FREE Cowboys newsletter!The row over outrageous remarks made by lawyer M.L. Sharma against the December 16 gang-rape victim and women in general in the BBC documentary India’s Daughter has taken a new twist. The controversial advocate has claimed before the Supreme Court that whatever he and his client - death row convict Mukesh Singh - said was as per the “written script" given by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin. Under fire from the apex court, Bar Council of India, and the Supreme Court Bar Association which have issued him a show-cause notice, Sharma in his affidavit filed on Tuesday has distanced himself from the comments and called himself an “actor” who was only performing a “dialogue delivery”. Lawyer M.L. Sharma claimed before the Supreme Court that whatever he and his client - death row convict Mukesh Singh - said was as per the “written script" given by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin He also went to the extent of saying that “Mukesh’s statements had been procured under inducement”. He did not elaborate on the “inducement” aspect. British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, who made the controversial BBC documentary India’s Daughter “The documentary film is based upon written script and dialogue written by its directors and producers. A character who plays any role in it cannot be liable for any dialogue of the film. Contents of the film are not statements of its actors. I am not responsible as it is only acting and dialogue delivery as an actor. If by seeing me as a villain or an actor someone is hurt, I am extremely sorry for that. But the director is responsible, not me,” Sharma said. “I never issued any statement against any one. It is the producer and the director, and their script which is responsible,” he added. Sharma is seen in the documentary saying: “In our culture there is no place for a woman. Girls should not be allowed to go out after a particular hour like 9.30pm or 10.30pm, and that too with strangers… Incidents of rape are bound to happen if girls go out without proper security.” Regarding Mukesh, he said: “One of the characters in the film, played by Mukesh himself, has already filed a criminal case before the Delhi High Court to prosecute the director and producers of the film as it has been procured under inducement and based on written dialogue/script provided without disclosing true facts to him.” Speaking from jail, Singh is shown as saying: “Women are more responsible for rape than men... While being raped, she shouldn’t fight back. She should just be silent and allow the rape. Then they’d have dropped her off after doing that to her, and only hit the boy.”Overview Accessories © CAPCOM CO., LTD. Conclusions Large range of natural and dynamic flexibility High
that transforms speed from an input axle to another in an output axle (as in a bicycle chain mechanism or the gearbox of an automobile). But in this case, unlike a conventional gear reducer, this transmission is produced without contact between the pieces thanks to the magnetism. One of its chief advantages is the absence of wear among the pieces, which makes lubrication unnecessary. As such, “the operating life of these devices can be much longer than the life of a conventional gear reducer with teeth, and can even work in cryogenic temperatures,” notes one of the researchers, Efrén Díez Jiménez, from the UC3M Department of Mechanical Engineering. It can even continue to function after an event of overload. If the axle is blocked, “the parts simply slide amongst themselves, but nothing breaks.” In addition, less noise is produced, vibration is reduced, and it is capable of through-wall transmission. A Gearbox that Levitates In addition to the contactless transmission, the axles are likewise contactless. “It is the first time in history that the input axle as well as the output axle of a gear reducer are floating without any kind of contact, and it can keep a mechanism which contains nothing else spinning at 3,000 revolutions per minute at cryogenic temperatures” says the main researcher on the project, José Luis Pérez Díaz. Although the main goal of the MAGDRIVE project is to build a prototype that can be used in extreme conditions in outer space, another one that can be used at room temperature has also been developed. For outer space, the cryogenic prototype has been developed. This type keeps the axles floating and it can work at a temperature of -210°C and in a vacuum. The mechanism integrates levitating superconductor bearings that generate stable forces of repulsion into its structure. This allows it to turn and, moreover, it stabilizes it against oscillating motion or possible imbalances. It is the first mechanism in history that does not have this type of friction. It has several applications in outer space, “from robot arms or antenna positioners, where high-precision movements are needed or when contamination from lubricants is undesired, to vehicles that, because of temperature or extreme conditions of absence of pressure, shorten the life of conventional mechanisms, as happens with the wheels of a Rover that has to go on Mars.” The second prototype that has been developed can be used at room temperature. The magnetic reducer “substitutes the gear teeth with permanent magnets that repel and attract each other” so that “the transmission of couples and forces between the moving parts with contact is achieved,” explains Efrén Díez Jiménez. Its applications can be transferred to any field where conventional mechanical reducers are used, such as self-propulsion, the railroad sector, the oil industry, or in mechanics and manufacturing in general, cite the researchers. Thanks to the absence of lubrication and oils, it can also be applied in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and food industries, where cleanliness requirements of are very strict. Although the cryogenic prototype was the global objective of the project because it solved the problem posed by the European Space Agency (ESA),”no doubt the room temperature prototype is the one that can have the biggest impact and industrial application,” they conclude. The final results of the MAGDRIVE project have been presented at different conferences, congresses and meetings organized by ESA, NASA and ASME, generating a great deal of interest among participants. The researchers have published some of the results in the “Journal of Engineering Tribology”, among others. At present they are analyzing implementation of these types of systems in different industrial areas. And, the latest news: their research has been accepted for upcoming publication in the review “Aerospace Science and Technology”. MAGDRIVE is a European project from the Space area of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme coordinated by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, with the participation of the National Research Council of Genoa and the University of Cassino (both in Italy), the Foundation of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon, in Portugal, and three companies: BPE from Germany, LIDAX from Spain and CAN Superconductors from the Czech Republic. This research project is FP7/2007-2013 under agreement No. 263014. In addition, the spin-off company MAG SOAR has been created from this project. Further information: Project webpage: www.magdrive.eu J. Perez-Diaz, E. Diez-Jimenez, and E. Al., “Performance of magnetic-superconductor non-contact harmonic drive for cryogenic space applications,” Aerosp. Sci. Technol., 2014. Design and analysis of a non-hysteretic passive magnetic linear bearing for cryogenic environments By: Diez-Jimenez, Efren; Valiente-Blanco, Ignacio; Castro-Fernandez, Victor; et al. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART J-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING TRIBOLOGY Volume: 228 Number: 10 Special number: YES Pages: 1071-1079 Date of publication: OCT 2014. Enlace al e-archivo de la UC3MAuthor's Note: I hope you find this long chapter to your liking. I want to thank Gorsouul and Aceofaces for helping me go through this chapter and for giving me some great feedback. Gorsouul is currently writing a WhiteRose fic called "Chivalry & Spelling Errors." Check it out if you're a WhiteRose fan. Anyway, I've kept you waiting long enough. Let's get the story going again! Clattering dishes, clinking utensils, and multiple voices resonated throughout the academy's dining hall, as Pyrrha ate breakfast together with Jaune and Ren. She had not had much appetite ever since Nora confessed her feelings to her. The food and drinks had all tasted plain and dry, and felt as indigestible as concrete. Today, however, she was hungrily enjoying the flavors and aromas of her breakfast, consisting of crispy, freshly made waffles with fruity strawberry jam topping, and a glass of cold milk. First time I eat waffles for breakfast. It must've been something I've gotten from Nora. Whether that was true or not, she felt no regret as she was eating half a dozen of them. Despite having had trouble sleeping last night, Pyrrha had felt surprisingly rested in the morning. It was likely thanks to the brief, yet meaningful nocturnal talk she had had with Jaune out in the corridor. Were her rested body and her renewed appetite signs that she was starting to feel better, less doubtful about Nora's love confession? She still did not have a final answer, and she was not sure if she would ever find one. She could continue searching for it, but she believed it would come to her on its own. When that would happen, she did not know. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. As much as she disliked keeping Nora waiting, Pyrrha did not want to rush with making an important decision that might not only change her life, but Nora's as well. It was not only a question whether she loved Nora or not, was she capable of loving someone of the same gender at all? As she finished the last of her waffles and put down her utensils, Pyrrha smiled with delight of having eaten herself full. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten the last one… she thought, as she barely managed to hold back a small burp. She looked at Ren and Jaune, and noticed how they were silently glancing at her with raised eyebrows. "Is something wrong?" she asked, her gaze jumping back and forth between them. Is it because of my uncharacteristic appetite? I can't blame them for that. "Uuh, you have some jam on your cheek," mentioned Jaune and pointed at his own cheek to show her where the stain was. "Oh, thank you for telling me." Pyrrha picked up her napkin to wipe her mouth and cheeks clean. After doing so, she reached for and opened her Scroll. She quietly sighed. Still no new messages… She had not heard from Nora since yesterday morning, and was hoping that she was doing alright. Pyrrha wished she could have gone with her. If Nora needed emotional support, someone to hug, a shoulder to cry on, she wanted to be there for her, just like she had been there for her. But she respected Nora's wish to go by herself. That was likely for the best. "What do you think? Pyrrha?" She blinked in response to Jaune's inquiring voice mentioning her name. "Huh?" She raised her gaze up from her Scroll to look at Jaune for a quick moment before averting her eyes. "I'm sorry, I guess I sort of lost myself to my own thoughts for a moment," she explained, smiling sheepishly. "It's alright. I understand," he said sympathetically, knowing fully well what kinds of thoughts were troubling her. As Jaune paused, his blue eyes curiously glanced at the Scroll in her hand. "You've been looking at your Scroll a lot this morning. Are you expecting to hear from… someone?" Pyrrha understood who he referred to. "Uhm, no... I mean, yes." She cleared her throat to rid the awkwardness in her voice before she began to explain. "I tried to call Nora yesterday to check up on her. She didn't answer, so I sent her a message instead. She hasn't called back or responded yet. That's not like her at all." "She's probably misplaced her Scroll. It wouldn't be the first time," said Jaune. "Maybe her batteries have died, and she hasn't realized it yet. It happened to me once, just when I needed to make an important call. Just my luck." He chuckled and shook his head at his own forgetfulness and misfortune. Pyrrha knew both reasons were plausible, especially with Nora. She smiled as she remembered how Nora had actually once misplaced her Scroll. The energetic girl had in her frantic search almost turned the dorm upside down, as if a powerful, miniature thunderstorm had passed through. Eventually, the Scroll had been found inside Nora's rocket locker, much to her happiness and embarrassment. Pyrrha's smile faded as she saw something unusual with her dark-haired teammate in front of her. Ren was looking away, his typical, stoic expression appearing to be in deep thought. She was accustomed to Ren being the least talkative in the team, but he had barely said a single word this morning. "What are you thinking about, Ren?" she asked out of curiosity, but also concern. Ren looked at her, and answered, "A misplaced Scroll, or empty batteries, might not be the reason why Nora's not answering…" He did not attempt to dismiss her question or lie to her. He was always honest to his friends. His vague answer made Pyrrha's stomach tense up, and her eyes widen. "Do you think… something has happened to her?" she asked carefully, afraid of what he might say next. She had not considered the possibility until now, and the very thought of it sapped the warmth from her face. Ren gave her a reassuring shake of his head. "No, that's not what I meant. It's possible that meeting both her parents did not go as well as she hoped it would. Maybe she needs some time for herself. I messaged her, too, and she hasn't responded to me either." Ren's elaboration hardly helped Pyrrha relax. She could to some degree understand that Nora might not want to talk her, as she might not want to disturb her while she was thinking about her dilemma. The fact that Nora had not even messaged back to her childhood friend, however, was troubling. "Has she ever done that before?" asked Jaune to Ren. "You know, not answering you on purpose?" Ren nodded slowly after a second of hesitation. "She has." "I hope she's alright." Pyrrha put the Scroll away. She would wait a few hours, and if Nora had not responded until then, she would try calling her again. All Nora had ever wanted, was for her father to accept her for who she was. Now that he knew the truth about her sexuality, she presumed that he hated her, probably no longer even acknowledging her as his daughter. Despite all her efforts to prevent it from happening, her one true fear had in the end become reality. It was a sad and cruel irony that the only person who could truly frighten her, was none other than her own father. Nora knew she had only her own stupidity to blame, her childish naivety that things would end well. She had listened to her heart and confessed her love to Pyrrha. Instead of happiness and mutual feelings, her beloved friend had responded with doubt and confusion. After having recently listened to her heart again, she probably no longer had a father. She had through two irreversible mistakes learned that it was best to never listen to her heart's desires, no matter how much it may scream and howl within her. It had only caused her pain, and ruined two beautiful and precious relations for her. She would never confess anything to anyone ever again. It was best to keep her thoughts and feelings smothered, lest she only bring more ruin and misery to herself and others. She would force herself to adhere to a new creed when it came to matters of the heart: Silence is golden. Nora sniffled in her bed, holding her Grimm Ursa plushy close to her chest. Hours of crying had turned her pink pillow damp, and her dry, bloodshot eyes itched and burned from dehydration. She had not bothered changing into her sleepwear last night, and was still dressed in yesterday's clothing. She could not recall if she had caught even a minute's worth of sleep. Sleep, unconsciousness, any means to escape the nightmare, was something she could not find. Where am I supposed to go? I could get kicked outta the house any moment! She was worried about her future. As a student, Nora could live and stay at Beacon Academy for about three more years. Where was she supposed to go after graduating? As far as she knew, she no longer had a home to return to, a loving father to welcome her with a strong hug and a warm smile. She figured Ren's caring parents would let her stay with them for a while until she could find something better, but she did not want to feel like a freeloader. They lived in Vana, too, only a stone's throw away from her father. She did not want to awkwardly avoid eye contact every time she passed by him in the streets. Maybe she could live with her mother instead, wherever that was. Surely, Jorda would not decline her homeless, heartbroken daughter a place to stay. Maybe I can ask to stay with mom, wherever that is. She won't say no to me, right? On second thought, Nora was not sure if she even wanted to be with her mother anymore. The way she saw it, it was Jorda's fault that her father had turned into a hateful bigot. If her mother had never run away, then Nora would have been raised by both her parents. Her father would never have turned into a homophobe. He would have accepted Nora for being gay. Nora gasped quietly as she suddenly heard a gentle knock on her door. "Nora? Can I come in?" asked her father calmly. She said nothing, hoping that her silence would be an answer of its own. She wanted to be left alone. As soon as he leaves… I'll pack my things and leave without saying anything. It feels like I'm following mom's footsteps… She blinked as the door opened behind her. She lied still with her back turned toward the door, pretending that she was asleep. Her father's heavy footsteps approached her, each one making Nora increasingly more tense. She felt like a defenseless, crippled huntress with no Aura left, being approached by a pack of bloodthirsty Beowolves. Her heart thumped so strongly and rapidly within her that it felt like it would explode. The Grimm plushy was hugged harder against her chest, as she silently prepared herself to receive another, hateful scolding. This is it… Now he will disown me, tell me to leave the house and never come back. She felt her mattress shift as he sat down next to her. The seconds passed, but her father remained silent. That, however, did not take away any of Nora's tension. This was likely only the calm before a hellish storm, waiting to blow her away. Her mouth trembled as she finally shattered the silence between them by crying out with a strained voice, "I'm so sorry, Daddy! For everything!" Her throat ached after hours of crying. "I'm sorry for being such a disappointment to you! I didn't mean to break your heart! Please, don't hate me!" As she felt another wave of tears fall from her eyes, she buried her face into the pillow and whimpered. She wished she had the guts to tell him to leave her alone. She did not wish to be seen in such miserable state. "Nora…" The softness in his voice surprised her. What surprised her even more, however, was the large hand he gently placed on her small shoulder. His unexpected behavior made her curious. Slowly, she craned her neck until her eyes met the gaze of his single one. His beardy, masculine face was not set in a deep, angry scowl. Instead, she thought he looked... remorseful. "I'm the one who's sorry, for yelling at you," he said apologetically. "I didn't mean to." His apology did not make Nora feel much better. She was not sure what to feel at all. She looked away again, and kept her back turned to him. She felt Brunn's hand tighten its grip on her shoulder. "I wasn't angry at you. When you told me that you're... gay, I got scared. Please, forgive me." Slowly, Nora sat up next to her father, her body feeling weak from hunger and lack of sleep. She wiped her teary and puffy eyes, giving herself a short, yet necessary moment to collect her scattered thoughts as well as she could. The flow of tears stopped, for now. "I… I didn't choose to love girls, Dad. It's just… who I am. If you can't accept that…," her frail voice trailed off as she looked down at her fiddling hands in her lap, "Then it's probably best if I pack my stuff and move outta here, forever." "I don't want you to leave, Nora," Brunn gently replied. "This will always be your home. You're my daughter, and I love you. I just…," He paused briefly, trying to find the words. "I just need a bit more time to process this. The past few days have been hectic, for both of us." I understand that… all too well. Her mother's unexpected return had thrown her whole life around, and she was still struggling to process it and regain her footing. She had, to her great shame and regret, angrily lashed out at Pyrrha after she tried to calm her down. "Look, I get what mom did was wrong, but you mustn't let her...'mistake' make you hateful of other people. She left because she wasn't feeling well, and because someone took advantage of it." Brunn nodded sagely at first, and then turned his gaze away from her. "Truth be told, Nora… she's not the only reason why I have this… negativity toward homosexuals." "Hm? What do you mean?" Nora asked and looked up at him. "It's about your grandfather." "What about him?" She had, at more than one occasion, curiously asked about her father's parents, whom she knew almost nothing about. To her disappointment, and even more curiosity, Brunn always had all kinds of excuses for not wanting to talk about them, especially his father. Her instincts had told her that her questions tore up bad memories for him. It was out of respect and love that she had decided to stop asking completely, and wait for him to explain whenever he was ready. That, however, was many years ago. She now knew barely anything more than what she did back then. Brunn took a deep breath, and began to explain with a troubled expression on his face. "I know all too well what it feels like to be abandoned by someone you love. Jorda wasn't the first one to do so." He sighed and dropped his wide shoulders. "I was just a boy when my father left me and my two brothers for... another man. Our mother had to take on two jobs to provide enough money. She nearly worked herself to death." Her father's sad revelation pulled at Nora's heartstrings. She now understood why he had reacted so angrily yesterday. He must have feared that she was going to leave him like his father and her mother had. She placed her hand on top of his and gave it a soft squeeze. "Sorry to hear that. I didn't know." Brunn looked down at her hand squeezing his, his lips curling ever so slightly upward. "You were just a baby when Jorda left, but I remember all too well when I saw my worthless father step out of the door. Since then, I haven't heard a word from him. I'm not even sure if he's alive. I don't really care," he said with a shrug of his wide shoulders. Nora wondered if she should tell him that he could see if his father was still alive, so that the two of them could reconcile, just like Nora and Jorda were trying to. She kept the suggestion to herself as she realized the time was not right. "What about your mom? Where is she?" she decided to ask instead. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Nora, but she passed away a long time ago." "Oh…" Nora partially regretted asking. Knowing that she would never meet her grandmother made her sad. At the same time, she was glad that she had finally been told about what had happened to two of her grandparents. Maybe my mom's parents are alive. I'll ask her later. "You did get to meet her, though you were too young to remember," added Brunn. "She held you while you were a baby, and said how beautiful you were. She was proud to have become a grandmother. I should be able to dig up some old photos of you and her together." It was not much, but that was comforting to know. "I guess beauty runs in the family, huh?" Nora jested, trying to raise the mood for them both. She partially succeeded as she felt her own lips spread into a small smile. "Your smile…" said Brunn, the sudden change of subject surprising his daughter. "My smile?" He put the thick tips of his right index and middle finger on each corner of her lips, widening her smile a bit. "You're more similar to your mother than you think, Nora. You smile and laugh just like her. You smile not only with your lips, but with your entire face, your very soul. I can see and hear her so clearly in you," he explained, sounding nostalgic. Nora's smile lingered as he withdrew his fingers. It was hardly the first time she had been told how similar she was to her mother. She had however, recently seen those similarities with her own eyes. Her smile faded, however, as she heard her father let out a heavy sigh. "I could've stopped her… I could've saved her," he said, staring down at the floor. "Who? Mom?" asked Nora, to which Brunn nodded. "Shortly after she had been diagnosed with her depression, I received a phone call from her while I was at work. She was panicking at home, and begged me to return right away, because she needed me." Nora gulped. She had unwittingly learned from Pyrrha how a panic attack could look and sound like, how a strong and brave girl could be rendered into a screaming and trembling victim, unable to act or think. "Why was she panicking?" she asked, not feeling sure if she wanted to know the answer. Brunn hesitantly explained, "Because of you... You were crying, and she felt she was a bad mother for not being able to make you stop. She was scared you had become sick because of her." I was just an innocent, ugly baby back then… and still I feel so guilty, Nora thought "My hard-ass boss wouldn't let me leave work just yet. I couldn't afford to lose my job. How else was I supposed to provide for my family? After I told Jorda to wait for me... she hung up. When I finally got home a moment later… I found you sleeping peacefully in your crib. I still wonder if she had finally managed to calm you down, or if you had cried yourself to sleep." "And… where was mom?" "Inside the bathroom, crying her eyes out. She yelled at me, called me useless, and accused me that I didn't love you or her." As Nora sat and listened, she saw a single tear fall from her father's eye. The tear rolled down along his cheek, and was absorbed by his short, orange beard. That's the first time I see him cry. Oh, dad… "I failed her, Nora. I couldn't be there for her when she needed me more than ever. Because of that, she left the house the following evening and met the girl who then convinced her that it would be best to run away. A few days later, she did so. You know the rest of the story." Nora nodded as Brunn concluded. You've comforted me so many times before. Now it's my turn. She embraced his arm and rested her head against his shoulder, silently telling him that she was there for him. "I don't blame you. It was not your fault. You did what you could." A brief, comfortable moment of silence passed between father and daughter. Nora then continued. "I'm still struggling to believe that mom's actually back. I still have a lot of anger and sadness in me for what she did to me, to both of us, but I'm still happy to have her with me again. I don't wanna lose her a second time. I dunno what you think about her now, but I don't wanna have to choose between you. For once in my life, I wanna have both my parents with me." "I can understand that," said Brunn, having composed himself again. She looked deeply into her father's eye, and carefully asked, "Does that mean you won't hate me for wanting to get to know her? That I'm… gay?" She tightened her hold around his arm. She felt her heart starting to throb as she waited for his response that might change her life. To her great relief, her beloved father smiled reassuringly. "How could I ever hate my pumpkin? But I guess that means I won't become a granddad." Nora giggled as her orange hair was ruffled. "Hey, don't say that. Just because I like girls doesn't mean that I can't get pregnant. I promise you'll get to hold my babies, all ten of them! You'll be the best granddad ever!" She then stood up and stretched her arms and legs, sighing as a few joints cracked. "I dunno how much longer I can stay. I gotta leave soon. I've some… unfinished business to take care of at the academy," she said, and briefly thought about Pyrrha. "You can't leave just yet. Not until you've at least had breakfast. It's a long ride to Beacon, you know." The very mention of breakfast reminded Nora of her painfully empty stomach, which growled loudly. A wide grin spread across her face. "You know what rhymes with Beacon, Dad? Bacon! Crispy and delicious bacon!" Sitting by the kitchen table, Nora munched on bacon strips while looking out the window. Her appetite, while limited, was still enough to savor the fried slices of meat. Whereas Ren made the fluffiest and moistest pancakes in the world, her father was the champion when it came to making crispy and spicy bacon. She saw him in the corner of her vision, as he was scrubbing a frying pan by the sink. The words he had spewed at her yesterday evening, hot with anger, had burned her heart. His sincere apology, and explanation, however, had applied a soothing and cool balm on her burns. She believed she could, sooner rather than later, put his verbal lash out behind her. Alright, time to ask him. This time I seriously want an answer. I need it. He owes it to me. "Hey, Dad?" "Yeah?" "What did you and mom talk about yesterday?" She hoped it was not too early to ask him about that. She did not want to wait for a 'better time'. She needed to know something, anything. The sound of scrubbing stopped behind her, followed by a short, yet noticeable silence. "Well… we talked about a bit of everything. The past, the present, and you especially. She said I did a good job raising you by myself." His answer made her smile with pride. "She's right, you know? I couldn't possibly ask for a better dad... especially one who can make such delicious bacon!" She gluttonously brought several bacon strips into her mouth. "But what will you two do now?" she asked while chewing noisily. "We agreed to see each other again at some point, but we don't know when. Best not to rush it. I guess it felt… alright talking to her, but I lost my composure a couple of times. I need more time to let all of this sink in." Nora nodded, pleased by his answer. She could more than well relate to the mixed feelings that were going through his head. She would have to talk to him later about it, and help him process everything. It would help herself, too. That might be necessary if she wanted her parents to have any semblance of reunion, and a steady enough relation. She did not expect her parents to get together again, but she would not mind if they would see each other from time to time. It's probably the closest I'll have for a family. Better than nothing, I guess. She took a look at her Scroll's digital clock, and sighed internally. Her mother had promised to come back in the morning. So far, however, there had been no sign of her. Not even a message had been sent to her Scroll. "Dad, has Jorda called you this morning?" she asked. To her disappointment, he shook his head. I could call her… but what's the point in that? It's too late now. I'm about to leave. I hope I don't have to wait for another seventeen years for another chance to see her. "I gotta go soon if I wanna catch the bus back to Vale City," stated Nora before she finished her breakfast. She then marched into her room to pack her bag. "And you, you'll be following your Queen to another castle," she said with a grin as she picked up her Grimm Ursa plushy. A short moment later, Nora stood in the hallway with her stuffed bag lazily slung over her slender shoulder, ready to leave. "Bye, Daddy! It was awesome seeing you! I'll be back again soon enough before you know it! Don't miss me too much!" "You're welcome anytime. Just make sure you give me a call first. I sometimes need to leave the house to work in the town," said her father and patted her head. Nora stepped forward and hugged him dearly, rubbing her face against his warm and muscular chest. She looked up at him, saying, "Oh, I will, 'cause you better have another plate of freshly made bacon ready as soon as I step in! See ya!" Just as she opened the front door and took a step outside, she blinked, and stopped dead in her track as she saw someone several meters in front of her. "Good morning, Nora," Jorda greeted her daughter with a warm smile. Her smile lingered as she shifted her gaze to Nora's father standing behind her by the door. "And good morning to you, too, Brunn." "Morning," he replied, nodding his head a single time. Nora could neither see nor hear any resentment in him, which she hoped was a good thing. Phew, the last thing I wanna hear before I leave is these two arguing. Sh looked back at her mother again, smiling cheekily. "Nice of you to drop by. Shame you couldn't do so earlier. But that's never been your strongest side, right?" she said with a sarcastic undertone. It helped her dealing with the situation. "I'm just about to head to the bus," she said with a more normal tone instead. Jorda gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure when you would leave. I didn't want to come too early and wake you. Can I go with you to the bus stop then, please?" she asked carefully, looking eager, even desperate to do anything with the daughter she had abandoned seventeen years ago. Nora accepted the excuse. I can't say no. Who knows when next time comes? "Sure! Let's get going then. You better keep up, for my short legs can move pretty fast when needed." She turned to her father and gave him an excited, departing wave as she left. A few steps later, she suddenly heard him call out to her, "Nora, wait!" She did as she was told and turned around, frowning curiously at her father who approached her. "There's something else I regret telling you yesterday," he said. "Hm?" Besides him having yelled at her and accused her of wanting to leave him, Nora could not come up with what else he needed to apologize for. He put his large hands on her small shoulders, his single hazel eye looking deeply into her turquoise pair. "I told you that Magnhild is my life's greatest work. I couldn't be more wrong." As he said that, he pulled his daughter and gave her a bear hug. "It's you, Nora. You are my proudest creation." Nora's smile could not possibly grow any wider. Of course she knew how proud he was over her, but to hear him express it like that made her eyes feel misty. She hugged him back, hard enough to make him grunt softly, as she almost let her super strength get the better of her. While she had her face mashed up against her father's muscular chest, she felt a third hand on her shoulder, one that felt smaller and softer. She craned her neck around to see Jorda standing behind her. "Our proudest creation," her mother corrected with a smile. Nora fixated on that smile, and realized something. Dad's right. She smiles just like me. Nora saw an opportunity to finally feel something she had wanted ever since she was a kid. "Family hug!" she shouted and hooked her arm around her mother's waist, bringing her closer in. It felt awkward, yet also oddly pleasant to hug both parents at the same time. She was sure they thought the same thing. It was a simple, silent gesture that she hoped could help all three of them bond with each other. The family hug lasted only for a short moment, but Nora enjoyed every second of it. "Right then! It's been fun, but I really gotta go now. See ya, Dad!" "Good bye, Pumpkin. You too, Jorda." Brunn waved both of them off as they left. A short moment later, Nora and Jorda were walking together, side by side down the gravel road, having left the town of Vana behind them. Nora wanted to say something, but she was not sure what exactly. She saw herself as a chatty person, and her friends had told her at more than one occasion how she could spontaneously talk about all kinds of nonsense that they did not always understand. "So, Nora, what are you planning to do when you get back to the academy?" asked Jorda to break the silence between them. Nora silently thanked her for that. She shrugged her shoulders and answered, "I dunno. There are no classes today. As soon as I step into the dorm, I'll just throw my clothes off and have a looong shower. Then I'll chillax with comics and cartoons for the rest of the day. Maybe I'll ask Ren to give me a magical backrub." I can't wait to see him again. Feels like it's been an eternity of eternities! She and Jorda passed by a lush, grassy field where a group of horses was grazing the pastures behind a wooden fence. Nora looked at each horse, and focused on the brown-coated one with black mane standing by the fence. Shifting her feet to the right, she went to rip up a handful of green and tall grass growing on the side of the road. "Hey, Charlene! C'mere and get your delicious, grassy treat!" she beckoned melodically and waved with the grass in her hand. As the nearby equine approached and took the grass into its mouth and began chewing, Nora gently patted and stroked its muzzle. "You seem familiar with this horse. Its name is Charlene?" she heard her mother ask curiously behind her. Nora nodded. "Yup! She loves carrots. Shame I don't have any with me. Her owner usually lets me ride her." She had always wished to have a cat, dog, any kind of pet at home to care for, but her father had always said no. Thankfully, however, there were plenty of farm animals, such as horses, sheep, cows, and chickens. Jorda stepped up next to her daughter. She began to pet the mare, too, hesitantly, as if she was unfamiliar about being so close to such a large animal. "You know how to ride horses?" she asked. "Mmhm! It's a bit tricky for a shorty like me to get up in the saddle. Riding horses is fun, but not as fun as riding an angry Grimm Ursa." In the corner of her eye, Nora saw, to her amusement, her mother frown at her. "You ride G-Grimm? You're joking... right?" she asked, to which Nora responded with a giggle. Jorda chose not to pry any deeper. Instead, she sighed and said, "There's so much I don't know about you." Nora shrugged her shoulders, and indifferently said, "I dunno much about you either. You're my mom, but you're pretty much a stranger to me. That's the sad truth. What's my favorite food? What music do I like? Stick around, and we might learn a thing or two about each other." "I do know something about you: six point four pounds, and sixteen inches." Nora frowned at her mother, her mind thinking heavily to make sense of the numbers she had just mentioned. Numbers only gimme a headache… She quickly gave up, and asked, "What was
expecting. It may not have the same ability that an Apple Store does to, say, offer you a replacement unit on the spot, but the Microsoft Store really seems like it goes the extra mile to make sure your problem gets fixed. If Microsoft wants people to love Windows, having these Answer Desks is going to go a long way.As a mother breastfed her 3-month-old child in her car in the LA Fitness parking lot in Boca Raton, another car pulled up beside her. Moments later, the woman noticed the car’s window go down and a man touching himself as he watched her, according to a Boca Raton police report. Travis Willis, 30, who faces one charge of indecent exposure, made his first appearance in court Thursday morning. Judge Joseph Marx ordered he be held on $1,000 bail and have no contact with the mother or the gym in Boca Raton. Police say this may not be the first time he’s been caught in the act. Since August, police say at least three women either in their vehicles or on their way out of their cars have reported a black male in the same car as Willis masturbating in the area of Congress Avenue and Yamato Road. No victims in those cases were able to identify Willis, police said. In court Thursday, the assistant state attorney told the judge there is a warrant in the works for another indecent exposure case for Willis. On Dec. 23, the mother was breastfeeding her child in her car. After Willis pulled up and she caught him, she called 911 and he drove off, according to the report. The woman was able to provide details about the car and the license plate to track Willis down. Willis, of Lauderhill, does not appear to have any criminal record in Palm Beach County. In Broward County, he was arrested for felony battery and domestic battery, according to court records.A man who dressed up as a clown to cheer children trapped in war-devastated east Aleppo was reportedly killed in a missile strike on Tuesday. Anas al-Basha, 24, worked at Space for Hope, a center that helps hundreds of Syrian children in the rebel-held region of Aleppo, Syria. On Tuesday, an air strike presumed to be from Russian or government forces killed al-Basha, the Associated Press reports. “He would act out skits for the children to break the walls between them,” Samar Hijazi, who was al-Basha’s supervisor at Space for Hope, told the AP. “All of us in this field [of childcare] are exhausted, and we have to find strength to provide psychological support and continue with our work.” His death occurs as the 250,000 civilians trapped in Aleppo live in danger of airstrikes and lack access to food, hospital care or other necessities. Space for Hope provides counseling and other help for some of the 100,000 children caught in the war zone. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now “Anas…refused to leave Aleppo and decided to stay there to continue his work as a volunteer to help the civilians and give gifts for the children in the streets to bring hope for them,” wrote Mahmoud al-Basha, who said he was Anas’ brother, the BBC reports. [AP] Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com.A relatively common task in today’s Web 2.0 apps is passing values from a server-side script (or through a link) to JavaScript, affecting the client-side script execution. Not surprisingly, there are a few ways to do that. Let’s look at three and their pros and cons: Embedding scripts into templates Passing variables in URLs Using configurable scripts 1. Embedding scripts into templates This is the most straightforward way of passing values: Embed your JavaScript code into the template/view or whatever you call the thing you’re outputting from your server-side script. Here’s a PHP example: <html > <head > <script type = "text/javascript" > function onload() { alert('Value from PHP: <?php echo $valueFromPhp;?> '); } </script > </head > <body onload = "onload()" > You'll get an alert with a value from PHP when this page loads </body > </html > <html> <head> <script type="text/javascript"> function onload() { alert('Value from PHP: <?php echo $valueFromPhp;?>'); } </script> </head> <body onload="onload()"> You'll get an alert with a value from PHP when this page loads </body> </html> The example shows a very simple function which just alerts a message with a variable’s value. The pro’s of this approach is of course the simplicity – as long as the script itself is not very complex, this approach is very easy to use and won’t require any special JavaScript coding tricks either. However, this approach does not lend itself for reusable code. Because your script is written straight into the template, to reuse it elsewhere you need copypasting. Also, with very complex scripts (which are usually also the reusable kind), this does not really work so well. 2. Passing variables in URLs This is an approach you are probably familiar with from server-side languages: Using GET or POST variables to pass values to scripts. However, due to limitations of JavaScript, you won’t be able to read POST data using it. Also, it doesn’t have any built in methods for easily accessing GET data either, but it’s possible. Since JavaScript can see the current page’s complete URL, you can create a script to manually parse the variables you want from the URL. Here’s a simple approach to extracting get parameters from the URL: function getQueryParameters ( ) { var query = window. location. href. split ( '?' ) [ 1 ] ; //query won't be set if? isn't in the URL if (! query ) { return { } ; } var params = query. split ( '&' ) ; var pairs = { } ; for ( var i = 0, len = params. length ; i < len ; i ++ ) { var pair = params [ i ]. split ( '=' ) ; pairs [ pair [ 0 ] ] = pair [ 1 ] ; } return pairs ; } function getQueryParameters() { var query = window.location.href.split('?')[1]; //query won't be set if? isn't in the URL if(!query) { return { }; } var params = query.split('&'); var pairs = {}; for(var i = 0, len = params.length; i < len; i++) { var pair = params[i].split('='); pairs[pair[0]] = pair[1]; } return pairs; } Using the above function, you will get a JS object with each GET parameter showing in the URL, quite similar to $_GET in PHP. The main benefit of parsing the URL for parameters like this in JS is that you can do stand-alone pages that don’t require interference from a server-side language to set parameters. 3. Using configurable scripts This is the most advanced approach of the three. It’s similar to #1, as you will need to include some JavaScript code in your template for this. There are two styles of configuration: Using a global variable, where you define some variable with the configuration parameters for your code, and… Configuring by method calls, where you add some way to your JS code to be configured via creating a new instance of an object or by calling a function If you have used Dojo, you may be familiar with the first style: With Dojo, you can configure some settings by creating a djConfig variable. The first approach is easier to use: Your code will simply attempt to read the global variable for the settings, if defined. However, it’s not without it’s problems. As you may have heard, global variables are not a good idea as they can interfere with other scripts and they are easy to accidentally change. The second approach requires some more thinking when you create your JS code, but it’s the one which makes the JS code easy to reuse and more flexible. Despite sounding tricky, making your JS code configurable by a function call is relatively simple, but of course not as simple as inlining the whole script in the template. The basic idea is to make your code into a JS object, and allow the creation of a new object instance, or calling a function of the object like this: var configurableObject = { someFunc : function ( ) { /* does something / }, setOptions : function ( config ) { / save configurations from config here / } } ; configurableObject. setOptions ( { foo : 'bar', baz : 'asd' } ) ; //Or like this: var newableObject = function ( config ) { / save configurations from config here / } ; newableObject. prototype = { someFunc : function ( ) { / does something / } } ; var o = new newableObject ( { foo : 'bar', baz : 'asd' } ) ; var configurableObject = { someFunc: function() { / does something / }, setOptions: function(config) { / save configurations from config here / } }; configurableObject.setOptions({ foo: 'bar', baz: 'asd' }); //Or like this: var newableObject = function(config) { / save configurations from config here / }; newableObject.prototype = { someFunc: function() { / does something / } }; var o = new newableObject({ foo: 'bar', baz: 'asd' }); The main idea of this approach is that you can put your actual JS code into a separate file, and then in your page where you need the code, you include the file with a script tag and add another script tag, which sets up the object with the configuration you need. This way the code is easy to reuse and maintain, as you can use the code anywhere at all because it doesn’t depend on parameters being in the URL, in a global variable or any other such hinderance. Conclusion With these three approaches you can do quite a lot. The first is most useful when you just need to get something done quickly, but it isn’t very clean. The second is something in between, but it limits reusability. The method style of the third approach works best especially if you need to be able to reuse the code, but it’s the most complex of them. There may be some other ways of doing this too, so if you use some other approach, feel free to share it in the comments.The Browns just made a smart move to pick up a very talented quarterback. The two-year contract for Robert Griffin III is the kind of low-risk, high-reward signing that even the league’s savvy organizations seldom find. Contrast that to the scene only four years ago, when the Heisman winner inspired a bidding war between Cleveland and Washington. Which team would offer the Rams more for the second-overall pick behind the obvious top guy, Andrew Luck? Much to Mike Holmgren’s chagrin, Washington did what Washington does: mortgage the future to power up the present. They spent three first-rounders and a high second for right to draft the dual-threat Baylor star. For your reference, those four picks, some re-traded, became Dallas CB Morris Claiborne (36 starts), new Giants CB Janoris Jenkins (six defensive TDs with the Rams helped lead to a huge UFA payday), Falcons CB Desmond Trufant (a Pro Bowler and Atlanta’s best defender), and OT Greg Robinson (28 starts). Meanwhile, Griffin’s well-documented story — from AP Offensive Rookie of the Year to injuries and more troubles leading to his release earlier this month — amounts to mere prelude to what we hope will be an epic reclamation project. Head coach Hue Jackson is reportedly enamored with what he sees as a humbled man who sports uncanny accuracy as a passer. After not seeing the field at all last year, Griffin is as healthy as ever. Among the reaction pieces I’ve read today, this one is particularly encouraging in that it both explains and shows how Griffin is probably farther ahead than most people think in his development as a pocket passer. Griffin isn’t just a quarterback who can run and throw the ball far. He wasn’t just a physical freak coming out of college. His technical prowess and intelligence made him worthy of being the second overall pick in the 2012 draft. That technical prowess and intelligence wasn’t consistently on show in 2014, but it was still there… A common criticism of Griffin is that he can’t read through progressions. It’s the go-to move for those intent on criticizing black quarterbacks. It goes completely against the evidence on the field… Not only is he more accurate on short and intermediate routes than other players who were available this offseason, he is arguably the most impressive deep passer in the NFL. Griffin can make throws that most quarterbacks can’t and he can make them with impressive consistency. Even when he misses, he rarely misses wildly. That is typically a sign of a passer who is in full control of the ball and is comfortable with his arm talent. There is no doubting Griffin’s ability as a passer. He is on a different level to the Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brock Osweiler of the world. Griffin doesn’t need Hue Jackson to revive his career or rebuild him as a player, he just needs his new coaching staff to embrace him by showing patience and constructing a system around him that plays to his strengths. So we have our first marquee signing of the Browns’ Moneyball era. After losing six of their seven potential unrestricted free agents, this exciting news is most welcome. Still, it’s no guarantee that RGIII will last any longer than most of his 49 predecessors as Browns quarterbacks since the 1999 rebirth. That’s right, by my count, he’s the 50th signal-caller this regenerated franchise has had under contract. It may prove ironic that on the day of his signing, his new coach attended the Pro Day for Carson Wentz, who could become the 51st. If anything, bringing in an experienced but still young quarterback opens up all sorts of possibilities for the Browns’ draft plans. One certainty is that they will draft a quarterback at some point in the early rounds. Another is that one more QB on the roster will be on his way out. The chatter is that the Browns are shopping Josh McCown, but I’d rather they keep him over either Connor Shaw or Austin Davis. I doubt they’d get much in trade for McCown. He’s a steadying old hand in the QB room to benefit Griffin and the rookie. And he played well enough last year to serve as a fallback or fill-in in the not unlikely event of injury. Meanwhile Griffin, an obvious upgrade over the similarly athletic but seriously troubled bust we recently scuttled, seems the immediate favorite to start Week 1. How he handles business between now and then will speak volumes. And we’ll be listening. Trivial side notes:There has not been a lot of good news for the American poor lately. The post-recession “recovery” has left them behind, the wealth gap is widening and Donald Trump wants to cut billions of dollars from the social safety net so he can give tax cuts to rich people and build a wall on the Mexican border. Fortunately, the secretary of housing and urban development, Ben Carson, has just shared the secret to getting yourself out of poverty: magical thinking. In an interview with SiriusXM Radio, the retired neurosurgeon and armchair Egyptologist elaborated on his major key to success. “I think poverty to a large extent is also a state of mind,” he mused. He went on to say: “You take somebody that has the right mindset, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they’ll be right back up there. And you take somebody with the wrong mindset, you could give them everything in the world, they’ll work their way right back down to the bottom.” Republicans voice opposition to Trump's budget: 'Dead on arrival' Read more In language echoing Trump’s worldview, he elaborated that the onus for teaching children to be “winners” falls on parents: “A lot of it has to do with what we teach children. Parenting is a very difficult job. You have to instill into that child the mindset of a winner, if they’re likely to become a winner.” He did not acknowledge that the existence of “winners” by definition requires there to be losers, or what people are supposed to do if their circumstances have not instilled in them a positive outlook. While lesser political minds might think programs such as food and housing assistance, universal healthcare, and tuition-free college are the key to freeing low-income people from the day-to-day cycle of survival so they can plan for the future, Carson knows it’s simply a matter of perspective. Still in poverty? It’s your own fault for not trying hard enough to get out of it. Carson’s view happens to dovetail nicely with his boss’s cruel joke of a budget, which takes billions of dollars from food stamps, Medicaid, and other already meager services that help the underprivileged stay alive and redistributes them upward. Carson’s department alone will see a $6bn, or 13.2%, decrease in funding, which he presumably welcomes. As he has said many times in the past, allowing the poor too much dignity breeds laziness and dependency. Want children to start thinking like winners? Make them sleep on the floor in burlap sacks in crumbling, stigmatized buildings! Want children to start thinking like winners? Make them sleep on the floor in burlap sacks in crumbling, stigmatized buildings! Carson’s remarks echo a long conservative tradition of shifting the onus for alleviating poverty off the business-owning and wealth-inheriting classes (who, it bears mentioning, profit off an abundance of cheap and desperate labor) and their friends in government, and on to the afflicted individuals themselves. From the Horatio Alger stories of the Gilded Age to modern self-help movements like The Secret, these myths naturalize and justify human-created inequality by pretending that anyone who deserves to succeed will succeed, and anyone who doesn’t deserves to suffer and die … preferably before they pass along their loser genes. It’s the same line of thinking that led to thousands of involuntary sterilizations of immigrants, the poor, and other “undesirables” right here in the US before Hitler gave eugenics a bad name, and now justifies a healthcare policy that will kill millions (in addition to the millions already killed by past healthcare policies, that is). It’s also what lets a dim-witted rich kid like Donald Trump believe he deserves not only an offensively opulent lifestyle, but the power to rule over the rest of us, enshrining class hierarchy for future generations. Of course, Carson and the Republican party are wrong. That social mobility is depressingly low and only getting lower is not the result of an increasingly depraved populace, but systemic racism, worker exploitation, dynastic inheritance and decades of neoliberal policy. The single biggest determining factor of financial success is not attitude, but pure, dumb luck; according to a report from the Pew Research Center, children born to 90th-percentile earners are on track to make three times as much as those born to 10th-percentile paupers. The only good news about Trump's budget? It's unlikely to pass Read more But even if the economically unlucky – a group that includes a disproportionate number of minorities – were inherently lazy and getting lazier, would that be a good enough reason for the richest country in the world to deny them basic levels of food and shelter? Carson’s insane branch of Christianity aside, there are few religious or moral philosophers out there who would not characterize that position as unnecessarily cruel. Even if you don’t have an ounce of empathy for those less fortunate, it costs less in the long run to help the poor than not to. Decades of data from the US and Europe show that broad-based social welfare programs are the best way to alleviate poverty and the multitude of social ills it brings, from drug addiction to economic stagnation. Is punishing low-income people for their alleged iniquity really worth dragging all of society down? Carson believes it is. In a statement meant to defend him, his SiriusXM interviewer and longtime friend Armstrong Williams noted: “He’s a man of faith, not a man of politics. Dr Carson believes in what is righteous, what is good, what is fair and what is just.” As with Trump, the Republican party and many elected Democrats, Carson’s austere, social Darwinist ideology trumps pragmatism every time.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- (CBS screen grab) Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) left no doubt on Sunday morning that he intends to force the Senate to begin hearings on President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees despite the fact that many of them have not been cleared of possible conflicts of interest. On Friday, Walter M. Shaub Jr., director of the Office of Government Ethics complained that his department was being put under “undue pressure” to “rush through these important reviews.” Appearing on Face the Nation, McConnell insisted that Trump won and that unanswered questions about the nominee’s backgrounds and financial interests were mere “procedural complaints” Asked about calls from Democrats, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, to slow down the hearing process so the candidates can be fully vetted, McConnell dismissed it as no big deal. “The Democrats are really frustrated that they lost the election,” McConnell told CBS host John Dickerson,” before adding that Republicans found themselves in similar territory eight years ago when President Obama was elected. “What did we do? We confirmed seven Cabinet appointments the day President Obama was sworn in. We didn’t like most of them, either. But he won the election,” McConnell explained. “So all of these little procedural complaints are related to their frustration at having not only lost the White House, but having lost the Senate. I understand that. But we need to, sort of, grow up here and get past that.” Among the nominees facing hearings is McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who was nominated to serve as Trump’s transportation secretary. Watch the video below via CBS:ARLINGTON, Texas -- American League All-Star manager Ron Washington said he doesn't plan on playing his starters longer or managing the game like it's a win-at-all-costs event from the opening pitch. He will try to use his entire roster and hope that he can get a lead late and do what he has to do to keep it. "It's the All-Star Game, and I want to play everybody like I did last year," Washington said. "They're All-Stars, I should be able to win with all of them. I should have more of them available. But my thing is they're in the All-Star Game and I certainly want to get everyone that's in that All-Star Game in the game." But Washington will do what's necessary in the late innings to see if he can get his team a victory. "If we get into the seventh and eighth inning with a lead, I'm going to try to win," Washington said. "But for the first five or six innings, let them play." Washington's club was directly impacted by the AL losses the past two years as the Texas Rangers didn't have homefield advantage in the World Series in 2010 and '11. Does Washington think the outcome of last year's Fall Classic would have been different if the Rangers were at home for Games 6 and 7? "No, Game 6 and 7 would have turned out differently if we had made some pitches," Washington said. "Being in St. Louis didn't have anything to do with having homefield advantage or not. We kicked ass in St Louis just like we kicked ass in Texas.Every once in awhile, a flick comes along that not only checks every box, but makes new boxes of their own. This is that movie. The movie snowboarding needs. Benches represent the universal act of sitting, until now. Snowboarders are moving in to claim them as their own, with Fredrik Perry leading the movement. Fredrik, Kasper Häggström and a huge list of particularly notable snowboarders in the know, compiled clips for Benchpress The Movie. Every single trick, line, or spot in the film incorporates a bench. Chill with some friends, enjoy at least the next half hour of your life during this video, and become inspired. Featuring Max Warbington, Gus Warbington, Brandon Reis, Toni Kerkelä, Ryan Paul, Fredrik Perry, Ted Borland, Chris Beresford, Jesse Burtner, Dave Marx, Jeff Holce, Seamus Foster, Torstein Horgmo, Jed Anderson, Joe Sexton, Gus Engle, Matt Heneghan, Matt Butel, Sean Genovese, Kristoffer Lerånd, Eirik Nesse, Even Brekke, Matt Bernard, Jesse Paul, Jon Stark, Kevin Hanson, Len Roald Jorgensen, Håvard Roald, Jonas Steen, Pål Brekka, Thov Sanden, Scott Stevens, Ethan Morgan, Halldor Helgason, Ben Bogart, Corey McDonald, Dillon Ojo, Jesse Paul, Danny Larsen, Tim Eddy, Hannah Eddy, Garrett Read, Logan Beaulieu, and Aleksander Østreng. The Benchpress store is selling limited crewnecks and pre-orders of the video.Barbacoa Barbacoa ( (help·info) ) is a form of cooking meat that originated in the Caribbean with the Taíno people, from which the term “barbecue” derives.[1] In contemporary Mexico, it generally refers to meats or whole sheep slow-cooked over an open fire, or more traditionally, in a hole dug in the ground covered with maguey leaves, although the interpretation is loose, and in the present day (and in some cases) may refer to meat steamed until tender. This meat is known for its high fat content and strong flavor, often accompanied with onions and cilantro. Adaptations [ edit ] The original (or traditional) type of barbacoa oven In the U.S., barbacoa is often prepared with parts from the heads of cattle, such as the cheeks. In northern Mexico, it is also sometimes made from beef head, but more often it is prepared from goat meat (cabrito). In central Mexico, the meat of choice is lamb, and in the Yucatan, their traditional version, cochinita pibil (pit-style pork), is prepared with pork. Barbacoa was later adopted into the cuisine of the southwestern United States by way of Texas. The word transformed in time to "barbecue",[2] as well as many other words related to ranching and Tex-Mex cowboy or vaquero life. Considered a specialty meat, some meat markets only sell barbacoa on weekends or holidays in certain parts of South Texas and in all of Mexico. Barbacoa is also popular in Florida, as many Mexican immigrants living there have introduced this dish. Barbacoa is also well known in Honduras. Traditions [ edit ] A traditional Mexican way of eating barbacoa is having it served on warm corn tortillas with salsa for added flavor; the tacos are often eaten with diced onions, chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Etymology [ edit ] Maguey leaves It is believed that the word barbacoa comes from the mainland Taino Indians, as in the following source: Pero tomemos el vocablo barbacoa, cuyo origen arauco (específicamente, taíno) es conocido gracias a las descripciones de Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo en su Historia natural y general de las Indias, quien testimonia dos de sus acepciones.[3] "But when we take the term 'barbacoa', which originates from Arauco (specifically, the Taíno language), it is known thanks to the writings of Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo in his Natural and General History of the Indians, who described two of its meanings." See also [ edit ]Up until the night before National Signing Day, it appeared as though Ohio State would miss out on '13 4-star WR James Clark. Then, late that night, the rumor mill began churning out the notion that even though Clark had just come off of an unofficial visit to Florida, Ohio State was predicted to be his school of choice. Up to that point, both Florida and Clemson were neck and neck with the Buckeyes, but officially as of National Signing Day 2013 morning, Clark is committed to Ohio State, giving the 25th commitment in the class of 2013. In his senior season, Clark had 49 receptions for 1,112 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. The burner hails from the state of Florida, a state well-known for its top-notch athletes and overall speed. Clark himself was clocked at a ridiculous 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, which is impressive at any level of the sport. As for his actual commitment process, Clark waited for a ceremony at his school that he had scheduled at 9 a.m. National Signing Day morning before making his commitment public. In the past, Clark had said Ohio State, Nebraska, Clemson, Northwestern and Florida were the schools in his top five, but ultimately, we believe it was really down to Ohio State and Florida by the end of the weekend before NSD '13. 247Sports Composite ranks Clark as the nation's No. 225 prospect overall, the 25th best receiver in the country and the 31st best prospect in the state of Florida. If you think those are low numbers for the 5'10", 170-pound receiver, we would have to agree with you. In fact, a big reason as to why they are lower than expected would be because Clark actually got a late start on promoting his recruitment. Similar to fellow '13 commit Dontre Wilson, who committed Monday night, Clark brings some much-desired speed to the Buckeyes' depth chart. When Clark gets to Ohio State, we expect him to try and earn some playing time at receiver, but we wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if he also competed for a spot on special teams. Whether that means returning kickoffs or punts, there's some wiggle room to work with when it comes to getting Clark on the field. Clark's commitment marks National Signing Day's first commitment on the Ohio State front, with a couple of targets/soft verbals yet to announce, including Vonn Bell and Ezekiel Elliott. Stay tuned as Land-Grant Holy Land continues to keep you covered throughout National Signing Day. As for Clark himself, check out the highlights of his senior season below:Even though Winter Solstice isn’t till December 21st, I still decided to do this meme today because I always see the starting of December as the start of the Winter season. So today’s post is of course about Winter, the season…not the bratty vampire. Meme Instructions: Take a wintery picture and/or answer the following questions about the season. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments and share your picture in the Blog Memes Flickr Group. What is the December/Winter season like where you live? – I live in Florida, that means there is no snow…ever! Also, the temperatures stay around 70F aside from a few days where it may get close to freezing and then I take that opportunity to whine and complain about how hard my life is because it’s so cold in Florida at the moment. When you think of winter, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? – My visits to Canada. That’s pretty much how I’ve experienced winter and snow and extremely cold weather. Luckily I have lots of family there so I’ve seen all seasons and although I complain about the cold a lot when I’m there, Autumn and Winter are my two favorite seasons to go up north. Have you ever played any extreme winter sports? – I don’t know, does downhill skiing, cross country skiing and sledding count as extreme? I’ve done those three. I’ve also skated and fell on my ass often, but that’s a regular occurrence with or without skates and skis. What do you like most about this season? – I like the snow, probably because I don’t get to experience it that often. That’s why I like going up north during winter because that means I get to ski and make snowpeople and have snowball fights. I just feel like there are a bunch of fun activities I miss out every winter because I live in Florida. But I know that people that live in areas where it snows heavily are not very fond of it and tire of it quickly. Do you celebrate Christmas, Hannukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday during this time of year? – I don’t actually celebrate any of those things. We’ve never had a Christmas tree in our home, but I have exchanged gifts with friends that do celebrate and sometimes been at their homes for Christmas, etc… A couple of years ago though my brother actually got married on Christmas day so since then we’ve just been having big parties on Christmas eve/day. That’s something we’ve all started to look forward to. I just wanted to take a moment to thank those of you that still do my memes. Recently a few of you have said that you appreciate having something that prompts you to blog or write and that makes me happy. I read each and every single meme you guys share. Thanks so much for taking time to participate. <3 Please remember that you can participate in any of the memes/challenges at any time. You’ll find them all under my Blog Challenges category along with other memes and challenges I’ve done over the years. I am really enjoying the items at this month’s Arcade. Here are a couple of details I wanted to share about the pictures: Closeup raw shot of the coat I’m wearing as well as the glasses and hat. Loved the whole combination! Closeup and raw shot of the boots along with a pic of the HUD currently available at FaMESHed right now. I love all of the options the HUD has. Credits: What I’m wearing: Skin: -Glam Affair – Gemma – Europa 01 C by Aida Ewing (@ Arcade) Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Claudette Mesh Hair – Pancake by MissAllSunday Lemon Jacket: Curio Obscura – Fluffy Fur Jacket Princess by Pandora Wrigglesworth (@ Arcade) Scarf: [Decoy] Izel Scarf – Spring Wind by Annette Voight Leggings: Zaara : Nishar leggings full – low waist ivory* by Zaara Kohime Boots: …Mutresse… Sneja Boots – [S] by Eeky Cioc (@ FaMESHed December) Hat: 8f8_BUNNY Hat by 8f8 (@ Arcade) Mittens: 8f8_BUNNY Mitten by 8f8 (@ Arcade) Glasses: [Z O O M] Sweet Candy by Lucca Millvale Decor & Stuff: Igloo: {what next} Penguin Igloo – RARE by Winter Thorn (@ Arcade) Penguins: MishMish Penguins by Aime Takaaki (@ Arcade) Prop & Pose in 1st pic:.click. Saucer Sled by Gracie Breuer (@ Arcade) Prop & Pose in 2nd pic: comes with igloo Location: DeRailed Share this: Twitter Facebook Reddit Tumblr Pinterest Pocket Email Like this: Like Loading...Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. June 14, 2015, 9:08 AM GMT By Cassandra Vinograd and Jon Schuppe President Barack Obama's decision this week to increase America's training of Iraqi troops fighting ISIS was not what he contemplated when he completed a withdrawal of ground troops from the country in 2011. But a lot has changed since he boasted of fulfilling that campaign promise. Namely, ISIS. The rise of the terror organization, aided by political strife that turned local Sunnis against the Iraqi government, has forced Obama to rethink his Iraq strategy. In what critics see as a reversal, Obama said Wednesday he would send 450 military personnel to train Iraqi military at a base in Anbar province, where it has been losing ground to ISIS. That is in addition to the more than 3,000 Americans already on the ground in advisory and training roles. On Thursday, the Pentagon said it was considering opening additional bases in the Anbar area to expand those training operations. "It's just more of what we've done before, which hasn't worked," said David Phillips, director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights. He called the moves "throwing good money after bad."UPDATE West Virginia State Police-Elkins Detachment has released more details about an officer-involved shooting Sunday morning. Police say troopers responded to a residence in Valley Head at around 9:40 a.m. after receiving a report that 52-year-old Spencer Crumbley was threatening the kill some of his family members with a gun.They also received a report that Crumbley was threatening to kill all responding law enforcement. Officials say Crumbley came out of the residence but refused the troopers' request to have a peaceful resolution. They say Crumbley demanded to see the family members he had threatened, stating there would be a shootout if his demand was not met. Police say Crumbley grabbed a shovel and went towards the residence, where the family members were. The troopers were unable to apprehend Crumbley.Officials say Crumbley attempted to strike troopers with the shovel, before throwing the shovel and making a move toward what troopers believed to be another weapon. One of the troopers then fired at Crumbley. According to police, the troopers attempted to save Crumbley life but were unable to do so. The investigation is ongoing. Original Story Authorities are investigating after an officer-involved shooting in Randolph County, Sunday. According to West Virginia State Police- Elkins Detachment, the incident happened sometime Sunday morning. Specifics of what led to the shooting or if anyone was hurt, have not been released at this time. A press release is expected to be released. Stick with 5 News as we work to gather more details.As the debate about Obamacare rages on in the United States, a Toronto doctor calmly defended her country’s health-care system before a partisan U.S. Senate committee in Washington this week and explained that the single-payer model is not to blame for wait times — and that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not a socialist. Dr. Danielle Martin, a family physician who is also vice-president of medical affairs and health system solutions at Women’s College Hospital, was the Canadian voice on an international panel at a committee studying what the U.S. can learn from other countries. “I do not presume to claim today that the Canadian system is perfect or that we do not face significant challenges,” Martin told the committee on Tuesday. “The
tools for deploying server-side rendered, client-side apps. You can easily push it to Heroku and, boom, it starts running, but that doesn’t need to live in Ember. We can do all the HTTP stuff, all of the concurrency stuff. All of that can live outside of Ember, all Ember needs to say is, "Give me a URL and I will give you the HTML for that back." So that's what we did. There's this API called Visit, the ‘visit’ method. You call it, you give the URL, you get HTML back, and it's so simple and you can easily have discussion about it. You can understand how it's gonna operate and that's the thing that we landed. Then that's given us a year to experiment in FastBoot and make a lot of really important changes. Jonan: You were able to hide the complexity away behind this simple API. Tom: Right. Jonan: So some of the things that more recently you mentioned in your keynote as not having gone well, were Ember Pods, for example, and now we have Module Unification. So if I understand correctly, Ember Pods was a way to keep all of your component files related to a single component in one location? Tom: Right. The Rails style where you have one directory that's all controllers and one directory that's all views or templates, which is how Ember started. It's still the standard way, the default way you get when you create a new Ember app. People found it more productive to say, "I'm gonna have a feature directory", where you have your component and that component might have style. It might have JavaScript, it might have templates. I think it's just easier for people to reason about those when they're all grouped together, instead of bouncing around. Jonan: I love this idea. When I first came into Rails, I distinctly remember going from file to file and thinking, "Where even is this thing. How do I find this?" So you had said that Ember Pods, maybe, didn’t seem to take off? It wasn't a very popular solution to that problem, and now we have Module Unifications. How is that different? Tom: I actually think that Pods was popular, it actually was very popular. So, there's something DHH says: "Beginners and pro users should climb the mountain together." I think it's a bad sign, in your framework, if there's the documented happy path that beginners use, and then at some point, they fall off the cliff and see "Oh, actually there's this pro API. It's a little bit harder to use but now that you're in the club, now you get to use it". I think that leads to very bad experiences for both. You kind of wanna have both sets of people going up the same route. So Pods is almost this secret opt-in handshake. And it was just one of those things where it started off as an experiment but then slowly became adopted to the point where, I think, we didn’t move fast enough. Jonan: I see. Tom: We didn’t move fast enough and now, there's almost this bifurcation between apps that are not using Pods and apps that are using Pods. So with Module Unification what we did is we sat down and we said "OK, Pods was a really nice improvement but it didn’t have a ton of design applied to it. It was the kind of thing that evolved organically. So let's just sit down and try to design something." For us, it was really important with Module Unification to say, "Not only does it need to be good but we need to have a way of being able to automatically migrate 99% of the Ember apps today. We should have a command that will just migrate them to the new file system." So one thing that's really neat is that you can just have a component where all you have to do is drag it into another component's directory and now it's scoped. It's almost like a lexical scope in a programming language. We're using the file system to scope which components know about each other. Jonan: So, forgive my simplification here but I'm not great at Ember. If I have a login component and it's a box to just log in, and inside of it I wanted to have a Google auth button and a Twitter auth button, each of those could be independent components. Maybe I wanna reuse it somehow. I would drag them into my login directory and that makes them scoped, so we can't use them somewhere else. Tom: Right. That ends up being pretty nice because often, what you'll do is you'll create a new component, give it a really nice and appropriate semantic name and, oops, it turns out your coworker used that for another page, a year ago. Now, you can't use it, because it’s completely different. Jonan: So I've got my Ember app and I've been using Pods all this time, and now, we have Module Unification and there's a new way to do this. I can just move over to module unification right? Tom: Yes. Jonan: We run this script that you've written and it would migrate me over? Tom: Yeah. So we have a migrator and because there's so many Ember apps using the classic system, so many Ember apps using the Pod system, it can handle both. Terence: Could Module Unification have happened without Ember Pods happening first? Tom: It's hard to say. I think it's something that people really wanted, and I think it's fantastic. This is something we touched on the keynote; one thing that we've always said about Ember, and I think this is true about Rails also, is that there's always a period of experimentation when something new comes along. You really want that experimentation to happen in the community. Then eventually, it seems like one idea has won out in a lot of ways. The things that we learned about with Pods fed directly into Module Unification design. Jonan: So maybe, we could chat a little bit about deprecating controllers in Ember? Tom: Sure, yeah. Jonan: You announced that you were going to deprecate all of the top-level controllers by 2.0, and then pushed 2.1 and 2.2. That's still the plan to deprecate the controllers someday? Tom: I think what we are always dedicated to is trying to slim down the programming model and always reevaluate what is the experience like for new people. I don’t want to say that we're going to deprecate controllers because that sounds like a very scary thing, right? There's a lot of people with a lot of controllers in their apps. But I do think what we will want to do is take a look at the Ember programming model from the perspective of a new user. And say, "Well, it seems like people already learned about components. And it seems like there's probably some overlap between what a controller does and what a component does." So maybe there's some way we can unify these concepts so people don’t have to learn about this controller thing with its own set of personality quirks. Jonan: Is this where routable components fit into the idea then? Tom: So that's the idea of routable components and I think I don’t have a concrete plan for exactly how this is going to work. I think a lot of ways, the work that we want to do on that was blocked by the Glimmer component API. I think what we'd like to do is add whatever low-level hooks in Ember are needed so that we can maybe do some experimentation around things like routable components outside. Let people get a feel for it and then once we have a design that we're really happy with, then we can land it back in mainland Ember. That’s the end of our discussion on the history and direction of the Ember project. Stay tuned for part two and learn more about the Glimmer.js project.Growing up in an ultra-Orthodox family in Brooklyn in the 1970s, Moshe struggled with his homosexuality. “I went to yeshiva and there were no gay characters on television,” said Moshe, who asked that we not use his real name. There was no discussion of gay issues at the yeshiva, either, he remembers: Everyone was implicitly taught that the only way to channel their sexuality was to get married—to women, of course. At 22, Moshe did just that, hoping he could “marry the gay away.” “We dated for 12 days,” he recalled. That was in 1994, before the popular advent of the Internet. At the time, Moshe didn’t realize there were other Orthodox men grappling with their sexuality, too. The online universe changed all that. A few years ago, he began reading blogs about other Orthodox gay men who were coming out. While he was still unable to confront his sexuality publicly, he felt he needed to connect with other people in similar situations—something the Internet allowed him to do without “going public.” “I was able to see people expressing themselves—Orthodox friends of mine expressing themselves with their homosexuality, and I wanted that,” he told me. “I needed that.” His therapist at the time, a prominent rabbi in Moshe’s community, suggested he start his own blog to discuss his homosexuality anonymously. In June 2011, as a married father of four, he did. “I am a frum, gay & married male who feels compelled to share,” he wrote in his first blog entry. “I could be a mispallel in your shul listening to the Rov talk about the perverts and mishkav zochornicks [homosexuals] supporting gay marriage. … I reiterate, I am lonely and in pain. … I am convinced there are other people like me out there. I want them to know that they are not alone. I want to have the opportunity to hear from them and share my experience with them.” Moshe wasn’t the only one. Since the Internet boom and the more recent growing popularity of social media—from blogs to Facebook groups, dating sites to Twitter feeds, as well as official organizational websites—there has been a veritable explosion of sites and support groups for LGBT Orthodox Jews, a population that until now, hid in the shadows. The Internet has created a safe space for a population caught between the demands of faith and the demands of self—a population that didn’t have a safe space before. * The Orthodox community has strict rules about homosexual behavior: Male homosexuality, colloquially known as mishkav zachor (literally, someone who lies with men), is explicitly forbidden in the Torah from Leviticus 18: “Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination.” Lesbianism, while not explicitly forbidden, is equally frowned upon. From this narrow proscription of a sexual act, any behaviors or acts that could possibly be considered evidence of a homosexual lifestyle have also been widely condemned in Orthodox circles. Writing in the 1970s, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the most important halachic decider of the century, wrote: “To speak of a desire for homosexual intimacy is a contradiction in terms. … The evil inclination entices the person to rebel against the will of the Holy One, Blessed Be He.” Some Orthodox rabbis continue to advocate “reparative therapy.” But even while other, more mainstream Orthodox attitudes have become far more compassionate, they still rarely get more accepting than a love-the-sinner-hate-the-sin approach. “Halakhah sees heterosexual marriage as the ideal model and sole legitimate outlet for human sexual expression,” stated a groundbreaking 2010 declaration signed by several Orthodox rabbis that advocated against reparative therapy—itself a relatively major shift in Orthodox thinking about homosexuality. “The sensitivity and understanding we properly express for human beings with other sexual orientations does not diminish our commitment to that principle.” Earlier this month, leading up to New York’s Celebrate Israel Parade, a group of Orthodox rabbis signed a letter stating that since a group known by the initials of LGBT that was composed of several gay Jewish organizations had a “hidden agenda” of promoting homosexuality, Orthodox groups should pull out of the parade. “[It] is a brazen attempt to force Orthodox Jews to accept their way of life at the Torah’s expense,” the signatories wrote. Faced with official condemnation and afraid to come out for fear of losing their religious community, many LGBT Orthodox Jews lived lives of quiet desperation until recently. According to several people I spoke with, many of the members of the oldest Orthodox LGBT group—Gay and Lesbian Yeshiva Day School Alumni, who meet monthly at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center in New York City—are still closeted to various degrees. However with the advent of the Internet and social media, according to activists and experts, more and more LGBT Orthodox Jews are finally able to find each other—online or in person—and bring both sides of their identity together at last. “The Internet did what a million progressive rabbis couldn’t do,” said Mordechai Levovitz, the co-founder of Jewish Queer Youth and the LGBT Coordinator for the United Nations NGO Committee for Human Rights. “The key in surviving as an Orthodox LGBT is not feeling alone. This is the big mistake that a lot of people make about being Orthodox and LGBT is that there is a huge risk for suicide and self-harm, but not because of the prohibition in the Torah. It’s because of loneliness and shame. People don’t kill themselves because of a verse, they kill themselves because they feel alone. The Internet kind of saved people. It didn’t make you any more wrong or right, but it stopped the isolation. You feel less shame when you’re not the only one.” For Levovitz, the change happened when he discovered the website GayJews.net in 2001 as a student in Yeshiva University. Levovitz, 19 at the time, recalls it as some sort of dating website where you could specify religious orientation, from Reform to Orthodox. “This changed everything for me,” he said. “I felt very isolated and alone at the time, and I predominantly wanted friends who understood me and where I was coming from.” Levovitz, who had already come out, began corresponding with other LGBT Jews who identified themselves as Orthodox. “Five of us who already knew each other decided to email everyone who put themselves as Orthodox Gay Jews, no matter where they were,” he recalled. “We emailed a few hundred people. Not surprisingly a few hundred people didn’t come—but 20 of us arrived at a little coffee shop in the West Village.” From there, Levovitz—who was a speaker at Y.U.’s controversial 2009 panel about homosexuality—and those who answered the email began holding regular events and expanded across the country. Currently they maintain a list of over 700 members and encompass groups for Jewish parents of LGBT children and workshops about increasing tolerance inside the Orthodox community. “The Internet has created the ability to have, first and foremost, this virtual online gay Orthodox community, which eventually became a non-virtual Orthodox gay community,” said Jayson Littman, the founder of He’Bro, a company that organizes and promotes events for gay Jews in New York City. Then again, the Internet itself is a source of consternation for many Orthodox Jews: A large anti-Internet rally held in Citifield in 2012, attended by more than 40,000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews, hammered home the resistance many Orthodox Jews have for such technologies. And in many ways, it was this kind of awareness of the lives of Orthodox LGBT that the organizers were striving against. * While there is no empirical statistical data about LGBT Orthodox Jews, for many the Internet provides a safe space to discuss their sexuality and take the initial step in dealing with who they are. “The Internet has changed our lives in a big way,” said Miryam Kabakov, editor of the anthology Keep Your Wives Away From Them: Orthodox Women, Unorthodox Desires, and the co-executive director of Eshel, a group that works to promote Orthodox LGBT-inclusion. “For a group that’s been hidden, it’s been a great thing. You can still hide and not be alone. You can find a group that identifies the way you do and don’t have to risk your life doing it.” Chaim Levin, a gay activist and blogger involved in the Orthodox community, said that the Internet helped him come out. “Someone who has a question can reach out anonymously,” he said. “They have to get that going and take the first step. That’s what happened to me and everyone else.” Oriol Poveda, a researcher in Sweden who is studying the effects of social media on LGBT Orthodox Jews, said that in the last few years a shift has occurred. He cited the 2001 documentary Trembling Before G-d, about homosexuality inside Orthodox Judaism, as a turning point. “[The film] depicted a lesbian and gay Orthodox scene (not a word of B or T) still dominated by feelings of shame, alienation, and secrecy, in which people were fighting on an individual basis and few were ready to expose themselves,” he wrote via email. “The situation now is completely different, and I think that this coming out of the closet and becoming vocal would have been much more difficult without the Internet.” Poveda pointed to the Orthodox version of the “It Gets Better” series of videos, launched after a rash of suicides in the gay community in 2010. The Orthodox version has received close to 115,000 views, an astronomical number considering the population of Orthodox Jews. Bonnie Rosenbaum, communication director for Keshet, a prominent grassroots organization that works for the full LGBT inclusion in Jewish life, said that she believed social media has helped gay Orthodox teens to find role models and find a way of life they didn’t know existed. “Anytime you have a community that’s been marginalized, has few role models, and is not supported and all of a sudden you have a place where you can go and find a vision of a life you’re looking to lead,” she said. “The first step is seeing gay men online wearing kippahs.” Once Orthodox people started discussing LGBT life online, activists told me, others in the Orthodox community were forced to deal with it. “People weren’t able to push it under the rug anymore,” explained Levin. “People started telling stories. They couldn’t ignore it. Once the conversation starts, even if it’s a negative conversation, it can’t stop.” Continue reading: ‘I’m done hiding who I am’ Rabbi Nati Helfgot, the author of the 2010 declaration, said that social media was not in itself what drove the change in attitudes and open discussion, but rather the vehicle by which these evolving attitudes have become more widely known. “It’s not social media,” he said. “It’s a sea change in American culture. Homosexuality was once something considered aberrant and bizarre, that was hidden and suppressed, whereas today it’s discussed openly and honestly. It’s a total transformation. As modern people involved in the world, that’s had an effect on us … social media just multiplies that effect.” This has also extended to transgender Jews. While not explicitly forbidden in the Torah—it may fall under the prohibition of self-mutilation, cross-dressing, or, for male-to-female transsexuals, a violation of the positive commandment to reproduce—gender reassignment is generally viewed as prohibited within Orthodoxy. There is, however, an unusually sympathetic responsa by Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg, the Tzitz Eliezer, another leading halachic decider, who stated that those who have undergone gender-reassignment surgery are now considered by Jewish law to be members of that new gender. Joy Ladin, the David and Ruth Guttesman Chair in English at Yeshiva University, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2007 and wrote about her life in her 2012 memoir Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders, said she is in touch daily with transgender Orthodox Jews. “There’s a negotiation that’s occurring,” she explained. “The difference is that it’s happening much faster. Previously before the Internet it would have happened within communities; now it’s across communities with many rabbis conversing about it and everyone reflecting on it. “ Ladin cautions, however, against seeing Internet communities as a cure-all for the loneliness many LGBT Orthodox Jews experience. “I think community is an overused word,” she said. “One of the problems that Orthodox LGBT have is that they’re Orthodox and they know what a community really is. Community is not a metaphor for them, it’s literal. When they transition, they lose their community and it’s like an amputation. They can’t find that community again so they need to make their own.” At last count, there are several Orthodox LGBT support groups with an online presence, in addition to Keshet, including Eshel, which was started by a collaborative effort that included Rabbi Steve Greenberg, the first openly gay Orthodox rabbi; the Dina Listserv for Orthodox and formerly Orthodox transsexuals; Tirzah: a community of Frum Queer Women; and Temicha, an online support group for Orthodox Jewish parents of gay children. There are countless blogs, from teens writing about their experiences being openly gay inside a Modern Orthodox environment, and a blog from an openly gay Orthodox man living in the Syrian Jewish community, the melancholy It’s Like Disapproving of Rain blog, to an Orthodox teenager writing about her life with gay parents. A quick search on Facebook with the words “Jewish” and “gay” will lead to several pages, from a gay pride minyan on the Upper West Side to small group called Orthodox Jews Against Homophobia. As for Moshe, as he continued writing, his blog began receiving more hits. He also discovered that people were finding his blog by searching online using keywords like “gay,” “frum,” “Orthodox,” and “married.” Once he discovered how many other people were searching for a blog like his, he says, he felt less alone and marshaled the strength to come out to his wife. “I finally did it,” he wrote in December 2011. “On Friday night I broke down and told my wife about my attraction toward men … ” The revelation was painful, but at the end, “We talked about some of the men in my life and who I am attracted to and who not. It got to the point where we were able to even laugh about it.” The two divorced, though his ex-wife remains his biggest advocate. Eventually, he was outed within his religious community: Neighbors pieced together the fact that he and his wife had always seemed like a model couple, and remained friendly even as they were getting divorced. Friends also figured out who he was from his blog postings. Surprisingly, the outing wasn’t as bad as Moshe feared. While there was a backlash, it was nowhere near what he had expected. He doesn’t physically live in that community anymore, but he still considers himself Orthodox. When he returns to visit, Moshe said, he’s greeted with kindness and respect. “What ended up happening is I broke the stereotype,” he said. “People started seeing me as Moshe who happens to be gay, not as the homosexuality defining me. … I feel honest. I feel whole. I feel like I’m done hiding who I am.” *** Like this article? Sign up for our Daily Digest to get Tablet Magazine’s new content in your inbox each morning. Michael Orbach is a writer living in New York.Lumpkin, Georgia (CNN) A balding and bearded Jamaican man trains his eyes on the table in front of him, nervously shaking his leg. He's miles from home in a lonely courtroom. And in the eyes of immigration authorities, he's worn out his welcome. "My job," the judge says, "is to decide whether you will be allowed to stay." The odds are slim. This is the toughest immigration court in the continental United States. No fanfare Hundreds of miles north in the nation's capital, bands are about to march in the Inauguration Day parade. Donald Trump is getting ready to kick off his presidency with a pledge to put America first. Cheering crowds are lining up to watch. But there's no fanfare Friday at this 1,900-bed immigrant detention center in rural Stewart County, Georgia, about 120 miles southwest of Atlanta. In Courtroom #3, behind two barbed wire gates and three locked doors, Judge Saundra Arrington is getting ready to ask the man before her a methodical list of questions. Rows of benches are empty. The air conditioning hums. The guard's jacket rustles as she paces the room. The judge says it's time to begin. The Stewart Immigration Court is located beside a heavily-secured, 1,900-bed detention center. 'Is there anything special about today?' "Why do you want to stay in the United States, briefly?" the judge asks. The 51-year-old Jamaican, who immigrated when he was 8 years old, pauses for a moment. "It's the only place I know." An appeals court has ordered the judge to evaluate whether the man is mentally competent. If not, a court-appointed attorney could help him make his case. CNN is not identifying the man because of the nature of the court proceeding. In court the judge peppers him with queries about his employment history, his family and his two felony drug convictions. "Do you know what date it is?" Arrington asks. "January 20, 2017," the man replies. "Is there anything special about today in America?" the judge continues. The man looks back at her blankly. "Is it a holiday?" Detainees at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, are escorted through a corridor. A crush of cases Trump has vowed that deporting criminals will be a top priority of his presidency. But as he pushes to make his campaign promises a reality, the immigration court system could be a significant stumbling block The country's 58 immigration courts are already dealing with a growing crush of cases. The backlog grew to more than half a million last year. For years, the leader of the immigration judges union has warned that the overburdened system doesn't give them enough time or resources to sort out complex cases -- noting that the consequences of a wrong decision can be dire. It's like handling death penalty cases, she says, in traffic court settings. So far this fiscal year, more than 90% of the cases decided in the Stewart Immigration Court have ended with a deportation order. Only a small immigration court in Guam has sent back a higher percentage of people, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, which tracks and analyzes immigration court decisions. 'I just messed up' On this day in the Stewart Immigration Court, the judge's questioning lasts for nearly an hour. "Tell me about your mental condition," she says. "I hear voices," the man tells her, "and sometimes, I might be in a conversation, and I hear something else. I answer. I see things -- spirits, demons, dead people." Medication and psychological treatment have helped, he says. The judge looks concerned. She asks him if there's anything else she needs to know. "I just messed up. I need a second chance," he says. "They say America is a second chance." The judge says she's heard that, too. She tells him she'll begin the process to get him a lawyer to help with his case. It could be lengthy, she says, and could mean he'll have to spend more time in detention. It's worth it, he tells her, for a chance to stay. CNN Map The wait Outside the courtroom, a guard and an interpreter are getting ready for the next case to start. They glance up at the waiting room wall. Framed pictures of President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch hang just a few feet above the day's court docket. Next week, the interpreter says, they'll be looking at a portrait of President Trump.Box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their cube-shaped medusae. Some species of box jellyfish produce extremely potent venom: Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi. Stings from these and a few other species in the class are extremely painful and can be fatal to humans. Taxonomy and systematics At least 51 species of box jellyfish were known as of 2018.[1] These are grouped into two orders and eight families.[2] A few new species have since been described, and it is likely that additional undescribed species remain.[3][4][5] Class Cubozoa Order Carybdeida Family Alatinidae Family Carukiidae Family Carybdeidae Family Tamoyidae Family Tripedaliidae Order Chirodropida Family Chirodropidae Family Chiropsalmidae Family Chiropsellidae Description The medusa form of a box jellyfish has a squarish, box-like bell, from which its name is derived. From each of the four lower corners of this hangs a short pedalium or stalk which bears one or more long, slender, hollow tentacles. The rim of the bell is folded inwards to form a shelf known as a velarium which restricts the bell's aperture and creates a powerful jet when the bell pulsates.[6] As a result, box jellyfish can move more rapidly than other jellyfish; speeds of up to 6 metres (20 ft) per minute have been recorded.[7] In the center of the underside of the bell is a mobile appendage called the manubrium which somewhat resembles an elephant's trunk. At its tip is the mouth. The interior of the bell is known as the gastrovascular cavity. It is divided by four equidistant septa into a central stomach and four gastric pockets. The eight gonads are located in pairs on either side of the four septa. The margins of the septa bear bundles of small gastric filaments which house nematocysts and digestive glands and help to subdue prey. Each septum is extended into a septal funnel that opens onto the oral surface and facilitates the flow of fluid into and out of the animal.[6] The box jellyfish's nervous system is more developed than that of many other jellyfish. They possess a nerve ring around the base of the bell that coordinates their pulsing movements, a feature found elsewhere only in the crown jellyfish. Whereas some other jellyfish have simple pigment-cup ocelli, box jellyfish are unique in the possession of true eyes, complete with retinas, corneas and lenses. Their eyes are set in clusters called rhopalia, located in pockets halfway up the outer, flat surfaces of the bell. Each contains two rhopalial ocelli with lenses, one directed upwards and the other downwards and inwards towards the manubrium.[6] This enables the animal to see specific points of light, as opposed to simply distinguishing between light and dark. Box jellyfish also have twenty ocelli (simple eyes) that do not form images, but detect light and dark; they therefore have a total of twenty-four eyes.[8] Near the rhopalia are statoliths which detect gravitational pull and help the animal to orient itself.[9] Box jellyfish also display complex, probably visually-guided behaviors such as obstacle avoidance and fast directional swimming.[10] Research indicates that, owing to the number of rhopalial nerve cells and their overall arrangement, visual processing and integration at least partly happen within the rhopalia of box jellyfish.[10] The complex nervous system supports a relatively advanced sensory system compared to other jellyfish, and box jellyfish have been described as having an active, fish-like behavior.[11] A fully grown box jellyfish can measure up to 20 cm (7.9 in) along each box side (or 30 cm (12 in) in diameter), and the tentacles can grow up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in length. Its weight can reach 2 kg (4.4 lb).[12] There are about 15 tentacles on each corner. Each tentacle has about 500,000 cnidocytes, containing nematocysts, a harpoon-shaped microscopic mechanism that injects venom into the victim.[13] Many different kinds of nematocysts are found in cubozoans.[14] Distribution Although the notoriously dangerous species of box jellyfish are largely restricted to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, various species of box jellyfish can be found widely in tropical and subtropical oceans, including the Atlantic Ocean and the east Pacific Ocean, with species as far north as California (Carybdea confusa), the Mediterranean Sea (Carybdea marsupialis)[15] and Japan (such as Chironex yamaguchii),[3] and as far south as South Africa (for example, Carybdea branchi)[4] and New Zealand (such as Copula sivickisi).[16] Ecology Age and growth It has been found that the statoliths, which are composed of calcium sulfate hemihydrate, exhibit clear sequential incremental layers, thought to be laid down on a daily basis. This has enabled researchers to estimate growth rates, ages, and age to maturity. Chironex fleckeri, for example, increases its inter-pedalia distance (IPD) by 3 mm (0.12 in) per day, reaching an IPD of 50 mm (2 in) when 45 to 50 days old. The maximum age of any individual examined was 88 days by which time it had grown to an IPD of 155 mm (6 in).[9] Behavior The box jellyfish actively hunts its prey (small fish), rather than drifting as do true jellyfish. They are capable of achieving speeds of up to 1.5 to 2 metres per second or about 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[12] The venom of cubozoans is distinct from that of scyphozoans, and is used to catch prey (small fish and invertebrates, including prawns and bait fish) and for defence from predators, which include the butterfish, batfish, rabbitfish, crabs (blue swimmer crab) and various species of turtle including the hawksbill sea turtle and flatback sea turtle. It seems that sea turtles are unaffected by the stings because they seem to relish box jellyfish.[12] Danger to humans Box jellyfish warning signpost at a Cape Tribulation beach in Queensland, Australia Although the box jellyfish has been called "the world's most venomous creature",[17] only a few species in the class have been confirmed to be involved in human deaths, and some species pose no serious threat at all.[5] In Australia, fatalities are most often caused by the largest species of this class of jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri. Researchers at the University of Hawaii's Department of Tropical Medicine found the venom causes cells to become porous enough to allow potassium leakage, causing hyperkalemia, which can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death as quickly as within 2 to 5 minutes. It was postulated that a zinc compound may be developed as an antidote.[18] In Australia, C. fleckeri has caused at least 64 deaths since the first report in 1883,[19] but even in this species most encounters appear to result only in mild envenoming.[20] Most recent deaths in Australia have been in children, which is linked to their smaller body mass.[19] In parts of the Malay Archipelago, the number of lethal cases is far higher (in the Philippines alone, an estimated 20-40 die annually from Chirodropid stings), probably owing to limited access to medical facilities and antivenom, and the fact that many Australian beaches are enclosed in nets and have vinegar placed in prominent positions allowing for rapid first aid.[20][21] Vinegar is also used as treatment by locals in the Philippines.[22] A vinegar post in Queensland, Australia The recently discovered and very similar Chironex yamaguchii may be equally dangerous, as it has been implicated in several deaths in Japan.[3] It is unclear which of these species is the one usually involved in fatalities in the Malay Archipelago.[3][22] In 1990, a 4-year-old child died after being stung by Chiropsalmus quadrumanus at Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico, and either this species or Chiropsoides buitendijki are considered the likely perpetrators of two deaths in West Malaysia.[22] Warning signs and first aid stations have been erected in Thailand following the death of a 5-year-old French boy in August 2014.[23][24] A woman died in July 2015 after being stung off Ko Pha Ngan,[25] and another at Lamai Beach at Ko Samui on 6 October 2015.[26] At least two deaths in Australia have been attributed to the thumbnail-sized Irukandji jellyfish.[27][28] Those who fall victim to these may suffer severe physical and psychological symptoms, known as Irukandji syndrome.[29] Nevertheless, most victims do survive, and out of 62 people treated for Irukandji envenomation in Australia in 1996, almost half could be discharged home with few or no symptoms after 6 hours, and only two remained hospitalized approximately a day after they were stung.[29] In Australia (mainly northern; however, box jellyfish can live in subtropical waters as far south as Sydney, with Carybdea marsupialis being recorded as far south as Bermagui, Sapphire Coast)[30] the highest risk period for the box jellyfish is between October and May, but stings and specimens have been reported all months of the year. Similarly, the highest risk conditions are those with calm water and a light, onshore breeze; however, stings and specimens have been reported in all conditions. In Hawaii, box jellyfish numbers peak approximately seven to ten days after a full moon, when they come near the shore to spawn. Sometimes the influx is so severe that lifeguards have closed infested beaches, such as Hanauma Bay, until the numbers subside.[31][32] Protection during swimming or diving Wearing pantyhose or full body lycra suits during diving (both by women and men, also under scuba-diving suit) is an effective protection against box jellyfish stings.[33] The pantyhose were formerly thought to work because of the length of the box jellyfish's stingers (nematocysts), but it is now known to be related to the way the stinger cells work. The stinging cells on a box jellyfish's tentacles are not triggered by touch, but are instead triggered by the chemicals found on skin; the chemicals are not present on the hose's outer surface, so the jellyfish's nematocysts do not fire.[12] Treatment of stings Once a tentacle of the box jellyfish adheres to skin,
to gauge men's reactions as part of a social experiment and rather than help her, the men suggest buying more alcohol and even returning to their hotel Speaking at the start of the video, the director says: 'What you are about to see is something more than just a simple social experiment.' He goes on to explain that an actress will play the role of a drunken woman and then interact with people in the street - in broad daylight in a busy city centre - to see how they react. He adds: 'This particular situation poses many questions: "what could happen, for example, on a Friday or Saturday night?"', before continuing: 'Will men help her? Let's see what happens.' The woman, dressed in a fitted, short dress with ample cleavage on show, stands in the middle of a bustling square drinking a large bottle of beer in a plastic bag. A group of four men immediately approach her and when she tells them that she is lost and has no battery on her phone, they ask her where her friends are and where she's from. 'We'll help you find your friends,' the men say as they get closer and closer to the woman. After telling the men she has 'drunk too much', they insist she 'hasn't drunk enough' and suggest she 'drinks a little more.' A group of four men approach her first and when she tells them that she is lost and has no battery on her phone, they ask her where her friends are and where she's from The group tell her: 'I don't believe you drank enough', when she tells them she has been drinking all morning The woman, dressed in a fitted, short dress with ample cleavage on show, stands in the middle of a bustling square and the men suggest going to another place to drink more beer Another man puts his arm around the woman and attempts to lead her to his hotel to drink more alcohol The next man that approaches asks her: 'Is this the first time you have gotten drunk?', to which she answers: 'I never drink.' The man then suggests the pair go and sit in a stairwell - because if she doesn't sit, he claims she will fall over. He then links arms with her and attempts to lead her away saying: 'Come on, give me your hand', before she manages to break free. The next duo to spot the woman, approach her, and suggest drinking more alcohol. Despite telling them she has already drunk enough, the men, who wrap their arms around the woman, insist on going to the shop to buy some more alcohol. Some of the men get very intimate with the woman, hugging her and suggesting they all go to a bar together Despite telling them she has already drunk enough, the men insist on going to drink more The men invite her friends to join the party. 'Afterwards, we will call your friends and introduce them to me,' says one man, before calling the woman 'beautiful' They also tell her she can charge her phone at their hotel and then invite her friends to join the party. 'Afterwards, we will call your friends and introduce them to me,' says one man, before calling the woman 'beautiful.' Another passer by puts his arm around the woman and asks her if she is married. When she tells the man: 'I don't know where I am', he replies: 'I have an iPhone charger at the hotel.' Despite the woman falling into him and telling him she 'feels bad' and 'can't walk', he goes on to state he is buying more beer for her. 'Even more beer? Do you think I can drink more?', she asks. 'Yes,' he replies as he takes her hand and assures her that he will drink with her. One man approaches the scantily-clad woman and asks her if it's the first time she has got drunk He then suggests the pair go and sit in a stairwell - because if she doesn't sit, she will fall over. He then links arms with her and attempts to lead her away before she breaks free Despite telling the man she 'cannot walk', he attempts to lead her away to sit in a stairwell Perhaps the most shocking moment comes when a man leads a woman down a quiet street He then pins her against a wall and attempts to kiss her as she continues to act drunk Perhaps the most shocking moment comes when a man spots the woman waiting alone. After asking her name and calling her 'beautiful', he leads her down a quiet alleyway and pins her against the wall and attempts to kiss her several times. One of her colleagues has to intervene to break up the couple but the man claims he knows the woman and isn't keen to let her go. 'Hey, why do you take her?,' he asks. 'You don't take her!,' he repeats as he struggles to keep hold of the woman. Her colleague manages to free the woman from the man's grip and leads her to safety. He can be heard in the microphone saying: 'Don't let anyone touch you.' One of her colleagues has to intervene to break up the couple, telling the man 'leave her!' 'Hey, why do you take her?,' he asks. 'You don't take her!,' he repeats as he struggles to keep hold of her The director returns to the screen at the end of the video and concludes: 'Most of you are probably surprised and some of you also disgusted and maybe you are thinking that we have avoided some scenes favouring the most "juicy" parts, but I am afraid to deceive you. 'It really was the opposite. Those situations full of rudeness and physical abuse were taken away because there is no need to show it in such depth. 'The most disappointing fact is that we had no need to edit the video. Why? Because nobody got close to helping this drunken woman.' Speaking to MailOnline about the video, Dr Sarah Jarvis, medical advisor to alcohol education charity Drinkaware, said: 'It is never a woman’s fault if she is attacked or assaulted when she’s under the influence of alcohol. 'Nobody should ever do that to anybody else particularly if they’re vulnerable, but as this video shows it can happen.' The man in the white shirt isn't too keen on being separated from the woman and tells her colleague 'don't take her with you' as he grips onto herA man believed to have shot dead seven people and injured three others at a California college has been named by police as 43-year-old One Goh. Oakland police chief Howard Jordan said the gunman had opened fire in a classroom at Oikos University. The suspect, a former student at the college, surrendered at a supermarket in nearby Alameda city. Oikos University is a private religious institution offering courses in theology, music and nursing. Armed officers converged on the college after Monday's mid-morning attack. Five people were pronounced dead at the scene and two others died in hospital. 'Very bloody scene' Bodies covered with tarpaulin were laid outside, and TV footage showed wounded people emerging from buildings. Mr Goh is believed to be an Oakland resident, Mr Jordan said during Monday evening's press conference. He estimated it would take a few days "to put the pieces together", adding: "We do not have a motive." The gunman had opened fire throughout the building, leaving a "very bloody scene", he told reporters. "Officers found several victims throughout the classroom, throughout the building," he said. "There were several people hiding in locked buildings, locked doors behind desks, as you can imagine, very frightened, very scared. "Some of them were injured so we had to rescue them out. We had to force our way into a number of rooms." The Oakland Fire Department was notified of the shooting at about 10:30 local time (17:30 GMT). Pastor Jong Kim, who founded the school about 10 years ago,told the Oakland Tribunethat the suspect was a former nursing student at the college. He said he had heard about 30 gunshots in the building, adding: "I stayed in my office." 'Shot in chest' A witness, Brian Snow, told local news station KGO-TV: "One of the people who was inside the building, she was saying there is a crazy guy inside. "She did say someone got shot in the chest right next to her before she got taken off in an ambulance." Passer-by Angie Johnsontold the San Francisco Chronicleshe had helped a woman with a gunshot wound in her arm. US campus shootings February 2010:A University of Alabama professor, Amy Bishop, opens fire at a faculty meeting, killing three colleagues and wounding three others February 2008: Former graduate student Steven Kazmierczak kills five students, wounds 16 at Northern Illinois University and kills himself April 2007: Seung-Hui Cho kills more than 30 people in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech, before turning the gun on himself April1999:Two students kill 12 others and a teacher and wound more than 20 before killing themselves at Columbine High School The woman "had a hole in her right arm the size of a silver dollar with blood coming down," Ms Johnson told the newspaper. She said that, according to the woman she helped, the gunman had stood up during a nursing class, shot one student in the chest at point blank range and then began firing at the rest of the room. Reports earlier described the suspect as a Korean man in his 40s, with heavy build and wearing khaki clothes. A memorial service has been scheduled for 18:00 local time on Tuesday. California Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement the shooting was "shocking and sad". "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and friends and the entire community affected by this senseless act of violence." The attack comes after an Ohio high school student opened fire on fellow students in February, killing three and injuring six.Dear friends! Today, our team decided to cancel the crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. However, it’s too early to mourn Armies of Azeroth. Posted by WAA_Team on Apr 11th, 2016 Dear friends! Today, our team decided to cancel the crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Unfortunately, because of several faults it did not attract much attention, and therefore did not raise the funds required for the development. We want to apologize for it and ask for forgiveness of those who decided to donate. Your money will be returned to you soon. However, it’s too early to mourn Armies of Azeroth, as we are planning to start preparations for the new crowdfunding campaign taking into account all the sticking points that we have encountered before. Soon we will launch several polls in order to figure out your preferences to establish the right priorities of our mod development. Based on the results of these polls we will start preparation for a new crowdfunding campaign and will fight for the future of our mod! We hope that the next one will be much more successful and will attract much more attention around the world. In case of failure, we will be forced to suspend our work on the mod until the official release of Warcraft IV. Our development team hopes for your understanding and will continue the development of the mod. Thank you all in advance for your helping Warcraft: Armies of Azeroth come true! One more bit of attention! At this moment, crowdfunding campaign is closed, so please, don’t let any gossip or provocation fool you while there is no information on our official pages and inside maps themselves.In a pinch, specify the information from our managers. Good luck on the battlefield! Best regards, WAA Team ‪#‎Warcraft_AA‬ ‪#‎Warcraft‬ ‪#‎Starcraft‬ ‪#‎Indiegogo‬The government on Tuesday announced that 13 more cities will be eligible for priority funding under the Smart City mission. The mission took off earlier this year with names of 20 cities being announced for funding in the first round of the inter-city competition. Advertising The total proposed investment for the 33 cities, through Union and state governments as well as private funding, comes to Rs 80,789 crore. While Lucknow has got the highest score, the other cities in the order of their ratings include Warangal, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Raipur, New Town Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Panaji, Port Blair, Imphal, Ranchi, Agartala and Faridabad. These 13 are among the 98 cities that were selected for the Rs 48,000-crore mission last year. Watch \| Smart City Project To Take Off in 13 More Cities The NDA government’s ambitious Smart City mission, launched last year, looks at applying technology to all aspects of urban infrastructure and basic service provision. [related-post] Releasing the list on Tuesday, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu said: “Smart City mission is running ahead of schedule. As per the initial plan, 40 cities were to be selected for funding during this financial year by July-August; of this we have already selected 33,” he said. Naidu added that cities from 23 states and Union territories were given ample support to address the deficiencies in their Smart City Plans that they had prepared for the first round of competition following which the best 13 were chosen. “This has resulted in substantial improvements in the plans. The ones that still could not make the grade will get another opportunity to revise their plans and submit them for evaluation by the end of June,” said Naidu. In a significant step, the urban development ministry has now announced that instead of the originally proposed 100 Smart Cities, now 109 cities will compete to be part of the mission. This was done so as to accommodate two cities for Jammu and Kashmir instead of the earlier allotted quota of one. Likewise, Uttar Pradesh has been allowed to nominate 14 cities instead of 13 as was decided earlier. Seven capital cities that didn’t make the cut initially, either due to under-performance on the set indicators or due to the fact that the state could make only a limited number of nominations, have also been allowed to be Smart City contenders. These include Patna, Shimla, Itanagar, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Naya Raipur, and the newest capital city of Hyderabad in Telangana. “As of now, the mission will be for 100 cities that perform the best. But in the coming years, if the economy improves, we might be able to accommodate all 109 cities,” said Naidu. Advertising Just last month, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti had met Naidu requesting him to allow both Jammu and Srinagar to be part of the mission. Poll-bound UP’s CM Akhilesh Yadav has made a similar request for inclusion of both Meerut and Rae Baraeli (the parliamentary constituency of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi). Ministry sources said that if a decision is taken for allowing all 109 cities to be part of the mission, it would mean a 10 per cent increase in funding. “The proposal will have to be sent to the cabinet as the additional requirement would be for Rs 4,500 crore,” said sources.Domestic robots are sort of here, with self-driving and speakers that control your smart home, but Mayfield Robotics’ Kuri could be the first real home robot, combining mobility and true interaction with approachable, friendly design. Mayfield Robotics is a startup fully owned and funded by Bosch, with a team of co-founders that have extensive experience in the field of robotics, but also in interaction design and machine learning. Their first product is Kuri, an intelligent home robot making its official debut at CES this year, with pre-orders beginning in the U.S. and a target ship date of sometime during the holidays in 2017. Basics of a buddy bot Kuri responds to voice input, and in this way is similar to other devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo. There’s a four-microphone array built into its compact, vaguely conical body so that it can hear you no matter where you are in the room, and it has a speaker built-in, too. But Kuri doesn’t respond with words; instead, it uses sounds, lights and its expressive eyes to communicate responses back to a user – all of which is a key part of its design. The robot also has a built-in HD camera tucked behind one eye, and a range of sensors to stop it falling down stairs or bumping into furniture. it moves on a three wheels that help it rotate in any direction, and move from room to room with easy as it follows you around the house or goes where you tell it. There’s a processor on board to handle tasks like voice and image recognition processing locally, and it’s programmable through easy tools like IFTTT to expand its feature set. The diminutive robot is only under two feet tall, and about a foot wide with a total weight of 14 lbs. Both iOS and Android apps are available to help control and interact with Kuri when you’re not using him (Mayfield genders the robot male in press materials and conversation) and it also seeks out its charging pad when its battery needs topping up. Echo evolved It’s tempting to think of Kuri as a rolling Echo with the ability to blink, but the robot is much more than that. Its designed to be a companion first, and an assistant second, and that meant a design process that was far different from what Amazon undertook with its smart speaker. Kuri’s movement design was led by a longtime Pixar animator, in fact, which Mayfield believes is key to making it something that people will not only be comfortable using, but that will want to interact with regularly. Each inclination of Kuri’s head, each blink of its eye, its body shape and its pacing and locomotion design were all carefully considered, with the thought in mind of building something that was not necessarily optimally efficient or functional, but that was approachable, calming and inviting. Kuri needed to inspire trust in its users, and so the design process involved eliminating any motion, sound or type of movement that would potentially unnerve its users. The Pixar DNA is apparent in Kuri’s finished product. The robot looks like something that’s leapt out of Wall-E, and the end result is a robot you want to befriend. I find myself thanking Alexa absent-mindedly when using my Echo, but I’d never consider Amazon’s virtual assistant a companion, per se; with Kuri, I find myself already coveting its affection even without owning one. A robot that stands alone Kuri is also different from things like Home or Echo because it’s designed to be its own robot; that is, at launch at least, it won’t have a long list of third-party integrations. But it will be able to control things via IFTTT; to let you check in on your house and its various rooms while you’re away using its HD camera; to read to your kid before bed; and to play games and podcasts as it tails you throughout the day. The team at Mayfield Robotics wanted very much to create a satisfying, full experience from the moment you unpack Kuri, and so the focus was not on opening up integrations from day one, but instead on building something you’ll feel has value all on its own. It’s a good strategy, and one that will hopefully help Kuri have more broad appeal at launch, since it doesn’t require connecting a whole host of third-party services to become truly functional. Baby steps for domestic robotics We’ve long anticipated a day when we welcome robots into our homes, as caregivers, assistants and service companions. Kuri is not the Jetsons’ Rosie, or R2D2, but it is a step in that direction, and one that focuses on the big elements still needed for getting us to that future – interaction design. Robots being truly welcomed in the home will need to arrive first at a place where we see them as comfortable presences; no one’s looking to share their domestic space with factory floor production robots, for instance. [gallery ids="1432894,1432893,1432892,1432891,1432890,1432889,1432888,1432887,1432886,1432885,1432884,1432883,1432882,1432881,1432880,1432879,1432878"] Kuri’s lineage in the entertainment realm is a smart starting point for a domestic bot, since it plays on our familiarity and affection for robots we’ve seen portrayed in film in television, including Wall-E, Rosie and R2D2. And if we’re ever going to elevate robots in the home beyond the level of automated appliances, that’s a necessary step toward greater adoption. Mayfield Robotics is asking pre-order customers to put down a $100 deposit now for Kuri reservations, with the balance of its $699 asking price due at shipment. It’ll still be almost a year before we see if its focus on personality is truly the right approach for broad acceptance, but from what I’ve seen, Mayfield is off to a very promising start.Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Sept. 18, 2014. His upcoming visit to New York has exposed a political divide in the Indian-American community. Harish Tyagi / EPA If Indians living in the United States had been allowed to vote in this year’s Indian elections, says Bharat Barai, “Narendra Modi probably would’ve gotten an 85-to-90-percent vote — far better than he got in India.” Barai is the chief organizer of a reception for the new prime minister, to be held at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sept. 28; the free tickets were snapped up in a matter of weeks. This will be Modi’s first visit to the United States since the U.S. Congress denied him a visa in 2005 for failing to protect religious freedom during riots in 2002 in the western Indian state of Gujarat, during which more than 1,000 Muslims were killed. The visa decision was reversed earlier this year after Modi’s political party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, swept the Indian elections in May. Now Modi’s upcoming visit is exposing a political divide in the Indian-American community. While the Indian American Community Foundation, the organizer of the Madison Square Garden reception, is pulling out all the stops for the event — which will have upward of 20,000 attendees and live telecasts in Times Square and online — a coalition of progressive South Asian and civil-rights groups is planning a protest outside the venue. For most Indians in the United States, Modi’s ascent signifies a more powerful role for India on the world stage, especially economically. But a determined minority is keeping the memory of the riots alive and raising questions about what a divisive government means for India’s secular identity. One of the dissenters is 22-year-old Nayi Sultana (who requested that her real name not be used for this story), whose family sought political asylum in the United States in 1997. They were fleeing anti-Muslim violence — specifically, riots in Mumbai in 1992 in which more than 1,000 people were killed over two months, most of them Muslim. A 1996 Human Rights Watch report found that a Hindu nationalist group was responsible for instigating the violence. Sultana’s family settled in a working-class neighborhood in Richmond, California, didn’t mix much with other Indian immigrants and avoided the subject of why they left. But now that the Indian-American community is gearing up for the arrival of Modi, a staunch Hindu nationalist, Sultana is finally getting involved. Modi’s government doesn’t care about us, she says. “Which is a theme about India — the leadership doesn’t care about the minorities.” Targeting minorities Indian state police watch a Muslim-owned shop burn March 1, 2002, in Ahmadabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat. Ami Vitale / Getty Images The controversy surrounding Modi’s handling of the Gujarat riots and his ties to the right-wing group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have made for increased suspicion of Hindu nationalism in India. After the BJP came to power this year, a group of U.S. citizens — some of whom had already been demanding justice and accountability for the Gujarat riots — came together to form the Ghadar Alliance, an anti-Hindutva group. (“Hindutva” literally translates to “Hindu-ness” but in practice means “Hindu rule.”) The organization recently released a report on Modi's first 100 days in government, citing freedom of the press, religious extremism, the environment and the economy as areas of serious concern. “What we’re protesting is not just Modi,” says Robindra Deb of the Alliance for Justice and Accountability, the New York chapter of the Ghadar Alliance, which was named after the Urdu word for “revolt.” “In a lot of ways, he’s the face of this. But it’s not just about him. It’s about this whole movement that backs him.” The new Indian prime minister may symbolize the most hard-line version of Hindu nationalism, but the right-wing ideology is hardly new. At the 2014 Festival of India and Parade in Fremont, California, held every year in August to commemorate Indian independence, dozens of Sikh protesters wore matching yellow shirts, highlighting anti-Sikh riots that took place in India in 1984. They held up signs that read “India kills minorities” and “If you really love India, why don’t you live in India?” ‘There is this overarching narrative of India being secular, pluralistic. Because of that narrative, religious violence and nationalism isn’t really taken seriously.’ Simran Jeet Singh board member, the Sikh Coalition Parminder Singh, who was leading the protest, said their anger was due to the lack of attention from the Indian government regarding the massacres. “They [Sikhs] were brutally murdered. They were burned alive. The women were raped. Property was looted,” he said. “To this day, nobody’s been convicted.” Jagdish Tytler, a former minister from the rival Congress party, which was in power at the time, has been widely implicated in the riots, and the Indian government reopened an investigation last year, but he has yet to be held accountable. The government’s failure to bring justice to the Sikhs after all these years shows how the Hindus always try to suppress all minorities, Singh said. “At this point, these communities are realizing that they have the same experiences of being targeted,” says Simran Jeet Singh, a doctoral candidate at Columbia University who is studying the formation of religious groups in South Asia and who is a Senior Religion Fellow at the Sikh Coalition, a community organization formed in the aftermath of 9/11. “What we see in India is sort of the opposite effect. There is this overarching narrative of India being secular, pluralistic. Because of that narrative, religious violence and nationalism isn’t really taken seriously.” Vision of India? Rajan Sadagopan, a member of the Overseas Friends of the BJP, with a pro-Modi sign during this year’s Festival of India and Parade in Fremont, California, in August. Sonia Paul In India, Modi’s human-rights record and Hindu-nationalist leanings have all but faded into the background. They’ve been overshadowed by his early efforts to boost India’s stagnant economy, generate jobs and root out corruption. His supporters hail the development he brought to Gujarat, where he was chief minister for three consecutive terms, as an example of what he can do for the country. Gujarat is now one of the richest states in India, although reports show the growth has not been equitable. Among Indians in the United States, too, his economic policies are winning him supporters. “He wants to bring India to the level of other Western countries,” says Barai. And second-generation Indians, usually perceived as less interested in Indian politics, have taken a huge leadership role in planning Modi’s reception and were just as excited for his win, Barai adds. “If you ask me what is the surprise, that is the surprise.” Rajan Sadagopan, an immigrant from the southern Indian city of Chennai and member of the Overseas Friends of the BJP, was also at the Fremont India Day parade. He spent his time there holding a life-size poster of the new prime minister in one hand and a sign that read “Modi: Vision of India” in the other. “Hundreds of people came and took photos [with the poster],” Sadagopan says, laughing, though he admits not everyone knew a lot about Modi or paid much attention to politics in India. “He’s seen as the only hope for India.” A capitalist ideal The economic promise of a Modi-led government is partly what helped soften his right-wing leanings and made him easier to accept for Indians in India as well as in the diaspora, says Vijay Prashad, author of “The Karma of Brown Folk” and “Uncle Swami: South Asians in America Today.” “In diaspora communities, there has always been a sense that if your country is strong, you in the diaspora are taken seriously,” he says. People think that “Modi is a strong man … There is a macho thing that is there.” Anisha Gade, a master’s candidate in urban planning at the University of California at Berkeley who is studying cultural, racial and ethnic diversity in Silicon Valley, says she wouldn’t be surprised if most Indians here are pleased that he is the prime minister. “I would say that just because of the socioeconomic status of most Indians in this country, especially in this part of the country,” she says. “Most Indians are quite well-to-do. [Modi] is very interested in a kind of cosmopolitan pursuit of one’s individual liberty or one’s freedom in that way. And so in that sense, I would say most people are on board with that message. Because it’s worked for them.” Anu Mandavilli, a first-generation immigrant who has been living in the United States for almost 15 years and is a co-founder of the Ghadar Alliance, agrees. “I would say the way we understand the Hindutva operation today, in 2014, would definitely be that it’s not just a cultural or political ideology,” she says. “There’s a particular sort of marriage of Hindutva as a political ideology with neoliberalism the economic ideology.” ‘Muslims can live in India … You can be Christian in India. But your culture is Hindu.’ Vijay Prashad author, ‘The Karma of Brown Folk’Who is Surt? What we know from myth, history, and inspiration Surt is the King of Fire in Norse mythology, the Lord of the Fire-Giants of the realm of Muspellheim. In the beginning, there was only the blackness of Ginnungagap, and then Surt appeared out of the blackness with his flaming sword and touched land, and it lit up and became the Realm of Fire. Eventually it drew close enough to Niflheim, the primal Realm of Ice, that itwarmed and melted the frozen earth, revealing Ymir the primal frost-giant and Audumhla the Great Cow. In this way, life was created from the meeting of fire and ice in Nordic mythos. Surt's children - the fire-giants - eventually met and intermarried with Ymir's children, and Surt's bloodlines show up in many younger fire-giants such as Farbauti and his son Loki. As such, Surt is the single oldest surviving being in the Nine Worlds. Acording to the primary sources, in the beginning, before there were any other living beings, there was Surt lighting the place up with his great sword - or possibly wand - of fire and light, Laevateinn. Surt himself will not discuss where he came from, or what brought him forth; in fact it's another of the questions that you shouldn't be foolish enough to ask. He does have a temper, and if it rages, you may be in for fire hazards in your life over the next several weeks. Surt is the godfather of Loki, and raised him as a son in childhood. He has said that he is Loki's godfather, and that Laufey came to Muspellheim to give birth to him, and that she lay in Surt's biggest fireplace to bring him forth. Surt has a close relationship with (and a great respect for) Loki's daughter Hela, with whom he is building the great Ship of Ragnarok, Naglfari, as a joint project; in spite of the fact that he is much older than her, he refers to her as "Her Ladyship", as many etins do. Surt is knowledgeable in the ways of all kinds of fires, and especially - although few speak to him of this - the kind of primal fire that stars are made of. In fact, his knowledge of suns and stars outside the Nine Worlds is enough to take one aback, and seriously wonder about his origins. It goes without saying that he knows a great deal about moving heat and energy. According to the Voluspa, if Ragnarok comes to pass, Surt and his children will rise up with the legions of Hela's dead mortals and attack the forces of Asgard. It is prophesied that should this happen, Surt will slay the god Frey, who gave up his sword for love and must defend himself only with a deer antler. Then much of the world will be consumed in flames, and Surt will rebirth it again.Remember the Pueblo? North Korea’s leaders surely do, as they wait to see when Americans’ humanitarian concern for two imprisoned reporters will overwhelm strategic policy considerations in Washington. After the capture of the U.S. Navy spy ship Pueblo off the North Korean port of Wonson on Jan. 21, 1968, Americans’ overriding interest proved to be the safety of the crew. President Lyndon B. Johnson told an aide that the U.S. would “do anything to get those men back — including meeting naked in the middle of the street at high noon, if that’s what it takes.” It took something almost as humiliating: an official written apology, issued even though U.S. data showed the ship had been in international waters when attacked. The North Koreans let the crew go — but they still keep the Pueblo. The ship serves them both as a trophy propaganda stop on the typical itinerary of tourists visiting Pyongyang and as a reminder, whenever needed, of how far Washington may be tempted to veer from principle if American citizens get caught up in foreign intrigue. Fast-forward to now. Just as the Obama administration starts to crank up harder-line measures in response to North Korea’s missile and nuclear test provocations, the two senators from California have called upon the president to send a special envoy to secure the release of their constituents Laura Ling and Euna Lee. A North Korean court last week sentenced the two reporters for San Francisco’s Current TV to 12 years hard labor for intruding illegally in order to film what the country’s official news agency termed a “slanderous” expose of the trafficking of women. What would a special envoy offer in return for the women’s release? Money is one thing that North Korea, with its wrecked economy, would likely demand. Should the U.S. pay? The United Nations Security Council has just agreed — following Washington’s leadership — to choke off sources of funding that could help Kim Jong Il develop his weapons of mass destruction, make North Korea even more threatening to its neighbors and proliferate weaponry and technology to U.S. foes in other parts of the world. Perhaps it is useful first to contemplate the extent to which the two journalists might have brought this situation on themselves. Did they ignore the predictable effects of their actions on larger U.S. interests and on other individuals — who, on their account, may have gotten into far worse trouble than they are in themselves? Consider, in other words, whether this was a case of reckless endangerment. Start with the fact that we are not hearing denials from the women’s family and supporters that they illegally intruded into North Korea, crossing a frozen border river. Rather, we’re hearing apologies for any inadvertent offense the two might have committed. Journalists’ groups, noting the harshness of the sentences, have appealed to the North Korean regime for clemency — I personally contributed to the language of one such appeal — but it’s doubtful that many in our trade who have followed the issue are convinced Ling and Lee are entirely in the right. Seeking and reporting the truth, however loathsome the reported truth shows the regime to be, is one thing. We must do it, and that has been the goal of a number of journalists including myself who have devoted much of our careers to reporting on North Korea. But it’s quite another matter if these two women gave Kim’s regime a new hold over their own country’s strategic policy-making for the sake of getting merely a better camera angle — or, more questionable still, just to be able to boast of their fearlessness. Further, assuming the North Korean authorities were able to use the women’s captured notes, their testimony and the contents of their camera and cell phones to identify opponents of the regime who had helped the reporters on the Chinese side of the river, those helpers could now be in grave peril from North Korean agents who are tasked with hunting them down. That’s the sort of thing conscientious journalists would not like to have on their consciences. We will hear protests that the two, besides being fearless, were simply naive. While that may be true of one of them, Lee, who reportedly was on her first overseas assignment, Ling, the Current TV vice president in charge of organizing coverage of dangerous places, should have had ample warning of the risks of sneaking into North Korea — risks not only to herself but to others. (Current TV had no comment for this story). In an eerie precedent now three years old, viewers including myself wondered how Ling’s own elder sister, celebrity journalist Lisa Ling, and a Nepalese medical mission she teamed up with could justify pretending she was a humanitarian aid worker so that she could sneak into the country and make a 2006 National Geographic documentary. In a review on the National Geographic documentary’s Amazon.com web page Aloysius O’Neill, a retired State Department official who worked on North Korean issues for large parts of his career, wrote of his concern for North Koreans whom Lisa Ling had duped and then in some cases filmed. “Even unwittingly contributing to a story that would be seen as criticizing the Kim cult of personality could have severe consequences for North Korean medical personnel and others who helped the visitors,” O’Neill wrote. “It would be reprehensible if National Geographic took chances with other people’s lives to get an eye-catching story.” Another reviewer, A.O. Sheepfielder of Chicago, raised a related issue: “Didn’t it occur to Lisa Ling and National Geographic that, by cloaking themselves in the mantle of humanitarian aid to film a forbidden documentary, they might severely jeopardize any future humanitarian efforts?” In the present case of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, there may well be good reason for former vice president Al Gore, one of the founders of Current TV, to go to Pyongyang in a private capacity and request their release — at high noon or any other time, clothed or unclothed. Twelve years is
pNIC server case is: Client1:1000 -> VM1:2000 = vmnic0 Client1:1001 -> VM1:2001 = vmnic1 Client1:1002 -> VM1:2002 = vmnic2 Client2:1000 -> VM1:2000 = vmnic3 Note: this is a very perfect scenario, in reality, it will likely be nothing close to this, however the law of averages will say this can of course occur in some environments. Cons Some extra complexity at the physical network layer, and messing around with active/passive LACP sides, and Ent+ licensing is required as this is a vDS feature. Honestly, if you were licensed for vDS and didn’t require VMs to have the possibility of having over 1 pNIC worth of bandwidth, then you would just use LBT mode. Conclusion In summary: If you’re licensed for vDS Use LBT, unless you have workloads that require more than 1 pNIC of bandwidth, then use LACP. If you don’t have vDS licensing If your network uses teaming/stacked switches, use IP-Hash (if you don’t mind the extra complexity). If your VMs have multiple vNIC s and you want to distribute them across pNICs use MAC Hash (on non-stacked switches). If you just have single vNIC s and non-stacked switches, Virtual Port ID it is. I hope this helped, any questions, drop me a line below! Why not follow @mylesagray on Twitter for more like this! Show some love: Reddit Twitter Pocket LinkedIn Email TelegramBy Stuart Taylor, Jr., American Media Institute MILWAUKEE (Legal Newsline) - Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. has accused District Attorney John Chisholm, a fellow Democrat, of "abuse of prosecutorial power" in the relentless criminal investigation of Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and 29 conservative groups. Clarke's forceful public criticism is of Chisholm and the so-called "John Doe" investigation that Chisholm has pursued since 2010 against Walker, his staff and virtually every conservative advocacy group in the state. Clarke, who has been sheriff since 2002 and is running for re-election on Tuesday as the Democratic nominee, has been elected and re-elected with heavy support both from fellow African-Americans and from conservatives. Clarke said that he agreed with a petition seeking appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Chisholm. The petition was filed on Sept. 26 by a major Chisholm target, conservative fundraiser Eric O'Keefe. While Clarke and Chisholm are both Democrats, the iconoclastic sheriff has often clashed with the more liberal Democrats who dominate Milwaukee politics, including Chisholm. "This will go down as one of the ugliest chapters in Wisconsin political history” Clarke told this reporter. "This is a witch-hunt by a hyper-partisan prosecutor's office … to go after political adversaries they disagree with.” Clarke said Chisholm has been evasive responding to whistleblower Michael Lutz's allegations that Chisholm had exuded improper personal and political bias against Walker in a private conversation in March 2011. Chisholm "didn't answer the questions," Clarke said, referring to an Oct. 8 letter in which Chisholm urged Milwaukee Chief Judge Jeffrey Kremers to reject O'Keefe's petition, which had relied heavily on the questions raised by Lutz's allegations. He said he had regarded Chisholm as a "standup guy" years ago when, as a police captain, Clarke worked with then-Assistant District Attorney Chisholm on gun cases. But as he learned about the nature of the Chisholm’s investigation of the Wisconsin Democratic Party's political rivals, Clarke said, "I was appalled by some of the stuff that had gone on in the John Doe investigation, and that image I had of Chisholm as a person of unquestioned integrity started unraveling." The investigation started in 2010 based on a report by then-Milwaukee County Executive Walker's staff that reported a minor theft from a charity fund. Soon, Clarke said, "It became, 'Let's see what we can find,' without any allegation. When you get prosecutors abusing their power, they can take out anyone. I'm a Democrat, but what if he says, 'Let's go get Clarke?’ They can ruin your life." Clarke stressed what he said had been politically motivated leaks by Chisholm's office of confidential information about the John Doe investigation to embarrass Republicans including Walker. "John said his office didn't originate the leaks," Clarke said." Who else would have leaked it? They're the only ones who had the information. I'm surprised as well that John Chisholm never displayed any concern or disgust that there were leaks coming out of… his own staff." Indeed, Clarke added, "You would think he'd shut the investigation down," it's so tainted. Chisholm and his lawyer, Samuel Leib, have not responded to an emailed request for comment. More generally, Clarke complained, while Chisholm was a good, tough prosecutor before becoming district attorney, he has since "turned more liberal" and soft on crime. "I don't recognize him," Clarke said. "He became ‘part of that revolving-door justice system that's had terrible effects on minority communities.’" Clarke described himself as a "conservative Democrat, strong on national defense, strong on safe streets. I believe the Constitution protects individuals not groups. I believe in limited government and I believe in the powers of the states." His calls for citizens to have guns for self-defense have made him something of a hero to many on the Republican right. After four years of investigation, Chisholm and his fellow prosecutors have ordered predawn raids by armed officers on the homes of conservative activists; seized their documents, computers and cell phones while their children were getting dressed for school; subpoenaed hundreds of thousands of documents from dozens of conservative groups; routinely obtained gag orders barring targets and witnesses from revealing what has been done to them; won a few minor convictions but failed to find evidence sufficient to charge Walker, indeed any prominent conservative, with any crime. The issue currently at the heart of the investigation is whether the collaboration of conservative issue-ad groups with Walker's campaign in a 2012 recall election violated Wisconsin's campaign finance laws against "illegal coordination," as Chisholm has suggested. Chisholm's conservative targets say that their conduct complied with Wisconsin law, was protected by the First Amendment and was indistinguishable from the conduct routinely engaged in by Democratic candidates, groups and unions. Both a state and a federal judge have ruled that none of the conduct under investigation appears to have been illegal. Those decisions are on appeal. Chisholm, who launched the probe of Walker in 2010 and has staffed it with own his assistants, has conducted it since last year in conjunction with Special Prosecutor Francis Schmitz, now the titular head of the investigation, and the state's Government Accountability Board. Chisholm's Oct. 8 letter stressed that Schmitz is not a Democrat and the GAB is required by law to be nonpartisan. Clarke's view that Chisholm was a good prosecutor who became "hyper-partisan" is strikingly similar to that of the whistleblower Lutz, the former Chisholm subordinate and decorated former police officer who has accused Chisholm of privately exuding strong personal and political bias against Walker. “I admired him greatly,” as a friend and a mentor, Lutz has told this reporter, explaining that he was very friendly with both John and Colleen Chisholm because her brother had been Lutz's police partner and best friend. But during the bitter partisan battle in the winter of 2011 over Walker's successful push to break the power of the state's public-sector unions, Lutz said, "it was surprising how almost hyper-partisan he became." During a private meeting in Walker's office in March 2011, according to Lutz, when he was serving as an unpaid "public interest special prosecutor," Chisholm ordered him to reject a request by Republican Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser that Lutz tape a pre-election video praising a Prosser decision that Lutz admired as good for police. Chisholm's reasons, as recalled by Lutz, were blatantly political: “He didn’t want Prosser to decide on” the inevitable legal challenge to Walker’s union-curbing legislation and he "wanted to stay as far away from these Republicans as he can.” Chisholm also said, according to Lutz, that his wife Colleen, a teachers union shop steward, had been so angry and upset by Walker's union-curbing as to be repeatedly moved to tears; that she had joined union demonstrations against Walker; and - most important - that Chisholm “felt it was his personal duty to stop Walker from treating people like this.” At the same time, Lutz added, many of Chisholm’s unionized staff acted “like an anti-Walker cabal,” with some posting blue fists as anti-Walker symbols on office walls. Lutz's reward "for telling the truth," he has said, was that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hunted him down; exposed him as this reporter's source despite his fear of retaliation and despite his prior role as a source for Journal Sentinel reporters; and dishonestly smeared him as a dangerous drunk with a troubled past. In particular, the newspaper has repeatedly accused Lutz of making a drunken "death threat" in 2013 against Chisholm and his family. This despite the facts that Chisholm himself has never claimed publicly that Lutz threatened him; that Lutz has dismissed the "death threat" allegation as a gross distortion of an angry but well-intentioned phone message intended to prevent a suicide; and that the much-decorated former cop, who earned a law degree after being disabled by a gunshot wound, has many admirers in the police department. Clarke, under whom Lutz worked years ago when Clarke was a Milwaukee police captain, described him on Tuesday as "respected by peers as an active officer" who was "committed to public safety." Clarke added that "the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, having a dog in this fight, went in typical fashion to smear Lutz's reputation." He called the newspaper "a wholly-owned subsidiary and a propaganda machine for the Democratic Party in Milwaukee." Partisan bias, Clarke implied, may also explain why the Journal Sentinel appears determined to obscure that Chisholm has never specifically denied any of Lutz's allegations about their March 2011 meeting. Chisholm's most recent non-denials came in his nine-page Oct. 8 letter to Judge Jeffrey Kremers, which was made public on Oct. 25. It rejected in detail various allegations by O'Keefe and his lawyers of criminal abuses of prosecutorial power - without mentioning Lutz or his allegations. Rather, in apparent allusions to O'Keefe's heavy reliance on those allegations, Chisholm wrote: "Supposed 'new' information is now offered in the form of statements by persons who have no personal knowledge of which they speak… "Plain and simple, words like 'Act 10' or 'union' and phrases like'stop Walker' have never been uttered by me or anyone else in the course of any investigation. "Those who know my wife know she is not inclined to tears or emotional distress. She is a strong woman with political views of her own, views that play no role in any decision I make as prosecutor." While many readers might infer that Chisholm's letter contradicted Lutz's allegations, in fact, as Clarke noted, it was carefully drafted to avoid denying a single one of them. Chisholm's statement that his wife "is not inclined to tears" did not deny that he told Lutz that she was repeatedly moved to tears by Walker's Act 10. Nor did Chisholm deny, or even mention, his wife's alleged "hate for the gov.," her alleged role in union demonstrations against Walker, or even her role as a teachers union shop steward. Still more striking is Chisholm's use of the phrase "in the course of any investigation" to qualify his assertion that he had never said anything like "stop Walker." Because Chisholm's alleged private comments to Lutz were clearly not made "in the course of any investigation," Chisholm's letter did not deny them. This omission is consistent with the DA's previous non-denials. When this reporter sought comment in a Sept. 5 email about Lutz's allegations, the only response came from Samuel Leib, Chisholm’s personal lawyer. He called them a “baseless character assault” that “is inaccurate in a number of critical ways," adding that “John Chisholm’s integrity is beyond reproach." Leib provided no specifics. He also ignored this reporter's follow-up email the same day requesting that he "identify specifically each of the 'number of ways' in which you contend the passage that I sent you is inaccurate." Chisholm and Leib have also ignored an Oct. 3 email from this reporter containing 37 questions about Lutz's allegations. The closest that Chisholm appears to have come to denying Lutz's specific allegations may have been on Sept. 10, when Jason Stein of the Milwaukee Sentinel reported that "in a brief interview, Chisholm denied making those comments." But the article did not disclose what Chisholm had been asked, by whom, what had been his response, and which (if any) "comments" he specifically denied making. So far as the public record discloses, the newspaper has never pressed Chisholm for a more specific response to Lutz's allegations. Nor is there any public-record evidence that the Journal Sentinel has ever pressed Chisholm for access to the recording of the 2013 phone message in which - the newspaper has repeatedly claimed, based on a vague allegation by Leib - Lutz made a "death threat" against Chisholm and his family. Neither Chisholm nor the Journal Sentinel has ever suggested a motive for Lutz to lie. He says that his motive has been to protect the freedom of speech - including his own First Amendment right to speak out in favor of Justice Prosser - by telling the truth about the political agenda driving Chisholm. “I don’t like what Chisholm has done," Lutz told this reporter, "in regard to political speech that he disagrees with." Sheriff Clarke doesn't like it either. And when he heard Lutz detailing his allegations of prosecutorial bias in recent radio interviews, "I asked myself, 'What's in it for Mike Lutz to do this? He did it anonymously.' I don't see Mike having any agenda here.">>> The Memory Hole has obtained 9/11 documents previously withheld by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. These transcripts of phone calls and radio transmissions, and copies of police reports, were finally released under a federal order resulting from a lawsuit brought by the New York Times. The Times originally sought the actual recordings but eventually settled for transcripts. After the documents had been released to the media, a spokesperson for the Port Authority told The Memory Hole that it would not be able to get this material. "We're screening pretty carefully," she said on the phone, adding that the only way we'd see these documents would be to get our hands on a set already released to a media outlet. She also said, without prompting, that the Port Authority will never put these public documents online. After invoking the Port Authority's freedom of information policy, we were able to get the material, but only after paying $500 (a ridiculous 25 cents per page). Thanks to the generosity of contributors, we were able to cough up the money. For more background, check out this CNN article: Frantic conversations between trapped people and authorities during the moments before the World Trade Center towers collapsed on September 11, 2001, are revealed in transcripts of radio and telephone transmissions and in handwritten notes that were released Thursday.... The transcripts were released by the agency that built and ran security at the World Trade Center -- the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. A good portion of the documents are from handwritten and typed notes of Port Authority police and civilian employees recounting afterward what had happened.... The rest of the documents are transcriptions of conversations over nearly 100 telephone lines and civilian radio channels.... The documents were released after a ruling from Judge Sybil R. Moses as a result of a lawsuit filed by the New York Times seeking access to the 2,000 pages of documents.Marketing plan is an essential component of a business plan. It is really important that the marketing plan be followed exactly as it is designed. The success of any business is strongly dependent on its marketing efforts because no matter how much efficient it is in operations, finance, research and development; if the business is unable to entice the target market towards it offerings, then there is no point in running the organization. “The purpose of writing a marketing plan is to present an overall marketing objective and in depth strategies for achieving the underlined goals.” Outline Development of Your Marketing Plan Following are the general elements that constitute a basic marketing plan: Executive Summary Mission of the Company Marketing Objectives Situational Analysis Market Segmentation Market Strategies Short and Long Term Projections Expand Your Outline to Meet Desired Sales Objectives Executive summary is a quick overview of what is the entire market plan about. Although,it makes the first section for a marketing plan but usually written at end. Mission explains the purpose of existence of the business. Marketing objectives are defined on the basis of company’s resources and the environment in which it operates; and are in streamline with the ultimate goals of the company. Situational analysis comprises of SWOT analysis and PESTEL analysis. SWOT stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and is an examination of the internal environment of the company. On the other hand, PESTEL, which stands for political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal issues analyses the external business environment. In the section of marketing segmentation, target market is identified in terms of social, psychological and demographic variables. Marketing strategies are composed of 4 P’s (also known as marketing mix) which explain how the four variables of product, price, placement and promotion will help in attaining the marketing objectives. Lastly, short and long term projections focus on sales forecast and break even analysis. Objectives of a Marketing Plan As a component of the yearly planning process associated with the marketing department. Required for an introduction of a new product, service or as such in new product planning, entering new markets, or trying a new strategy to fix an existing problem. Is a part of an overall business plan, such as a new business proposal. Best Strategies Explained Marketers cringe when they are asked to come up with an effective marketing plan. However, there are a few guidelines that will make the crafting of a marketing plan a joyful experience.A European-based company is building a multisport mecca in Boulder with the goal of creating a workforce made up of triathletes. A European-based company is building a multisport mecca in Boulder with the goal of creating a workforce made up of triathletes. Hybris Software, an e-commerce company headquartered in Munich, Germany, has experienced immense growth since its inception 1997. With that success has come the need to constantly hire new talent, and in the highly competitive field of software engineering that is no easy task. Hiring top software engineers against Silicon Valley-based companies like Cisco and Oracle is strenuous—and very expensive. In an innovative move, Hybris is going after software engineers who also happen to be endurance athletes and hoping to attract them with something no other company can offer: the ideal environment for training for triathlons. The brand-new Boulder, Colo., office will be equipped with gym equipment including a room of Computrainers and an endless pool, a full-time massage therapist and a kitchen designed for an athlete’s needs (such as a blender to prepare a smoothie). Perhaps the most important perk of this setup is the commitment to giving employees a flexible work schedule to train as they need. The idea came from the company’s VP of R&D, Marc Graveline. Graveline discovered the sport four years ago when he was looking for a way to get healthy and lose weight. He’s experienced success in the sport (he won his age group at 70.3 Muskoka in 2012 and has qualified for 70.3 worlds twice) and believes that a work setup that encourages participation in triathlon is priceless for all parties involved. “We were looking for innovative ways to make us the most attractive employer out there for software engineers,” Graveline says. “I’m a triathlete. I get the difficulty of training and working and finding the balance. I probably spend more time trying to get to a pool than in a pool.” After consulting with a few others, including professional triathlete Jordan Rapp, Graveline brought the concept to the head of the company. “I presented the idea to our president and he jumped on it,” he explains. “He loved it. I started doing the research, figured out the cost and found it’s very reasonable. The cost of setting up a gym is not much more than buying nice desks and chairs. In return you get a bunch of hard-working triathletes who are rarely sick. They’re probably thinking a lot about their work while they’re training.” The appeal of hiring a triathlete, someone who is likely naturally driven, a team player and goal-oriented, makes it a win-win situation in the eyes of Graveline. “Triathletes are driven and hard-working people,” he says. “Even though it’s an individual sport, most people enjoy training together and being with other triathletes. I don’t know anyone who says no to group rides. We are more social than people give us credit for. I think triathletes would make perfect employees.” So, how come more companies aren’t doing this? One big argument against is the cost of the high-end equipment and the space required in a place where real estate is not cheap. “If you look at the cost of recruiting, it’s a fortune,” Graveline says. “If you can save on a couple of ads and put that money toward equipment and get the word of mouth to bring people in, it will be no more expensive. We believe people through word of mouth are going to be more attractive candidates than we could ever get through recruiting. There are companies that charge 15 percent of a person’s salary. Hiring people is very expensive. We’re taking that money and putting it toward what people want. It doesn’t have to be that expensive. Group rides cost nothing and they’re worth the most. The teamwork and bonding of athletes together is priceless.” Ready to apply? Hybris is not limiting this opportunity to athletes based in Boulder. They’re hoping the promise of a fitness-friendly workplace will attract software engineers from around the world and will be holding interviews across the United States. The opportunities also aren’t limited to triathletes. If you’re a software engineer who loves to swim, bike, run, exercise in general or would just like to call Boulder home, you’re welcome to apply. Learn more about the concept and job opportunities at Endurancecrew.hybris.com. RELATED: Triathlete’s Best Places To WorkDoes WikiLeaks put soldiers in danger? By Abha Bhattarai \| October 22, 2010; 1:01 PM ET \| Category: National Save & Share: Previous: Should for-profit schools be eligible for federal aid? \| Next: Will NPR's decision to fire Juan Williams affect your decision to donate? Posted by: Maddogg \| October 22, 2010 9:10 PM Posted by: pragmatic7 \| October 22, 2010 9:52 PM Posted by: mil1 \| October 22, 2010 10:05 PM Posted by: Nymous \| October 23, 2010 3:08 AM Posted by: familynet \| October 23, 2010 4:04 AM Posted by: vaders1 \| October 23, 2010 4:32 AM Posted by: DwightCollins \| October 23, 2010 7:56 AM Posted by: OttoDog \| October 23, 2010 8:31 AM Posted by: realtimer \| October 23, 2010 9:34 AM Posted by: barbnc \| October 23, 2010 10:00 AM Posted by: Saenger1 \| October 23, 2010 10:05 AM Posted by: HOTSPATAR \| October 23, 2010 12:53 PM Posted by: JKGordon \| October 23, 2010 1:31 PM Posted by: riburr \| October 23, 2010 2:12 PM Posted by: GordonShumway \| October 23, 2010 7:50 PM Posted by: rgw1946 \| October 23, 2010 11:21 PM Posted by: blasmaic \| October 25, 2010 12:02 AM Posted by: Keesvan \| October 25, 2010 12:29 AM Posted by: robert17 \| October 25, 2010 1:36 AM Posted by: Jerusalimight \| October 25, 2010 3:51 AM Posted by: clause-michelle \| October 25, 2010 5:44 AM Posted by: blackmask \| October 25, 2010 8:22 AM Posted by: solsticebelle \| October 25, 2010 11:28 AM Posted by: dozas \| October 25, 2010 11:37 AM Posted by: pgibson1 \| October 25, 2010 11:53 AM Posted by: rbaldwin2 \| October 25, 2010 12:20 PM Posted by: ZZim \| October 25, 2010 1:07 PM Posted by: ZeZa1 \| October 25, 2010 2:46 PM Posted by: patrickw9 \| October 25, 2010 6:47 PM Posted by: InReasonWeTrust1 \| October 25, 2010 11:01 PM The comments to this entry are closed.U.S. aid comes with strings attached Published Jan 20, 2010 8:38 PM How much is $100 million in U.S. aid to Haiti really worth? $100 million is less than what the U.S. spends in five hours on the wars and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq. The $100 million President Barack Obama promised in emergency aid to Haiti for earthquake relief sounds like a lot of money. But it is a tiny amount when compared to what the rulers of France and the United States stole from Haiti and its people over centuries. The U.S. imposed 60 years of sanctions and blockade on Haiti after the victory of the first successful slave revolution in history. This blockade impoverished Haiti. France demanded in 1825, with warships in the harbor, that Haiti repay French slave owners $21 billion for the value of the enslaved Africans who were liberated. Haiti was forced to pay interest on this debt for more than 100 years. U.S.-supported dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier diverted $500 million in U.S. loans into his personal bank accounts in just the last six years before he fled the country. But the Haitian people still had to repay all the Duvalier loans. Billions of dollars in debt, Haiti was forced to accept an International Monetary Fund structural adjustment program that promised “debt forgiveness.” This IMF program destroyed Haiti’s sustainable agriculture, bankrupted its cash crops of rice and sugar, raised the price of electricity, and froze pay on public transit, infrastructure and vital social service providers such as doctors, nurses and teachers. Haiti’s debt to the Inter-American Development Bank was not “forgiven.” It is more than $500 million — five times the amount of U.S. aid pledged for earthquake relief. It is always important to remember that whatever U.S. imperialism gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. The IMF announced on Jan. 14, the same day that President Obama promised $100 million in aid, that it would be adding a $100 million loan to its current program in Haiti. This only leaves Haiti further in debt. $100 million is just 7 percent of the $1.4 billion that Haitian workers in the Diaspora send home to their families every year. Half of the population of Haiti lives on less than $1 a day. Yet this U.S. aid and U.S. loan will force even more Haitians to immigrate to find work for their families’ survival. The people of Haiti are owed reparations from the U.S. and French banks, which have extracted billions of dollars in profits from Haiti for hundreds of years. $100 million is far less than 1 percent of the $18 billion that Goldman Sachs executives will receive in bonuses this year, after a $700 billion U.S. government bailout of the banks. And $100 million in U.S. aid to Haiti comes with a high price tag: U.S. military occupation.NASA's industry partners continue to complete development milestones under agreements with the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The work performed by Blue Origin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corporation and SpaceX during partnership and contract initiatives are leading a new generation of safe, reliable and cost-effective crew space transportation systems to low-Earth orbit destinations. Blue Origin conducted an interim design review of the subsystems in development for its Space Vehicle spacecraft designed to carry people into low-Earth orbit. The September review was performed under an unfunded Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) agreement with NASA. In October, NASA and Blue Origin agreed to add three additional unfunded milestones to the agreement to continue the development work and partnership. Those milestones will include further testing of Blue Origin’s propellant tank, BE-3 engine and pusher escape system. “The team at Blue Origin has made tremendous progress in its design, and we’re excited to extend our partnership to 2016,” said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. “It’s important to keep a pulse on the commercial human spaceflight industry as a whole, and this partnership is a shining example of what works well for both industry and the government.” Boeing successfully closed out its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement with NASA, which significantly matured the company’s crew transportation system, including the CST-100 spacecraft and Atlas V rocket. Meanwhile, both Boeing and SpaceX began work on the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts the agency awarded them Sept. 16 to develop systems to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station while the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) considers the GAO bid protest filed by Sierra Nevada Corporation. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) continued to perform incremental tests of its reaction control system as it prepares for a CCiCap milestone review for NASA that details the system, which would help maneuver the Dream Chaser spacecraft in space. SNC also is preparing for the CCiCap free-flight milestone test of its Dream Chaser test vehicle at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. SpaceX held several CCiCap meetings with NASA, including one in August that covered the company’s launch and mission operations plans and the associated ground systems at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. The company also held a series of technical interchange sessions with the agency’s spaceflight experts to discuss the intricacies of the progress, testing and plans associated with the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Falcon 9 v 1.1 rocket. "Our partners’ detailed progress on launch and spaceflight capabilities expands domestic access to space and does so in a unique and revolutionary manner," said Lueders. "Their success is a critical part of NASA’s integrated approach to advance the frontier of exploration." NASA's goal for the Commercial Crew Program is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. With the new CCtCap contracts announced Sept. 16, NASA’s goal is to certify crew transportation systems in 2017 that will return the ability to launch astronauts from American soil to the International Space Station. For more information about NASA's Commercial Crew Program, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew -end-This article is about the article of clothing. For other uses, see Baldrick (disambiguation) U.S Army band baldric A cavalryman wearing a mail shirt with a baldric over his right shoulder. A baldric (also baldrick, bawdrick, bauldrick as well as other rare or obsolete variations) is a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon (usually a sword) or other implement such as a bugle or drum.[1][2] The word may also refer to any belt in general, but this usage is poetic or archaic. History [ edit ] Baldrics have been used since ancient times, usually as part of military dress. The early Islamic Arabs wore baldrics with their armor. The design offers more support for weight than a standard waist belt, without restricting movement of the arms, and while allowing easy access to the object carried. For example, the late 18th-century British Army's distinctive "Red coat" uniform pattern featured a pair of white baldrics crossed at the chest, with a soldier's bayonet sheath suspended from one and his canteen suspended from the other. Alternatively, and especially in modern times, the baldric may fill a ceremonial role rather than a practical one. Roman balteus [ edit ] During ancient Roman times the balteus (plural baltei) was a type of baldric commonly used to suspend a sword. It was a belt generally worn over the shoulder, passing obliquely down to the side, typically made of leather, often ornamented with precious stones, metals or both.[3] There was also a similar belt worn by the Romans, particularly by soldiers, called a cintus (pl. cinti) that fastened around the waist. The word accintus meaning a soldier (literally, "girt" as for battle) attests to this differing usage. Today [ edit ] Many non-military or paramilitary organisations include baldrics as part of ceremonial dress. The Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Colour Corps uses a baldric as part of their uniform;[4][5] it supports a ceremonial sword. The Marching Illini Drumline with double baldrics The University of Illinois Marching Illini wore two baldrics as a part of their uniform until 2009, with one over each shoulder. They crossed in the front and back and were buttoned onto the jacket beneath a cape and epaulets. Today, the current Marching Illini wears one baldric with two sides: ILLINI is on one side and the traditional orange and white baldric from the previous uniform. A crossed pair of baldrics is often worn as part of uniform of Morris dance sides; different colours of baldric help to distinguish different sides. In literature and culture [ edit ] The baldric appears in the literary canon. Britomart, in Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene, clothes herself in a borrowed armour "with brave bauldrick garnished" before embarking on her quest (Book III, canto iii). Benedick, from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, says "But that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead or hang my bugle in an invisible baldric all women shall pardon me." A baldric features prominently in Chapter 4 of Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers. The yeoman in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is described as wearing a "baldrick of bright green." The baldric of Pallas plays a key part in the Aeneid, leading Aeneas to kill Turnus. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Boromir is described: "On a baldric he wore a great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees." In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain returns from his battle with the Green Knight wearing the green girdle "obliquely, like a baldric, bound at his side,/ below his left shoulder, laced in a knot, in betokening the blame he had borne for his fault." Some Klingons wear baldrics in Star Trek, such as Kor, Koloth, Kang or Worf although sometimes they are referred to as a sash. The character Worf does so in almost every one of his appearances through two series and four films. In The Next Generation episode "Conundrum", Worf, due to amnesia, mistakenly believes that the baldric indicates his rank or authority, so he briefly assumes command of the Enterprise. Baldrick is a character in the BBC comedy series Blackadder played by Tony Robinson. A baldrick is also mentioned in the epic poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson; The Lady of Shallot; in the tenth stanza: 'And from his blazon'd baldric slung, A mighty silver bugle hung' See also [ edit ]The first episode ofhas been confirmed to air on July 13. According to an exclusive scoop by Sports Donga, the broadcast date has been confirmed but they're still deciding on the time slot. The staff members are deciding whether to air it after 'I Can Hear Your Voice 4' or at a later time around 11 pm KST. 'Idol School' will take place at English Village in Paju. The location was most recently used for 'Produce 101'. The students of the show will go through 11-week training and the top students will be debuting in a girl group after graduation.� Numerous celebrities have been confirmed to make appearances on the show such as Super Junior's Heechul and veteran actor Lee Soon Jae as teachers and much more. Are you looking forward to the new program?On Tuesday an Indonesian official apologized for proposing virginity tests for high school girls, prohibiting graduation should they “fail” the test. According to local media, Habib Isa Mahdi — a city council member of Jember, East Java — said virginity tests were installed as part of “good conduct” legislation, addressing the alarmingly high rate of HIV infections among high schoolers, with students making up 10 percent of those infected. Mahdi also cited Indonesia’s “emergency situation against pornography” as another motivator for this new legislation. Another lawmaker, Mufti Ali, from the National Awakening Party, told local news that he wanted to apply this regulation to the
a senator. She attended all but one of the 39 meetings she was eligible to attend during that period. Gluskin Sheff has not responded to a question about when and where the meetings took place. Wallin is also on the board for Porter Airlines, which, as a privately held company, is not required to publish compensation given to its directors. However, in 2010, Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. prepared a prospectus in advance of an anticipated initial public offering and disclosed that Wallin was expected to earn more than $20,000 in fees that year. Between June 28, 2007 and Dec. 20, 2011, Wallin was on the board of directors and governance and nominating committee for Oilsands Quest, Inc., a Calgary-based exploration company that has since gone bankrupt and sold its assets to Cenovus Energy, Inc. Company documents show she earned nearly $648,000 in cash and offered option awards from Oilsands Quest during the period coinciding with her time as a senator. From Mar. 6, 2007 to Mar. 31, 2011, Wallin was chancellor at the University of Guelph, where she did not receive a salary but was reimbursed about $24,600 in travel and hospitality expenses for related events, which mainly included attending three sets of convocation ceremonies per year. Since September 2010, Wallin’s disclosure summaries have also listed her as being either a member or on the advisory board for the Ideas Council, which her latest report says pays her an unspecified honorarium over $2,000. The Star could find no record of the Ideas Council — it is neither registered as a business with Industry Canada nor as charity with the Canada Revenue Agency and it could not be located online or in media archives — and Wallin did not provide more information when asked about it in an email Wednesday. Wallin has also been president and member of the board for Prime Media Group, described in a 2009 disclosure summary as “a personal services company and investment holding company.” She was also on the board of directors for CTV Globemedia, Inc., which Bell bought in 2011, and Jade Tower, Inc., a wireless infrastructure start-up since renamed SBA Canada following a majority investment by SBA Communications Corp. of Boca Raton, Fla., in 2009. Details about any compensation Wallin received for these roles were not available. Wallin is slated to earn $135,200 in basic Senate salary this year.STEREOISOMERISM - GEOMETRIC ISOMERISM Geometric isomerism (also known as cis-trans isomerism or E-Z isomerism) is a form of stereoisomerism. This page explains what stereoisomers are and how you recognise the possibility of geometric isomers in a molecule. Further down the page, you will find a link to a second page which describes the E-Z notation for naming geometric isomers. You shouldn't move on to that page (even if the E-Z notation is what your syllabus is asking for) until you are really confident about how geometric isomers arise and how they are named on the cis-trans system. The E-Z system is better for naming more complicated structures but is more difficult to understand than cis-trans. The cis-trans system of naming is still widely used - especially for the sort of simple molecules you will meet at this level. That means that irrespective of what your syllabus might say, you will have to be familiar with both systems. Get the easier one sorted out before you go on to the more sophisticated one! What is stereoisomerism? What are isomers? Isomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula, but have a different arrangement of the atoms in space. That excludes any different arrangements which are simply due to the molecule rotating as a whole, or rotating about particular bonds. Where the atoms making up the various isomers are joined up in a different order, this is known as structural isomerism. Structural isomerism is not a form of stereoisomerism, and is dealt with on a separate page. Note: If you aren't sure about structural isomerism, it might be worth reading about it before you go on with this page. What are stereoisomers? In stereoisomerism, the atoms making up the isomers are joined up in the same order, but still manage to have a different spatial arrangement. Geometric isomerism is one form of stereoisomerism. Geometric (cis / trans) isomerism How geometric isomers arise These isomers occur where you have restricted rotation somewhere in a molecule. At an introductory level in organic chemistry, examples usually just involve the carbon-carbon double bond - and that's what this page will concentrate on. Think about what happens in molecules where there is unrestricted rotation about carbon bonds - in other words where the carbon-carbon bonds are all single. The next diagram shows two possible configurations of 1,2-dichloroethane. These two models represent exactly the same molecule. You can get from one to the other just by twisting around the carbon-carbon single bond. These molecules are not isomers. If you draw a structural formula instead of using models, you have to bear in mind the possibility of this free rotation about single bonds. You must accept that these two structures represent the same molecule: But what happens if you have a carbon-carbon double bond - as in 1,2-dichloroeth ene? These two molecules aren't the same. The carbon-carbon double bond won't rotate and so you would have to take the models to pieces in order to convert one structure into the other one. That is a simple test for isomers. If you have to take a model to pieces to convert it into another one, then you've got isomers. If you merely have to twist it a bit, then you haven't! Note: In the model, the reason that you can't rotate a carbon-carbon double bond is that there are two links joining the carbons together. In reality, the reason is that you would have to break the pi bond. Pi bonds are formed by the sideways overlap between p orbitals. If you tried to rotate the carbon-carbon bond, the p orbitals won't line up any more and so the pi bond is disrupted. This costs energy and only happens if the compound is heated strongly. If you are interested in the bonding in carbon-carbon double bonds, follow this link. Be warned, though, that you might have to read several pages of background material and it could all take a long time. It isn't necessary for understanding the rest of this page. Drawing structural formulae for the last pair of models gives two possible isomers. In one, the two chlorine atoms are locked on opposite sides of the double bond. This is known as the trans isomer. (trans : from latin meaning "across" - as in transatlantic). In the other, the two chlorine atoms are locked on the same side of the double bond. This is know as the cis isomer. (cis : from latin meaning "on this side") The most likely example of geometric isomerism you will meet at an introductory level is but-2-ene. In one case, the CH 3 groups are on opposite sides of the double bond, and in the other case they are on the same side. The importance of drawing geometric isomers properly It's very easy to miss geometric isomers in exams if you take short-cuts in drawing the structural formulae. For example, it is very tempting to draw but-2-ene as CH 3 CH=CHCH 3 If you write it like this, you will almost certainly miss the fact that there are geometric isomers. If there is even the slightest hint in a question that isomers might be involved, always draw compounds containing carbon-carbon double bonds showing the correct bond angles (120°) around the carbon atoms at the ends of the bond. In other words, use the format shown in the last diagrams above. How to recognise the possibility of geometric isomerism You obviously need to have restricted rotation somewhere in the molecule. Compounds containing a carbon-carbon double bond have this restricted rotation. (Other sorts of compounds may have restricted rotation as well, but we are concentrating on the case you are most likely to meet when you first come across geometric isomers.) If you have a carbon-carbon double bond, you need to think carefully about the possibility of geometric isomers. What needs to be attached to the carbon-carbon double bond? Note: This is much easier to understand if you have actually got some models to play with. If your school or college hasn't given you the opportunity to play around with molecular models in the early stages of your organic chemistry course, you might consider getting hold of a cheap set. The models made by Molymod are both cheap and easy to use. An introductory organic set is more than adequate. Google molymod to find a supplier and more about them, or have a look at this set or something similar from Amazon. Share the cost with some friends, keep it in good condition and don't lose any bits, and resell it via eBay or Amazon at the end of your course. Alternatively, get hold of some coloured Plasticene (or other children's modelling clay) and some used matches and make your own. It's cheaper, but more difficult to get the bond angles right. Think about this case: Although we've swapped the right-hand groups around, these are still the same molecule. To get from one to the other, all you would have to do is to turn the whole model over. You won't have geometric isomers if there are two groups the same on one end of the bond - in this case, the two pink groups on the left-hand end. So... there must be two different groups on the left-hand carbon and two different groups on the right-hand one. The cases we've been exploring earlier are like this: But you could make things even more different and still have geometric isomers: Here, the blue and green groups are either on the same side of the bond or the opposite side. Or you could go the whole hog and make everything different. You still get geometric isomers, but by now the words cis and trans are meaningless. This is where the more sophisticated E-Z notation comes in. Summary To get geometric isomers you must have: restricted rotation (often involving a carbon-carbon double bond for introductory purposes); two different groups on the left-hand end of the bond and two different groups on the right-hand end. It doesn't matter whether the left-hand groups are the same as the right-hand ones or not. Note: The rest of this page looks at how geometric isomerism affects the melting and boiling points of compounds. If you are meeting geometric isomerism for the first time, you may not need this at the moment. If you need to know about E-Z notation, you could follow this link at once to the next page. (But be sure that you understand what you have already read on this page first!) Alternatively, read to the bottom of this page where you will find this link repeated. The effect of geometric isomerism on physical properties The table shows the melting point and boiling point of the cis and trans isomers of 1,2-dichloroethene. isomer melting point (°C) boiling point (°C) cis -80 60 trans -50 48 In each case, the higher melting or boiling point is shown in red. You will notice that: the trans isomer has the higher melting point; the cis isomer has the higher boiling point. This is common. You can see the same effect with the cis and trans isomers of but-2-ene: isomer melting point (°C) boiling point (°C) cis-but-2-ene -139 4 trans-but-2-ene -106 1 Why is the boiling point of the cis isomers higher? There must be stronger intermolecular forces between the molecules of the cis isomers than between trans isomers. Taking 1,2-dichloroethene as an example: Both of the isomers have exactly the same atoms joined up in exactly the same order. That means that the van der Waals dispersion forces between the molecules will be identical in both cases. The difference between the two is that the cis isomer is a polar molecule whereas the trans isomer is non-polar. Note: If you aren't sure about intermolecular forces (and also about bond polarity), it is essential that you follow this link before you go on. You need to know about van der Waals dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions, and to follow the link on that page to another about bond polarity if you need to. Use the BACK button on your browser to return to this page. Both molecules contain polar chlorine-carbon bonds, but in the cis isomer they are both on the same side of the molecule. That means that one side of the molecule will have a slight negative charge while the other is slightly positive. The molecule is therefore polar. Because of this, there will be dipole-dipole interactions as well as dispersion forces - needing extra energy to break. That will raise the boiling point. A similar thing happens where there are CH 3 groups attached to the carbon-carbon double bond, as in cis-but-2-ene. Alkyl groups like methyl groups tend to "push" electrons away from themselves. You again get a polar molecule, although with a reversed polarity from the first example. Note: The term "electron pushing" is only to help remember what happens. The alkyl group doesn't literally "push" the electrons away - the other end of the bond attracts them more strongly. The arrows with the cross on (representing the more positive end of the bond) are a conventional way of showing this electron pushing effect.This is a new low, even for CNN. Following a terrorist attack that has left at least 13 people dead and 50 injured in Barcelona after a van, allegedly driven by a man carrying a Moroccan passport, plowed through crowded streets (see our coverage here), CNN's Wolf Blitzer actually suggested on air that the attacker may be a "copycat" looking to recreate the Charlottesville tragedy. “There will be questions about copycats. Questions, if what happened in Barcelona, was at all, at all, a copycat version of what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia,” Blitzer said. “Even though they may be different characters and different political ambitions, they use the same killing device. A vehicle going at high speed a group, a large group, of pedestrians.” And, lest you think the quote must be taken out of context because surely no one could be so outrageous...here is the video clip courtesy of the Daily Caller: Sure, Wolf...because Charlottesville was the first time anyone has used a vehicle in recent history to intentionally kill people...well, if you ignore identical attacks carried out by Muslim extremists in London, France and Germany that killed over a hundred people in just the past couple of months. Of course, we're sure that no one will call out CNN and/or Blitzer for drawing this completely fabricated comparison.By Here’s a flowchart that will help you identify the best solution to a performance problem, whether it’s a job aid, a workflow improvement, training, or something else. It’s based on action mapping, my streamlined approach to instructional design. First, download the flowchart. It’s available as a PDF in pretty and plain versions. Pretty A4 Pretty US letter Plain version (the one shown in the video) Then consider watching the following 8-minute video, which walks you through a short discussion with a client, showing you how some quick questions can save you days of unnecessary training development. Blurry? Click the little gear and choose HD. Not allowed to watch YouTube? Here’s the video on Vimeo. What happens after the video? So far, thanks to our questions, the client has identified ways to: Make important reference information always up to date and available at the point of need Make the rules for flagging easy to scan and apply at the point of need These are permanent workflow improvements that avoid the need for training. At this point, the only training we’re going to develop is a very compact activity on identifying last names. It could probably be posted on the intranet with a link sent to everyone through email. If we hadn’t used the flowchart and had simply obeyed our client’s request for training, we’d spend a lot more time developing something a lot less useful. We’d probably create an online course that starts with “Welcome to the course on completing TPS records.” We’d list objectives like, “At the completion of this course, you will be able to enter the correct XR code…” We’d probably “motivate” the learners by talking about the importance of completing the record properly and describing the costs of having our records rejected. Then we’d tell people what they already know — that they have to log in to the annoying server to see the XR codes. We’d probably walk them through it “to make sure everyone knows how” and lecture them on the importance of using the updated sheet. To “teach” the rules for flagging records, we’d probably display a chart of rules, give some examples, and then quiz the learners on whether they can remember the information that they saw five seconds ago and which they will forget by tomorrow if not later today. Finally, we’d include a little activity to help them practice identifying last names. Within a month, we’d discover that people are still printing out the XR code sheet and failing to flag records properly. Instead, just by asking some questions, we’ve helped the client identify permanent improvements, and we’ve freed up enough time to do a good job on the little name activity. The time that we don’t spend on creating unnecessary training becomes time we can invest on designing much higher quality activities. What do you think? What did I miss?ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - At a seminar in Erbil the American-Kurdistan Friendship Association (AKFA) Wednesday assembled experts in a bid to search for answers to economic challenges the Kurdistan Region faces amid a war against the Islamic State (IS) and budget cuts from the federal government in Baghdad. The seminar AKFA organized at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) included speakers UKH Dean of School of Social Sciences Dr. Anwar Anaid, Senior Economic Advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government James Park, and Commercial Officer at the Consulate General of the United States in Erbil Sharyn Fitzgerald. In his opening remarks, Dr. Anaid explained what key political and security factors lie beneath the current financial crisis and ensuing economic problems Kurdistan Region is going through. Those include a sharp decline in global oil prices in 2014, an unexpected Islamic State (IS) assault the same year, the ensuing increase in the number of refugees and IDPs from Iraq and Syria, and the federal Iraqi government's cut of 17 percent budget share in response to independent Kurdish oil exports. The IS attack, particularly, was an attack "on the very existence of Kurdistan," said Anaid. Enormous pressure on the government followed as civil servants and Peshmerga soldiers needed to be paid while the region had to fight off an IS blitzkrieg. The response to the surprise, multilayered crisis was strikes by teachers and a short phase of violence in Silemani and Garmiyan areas. For the region to overcome the challenges, Anaid exemplified several economic models from around the world. Among Anaid's proposals for economic reform in Kurdistan were the Swedish model in which the economy is subordinated to local needs. Developmental capitalism of Asian countries as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore implemented is a way of mobilizing the nation to increase production. Having survived the pan-Arab Baath regime, its genocidal policies and the oil-for-food program Kurdistan in comparison to Iraq relatively succeeded in the free market economy, a game the region is "luckily" new to, said Anaid. However what Kurdistan primarily needs is a diversification of its assets as a means of reducing a heavy reliance on oil, Dr. Anaid argued. Investment of oil money in education, healthcare, and similar public service would reduce transaction costs and create space for competition in other sectors. "The KRG should promote competitive control in businesses to make sure prices go down while production goes up," added Anaid reminding his audience of the Iranian and Turkish dominance in the Kurdish market. "We know we cannot compete with Iranians and Turks, but we can trade with southern Iraq," Anaid continued. Kurdistan's political economy is unique, said Anaid. It is one of the few places where people are dependent on the state but at the same time enjoy democratic rights, according to Anaid. As Kurdistan marches on for statehood, the government's addressing of socio-economic inequalities is imperative while elites should put aside their interests, concluded the UKH dean. The USCG diplomat Fitzgerald focused on how the US was working in tandem with Kurdish authorities to help with reform measures. Commending the KRG for its commitment to structural economic remodeling it has undertaken under the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Fitzgerald stated the government has done its best to keep Kurdistan secure in "very very extreme times of crisis." Shortcomings and mistakes in the result of political impediments on the part of the government were evident, but it has to be recognized that most of the shocks were external, said the American officer. Currently, the majority of US funds are allocated to the fight against the IS and humanitarian aid to refugees, Fitzgerald told the audience. Fitzgerald revealed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with the government in providing technical assistance, in as well as the field of taxation, payroll, and public financial management. One vital area the US helps the KRG is how to develop the private sector through entrepreneurship exchange programs between the two countries. "Last summer, we sent seven leaders from local chambers of commerce to our international visitor leadership program to Washington, DC, Los Angeles and North Dakota to attend training on how to develop the private sector," she said. The US is also trying to get Iraq and Kurds into the World Trade Organization in which they have the observer status, according to Fitzgerald. The tourism, banking, and retail sectors, for example, are slowly recovering with increases in revenues as small enterprises take the lead. "I had a conversation last week with a gentleman in Duhok who runs a boutique travel company, and he is trekking with 20 Germans and five Americans somewhere around Amedi right now. Not only am I very jealous but I am actually very optimistic that kind of low-level tourism activities will grow into something substantial," Fitzgerald illustrated. As the KRG has put a lot of effort in developing agriculture, tourism and banking sectors, there are signs that those areas will flourish, hoped USCG official. Steps to accelerate such a processes include political reconciliation and reconvention of the Parliament, she advised. KRG's senior economic adviser Parks, on his part, spoke of the region's survival mode in the immediate aftermath of the rise of IS and budget crisis. An ongoing modernization program is at the center of the economic reform priorities and fiscal sustainability, he said. "We see a very sustained reduction in [civil services] expenditure, and that has been at the heart of the austerity program," Parks pointed out. Parks mentioned the "survival" posture the KRG had to take in the face of a shock. A painful progress was still made, as reforms in light of the need for diversification were heeded. Not spending all oil revenues on salaries, but cycling those profits into the financial sector to fund and create private investments is a step ahead, Parks said. Another step that should be taken so as to regulate monetary policy is opening up a branch in Kurdistan of the Iraqi central bank since the two share currency, Parks explained. Parks urged a change in state employees' understanding of working for the government, which should not only mean "getting a salary." "There is a lot to be done there," he said. The natural market for Kurdistan is the rest of Iraq, as Iranian and Turkish ones are superior, argued Parks, reiterating Dr. Anaid's point. Geographic barriers such as mountains are a big challenge particularly when it comes to transportation of the goods, but to the south in Iraq, there is favorable geography and an easily accessible population to sell them goods and services. Developing the market would also optimizing the availability of Kurdish workers and companies. Parks gave the example of reconstructing the war-torn city of Mosul in the post-IS era and said the Kurds could participate in that process. The electricity sector as much as needed is also a huge potential for the private sector. Tackling a "massive" need for infrastructure is yet another responsibility of the authorities in Kurdistan's goal of bettering the economy. Most importantly for those steps to succeed in macroeconomic aspect, a sense of political stability is critical so investors could see what the regime would be not just today but over coming decades, added Parks. One of the event's organizers, an AKFA board member and lawyer from the Kurdistan Legal Services Rejna Alaaldin sounded optimistic. "Kurdistan has the capacity, experience, and political maturity to move forward and resolve its economic challenges," Alaaldin told Kurdistan24 in a statement. "More importantly, the crisis has forced the KRG to re-think its economic policies and adopt an economic model that is sustainable in the longer run and that, fundamentally, ensures the mistakes of the past are not repeated," she concluded. Editing by Ava HomaNordling here. Jemaine Clement's WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is absolutely brilliant - funny, even scary at times, smart as a whip and full of so many ideas that I feel like the movie could have gone on for a few more hours and not run out of things to say. Which is why I'm especially happy that Clement is planning to return to that world, but with a twist - this time, Clement plans on focusing on the pack of werewolves, led by Rhys Darby's Anton, with the possibility of the cast returning. Considering that the vampires' friend Stu (Stu Rutherford) is a new member of the pack, perhaps we'll see a bit more of the supernatural underworld that we dipped our toes into in WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. Clement announced that a sequel is in the works at stuff.co.nz, along with a Flight of the Conchords tour and another series on HBO, produced by Judd Apatow. I've seen WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS several times now, and it's one of those comedy films that, like THIS IS SPINAL TAP, that you just know is going to be a classic in the coming years. It's one of those movies that you want to show to friends when they're over. I'm very happy that Jemaine Clement isn't done with these characters and this world yet. Considering all the vampire lore and fiction that Clement drew upon for SHADOWS, it'll be fascinating to see what sources Clement uses for his new film. Can't wait. Nordling, out.Try to quickly summon an image of good-with-small-children dog, and chances are you'll picture something adorably Benji-shaggy. Or maybe a sweetie-pie golden retriever, or a loveball of a lab. It's not likely, at least not in today's perception of the breed, that an American pit bull terrier leaps to mind. But not so long ago, pit bulls were brought in as "nanny dogs," the trusted caretaker pups to watch over kids. Vintage photographs recently posted on a personal blog show off the breed as babysitter. More vintage photos of pit bulls with children It's striking--and quite sad--to see such documentation of how beloved the now-maligned dog once was. The very same American pit bull is now more often associated with Michael Vick's dogfights, and stories of household pets gone bad, sometimes tragically involving kids. In the case of Vick, who was convicted of running a dogfighting ring, 47 of the pit bulls from his kennel were taken to animal sanctuaries or adopted. One rehabilitated dog named Mel, who moved to Dallas with a new owner, even received an edible key to the city. But back to the breed's history as a family dog: Helen Keller had a pit bull. Laura Ingalls Wilder, who wrote "Little House on the Prairie," owned one, too. And Petey, the mascot pup with the black eye patch in "The Little Rascals?" Pit bull. Over time, the breed, which was also bred to battle bulls and fight other dogs, picked up a reputation for a nasty nature. Cesar Millan, the "dog whisperer" who is around the breed every day, says it's people who should be blamed, not the breed. He writes on his website, "Pit bulls get a bad rap because of irresponsible owners." Responsible owners include Jon Stewart, Alicia Silverstone, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel, and Jessica Alba. Other popular Yahoo! News stories: • Obama administration may shut down 5 percent of for-profit colleges under new rule • Jill Abramson becomes first female editor of NYT • Poll: Most Americans reject Rep. Ryan's Medicare proposalCLOSE Kevin Canevari reacts to Mercer's upset victory against No. 3 seed Duke. Mercer guard Kevin Canevari dances in celebration. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports) RALEIGH, N.C. — Mercer wanted this. The game, of course — the Bears certainly believed all along they could pull it off — but also the matchup. They wanted their shot at Duke. Mercer coach Bob Hoffman predicted ahead of time, based on seeding and a gut instinct, that his team would get paired up with one of the most storied programs in all of the sport. CELEBRATION: Those dancing Mercer Bears UPSETS: Stunning moments from this year Hoffman said Duke wasn't a typical power-conference team, that the Blue Devils didn't have the size inside that high-major programs usually have — and he's right. Better yet, he exploited it. His big men did whatever they wanted inside as part of a brilliant game plan, paving the way for a 78-71 win against No. 3 seed Duke. BOX SCORE: Mercer 78, Duke 71 MARCH MADNESS: NCAA tournament bracket On the other end, Bears defense forced the Blue Devils to fire off shots from the perimeter all game. Combine some misses (Duke shot 35.5% from the field), an uncharacteristically poor performance from star freshman Jabari Parker and defensive lapses, and you end up with an opening for a potential upset. Upset bids build and build, winning over the crowd section by section as the clock ticks down and the underdog is still standing. The Bears brought quite a few fans with them from Macon, Ga., to what appeared to be essentially a home game for Duke. JABARI PARKER: What about his draft stock? COLUMN: We're all Mercer fans this time They believed, from the moment they stepped on the court, that they could pull off the upset. Each time Duke hit a big three — most of the time, courtesy of Rasheed Sulaimon or Quinn Cook — Mercer answered. With fewer than three minutes remaining, Anthony White Jr. drained a three to tie the game at 63-63. Parker missed a three from the top of the key, and Mercer took the lead for good with 1:54 to play on a pair of Jakob Gollon free throws. On a beautifully drawn-up play, Daniel Coursey scored a layup and-one. Coursey's subsequent free throw put Mercer up five and essentially sealed the game. All season long, Duke has been one of the best offensive teams in the country — and fairly dismal defensively. The Blue Devils' defense ranks 98th in the country in efficiency, per KenPom.com, and it looked every bit its part Friday afternoon. Mercer shot 55.6% from the field in the game, and five different Bears scored in double figures. "This," Atlantic Sun player of the year Langston Hall said, "is what March Madness is all about." GALLERY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SECOND ROUNDFixed a crash that would occur when the Skeleton King attempts to continue to whirlwind while after he has been defeated (1/20) Fixed an issue that could prevent some players from logging in (1/20) Fixed an issue where Armor Scavengers (Primordial Scavengers) would not lose their armor when hit by pets. (1/27) Impale Fixed an issue where the 6 piece Shadow's Mantle set bonus would cause Impale to inherit the damage type of an equipped weapon when being used with Convention of Elements. (1/27) Black Hole Fixed an issue where enemies affected by both Black Hole - Event Horizon and Taunt would remain at 1 hit point and be unable to be killed (1/20) Ray of Frost Black Ice Fixed an issue that caused the Black Ice rune to stop functioning. (1/27) Fetish Army Fixed an issue where fetishes could stop casting Poison Dart while using the Carnevil Legendary Voodoo Mask (1/20) Set Dungeons Fixed an issue where the game could crash when a Set Dungeon begins, but there is not a valid portal saved (1/20) Fixed an issue where taking fatal damage in a Set Dungeon could cause the Set Dungeon to be empty the next time it was entered (1/20) Dungeon of Firebird's Finery Fixed an issue where completing the objective to set 20 enemies on fire 6 times would prevent the objective to hit enemies with the Revive Meteor from tracking (1/14) Dungeon of Roland's Legacy Fixed an issue where players would not always be properly be prompted with the completion window if they kill all monsters before the time expires (1/14) Bounties Fixed an issue that could cause the Wortham Survivors bounty to become unable to be completed. (2/11) Fixed an issue where Carnevil would impact non-Witch Doctor pets summoned by items (1/14) Fixed an issue where the transmog item, Lachdanan's Stormshield, was dropping as Legendary quality instead of Common (1/14) Fixed an issue that caused the movement speed bonus provided by a rank 25 Wreath of Lightning to stop functioning. (1/27) Fixed an issue that could cause the Custom Engineering Hellfire Amulet to stop functioning after a period of time. (2/11) Below you will find a list of hotfixes recently applied or coming soon that address various bugs or mechanic tweaks.These hotfixes should not require you to download a new patch. Some of the hotfixes below will go live the moment they are implemented while others may require restarting the game to go into effect. Please keep in mind that some issues cannot be addressed without a client-side patch. Also note that changes to certain abilities will not be reflected in its tooltip until a patch is issued.Last updated January 20. Hotfixes are denoted by the date they were applied to live servers.Note: Items previously marked as "Upcoming Hotfixes" have now been applied and are consolidated in the notes below.Bike shops and repairs shops are popping up around Detroit. Then there's the bike lanes and regular events like the Slow Roll where a mass of bicyclists ride around the city. Rebecca Davis writes on NBC's website: When you think of the Motor City, bicycles may not be the first thing that comes to mind. In recent years, however, Detroit has seen a surge in cycling interest and bike-related small businesses opening. Now, "The D" is home to one of the largest weekly community bike rides in the world. Slow Roll Detroit, which was founded in 2010 by Detroit residents Jason Hall and Mike MacKool, meets weekly to explore different neighborhoods on their roughly 10-mile route in an effort to highlight new businesses and community projects happening around the city.While in New Orleans last month for a long weekend away, my pen radar caught sight of a small but lovely pen and paper shop called Papier Plume, in the heart of the French Quarter. Just ten years old, the store, at 842 Royal St., is owned by Patrick Rideau, who hails from Niort, France. “Not a lot of people have heard of it, but it's a small place located on the western coast,” Rideau says of his birthplace. “It's basically in the marshlands, just like New Orleans. Maybe that's why I decided to move here.” The earliest roots of his present-day business are in his home country, where Rideau, who has an engineering background, began selling handmade cards. “I learned a lot about quality paper and what to write on that paper with,” he shares. “I went to small companies in Italy and France to learn how they did it before I'd buy the paper to use for my cards.” After moving to the United States, Rideau opened a stand in the French Quarter selling sealing wax and calligraphy supplies until Hurricane Katrina intervened. Today, his 720-square-foot shop resides in a building considered a Historical Landmark by the Orleans Parish Landmarks Commission, which adds immeasurably to its overall ambience. Fascinating to history and architecture buffs, there is a plaque outside the door that reads: "Thomas Poree House. The ground floor of the building was erected for Juan Laporte in 1789 during the Spanish colonial period. It replaced an earlier, French colonial residence. The second floor was added in 1807 when Louis D'Aquin expanded his adjacent bakery into this building. Following D'Aquin's bankruptcy in 1808 it became the residence of the Thomas Poree family. Mrs. Poree was an aunt of the historian Charles Gayarre, who as a child stood on this balcony and cheered General Andrew Jackson's army on its way to defend the city against the British in 1814." Rideau greets his clientele as if he were welcoming people into his home, thus the furnishings in the store are either from his residence or that of his parents, lending a warm and approachable atmosphere not often seen in retail shops. His staff is equally gracious. “I make sure that all of the employees take a class in calligraphy so they can speak to customers with some knowledge of writing and hopefully show them some things that can be achieved with a little practice,” Rideau says. “We also keep a station that always has a dip pen, paper and ink for customers to just walk up to and try. You can often see people's eyes light up [if they] have never written with this type of pen, and they become very curious about the rest of our products. We can then have a great conversation with them about writing, pens and a little history.” Owing to New Orleans' reputation as a tourist destination, the store’s visitors come from all over the world, though locals are just as enchanted by this neighborhood shop as are those from thousands of miles away. In peak season, tourists account for about 80% of the store’s traffic
onClick Decrement, Button. danger, Button. large ] [ text "-" ], howItWorksSection ] I think now you're more familiar with the many [ ] (like in the div function). Let's look closer at the Button function to try to understand better what we did. Let's see it: { -\| Create a button Button. button [ Button. primary ] [ text "Primary" ] * ` options ` List of styling options * ` children ` List of child elements - } button : List ( Option msg ) -> List ( Html. Html msg ) -> Html. Html msg button options children = Html. button ( ButtonInternal. buttonAttributes options ) children The function Button.button receives two parameters, a list of options and a list of child elements. Let's look at our howItWorksSection will be. howItWorksSection = div [] [ h2 [] [ text "How it works" ], div [] [ myCard "We have created a simple app", myCard "We have add elm-bootstrap", myCard "We have created some functions to render the HTML" ], a [ href "http://elm-lang.org/" ] [ text "This page was made in Elm" ] ] We have opened a div, used h2 and created a myCard function: The function myCard receives the content and we are using the Card from elm-bootstrap. We are passing the content to this function and we are rendering it as text. myCard content = Card. config [ Card. outlinePrimary ] \|> Card. block [] [ Card. text [] [ text content ] ] \|> Card. view Let's use Elm Reactor and see what the page looks like. elm-reactor We can see we have a styled button for increment/decrement and some cards explaining how it works. Our complete code will be: module Main exposing (..) import Html exposing ( Html, button, div, text, h2, a ) import Html. Attributes exposing (..) import Bootstrap. Button as Button import Bootstrap. CDN as CDN import Bootstrap. Grid as Grid import Bootstrap. Card as Card main = Html. beginnerProgram { model = model, view = view, update = update } -- MODEL type alias Model = Int model : Model model = 0 -- UPDATE type Msg = Increment \| Decrement update : Msg -> Model -> Model update msg model = case msg of Increment -> model + 1 Decrement -> model - 1 -- VIEW mainContent model = div [] [ Button. button [ Button. onClick Increment, Button. success, Button. large ] [ text "+" ], div [] [ text ( toString model ) ], Button. button [ Button. onClick Decrement, Button. danger, Button. large ] [ text "-" ], howItWorksSection ] myCard content = Card. config [ Card. outlinePrimary ] \|> Card. block [] [ Card. text [] [ text content ] ] \|> Card. view howItWorksSection = div [] [ h2 [] [ text "How it works" ], div [] [ myCard "We have created a simple app", myCard "We have add elm-bootstrap", myCard "We have created some functions to render the HTML" ], a [ href "http://elm-lang.org/" ] [ text "This page was made with Elm" ] ] view : Model -> Html Msg view model = Grid. container [] [ CDN. stylesheet, CDN. fontAwesome, mainContent model ] If you want to keep learning Elm, check out some DailyDrip videos. Interesting Elm VideosLast week, Benton Harbor, Michigan was subjected to a hostile government takeover by a single individual. Just over a month after Republican Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation that gave broad new powers to emergency financial managers appointed by the state of Michigan to run struggling cities and schools and the ability to terminate union contracts, it has finally happened. One of these emergency financial managers fired the entire democratically elected city government and took over as the virtual dictator of the city. How can one man be given so much power? Because Republicans say so. Republicans are now declaring war against cities they deem unfit for democracy. With the power to wipe away elected officials and the power to basically abolish unions, these emergency financial managers are nothing more than unelected puppets that run cities the way Republican governors want them to. But there’s also a double standard here. The city next door to Benton Harbor is St. Joseph and its budget isn’t much better. Yet the predominantly white St. Joseph still has its government while the predominantly African American Benton Harbor gets taken over. Sounds like blatant racism to me, but it’s worse than that. This is also a vendetta against poor people. The per capita income of St. Joseph is $33,000 while its only just over $10,000 for residents of Benton Harbor. If it’s not clear that Republicans hate poor people and people that aren’t white, it should be absolutely crystal clear now. But the Governor has eyed Benton Harbor for quite some time now. He now wants to develop the shoreline and to do so he’s basically selling the shoreline to the highest bidder. Plans to build a golf course over the children’s park, for rich people no doubt, are already in motion. Sorry citizens of Benton Harbor, its probably going to be a members only course, meaning only rich white guys can play. Of course, you know what this means, right? It means Republicans have found a way to declare their sovereignty over whole cities, and one would also assume, any town in the state. Republican governors across the country are, no doubt, are taking notes from Governor Snyder on how to declare yourself King, one city at a time. Republicans have complained relentlessly about government “czars” but in a pure act of hypocrisy have appointed their own, except this time its for real. We’ve seen people rise to power through emergency powers before. After being granted emergency powers of his own, Adolf Hitler quickly became the dictator of Germany. Governor Rick Snyder and many Republicans like him are using what they term as fiscal emergency to declare financial martial law. What Republicans have done, is strip the power of the vote away from Benton Harbor residents. We like to think that our vote counts, but if you live in Benton Harbor, your vote didn’t mean anything at all. Your elected officials were fired and now your town could be sold piece by piece to developers that will make the town too expensive to live in. Americans need to wake up and take action against these Republicans that dare to call themselves Americans that love the Constitution. Republicans are going to repeat this action over and over again until they have taken down every city in the country. Even predominantly liberal leaning cities are not safe from this threat. All a governor needs to do is appoint an emergency financial manager who can then singlehandedly, on the governor’s behalf, take over the entire city and rewrite all of its laws. Voting laws can be changed. Zoning laws can be changed. Any city laws can be changed. And you can bet that those changes will benefit Republicans. The GOP is trying to take over at the grassroots level. Are you going to let them raid your city/town? Or are you going to take action to get these tyrants out of our government once and for all? Because at some point, its going to be too late. If a Republican Governor and a Republican legislature can grant individuals sweeping emergency powers, what stops them from granting those powers to themselves? This would allow them to fire governments they don’t like, at will, despite what the voters want. We need to declare our own emergency and immediately fire Republican officials across the country before all is lost. Because this government is for the people, of the people, by the people. We have the power. Not Republican dictators.Why I created the java-symbol-solver? A few years ago I started using JavaParser and then I started contributing. After a while I realized that many operations we want to do on Java code cannot be done just by using the Abstract Syntax Tree produced by a parser, we need also to resolve types, symbols and method calls. For this reason I have created the JavaSymbolSolver. It is now been used to produce static analysis tools by Coati. One thing that is missing is documentation: people open issues on JavaParser asking how to answer a certain question and the answer is often “for this you need to use JavaSymbolSolver”. Starting from these issues I will show a few examples. Inspired by this issue I will show how to produce a list of all calls to a specific method. Learn advanced JavaParser Receive a chapter on the book JavaParser: Visited. This chapter presents the JavaSymbolSolver, which you will need for all the advanced analysis and transformation of Java code Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. How can we resolve method calls in Java using the java-symbol-solver? It can be done in two steps: You use JavaParser on the source code to build your ASTs You call JavaSymbolSolver on the nodes of the ASTs representing method calls and get the answer We are going to write a short example. At the end we will get an application that given a source file will produce this: * L55 setId(id) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setId(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId) * L59 setId(new VariableDeclaratorId(variableName)) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setId(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId) * L71 setId(id) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setId(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId) * L72 setInit(init) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setInit(com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.Expression) * L76 setId(new VariableDeclaratorId(variableName)) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setId(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId) * L77 setInit(init) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setInit(com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.Expression) * L82 setId(id) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setId(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId) * L83 setInit(init) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.setInit(com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.Expression) * L88 v.visit(this, arg) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.visitor.GenericVisitor.visit(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator, A) * L93 v.visit(this, arg) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.visitor.VoidVisitor.visit(com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator, A) * L106 setAsParentNodeOf(this.id) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.Node.setAsParentNodeOf(com.github.javaparser.ast.Node) * L112 setAsParentNodeOf(this.init) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.Node.setAsParentNodeOf(com.github.javaparser.ast.Node) * L121 setAsParentNodeOf(this.init) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.Node.setAsParentNodeOf(com.github.javaparser.ast.Node) * L128 getParentNodeOfType(NodeWithElementType.class) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.Node.getParentNodeOfType(java.lang.Class<T>) * L130 wrapInArrayTypes(elementType.getElementType(), elementType.getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType(), getId().getArrayBracketPairsAfterId()) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.type.ArrayType.wrapInArrayTypes(com.github.javaparser.ast.type.Type, java.util.List<com.github.javaparser.ast.ArrayBracketPair>...) * L130 elementType.getElementType() -> com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithElementType.getElementType() * L131 elementType.getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType() -> com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithElementType.getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType() * L132 getId().getArrayBracketPairsAfterId() -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId.getArrayBracketPairsAfterId() * L132 getId() -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.getId() * L137 ArrayType.unwrapArrayTypes(type) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.type.ArrayType.unwrapArrayTypes(com.github.javaparser.ast.type.Type) * L138 getParentNodeOfType(NodeWithElementType.class) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.Node.getParentNodeOfType(java.lang.Class<T>) * L142 nodeWithElementType.setElementType(unwrapped.a) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithElementType.setElementType(com.github.javaparser.ast.type.Type<?>) * L143 nodeWithElementType.setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType(null) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithElementType.setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType(java.util.List<com.github.javaparser.ast.ArrayBracketPair>) * L144 getId().setArrayBracketPairsAfterId(unwrapped.b) -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclaratorId.setArrayBracketPairsAfterId(java.util.List<com.github.javaparser.ast.ArrayBracketPair>) * L144 getId() -> com.github.javaparser.ast.body.VariableDeclarator.getId() 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 * L55 setId ( id ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setId ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId ) * L59 setId ( new VariableDeclaratorId ( variableName ) ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setId ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId ) * L71 setId ( id ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setId ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId ) * L72 setInit ( init ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setInit ( com. github. javaparser. ast. expr. Expression ) * L76 setId ( new VariableDeclaratorId ( variableName ) ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setId ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId ) * L77 setInit ( init ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setInit ( com. github. javaparser. ast. expr. Expression ) * L82 setId ( id ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setId ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId ) * L83 setInit ( init ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. setInit ( com. github. javaparser. ast. expr. Expression ) * L88 v. visit ( this, arg ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. visitor. GenericVisitor. visit ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator, A ) * L93 v. visit ( this, arg ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. visitor. VoidVisitor. visit ( com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator, A ) * L106 setAsParentNodeOf ( this. id ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. Node. setAsParentNodeOf ( com. github. javaparser. ast. Node ) * L112 setAsParentNodeOf ( this. init ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. Node. setAsParentNodeOf ( com. github. javaparser. ast. Node ) * L121 setAsParentNodeOf ( this. init ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. Node. setAsParentNodeOf ( com. github. javaparser. ast. Node ) * L128 getParentNodeOfType ( NodeWithElementType. class ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. Node. getParentNodeOfType ( java. lang. Class < T > ) * L130 wrapInArrayTypes ( elementType. getElementType ( ), elementType. getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( ), getId ( ). getArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( ) ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. type. ArrayType. wrapInArrayTypes ( com. github. javaparser. ast. type. Type, java. util. List < com. github. javaparser. ast. ArrayBracketPair >... ) * L130 elementType. getElementType ( ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithElementType. getElementType ( ) * L131 elementType. getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithElementType. getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( ) * L132 getId ( ). getArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId. getArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( ) * L132 getId ( ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. getId ( ) * L137 ArrayType. unwrapArrayTypes ( type ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. type. ArrayType. unwrapArrayTypes ( com. github. javaparser. ast. type. Type ) * L138 getParentNodeOfType ( NodeWithElementType. class ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. Node. getParentNodeOfType ( java. lang. Class < T > ) * L142 nodeWithElementType. setElementType ( unwrapped. a ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithElementType. setElementType ( com. github. javaparser. ast. type. Type <? > ) * L143 nodeWithElementType. setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( null ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithElementType. setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( java. util. List < com. github. javaparser. ast. ArrayBracketPair > ) * L144 getId ( ). setArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( unwrapped. b ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclaratorId. setArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( java. util. List < com. github. javaparser. ast. ArrayBracketPair > ) * L144 getId ( ) -> com. github. javaparser. ast. body. VariableDeclarator. getId ( ) when executed on this source file: /* * Copyright (C) 2007-2010 Júlio Vilmar Gesser. * Copyright (C) 2011, 2013-2016 The JavaParser Team. * * This file is part of JavaParser. * * JavaParser can be used either under the terms of * a) the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or * (at your option) any later version. * b) the terms of the Apache License * * You should have received a copy of both licenses in LICENCE.LGPL and * LICENCE.APACHE. Please refer to those files for details. * * JavaParser is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details. / package com.github.javaparser.ast.body; import com.github.javaparser.Range; import com.github.javaparser.ast.ArrayBracketPair; import com.github.javaparser.ast.Node; import com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.Expression; import com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.NameExpr; import com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithElementType; import com.github.javaparser.ast.nodeTypes.NodeWithType; import com.github.javaparser.ast.type.ArrayType; import com.github.javaparser.ast.type.Type; import com.github.javaparser.ast.visitor.GenericVisitor; import com.github.javaparser.ast.visitor.VoidVisitor; import com.github.javaparser.utils.Pair; import java.util.List; import static com.github.javaparser.ast.type.ArrayType.wrapInArrayTypes; /* * @author Julio Vilmar Gesser / public final class VariableDeclarator extends Node implements NodeWithType<VariableDeclarator> { private VariableDeclaratorId id; private Expression init; public VariableDeclarator() { } public VariableDeclarator(VariableDeclaratorId id) { setId(id); } public VariableDeclarator(String variableName) { setId(new VariableDeclaratorId(variableName)); } /* * Defines the declaration of a variable. * * @param id The identifier for this variable. IE. The variables name. * @param init What this variable should be initialized to. * An {@link com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.AssignExpr} is unnecessary as the <code>=</code> operator is * already added. / public VariableDeclarator(VariableDeclaratorId id, Expression init) { setId(id); setInit(init); } public VariableDeclarator(String variableName, Expression init) { setId(new VariableDeclaratorId(variableName)); setInit(init); } public VariableDeclarator(Range range, VariableDeclaratorId id, Expression init) { super(range); setId(id); setInit(init); } @Override public <R, A> R accept(GenericVisitor<R, A> v, A arg) { return v.visit(this, arg); } @Override public <A> void accept(VoidVisitor<A> v, A arg) { v.visit(this, arg); } public VariableDeclaratorId getId() { return id; } public Expression getInit() { return init; } public VariableDeclarator setId(VariableDeclaratorId id) { this.id = id; setAsParentNodeOf(this.id); return this; } public VariableDeclarator setInit(Expression init) { this.init = init; setAsParentNodeOf(this.init); return this; } /* * Will create a {@link NameExpr} with the init param / public VariableDeclarator setInit(String init) { this.init = new NameExpr(init); setAsParentNodeOf(this.init); return this; } @Override public Type getType() { NodeWithElementType<?> elementType = getParentNodeOfType(NodeWithElementType.class); return wrapInArrayTypes(elementType.getElementType(), elementType.getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType(), getId().getArrayBracketPairsAfterId()); } @Override public VariableDeclarator setType(Type type) { Pair<Type, List<ArrayBracketPair>> unwrapped = ArrayType.unwrapArrayTypes(type); NodeWithElementType<?> nodeWithElementType = getParentNodeOfType(NodeWithElementType.class); if (nodeWithElementType == null) { throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot set type without a parent"); } nodeWithElementType.setElementType(unwrapped.a); nodeWithElementType.setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType(null); getId().setArrayBracketPairsAfterId(unwrapped.b); return this; } } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 / * Copyright (C) 2007-2010 Júlio Vilmar Gesser. * Copyright (C) 2011, 2013-2016 The JavaParser Team. * * This file is part of JavaParser. * * JavaParser can be used either under the terms of * a) the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or * (at your option) any later version. * b) the terms of the Apache License * * You should have received a copy of both licenses in LICENCE.LGPL and * LICENCE.APACHE. Please refer to those files for details. * * JavaParser is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details. / package com. github. javaparser. ast. body ; import com. github. javaparser. Range ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. ArrayBracketPair ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. Node ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. expr. Expression ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. expr. NameExpr ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithElementType ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. nodeTypes. NodeWithType ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. type. ArrayType ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. type. Type ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. visitor. GenericVisitor ; import com. github. javaparser. ast. visitor. VoidVisitor ; import com. github. javaparser. utils. Pair ; import java. util. List ; import static com. github. javaparser. ast. type. ArrayType. wrapInArrayTypes ; /* * @author Julio Vilmar Gesser / public final class VariableDeclarator extends Node implements NodeWithType < VariableDeclarator > { private VariableDeclaratorId id ; private Expression init ; public VariableDeclarator ( ) { } public VariableDeclarator ( VariableDeclaratorId id ) { setId ( id ) ; } public VariableDeclarator ( String variableName ) { setId ( new VariableDeclaratorId ( variableName ) ) ; } /* * Defines the declaration of a variable. * * @param id The identifier for this variable. IE. The variables name. * @param init What this variable should be initialized to. * An {@link com.github.javaparser.ast.expr.AssignExpr} is unnecessary as the <code>=</code> operator is * already added. / public VariableDeclarator ( VariableDeclaratorId id, Expression init ) { setId ( id ) ; setInit ( init ) ; } public VariableDeclarator ( String variableName, Expression init ) { setId ( new VariableDeclaratorId ( variableName ) ) ; setInit ( init ) ; } public VariableDeclarator ( Range range, VariableDeclaratorId id, Expression init ) { super ( range ) ; setId ( id ) ; setInit ( init ) ; } @ Override public < R, A > R accept ( GenericVisitor < R, A > v, A arg ) { return v. visit ( this, arg ) ; } @ Override public < A > void accept ( VoidVisitor < A > v, A arg ) { v. visit ( this, arg ) ; } public VariableDeclaratorId getId ( ) { return id ; } public Expression getInit ( ) { return init ; } public VariableDeclarator setId ( VariableDeclaratorId id ) { this. id = id ; setAsParentNodeOf ( this. id ) ; return this ; } public VariableDeclarator setInit ( Expression init ) { this. init = init ; setAsParentNodeOf ( this. init ) ; return this ; } /* * Will create a {@link NameExpr} with the init param / public VariableDeclarator setInit ( String init ) { this. init = new NameExpr ( init ) ; setAsParentNodeOf ( this. init ) ; return this ; } @ Override public Type getType ( ) { NodeWithElementType <? > elementType = getParentNodeOfType ( NodeWithElementType. class ) ; return wrapInArrayTypes ( elementType. getElementType ( ), elementType. getArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( ), getId ( ). getArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( ) ) ; } @ Override public VariableDeclarator setType ( Type type ) { Pair < Type, List < ArrayBracketPair >> unwrapped = ArrayType. unwrapArrayTypes ( type ) ; NodeWithElementType <? > nodeWithElementType = getParentNodeOfType ( NodeWithElementType. class ) ; if ( nodeWithElementType == null ) { throw new IllegalStateException ( "Cannot set type without a parent" ) ; } nodeWithElementType. setElementType ( unwrapped. a ) ; nodeWithElementType. setArrayBracketPairsAfterElementType ( null ) ; getId ( ). setArrayBracketPairsAfterId ( unwrapped. b ) ; return this ; } } Setting up the project We are going to use Kotlin and Gradle. Our build file looks like this: buildscript { ext.kotlin_version = '1.0.4' repositories { mavenCentral() maven { name 'JFrog OSS snapshot repo' url 'https://oss.jfrog.org/oss-snapshot-local/' } jcenter() } dependencies { classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version" } } apply plugin: 'kotlin' apply plugin: 'application' apply plugin: 'java' apply plugin: 'idea' apply plugin: 'antlr' repositories { mavenLocal() mavenCentral() jcenter() } dependencies { compile "me.tomassetti:java-symbol-solver-core:0.3.1" compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib:$kotlin_version" compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-reflect:$kotlin_version" testCompile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-test:$kotlin_version" testCompile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-test-junit:$kotlin_version" testCompile "junit:junit:latest.release" } idea { module { excludeDirs += file('src/main/resources') } } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 buildscript { ext. kotlin_version = '1.0.4' repositories { mavenCentral ( ) maven { name 'JFrog OSS snapshot repo' url 'https://oss.jfrog.org/oss-snapshot-local/' } jcenter ( ) } dependencies { classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version" } } apply plugin : 'kotlin' apply plugin : 'application' apply plugin : 'java' apply plugin : 'idea' apply plugin : 'antlr' repositories { mavenLocal ( ) mavenCentral ( ) jcenter ( ) } dependencies { compile "me.tomassetti:java-symbol-solver-core:0.3.1" compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib:$kotlin_version" compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-reflect:$kotlin_version" testCompile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-test:$kotlin_version" testCompile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-test-junit:$kotlin_version" testCompile "junit:junit:latest.release" } idea { module { excludeDirs += file ('src/main/resources' ) } } Building the AST Building an AST is quite easy, you simply call this method: JavaParser.parse(file) 1 JavaParser. parse ( file ) I have also used a few methods to navigate the AST and get specific nodes. In particular I will use this to take only the method calls. If you are interested they look like this: class SpecificNodeIterator<T>(private val type: Class<T>, private val nodeHandler: SpecificNodeIterator.NodeHandler<T>) { interface NodeHandler<T> { fun handle(node: T): Boolean } fun explore(node: Node) { if (type.isInstance(node)) { if (!nodeHandler.handle(type.cast(node))) { return } } for (child in node.childrenNodes) { explore(child) } } } // this is a method extension: we had this method to the existing class "Node" fun <T> Node.descendantsOfType(type: Class<T>) : List<T> { val descendants = LinkedList<T>() SpecificNodeIterator(type, object : SpecificNodeIterator.NodeHandler<T> { override fun handle(node: T): Boolean { descendants.add(node) return true } }).explore(this) return descendants } 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 class SpecificNodeIterator < T > ( private val type : Class < T >, private val nodeHandler : SpecificNodeIterator. NodeHandler < T > ) { interface NodeHandler < T > { fun handle ( node : T ) : Boolean } fun explore ( node : Node ) { if ( type. isInstance ( node ) ) { if (! nodeHandler. handle ( type. cast ( node ) ) ) { return } } for ( child in node. childrenNodes ) { explore ( child ) } } } // this is a method extension: we had this method to the existing class "Node" fun < T > Node. descendantsOfType ( type : Class < T > ) : List < T > { val descendants = LinkedList < T > ( ) SpecificNodeIterator ( type, object : SpecificNodeIterator. NodeHandler < T > { override fun handle ( node : T ) : Boolean { descendants. add ( node ) return true } } ). explore ( this ) return descendants } Specify the Type Solver What the hell is a Type Solver? It is the object which knows where to look for classes. When processing source code you will typically have references to code that is not yet compiled, but it is just present in other source files. You could also use classes contained in JARs or classes from the Java standard libraries. You have just to tell to your TypeSolver where to look for classes and it will figure it out. In our example we will parse the source code from the JavaParser project (how meta?!). This project has source code in two different directories, for proper source code and code generated by JavaCC (you can ignore what JavaCC is, it is not relevant to you). We of course use also classes from the java standard libraries. This is how our TypeSolver looks like: fun typeSolver() : TypeSolver { val combinedTypeSolver = CombinedTypeSolver() combinedTypeSolver.add(JreTypeSolver()) combinedTypeSolver.add(JavaParserTypeSolver(File("src/main/resources/javaparser-core"))) combinedTypeSolver.add(JavaParserTypeSolver(File("src/main/resources/javaparser-generated-sources"))) return combinedTypeSolver } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 fun typeSolver ( ) : TypeSolver { val combinedTypeSolver = CombinedTypeSolver ( ) combinedTypeSolver. add ( JreTypeSolver ( ) ) combinedTypeSolver. add ( JavaParserTypeSolver ( File ( "src/main/resources/javaparser-core" ) ) ) combinedTypeSolver. add ( JavaParserTypeSolver ( File ( "src/main/resources/javaparser-generated-sources" ) ) ) return combinedTypeSolver } Our application This is where we invoke JavaParserFacade, one of the classes provided by JavaSymbolSolver. We just take a method call at the time and we pass it to the method solve of the JavaParserFacade. We get a MethodUsage (which is basically a method declaration + the value of the parameter types for that specific invocation). From it we get the MethodDeclaration and we print the qualified signature, i.e., the qualified name of the class followed by the signature of the method. This is how we get the final output: var solved = 0 var unsolved = 0 var errors = 0 fun processJavaFile(file: File, javaParserFacade: JavaParserFacade) { println(file) JavaParser.parse(file).descendantsOfType(MethodCallExpr::class.java).forEach { print(" L${it.begin.line} $it ") try { val methodRef = javaParserFacade.solve(it) if (methodRef.isSolved) { solved++ val methodDecl = methodRef.correspondingDeclaration println(" -> ${methodDecl.qualifiedSignature}") } else { unsolved++ println("???") } } catch (e: Exception) { println(" ERR ${e.message}") errors++ } catch (t: Throwable) { t.printStackTrace() } } } 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 var solved = 0 var unsolved = 0 var errors = 0 fun processJavaFile ( file : File, javaParserFacade : JavaParserFacade ) { println ( file ) JavaParser. parse ( file ). descendantsOfType ( MethodCallExpr :: class. java ). forEach { print ( " * L${it.begin.line} $it " ) try { val methodRef = javaParserFacade. solve ( it ) if ( methodRef. isSolved ) { solved ++ val methodDecl = methodRef. correspondingDeclaration println ( " -> ${methodDecl.qualifiedSignature}" ) } else { unsolved ++ println ( "???" ) } } catch ( e : Exception ) { println ( " ERR ${e.message}" ) errors ++ } catch ( t : Throwable ) { t. printStackTrace ( ) } } } Conclusions There is so plumbing to do but basically JavaSymbolSolver does all the heavy work behind the scene. Once you have a node of the AST you can throw it at the class JavaParserFacade and it will give you back all the information you may need: it will find corresponding types, fields, methods, etc. The
, or the joyous feeling of reaching a blinking Power Pellet and turning the tables on those dastardly ghosts. On mobile, things are a bit trickier – you’ll need to solve one of many riddles from a Google support page to find hidden Pac-Man pins at specific locations. Only then will you see a Pac-Man button that will allow you to play by swiping in different directions. Some of these pre-selected locations look like they wouldn’t be out of place in an actual game; who knew city streets would make such good Pac-Man levels? You can also try looking for them on the desktop; a Pac-Man pin will show up when you find one. This isn’t the first time Google has added a Pac-Man Easter egg, by the way; the company featured Pac-Man in a Doodle back in 2010. Last year, Google had another video-game nod for April Fools by letting you catch a Pokemon right on your maps. Have fun not getting any work done. ➤ @googlemaps Read next: Google expands Android app ads to publisher websites, now allows video adsI Am Stereoblind My First Flinch Yes, this was the terrifying thing that made me flinch. Yes, this was the terrifying thing that made me flinch. Enter The Oculus Rift Why Does It Work? Corrective Lenses For Stereoblindness Using The Rift As Therapy The Present And The Future Bobby Blackwolf is the host of The Bobby Blackwolf Show on the VOG Network, lead developer of the website, and lead GM for VOG: The Game. Follow him on Twitter at @BobbyBlackwolf When I finally received my Oculus Rift Development Kit in the beginning of August, I knew I was getting into something amazing, but I didn't realize how amazing it would be. It's very difficult to do my weekly internet radio show and podcast without constantly mentioning the device, and wanting to go on for hours and hours about it. So, I decided to start a column here on VOG to discuss the opportunities that the Oculus Rift - and any other Virtual Reality headsets that may come in the future - have in advancing technology.(As an aside, if you want to see me talk about the Rift for an hour, I'll be on a panel at the upcoming Southern Interactive Entertainment and Game Expo (SIEGE) here in Atlanta all about the Rift. It's at 10AM on Saturday, October 5th. Friday night is a party with an open bar. This will...be interesting.)I plan on covering a variety of different subjects about VR development, since I am now well past the "This device is so cool" phase. There are many different design decisions that must be made for experiences to "work" in VR, and many things that game designers have come to rely on are no longer applicable in an immersive environment like what the Rift provides.This first article? It's a personal story.The Wikipedia definition is "is the inability to see in 3D using stereo vision, resulting in an inability to perceive stereoscopic depth, by combining and comparing images from the two eyes." You see, I had amblyopia (lazy eye) as a child, and had eye muscle surgery when I was 18 months old to correct it. This fixed the lazy eye (for the most part) but it killed my ability to cross my eyes, or, apparently, see in 3D.I didn't realize I couldn't see in 3D. I didn't know why I was having trouble in baseball as a kid "watching the ball" as my coaches kept telling me. Turns out, my eyes are just a little bit off, which means that I look out of one eye at a time and the other eye is just there for some peripheral vision. I can switch between either eye just fine, but if I close one eye, I don't lose anything but a little bit of peripheral vision.(I can also do this neat party trick where, if I cover one eye, both my eyes jump back and forth like crazy and there's nothing I can do about it. It's why I can never cosplay as a pirate, nor can I accurately get a prescription for glasses.)3D movies never worked for me. With the old red/green method, I would usually see just red or just green. I went to seein 2D, and then again in 3D, and the 3D was just a darker 2D. I was both disappointed and relieved at the same time - disappointed I couldn't see this great stuff everyone was talking about, but relieved I didn't ever need to buy a 3D TV. Ever.Then, E3 2010 happened.That was the year that Nintendo unveiled the 3DS. I went in skeptical - I started knowing about my possible stereoblindness, but I wasn't really sure if I was or not. After all, I could judge distances just fine, I had no problem driving, I wasn't walking into walls, but for some reason I just wasn't seeing synthetic 3D. Was Nintendo really going to change that?I finally held one on the show floor...And I saw double vision. Already defeated, I looked at the model Nintendo hired stating that I was unable to see it, and she told me she also had eye problems and started helping me. She told me that I needed to hold it at different angles, different distances from my eyes, and eventually find the sweet spot. I gave it a shot with low expectations. There was a Kojima Productions movie playing. At the beginning, the logo shows on the screen, and then flies towards you.And IIt was, as far as I can remember, the first time I had EVER flinched on a purely visual stimulant. (Flinching from a punch was also from other senses, be it feeling the wind or hearing something, so they didn't count.) I was actually perceiving depth, I was actually seeing that there was space between the foreground and the background.Then I looked up, away from the 3DS, and that sensation faded, as my brain rendered the world back to the 2D way that it had been doing for 29+ years. It was time to move on, as they were limiting your time with the 3DS due to the long line going around the booth.If this story sounds familiar, it's because I'm not the first person to recount this type of experience. Rare developer George Kokoris wrote about his experience on Kotaku, and as I read it, I felt like I was reading my own inner thoughts.Could the same be done with the Rift? If I was only "mostly" stereoblind, could the Rift be used as "corrective lenses"? It turns out...It's very possible.I can't see everything in 3D, but instances where the parallax is very large - the closer object is WAY closer than the farther object, the stereovision receptors of my brain kick in and interpret the signals from my eyes as if they worked like that all the time. In the Tuscany demo (the demo by the Oculus team that ships with the SDK) there are three very distinct areas that I experience 3D the way you normal people do: The blue butterfly flying around, the flowers on the edge of the villa, and the candles inside the villa.I think I spent about 10 minutes just staring at these candles:I could actually perceive the volume of the area between the candles and the wall. They jut out at me, like I could touch them. I could walk up to these same candles in real life and not have that same reaction. I can ONLY have that reaction while inside Virtual Reality.What's interesting is when I demo the Rift to people whose stereo vision is just fine. They, also, stop at these exact same candles and stare at them. This tells me that it's a more exaggerated effect than normal, which is probably why I can see them. Even with the 3DS, I can only really see the most exaggerated of 3D effects. That's what I call a great start.I am not a doctor, but I have a theory as to why it might work for me. It's based on the fact that I never, ever look "straight ahead" at anything. If I am talking to someone, and I consider myself looking straight at them, my head is actually pointed to one side of their head, and I am looking inward with one eye at them. It's subtle, but noticeable once it's pointed out. The 3DS and Oculus Rift don't let me get away with that.The 3DS doesn't let me get away with it because the screen is so small, I can't do that. If I hold it at the right distance, my eyes get relaxed enough that my brain can then process the data in 3D because I'm not "cheating" by turning my head.The Oculus Rift doesn't let me get away with it because of the lenses. It isn't a fully immersive Field of View - you can still see the edges of the lenses you're looking through in the current Development Kit. (Think of it as looking through binoculars or ski goggles.) This, somehow, keeps my eyes independently looking straight ahead (to get as much of the view as possible) and therefore I'm able to see the 3D images.While this is great for the virtual world, what about the real world? Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR, stated to another stereoblind gamer that they were looking into solutions for those with our condition. Nothing, yet, has come out of it, but there are a few possible scenarios.One of the mockup images of the consumer version of the Oculus Rift (coming late 2014) has a 3D camera in the front. This would be used to allow you to see your surroundings without taking off the headset - great for picking up your phone when it rings, finding your controller, looking at the keyboard, or other things. I see it, however, as a doorway to see my office the way I've never seen - the exact same way you'd see it if you visited.I've actually taken pictures and video with my 3DS and played them back just to see how you people see the world. It's amazing, but not real-time. This would be real-time, as if I was just wearing extremely big glasses. (It would also get rid of my ability to have awesome googly eyes on the front of my Head Mounted Display.)Another avenue that is being researched is having cameras inside the HMD tracking the location of your pupils. The current stumbling block is what's called your Interpupillary Distance, or IPD. This is the distance between your pupils, and it's measured in millimeters. You can have your IPD measured professionally by your eye doctor, or you can just use the configuration utility that comes with the Rift. The standard distance is 64mm for males, and 62mm for females. My IPD, after multiple configuration sessions, is actually very close to the norm - 62mm.In my case, though, that's not telling the whole story, because when one eye is looking straight ahead, the other isn't. This is where the pupil tracking can come in - it would possibly be able to calculate in real-time what my IPD is at that moment, and move the image for that eye around so I'm always looking "straight ahead." Something like this couldcure stereoblindness, and allow the brain to do what it really wants to do if it would just get the right information from the eyes.I have zero clue how much processing power this would take, or if it is even feasible at all. It's just really exciting to think about, and I really hope someone, somewhere, is experimenting with this very thing. It can't be a new idea.It IS possible to "cure" stereoblindness. While some people may just have it magically cured by watching a 3D movie, others can do it with therapy. Susan Barry, " Stereo Sue ", is a famous success story. The neurobiology professor took extensive therapy sessions to help her control her eyes, and she wrote about the experience in her book Finding My Gaze But what if, instead of using Brock Strings for long periods of time, we could be doing something fun while concentrating our eyes? Gamification is all the rage these days, and it would keep people more interested in doing the therapy. I have no personal interest in staring at beads on a string to gain something that doesn't exactly detract from my life - remember, I function just fine in society and didn't even realize I was really stereoblind until the 3DS came out and I saw what I was missing - but doing something fun that also strengthens my vision would get me to reconsider that position.Right now, the Oculus Rift is just showing us the beginning of what can be done in Virtual Reality. The experiences that are being made are top notch, which makes this an exciting time. Will others with stereoblindness have as much "success" in the Rift as I do? There's no way to tell. There are some people that just can't see 3D no matter what. For me, the sense of scale isn't there as much as it is for other people, but I still have the wide FOV, the head tracking, and the other parts of the immersive experience. You don't feel like you're looking at a screen - the lenses warp your vision to make you feel like you're staring into infinity, and the virtual objects are all around you.The worst that can happen is that it will look like how you see the world currently, and even then, it's an impressive device.I'm excited for the present. I'm even more excited for the future.There's a light at the end of the tunnel, if I wish to go there. I'm just too busy actually looking at the tunnel in 3D for the first time in my life to bother right now. That's enough for me.Rules Cricket-style review system on the cards ESPN Staff Arguments would still rage under the new system but the onus to challenge would pass to teams © Getty Images Enlarge SANZAR, the organisation which oversees Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship, plans to introduce a cricket-style decision review system from 2016. The news comes in the aftermath of poor refereeing performances from George Clancy and Pascal Gauzere during last weekend's Tests, the nadir being when Gauzere wrongly disallowed a try by Leonardo Senatore after he charged down a kick from the All Blacks' Ma'a Nonu and scored. Getting it right © Getty Images At least it confirms that SANZAR realises it has a refereeing problem, and that something drastic has to be done. Never has there been such a widespread outcry - including from countless former players, observers and media identities. "[It is], no surprise that SANZAR is now looking at a review system in the hope of limiting the number of refereeing bungles. The immediate complaint about a review system is that the game does not need the further interruptions that will come from when teams challenge decisions they believe the referee has messed up. Well, yes it does if it involves rectifying decisions that have a bearing on the result. Greg Growden SANZAR is locked into refereeing protocols which last until after the 2015 Rugby World Cup but it is being reported that after that the new system will be trialed. The details have yet to be confirmed but it is reported that each team will be allowed as many as three referrals but, as with other sports, will not use up one of their appeals if their challenge is successful. An article in the Australian said that one other area where there is uncertainty is regarding who makes the appeal. In cricket it is the captain, but the pace and nature of the game means he is almost always in a good position to take the call. In rugby, the captain may be unsighted or a long way away from an incident. That raises the possibility of the coach on the sidelines lodging the appeal, but he is in contact with other backroom staff who will almost certainly have the benefit of access to TV pictures and so be able to make a decision to pass on to him. This is all the more likely in a game where the incident being investigated could have happened up to a minute earlier. An appeals system would also have to introduced in conjunction with a downgrading of the role of the TMO. It would put much of the on-field decision-making back in the hands of the referee with the onus on teams to decide if they feel an appeal is warranted. Australia coach Ewen McKenzie was in favour of the move but warned about the potential for constant interruptions. "I'm mindful of how much dead time there is in a game," he told the Australian. "If you challenge the call and get it right you can challenge again and theoretically you could have 20 challenges. "People want to be entertained, they want to be kept entertained, they don't want to be sitting there watching replays. I don't know the solution but it is interesting they at least are having the conversation." © ESPN Sports Media LtdThe Met was not significantly involved in the $1.2 billion Lincoln Center renovation of the last six years. The planning resulted in friction between the former Met general manager, Joseph Volpe, and Lincoln Center’s leadership. Mr. Gelb said that campus redevelopment money, about $4 million, was applied toward a $10 million project to replace Met stage wagons, on which scenery sits. “What happens in any institution, when you’re very busy, things work, and you don’t fix them until they’re broken,” Mr. Gelb said. ”The Met’s needs were not as sexy perhaps as some of the other institutions,” he added. He said he tried unsuccessfully to insert renovations into Lincoln Center’s master plan, “but basically the program was over.” A Lincoln Center spokeswoman, Betsy Vorce, disputed that, saying that the complex was willing to extend the program, but that Mr. Gelb withdrew his request. Past friction between the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center over a proposal to move the orchestra to Carnegie Hall also impeded the prospects of renovating Avery Fisher Hall, where the Philharmonic plays. Lincoln Center has since agreed to a renovation there, but it is not expected to begin before 2017. The Lincoln Center renewal, which was formally completed two months ago, covered outdoor spaces and several buildings. Mr. Gelb said there were no immediate plans to make changes to the Met’s auditorium or public spaces of the house, except for possibly expanding restrooms, although, he said, “it’s hard to get a donor for that.” Video The last major work at the Met was in the summer of 2010 when the company reinforced the stage with steel girders to support the 45-ton set for its “Ring” cycle. It has undertaken other piecemeal projects, like building an art gallery and gift shop and installing new lobby elevators. Met officials insist that the outmoded systems have not seriously impaired the work of directors. They just make Met stagehands and technicians virtuosos of the workaround, said John Sellars, the technical director. “It’s a real challenge not to let them down,” he said. The first phase involves the fly system, which will be worked on mainly during the quiet summer weeks over the next four seasons. The stage lifts, air control and lighting systems should be overhauled within five to seven years. Central digital control will for the first time coordinate the movement of fly mechanisms that raise and lower scenery and the stage lifts. Roof repairs are included. The fly system goes first because of its importance in raising and lowering drops, scenery and borders. Mr. Gelb said the cost for that portion of the renovation would be $15 million, with $10 million donated by Bruce Kovner, a Met and Lincoln Center board member, $2 million coming from New York City and the rest from other donors. In all the Met has raised $27 million for the renovations so far, he said. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. Scenery and drops are attached to “pipes,” rectangular metal tubes that run the length of the stage. Cables attached to the pipes are driven by motors. There are 93 motors but only 30 drives to operate them. In the future each motor will have its own drive. The weight capacity for a single piece of lifted scenery will double, to 2,200 pounds, and so will the speed. Backdrops will have the capacity to be moved to within less than a quarter-inch of the desired position, instead of within roughly four inches. And they will be able to plunge down quickly, solving one of the most common complaints of directors, Mr. Sellars said. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “We can never get our curtains to drop fast enough. It can take roughly 10 seconds for some backdrops to fall the full 45 feet of the Met proscenium. The overhaul will also allow slower drops. In the recently introduced production of Verdi’s “Traviata,” for example, a floral backdrop is meant to descend slowly, over roughly nine minutes, but the Met’s motors were incapable of such a controlled fall. So stagehands had to rig up a separate pulley system to work together with the motor. The Met stage comprises seven lifts that run parallel to the footlights. The hydraulic cylinders that power them will be replaced. The Met plans to redesign and rerig its six lighting bridges above the stage. All the lighting will be modernized. The stage and the auditorium have their own heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. They will be combined and automated, reducing the unpredictability of air currents, which can cause giant backdrops just inches apart to collide (it has happened, the Met said) and wreak havoc with stage smoke. Several directors who have staged works at the Met acknowledged that it had retrograde technology but praised the staff’s willingness to translate their ideas. “The Met is not the place that says, ‘We can’t do that,’ ” said Stephen Wadsworth. “It’s the place that says, ‘We can do anything.’ ” Bartlett Sher said he expected that the chief impact of the renovation would be the rehearsal time gained from increased efficiency, especially given the complications of running four or five shows in repertory, usually with seven performances a week. Francesca Zambello, the director of “Les Troyens” and the artistic and general director of the Glimmerglass Festival, said, “Anyone who has a kitchen that’s 40 years old, you know you have to renovate it.” She said she did not feel thwarted by the move of the aerial pas de deux to earth. “It just gives me an extra creative boost,” she said. Now, she added, “it’s better narrative and more exciting and has more punch.”Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) is pushing a proposal to deny medically necessary care to transgender people in the military. Why? WASHINGTON ― The House on Thursday unexpectedly defeated a proposal to deny medically necessary health care to transgender people in the military ― a win for LGBTQ rights advocates who were bracing for a blow. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) proposed an amendment to the 2018 national defense authorization bill that would prevent transgender military personnel from getting medical treatment such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery. There are as many as 6,630 transgender people in active military service, per a RAND Corp. study. Given the House’s Republican majority, the proposal was expected to pass, despite outcry from Democrats. In a twist, though, the House rejected it, 209-214. Twenty-four Republicans sided with all Democrats in bringing it down. Click here for a breakdown of how every lawmaker voted. Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), both facing challenging re-election campaigns, were among those who voted against the amendment. There’s one detail in particular that may have nudged some Republicans to oppose the measure: Defense Secretary James Mattis personally called Hartzler ahead of the vote and asked her to yank her amendment, a senior House Democratic aide told HuffPost. A Defense Department spokesman offered no details on such a call, but said conversations between Mattis and members of Congress are private. A Hartzler spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Here’s the text of Hartzler’s amendment: House Rules Committee LGBTQ rights advocates celebrated the surprising victory shortly afterward. “This was a horrifying, vicious attack on service members and military family members, and our families were beside themselves in fear,” said Ashley Broadway-Mack, president of the American Military Partner Association. “It would have been beyond unconscionable to rip away the critically important health care of transgender military family members and service members — care that their doctors believe is medically necessary — and would have severely harmed thousands of military families and undermine military readiness.” Openly transgender people have served in the military since October 2016. The costs of providing them with gender transition-related medical care are relatively low: RAND estimates 30 to 140 people would seek new hormone treatments per year, and 25 to 130 would seek gender transition-related surgeries. That amounts to a 0.04 to 0.13 percent increase in health care expenditures, per RAND. Despite that data, Hartzler argued during the debate that it’s too expensive for the military to cover the added medical costs for transgender troops. “It decreases deployability of soldiers” and ends up “diverting money from other defense priorities,” she said. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who supported her amendment, was more callous. “Choose what gender you are before you join,” he declared. “Figure out whether you’re a man or a woman before you join.” The American Medical Association has emphasized the medical necessity of mental health care, hormone therapy and gender-transition surgery as forms of therapeutic treatment for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a “serious medical condition” that stems from the distress a person feels when his or her gender identity does not correspond with his or her birth sex. Not all transgender people are diagnosed with gender dysphoria; some don’t experience that distress. When Hartzler’s amendment was attached to the defense authorization bill late Wednesday night in a House Rules Committee hearing, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) tried to strip it out. Every Republican present voted no. Those members were Reps. Pete Sessions (Texas), Tom Cole (Okla.), Rob Woodall (Ga.), Michael Burgess (Texas), Doug Collins (Ga.), Bradley Byrne (Ala.), Dan Newhouse (Wash.) and Liz Cheney (Wyo.). This article has been updated to reflect the outcome of the House vote.The braking function in electric cars differs from conventional ones significantly: In electric vehicles, as much as possible of the deceleration effect of the braking process is used to transform kinetic energy into electric energy by switching the electric motor into generator mode. This energy, in turn, is used to recharge the battery; the term for this approach is recuperation. As a consequence, the mechanic wheel brake is used less frequently and therefore can be designed differently in comparison to conventional cars. In Contienntal’s new design, the rim consists of two aluminum parts (Al) - the inner Al carrier and the Al-brake disc and the outer Al rim base with the tire. In contrast to conventional wheel brakes, the brake on the New Wheel Concept engages from the inside into the Al pulley. This allows it to have a significantly larger diameter than conventional systems, which allows the use of an aluminum disc without the loss of brake performance. The corrosion-free Al brake disc prevents the formation of rust (as is normal with grey cast-iron discs). Continental’s concept is based on a new division between wheel and axle. The wheel here consists of two parts, the aluminum carrier star, which remains permanently attached to the wheel hub and the rim bed, which is bolted to the carrier. The wheel brake is fastened to the wheel carrier of the axle and engages from the inside into an annular aluminum brake disc, which in turn is bolted to the carrier wheel. The design allows a large brake disk friction radius, as the space available in the wheel is optimally utilized. "It is absolutely essential in electric vehicles that the driver is wasting as little energy as possible on the friction brake," says Paul Linhoff, Head of Chassis & Safety Brake Pre-Development at Continental. "In the event of a deceleration the vehicle’s momentum is to be converted into electricity in theAs Venezuela Enters 3rd Month Of Protests, Anti-Maduro Ire Finds New Target Enlarge this image toggle caption Fernando Llano/AP Fernando Llano/AP It has been more than 60 days since Venezuela's Supreme Court moved to dissolve the country's National Assembly. The move, intended to eliminate a thorn in the side of embattled President Nicolas Maduro, was reversed after three days — but the political fallout has barreled into its third month, roiling city streets across the country. In that time, the list of protesters' demands — from the resumption of local elections to an end to the nationwide food shortage to even the ouster of Maduro — has grown. And the death toll has mounted. As The Associated Press reports, at least 60 people have died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, and at least 1,000 protesters have been jailed. toggle caption Ariana Cubillos/AP More than 250 people were injured in Monday's protests alone, according to the BBC. Lately, the opposition's ire has affixed to a new target, one outside Venezuela's borders: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Last week, the Manhattan-based investment bank bought bonds from Petróleos de Venezuela, the state-run oil and natural gas company. According to multiple media outlets, the deal included $2.8 billion in bonds — a purchase that, despite the reportedly steep discount the company offered, is a much-needed boon to an oil-rich government reeling partly from anemic oil prices worldwide. In a statement, Goldman confirmed the purchase but not how much it paid. The bank said it did not buy the bonds directly from the Venezuelan government. "We recognize that the situation is complex and evolving and that Venezuela is in crisis," the bank said in a statement quoted by Reuters. "We agree that life there has to get better, and we made the investment in part because we believe it will." Enlarge this image toggle caption Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-heavy National Assembly, did not accept this explanation. "Given the unconstitutional nature of Nicolas Maduro's administration, its unwillingness to hold democratic elections and its systematic violation of human rights, I am dismayed that Goldman Sachs decided to enter this transaction with the Maduro regime," Borges wrote in a letter earlier this week. "It is apparent Goldman Sachs decided to make a quick buck off the suffering of the Venezuelan people," he added. Borges also promised "to recommend to any future democratic government of Venezuela not to recognize or pay on these bonds," which he says were bought at a 69 percent discount. On Tuesday, Reuters reports, the National Assembly voted to request that the U.S. investigate the deal, and protesters gathered outside Goldman Sachs' headquarters in New York City. toggle caption Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images; Fernando Llano/AP Meanwhile, in Venezuela's city streets, violence between riot police and protesters has shown no sign of relenting. Another opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, alleged that he and his entourage were "ambushed" and beaten by the Venezuelan National Guard at a protest in the capital, Caracas. A visibly bruised Capriles detailed the incident at a news conference Monday, according to the BBC: " 'I was practically choking [from the tear gas]... when a National Guard team ambushed us,' he said, showing photos of the injuries some of his supporters had suffered. " 'They took all of their gas masks and their helmets,' Mr. Capriles said. " 'I asked them "what is wrong with you?" and their answer was to hit me with a helmet in the face.' " toggle caption Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images Maduro continues to maintain that the protests are driven by coup-minded opposition leaders and outside powers — foremost the U.S. — seeking to undermine his government. Many of those foreign leaders, for their part, plan to meet Wednesday to discuss a possible way forward in negotiating with Maduro's government. The Organization of American States is gathering foreign ministers from Western Hemisphere countries to "establish a mandate for new diplomatic engagement," according to a senior U.S. State Department official. "What is happening there in Venezuela today, the people need to recognize — and in fact, I think it's quite clear now that they do — the common Venezuelan citizen recognizes that they are not alone," the official says, "that the hemisphere is in solidarity with them, that the hemisphere is supportive of their just calls for democracy."UNESCO's International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme at a session held in Jönkoping, Sweden named the region of Ohrid and Prespa a cross-border biosphere reserve. UNESCO's decision is a recognition of the commitment and an excellent stimulation for heightened tourist promotion thus enabling better economic profit in the region, it was noted. "The creation of biosphere reserve is a sublimate of all existing protected strips in the region and the new status is expected to increase the interest in the world for our region from an environmental and business point of view. People and biospheres are one single body through sustainable development and biosphere reserve is a huge investment for the future of Ohrid and Prespa, said Dejan Panovski - Macedonia's representative of the Lake Ohrid bilateral secretariat. The nomination for declaring the Ohrid-Prespa region a biosphere reserve was promoted by the Lake Ohrid bilateral secretariat, which was supported by MAB committees, the environment ministries and the UNESCO national committees of Macedonia and Albania. The creation of a reserve for Lake Ohrid's mouth, which also includes the region of Prespa, is a result of an initiative by the Lake Ohrid bilateral secretariat as part of the Lake Ohrid preservation agreement, implemented jointly by Macedonia and Albania. So called 'biosphere reserves' are areas where human activities are focused on sustainable use of natural resources and provision of adequate conditions for humans to live in harmony with fauna and flora. UNESCO recognizes the biosphere reserves as areas known for their uniqueness.••• Quote: [T]hey discovered that selling on a platform like Amazon was totally different from running their drugstore or even a standalone website... They could sell whatever they wanted, at whatever price, for whatever period of time. A marketplace vendor doesn't worry about stocking a full line of shampoos, or whether certain soaps are always on sale. If they want to sell lotion one week and hairspray the next, they can do that. Early on, the guys decided that it would be easiest to offer whatever their suppliers had in stock. They built each online listing, and had a developer code a script that scraped the suppliers' databases to enter each product's information. When a customer ordered something, they in turn would order it from the supplier, pick it up, and then pack and ship it. That's still the model, more or less, though nowadays they order in bulk using sales projections and need three trucks and a van to pick everything up. Inventory often stays in their warehouse only for a few hours before going right back out the door. The business is less like traditional merchandising than it is like a commodities trader from a bygone era, buying and selling well-known goods and turning a profit on each transaction. Quote: The next time you buy some humdrum product on Amazon, pause for a moment and check the Other Sellers listed on the right side of the page. That lip balm? Thirteen vendors offer it. Those vitamins? Twenty. As you click and shop, a battle rages in that little box, fought every day by entrepreneurs like [Pharmapacks'] Vagenas and Tramunti on practically every one of Amazon's 410 million product pages. This is the Amazon Marketplace, where anybody can sell just about anything right alongside Amazon's own wares. Unlike eBay, where each vendor maintains a separate listings page, Amazon tidily groups its Marketplace sellers by item, hiding away the inferior offers, to showcase the best deals up front. (In seller parlance, landing the number-one spot is called "getting the buy box.") What looks so clean on your screen obscures the messy and massive jungle of the Marketplace: There are now more than two million sellers on Amazon. While the Seattle-based giant still sells the most popular items on the site itself, Marketplace sellers now ship nearly half of the products — about two billion items each year, all told — and those sales are growing twice as fast as Amazon's, according to the consultancy ChannelAdvisor. The Marketplace started in 2000 selling used books. In 2016, it's a retail phenomenon as significant as any in the past 50 years — together these sellers ring up what ChannelAdvisor estimates to be $132 billion in sales each year. That's more than Walmart sold in 1997. Yet we know so little about who they are. ••• Quote: Dear Trade Customers, Greetings from Mayfair Games! Our team wishes you all well. After all, we wouldn't be looking forward to our 27th year of publishing fine games without your strong, enduring support. We're writing to you to outline our retail pricing policy. Our manufacturer's suggested retail prices ("MSRPs") reflect our firm belief in a healthy balance between "free trade" and "fair trade." Mayfair Games embraces and supports healthy competition. We feel that in order for our market — and thus our company — to prosper now and over the long term all our partners in the distribution chain need to respect this balance. Whenever a firm threatens healthy competition among our trade customers, and thus endangers this balance, we must act in a vigorous, even-handed fashion to police the distribution and sale of our fine products. Mayfair Games doesn't intend to specifically dictate how its customers do business...but we will act in cases of predatory, irrational, or patently detrimental trade activity... So, it's important that all of our trade customers know where we stand on pricing and discounting... • Distributors should sell Mayfair Games products at no less than a 25% margin or no more than a 50% discount off MSRP. • Retailers should sell Mayfair Games products at no more than a 20% discount off MSRP, or the appropriate ratio given exchange rates. Trade customers that violate these guidelines shall be subject to sanctions. If necessary, we will cut them off. We're well aware of the fact that our individual customers
even at the expense of veterans relying on it for matters of life and death.Officials said bombardment of the airport resumed early on Sunday after cease-fire efforts between the two groups battling for control of Tripoli's international airport failed. At least two people were reported to have been killed when a stray rocket hit their house, a security official told AP news agency. The two militias - one from the western city of Zintan, which controls the facility, and one composed of Islamist-led fighters including militants from Misrata, to the east of Tripoli - have been fighting over the airport for a week. The fighting has caused extensive damage to planes and airport infrastructure. Aviation officials say the airport will have to remain closed for months. Security chaos The airport in the capital is a main transport hub in the North African country, and has gained even more importance after the second largest one in Benghazi was closed down by violent clashes months ago. The online newspaper "Libya Herald" said earlier this week that more than 35 people had been killed in fighting around the airport so far. Militias of various leanings have run riot in the country following the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. A parliamentary election on June 25, in which the Islamists were defeated, has done nothing to resolve the tensions between rival towns, tribes, regions and the central government. tj/hc (AFP, AP)Samsung is taking measures to curb what's been described as an "excessive drinking culture" prevalent throughout Korea. The Korean people are, according to the World Health Organization, the biggest consumers of spirits in the world, and drinking is an important part of business culture. Employees often gather for hoesik — Korean for "staff dinner" — to drink and bond with one another, and not participating in such events can stunt your career development. Back in August, Samsung implemented a strict code for hoesik, known as the "119 rule." The new code dictates that hoesik must be restricted to one venue, one type of alcohol, and drinking must stop at 9pm. According to The Wall Street Journal, drinking is so ingrained within Korean culture that some jobseekers "detail their drinking ability on their resumes." Talking with Korean paper Chosun, an anonymous Samsung official said that the plan was to change business culture for good. "Bad drinking habits will be changed, so that a saying like 'you can't get promoted if you can't drink' disappears." Hyunhu Jang contributed to this articleFrom QQ: Hong Kong Triad Members Gather in Shenzhen, 160 Taken Away by SWAT Team March 28th, 9pm, Shenzhen police struck swiftly and heavily at a Hong Kong Triad event, with police taking 160 people during the operation back to the public security bureau for investigation. Police say they are closely following the activities of the Hong Kong Triads and their members in Shenzhen. On the night of March 28, a restaurant in Shenzhen’s Futian Port was surrounded by a large police force. Shenzhen police had confirmed that Hong Kong Triad members had assembled in the restaurant, with police dispatching a 350 man police force in this sweep, and 160 people taken away for investigation. The people who were taken away were all members of “Wo Shing Wo”, the largest Triad in Hong Kong. They were holding a triad ceremony that night at the restaurant. At present, the related investigation is still ongoing. Road sealed, sirens flickering, guns loaded, and ready for battle. The incident took place at Futian Dexingcheng Restaurant, just one block away from Futian Port. Because it’s close to the port, this restaurant has become a gathering place for Hong Kongers. Besides the restaurant, there are also other facilities such as a spa and health club. On March 28, starting from 9:00pm, a large number of police surrounded the Dexingcheng Restaurant in Futian Port, drawing the attention of city residents. SWAT police with shields in their hands sealed off the restaurant, strictly forbidding the entry or exit of any unrelated persons, while policemen carrying SMGs and wearing bulletproof vests entered the restaurant to investigate. Futian Port Yuheng Road was sealed off, and facing city residents who came to look on, police warned that they were in the midst of a major operation, without giving any further explanation of the situation. The restaurant revealed that a large group of people had gathered at the second floor of the restaurant that night, with flags displayed, a lion dance to liven things up, making for quite the lively scene. Then the police suddenly arrived. The Triad members at the scene did not do anything drastic, and cooperated with the police investigation. Up to the morning hours of March 29, the police investigation was still going, with some city residents claiming that the police later bringing in several buses, taking away every person involved in the case. After Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau released this news through their official microblog, it immediately triggered heated netizen discussion, especially with the photos published making quite a few netizens successively exclaiming that it’s like “watching a police and gangster blockbuster film”. Because of close geographical proximity, Hong Kong Triads have been infiltrating into Shenzhen and other mainland cities for years, with Shenzhen and Hong Kong police linked and working together to crack down on organized crime activities. The people taken away ere all members of the “Wo Shing Wo” Hong Kong Triad. Hong Kong Triads are mainly represented by 8 forces, with “Wo Shing Wo” of the “Wo” branch being the largest of the Hong Kong Triads, claiming to have 200,000 members. Police guarding the perimeter of the scene. Comments from QQ: 腾讯网友 □ □夜朦胧: Hehe, didn’t arrange things with the mainland leaders beforehand, right? You can go ahead and strut around in Hong Kong, but in the mainland, it won’t do the moment you reach the shore, so you can forget about bringing that swagger to the mainland. Don’t you know the mainland is whose territory? Not to mention, coming with so few in number, and not even informing me, such disrespect to me. If you had told me that you were coming, I’d buy you this dinner. And how would I let something like this happen to you? It’s obvious you don’t know the rules/way things are done, and yet you still dare to be a gangster? 腾讯网友 Aaron: 8 years ago, the Hong Kong Triads opened a super luxurious disco called the Zhizunbao in Zhuhai [city in Guangdong]. On the day of the opening, many Triad leaders came to Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port from Hong Kong on their yachts. Once on shore, over 10 Ferraris raced all the way to Zhizunbao. That night, the entire club of about 2,000 people were arrested, with every jail in all the local Zhuhai police stations packed. It was said that the armed police who arrested them were all dispatched from the province, that even the Zhuhai municipal Public Security Bureau didn’t know anything about it. 腾讯福州市网友 234846853: They weren’t committing any crimes, so why were they arrested? And carrying guns, it was obviously a violation of citizen rights! These police officers should instead go do something about coal miners. They should use loaded guns to stop coal miners from going into mines! 腾讯网友速度与激情: (responding to above) How do you know they didn’t commit any crimes? Do you really think the police would arrest gangsters for no reason!? Kid, you’re so naive, go take a bath and go to bed! 腾讯网友恭默思道: It must’ve been the Hong Kong government who tipped [the mainland police] off. They don’t dare to touch them in Hong Kong, so they let the mainland take care of it! 腾讯重庆市网友 □ MAX □: The Triads are people of power, and with very strong backgrounds/connections. They were caught here [mainland], but they’ll be released over there [Hong Kong]. And in the end, a press conference will be held saying it was just some bosses hanging out and having dinner, that there weren’t any criminal acts, so they can’t be punished. 腾讯金华市网友康仕诚: How come I don’t see Chicken [a character from the movie Young and Dangerous]. 腾讯网友田旭东液压: Recruiting new members. This line of work is actually very good, at least they don’t have to live with their heads down in any dark dynasties. Both the underground society and the government would show them some respect. 腾讯网友善解人衣: Were they filming a Young and Dangerous sequel??? Comments from IFeng: 凤凰网山东省潍坊市网友凤凰网友: The level of the wine and food is so average, even worse than what village and county governments in the mainland feast upon with public money. 凤凰网云南省昆明市网友凤凰网友: 1. From the perspective of the law, the mainland prohibits the existence of organized crime. From the perspective of organized crime, the Hong Kong Triad was outside their territory. 2. Never cover your own sins and faults with other people’s sins and faults, always stick to the facts. 凤凰网北京市网友 ahchewwww: Let the Hong Kongers know just who is the most niubi organization. 凤凰网广西南宁市网友凤凰网友: A group of morons, coming to the mainland for a party, they were asking for it. 凤凰网广东省网友 linboandy: 200k members?? What’s that in the face of 8000k members? [Referring to the number of Chinese Communist Party members.] 凤凰网广东省深圳市网友凤凰网友: The Triad hasn’t made any money, their dinner was so simple! 凤凰网北京市网友手机用户: Triads openly and boldly gathering in the mainland. Isn’t that just asking for trouble? 凤凰网北京市网友手机用户: The bosses were so frugal, only four dishes… 凤凰网北京市网友手机用户: (responding to above) Yeah, making money isn’t easy these days. 凤凰网未知IP网友 meishaoqing:Facebook slowly has migrated onto other platforms since its launch. But a recent patent filing shows it potentially could be keeping an eye on something more significant: your webcam. CBInsights reported the patent in question would be for a system that would use a smartphone or laptop’s front-facing camera to take brief photos of you while you’re using Facebook. According to the patent, Facebook could then use these temporary photos to determine your emotions when seeing various types of posts on the News Feed. With this information, the social media network could then provide content tailored to keep you on the service for longer. Read: Facebook Experiment Raises Legal Questions For instance, if you look at a photo of a friend or animal and appear happy, Facebook would include more of that type of content. Conversely, Facebook could also reduce the number of times you see content you dislike or to which you react poorly. While Facebook already has ways to self-curate what you see on your News Feed through unfollowing and other methods, the proposed facial emotion detection system would be a significant move to expand and automate this process. To be sure, patent filings aren’t a sure indicator of a company’s product roadmap. Facebook told the Independent the filing for the webcam detection patent was purely exploratory. "We often seek patents for technology we never implement, and patents should not be taken as an indication of future plans,” Facebook told the Independent. But at the same time, the public relations downside for Facebook on the patent would be clear. While Facebook has often been given substantial leeway from users thanks to its sheer scale and ubiquity, the idea the network was secretly taking photos of users without their consent would be a potential headache for the company. In addition, the patent is not the first time Facebook reportedly has investigated higher-detail ways of understanding its users’ emotions. Earlier this year, Facebook came under fire for a program that tracks the emotional states of teenage users through their posts and comments. Facebook then subsequently used this information to target these users with specific ads. Read: Facebook Gathered Data About User Emotions, Used It To Target Vulnerable Teens Previously, Facebook also allegedly used account search histories to target advertising for users based on medical conditions. The social media site was criticized for allowing ads that could target users based on race. In 2014, Facebook was revealed to have done a large-scale experiment wherein staffers adjusted the feed of around 700,000 Facebook users to see if the company could manipulate their emotions.Strange Trivia in Sports - Bicycle Racing Some strange trivia, facts, records, and events in the history of the sport of Bicycle Racing. BICYCLE RACING Tsugunobu Mitsuishi of Tokyo, Japan, set the slow cycling record by staying stationary for 5 hours 25 minutes. This phenomenal record, set in 1965, seems to have discouraged competition in the sport. Old-time 6-day bicycle champion Bobby Walthour, broke his left collarborne 18 times, and his right collarbone 28 times in competition. During his career, he amassed 46 stitches on his legs, and 69 stitches over his face and head. Also, Walthour endured 32 fractured ribs, 8 broken fingers, and a broken thumb. He was considered fatally injured 6 times and twice pronounced dead--but lived on. At an 1898 6-day "Go as You Please" race in Madison Square Garden, Charlie Miller pedaled 2,093.4 mi. So many of his rivals were hospitalized for exhaustion that public fury just about put an end to the 6-day bicycle races. The record for the highest speed on a bicycle was set by Frenchman Jose Meiffret. On July 19, 1962, at Freiburg, West Germany, Meiffret pedaled at a rate of 127.243 mph. Meiffret was 50 years old when he set the mark. Sheila Young of Detroit was the 1st woman from the U.S. ever to win a world cycling title. In fact, her 1973 victory in San Sebastian, Spain, was the 1st cycling championship won by any U.S. entry since 1912. Six months earlier, 23-year-old Miss Young had captured the world title in the 500-m. speed ice skating event at Stromsund, Sweden. She was the 1st person ever to win in world championship competition in both sports. Originally, Miss Young took up cycling to condition her body for ice skating. Her brother, Rodger, was a cyclist on the 1972 U.S. Olympic team in Munich.(CNN) -- A Florida plumber was found guilty Friday of kidnapping and murdering a police detective's daughter at a trial in which his victim's voice filled the courtroom as her desperate 911 call was played to the jury. Denise Lee's frantic 911 call was the centerpiece of her killer's trial. Jurors deliberated just two hours before finding Michael L. King, 38, guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery in the January 17, 2008 abduction and slaying of Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old mother of two. Lee's family, including her father, Charlotte County Sheriff's Det. Rick Goff, cried as the verdict was announced; King showed no reaction. The jury must next decide whether King, who was a stranger to Lee, should be executed for his crimes. According to testimony during the weeklong trial, Lee was taken from her home sometime after 2 p.m., driven to King's home, sexually assaulted, then shot in the head and buried in a ditch. Watch King listen to the verdict » King's attorney, Jerry Meisner, did not present any witnesses. But prosecutors told the jury that Lee's ring was found in King's car, and hair matching hers was found on duct tape found at King's house. According to testimony and court records, Lee fought frantically for her life, banging on the windows of King's green Camaro, screaming for help and begging one witness, "Call the cops." Watch the defendant as he hears the 911 tape » Several people reported seeing something suspicious and called 911. But authorities didn't find Lee in time, and allegations that dispatchers mishandled the calls have led to criticism of the local 911 system. Lee's body was found on January 19 near where police stopped King's car some six hours after the abduction. The jury heard two 911 calls -- Lee's and one from a concerned witness. Don't Miss In Session: Detective's daughter murdered In Session: Detective's daughter murdered Trials on demand Lee used one of King's cell phones to call 911 as she was driven across three counties. As the six-minute tape was played for the jury, her voice sounded tremulous at times, and frantic at others. The call came in at 6:14 p.m. on January 17. A 911 operator repeatedly said "Hello," and Lee was heard pleading with her captor: "I'm sorry. I just want to see my family.... I just want to see my family again. Please.... Oh please, I just want to see my family again. Let me go." The man, whose voice was identified in court as King's, cursed at her for trying to attract attention. A radio played loudly in the background. The 911 operator asked her address. Eventually, Lee managed to say, "My name is Denise. I'm married to a beautiful husband and I just want to see my kids again.... Please, God, please protect me." The 911 operator asked where she was, and then whether she knew the man. The operator asked if she knew her location. "Please just take me to my house. Can you take me home?" Lee said. The connection was then lost. Sixteen minutes later, driver Jane Kowalski called 911 to report what she thought was a child abduction. She said she was stopped at a light and could hear screaming from another car "and not a happy scream, a get-me-out-of-here scream." She testified that she saw someone banging on the car window, slapping her hand hard to demonstrate. "It was very loud," she told the jury. "It was completely horrific, terrified, panicky. I can't think of enough words, it was terrible." She followed the car for a while, but lost it. Police quickly traced Lee's call to King's cell phone, and were looking for him. But Kowalski's call was never passed on to officers. Other witnesses also helped establish the timeline for the terrifying final hours of Lee's life. Lee's former neighbor, Jennifer Eckert, 24, testified that she saw the green Camaro circle the block three or four times between 1 and 2 p.m. and pull into the Lees' driveway. She said she was certain of the time, because she was watching her favorite TV soap. King's cousin, Harold Muxlow, testified that King stopped by his house between 5:30 and 6 p.m., and asked to borrow a flashlight, a gas can, and a shovel. He testified that a "girl's voice" from the car asked him to "call the cops" but Muxlow said King told him, "Don't worry. It's nothing." The 911 communications breakdown in connection with Kowalski's call was blamed on a shift change and two dispatchers were suspended, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Lee's husband, Nathan, has launched a foundation bearing her name that works toward 911 reform. He plans to file a lawsuit next month, a family spokesman said. In Session's Nancy Leung contributed to this reportThe statement of support comes after fresh diplomatic talks to end the Syrian conflict got underway in Switzerland Published 9:47 PM, October 15, 2016 BENAULIM, India – India on Saturday, October 15, backed Russia's efforts to bring about a settlement in war-ravaged Syria, the leaders of the two traditional allies said in a statement following their annual talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they "condemned terrorism in all its forms", during discussions in the Indian tourism state of Goa. "The two sides are convinced that the conflict in Syria should be peacefully resolved through comprehensive and inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue... and relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the joint statement issued after the talks concluded said. "Both sides underlined the necessity of strengthening the cessation of hostilities (and) delivery of humanitarian aid to besieged areas. "India recognized (the) Russian side's effort towards achieving a political and negotiated settlement of the situation in Syria." The statement comes as fresh diplomatic talks to end the Syrian conflict got underway in Switzerland, the first since Washington halted negotiations with Moscow this month on efforts to revive a failed ceasefire. Syria was plunged this month into some of its worst violence of the years-long war, as government forces backed by Russian airpower push a brutal assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Tensions are high between Moscow and the West, which has accused Russia of potential war crimes over its bombing campaign. India has enjoyed a decades-long strong relationship with Russia. During the Cold War, non-aligned India developed closer ties with the Soviet Union, while the US allied with Pakistan. In recent years New Delhi has cultivated deeper diplomatic and economic ties with Washington and Modi enjoys a strong relationship with US President Barack Obama. – Rappler.comMore than 50 Norwegian oil and energy companies have been hacked by unknown attackers, according to government security authorities. A further 250 firms have been advised by the Norwegian government that they ought to check their networks and systems for evidence of a breach, The Local reports. State-owned Statoil, Norway's largest petro company, appears to be the main target of what's described as the country's biggest ever hack attack. Statoil is a major contributor to the Norwegian government's coffers, and as such - unlike most major oil and gas companies, perhaps - its revenues mainly go to fuel the Scandinavian social miracle rather than funnelling wealth to the usual suspects. National Security Authority Norway (Nasjonal Sikkerhetsmyndighet – NSM) passed on the warnings after it was tipped off regarding imminent attacks by "international contacts". The methods and motives of the unknown perpetrators remain unclear. Attacks of this type in Norway have been seen before. Three years ago, at least ten oil, gas and defence sector firms in in Norway were hacked via targeted spear-phishing emails. Unidentified hackers made off with industrial drawings, contracts and login credentials. ®Yep, and just like that you’re dead. Templar Assassin is quick and effective. For those who purchased tickets to The International, you should be receiving an email soon with all the information needed to attend. If you haven’t cracked open your ticket, now’s the time since unclaimed tickets will be going away soon. Speaking of high end tournaments, there’s quite a few running right now. You can find passes for the Star Ladder LAN Finals, It’s Gosu Monthly Madness Asia, and The Defense in the Dota 2 Store. If you purchased a ticket for The Defense before today, you will receive a crate and key. Magical surprises await inside as a thank you to all those that helped us get our Tournament System into shape. Finally, an important PSA on behalf of the Radiant Honor Guard: If you find the stolen chest do not, I repeat, do NOT try to open it with this key. Contained within are relics of unknown power and only certain… wizards are qualified to handle them. Changelog is located here.This is too much. The Republicans are basically admitting that Katherine Harris stole the election for George Bush. Republicans are also questioning the credibility of Minnesota’s Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, the man tasked with overseeing the recount. A background document distributed by national Republicans portrays Ritchie as a far-left, Democratic version of Katherine Harris, the former Republican secretary of state whose actions helped decide the 2000 presidential election. The document accuses Ritchie, who was elected in 2006 with the assistance of a progressive-led group designed to elected Democratic election administrators, of having connections to the controversial voter registration group ACORN and the Communist Party of America. As Al Franken gets closer to victory, the Republicans are unraveling. A recount is definitely on its way. Oh, what fun...The Atlanta Falcons have released wide receiver Harry Douglas. Douglas took to Twitter to thank the organization and its fans. Thanking @AtlantaFalcons for my 7 years in ATL & the opportunity to play in the city I grew up. First class organization. Much luv 2 fans — Harry Douglas (@HDouglas83) February 27, 2015 Following a breakout 2013 season, Douglas played in a career-low 12 games last season due to a bruised foot in 2014. He finished with 51 catches for 556 yards and two touchdowns for an underwhelming Falcons team that finished 6-10. Harry Douglas caught 258 passes for 3,130 yards and eight touchdowns in his six seasons with the Falcons. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson By releasing the veteran, the team will save $3.5 million off the salary cap. New Falcons coach Dan Quinn addressed the release of both Douglas and running back Steven Jackson while appearing at a community event on Friday. He said both were tough decisions to make. "Especially guys that you hold in such high regard," Quinn said. "Coached against them both a bunch and know how tough and competitive both are. So again, it's always hard." Defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux expressed his respect for Douglas. "Harry was more like a little brother to me," Babineaux said. "Coming in his rookie year, he got hurt. But to see him battle back from it and he came back better than ever. Coming back, he wanted to make sure that he could prove to everybody that he was the same person he was when he came out of college. Harry's done a lot for us his seven years here in Atlanta. I just wish him the best. It's unfortunate that he can't stay here. That's just that side of the business that we all don't like." Center Joe Hawley was surprised to learn of Douglas' release. "That's tough," Hawley said. "Harry has been around for a long time. He's been a great guy in the locker room. It's kind of sad. I feel for him. He stepped up when we had injuries and was a reliable target. So hopefully he finds a spot to land quickly." The Falcons also released starting left guard Justin Blalock and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi. Blalock, who had two years left on his contract, started 125 games over eight seasons after being drafted in the second round out of Texas. He would have counted $7.9 million against the cap in 2015. New Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan brought with him a new outside-zone blocking scheme which relies on lighter, quicker offensive linemen to help initiate the run game. Such a system doesn't cater to Blalock, who is a heftier player at 326 pounds and better known for his pass protection than run blocking. Massaquoi, a fifth-round pick out of Troy in 2012, started seven games in three seasons, including three in 2014 when he had two sacks. Massaquoi had a career-high four sacks in 2013. Information from ESPN.com's Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure and The Associated Press contributed to this report.This article is over 1 year old The 27-year-old was a dancer with the troupe that won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, and had recently emigrated Diversity pays tribute to former member Rob Anker after fatal crash in Canada The dance troupe Diversity has paid tribute to former member Rob Anker, after he died in a car crash at the age of 27. The British dancer was killed on Thursday morning in Canada, where he had moved to live with his fiancee Cyndi. The couple married in September last year. Anker was a member of the group that first became famous in 2009 after winning ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, beating Scottish singer Susan Boyle to the £100,000 first prize. Diversity, whose members include Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely, tweeted on Saturday morning: Diversity (@Diversity_Tweet) A former member of our group has tragically passed away. He inspired so many with his talent and was taken far too soon. R.I.P Rob 🙏🏼💔 Essex-born Anker, who joined Diversity after their Britain’s Got Talent win, had gone on to perform with artists such as Paloma Faith and Peter Andre and appeared on TV shows including The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and Take Me Out. He was also in the cast of the West End production of the Michael Jackson musical Thriller Live. Friday night’s performance of the show was dedicated to the former cast member. A Facebook post read: “He had incredible talent, great personality and was very popular amongst many. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. News of his death came after he was named in local reports of the collision in the city of Vaughan, in the York region of Ontario province. A spokesman for Canada’s York regional police said a Chevrolet Cobalt and a Ford F550 truck collided in Major Mackenzie Drive just before 6am on Thursday. They said that the driver of the Chevrolet died from his injuries, but the other driver was unhurt. Tributes have been paid to Anker on social media: Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Robert Anker, our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends, family and the whole of Diversity. Choreographer Dean Lee tweeted: D E A N L E E (@DeanAnthLee) Rob Anker. I have no words to speak after hearing of your passing. This is truly heart breaking. Thanks for the memories. Shine bright. A JustGiving page has been set up to help his family travel to Canada for the funeral, and has already passed its £5,000 target. His cousin Rochelle Hanson, who founded the page, wrote: “The family are devastated. He was an amazing and talented dancer. We would love to ensure that his family don’t worry or stress about money at this time.” A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the death of a British man in Canada. We are providing assistance to his family at this sad time.”The Galaxy Tab A has become the latest Samsung device to make the jump to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new version of the OS (Android 6.0.1 to be exact) is rolling out to the 9.7-inch Wi-Fi variant (SM-T550) of the tablet in France, with build number T550XXU1BPE1. Expect to see all the under-the-hood features of Marshmallow, including better battery life thanks to Doze and better control over app permissions. Google Now on Tap should be on offer as well. The update is available over Samsung Smart Switch on PCs and via our firmware section. It should also be making its way to users over the air, and a trip into the Settings » About device » Software update menu should let them access the update right away. Own a Galaxy Tab A? Let us know if you have received Marshmallow, and be assured that we will be letting you know once the update rolls out to other regions and to other variants of the tablet. Firmware Details: Model SM-T550 Model name GALAXY Tab A Country France Version Android 6.0.1 Changelist 7931139 Build date Wed, 04 May 2016 05:23:57 +0000 Product code XEF PDA T550XXU1BPE1 CSC T550OXA1BPE1 Thanks, Sanay!Posted on by admin Basswood body. Maple neck. Two humbuckers and one single-coil. Don’t settle for less. With Ibanez less bucks doesn’t mean less looks or less tone. Ibanez GRX guitars have the humbuckers you need for heavy rhythms and riffs; and exciting finishes worthy of a pro axe. To make sure none of the great tone gets lost in the sauce, GRX 6-string models feature the FAT-10 tremolo. Basswood is a comparatively lightweight wood, which makes it very comfortable for extended playing. With a good balance of highs and lows, basswood is right in between alder and mahogany in sound character. Rosewood offers a strong, bright sound and an attractive appearance with a long grain. Feature: This had an alright amount of accessories. It came with a cable, manual, spring, and a bar. The bars really good but the cable broke within a day. The pickups on this guitar is very nice. This guitar is made out of basswood so its sort of light. Its thing and get to play solos. The twin humbuckers with the single in the middle is a nice touch. gives it a really rocky sound nice shark tooth inlays and awesome white binding. Considerably nice trem. The tremolo sometimes have problem. Quality: It was great right out of the box there were no missing or broken parts no blemishes. This guitar is strong, dropped it 2 times heavily on concrete and it still sounds and looks great and it still sounds great. But turning the tone knob all the way is almost like an off button. 3 piece basswood. Solid Body. A brilliant finish. Jumbo frets, they don’t tend to bend much. The tremolo system, this guitar is put together well and mine does not have any blemishes or loose parts. Surprising of the quality despite this thing being made in Indonesia. As with any guitar, if it is taken care of, it will last. Sound: The sound is sweet and crisp EVEN though the amp was junk. The two humbuckers makes the guitar sound great, but with the single coil pickup in the middle makes the guitar really sound at its best. Good sound in various switch positions, from clear to distort. Ease of Use: It’s a little hard. The fret board isn’t easy to move your fingers on and it untunes itself for some odd reason, and the bridge sucks (the whammy bar also messes it up the tuning) besides that, its very good for beginners and those in the middle of the intermediate stage. 5 options on the pick up switches. You can get a lot of combination using the HSH combination. It can handle rhythm & lead sections very easily. The plug it in to a good amp, and it will stand right up and even pass most in the same price range. Value: It’s definitely worth more than it’s price. This guitar is well worth the money. A good quality guitar for the money. You have to trust, this guitar is better than a RG270 series. Check latest price. Desirability: This guitar looks and plays and sounds amazing. The amazing color, and the style are all amazing. the Candy Apple Red and with the shark tooth inlays, this is a sharp looking guitar as an extra to play. Overall: If you have confidence for Ibanez, this is a good choice for you to get a RG with an affordable price, this guitar is pretty lovely. This is guitar for beginners and it can be improved. Technical Info: GRG neck Maple neck material Basswood body 24 medium frets Rosewood finger board FAT 10 bridge PSND1 (H) neck PU PSNDS (S) mid PU PSND2 (H) bridge PU Sharktooth inlay Chrome hardware Buy Now! Tags: GRG170DX, Ibanez Categories: 6 String Guitar, Ibanez // Comments Off on Ibanez GRG170DX Electric Guitar[Haskell-cafe] Announce: Haskell Platform 8.0.2 On behalf of the Haskell Platform team, I'm happy to announce the release of Haskell Platform 8.0.2 Now available at https://www.haskell.org/platform/ This includes GHC 8.0.2, cabal-install 1.24.0.2, and stack 1.3.2, all with many bugfixes and improvements since the last platform release. This platform release we've cleaned up the webpage a bit, and renamed the "minimal" distribution to the "core" distribution to highlight that it is the recommended approach (and simplified the accompanying text). A number of improvements have been made to the windows installer -- notably the /S option for silent install is now in fully working order, and we have the flags /STACK and /D (for stack and platform-ghc install paths). The installer expects no quoting of paths, even with spaces within the paths, like so: HaskellPlatform-8.0.2-full-x86_64-setup.exe /S /STACK=c:\My install path for stack\local\bin /D=c:\program files\Haskell\Platform\8.0.2 There is also an updated version of msys2 included, which includes pacman, et al. to ease the installation of libraries with more complex foreign dependencies. Changes to Contents: * As a result of transitive dependencies of platform packages, the integer-logarithms and call-stack packages have been added to the full platform. A full list of contents is available at https://www.haskell.org/platform/contents.html Thanks to all the contributors to this release, thanks to all the package and tool maintainers and authors, and a big thanks to the GHC team for all their hard work. A list of new GHC changes is available at: https://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/blog/ghc-8.0.2-released A list of cabal changes is available at: https://hackage.haskell.org/package/cabal-install-1.24.0.2/changelog The new cabal documentation page is at: https://cabal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ A list of stack changes is at: https://docs.haskellstack.org/en/stable/ChangeLog/ Happy Haskell Hacking all, Gershom (Note -- one feature we have not implemented yet for the platform but would like to is a generic linux installer that allows one to set a custom location and does not require root. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help with this, please get in touch!)While the ongoing contract of Josh Anderson shouldn’t weigh too heavy on
.” He also said that “sodomy” should not hold the same constitutional status as race and religion. Since 1994, Bush has changed the tone of his rhetoric significantly. In his successful 1998 run for governor, he apologized for his previous comments about African-Americans and campaigned hard in their communities. Jeb has also become a leading figure for accepting gay marriage within the Republican Party. He also strongly advocates granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, a stance unpopular among the party’s base. However, his advisers claim he is still the same conservative he ran as in 1994. “He didn’t change his core principles,” Sally Bradshaw, a close adviser to Bush, told the AP. “He saw a way to bring people along.” Another former aide says that Bush had to change his presentation because his “Ted Cruz-tone” cost him the election. While Bush’s aides feel that a “Ted Cruz-tone” hurt Jeb then, aides for another possible 2016 candidate feel that the actual Cruz will wreck Bush’s chances in the upcoming primary. “Jeb is Common Core, Jeb is immigration, Jeb has been talking about raising taxes recently. Can you imagine Jeb trying to get through a Republican primary? Can you imagine what Ted Cruz is going to do to Jeb Bush? I mean, that’s going to be ugly,” an adviser to Mitt Romney told Buzzfeed Friday. Follow Scott on TwitterEl Salvador’s ruling party is finally challenging the country’s long-standing abortion ban which has imprisoned dozens of women for suffering miscarriages. Congressional leaders of the leftist Farabundo Martí Liberation Front (FMLN) introduced a bill on Tuesday that would allow women to access therapeutic abortions in cases where the fetus is not viable, where the mother was a victim of rape or human-trafficking, or where continuing the pregnancy would endanger the mother’s life or health. Advertisement For more than 20 years, El Salvador has enforced one of the world’s most severe anti-abortion laws, which have been used to prosecute at least 129 women for abortion-related crimes. At least 25 Salvadoran women are currently behind bars for having a miscarriage or stillbirth. The prohibition has also led to more than 35,000 insecure clandestine abortions, according to estimates by the Citizens’ Association for the Decriminalization of Abortion, a prominent organization advocating for changes to El Salvador’s abortion laws. Advertisement The abortion ban has long been an international embarrassment to many members of the ruling FMLN, a former marxist guerrilla group that became a political party in the 1990s and came to power in 2009. Still, the leftist party has gone along with the ban for political reasons—until now. On Tuesday, FMLN congresswoman Lorena Peña, president of El Salvador's Legislative Assembly, introduced legislation to lift the absolute ban. The proposal would essentially revert the current law back to the 1998 version before the total ban was put in place. Proponents say this change would help protect the health and human rights of Salvadoran women and girls, particularly those who are victims of sexual violence, those who face life-threatening diseases like cancer while pregnant, or those whose fetus may have severe birth defects caused by the mosquito-borne Zika virus currently sweeping across the region. Advertisement “Many women in our country are obligated to face high-risk pregnancies, in which their health and life is in danger, since they cannot count on an adequate response by the currently enforced regulations,” said Congresswoman Peña when she introduced the legislation. Using the existing law to force women and girls to carry to term unplanned or life-threatening pregnancies, many of them the result of sexual violence, is not compatible with the “construction of an equal, just society,” Peña added. Teen and childhood pregnancy, particularly as a result of rape, is on the rise in El Salvador. Girls between the ages of 10 and 19 accounted for 30 percent of all pregnancies in the country in 2015, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund. Advertisement In the first eight months of 2016, an average of 11 cases of sexual violence against women were reported each day to El Salvador’s National Civilian Police (PNC), double the number of cases recorded in the same period the year before. Without access to legal abortion, many women in desperate situations choose dangerous options. In fact, suicide is now the third most common cause of death for pregnant women overall and accounts for 57% of the deaths of pregnant girls between the ages of 10 and 19. Given these conditions Congresswoman Peña concluded in her remarks that the issue of abortion is “not only a moral issue, rather a public health issue and a challenge for legislators of conscience to not evade the problem and to open the debate.” Advertisement Many of the country’s largest women’s and reproductive rights groups have thrown their support behind the proposal, including the Alliance for the Health and Life of Women, which represents more than 30 human rights organizations. But strong political opposition to the proposed legislation has quickly emerged. The country’s leading conservative party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), has publicly announced their “total rejection” of the proposal, which they say would “open the door to a practice that violates the moral principles of Salvadoran society.” Advertisement “Abortion is not up for debate, plain and simple, it is not negotiable nor acceptable,” the ARENA party statement continued. It also claimed that the FMLN proposal is meant to create a “smokescreen” to distract from more important issues affecting the country. ARENA wants even stricter anti-abortion laws. The party recently proposed a change to the law that would increase the maximum jail sentence for women accused of having abortions to 50 years. Neither ARENA nor the FMLN have the 43 votes needed to pass a law without support from minority parties. The FMLN holds 31 seats, while ARENA holds 35. The minority parties, most of which are conservative and Christian, would make the deciding votes and are unlikely to support the FMLN's call for partial decriminalization of therapeutic abortion. Advertisement “We are not going to support it,” Congressman Rodolfo Parker of the Christian Democratic Party told La Prensa Gráfica. “We feel we have enough problems in the country to be putting moral questions up for debate.” But supporters of the FMLN proposal say they will fight for the reform despite significant opposition from a number of powerful forces. “It is not difficult to understand that a reform like the one called for by the FMLN… has been demonized,” said Bessy Ríos, a well-known Salvadoran human rights activist. “From my trench, I’ll keep on fighting as a mother and activist because women must unite on major issues, especially when it comes to eliminating regulations that bind the bodies of women.” Advertisement Angelika Albaladejo is a freelance multimedia journalist focused on human and women’s rights, security, gender-based violence and social protest in Latin America, with an eye on U.S. policy and assistance to the region.This Whataburger, H-E-B combination in Hutto is the most Texas thing you'll see all day And we are bursting with pride! The little town of Hutto in Texas was just blessed with a Whataburger attached to an H-E-B convenience store and it's the most Texas thing you've seen today. The little town of Hutto in Texas was just blessed with a Whataburger attached to an H-E-B convenience store and it's the most Texas thing you've seen today. Photo: Courtesy Of Whataburger Photo: Courtesy Of Whataburger Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close This Whataburger, H-E-B combination in Hutto is the most Texas thing you'll see all day 1 / 33 Back to Gallery In case you haven't made your way to Central Texas anytime since mid-January, residents have been enjoying a Texas company combination that is too good to be true. Whataburger and H-E-B joined forces to develop the ultimate Lone-Star-State quick-stop store. An H-E-B convenience store in Hutto, about 30 miles northeast of Austin, features a 24-hour Whataburger drive-through at the side of the building, which opened at the end of January. BURGER VICTORS: Buzzfeed dubs Whataburger better than In-N-Out, Shake Shack H-E-B is leasing the space to the fast food joint in its tenth convenience store, which offers food, filling station and a car wash. Looking at the two Lone-Star-State brands shining next to one another, a Texan can't help but be filled with pride. Click through the gallery to see photos of the new convenience store and continue clicking to learn new things about the two Texas brands that you likely didn't know before. H-E-B HOUSTON: Bellaire H-E-B closure, demo, construction scheduled in March 2017NEW YORK — President Trump on Tuesday defiantly asserted that there is “blame on both sides” for the deadly violence over the weekend in Charlottesville, Va., remarks that inflamed his critics and reignited debate over his hesitance to condemn white supremacists. At a wild, impromptu press conference at Trump Tower, the president defended his initial response that “many sides” were to blame to the violence at the “Unite the Right” rally in Virginia, saying he needed to "know the facts" before calling out neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. In extended remarks on the rally, Trump bulldozed through a statement he made at the White House one day earlier, when he declared that “racism is evil” and decried the white supremacists responsible for fomenting the violent clashes as “criminals and thugs.” The second statement was designed to quell a firestorm of criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike who assailed him for failing to unequivocally condemn the white supremacist groups. But on Tuesday, facing a barrage of questions from reporters about why he did not immediately condemn racist protesters by name, Trump doubled down, saying that his first response was “excellent” and that liberal counterprotesters — whom he dubbed the “alt-left” — were just as much to blame as white supremacists for the violence. “What about the alt-left that came charging at the — as you say, the alt-right?” Trump asked. “Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. As far as I am concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.” That comment drew praise from David Duke, a former KKK leader who attended Saturday’s rally. “Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville & condemn the leftist terrorists in BLM/Antifa,” Duke tweeted. Democrats reacted furiously at Trump’s latest comments, calling them a sign he was not sincere when he condemned racism on Monday. “The president’s press conference today made plain that the statement he gave on Saturday is what he really believes,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “There is only one side to be on when a white supremacist mob brutalizes and murders in America. The American people deserve a president who understands that.” Criticism also came from the president’s own party. Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd said he was not proud of how Trump had handled himself at the press conference. “Apologize,” Hurd said on CNN. “Racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism of any form is unacceptable. The leader of the free world should be unambiguous about that.” “I don't think anybody should be looking at getting props from a grand dragon of the KKK as any kind of sign of success,” he added. Some Trump aides appeared to be surprised by the president’s comments, which he made after an announcement about infrastructure. Reporters were told before the event that National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Elaine Lan ChaoGovernors bullish on infrastructure after Trump talks Former GOP chairman Royce joins lobbying shop Trump nominates Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rosenstein at DOJ MORE would take questions on the infrastructure plan — but that Trump would not. White House chief of staff John Kelly stood to the side of the golden elevator bank close to where Trump spoke, looking down and clasping his hands. Cohn, who stood beside the president, smiled and tried to steal glances with other aides. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders whispered to top communications aide Hope Hicks. After being cloistered inside his Manhattan high rise all day, Trump appeared determined to get his feelings and thoughts off his chest. He bristled at critics who have said he should have condemned white supremacist groups and neo-Nazis immediately and that he didn’t because he feared alienating extremist elements of his base. “I will tell you something. I watched those very closely, much more closely than you people watched it,” Trump said. “And you had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that. But I'll say it right now. You had a group on the other side that came charging in without a permit, and they were very, very violent.” Violent clashes erupted Saturday in Charlottesville, a college town, during a large gathering of white supremacists and far right demonstrators. Heather Heyer, 32, was killed and at least 19 were injured when a car drove into a crowd of counterdemonstrators. The alleged driver, a 20-year-old Ohio man, is accused of having ties to white supremacist groups. Trump called the driver a “disgrace” but declined to say unequivocally whether he committed an act of terrorism. “You can call this terrorism, you can call it murder, you can call it whatever you want,” he said. "The driver of the car is a murderer and what he did was a horrible, horrible, inexcusable thing.” The president said he has not yet contacted the family of Heyer, but said a statement made by her mother “was a beautiful statement … I really appreciated it." When he was asked whether he would visit Charlottesville, the president said he owns "one of the largest wineries in the United States" in the area. Trump purchased the winery in 2011 and later turned it over to his son, Eric. Trump has been quick to condemn terrorist attacks perpetrated by Islamic extremist groups. But he stressed Tuesday he wanted to take his time with the Charlottesville incident. He said that not all of the white nationalists protesting were racists. Some, Trump said, had gathered to protest the taking down of a Confederate statue. “I have condemned neo-Nazis. I have condemned many different groups, but not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me,” Trump said. “Not all of those people were white supremacists, by any stretch. Those people were also there because they wanted to protest taking down of a statue, Robert E. Lee.” A reporter asked whether Trump believes white supremacists were “treated unfairly.” “You had a lot of people in that group who were there to innocently protest, and very legally protest,” Trump said. “I don't know if you know. They had a permit. The other group didn't have a permit. So I only tell you this: There are two sides to a story.” He accused the media of trying to whitewash history, asking if they would support removing statues of former presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson because they owned slaves. “You're changing history, you're changing culture,” Trump said. - This story was updated at 6:38 p.m.It’s been going on for weeks now. A routine catch going between David Bingham’s legs. A sloppy pass to the other team by Nick Rimando in front of goal. Another match on the bench for Brad Guzan. The U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper pool behind first-choice Tim Howard has looked conspicuously thin these days. Given that Howard would be 39 years old for next year’s World Cup and his fitness is hardly a guarantee, that raises questions about the future of the USMNT goalkeeper spot. Who could start in a World Cup as Howard’s successor, and who would be a suitable backup? Article continues below... Players who seemed to be solutions even just last year look less and less likely now. Take Rimando, who has been a go-to backup for the USMNT for years. This past weekend, he put in a rocky performance rife with mistakes. A player once known for his ability to play with the ball at his feet and to move the ball out of the back conceded goals like this: It wasn’t just a bad day in the office for Rimando — an anomaly from an otherwise solid start to the MLS season. Here is a goal he conceded three weeks ago: He’s not alone in this regard, though. Bingham has had his own mistakes to answer for already, just eight weeks into this MLS season. Over the weekend, he misjudged a punch badly enough to practically gift the Houston Dynamo a goal: Again, it wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier in the season, he conceded a shocking own-goal that, much like Rimando’s mistakes, was a lack of judgement and poor decision-making: If guys like Rimando, 37, and Bingham, 27, are expected to be the USMNT’s backups going forward, their poor starts to the MLS season have to be a concern. Can they be considered reliable enough to count on when the USMNT needs it heading toward the World Cup? This is not to say they haven’t each made spectacular saves or haven’t contributed with their organization and distribution at times too. But the goalkeeper position is a cruel one — players will be judged more on their singular mistakes than anything else, and the mistakes from Rimando and Bingham have been too often and too glaring lately. There are, of course, other goalkeeper options. But those come with concerns, too. Brad Guzan figures to be the main backup to Howard in the short-term future and he could even push for the starting job. The problem is that he has lost the starting goalkeeper job at Middlesbrough. He got a rare start this weekend in a 4-0 loss, only because Boro’s No. 1 goalkeeper is injured and it’s difficult to really gauge his form unless he is playing regularly. Real answers about where he stands in the USMNT depth chart may not come until this summer, when he joins Atlanta United and will presumably fill the starting role. Bill Hamid might be the most talented goalkeeper in the pool behind Howard, but his frequent bouts of injuries would make any coach cautious about investing in him as a first choice. Hamid had a big chance to grab a spot under new coach Bruce Arena in January, but yet again he was injured and sent home. Youngsters like Zack Steffen, Cody Cropper and Ethan Horvath have potential in the future of the position, but it’s been a mixed bag recently for all. Any USMNT coach would be hesitant to expect consistency and reliability from them anytime soon. That’s far from an indictment of the trio — both Steffen and Cropper are young and new to being regular starters, and they will eventually improve with more game experience. Horvath is making moves to get more experience at good clubs overseas, but he also isn’t seeing consistent minutes at a crucial point in his development. It’s an open question as to how long it’ll be before any of them can start matches on the USMNT level. William Yarbrough is starting regularly for Leon in Liga MX, and he looks an option worth considering, but whether he can do it at the international level will be the question. He featured in a friendly vs. New Zealand last year and looked a bit shaky, spilling balls he shouldn’t have. There’s still more than a year until the World Cup, but at this rate, Arena is going to have precious few options from within the usual USMNT goalkeeper pool to feel really good about, both as starters or backup options. He could always look beyond the usual USMNT call-ups and give MLS a serious look. Luis Robles, an ironman of MLS, has never been able to establish himself with the USMNT, but the 32-year-old is an experienced, steady possibility. Howard’s backup in Colorado, 25-year-old Zac MacMath, arguably should’ve never lost his starting job to Howard’s star power and he’s been a capable backup, but he’s never done it on the senior international level. Sean Johnson, 27, now with New York City FC, once looked like he’d follow closely behind Howard and Guzan, but that hasn’t happened and he’s struggled to maintain form. It’s a tricky situation for Arena. Behind Howard, the USMNT has a plethora of goalkeeper options looking ahead to the World Cup — but none of them stand out as being particularly compelling. The quantity is there, but the quality is a question. If Howard gets hurt or simply can’t keep up, who can replace him with an eye toward the World Cup next year? There just isn’t a great answer right now, and with the World Cup a year and a half away, Arena needs to sort through a messy depth chart to figure it out. MORE FROM FOX SOCCERIt is also noteworthy to mention that Azerbaijan has jumped 13 points in ranking since 2015, while Armenia has only jumped five. In fact, Azerbaijan is one of the most improved economies this year. Azerbaijan has done this partly by investing in its travel and tourism sector, liberalizing its visa regime, enhancing its natural and cultural resources by increasing the size of its total protected areas, and lowering hotel prices to become a cheaper travel destination. Armenia is ranked much lower than Azerbaijan (and Georgia) in terms of prioritization of travel and tourism and price competitiveness. Indeed, when asked why she thought Armenia ranked so low in comparison to its neighbors, Marina Avetisyan explained that Armenia’s neighbors have more of a budget dedicated to making their country attractive. Many individuals and organizations, along with government officials and agencies related to the tourism sector and development of Armenia’s resources, have taken the initiative to develop and promote the nation. For example, the sectors of eco-tourism, extreme tourism, gastro-tourism, religious-tourism, and educational-tourism have been steadily and successfully growing within the country. In terms of extreme and adventure tourism, Armenia boasts groups and facilities that offer mountain biking, paragliding, ropeway courses, skiing, hot-air balloon rides, hiking, and ziplining. In fact, the world’s longest zipline in the world is in the process of being constructed by Yell Extreme Park in the Yenokavan community of the Tavush region in Armenia. Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, Chairperson of the State Committee of Tourism of Armenia, and Tigran Chibukhchyan, founder of Yell Extreme Park, presented the role of the zipline’s construction in terms of the development of the tourism sector in Armenia. “[The zipline] aims to unite adventure and extreme lovers from around the world, positioning Armenia as a regional extreme tourism center in the world tourism industry,” Chibukhchyan said. The development of the Trans-Caucasian Trail—a hiking trail running through Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—and the works of Armenia Geographic Project— an organization which “seeks to discover geographic sites in the territory of Armenia through tourism and popularize places which are not much known to the public”—both have a similar role and aim. As heads of the two groups told reporters at a press conference on developing alternative tourism, one of the many aims of these projects is to increase tourism flows through the expansion of eco and adventure tourism. Armenia’s potential for gastro-tourism is also being expanded upon. To support this growing market, the Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions NGO organized the Dolma Festival in May, Bread in the Mountains food festival in June, and Barbecue festival in August. The Areni Festival Foundation also organized “Wine Days in Yerevan,” “Traditions of Syunik,” the Gata Festival, and of course, the much-anticipated Areni Wine Festival. In addition, the capital saw the Yerevan Food Festival in September, and Yerevan Vegan Fest in October.Earlier this week, Vermont released a draft of the regulations it proposes to adopt in order to enforce the state's mandatory GMO-labeling law. "The nine pages of rules released Wednesday lay out everything from definitions of 'food' and 'genetic engineering' to the required disclosures on packaging that will read 'Produced with Genetic Engineering,'" notes an Associated Press piece on the proposed regulations. The proposed rules themselves are interesting enough—but then so are the numerous exceptions built into them. Unsurprisingly, many of them appear to have Vermont farmers and dairy interests in mind. Take the exception for foods that contain genetically modified "processing aids or enzymes." While it's not stated explicitly what these aids and enzymes are, it doesn't take much to figure out why the state has proposed this exception to the law. "Beer, wine and cheese will also need special consideration, since the use of genetically modified enzymes is fairly common when making these products," noted a Whole Foods blog post last year. How's that? In the case of cheese, it comes down to a genetically modified enzyme, FPC, that's used to make ninety percent of cheeses. It's expensive to make cheese without FPC. Vermont, of course, is known for its cheese. And beer. Not surprisingly, the regulations also exempt alcohol beverages. Cherry-picked exceptions like these—which often appear to favor or protect local interests—are common. "Manufacturers would have to label GMO bread, but not GMO cheese," reads a recent report on Colorado's proposed GMO-labeling law. "Soda, but not beer. Candy, but not gum." And, as I noted earlier this year, a Hawaii county GMO ban exempts GMO papayas, which (coincidentally!) are grown in the county. Four national associations, headed by the Grocery Manufacturers of America, sued earlier this year to prevent the Vermont law from taking effect. They argue, among other things, that the state's GMO-labeling law is unconstitutional. They're right. That's true of every state GMO-labeling law I've seen. And Vermont's is no exception. Like the California egg law I wrote about last week, GMO-labeling laws restrict interstate commerce. That's the primary reason why I opposed proposed laws in Washington state and California, both of which were rejected by voters. Defending an unconstitutional law may prove as costly as it is foolhardy. Reports indicate the state may have to revert to bake sales to fund its defense of its labeling law, which is expected to cost upwards of $8 million. In August, the state announced it had raised just over two percent of the money it expects to need to defend the law in court. Since that time, reports indicate that donations had swollen to less than four percent. But the real costs might be borne by Vermont's farmers. The requirements in the proposed rules that sellers affirm that any products sold without a GMO label are free from GMOs via a sworn statement may prove daunting. "I don’t want to say our cheese is non-GMO if I can’t prove it," said Angela Miller of Vermont's Consider Bardwell Farm, a small, sustainable producer, in comments to the Guardian earlier this year.If Republicans win back Congress this November, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is in line to replace Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as speaker. At his weekly press conference this week, Boehner was asked who should pay for cleaning up the Gulf oil spill: “I think the people responsible in the oil spill — BP and the federal government — should take full responsibility for what’s happening there,” Boehner said at his weekly press conference… Yea, those nasty feds. Greedy, grimy bastards. Let’s stick it to ’em! Hey, wait a minute. The “federal government?” He means us — the American taxpayers. But wouldn’t that be like a bail out of BP? Wait ’til the tea baggers hear about this! Boehner was reacting to a statement last week from the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a Republican pressure group, demanding that taxpayers’ pick up part of the tab for cleaning up the BP disaster. BP is a donor to the Chamber. “Everybody is going to contribute to this clean up,” wrote Chamber Pres. Tom Donohue in a statement last Friday. “We are all going to have to do it. We are going to have to get the money from the government and from the companies and we will figure out a way to do that.” Interesting, isn’t it, how on every other issue the Chamber and its congressional lapdogs say they want the federal government to stay out of the way of business interests. A few hour after Boehner’s press briefing, his office tried to clarify his remark. What the speaker-to-be meant to say was the spill is Pres. Obama’s fault: “Boehner made a general statement about who is responsible for the spill, and the federal government oversight was clearly lacking, but he has said repeatedly that BP is responsible for the cost of the cleanup.” UPDATE: The non-denial denial above not being sufficient, the office of the speaker-to-be has issued a firmer denial: According to Boehner spokesman Michael Steel, the GOP leader stood by what he’s said since May 3 — “Not a dime of taxpayer money should be used to clean up [BP’s] mess.” “He’s said for a month now that BP will bear the full burden of this disaster,” said Steel. The “responsibility” Boehner was talking about was not taxpayer money cleaning up the spill. It was whatever reform and restructuring comes after the leak is stopped. As Boehner put it this morning, his preferred plan of action is “figure out what the hell went wrong, and then have the hearing and get the damn law fixed!” Right. “Taking responsibility” really means “reform” and “restructuring” — just like when Sarah Palin tells her gun-obsessed, tea bagger followers, “Don’t Retreat, Instead — RELOAD!” what she really means is “vote.” Bottom line: Boehner’s words now will be rendered meaningless if the GOP wins control of Congress in the fall, and their bosses at the Chamber want a taxpayer bailout of BP. You can take that to the bank.NATO code compromise The recent crash of a Polish military transport that killed most of Warsaw’s senior civilian and military leaders was not only a human catastrophe for a key U.S. ally. NATO sources said that, in addition to the loss of nearly 100 pro-U.S. Polish leaders, the crash provided Moscow with a windfall of secrets. The crash killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski in western Russia on April 10 and decapitated Poland’s military, killing two service chiefs, key military aides and several national security officials, many of whom were carrying computers and pocket memory sticks that contained sensitive NATO data. Perhaps the most significant compromise, according to a NATO intelligence source, is that the Russians are suspected of obtaining ultrasecret codes used by NATO militaries for secure satellite communications. RELATED STORIES: • Dream is real for first female sub officers • Senators seek new terror security measures • Chinese deal with Pakistan hems Obama • Iran eases grip on al Qaeda • U.S. forces train African armies The compromise of the codes is considered what electronic spies call a “break” for Moscow code-breakers. New NATO codes almost certainly were issued to allied militaries immediately after the crash. But if the Russian electronic intelligence service, known as the Federal Agency of Government Communications and Information, was able to recover and use the communication key code from the wreckage, electronic spies will be able to decode months’ or perhaps years’ worth of scrambled communications that are routinely gathered electronically for just such an occasion. The coded communications, if decrypted, would reveal some of NATO’s most intimate secrets, such as plans for defenses and even the identities of agents or allied eavesdropping sources. Other Polish and NATO secrets also were believed to be aboard the jet, and so far Russia’s government is refusing to cooperate fully with Poland’s government in providing details on the cause of the crash, or even to turn over the Polish jet’s black boxes. Additionally, Poland’s interim government has not pressed the Russians for answers to questions about the crash, such as why Russian aviation authorities, without any investigation, ruled that pilot error caused the crash minutes after the jet crashed short of the runway in fog at Russia’s Smolensk airport. Polish security and aviation authorities also were denied access to the crash site. Public pressure is mounting on Warsaw to call for an international commission to investigate the crash. Tens of thousands of Poles already have signed a petition calling for the international probe. Many Poles, who need little encouragement to be critical of the Russians based on past enmity, have taken to calling the crash the “second Katyn,” after the 1940 Katyn Forest massacre when Russian agents killed more than 21,000 Polish officers in an effort to decimate the Polish military. Mr. Kaczynski, who was viewed as politically more anti-Russian than current leaders, was on his way to Katyn, about six miles from Smolensk, to mark the anniversary of the massacre. Afghan update Amid the glad-handing and friendly atmospherics surrounding this week’s meeting between President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a senior military officer in Afghanistan provided Inside the Ring with a situation report on the conflict that presents a sober background assessment. The officer said the biggest problem in Afghanistan remains corruption within the Kabul government, a problem that if left unaddressed “will defeat our mission there faster than the Taliban.” The U.S. strategy for stabilizing the war-torn country is developing legitimacy for the Afghan government, the officer said. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces in the country, is banking on a major shift of focus, from establishing national institutions to working at the district and local level to create government organs that are pro-U.S. and anti-Taliban. As for the enemy Taliban forces, “They are there, they are fighting and they have [improvised explosive devices] networks as their biggest weapon,” the officer said. To limit IED attacks, the Afghan government recently banned the importation of ammonium nitrate, the key ingredient in homemade bombs, mainly from Pakistan. Replacement fertilizers have been brought in for Afghan farmers. According to the officer, the problem in the past was that U.S. and allied forces conceded too much freedom of movement to the Taliban at the local level, as national institutions were set up. “The focus has now shifted to the local, tactical level,” the officer said. “If we can win at the local level and bring legitimacy to local government, the Taliban will become weaker.” The Taliban does not enjoy widespread popular support, and local Afghans are “hedging their bets” by tacitly supporting the Taliban at the same time expressing support for the Afghan national government and the allied coalition. “There are lots of Afghans sitting on the fence,” the officer said. “They’ll do their smiley face with us, but if it looks like the Taliban are ahead, they’ll do the smiley face with them.” As for efforts to convert some Taliban to support Kabul, the officer said there are some enemy groups that want to demobilize, but at a high price. “The Taliban leaders [who want to switch sides] want to bring their organizations and clans over but they want to be placed in positions of political or security influence, such as positions within the police forces,” the officer said, noting that any such move might actually create more problems for the Afghan government. Mixon’s gay counseling Army Secretary John McHugh has put the matter of Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, and his rebellious letter to the editor, to rest. Gen. Mixon angered the Obama administration in March by writing a letter to Stars and Stripes newspaper revealing his opposition to repealing the ban on open homosexuals in the ranks. He also urged soldiers and their families to express their opposition. Washington’s military hierarchy came down hard on the combat veteran, who now commands the U.S. Army, Pacific. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs chairman, both publicly admonished Gen. Mixon for urging opposition to one of President Obama’s pet projects. Their stern language led some to believe Mr. McHugh might discipline Gen. Mixon, whose letter stirred sympathy among the rank and file. But the secretary told a group of defense reporters recently the matter was handled quietly with phone calls to Gen. Mixon from himself and Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, reports special correspondent Rowan Scarborough. “I think it is both the chief of staff of the Army’s and my judgment that he went beyond what can be fairly described as the norms of command in those kinds of circumstances,” Mr. McHugh said. “His actions, at a minimum, exceeded the spirit of the directive that the chief and I sent out on the way ahead a number of weeks ago.” Mr. McHugh said Gen. Mixon confessed that he had crossed the line. Gen. Mixon “recognizes it was inappropriate for him to become an advocate and to try to shape the opinion of the force rather than to reach out and ascertain the opinion of the force, [and] that he has said he is perfectly capable and willing and will make every effort to carry forward within the manner we expect in the future,” Mr. McHugh said. Air Force suicides Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, said the service is facing a “surge” in suicides in a May 4 speech to a conference of senior enlisted airmen. “This includes active, Guard and Reserve airmen, as well as Air Force civilians and family members,” Gen. Schwartz said. “We have more suicides so far this year than we did last, which itself exceeded each year before that. We collectively in this room have to act to arrest this trend.” He urged the airmen to care for their fellow airmen, noting that “now is the time.” “Make it your business to identify stress and failed relationships among your people,” the general said. “Encourage our people to ask for help, and intervene in cases where they are reluctant to do so. Do not for a single moment accept the needless loss of a teammate as the cost of doing business. It isn’t — not now, not ever.” According to the Air Force website, the suicide rate for 2009 was 12.5 suicides for every 100,000 airmen. The problem is not limited to the Air Force. The Marine Corps in 2009 had the highest suicide rate in the military, with 24 per 100,000. The active-duty Army had 21.7 per 100,000. Analysts attribute the high rates for the Army and Marines to those services’ roles in ground combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Navy also has suffered from high suicide rates. Its suicide rate for 2009 was 13.8 per 100,000 sailors. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.Netflix users outside the US have not been afraid to speak their minds after the company said it would be cracking down
gave orders to carry out the Puchong attack on June 28 where eight people watching the Euro football match at 2.15am at the Movida pub were injured. The attack, police said, was the terrorist’s personal way of avenging his elder brother, Mohamed Danny, who was charged in a Malacca court last month for channelling funds to the militant group. The news portal also quoted Bukit Aman Special Branch Director Mohamad Fuzi Harun as downplaying the threat of large scale attacks in Malaysia as IS militants here did not have the ability to do so. However, Fuzi said police would not take any threats lightly and would constantly monitor the militants’ activities.First, what data do we have? Do we store any personally identifiable data? Does any of that data include children? Do customers believe that this data will never be seen publicly? Do customers believe that this data will never be seen by your employees? Next, what would happen if this data became public? What would happen if all of the data was suddenly available publicly? What would happen if the not-really-considered-private data was made public? (Customer lists, products, sales numbers, salaries) If someone got a copy of our backups, what data would they be able to read? If someone got the application’s username/password, what data would they be able to read? What are we doing to ensure those scenarios don’t happen? If our backups aren’t encrypted, do we know everywhere that the backups are right now? How are we preventing people from taking out-of-band backups? How are we preventing systems administrators from taking snapshot backups or copying backups? How are we preventing people from running queries, saving the output, and taking them out of the building? For each of these scenarios, do we have a list of all of the people who could accomplish these tasks? For each of these scenarios, would we know if they happened? And finally: Overall, what risks are out there? Have you documented the risks in writing? Has this risk list been given to management? Or, when any of these scenarios eventually happen, are you going to be the one who was assumed to be protecting the business from this kind of thing? After all, notice the title of this blog post – you’re managing the databases, right?#OccupyWallStreet protests are now well into their second week, and they are increasingly capturing the public spotlight. This is because, whatever limitations their occupation has, the protesters have done many things right. I will admit that I was skeptical about the #OccupyWallStreet effort when it was getting started. My main concerns were the limited number of participants and the lack of coalition building. One of the things that was most exciting about the protests in Madison—and the global justice protests of old such as Seattle and A16—was that they brought together a wide range of constituencies, suggesting what a broad, inclusive progressive movement might look like. You had student activists and unaffiliated anarchists, sure; but you also had major institutional constituencies including the labor movement, environmentalists, faith-based organizations, and community groups. The solidarity was powerful. And, in the context of a broader coalition, the militancy, creativity, and artistic contributions of the autonomist factions made up for their lack of an organized membership base. With #OccupyWallStreet, the protest did not draw in any of the major institutional players on the left. Participants have come independently—mostly from anarchist and student activist circles—and turnout has been limited. Some of the higher estimates for the first day’s gathering suggest that a thousand people might have been there, and only a few hundred have been camping out. That said, this relatively small group has been holding strong. As their message has gained traction—first in the alternative media, and then in mainstream news sources—they have drawn wider interest. On Tuesday night, Cornel West visited the occupied Zuccotti Park and spoke to an audience estimated at 2,000. Rallies planned for later in the week will likely attract larger crowds. People will come because the occupation is now a hot story. #OccupyWallStreet has accomplished a great deal in the past week and a half, with virtually no resources. The following are some of the things the participants have done that allowed what might have been a negligible and insignificant protest to achieve a remarkable level of success: 1. They chose the right target. The #OccupyWallStreet protesters have been often criticized for not having clear demands. They endured a particularly annoying cheap shot from New York Times writer Ginia Bellafante, who (quoting a stockbroker sympathetically) resurrected the old canard that no one who uses an Apple computer can possibly say anything critical about capitalism. Such charges are as predictable as the tides. Media commentators love to condescend to protesters, and they endlessly recycle criticism of protests being naïve and unfocused. I am among those who believe that the occupation would have benefited from having clearer demands at the outset—and that these would have been helpful in shaping the endgame that is to come. But protesters have largely overcome the lack of a particularly well-defined messaging strategy by doing something very important: choosing the right target. Few institutions in our society are more in need of condemnation than the big banks and stockbrokers based where the critics are now camped. “Why are people protesting Wall Street?” For anyone who has lived through the recent economic collapse and the ongoing crises of foreclosure and unemployment, this question almost answers itself. The protest’s initial call to action repeatedly stressed the need to get Wall Street money out of politics, demanding “Democracy not Corporatocracy.” Since then, many protesters have been emphasizing the idea that “We Are the 99 Percent” being screwed by the country’s wealthiest 1 percent. At Salon, Glenn Greenwald writes: Does anyone really not know what the basic message is of this protest: that Wall Street is oozing corruption and criminality and its unrestrained political power—in the form of crony capitalism and ownership of political institutions—is destroying financial security for everyone else?…. So, yes, the people willing to engage in protests like these at the start may lack (or reject the need for) media strategies, organizational hierarchies, and messaging theories. But they’re among the very few people trying to channel widespread anger into activism rather than resignation, and thus deserve support and encouragement—and help—from anyone claiming to be sympathetic to their underlying message. Notably, young protesters have been able to convey the idea that their generation, in particular, has been betrayed by our economy. This idea was picked up in remarkably hard-hitting commentary at MarketWatch.com, which reads like more like something you’d expect to find in the socialist press than on a business website: [A]sk yourself how you might act if you were in school or fresh out of it or young and unemployed. What future has Wall Street, the heart and brain of our capitalist country, promised you? How does it feel to be the sons, daughters and grand kids of a “me” generation that’s run up the debt and run down the economy? Unemployment is between 13% and 25% for people under 25. Student loans are defaulting at about 15% at a time when more young people have no alternative but to borrow to pay for school. Meanwhile, Wall Street bonuses continue to be paid at close to all-time highs. Lloyd Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS), took home $13.2 million last year, including a $3.2 million raise. Such a message resonates with many, and protesters did something important to attract them: 2. They made a great poster. I write this partially in jest. There is a joke among labor organizers that if you are spending all your time obsessing over the quality of your posters or handouts, rather than going out to actually talk to people, you are in big trouble. In this case, however, there’s some truth to the idea that posters matter. When you’re not mobilizing an established organizational membership, but rather trying to capture the imagination of unaffiliated activists, protest planning is more akin to promoting a concert than staging a workplace strike. And if you’re doing that kind of promotion, how cool your call to arms is makes a difference. #OccupyWallStreet has benefited from a series of great posters and promotional materials. Foremost among them is a lovely depiction of a ballerina dancing on top of Wall Street’s famous bull statue, created by the veteran leftist image-makers at Adbusters. The text below the bull reads simply: “#OccupyWallStreet. September 17th. Bring tent.” The poster hinted that the event would be exciting and creative and audacious. It suggested that culture jamming and dissident art would be part of the adventure. And it pointed to another thing the protesters did right: 3. They gave their action time to build. Most protests take place for one afternoon and then are finished. Had #OccupyWallStreet done the same, it would already have been forgotten. Instead, planners told participants to get ready to camp out. The event operated on the premise that challenging Wall Street would take a while, and that things would build with time. In fact, this is exactly what has happened. It took a few days for alternative press sources to catch on, but now the occupation is a leading story at outlets such as Democracy Now!. The extended time frame for the protest has allowed for the drama of direct action to deepen, which is my next point about the protesters: 4. They created a good scenario for conflict. By claiming space in Zuccotti Park (also known as Liberty Plaza), #OccupyWallStreet set up an action scenario that has effectively created suspense and generated interest over time. Participants there have invoked Tahrir Square. On the one hand, the comparison is silly, but on the other hand, the fact that occupations of public space have taken on a new significance in the past year is another thing that made #OccupyWallStreet a good idea. If the authorities allow them to continue camping out in lower Manhattan, the protesters can claim victory for their experiment in “liberated space.” Of course, everyone expects that police will eventually swoop in and clear the park. But, contrary to what some people think, civil disobedients have long known that arrests do not work against the movement. Rather, they illustrate that participants are willing to make real sacrifices to speak out against Wall Street’s evils. The fact that police have used undue force (in one now-famous incident, pepper spraying women who were already detained in a mesh police pen and clearly doing nothing to resist arrest) only reinforces this message. When will the police finally come and clear out the occupation’s encampment? We don’t know. And the very question creates further suspense and allows the protest to continue gaining momentum. 5. They are using their momentum to escalate. Lastly, but probably most importantly, the #OccupyWallStreet effort is using its success at garnering attention in the past week and a half to go even bigger. Their action is creating offshoots, with solidarity protests (#OccupyBoston, #OccupyLA) now gathering in many other cities. Protesters in Liberty Plaza are encouraging more participants to join them. And they are preparing more people to risk arrest or other police reprisal. It might seem obvious that a protest movement would treat a successful event as an occasion to escalate. But, in fact, it is quite rare. More established organizations are almost invariably afraid to do so: afraid of legal repercussions, afraid of the resources it would require to sustain involvement, afraid of bad press or other negative outcomes. Such timidity is anathema to strategies of nonviolent direct action. In this respect, the fact that #OccupyWallStreet has not relied on established progressive organizations ends up being a strength. Its independent participants are inspired by the increasing attention their critique of Wall Street is getting, and they are willing to make greater sacrifices now that their action has begun to capture the public imagination. This can only be regarded as a positive development. For the more that people in this country are talking about why outraged citizens would set up camp in the capital of our nation’s financial sector, the better off we will be. #OccupyWallStreet protesters have gotten that much right.Edited by S. T. Joshi, David E. Schultz, and Rusty Burke Second softcover edition, 2017 ISBN: 9780984480296 (two volume set) 1006 pages The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard Volume 1: 1930-1932 Cross Plains, Texas. Artwork by David C. Verba. Cross Plains, Texas. Artwork by David C. Verba. H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard are two of the titans of weird fiction of their era. Dominating the pages of Weird Tales in the 1920s and 1930s, they have gained worldwide followings for their compelling writings and also for the very different lives they led. The two writers came in touch in 1930, when Howard wrote to Lovecraft via Weird Tales. A rich and vibrant correspondence immediately ensued. Both writers were fascinated with the past, especially the history of Roman and Celtic Britain, and their letters are full of intriguing discussions of contemporary theories on this subject. Gradually, a new discussion came to the fore-a complex dispute over the respective virtues of barbarism and civilisation, the frontier and settled life, and the physical and the mental. Lovecraft, a scion of centuries-old New England, and Howard, a product of recently settled Texas, were diametrically opposed on these and other issues, and each writes compellingly of his beliefs, attitudes, and theories. The result is a dramatic debate-livened by wit, learning, and personal revelation-that is as enthralling as the fiction they were writing at the time. All the letters have been exhaustively annotated by the editors. Providence, Rhode Island. Artwork by David C. Verba. Providence, Rhode Island. Artwork by David C. Verba. The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard Volume 2: 1933-1936 In this second volume of the letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, the two authors continue their wide-ranging discussion of such central issues as the relative value of barbarism and civilization, the virtues of the frontier and of settled city life, and other related issues. Lovecraft regales Howard with his extensive travels up and down the eastern seaboard, including trips to Quebec, Florida, and obscure corners of New England, while Howard writes engagingly of his own travels through the lonely stretches of Texas. Each has great praise for the other's writings in Weird Tales and elsewhere, and each conducts searching discussions of literature, philosophy, politics, and economics in the wake of the depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt's election. World affairs, including the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, also engage their attention. All letters are exhaustively edited by the editors, and the volume concludes with an extensive bibliography of both writers as well as the publication of a few letters to Lovecraft from Robert E. Howard's father, Dr. I. M. Howard, in the wake of his son's tragic and unexpected suicide. Reviews of this work:President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves poses for a portrait in his office in Studio City, California February 1, 2016. CBS Corp said on Wednesday that media mogul Sumner Redstone had resigned as executive chairman, a move that comes amid heightened questions about the 92-year-old billionaire's physical and mental health. CBS said Redstone would be replaced by Leslie Moonves, its president and chief executive since 2006. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX25CAX (Reuters) - CBS Corp Chief Executive Leslie Moonves should get five years without interference from Sumner Redstone’s family if the media company is merged with Viacom Inc, investor Mario Gabelli told CNBC on Tuesday. The Redstone family’s National Amusements Inc holds 80 percent of the voting shares in CBS and Viacom, and has urged the two companies to consider a merger. “Give him five years,” said Gabelli, who is the second-largest owner of voting shares of both Viacom and CBS after the Redstone family. “Say I will stay off your case,” he said, referring to Shari Redstone, daughter of the media magnate, who has been taking a more active role in her father’s business interests in the past year. Both CBS and Viacom have formed independent board committees to consider a merger at the behest of National Amusements, but it is not clear if terms can be reached. National Amusements has said it will not support any other transaction, nor will it give up its controlling interest in the companies. Viacom, which owns Comedy Central, MTV and film studio Paramount, has been struggling with declining ratings and ad revenue. Moonves wants autonomy to run the combined company if a merger takes places, sources have told Reuters. A spokeswoman for Shari Redstone declined to comment.Attending his last North American Leaders' Summit in Ottawa, President Obama said the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will work closely together to ensure that global stock markets remain stable less than one week after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. (Reuters) As he faced the press in Ottawa today, flanked by other leaders of NAFTA signatories, President Obama argued that both the right and left were misleading people about the challenges of global trade. It was true, he said that workers left out of economic growth were growing angrier. As they did so, "the social cohesion and political consensus needed for liberal market economies starts breaking down," as seen in the Brexit vote. But their anger was being misdirected. "The prescription of withdrawing from trade deals and focusing solely on your local market, that's the wrong medicine," he said. "You are right to be concerned about the trends, but what you're prescribing will not work." There was no mystery about who on the right and left Obama was talking to. At a rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump said that the president and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton were wrong to back the Trans Pacific Partnership. In an op-ed published in today's New York Times, Sen. Bernie Sanders told readers that Trump was wrong about the solution but right about the threat. "We need to fundamentally reject our 'free trade' policies and move to fair trade," wrote Sanders. "Americans should not have to compete against workers in low-wage countries who earn pennies an hour. We must defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We must help poor countries develop sustainable economic models." With that back-and-forth, Sanders and Obama elevated a debate that has gone on in public and private for years. It has intensified since Sanders began winding down his campaign for president and focusing on changes to the Democratic platform. According to people with knowledge of the platform negotiations, Sanders used his post-primary meeting with the president to say he would push for the party to officially oppose the TPP. The president said he would not allow it. And since then, the White House has leaned on key Democrats to make sure that the platform did not include a rebuke. That became clear last weekend in St. Louis, when the platform drafting committee -- which includes just five Sanders appointees -- shot down a TPP plank. According to several committee members, the president personally spoke to the drafting committee's chairman, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), and the White House did more outreach to make sure that Clinton appointees who might otherwise oppose TPP did not write that into the platform. The U.S. and 11 other nations have come up with a trade deal after years of negotiations. But what's in it, who hates it, and what happens next? (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) "Both candidates -- Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders -- oppose the TPP because it has failed to meet the standards that this committee has laid out," said Paul Booth, the executive assistant to the president of AFSCME, and a Clinton appointee. "But the platform committee should affirm what our candidates have said, but not imply that all Democrats are in agreement." James Zogby, a Sanders appointee to the committee and the head of the Arab American Institute, said the party has already moved firmly against the TPP. That made him question why it would be a dramatic affront to the president to put the party on record for something the congressional party and its labor union supporters largely agreed with. "No one called me," said environmentalist Bill McKibben, another Sanders appointee. "I eagerly supported the TPP plank." But on Friday, as Democrats debated Rep. Keith Ellison's (D-Minn.) strong anti-TPP plank, Clinton allies and DNC appointees were blunt. To change the language would be to undermine the president. "The vast majority of Democrats in the House will not vote for the [TPP]," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Clinton appointee. "That's really not the point. I haven't voted for a trade agreement since I joined the Congress in 1993. Having said that, there are Democrats who believe in the trade agreement. I could say to them: You're not important. I could say that. I've done that in the past. But what I don't want to do is leave this place disregarding the position of the President of the United States." As the platform drafters explained themselves, only one -- former California congressman Howard Berman -- said that the president was right on the merits about the TPP. Cummings was even more adamant than Gutierrez, suggesting that a TPP plank would undercut a president beloved by Democrats. "We have one president, and I have listened to him argue his case many times, and I know that he truly believes this," said Cummings. "He really does. I disagree with him, but I don't want to do anything, as he ends his term, to undercut the president. I'm just not going to do it. In his last six months? I'm not gonna do that." The uneasiness continued when progressive committee members reacted to the platform's passage. Four of Sanders's five appointees backed the platform; all four lamented the watering-down of the trade section. "Our Party’s platform has always been both aspirational and imperfect," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Ca.). "As a member of Congress, I will continue to oppose TPP." In every public statement since then, Sanders has criticized the committee's decision and suggested that TPP will be a point of contention in Orlando, where the full platform committee meets next weekend, and at the convention in Philadelphia. "It is hard for me to understand why Secretary Clinton’s delegates won’t stand behind Secretary Clinton’s positions in the party’s platform," he said on Saturday. And outside of the platform committee, Sanders is having no problem finding allies. Zephyr Teachout, a Sanders supporter who won the Democratic nomination for New York's 19th congressional district last night, told the Washington Post that she would oppose the TPP and push for re-negotiation of NAFTA. "When I talk to people in this district about trade, it’s both about a loss of jobs and a loss of power," said Teachout. "NAFTA, as negotiated, has not helped our workers. I’m really happy to see that we are really rethinking trade." Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), a longtime Sanders ally who stayed neutral in the primary, said in an interview that he wanted the platform to officially oppose TPP, and wanted Clinton to join Democrats like him and oppose a TPP vote in the lame duck Congress. "That would be definitive," said DeFazio."Hillary has come out against it, and it's so defective in its foundation, with the investor-state dispute resolution, with the lack of enforceable labor and environmental regulations. It's worse than NAFTA." In Orlando, DeFazio may have a chance to voice that view -- as a superdelegate. Isaac Stanley-Becker and Anne Gearan contributed reporting.× Senior business professional’s rude rejection email to job-seeker goes viral CLEVELAND – A senior marketing communications professional and self-proclaimed ‘Job Bank Mother’ has recently come under fire on multiple social media platforms, after a young job-seeker posted a harsh email response she received from the veteran businesswoman. According to Cleveland.com, Diana Mekota says she sent a request to Kelly Blazek, who is the head of a well-known communications job bank in northeast Ohio, to connect on LinkedIn, a social media professional networking site. According to Mekota, Blazek’s responded to her request with an email titled ‘Poor Judgment on your Job-seeking Strategy.’ In the email, Blazek seemed to delight in denying her connection and the tone was anything but friendly. According to FOX 4’s sister station, FOX 8 Cleveland, another man, Rick Uldricks, has come forward with an email response he says he received from Blazek after he emailed her about no longer receiving the Yahoo! Job Bank email blasts from her group. Watch FOX 8’s report at the bottom of this page RELATED: Another job-seeker claims he had a similar email encounter with Kelly Blazek “Your invite to connect is inappropriate, beneficial only to you, and tacky,” Blazek wrote in the email to Mekota. “Wow, I cannot wait to let every 26-year-old job-seeker mine my top-tier marketing connections to help them land a job. I love the sense of entitlement in your generation. And therefore I enjoy denying your invite, and giving you the dreaded ‘I Don’t Know’ [blacked-out name] because it’s the truth,” typed Blazek. “Oh, and about your request to actually receive my Job Bank along with the 7,300 other subscribers to my service? That’s denied, too. I suggest you join the other Job Bank in town. Oh wait – there isn’t one,” said the email. All of this came from the woman, who in 2013 had been named the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) ‘Communicator of the Year’ in Cleveland, an award which recognized her service to job-seekers. “We have never met. We have never worked together. You are quite young and green on how business connections work with senior professionals…,” the email said. To read the rest of the reported email, click here. According to Cleveland.com, despite being instructed not to, Mekota sent an email back to Blazek explaining her intentions and apologizing for the obvious misunderstanding and miscommunication. She says she told her she only wished to connect through LinkedIn to give Blazek access to her online resume. Mekota said Blazek never responded back. Following the lack of response, Mekota took to social media sites, posting photos of the emails to her online audiences on Facebook, imgur and reddit. Since then, hundreds of people in Cleveland have reached out to her, calling Blazek a bully and apologizing for her poor representation of senior marketing professionals in the area. Several Cleveland area business and communications professionals spoke out against Blazek, and some also posted to IABC’s online story about Blazek and her 2013 award, saying they should rescind the award and called her an embarrassment to the entire organization. Within hours of the emails going viral on Twitter, Blazek issued a statement and apology. “I am very sorry to the people I have hurt,” said Blazek. She went on to say that she “had become shortsighted and impatient” and hurt the very people she set out to help. “The note I sent to Diana was rude, unwelcoming, unprofessional and wrong. I am reaching out to her to apologize,” the response said. Mekota, according to the Cleveland.com report, is a recent John Carroll University graduate and had recently moved back to her home state of Ohio from New York. She had also submitted an application to become part of Blazek’s job board.NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) — Two men are in the Allegheny County Jail after police said they were caught selling heroin in the play area of a North Versailles fast food restaurant. The two men are brothers, and police say one of the men brought his 6-year-old son along with him. Otis Pegues, 31, of East Pittsburgh, and Marlan Byars, 28,of West Mifflin, were arrested on drug, conspiracy and related charges. They were arrested, investigators said, in the kids’ playground area of the North Versailles Burger King. Police say Byars had his 6-year-old son with him at the time. POLICE: Otis Pegues & his brother, Marlan Byars, arrested in Burger King kids playground on drug-related charges. pic.twitter.com/N0KegsDU4c — Ralph Iannotti (@IannottiRalph) May 3, 2016 According to police, Pegues set up the buy with an undercover officer. He was allegedly planning to sell 20 bricks of heroin for $4,600. The drugs and money were recovered. Holding her young daughter in her arms, one woman reacted to the arrest saying, “It makes me nervous. I’ve taken my kids [to the Burger King] before, but I probably won’t be taking them there again.” A man in North Versailles said, “It’s real sad, but nothing happens around here anymore that surprises me.” The undercover investigation was conducted by North Versailles and Swissvale Police Departments, working with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team. Police said undercover officers had made previous heroin buys from Pegues during the past two weeks at both the North Versailles Walmart and the Kmart stores. In addition to drug and conspiracy charges, both men face charges of endangering the welfare of a child. Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On TwitterThis is the first part of a two-part series on methane emissions in British Columbia. Read Part 2, BC LNG Exports Blow Climate Targets Way, Way Out of the Water. Methane emissions from British Columbia's natural gas industry are likely at least 7 times greater than official numbers blowing BC's Climate Action Plan out of the water. Natural gas is nearly all methane and since methane is such a powerful climate warming gas these unreported emissions mean the total CO2 equivalent emissions for the entire province are nearly 25% higher than is being reported. The province's legislated climate plan is to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions (CO2e) 33% below 2007 levels by 2020. The booming natural gas sector may make that target an impossibility. Each year the BC gas industry "loses" about 20% of the natural gas between pumping it out of the ground and its final destination. That was 7.4 billion cubic meters in 2010 out of a total production of 36.4 billion cubic meters according government statistics (BC's Natural Gas Exports). If a cubic meter was a second, 7.4 billion seconds equals 240 years. While this gas was "lost in the field, the plant or during distribution and export" the report says most is not actually 'lost' but used by the industry to power equipment, pump the gas through the pipelines and so on. But some of this gas escaped into the atmosphere through leaks, deliberate venting and what the industry calls fugitive emissions. According to senior official in the BC Ministry of Environment just 0.3 to 0.4% was lost to the atmosphere in 2010. However, recent US studies of the gas industry show these losses or fugitive emissions are between 2% and 9%. BC Methane Leak Estimate 0.3%; Actual US measurements 4% to 9% [view:in_this_series=block_1] Actual measurements of the amount of methane escaping gas fields and pipelines are rare and not done by the Ministry. Recent in-field measurements at two different locations in Colorado and Utah found methane leakage ranging from 4% to 9% according to a report in the science journal Nature. Robert Howarth and colleagues at Cornell University in New York State estimated that between 3.6% and 7.9% of all shale gas produced leaks in studies published in 2012 and 2011. Shale gas obtained through hydraulic fracking is believed to be leakier than traditional drilling methods. About half of BC gas is obtained by fracking. Most of BC's gas is exported to Alberta and the US. BC's reported methane leaks are "absurdly low" Howarth told DeSmog. "The very, very lowest numbers ever published, and they were published by industry, were 0.67%," Howarth said. "As more field measurements are made, our numbers (mean of 5.8%) are looking like they might even be low." It is hugely important to know how much methane is leaking. When methane is burned to heat your home the waste product is CO2. While CO2 lives for centuries in the atmosphere, unburned methane has a shorter life but is much better at trapping heat than CO2. Initially this heat-trapping power was considered 21 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year time period. Later this was increased to 25 times which is widely used and this is expected to be raised to 33 times. These metrics are called “global warming potential” or GWP. However, new research shows over a 20-year-time span methane's global warming potential (GWP) is up to 105 times greater than CO2. "Given the urgent need to reduce methane emissions globally to keep global temperature rise below the critical value of 1.5 to 2 degree C. many Earth System scientists believe the 20-year time frame is the appropriate one to use," said Howarth. One of the world's leading methane experts agrees. "If you believe limiting near-term climate change is an important goal for society, than it makes sense to pay attention to the 20-yr value (105X)," Drew Shindell at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies told DeSmog. Methane Leaks Like Adding At Least 3 Million Cars to BC Roads If BC's leaks are in reality 3% then that's roughly 1.1 billion cubic meters of methane that escapes into the atmosphere each year. That means these leaks are equivalent to pumping out 15.5 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 based on GWP of 21 that the province uses, and is the current international standard until later this year. That's equivalent to the emissions from operating 3 million cars for one year (Avg: 5.1 ton CO2/vehicle/year). The province has 2 million licensed passenger vehicles. Using the climate protection metric of a GWP of 105 then BC's methane leaks is the same as pumping 77.5 Mt of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, more than doubling the province's carbon footprint. Emissions for the entire province from all sources, transport, energy, home, industry etc. was 62 Mt in 2010 (most recent year available). Of that total just 2.2 Mt of CO2 were attributed to methane emissions from the natural gas industry according to a senior official at the Ministry of Environment. The main reason for the huge gap between BC's reported methane emissions of 2.2 Mt vs. the more realistic emissions of 15.5 to 77.5 Mt appears to be under reporting by the industry. End part one. In part two the gas industry responds, and what fugitive emissions mean for BC's hopes to become an LNG export giant. Image Credit: By Nexen Inc. in BC's Natural Gas Strategy Report.Scientists explain how they use technology to search for clues in the mysterious disappearance of 1971 hijacker D.B. Cooper, in this 2009 video produced by the FBI. (FBI) It was “one of the longest and most exhaustive investigations” in FBI history — and to this day remains the only unsolved skyjacking in the United States. In 1971, a well-dressed passenger hijacked a Northwest Orient flight, demanded $200,000 and later escaped by parachuting out of the back of the plane with the ransom money. But who exactly was “D.B. Cooper,” the mysterious man who managed to pull off the heist and disappear without a trace? More than four decades later, three amateur scientists think they may have found evidence that would narrow down Cooper’s identity to that of an aerospace engineer or a manager. The scientists, working for a group called Citizen Sleuths, said they have been analyzing particles found on a clip-on necktie that Cooper left on his seat — 18E — before jumping out of the plane. To the naked eye, the piece of fabric was a nondescript black tie from J.C. Penney. But to the modern-day scientists, the tie was an “incredibly fortunate” piece of evidence in the investigation. “A tie is one of the only articles of clothing that isn’t washed on a regular basis,” reads a section on the Citizen Sleuths website devoted solely to the tie. “It picks up dirt and grime just like any other piece of clothing, but that accumulation never truly gets ‘reset’ in the washing machine. Each of those particles comes from something and somewhere and can tell a story if the proper instruments like electron microscopes are used.” [How the hunt for D.B. Cooper made an aging Vietnam veteran the target of TV sleuths] Using a powerful electron microscope, the scientists say they have identified more than 100,000 particles of “rare earth elements” on the tie, including Cerium, Strontium sulfide and pure titanium, according to the Associated Press. Of those, titanium was the most notable. “Titanium was a rare metal in 1971 and this makes it extremely unlikely it is a post-event contamination,” Citizen Sleuths notes on its site, which lays out in painstaking detail all of the findings from the case. “Its presence constrains Cooper to a limited number of managers or engineers in the titanium field that would wear ties to work.” At the time, they noted, the element was used extensively by the military in aircraft and helicopters. Scientists think he may have worked at Boeing, which at the time happened to be developing a Super Sonic Transport plane that used those elements, Tom Kaye, a lead researcher with Citizen Sleuths, told King 5 News. “The tie went with him into these manufacturing environments, for sure, so he was not one of the people running these [manufacturing machines],” Kaye told the news station. “He was either an engineer or a manager in one of the plants.” He added that the group was asking anyone from the public with information to contact researchers through the Citizen Sleuths website. “Someone may be able to look at those particles and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I know what that means having those particles on the tie,’ ” Kaye told the news station. [The D.B. Cooper case has baffled the FBI for 45 years. Now it may never be solved.] The mystery began on Nov. 24, 1971, when a nondescript man going by the name of Dan Cooper purchased a one-way ticket from Portland, Ore.,
the paternalistic argument, “If [children] are out there that late by themselves, that’s an indicator that they and their families need services.” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake claims that children “are more likely to become perpetrators or victims of violent crimes” without this type of curfew. In reality, multiple studies show that curfews are not the least bit effective. Several longitudinal studies based on police citations and crime rates all conclude that curfews do not reduce crime or crime victimization. Not only have curfews been deemed ineffective and wasteful, but some curfew ordinances have even been ruled unconstitutional. The case against curfews is well established and highly publicized; it’s just that city officials aren’t genuinely concerned about the city’s youth crime rate. The city’s intentions behind the new ordinance go far beyond the saccharine statements of its spokesmen. With a continually declining population and increasing budget deficit, Baltimore officials have promised to bring in 10,000 new families into the city by 2020 to increase the city’s middle class. So far, Mayor Rawlings-Blake has sought to achieve this goal by making large investments in Baltimore’s tourism industry and by trying to clean up Baltimore’s public safety image. A stricter curfew policy would only serve to hide the Baltimore’s working class youth from the high rollers at the city’s brand new Horsehoe Casino or the guests at the city-owned Hyatt Hotel. It is not an effort to actually curb violent crimes or protect young people.A Green councillor has seen red over a shop’s marketing of pink bikes to girls. Sven Rufus, who represents Hollingdean and Stanmer on Brighton and Hove City Council, said Halfords was “pigeonholing” youngsters according to their sex. But one fellow councillor said Coun Rufus’s objection was “ridiculous”. In its brochure the shop in Lewes Road, Brighton, offers police bikes for boys and princess bikes for girls. The company says girls who ride its bikes will be “sweet as cupcakes surrounded by pink and sprinkles” while boys are encouraged to “charge through the jungle” on two wheels. Coun Rufus, a self-employed ecologist, made an official complaint to the Halfords marketing department after being driven “nuts” by the adverts. Categorising children He said: “What inflames me as the parent of a daughter is this categorisation of children according to gender. “It reinforces the idea for girls that there are certain jobs and roles they should be doing. “The colour pink is a very visible manifestation of how girls are likened to fairies and princesses and things that aren’t real. “It’s ridiculous.” Emma Moore from campaign group Pink Stinks said the colour was “just a lazy marketing ploy”. She said: “Halfords is a typical business when it comes to this kind of thing. I’m in complete agreement with Councillor Rufus. “It’s absolutely vile that children aren’t being given the chance to grow up how they want from the moment they are born. “This whole pink nonsense was never around in the 1970s – it’s completely false.” 'Designed by children' But Dawn Barnett, Conservative councillor for Hangleton, described Coun Rufus’s complaint as “utterly stupid”. She said: “If someone has a son who wants a pink bike then they can go and buy it, what’s the problem there? “I think Coun Rufus should be spending his time usefully, not making ridiculous complaints. “I always knew the Greens were losing the plot but now they appear to have gone completely mad.” A spokeswoman from Halfords said: “Our new range of Apollo bikes has been designed with a panel of children. "Their feedback and ideas helped Halfords in incorporating the final designs for the bikes. “Great care has therefore been taken, ensuring the designs delight them.” Talking point: Are pink items agressively marketed at girls? Share your views by commenting below. See the latest news headlines from The Argus: More news from The Argus Follow @brightonargus Like us on Facebook Add us to your circles on Google+This post may contain affiliate links; please read the disclosure for more information. Since it was announced that Club 33 would be expanding to four locations at Walt Disney World, many have speculated what the location of the private lounges/restaurants in each park might be. As we speculated with construction walls present at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that their location will be the old Catwalk Bar, it seems that some walls now up in Epcot may point to that park’s private club location. The American Adventure lounge in World Showcase now has its main entrance walled-off. This does not happen routinely, even before the space is used prior to the park festivals. This space has been used as the Chase Lounge at past Food and Wine Festival events, but may now be getting a conversion into Epcot’s Club 33. The spot would make sense as it offers great views and is connected via elevator to a kitchen downstairs. While this is not confirmed and we are purely speculating, it does seem likely. However, the park does offer several other possibilities if this is not it.I think they were trying to tell us something in the mid-80s. Something we were too naive to consider. Something about the voting machines in America. The New York Times and The New Yorker both hinted at it but we were too dumb to understand. The idea that most voting machines might be fixed was inconceivable. To us. But not to the traitors involved. Here's a message from the past. Another one we ignored. Like Ronnie Dugger's New Yorker article, it's never before been on the web since it predates the Internet. But here it is, digitized. Post a link to it from your site. Save it to your hard drive. Put it on your own site. Email it to everyone you know. Alllie (alllie@newsgarden.org) Computerized Systems for Voting Seen as Vulnerable to Tampering By DAVID BURNHAM Special to The New York Times July 29, 1985 WASHINGTON, July 28 - The computer program that was used to count more than one-third of the votes cast in the Presidential election last year is very vulnerable to manipulation and fraud, according to expert witnesses in court actions challenging local and Congressional elections in three states. The allegations that vote tallies calculated with the widely used computer system may have been secretly altered have raised concern among election officials and computer experts. That is because of the rapidly increasing use of such systems, the lack of Federal or state standards that mandate specific safeguards and the widespread lack of computer skills among most local voting authorities. Potential for Problems "There is a massive potential for problems," said Gary L. Greenhalgh, director of the International Center on Election Law and Administration, a consulting group in Washington. He added that the problem with computer-assisted voting systems was that they "centralized the opportunity for fraud." Mr. Greenhalgh said that while lever-type voting machines could have their counts rigged only machine by machine, counting votes by computer was done at one central site in most counties. With computer systems, a voter usually punches holes in thin cardboard ballots and the computer program then "reads" the holes in the cards and totals them, presumably counting all votes and counting them only once each, on commands from an operator. Challenges in 4 States The vote counting program that has been challenged in Indiana, West Virginia and Maryland was developed by Computer Election Systems of Berkeley, Calif. In Indiana and West Virginia, the company has been accused of helping to rig elections. The computer program has also been challenged in Florida, but so far experts there have not been permitted to examine the program in connection with the challenge. John H. Kemp, [ wish I could find out if he is any relation to Republican Party Activist Jack Kemp ] president of Computer Election Systems, said in a telephone interview that he absolutely denied the company was involved in fraudulent schemes. County officials involved in the cases have also categorically denied participation in fraud. But Mr. Kemp also said that any computer system could be tampered with. "It is totally economically unfeasible to have a fraud-proof system," he said. Such a system, he suggested, might cost $1 billion. [ So even the president of the company admits that no computerized voting system is secure or could be made secure for less than a billion dollars. Wouldn't paper ballots be more secure and cheaper? ] Mr. Kemp said that while there were some differences in the programs used by various jurisdictions, the company's fraud-prevention controls had remained "essentially unchanged" in recent years. He added that the company's six or seven programmers "always are looking for ways to prevent fraud." In 1984, Computer Election Systems provided more than 1,000 county and local jurisdictions with equipment and computer programs that collected and counted 34.5 million of the 93.7 million votes cast for President, along with all votes for other offices and issues in those jurisdictions. 64% Voted on Computer System The areas that the company served in 1984 include major jurisdictions like Cook County, Ill., with more than 2.7 million registered voters, and tiny areas like Archuleta County, Colo., with 2,490 voters. Although it dominates the computer voting market, Mr. Kemp said the company has eight competitors. According to the Federal Elections Commission, approximately 60 percent of American voters used some kind of computerized election system in 1984. No allegations have been leveled against the other companies. Most of the other votes cast in the United States were collected and processed on mechanical-lever machines such as those used in all of New York and Connecticut and most of New Jersey. Computer Election's equipment is used by voters in the New Jersey counties of Salem, Sussex and warren, while Gloucester County used the computerized system of a competitor. Federal Recommendations Concern about weaknesses in preventing computer fraud led separate Federal agencies in 1978 and 1981, to recommend adopting a series of safeguards. But state and Federal officials acknowledged that the recommendations from the National Bureau of Standards and the Federal Elections Commission have not resulted in significant improvements. A panel of the election commission is scheduled to meet Aug. 4-6 to discuss, among other things, standards for computer vote counting. In three of the four legal challenges brought against Computer Election Systems, the losing candidates hired separate computer consultants who have said in court affidavits, testimony and interviews that their examination of the company's program showed it had been designed in such a way that vote totals could: be altered without leaving any sign of tampering, Eva Waskell, a Reston, Va., writer on computer and scientific matters who was among the first to become aware of the court cases pending against the company, said she was astonished because it appeared that "even when local officials learned of the problems, little apparent effort was made to correct them." 'Assaults on the System' The allegations that the Computer Election system was open to manipulation were supported by two other experienced computer consultants who independently examined material obtained in the pending court cases for The New York Times. One of the experts was Howard Jay Strauss, the associate director of the Princeton University Computer Center. Mr. Strauss, who formerly worked at Bell Laboratories, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the RCA Corporation, said the program used to count Indiana votes was vulnerable to manipulation. "Extra votes may be entered in the form of bogus ballots on punched cards, or vote totals may be altered through the use of control cards," Mr. Strauss said. "Either of these assaults on the system could be performed successfully by a computer novice." Mr. Strauss added that someone with a."fair amount of computer knowledge" could turn off the portion of the program designed to document any changes made in either the program or the votes being counted by the program. The Times's second consultant was Eric K. Clemons, an associate professor of decision sciences at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He said that because of the excessive complexity of the program, "a doctored version of the code could be used to modify election results, and it would take weeks of study to determine what had happened." [ And no one has been allowed those weeks of study. ] `Very Difficult to Trust' "Code this complex is very difficult to trust," Mr. Clemons said. One particular 'flaw he cited was that "the main program does not log all invalid ballots." Another was that the printed log of error messages could easily be edited or altered. The civil cases brought by defeated candidates against Computer Election Systems involve elections held in 1980, 1982 and 1984. In West Virginia and Indiana,' where most of the contested races involved in the suits were quite close, the company's representatives have been directly accused of being involved in vote rigging. These suits, which the company and county election officials won in lower courts, are pending before Federal appeals courts. In Maryland and Florida, the cases were brought in state courts and are still pending.. In West Virginia, a former Democratic Congressman and three-term Mayor of Charleston, John Hutchinson, charged in his suit that several Kanawha County, election officials and Computer Election representatives successfully conspired to deprive him of his re-election in November 1980. Mr. Hutchinson, in an interview, said he last the election by a margin of 52.5 percent to 97 percent. He said, however that, the totals in Kanawha County, where he lost by 6,000 votes, were totally unexpected because preelection polls had shown him an overwhelming winner there. Mr. Hutchinson's expert witness was Dr. Wayne Nunn, a computer architect with the Union Carbide Corporation, who also operates an independent computer consulting concern. Dr. Nunn said that from his examination of the Computer Election system used in the disputed election, "it was entirely possible for a knowledgeable operator to make vote changes without leaving any 'fingerprints.' " Federal District Judge Charles Haden found the company and the county officials not guilty, saying that much of the evidence presented appeared to be "purely speculative and mere suspicion." In Indiana, Richard Clay Bodine, a Democrat who lost his 1982 bid for election to Indiana's Third Congressional District, and several other candidates have brought suits charging that the counting and certification of the votes were "false and fraudulent." The suit names both the Elkhart County Election Board and Computer Election System as defendants. No Record of Changes Mr. Bodine's computer consultant was Deloris J. Davisson, the chairman of the Department of Computer Science of Ancilla College in Donaldson, Ind. After studying a Computer Election printout describing how the disputed votes were counted in 1982, the computer expert said in her affidavit that because of the lack of necessary systems to audit changes made in the program "it is impossible to know exactly how the program tallied the vote for the Nov. 2, 1982, election." [ This is the great problem with such system. It is impossible to know if the vote was tallied correctly. ] She further contended that a Computer Election representative had in fact changed the computer's instructions that night, but that it was impossible to know what the changes were because they "were not documented or overseen by any knowledgeable or interested person." Federal District Judge William C. Lee dismissed the case, saying there were "no allegations in the record for this court of any willful conduct" undermining the election. Both the West Virginia and the Indiana cases are under appeal. Question of Adequate Safeguards In Maryland, Wayne Cogswell, a candidate for the Carroll County School Board, brought suit in Carroll County Circuit Court asking that the results of the 1984 election processed by Computer Election equipment be re-examined because of a widespread discrepancy between the preliminary and final vote tallies. Mr. Cogswell did not charge fraud, and a court-ordered recount of the vote on June 11, showing Mr. Cogswell defeated again, has resolved most of the questions concerning the election. However, the case has not been withdrawn. But Mr. Cogswell's computer consultant, Emily Johnston, said in an interview that on the basis of her examination of the computer program used to count the Carroll County vote last November, she agreed with the Indiana consultant that the Computer Election system did not have adequate safeguards to prevent fraud. In Palm Beach County, Fla., David Anderson, the unsuccessful I984 candidate for county property appraiser, charged in his suit that the election had been run on "machines that permit a means of changing the result on the ballots contrary to the votes cast by the electors through an alter system in the commands in the computer program." Although Mr. Anderson's suit is aimed at local election officials and does not mention Computer Election Systems by name, lawyers for the company have obtained a court order forbidding him from studying the company's program in connection with his suit. They said disclosure of the program and documentation "would breach the security of the system, and thereby cast doubt upon the results of C.E.S election programs" in jurisdictions all over the United States. [ Right. No one can look at these programs because it might cast doubt on the results of elections run with these programs all over the country. That's like saying fraud can't be investigated because it might lead to the discovery of more fraud. ] U.S. Recommends Protections In 1979. the Information Technology Division of the National Bureau of Standards, recommended that all computer processing programs and systems include a number of protective procedures that it felt were essential to maintaining an accurate vote count. The division emphasized that a complete system for documenting all changes and alterations should be maintained. "Every change to a program, even those involving only one statement, should be authorized, approved and documented with no exceptions'' the agency said. "Otherwise, control is lost and the programming becomes anarchistic." [ This still is not done. Just last fall in the Georgia election an unauthorized patch was applied to every voting machine in Georgia. ] In a 1981 report to Congress on the need to develop national voting standards, the Federal Election Commission reported that the commercial concerns selling voting equipment to local jurisdictions have "paid little attention to data quality assessment features." The commission also noted a lack of information at the state level on problems caused by voting equipment. Deborah Seiler, for example, is the chief of the California elections division, a state that in 1986 expects to cast all of its votes on computerized elections systems. In a recent interview she said that while her division certified all of the computers, it had not examined the computer programs used to instruct the equipment how to count the votes. "At this point we don't have the capability or the standards to certify Software and I am not aware of any state that does," she said. ANNALS OF DEMOCRACY COUNTING VOTES by Ronnie Dugger The New Yorker, November 7, 1988 << Great Article The Real Scandal Is the Voting Machines Themselves Perspective on election processes Computer-Related Elections Electronic Voting - Rebecca Mercuri, Ph.D. VOTE SCAM ARCHIVE Emphasis, comments and links from Alllie (alllie@newsgarden.org)Beat Bugs, a made-in-Vancouver animated series, starts streaming Aug. 3 on Netflix. Earlier this year we talked to one of its stars, Vancouver comedian Charlie Demers who provides the voice of Walter the Slug. _______________________________________________________________________ Comedian, educator, author, playwright, and now animated slug — Charlie Demers is building himself one impressive and eclectic resume. Demers, a headlining comic and creative writing lecturer at the University of British Columbia, will be the voice of Walter the Slug on the new Beatles-inspired animated kids show Beat Bugs, which will debut on Netflix in August. (Mobile users CLICK HERE to hear a Sound Cloud file of Demers describing how a real life slug brought him good luck) Although he's starred in his own web series opposite Sean Cullen and Ryan Beil, and has provided voices for CBC's fake news series This Is That, Demers has never considered himself a working actor. So the invitation to audition for the voice of a cartoon slug took him by surprise. "My first assumption was that it was some sort of prank. When someone tells you they are doing some sort of cartoon about the Beatles and they want you, a person who doesn't do cartoons to come in and audition, my initial response was very skeptical. I didn't think it was a real thing." Beat Bugs, which is co-produced by Vancouver's Thunderbird Films and animated at their Atomic Cartoon studio near Olympic Village, centres on the adventures of five lovable bugs — Jay, Kumi, Crick, Buzz, and Walter — who, according to a Thunderbird press release, have a "knack for getting themselves into mischief and mayhem." The show will feature well-known Beatles songs, performed by popular artists like Pink, Sia, Of Monsters and Men, and Eddie Vedder, woven into the narrative of each episode. The Beat Bugs, to Demers' chagrin, didn't get to sing. "The term we used in the sound booth was 'tinging' which was sort of a half-talking, half-singing that was meant to bridge us into the recordings. For some reason, presented with the choice of having me or Eddie Vedder sing, they chose Eddie Vedder. It's all politics," Demers joked. Other actors lending their voices to the show include Fred Ewanuick of Corner Gas fame and Ashleigh Ball, who is the lead singer of the Vancouver band Hey Ocean! and the voice of Applejack and Rainbow Dash on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. As a voice acting newbie, Demers followed the lead of the veterans in the sound booth. "It was whispered to me to keep my eye on Ashleigh that she was a superstar and I would learn a lot from watching her," he said. "All my cast mates were very kind and very gentle in showing me the ropes." (Mobile users CLICK HERE to hear Charlie Demers doing the voice of Walter the Slug) Australian Josh Wakely of Grace Productions will direct, write and produce the series. sbrown@vancouversun.com Twitter.com/BrowniescottTwo Shanghai men have died from a lesser-known type of bird flu in the first known human deaths from the strain, and Chinese authorities said it wasn't clear how they were infected but there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. A third person, a woman in the nearby province of Anhui, also contracted the H7N9 strain and was in critical condition, China's National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a report on its website Sunday. There was no sign that any of the three, who were infected over the past two months, had contracted the disease from each other, and no sign of infection in the 88 people who had closest contact with them, the medical agency said. H7N9 bird flu is considered a low pathogenic strain that cannot easily be contracted by humans. The overwhelming majority of human deaths from bird flu have been caused by the more virulent H5N1, which decimated poultry stocks across Asia in 2003. The World Health Organization is "closely monitoring the situation" in China, regional agency spokesman Timothy O'Leary said in Manila. "There is apparently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and transmission of the virus appears to be inefficient, therefore the risk to public health would appear to be low," O'Leary said. The 87-year-old victim became ill on Feb. 19 and died on Feb 27. The other man, 27, became ill on Feb. 27 and died on March 4, the Chinese health commission said. A 35-year-old woman in the Anhui city of Chuzhou became ill on March 9 and is being treated. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted tests and confirmed Saturday that all three cases were H7N9, the health commission said. Scientists have been closely monitoring the H5N1 strain of the virus, fearing that it could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic. So far, most human cases have been connected to contact with infected birds.The Green Party recently announced a new immigration policy with a net migration target of 1 percent of the population, including returning New Zealanders. In an essay published earlier this week, writer Thomas Coughlan criticised the policy, drawing a line between it and the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the USA, UK and Europe. Here, Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche responds. The Green kaupapa on immigration is focused on people. We want all migrants to have positive resettlement experiences. We think our current refugee intake is irresponsibly low, and we need to plan for climate migration. We think Government needs to provide comprehensive language, financial and social support for new arrivals. Our MPs have campaigned for National to stop its plans to deport international students who were victims of visa fraud, and to take action against dodgy employers who exploit migrant workers. We’re proud of this mahi. It’s at the core of what we stand for. But if there is one thing we can take away from recent political upheaval it is that we need to be able to talk about political issues that people care about, even when they make us uncomfortable. Especially when they make us uncomfortable. Immigration is one of those issues. And in that context I think Thomas Coughlan has failed to understand our responsibility to have an open and respectful conversation about immigration. We need to talk about immigration because failing to do so means that we let that conversation be dominated by fear, intolerance and misinformation. It’s a sign of how much the conversation has already been captured by the anti-immigration bloc that any attempt to discuss the topic is automatically seen as dog-whistling to the same crowd. Recent events overseas have shown us exactly where that path will take us, and no-one wants that. It’s pointless to pretend that people who are worried about immigration will change their minds if we ignore them or dismiss them as racists in disguise. And we need to talk about immigration because it is our obligation under Te Tiriti o Waitangi to consider what the arrival of tangata tiriti means for tangata whenua. The Green Party is proud to uphold Te Tiriti. It underpins all the work that we do. And like any political issue that we face, our discussion about immigration in Aotearoa New Zealand needs to reckon with our colonised history. The idea, then, that we shouldn’t dare talk about immigration for fear of politicising it just doesn’t reflect the reality of Aotearoa’s history and political context. Nor do we think that this the best way respond to the ugly tide of xenophobic rhetoric in New Zealand and overseas. The Green Party wants an immigration policy that can provide a decent standard of living for everyone; tangata whenua, New Zealand-born tangata tiriti and tauiwi, and people who have more recently arrived. Net migration to New Zealand has risen significantly in the past three years. More people left than arrived in 2011. In 2013, net migration rose to 22,000 and it is predicted to end up at around 70,000 by the end of this year. The increase is largely due to a growth in people coming here on student and temporary work visas, and fewer New Zealanders leaving. If we’re thinking responsibly about the future, we need to grapple with what this means for our ability to plan for a good quality of life for everyone here, and for those who will arrive in coming years. We need to build up houses, public transport, schools and hospitals to a level where they are a good fit for the population. After eight years of National’s dismal under-investment, there is a lot of catching up to do. It is obvious that there are not enough houses in Auckland. Even now, not enough homes are being built to keep up with population growth, let alone make up the shortfall. There is evidence that some people who have recently arrived in New Zealand are being exploited. Some employers offer fewer jobs to immigrants, and pay them less for doing the same job as permanent residents. National is growing our international education sector at an unprecedented speed, which has undermined the quality of services for students and left them vulnerable to exploitation. Immigration is – categorically – not to blame for these issues. It is not the fault of the people who arrive to make a home in New Zealand or Kiwis returning home after a period overseas. Bad Government planning is to blame. Leaving the provision of affordable housing to the broken market is to blame. Underfunding public transport infrastructure is to blame. Weak labour laws that don’t stop workplace exploitation are to blame. But we know that not everyone understands or accepts those facts. And we also know that the reactionary right uses immigration as a weapon to drive fear and concern about jobs and security. We don’t pretend it’s possible to plan for migration perfectly, but we do think a responsible Government should be thinking about how to set migration policy for the best outcomes, not least for migrants themselves. In Government, the Greens would increase the refugee quota and prepare for people displaced by climate change. We would provide support for family reunification (not cut it like National is doing) and increase funding for settlement services and English language training. And we would also ensure that temporary migrants have decent working conditions, good quality education, and pathways to residency appropriate to their skills. It’s totally understandable to feel anxious when people start talking about immigration. We know that we have a responsibility to think about how people are affected by what we say, and we take that seriously. We acknowledge that it’s a difficult conversation. But the Green Party has never shied away from difficult conversations. Denise Roche is the Green Party immigration spokesperson. This content is funded entirely by Flick, the electricity retailer giving New Zealanders power over their power. With both spot price and fixed price plans available, you can be sure you’re getting true cost and real choice when you join Flick. Support us by making the switch today.William Unek (1929-February 21, 1957) was an African police constable and mass murderer who killed a total of 57 people in two separate spree killings three years apart. Murder sprees [ edit ] Unek worked as Police Constable or Police soldier in the Belgian Congo. His first murder spree occurred near Mahagi, Belgian Congo on January 1, 1954, where he killed 21 people and wounded many more with an axe in less than an hour and a half, before escaping and finally ending up in British Tanganyika Territory, where he assumed a false identity, found work and began a new life.[1] Apparently because of social misunderstandings with his boss,[2] Unek went on a second rampage which began in the early hours of February 11, 1957. Armed with a stolen Enfield-type police rifle, 50 rounds of ammunition, and an axe, he started killing people in the area of Malampaka, a village about 40 miles southeast of Mwanza. He broke into several houses and shot anyone he saw inside. Within twelve hours, Unek shot dead ten men, eight women, and eight children, murdered five more men with the axe, stabbed another one, burned two women and a child by trapping them in their house and setting it on fire, and strangled a 15-year-old girl, thus killing a total of 36 people.[3][4][5] He then changed out of his police uniform into clothes stolen from one of his victims and fled. Among the dead was reportedly his own wife, whom he killed in their hut before setting it on fire,[6] as well as the wife of a police sergeant.[7] Manhunt and death [ edit ] For nine days, Unek was sought by Wasukuma tribesmen, police, and eventually a company of the King's African Rifles in Tanganyika's greatest manhunt up to that time.[3][8] Despite the extensive search operation, including dogs and aircraft,[9] and a posted reward of $350,[10] Unek eluded his pursuers until he finally showed up at the house of Iyumbu ben Ikumbu, who lived only two miles away from Malampaka, in search for food. When Iyumbu reported the incident to police, he was asked to keep Unek with him and notify them, should the killer come again to his home. Unek, still armed, reappeared at about 1:00 a.m. the next day. Iyumbu, sending his wife to police, gave Unek food and engaged in a conversation with him for nearly two hours until help arrived. At that point, Iyumbu ran out of his house whereupon a Police Superintendent threw a smoke bomb, setting the house on fire. Unek, severely injured when attempting to evade capture, later succumbed to his wounds in hospital.[4][11] Iyumbu later received a financial reward of £125,[12] as well as the British Empire Medal for his bravery leading to the capture of the constable.[13][14] Aftermath [ edit ] As response to the murders, a fund was created to help the descendants of those killed[15] and a maternity clinic was built as a memorial for Unek's victims.[16] His rampage ranks among the deadliest of the twentieth century.StockRadars, a Bangkok-based service that aims to demystify investing in Asia’s stock markets, has scored a deal of its own after parent company SiamSquared closed a Series A round from Japan’s CyberAgent Ventures and East Ventures. The deal is undisclosed, but TechCrunch understands that it is around $800,000 and at a $5-10 million valuation for the Thai startup. StockRadars currently covers the public markets in Thailand and Singapore, where it claims 150,000 users. CEO and co-founder Teerachart ‘Max’ Kortrakul told TechCrunch that the money will be used to expand the 18-month-old service into Indonesia and — over time — other parts of Asia Pacific including Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. StockRadars is a free product for investing in public stock. Users can pay for ‘radars’, which are essentially layers of intelligence and analysis that help identify “hidden gems” in the stock market, as Kortrakul puts it. Radars cost upwards of $0.99 (some are free, the most expensive is $200 for a year) and can be programmed to monitor for specific stocks, types of investment or give alerts — including notifications that a company director is selling stock, for example. Once set up, they report back to users with suggestions of stocks to invest in and pertinent information. SiamSquared has a partnership with AIS, Thailand’s largest operator which is owned by Asian telco Singtel, after placing as a finalist in its domestic startup competition. Kortrakul said the collaboration with Singtel has included dedicated packages for subscribers and marketing which have increased StockRadars’ reach in Thailand and Singapore, and there are plans to extend the partnership into other countries perhaps in conjunction with expansions of the service. StockRadars is available for iOS and Android with a web platform that’s currently in beta. Kortrakul said the objective is to make the app into a personal investment assistant for its users, and give them the confidence to invest in public markets.In this video, it’s mentioned that there’s a way that you can make use of both Extra Monster Zones. Now that you’ve had a month to play with the basics of Link Monsters, it’s time to talk about an advanced strategy that only becomes available when using lots of Link Monsters. Before we can get to that though, we need to know what it means for Link Monsters to be “Extra Linked”! In addition to being linked or co-linked, there’s a special type of “linked” state that a monster can be in: “Extra Linked”. Only Link Monsters can be Extra Linked, and this state only occurs when a series of co-linked Link Monsters is built that connects a Link Monster in an Extra Monster Zone to a Link Monster in the other Extra Monster Zone. Each monster in the series must be co-linked to each other monster it is linked to in the series. Take a look at the example below. In this example, we’ve placed a series of co-linked monsters from the right-hand Extra Monster Zone over to the left-hand Extra Monster Zone where the opponent has Link Summoned Decode Talker. Each of our Link Monsters is co-linked to each other Link Monster it’s linked to in the series, so when we Link Summon the final monster in the series, each monster in the series becomes Extra Linked in addition to being co-linked and linked, including the opponent’s Decode Talker. Any Link Monster that is co-linked to one of the monsters in this series is also Extra Linked, even if it’s not contributing towards making the monsters Extra Linked. For example, an extra Honeybot to the left or right of one of the Firewall Dragons would also be Extra Linked. There is no inherent advantage or benefit to your monsters being Extra Linked, but some card effects may care about it, much like Ib the World Chalice Priestess cares about being linked and Firewall Dragon counts the number of Link Monsters it’s co-linked to in order to determine the strength of its effect. While most Link Monsters won’t benefit from being Extra Linked, you can benefit from creating a situation where your Link Monsters are Extra Linked. Let’s take our series of Link Monsters from before and remove the opponent’s Decode Talker from the field. Under normal circumstances you cannot occupy both Extra Monster Zones with monsters from your Extra Deck. There is one, and only one, exception to this rule: If Link Summoning to the second Extra Monster Zone would create a complete series of Extra Linked Link Monsters, you may Link Summon a monster to that Extra Monster Zone to complete that series. So in the above example, you are allowed to Link Summon a monster to the left-hand Extra Monster Zone if and only if that monster would be co-linked to the left-hand Firewall Dragon, causing all of the monsters to become Extra Linked. You don’t have to control all of the Link Monsters in the chain in order for this to be possible. Consider this situation. In this scenario, you could Link Summon a Decode Talker to the right-hand Extra Monster Zone, co-linked to the opposing Firewall Dragon, and then Link Summon another Decode Talker in the left-hand Extra Monster Zone co-linked to the other opposing Firewall Dragon. The second Decode Talker would cause the entire chain of Link Monsters to become Extra Linked, so this is allowed. Link Monsters can be co-linked on diagonals, though at the time of this writing there are no Link Monsters whose Link Arrows point diagonally upwards. If at some point such Link Monsters were to exist, they could also be used this way. Scenarios like the ones presented above are rare, but now you know the additional opportunities when these situations arise!Prices for black market roses are reported to be rising The Saudi Gazette quoted shop workers as saying that officials had warned them to remove all red items including flowers and wrapping paper. Black market prices for roses were already rising, the paper said. Saudi authorities consider Valentine's Day, along with a host of other annual celebrations, as un-Islamic. In addition to the prohibition on celebrating non-Islamic festivals, the authorities consider Valentine's Day as encouraging relations between men and women outside wedlock - punishable by law in the conservative
Locals deny a possibility of hoax – naga fireballs often are observed in very secluded places where the putative "organiser" of fireballs has nearly no chances to impress anyone. It is just weird to imagine countless Thai and Laotian people keeping themselves busy by making illuminations in remote lakes and rivers. Appearance of fireballs has been reported in more than 45 kilometres long section of river in one night. River has been closely watched by numerous people for many days before. In such circumstances the possibility of fraud seems to be quite low – who would manage to organise such illumination without getting caught in the act? Naga fireballs rised from the river during the hostilities between Thailand and Laos: the border was heavily guarded then and it is little likely that somebody would risk his life to organise the fraud. Legend of modern times Wondermondo will not present a judgement about the source of naga balls. One though should be recognized – if this is a hoax, it is organised very well and there are lots of people who are happy to believe in this. But may be naga fireballs are real, natural mysterious light effects – so called Earth lights (see another example – Chir Batti)? Riddles posed by these phenomena are not that easy to solve. Naga Fireballs of Mekong are included in the following list: References Highly critical view to Naga fireballs: The Naga Fireballs. Skeptoid, Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena. Accessed in the 23rd September 2010. Thailand’s Naga Fireballs declared not supernatural. Originally published by The Nation, 12 October 2003. Accessed in the 23rd September 2010. Erik Cohen. Explorations in Thai Tourism. The "Postmodernization" of a Mythical Event: Naga Fireballs on the Mekong River. 2008. Similar phenomena described by WondermondoI need to find a good Mormon monster — one that seeks out non-tithe-payers or feasts on those who drink Diet Coke. A Zion zombie, perhaps, that eats the brains of, you know, the pure in heart. Zombies are really popular this year. “The Mormon Munsters — have you been invited to their family home evening?” Or “The Addams Family with special guest Eve. The mother of all wants you to clean your room.” How about a well-placed mummy — not the kind that makes you do laundry, but the dry, dusty Egyptian variety. After all, Egypt has ties to Mormon-dom through Moses and Abraham, as well as Joseph and his amazing coat. The angel of death and those spooky long fingers was very scary, and the look is not all that hard to re-create with dry ice and a fog machine. The dilemma is that I am not trying to scare people. The other dilemma, more of a predicament really, is that I don’t know what place Halloween really has in Mormon-dom. As an LDS dad, one who is seeking the “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” (LDS Articles of Faith), Halloween leaves me in a seriously scary quandary. Currently I am a father of teenagers who like pizza and texting. A scary night for them is a night without their cellphones. And spooky is them having to do their homework without their iPod while sitting at the table — very frightening. As an LDS dad, Halloween leaves me in a seriously scary quandary. When my daughter was younger she asked me why we celebrated Halloween. I told her that we didn’t. She looked around at the colored lights, the black lights, the giant white ghosts floating in the yard, the spooky music being piped to the street, the table of cookies and popcorn and misty burbling punch and the Edgar Allen Poe's raven perched on my shoulder and said, “Okaaaay.” Still, “celebrate” seems like a strong word. But based on results, I am defiantly celebratory on the 31st of October. So, why do I, a practicing Mormon, celebrate a holiday that seems to have base in the druid, the pagan and the pranks, the haunted and even the undead and all things seemingly un-Christian? Yes, the imagery of Halloween has changed somewhat, even from Halloweens of the ’70s and ’80s when I was a participant and not a party planner. The holiday’s typical colors of black and orange have softened to include green and purple. Witches can be cute, as can be vampires, scarecrows and zombies. Threats of mischief are to be taken as “adorable,” and we bribe the kids in costume at our door with candy or at my dad-the-dentist’s house, toothbrushes. Originally, children in Great Britain disguised in costumes went from door to door. They visited homes and were rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. It’s all about the candy now. Try picking the “trick” when you are presented with the option. See what happens. My guess is that you will get some confused faces and someone will call you a grouchy old man. Hurt my feelings, it did. They carried jack-o’-lanterns to guide the souls held in purgatory. True, these lanterns were first created with Irish turnips. We use pumpkins now, both bigger and easier to carve. Just try to whittle something really scary, like a Ute fan, on a turnip. Elements of the autumn season, such as fallen leaves, bare branches, corn husks and scarecrows are images we conjure for the season, right along with themes of evil, death and the occult, murder, mayhem and monsters, both mortal and mythical, without a second thought. “It’s just one night a year” some Mormons say, and that it is. Many believe that Halloween is simply a fun excuse to get together. Often, “Trunk or Treats” are held in or around the neighborhoods LDS chapel with little or no negative significance to the practice. Others reject Halloween as a holiday, concerned that it trivializes paganism and is incompatible with their Mormon beliefs. I took my children to the Trunk or Treat that was held in my ward building several years ago. However, there is no such church/ward sponsored celebration this year, and that is fine by me. In its place is a chilly chili fest, and I am in charge of the corn bread. It just seems a better fit for church. And anytime I can eat and talk and be in charge of something is a holiday for me. Other friends believe Halloween is much like the Mexican holiday “Dia de Los Muertos,” a day to celebrate their loved ones who have passed. They light jack-o’-lanterns — not caring if they are pumpkin or turnip — to help guide their beloved dead. I like the idea of remembering the dead. I rather hope someone will remember me. This predicament, like many other quandaries in my life, I have had to decide for my own, with my wife, what is appropriate for my family. I have not found instruction by the leaders of my church concerning Halloween specifically, but I have discovered a whole lot of common sense. I am starting to understand what Elder James E. Faust, formerly of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, might have meant when he said in the Ensign (November 1987, p. 33), “No good can come from getting close to evil. Like playing with fire, it is too easy to get burned: ‘The knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission.’ … The only safe course is to keep well distanced from him and any of his wicked activities or nefarious practices. The mischief of devil worship, sorcery, casting spells, witchcraft, voodooism, black magic and all other forms of demonism should be avoided like the plague.” That is the direction I find myself to be heading with my family concerning Halloween. Maybe my fixation with lights of all color as a party planner is an attempt to “chase darkness from among (us).” Personally I plan to celebrate this Halloween with my family by eating. Yes, there will be hordes of candy involved. And I may be dressed like Edgar Allen Poe, Gandalf or Elmer Fudd. Or, maybe, the Creature of the Latter-day Lagoon. Davison Cheney writes, often humorously, at davisoncheneymegadad.blogspot.com × Related LinksA Saudi court in the conservative province of Qassim sentenced four men for up to 10 years in prison and 2000 lashes for dancing “naked” in public, the Agence France-Presse reported Thursday. In a video posted on YouTube, the men appear dancing on top of a vehicle, but none seemed naked, AFP said. They were charged with “encouraging vice, defying norms of the society and violating public morals,” Al-Sharq newspaper reported. The court in Buraydah, Qassim’s provincial capital, sentenced one defendant to 10 years in prison and 2000 lashes, another to seven years in prison and 1200 lashes, and two other men were jailed for three years and sentenced to 500 lashes each, Al-Sharq reported. Two of them were identified as security officials. Saudi Arabia applies a strict version of Islamic shariah law that imposes many social restrictions and bans public entertainment, AFP said. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.ST. PETERSBURG — CF Kevin Kiermaier still doesn't know what caused the tightness in his left hip that kept him out of all but four innings during the weekend series with the Rangers. Could it have been caused by playing on Tropicana Field's unforgiving turf? "Yes and no," said Kiermaier, who returned to the lineup Monday against the Red Sox. Kiermaier said he prepares each offseason for the pounding his legs will take on the AstroTurf. He said after playing a career-high 78 games at the Trop last season, he felt well enough to play another two months. But, Kiermaier added, "The turf, it does do some crazy things to our bodies every now and then. Some days you can feel great and a couple of days later, you don't change anything, and your body feels awful." Kiermaier said the mental toll of a 162-game season is just as taxing as the physical and can lead to physical issues. "So there are a lot of things that come to play," he said. "The turf probably has a part to do with what's going on." Manager Kevin Cash said he and the training staff will keep an eye on Kiermaier, though they have been monitoring things all season. "He understands how much we value and need him out there," Cash said. "We're excited to have him back, but we're going to listen to what KK has to say, and if he doesn't feel good enough then we'll adjust, but as for now he's good to go." And Cash hopes Kiermaier stays good to go. "This isn't a knock to anybody else, but when KK is not in our lineup it seems like it shows up every day," Cash said. "We know we're best when he's out there roaming the outfield and making the plays that he does." OH WHAT A CATCH: The Rays had a chance to cut the Red Sox's lead to 3-2 in the eighth when RF Steven Souza Jr., with DH Tim Beckham on first base, lined a ball down the leftfield line. But LF Andrew Benintendi made a running, leaping catch over the small wall to rob Souza of a two-run homer. "Spending seven years here, I didn't see that catch too many times," former Rays LHP and winning pitcher David Price said. "That doesn't happen a whole lot, so that was huge." Benintendi, who moved from centerfield at the start of the inning, said he knew he had a chance after getting a good jump on the ball. "I think that's the best catch I ever made," he said. "I've never really had an opportunity to take one back. I was fortunate that I could." MAHTOOK STRUGGLES: LF Mikie Mahtook extended his slump to 0-for-32 after going hitless in three at-bats. Luke Scott holds the record for the Rays' longest slump — 0-for-41 in 2012. "It's just one of those things where you just try to grind out the bad at-bats, you grind out the times you don't feel great and overcome it," Mahtook said. COBB UPDATE: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) allowed nine hits and five runs in four innings Monday against Norfolk while pitching for Triple-A Durham. It was his sixth rehab start. He could rejoin the rotation later this week or make one more start for Durham. That would push his return to after the rosters expand Sept. 1. IN THE COMMUNITY: C Luke Maile is scheduled to visit patients today at Tampa General Hospital. SS Matt Duffy and Mahtook will visit patients Wednesday at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.While most students at Columbia University will spend the first day of classes carrying backpacks and books, Emma Sulkowicz will start her semester on Tuesday with a far heavier burden. The senior plans on carrying an extra-long, twin-size mattress across the quad and through each New York City building – to every class, every day – until the man she says raped her moves off campus. “I was raped in my own bed,” Sulkowicz told me the other day, as she was gearing up to head back to school in this, the year American colleges are finally, supposedly, ready to do something about sexual assault. “I could have taken my pillow, but I want people to see how it weighs down a person to be ignored by the school administration and harassed by police.” Sulkowicz is one of three women who made complaints to Columbia against the same fellow senior, who was found “not responsible” in all three cases. She also filed a police report, but Sulkowicz was treated abysmally – by the cops, and by a Columbia disciplinary panel so uneducated about the scourge of campus violence that one panelist asked how it was possible to be anally raped without lubrication. Apparently even an Ivy League school still doesn’t understand the old adage of “no means no”. So Sulkowicz joined a federal complaint in April over Columbia’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases, and she will will hoist that mattress on her shoulders as part savvy activism, part performance art. “The administration can end the piece, by expelling him,” she says, “or he can, by leaving campus.” Her performance may be singular, but the deep frustration voiced by Sulkowicz is being echoed by survivors across the United States. Despite increased efforts to curb campus assault and hold schools accountable – the FBI has changed its once-archaic definition of rape, a new White House task force wants answers, and schools like Harvard and Dartmouth have promised new policies – the nation’s university administrators are still failing young people in their care. In the last year alone, 67 schools have had students file federal complaints accusing their own colleges of violating the Clery Act or Title IX. With the start of school underway, however, the biggest paradigm shift on rape and sexual consent in decades may just now be emerging in California, where “yes means yes” – a model for reform that feminists like me have been pushing for years – could soon become law. Late last week, the first state bill to require colleges to adopt an “affirmative consent” model in their sexual assault policies passed the California senate unanimously. The legislation, which is headed to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk for approval by the end of this month (his office declined to comment), effectively requires the presence of a “yes” rather than the absence of a “no” – or else withholds funding from the nation’s largest state school system. Verbal consent is best: easier to avoid the 'he said, she said' college administrators try to make rape cases out to be Sofie Karasek, senior, UC-Berkeley The legislation additionally clarifies that affirmative consent means both parties must be awake, conscious and not incapacitated from alcohol or drugs – and that past sexual encounters or a romantic relationship doesn’t imply consent. The California bill also, importantly, specifies that “lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent, nor does silence mean consent”. It seems like a no-brainer to only have sex with conscious and enthusiastic partners, but detractors say the standard “micromanages” sexuality. The truth is that a “yes means yes” policy “helps to create a shared responsibility, instead of the responsibility falling on women to say ‘no’,” says Tracey Vitchers, chair of the board at Safer (Students Active for Ending Rape). Anti-violence activists are clearly excited about the bill, which – if all goes well – could be adopted by more states with large public university systems. Sofie Karasek, a senior at the University of California at Berkeley and co-founder of End Rape on Campus, also supports the new bill. Like Sulkowicz at Columbia, Karasek filed a federal complaint after she said Berkeley didn’t take sufficient action after she reported a sexual assault. As her first week back on campus was winding down on Friday, Karasek told me she thinks the California model has “created an important conversation about consent in the media and public, and I think with affirmative consent, more students will be talking about it as well.” Indeed, a lot of students – male students, included – already are. Gray Williams, a senior at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, says he likes the “yes means yes” standard. “It’s not that big of a deal, and I appreciate having an unambiguous ‘yes’ or ‘no’ instead of having to read her body language,” he told me. Roo George-Warren, a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University, thinks some young men might be skeptical, but he insists part of the problem is that the “discourse around consent in day-to-day conversation is so unsophisticated.” And this is what makes the legislation so important for colleges: mandating “yes means yes” in sexual assault policy puts the onus on colleges to give comprehensive consent education. If students are to abide by that standard, they need to know what it means. So California could lead the way in redefining how we think about sexual consent. But as promising as this overdue measure may be, state legislatures and university administrators alike need to make sure they’re being as thorough as possible in this moment when real reform, for once, doesn’t seem impossible. The legislation doesn’t clearly specify whether affirmative consent means verbal or nonverbal communication. Do students need to say “yes”? Or is clear body language sufficient? Should Gov Brown sign “yes means yes” into law, I agree with Slate writer Amanda Hess, who believes the standard going forward should itself be more sophisticated and include nonverbal cues – not just because they present a more realistic vision of how we experience sex, but because we need to talk about body language that can mean “no” as well: If we can admit that enthusiastic consent is often communicated in body language or knowing looks, then we must also accept that the lack of consent doesn’t always manifest itself in a shouted ‘no’ or ‘stop,’ either. It shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of the uninterested party to speak up during a sexual encounter. At Berkeley, Karasek said she remained worried that such ambiguity could be used to further hurt survivors and that requiring verbal consent would make it easier to “avoid the ‘he said, she said’ that college administrators try to make rape cases out to be.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest An estimated one in five women is sexually assaulted during college. Emma Sulkowicz says she was raped in her own bed. Photograph: Kristina Budelis for Guardian US Opinion We’ve come a long way in the last four decades on sexual assault, but this necessary shift to “yes means yes” will not be an easy one. (Let’s also not forget that it was just four years ago when male students from Yale University were caught on tape chanting “No means yes, yes means anal.”) The feminist movement of the 70s shined a light on “date rape” – the most common kind of sexual assault that once went ignored is now widely-understood to be a pervasive problem. Twenty-one years ago, marital rape was still legal in some states, but now legislation decries the idea that marriage equals constant consent. Today, politicians and activists alike increasingly recognize that everything we did before is simply not enough: despite these shifts in policy and public perception, rape is still far too common – approximately one out of every five women is sexually assaulted in college. And that’s just what’s reported, according to the White House. That’s just in America. That’s just in college. When I spoke to Sulkowicz about her unofficial senior project – she calls it Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight – the brave 21-year-old said something I think most people who care about the issue of violence against women can relate to. “It’s going to be an endurance piece,” she said. In some ways, battling rape always has been.A memorial service was held for Amiere Castro, 7, killed in a drive-by shooting in Richmond Heights. (Source: CBS4) MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Loved ones gathered Sunday to remember a child killed in a drive-by shooting in Richmond Heights. A memorial service was held for Amiere Castro at Second Baptist Church in Southwest Miami-Dade. The 7-year-old was shot in the head while watching TV inside of a home last Sunday. Community leaders said they’re working hard to take back the streets from the growing gun violence. “This is happening far too frequently in our community where we’re losing our young, we’re losing our youth. It’s senseless, it’s tragic,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “But I think we all still remain very hopeful that if we’re determined to end this senseless violence in our community, we can, we must and we will.” Two days after the child’s death, Dravein Duke turned himself into police, who police said opened fire on the home after a drug deal turned sour. Two others have been arrested in connection to the shooting, as well.Even the most trivial of emergency-room trips can quickly add up. Going in for an upper respiratory infection averages more than $1,000. A urinary tract infection can set patients back thousands of dollars. But before Obamacare came on the scene, New Jersey physician Jeffrey Brenner was already working on innovative ways to slash health-care costs. He scoured health-care billing data at local hospitals and discovered that a small number of “super utilizers” clustered in certain geographic areas were responsible for the bulk of health-care costs in Camden, N.J. He brought together a team of social workers and medical professionals, who made regular house calls to those patients, accompanied them to doctor’s appointments and conducted long interviews with them to obtain health histories—all to help the city cut medical costs and provide better care to these neediest patients. That was some six years ago. His work, called health-care hot spotting, helped net him a MacArthur “genius” award in 2013. Now he works full-time on this issue and oversees a team of about 20 nurses, social workers, community health-care workers, Americorps volunteers and a psychologist who attack this problem around Camden. More than 50 similar operations have popped up around the country, and Brenner assists half of them. The latest such health hot spotting project Brenner works with is Sutter Health, a huge system consisting of some 30 hospitals in northern California. Brenner, the executive director of the nonprofit Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, spoke with Scientific American about how to predict who will cost the health-care system the most, his plans for his “genius” prize winnings, and his latest efforts to study health hot spotting with a randomized controlled trial. [An edited transcript of the conversation follows]: What made you think to start mapping out “super utilizers” of health care? I was a frontline family doctor in Camden, N.J., for 12 years. I accepted Medicaid patients and found that they had the most complex health problems to tease apart. In a typical primary-care model, we don’t serve those patients very well. It was a big, audacious, hairy problem where the tools we have been given are inadequate to solve it. How can communities identify these complex, chronic patients—these so-called super utilizers that cost hospitals the most—while respecting patient privacy? Wouldn’t tapping such billing data run up against HIPAA protections? It turns out that HIPAA allows you to work with large data sets for billing purposes, if you are improving quality or if it’s a valid research project. In our case, we originally got approval because it was a large research project. But we also have a business agreement as part of the health information exchange. That exchange under HIPAA says you are allowed to have data sharing agreements as long as patients are given forms to explain what their data is being used for. Not many patients opt out. Your early hot-spotting efforts saved community hospitals millions of dollars, I’ve read. How much did you actually save? We have no idea. Statistically, savings are actually really hard to calculate. I have not talked about dollar figures in the last few years because the only way we will know savings for sure is by doing a randomized controlled trial. That’s what we are doing now. We certainly believe our interventions save money. Why is it hard to determine the savings? There is a patient in Trenton, N.J., who went 450 times to the local hospitals in a single year. She was chronically homeless and alcoholic, and she had a lot of physical and sexual abuse in her history. Through a collaboration with the local hospitals and social agencies, she was able to get into a special housing unit and worked with a multidisciplinary team like ours that got her down to 18 visits a year. We have a policy premised on why the intervention would make a difference, but it turns out that if you took 200 overutilizers like her and watch them over a year, they drop in utilization some 20 percent to 30 percent—even if you do nothing—because statistically, when you are dealing with outliers, outlier data tends to regress toward the mean. These people are quite sick, and it’s hard to get to the hospital 450 times each year. Our randomized controlled trial will get us some real answers. Why are you doing a randomized controlled trial now? There is a lot of research on pills and devices, but there has been very little high-quality research on how to deliver better care at lower cost. If you look at our funding for our nonprofit, there are about 28 sources of funding cobbled together to keep our team in the field and to keep the structure in place so we can do this randomized controlled trial. That’s why it’s taken so long to launch a trial. We’ve now partnered with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, which does randomized trials around the world on social interventions. The lead is up at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology \, and it’s the researcher that did the well-known Oregon health research that randomized people into access to Medicaid. They’ve been helping us set this up. You were awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant in 2013. What did you do with the $625,000? It’s an interesting grant. It’s not a grant to the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers organization. It was granted to me individually. I had a private Medicaid practice in Camden, and my payment rates kept getting cut. I actually went out of business. By the time I closed my office, I was getting $19 a visit because of cuts happening at the state level that were trickling down through the Medicaid HMOs. The MacArthur grant is not one lump payment. It’s broke out over five years and about half of it is paid out in taxes. It comes as quarterly payment, and the first few years will go to paying off the debts from my practice. How does that experience affect your current efforts with hot spotting? Primary care is dying while hospitals are expanding, which underscores why reforms are needed. You get what you pay for. If you underspend on primary care, then you won’t get enough of it. We need to move some of that money spent in hospitals back to primary care providers and save the health-care system costs. What does your randomized controlled trial look like? It will have a total of 800 patients. Four hundred patients will receive our intervention, and 400 will be controls receiving normal routine care where they are discharged from the hospital and make their own appointments. We recruit patients into the trial from four hospitals in New Jersey where we have set up real-time data systems that allow us to know when these patients have been admitted: two admissions in six months signals to us that a patient may be the worst of the worst and that she or he is likely a $20,000 patient. We then explain our project to the patients and ask them to consent to participate. If they consent, we leave the room, hit the “random button” on our computer and the patient is randomized into intervention or control. We need to do that 800 times. We then follow them in our data system. At the end of the study, we will also look through Medicaid records to make sure we catch if they received care elsewhere. When do you expect all the data to be in? We’ve been collecting good data now for six months. We have 80 patients in each arm of the study now, and so if we can ramp up and accelerate enrollment, then we’ll probably have data next December. What do patients receiving the intervention get? For 90 days we go to patients’ appointments with them, make home visits, and if they are homeless, we help them get housing. We also help them apply for other social services. It’s a multidisciplinary approach with social workers, community health-care workers and nurses, and we are also inside local primary health-care offices for training. What happens after the 90 days of intervention? We try to graduate them and plug them into a stable, well-run system of care. Sometimes, since many primary care providers have closed, we have trouble finding a practice that accepts Medicaid patients. We have been using some of our funds to augment Medicaid payments to primary care providers. We pay them $150 if they get one of these patients in for a visit five to seven days after when they were in the hospital. And we pay the patient with a $20 gift card and a cab voucher to go see the doctor. We have found in our data that the first week to two weeks after hospitalization is a critical time, and if we can engage them quickly, it makes a world of difference. And for those medical practices, it’s a lot of money. We’re giving out a couple thousand dollars to practices that are struggling. Do you think this model of hot spotting is a good fit in both rural and urban areas? Yes. We have worked with groups in Eureka, Calif., which is incredibly isolated, and found the same patterns hold up. We have also worked with a group in rural Maine, another in rural Michigan and also in rural Pennsylvania. What we’re finding over and over with our partners across the country is that the number-one determinant of being a high utilizer of health care is the amount of adverse childhood experiences you had, like physical and sexual abuse. There is interesting literature to back that up. In short, those traumatic experiences in early childhood lead to lifelong health costs and can help predict health-care utilization rates. Is it early life trauma specifically, or might other factors be at work there, such as socioeconomic status, economic and health access issues or childhood stability? In a lot of studies we say that some bad outcome is due to socioeconomic status, but there has been very little work to look at the causality. There are higher levels of early life trauma in underserved communities; therefore, the true variable is probably the early life trauma and probably trauma and early life conditions. The social determinants of health and all the underlying pieces of it have not been fully explored, and we don’t understand the ethnography of it all. Has the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) impacted your work? The law sent a huge market signal out to the health-care industry that the game needs to change and become more efficient and accountable. Under the Affordable Care Act, there was also a $10 billion fund put together to support innovation over a decade. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been putting grants out. We got a $2.7 million three-year innovation grant that is helping to pay for the research team in the field. It’s one of our 28 sources of funding. Your approach has been likened to a “weather map” for health. Is that an appropriate analogy? Hot spotting is not just making maps. It’s the strategic use of data to find outliers and to improve their care. Mapping is one example of how you segment data. There are other strategies you can use as well, like hospital claims data. A lot of our work has been simplified down to terms like hot spotting and super utilizers, but it’s a multidimensional intervention. We are trying to get the cost curve to drop by focusing on the poorest patients. We are using data in real time to target outliers who are the canary in the coal mine to understand how the system is failing.On Sunday, Montrealers elected Valérie Plante the new mayor of Canada’s second largest city. She beat incumbent Denis Coderre having run a strong and energetic campaign against the former Liberal MP. Throughout the campaign, she promised change, and a new direction of focus including improving cycling infrastructure and safety in the city. RELATED: The NDP’s new leader Jagmeet Singh loves cycling “I’m going to get Montrealers moving again. I’m going to build safer roads for pedestrians, seniors and cyclists,” Plante said in her acceptance speech on Sunday night. Here are three of Plante’s campaign promises cyclists in Montreal should look forward to: 1) The creation of the express cycle network A proposed plan that would see the installation of 140 km of bidirectional secure cycling paths on major north-south and east-west arteries in the city. Plante has pledged seven axes for these projects will be proposed and submit to the public for consultation. “New infrastructure needs to be built to meet the needs of today’s cyclists. I travel by bike every day and I see how many problems there are and how great the need is,” Plante said during the campaign. “With my team, which has an unrivaled experience in cycling issues, I will be able to offer a safe, efficient cycling network worthy of the best cycling cities.” 2) Traffic reduction on Camillien-Houde RELATED: Why it’s possible Ouimet’s killer could get away with no criminal charges In October, 18-year-old Clément Ouimet was fatally struck by a vehicle making an illegal u-turn on Camillien-Houde. The road that climbs Mount Royal is an extremely popular training spot for cyclists and is used the the WorldTour race in the city. While Coderre ensured signage went up indicating u-turns were illegal and had additional electronic speed indicators installed, Plante is committed to implementing traffic calming measures gradually so fewer vehicles use the road to get across the mountain. Je suis très émue par tout l’amour et le respect qui se dégagent de l’hommage à Clément Ouimet #polmtl #vélomtl pic.twitter.com/KbxAuPrnTb — Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) October 6, 2017 3) Improved safety measures on the city’s streets While improving the city’s infrastructure will contribute to giving more cyclists safe arteries to use, Plante has also vowed to make the roads generally safer. Plante has criticized the number of bike paths which are simply painted on the street vowing to install more separated bike lanes. “So many Montrealers would like to ride their bikes on a daily basis, but they do not dare to do so because the infrastructure is unsafe and they fear for their lives. Montreal’s bike network was built in the 1980s and is no longer adapted to our reality,” Plante explained during the campaign. She’s proposed reducing the speed limit on narrow roads, advanced stop lines for bikes, anti-door buffer zones and re-designing underpasses that have proven to be dangerous to cyclists. She also has said there will be more bike parking at metros and other public transportationhubs. Additionally, she wants the city to take more action immediately following collisions between cyclists and cars instead of what she refers to as the ‘4 accidents before acting’ policy of the previous administration. Montrealers bike Montreal has nearly 750 km of bike paths and over the past eight years there are 50 per cent more people making trips by bicycle in the city. In 2016, Vélo Quebec said nearly one million Montrealers ride bikes at least once a week. Montreal has been touted in the past as one of the most bike friendly city’s in North America. It ranked eighth in the world and first in North America on the Copenhagenize Index in 2011. Montreal slipped to 14th in 2013 and fell to 20th in 2015 clinging onto that spot in 2017. “Far too many streets in the city are still unsafe. Cyclists are herded down streets which get congested between spring and fall, instead of planning infrastructure along all of the city’s main corridors. With such an impressive starting point, it is time for Montreal to prove their worth,” the summary of Montreal’s problems reads on the Copenhagenize Design website. Whether Plante fulfills her campaign promises is yet to be seen but her commitment to creating safer networks for the city’s cyclists is laying the ground work for a future Montrealers can look forward to. If Plante’s cycling platform proves to be successful, it could be emulated elsewhere in Canada.Cord cutting is real, argued Charlie Ergen, Chairman and co-founder of Dish Network (S DISH) at All Things Digital’s Dive into Media conference in Dana Point, California Monday. “think people are cutting the cord,” Ergen said, arguing that kids in college never use cable, and that they won’t suddenly start paying once they leave school. “There is a reason that tobacco companies give away free cigarettes at colleges,” he joked. Ergen also reiterated his position that a la carte programming would be better for consumers, as well as the industry itself. “We are still for a la carte, because the Internet is a la carte today,” he said. People could just watch Netflix, (S NFLX) or even pirate content online, and service providers would have to compete with this new reality. “A lot of customers can live with Netflix and an… antenna, and YouTube…(S GOOG) and they’d be pretty happy,” he said. Advertisement However, Ergen cautioned the audience at Dive into Media that a la carte won’t become a reality anytime soon. “It’s gonna go there slowly,” he said, arguing that the major broadcasters won’t break
. However, treatment burden starts years before treatment benefits accrue. Because guidelines often ignore treatment burden, many patients with diabetes may be overtreated. Objective To examine how treatment burden affects the benefits of intensive vs moderate glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants We estimated the effects of hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) reduction on diabetes outcomes and overall quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) using a Markov simulation model. Model probabilities were based on estimates from randomized trials and observational studies. Simulated patients were based on adult patients with type 2 diabetes drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. Interventions Glucose lowering with oral agents or insulin in type 2 diabetes. Main Outcomes and Measures Main outcomes were QALYs and reduction in risk of microvascular and cardiovascular diabetes complications. Results Assuming a low treatment burden (0.001, or 0.4 lost days per year), treatment that lowered HbA 1c level by 1 percentage point provided benefits ranging from 0.77 to 0.91 QALYs for simulated patients who received a diagnosis at age 45 years to 0.08 to 0.10 QALYs for those who received a diagnosis at age 75 years. An increase in treatment burden (0.01, or 3.7 days lost per year) resulted in HbA 1c level lowering being associated with more harm than benefit in those aged 75 years. Across all ages, patients who viewed treatment as more burdensome (0.025-0.05 disutility) experienced a net loss in QALYs from treatments to lower HbA 1c level. Conclusions and Relevance Improving glycemic control can provide substantial benefits, especially for younger patients; however, for most patients older than 50 years with an HbA 1c level less than 9% receiving metformin therapy, additional glycemic treatment usually offers at most modest benefits. Furthermore, the magnitude of benefit is sensitive to patients’ views of the treatment burden, and even small treatment adverse effects result in net harm in older patients. The current approach of broadly advocating intensive glycemic control should be reconsidered; instead, treating patients with HbA 1c levels less than 9% should be individualized on the basis of estimates of benefit weighed against the patient’s views of the burdens of treatment. Introduction Intensive glycemic control is a standard of care for many organizations, and achieving a hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) level of less than 7% is a quality measure often used to profile physicians and health plans.1,2 Lowering HbA 1c level delays the onset and slows the progression of early microvascular disease.3,4 However, trials have found no significant reductions in clinically relevant end points such as vision loss, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and amputation with 10 years of improved glycemic control.3 Observational studies and disease modeling suggest that benefits in these major outcomes will eventually accrue but typically take 2 or more decades to manifest.5,6 Effects on macrovascular end points, such as heart attacks and strokes, have varied widely between trials, but meta-analyses suggest that glycemic control may convey a small reduction in nonfatal events.7-12 Whenever treatments have limited or delayed benefits, the burden and risks of treatment become particularly important.13-20 Most glycemic medications have unwanted effects, such as weight gain, hypoglycemia, or gastrointestinal adverse effects.3,21 Moreover, clinicians are now faced with an expanding arsenal of diabetes mellitus treatments that have varying adverse effects and a risk of treatment-related harm, such as that found in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial and suggested by meta-analyses of rosiglitazone use.18-20 Treatment burden and adverse effects can have an appreciable negative impact on patient quality of life.13,22-24 Decisions made in chronic diseases often lead to lifelong therapy, allowing these undesired effects to accrue over a long period. These considerations have led many guidelines to recommend that patient preferences, age, and health status be taken into account when glucose management targets are set for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.2,16,25 However, putting these concepts into practice has been limited because of the lack of quantitative estimation of the benefits and burdens of treating various HbA 1c levels with different glycemic medications. We sought to quantify the advantages of using a tailored approach for intensifying glycemic control and to examine thresholds at which treatment decisions become sensitive to the level of treatment burden (quantified as disutility, a small loss in quality of life). Methods Overview We used an updated version of a previously published Markov model of diabetes outcomes to examine the benefits of glycemic control.6,15,26-28 The model considers microvascular and cardiovascular diabetes complications, specifically examining the impact of risk factor levels on their development and progression. We have previously published estimates for benefits from blood pressure and lipid level treatment15 and focus here on quantifying the benefits of HbA 1c level reduction. Because we are challenging existing paradigms of treatment, we chose somewhat optimistic assumptions of the benefits of glycemic control as detailed herein. Model Parameters Detailed model specifications are available in the eAppendix (in the Supplement); we describe key parameter estimates briefly here. We modeled risk of early microvascular and neuropathic diabetes complications primarily using estimates drawn from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS)3 because a patient-level meta-analysis for microvascular complications has yet to be published, and other trials have short-term follow-up. We modeled progression through the intermediate steps as measured in the UKPDS: risk of progression to photocoagulation, risk of microalbuminuria and proteinuria, and risk of neuropathy. The relationship between these risks and HbA 1c level is defined by assuming a constant relative risk across the spectrum of HbA 1c levels (Table 1). This implies a log-linear relationship between HbA 1c level and microvascular outcomes, a well-established finding in observational studies.29,35,36 Estimates for rates of progression from intermediate to end-stage microvascular complications were drawn from clinical trials, and from observational studies when necessary.37-45 Pretreatment risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were estimated using the Framingham risk estimator reported by Anderson et al.46 Estimates of the distribution of risk factors in the US diabetic population were obtained from the 2009 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.47 These risks were then input into the model in a nonstationary fashion (changing with time). There is substantial uncertainty regarding the relationship between CHD risk and HbA 1c level. A series of meta-analyses have converged around a consensus that lowering HbA 1c level reduces the risk of nonfatal CHD events but not cardiovascular or total mortality.7-11 We therefore assumed that CHD event risk is reduced by 15% per 1 percentage point change in HbA 1c level. A 15% CHD event risk reduction is the effect size seen in rigorous observational studies12 and is similar to the non–statistically significant reduction in myocardial infarction risk seen in the UKPDS 33 and in the long-term follow-up study of the UKPDS.3,5 Quantifying and comparing the impact of disease complications and treatment burdens on overall patient quality of life is generally done using the concept of utility, measured on a scale with 1 indicating perfect health and 0 indicating death. For example, a commonly used health utility for visual loss is 0.6930,31—blindness is estimated to reduce quality of life compared with perfect health by 31% (disutility = 0.31), equivalent to approximately 113 days of high-quality life lost per year. We generally followed prior models in selecting health utility values for disease complications (Table 1).30,44,48 We did not specify a baseline burden of treatment; rather, we examined the effects across a range, based on analyses of glycemic treatment disutilities.22-24 Insulin therapy is the best studied; disutility estimates range between 0.02 and 0.12, equivalent to the loss of 7 to 44 days of quality of life per year, whereas for oral therapies the reported treatment burdens are smaller and are driven primarily by adverse effects. For example, a weight gain of 3%, which typically occurs in patients taking sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones, has a mean attributed disutility of 0.04, and gastrointestinal adverse effects, which can occur in patients taking metformin, also have a disutility of 0.04. We examined a conservative range of treatment disutility, from 0.001 to 0.05 (ie, a utility range of 0.95 to 0.999 for those in otherwise normal health, or a loss of 0.4 to 18 days of high-quality life per year). This range of estimates was based largely on existing data, such as that outlined for insulin, or for the act of taking a daily pill (0.001).49,50 In order to remain optimistic about our estimates of treatment benefit, we chose neither to discount future events nor to consider out-of-pocket costs or the potential for adverse events inherent in using newer treatments. We examined the effects of a treatment that lowers HbA 1c level by 1%, a typical response to glucose-lowering therapies.51 We examined how starting HbA 1c levels affected the benefits of HbA 1c lowering, but we assumed that HbA 1c levels greater than 9% would be routinely treated. We also examined 2 specific treatment scenarios. In the first, a 45-year-old with a new diabetes diagnosis with an HbA 1c level of 8.5% is prescribed metformin, resulting in an HbA 1c level reduction of 1.5 points to 7.0%. Using an adverse effect profile based on clinical reports, we assumed that persistent gastrointestinal adverse effects occurred in 10% of individuals, with a disutility of 0.04 for those who experienced the effects (for a mean loss of 0.004, or 1.46 days of high-quality life per year).23 Minor hypoglycemia was assumed in 0.4% of patients each year, with a disutility of 0.0122,23,52; in combination with gastrointestinal adverse effects, this produces a total mean disutility of 0.00404, or approximately 1.47 days lost of high-quality life per year. In a second scenario, we examined the impact of switching this patient to insulin therapy if their HbA 1c level increased to 8.5% over a 10-year period, similar to that seen in the UKPDS; insulin therapy was assumed to reduce HbA 1c level by 1.0%.3,53 Daily injections themselves have an estimated disutility of approximately 0.03.22 After adding in a disutility for a mean 0.5% weight gain per year over 10 years (a cumulative disutility of 0.007 per year), a minor hypoglycemia rate of 2% per year (disutility = 0.01), and a major hypoglycemia rate of 0.2% per year (disutility = 0.03),3,23 insulin therapy had a total mean disutility of 0.0372, or 13.6 days lost of high-quality life per year. We conducted sensitivity analyses of all variables in the model across a broad range of assumptions. The key variables that we identified as critical were age at diagnosis, pretreatment HbA 1c level, and treatment disutility. We also found that any benefits from reduction in CHD events due to lower rates of albuminuria were important, particularly if it was assumed that these benefits were additive with the assumed 15% reduction in CHD events with a 1-point reduction in HbA 1c level. Our primary outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs); we also examined the risk reductions in individual end points for our 2 treatment scenarios. We tested model predictions by comparing them with reported outcomes in the literature. Although there are no reports of observed QALYs, we were able to compare life expectancy predictions with those based on UKPDS actuarial projections across age and HbA 1c level strata.54 We additionally compared model predictions of complication rates with those seen in the Steno-2 study.55 Results Our model predictions of life expectancy aligned well with those predicted from the UKPDS, as did estimates of individual complication rates seen in the Steno-2 study (see eAppendix in the Supplement). In our best-case scenario (improving HbA 1c level lowers CHD event risk, and treatment has minimal patient burden and/or adverse effects), we found substantial benefits to lowering HbA 1c level, particularly among younger individuals (eTable 1 in the Supplement). For example, in a 45-year-old, lifetime treatment from an HbA 1c level of 8.5% to 7.5% produces a gain of 0.906 QALYs. This benefit is smaller in older individuals, declining to a gain of 0.269 QALYs at age 65 years and 0.104 QALYs at age 75 years. Although these benefits are slightly less in a patient with a starting HbA 1c level of 7.5%, as long as treatment risks and treatment burden remain very small (disutility of 0.001, equivalent to 0.3 days of high-quality life lost per year), all age groups receive some benefit. The patient perception of the level of treatment burden has a profound impact on the net benefits of HbA 1c level lowering (Figure 1). For example, in an otherwise favorable scenario (diabetes onset at age 45 years, and a 15% risk reduction in CHD events per unit decrease in HbA 1c level), a high treatment burden of 0.05 (equivalent to 18.2 days of high-quality life lost per year, a level often reported by people receiving insulin22-24) outweighs all benefits of glycemic control. Indeed, the model predicts that patients will lose between 0.653 and 0.818 QALYs even when treatments improve glycemic control by 1%. The treatment burden at which reducing HbA 1c level by 1 point results in net harm ranges between 0.01 and 0.05, depending on other key factors such as patient age and pretreatment HbA 1c level (eTable 1 in the Supplement). To provide a sense of the relative efficiency and the required duration of treatment, we also estimated the number of QALYs gained per 100 years of treatment. These estimates can be seen in Table 2. In the best-case scenario, 3.47 QALYs are gained per 100 treatment-years when HbA 1c level is reduced from 8.5% to 7.5% with a low burden and/or adverse effect treatment started in a 45-year-old. We also examined 2 representative treatment scenarios, 1 examining the impact of starting metformin therapy and another of starting insulin therapy (Table 3). Metformin therapy was assumed to be started at diagnosis and reduced HbA 1c level from 8.5% to 7.0%. Metformin, which has relatively small treatment disutility because it does not cause weight gain and has minimal risks of hypoglycemia, produces benefits across the age spectrum (ranging from 0.148 QALYs in a 75-year-old to 1.2 QALYs in a 45-year-old). The reductions in individual end points are also shown in Table 3; for example, the absolute risk reduction in ESRD risk is almost 10 times greater for a 45-year-old (0.065) than in a 75-year-old (0.007). In our second example, insulin therapy was started after 10 years of use of oral agents after a gradual rise in HbA 1c level from 6.5% to 8.5%; insulin use reduced HbA 1c level back to 7.5%.53 In contrast to the consistent benefits of metformin therapy, the switch to insulin produces a negative effect on QALYs across all age groups; that is, the adverse effects and burdens of treatment, on the basis of literature estimates and accumulated over time, outweigh the benefits of improved glycemic control. In addition to insulin’s higher treatment burden, the treatment benefit is lower in this scenario because of smaller HbA 1c level reduction relative to metformin therapy and because the patient is now 10 years older, reducing the time available to achieve benefit. For example, the absolute risk reduction in ESRD is 0.013 when insulin therapy is initiated at age 55 years, as compared with the 0.065 from starting metformin therapy 10 years earlier. Figure 2 shows the results of varying key parameters in our sensitivity analyses. The estimates of QALYs gained per year of treatment are shown for a representative patient, 55 years old with an HbA 1c level of 8.5%, a treatment disutility of 0.01, and with an expected 15% reduction in CHD event risk per 1-point reduction in HbA 1c level. Each parameter is varied across a reasonable range; larger effects are demonstrated by a greater change in QALYs across the ranges of the variables. The importance of treatment burden relative to the other variables is apparent. Additional sensitivity analyses showed that our results were robust to changes in most other model parameters (eAppendix in the Supplement). A key additional parameter was the relationship between albuminuria and cardiovascular events. If albuminuria is causally related to higher CHD event rates and this effect is additive to the assumed 15% reduction posited for a 1% change in HbA 1c level, then the benefits of glycemic control are larger (eTable 2 in the Supplement). However, it is more likely that any effect of prevention of albuminuria is already captured by the assumption that HbA 1c level reduction leads to a reduction in CHD event risk. Discussion A growing body of research has accepted that the benefit of diabetes treatment is complicated by variation in patient clinical circumstances and treatment burden, so that no single HbA 1c level target is appropriate for all patients.14-17,25,56,57 However, putting this concept into practice has been limited; our results help to inform the decision-making process for patients and clinicians. We found that once moderate control of HbA 1c level (9%) is achieved, patient views of the burdens of treatment are the most important factor in the net benefit of glucose-lowering treatments. Thus, higher-quality decision making is best achieved by individualizing treatment decisions (“What are the burdens and benefits of prescribing a new medication for this patient?”), not solely by individualizing HbA 1c level targets (“What should this patient’s HbA 1c level target be?”).58 Although in this article we used QALYs to facilitate comparing different potential disease complications and treatment burdens, clinicians may find our results for outcome-specific (eg, myocardial infarction, ESRD) absolute risk reductions to be more useful for thinking about individual patient decisions. These estimates of the potential benefits of HbA 1c level reduction can provide clinicians a means of considering and balancing treatment benefits with the burdens of glucose-lowering treatments. Although there is no consensus on the optimal approach to implementing shared decision making in practice, having fairly concrete estimates of treatment benefit is particularly necessary because evidence suggests that most clinicians vastly overestimate treatment benefits and few consider treatment burden explicitly.59 In addition to providing information to aid clinical decision making, our results challenge the wisdom of the current HbA 1c level–centered approach to quality measures and clinical research. Instead of current recommendations and performance measures based on achievement of specific HbA 1c level goals, our results suggest that quality of diabetes care is more accurately defined by assessing whether high-benefit treatment is provided and whether an informed decision-making process is used when potential benefits are more modest.60 Implementing such measures will be more challenging than current approaches, but assessing high-priority care is already feasible through medical record review. With the spread of the electronic medical record, measures of high-benefit care can be automated because data on HbA 1c levels, current diabetes medications, and age are readily available in most electronic medical records. In addition to identifying whether high-value treatment is provided appropriately, the electronic medical record can also facilitate and document shared decision making without making treatments with uncertain net benefit into standards of care.61,62 Eddy has argued that an intervention should be considered a “standard” only if there is “virtual unanimity among patients about the overall desirability (or undesirability) of the outcomes” (emphasis ours).63(p3081) Our results show that given variability in individual preferences, it is unlikely that there will be “virtual unanimity” for most glycemic treatment decisions. For example, even for a 45-year-old with an HbA 1c level of 8.5%, insulin therapy can easily result in net harm for someone with a moderate dislike of insulin treatment (disutility = 0.05).24 Our finding that older patients experience smaller benefits from glycemic control is not unexpected,6,14,44,48,64 but the degree is noteworthy. We estimate that the expected gain in QALYs for a 1-point change in HbA 1c level in a 75-year-old is 0.06 years (22 days), even with the favorable assumption that glycemic control’s cardiovascular benefit extends to the elderly. Glycemic medications continue to be approved and marketed almost entirely on the basis of whether they help achieve HbA 1c level targets. Our findings provide further reason to favor evaluating diabetes medications with clinically relevant end points rather than HbA 1c level alone, as has been suggested in recent trials, and argues against using new, expensive medications with minimal safety data based on achieving HbA 1c level targets.58,65 Our findings also support the importance of developing and approving medications that both are safe and have fewer adverse effects and inconvenience because for many patients, treatment burden is the primary consideration in determining the net benefit of treatment. Given how influential treatment burden is in our study, it is important to note that these burdens are not easy to quantify.22-24 For this reason, we ran the models using treatment burden as a variable, ascribing particular values to particular treatments only for the purpose of the scenarios in Table 3. However, we were conservative in our estimates; 1 study reported a mean disutility for insulin (0.12) that was more than twice the level at which all of the patient groups have a net loss of quality of life with treatment.24 Although the act of taking a pill has little to no burden for most patients, adverse effects such as weight gain and hypoglycemia can confer substantial burden. The main limitation of our study relates to inherent uncertainties in the literature. Our results are robust to the ranges found in the literature for disease progression and for treatment effects. There are some scenarios that we do not consider, such as assuming a greater than average reduction in CHD event risk from treatment of younger patients. But our optimistic assumption of 15% CHD event risk reduction per 1% HbA 1c level lowering, combined with our lack of discounting, is likely to result in our results being somewhat biased toward favoring glucose-lowering treatment, particularly in light of data accruing from meta-analyses,7-11 from Food and Drug Administration approval standards, and from outcome studies of incretin-based and other therapies.66-69 In our base case, we did not model the potential increase in mortality seen in ACCORD.18 Inclusion of this in scenarios for the most intensive targets (HbA 1c level 7.5% to 6.5%) led to net harm in all patients, but the implications of ACCORD remain controversial. We also did not model any direct medication effects, such as the mortality benefit from metformin use observed in the UKPDS that was independent of HbA 1c level reduction.21 Finally, we used median survival, and because the health of the median person is quite good in all age groups examined in our study, it is important to note that our results by age mainly apply to those in relatively good health. Those with reduced life expectancy due to comorbidities are likely to receive less benefit than those reported in the tables. There are important known mediators of diabetes complications other than HbA 1c level. Our results show that the benefits of blood pressure and statin therapy dwarf those for glycemic control; for example, in previous analyses using the same model, we found that simvastatin, prescribed at 20 mg/d in the highest-benefit patients, led to more than 30 QALYs gained per 100 years of treatment.15 This is more than 8 times higher than the highest-benefit group achieves with glycemic control (Table 2). Conclusions We found that net treatment benefits of glycemic treatments vary widely depending on a patient’s age at diagnosis, their pretreatment HbA 1c level, and most importantly, a patient’s view of the burden of the specific treatment being considered. Because of this, using HbA 1c level treatment targets alone to guide patient decision making is a fundamentally flawed strategy; instead, each glycemic treatment decision should be individualized, mostly on the basis of patients’ views of the burdens of therapy, with age and initial level of glycemic control important but secondary considerations. Thus, shared decision making, in which patient preferences are specifically elicited and considered, appears to be the best approach to making most decisions about glycemic management in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study provides a starting point for the implementation of such an approach. To make optimal decisions, clinicians and patients will need decision support and incentives to engage in discussions that incorporate patients’ values.70 Currently, we are failing our patients by not recognizing that their preferences and views of treatment burden are the most important factor in helping them make glycemic treatment decisions that are best for them. Back to top Article Information Accepted for Publication: May 12, 2014. Corresponding Author: Sandeep Vijan, MD, MS, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service Center for Clinical Management Research, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Bldg 16, Room 344E, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800 (svijan@med.umich.edu). Published Online: June 30, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.2894. Author Contributions: Dr Vijan had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Vijan, Yudkin, Hayward. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors. Drafting of the manuscript: Vijan, Yudkin. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Sussman, Yudkin, Hayward. Statistical analysis: Vijan, Sussman, Hayward. Obtained funding: Vijan. Administrative, technical, or material support: Vijan, Sussman. Study supervision: Vijan. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. Funding/Support: Financial support was provided via grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service (IIR 06-253) and Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI DIB 98-001) and the Michigan Center for Diabetes Translational Research (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health [P60 DK-20572]). Role of the Sponsors: The funding agencies had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.If I had to choose my favourite animals, it would be penguins, ducks and sharks. Pelicans might be amongst the mix because I’m a cliché (Pelikan is my favourite brand). Penguins are cute and ducks are also really great (I suppose swans are cool too), but I have always been fascinated by sharks and I’m not entirely sure why. I have always fantasised about going into a shark cage one day, whether I have the guts to do it is a completely different matter. I am yet to find a penguin or a duck pen, but thankfully Jinhao have shark pens sorted. Which isn’t the only animal that Jinhao have a pen modelled after – there are a number of dragon ones. My second pen in my entire collection was actually the Jinhao 1200, which I shall be reviewing soon too. This is a relatively new release. There’s not really much announcement when a new pen from a Chinese brand drops – it just sort of appears and you get wind of it on various social media platforms by whomever searched “Jinhao” most recently and stumbled across the new product. I first found out about this pen sometime in July and I ordered it straight away as I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to own a pen that looks like a shark for £5 inc. shipping. A pack of 3! (that’s a pack of three with an exclamation mark, not 6.. Kudos if you get that). The pens arrived, and actually in a relatively good time frame. I hastily inked one of them up and then gave one to my girlfriend last time I went to visit her (she has the lilac one). Below I shall explain the design, how the pen feels & writes and what my impressions are of it throughout. Design This can be summed up pretty quickly: it’s a pen that looks like a shark. If you don’t think that’s cool then either I’m a bit odd or you’re missing out on something. The cap is designed to look like the head of a shark. I’m not sure if Jinhao was going for anything specific, but I think it looks most like a lemon shark. The nose is too flat for a great white. Regardless, it’s not a hammerhead shark. That much is certain. For a cheap pen, quite a bit of detail has gone into it. The gills are cut out, there’s a mouth cut out too. There’s even a dorsal fin. This is in replacement of a clip – so it’s a clipless pen, but you can use the fin as a sort of hook if you’re keeping it in a pen case or something of the sort. There is a bit between the cap and the end of the pen, which I’ll just go ahead and call an abdomen. This is translucent – if you have a lighter colour then the window will be more translucent. This is really handy because it means that you’ve got an ink window as you can see the converter. Like.. Blood or something (I have just searched, there’s a white one with a fully transparent ink window. Gonna get one of those and ink it with Red Dragon which is my ‘blood ink’. That would look so cool). The pen is cartridge converter. However, if you want to do that cool effect (or any other one for that matter) with the ink window then there is a possibility that this could be eyedropper. I tried it with water in the barrel as well as blowing on the end (behave) and it seemed air tight; usual disclaimer, however – try this at your own risk. I’m not saying 100% it will work, but from what I’ve tested it seems it could. After the abdomen, the pen tapers down, which gives it a very streamlined look. It would be cool if there was a caudal or a pectoral fin on the pen, but that would make it incredibly impractical. It’s important to remember this is a pen – not an anatomical model of a shark. The pen is a screw cap, which I find interesting. For some reason I have a slight bias about screw-caps being credited to more expensive pens (same with how some people feel about piston fillers). The cap comes off in 2.75 turns (oddly specific, I know). When the cap comes off, you discover that what I called the abdomen is actually the section (bamboozled!). Instead of the threads being at the top of the section, they’re actually at the bottom. In my opinion that’s fairly innovative as it eliminates the worry about harsh threads (though, I have never once experienced uncomfortable threading, and I hold my pens in such a way that means I almost always touch the threads). The section has slight indentations in it, which is similar to the triangular grip that you get on (but not limited to) the Lamy Safari/Al-Star. It isn’t as pronounced though, thankfully. Which I like because personally I hate the grip on the Safari. There are two models of this pen. One with a hooded nib and another with a, for lack of a better term, normal nib. I bought this pen about the time I was doing my Attack of the Clones review and was worried about becoming sick of these nibs, so I bought the normal one. Feel This is a light pen. It’s also a fairly lengthy pen; you can post it but you can most certainly get away without doing so. It’s perfectly balanced and rests nicely in my hand. Of course, when you hold it you don’t have the threads which I know can annoy some people. On the flip side, you have the grip indentations that might also irk users. Writing Experience I have never had a problem with a Jinhao nib, only their feeds which can often be hit or miss. Though, if you’re buying three of these pens then chances are at least one of them will work – if not all three (as is in my case). This nib writes perfectly smoothly. The feed keeps up, even during fast writing. Though, I do find the nib to be very dry and what line variation you can squeeze out is hampered due to railroading. Reverse writing is possible. The dry nib becomes even drier and finer, but you could get a sentence or two out of it. All the nibs on these pens are stock Jinhao nibs. Depending on what eBay seller you buy from, you’ll probably hear them advertised as “extra fine”, but I would call this a fairly standard medium (though, take this with a pinch of salt as I’ve been using a lot of Japanese fines lately). But you can find a comparison with my TWSBI Eco below, which is a medium European nib. My experience might differ from yours, as I said above, I love sharks. You might hate sharks, but personally I think the design is fantastic and I am so excited thinking about getting one of these with a clear ink window and put some red ink in it. Come to think about it, you’d probably be able to eyedropper this pen to make the aesthetic seem even more macabre (happy Halloween, folks). Like sharks? Get this pen. It writes well, feels and looks great and it’s cheap. There are 12 colours, collect them all. I know you want to. Do it. PS – This doesn’t belong anywhere else in the review, but megalodons. Search them up on Google. Size comparisons of these beasts gives me such an amazing and scary feeling. As always, if you have any questions feel free to drop me a message. You can find me on most social media platforms by searching “7heDaniel”. Alternatively you can email me at 7hedaniel@gmail.com. Below is a handwritten sample of the review Handwritten writing sample using Caran d’Ache Chromatics ‘Hypnotic Turquoise‘ on Fabriano 90gsm dot grid paper. AdvertisementsThere is no doubt that the debate over the future of transit in Scarborough has been divisive. A debate over transit technology, preferred alignments, and city planning priorities has too often been more focused on personal attacks and politics. TTC chair Josh Colle defends the transit commission's CEO Andy Byford, above, and the decision to build a one-stop subway extention in Scarborough. ( Nakita Krucker / Toronto Star ) The unfortunate tenor of this debate most recently has called into question the credibility of transit experts at the TTC and even the integrity of our CEO Andy Byford. These personal attacks on Byford for merely providing his best professional advice on this project are unfair and completely baseless. I have the utmost respect for Byford and his staff as they work tirelessly to improve transit for Torontonians. It will be under Byford’s leadership, as directed by several city councils and mayors, that the TTC will open a new subway line this year to York Region and continues to diligently advance work to extend the Bloor-Danforth subway line east to the Scarborough Town Centre. Article Continued Below Millions of dollars and countless council decisions later, work to extend the subway east continues. And Byford is criticized for telling council the truth that the Scarborough LRT isn’t a feasible plan anymore. Let’s be clear, there is no plan to build an LRT to replace the Scarborough RT. It is complete fiction to suggest the Scarborough LRT is still an option on the table for discussion. Council rejected the LRT option in 2013 and, in countless votes, endorsed the Scarborough subway. Since 2013, there has not been an LRT option presented at council for debate. Some have tried to claim that the cost of an LRT has not risen over time and still quote a $1.8-billion estimate that is now seven years old, which is extremely misleading. Metrolinx has also made it clear the LRT plan has not been advanced for four years and the province has repeatedly committed to funding the subway, as has the federal government. Article Continued Below The truth, that some critics don’t want to hear, is that the city is moving ahead with a plan to build an express subway and an Eglinton East LRT. Around $44 million and several years of work by staff have already been spent to advance the plan for a subway to the Scarborough Town Centre. The suggestion that the Ontario government would simply take the $1.48 billion dedicated for the subway
Citizens United, one of the plaintiffs who has sued under the FOIA, said in a filing late last week. Citizens United says the State Department missed its own deadline for producing Ms. Mills’ and Ms. Abedin’s documents. The Obama administration countered that it went above and beyond its duties under the law by asking Ms. Abedin and Ms. Mills to return their records and then to search them in response to open records requests. The State Department says it’s moving as quickly as possible, but says the sheer number of documents — and the number of requests for them — calls for a stay in most cases. But of the 26 requests where the State Department has sought to halt proceedings, six have already been denied. Only one has been granted, one was granted in part and denied in part by the same judge, and another is being held in abeyance. The State Department told one of the federal judges Monday that it’s facing nearly 100 different open records lawsuits — not all of them related to Mrs. Clinton’s email server — that have stretched officials to their limit. Monday’s FBI letter underscores the tangled situation Mrs. Clinton’s emails have produced. The letter was addressed to Mary McLeod, a lawyer at the Justice Department, which oversees the FBI — and which means, in effect, that the FBI is refusing to talk to its own parent department about the matter. Mr. Baker pointedly noted in his letter that he was aware the response would be submitted to the court, which would presumably make it public. Earlier this month the Justice Department, in another pleading, insisted Mrs. Clinton didn’t do anything wrong in being the one who decided which of her messages were official business records that must be returned to the government and which were purely personal and able to be expunged. Judicial Watch said that raises thorny questions for a department that is supposedly investigating Mrs. Clinton. Last week Sen. John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, called for Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch to name a special counsel to oversee the investigation, citing too many potential conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.Today I wanted to share a new juicing recipe with you. I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with different fruits and vegetables in my juicer. One of my favorite juices has always been the traditional carrot apple ginger juice. Carrots and apples go so well together, but I was curious how carrots and oranges would be together. The resulting juice was even better, in my opinion, than the carrot apple ginger juice. If you love fresh orange juice, you will love this. The flavor of the orange is so strong that it overrides some of the carrot so what you end up tasting is orange juice with a small touch of the natural carrot flavor. Serves one Makes one cup Here’s what you’ll need: 1 valencia orange 4 carrots Simply wash your carrots and chop into small chunks that your juicer can handle. Then either peel your orange or cut the rind off like you would a grapefruit. Cut your orange in half or into quarters depending on what will fit into your juicer. Then simply juice your orange followed by your carrots. You will end up with a cup of this delicious carrot orange juice to enjoy! Nutrition Facts One cup of this carrot orange juice will give you almost 180 calories and 43 grams of carbohydrates. You will also get over 1,000 milligrams of potassium and almost 4 grams of protein as well. In terms of vitamins, this juice will give you 8% of your daily vitamin E, 23% of your daily vitamin B-6, 144% of your daily vitamin C, and almost 700% of your daily vitamin A. In terms of minerals, you will getting a little bit of everything. Some minerals you get from one cup of this juice include, but are definitely not limited to, 5% of your daily iron, 14% of your daily calcium, and 20% of your daily thiamin. The complete nutrition facts can be seen in the images above and have been calculated using Sparks Recipe Calculator. Advertisements"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." ~Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species (1859) A newly-published comprehensive family tree for hummingbirds traces the rapid and ongoing birth of new species throughout this modern family's 22-million-year history. The findings indicate that hummingbird diversification is driven primarily by two elements: by their exploitation of new niches created by the Andean uplift and expansion into new geographic regions, and by their unique relationship to flowering plants. Combined, these two elements support the large variety of distinct hummingbird species that live side-by-side in the same places. Further, although the rate of hummingbird speciation is slowing, this study finds that the evolution of new hummingbird species is still ongoing and is far from complete. Most people think hummingbirds require hothouse-like conditions to live. But in fact, more than one-third of all hummingbird species live in the extreme environments found in the Andes. This raises a number of important issues, not the least of which is how such tiny birds survive such cold nights. As if overcoming that challenge isn't remarkable enough, hummingbird flight is the most energetically demanding form of vertebrate locomotion, yet these birds can be seen buzzing around blossoms at high elevations where oxygen concentrations are so low that humans become faint and are left gasping for breath. How do hummingbirds do that? Not long ago, I shared a beautifully-executed study that found that high-altitude hummingbird species evolved special hemoglobins adapted to low-oxygen environments [doi:10.1073/pnas.1315456110]. Now this same team of researchers has published another paper that investigates whether the rising Andean Mountains played a role in hummingbirds' colonization of high-altitude habitats and if this tectonic event affected how rapidly they've diversified ("speciated"). This collaborative study was led by Jim McGuire, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California at Berkeley, and Curator of Herpetology at the university's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Professor McGuire's special focus is investigating the historical biogeography of the frogs and lizards on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. From herps to hummingbirds Hummingbirds, which are exclusively found in the New World, are a long way from Sulawesi's reptiles and frogs, so what aroused this new interest? "[M]y interest in hummingbird research was initially inspired by the sort of hallway conversation that often leads researchers down unexpected pathways", explained Professor McGuire in email. "[B]ut the hook for me was the opportunity to further explore my interests in the evolution of flight performance in a phylogenetic context. Once I got started, I realized that hummingbirds are a spectacular system for comparative biology because they are so diverse and are quite amenable to experimental study." Some of those experiments were conducted -- on both avian and human subjects -- high in the Andes. "Our expedition was relatively short (2 weeks, as opposed to my typical 8-10 week sorties to Indonesia) so time was of the essence. Thus, we went directly from sea level at Lima to our 4000 meter elevation field site in... 6 hours, which is not nearly enough time to acclimate properly", writes Professor McGuire in email. "The first two days at the site were surprisingly challenging for me because I was out of breath all of the time. It was sufficiently bad that I could not get through brushing my teeth without pausing periodically to huff and puff. And I walked my gear up the mountain to our field site in 20-foot intervals. After two days of this and a continuous throbbing headache, I turned the corner and was good for the rest of the stay." Other team members weren't so lucky; at least one soon returned to lower elevations to recover his health. Twenty-two million years of hummingbird diversification This published study is part of a much larger research project that investigates how hummingbirds adapted to extreme environments. A critical foundation upon which this decade-long project is based is reconstructing a detailed phylogenetic tree for the hummingbird family that includes as many species as possible. So far, this phylogeny includes sequences from six chromosomal and mitochondrial genes from 284 of the 338 described species -- the most comprehensive yet for this family of birds. "The study took a decade to complete in part because it took a long time to collect 6 genes worth of data for more than 450 individual hummingbirds", said Professor McGuire in email. "[A]nd we kept adding samples to the matrix as tissues became available for previously unsampled species." The team statistically analysed the rate of change for the six gene sequences to reconstruct a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree (figure 1, larger view): These data suggest that hummingbirds split away from their sister group (their closest relatives), the swifts and tree swifts, roughly 42 million years ago in Eurasia. This date corresponds well to the oldest known hummingbird fossils, discovered in southern Germany and estimated to be 30 million years old [doi:10.1126/science.1096856]. This phylogeny shows that the most recent common ancestor to all modern hummingbirds is estimated to have lived just 22.4 million years ago somewhere in South America. This is quite recent for this modern avian family, particularly in view of the large number of species that are alive today, revealing these birds experienced a rapid rate of diversification after they reached South America. Rising Andes led to soaring hummingbird speciation rates Since modern hummingbirds only occur in the Americas, how did they get from Eurasia to South America? Considering their intense energy demands, the researchers think they probably followed the Bering Land Bridge from Eurasia into North America before continuing to South America. Once there, these nectar-feeding birds settled in and exploited the many different habitats and nectar resources available to them, specialising and then diversifying rapidly (figure 2A; larger view) into nine main clades (or groups) containing hundreds of species. The birds then moved back into North America approximately 12 million years ago, and then invaded the Caribbean (at least five times!) about five million years ago: The rate at which new species appeared varied between these bioregions (North versus South America, for example). However, during their 22-million year evolution, the rate at which new hummingbird species appeared in the Andes is very similar to the rate that new species appeared in non-Andean habitats (figure 2B), suggesting that mountain-building played an important role in their diversification. These findings are consistent with a number of other studies of the effects that Andean mountain-building had upon biodiversity [as reviewed in doi:10.1126/science.1194585]. Why are there so many Bee hummingbirds? There are several proposed explanations for the tremendous amount of biodiversity present in South America. One hypothesis is that the tropics support a stable and unvarying environment that supports speciation. The other idea is that the uplifting Andes presented a variety of new microhabitats and niches where natural and sexual selection could act on small isolated populations to give rise to new species. To gain a more precise understanding of the effects that the Andean uplift had upon evolution rates in each hummingbird clade, the researchers reconstructed a time-calibrated family tree and colour-coded the average rate of radiation for eight of the nine clades as well as for each of the species examined so far. (Recall that the Patagona Hummingbird Clade has only one species so it was not included in the clade diversification rate analysis.) They found that the rate of diversification for the entire hummingbird family varied tremendously between groups (figure 3; larger view): Although the entire hummingbird family diversified rapidly, diversification was especially dramatic for the Bee Hummingbird Clade. "The Bees have the highest rate of diversification -- well above the black line denoting the overall diversification rate for hummingbirds", writes Professor McGuire in email. Interestingly, the Bee Hummingbird Clade is the youngest in the hummingbird family. "The Bee Hummingbird Clade originated only about 5 million years ago but has rapidly diversified into ~35 species", Professor McGuire explained. This is even more remarkable when one considers that the Bee hummingbird group didn't pop up in an empty ecosystem; instead, they radiated in the presence of the richest avifauna in the world -- and at a time when the other eight hummingbird clades were already well established. So why are there so many Bee hummingbirds? No one knows. Professor McGuire added that although the Bees and certain other groups are still diversifying rapidly and will do so for a long time to come, the rate of diversification has slowed for all hummingbird clades -- particularly for the Brilliants and Coquettes, which diversified primarily in the Andes. Although the authors did not address this question in this study, I think female choice is playing an important role in hummingbird diversification. This scenario looks similar to the explosive speciation seen in freshwater cichlid fishes endemic to the African great lakes [i. e.; doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0520]. In that case, there are a number of contributing factors that support rapid diversification, such as small territory size and intense specialisation -- both elements also present in hummingbirds. But in cichlids and in hummingbirds, female choice appears to be the driving force behind the evolution of new species. Consider, for example, the wide variety of plumage colours (particularly iridescence) and ornaments possessed by male hummingbirds, whereas the females of at least some species are difficult to distinguish. This scenario suggests that females select mates that possess the most conspicuous traits, which is predicted by the good-genes mechanism or by a runaway selection process. Endless forms most wonderful "I find it particularly fascinating that hummingbirds are so young, yet so diverse", writes Professor McGuire. "[T]his study shows that hummingbird diversification is even more complex and remarkable than I would have imagined", said Professor McGuire. For example, whilst all hummingbirds depend upon flower nectar to fuel their high metabolisms and demanding flight, coordinated changes in flower and bill shape have helped drive the formation of new species of both hummingbirds and plants. "One of the really cool features of hummingbird evolution is that they all eat the same thing yet have diversified dramatically," said Professor McGuire. "It really is a big surprise that hummingbirds have divided the nectarivore niche so extensively." Remarkably, as many as 25 hummingbird species live together in some places. Further, the researchers estimate that, if undisturbed, hummingbirds would continue to diversify until they reached a speciation/extinction equilibrium of perhaps as many as 767 species -- twice the number of species that we see today. "We are not close to being at the maximum number of hummingbird species," said Professor McGuire. "If humans weren't around, they would just continue on their merry way, evolving new species over time." This new study has provided unexpected revelations and added detailed insights into the evolutionary history of this modern family of birds. "Finally, I remain surprised by our finding that hummingbird evolutionary history is incongruent with the traditionally recognized hummingbird subfamilies", said Professor McGuire. "The traditional view is that hermit hummingbirds (Phaethornithinae) are the sister taxon of all other hummingbirds, which together compose the Trochilinae (or 'typical' hummingbirds)," explained Professor McGuire. "This view of the phylogeny of hummingbirds was consistent with a tidy story in which the drably colored, non-territorial hermit hummingbirds represented an evolutionary step leading to the appearance of territorial, vibrantly colored species with iridescent gorgets, etc." But according to these new findings, hermit hummingbirds' closest relatives are topaz hummingbirds. "[T]opazes are themselves vividly colored and their placement in our study as the sister taxon of hermits is inconsistent with the theory that hermits represent the primitive (plesiomorphic) state for hummingbirds", explained Professor McGuire. Other findings: the Marvelous Spatule-tail, Lodiggesia mirabilis, is nested deeply within the Puffleg (Eriocnemis) clade all eight Emerald hummingbirds genera (comprising more than a few species) are paraphyletic "One thing is clear, hummingbird taxonomy is going to require substantial modification as a result of our study." But this exciting study is just part of a much larger body of research. "The big phylogeny is really just phase one", said Professor McGuire. "[W]e have some really cool ongoing work on hummingbird adaptation to low-oxygen (hypoxic), high-elevation environments that will follow." Sources: McGuire J.A., Witt C.C., Remsen, Jr. J.V., Corl A., Rabosky D.L., Altshuler D.L. & Dudley R. (2014). Molecular Phylogenetics and the Diversification of Hummingbirds, Current Biology, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.016 Jim McGuire, emails [1-4 & 7 April 2014] Press release Many thanks to Jim McGuire for his long explanations and for digging up additional images so I could share them with you. Also, many thanks to a twitter pal, @dandavishello, for sending me a requested PDF on a sunny Sunday morning. Also mentioned (and worth reading): Hoorn C., Wesselingh F.P., ter Steege H., Bermudez M.A., Mora A., Sevink J., Sanmartin I., Sanchez-Meseguer A., Anderson C.L. & Figueiredo J.P., C. Jaramillo, C., Riff D., Negri F. R., Hooghiemstra H., Lundberg J., Stadler T., Särkinen T. & A. Antonelli. (2010). Amazonia Through Time: Andean Uplift, Climate Change, Landscape Evolution, and Biodiversity, Science, 330 (6006) 927-931. doi:10.1126/science.1194585 [free PDF] Mayr G. (2004). Old World Fossil Record of Modern-Type Hummingbirds, Science, 304 (5672) 861-864. doi:10.1126/science.1096856 (OA) Doorn G.S.V., Noest A.J. & Hogeweg P. (1998). Sympatric speciation and extinction driven by environment dependent sexual selection, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 265 (1408) 1915-1919. doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0520 NOTE (to content thieves): this piece was originally published on The Guardian. ...................... When she's not out birding, GrrlScientist can also be found here: Maniraptora. She's very active on twitter @GrrlScientist and sometimes lurks on social media: facebook, G+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the regional developments on Thursday in a phone call as Turkish president urged the European Union to fulfill its promises regarding the refugee crisis. According to presidential sources, Erdoğan asked Merkel to carry out a more active fight in preventing the activities and blocking the financial sources of the PKK and the members of Gülensit terror group (FETÖ). Despite Turkey's strong ties with the 28-member bloc in terms of economic relations, the EU's tolerance against terrorism and its criticism against Turkey regarding counterterror operations in its southeastern borders have heightened the tensions in the already strained diplomatic relations between the two sides. The PKK terror group has been freely holding rallies across European capitals, with the authorization of EU officials, despite the PKK being listed as a terror organization by the bloc. Also the EU turned a blind eye to the July 15 coup attempt by FETÖ in Turkey and lacked in taking measures against the network's members in EU cities. The president also told Merkel that the European Union must do its share for refugees. Turkey-EU relations have been strained lately regarding the refugees. On Wednesday, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik expressed his disappointment with the EU over its reluctance to send the funds it promised for refugees in Turkey and criticized the 28-member bloc over the lack of European initiatives for one of the biggest humanitarian crises of the century. President Erdoğan has also numerous times criticized the bloc for not implementing the visa-free travel for Turkish citizens. In September 2015, Syrian and Iraqi migrants had marched toward the Turkish-Bulgarian border, calling on authorities to open the gates. In consequence, the EU and Turkey signed a refugee deal on March 18, which aimed to discourage irregular migrations through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of nearly three million Syrian refugees in Turkey. The EU was supposed to grant visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in accordance with the deal, but has not yet fulfilled its promise. President Erdoğan also congratulated the chancellor as Germany assumed the presidency of the G20.At age 19, Thoby King broke a window during a party at the University of Toronto. Despite hiring a lawyer, donating $200 to charity, paying to have his fingerprints taken, volunteering 28 hours of community service in a free lunch program for underprivileged Torontonians, and securing a withdrawal of the charge in court, King’s summer job offer from the City of Toronto was rescinded last month. “It’s difficult to have this bureaucratic nonsense impact me,” he says. “I’ve heard of problems with people (with charges) applying for schools. It does look like it will be a problem in the future.” His momentary teenage indiscretion not only stole that job, he fears it could hold far-reaching implications as he begins his young working life. The now 21-year-old was supposed to be at work today as a tram announcer on Toronto Island — a dream summer job the accomplished university student was offered in May. King is among thousands of Canadians whose names are captured in massive police databases despite having never been convicted of a crime, an ongoing Star investigation has found. The routine disclosure of such non-conviction information — including unproven allegations, withdrawn charges, police surveillance notes and mental health calls to 911 — undermine employment, volunteer work and travel to the U.S. for hundreds of thousands of innocent Canadians, the investigation has found. It’s easy to see why the city wanted to hire King, now a student at Concordia University, after he applied online and went through an interview last month. Articulate and smart, the son of two lawyers, he was a steady 90s student in high school and earned top marks in his first year of university in Halifax. After being offered the job, he was asked to sign a letter of consent for a police background check. “I wasn’t really worried about it at the time because there wasn’t a conviction,” King says. He thought his financial recompense and volunteer work, along with the withdrawn charge, marked the end of the matter. But a response from Toronto Police eventually came weeks later saying, “We require elimination/verification of a criminal record through fingerprint results received from the RCMP.” He was advised to have his fingerprints taken and submitted by a private firm. The process would take months, he was told. And without a clear police check, the city refused to hire him. In an effort to salvage his son’s job prospects, King’s father swore an affidavit saying his son has no criminal record or pending charges. “I am fully aware that if this statement were later shown to be untrue, I could be disbarred or disciplined by the Law Society of Upper Canada,” Edward Hore, Thoby’s father, wrote in an email to the city. “This sworn assurance should provide the city and the people of Toronto with the necessary protection until such time as the completed formal check is completed.” It made no difference. “It is bureaucracy run amok,” Hore, an intellectual property litigator, said in an interview this week. “It’s a fixed bureaucratic rule that gets followed regardless of common sense.” Police reference checks are conducted by city staff as a final step in the hiring process for new employees in departments including Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Long-Term Care Homes and Services, Children’s Services and the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration. A 2012 city staff report on the City of Toronto’s police background check says council has “recognized the inherent responsibility for safeguarding the community and ensuring that no individual employed by, or volunteering with, the city has been convicted of a crime which would call into question their ability to work directly with children or vulnerable persons as a regular part of their job or volunteer duties.” The report — and the actual city policy on police reference checks — make no reference to non-conviction records such as withdrawn charges as an impediment to employment with the city. Today, King will be pulling a shift washing dishes on a Toronto cruise boat — an unsteady summer job he mustered without having to provide a police background check. “I hope I’m not totally unemployable for anything other than washing dishes,” he says. King says he immediately admitted to the campus police who arrested him that he broke the window in February of last year. “It was a moronic thing to do,” he said in an interview. “There was no excuse for it.” In a letter of apology written shortly after the incident, he wrote that, “I was not thinking very clearly, but I had the wherewithal to realize the utter foolishness of the act as soon as it was done. I have nothing but regret for the decision that I made that night.” Robert Rotenberg, the Toronto criminal lawyer who represented King in his mischief charge, calls his client’s case, “laughably beyond outrageous.” “We have a young man capable of doing extraordinary things in his life. Instead of embracing him and opening up opportunities, we’re sending him into this Kafkaesque bureaucracy.” Currently, there are no firm rules about what records police can and cannot disclose in background checks. Discretion is left to individual forces and practices vary across the province. Criminal lawyers, privacy advocates and organizations including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and the John Howard Society of Ontario have called for legislative or policy change that would ban the disclosure of non-conviction records except in rare cases where the information release serves the larger public interest. In response to the Star investigation, all three main provincial parties vowed during the recent election campaign to review the state of police record disclosures in Ontario toward better protecting the presumption of innocence. Meanwhile, demands for police checks by employers, volunteer organizations, universities and other institutions are growing dramatically. Toronto Police have experienced a 92 per cent increase in police background check requests in the past five years. Toronto Police have repeatedly insisted the information is vital to both officer and public protection. “Where is it written that police are to be information hoarders?” says Rotenberg, adding he has numerous clients whose lives or livelihoods have been impacted by non-conviction disclosures. “They have no right to collect people’s information and keep it ad infinitum. As a society, what the hell are we doing? Why are we collecting everything about everyone and keeping it?” Rotenberg says King’s withdrawn charge may yet have more impact on his professional aspirations as he starts out in the working world. “The great irony is that we live in a country where we expunge the record showing you own a gun, but we won’t expunge the record of you kicking in a window at age 19,” he says. “You’re carrying a weight with you through your life for no reason. It’s like it never ends. There’s no closure.” If you have a story to tell, contact Robert Cribb at rcribb@thestar.caThe pilot in a fatal plane crash may have set the stage for his own death by texting on his cellular phone while flying. The Transportation Safety Board says the crash near the airport in Fort St. John, last November could have been caused partly because the pilot wasn't concentrating on his flying. The report says the Cessna 185E, operated by Treck Aerial Surveys, experienced several altitude changes while the pilot was using his cell phone. The plane, with only the pilot aboard, was coming from Peace River, Alta., and was just 20 kilometres from the airport when it crashed. The TSB report says the man at the controls, who was also a commercial pilot, appears to have lost his bearings because he had no visual references on the dark night, creating a so-called black-hole effect as he approached the airport. The report says the pilot descended too low, or wasn't aware that his plane was too low, and it slammed into the ground, killing him.(Chris Keane/Reuters) Trump and his fans refuse to accept bad news, making a course change impossible. Sean Hannity believes he has found the decisive factor in the 2016 election: “If in 96 days Trump loses this election, I am pointing the finger directly at people like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham and John McCain and John Kasich and Ted Cruz if he won’t endorse — and Jeb Bush and everybody else that made promises they’re not keeping.” Advertisement Advertisement This is a fascinating perspective and one that is common to Trump fans. If their man loses, it cannot possibly reflect any flawed judgment, statement, strategy, or decisions on his part. They have already decided this. They don’t think anything he’s done so far has reduced his chances of victory. He has run as close to a perfect campaign as anyone can possibly ask, and the only thing standing between him and at least 270 locked-up-take-it-to-the-bank electoral votes is insufficient enthusiasm from Ryan, McConnell, Graham, etc. Still, Hannity at least acknowledges that defeat is possible. At this point, it is not clear that Trump believes he is trailing. A vocal segment of his surrogates and supporters believe he is still on a smooth path to victory. Advertisement If one points to bad media coverage of Trump, his fans respond that the media are biased. Indeed they often are, but that doesn’t mean the bad media coverage is false. If one points to bad polling for Trump, they will insist that the polls are either skewed or declare the polls are “a lie.” Advertisement You see extreme Pauline Kaelism: “Everybody I know is voting for Trump.” Perhaps that is the case (has this person really asked every person he knows?) — but their circle of friends of a dozen or several dozen or even a hundred is not likely to reflect the voting demographics of their state. If literally no one you know is voting for the candidate you dislike, you can be certain you’re in a bubble; Obama took 28 percent of the vote in Wyoming in 2012, and Romney took about the same share in Hawaii. RELATED: Dear Trump Apologists, Stop Wining about Elites When You’re Worse Advertisement Hillary’s dominating the airwaves in television ads, but Trump’s fans insist that doesn’t matter. Her super PAC has way more money than his does, but Trump’s fans insist that doesn’t matter. She has way more paid staffers and offices open in key swing states than Trump does, but Trump’s fans insist that doesn’t matter. In each of these cases, there’s a germ of truth to the Trump fans’ argument. The press was brutal to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 and he overcame that. Polls can have samples that include too many Democrats and aren’t likely to represent turnout in the elections. A lot of political television ads become ignored background noise in October, and the candidate with the most money doesn’t always win. Advertisement #share#But once all of these measuring sticks of a campaign are dismissed as meaningless, we’re left with key questions Trump’s fans — and arguably the candidate himself — stubbornly refuse to answer: What indicators do you trust? How do you know if what you’re doing isn’t working? Considering how quickly Trump shifted in his interest in polls, the philosophy seems to be that “all measurements with good news are true, and all measurements with bad news are false.” Any indicator of improvement is incontrovertible, every indicator of worsening is a damnable lie. That is a textbook definition of denial. What do Trump fans believe is a good indicator of a campaign’s strength? Pin them down and they’ll answer: the size of the crowds at his rallies. If you’re skeptical of this as an accurate measuring stick, you have good instincts. Big crowds are nice to have, and the big crowds at Trump’s rallies in 2015 were a good early indicator that Republicans were a lot more interested in what he had to say than what, e.g., Jeb Bush, Bobby Jindal, or George Pataki did. Every indicator of worsening is a damnable lie: That is a textbook definition of denial. But each swing states has a voter pool of several million people. Getting 5,000 or 10,000 or 15,000 people to a rally doesn’t mean much in that context. In October 2012, Mitt Romney had three rallies with crowds estimated in excess of 12,000 people: in Fishersville, Va., Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Cuyahoga Falls, Oh. He lost all three states. Four years earlier, John McCain and Sarah Palin attracted 13,000 in Colorado Springs, 15,000 in Fairfax, Va., and perhaps as many as 60,000 in The Villages, Fla. That ticket lost all those states, too. Advertisement Advertisement Yes, it’s swell that Trump attracted 10,000 people to his rally in Jacksonville this week. But Florida will have between 8 and 9 million people voting this year. If only 8 million Floridians vote in the presidential election this year, the big turnout for Trump in that city will have amounted to 0.00125 percent of the electorate. #related#In November 1988, the New York Times dutifully reported the high turnout for rallies featuring the Democratic nominee, Michael Dukakis: “15,000 in Philadelphia on Thursday, 9,000 in Chicago on Wednesday, and 7,500 in Milwaukee on Tuesday.” The candidate cheerfully declared he could feel the momentum and asked the crowd if they could smell the victory in the air. He went on to smell defeat by 7 million votes, about eight percentage points, and 315 electoral votes. The fixation on crowd size reflects the mentality of Trump and his fans; they begin with the conclusion they want — “All is well! We’re winning! Everything we’re doing is working great!” — and work backwards to find the evidence. Trump may not have the most solid record for Christian conservatives, but no one can deny he’s built one hell of a faith-based initiative. Advertisement – Jim Geraghty is the senior political correspondent of National Review.Show full PR text 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited Altitude edition to arrive in Jeep showrooms next month Altitude model is newest special-edition Wrangler created in response to Jeep enthusiasts looking for factory-customized vehicles New Wrangler Unlimited Altitude follows last month's introduction of Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot Altitude models All 2012 Jeep Wrangler models powered by 3.6-liter V-6 engine producing 285 horsepower and up to 21 miles per gallon Jeep Wrangler sales up 30 percent in 2012 April 23, 2012, Auburn Hills, Mich. - On the heels of the popular Jeep® Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 and Arctic models – and in response to Wrangler enthusiasts' continued desire for limited-edition vehicles – Jeep is introducing its new, 2012 Wrangler Unlimited Altitude edition. 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want to participate in electoral politics or confront the entire idea of the state and majoritarian rule as illegitimate, coercive, and violent. If they choose the latter, they will be fighting the final battle for freedom instead of solemnly gathering and guarding the remaining crumbs of freedom. If libertarians falter at the pretense of ‘winning better contracts’ by fighting for lower taxes, school vouchers, and more individual freedom, they’ll be forever postponing the battles for an end to taxation, public education, and for the complete liberation of every individual. The radical labor struggle of the 1900s and the 1910s foundered from internal divisions over means. The movement agreed on principle that “not until [the means of production were] owned and operated by the people [could] the people hope for any material improvement in their social condition,”(Bernstein 299) but the SPA and Debs were willing to work for practical concessions for their constituents until the ultimate socialist revolution, the General Strike, was within reach. The anarchists’ refusal to play politics as well as their utilization of a decentralized ethic clashed considerably with the Socialists’ rejection of the practice of sabotage and their willingness to centralize their efforts through party politics and simultaneous strikes. The idea of centralizing power in order to decentralize power, and voting within democratic capitalism to overthrow democratic capitalism deeply chagrined the anarchists’ sense of principle and concern for keeping means consistent to their ends. This became an irreconcilable difference. Were they able to unify their efforts behind electing Socialists to public office or to destroying capitalism from outside of the existing political and economic framework perhaps there would have been some significant success. However, the idealists weakened the efforts of the pragmatists, who undermined and isolated the idealists in return. This problem will continue to beleaguer libertarians who are also split on means. Many advocate supporting candidates such as Debra Medina, Gary Johnson, Peter Schiff, Rand Paul, and Adam Kokesh et al., while others, notably participants of the Free State Project in Keene, New Hampshire, desire to perform civil disobedience in order to illustrate the coercion inherent within all statism. If libertarians persist in splitting their efforts between electoral politics and apolitical means it will continue to factionalize and weaken their movement in the tradition of the radical socialists. One can successfully argue that radicalism has no place in politics because politics is the science of compromise. Libertarianism can only be watered down and corrupted by electoral politics but in doing so it will drag the center of the political compass and public discourse closer to liberty. Libertarian participation in American majoritarian democracy also signals their willingness to be governed by such practices. By lobbying their rulers for more freedom, libertarians are legitimizing the position of rulers to redistribute the freedom they never had the moral authority to assume. This is troubling to some libertarians in the same way that the IWW preferred not to negotiate for contracts with the capitalists. While Ron Paul is directly responsible for the evolution of numerous market anarchists through his pragmatic office holding, libertarian efforts are diminished by focusing primarily on electing freedom-friendly candidates into the halls of political power. Libertarians need to quickly address this concern. The Tea Party movement at the moment proclaims to be an anti-partisan force and is a viable force in American politics, but will most likely serve the interests of Republicans and be absorbed by the midterm elections in 2010, at least until the presidential campaigns start up again. There are only three routes to widespread libertarianism in America: Libertarians can allow themselves to be absorbed into the Republican Party and work to expand the Liberty caucus. Libertarians can abandon the Republican Party to work exclusively through the Libertarian Party. Libertarians can jettison electoral politics altogether and refuse to be governed by majoritarianism and statism. If they attempt to co-opt the Republican Party they will have increased visibility as members of a major party, but they will only achieve some of their goals and will not realize systemic change, as in the case of the Wobblies, Socialists, and Populists. They will drag centrism closer to libertarianism but will always be hedging and moderating their radical principles in an effort to be appealing to the mainstream. Their efforts may occasionally bring some positive reform, but fighting incrementalism from within the state reminds one of the myth of Sisyphus. If libertarians focus on working with the Libertarian Party, their ideals will mostly be neglected by Republicans, who will be busy appealing to their neoconservative and culturally conservative base. If the LP grew in strength, Republicans may also attempt to usurp libertarian voters in the tradition of the Democrats and the Populists. The Libertarian Party will be marginalized as it has been since 1971 unless instant run-off voting and proportional representation gain widespread bipartisan support, which is doubtful beyond all reason as it threatens the status quo power structure. Should libertarians adopt a spirit of radicalism, refuse to be governed, and attempt to secede, they will present an intimidating force, but will alienate more conservative politicos. However, if they seek to avoid marginalization, absorption, and/or partial victory, their chances are best staked upon the radical path. As stated in the Communist Manifesto, the working class has nothing to lose but their chains, and all individuals are working class when contrasted with those who benefit economically from state power. If libertarians pursue this courageous path, they must appear to be victims and never aggressors. Efforts must be made to always frame the radical libertarian movement in this fashion or public outcry against their oppression will never reach critical mass and the movement will be destroyed and discredited. This final and most extreme route is more challenging and dangerous than volunteering for Campaign For Liberty candidates and trying to win some practical policy battles, but big risks are the ones that pay off. If the Wobblies, Socialists, and Populists of epochs past were still alive, they must regret not being more radical. They worked their lives for an ideal they were never able to achieve, and let themselves be placated by partial achievement and temporary victories. If libertarians can see themselves being content in fifty years with their marginal triumphs of school voucher programs and marijuana legalization, then the electoral politics route might be best for them to engage. If libertarians want to actually create their paradise they need to be brave and be radical, and begin immediately. Bibliography Debs, Eugene V., and Joseph M. Bernstein, ed. Writings and Speeches of Eugene V. Debs. New York: Hermitage Press, Inc., 1948. Print. Tussey, Jean Y., ed. Eugene V. Debs Speaks. New York: Pathfinder Press, 1970. Print. Bird, Stewart, Dan Georgakas, and Deborah Shaffer. Solidarity Forever: An Oral History of the IWW. Chicago: Lake View Press, 1985. Print. Dubofsky, Melvyn. We Shall Be All: A History of the Industrial Workers of the World. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1988. Print. Brissenden, Paul F. The IWW: A Study of American Syndicalism. New York: Russell & Russell Inc., 1957. Print. Gould, Lewis L. America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914. Harlow, England: Pearson Education, 2001. Print. Reichley, A. James. The Life of the Parties. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1992. Print. Sundquist, James L. Dynamics of the Party System, Revised Edition. Washington, DC. The Brookings Institution, 1983. Print. ~*~ Ross Kenyon is a news analyst with the Center for a Stateless Society and a senior of American History at Arizona State University. He will soon be leaving his home to study abroad for his final semester in Istanbul, Turkey. He is also a member of the ASU Students For Liberty leadership team, and has recently started his own organization, Mutual Aid on the High Seas, which is devoted to sailing to impoverished communities in the Caribbean in order to perform humanitarian aid and to teach about liberty as an emancipatory philosophy for working people. Also by Ross Kenyon: “Do Anarchists at tea parties really want to kill all politicians?” Christian Science Monitor (August 30, 2010). Comment on the blog.Doug Jones said Sunday that President Donald should not resign in response to sexual misconduct allegations. Alabama's newly minted U.S. Senator-elect made the comments on the CNN morning show "State of the Union" Sunday. "Those allegations were made before the election, and so people had an opportunity to judge before that election," Jones said on the TV program, referencing the 2016 presidential election, according to Politico. "We need to move on and not get distracted by those issues. Let's get on with the real issues that are facing the people of this country right now." The remarks come just several days after Jones, a Democrat, bested Republican nominee Roy Moore in a hotly contested Senate race that saw many Alabamians choosing not to vote for Moore because of multiple accusations that he engaged sexual misconduct with teenage girls. How did Doug Jones win? Women and millennials pushed senator-elect to victory over Roy Moore Jones was buoyed by support from women, particularly black women, and young voters to become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in a quarter century. A growing list of U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on Trump to resign from the presidency as the accusations against him have received renewed scrutiny as figures from film mogul Harvey Weinstein to Sen. Al Franken have fallen from grace due to allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment.Today RealNetworks, Inc. announces RealPlayer Cloud is now available for international users. The app allows users to easily move, watch, and share videos with any user on any device, including iOS, Android, Windows 8 Modern UI, Kindle Fire, Roku and Chromecast. RealPlayer Cloud gives all users 2 GB of free cloud storage space. They also offer additional storage through subscription plans that start at $4.99 per month for 25 GB of data. Pricing information is available on the RealPlayer Cloud website. Currently the app is available in English, French, German and Spanish. It will soon be available in Italian, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. Over the past five months, RealPlayer Cloud has more than 500,000 active users in the U.S. and Canada. In a press release, Rob Glaser, founder and interim CEO of RealNetworks, said of the service’s tremendous growth: “Clearly there is a real need and demand for RealPlayer Cloud, which is essentially Dropbox for videos.” A lot of video is captured on smartphones and tablets. However, the different manufacturers of the these devices save the videos in different formats, which might not be readable and compatible on other devices. RealPlayer Cloud helps remedy this by supporting FLV, WMV, MKV, DIVX, XVID, MOV, AVI and MP4 video formats. Each video is then reformated in the cloud by the RealPlayer service and formatted properly for the device requesting the video. With today’s update, RealPlayer Cloud has now added a few new features. Users are now able to refer friends to the service. For every friend that signs up through your referral, you and your friend each receive an extra 1 GB of storage space. Additionally, iOS users can share links via SMS messaging and iMessage. You can get the RealPlayer Cloud app from the App Store for free.Water at the base of the Carroll Street Bridge as seen from the bridge on Union Street. With the combined effects of the surge from Hurricane Sandy and high tide, the Gowanus Canal broke its banks this morning in multiple locations and flooded over many of the streets in mandatory evacuation Zone A along its shores. The Observer was on hand to take pictures of the waters. It was far worse than anything we witnessed with the initial Sandy surge at high tide last night. While the only serious flooding we saw last night was on 2nd Street, this morning saw waters creeping up almost every block next to the canal near Carroll Gardens. Flooding in the canal is troubling as its a superfund site that is home to extensive industrial activity and has a long, well-deserved reputation as a hotbed of toxic sludge and pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency describes the canal as “one of the nation’s most extensively contaminated water bodies.” We reached out to several elected officials to get their take on the environmental and flooding risks on the Gowanus during the peak storm surge this evening. The only response we got was from the Mayor’s Press Office, which directed us to Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Corey Chambliss. “Let me look into this and get back to you,” Mr. Chambliss said. We’ll update as soon as we have further information. For now, click the slideshow to see pictures of the floodwaters along the banks of the canal. Update (6:39 p.m.): Mayor Bloomberg and one of his deputies discussed the situation with the Gowanus Canal in a press conference this evening. Update (6:49 p.m.): Mr. Chambliss provided the following statement about flooding on the Gowanus Canal. “This was just addressed in the Mayor’s remarks, but in addition: We encourage residents to observe existing advisories regarding the Gowanus Canal, and will work with the EPA to determine any potential impacts that result from flooding. Residents should wash their hands and practice proper hygiene if they come into contact with the canal’s water or sediments,” Mr. Chambliss said. Update (10:48 p.m.): Here are some pictures of the canal flooding during the peak of the storm this evening.Almost two years to the day that Rolling Stone magazine ran a now discredited story about a fabricated rape case at the University of Virginia, only now is Jann Wenner — publisher of the magazine – offering an apology to the former dean of the school, Nicole Eramo, who is suing the magazine for defamation. Eramo claims the magazine’s 2014 story, “A Rape on Campus” made her appear as a villain and unsympathetic to the alleged rape victim, “Jackie.” Jackson Landers of the New York Post reports Wenner apologized to Eramo on Friday but disagreed with the decision to withdraw the entire story as well as tried to lay blame elsewhere. In a taped testimony, Wenner stated: “I’m very, very sorry. It was never meant to ever happen this way to you…And believe me, I’ve suffered as much as you have,” he said. “And I know what it’s like. I hope that this whole thing hadn’t happened but it is, and it’s what we live with.” Wenner did admit that one of the magazine’s biggest mistakes was not reaching out to “Jackie’s” alleged rapists: “We did want to respect her wishes as the victim of a horrible rape....looking back with 20/20 hindsight, we should have demanded the identity of her [attackers]...” Wenner even tried to suggest the mistake was unavoidable: “We were the victim of one of these rare, once-in-a-lifetime things that nobody in journalism can protect themselves from.” Wenner also disclosed that Will Dana — former managing editor of Rolling Stone – was fired because the magazine wouldn’t be “traumatized and demoralized people”: “Even before this happened, we had not been publishing editorial material as sharp as we should have…” Dana had been criticized after the publication of the story, and his response, or lack thereof, when additional reporting from various outlets confirmed that almost every detail of the story was false. It’s amazing Rolling Stone still has any readers left given their lack of journalistic ethics and blatant false reporting. Their total disregard for the truth has reaped havoc on the lives of many innocent people — yet all it’s publisher seems content on doing in a court of law is handing down a half-hearted “apology.”As Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, agonises over the formation of his government, he is unlikely to be losing much sleep dreaming up a role for his first lady. While Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni and Sarah Brown have all had to strike an awkward balance between supportive wife and public figure, Miyuki Hatoyama has cultivated a third role – that of pedlar of new age bunkum. With the dust barely settled on last Sunday's election, Miyuki – whose husband will officially become Japan's leader on 16 September – is already emerging as a gloriously eccentric foil to her humdrum hubby. While he reassures the US that his country is committed to the bilateral alliance, she regales the media with tales of interplanetary travel and, er, solar breakfasts. "I eat the sun," Miyuki says, raising her arms as if to tear pieces off an imaginary sun. "Like this: yum, yum, yum. It gives me enormous energy. My husband has recently started doing that too." Clearly, this is where Gordon Brown has been going wrong. When she isn't tucking into the centrepiece of our solar system, the 66-year-old former dancer pens cookbooks with humble titles such as Hatoyama Miyuki's Hawaiian Spiritual Food. She makes her own clothes (including a skirt made from hemp coffee bags) and, as she demonstrated during the election campaign, can also do a very passable Moonwalk. But it is her extraterrestrial experiences that have triggered an avalanche of media coverage her husband could never hope to match. In a book entitled Very Strange Things I've Encountered, his wife has claimed that she was abducted by aliens as she slept one night 20 years ago, then whisked off to the final frontier. "While my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus," she wrote, adding: "It was a very beautiful place, and it was very green." By happy coincidence, Miyuki is married to a man whom his parliamentary colleagues once nicknamed "the Alien", a comment on his sometimes otherworldly manner and an unkind reference to his prominent eyes. His wife's revelatory book was published last year, but only now have her foibles become staples of daytime television. Perhaps revealingly, she says that when she recounted her Venusian encounter to her first husband, he suggested it had probably been a dream. But her second, the 62-year-old Hatoyama, is more accommodating: "He has a different way of thinking and would surely say, 'Oh, that's great.'" Michelle Obama, too, will surely be delighted to learn that Miyuki sees in her a kindred spirit. "I think she is so natural and has a kind of sensibility similar to mine. If I get the chance to meet her, I'd look forward to it." Hatoyama appears admirably unruffled by his wife's idiosyncrasies, saying: "I feel relieved when I get home. She is like an energy-refuelling base." Miyuki, too, paints an idyllic picture of life chez Hatoyama, where her husband indulges his love of animal movies and feeds his addiction to prawn crackers. She honed her theatrical delivery back in the 60s when performing for the Takarazuka Revue, an all-female theatrical troupe that specialises in kitsch adaptations of classics such as Guys and Dolls and The Sound of Music. After six years on the stage, she moved to the US with her Japanese restaurateur husband. It was there that she met Hatoyama, then a graduate student of engineering at Stanford University. They married in 1975. The popular notion that Japanese women are demure and subservient is a lazy stereotype, but Miyuki's behaviour would seem bizarre in any country. Judged by the standards set by previous Japanese first ladies, it borders on the impertinent. In a TV interview earlier this year,she claimed she had met Tom Cruise in a previous life, in what must have been an unnerving meeting of Scientology and new age spiritualism. "I have a dream that I still believe will come true, which is to make a film in Hollywood," she said. "The lead actor is Tom Cruise, of course. Why? Because he was Japanese in a previous life." Cruise, whose closest professional brush with Japanese culture was a leading role in the ludicrous 2003 film Last Samurai, "would recognise me when I see him and say: 'Long time, no see!'" Michelle Obama may not be quite so effusive. Stealing the show Tim Dowling rates world leaders' partners for their 'colourful' personality traits. Joachim Sauer Married to Angela Merkel Wacky rating 0.1 out of 5 Quiet and reserved, Sauer rarely appears in public and didn't even attend his wife's 2005 inauguration. Holds certain views about the nature of the universe that most ordinary people would find incomprehensible, in keeping with his job as a quantum chemist. No pictures of him with Tom Cruise. Sarah Brown Married to Gordon Brown Wacky rating 1 out of 5 The very picture of common sense, British reserve and tireless discretion. May have married the only person in the world in contrast to whom she could be described as devil-may-care. And she picks out his ties for him. Michelle Obama Married to Barack Obama Wacky rating 1.5 out of 5 Consistently down-to-earth, even when interviewed by Oprah. No known new age proclivities. Like Miyuki Hatoyama, claims to have met Tom Cruise - but photographic evidence would appear to support this. Did not say if she thought he was weird. Carla Bruni Married to Nicolas Sarkozy Wacky rating 3 out of 5 Formerly given to pronouncements about being "bored by monogamy", and claimed her husband had "five or six brains which are remarkably irrigated", though she may not have meant it literally. The only G20 spouse (so far) to have nude photos and sex tapes stolen. Author of some decidedly flaky song lyrics ("I'm that time slipping by is a bastard making coats of our sorrow...") Cherie Blair Married to Tony Blair Wacky rating 4 out of 5 The only G20 spouse, past or present, capable of giving Mrs Hatoyama a run for her mystical money. The crystal-pendant wearing, con-man consulting, magic-circle casting QC was said to have sought the help of the late Jack Templeton, a "homeopathic dowser healer" whose clients also numbered Jerry Hall and Princess Diana. Miyuki Hatoyama Married to Yukio Hatoyama Wacky rating Off the scale This professional "life composer" claims she once flew on a triangle-shaped UFO to Venus, and says she met Tom Cruise in a past life when he was Japanese. Makes her own clothes from hemp sacks and starts every morning by pretending to eat bits of the sun. "I get energy from it," she says, adding helpfully, "my husband also does this."Prior to January 20, 2017, there was a lamentable lack of social-media scandals involving our public servants in the federal government. Then Donald Trump moved into the White House and, of course, everything changed. Now, we’ve come to expect that the president of the United States will go on late-night rants when he is feeling piqued, attacking everything from North Korea to media outlets to retailers who stopped selling his adult daughter’s handbags, occasionally deploying ALL CAPS to signal his seriousness or scare quotes to underscore his contempt. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the tone set by the president seems to have trickled down to his Cabinet members and their spouses, too. For instance, whereas in times past, the wife of the Treasury secretary might have felt an obligation to not lash out at an Instagram commenter in a diatribe boasting about her vast wealth, now we have this: That’s Louise Linton, the wife of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, attacking a woman who wrote “glad we could pay for your little getaway” after Linton posted a photo Monday night about wearing #hermes, #valentino, #roulandmouret, and #tomfordsunnies on an official government-chartered #daytrip to Kentucky. For those of you keeping score at home, Linton manages to both complain about how much she sacrifices in taxes while shaming the woman for not earning as much; suggest that she and her husband, who made a significant amount of money at Goldman Sachs before running a “foreclosure machine,” have given more to their country than their haters ever could; employ the strategic use of the curled bicep emoji, the blowing kisses face, and “Lololol”; and, of course, the coup de grâce—“you’re adorably out of touch.” The woman Linton responded to was later identified by The New York Times as Jenni Miller, a mother of three from Portland, Oregon. Incidentally, this is not the first time that Linton, whose husband is currently attempting to orchestrate a massive tax cut that would shift trillions to the rich, has accidentally made a case for more progressive taxation. In June, ahead of her nuptials to Mnuchin, the 36-year-old actress sat down with Town & Country to talk about all of the many diamonds she would be wearing for the big day, including but not limited to her very large engagement ring, her diamond wedding band, a diamond bracelet, two pairs of diamond earrings, a couple of diamond necklaces, a pair of diamond earrings she had turned into a cocktail ring, and a diamond brooch of two parrots kissing a pearl. (Nor is it the first time she’s found herself at the center of controversy, having self-published a memoir about her gap year in Africa that was widely mocked as a stereotype-laden white savior fantasy, and which resulted in calls for Zambia to demand an apology from Scotland, where Linton was born and raised.) After Linton’s Monday night tirade went viral, she deleted the post and made her account private. Presumably, at some point this week, she’ll vent to the president about all the jealous “haters and losers” who just don’t get why the rich are better than them. “I think my post was just five or six words, and she had to go on basically a rant about it to make herself look more important and look smarter, better, richer—all those things,” Miller, a Democrat, told the Times. “It just seemed wholly inappropriate.” The Treasury department said Tuesday that Mnuchin and Linton are paying back the government for transportation costs when she travels with him on official business, an expense that hopefully won’t hit her #hermes budget too hard. On Tuesday evening, Linton issued a statement saying “I apologize for my post on social media yesterday as well as my response. It was inappropriate and highly insensitive.”Supreme Court Ethics Act would extend recusal, gift bans, and other ethics rules to the high court GovTrack.us Blocked Unblock Follow Following Mar 16, 2016 Federal judges are required to abide by a Code of Conduct. Among other rules, judges are not allowed to receive gifts over a certain monetary value (for fear of bribery), donate to or publicly endorse a political candidate or party (to keep the judiciary apolitical), or hear and decide a case in which they have a conflict of interest. Every judge is covered by the Code of Conduct — that is, except the justices of the Supreme Court. This discrepancy, which for years had primarily been of interest to legal scholars, has gained increased public attention since the February death of Justice Antonin Scalia at a Texas resort. Scalia’s trip to Cibolo Creek Ranch was free, fully paid for by a man who had received a favorable ruling from the Court last year. S. 1072 and H.R. 1943, the Supreme Court Ethics Act, would require that the highest judicial body in the land abide by the same set of rules as the more than 750 judges on the nation’s appeals courts and district courts. The bills are sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY25). Support “The questionable activities of some of our Supreme Court justices have been well documented — participating in political functions, failing to report family income from political groups, and attending fundraisers. It doesn’t make sense that members of the highest court in the land are the only federal judges exempt from the code of conduct,” said Slaughter. The bill “would, for the first time, make sure the justices adhere to the federal code of conduct and are accountable for these types of ethically dubious activities.” “There is absolutely no reason why Supreme Court Justices shouldn’t be subject to the same code of conduct as all other federal judges,” said Murphy. “This bill will make the court more accountable and more transparent, and will help guarantee the integrity of our country’s highest court.” A petition calling for implementation has collected more than 131,000 signatures. Opposition Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts defended his court’s exemption from the rules, saying they strive to follow them even if they’re not legally required to. “All Members of the Court do in fact consult the Code of Conduct in assessing their ethical obligations. In this way, the Code plays the same role for the Justices as it does for other federal judges.” Roberts also noted that “The Justices file the same financial disclosure reports as other federal judges. Those reports disclose, among other things, the Justices’ nongovernmental income, investments, liabilities, gifts, and reimbursements from third parties” — even though that’s not legally required of them either. Despite this claim, however, there have been cases where members of the Court arguably broke the ethics rules. One of the more notable examples in recent years also involved Scalia, who went hunting in 2004 with then-Vice President Dick Cheney while a lawsuit against Cheney was pending before the Court, yet Scalia refused to recuse himself from the case. Law professor Josh Blackman has also warned that the law may be unconstitutional, under the logic that Congress has no power to regulate the Supreme Court — — a co-equal branch of government. Odds of passage The House version of the bill has 109 cosponsors, all Democrats. GovTrack was unable to locate a single definitive statement from a sitting Republican explaining why they oppose the measure. The party’s opposition — and vice versa the Democrats’ support — may be because most of the concerns regarding Supreme Court members’ ethics in the past few years have regarded conservative justices. The bills have been referred to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees since their April 2015 introductions, but have not yet received a vote. Republican and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has introduced the somewhat-similar S. 1418, the Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act, which would create a “judicial inspector general” with oversight over the Supreme Court. However, the bill would not bind members to the Code of Conduct. It has no cosponsors.‘Crossing Identity Boundaries’ course devoted to identity politics A class to be offered this spring at Ohio State University is an identity politics-based course that in large part is focused on teaching students how to detect microaggressions and white privilege. The course is dedicated to social justice themes, and pledges to teach students how to “identify microaggressions,” define and address “systems of power and privilege,” advance notions of diversity and inclusion, and prioritize “global citizenship,” its description states. “Crossing Identity Boundaries” aims to expand students’ “self-awareness” and help them develop “dialogue skills.” Taking the course, offered through the Department of Educational Studies, is one way students can fulfill the university’s mandatory diversity requirement, and many sections are offered throughout the school year. The course coordinator and instructors involved in teaching the class did not respond to requests from The College Fix seeking comment. Part of the homework includes taking two “implicit bias tests,” and writing journals on prompts such as “power/privilege in your life” or calling on Christians to write about what it might feel like to be Muslim, or males on what it’s like to be female, and “reflecting on how this new identity would have impacted your day.” One big part of the class is a microaggressions group presentation and reflective paper. The assignment, according to a syllabus, calls on students to “find at least 12 examples of microaggressions using at least 3 different types of social media (e.g., Yik Yak, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest). Explain who the target of the microaggression is and why your group believes it is an example of a negative remark. Provide an example of how you might respond to such a comment.” The assignment’s goal is for students to “evaluate the impact that power and privilege have within social media,” a syllabus states. Students are graded on the “quality of microaggresion chosen (do they clearly articulate why they are microaggressions and which group is targeted” and “quality of response (did they address the microaggression in an appropriate and meaningful way?)” Meanwhile, required reading assignments include: “Waking up White: What it means to accept your legacy, for better and worse,” “The Arab woman and I,” and “Memoirs of a gay fraternity brother.” The course pedagogy is given entirely from the lens of identity politics, “including but not limited to race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, and national origin,” according to a syllabus for the class. “Students will begin to develop an understanding of major social justice concepts (e.g., power, privilege, difference, microaggressions),” the syllabus states. “Students will learn to value their own self-identity and the identities of others different from them.” MORE: University offers class on ‘The Problem of Whiteness’ Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter IMAGE: ShutterstockThe Shiv Sena said on Monday it will move a breach of privilege motion against Air India for grounding and cancelling Ravindra Gaikwad’s ticket after the controversial party legislator assaulted the airline’s staff last week. In a show of support, the party has also called for a shut down in Maharashtra’s Osmanabad—the constituency which Gaikwad represents in the Lok Sabha. Shiv Sena supporters also held a motorcycle rally in Omerga. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay said the party is planning to bring a privilege motion over the issue and that the airlines should not have banned Gaikwad without carrying out an investigation into the matter. “There is no need for any disciplinary action against him (Gaikwad),” Raut told Hindustan Times. A breach of privilege is a violation of any of the parliamentary privileges or the rights and immunities enjoyed by MPs, MLAs and MLCs, to help them effectively discharge their functions. A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either of the Houses against those being held guilty of breach of privilege. Sena leaders said the party, which had earlier said it sought an explanation from Gaikwad, does not endorse his actions. Gaikwad sparked outrage last Saturday after he assaulted a 60-year-old Air India officer on board a Pune-Delhi flight apparently over being denied a business class seat. The politician’s burst of fury, peppered with profanities, went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. Several top politicians called for strict action against the politician, and civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju condemned the incident. Six top airlines – including Air India – put Gaikwad on a no-fly list and demanded exemplary punishment, forcing the parliamentarian to return to Pune by train. Gaikwad, who took a train to travel to Maharashtra after he was banned by the airlines, was scheduled to meet Uddhav Thackeray, but the Shiv Sena chief decided against meeting the MP. Following that Gaikwad left for Osmanabad. First Published: Mar 27, 2017 09:58 ISTA Look At What’s Inside The Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector’s Edition By Ishaan. January 19, 2014. 11:00am Square Enix will release a collector’s edition set for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, and recently shared a video of the contents of the box, which you can view below. The collector’s edition will come with: Silver-embossed pocket watch Aerith Gainsborough DLC costume 80-page hardcover artbook with never-seen-before art, including: Character Designer Tetsuya Nomura’s original artwork, including early sketches of the characters Foreword by Final Fantasy XIII series art director Isamu Kamikokuryo An “introspective look” at the worlds and architecture of the Nova Chrysalia world A Final Fantasy nostalgia section that showcases crossover costumes, moogles and chocobos The collector’s edition will be available from Square Enix’s online store for $90. Lightning Returns will be available on February 11th in North America.WordPress 3.5.2 is now available. This is the second maintenance release of 3.5, fixing 12 bugs. This is a security release for all previous versions and we strongly encourage you to update your sites immediately. The WordPress security team resolved seven security issues, and this release also contains some additional security hardening. The security fixes included: Blocking server-side request forgery attacks, which could potentially enable an attacker to gain access to a site. Disallow contributors from improperly publishing posts, reported by Konstantin Kovshenin, or reassigning the post’s authorship, reported by Luke Bryan. An update to the SWFUpload external library to fix cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Reported by mala and Szymon Gruszecki. (Developers: More on SWFUpload here.) Prevention of a denial of service attack, affecting sites using password-protected posts. An update to an external TinyMCE library to fix a cross-site scripting vulnerability. Reported by Wan Ikram. Multiple fixes for cross-site scripting. Reported by Andrea Santese and Rodrigo. Avoid disclosing a full file path when a upload fails. Reported by Jakub Galczyk. We appreciated responsible disclosure of these issues directly to our security team. For more information on the changes, see the release notes or consult the list of changes. Download WordPress 3.5.2 or update now from the Dashboard → Updates menu in your site’s admin area. Also: WordPress 3.6 Beta 4: If you are testing WordPress 3.6, please note that WordPress 3.6 Beta 4 (zip) includes fixes for these security issues. Share this: Twitter Facebook Google EmailHulu and Viacom have announced that new episodes of Nickelodeon programs will be available through Hulu Plus starting today. The lineup includes popular shows like The Legend of Korra, Spongebob Squarepants, Kung Fu Panda, and iCarly. Paid subscribers will be able to stream the five most recent episodes from each series,
stations opened at 08:00 local time (0330 GMT) Friday for long lines which had already formed around the country where more than 56 million are eligible to vote. Polls close at 18:00 (1330 GMT), but voting hours will most likely be extended as the country has seen in previous elections, amid expectations of a high turnout. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was among the first to cast his ballot, calling on Iranians to turn out in big numbers. Speaking after casting his vote, the Leader said, “I thank God Almighty for the blessing of democracy and people's participation in the election. This is a great blessing.” "Praise be to God, our people are thankful for this blessing. You see they are participating and my advice is that more and more people participate and come to the polls at the earliest time possible." Ayatollah Khamenei described the 2017 elections as very important, saying the destiny of the country is in the hand of the masses. "I believe a good work should be done in early hours and should not be delayed. I also believe the presidential election is very important," the Leader said. "The destiny of the country is in the hands of the people who choose the chief executive. They should heed the importance of this task," Ayatollah Khamenei added. Besides picking a president, Iranians are also voting to choose members of the country’s City and Village Councils. “The City and Village Councils Election is also important as it elects those who are in charge of urban and rural services, namely the everyday issues involving the people,” the Leader said. Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said no security threat had been observed so far, adding the "slightest anti-security move" would be dealt accordingly. "In the past, anti-security and counter-revolutionary currents were trying to somehow create threats, but this time around, we are witnessing a decline in this regard," he said. This year’s presidential race also features two low-key contenders - former deputy judiciary chief and member of Iran’s Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim and former vice president, Mostafa Hashemi-Taba. Two more consequential candidates, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Vice President Is’haq Jahangiri, dropped out in the final days of campaigning in favor of Raeisi and Rouhani respectively. Rouhani has been campaigning on the platform of an active foreign policy meant to enhance international relations, while Raeisi has vowed a strong economic management towards the elimination of poverty and unemployment. Iranian presidential candidates Hassan Rouhani (L) and Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi Outside Iran, a researcher at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand became the first Iranian to cast his ballot. Voting was also underway in the cities of Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Across Asia, Europe and the Americas, Iranian expatriates were casting their ballots in various countries but Canada did not allow the Islamic Republic to set up polling stations on its territory. Iranian expats in China cast their votes in presidential election, May 19, 2017. (Photo by IRNA) Based on Iran’s election law, if no candidate manages to secure over 50 percent of the votes, a runoff will take place a week later. Weeks of heated campaigning came to an end on Thursday morning, 24 hours before the start of the elections. Ayatollah Khamenei has called on Iranians to turn out en masse, saying the nation and Islamic establishment are the true winners of the vote no matter which candidate emerges victorious.After taking only six minutes to finish off Jimi Manuwa on Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa, "The Mauler" reasserted himself as the number one contender to the light heavyweight championship. At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Alexander Gustafsson would face the winner of the UFC 172 title fight between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira. Jones had his own idea about who Gustafsson should face when he suggested a number one contender fight for him against Daniel Cormier. Cormier has been campaigning for a fight against Jones for a long time. Despite having only fought the unheralded Patrick Cummins at 205 lbs., it looks like White still has big plans for Cormier: @FantasyMoneyMan u will see him against the winner of Jones/Glover vs Gus — Dana White (@danawhite) March 9, 2014 On the one hand, the historic war of words between Jones and Cormier combined with Daniel's success and pedigree make him an intriguing challenge for Jones in the future. On the other hand, Cormier has had only one fight at light heavyweight in his MMA career. Regardless of the circumstances that fight was against a completely unknown Patrick Cummins. It's hard to argue that he's ready for a title shot coming off that fight. On top of that, waiting to be the next guy in line could keep Cormier out of competition for up to a year or more. He'd have to wait for Gustafsson's fight to come and go before even getting scheduled. That would mean waiting until the end of 2014 at the earliest and it doesn't look like Daniel's ready to warm the bench for that long: "@ShaneBranscome: @dc_mma what's next? Wait for title shot or fight?" Fight — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 9, 2014 With Cormier's intention to stay active clear, it looks unlikely that he'll wait as Dana suggested. Instead, he should fight the winner of Anthony Johnson and Phil Davis who will also compete at UFC 172 in April.Iraq asked Russia to prevent the collapse of Syria. Iraq, claims that Syria’s collapse would mean the collapse of the entire middle East region, and are asking Russia to prevent this, said Vice-President of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki. “Thanks for the Russian position on all these issues. I have previously met with you, Minister, including in Baghdad, and then I requested that Russia played the main role in the preservation of Syria in its current territory, to prevent its collapse. The collapse of Syria would mean the collapse of the entire region,” said al-Maliki at the beginning of negotiations with Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “We thank you for the role that Russia plays in Iraq and in the region, and we attribute this role as the great hope to preserve the region in its current state”, – he stressed. The division of Syria — we say a decisive “no!” The Secretary of the Supreme national security Council of Iran, notes the need to respect national sovereignty of the Syrian state with all countries and forces involved in the Syrian conflict. “No agreement must have as its primary goal or to create the ground for the territorial division of Syria, this is fundamental principle. The violation is unacceptable.” As informs news Agency IRNA, citing a press-service of the Supreme national security Council, Ali Shamkhani also touched upon the topic in conversation with Alexander Lavrentiev, the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Syria. Shamkhani, puts to the aspirations of the Zionist elements in Israel to undermine the territorial sovereignty of the Syrian state and to attack the political positions and the security forces of the resistance. He added: “the Zionist circles, being in constant and close contact with terrorist groups and States that have them, tend to use the actions of these groups, to support the so-called “sanctity of Israel’s borders” and periodically conduct punitive actions against the people of Palestine.” Along with this, the Secretary of the Supreme national security Council expressed concern at the actions of certain terrorist and extremist groups seeking to hide behind the ceasefire and abuse of the political negotiations, using them as an excuse to get a break and regroup their own forces. He also recalled: “As experience has shown, for similar items any arrangements and agreements are nothing more than empty words. They will continue to use them only to continue terror on the civilian population and achieve their, inhuman goals.” As noted by the Secretary of the Supreme national security Council of Iran, a political initiative of the three states: Iran, Russia and Turkey, and the talks in Astana is a successful mechanism that can be used as a model to tackle regional conflicts, with the involvement of the potential that gives a broad coalition of indigenous multinational force.Urging all binge-watchers, Netflix, and chill lovers, and entertainment-geeks out there, if you are looking for something NEW to watch, then you might want to check this listing out by Best VPN. To beat the heavy air and sticky heat of August, Netflix is releasing 47 different titles in original movies, shows, and specials, keeping you indoors with the HVAC and TV turned on. This sets a record in terms of title availability for August 2018, which is bound to keep you attached to your screens, especially when you realize what gems are about to make their debut. To find out more, continue reading! How to Watch American Netflix in Other Countries? Since I have friends who are dispersed all over the world, I came to know something tricky about Netflix’s content library, according to different locations. It’s appalling when you realize how some users in varied countries lack the ability to access certain TV shows and movies, which may be available in the US library. For instance, two of the worst places to use Netflix would be Albania and Morocco, which only offer 3.5% of the complete US TV library. That ratio accounts to 300 titles in TOTAL! Is this not unfair, considering you are paying the same amount more or less? What’s with the discrimination? Netflix states the problem occurs due to the differing rights management of movies/TV shows from producers/directors for the streaming content it delivers. However, this isn’t a good enough reason to not have the complete US Netflix Library available, which boasts over 1150+ TV shows and 4600+ movies. The numbers of these titles keep decreasing the further away a country is from the US! Being a binge-watcher who has access to the US Netflix, I can’t even empathize with or understand the trouble people have to go through, just to watch their favorite movies/TV shows. No wonder why P2P/Torrenting is such a viable choice for many, despite the many risks! Who doesn’t want to enjoy a huge list of titles to binge, especially when you can get it free of charge? Paying for a premium service brings almost no incentives to users at all, which is quite disappointing, to say the least! This is where using a Free Working VPN for netflix comes in, especially for those users who are located outside the US but want access to the complete 1150+ TV shows and 4600+ movies library. A VPN will allow users to mask their IP address and shift their location, making it appear as if they reside in a different country altogether. It also encrypts your incoming/outgoing traffic, ensuring you remain secure at all times. Below is a list of the Best VPNs for Netflix, based on performance, support, pricing, feature availability and more: TV Shows Highlights for August 2018 Last month we saw people going crazy over Netflix’s flagship show “Orange is the New Black” returning for its sixth season and the infamous “Breaking Bad” spinoff that continues the story of the clever and charismatic lawyer in “Better Call Saul”, along with plenty other “New” seasons. This time Netflix goes the extra mile though, offering more diversity in genres. Some of the TV shows, I am looking forward to specifically, include: I Am A Killer (8/3) After watching “Hannibal”, I wanted to watch something similar and landed on “Mindhunter”, which was a rather toned down psychological thriller, focusing more on reality than fantasy. Subsequently, it got me even more intrigued by the mindset of serial killers. That is when I heard of “I Am A Killer” debuting on Netflix, which is a documentary series about convicts on death row. The show first aired in the UK, but will now be available on Netflix, with hour-long episode profiles on different prisoners – focusing more on the wheels of justice rather than solving a mystery – a refreshing change to view! Mr. Sunshine (8/4) Written by Kim Eun-Sook and directed by Lee Eung-bok, Mr. Sunshine is an import from South Korea, created by the same people behind the “Descendants of the Sun” and “Shinmiyangyo”, both of which are famed for their exceptional cinematography, character growth, and opposing philosophies. This TV show focuses on the romance between Go Ae-Shin (a noble daughter of famous aristocrats) and Eugene Choi (house servant turned U.S. Marine). The clash of nationality and class is what really grabs the attention of the audience in this enticing series, which will debut weekly from August 4 onwards! Disenchantment (8/17) If you haven’t had enough of “The Simpsons” and “Futurama”, then you’d be glad to hear that Matt Groening is returning to TV, with a new animated series that is bound to take your breath away from laughter. Disenchantment, debuting on August 17, follows the misadventures of a hard-drinking princess named “Bean”, who goes on wicked adventures with her elf sidekick “Eflo” and demon friend “Luci” with hilarious turnarounds and ends, taking animated television to a whole new level. It is perfect for those who are in need for some modern comic entertainment! ‘Ghoul’ (8/24) India has definitely managed to grasp attention to the Bollywood Industry after releases like the “Sacred Games” and “Lust Stories”, which introduce unique storylines, as compared to the norm we get to see almost daily. I was literally left shocked after watching “Sacred Games”, and this has only increased my interest towards Ghoul, which is a Horror TV series. It focuses on a young military recruit stationed at a remote facility, who discovers that some of the most powerful terrorists are not of this world and possess terrifying abilities that could leave anyone amazed! Ozark: Season 2 (8/31) Created by Bill Dubuque, the man behind some hit names in the Hollywood industry like “The Judge” and “The Accountant”, Netflix is now debuting the second season of the American Crime Drama series “Ozark”. If you have been following the TV show, you would know that us viewers were previously left us on quite a cliffhanger, as to what would be the fate of the family’s new life, following their ties with the Mexican drug lord. This time they get even deeper into the cartel, the Langmores, and the Snells, meaning you can expect quite a few shockers! Movies Highlights for August 2018 If you are more of a movie-watcher than those interest in TV series, then you’d be pleased to hear that Netflix has added quite an amazing list of movies to watch for August 2018. Featuring classics to latest releases, you get to explore a world different than what you’ve observed in the past on Netflix. Some of the movies that I am looking forward to specifically, include: Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino (8/1) Available to watch on August 1, you can start the month off with a double feature of the amazing actor-director “Clint Eastwood”. The “Million Dollar Baby” follows the story of a working-class amateur boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald, who is taught by the tough-as-nails Eastwood. The movie secured the best-director and best-picture awards in 2005. The second is the infamous “Gran Torino”, which also features Eastwood and focuses on his more recent screen legacy. Steel Magnolias (8/1) Arriving at the start of the month, Steel Magnolias is another famous classic now available on Netflix. The original American Comedy-Drama film made its way into the industry back in 1989, featuring hit actors like Julia Roberts, Robert Harling, Sally Field, and more. Though it was remade for TV with an all-black cast in 2012, old will always be gold, and same is the case with Steel Magnolias. The beloved ensemble laughter tearjerker is one-of-a-kind and a must watch for anyone seeking a good laugh! No Country for Old Men (8/11) Released back in 2007, No Country for Old Men is a American neo-western neo-noir thriller film, based on Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel of the same name. Obtaining a staggering 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is famed for being thrilling, poetic, and at moments hilarious. Directors around the world appreciate this marvelous watch for handling the novel story respectfully, which follows the story of a bloody aftermath from a drug trade gone wrong, resulting in an epic chase across the spooky deserts of 1980s Texas with a hired Hitman, who has no qualms or conscience about killing! Hostiles (8/15) Probably one of Christian Bale’s most appreciated central roles of all time, the Hostiles, takes you down a road back in the 1890s. A U.S. Cavalry office is appointed the duty of escorting a Cheyenne war chief and his family back to their home in Montana, but in a surprising turn of events, a Comanche group proceeds to kill the entire family with the exception of the wife. The story keeps getting intriguing as you realize how dangerous of a journey remains for Rosalie Quaid. GoodFellas (8/30) Another great classic and probably one of the most famed gangster movies of all time, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas will be available to watch on Netflix for users across the world. The movie tells the violent true story of Henry Hill and his life in the mob, who eventually betrays his mob partners Jimmy Conway (played by Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (played by Joe Pesci). The cast should say all, but in short the movie is a treat to watch and will keep you hooked on the screen, until it ends! Everything New On Netflix in August Original Series for August 2018 Afflicted – (10/8/2018) All About the Washington’s – (10/8/2018) Cocaine Coast – (3/8/2018) Deadwind – (23/8/2018) Flavors of Youth: International Version – (4/8/2018) Great News – (23/8/2018) Insatiable – (10/8/2018) Inside the Criminal Mind – (31/8/2018) La casa de las flores – (10/8/2018) Marching Orders – (3/8/2018) Million Pound Menu – (10/8/2018) Magic for Humans – (17/8/2018) Marlon: Season 2 – (22/8/2018) Paradise PD – (31/8/2018) Switched – (1/8/2018) Stay Here – (17/8/2018) The Innocents – (24/8/2018) Ultraviolet – (17/8/2018) 72 Dangerous Animals: Asia – (10/8/2018) New Netflix Films for August 2018 Brij Mohan Amar Rahe – (3/8/2018) Perdida – (9/8/2018) The After Party – (24/8/2018) To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – (17/8/2018) The Laws of Thermodynamics – (31/8/2018) The Package – (10/8/2018) The Motive – (17/8/2018) Original Comedy for August 2018 The Comedy Lineup: Part 2 – (31/8/2018) Demetri Martin: The Overthinker – (10/8/2018) Bert Kreischer: Secret Time – (24/8/2018) Leaving Netflix in August August 1 Adventures in Babysitting Can’t Buy Me Love Welcome to Care-a-Lot Finding Dory Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Reasonable Doubt The Killing (Seasons 1-3) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story 3000 Miles to Graceland August 2 10 Rules for Sleeping Around August 5 13 Assassins August 6 Welcome to Me August 10 Vincent August 12 For a Good Time, Call… August 13 Help, I’ve Shrunk the Family August 16 Pariah Being Flynn Enter the Battlefield The 40-Year-Old Virgin Jem and the Holograms (Seasons 1-3) Littlest Pet Shop (Seasons 2-4) The Adventures of Chuck & Friends (Season 2) Transformers Prime (Seasons 2-3) Transformers: Rescue Bots (Seasons 2-4) Pound Puppies (Seasons 1-3) Seeking a Friend for the End of the World August 23 Sausage Party August 25 The Road Wrapping Things Up I hope the above listing helps satisfy your binge-cravings, especially when you have free time to kill and want to keep up with the latest in entertainment. With a mixture of adventure, horror, comedy, and drama, you have something to watch for every mood, ensuring an amazing Netflix streaming session. Feel free to share the article with your friends/family members, and let me know in the comments below if I missed out any TV show or movie in the list. Have a nice day and an even more amazing WEEKEND!The Qalamoun battle is about to start, which will return Lebanon to the atmosphere that prevailed during the Qusair battle. The harsh media and political campaign and the security threats that accompanied Hezbollah’s participation in the Qusair battle in May and June 2013 may soon be repeated when the Qalamoun battle starts. The consequences of the Qalamoun battle, which has been on hold for months, may have already started. It is now certain that the Qalamoun villages, located on the slopes of the east Lebanon mountains, have become the headquarters of Syrian jihadist groups. Those groups have decided to launch a pre-emptive war on Hezbollah’s support base in the Lebanese interior by preparing car bombs and sending them to the southern suburbs of Beirut. According to sources, there is information that a car has been loaded with explosives in Yabrud (which is in the Qalamoun region) and may cross into Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley via the Syrian towns of Qara or Falitah. Sources said that a search is underway for the car before it enters Lebanese territory. Controlling Qalamoun was one of the objectives of the broad operation the Syrian army was preparing for the Damascus countryside and Ghouta last August. But the chemical weapons imbroglio delayed the operation. So Qalamoun became a refuge for the armed opposition, after many opposition fighters were forced to withdraw from east and west Ghouta as the Syrian army made progress there for two months. The Qalamoun battle may have repercussions on the Lebanese interior because Liwa al-Islam, which is led by Zahran Alloush, has become the main opposition force on Lebanon’s eastern slopes in Arsal al-Ward, the Rankous Plain, and Hawsh al-Arab. That threat is serious because Alloush, who has set up his base of operations in the area, has returned from a visit to Saudi Arabia last week, where he met his financial and military authority, the director of Saudi intelligence Prince Bandar bin Sultan. Bandar holds a strong military card with which to pressure the Lebanese interior: the deployment on the outskirts of the Bekaa of 3,000 to 5,000 Liwa al-Islam fighters and an armed battalion having 23 T-72 tanks. According to a source in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the repercussions on Lebanon will not be confined to the usual security threats. A large number of fighters who retreated from Ghouta and who reassembled in Qalamoun may be forced to withdraw toward the Lebanese interior in large numbers if the Syrian army conducts a major operation in the region. The source said that some armed groups are planning to withdraw in case they could not withstand the harsh mountain winter and take refuge in the rugged mountainous terrain. Some opposition brigades, such as Liwa al-Haqq, which has more than a thousand fighters and is based in Yabrud, have opened supply lines with Salafist groups in Tripoli and sent one of its leaders to northern Lebanon to coordinate the defense of Qalamoun. It not clear exactly when or where the battle will start. But the battle may be initiated by the Syrian army to prevent opposition fighters from transforming Qalamoun into an area that threatens the northern Bekaa and the Homs-Damascus highway. The armed groups are regrouping in the region and are trying to reorganize themselves after they failed to control Ghouta, from which they intended to conduct operations on the Syrian army’s supply lines. They now want to spend the winter in safety in the Qalamoun mountains. There has been an undeclared truce in the region. The Syrian army has not conducted extensive operations on Yabrud or Nabk, and the opposition has refrained from moving toward and threatening the Homs-Damascus road. Dignitaries and wealthy figures in Yabrud have secured an unspoken agreement to not attack the Homs-Damascus highway in return for a truce on their city. The Qalamoun battle may start in the next few weeks or days by conducting massive operations against Nabk. An FSA official thinks it unlikely that the Syrian army, supported by Hezbollah, will conduct large operations in the region before they finish combing some areas in Ghouta and enter Moadamiya, Damascus. The opposition still controls areas in Ghouta, Arbin, Zamalka, Sakba, Hamouri, al-Shifouniya, Haza and Masraba, thanks to a complex network of tunnels. A Syrian security official said that the army has for months been watching opposition activity in the Qalamoun mountains and how that area was transformed into a major armed opposition stronghold. He said that the Syrian army is preparing a large-scale military operation, whose start date he didn’t specify. According to an FSA source, the “immigration” to Qalamoun comes at a time of increased differences between the FSA and the army of Islam. In fact, there is an undeclared war between them, resulting in a series of defeats for the opposition in recent weeks in towns south of Damascus. The quarrel is because of the increasing influence of the Islamists in Ghouta and armed operations in general, and the tendency of some FSA brigades to negotiate with the Syrian regime. There are also differences over the Geneva II conference. FSA brigades, such as the Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, Tahrir al-Sham, al-Barra, Fath al-Sham and al-Tawhid, are withdrawing some of their elements from Ghouta and sending them to Qalamoun to prevent Alloush and his allied brigades from controlling that area alone, after the FSA found itself trapped between the Islamists and the regime. Firas Bitar, a Syrian army captain who defected, heads the Abu Musa al-Ash’ari brigade. He intends to send a group of fighters to Rankous to prevent Zahran Alloush from controlling the area with his ally Assad al-Khatib, the head of the Qadisiyah brigade. According to an FSA source, Zahran Alloush removed almost all of his forces from Ghouta, his birthplace and hometown. That encouraged his rivals in the Douma Shura Council to remove Ghouta from under Alloush’s influence by forming the Council of Mujahideen, led by his rival Abu Subhi Taha. The opposition groups in the area are against Liwa al-Islam establishing itself in Qalamoun. Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahfad al-Rasul, Kataeb al-Faruq and Shuhada Baba Amro are supportive of Liwa al-Islam. But an FSA source said that the Umawi Tha’r brigade is divided between supporters and opponents of Alloush. Those who oppose Alloush are the Qalamoun Hawks Brigades, led by Mazen Abu Abdo, the Internal Security Battalion, the Qalamoun Lions and Liwa al-Tawhid in Qalamoun. The source said that these battalions and brigades will not participate in the Qalamoun battle. They didn’t participate in the Ghouta battle for fear that the radical Islamist groups would win and because they have deep differences with the jihadist groups. But the source said that it is unlikely that these groups alone can achieve victory over the Syrian army.Alternative Title: Warren Gamaliel Harding Warren G. Harding, in full Warren Gamaliel Harding, (born November 2, 1865, Caledonia [now Blooming Grove], Ohio, U.S.—died August 2, 1923, San Francisco, California), 29th president of the United States (1921–23). Pledging a nostalgic “return to normalcy” following World War I, Harding won the presidency by the greatest popular vote margin to that time. He died during his third year in office and was succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge. His brief administration accomplished little of lasting value, however, and soon after his death a series of scandals doomed the Harding presidency to be judged among the worst in American history. (For a discussion of the history and nature of the presidency, see presidency of the United States of America.) Key events in the life of Warren G. Harding. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Early life Born on a farm, Harding was the eldest of eight children of George Tryon Harding and Phoebe Dickerson Harding; his ancestry combined English, Scottish, and Dutch stock. His father later left farming to become a physician. Following a mediocre education at local schools in Ohio and three years at Ohio Central College, Harding tried his hand at several vocations until in 1884 he bought a struggling weekly newspaper in Marion, Ohio, to which he devoted himself. Seven years later he married Florence Kling De Wolfe (Florence Harding), and she proved instrumental in transforming The Marion Star into a financially successful daily paper. Soon Harding, a man of little discernible intellect or imagination, found himself invited to join leading corporate boards and fraternal organizations. As he began to associate with the state’s movers and shakers, he was drawn into Republican Party politics. A handsome man who was always well dressed and well groomed, Harding looked like a leader. It was his outward appearance rather than any internal qualities that contributed most strongly to his political success. Political career Harding was elected a state senator (1899–1902) and lieutenant governor (1903–04), but he was defeated in his bid for the governorship in 1910. On most issues he allied himself with the conservative (“Old Guard”) wing of the Republican Party, standing firm against U.S. membership in the League of Nations and always supporting legislation friendly to business. He achieved national visibility when he was chosen to nominate William Howard Taft at the 1912 Republican Convention, and in his next campaign he was elected U.S. senator (1915–21). When the 1920 Republican Convention deadlocked over its selection of a presidential nominee, party leaders turned—supposedly in a smoke-filled room in Chicago’s Blackstone Hotel—to the handsome, genial Ohioan as a compromise candidate. Paired with vice presidential candidate Calvin Coolidge, Harding eschewed a speaking tour in favour of a “front porch” campaign in which he read carefully scripted speeches to delegations of visitors at his Marion home. After eight years of the administrations of President Woodrow Wilson, during which Americans had been asked to sacrifice greatly to reform the United States and to aid the Allied cause in World War I, Harding’s undemanding call for a return to normalcy was precisely what war-weary, disillusioned voters wanted to hear. Harding won the election by the largest landslide to date, capturing some 60 percent of the popular vote. Harding, Warren G.: Campaign button Button from Warren G. Harding's 1920 presidential campaign. Americana/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. American presidential election, 1920 Results of the American presidential election, 1920Sources: Electoral and popular vote totals based on data from the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, 4th ed. (2001). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Presidency President-elect Harding appointed to his cabinet a mixture of outstanding leaders and unscrupulous politicians waiting for an opportunity to line their pockets. In the first category were Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes and Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, and in the second were Attorney General Harry Daugherty and Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall. Harding was a notoriously poor judge of character who expected his appointees to repay his trust with integrity. He was to be deeply disappointed. The administration got off to a good start when Congress completed an initiative begun in the Wilson administration and established a budget system for the federal government; Charles G. Dawes was appointed first director of the budget. Then in 1921–22, the United States hosted the Washington Naval Disarmament Conference. Under the leadership of Secretary Hughes, the conference succeeded in getting the world’s major powers to agree to halt the arms race in production of large naval vessels. It was by far the most important achievement of the Harding presidency. Other achievements were more in keeping with the Old Guard Republican views with which Harding had long been associated: a higher protective tariff (Fordney-McCumber), lower taxes on business, and a sharp reduction in the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States from southern and eastern Europe. Early in 1923 Attorney General Daugherty disclosed to Harding that Charles Forbes, director of the Veterans Bureau, had been illegally selling government medical supplies to private contractors. After violently berating Forbes in the White House, Harding allowed him to leave the country to escape prosecution. Shortly thereafter Charles Cranmer, general counsel of the Veterans Bureau, committed suicide. Ten weeks later Jesse Smith, Daugherty’s private secretary, also committed suicide—one day after a long conversation with Harding in the White House. Rumours had been circulating that Smith and a group known as the “Ohio Gang” had been profiting from a variety of corrupt activities. By the spring of 1923, Harding was visibly distraught at what he regarded as the betrayal of his friends who were taking advantage of his kindliness and lax administration. He sought escape from Washington in mid-June by taking a trip to Alaska with his wife and a large entourage. On his way home at the end of July, the president complained of abdominal pain, but he seemed to rally as he rested at a San Francisco hotel. On the evening of August 2, however, as his wife read to him from a magazine, Harding suddenly died from either a heart attack or a stroke. The body of Warren G. Harding lying in state in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., 1923. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital. id. cph.3c36671) Scandals The nation plunged into mourning, little suspecting that the beloved leader they eulogized as “an ideal American” would soon be revealed to have been the head of the most corrupt administration in the nation’s history. Senate investigations uncovered Forbes’s illegal financial dealings at the Veterans Bureau and pointed to Daugherty’s collusion with the Ohio Gang. Far more serious was the unfolding of the Teapot Dome Scandal. In 1921 Interior Secretary Albert Fall had persuaded Harding to transfer authority over two of the nation’s most important oil reserves—Elk Hills in California and Teapot Dome in Wyoming—from the Navy Department to the Department of the Interior. Fall then leased these reserves to private oil companies, netting for himself several hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and loans. Fall and Forbes later received jail sentences for their crimes; Daugherty twice went on trial, the first resulting in a hung jury and the second in a not guilty verdict. Harding was never personally implicated in the scandals, but he was aware of the actions of Forbes, Smith, and the Ohio Gang and failed to bring their corruption to light. By the mid-1920s the public began to regard Harding as a man who simply did not measure up to the responsibilities of his high office. Rumours of his heavy drinking in the White House (at a time when Prohibition was the law of the land) and of his involvement in extramarital affairs further degraded his reputation. In 1927 Nan Britton published The President’s Daughter, in which she claimed that in 1919 she had given birth to a child fathered by the future president. In 2015 genealogists announced that DNA tests showed that Harding was the biological father. Although historians have challenged the veracity of other allegations made against him, most of them agree that he was the least capable of the nation’s chief executives. Cabinet of President Warren G. Harding The table provides a list of cabinet members in the administration of President Warren G. Harding. Cabinet of President Warren G. Harding March 4, 1921-August 2, 1923 State Charles Evans Hughes Treasury Andrew W. Mellon War John Wingate Weeks Navy Edwin Denby Attorney General Harry Micajah Daugherty Interior Albert Bacon Fall Hubert Work (from March 5, 1923) Agriculture Henry Cantwell Wallace Commerce Herbert Hoover Labor James John DavisThe current consensus among American policymakers and commentators, including Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, is that the U.S. economic recovery is well underway. A recent survey by U.S. Federal Reserve has shown a solid growth in the U.S. economy, prompting some economists to raise concerns about too rapid a recovery and the resulting risks of inflation. But not everyone agrees with this assessment. One firm in particular, the Jerome Levy Forecasting Center, a New York–based economic consultancy, warned that the world economy might plunge into another recession in 2015 that will take down the U.S. economy with it. It is hard not to take this forecast seriously. Levy economists, who use the profits perspective forecasting model developed by Jerome Levy in 1908, have accurately predicted every major financial event in the past few decades, including the 2008 financial crisis, which many mainstream economists said was unforeseeable. The Levy Center says policymakers and commentators are not paying attention to a key trend in the global economy: the fall of investment expenditure in emerging market economies. The following chart shows investment expenditure for the Levy Center’s emerging market aggregate. Emerging Market Gross Fixed Capital Formation Source: The Jerome Levy Forecasting Center. The emerging market aggregate consists of 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil
Jr.; the singer who performed for this re-dub was Scott's friend Felisha Noble using the pseudonym Persephone Maewyn.[135] In 2010, Tyler appeared in an advertisement for MasterCard, performing a short parody of the song with its noted new lyric "Turn around, Neville."[136] She performed the original song in a similar advertisement for Westpac in 2012.[137] Warby Parker produced a parody video in anticipation of the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.[138] See also [ edit ]Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan published his list of minor league All-Stars on Thursday, and included in the piece was one sentence that will make Boston Red Sox fans very excited for the future. Passan dubbed Red Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada the best second baseman in all of Minor League Baseball and quoted one scout as saying the 20-year-old Cuban is “the closest thing to Trout I’ve seen.” The Trout he’s referring to is, of course, Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout, the reigning American League MVP who frequently is called the best player in baseball. So, yeah, not a bad guy to be compared to. Moncada tore up the Single-A South Atlantic League after a slow start to his first professional season, elevating his slash line from.200/.287/.289 on June 20 to.278/.380/.438 at season’s end. His.817 OPS ranked second on the Greenville Drive roster behind 2015 first-round draft pick Andrew Benintendi (who played in just 19 games to Moncada’s 81), and his 49 stolen bases were good for fourth in all of Single-A. “Where the switch-hitting Moncada plays remains a question,” Passan wrote, “… but wherever it is, scouts agree: He’s going to be great.” Given the current state of Boston’s major league club, that’s exactly what the Red Sox want to hear. Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ScottLauberWho are the best 14 players in the NHL at each position as teams prepare for the start of the 2014-15 season? Arpon Basu, Brian Compton, Corey Masisak and Dan Rosen have cast their votes and the result is NHL.com's "Top 14 for '14-15" project. Each first-place vote is worth 14 points, each second-place vote is worth 13, continuing in descending order to each 14th-place vote being worth one. There are two tiebreakers. First, which player appeared on more ballots? Second, which player had the highest individual ranking? If the voting was exactly the same for each player, it was declared a tie. Does NHL.com's list match your rankings for the best players in the League entering the 2014-15 campaign? Left wing has become the hot spot for elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League. Stars captain (Photo: Glenn James/NHLI) Stars captain Jamie Benn took first place among left wings in the top-14 voted on by NHL.com. There have been more left wings to score 30 goals in the past four seasons (34) than any other position, including nine of the 21 players who scored at least 30 goals last season. That group doesn't include Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who is technically a right wing but still scores the majority of his goals from the left side. Last season, left wing was a productive position for a pair of former centers. Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks moved from the middle to the left side, and each had the best season of his career. A number of the League's younger prolific forwards play on the left side such as Taylor Hall, Gabriel Landeskog, Jeff Skinner, Brandon Saad, James van Riemsdyk and Evander Kane. Even the proverbial old-guard of left wings features a number of players in the middle of their prime years, including Zach Parise, Patrick Sharp, Rick Nash, Alexander Steen, Milan Lucic, Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson, Andrew Ladd and Brad Marchand. Max Pacioretty is 25 years old, so he's just now entering his prime. Daniel Sedin and Patrick Marleau are still consistent scoring threats more than a decade into their NHL careers. The talent pool is deep, which made determining the top 14 left wings in the NHL a difficult task. Twenty-one players received at least one vote on the four ballots cast; the four ballots featured three different players ranked first. Here is NHL.com's list of the top-14 left wings in the NHL: 1. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, 52 points (2 first-place votes) 2013-14: 34 goals, 79 points, 81 games played Benn has improved in each of his five NHL seasons, but last season he moved to the left wing and teamed with an elite center in Tyler Seguin to put up career-best numbers across the board, including 28 even-strength goals, which was third in the League. General manager Jim Nill has finally put the pieces around Benn to make the Stars a contender. Benn also won gold with Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He turned 25 in July. 2. Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild, 49 points (1 first-place vote) 2013-14: 29 goals, 56 points, 67 games played Parise is arguably the most difficult left wing to match up against because of his relentless pursuit of the puck, particularly on the forecheck, and his fearlessness in front of the net. He is a five-time 30-goal scorer, including his career-high of 45 with the New Jersey Devils in 2008-09. He likely would have been a 30-goal scorer last season if not for a foot injury. 3. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks, 44 points 2013-14: 41 goals, 79 points, 82 games played Pavelski is typically a center, but he played primarily on the wing last season after Tomas Hertl sustained his knee injury in December. He teamed with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns to put up career-best numbers in goals, points and power-play goals (16). With Burns moving back to defense, Pavelski might move back at center to start this season. 4. Patrick Sharp, Chicago Blackhawks, 42 points 2013-14: 34 goals, 78 points, 82 games played The Blackhawks love the stretch pass, which suits Sharp's game perfectly. He's on the receiving end of many of them because his speed and awareness allow him to clear the zone quickly and get into open ice, behind the defense. He has 194 goals in the past seven seasons, second most on the Blackhawks behind captain Jonathan Toews' 195. 5. Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers, 41 points 2013-14: 27 goals, 80 points, 75 games played Hall jumped into elite territory last season with 27 goals and 53 assists, tying his previous career-best in goals and blowing away his previous career-best in assists (34). In four seasons, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft has developed into a leader and arguably the most important player on the Oilers. His combination of speed, passing, shooting and the ability to get to the net has made him one of the top forwards in the NHL. 6. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche, 28 points 2013-14: 26 goals, 65 points, 81 games played Landeskog's effort was matched by his consistent production last season. His longest scoring drought was five games, which happened once. He scored at least one point in 46 games (15 multipoint games) and finished with career bests in goals, assists (39) and points. Colorado's captain has emerged as one of the League's premier power forwards. He's 21 years old. 7. Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens, 28 points 2013-14: 39 goals, 60 points, 73 games played Pacioretty had a 14.4 percent shooting percentage last season, which was nearly five percentage points above his previous career average (9.8 percent). While good luck contributed to his career-best 39 goals, don't let the jump in shooting percentage fool you too much, even if regression is expected. Pacioretty scored 33 goals in his only other full NHL season (79 games in 2011-12), and he did it shooting 11.5 percent. If he stays healthy and continues shooting, Pacioretty should continue to score 30-plus goals per season. 8. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks, 25 points 2013-14: 16 goals, 47 points, 73 games played Injuries, inconsistent play, bad luck (7.1 percent shooting percentage) and playing separate from twin brother Henrik Sedin contributed to Sedin's sub-par 2013-14 season. His numbers (16 goals, 31 assists, 47 points) were his worst in a full NHL season since 2002-03. His 7.1 percent shooting percentage was the worst of his career. Sedin averaged 29.5 goals in eight seasons from 2003-12. If he stays healthy, reunites on a full-time basis with his brother and potentially Radim Vrbata, and gets a little luckier he should score 30 or more again. 9. Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks, 21 points (1) 2013-14: 33 goals, 70 points, 82 games played Marleau has been among the NHL's most consistently productive forwards for the better part of the past 16 seasons. Part of that is because of his remarkably good health. He has missed only 31 games in his career, none since the 2008-09 season. Marleau is sixth in games played among active players with 1,247. He has scored between 30 and 44 goals in each of the past five full seasons, and at least 25 goals in 10 of the past 12 seasons. 10. Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues, 17 points 2013-14: 33 goals, 62 points, 68 games played Steen comes off career bests in goals, points, game-winning goals (9) and shooting percentage (15.6). He shot 5.9 percentage points better than his career average entering last season. He already showed regression by scoring six goals over the final 27 games after scoring 27 in his first 41 games. However, Steen is not a one-dimensional player. His goals last season were in addition to his normally excellent play in all areas of the ice. Even if his production regresses, he will still be a valuable player under a new three-year contract. 11. Rick Nash, New York Rangers, 16 points 2013-14: 26 goals, 39 points, 65 games played Nash scored 26 goals (22 at even strength) despite missing 17 games with a concussion early in the season, but his value to the Rangers goes beyond just production. He has become one of their most important penalty-killers and routinely plays against the opposition's top forwards in a shutdown role. He's relied on to be as good away from the puck as he is with it. That said, Nash needs to produce more than he did in last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs (three goals, 10 points, 25 games). 12. Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes, 12 points 2013-14: 33 goals, 54 points, 71 games played Skinner set the bar high for himself as a rookie in the 2010-11 season, when he scored 31 goals and had 63 points in 82 games, good enough to win the Calder Trophy. He followed that with two relatively down seasons but was back up last season with a career-best 33 goals and 274 shots on goal. Despite Carolina's woeful power play (28th in the NHL at 14.6 percent), Skinner was dangerous with 11 power-play goals. Carolina coach Bill Peters has compared him to Patrick Kane because of his explosiveness coming off the half wall. He's 22 years old. 13. Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets, 12 points 2013-14: 19 goals, 41 points, 63 games played Kane is a lightning rod for criticism and the constant subject of trade rumors, but he is the Jets' most prolific 5-on-5 scorer when he's healthy. He scored at least one point in 33 of his 63 games last season. His longest scoring drought was three games, which happened three times. Kane didn't benefit from the power play, as only one of his 19 goals was scored with the man advantage. He's a possession driver for the Jets and he plays in all situations. 14. Milan Lucic, Boston Bruins, 9 points 2013-14: 24 goals, 59 points, 80 games played Lucic is the poster boy for power forwards. He's big (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) and vicious, yet skilled with soft hands. He has averaged 26.6 goals, 60.6 points, a 16.8-percent shooting percentage and 80 games played in the past three full seasons. He shed some penalty minutes last season, and it resulted in him being on the ice a career-best 17:22 per game. Others receiving votes: Thomas Vanek, Minnesota Wild (7 points); James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs (4 points); Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks (4 points); Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres (3 points); Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh Penguins (2 points); Andrew Ladd, Winnipeg Jets (2 points); Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins (2 points) TOP 14 LEFT WINGS (VOTING BREAKDOWN) Arpon Basu Brian Compton Corey Masisak Dan Rosen 1. Parise 1. Sharp 1. Benn 1. Benn 2. Benn 2. Marleau 2. Pavelski 2. Parise 3. Pavelski 3. Hall 3. Parise 3. Hall 4. Steen 4. Benn 4. Pacioretty 4. Pavelski 5. Pacioretty 5. Parise 5. Hall 5. Sharp 6. Sharp 6. Landeskog 6. Sharp 6. Landeskog 7. D. Sedin 7. Pavelski 7. D. Sedin 7. Nash 8. Hall 8. Pacioretty 8. Nash 8. E. Kane 9. Landeskog 9. Lucic 9. Steen 9. Skinner 10. E. Kane 10. Vanek 10. Marleau 10. D. Sedin 11. Skinner 11. D. Sedin 11. Landeskog 11. Saad 12. van Riemsdyk 12. Moulson 12. Lucic 12. Marleau 13. Vanek 13. Marchand 13. Skinner 13. Ladd 14. Nash 14. Kunitz 14. Kunitz 14. van Riemsdyk ---Is a universal web bytecode worth the trouble creating it? Is LLVM the solution? Which is better at running native code in the browser: Mozilla asm.js or Google PNaCl? This article contains opinions expressed on the web on these issues. A comment by Raniz on an ArsTechnica post regarding video codecs written in JavaScript sparked a series of reactions in the comments section and on the web. Raniz suggested a “standardized bytecode for browsers [that] would (most likely) allow developers a broader range of languages to choose from”, letting developers the option to choose the language they like for web programming without having to use JavaScript. The bytecode would be, like the JVM or CLR bytecode, a common platform for web development. The idea sounds interesting at first glance, and some even suggested using LLVM’s bitcode as the intermediary “bytecode.” There are already LLVM compilers for many languages including ActionScript, Ada, D, Fortran, Haskell, Java bytecode, Objective-C, Python, Ruby, Rust, Scala and C#. The main problem with LLVM bitcode is that it is target dependent, i.e. the bitcode generated for different architectures is different, unlike Java which has identical bytecode for different targets, the JVM taking care of generating the native code for the machine it runs on. And there are a series of other problems with a universal web bytecode, some of them plaguing LLVM bitcode too(more details here), problems noted by msclrhd in his comment, from which we extract some excerpts: The problem with standardizing on a bytecode is that you are restricting how the browser optimizes the JavaScript code… You also have the problem of what bytecode to standardize on -- each JavaScript engine will have a different set of bytecodes with different semantics. All engines will need to agree on the bytecode to use. There are also other considerations as the string representation differs between engines (V8/Chrome has an ASCII string variant; Mozilla keeps them all in UTF-16) and type representation (e.g. Firefox has "fatvals" that are 64-bit value types with 32-bits for the type and 32-bits for the value; 64-bit doubles take advantage of the representation of NaN values… If the bytecode is binary, you have endian issues, floating point representation issues, etc. Alon Zakai, a researcher for Mozilla working on Emscripten and asm.js, wrote an entire blog post on universal web bytecode, outlining some of the difficulties to be encountered in pursuing such a goal: Some people want one bytecode, others want another, for various reasons. Some people just like the languages on one VM more than another. Some bytecode VMs are proprietary or patented or tightly controlled by a single corporation, and some people don't like some of those things. So we don't actually have a candidate for a single universal bytecode for the web. What we have is a hope for an ideal bytecode - and multiple potential candidates. Zakai also made a list of requirements such a bytecode should meet: Support all the languages Run code at high speed Be a convenient compiler target Have a compact format for transfer Be standardized Be platform-independent Be secure While Zakai does not give much chance to a new bytecode to meet the requirements, he does see JavaScript as the right candidate: “arguably JavaScript is already very close to providing what a bytecode VM is supposed to offer, as listed in the 7 requirements above,” also mentioning what’s still missing in JavaScript: At this point the main missing pieces are, first (as already mentioned) improving language support for ones not yet fully mature, and second, a few platform limitations that affect performance, notably lack of SIMD and threads with shared state. Can JavaScript fill the gaps of SIMD and mutable-memory threads? Time will tell, and I think these things would take significant effort, but I believe it is clear that to standardize them would be orders of magnitude simpler and more realistic than to standardize a completely new bytecode. So a bytecode has no advantage there. After outlining more difficulties in creating a universal VM – type conflicts between languages, garbage collection issues – Zakai concludes: So I don't think there is much to gain, technically speaking, from considering a new bytecode for the web. The only clear advantage such an approach could give is perhaps a more elegant solution, if we started from scratch and designed a new solution with less baggage. That's an appealing idea, and in general elegance often leads to better results, but as argued earlier there would likely be no significant technical advantages to elegance in this particular case - so it would be elegance for elegance's sake. While it seems that a universal bytecode does not stand much chance to succeed, there are still at least two major attempts at bringing other languages to the web. Both have started with C/C++ but efforts can be relatively easily extended to other languages, and, interestingly enough, both use LLVM: Mozilla: C/C++ –> LLVM bitcode –> Emscripten –> asm.js –> Browser Google: C/C++ –> LLVM bitcode –> PNaCl –> Browser asm.js is an attempt at standardizing a subset of JavaScript that would run in any browser, containing constructs that can be better optimized for speed by a JavaScript engine. Emscripten is another project that generates asm.js from LLVM bitcode. According to Zakai, C++ code runs in Firefox via asm.js at 50% the speed of native code, and they expect the performance to improve over time. PNaCl, recently announced by Google and covered in detail by InfoQ, runs C/C++ code in the browser in a sandbox at 80-90% of the native code speed with room to improve, according to David Sehr. While the performance is significantly better than Mozilla’s, it comes at a price: PNaCl has been in development for more than 2 years. It’s pretty hard to deal with endian issues, different pointer sizes, different floating point representations, etc. on multiple architectures. It would be simpler to enhance Chrome to include asm.js optimizations. But, on the other hand, asm.js may be too slow, as yab**uz commented: And I will never use asm.js. Simply because it's too slow on non asm.js supported browsers. Epic Citadel at 20 fps on the latest Core i7-3770K is a joke. Slower than Flash Player! JavaScript, a language created by Brendan Eich in 10 days in 1995, was meant to be a client scripting language that would infuse some dynamism to the static web pages of that time. Perhaps nobody foreseen the role this little language would play almost two decades later in spite of all the criticism and flaws it carried with it. JavaScript is heavily used today on the client side in all major browsers and it is making inroads on the server side especially because of Node.js’ popularity. And that’s not because JavaScript is such a brilliant language, but because it’s so hard to bring major players together to work on a better solution and to switch all the gears of the software industry. Like HTTP and HTML, JavaScript is going to thrive in spite of its shortcomings and the fact that we all know that we could do better, if we just agreed on it. Now that we are stuck with JavaScript, will we have at least a universal web bytecode? Do we need one? Will attempts to run code written in others languages in the browser, such as Mozilla’s asm.js or Google’s PNaCl get traction? Which is better: asm.js or PNaCl? Have your say in the comments.President Obama lambasted Donald Trump at length on Wednesday, arguing that the Republican presidential nominee’s statements and actions should not be accepted as normal. “This guy is temperamentally unfit to be commander in chief, and he is not equipped to be president. And this should not be a controversial claim. It really shouldn’t!” Obama exclaimed at a campaign rally for Hillary Clinton in Chapel Hill, N.C. “I mean, it’s strange how over time, what is crazy gets normalized,” he continued. “And we just kind of just assume, ‘Well, you know what? He’s said 100 crazy things.’ So the 101st thing, we don’t even notice.” Obama cited a string of Trump controversies in his speech, accusing the property magnate of stiffing small business owners, not paying “a dime” in federal income tax, endorsing torture and engaging in boorish behavior. He cited the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape, unearthed last month, which caught Trump boasting about how his celebrity status lets him kiss and grope women. “Do you want somebody to be your voice who on tape brags about how being famous allows him to get away with sexual assault, who calls women ‘pigs’ or ‘dogs’ or ‘slobs’ and grades them on a scale of one to 10. That is not the voice of America. That’s not the better angels of our nature,” Obama said. “We have to stop thinking his behavior is normal,” the president stressed, “that it’s within the bounds of what has up until this point been our normal political discourse.” President Obama points to members of the audience while speaking in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2016. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) More The speech came as Clinton’s campaign has aggressively targeted North Carolina, a large state in which polls show a close race and where high turnout among African-Americans is critical for her. If the Democratic nominee were to win the Tar Heel State on Nov. 8, Trump’s victory path would narrow significantly. “We don’t win this election, potentially, if we don’t win North Carolina,” Obama said Wednesday. “So I hate to put a little pressure on ya, but the fate of the republic rests on your shoulders. The fate of the world is teetering, and you, North Carolina, are going to have to make sure that we push it in the right direction.”(MoneyWatch) If you're disgusted by the relentless increase in college prices year after year, there's a trailblazing university in St. Paul, Minn., that's should put a smile on your face. Concordia University just announced that it will slash its tuition by 33 percent next year. The tuition will drop from its current $29,700 to $19,700. The Lutheran university will extend this price cut not only to all incoming freshmen, but to all of its undergraduate students. This is a dramatic move from a forward-thinking university that decided to rebel against the infuriating way that colleges have set prices for decades. For many years, colleges have been significantly inflating their published prices beyond what they need to run their campuses. These prices, however, are meaningless because few families pay full fare. Instead, schools routinely give many students grants and scholarships to shrink the cost. Few students pay sticker price At private schools, in particular, few students pay full price. In fact, statistics from the National Association of College and University Business Officers suggest that only 15 percent of students attending private schools pay full price. Colleges inflate their prices for a variety of reasons. A chief one is that schools worry that families will assume that less expensive schools are inferior to peer institutions that cost more. That's the sort of misguided mindset that Concordia is trying to combat. Unfortunately, most parents and students don't understand that a school's sticker price is meaningless. Consequently, most teenagers develop their lists based on published prices. When teenagers take their cues from the sticker prices, they often end up at public universities. Unsustainable price hikes Administrators at Concordia University view the high-price/high-discount pricing model as unsustainable, said Concordia chief operating officer Eric LaMott. The institution, which has a total enrollment of 2,800 students, decided that it would be vastly better for families if the published price actually reflected what their real cost would be. "We are moving into a new model of how higher education operates," LaMott said. "I don't think it's sustainable to continue to drive up the prices. I am confident that this is the right strategy." Because of the price cut, Concordia will dramatically scale back its scholarships, though some will still exist. Despite the reduction in scholarships, students will come out ahead with the new pricing. After grants and the federal Stafford Loan ($5,500 for freshman) are deducted, the typical low-income student will need to come up with $130, rather than $430, to cover a year of tuition. And by the same measure, the out-of-pocket tuition expense for affluent students will drop from $12,200 to $10,700. By the way, Concordia decided on this change from a position of strength. The school is enjoying record enrollment, and its latest freshman class has a stronger academic profile than in previous years. Let's hope that other institutions follow Concordia's lead. It couldn't come soon enough. Image courtesy of Concordia UniversityStory highlights Hundreds of worshipers were gathered for the sufi ritual of Dhamal The Islamic State Khorasan, ISIS' affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed attack Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) At least 75 people were killed in a suicide attack Thursday at Pakistan's packed Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in the southern city of Sehwan in Sindh province, according to a local hospital official. All the dead and injured were taken to the nearby 100-bed Sehwan Hospital, which was overwhelmed the sudden influx of patients, Dr. Zahid Hussain told CNN. More 200 people were injured in the attack, and many had been transferred to bigger hospitals in other cities of Sindh province, he said. Thousands of worshipers, including families with their children, had gathered at the more than 800-year-old shrine for the Sufi ritual of Dhamal, which involves music, chanting and prayer. The Islamic State Khorasan, ISIS' affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to CNN. Read MoreStory highlights The Obama administration told a federal judge on Friday it is ready to make public a so-called playbook for the U.S. drone program The letter filed in court in New York comes following an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit (CNN) The Obama administration told a federal judge on Friday it is ready to make public a so-called playbook for the U.S. drone program. The letter filed in court in New York comes following an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit. The letter says the the government would make redactions to protect the identities of government officials who make decisions on whether to capture a suspect terrorist or to add them to a list to be targeted for killing. The release of the Presidential Policy Guidance would mark a major addition to the public information known about the drone program. The letter also said the government plans to release less-redacted versions of Pentagon documents describing legal standards related to terrorist groups the U.S. is at war with. "The release of the Presidential Policy Guidance is long overdue, and we are gratified that the administration has agreed with us that much of it should finally be made public," said Jameel Jaffer, ACLU deputy legal director. "We hope that the administration's decision to release this critical document reflects a broader commitment to make the lethal drone program more transparent. In that spirit, the administration should also release the legal memos that are the foundation for the program, basic information about those killed in past drone strikes, and detailed investigative files relating to strikes that killed bystanders."Towering over his fellow protest leaders, reigning world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has emerged as Ukraine's most popular opposition figure and has ambitions to become its next president. Towering over his fellow protest leaders, reigning world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has emerged as Ukraine's most popular opposition figure and has ambitions to become its next president. Thanks to his sports-hero status and his reputation of being a new pro-Western politician untainted by Ukraine's frequent corruption scandals, Mr Klitschko (42) has surpassed jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in opinion polls. As massive anti-government protests continue to grip Ukraine, Mr Klitschko is urging his countrymen to continue their fight to turn this ex-Soviet republic into a genuine Western democracy. "This is not a revolution. It is a peaceful protest that demands justice," Mr Klitschko said last night. "The people are not defending political interests. They are defending the idea of living in a civilised country." Mr Klitschko was one of a few opposition politicians who tried to stop several hundred protesters from storming president Viktor Yanukovych's office during a demonstration on Sunday that drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Kiev, the capital. As the boxer called for peace, the jubilant crowd chanted his name. Yesterday, his party was one of several opposition parties to blockade the Ukrainian parliament as part of a nationwide strike. The angry protests were sparked by the president's abrupt decision last month to ditch a political and economic treaty with the EU after several years of preparations and to focus on ties with Russia instead. Russia has been threatening Ukraine with economic trading consequences if the country signs the EU deal. The demonstrations in Kiev were galvanised when Mr Yanukovych's government sent in riot police to break up a small, peaceful rally in the middle of the night, injuring dozens. "They took away people's hope to implement reforms, to change the situation in the country," Mr Klitschko told reporters. "They stole our hope." Now he must prove that he has as much stamina in the political arena as he does in the boxing ring. In more than 15 years as a professional boxer, Mr Klitschko has scored 45 victories in 47 fights, 41 on them with knockouts, earning the nickname 'Dr Ironfist'. Despite earning a doctorate in sports science, he has had to fight a stereotype of being intellectually unfit to run this economically troubled country of 46 million. Having been raised in a Russian-speaking family, Mr Klitschko just recently learned Ukrainian and sometimes struggles to find the right word. But at the same time, he appeals to many Ukrainians, with his air of sincerity and his image of a handsome tough guy ready to defend his compatriots. "He is a national hero and comes across as being decent," said Andreas Umland, assistant professor of European studies at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy. Irish IndependentFinally, there are the best known kind: emotional tears. When cerebrum detects sadness, stress, or another strong emotion, the endocrine system is triggered to release hormones to the ocular area, causing tears to form. Emotional tears contain a chemical called leucine-enkephalin, an endorphin that reduces pain and works to improve mood. That’s part of the reason you feel better after a good sob fest! Some believe crying isn’t just about releasing feel-good hormones – it’s a way to show others how we’re feeling and request their help. Dutch psychologist Ad Vingerhoets has studied crying for 20 years, and thinks there’s a reason humans are the only beings that cry due to strong emotion. “It may seem obvious,” he says, “but you are more likely to feel better after you have received understanding and comfort, compared to after having received criticism and disapproval.” So it’s a social signal, telling our friends and families we need a word of support or a hug…or maybe even some medical assistance if you’re feeling pain. Why do we cry more than others? Everyone cries, but women tend to cry more often than men. This is partially because some people (more male-focused) view tears as a sign of weakness. However, some people (male or female) cry all the time while it’s rare for others. Experts aren’t exactly sure why this is, but they believe personality and temperament probably play a role. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed cry baby or prefer to be more stoic, it’s going to happen sooner or later. Maybe it’s time to quit asking yourself why do we cry, and just let those tears fly! You’ll feel better after…science says so. If you’re fascinated by the intricacies or science of the human body, such as figuring out why do we cry, read our recent article on the body’s ability to forecast weather changes. And if you want to learn more about scientific careers that suit you, take our STEM Type quiz!This post first appeared on March 14, 2008. The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents. Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue. Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context. As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS. Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn. The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church. Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country. With Rev. Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.Gaziantep, Turkey (CNN) Suleiman locked his front door for the last time and slipped the key into his pocket -- though he knew he'd never
3 Nephi 11:29–30) and that our example and our preaching should “be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness” (D&C 38:41). In all of this we should not presume to judge our neighbors or associates on the ultimate effect of their behaviors. That judgment is the Lord’s, not ours. Even He refrained from a final mortal judgment of the woman taken in adultery. Tolerance requires a similar refraining in our judgment of others. Four Principles of Truth and Tolerance When Seeking Government Action Having discussed the balancing of truth and tolerance in our personal behavior and in our relations with associates, I come to a different and more difficult circumstance. When believers enter the public square to try to influence the making or the administration of laws motivated by their beliefs, they should apply some different principles. As young adults, you may wonder why I am speaking to you about the principles we should follow when we seek government action, such as by the legislature. You might say, “That is a matter for senior Church authorities to handle.” I describe these principles to you young adults because you are current members and future leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, and you will need to decide these kinds of questions sooner than you think. You will need to understand how our efforts in the public square are informed by the balance between truth and tolerance. Whether or how we might seek to obtain laws that would compel or influence behavior that we deem desirable because of our belief in God and His commandments is too large a subject for adequate treatment in the concluding few minutes of my talk. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort. First, when believers in Jesus Christ take their views of truth into the public square, they must seek the inspiration of the Lord to be selective and wise in choosing which true principles they seek to promote by law or executive action. Generally, they should refrain from seeking laws or administrative action to facilitate beliefs that are distinctive to believers, such as the enforcement of acts of worship, even by implication. Believers can be less cautious in seeking government action that would serve principles broader than merely facilitating the practice of their beliefs, such as laws concerning public health, safety, and morals. In any event, as defenders of the faith, believers can and must seek laws that will preserve religious freedom. Along with the ascendancy of moral relativism, the United States is experiencing a disturbing reduction in overall public esteem for religion. Once an accepted part of American life, religion is now suspect in the minds of many. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. Some influential voices even question the extent to which our constitution should protect the free exercise of religion, including the right to practice and preach religious principles. This is a vital matter on which we who believe in a Supreme Being who has established absolute right and wrong in human behavior must unite to insist on our time-honored constitutional rights to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and in the halls of justice. In doing so we stand with angels. We must also stand shoulder to shoulder with other believers to preserve and strengthen the freedom to advocate and practice our religious beliefs, whatever they are. For this purpose we must walk together on the same path in order to secure our freedom to pursue our separate ways when that is necessary according to our separate beliefs. Guided by heaven in this righteous cause, our words will be sweet and find place in the hearts of many. Second, when believers seek to promote their positions in the public square, their methods and their advocacy should always be tolerant of the opinions and positions of others who do not share their beliefs. We should not add to the extremism that divides our society. As believers, we must always speak with love and show patience, understanding, and compassion toward our adversaries. Christian believers are under command to love their neighbors (see Luke 10:27), to forgive (see Matthew 18:21–35), and to do good to those who despitefully use them (see Matthew 5:44). They should always remember the Savior’s teaching that we “bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44). As believers, we should also frame our arguments and positions in ways that contribute to the reasoned discussion and accommodation that are essential to democratic government in a pluralistic society. By this means we will contribute to the civility that is essential to preserve our civilization. Third, believers should not be deterred by the familiar charge that they are trying to legislate morality. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. As John Adams declared: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”15 Fourth, believers should not shrink from seeking laws to maintain public conditions or policies that assist them in practicing the requirements of their faith where those conditions or policies are also favorable to the public health, safety, or morals. For example, even though religious beliefs are behind many criminal laws, and some family laws, such laws have a long-standing history of appropriateness in democratic societies. But where believers are in the majority, they should always be sensitive to the views of the minority. We Latter-day Saints are sometimes accused of being self-righteous and intolerant of others, especially where we are in the majority or where others are in the majority and our beliefs cause us to oppose them. Surely Latter-day Saints do need to be more wise and skillful in explaining and pursuing our views and in exercising our influence when we have it. That is the spirit of the two-sided coin of truth and tolerance. President Thomas S. Monson has provided an excellent example of the practice of these twin virtues. Throughout his life he has been exemplary in reaching out and working with the members and leaders of other faiths in cooperative efforts on matters of common interest and in the Christian fellowship and concern that have no denominational boundaries.16 Finally, the spirit of our balance of truth and tolerance is applied in these words of President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Let us reach out to those in our community who are not of our faith. Let us be good neighbors, kind and generous and gracious. Let us be involved in good community causes. There may be situations, there will be situations, where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. We can acknowledge the sincerity of those whose positions we cannot accept. We can speak of principles rather than personalities.”17 The Gift to Know and the Gift to Believe I close with this assurance and this testimony: The Bible teaches that one of the functions of a prophet is to be a “watchman” to warn Israel (see Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7). In revelation the Lord added this parable for modern Zion: “Set … a watchman upon the tower,” who will “[see] the enemy while he [is] yet afar off” and give warning to save the “vineyard from the hands of the destroyer” (D&C 101:45, 54). I have spoken to you as one of those watchmen on the subject the Spirit has assigned me. I assure you that my message is true. If you have doubts about this, or if you have questions about how to apply these principles in your own life, I urge you to seek guidance from the same source. On the broader question being widely agitated by the atheists of our day, I proclaim my knowledge that God lives! His creations witness His existence, and His servants hear and proclaim His voice. Modern revelation teaches that some have the gift “to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, … crucified for the sins of the world,” and that it is given to others “to believe on their words” (D&C 46:13–14). As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. I testify of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the vineyard. He is our Savior, and He reaches out to each of us with the timeless invitation to receive His peace by learning of Him and by walking in His way (see D&C 19:23): “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30). In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.Relations between Asian rivals India and China have come under considerable strain in the recent months as mutual misgivings are steadily mounting. A slew of issues has led to the current strain and is likely to continue, unless one or the other blinks. However, neither country appears to be in the mood to do so. "Positions have hardened and India must be prepared for a period of strained relations with China and Pakistan,’’ said former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh. Strategic moves The strategic dynamic of the region is changing. China has been consistently backing Pakistan against India: Whether that be blocking India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, citing technical reasons for not supporting UN sanctions against Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar, or building massive infrastructure projects in PoK, which India claims as its own. China is watching with some concern India’s growing warmth with the US. Beijing believes that Washington is propping up New Delhi to balance China's increasing military might in the Asia-Pacific. India has also been vocal about the South China Sea. During President Barack Obama's visit, India and US had issued a separate joint statement on the South China Sea calling for all parties to respect international laws. The signing of the Logistics Agreement in Washington which allows India and US to use each other’s facilities is being seen in Beijing as another step in that direction. The agreement had been in the works for years as the UPA government had refused to sign it as many in the Congress saw it moving into the US orbit. The UPA also did not want to annoy China as improving relations with its giant neighbour was a priority of the Manmohan Singh-led regime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, where he was attending the G20 Summit hosted by China. In the bilateral talks, Modi spoke frankly. Unlike in the past when many things were left unsaid, Modi did not shy away from mentioning India’s concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. New Delhi has been publicly talking about its unhappiness about the $46 billion project, which was announced by Xi, during his visit to Pakistan. Not a word of this was mentioned to India, even though Xi flew to Islamabad after a successful visit to India, where he and the First Lady were entertained by Modi on the banks of the Sabarmati. "China should have at least informed India about it, considering India claims PoK. Courtesy demanded it,’’ said Mansingh. Unlike many other countries in the region, India has not been enthusiastic about Xi’s One Belt One Road initiative. At the moment as China prepares to launch its ambitious project, India’s protests are hardly likely to make an impact. Uncertain times are ahead, unless China shows some concession “As a matter of principle, both countries would have to be sensitive to each other’s strategic interests. In order to promote positive convergences, we will also need to prevent negative perceptions. For this the specific actions by both countries would play the major role,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup paraphrased the prime minister as saying, at the briefing after the talks between the two leaders. Significantly, without naming Pakistan, China’s all-weather friend, Modi said: “Our response to terrorism must not be motivated by political considerations.” He also spoke of terrorism coming from the area. Although Pakistan was not named, the reference was obvious. Significantly the CPEC is part of Xi’s pet projects which he hopes will transform the entire Central Asian economy. The CPEC envisages rail, road and pipeline projects to ferry oil and gas from Gwadar Port (built earlier by China) in Balochistan to Kashghar in China’s Xinjiang province through PoK. Pakistan is naturally enthusiastic about the CPEC. Political parties and more importantly, the army are fired up by the project, but people in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province are not. India’s open support for the Baloch cause announced by Modi in his Independence Day speech, has been hailed by the people there. Pakistan has long accused India of interfering in Balochistan and blamed Indian intelligence working out of Afghanistan of aiding Baloch "terror outfits". These charges will escalate in the days and months to come. Chinese interests will also be affected. This is why Shyam Saran, a former foreign secretary and astute diplomat believes that if India takes on China, as it is doing about the CPEC, it has to be ready to take the consequences. It is not just Pakistan now in PoK and Balochistan, but Chinese interests as well. Mansingh however welcomed India’s muscular stand on the South China Sea, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. "Chinese respond to strength and know the power game. Previously, India’s foreign policy was about moral principles and not real politik. This is the way forward.’’ The fact that India and the US are on the same page on China’s aggressive stand in the South China Sea, is a plus. Japan, India, US, Vietnam are all ranged together and there is strength in numbers. Modi’s visit to Hanoi ahead of the G-20 meet, was also a pointer that Delhi can also woo Beijing’s neighbours. Even though China will certainly not change its stand on the CPEC, India must continue to flag its concerns in every forum, said Mansingh. Uncertain times are ahead, unless China shows some concession. Allowing India smooth entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, when the issue comes up in the last quarter of the year, may change the equation. This will help to smooth the way to better ties. 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.Mark Machin, the head of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, said he doesn’t think the bitcoin and blockchain space is “investible” yet, but the country’s largest pension fund is monitoring it with interest. “We’re watching it,” Machin said in a speech Monday. “I don’t think it’s institutionally investible yet. It’s really early days and there’s going to be lots of disruption.” He said CPPIB has more than 100 people at its offices in Toronto watching the space carefully. Most investors are in agreement that the technology behind blockchain is sound and is more valuable for institutions that carry out lots of little transactions, said Machin, chief executive officer of the pension fund. They are more divided on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, he said. “The currencies themselves, I’d say it’s still early days to figure out whether this is truly institutionally investible and whether they really are liquid gold,” he said. “It’s worth paying serious attention to it.” He said his views were more aligned with Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., than with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. when it comes to bitcoin and blockchain. Dimon has famously called bitcoin a “fraud”, while Blankfein said he is not ready to dismiss the digital currency yet. The prospect of blockchain technology remaking financial services just moved a step closer to reality after banks including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase completed a successful six-month test in the $2.8 trillion equity swaps market. The program, managed by blockchain startup Axoni, kept track of the swaps contracts after they were executed, recording things like amendments or termination of the deals, stock splits and dividends, and achieved a “100 per cent success rate,” Axoni said in a statement Monday. Other participants included Machin’s Canada Pension Plan and Citigroup Inc. BloombergContrary to popular belief, the signing of cornerback Stephon Gilmore does not mean that Malcolm Butler is on his way out of New England. The Patriots signed Gilmore on Thursday — the first day of NFL free agency — to a five-year, $65 million deal, with $40 million guaranteed. This comes after the team assigned a first-round tender on Butler, which will pay him $3.91 million for the upcoming season. Butler is a restricted free agent. He can go out and sign a contract with another team, but the Patriots have the right to match that same offer, which would keep him in New England. If the Patriots refused to match that offer, then they’d receive a first-round pick from the team that signed him. Instead of working out a multi-year extension like that of Gilmore’s, perhaps this is Bill Belichick’s way of saying, “Go out and see how much you’re worth.” But I certainly don’t think the Patriots signed Gilmore to be Butler’s replacement. Not for the immediate future, at least. By not locking up Butler to a big contract, it’s clear that the two sides are not on the same page when it comes to what Butler should be paid. Maybe that changes. Maybe it doesn’t. The most likely result of it all is that the 27-year-old Butler plays at the discounted rate of $3.91 million in 2017. And for what Butler provides on the field, “discounted” is an understatement. Which is why the threat of an offer sheet seems like such a strong possibility to those wondering what Gilmore’s contract means for the Super Bowl XLIX hero. Some have even used that threat to convince themselves Butler will be traded, especially after a report broke on Thursday, saying the Patriots and Saints were considering a trade that would send Butler to New Orleans and wide receiver Brandin Cooks to New England. I’m sure the Patriots consider everything. And seeing that they’ve reportedly been trying to acquire Cooks this off-season, a Butler-for-Cooks swap wasn’t such an outrageous idea in the immediate aftermath of Gilmore’s big contract with the Pats. However, that trade would be reactionary. And I don’t think Belichick plays that game. Instead, it’s more likely that Belichick embraces the control he has over Butler, and if he really wants Cooks, finds another way to acquire him. Humor me for a moment. Let’s say nobody signs Butler to an offer sheet. And then you place the franchise tag on him in 2018 at the age of 28, which would project to be somewhere around $15 million. Then you franchise him again in 2019 at the age of 29, which would project to be, let’s say, $17 million. I’m shooting from the hip with those franchise-tag numbers, while basing it on the cornerback increase in previous years. Add in the $3.91 million that Butler is now expected to play for in 2017, and you would be paying him just under $36 million over three years, the final three years of his 20’s. That comes out to an average-annual salary of $12 million, which would be around the same average-annual salary that Gilmore will make. And the $36 million would be just a little less than Gilmore’s guaranteed $40 million. Is that fair to Butler? Since it’s not guaranteed, of course not. But perhaps the $12 million per year is the value that Belichick placed on Butler anyways. The Patriots are all about value. And if they have an opportunity to take advantage of controlling a player the way they seemingly can control Butler the next few years, then I would expect them to do it. Look, I’d prefer they just sign Butler to a multi-year extension. And perhaps that will still happen. All I’m telling you is, even if it doesn’t, Butler doesn’t have to be moved just because they signed Gilmore to a big deal. For that reason, it would make more sense for the next big move to be trading Jimmy Garoppolo instead. If for nothing else, to open up the Franchise Tag for Butler in 2018. With Garoppolo entering the final year of his deal, the Patriots would have to franchise Garoppolo next off-season if they still wanted to trade him instead of letting him walk via free agency. The risk for the Patriots, at that point, would be that they can’t move him and have to pay their backup quarterback over $20 million in 2018. And if you’re going to pay someone big money under the franchise tag, it might as well be one of your best defensive starters. Point is, the Patriots don’t have to trade Butler if they don’t want to. And they shouldn’t want to, because until somebody signs him to an offer sheet, he’s under Belichick’s control. Listen to “The Danny Picard Show” at dannypicard.com, iTunes, and Google Play. Danny can also be heard weekends on WEEI 93.7 FM. Follow him on Twitter @DannyPicard.no =___= I will share some basic info here :/ Inside a girl’s body are two small organs called the ovaries. Contained in these ovaries are hundreds of tiny sex cells called eggs, each no bigger than the head of a pin. At some point during puberty, the ovaries will begin to release these eggs. Usually one egg is released every month. This process is called ovulation. and to get pregnant: the millions of tiny sperm in the semen needs to swim up the vagina, through the cervix (the entrance to the uterus) and into the uterus (also known as the womb). From there they will swim into the fallopian tubes. In one of the fallopian tubes the sperm may find an egg that HAS RECENTLY RELEASED BY THE OVARY. The sperm will surround this egg and try to get inside it. Eventually just one sperm cell will succeed, and the egg and sperm will join. This joining is also known as fertilisation or conception. This joined sperm and egg then travel back down to the uterus, where they will settle in the thick, blood-rich lining and start to grow. Once the fertilised egg has settled in the uterus and is growing, we say a girl is pregnant. So unless a sperm "go up in there" and go through uterus and travel through the womb and go into baby girl's body, and if a baby girl's sex organ is clinically abnormally mature enough to release an egg and fertilized with sperm. NOOOOOOThis Friday, January 23rd, the Bitcoin community will come together for the first #BitLunch, a day dedicated to spending and raising awareness for bitcoin. On the fourth Friday of every month, Bitcoin users around the world will purchase lunch with bitcoin from participating merchants. We’re so excited to be a part of #BitLunch this month. Spreading bitcoin awareness is a community effort, and this is a great chance for us all to get involved. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, hundreds of merchants now accept digital currencies using our platform, including many great lunch spots. Check out AirBitz or CoinMap for a directory of merchants who accept bitcoin in your area. If a merchant you love is not currently accepting bitcoin, this is a great chance to let them know about it. SNAPCARD is offering rewards for every merchant you introduce with our service through our Brand Ambassador Program. Join the movement and buy lunch with bitcoin this Friday! See you then!The damaged guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) has left the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Japan on Friday to begin the trip to the U.S. Gulf Coast for more than a year of repairs. Fitzgerald was towed from Yokosuka and is being loaded aboard the heavy lift transport Transshelf. The process is expected to take several days. “In the months prior to her departure from Yokosuka, technicians and shipbuilders at Ship Repair Facility Yokosuka made significant progress in preparing the ship for the journey, including dewatering, defueling, hull and superstructure repairs, and placing key systems in layup maintenance,” read a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet. “In October, she was moved from dry dock to a pier side location in anticipation of the move.” Fitzgerald has been at Yokosuka since June 17, following a fatal collision with the merchant ship ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan. Seven sailors were killed. The cost of the repairs is estimated at about $367 million, according to a Navy cost estimate obtained by USNI News. Guided missile USS John McCain (DDG-56) – which suffered its own fatal collision in August that killed ten sailors — has been in the Philippines for more than a month after it developed a crack in the hull during its heavy-lift transit to Yokosuka.Early planning with this list...can alleviate some of the stress involved with transitioning back into civilian life. Pittsburgh is the best place in the nation for veterans to pursue higher education and jump-start their transition into civilian careers, according to a new study commissioned by USAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program. The 2014 “Best Places for Veterans: Starting Out” list identifies U.S. metro areas that offer more opportunities for veterans who want to use Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, while also finding employment that aligns with military skills. The full Starting Out list includes: 1. Pittsburgh 2. Austin, Texas 3. Oklahoma City 4. San Antonio 5. St. Louis 6. Columbus, Ohio 7. State College, Pa. 8. Cincinnati 9. College Station, Texas 10. Minneapolis “This study can help separating service members who are starting their education and careers find a place to live that offers them the most opportunity in both of those areas,” said Eric Engquist, assistant vice president of military transitions at USAA. “Early planning with this list and USAA’s other transition resources, such as the military separation checklist and assessment tool, can help alleviate some of the stress involved with transitioning back into civilian life.” “Our mission is to help the more than 1.5 million service members expected to leave the military find meaningful employment,” said Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “This list identifies the top places for veterans to use their discipline and determination to succeed in civilian workplaces.” USAA, a leading financial services provider to the military community, and Hiring Our Heroes, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, commissioned Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University to create or provide data for this list. The four organizations worked together to determine measurable variables for 379 major U.S. metropolitan areas, which are defined as one or more central cities including the surrounding county or counties. The variables for the Starting Out list included: G.I. Bill Enrollment Presence of Colleges/Universities U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges for Veterans” Certification/License Transfers Unemployment Rate Population Growth Military Skills Jobs Job Growth Health Resources Each of the variables was weighted and each metro area was then ranked based on its total points for all variables. Metro areas with the following attributes were excluded from the list: unemployment rate more than one percent above the national average, violent crime in the top two percentile, and median cost of living more than 10 percent above the national average. More information about this year’s criteria can be found at usaa.com/bestplaces. “Fifty-three percent of veterans reported their transition from military service as ‘difficult’ in a recent joint survey with Blue Star Families,” said James Schmeling, managing director at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “Research like this can play a role in helping veterans plan for that transition and think about how to make the most of their benefits and skills.” USAA and Hiring Our Heroes also commissioned lists of the top metro areas for veterans who are transitioning to civilian life mid-career and after military retirement. To see the lists and access the Best Places for Veterans tool to create a personalized list of best places, visit usaa.com/bestplaces. USAA is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes initiative established to help veterans find meaningful employment. Since 2006, USAA has hired more than 8,700 military veterans and spouses. USAA is also working to meet an internal goal that 30 percent of the organization’s new hires be veterans or military spouses. About USAA The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to 10.4 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of Honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com. About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America's long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect this nation, its economy and the global business environment. This list does not represent any endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of Defense or any other United States government agency. The trademarks, logos and names of other companies, products and services are the property of their respective owners. ###1016 H Street, NE From Liberty Tree: “It is with very mixed emotions we announce that we have sold The Liberty Tree. Every second of our time as part of this community has been a joy, but sometimes an offer comes along that you just can’t turn down. The bonds we have formed with our H Street family are truly special and we can’t thank you enough for sharing the last 8 years of your lives with us. We are eternally grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown us along the way. Hopefully we’ll get to see you at least one more time before we close this chapter and our doors at the end of October.” Liberty Tree was an OG H Street 2.0 spot opening back in March 2010. RIP. Stay tuned for more info when known and pour some out for Liberty Tree they were phenomenal.The announcement was made Saturday by the Lebanese commander Joseph Aoun on Twitter, Al-Manar news channel reported. A Lebanese security source also said that the army was now targeting Daesh positions close to the village of Ras Baalbek in eastern Lebanon with rockets, artillery, and helicopter gunfire. The military campaign began with an attack on the terrorists’ positions in the Western Qalamoon Jaroud region from the north, south, and east. Lebanese President Michel Aoun arrived at the Defense Ministry early Saturday to monitor the operation. Separately, the Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement and the Syrian army announced a simultaneous offensive to clear Daesh militants from the Syrian side of the border, in the western Qalamoun mountain range. In recent years, terrorists have infiltrated into Lebanon’s border areas from inside Syria. Some 400 Daesh terrorists are holed up in areas on the Lebanese side of the frontier, while hundreds more are on the Syrian side, according to Lebanon’s Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. Last month, Hezbollah concluded a joint counter-terrorism campaign with the Syrian army at Lebanon’s highlands of Arsal. The militants of the al-Nusra Front group, recently renaming itself Fateh al-Sham, withdrew from Arsal following a series of consecutive defeats that forced them to agree to a ceasefire deal.Scott Alexander (SA) has provided advice to the free speech movement in general and to a student group at Harvard University in particular. If you want more people, especially on the liberal left or within the social justice movement, to support free speech, he says, then you should not invite speakers just because they are controversial. SA picks AEI scholar and social scientist Charles Murray as an example. In March, protesting students at Middlebury College shut down Murray when he was invited to speak and debate a local professor. SA defends Murray’s right to speak, but says that if a college invites him or any other controversial speaker it should be because they are interested in his ideas, not because they want ”to invite a generic offensive person and he fits the bill.” Does SA really believe that the motives behind an invitation to a controversial speaker make any difference to people who believe that he or she shouldn’t be allowed to speak at a given college? I doubt it. To them, the speaker (in this case Charles Murray) is the problem, it’s not whether the organizers had a sincere interest in Murray’s ideas or just were looking for ”the ugliest and most hateable person” they could find. Allison Stanger, the professor at Middlebury who was supposed to debate Murray, has deep disagreements with Murray and planned to take his arguments apart as best as she could. It didn’t matter to the students. They didn’t want to have Murray in person at the college. And by the way, there is no such thing as ”a generic offensive person.” The sense of offense and insult is always in the eye of the beholder, it’s not something one can measure in any objective way. What is offensive to SA, may sound like sweet poetry to someone else. (Recall the U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan II’s remark that “one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.”) Even within the same religious or ethnic or political community, there may be different perceptions of what is offensive to the group and its members. This remark may seem banal. But we should keep in mind its truth at a time of grievance fundamentalism when people play the offense card to silence voices whose opinions they don’t like. This truth is especially important for the academic world whose business is knowledge production. SA has criticized the Open Campus Initiative on Harvard University for wanting to raise awareness of free speech by inviting controversial speakers. It later turned out that the student group’s intention was to promote ”ideological diversity for the student body where it is believed to be lacking,” not just to pick the most controversial speakers. They also said that later on that they would invite speakers from the left. There are several problems with SA’s reasoning. Let me deal with a few. 1. SA’s insists that if we invoke free speech to justify some unpopular idea, this idea becomes a little more tolerated and free speech becomes a little less popular. He doesn’t provide any evidence for this debatable assertion. First, if you invite a speaker that is perceived to be controversial to the audience, it doesn’t follow that you are doing so to defend this person’s ideas. Second, toleration of unpopular ideas doesn’t imply that you agree with those ideas or endorse them. Toleration means that you have to live with ideas that you hate or dislike without trying to ban them or shut them down through violence, threats, or intimidation. To be tolerant of bad ideas implies that we express our disagreement and discontent to refute them. Tolerance makes it possible to manage disagreements and diversity without resorting to violence and bans. This is what the First Amendment is all about. It is still worth remembering Michael Walzer’s concise words on the essence of tolerance: ”Toleration makes difference possible, difference makes toleration necessary.” 2. SA believes that controversy and controversial speakers in and by themselves are to be avoided if student groups want to promote free speech. First, according to the dictionary controversy means ”a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people.” A controversy is ”a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views.” A person is controversial when he or she ”is causing disagreement and discussion.” The opposite of controversial is undisputable, agreeable, certain, irrefutable, and uncontested. Who wants a speaker whose views are ”undisputable”, ”irrefutable,” or ”uncontested”? Maybe in a political party or religious community, but not at a university. What’s the point of inviting a speaker with opinions on issues of the day if you don’t want to have debate and controversy? Questions of politics, religion, culture, philosophy, social science, history, and economics, areas with no consensus on the fundamental issues among professionals and lay people, are inherently controversial and therefore prone to controversy. Controversy is to be welcomed at universities if we want them to be institutions of knowledge production. Second, SA posits that controversial speakers and controversy will reinforce polarization. Maybe. Or maybe not. A key explanation for the growing polarization in society and online is that more and more people are living in bubbles where they only are being exposed to point of views with which they agree. Ideological self-segregation has been harmful to our capacity for tolerance. Tolerance doesn’t come naturally to human beings. It has to be taught and cultivated. Our instincts are not in favor of toleration. In order to grow and mature as human beings, we have to learn to grapple with ideas that challenge our beliefs and make us uncomfortable. Further, why am I not sure controversy will create more polarization as SA suggests? Well, many empirical studies on social psychology indicate that when people find themselves in groups of like-minded types, they are especially likely to move to extremes. According to Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein, providing room for ideological diversity may help fight extremism and destructive polarization. ”A good way to create an extremist group, or a cult of any kind,” writes Sunstein in his book Going to Extremes: How Like Minds Unite and Divide, “is to separate members from the rest of society. (…) With such separation, the information and views of those outside can be discredited, and hence nothing will disturb the process of polarization as group members continue to talk. Deliberating enclaves of like-minded people are often a breeding ground for extreme movements.” This doesn’t mean that individuals and society won’t benefit from deliberations within communities. It promotes the development of positions that would otherwise be invisible or silenced. Many social movements have been made possible through this route, including the civil rights movement and the LGBTQ rights movement. However, it is important to ensure that such enclaves are not walled off from competing views and that there is an exchange of views between members of a group and those who disagree with them. It is self-insulation rather than group deliberation as such that carries with it the most serious dangers. Jonathan Haidt, a professor of moral psychology at New York University and founder of Heterodox Academy, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal compared the ideological orthodoxy among some students to the kind of fundamentalism that characterizes some religious communities
(just because that's the way the T'ang rolled). No sooner had the war ended than the T'ang Emperor came out and magnanimously offered to allow Silla to be a province of the T'ang Empire, but when Kim Yushin told them to get bent like a pipe cleaner, the war was on with the realness. You'd think the T'ang would have known better than to mess with Kim – there's an old legend that Kim and his buddies were late to meet the T'ang General in his camp one night, and in response to their perceived insolence the Chinese commander took the local Korean governor hostage and threatened to execute him. Despite being completely surrounded by Chinese warriors, Kim stood there, got super fucking pissed (as he typically did right before doing something over-the-top insane), and told the General that if one hair on the governor's head was damaged he was going to single-handedly slaughter the entire T'ang army by himself. According to the tale, immediately after saying this, Kim's sword spontaneously flew out of its scabbard and landed in his hands Jedi telekinesis style. The T'ang general understandably got a little freaked out and absolved the governor on the spot. Despite having some a priori knowledge that this was going to be a seriously bad idea. T'ang invaded Korea, looking to crush Kim Yushin now that his overwhelming military successes had made him expendable. But Kim wasn't some dumbshit who was going to sit around letting himself get slaughtered by a kingdom that had a population that outnumbered his army about a hundred thousand to one – he went around to the leaders of the other two Korean kingdoms (you know, the guys he'd spent the last decade crushing in battle) and convinced the entire peninsula to team up against the invading Chinese. It should probably be a testament to Yushin's awesomeness that the entirety of Korea decided to say fuck China go along with him – everyone teamed up, fought hard, and Korea won a number of crucial battles against the Chinese invasion. Kim Yushin didn't survive to see his final victory. He died an old man in 673, during the middle of this defensive war, and it wasn't until three years after that his sons led the army that threw the T'ang Empire out of Korea once and for all. Nevertheless, his role as the great unifier and ultimate badass of the Korean army was cemented – the Kingdom of Silla would rule the peninsula for over two hundred years, and would serve as the political borders that still stand to this day. Links: Wikipedia New World Encyclopedia General Kim's Tomb Hwarang-do Sources: Bennett, Matthew. The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare. Taylor & Francis, 1998. Breuker, Remco E. Establishing a Pluralist Society in Medieval Korea. BRILL, 2010. Green, Thomas A. Martial Arts of the World. ABC-CLIO, 2001. Harmon, R. Barry. 5,000 Years of Korean Martial Arts. Dog Ear, 2008. Sandler, Stanley. Ground Warfare. ABC-CLIO, 2002. Seth, Michael J. A Concise History of Korea. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. Main The Complete List About the Author Miscellaneous Articles RSSToday, we mark the birthday of a starship captain, undefeated attorney, and negotiator. March 30, 2013, marks the 82nd birthday of international leading man William Shatner. Enjoying a career spanning more than a half-century, the native Canadian has dabbled in everything from acting to music to charity—and shows no signs of stopping. While his most iconic role may be that of Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek series, Shatner has proven to audiences over and over that he is far more than a one-trick horse. To mark his latest birthday, the Daily Dot has put together a guide to the Essential Shatner, highlighting his career’s most memorable–and even not-so-memorable–roles and moments. 1) The Twilight Zone Perhaps the most well-known of William Shatner’s roles before the debut of Star Trek came in an episode of the 1960s science fiction program The Twilight Zone. Entitled “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” he portrayed airplane passenger Bob Wilson, who is thoroughly convinced that there is a gremlin on the airplane wing attempting to destroy the craft. 2) Incubus In 1887, linguist L.L. Zamenhof introduced society to the Esperanto language, which he hoped could become the planet’s sole language and a major uniter of the human race. While this of course failed to happen, it didn’t stop the language from permeating several forms of media. Incubus, a gothic horror film released in 1966, is spoken entirely in Esperanto, with Shatner playing the lead role of Marc. 3) Star Trek In 1966, after over a decade of small roles in film, television, and theater, was cast in the lead role of U.S.S. Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek series. While the program only lasted three seasons, its originality, characters, and storytelling struck a major chord with science fiction aficionados. Star Trek became a major franchise, spawning several subsequent TV series, books, and films. Shatner himself reprised his starring role in seven films based on the original series. 4) Rocketman At the Science Fiction Film Awards, Shatner introduced a (likely) perplexed audience to his unique brand of music. After an introduction by music legend Bernie Taupin, Shatner, who was serving as host of the program, delivered his rendition of the Elton John song “Rocket Man.” Coupling a spoken-word interpretation of the tune with rudimentary green-screen technology, the performance resurfaced in the 2000s thanks to YouTube and parodies on programs such as Family Guy. 5) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan saw Shatner’s continued portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk. After a lukewarm reception to the first Star Trek film, 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, its 1982 sequel resounded with audiences and is considered to be one of the best films in the franchise. Shatner’s passionate screaming of the villainous Khan’s name is an unintentionally hilarious highlight of the film, standing as a testament to the actor’s penchant for over-acting. 6) Airplane II: The Sequel Current audiences know Shatner as a good-natured, humorous personality who enjoys poking fun at the seriousness of his early roles and acting. This all may have its roots in the parody film Airplane II: The Sequel, a cult classic that follows its much-more-well-received predecessor Airplane! In the film, Shatner lampoons his science fiction roles with his portrayal of lunar base commander Buck Murdock. 7) T.J. Hooker In 1982, Shatner returned to television in the lead role of T.J. Hooker in the police drama series of the same name. The series became a key success for the actor and also served as actress Heather Locklear’s breakout role. 8) Saturday Night Live When he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1986, Shatner participated in a sketch that was memorable to both fans of the show and the Star Trek community. Further spoofing his notoriety as a science fiction leading man, Shatner appears as himself at a geek-filled Star Trek convention, where he famously tells a crowd of Trekkies to “get a life!” 9) Rescue 911 Shatner continued his television work after T.J. Hooker’s ending with Rescue 911. Serving as the program’s host, the series re-created scenarios depicting real-life dramas that required the skills of paramedics, police, and firefighters. 10) Star Trek: Generations In 1991, Star Trek: Generations united the universes of the original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. The film effectively ended the involvement of the original series’ characters and kicked off the involvement of the Next Generation cast with the death of Captain Kirk. 11) Miss Congeniality Shatner hitched himself to Sandra Bullock’s late 1990s/early 2000s fame with a costarring role in Miss Congeniality. In the film, he portrays pageant host Stan Fields, a role he would reprise in the film’s 2005 sequel Miss Congeniality: Armed and Fabulous. Perhaps as a result of this role, Shatner would go on to host a real-life pageant: the 50th Annual Miss America Pageant in 2001. 12) Priceline While it wasn’t his first foray into commercials, Shatner’s role as the Priceline Negotiator in a series of humorous commercials for the online travel deals site is no doubt his best-known example of spokesmanship. 13) Boston Legal In 2004, Shatner returned to dramatic television in Boston Legal, a spin-off of the courtroom drama series The Practice. He won two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of prideful, cigar-chomping, womanizing ace attorney Denny Crane. Boston Legal reunited Shatner with Miss Congeniality costar Candice Bergen. 14) Shatner’s Raw Nerve In 2008, Shatner decided to try his hand at celebrity interviews with the much-acclaimed Biography Channel program Shatner’s Raw Nerve. Displaying his talent for in-depth, challenging questions, the series continues to be produced to this day. Shatner’s Raw Nerve, which has seen the host sit down with everyone from Drew Carey to Rush Limbaugh, was appropriately kicked off with longtime Shatner friend and associate Leonard Nimoy. 15) $#! My Dad Says Based on writer Justin Halpern’s popular Twitter feed “Shit My Dad Says,” the CBS sitcom $#! My Dad Says starred Shatner as Ed Goodson, a retired doctor who was always quick to speak what was on his mind. After 18 episodes, the series was canceled. 16) “Eat, Fry, Love” In 2011, Shatner teamed up with State Farm Insurance to produce the hilarious safety video “Eat, Fry, Love,” which was broadcast exclusively on YouTube. In pure faux-dramatic fashion, Shatner marks the Thanksgiving holiday by displaying the inherent dangers of improperly-used turkey fryers. GIFs via Mike Fenn/YouTube / Photo via Gage Skidmore/FlickrShare. The soul of the Blue Bomber is nowhere to be found here. The soul of the Blue Bomber is nowhere to be found here. It pains me to say as a die-hard Mega Man fan, but Mighty No. 9 lacks the spark of magic and sense of rhythm necessary to make a fun action-platformer, let alone a spiritual successor to one of the most beloved examples of the genre. Its flat, lifeless art style lacks in both fidelity and character, and while it has some novel gameplay ideas, they’re never fleshed out or executed well enough to elevate it past its basement-level production values. Right from the get-go, it’s pretty clear something is amiss with Mighty No. 9. Its sickly color palette and flat lighting don't exactly help its generic, Saturday-morning cartoon art style. How a game can look this underwhelming and still have noticeable framerate issues in 2016 is simply beyond me, but here we are. It's mostly limited to specific parts of certain stages, and it never led to any deaths I wasn't already headed for, but it's still an eyesore for a game whose graphics weren't doing it any favors in the first place. Exit Theatre Mode Despite how homely looking I found it, I did see potential in Mighty No. 9's gameplay ideas in the early going of its three to five-hour campaign. After all, while the idea of stealing bosses abilities isn't as ground-breaking today as it was in the 80s, it's still a pretty enjoyable concept, but sadly, none of them feel all that fun to use. Absorbing and using these powers should feel exciting, like turning on a cheat code that grants powers you shouldn’t have, but most of them wind up being borderline useless, and the level design rarely provides a context in which they can be truly useful. Not-so-special Abilities I did identify one or two that became bedrocks for me though. Mighty No. 7’s blades, for instance, were particularly useful for reflecting incoming fire and dealing tons of damage up close. Sadly, Mighty No. 9’s more unorthodox and potentially interesting abilities wind up being the most underwhelming. Mighty No 3’s electrodes and No. 4’s tank treads both seemed cool in concept, but in most situations they felt clumsy compared to protagonist Beck’s standard blaster. I almost always felt like I could cut through any area quicker, and more efficiently without using the fancy stuff - not really how you want "special" abilities to feel. “ I almost always felt like I could cut through any area quicker, and more efficiently without using the fancy stuff. This held doubly true for boss battles; yes, in true Mega Man style you'll find there's one weapon that works particularly well against any given boss, but if I didn't have it, I never had any difficulty plowing through with ye olde standard blaster. This undermines a key part of the Mega Man formula that Mighty No. 9 intends to ape: the strategy of choosing which bosses to fight when. Since I can easily down any boss without hitting-their-weak-spot-for-massive-damage it really never mattered what order I tackled them in. Since the levels and bosses failed to challenge me in ways that demanded the use of these abilities, they ended up feeling superfluous. Exit Theatre Mode Only Mighty No. 2’s Cryosphere felt vital in any way, due in large part to how much more energy efficient it is compared to the other options. But it also plays a vital role in synergizing with Mighty No. 9’s other big mechanic: Beck’s enemy-assimilating dash. Damaging enemies enough destabilizes them instead of killing them, so to finish them off, you have to dash through them, collecting a temporary power-up in the process. Absorbing them immediately after destabilizing them (signaled by a 100% "absorption rate) starts building a combo multiplier, which goes up and up as long as you keep getting 100% absorption rates on subsequent foes. On the surface, it's a neat system that encourages speed and proper spacing between you and your foes. However, hitting enemies with Cryosphere widens the window of time in which you can get a perfect absorption rate to the point where it may as well be forever, which allowed me to rack up huge combos with ease. This made it the obvious choice in most situations, and since you get it very early on, it preemptively renders all subsequent abilities obsolete. The optimal way to play is essentially presented in the second level, which kills most of the challenge, along with the desire to learn and improve. Absolutely Gotta Go Fast It's too bad, because I really like the idea of using timed dashes to finish enemies while continuing to advance, and there were certainly times when I slipped into a pleasing cadence of shooting and dashing, covering large stretches of a level in seconds. Like Mighty No. 9's other interesting wrinkles though. this too is undermined. Since there's no limitation of any kind on the number of air dashes you can take, and virtually no cooldown, Beck is essentially capable of a limited form of flight, trivializing any platforming challenges thrown at you. Mighty No. 9 10+ IMAGES Fullscreen Image Artboard 3 Copy Artboard 3 ESC 01 OF 62 01 OF 62 Mighty No. 9 Download Image Captions ESC The other problem is that while doing things optimally isn't terribly hard in Mighty No. 9, when you don't absolutely nail it, some levels devolve into slow, tedious slogs. If you move through quickly enough to retain the necessary power-ups to plow through a section, it’s over in two blinks of an eye. Get there a few seconds later, though, and you’ll be stuck waiting for slow-moving platforms and fighting enemies whose job seems to be more to annoy you or get in your way rather than to kill you. In many ways, it’s a punishment worse than death. I’d rather take my lumps for my mistakes right away and start over than have to stumble through a few minutes of tedium.According to the Cook Report, “Republicans are on track to pick up between four and six seats; it is more likely than not that the number will be at the higher end of — and may exceed — that range.” The New York Times’s current Senate forecast from The Upshot puts it this way: “According to our statistical election-forecasting machine, it’s a tossup. The Republicans have about a 54 percent chance of gaining a majority.” Last month, Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com said: “It’s almost certain that Republicans are going to gain seats. The question is whether they’ll net the six pickups necessary to win control of the Senate.” But he continued: “If asked to place a bet at even odds, we’d take a Republican Senate.” And big-money conservatives are flooding the zone with cash to ensure victory. Lauren Windsor reported last month in The Nation that Charles and David Koch held their annual summer seminar for “a gang of the world’s richest people,” and, according to a source who attended the conference, “the explicit goal was to raise $500 million to take the Senate in the 2014 midterms and another $500 million ‘to make sure Hillary Clinton is never president.’” This continues a disturbing trend in which the wealthy tilt right in the fight against the rest. According to a report last month from the Center for Responsive Politics, “So far this cycle, the top 20 deep-pocketed contributors to the joint committees are all giving to conservatives. In contrast, during the 2012 cycle four of the top five donors to [joint fund-raising committees] were giving to Democrats.”Superhero battles are notoriously bad news for urban infrastructure. It’s a populist genre that developed in the decade-and-a-half after a collapsing building became the primary imprinted image in the American subconscious, so on one hand this sort of city-scale destruction can be expected. But as the scope of the stories being told expands exponentially to match the special effects being used to tell them, the presumed body count has grown just as rapidly as the production budgets. For example: In the climax of Superman II, Zod’s team of black-clad villains attack downtown Metropolis, but the worst they do is explode a few trucks, knock out a few walls, and blow some poor man’s ice cream cone into his face. Meanwhile, in the climax of Man of Steel, Zod and Superman lay full and detailed waste to a hefty percentage of the city. Some audiences critiqued the film and director Zack Snyder for the sequence, in which the two grappling Kryptonians pinball off and through buildings, bringing skyscrapers presumably filled with innocent bystanders crashing to the ground. The collateral damage was too extensive and too faceless for a hero such as Superman, went the line of thinking. “I was surprised because that’s the thesis of Superman for me, that you can’t just have superheroes knock around and have there be no consequences,” says Snyder. The director says he had always intended for the dead to be counted. Indeed, Batman v Superman addresses these concerns head-on—Superman’s victims serve as Batman’s impetus to take him down. “One of the things I liked was Zack’s idea of showing accountability and the consequences of violence and seeing that there are real people in those buildings,” says Ben Affleck, who plays Batman. “And in fact, one of those buildings was Bruce Wayne’s building so he knew people who died in that Black Zero event.” Warner Bros. Pictures Of course, Man of Steel is hardly the first (or the last) superhero movie to feature grand-scale catastrophe. The genre is littered with detritus. The third act of Avengers: Age of Ultron featured an entire city being lifted into the atmosphere, and a villain planning to then throw it directly at Earth. Beyond some galactic being showing up and playing billiards with the planets, that’s about as blunt an example of mega-carnage as can get. The main difference is in the tone. “There are other superhero movies where they joke about how basically no one’s getting hurt,” Snyder says. “That’s not us. What is that message? That’s it’s okay that there’s this massive destruction with zero consequence for anyone? That’s what Watchmen was about in a lot of ways too. There was a scene, that scene where Dan and Laurie get mugged. They beat up the criminals. I was like the first guy, I want to show his arm get broken. I want a compound fracture. I don’t want it to be clean. I want you to go, ‘Oh my God, I guess you’re right. If you just beat up a guy in an alley he’s not going to just be lying on the ground. It’s going to be messy.” An edited version of this interview ran in Entertainment Weekly issue #1371-1372, on newsstands Friday, July 3. Click here for more of Entertainment Weekly‘s Comic-Con coverage.WASHINGTON ― Democrats aren’t all exactly on the same page when it comes to supporting candidates who do not toe the party line on reproductive rights. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee drew the ire of progressives and women’s rights groups over the weekend after its chairman, Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), said the group would continue to provide financial support to anti-abortion House candidates in next year’s midterm elections. “Ignoring women’s fundamental freedoms and equality to win elections is both an ethically and politically bankrupt strategy,” Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, tweeted on Monday. A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood issued a similar statement Monday, telling HuffPost that “supporting reproductive rights, including abortion, is central to expanding economic opportunity to all Americans.” Outspoken comedian Rosie O’Donnell even urged women to form their own political party. For Democrats hoping to win back control of Congress, however, the matter is not so simple. While they are likely to gain seats in the House, winning back the majority looks to be more difficult. The party faces an even harder climb in Senate, where Democrats are defending a whopping 25 seats ― 10 of them representing states that President Donald Trump carried last November. That’s likely why both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have said the party should not draw a hard line when it comes to abortion, despite the fact that Democrats’ 2016 platform clearly called for opposition to restrictions on the procedure. Most Senate Democrats who spoke with HuffPost on Tuesday said welcoming different opinions on the matter could help the party claw its way back into the majority. “In the last number of years, without that kind of litmus test, our party does much better, and I think it shows that we’ve got a broad and diverse party,” said Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who is up for re-election next year in a state that Trump won. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) agreed, stating that Democrats “can’t afford to have a litmus test in a way that really is a purity test.” “My focus is going to be supporting all of my colleagues and doing everything we can to at least maintain our numbers as it relates to 2018 election,” she added. But others, like abortion rights advocate Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), said they would personally not support anti-choice candidates. “Well, I won’t,” she said, when asked about the DCCC stance. “All I know is for myself. The party is pro-choice, there may be some exceptions to it, but by and large, I think that’s the case,” she added. “I ran as a pro-choice Democrat, and I’m still one.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) echoed the sentiment. “I’m going to support pro-choice candidates in next year’s election and I’m actively recruiting great pro-choice female candidates across the country to run,” she said. Even senators who disagreed with the DCCC acknowledged the political reality behind the decision. “That’s a hard one,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said. “It really depends on what the conditions are. I would lean to not [support anti-abortion candidates], but I can see why, you know, we need to be a big tent.” The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the DCCC counterpart in the Senate, has also indicated it would not exclude anti-choice candidates in next year’s election. “I would encourage our candidates to be pro-choice candidates, but it’s also important that we have a big tent. I think we actually can do both,” DSCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said in April. The question of whether to embrace candidates who do not fully support abortion rights has already exposed divisions within the party. Last spring, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) faced criticism for campaigning on behalf of a Democratic mayoral candidate in Omaha, Nebraska, who said he was personally opposed to abortion. Women’s reproductive rights groups similarly lashed out at Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez for including an abortion rights opponent in what was billed as a national unity tour in the wake of the 2016 election. Michael Ahrens, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, mocked Democrats over the debate and the party’s new “Better Deal” slogan, which they unveiled last week. “They can have all of the ‘unity tours’ and slogan rollouts they want, but the Democrats’ internal divisions are going to cost them even more elections going forward,” Ahrens said in a statement.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co’s (GM.N) self-driving unit, Cruise Automation, has more than doubled the size of its test fleet of robot cars in California during the past three months, a GM spokesman said on Wednesday. The GM logo is seen at the General Motors Warren Transmission Operations Plant in Warren, Michigan October 26, 2015. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook As the company increases the size of its test fleet, it has also reported more run-ins between its self-driving cars and human-operated vehicles and bicycles, telling California regulators its vehicles were involved in six minor crashes in the state in September. “All our incidents this year were caused by the other vehicle,” said Rebecca Mark, spokeswoman for GM Cruise. In the past three months, the Cruise unit has increased the number of vehicles registered for testing on California streets to 100 from the previous 30 to 40, GM spokesman Ray Wert said. Cruise is testing vehicles in San Francisco as part of its effort to develop software capable of navigating congested and often chaotic urban environments. Investors are watching GM’s progress closely, and the automaker’s shares have risen 17 percent during the past month as some analysts have said the company could deploy robot taxis within the next year or two. A U.S. Senate panel approved legislation on Wednesday that would allow automakers to greatly expand testing of self-driving cars. Some safety groups have objected to the proposal, saying it gives too much latitude to automakers. As Cruise, and rivals, put more self-driving vehicles on the road to gather data to train their artificial intelligence systems, they are more frequently encountering human drivers who are not programmed to obey all traffic laws. In filings to California regulators, Cruise said the six accidents in the state last month involved other cars and a bicyclist hitting its test cars. The accidents did not result in injuries or serious damage, according to the GM reports. In total, GM Cruise vehicles have been involved in 13 collisions reported to California regulators in 2017, while Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Waymo vehicles have been involved in three crashes. California state law requires that all crashes involving self-driving vehicles be reported, regardless of severity. Most of the crashes involved drivers of other vehicles striking the GM cars that were slowing for stop signs, pedestrians or other issues. In one crash, a driver of a Ford Ranger was on his cellphone when he rear-ended a Chevrolet Bolt stopped at a red light. In another instance, the driver of a Chevrolet Bolt noticed an intoxicated cyclist in San Francisco going the wrong direction toward the Bolt. The human driver stopped the Bolt and the cyclist hit the bumper and fell over. The bicyclist pulled on a sensor attached to the vehicle causing minor damage. “While we look forward to the day when autonomous vehicles are commonplace, the streets we drive on today are not so simple, and we will continue to learn how humans drive and improve how we share the road together,” GM said in a statement on Wednesday.Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Miliband's comments came during a lunch with journalists in Edinburgh Ed Miliband has said a Labour government at Westminster would consider building border posts if Scotland voted for independence. The Labour leader said he "would have to look at the issue of a border" if the Scottish government achieved its goal of a looser immigration policy. His comments came during a lunch with journalists in Edinburgh. Analysis What does Ed Miliband mean by power to the people? Today in Edinburgh, the Labour leader made great play of his plan to "reform the British state". "When power is kept away from people, their voices are not heard," he declared. You might think this would mean a Prime Minister Miliband would stop Scottish MPs voting on English-only matters such as health and education, an anomaly known as the West Lothian Question. Not so, said Mr Miliband, over lunch with Scottish journalists. Labour had "no plans to create two classes of members of parliament" he told me, and no English voter had ever raised the issue with him. But with the UK constitution already looking rather lop-sided and Mr Miliband hoping to devolve further powers to Edinburgh, the sleeping English voters might yet waken in a bad mood. Mr Miliband had some time to ponder the matter this afternoon, as he left Edinburgh on Labour's red "Indyref Express" bus, bound for, you've guessed it, West Lothian. Scottish ministers said border checks between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK would not be necessary. Earlier, the Labour leader urged voters in Scotland to reject independence, ahead of the 18 September referendum. During the lunch, Mr Miliband said: "I think it's certainly the case that we would have to look at the issue of a border if you have different immigration policies. "It totally stands to reason. If you have markedly different immigration policies, obviously that becomes an issue between Scotland and the rest of the UK." Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has suggested Scotland would need to encourage immigration to help redress the balance between working people and pensioners. A Scottish government spokesman said: "An independent Scotland will continue to be a member of the current Common Travel Area with the rest of the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, so there will be no need for border checks between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK. "The Common Travel Area already allows for different and independent immigration policies within it. "And this flexibility in the Common Travel Area will enable us to implement our own design for a controlled and more flexible immigration system."At the World Tour Finals of men’s tennis in London this week, eight of the world’s best doubles teams are vying for the one of the most prestigious titles of the season. Bob and Mike Bryan, the 16-time Grand Slam winners, are competing with other elite duos such as U.S. Open winners Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares and Wimbledon champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. But the field is missing one notable name: Jack Sock, the American who won two doubles medals at the Olympics over the summer in Rio. Sock’s current doubles ranking of No. 14, reached by playing with seven different partners this year, places him ahead of four players present this week in London. But Sock didn’t make the cut because inclusion in the London field is based on ranking points accumulated by teams, not individual players, and each of his short-term teams finished far out of contention. Yet it’s likely that the official rankings drastically undervalue Sock’s doubles prowess. According to a version of Elo I created specifically for doubles tennis, his current level of play in doubles matches rates as the best in the world and one of the highest achieved by anyone in recent years. In addition to his men’s doubles bronze medal in Rio, Sock has won two titles in the past month, including an incredible run at the Shanghai Masters in which he and partner John Isner defeated four London-bound teams in succession. Doubles Elo (D-Lo, if you will) is almost as straightforward as the singles system. The rating of any partnership is estimated as the average rating of the two players. (While there is anecdotal evidence that suggests a team improves as partners play together more often, incorporating that into the algorithm doesn’t make it any more accurate.) After every match, each of the four players’ ratings is updated by adding or dropping points based on the result and their opponents’ strength. I’m using D-Lo to forecast the doubles tournament at the World Tour Finals. ELO RANK PLAYER AGE ELO PEAK ELO ATP RANK 1 Jack Sock 24 2002 2022 14 2 Pierre Hugues Herbert 25 1995 2047 2 3 Nicolas Mahut 34 1967 1987 1 4 Bob Bryan 38 1925 2076 5 5 Mike Bryan 38 1921 2076 5 6 Henri Kontinen 26 1920 1920 10 — Rafael Nadal 30 1904 1904 130 7 Marcelo Melo 33 1896 1983 7 8 Ivan Dodig 31 1874 1924 11 10 John Peers 28 1865 1888 12 12 Jamie Murray 30 1859 1899 4 14 Marc Lopez 34 1846 1933 8 15 Bruno Soares 34 1843 1955 3 21 Raven Klaasen 34 1824 1917 16 22 Feliciano Lopez 35 1814 1845 9 — Roger Federer 35 1785 1921 — 28 Rajeev Ram 32 1776 1825 17 34 Max Mirnyi 39 1763 2010 21 — Andy Murray 29 1757 1818 259 41 Treat Huey 31 1740 1866 22 — Novak Djokovic 29 1668 1726 — The World Tour Finals doubles field and other notable players To have a current Elo rank, players need to have played at least 20 matches this year. Source: Tennisabstract.com, ATP World Tour Sock is missing from the London field largely by choice. In July, he said he would compete in fewer doubles events in order to better focus on his singles career — he ranks No. 23 in singles, near his career high. He ended his partnership with Vasek Pospisil, the Canadian with whom he won the 2014 Wimbledon title, and skipped the doubles event at this year’s U.S. Open. Since September, he has played four events with four different partners — hardly the behavior of a would-be elite doubles player. The American is hardly alone in his decision to prioritize singles. Doubles players perform far out of the spotlight, rarely netting the press and prestige of their singles-playing counterparts. What’s more, the top doubles players each earn about one-tenth the prize money that top singles players make. Plenty of elite singles players are accomplished on the doubles court — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both won Olympics doubles gold medals — but most usually elect to rest rather than play doubles for a lesser prize pool and a smaller fraction of the acclaim. Of the 16 doubles players in London, only Feliciano Lopez and Max Mirnyi have ever numbered among the top 20 on the singles ranking table, and for 39-year-old Mirnyi, that was 13 years ago. SEED TEAM (PLAYER 1/PLAYER 2) PLAYER 1 ELO PLAYER 2 ELO TEAM ELO (AVG.) 1 Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut 1995 1967 1981.0 2 Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares 1859 1843 1851.0 3 Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan 1925 1921 1923.0 4 Feliciano Lopez/Marc Lopez 1814 1846 1830.0 5 Henri Kontinen/John Peers 1920 1865 1892.5 6 Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo 1874 1896 1885.0 7 Raven Klaasen/Rajeev Ram 1824 1776 1800.0 8 Treat Huey/Max Mirnyi 1740 1763 1751.5 Jack Sock/Vasek Pospisil 2002 1830 1916.0 The eight World Tour Finals teams and Sock/Pospisil Source: TennisAbstract.com Despite his priorities, Sock would have been a force to reckon with in London. A pairing with Pospisil would, as measured by Elo, outrank every team except for Herbert-Mahut and the Bryans. Even a partnership with Steve Johnson — Sock’s fellow bronze medalist and a lowly 56th on the Elo ranking table — would be the fifth-rated team at the finals. If he remains focused on singles and resists sticking with a steady doubles partner, Sock could still be a factor in future editions of the season-ending doubles event. The average age of the doubles participants in London this year is 33, while Sock is 24. According to Elo, the Bryans didn’t reach their peak until close to their 30th birthdays, and Mahut, at age 34, is having the best doubles season of his career. For most players, it would be a career-defining achievement to reach Sock’s current level of doubles skill. For the American, he has another decade to decide if it’s worth it.Regulators should focus on end product of food, rather than crops that went into it, says US study Genetically manipulated food remains generally safe for humans and the environment, a high-powered science advisory board declared in a report on Tuesday. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine concluded that changing the
I looked over and [he] was bleeding from the top of his head near the hair line." FacebookFor Shyamsundar and Chand Sachdeva, the CBSE Class 12 results declared on Saturday was another grim reminder of their son Aditya Sachdeva, who was allegedly shot dead by a legislator’s son in a road rage incident a few weeks ago. Aditya had appeared for the examination. But now that he was gone, no one in the family had looked up his result. There was eerie silence in their house in Swarajpuri as his father shut himself in the bedroom. His mother was lying on a sofa. Aditya’s brother Akash, who was at his shop, checked the results at the behest of reporters. “Oh my God, he has secured 69.6 % marks. That’s very good. But who’s there to see his result now,” Akash exclaimed, as he broke into sobs. Relatives who had gathered at Aditya’s house spoke of how he had wanted to pursue higher education in business management and set up a luxury hotel in Bodh Gaya. “He had been preparing for going to a B-school,” said a relative. Nazareth, the school he went to was closed on Saturday on account of Buddha Purnima. On May 7, Rocky Yadav, son of now suspended JD (U) member of legislative council Manorama Devi and ‘businessman’ Bindi Yadav, allegedly shot dead Aditya for overtaking him. First Published: May 21, 2016 21:33 ISTPUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: The High-Speed Rail (HSR) line linking Singapore and Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur (KL) is expected to start operations around 2026. This was announced at a joint press conference on Tuesday (July 19) after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the neighbouring countries. Advertisement The signing ceremony, witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, comes ahead of a legally binding bilateral agreement that will be inked by the end of this year. Construction of the HSR is scheduled to take place from 2018 to 2025, followed by testing, commissioning and finally kick-off for the revenue service a year later. The original timeline for the HSR project. The HSR line will run for 350km, with 335km in Malaysia and 15km in Singapore, and on two tracks going in opposite directions. It will comprise eight stops in total: Singapore, Iskandar Puteri, Batu Pahat, Muar, Ayer Keroh, Seremban, Putrajaya and KL. Advertisement Advertisement Existing train services take up to 11 hours to journey between Singapore and KL. However, with the line able to reach top speeds of 300km/h, travel time between KL and Singapore is expected to drop to around 90 minutes - excluding clearance at customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ). There are, however, plans to co-locate CIQ checkpoints at Singapore, KL and Iskandar Puteri to facilitate “seamless travel”. This means, for instance, that at the Jurong East terminus, one would be able to clear Singaporean immigration and a few steps later, Malaysian immigration before boarding the train, reaching KL and stepping out into the city centre itself. Travel time for the HSR between Singapore and Iskandar Puteri in Johor Bahru is expected to take around 10 to 15 minutes. Both governments agreed that each will take responsibility for developing, constructing and maintaining civil infrastructure and stations within their own countries - MyHSR Corporation for Malaysia and the Land Transport Authority for Singapore. “COMPETITIVE” FARES It was also announced that two train operating companies will be appointed to run the HSR service. An international operator will handle the express service between the Singapore terminus at Jurong East and the KL end at the upcoming Bandar Malaysia development. The same operator will also oversee a cross-border shuttle service between Singapore and Iskandar Puteri. Another operator will run the domestic service within Malaysia. The express service will have scheduling and operational priority over a domestic line servicing the six stops in Malaysia between Singapore and KL. The HSR trains are expected to be 10 cars long, with the capacity for up to 100 passengers per car. Fare will be set commercially by the operators and “competitive with airfares”, said Singapore authorities. A separate private entity will design, build, finance and maintain the trains as well as rail assets, like trackwork, communications, signalling and power. It will also allocate and control track access. Depots and maintenance facilities will be located in Malaysia. The Singapore and Malaysian governments will build and fund infrastructure work such as viaducts, tunnels and stations within their territories. Both governments also agreed to form a bilateral committee comprising representatives from both sides to manage and regulate aspects of the project which might impact the cross-border services. TENDER PROCESS WILL BE "FAIR AND TRANSPARENT" Speaking at the signing of the MoU, PM Lee noted that the tender process is one issue that has to be discussed by Singapore and Malaysia. He said: "This is one of the items which has to be settled and has to be discussed between the two sides, to how the project is going to be structured, to how the tenders will be called, what's the sequence in which they're going to be called, what does each package consist of, and then how will the tenders be evaluated." Mr Najib said: "Because this project has attracted so much international interest, it is incumbent upon us to make sure that the process will be a very fair, transparent, objective process. But we are both committed to ensuring that this will happen because the image and integrity of both countries will be at stake. So you can be rest assured that the process will be carried out in the fairest possible way." Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan said: “We are committed to making sure that this project comes to its conclusion. As far as I’m concerned, and as both Prime Ministers mentioned... it will be an open, transparent and fair tender process.” He mentioned that he had personally seen several companies that had shown some interest, including companies from China, Japan and European countries. Mr Abdul Rahman added that the pricing for trips on the HSR would be affected by the bids for the project even though it would likely be benchmarked against airfares. "I believe it will be market-driven." When asked about the cost-sharing arrangement between Singapore and Malaysia, Mr Abdul Rahman pointed out that much of the track will be in Malaysia, with more than 300km in Malaysia and about 15km in Singapore. “But we’re not looking at the length, we’re looking at the cost. Of course, building 15km underground in Singapore would probably cost as much. So it will be an equitable, fair percentage for both countries,” he said. However, he added that he was not at at liberty to disclose the exact percentages until the bilateral agreement is concluded.Microsoft has a big Windows 10 boost out today. The company is calling it the “first major update” to Windows 10 for both normal PCs and tablets. At its most basic, Microsoft wants to better position Windows 10 — its new operating system — for both consumers and enterprise clients. If it fails to find adoption with either, the success of the recently released code will be likely nil. Such are the stakes. Up front, in a blog post, the company indicated that “Windows 10 also starts rolling out to Xbox One today, and select mobile phones soon.” That is both encouraging, and not. It is good that the larger long-discussed Windows Everywhere strategy is still in place — that’s the Xbox piece — but also slightly disappointing that the Windows 10 for “mobile phones” element remains in the future. I suppose that the firm is another holiday season down. Before we delve into what Microsoft has planned for the enterprise, let’s have a game. No, not League of Legends — I have no desire to lose again this week — but instead the Xbox. Here’s the official verbiage [Emphasis: TechCrunch]: With the New Xbox One Experience, Xbox One will update to be powered by Windows 10, providing faster experiences. Windows 10 makes all your gaming better with a consistent gaming experience across devices by extending Xbox Live to every screen. You can now get into multiplayer sessions and Parties faster, your most-used content is more readily available, and you can find gaming experiences tailored to your favorite titles more easily. We’ve all had a long year, so I won’t complain about the “update to be powered by” line. Life is too short. Windows 10 For People With Money As you might have heard, large corporate clients are an important constituency of Microsoft’s bottom line. Given that obvious reality, Microsoft is more than a little focused on getting those customers onto its new platform. Again, a house divided cannot stand, and the software shop needs both folks, and folks’ bosses on board to succeed. So, new features. In short the new bits are designed to help companies’ IT crews better manage PCs on their networks. I am sure this will disappoint more adventurous employees, but given who Microsoft in fact sells to, the resulting content is as surprising as mud in a corn maze. Here’s the core language [Emphasis: TechCrunch]: Windows Update for Business, provides IT controls over the deployment of updates within their organizations, while ensuring their devices are kept current and their security needs are met, at reduced management cost. Features include setting up device groups with staggered deployments and scaling deployments with network optimizations. Windows Store for Business provides IT a flexible way to acquire, deploy, manage and use apps – both public and private line of business. Organizations can create their own private catalog – a store within the public Business Store – where they can define the list of the public and line-of- business apps available. The company also announced new mobile device management features — hello, Good! — for Windows 10. Mobile, it seems, remains a thing. Microsoft also announced that there are 12 million “business PCs” running Windows 10. That is up from 8 million at last count. The company did not update its 110 million total device figure. Provided that you have both fingers and toes, you can add a few things together to get new numbers. Microsoft did not provide new official aggregate figures in a phone call with TechCrunch. All of this may not impact your use of Windows 10. That isn’t too surprising. But I would draw your attention to two things. First, that Microsoft was not kidding about continuous updates to Windows 10, and its current focus on the building out features for corporate customers. Neither should shock, but each matters. The first because updates such as this demonstrate that the company didn’t oversell its ability to update Windows 10. And the latter because it indicates that Microsoft thinks its new operating system is ready for everyone, even the most exacting corporate domains. New numbers will tell a better story, but for today, at least, there is new grist for Windows fans.NORTH Queensland’s Michael Morgan says his Brisbane opposite Anthony Milford is a “freak” who will take some stopping when they meet in Sunday’s NRL grand final. He could be describing himself as two of the game’s rising stars go head to head in the No. 6 jerseys at ANZ Stadium. Both have transitioned this season from fullback to playmaker with stunning results. Morgan was instrumental in the Cowboys’ crushing 32-12 preliminary final win over Melbourne, scoring two second half tries within four minutes to put the result beyond doubt. Milford, 21, also touched down in the Broncos’ 31-12 romp over the Sydney Roosters. The victories set up an enticing encounter between the NRL’s two form halves combinations, with Morgan and superstar halfback Johnathan Thurston taking on Milford and Ben Hunt. Morgan said he had been impressed by the young Brisbane halves combination. “Milford and Hunt have been good all year,” Morgan said. “A lot of people thought it wouldn’t work with Milford going to six but he’s shown he can handle it. “He can handle the defensive load and in attack he’s a freak and he’s hard to stop and it takes a whole team to control him.” The statistics back Morgan’s claim about Milford, who joined Brisbane from Canberra this season, leading the Broncos attack with 91 tackle busts and 13 tries. While happy with his own form since returning from a high-ankle sprain, Morgan says credit must go to the Cowboys forward pack. North Queensland dominated the Storm forwards, giving the 23-year-old and Thurston plenty of time and space. “I thought our forwards were very good and they got us on the front foot,” Morgan said. “I thought as a team we played very well off the back of the forward pack and I’m lucky I get to play off them.” While he has played on the big stage of State of Origin, Morgan said he was still pinching himself to be grand final-bound. “It feels weird — it’s hard to believe to be honest.”Joe Hart believes "something has got to give" in the summer when he returns to parent club Manchester City from his season-long loan at Torino. The 29-year-old established himself as the first choice goalkeeper at the Etihad Stadium in the 2010/2011 season under Roberto Mancini, becoming a mainstay in the England national team in the process. However, he found himself surplus to requirements when new manager Pep Guardiola arrived last summer, and with the Spaniard's insistence on signing a ball-playing goalkeeper, Hart eventually moved to Torino in search of first team football. With less than two months left in the domestic league season, Hart is still unsure what his future looks like but wants to end the season well. "I want to finish the season well, the best I can for Torino,'' Hart said, as quoted on ESPN. "I have really enjoyed being part of the club and I want to make the squads for the England internationals. Then after [the end of the season], something has got to give." "My job is solely to try to be the best I can and wherever I go for the start of next season I want to be at the peak and coming off the back of a good season.'' While Hart has been plying his trade in Serie A this season, his replacement in former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has done little to impress in Manchester. With some notable blunders to his name, Bravo has recently found himself second-choice to Willy Caballero, but Hart refused to make comments about City's current goalkeeping problems. "You know I am never going to answer that question. I have got a lot of respect for Willy [Caballero]. I worked hard with Willy when he won us the League Cup. I don't know the keeper they have bought -- I have never worked with [Claudio Bravo]. I don't know anything about him," the stopper stressed. Hart will captain England against Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday (26 March) on what will be his 70th cap, and the former Shrewsbury Town player believes his move to Italy was crucial in keeping him in the international picture. "I know that the decision I made to go out and play first-team football was needed,'' he explained. "I don't think I would have played these games had I stayed [at City] because I don't think I would have had much game time and I think the standard of goalkeeping in England is really, really good." "It's a position I don't take lightly. For me to continue and to try to make the first team for England goes hand in hand with me making first teams at club level and trying to perform at my highest.''Winners The Steelers Offense When Todd Haley was building this offense over the last couple of seasons, in between intense goatee sculpting sessions, I imagine yesterday is what the Steelers had in mind. The best game of Ben Roethlisberger’s career was made possible by every member of his (relatively) young receiving corps and his pleasantly surprising second-year running back. Getting to face a Colts secondary without Vontae Davis — who’s been playing at a Pro Bowl level all season — certainly helped, but Roethlisberger put up 522 yards and six touchdowns, with a completion percentage in the 80s, against a team that came into the game ranked second in pass defense DVOA. A day like that is about more than one guy, on both sides of the ball. Antonio Brown continues to be a superhero. With Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green hurt, and both Jordy Nelson and Julio Jones slowing down, it’s safe to say he’s been the best receiver in football. Brown leads the league in receptions, and is second in both yards and touchdowns. His five-catch, 50-yard streak now sits at something like 528 games (approximately). It’s starting to feel like he’s making it harder on himself just because he’s bored. He probably could have used two hands on that first touchdown catch yesterday, but that would have been too easy. Games like the one he had against the Colts — 10 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns — are what we expect from Brown, but the new guys were also getting in on the fun. Martavis Bryant has been active for only two games, but he’s already hauled in three touchdowns and given Pittsburgh’s offense an added deep-ball dimension. Markus Wheaton got on the board for the first time all year, and Le’Veon Bell added six catches of his own. The Steelers defense still leaves plenty to be desired, even against teams not quarterbacked by Andrew Luck. But if they can be even a fraction of what they were yesterday, they’ll be in just about every game they play. Even with their bumpy start, the Steelers are now firmly in the AFC North race, just as they’re starting to hum along offensively. Rob Gronkowski and Arian Foster We’ve all been there. You’re at home or at a bar, giddily watching a player lay waste to a defense, scoring at will. Out of curiosity, you check your fantasy scores, and you realize what you’ve been enjoying is also what’s ruined your week. That was Gronk and Arian Foster yesterday — both with multiple touchdowns in walking-away wins. For both Patriots fans and Gronkowski owners, it was a welcome sight to see Gronk in the safety-exploding mode he’s found in the past. New England eased him back over its first few games, but now Gronk is a go, and he embarrassed the Bears yesterday. It wasn’t just that the tight end got in the end zone three times, it was how he did it: stealing Shea McClellin’s lunch money down in the red zone, then catching a ball over the middle and taking it 30 yards for a score. Gronk gronk’d, and if he hadn’t left the game early in the third quarter, it probably would have been even worse. There has been no easing in for Foster this year. Save for the game against Buffalo, which he probably should have skipped anyway, he’s been one of the safest bets around. Foster has topped 100 yards in six of the seven games he’s played, while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and finding the end zone seven times. He’s on pace for the type of casual 300-carry, 1,500-yard season that just doesn’t happen much anymore. It’s all the more impressive when you consider he’s coming off back surgery that cost him half of last season. Lavonte David If ever there were a case for an NFL program that loaned out great players on shitty teams for the stretch run, Lavonte David made it yesterday. He was everywhere against the Vikings, racking up 14 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage, and three more than went for fewer than 2 yards. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if there were a leaguewide bid for him after Week 12 and he spent the rest of the year on a team like the Patriots? Every year, as the Bucs’ season starts to deteriorate, David still plays like he’s being shot out of a cannon. Sammy Watkins “We’ve got to do this all of the time, not some of the time,” Doug Marrone said yesterday after the Bills hung up 43 points. Sadly, coach, you don’t get to play the Jets secondary every week. But you do get to keep Sammy Watkins. Watkins averaged 52.3 yards per catch yesterday, and managed to make up for his early-celebration gaffe by catching a 61-yard touchdown two quarters later. Kyle Orton had 238 yards and four touchdowns while throwing only 17 passes, which makes me wonder why the hell the Bills threw the ball only 17 times. Losers The Bears Defense You could sell the Patriots’ drive chart from this game as a horror movie spec script. Anyone who’s seen the Bears try to defend the middle of the field this year should have known Gronkowski was going to gore them … but, man. Tom Brady really couldn’t have had an easier time. Of the 27 passes Brady threw to his top three targets, exactly zero fell incomplete: 9-of-9 to Gronk, 11-of-11 to Brandon LaFell, 7-of-7 to Tim Wright. That’s almost impossible. You’d assume that even the laws of nature would see one of those hit the turf. It wasn’t much better on the ground. Somebody named Jonas Gray ripped off 5.1 yards per carry, as the Chicago run defense started to look like the one that ended the season a year ago. I’m not sure what else there is to say or do, so I’ll be crawling back into bed to cry now. Blake Bortles There are bad days as a rookie quarterback, and then there’s what Blake Bortles did yesterday. His overall numbers weren’t great — 18-of-34 for 221 yards, one touchdown, and two picks — but they were made even worse when you realize both of those picks were returned for touchdowns. Giving the Dolphins 14 points was particularly heartbreaking, considering how well the rest of the Jaguars fared against Miami. Denard Robinson has finally given Jacksonville some semblance of a running game, carrying the ball 18 times for 108 yards against one of the better defenses in the league. Rookie Allen Robinson continues to play well, and the Jacksonville defense managed to slow down Ryan Tannehill, a week after he lit the Bears on fire. “I’m killing us,” Bortles told Jaguars.com after the game. Sometimes, quarterbacks take on a bit too much of the blame, but yesterday he was probably right. The Falcons I’m still not sure how the Falcons managed to lose. Forget how Atlanta gave up a 21-point first-half lead. When Matt Ryan hit Julio Jones on a 22-yard gain to take the game to the two-minute warning, the game should have been over. But when third down crept up again, with 1:50 left — and with the Lions out of timeouts — a similar throw to Jones fell incomplete, giving Detroit new life and more than a minute and a half to march down the field. If the Falcons had run the ball there, the best possible situation for the Lions is that they’re on their own 20, with no timeouts and about 45 seconds to go 50 yards. At one point in the Lions’ final drive, it looked like Jim Caldwell’s screwup might have been enough to overcome Mike Smith’s. A team done in by their kicking all year decided it was best to settle for a 43-yard field goal to win the game. I think we’ve all seen what happens next. Matt Prater pushed the kick to the right. A delay-of-game penalty gave him another shot from five yards back. Of course, it went in. It’s a tough year to be the Falcons. Geno Smith That should just about do it for the Geno Smith era in New York. Smith turned in one of the all-time bad quarterback lines in his short stint against the Bills: 2-of-8, five yards, three interceptions. Typically, it’s good to finish a game with at least five more yards than you have picks. At 1-7, the Jets might be tempted to stick with Smith for the rest of the year, but at this point, it seems there’s little he can do to enter next season with the inside track to start. With Rex Ryan likely gone, general manager John Idzik will probably be looking to pair his new head coach with a new quarterback. What the Jets have to hope for now is that they don’t win too many games and take themselves out of the Marcus Mariota sweepstakes. J.J. Watt This is hard for me, but we need to address the Zach Mettenberger–J.J. Watt selfie fiasco. Earlier this week, rookie and king Mettenberger was named the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. Mettenberger was so firmly dedicated to his White Goodman look for Halloween that he did his first press conference as an NFL starter with a mustache, feathered hair, and a headband. That’s devotion. Before yesterday’s game, Mettenberger snapped a selfie of himself in the locker room. It seemed like a pretty innocent way to document a big day in a guy’s life. I don’t know. I don’t care. Apparently, J.J. Watt did. After sacking Mettenberger yesterday, Watt took his own fake selfie, with him and the crumpled quarterback underneath him. Getty That part was funny. What happened after the game wasn’t. “It’s just kind of a reminder, this is the National Football League, not high school. Welcome to the show,” Watt said. “I just, I take my job very seriously. If I was a rookie quarterback being named the starter for the first time in the league, I feel like I’d be a little bit more focused than that.” According to science, Watt is two years older than Mettenberger. But based on the old-man-yells-at-cloud scale, Watt has decades on the Titans QB. This “I hate fun” look isn’t good on you, J.J. You do all the maniacal focusing you want, but damn, let the kid live.Sustainer Homes Facebook Twitter Pinterest The interior of the pilot model of Sustainer Homes’ off-grid mobile home. Photograph: Xam Xander Mouthaan/Sustainer Homes This Dutch company makes fully off-grid mobile homes from recycled and reusable materials. Heat and power are renewable, and the water supply is filtered rain. According to co-founder Gert van Vugt, who has been staying in the pilot model, the life-cycle emissions are 4% those of a normal home, but inside it’s “a regular house with a dishwasher and washing machine”. As well as developing holiday homes, the company has bigger projects in the works for 2017 and beyond, including for developing countries. One challenge that lies ahead is how municipal planning systems will deal with such a different kind of house. Drivy Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Drivy car rental model is like an Airbnb for cars. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Drivy likens itself to an Airbnb for cars, enabling people to rent out their vehicle when they’re not using it. Around 800,000 users and 35,000 private cars are signed up across Germany, France and Spain. A key step for the business was establishing an insurance policy with Allianz to protect both car owners and renters. Drivy has just made what CEO Paulin Dementhon believes to be a game-changing technology breakthrough: a box it can install in cars to allow customers to open car doors with their smartphones at times agreed with car owners, making self-service rental possible. Dementhon says it will be scaled up quickly this year. Redisa Facebook Twitter Pinterest Redisa gathers waste tyres for recycling or for cement kiln fuel. Photograph: Sequence Pictures/Redisa “South Africa is littered with what was originally estimated to be 60m waste tyres, which pollute the environment – they are often burnt in uncontrolled environments for the steel content – and create breeding grounds for vermin and mosquitoes,” a spokeswoman for the government initiative explains. Redisa collects a levy on tyre manufacture and imports, and uses the money to gather waste tyres for recycling or for cement kiln fuel. Since 2012 it has collected 18m tyres and created 3,000 jobs. Its major challenge is to develop a local industry using rubber and steel recyclate so it can burn less and recycle more. Optoro Facebook Twitter Pinterest Optoro acts as a middleman for selling goods online. Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian Optoro, winner of the circular economy enterprise category at The Circulars awards at Davos, started life as eSpot, a middleman selling people’s knick-knacks and antiques for them on eBay in the days before widespread online knowhow. “We had the idea for Optoro when more and more local retailers, instead of individuals, asked us to help them sell their returned and excess inventory,” says the firm’s director of communications, Carly Llewellyn. “We realised that dealing with returns and other goods in the reverse supply chain was a problem even top retailers face.” Optoro now works with 20 of the top 100 retailers in the US and expects to process 25m items in 2016, cutting its clients’ waste from returned and excess stock by 73%. Circularity Capital Facebook Twitter Pinterest Edinburgh firm Circularity Capital offers small and medium businesses access to investment opportunities created by the circular economy. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian This Edinburgh-based private equity firm specialises in the circular economy. Launched last year, it plans to make 10-12 investments of between £1m and £5m by 2020 in small- and medium-sized companies. The founders say businesses that innovate to increase their resource productivity offer investors an attractive return. “The beauty of the circular economy framework is that it’s founded on strong economic principles,” says partner Andrew Shannon, a former banker. “That’s shown by its growing adoption in the corporate world.” Shannon is particularly interested in SMEs that are maximising the value and productivity of their assets by moving from selling a product to selling a service. Neptuno Pumps Facebook Twitter Pinterest Neptuno Pumps is based in the Atacama desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth. Photograph: Krys Bailey/Alamy This Chilean manufacturer produces 60% of its pumps using reused and recycled materials. This includes remanufactured pumps where almost all the parts are reused or recycled. The buyer gets a pump that’s 30% cheaper, but still comes with a one-year warranty. Neptuno is based in the Atacama desert, one of the driest places on Earth and the heartland of Chile’s multibillion-dollar mining industry, a huge consumer of the country’s scarce water resource. Through its design, Neptuno claims its pumps can help mining companies recycle up to 70% of their water, which cuts energy consumption by up to 30%. Miniwiz Facebook Twitter Pinterest Miniwiz has fitted out Nike’s high-end stores in seven cities including Tokyo. Photograph: Sean Pavone/Alamy This Taiwan-based engineering, manufacturing and design firm turns trash – particularly plastic, electronic and agricultural waste – into building materials. It has fitted out the interior of Nike’s high-end stores, NikeLab, in seven cities including London, Tokyo and New York, and has built an e-waste recycling plant out of recycled materials. The firm is self-funded, with no government subsidies, so it has to compete on quality and price. Miniwiz’s communications director, Johann Boedecker, says people are often resistant to recycled materials but that things are improving. “Our new customers think the loop economy can be good for their bottom line,” he says. National Zero Waste Council Facebook Twitter Pinterest A coalition of metropolitan governments and businesses aim to prevent food waste. Photograph: Grant Faint/Getty Images Canada’s local governments spend around C$3.2bn (£1.5bn) each year on managing 34m tonnes of waste. The National Zero Waste Council, a coalition of metropolitan governments and businesses, aims to shift policy and practice from waste management to waste prevention. In the past month, cities including Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary have backed the Council’s proposal for a federal tax incentive to encourage food producers and retailers to divert edible food from landfill to charities. “The estimated value of food wasted across Canada is C$31bn (£14.9bn) or 2% of GDP,” a spokeswoman says. “The cost to businesses, and to municipalities that are responsible for managing organic waste, is significant.” New Hope Ecotech Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brazil’s biggest garbage dump, which was located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, closed in 2012. Photograph: Buda Mendes/STF/LatinContent/Getty Images This Brazilian startup develops software for compiling and sharing recycling data. Brazil’s solid waste law requires firms placing consumer packaging on the market to invest in recycling. One of New Hope Ecotech’s digital platforms conveys data from recyclers to manufacturers for compliance purposes. More than 27,000 tonnes of recyclable material sorted by waste firms and cooperatives was reported on the platform in 2015. The firm’s main current purpose is to help create transparency but in the future they plan to have a more direct influence on increasing recycling by making direct transfers of funds to recyclers, says co-founder Luciana Oliveira. Tarkett Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tarkett, a manufaturer of sports surfaces, is using alternatives to toxic phthalates in its European and US factories. Photograph: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images The presence of toxic chemicals in the recycling loop is a major challenge for the circular economy. PVC, one of the world’s most common plastics and which can be easily recycled, often contains phthalates. These additives, used to make PVC flexible, are toxic for human reproduction and development, and end up in consumer products when soft PVC is recycled. Tarkett, a French multinational that manufactures flooring and sports surfaces, uses alternatives to phthalates at its European and US factories, and aims to have rolled out the technology to all its production sites worldwide by 2020.Original interview conducted by Vik Winchester of Scene for Dummies and Alexander Shemyakin of Deuce Dot Com for the Deuce Dot Com VK page Edited by Scrubsauce March 18, 2014 - Hello, Jimmy. First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. Jimmy Yuma: Yoooooooooo, I'm Jimmy Yuma aka “True Grit”, aka “Bean Slice”, aka “Tummy Packin'”, aka “A Pringle Can”. How ya’ll doin? - You have a great nicknames, haha! Well, tell us more about yourself, like "Jimmy Yuma: The Beginning", your childhood, etcetera. Jimmy Yuma: Hahah, thanks. Shit… Well. Born and raised in Los Angeles, met Deuce when I was like 5, picked up a guitar when I was like 10. Never got good at guitar, started skating instead. Never got good at skateboarding, Deuce and I created some bands, I disappeared. Deuce went through a bunch of bands, he created Hollywood Undead. I appeared, and asked Deuce if he needed any help. He taught me how to studio engineer. I engineered his vox for some tracks for Hollywood Undead’s Swan Songs. Deuce asked me to record some of his own songs. Deuce/HU broke up, and he told me that I was going to play guitar for him, and if I didn’t learn the songs he would just mute me on stage. I learned the songs, played with Deuce on stage, did an interview with awesome Russian fans, and going to Russia to play on stage soon, stoked! - Wow, you answered really well, haha! But… since this is interview, it’s time to go into details! You said that you and Deuce create some bands back in the days, what’s up with that? Jimmy Yuma: We were pretty young, Deuce wanted to play guitar and I wanted to sing… I wanted to cover Misfits and AFI songs and he wanted to write new shit. We tried a few times to write some stuff, he was pretty fucking bad ass at singing even way back then and writing. We tried it out with a few people on different instruments I think there is a cassette tape somewhere of Deuce covering “Halloween” by The Misfits when he was like 15 or 16. He pretty much killed it. Misfits - Halloween. Original version of the song. We practiced in my parents’ garage somewhere in the valley. After that Deuce hooked up with some other bands trying to find some kids to play with. I think he went through a shit ton of bands singing and playing guitar for them. He was getting pretty fuckin’ good, he has the funniest stories in the world from when he was young and doing that shit. I think his homie and he saw The Aquabats loading up outside The Viper Room or something after a show and his then-homie decided it would be dope as fuck to steal a guitar. They were loading in a van, right in front of them. I think they ended up running around all night trying to escape the wrath of The Aquabats and The Aquabats got their guitar back pretty easy. You got to ask him though, shit’s amazing. I went to a bunch of his shows, he’s a born commander, even way back then yelling at the audience to do what he wanted, even though half the audience was homies and shit. That about covers that, what about you, how did you get into music and what bands did you create? What’re your influences? I really don't know how the music scene works out there, I need hot tips for when I land. - You were a singer? Man, that's a plot twist! This is great story, haha! Well, next step was Hollywood Undead era. Many fans got misleading information about your role. I know you were a studio engineer, and also you designed Deuce’s mask, right? Jimmy Yuma: Haha yeah, wasn't actually a singer, tried for sure though. In the early Swan Songs days, before the first tour, Da Kurlzz asked me to design his mask. I said yep and he was stoked with how it turned out, it was based off of his ideas. Deuce asked me next and I did a quick mockup for his mask. He and I came up with an anime type chrome mask (the Deuce mask). The rest of the band was stoked on both masks and then everyone in the band wanted a mask designed. Each of the masks were based on their own ideas. I just did the basic artwork for them so everyone
It has a superb classical temple whose sculptures were removed and taken to Bavaria at about the same time Britain took the frieze and pediment sculptures of the Parthenon. Today they are in Munich, but there is no global outcry for their return. Why not? Well, if you visit the temple you can’t help noticing the prominent German involvement in archaeology and conservation work there. German scholarship has kept up a constant, reciprocal relationship with Aegina. There is no equivalent British involvement in the preservation of the Parthenon. Why not? Instead of seeing Athens as its enemy, the British Museum should have got involved years ago in a very big way in maintaining and researching the Parthenon. It should have collaborated on the new Acropolis Museum (and offered to loan some of its astonishing sculptures). The whole issue could have been diffused by a more generous cooperative attitude. The Acropolis Museum, a wonderful gallery, reveals why cultural colonialism is doomed. It is true the whole world flocks to the British Museum and the Louvre, and surely will continue to do so. But world-class museums are not confined by some act of god to northern Europe or north America. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has been criticised for the conditions inflicted on its workforce. But in the long term, it points to a world where great art collections will be widely and evenly spread. The feeble excuses for keeping stolen or seized art treasures in former imperial capitals are becoming ever more feeble. In the end, the defence for hanging on to contested cultural goods boils down to the deeply offensive notion that Britain looks after the Parthenon marbles or Benin heads and plaques better than Greece or Nigeria ever could. How long can our museums keep up this arrogance? Not long. The British empire is dead. So is the age of cultural booty.Japanese video game publisher D3 Publisher revealed its new otome game brand "D3P Otomebu" on Sunday. The company had opened a teaser website on Friday for a "major D3P (Publisher) otome announcement." D3 Publisher is also streaming a video announcing its new game lineup for this year and into 2016. The promo video features the following games: Otokoyukaku The Men of Yoshiwara is on sale now for the PlayStation Vita. The game revolves around an island where boys are not born that has a red-light district for male courtesans. The heroine runs an errand in this district and for the first time witnesses a parade of these beautiful male courtesans, and becomes entranced. Hitsujigumo wrote the scenario, Hs (Hitsujigumo) designed the original images, anddeveloped the game. D3 Publisher released an iOS version of the game titledin English last May. Vamwolf Cross D3 Publisher will releasefor the PS Vita on June 25. In the game, players play as a female university student who lives an ordinary life. Recently there have been a series of murders where all the blood has been drained out of the victims, and the media are calling it the work of "Vamwolves." One day the heroine's father is killed, and while she is sorting through his belongings after the funeral, she finds a diary that explains that he and all of the inhabitants of their apartment building are Vanwolf hunters. Her father's final page in his journal notes that the Vanwolf hunters have been betrayed. The heroine resolves to find out the truth about her father and his death. 22 no Kiss no Imi Kiss D3 Publisher will releasefor iOS and Android in May. Seira Suketomo andno Imi are designing the game's characters. Teikoku Kaigun Koihojō D3 Publisher will releasefor the PS Vita in summer 2015. Y_at and Kaigun Ongakutai are designing the game's characters. Believer! D3 Publisher will releasefor the PS Vita in 2015. Kiira Kojima and Shukumei no Miko are designing the game's characters. Hyakka Hyakurō: Sengoku Ninpōchō D3 Publisher will releasefor the PS Vita in 2015.and Sengoku Ninja are designing the game's characters. Additionally, the video reveals that D3 Publisher is working on a fifth anniversary project for the Storm Lover series, as well as a 10th anniversary project for the Vitamin series. D3 Publisher launched its first otome game in October 2010. The company has since published 45 otome game titles, such as the Vitamin, Last Escort, Bakumatsu Renka, and Storm Lover series of games. Source: FamitsuAbout Visit Our Web Site for more information on Outer Rings Currently in production for almost any table manufactured click here The video shows the current Outer Record Clamp Flattening a record on our AVRO Turntable, NEW - SCROLL TO BOTTOM TO SEE PICTURES OF ALL OF THE REWARDS - 3 NEW REWARDS NOW OFFERED - The gifts we offer will fit the Technics AND ALL TABLES LISTED BELOW turntables and thank you for your assistance. The ring shown in the picture and video are nearly visually identical to the 1200 Series Outer Record Clamp that will be shipped. The outer ring is designed to flatten warped records, reduce stylus resonance, and improve tone arm tracking resulting in a huge reduction of record distortion and more energy and dynamics on playback of vinyl. Why Back this Project? vinylhound (google it) - 1200 Owner who modded table to test the performance!! "This is awesome news. I am sure that a lot of 1200 owners will snatch them up. I can get you as many more pictures as you need. I have no real way of doing any video but I will see what I can do. Here is what I have found in using the ring and weight on my table: Better detail especially in the high frequencies Much tighter and more pronounced bass A complete absence of distortion in the high frequencies. There was plenty before the addition of the ring and weight. A serious drop in sub-sonic table and/or surface noise. Again, plenty before the addition. Of course there is the total flatness of the vinyl on the platter as well. The stereo imaging and sound-stage has improved." Reduce Motor rumble Massive flywheel effect improves rotational stability Bring the Technics Direct Drive to true High Fidelity Vinyl Playback!! Play old records with reduced surface noise Play ANY Warped record Visit our Website for more information click now See Our CNC Aerospace Machine shop click now We have had literally 100'S of requests over the last 3 years to manufacture an outer ring for the Technics 1200 Series Direct Drive. We have a new customer who has made some modifications to his turntable to clear the power switch and also modified the setting tool to clear the post. We will reengineer the ring to fit without modifications to the turntable! Expect a 25 to 50% reduction in record noise and distortion, we have over 3000 customer worldwide using our outer record clamp. The PRODUCTS WILL FIT THE FOLLOWING TURNTABLES We will retool and produce this new ring for the 1200 and provide those backers with superb and high value rewards from $30.00 and up. Will fit the following Technics Turntables. Technics SL1210 M5G (SL1200 MK2, MK3, MK3D, MK5 & M5G Also will fit the Audio Technica Series AT-LP1240 (USB)i Also will fit Pioneer PLX-1000 Also will fit Pioneer Stanton HP-150 TTW Audio (LJT Manufacturing) is a Canadian based owned and operated by myself Larry Denham, and wife Christine. We are a CNC Aerospace and Analogue Gear Manufacturer, currently producing the worlds only Rim Drive Copper Platter Turntables and our best selling and most effective (CLICK LINK FOR MORE VIDEO) product the Outer Ring - A periphery record Clamp from 2008 to the present day that fits 99% of turntables. Only you can make it happen!! Cheers and keep the vinyl revolution ALIVE! Thanking you in advance for your support, Larry Denham, President TTW Audio Website We are offering many beautiful turntable accessories for your Rewards! The Polished Solid Brass Turntable Level The 45 RPM Universal fit Record Adpaptor and Center Weight!! TTW Classic Turntable Center Record Weight 1LB, universal fit great for Technics! TTSuper Middle Weight V2 (2.2 Lbs - 1 KG) New!! Intro Price: Carbon Fibre LP Turntable Platter Mat NEW EPOXY COATED! TTCopperHead 3.125 lbs(1.42 Kgs) Protective Coating Technics 1200 Outer Periphery Record Clamp Outer Ring review Stereophile Turntable ReviewsRoyal Antwerp FC took on FC Tubize in Belgium's second division on Sunday, and things started to heat up real nicely towards the latter stages of the match. With Tubize down 2-0, goalkeeper Quentin Beunardeau wanted the ball back quickly so he could restart play and get things going again from a goal kick. Antwerp's ballboy was less than enthused about giving Beunardeau any help though, and the Tubize keeper had to retrieve the matchball himself from behind an advertising hoarding. Beunardeau finally got ahold of the ball, but when he saw that there was already one set up on the six-yard line he gave into the dark side, embraced his anger and hurled it straight at the useless ballboy's face: Article continues below... Fantastic. Beunardeau got a response out of the crowd, a laugh out of the ballboy and a nice yellow card for his efforts, but Tubize unfortunately didn't get any of the points and the match ended 2-0. At least they got a hilarious memory out of it. MORE FROM FOX SOCCER:Media playback is not supported on this device QPR receive Championship trophy QPR vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has resigned following disagreements with the club's board. He quit on the day it was revealed fans will be charged up to £72 to watch a Premier League match next season. Bhatia said he strongly disagreed with the price increases to season tickets. Bhatia also revealed that the Mittal family had failed in its bid to buy the club from fellow co-owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore. Bhatia joined the Loftus Road board in December 2007 as representative of father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal after the Indian steel magnate bought a shareholding alongside Ecclestone and Briatore. I do not wish to be associated with or take responsibility for decisions made by the board and with which I disagree so strongly Amit Bhatia However, Bhatia has grown disillusioned of late, revealing the sacking of former chairman Ishan Saksena and a near 40% increase in season ticket prices following promotion to the Premier League had forced him to stand down. In a letter to the club's board seen by the BBC, Bhatia said: "It is clear to me from recent board meetings that my vision, strategy and direction for the club is very different from that of the other shareholders and board members. "The recent decisions to sack club CEO and chairman Ishan Saksena and significantly increase season ticket prices are just two of the decisions I disagree with. "While it saddens me to leave QPR after such a successful season and at the beginning of an exciting new phase, I do not wish to be associated with or take responsibility for decisions made by the board and with which I disagree so strongly. MITTAL FAMILY Bought 33% stake in QPR in December 2007 Lakshmi Mittal is UK's richest person, worth estimated £17bn Chairman/ CEO of ArcelorMittal, world's biggest steelmaker Father-in-law of Amit Bhatia, who stepped down as QPR vice-chairman on Wednesday "The Mittal family had been in discussions concerning the possible acquisition of the club. However, we have been unable to reach agreement on this matter and therefore those discussions have now come to an end. "Although no longer a decision-maker at QPR, I shall continue to be a 33% owner and a 100% fan of the club. In due course, we will appoint a board representative to monitor my family's investment in the club." QPR have defended the price hike in season tickets. "The board is keen to stress that the prices are in line with other London-based Premier League Clubs, and are encouraged by early sales figures following the release of season tickets earlier on Tuesday," said a club statement. QPR fans will be charged up to £72 a game for their first season back in English football's top flight. The cheapest price for a league match at Loftus Road will be £47, with season tickets up by almost 40%. But with five fewer home games in the top flight, the increase is around 67% in real terms. Paul Finney, of the Independent Rs website, said of the news: "It's an absolute disgrace. "Yet again it underlines the total contempt the owners of QPR have for the fans. Flavio Briatore's dream is a 'boutique' club, which has an exclusive feel to it and is the place for wealthy people to be seen. "Not only is that a slap in the face of QPR supporters, it is not in the long-term interests of a club that has two other Premier League clubs [Chelsea and Fulham] on its doorstep." The cheapest adult season ticket for the new campaign will be £549, with £999 the most expensive - up from £699 in last year's Championship winning season - while under-16s will be charged £199 and under-eights up to £99. By comparison, the cheapest season ticket at Manchester United is £513. At Arsenal it is £893 and at Blackburn £225, the most and least expensive in the top flight respectively. SEASON TICKET PRICES (cheapest for 2011/12 season) Blackburn: £225 Manchester United: £513 QPR : £549 : £549 Liverpool: £725 Chelsea: £750 Arsenal: £893 Rangers fan Clive Whittingham, who runs the Loft For Words website, said the club was in the position of knowing that, with only 15,000 home seats to fill, it could charge what they like for tickets and still sell them all. "The worst thing about it, apart from the scandalous walk-up fees which again come back to not having many seats to sell, is the lack of reward for loyalty," he said. "As a season ticket holder of 18 years standing, I am receiving no discount for renewing."Sleepy Hollow will get a post-Abbie chapter. Fox has renewed the supernatural drama series for a fourth season. Additionally, the network has formally canceled freshman dramas Minority Report and Second Chance. While no first-year Fox comedy made it to a second season, three hourlong series did, dramas Rosewood and Lucifer and horror dramedy Scream Queens. Sleepy Hollow, inspired by Washington Irving’s story, had been on the bubble, with its most recent third season only able to crack the 1 adults 18-49 Live+same day demo rating a couple of times, ending with a 0.7 in the demo and 3 million viewers (Live+same day) for the season finale on Friday night. But the series has logged solid DVR gains and is profitable for sister studio 20th Century Fox TV with strong international sales, which likely weighed in on the renewal decision. Spoiler Alert!: Sleepy Hollow ended its third season with two back-to-back demises of regular characters in the last two episodes, including the shocking exit of female lead Nicole Beharie (Abbie) in the finale. “We have some exciting scenarios and new avenues we want to explore,” the producers said about Season 4 at the time the finale aired. As for Minority Report, the series had a very recognizable title, being based on the Steven Spielberg-Tom Cruise movie, and a charismatic female star in Meagan Good. It also was backed by a big marketing campaign but never clicked with viewers. There were no real expectations for the Frankenstein-themed midseason drama Second Chance, which quickly was dispatched to Fridays after a low start on Wednesday. Sleepy Hollow, from 20th TV and K/O Paper Products, was created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove and Len Wiseman. Kurtzman, Orci and Wiseman executive produce alongside Clifton Campbell, Albert Kim, Russell Fine, Raven Metzner and Heather Kadin. Star Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane leads the returning cast, which also includes Lyndie Greenwood as Jenny Mills, Lance Gross as Daniel Reynolds and Jessica Camacho as Sophie Foster.THE purported class action lawsuit against the City of Sydney's Bourke Street cycleway has collapsed, with the lawyer involved admitting he acts for one company, not the claimed 102. John Mahony of Mahony Dominic Lawyers sent a letter of demand to the council on July 30 and claimed to act for 102 businesses adversely affected by the cycleway. The list includes the Australian Museum, Virgin Atlantic, Fitness Australia Ltd, Amanda Simons, Schenker, Westpac and Fairfax Media, the publisher of the Herald. These companies were not aware Mr Mahony had used their names. They have written to him demanding to be removed from the list. The chief executive of the City of Sydney, Monica Barone, said "the alarm bells began ringing'' when she saw in the letter names of companies that had supported the cycleway. Frank Howarth, the director of the Australian Museum, said Mr Mahony or his firm had never approached the museum.Nick Xenophon's SA Best is leading the major parties in a state-based Newspoll. Photo: AAP/David Mariuz Only two months after announcing he would quit the Senate to return to state politics, Xenophon has turned the March 2018 state election into a three-way battle for power, with his SA Best party in the lead. In the state-based Newspoll, published in The Australian today, SA Best recorded 32 per cent of the primary vote, with the Liberals on 29 per cent, Labor on 27 per cent, and the Greens on six per cent. Advertisement At the last state election, Labor polled a primary vote of 35.8 per cent while the Liberals achieved 44.8 per cent. Xenophon is South Australians’ clear preference for Premier, sitting on 46 per cent of the vote ahead of incumbent Jay Weatherill on 22 per cent and Opposition Leader Steven Marshall on 19 per cent. He said today he aimed to field 20 candidates at the March 17 election. Newspoll was unable to calculate a two-party preferred vote – an indication of how SA Best’s entry into the campaign has transformed South Australian politics. The poll of 800 voters conducted from October 12 to December 17 has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. This Xenophon poll is historic. I can’t recall the major parties ever being outpolled by a so called “minor” party. His candidates only have to come second and Labor or Lib preferences will likely give his candidate the seat. 2 Party system under pressure? https://t.co/A9tnAB5Bx3 — bruce hawker (@brucehawker2010) December 18, 2017 The previous state-based Newspoll taken in late 2015 showed the Liberals leading Labor on the primary vote – 38 to 36 – but gave the two-party preferred advantage to Labor – 51-49 – based on preference flows from the 2014 state election. Xenophon said today the poll showed that South Australians wanted an alternative “from the political centre”. “I think what it does show is that people are sick of the broken state of South Australian politics, they don’t think much of the major parties and the fact that SA Best, which is basically a start up, a fledgling party with a fraction of the resources of the major parties, is doing this well in the polls, indicates that people do want change and they don’t want change from the left or the right, they actually want change from the political centre,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide. Advertisement Xenophon, who has so far announced six candidates to stand at the state election, said he would be announcing more candidates later this week. He aimed to have 20 candidates in total, “unless there’s a surge, unless we have lots of people going to the SA Best website today”. The party was running on a shoestring and trying to make the most of its limited resources. “We are running in seats where we think we have a real chance of winning, of causing an upset, and it’s tough – it’s tough when you’re a start-up party up against major parties that have the backing of either big unions or big business.” He defended his requirement that each candidate should stump up $20,000 of their own funds to stand for SA Best. “The 20,000 is basically there to say ‘if you’re going to run a serious campaign you need that order of money to run it’. I’ve put my 20,000 in, as have the other candidates, because running a typical campaign costs much, much more than that.” Labor minister Peter Malinauskas focused on policy when asked about the Xenophon threat today. He said any party aspiring to government needed to present a full suite of candidates and policies and the Xenophon party had yet to do that. The Health Minister said he wasn’t surprised by the Newspoll figures. “We’re going through a period of disruption in politics and no-one’s immune from it,” he told reporters. “But the focus of the government has to be making sure we’re delivering the services that people expect.” We value local independent journalism. We hope you do too. InDaily provides valuable, local independent journalism in South Australia. As a news organisation it offers an alternative to The Advertiser, a different voice and a closer look at what is happening in our city and state for free. Any contribution to help fund our work is appreciated. Please click below to become an InDaily supporter. Powered by PressPatronOur coverage of the Arab Spring was over-excited, admits BBC Head of news admits reporters may have failed to explore both sides of the story Countries where regimes were not overthrown were ignored, says BBC Trust report by former UN director of communications Two thirds of mobile footage and other user-generated content was broadcast without any caveats The BBC’s coverage of the Arab Spring has been heavily criticised – by the corporation’s bosses. Head of news Helen Boaden admitted that her journalists got carried away with events and produced ‘over-excited’ reports. She told a BBC Trust report that in Libya, where reporters were ‘embedded’ with rebels, they may have failed to explore both sides of the story properly. Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen was among those criticised in the study into coverage of the uprisings, which found that ‘excitement’ did sometimes ‘infect’ the reporting, which some viewers described as ‘too emotive’ and ‘veering into opinion’. The BBC's coverage of major revolutions such as Libya, pictured. were prioritised over reporting from countries where regimes were not overthrown resulting in 'insufficient' coverage The document, published yesterday, also raised concerns about the corporation’s use of footage filmed on mobile phones and other user-generated content. It noted that the BBC failed to warn viewers with ‘caveats’ about the ‘authenticity’ of such footage in 74 per cent of cases. It also warned that the corporation ignored events in some countries as it concentrated on ‘big’ stories. Early coverage of Egypt and Libya was 'over-excited ' Miss Boaden is quoted saying: ‘In the conflict in Egypt in the beginning... we might have sounded over-excited – you can take on the colour of who you’re with. I had to say “just be careful about your tone”. ‘In Libya too, where we were essentially embedded [with the rebels] at the start, we might have sounded over-excited – you have to be careful if you can’t get to the other side of the story.’ While the report found that overall the BBC’s coverage was ‘generally impartial’, it did raise concerns about aspects of its reporting. Journalist Edward Mortimer who authored the report said it was 'a pity' that reporting suffered on behalf of coverage of uprisings in countries like Egypt, pictured Embarrassingly for Mr Bowen, it suggested he should ‘travel a little less’ so he would have more time to provide ‘insight’ and ‘strategic guidance’ to bosses. The report’s author, former UN director of communications Edward Mortimer, added that the BBC made mistakes in its reporting of countries such as Bahrain, where he said coverage was ‘rather sporadic’ and arguably insufficient. The report added there should have been ‘greater eagerness’ in covering the situation in Yemen and also questioned coverage of Algeria, Morocco and Jordan. Alison Hastings, chairman of the trust’s editorial standards committee, said: ‘We’re keen to see if improvements can be made... both in the scope of coverage to provide a fuller picture of events, and in providing better context for audiences.Scalable SQL Made Easy: How CockroachDB Automates Operations A modern distributed database should do more than just split data amongst a number of servers; it should correctly manage partitions (or shards). Moreso, it should automatically detect failures, fix itself without any operator intervention, and completely abstract this management from the end user. This post is the first in a series on how CockroachDB handles its data and discusses the mechanisms it uses to rebalance and repair. These systems make managing a CockroachDB cluster significantly easier than managing other databases. Data Storage Before we get into the details of automated rebalancing and repair, we’re going to have to start at the basics. So let’s take a quick look at how CockroachDB stores, partitions, and replicates data. Data is Stored as Key Value Pairs Partitioned into Ranges CockroachDB stores all user data and almost all system data in a giant, monolithic, sorted map of key value pairs. This keyspace is divided into what we call ranges, contiguous chunks of the keyspace, so that every key can always be found in a single range. A key may have a corresponding value, and if it does, this value is stored in that range. This figure depicts the full keyspace with each blue line intersecting with the horizontal keyspace denoting a key that’s been inserted. Each key has some random value associated with it. Note that the keys are in alphabetic order. This keyspace is then subdivided into ranges (subsets of the keyspace), shown here as sideways parentheses. No ranges ever overlap and every key, even ones that have not yet been written to, can be found in an existing range. Now there’s something missing here. This is clearly just the key-value layer and we’re a SQL database. All SQL tables, rows, columns and index entries are mapped to keys behind the scenes. To see how this works, this post covers most of the details. Ranges are Distributed CockroachDB is a distributed database designed to be run across multiple nodes (servers or VMs) joined together into a single cluster. Given this design, it wouldn’t make sense for all ranges to reside on a single node, so CockroachDB spreads the ranges evenly across the nodes of the cluster: In this figure, each range is assigned to a node. What’s important here is that that ranges can be on any node and that more than one range can be a node. Ranges Split as They Grow As more data is added to the system, more keys will have values associated with them and the total size of the data stored in ranges will grow. CockroachDB aims to keep ranges relatively small (64 MiB by default). This size was chosen for two reasons. If the ranges are too large, it means that moving a range from one machine to another becomes a very slow task, which would slow down the cluster’s ability to repair itself (more on this in a bit). However, if the ranges are too small, then the overhead of indexing them all starts to become a problem. So when a range becomes too large, it’s split into two or more smaller ranges, and these new ranges represent slightly smaller chunks of the overall keyspace. When a split occurs, no data move around, only range metadata does, so the new range will be on the same node as the one it split from. In this figure, some new keys have been inserted and they all happened to fall into Range 3. As a result, Range 3 has become too large and needs to split. It splits into a smaller Range 3 and adds a new Range 6. Note that Range 6 will at first be on the same node as Range 3, since no data has moved during the split, just that some of Range 3’s keys have been assigned to the new range. Ranges are Replicated Organizing the keyspace into ranges makes it possible to store and distribute data efficiently across the cluster, but that alone doesn’t make the cluster robust against failure. For fault tolerance, it’s vital to have more than one copy of each key and value. To that end, CockroachDB replicates each range into what we call replicas (3 times by default), storing each of these replicas on a different node. The more replicas a range has, the lower the chance of data loss from failures, but of course, each change will have to be copied to a larger number of replicas. It’s important here to note that a write command only requires confirmation from a majority of replicas. This means that while latency does increase with the addition of more replicas, only a subset actually affect the latency of that write. To keep all the replica in sync, CockroachDB uses the Raft consensus algorithm. For a more in depth look at Raft, give this video a watch. It’s probably best to to clarify the terminology here. A range is actually an abstract concept, specifically owning a span of the keyspace. While a replica is a physical copy of all the keys and values within that span. So when a range splits, it happens on all replicas at the same time. The Raft consensus algorithm functions on the range’s level, keeping all of its replicas in sync. In this figure, we’re going to zoom out, and look at each node. Here 5 nodes are depicted, each with a collection of replicas. Each range from earlier is coloured the same way to make them easier to differentiate. Note that while in this diagram no two ranges have replicas on the same set of nodes, there is no system in place to prevent that. For a range to be considered available to serve reads and writes, a quorum (anything greater than 50%) of replicas must be present. With this in mind, when a single node fails (for whatever reason), the rest of the cluster can keep functioning. This ability to continue functioning during failures is one of the key advantages of a distributed system. But being distributed isn’t enough. If there is no automated repair policy, the next failure might cause some data to become unavailable. In this figure, we can see that in the case of a single node failure, Node 3, the cluster as a whole can still function, including the ranges that have replicas on the dropped node. A quorum (>50%) of replicas is required to maintain availability. All affected ranges clearly have 2 copies and are thus still available. If a 2nd node was affected, there may be some ranges that could become unavailable. Due to their small size (as discussed earlier), replicas can be moved quickly and freely between nodes. This is a key point on how CockroachDB automatically balances the cluster, and we’re going to get back to it in a bit. How We Know Where Range Replicas Live To keep track of on which nodes all of these replicas reside, we keep a two-tiered index into all ranges’ replicas. We call these the meta indexes. For each replica, a key in the first-level index points to a key in the second-level index, which in turn points to the actual locations of the data. These meta indexes must always be accurate in order for queries to find the keys they’re functioning on so they are stored just like all other data, as replicated ranges, but in a reserved portion of the keyspace. Whenever CockroachDB moves, adds, removes, or splits these ranges, it therefore does so with the same level of data integrity as for all other data in the system. This is a very significant benefit of CockroachDB, as it means applications never need to know anything about the location of data. They just query any node in the cluster, and CockroachDB handles data access behind-the-scenes. Automated Repair Now that we’ve mapped out how CockroachDB stores data as replicated ranges, what happens when somebody unplugs one of your servers, or a hard drive fails, or some other disaster inevitably occurs? Let’s return to our example above. When a single node fails, all the ranges that have replicas on that node are now missing a replica. Temporary Failure If this failure is temporary, each range will still have a quorum of replicas (66%, assuming each range starts with 3 replicas), so incoming requests will continue to be handled seamlessly. This figure shows that while Node 3 is still disconnected from the cluster, all replicas on that node can become stale. Range 4 had a number of new writes. Range 6 had some deletes. And Range 2 has split into Range 2 and Range 7. When the failed node comes back online and brings the missing replicas with it, it will quickly catch up restoring the specified level of fault tolerance. This figure demonstrates that when Node 3 reconnects, its stale replicas will catch up, including the split operation of Range 2 to Ranges 2 and 7. If there were further changes to range 7, it also will need to catch up. There are 3 ways in which a replica will catch up with a range once reattached to the cluster: If no changes were made to the range, the replica will simply rejoin the range. If there were only a few changes to the range, the replica will receive and process a list of commands in order to catch up. If the number of changes are large the replica will receive a snapshot of the current state of the range. This is the most expensive operation in terms of time, but since the limit for the size of a range is 64 MiB, it can be done quickly. If the range is active, even once that snapshot has been processed, there may still be some new commands that need to be applied. Permanent Failure But what about the case in which the node does not return? In this case, the loss of any other node could potentially result in a loss of a quorum of replicas for some ranges. This loss would in turn make those ranges’ data unavailable. This is a fragile state we don’t want the cluster in for very long, so once a node has been missing for five minutes, it is considered dead, and we automatically start the repair process. This five minute time is a customizable cluster wide setting server.time_until_store_dead which can be changed proactively if there is a longer than five minute downtime expected on a node. How We Repair Each CockroachDB node is continuously scanning all of its ranges. If any node notices that one of its range’s replicas is on a dead node, a new replica is added on a healthy node and the dead replica is removed. Since the ranges needing repair are distributed throughout the cluster, this repair process occurs across the system and the replicas being added will also be spread out. When a node is removed, there may be lot of ranges to repair, so these repairs are done at a slow yet steady pace designed to not impact latency. This process is based on the same heuristic we use for rebalancing data, which we’ll talk about next. In this figure, Node 3 did not reconnect, so the ranges with missing replicas, 2, 4, 6 and the newly created 7 all add new copies on other nodes. Automated Rebalancing One of the most important and novel aspects of CockroachDB is how it continuously rebalances data behind-the-scenes to fully utilize the whole cluster. Let’s start by considering some scenarios that would necessitate rebalancing: Scenario 1: You’re performing a large number of inserts on a 5-node cluster. The ranges affected are all on 3 of the 5 nodes, and those 3 nodes are starting to fill up while the other 3 nodes are pretty empty. In this figure, range 4 has grown significantly and has split into ranges 4, 7, 8 and 9. This has created an imbalance such that nodes 1, 2 and 3 now have significantly more replicas than the other nodes. This is remedied by rebalancing. A replica for Range 4 is moved from Node 1 to Node 5. A replica for Range 8 is moved from Node 1 to Node 4. And finally a replica for Range 7 is moved from node 3 to node 5. Now all nodes have either 5 or 6 replicas and the balance has been restored. Scenario 2: Your entire cluster is getting a little cramped, so you decide to add some new nodes to free up capacity and balance things out. This figure carries on after Node 3 was removed and the cluster repaired itself by making additional copies of the missing replicas. That node was replaced with a new node, Node 6. Once added, there is a clear imbalance. This was remedied by having Node 1 receive a number of replicas. It took a replica for Range 1 from Node 1, a replica for Range 3 from Node 5, and replicas of Ranges 5 and 6 from Node 4. Now all nodes have either 4 of 5 replicas and the cluster is again balanced. Scenario 3: Availability is important for a specific table that is queried frequently, so you create a table-specific replication zone to replicate the table’s data 5 times (instead of the default 3). In this figure, Range 1’s replication factor has been increased from 3 to 5. As two new copies are needed, new replicas of range 1 are added to nodes 2 and 5. In each of these scenarios, there’s a clear need to move replicas around, to less full nodes, to new nodes, or to nodes matching defined constraints. In classic sharded SQL databases, accomplishing this would require manually resharding the whole database, a painful process involving complex application-level logic and plenty of downtime (or at the very least a painful transition) that’s best avoided if possible. In most NoSQL databases, this process usually needs to be carefully planned and scheduled for performance reasons. In contrast, in CockroachDB, the rebalancer is always running and is designed to have minimal impact on performance. There is no
been right. But so far, despite some premature indications from commentators, there is no sign that they are right. Yesterday's protests apparently spread well beyond Tehran, with this footage purportedly coming from the southern city of Kerman. Despite the ongoing violence of the state, the protesters kept coming out, in new places. Given the extreme brutality of the basiji, it is amazing that the protesters didn't just stop turning out. But it may be that the repressive strategy is blowing back on the state. For, after the murder of Neda Soltani, and the reaction against it, Mousavi seems to feel more confident to make his move. He and other'reformers' are backing protests over this, apparently despite a government ban - quite unlike previous occasions where they have backed down and allowed protesters to brave the basij militias alone. He now says he is trying to organise a general strike, and is getting some interesting advice from people responding to his Facebook message. But if the protesters had followed his advice and stopped turning out when rallies were declared banned, he would not now be in a position to talk about a general strike. Unconfirmed reports on The Guardian have suggested that 30% of workers in Iran are already striking - which, if true, would be a phenomenal rebuke to the government, which threatened that anyone who didn't turn up for work would be fired. Try sacking 30% of the workforce.Stockfish has a very well documented codebase. Someone can learn a lot about chess even by just looking at the comments. As an example, here is what stockfish does in certain end games from the perspective of the strong side. For the weak side, the opposing plan is true. As a note for the rules that follow, they may not characterize all possible positions. If not, then the position has to be evaluated by looking more closely to its specifics. Plenty of material vs King – Just push the lone king towards the side and keep the distance of the two kings short. King + Knight + Bishop vs King – Similar as above. The difference is that the right corner is the corner with the same color as the bishop. King + Pawn vs King – It is evaluated based on some magic tables. King + Rook vs King + Pawn – If stronger’s side’s King is in front of the pawn, then this is a win. – Similarly, if the weaker’s side’s King is too far from the pawn, it is also a win for the strong side. – The position is a draw if the pawn is advanced and protected by the opposing king. King + Rook vs King + Bishop – Draw. King + Rook vs King + Knight – Draw, unless King and Kight are too far away. King + Queen vs King + Pawn – This is usually a win for the side with the Queen. – The exception is when the Pawn is on the 7th rank, protected by the King, on the Rook or Bishop files, and the strong’s side King is far away from the pawn. King + Queen vs King + Rook – This is a win for the stronger side. – The strong side wants the two kings closer and the enemy King driven to the edges. King + 2 Knights vs King – Draw. King + Bishop + Pawns vs King – This is in general a win for the strong side. – Exception is when the pawns are in the same Rook file, where the promoting square is of different color compared to the Bishop and the enemy King can arrive there in time. King + Bishop + Pawns vs King + Pawn – Similar as above. – Exception is when the pawns of the strong side are on a Knight’s file, there is an enemy’s pawn on the 7th rank and the bishop cannot attack it or if there is only one pawn from the strong side in that file. Then, there is a draw as long as the weak’s side King is within two squares from the blocking pawn, on the back two ranks, and the strong side’s King is farther away. King + Queen vs King + Rook + Pawns The weak is the one with King + Rook + Pawns. – It returns a draw if the pawns form a “fortress” on the third rank and they defend the rook, and the king is at most up to rank 2, and the enemy king is farther away (rank 4 or beyond). King + Rook + Pawn vs King + Rook – Draw if the pawn is not too far advanced (5th rank), the defending king protects the queening square, and the attacking king is away. The draw is achieved through the third-rank defense. – Draw if the pawn is on the 6th rank, by checking from behind the enemy King. – Draw if the pawn is on the 6th rank or higher, the defending King controls the queening square, the defending rook is on the first rank and either the tempo is on the defending’s side or the distance between the two kings is at least two squares. – Draw if the pawn is on A7, attacking Rook on A8, defending Rook behind the pawn, and defending King on H7 or G7. Symmetrically for a pawn on H7. – Draw if the defending king is blocking the pawn and the attacking king is too far away. – Win if the attacking king is closer to the pawn compared to the defending king. The pawn should not be on a rook’s file, though, and it should be close to be promoted. King + Rook + Pawn vs King + Bishop The only rule here concerns a possible pawn on a Rook file, which under some conditions can be a draw. King + Rook + 2 Pawns vs King + Rook + 1 Pawn Draw if the stronger side has no passed pawns and the defending king is actively placed. King + Pawns vs King Draw only if the pawns are on a Rook’s file and the defending king is in front of them. King + Bishop + Pawn vs King + Bishop – Draw if the defending King is in front of the Pawn and he can’t be kicked out. – Draw if bishops are of opposite color and one of the following is true: (a) pawn is on rank 5 or earlier (b) the defending king is in front of the pawn or (c) the defending bishop attacks one square in front of the pawn and it is at least three squares farther away from the pawn. King + Bishop + 2 Pawns vs King + Bishop To have a forced draw, we need opposite color bishops. Then: – Draw if the pawns are on the same file and the defending king is in front of the pawns. – Draw if the pawns are on adjacents files, the defending king is in front of them, and the defending bishop controls the squares in front of them. King + Bishop + Pawn vs King + Knight – Draw easily if the defending King is in front of the Pawn, in a square that the attacking Bishop cannot go. King + Knight + Pawn vs King – Draw if a Rook pawn is on the 7th rank and the defending King is blocking it. King + Knight + Pawn vs King + Bishop – Win only if the Knight can prevent the Bishop from taking the Pawn. King + Pawn vs King + Pawn – Draw chances if the weaker side could achieve a draw even without its pawn. – Exception is when the strong’s side Pawn is too advanced and the pawn is not on the Rook’s rank. Then, if the weaker side could have drawn even without its pawn, then it could have winning chances with its pawn. AdvertisementsEnter the world of competitive video-game playing. Members of the compLexity Gaming Dota 2 team play during The International Dota 2 Championships in Seattle. (Photo11: compLexity Gaming) The day starts with breakfast, followed by a trip to the gym for a morning workout. Then it’s back home to clean up and eat lunch, mostly healthy options like non-fat Greek yogurt, lean meats and veggies. Practice kicks off around 1 p.m., with a series of team scrimmages before breaking off into individual strategy sessions or reviewing game footage. After a little evening relaxation, it’s off to bed so the cycle can repeat the next day. This sounds like the routine of a professional athlete, and it is. Except they're video gamers. The drill is one followed by a group of five players representing compLexity Gaming, a competitive video-game playing team. They're following this strict prep regimen ahead of the sport's big event — The International Dota 2 Championships in Seattle. The 16 participating teams compete in group play to determine tournament seedings, with the main event running Aug. 3-8. These players are professionals in eSports, which includes team-based competitive video games. It's a subset of gaming that has surged in popularity in the U.S. Considering the $18 million prize pool for The International — with $6 million going to first place — it’s not surprising to see players invest this much energy into getting ready. “This is crunch time,” says Kyle “Swindlemelonzz” Freedman, a member of compLexity’s Dota 2 team. “This is the World Series.” compLexity Gaming team member Kyle "Swindlemelonzz" Freedman participates in a match at The International Dota 2 Championships in Seattle. (Photo11: compLexity Gaming) As competitive, group gaming surges in popularity, organizations and teams put in countless hours of practice and preparation, similar to what sports fans might see among their favorite teams, to get ready for big tournaments including The International and The League of Legends Championship Series, which hosts its finals in Berlin this fall. The sport has even had its own drug scandal. The world's largest eSports organization, ESL, will implement a policy targeting performance-enhancing drugs after a player admitted to using them during a recent tournament. The International was started in 2011 by Valve Software, creator of the Dota 2 video game. “There was always a strong competitive scene around Dota, and we thought running the first International would both recognize the skills of these players, but also give us a way to show off the game in the best possible way,” Erik Johnson of Valve Software says. Dota 2 is part of a growing video game genre called the multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA. It’s a real-time strategy game where players control a character boasting special abilities, working together with teammates to infiltrate an opponent’s base and destroy a key structure. Games including Dota 2, Heroes of Newerth and League of Legends are among the most popular MOBAs. The rise in popularity of Dota 2 and League of Legends fueled a jump in interest in eSports, says Joost van Dreunen, CEO of SuperData Research. The company projects global revenue of $612 million this year, while the audience is expected to grow to 170 million in 2017 from 134 million viewers this year. “What’s radically different from the eSports market today than, say, 2007 — when you had this heyday in South Korea — is now it’s all free to play,” van Dreunen says. “There’s a massive audience.” The International's record prize-pool of $18 million is up from $10 million last year. Valve funds $1.6 million of the prize pool, with the rest generated by fans through the purchase of an interactive tournament program called The Compendium. The tournament attracted the attention of ESPN, which will air the main event on the ESPN app for the second consecutive year. It’s also available on other streaming sites, including Twitch and Steam, Valve’s online games marketplace. LIVING, GAMING TOGETHER CompLexity’s routine started in April when the team was formed. All five players and a team manager live in a house in Maryland, practicing and studying ahead of the tournament. “All the big money is taking place when you’re playing right next to each other," says Kyle “Beef” Bautista, general manager of compLexity Gaming and manager of the organization's Dota 2 team. “When you’re spending more and more time with each other, you get to know each other a little bit more.” That only gave the team six weeks to practice and prepare before the qualifying rounds held in May. Despite the short time together, compLexity won the Americas region and entrance into the main event. Freedman says practices consist of scrimmaging and writing down ideas about what to do in a match. He’ll also study stats on Dota 2’s Heroes — there are 110 to choose from — or watch replays of opponents. “It’s really important that you’re in a positive state of mind,” he says of the team’s daily routine. “Team camaraderie is often a lot more important than your actual in-game practice. It’s sort of the same with actual sports. It’s why the (NBA's San Antonio) Spurs are successful. They’ve got a really strong team.” Each eSports group employs a different strategy for preparing for big events such as The International. Evil Geniuses formed their team in January, allowing them to practice from home before gathering for boot camps in Boston and San Francisco three weeks ahead of the trip to Seattle, team manager Charlie Yang says. During boot camp, the team engages in a series of scrimmages before breaking off for solo practice and replay reviews. Yang says the team considered living together in one space but opted for the boot-camp approach to give players some space. “It’s very difficult to maintain a balance between work and your private life,” he says. Yang says the rise of eSports was expected but is surprised at its rapid ascent: “It’s becoming a generation thing. Video games are the new media of this generation." Freedman estimates 90%-95% of a player’s time is spent focused on Dota in the weeks leading up to a tournament. But that commitment can pay off. “The difference between winning or losing one game could earn you $50,000 personally, maybe $200,000,” Freedman says. Freedman had only played Dota 2 for a little more than a year ahead of The International, which kicks off pool play this week. He has been involved in competitive gaming since he was 18, playing Heroes of Newerth, and has turned it into a full-time career. “People make this big of a living playing billiards, golf and doing magic tricks,” Freedman says. "My dad always told me, ‘If you can be the best at anything, you can make a living off it.’ ” Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23. Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Sn7DyfThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. Dear Editors, In a recent study of children with autism or ADHD, it was reported that 4 out of 15 ADHD patients had serum autoantibodies targeting glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) [1], one of two enzymes that convert glutamate to the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (for a review on GAD65 antibodies see [2]). Moreover, serum from eight of the ADHD children reacted with GABAergic Purkinje cells in sections of mouse cerebellum and three reacted with cells of the molecular and granular cell layers of the cerebellum. This was in contrast to the control sera of which none reacted. As the patient sample group of Rout et al. [1] was small, we wanted to replicate their findings on the GAD65 antibody prevalence in a larger sample. We also examined for autoantibodies against three related neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzymes which also have been implicated in ADHD and other neuropsychiatric disorders: aromatic-l-amino-acid decarboxylase (DOPA decarboxylase; AADC) [3, 4], tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) [3, 5], and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) [3, 6]. An autoimmune subtype of ADHD could explain why some patients have associated neurological symptoms and the striking differences in rates of disease progression and could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies. The patient recruitment protocol has been described previously [7]. From a collection of 350 ADHD serum samples, we randomly picked samples from 79 ADHD patients for antibody assays. Serum samples from 10 anonymous healthy blood donors were pooled and used as negative control and high antibody titre sera from four patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) [8, 9, 10, 11, 12] were used as positive controls, one APS-1 patient for each antigen. The medical histories of the ADHD patients were obtained by auto-questionnaires and telephone interviews. Project approval was granted by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics of Western Norway (IRB 00001872). An informed consent form was obtained from all ADHD and APS-1 patients. In vitro transcription and translation of 35S-radiolabeled GAD65, AADC, TPH1 and TH was performed with the TNT T3 coupled reticulocyte lysate system (Promega Corporation, Madison, WI, USA). For experimental details, see [12]. All assays for each antibody contained identical positive and negative control sera which were used to normalise between assays if a prominent phase shift was detected. 1 Open image in new window As shown in Fig., 1 out of 79 ADHD patients had clearly detectable GAD65 antibodies, with an antibody reactivity of approximately 66 % of the positive control serum from an APS-1 patient. This female patient in her 40s reported to have had ADHD symptoms from an early age, but was formally diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She did not have epilepsy, diabetes mellitus or known autoimmune disorders. The ADHD patient with antibodies against AADC, with a reactivity of about 28 % of the positive APS-1 control, is a young male. He was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and also suffers from epilepsy. None of the 79 ADHD patients had detectable TPH1 autoantibodies. The patient with the highest antibody reactivity against TH, at approximately 40 % of the positive control serum, is a female patient in her mid 20s who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She did not suffer from epilepsy, diabetes mellitus or any other known autoimmune disorders. In summary we were not able to replicate the findings of Rout et al. [1] on the prevalence of GAD65 autoantibodies in ADHD, as we detected only one GAD65 antibody positive patient in our sample of 79 clinically diagnosed ADHD patients. This frequency is in line with previous studies of GAD65 antibodies in the presumed healthy population [13]. Therefore, we find it unlikely that GAD65 antibodies are frequently observed or involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. As we have used an established, validated assay protocol that has been used in routine diagnostic and research settings for many years [14], we expect that autoantibody positive sera would have been detected in our experiments. A limitation of our findings is that the patients investigated have a different age (mean 26 vs. 9 years) and sex (48 % female vs. 20 % female) composition than the patients of Rout et al. [1]. It is thought that the levels of GAD65 antibodies in the healthy population reach a top during childhood and subsequently falls as the individual ages [13]. In addition there are known sex differences in the prevalence of several of the autoimmune disorders [15]. Although, theoretically, the prevalence of GAD65 autoantibodies could be completely different in child and adult ADHD patients, this is not consistent with findings in other autoimmune disorders [16]. As the exact prevalence of AADC, TPH1 and TH autoantibodies in the general Norwegian population is not known, we cannot conclude whether the antibody frequencies in ADHD are different from controls. However, the prevalence of AADC, TPH1 and TH antibody positive ADHD patients in our material was low. In addition, the levels of antibodies in the positive ADHD patients were low compared to the positive controls with known autoimmune disease. Consequently we do not believe that AADC, TPH1 and TH autoantibodies are causally linked to ADHD, but as with GAD65, we cannot exclude the possibility of autoimmunity being involved in the aetiology in a minor subgroup of the patients. Rout et al. [1] sought to confirm the presence of human antibodies against GAD65 and other potential ADHD-related antigens with immunofluorescence staining of mouse cerebellum sections with ADHD patient sera. Although the staining patterns may be due to disease specific autoantibodies, this method has several potential pitfalls. At serum dilutions at 1:500, naturally occurring human antibodies might be capable of staining cells from foreign species. Consequently, the results of Rout et al. [1] could be due to a preformed antibody reaction, for example targeting the carbohydrate residue αGal, synthesised by N-acetyllactosaminide alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (Ggta1) [17, 18].At 34, Taylor is on the young side for a principal investigator, or P.I. — the lead researcher of a project or lab. Top scientists at Fred Hutch’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, or VIDD, already considered him a rising star in immunology when they recruited him in the spring of 2014 to open his own lab. This is the story of how a young scientist makes the leap from being a postdoctoral fellow in someone else’s lab to being the P.I. of his own at a time when science itself is facing funding hurdles. ‘You want to set the course a little broader’ A lot of people go to graduate school in the sciences knowing they want to some day run their own lab. Taylor wasn’t one of them. The second-oldest of six, he grew up in New York state, the son of a truck driver who moved bales of hay between farms and a nurse who, when her kids got older, went back to work on the overnight shift at the local emergency room. His father taught him to sweat — and advised him: “Stay in college.” His mother, as unflappable tending her son’s broken arm at a baseball game as she was in the ER, modeled calm. He didn’t know what he wanted to do until his junior year at New Jersey’s Rider University, when his biology professor turned a small class of just five students into an immunology lab running real research experiments. Taylor was hooked. “I’d never thought about science as a means to learn things because it was never taught that way,” he said. “When thinking about a question, you do reading, see if anybody knows the answer, and if not, you design an experiment.” Over the next six years as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania and then five more as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, Taylor spent most of his time in a lab — coming up with questions, designing experiments and developing powerful techniques that led to publication in two top scientific journals and a job at Fred Hutch. By the time he was wrapping up his postdoc, he decided that he had more ideas — more questions — than he could answer alone. That’s when he started to think about his own lab. “You want to take on the responsibility, to set the course a little broader,” he said. Taylor’s research focuses on B-cell immunology, a type of white blood cell responsible for producing antibodies. He works with so-called naïve B cells — ones that haven’t yet been exposed to, and thus triggered by, the foreign or abnormal molecule for which they are specific. A few of these naïve B cells, so elusive he calls them “a kind of dark matter of cells,” are capable of protecting a person against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Rare as they are, everybody has them. They just have to be “trained” by a vaccine to protect against HIV. And to be trained, they have to first bind to the vaccine. As a postdoc, Taylor developed an innovative laboratory technique using metallic additives and magnets to test experimental vaccines to see which B cells bind to them. His approach allows researchers to quickly screen dozens, even hundreds, of vaccine candidates in the lab and — without having to inject a single person — throw out the ones that don’t have a chance of working. Since coming to Fred Hutch, he has been working with Dr. Leo Stamatatos and other top researchers on HIV, but as his small, four-person lab grows, he wants to expand to include other infections for which a vaccine doesn’t exist. “He is doing great, exciting work,” said VIDD Director Dr. Julie McElrath, who is a top HIV researcher herself and who recruited Taylor. “The HIV field has been looking to apply concepts of basic immunology, particularly B-cell immunology, because B cells bring the antibodies. The tools he has and the insights he has are really important.” On a recent afternoon in his laboratory looking out at the I-5 freeway pillars, Taylor had arranged everything he needed to do that day’s experiment: test tubes in pink and blue plastic racks or nestled in a plastic bucket of ice to keep the cells inside them cold; five pipettes, in different sizes to deliver varying volumes; a plastic bucket to dispose of pipette tips. The protocol — essentially the recipe for the experiment, the product of careful design and testing — was clipped to the hood of the biosafety cabinet. Calm, focused, confident, Taylor is a natural at the bench. But these days, he’s lucky to be in the lab doing experiments one day a week — a goal he doesn’t always make. He has other responsibilities — like ordering all those test tubes and pipettes, for starters.Renovating my “New-2-Me-RVJedeye Mobile,” has been a handful, but for the most part fun. I know I’ve mentioned it before, if I didn’t do everything now, I don’t know when or IF I would get to everything. So the tough times now, not being on the road, will pay off in the long run. So when I started off working on the flooring I knew it would take some time getting it all up. I had visions of what I thought it would take and some of them have been realistic, others are far off. Unlike some of the other renovation projects so far… the handles and hardware for example, this one may yield the biggest change to the rig. I love going to the beach in my RV so, going to a vinyl plank flooring system, will make clean up so much easier. When I was tearing up everything, the amount of dirt and sand and grime was ridiculous. So if I ever sell this bad boy to someone else, at least they won’t have to worry about that any more. THE BUDGET : Here’s a look at the overall budget for this week. And you’ll see there are no real changes for this episode because most of what I’m doing now is just ripping everything up and getting it out of the rig. However in each episode I’m providing a detailed look of what I spent in the episode and the overall cost for everything. Things are starting to pick up with the budget, there will be more… lot’s more when it comes to adding to the budget. Remember, if you see some things you might want or need in previous episodes, you should be able to find things through my Amazon Affiliate link. Here’s what I spent this week and the overall breakdown for you: [RVJedeye] – DIY/RV Renovation Budget: (July 24, 2017) Expenses for Episode :12 “RV Flooring PT2” Items: No new items this week $0.00 ===================== Episode :12 Sub Total $0.00 OVERALL TOTALS TO DATE: $464.46 RELATED LINKS: (From Episode :12) “Waffle House” https://wafflehouse.com/ To continue to follow the adventures, you can find me online, “RVJedeye” at: RVJedeye.com AND YouTube: The “Twitter”: The “Gram”: The “Facebook”: Reddit: Pinterest: Snapchat Help support the channel through our Amazon affiliate link. Next time you order something, click here and help support the cause! (This is a FREE way to support us because we receive a small kickback for the purchases you make through our link) AdvertisementsCronkite News has moved to a new home at cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Use this site to search archives from 2011 to May 2015. You can search the new site for current stories. Feds designate areas of southern Arizona critical habitat for jaguars Critical habitat: The 764,207 acres designated as critical habitat for jaguars includes these mountain ranges: • Baboquivari • Pajarito • Atascosa • Tumacacori • Patagonia • Santa Rita • Huachuca • Peloncillo Mountains straddling the Arizona/New Mexico line • San Luis Mountains in New Mexico PHOENIX – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated more than 1,100 square miles of southern Arizona and New Mexico as critical habitat for the endangered jaguar. The announcement Tuesday means that federal agencies will have to consider the impact on jaguars before approving uses such as mining. The designation doesn’t apply to private land unless the owners propose a use requiring federal funding or permits. “It serves as a yellow flag for federal agencies that now have an additional responsibility to protect the habitat,” said Jeff Humphrey, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman. The designation includes mountain ranges in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties. The jaguar, which is listed as an endangered species, once ranged from California into Louisiana. However, habitat destruction and hunting decimated the population. Jaguars have been spotted occasionally in southern Arizona in recent years, including reports of one in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. In 2009, state Game and Fish Department employees snared an aged jaguar, dubbed Macho B, which died shortly after in captivity. The Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service three times seeking critical habitat protection for jaguars. In 2009, a federal judge in Arizona rejected the agency’s arguments against the designation, including the fact that few jaguars were believed to be in the U.S. Despite Tuesday’s announcement, Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate for the center, said it isn’t enough. “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been very reluctant to take action with the jaguars,” he said. “We must regain the previous range to make and bolster the gene pool.” Critical habitat area designations include the Baboquivari, Pajarito, Atascosa, Tumacacori, Patagonia, Santa Rita and Huachuca mountain ranges in Arizona, the Peloncillo Mountains that straddle the Arizona/New Mexico line and the northern tip of the San Luis Mountains in New Mexico. Robinson said the designation should have included the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona and the Mogollon Rim. The designated habitats were decided after a team of scientists studied the North American jaguar population’s history and current habitat, which is mostly in Mexico, Humphrey said. “We look at what’s biologically justifiable,” he said. “It allows movement for animals from that northern population.” A jaguar recovery plan is set for release by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the spring. Robinson said the plan should include a way to assist the jaguars in Mexico and possibly consider the idea of reintroduction. Humphrey said there is no plan to reintroduce jaguars in Arizona, but he added that conservation of habitats once popular with the jaguar is important. “If we conserve endangered species in their habitats today, it doesn’t give us room for conservation in the future,” Humphrey said. Mike Rabe, nongame wildlife branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said agency didn’t support designating critical habitat for the jaguar and doesn’t think doing so will make a difference. “People get really excited about this, but the conservation impact of this will be slight,” he said. “It’s not that we don’t like jaguars,” he added. “We’d like to see more of them in the state.”NHL disciplinarian Stephane Quintal hinted last week some “big names” might join the Department of Player Safety. Well, how’s this for a big name? Chris Pronger. The All-Star defenseman and Stanley Cup champion has interviewed for a job in the DPS and is at the top of Quintal’s list to replace the departed Brian Leetch. He would be part of the team that analyzes plays, participates in hearings and gives input to Quintal, who makes the final decisions. Scroll to continue with content Ad Pronger would be a controversial choice for two reasons: -- One, he racked up 1,916 penalty minutes in the regular season and playoffs combined over his 18-year NHL career. He was suspended eight times for a total of 22 games – 20 in the regular season and two in the playoffs. The infractions? Slashing. High-sticking. Leaving the bench to join an altercation. Cross-checking. Kicking (twice). Hitting the head (twice). -- Two, he hasn’t technically retired. He’s still being paid by the Philadelphia Flyers, who have him on long-term injured reserve for salary-cap reasons. He has three years left on the deal he signed in 2010 at $4 million, $575,000 and $575,000. But Pronger would be an inspired choice. [ Yahoo Sports Fantasy Hockey: It's time to join a league today! ] If you want to build a better safe, hire a safe-cracker. That was part of the reason NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hired Brendan Shanahan to lead the DPS when it was formed in 2011, and it was part of the reason Bettman named Quintal as Shanahan’s replacement in September. Shanahan and Quintal both had run-ins with the law during their NHL careers. Story continues Pronger commands respect. No one can say he doesn’t understand either side of the equation. He knows the mentality of players who break the rules, but he knows the pain of players who have suffered head injuries, too. Though he hasn’t officially retired, everyone knows his career has ended because of concussions and he has lingering symptoms. His connection to the Flyers does present a conflict of interest. But he hasn’t played since November 2011 and does not have any active role in the organization anymore. He would not weigh in on any incidents involving the Flyers. The NHL Players’ Association is involved; the NHL likely would wait for the union’s blessing. Pronger would work behind the scenes, the way Leetch and Rob Blake did when they assisted Shanahan. But this shows Quintal, who doesn’t have the high profile Shanahan did, is not afraid to hire someone more prominent than he is. It’s about building the best team. And the roster isn’t complete yet. Stay tuned.You know I love film. Just shot my Polaroid 600E yesterday and loved it. Shot the Hassie the week before, and just loaded a roll into my Lomo ‘Sardine’. That said, seeing that damn near everything has (obviously and justly) gone digital, film cameras are dirt cheap. And whether you’re a seasoned pro or an iphone snapper, a good dose of shooting actual film would be good for you. Trust me on this. So that’s why I’ve taken the time to wrangle five great cameras for under $300 that you can use to re-invigorate your film shooting, even if it’s just for a little flirt with nostalgia. … (and I know that there are a lot of sweet cameras OVER $300…i’ve listed a few of my fav’s in the comments. Please share yours there too….) This camera, in its heyday, was known as the “poor man’s Leica,” and with darned good reason. The fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens is sharp as all heck, producing images that, with the right film, will produce incredibly crisp negatives. My go-to setup has a 58mm step-down ring on the lens to accomodate a modern Canon lens cap (which is important as these old cameras don’t usually include a lens cap). The nice thing here? The metering system still works on most copies you can buy today; all you need is a 1.35v battery (Wein Cell makes a nice replacement for the old mercury batts) and you’re good to go. You can shoot in shutter-priority only, and since the metering sensor sits directly above the lens and inside the filter ring, it compensates for ND filters if you use one. The best part, though, is the price. Depending on condition, the QL17 GIII can be had for between $75 and $150. Mine cost $110, and is in excellent condition. Make sure you check the seals on the unit you’re buying, however, as these wear out easily and can cause light leaks (but are also easily replaced). Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonet_G-III_QL17 Price: $75-$150 depending on condition. Where to Buy: eBay is your best bet on this. Nikon F3 Though Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and other manufacturers made excellent SLRs, I like the Nikon F#-series of cameras as, in most cases, they have the most flexible lens mounts. This camera will take just about any Nikon lens made in the last several decades (with the notable exception of “G” lenses, which have no manual aperture ring). Plus it doubles as a hammer or a weapon if you’re in need. These things are tougher than dirt. The F3 is a manual-focus camera, but has a metering system and allows for aperture-priority metering. It uses 2 SR44 button cells for power, which are easily available. Stick a 50mm f/1.8 lens on this puppy and you’ll be good to go. Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F3 Price: About $200 depending on condition. Where to Buy: KEH.com has some great deals on them. You can get an Excellent-condition body for about $189 and a 50mm f/1.8 lens will set you back about $80. Medium-Format Cameras in this category used to cost thousands of dollars — and still do, in some cases. But don’t let that dissuade you from experiencing the joy of holding a 4.5×6 — or larger — negative. Here are two cameras that will let you shoot those big, fat, negatives for an affordable price. Mamiya C33 TLR Though its younger sibling, the C330, gets all the attention among Twin Lens Reflex camera afficionados, the C33 is actually a very, very respectable
longstanding oversight of the administration of the Internet, satisfying international critics while potentially frightening some American business leaders. Lawrence E. Strickling, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, told Craig Timberg of the Washington Post that US authorities plan to either end or drastically reduce the contract between the US Commerce Department and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The government’s long standing agreement with the California-based non-profit is scheduled to expire next year but may be extended if the plans are not executed in a timely manner. “The timing is right to start the transition process,” Strickling said. “We look forward to ICANN convening stakeholders across the global Internet community to craft an appropriate transition plan.” The immediate consequence of the decision is unclear, however the federal agencies have been under intense pressure to act in some way since Edward Snowden leaked classified National security agency documents last year indicating that the intelligence agency logs and analyzes much of the communication that is transmitted through US-based websites. As international complaints became more vocal there was speculation that the United Nations would step into a bigger role of Internet administration. A number of global leaders have advocated such a measure, although the US has never been in favor and the announcement Friday seemed to further minimize that possibility. The government said it intends to help in the creation of a new oversight body, and that the group must have the full trust of the international community. “I welcome the beginning of this transition process that you have outlined. The global community will be included in full,” Fadi Chehadé, president of ICANN, told the Post. “Nothing will be done in any way to jeopardize the security and stability of the Internet.” Not all parties are as enthusiastic, though, over concerns that ICANN has not done enough to maintain a secure environment online. The organization’s primary responsibility is to supervise the assignment of online domains. It is currently in the midst of a bulky transition that includes the addition of hundreds of new domains such as.management,.army, and.expert rather than the traditional.com or.org. A popular criticism accuses ICANN of essentially bending to the concerns of the profitable domain industry rather than regulating it. “To set ICANN so-called ‘free’ is a very major step that should be done with careful oversight,” said Dan Jaffe, executive vice president of the association of National Advertisers. “We would be very concerned about that step.” A Michael Froomkin, a law professor at the University of Miami, told the Atlantic’s Robinson Meyer that ICANN has been angling for greater independence from its federal overseers for years. In September 2009 the two parties agreed on an “Affirmation of Commitments,” which gave ICANN more power to govern itself but ensured that the US could intervene in an emergency. “The Affirmation of Commitment was kind of a truce,” he said. “ICANN got most of what it wanted; the Europeans and Japanese got most of what they wanted; the US gave up, you know, a lot, without giving up the core thing – which is that, in case of emergency, it can step in.” Froomkin went on to tell the magazine that, in the time since that agreement, the NSA revelations have “become a way for a lot of different agendas to meet.” International leaders will convene in Singapore on March 24 to further deliberate over the future of the Internet.Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The BBC's Christian Fraser on the "front line" in East Jerusalem Israeli leaders have appealed for calm after the discovery of a kidnapped Palestinian teenager's body sparked clashes in East Jerusalem. Mohammed Abu Khdair, 17, was seen being forced into a car early on Wednesday. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "despicable murder" and the mayor of Jerusalem urged restraint. Palestinian leaders said they held Israel responsible for the killing, amid claims it was in revenge for the murder of three Israeli teenagers. Agence France-Presse quoted the militant group Hamas as telling Israeli leaders: "Our people will not let this crime pass... You will pay the price for these crimes." The BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem says the Palestinian teenager's funeral is now expected to take place on Thursday and will be another cause for tension. 'Law-abiding state' Israeli police are still investigating the possible motives for the death. Mr Netanyahu said he had ordered police to work "as quickly as possible to find out who was behind the heinous murder of the youth" and called on both sides "not to take the law into their own hands". Image copyright Reuters Image caption Violence erupted in Shufat, East Jerusalem, after the body was discovered Image copyright AP Image caption There were also early morning clashes in Jenin in the West Bank "Israel is a law-abiding state and everyone is obliged to act according to it," he said. Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat also denounced the murder, urging all to "exercise restraint". "This is a horrible and barbaric act which I strongly condemn," he said. Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch urged patience as the investigation was carried out. The US condemned the killing. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a series of tweets it was a "heinous murder" and that the "perpetrators must be brought to justice". Secretary of State John Kerry's statement said "there are no words to convey adequately our condolences to the Palestinian people". The family of one of the three murdered Israeli teenagers also issued a statement condemning the latest killing. "If the Arab youth was murdered because of nationalistic motives then this is a horrible and horrendous act," the statement from the family of Naftali Frenkel said. Analysis: Yolande Knell, BBC News, Jerusalem The Israeli police insist they are taking the case of Mohammed Abu Khdair seriously and that a thorough investigation is under way. They said they began a search for him as soon as he was reported missing. Most Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have already made their minds up about the motivation for the murder. Tensions are now set to rise again particularly with a funeral expected to take place on Thursday. Locals say they are worried this death could trigger a new cycle of violence. Tensions simmer in East Jerusalem "There is no difference between Arab blood and Jewish blood. Murder is murder. There is no forgiveness or justification for any murder." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement: "I demand the Israeli government punish the killers if it wants peace between the Palestinian and Israeli people". Mr Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said in a separate statement that Israel was "fully responsible for the killing of the teenager". Clashes erupted outside the teenager's home in the Arab district of Shufat in East Jerusalem after news broke of the discovery of the body. Protesters threw stones at officers, who responded by firing sound bombs, tear gas and rubber bullets. At least 35 people were injured by the rubber bullets, reports said. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The violence comes a day after funerals were held in the West Bank for the three murdered Israeli teenagers Image copyright Reuters Image caption The abductions of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach sparked a massive search operation Scores of Israelis had angrily protested in Jerusalem late on Tuesday, after the funerals of the three Israeli teenagers. Ghonit Sela, director of the Human Rights in East Jerusalem Project, told the BBC further attacks were feared. "We saw dozens of people walking in broad daylight in the streets, yelling 'death to Arabs', trying to attack Arabs. "I know my Palestinian friends today are not taking public transportation, they're afraid of what would happen. I also know that myself and my Jewish friends would be scared to go today into a Palestinian neighbourhood." The uncle of the kidnapped Palestinian teenager confirmed that the body found in a forest near Givat Shaul, in the western outskirts of Jerusalem, was Mohammed Abu Khdair's. The body was partly burned and bore marks of violence. Witnesses said Mohammed Abu Khdair was abducted near his father's shop in Shufat. A relative said he saw two men approach the boy and ask for directions before bundling him into a car. "While they were speaking to him, a car approached in which there was a third man," Saeed Abu Khudair told the Reuters news agency. "Two of them carried him. He was small so he couldn't resist. "Some men who were nearby saw what happened. They chased after the kidnappers' car, but they couldn't catch it." The killing comes a day after funerals were held in the West Bank for the three Jewish seminary students whose bodies were found near the city of Hebron on Monday, two-and-a-half weeks after they were abducted.Hidden among the promise of a wall and the withdrawal of funding to sanctuary cities is a much more insidious – and immediate – move to replace the ‘catch and release’ border policy with mandatory detention Donald Trump is now effectively at war with undocumented migrants inside the US and those who attempt to cross the southern border without paperwork. Advisers and analysts alike have long suggested that Trump ought to be taken “seriously but not literally”, but Wednesday’s two executive orders on immigration show that he is living up to the blustering rhetoric of the 2016 election trail. It was a promise he made throughout an election campaign characterised by xenophobia, and one he has now underlined with a few flicks of the presidential pen. Attention focused upon Trump’s banner promise to erect a wall across an additional 1,200 miles of the US southern border – an order that will undoubtedly meet with stiff opposition when Congress is lobbied into funding the multibillion-dollar construction project that has, by Trump’s homeland security secretary’s own admission, limited effectiveness in deterring entry. There was also coverage of the aggressive declaration of intent to withdraw some funding to hundreds of sanctuary cities – those jurisdictions which offer protection to undocumented migrants – which will probably meet with vigorous legal opposition. However, Wednesday’s orders went further and carried instantaneous repercussions through dramatic immigration policy reversals that have been somewhat overlooked in the flurry of executive action. The US will now mandatorily detain any migrant that is caught crossing the border without documentation. Doing away with the era of so-called catch and release that allowed immigration authorities greater freedom to release those claiming asylum ahead of proceedings in immigration court, the order paves the way for a huge expansion of detention facilities at the southern border and is likely to have devastating humanitarian effects. Nearly 60,000 unaccompanied minors and close to 80,000 families were apprehended at the border in 2016, the vast majority of whom came from countries in Central America plagued by violence. Now these groups of migrants, who received a degree of flexibility under the Obama administration, will be kept in detention by order. Advocates routinely report substandard medical care and poorly managed basic facilities in these centres, many of which are operated by for-profit security companies. Coupled with this, the order instructs the US justice department to assign immigration judges, who are already in short supply and heavily overburdened, to these centres. This in effect makes it far more difficult for these vulnerable migrants, many of whom are likely to have claims for asylum, to reach independent legal counsel and will mean many more are likely to face deportation – perhaps in violation of America’s legal obligations under the UN Refugee Convention. Trump’s orders also implement aggressive enforcement action inside the country, away from America’s borders. The president repeatedly claimed throughout the transition period he would deport between 2 million and 3 million undocumented migrants in the country who he claimed were serious criminals. That notion itself is a fallacy, as there are nowhere near that number of undocumented migrants with felony records in the US (researchers estimate the number is closer to 300,000). Indeed, elements of Trump’s second immigration order acknowledge that fantasy by essentially broadening the definition of serious criminality, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents a vast remit to target almost anyone within undocumented communities and perhaps even those holding visas as the order simply targets “removable aliens” – a broad, catchall term that could encompass non-citizens as well. Not only will Ice agents be allowed to target immigrants with any sort of criminal conviction on their record whatsoever, from minor misdemeanours such as trespassing or vandalism to serious felonies, they will also be able to apprehend individuals who have simply been accused of crimes and subject to investigation. But the order goes broader even than that, allowing Ice officers the ability to target people they assess to be a “risk to public safety or national security”. The order offers no guidance at all on how such a broad definition could be applied, leaving it to the “judgment” of individual Ice agents. Since 2014, the Obama administration had heavily cut back on deportations occurring within the interior of the country, implementing a program of “priority enforcement” that instructed Ice to focus on undocumented migrants picked up by local law enforcement and found to have serious felony convictions on their records. That short-lived era of discretion is now over. As Trump pledges to significantly bolster the ranks of Ice agents and border patrol officers, he will effectively control a small army of enforcers empowered by a remit that is both harsh and broad.“Hamilton” has a new Mr. Burr, sir! Brandon Victor Dixon stepped into Leslie Odom Jr.’s boots this week, but he’s no Broadway newbie: The 34-year-old Maryland native helped create the roles he played in the original “The Color Purple,” “Motown” and “Shuffle Along.” He told us about finding his inner Aaron Burr — and his Spike Lee “thing.” You made your “Ham” debut Tuesday, in front of the US women’s gymnastics team. Did they make you nervous? Not at all! I love gymnastics, and I was so excited they’d be in the building. There are people who could maybe make you nervous, but I got rid of those feelings long ago. The one person I do still feel a little thing about is Spike Lee. I have no idea why. I mean, he’s seen so many shows of mine multiple times, yet still — you tell me he’s coming and I’m like, “Damn! Spike’s here again!” How did you come to play Burr? I hadn’t started “Shuffle” yet, and [“Hamilton” director] Tommy Kail said something like, “When are we gonna get you up here?” I said, “Hey, man, I think you guys are good to go.” Last winter, they called me again. Then, they called the day before I got my closing notice for “Shuffle” — maybe they knew before I did, because both shows have the same casting director. I told them no, then I got my notice and called them back. Tommy said, “I told you I was gonna get what I wanted!” That’s a lot of no’s. I almost never consider the prospect of taking over a role, but once I embraced the thought, I became excited. In fact, as we negotiated our contract, there was one point of contention. When I didn’t hear back from them I got worried. I said [to myself], “Look at you — you went from saying no to worrying about losing this. You must be in the right place.” Did anything in your Burr research surprise you? I didn’t realize how enormously popular, how beloved Burr was. He was a very famous soldier known for acts of bravery. Everything I read also spoke about his love of women as a gender, and his dedication to the one who captured his heart: Theodosia, his first wife. He preferred the company of ladies — he liked female energy, the thoughts and wits of women. Those things stuck out for me. My best friends have largely been women. Because I love female energy, and I find you all to be incredibly remarkable. My gender thanks you. Are you married? I am not. Are there any “Hamilton” rituals? Secret handshakes? Before the show, a number of cast members gather and say an energy prayer. [Tuesday] night they made a circle around me and put their hands on me and blessed my first show, which was lovely. I believe there’s a weekly “shot” night. Not sure what that is. We’ll see. Favorite “Ham” moment? When we announce Lafayette. It’s a number called “Guns and Ships,” except I’m not allowed to participate. I have to stay in silhouette while everyone gets psyched and celebrates the arrival of Lafayette. I’m really angry about it, actually. I wanna dance!SpaceIL, the Israeli representative in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, is making giant strides to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon, after the base structure of the craft was received at IAI facilities earlier this week. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The skeleton of the spacecraft consists of two perforated "sandwich" boards, upper and lower plates and a cone ring structure. These components, designed by an aerospace industry and manufactured in Spain by IberEspacio, complement the sub-system structure of the spacecraft to be launched to the moon during the coming year. The spacecraft's skeleton (Photo: IberEspacio) In recent days, the components of the spacecraft have begun being assembled. Recently, the eight engines of the spacecraft were assembled and soon after the assembly of the components a comprehensive experiment will be carried out, in order to ensure that the integration is executed and progressing properly. "We are pleased to be working with the professional team of IberEspacio, and now that we have the base structure, we can begin the assembly, integration and testing at the IAI spacecraft facility," SpaceIL CEO Dr. Eran Friedman anounced. The launch is expected to take place next year. SpaceIL promotional video X SpaceIL is a non-profit organization established in 2011 with the aim of landing the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon. In October 2015, SpaceIL marked a dramatic milestone in the project, becoming the first group to announce a launch contract. The engeneering team (Photo: IberEspacio) The organization was founded by three young engineers: Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari and Yonatan Weintraub, who responded to the global competition Google Lunar XPRIZE—a modern international race to land an unmanned spaceship on the moon. SpaceIL has undertaken to promote scientific and technological education in Israel and is working to inspire the next generation in Israel and the world to study science, engineering, technology and mathematics.I Get Emails: Why Aren’t Conservatives Warming Up To Ron Paul & Libertarianism? Email: I’d love to get your take on something, which I’ve asked many people, mostly Romney/Newt/Perry/Cain/Bachmann/Ron-Paul-Doesn’t-Exist Republicans – few of whom have given me a an answer in any form other than an eye-roll, as if I’m just ‘the cutest little heretic they’ve ever met’. My question is this: How come if you were to ask any conservative – and most democrats for that matter! – their opinion on Friedman or Hayek (assuming they are familiar with their work), and so on, they will immediately take on a child-like excitement, a sort-of modern ‘eudaimonia’, at the very mention of their names and shout their appreciation and agreement and love for them from the top of a mountain; but when asked about the only-lonely little presidential hopeful who plans on putting those economic truths into practice, who articulates those somewhat abstruse ideas better than all current American politicians – Dr. Paul – and who is a strict representative of Friedman’s core economic principles, those same people will surely look at you as if you’re a fool who just “doesn’t get it”, because Libertarianism (REAL liberalism/true modern conservatism) is “unrealistic”. How come this is so? For all I know, Ron Paul is just an imaginary friend I’ve made up who doesn’t exist in reality. If I only read the papers and watched the news, never browsing the internet, one would be inclined to believe just that!…that Ron Paul does not, or cannot, or should not exist in the minds of potential voters. Can you give me some insight on the conservative ignoring of Ron Paul? And where possible, please omit any potential reminders of how Ron Paul supporters are “cult members” and so on – I’ve definitely heard that already. Besides, it’s not the case that I’m for Ron Paul, the man. It’s not as if Ron Paul is “the right guy” – there is no such thing as “the right guy”, to quote our pocket-sized economics professor. I want to know why D’s and R’s both do their best to make damn sure Libertarianism doesn’t reach the minds of the masses. Thoughts? — From Sam, who liked my 10 Of The Best Economics Quotes From Milton Friedman column Sometimes when you write a post, you do so knowing that a significant portion of the people reading it are going to conclude that you’re a jerk by the time that they’re done — well, at least that happens to me. Other bloggers not so much, maybe. They don’t write the post. I do. It’s just part of my style, I guess. Trending: The 15 Best Conservative News Sites On The Internet In this case, most of the Libertarians who read this post are going to end up mad at me. I know this because that happens EVERY SINGLE TIME I try to address differences in thinking between conservatives and libertarians — especially where it relates to Ron Paul. Whether I’m blunt or I use the most delicate phrasing imaginable, the end result is always the same. Angry Libertarians. This is because Libertarians tend to set up a lose/lose situation. They often get upset that they’re being ignored, but when their ideas are taken seriously and criticized, they get even angrier. That’s why so many conservatives have just ignored Ron Paul this cycle. They’ve seen this movie before in 2008, they feel certain he’s not going to win, and they’ve learned that any criticism of Paul will bring down yowling mobs of Libertarians on them. So, they just pretend he doesn’t exist. I’m used to it; so I will tell you honestly what I think of Ron Paul. To begin with, I agree with Ron Paul on a lot of things — particularly domestically. I think we’ve gotten away from the Constitution. I’d like dramatically smaller government, much less spending, and I’d very much like to see the Fed audited. If Ron Paul and I had a conversation about the ideal size of government and spending, we wouldn’t agree on everything, but we’d probably agree on 90% of it. But, this starts to get into one of the fundamental differences between conservatives and libertarians. Libertarians tend to think conservatives talk a good game, but don’t believe what we say, while conservatives usually think Libertarians are lost in a theoretical world. It’s kind of like the old joke about economists, There’s an old chestnut about an economist stuck in a deep hole with two other people whose occupation depends on who’s telling the story. But after the other two try to escape in ways appropriate to their jobs, they turn the economist for a solution. The economist replies, “Assume a ladder.” To conservatives, many libertarians seem to start with unrealistic policy assumptions like, “Electability is completely irrelevant,” “There is no court system to stop us,” “We can easily make radical, sweeping changes in a variety of areas”….it reminds of a time a few years back, when I was arguing with a libertarian who wanted open borders. When I pointed out that if we had open borders, we’d be leaving ourselves wide open to massive welfare, food stamp, and Social Security fraud, the response was something like, “Just get rid of all of those things.” Ehr…okay, I’ll just wave my magic wand and all those problems will go away. What it comes down to is that there are a lot of constraints imposed on politicians by history, the courts, and the American people that most libertarians either don’t see, don’t care about, or just completely ignore. Going beyond that — and this is going to be hard to hear– hard core Libertarianism is not a philosophy that is ever going to be embraced by the masses. We live in a society where almost half the people don’t pay income tax, more than half of Americans voted for Obama, and 20% of the country, including the people who control Hollywood, the mainstream media, and the schools, are diehard socialists whose economic views are much more in line with Marx than Milton Friedman. Every square inch we move the country in the right direction requires a political knife fight in a phone booth, so even on the issues where Libertarians and conservatives agree, trying to move the country 10 yards at a time doesn’t seem to be particularly realistic. ……..Which, in a roundabout manner, brings us back to Ron Paul and more things most libertarians aren’t going to want to hear. Let’s start with this…. Ron Paul is a pretty awful politician. This seems like a bizarre statement to a lot of libertarians. After all, Paul is great at fund raising, he has a fanatically dedicated fanbase, and he says so many great things about shrinking government, reducing spending, and liberty. All true and all fair to bring up. But politicians are kind of like ice cream; a few rat turds can turn a perfectly delicious ice cream cone into a disgusting disaster. In Ron Paul’s case, he has a number of positions that don’t seem radical to Libertarians, but seem EXTREMELY radical and dangerous to many other Americans. Just to name a few, legalizing crack. Getting rid of the FBI and CIA. Going back on the gold standard. Any one of these issues could be a campaign killer. That’s even setting aside his foreign policy views. Honestly, there’s a pretty good case you can make for America being less involved around the world, cutting back our foreign bases, reducing foreign aid, becoming less involved in the UN, and working to improve the efficiency of international trade. The problem is that Ron Paul doesn’t make that case. Instead, he takes every one of those positions to the most radical extreme and explains it so poorly that he often comes across like a press flack for Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and anyone and everyone who hates America and Israel. Libertarians never seem to see this, but Ron Paul sounds like a Noam-Chomsky-style, America-and-Israel-hating lunatic when he talks about foreign policy. He doesn’t have to come across that way — He just does. It’s because he’s a terrible politician who has no idea how to artfully explain anything. To a lot of Libertarians, this is part of his charm. It makes him sound authentic. Unfortunately, that only applies if you share the same assumptions about foreign policy that he does, which most Americans in general and most conservatives in particular, do not. None of this is meant as a rebuke to Libertarians. If Ron Paul were to win, I’d support him against Obama. I also think Libertarians would be smart to join the Republican Party and try to move it in their direction. That said, at the end of the day, there are just some philosophical differences that Libertarians have with conservatives and more importantly, with the rest of the American people, that are probably not going to be ironed out in our lifetimes.Hong Kong will consider involvement in Andrew Forrest's planned rebel rugby competition in the Indo-Pacific region. Billionaire Western Force backer Forrest vowed to launch the breakaway competition after the club's failed Supreme Court appeal to stay in Super Rugby. The mining magnate revealed scant detail about his proposal on Tuesday, but said the competition would feature six teams, with the Force one of them. Hong Kong Rugby Union chief rugby operations officer Dai Rees said the country is open to participating, in an interview with the South China Morning Post. "We'd be crazy not to look at it," Rees said. "It's a seven-hour flight to Perth and it's in the same time zone. When you look around the world at other opportunities, that's not a long flight. "We've been looking to add a team to the Japanese league and looking at opportunities to expand our base and bridge the gap between our domestic game and the international game as it moves into a more professional era. "We have done that with the elite rugby program and we'd be silly not to look at other options." Rees said Forrest nor any other Australian-based rugby officials had yet approached the HKRU to discuss the rebel competition proposal. But Western Force players are being encouraged not to turn their back on Australian Rugby Union despite its decision to axe the club from Super Rugby. Former Force star Drew Mitchell, a 71-cap Wallaby, said current squad members would be better off vying to join one of the four other Australian franchises, rather that putting their eggs in Forrest's basket. "I'd exhaust my options here in Australia," Mitchell told Fox Sports. "If there were none here in Australia, I would look overseas. "I would play at a level that would actually better my career rather than going to play against understrength sides. "It's great for him (Forrest) to come up with something like this, but if there's no flesh to the bones, I think we'd be better off not talking about it."This article is over 2 years old Australian Christian Lobby and Eric Abetz dismiss PricewaterhouseCoopers report which says ‘true cost’ of plebiscite is far higher than original estimate The Australian Christian Lobby and the senator Eric Abetz have rejected modelling suggesting the “true cost” of the same-sex marriage plebiscite is $525m. The accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia (PwC) calculated the real cost of the plebiscite at $525m, based on its estimates of $281m for the time cost of voting, $158m to conduct voting, $66m for campaigning and $20m for mental health harms to 50,000 LGBTI Australians. Marriage equality plebiscite's 'true cost' estimated at $525m Read more An Australian Christian Lobby spokesman said PwC was not a neutral organisation because it was a public supporter of same-sex marriage and Australian Marriage Equality, who are working on the “yes” case for the plebiscite. “These costings fail to take into account the value of a people’s vote,” the spokesman said. “It is valuable to democracy and valuable to the Australian people who mostly support the plan. “They also fail to consider the enormous cost of the nearly 20 times this issue has been raised in parliament in recent years. Parliamentary time, committees and inquiries are very expensive.” A plebiscite was “an important way to finally the resolve the matter in a democratic way”, he said. Abetz told ABC’s AM program the modelling was “a ‘study’ in inverted commas with an outcome that was sought by those doing it”. He said the modelling measured time taken to vote, which was “not an actual financial cost but just something foregone” and “quite a bizarre way to undertake such an analysis”. PwC estimated the largest cost was $281m for the one hour it would take 15.5m Australians to vote on a Saturday or 30 minutes to submit a postal vote. Coalition to finalise marriage equality plebiscite details next week as July election looms Read more Luke Sayers, the chief executive of PwC Australia, said the findings showed a standalone plebiscite on marriage equality was a “massive waste of time and money” and backed a parliamentary vote as the best mechanism to minimise the cost to the economy and health and wellbeing of the community. The modelling estimated a parliamentary vote without a plebiscite would cost just $17m, $508m less than a standalone plebiscite. PwC partner Suzi Russell-Gilford told Guardian Australia the firm “takes diversity very seriously” and was one of the first major corporations to sign a letter supporting marriage equality. But Russell-Gilford stood by the figures, saying “we thought it was important to find the true cost of a plebiscite in terms of a dollar value”. PwC was Australia’s top LGBTI employer in 2015, as ranked in the Pride In Diversity Australian Workplace Equality Index.Police are continuing their search for at least one person wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in Lake Highlands in the last week. (Published Wednesday, March 20, 2013) Dallas police said a woman was sexually assaulted in the Lake Highlands area on Tuesday morning, the third attack in less than a month. Police said the man kicked in the door of a home on Aldwick Drive at about 6:45 a.m. and sexually assaulted a woman in her bed. The woman's husband had just left for work, police said. The woman described her attacker as a Latino man in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body. Officials said the victim lives just blocks away from Ferndale Road, where police are investigating two other sexual assaults, one on March 15 and one on Feb. 22. Lake Highlands Residents Attend Meeting, Address Sex Assaults Lake Highlands residents packed a previously scheduled crime watch meeting at the Dallas Assembly of God Church on Tuesday night. (Published Wednesday, March 20, 2013) Police say a man who has been in police custody on other charges since early March is suspected in the Feb. 22 case. On March 15, a woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Drive by a man she described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief David Brown said Fernando Munoz, the man suspected the Feb. 22 attack, has been linked by DNA evidence to at least three other sexual assaults in 2008 and 2010. Video Second Sexual Assault In Lake Highlands Area Brown said the public should be aware that the Lake Highlands attacks are not all related. "We want the public to be clear that some of the offenses that have occurred, we attribute to Munoz, and he's in jail and won't be getting out," Brown said. "We want the public to be concerned about the right things. Today's incident and the March 15 incident have outstanding suspects that we need to catch, and we need their help." Brown said investigators have not yet determined if the attacks on March 15 and March 19 are connected, saying there could be two potential attackers. Brown said police need to further speak with the victims to learn as much as they can about their attackers, and that takes time. Dallas Police Investigate Third Sex Assault The Dallas Police Department is investigating a third sexual assault in the Lake Highlands area, this time the victim fought back. (Published Tuesday, March 19, 2013) Meanwhile, police are contacting all known sexual assault offenders in the area who match the description of the attackers and have beefed up patrols in the area, Brown said. Lake Highlands residents packed a previously scheduled crime watch meeting at the Dallas Assembly of God Church on Tuesday night. Officers tried to reassure residents that their efforts to catch those responsible for the attacks are constant, including increased patrols in cars and on bikes. Much of the meeting was devoted to the previously planned agenda for the crime watch meeting, such as upgrades on technology, social media, crimes statistics and other information. Video DNA Links Burglary Suspect to 2010 Dallas Rape Some residents left feeling satisfied with the police departments efforts, while others said they wanted more specifics on the attacks and what they can do to protect themselves and their neighbors. Neighbors are now looking out for each other as concern grows about whether or not a sexual predator may strike again. "Our doors are locked, our windows are locked, and we're just, we're just looking out for each other," said Lake Highlands resident Ashley Jones. Video Man Arrested in Connection to Several Rapes Some suggested that another meeting was necessary to specifically address concerns on the sexual assaults. No such meeting has been scheduled, but police say they are open to listening and responding to any concerns. A dozen schools in the Richardson Independent School District were placed under a "caution lockdown" Tuesday while officers searched for the attacker. Police officials said they did not request the "caution lockdown" of the 12 campuses, which was implemented by the school district as a precaution. Tim Clark, with the school district, described a caution lockdown as one in which students are not allowed to leave the building. He said the district was just being cautious because of the police activity. School officials said all campuses dismissed at the normal time. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at 214-670-4415. NBC 5's Randy McIlwain and Ray Villeda contributed to this report.Go and Polymer, So Happy Together Travis Reeder Blocked Unblock Follow Following Nov 10, 2014 I’ve been hearing a lot about Polymer lately, as I’m sure a lot of you have, seeing as how all of Google’s new application redesigns are based on it. Or maybe you’ve heard of Material Design which is Google’s new design philosophy and the Paper Elements are Material Design in action, but underneath is Polymer. So anyways, I had to take it for a spin to see for myself what it’s all about. Thoughts on Polymer They built a great tutorial that takes you through the concepts of Polymer; how it works, how to build components, how to do data binding, etc. I found a few things that were really interesting: Separation of Concerns. It completely separates the backend from the frontend. You don’t generate pages on the backend like most of us are probably used to, the pages are just HTML, CSS and JavaScript which ask a server for data after they load, rather than generating a custom page for your user on the backend while it’s loading. Why is this interesting? Because now you can make a well designed API and use it for your public facing API (for third party usage), AND you can also use it for your main web application (using Polymer), your mobile apps, etc. That may not seem like much, but until now, the typical process was to build your web application that directly accesses your database and renders custom pages for your users, then also build your API for other systems and mobile apps to use. Does this make things like Ruby on Rails obsolete? It just might and the example you’ll see in a bit may show you why. I’m not saying it will make Ruby obsolete, just big MVC web frameworks in general. Reusable components. You can make your own components, then reuse them throughout your app or in other apps too. There are already a large set of elements you can use that are part of the Polymer project and you can make your own and share them with the world too. Web/Mobile Interface in One? Maybe we’re near the end of having to build a web app, an Android app
before the Legislature and quoted one of Texas’s founding fathers, Sam Houston, “Do right and risk consequences.” White told the lawmakers that if they needed someone to blame for a tax increase, “Blame me.” They did, and so did the voters. “So much for guts and glory,” White joked after his 1986 election defeat. It would be easy to look upon Mark White’s single term as governor as a failure because of his re-election defeat. But student athletes perform better today because no pass, no play forces them to, class size was reduced to make teaching more effective, and the Legislature increased education spending 26 percent to equalize state public spending statewide. At the end of White’s term, the state paid 67 percent of all education costs in Texas. Today, the state’s share is down to 38 percent. One could reasonably argue that local property taxes are rising in part because no politician today has the courage to say, as White once did, “Blame me.”A Mongrel Mob member facing more than six years in jail is appealing his manslaughter sentence on the grounds being Maori puts him at a social disadvantage. The Court of Appeal reserved its decision, with a judge labelling the request as "radical" during the hearing in Auckland today. Jessie Mika, who has been involved with a gang since he was 16 and has "Mobsta" tattooed across his face, was sentenced in September to six years and nine months in jail for causing the death of a teenage boy during a car chase in Canterbury. TV3 'DISADVANTAGED': Fabian Jessie Mika is seeking a reduced sentence because he is Maori. Christchurch defence lawyer James Rapley said Maori should receive shorter prison sentences because they come from an environment of social deprivation and inequality. "Fifty-one per cent of the prison population is Maori," he told the Court of Appeal. "Everyone says everyone should be treated alike and equally, but not everyone is equal." Mika was brought up by his aunt after his father walked out and his mother was unable to care for him, he said. "Before he knew it, at the age of 14 or 15, he was associating with gangs," Rapley said. He suggested a 10 per cent reduction in Mika's sentence due to his Maori heritage. The three Court of Appeal judges said they struggled with the concept of reducing a sentence based on race. "You're asking us to take a pretty radical step and we just won't do it on a wing and a prayer," Justice Rhys Harrison said. "Because he has some Maori blood - and we're not sure how much - he's somehow less blameworthy or culpable. That's an extraordinary proposition." Justice Robert Dobson said he agreed the prison ethnicity statistics were appalling, but making ethnicity a mitigating factor in sentencing would not solve the problem. The judges also asked Rapley how such a rule would be interpreted, including whether a person who was 1/16th Maori would be given a lighter sentence. A 15-year-old boy died when Mike crashed a stolen vehicle in Bromley on February 22. A court was told that Ethan Takitimu-McKenzie, a passenger in the crashed car, was left lying in the grass to die of massive head and chest injuries. He admitted the manslaughter charge, failing to stop for police, failing to ascertain injury after an accident and being an unlicensed driver. In September, at his High Court sentencing Rapley also asked the court to take into account Mika's cultural background to reduce the sentence. However, this was rejected by Justice David Gendall. He said the personal circumstances of an offenders were always taken into account. "However, the law in this country is clear that no special discount for race, culture, or ethnicity matters alone is appropriate." In his submissions to the Court of Appeal Rapley further argued that such considerations now applied in Canada, and had been applied in Australia until recently. District Court Judge Stephen O'Driscoll had recently noted that Maori offenders made up a disproportionately large element within the prison population. Maori make up 15 percent of the general population, but 51 percent of the prison population. The Sentencing Act had reinforced the need to address the shocking statistic of disproportionate Maori imprisonment, Rapley said. New Zealand had the second highest imprisonment rate in the world, with an overrepresentation and disproportionate rate of Maori prisoners. "This has attracted comment from the United Nations and overseas media." Rapley urged the court to acknowledge and accept that the cultural background of Maori had been historically one of social deprivation and inequality and at present was disproportionately incarcerated. "Everyone recognises there has been a history of colonialism, displacement, high unemployment, lower educational attainment and high level of incarceration for Maori," Rapley said.Rules Subscriptions Bookmarks Search Account Moderators Recommend 13 1 Posts Android: Netrunner» Forums » Rules Subject: Answers from Lukas: Partly Resolvable Effects and How X Works New Thread Printer Friendly Subscribe Bookmark Thread Rolls Your Tags: Add tags Tags (separate by space): Popular Tags: [View All] Jacob Morris jakodrako) United States Seattle Washington About a month ago there was a bit of an uproar on Reddit about how X works and whether or not you can play effects that can't be fully resolved re: using Power Shutdown for X larger than your deck. I sent in an email with a handful of questions, and here's what I eventually got back. (Sorry, my email was kind of a wall of text. I've highlighted the most relevant bits.) jakodrako wrote: Hey Lukas, There is quite a storm on Reddit right now that have brought to mind two rules questions that I would like to ask (re variables X and playing operations/events). If somebody has already sent either of these questions in, feel free to ignore. 1. a) Can you play an event or operation card that cannot be fully resolved? For example, playing a Diesel with only two cards left in the stack or playing an Archived Memories with no cards in archives. Precedent set with tutors leads me to believe the answer is yes (as you can search your deck for something, fail to find it, but then still be required to shuffle your deck and trash the tutor). 1. b) Are there any limitations to (a), and if so can you give me a list of the game functions that can force an operation or event to be unplayable if said function is impossible. For example, a list like so: - Search for a card: you can fail to search for a card if it is not in your deck, but this does not prevent you from playing a card that searches for that card - Drawing cards: you can fail to draw cards if there are no cards left in your deck, but this does not prevent you from playing a card that draws cards - Choosing ice: you can fail to choose ice if there is no ice installed, which prevents you from playing a card that requires an ice be chosen And so on for whatever that list looks like. 2. When is a variable chosen for a card in which that variable is not defined by the card itself? (Relevant cards: Vamp, Atman, Corporate Troubleshooter, Power Shutdown, Psychographics, Draco) OPTION ONE: To me, the answer is very clearly that X is decided the first time card text with X resolves, which makes all of the named cards make perfect sense. - Vamp: X is chosen when the run is successful if the runner chooses to use the instead-of-access effect by the runner spending X credits. - Atman: X is chosen after Atman is installed by spending X credits. - Corporate Troubleshooter: X is chosen by spending X credits as the cost to activate the paid ability. - Power Shutdown: X is chosen after playing the event by trashing X cards from R&D. - Psychographics: X is chosen while playing the event by paying X credits as the play cost. - Draco: X is chosen after Draco is rezzed by spending X credits. OPTION TWO: However, there are some people who believe that variables would function more like in Magic, wherein the value of X is decided by the player when the card is played/activated, and then the effect is resolved pretending that all X's are replaced with that chosen value. I'm not sure all of the cards make sense if this is the case. - Vamp: X is chosen when the event is played. The runner has to guess how many credits s/he will have to spare by the time the run is successful. When the run becomes successful, the runner now has to decide between accessing cards or spending the number of credits s/he arbitrarily chose at the beginning of the action, which may or may not be possible anymore. - Atman: X is chosen when Atman is installed. This functions fairly identical to the other option, with the weird exception that I could choose to either set X as 0 to pay 0 credits to put 0 power counters on Atman or I could choose X to be 5 billion and pay 0 credits to put 0 power counters on Atman because I can't pay 5 billion credits. I could even choose X to be a number of credits I can afford but then decline to pay because of the "may" to put 0 power counters on Atman. - Corporate Troubleshooter: This is tricker. If I choose X when I install the card, then the card is very obviously CT because I have to tell the runner "Click two: install a card in this remote and set X to 12". If I choose X when I rez the card, then it still functions fairly well, I just can't rez it ahead of time and expect it to be useful, and being forced to rez it is really bad for me. If I choose X when I activate the paid ability, then the card works as what is seemingly intended because I can't activate a paid ability that I can't pay for, so I couldn't arbitrarily choose 5 billion and make the ice impenetrable without paying the credits. - Power Shutdown: This card is a little weird if I choose X when I play the card. I could theoretically choose a number higher than the number of cards in R&D and then trash less cards than the runner has to trash in cost of program/hardware. - Psychographics: This card is the only one that makes perfect sense in this scenario because the cost of the card is the X, which has to be decided when the card is played anyway. - Draco: This card has all the weirdness of Atman and Corporate Troubleshooter combined. The biggest issues here are Vamp, Corporate Troubleshooter, and Power Shutdown. So which is it? Option One or Option Two? Or some other option that I haven't thought of yet? If the answer is Option One, then there is a follow-up question: when deciding X, is it decided by the effect including X or is it decided by choosing an X and then resolving the effect with X in it? For example: - I play Vamp. I run on HQ. The run is successful. I choose to use the instead-of-access effect. I spend 1 credit at a time until I am satisfied with the value of X. The corp is forced to lose up to X credits. OR - I play Vamp. I run on HQ. The run is successful. I decide that X is 5. I may then spend 5 credits to force the corp to lose up to 5 credits. This allows me to choose 5 credits when I only have 3 in my credit pool, which gives me a successful run without having to access cards (if I know they have a bunch of Snare!s or whatever). This follow up question is pretty important in regards to Power Shutdown because it makes the difference between (a) trashing cards one at a time until I decide X is big enough for whatever reason, whether I reached my target X or I saw too many agendas go into archives and I want to stop, and (b) declaring the number of cards I will trash, agendas be damned. I hope that's all clear, thanks again for taking the time to read and answer questions! Lukas wrote: Jacob, Thanks for the inquiry. Sorry for the delay in a response. 1a. Yes (kind of). If you play a Diesel with two cards remaining, you can still draw those two cards. Therefore it has an effect that can be resolved. If you play an Archived Memories with no cards in Archives, it cannot be resolved so you cannot play it. Searching your deck still requires action, even if there is nothing to find. 1b. If the effect changes the game state in any way, then you can use it. If it does not change the game state in any way (other than the card itself, obviously, being trashed) then it cannot be played. You could think of it as "Would a prevent/avoid effect do anything against this ability?" If the answer is yes, then you can do it. If the answer is no, then you cannot. 2a. The variable is chosen whenever it is necessary to resolve the effect. So for Vamp, you do not have to set the value of X until the run is successful. For Psychographics, you have to set the value when playing it because it is part of the cost. So option 1 is correct. 2b. X is a value that is set at one time. So you spend X credits from Vamp, but you cannot spend more credits than you have. With Power Shutdown, you trash X cards from your deck, but you do not see the cards that are trashed until X is defined. You cannot trash more than the number of cards in your deck, either. Hope that helps, TL;DR 1. Rule of thumb for deciding if an effect can be used: "If a prevent effect would do something to this effect, than it can be used; otherwise it can't be activated." 2. X does not work the way it does in MtG. It is set by the effect X is listed in when that effect resolves and is bound by any limiting factors shown (e.g. number of credits in credit pool). edit: made the significant bit of point 2 clearer due to some confusion on reddit 31 Last edited Sat May 31, 2014 1:56 am (Total Number of Edits: 2) Posted Fri May 30, 2014 11:30 pm Posted Fri May 30, 2014 11:30 pm QuickReply QuickQuote Reply Quote [+] Dice rollsNo accusation was considered too outlandish: a group supported by Jerry Falwell put out a film suggesting that the Clintons had arranged for the murder of an associate, and The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page repeatedly hinted that Bill Clinton might have been in cahoots with a drug smuggler. Photo So what good did Mr. Clinton’s message of inclusiveness do him? Meanwhile, though Mr. Clinton may not have run as postpartisan a campaign as legend has it, he did avoid some conflict by being strategically vague about policy. In particular, he promised health care reform, but left the business of producing an actual plan until after the election. This turned out to be a disaster. Much has been written about the process by which the Clinton health care plan was put together: it was too secretive, too top-down, too politically tone-deaf. Above all, however, it was too slow. Mr. Clinton didn’t deliver legislation to Congress until Nov. 20, 1993 — by which time the momentum from his electoral victory had evaporated, and opponents had had plenty of time to organize against him. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You will receive emails containing news content, updates and promotions from The New York Times. You may opt-out at any time. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. The failure of health care reform, in turn, doomed the Clinton presidency to second-rank status. The government was well run (something we’ve learned to appreciate now that we’ve seen what a badly run government looks like), but — as Mr. Obama correctly says — there was no change in the country’s fundamental trajectory. So what are the lessons for today’s Democrats? First, those who don’t want to nominate Hillary Clinton because they don’t want to return to the nastiness of the 1990s — a sizable group, at least in the punditocracy — are deluding themselves. Any Democrat who makes it to the White House can expect the same treatment: an unending procession of wild charges and fake scandals, dutifully given credence by major media organizations that somehow can’t bring themselves to declare the accusations unequivocally false (at least not on Page 1). The point is that while there are valid reasons one might support Mr. Obama over Mrs. Clinton, the desire to avoid unpleasantness isn’t one of them. Second, the policy proposals candidates run on matter. I have colleagues who tell me that Mr. Obama’s rejection of health insurance mandates — which are an essential element of any workable plan for universal coverage — doesn’t really matter, because by the time health care reform gets through Congress it will be very different from the president’s initial proposal anyway. But this misses the lesson of the Clinton failure: if the next president doesn’t arrive with a plan that is broadly workable in outline, by the time the thing gets fixed the window of opportunity may well have passed. My sense is that the fight for the Democratic nomination has gotten terribly off track. The blame is widely shared. Yes, Bill Clinton has been somewhat boorish (though I can’t make sense of the claims that he’s somehow breaking unwritten rules, which seem to have been newly created for the occasion). But many Obama supporters also seem far too ready to demonize their opponents. What the Democrats should do is get back to talking about issues — a focus on issues has been the great contribution of John Edwards to this campaign — and about who is best prepared to push their agenda forward. Otherwise, even if a Democrat wins the general election, it will be 1992 all over again. And that would be a bad thing.The widening income gap between the rich and the poor has important social implications. Governmental-level income redistribution through tax and welfare policies presents an opportunity to reduce income inequality and its negative consequences. The current longitudinal studies examined whether within-region changes in income redistribution over time relate to life satisfaction. Moreover, I examined potential moderators of this relationship to test the strong versus weak hypotheses of income redistribution. The strong hypothesis posits that income redistribution is beneficial to most. The weak hypothesis posits that income redistribution is beneficial to some and damaging to others. Using a nationally representative sample of 57,932 German respondents from 16 German states across 30 years (Study 1) and a sample of 112,876 respondents from 33 countries across 24 years (Study 2), I found that within-state and within-nation changes in income redistribution over time were associated with life satisfaction. The models predicted that a 10% reduction in Gini through income redistribution in Germany increased life satisfaction to the same extent as an 37% increase in annual income (Study 1), and a 5% reduction in Gini through income redistribution increased life satisfaction to the same extent as a 11% increase in GDP (Study 2). These associations were positive across individual, national, and cultural characteristics. Increases in income redistribution predicted greater satisfaction for tax-payers and welfare-receivers, for liberals and conservatives, and for the poor and the rich. These findings support the strong hypothesis of income redistribution and suggest that redistribution policies may play an important role in societal well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)."You're Pitiful" is a parody of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt written and recorded by American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released exclusively online on June 7, 2006. In the song, Yankovic chides a 42-year-old man who still lives a "pitiful" existence. The song was initially scheduled to be featured on Yankovic's twelfth studio album Straight Outta Lynwood as the lead single. While Blunt himself had no issues with Yankovic recording the parody, Blunt's record label Atlantic did; they forbade Yankovic from commercially releasing the song at the last minute. Yankovic eventually released the song online as a veritable free single; furthermore, in music videos and during live performances, Yankovic has made reference to his dispute with Atlantic. Since the initial debacle in 2006, Yankovic has occasionally reached out to Blunt and his label to see if he can release the song on compilations. However, each time that he has approached Atlantic Records, he has been denied permission. Synopsis [ edit ] According to music critic Nathan Rabin, "You're Pitiful" functions as "an amusing character study of the contemporary loser."[1] In the song, Yankovic chides a 42-year-old man who still lives a "pitiful" existence. The man is described in the lyrics as living with his mother and having a job as a Slurpee machine operator. His hobbies include playing Halo 2 and dabbling in amateur Star Trek cosplay.[2][3] Recording and controversy [ edit ] In early 2006, Yankovic began recording parody songs for his upcoming album Straight Outta Lynwood.[4] Yankovic initially approached James Blunt and asked if he could record a parody of his hit song "You're Beautiful". Blunt was receptive of the parody idea, and gave Yankovic permission; on April 12, 2006, Yankovic began recording the song.[4][5] When Yankovic and his record company Volcano announced Straight Outta Lynwood would be released on June 27, 2006, Atlantic Records contacted Yankovic and said that they did not want the parody to be released.[5] Atlantic feared that, "it was 'too early' in James' career for a parody, and... that focusing any more attention on 'Beautiful' at that point might lead to the perception of James as a 'one-hit wonder.'"[6] Yankovic found this particularly odd, because in his experience, it was generally the artists who were unwilling to want parodies recorded and not record labels (as parody songs generate royalties, which in turn generate revenue for the label). According to Yankovic, "They didn't say I couldn't do the parody... they just said they'd let me know 'when the time was right'."[6] As such, Yankovic and his record label postponed the album's release date and cancelled their upcoming tour. Finally, months later, Yankovic got a response from Atlantic: "The 'right' time, apparently, was 'never'."[6] Yankovic had a policy of obtaining approval prior to releasing his parodies from the original artist's record company, but after a miscommunication surrounding "Amish Paradise", a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise", he sought permission directly from the artist. Yankovic told NPR that this was the first time a record label has denied a release of one of his parodies.[5] Given that Blunt had given his blessing to record the parody, Yankovic noted that there was no way Atlantic could legally forbid the parody: "James Blunt could still let me put it on my album if he really wanted to, but he obviously doesn't want to alienate his own record company... and my label could release the parody without Atlantic's blessing, but they don't really want to go to war with another label over this."[5] In the end, Yankovic concluded that the issue was "more of a political matter than a legal matter".[5] However, because Blunt himself had no issue with the parody, and because the parody had already been recorded, Yankovic decided to release it online as a free digital download.[7] "[I]f James Blunt himself were objecting," Yankovic told NPR, "I wouldn't even offer my parody for free on my Web site. But since it's a bunch of suits — who are actually going against their own artist's wishes — I have absolutely no problem with it."[5][7] The song was later officially mirrored on a number of "Weird Al" Yankovic fansites and blogs, including Al-oholics Anonymous, WeirdAlForum, WeirdAlStar, WeirdAlShow, and AllThingsYank.[7] Still needing a lead parody for his album, Yankovic recorded "White & Nerdy" (a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'"). This single would go on to be Yankovic's most-popular song, and his first top 10 Billboard hit.[1] The digital single's cover art (spoofing the cover of Blunt's album Back to Bedlam) was the product of a fan named Aron Shay,[8] which had been submitted to the fansite Al-oholics Anonymous as part of a calendar contest.[9] The image was later used on Yankovic's official MySpace page, and has since become the de facto cover art for the single.[10] Aftermath [ edit ] The video for Straight Outta Lynwood's second single, "White & Nerdy", depicts Yankovic taking revenge, of sorts, against Atlantic Records by vandalizing their English Wikipedia article by blanking all text and replacing it with the words "YOU SUCK!" in large letters.[11] This particular revenge has since actually been repeatedly performed by online vandals. Yankovic has said that he does not approve of the vandalism, though he admits being amused by it.[12] In addition, the video also shows Yankovic viewing his MySpace page and for a split second, "You're Pitiful" is visible as his profile song.[13] In 2009, while compiling the track listing for his then-upcoming greatest hits album The Essential "Weird Al" Yankovic, Blunt and his company were once again approached by Yankovic; this time, however, Yankovic was hoping that they would allow the long-shelved parody to be released on the compilation record. The request was denied, and Yankovic later tweeted: "In case you were hoping for 'You're Pitiful' to be included on my Essentials collection, sorry, this just in from Blunt's manager: 'Thanks for your email, but both James and I will never approve this parody to be released on any label.'"[14] In mid-2016, while preparing to release his career-spanning box set Squeeze Box, Yankovic once again reached out to Blunt to see if in the seven years he had changed his mind. Once again, however, Yankovic was denied permission to release the song, and he tweeted: "Sadly, [James Blunt] won't let me include 'You're Pitiful' on my box set."[15] Reception [ edit ] Nathan Rabin wrote that the parody was amusing but that "it was nowhere near as strong as the geek anthem [i.e. 'White & Nerdy'] that would become the first single off [of] 2006's Straight Outta Lynwood".[1] In April 2011, Blunt discussed Yankovic and the parody with Seattle Post-Intelligencer, saying: I'm a fan of his, particularly the earliest stuff he did, though he got his notoriety and his fame for what were genius moments along the way, and they were really exciting. And for me, I've only been flattered by parodies of my own songs. There are some great ones out there. I have absolutely no problem with Al. I think it's a huge compliment for what he's done. At the same time, it's generally not my favorite of the parodies. I think it was a safe one. It wasn't as exciting as some others. There's one really special one which you should look up by a guy called Tom Gleeson, and it's just really clever. And for me, that was a more exciting one.[16] Live performances [ edit ] Weird Al wearing his "Atlantic Records Sucks" shirt during a performance of "You're Pitiful", on August 8, 2007, at the Ohio State Fair On the concert tour for Straight Outta Lynwood, Yankovic performed the song initially wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and progressively removing clothing to reveal different layers underneath (as Blunt does in the video for "You're Beautiful"). The penultimate T-shirt revealed says "Atlantic Records Sucks".[17] During his 2010 tour, this shirt was modified from the original, stating "Atlantic Records STILL Sucks".[18] The final T-shirt is the face of SpongeBob SquarePants. Yankovic then removed his pants to reveal boxer shorts with red hearts, a pink tutu, and fishnet stockings.[17] Credits and personnel [ edit ] Band members[19] Al Yankovic – producer, arranging Tony Papa – sound engineering, mixing See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] Works cited [ edit ]Frequently Asked Questions Questions from Readers Is JW Leaks an apostate website? No. This website is not an ‘apostate’ website or blog. The administrator of JW Leaks is not recognized as an apostate by either the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Watch Tower Society. . How are you financed? JW Leaks receives funding and financial donations from Say Sorry. Supporting Say Sorry helps support JW Leaks. SaySorry.org . Why do all of your web pages have the word “Soon” printed at the bottom? The first edition of The Watchtower magazine, July 1879, made the following two comments on pages 5 and 8 regarding how “soon” the end of this system will come and the marriage of Christ’s Bride will take place: “Keep your eye fixed on the prize. Soon–very soon–you may wear the crown.” “‘The Chaste Virgin” Church, which expects soon to go in to the marriage and become Christ’s Bride.” Some 140 years later the Jehovah’s Witnesses are still waiting to “rejoice over the marriage of the Lamb!” of which will take place soon–very soon after the war of Armageddon, according to the ‘new light’ published in The Watchtower magazine, February 15, 2014. Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of “soon” since 1879. . Is JW Leaks an organization or legal entity? JW Leaks is set up and established under the same jurisdictional and corporate laws that govern the worldwide association of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 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We invite all our visitors to examine this website themselves so as to draw their own conclusion. If anything is wrong please let us know and we will rectify it. Ongoing litigation against JW Leaks by the Watch Tower Society provides compelling evidence and testimony as to the truthfulness of the information on JW Leaks. . Do you have a Facebook page or Twitter feed? Yes. See below. www.facebook.com/jwleaks www.fb.com/jwleaks . www.twitter.com/religiouswatch . What does your mission statement mean? The JW Leaks mission statement, “Subverting the wicked ones to their calamity”, is a quote taken from the Holy Bible, Proverbs 27:12. It means what it says. <<< “Subverting the wicked ones to their calamity.” >>> . Soon… since 1879."My clients have reviewed the allegations that have been made in the lawsuit that was filed by the Borjas and Dunning families on January 5, 2016. Although filed with the court, the original complaint has yet to be served on the defendants as required by law. My clients have not yet been provided with a copy of the amended complaint which apparently was filed with the court on February 10th, and as such are not familiar with the allegations that have been made in this new filing. With respect to the allegations made in the original complaint, my clients strongly disagree with the allegations that have been made against them. While I do not think it is appropriate to comment on pending litigation or to try disputes like this in the press, I can state that Calvary and Pat Collins will vigorously defend themselves against these unfounded allegations through the legal process."Surprisingly I got quite a few emails about my quip I made the other day when linking to some rumors that the iPad 2 will have both front and back cameras: The Samsung Galaxy Tab has a rear facing camera and I felt like a complete idiot holding that thing up to take a picture. I can’t imagine how stupid iPad users would look taking a “snapshot” with their iPad. Hell, the iPad would look bigger than most dSLRs when you use it to take a picture. A lot of people emailed in agreeing with me that people would look pretty damned stupid trying to take a picture with their iPads. Just as many people emailed in to tell me that they see a rear camera as essential for FaceTime use. I can concede that point, indeed the rear camera is useful when you are talking on FaceTime — this way you can use the rear camera to show people things other than your face. I also think that Apple has a good reason to make FaceTime the same experience on the iPad as it is on the iPhone given what Phil Schiller said at the Verizon iPhone launch: We want the experience to be the same for every iPhone user. So there are no special Verizon Apps preinstalled[…] Now that is from iPhone to iPhone, but I am beginning to think that Apple wants a consistent experience across all of their platforms.1 Today though MacStories reports that the rear camera on the iPad will only be 1MP is resolution. Further they doubt that Apple would put such a low resolution camera in the iPad, as Frederico Viticci for MacStories puts it: A 1-megapixel camera on the iPad 2 would be significantly lower than the one found on the iPhone 4; we also have some doubts on the actual photo quality that would result from such a camera lens, which will have to display pictures on a 10-inch screen. Indeed, a still picture camera of just 1MP would suck at taking pictures. I would guess that the only way you get a decent still picture is if you are taking a landscape in the middle of the day. But I just don’t see Apple allowing use of a rear camera for anything other than FaceTime and video. Also remember that 1MP would likely look just fine in FaceTime videos as the iPad screen is 1024×768, which equates to 0.79MP if you translate the resolution.2 Here’s why I don’t think Apple is concerned about you taking pictures with the rear camera on the iPad: The iPhone is more convenient for snapshots. The iPad is heavy and big — it would be far easier to carry a dSLR than the iPad for pictures. You will look really stupid holding up the iPad to take a picture. The weight and size means that most pictures will have a lot of ‘shake’ in them leading to blurriness. Tapping the screen to focus is not practical on the large screen size the iPad has: most people would not be able
an electric-powered self-driving vehicle or mass transit. (For those of you that doubt this vision, the EU is already looking to ban gas-powered cars in their downtowns by 2050.) I hope we keep embracing bike-share and other sharing services as a primary form of transit, and see traditional TOD as malleable and evolving. This article is part of 'The Future of Transportation,' a CityLab series made possible with support from The Rockefeller Foundation.It can go where no human can or would, gathering reconnaissance data in war zones and venturing into poisonous spaces, sending video and data back to its base wirelessly. We’re talking about a robotic snake here. Developed by Sarcos Robotics, the Guardian S is expected to launch later this year and its makers say potential missions for the tiny bots include bomb disposal, firefighting, military intelligence gathering, and hazardous material emergencies. “Anytime we need data from a location that is dangerous for humans, or where it is difficult for humans to access, the Guardian S is a candidate to gather the data,” says Ben Wolff, chairman and CEO of Sarcos, which in September received funding from GE Ventures, among investors. One such scenario that might be deadly for humans: Collecting data from inside a structure where IEDs are hidden, like an apartment-turned-IED factory, as a Sarcos video illustrates. With a dramatic piano pinging in the background, a man’s voice lays out the scenario: “A small building has been identified as a location where improvised explosive devices are being assembled. The mission is to perform a detailed and stealthy reconnaissance of the building.” There are civilian uses as well, though. A little more than four feet long and weighing ten pounds, it can crawl inside a petroleum tank and use its camera, microphone, and infrared sensors to relay information back to the repair crew, who are, thankfully, not inside a petroleum tank. None of this progress came quickly or easily, Wolff tells Inverse. “Many prototypes, millions of dollars, and a little more than ten years later, we are close to being to releasing a next generation version of the robot that is significantly more capable and affordable than anything we have produced to date,” he says. Sarcos was founded in the 1980s as a spinoff from the University of Utah. In addition to GE, the company has other big names backing it, including the military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Other investors include Caterpillar and Microsoft. The company is also working on giant robots that can lift large amounts of weight and move around factories. The Guardian GT is a massive arm that mounts onto a moving platform and can lift up to 1,000 pounds. The Guardian GT is a... knockout. The team is also working on an exoskeleton — see a human wearing one work a boxing speed bag above — to enhance workers’ strengths by giving them the capacity to lift 200 pounds repeatedly. But it’s the Guardian S, with its unique ability to fit into smaller gaps, that stands out. “The concept originated with the need for a search-and-rescue robot, initially focused on efforts to locate workers trapped in mining accidents, and to be able to relay vital information about the trapped workers’ condition to the surface,” Wolff says. INVERSE LOOT DEALS Meet the Pod The first bed that learns the perfect temperature for your sleep, and dynamically warms or cools according to your needs. Buy Now Robots are typically depicted in pop culture as towering humanoids — see K-2SO in Star Wars: Rogue One — but miniature robots can play a vital role in everyday life. Last year, scientists at Stanford University used six tiny robots weighing 17 grams each to pull an entire car. Another team from MIT and Stanford have shown how tiny robots could crawl over a user’s body and collaborate to create modular wearable devices. Sure, they’re not as imposing as Terminator-style bipedal machines, but they’re still very impressive. In the future, the team wants to equip their creations with machine-learning algorithms, so they can learn how to complete tasks by being taught in a similar fashion to humans. For example, a human can teach a robot how to climb a set of stairs so they can move around a factory. So, robot snakes today, mechanical workforces tomorrow?Ron Adar/FilmMagic The Rev. Robert Schenck stars in "The Armor of Light," a new documentary about the anti-abortion pastor's evolving stance on gun violence. Bringing a preserved fetus to an anti-abortion demonstration would have been one of the more politically explosive moments of the Rev. Robert Schenck’s career as an evangelical pastor -- if he hadn’t recently decided to challenge Christian resistance to treating gun violence as another “pro-life” concern. Schenck is the subject of a new documentary, “The Armor of Light,” which tracks his realization that being “pro-gun” is morally incompatible with being “pro-life.” The film, which debuts in theaters on Oct. 30, opens by establishing Schenck’s anti-abortion credentials. The pastor is shown driving down the street in Buffalo, New York, where he and the group he co-founded, Operation Rescue, participated in massive demonstrations against abortions in 1992. When a man yells off-camera that it’s “sick” that Schenck is cradling “Tia,” the aforementioned fetus, at a protest, the pastor’s response foreshadows the exact argument he'll later make to explain why “pro-life” Christians should address gun violence. “We are bringing about a crisis of conscience, and that will bring about the resolution,” Schenck says. “We are no longer talking about a political issue … This is not an issue of rights.” In 1998, Operation Rescue volunteer James Kopp killed an abortion provider, Dr. Barnett Slepian, whose home Schenck and his followers had protested outside of. But it would take years, and many mass shootings -- including one that took place at the Washington Navy Yard, within sight of Schenck’s apartment -- for the pastor to finally address his own crisis of conscience about guns. Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images The Rev. Robert Schenck leads anti-abortion advocates in prayer on the steps of the Supreme Court on April 18, 2007. Schenck goes on a listening tour to understand why fellow Christians are so attached to their firearms. He gets into an argument with Troy Newman, the current president of Operation Rescue, about whether embracing the pro-gun “bandwagon” is in line with a “pro-life ethic.” Newman says responsible gun owners are concerned with protecting innocent lives. His mantra -- “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” -- is echoed many times throughout the film. Schenck was raised in a culturally Jewish home, so the listening tour exposes him to notions about firearm ownership that are radically different from the ones he's familiar with. “I remember growing up with an idea that if you had a gun in your home, you were either Mafia or undercover law enforcement -- that was really what I thought about it,” he said. Schenck’s personal concerns about guns transform into a concrete determination to act when he meets gun control advocate Lucy McBath. McBath’s teenage son, Jordan Davis, was killed at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man who later claimed protection under the state’s “stand your ground” law. (The shooter, Michael Dunn, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.) McBath, who is now a spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, urges Schenck to address the issue of gun violence because his fellow evangelicals will listen to him. “Lucy kind of cinched it for me, when she issued her plea, and it came out of such a deep place, a mother’s grief for her murdered son,” Schenck told The Huffington Post. “That was irresistible, and that’s what I like to say converted my heart.” For many of the people Schenck encounters, opposition to gun control stems from a deep suspicion of outsiders and a distrust of the Obama administration. White evangelical Protestants are the group least likely to support stricter gun control laws. “A minister said to me, very frankly -- he used an old term, an anachronistic term -- ‘If a colored person is in this county, they are here to cause trouble, they know they shouldn’t be here,’” Schenck recalled. “Well, that’s a different way of looking at the world, for me. Those people feel they literally have to be armed at all times to protect themselves against strangers and dangerous, unwanted people in their world.” “The Armor of Light” doesn’t delve into policy proposals that could reduce gun violence, like closing the so-called “gun show loophole” that allows some gun purchasers to buy their firearms without having to undergo a background check. The filmmakers intentionally decided to stay within the realm of the theoretical, said Abigail Disney, the film’s director and Walt Disney’s grandniece. Disney is trying to change the presumption that the violence Americans witness is inevitable. “The second you talk about policy, everybody goes completely bananas, and then it’s over. So in order to have a conversation, you need to stay away from that, just to begin with,” she told HuffPost. “Before the policy stuff, we should be talking about our values. Shouldn’t our policy be based on our values, and not the other way around?” Schenck’s participation in the film has revealed just how “radioactive” the subject of guns is in his community. Backlash against his activism has affected the financial well-being of the nonprofit he founded, Faith and Action. “We have a downside, and one of our downsides is, when you break with the community on what’s seen as a fundamental principle, you get punished,” Schenck said. But the pastor hasn’t allowed this to inhibit his newfound passion for preaching about guns. “Pro-lifers have been way too loud on some things and way too quiet on others,” he wrote in an op-ed for USA Today. “The time is now for us to bravely overcome our fears and generously lend our voices and actions to protect the whole of the human family -- womb to tomb.” Learn more about “The Armor of Light” here.Ambulance rides would cost 24 percent more in San Diego and response time requirements would be softened under policy changes requested by the city’s ambulance operator. American Medical Response says it’s losing $7 million per year because of a spike in call volume, San Diego’s challenging topography, lower reimbursement rates and response-time rules that aim to ensure equity among communities. The rate increase — 9 percent immediately and 15 percent on Jan. 1— would push San Diego near the top of communities below state Route 56 for ambulance fees, according to a survey conducted by the city. Changes to response-time requirements would also reduce or potentially eliminate hefty fines American Medical Response has been paying the city for repeated failure to meet those requirements. The amended contract, which the City Council is scheduled to approve on Tuesday, would also allow the city to seek proposals from competing ambulance operators starting next summer. San Diego hasn’t opened up its ambulance services to competition since it chose to forge a deal in 2009 with Rural/Metro, which American Medical Response bought in 2015. City officials said the proposed changes are necessary to ensure that American Medical Response continues to provide service to San Diego while a new long-term ambulance deal is sought. Tom Wagner, the company’s chief executive for the western region, said the policy changes would reduce but not eliminate his company’s financial losses in San Diego. He said the company has essentially no other choice. “We understand this is a significant rate increase and we wouldn’t be here if we had not exhausted all of the possibilities,” Wagner said. A consultant hired by the city says the policy changes are justified by significant new emergency response challenges in San Diego since the existing contract was signed in 2011. The consultant, Citygate Associates, says the city’s response-time requirements are unrealistic based on a 22 percent spike in call volume over the last four years. The number of emergencies requiring city response has increased from 111,506 in fiscal year 2014 to 136,559 incidents in fiscal year 2017, which ended June 30. The higher number translates to 374 incidents per day and 15 incidents per hour. Citygate says additional challenges include dispatchers sending ambulances on more calls where they aren’t necessary, and longer delays dropping patients at hospitals making ambulances less available to respond to new emergencies. On the higher fees, Citygate notes that many patients won’t experience the rate hike because they are covered by Medicare or Medical. San Diego’s fees for ambulance responses including advanced life support services such as intubation or chest decompression would climb from $2,154 to $2,671. Fees for less aggressive instances of advanced life support would climb from $1,933 to $2,396, and fees for basic life support, which might only include an assessment, would rise from $1,631 to $2,022. The changes wouldn’t financially affect the city, which would continue to receive $10.7 million per year from American Medical Response for sending paramedics to many emergencies along with ambulances. The rationale for those payments is the city not getting a cut of emergency response fees despite sending personnel to incidents. The city would, however, have to back away from more rigorous response-time rules created in 2015 to ensure equity among communities. San Diego had previously been divided into four geographic zones, allowing the contractor to provide subpar service to some communities and still meet the response-time goals by posting stellar times elsewhere in a particular zone. To reduce the potential for that, the city shrunk the size of each zone in 2015 by doubling the number of zones to eight, which has required more robust coverage in many neighborhoods with weak response times. The proposed policy changes would reduce the number of zones back to four. They will include a border zone, a metro zone and two zones north of Interstate 8 – one inland and one coastal. Within those larger zones, American Medical Response would essentially be held to the same response-time requirements as now. At least 90 percent of the time in a zone, they would have to arrive at life-threatening emergencies within 12 minutes, emergencies that aren’t life-threatening within 15 minutes and non-emergencies within 25 minutes. The proposed changes would also adjust the penalty structure away from a series of small fines for minor response-time failures, to a structure levying larger fines for massive failures. City officials said it’s notable that in exchange for the contract changes American Medical Response would allow the city to more quickly conduct a long-awaited request for proposals for a new contractor. A city timeline predicts a “request for proposals” could be sent out next summer, after city officials craft a proposal and the state approves it. That would possibly allow the city to have a new agreement in place by summer 2019, one year before the existing deal with American Medical Response is due to expire. The city has previously been prevented from issuing a request for proposals by legal questions related to the county’s potential role in the process, but those questions are no longer a roadblock. The city’s Independent Budget Analyst, Andrea Tevlin, said last week that the city would likely benefit from approving the proposed contract changes and then forging a new long-term contract that better meets the city’s evolving emergency response needs. Tevlin, however, said the significant policy changes sought by American Medical Response could have “unintended consequences,” making it crucial for the city’s Fire Department to be vigilant and keep city leaders updated on changes in response times. The City Council is scheduled to consider the proposed contract changes at a meeting scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at City Hall, 202 C St. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrickSo by this point everyone in the Bitcoin community has heard about the collision attack on BU’s short IDs that are used for the propagation of XTreme Thinblocks, as well as Peter R’s rebuttal claiming the infeasibility of such an attack in practice. Many in the Bitcoin community, including Rizun himself, are requesting that Maxwell release his collision-finding code to the public. I find this strange; coding such a collision attack is something that’s covered in Security 101 in most places, so there should be no surprises or novelty here unless Maxwell has found some strange new optimization. So what would such code look like? Let’s take a look. I’ve released a full copy of the code here, so be sure to try it on your own machine. Note this is completely unoptimized code – optimizations amounting to several orders of magnitude of improvement are lurking virtually everywhere. This is only intended to give the general public an idea of what such code would look like. Much of the code I present here is adapted from these solutions to a set of cryptopuzzles online. The General Attack and Defining Our Function The code for finding collisions is already out there, as I linked earlier in the post. The only challenge here is defining our the function we want to find a collision in, f(x). We are looking for an x1, x2, such that sha256(P + x1)[0:k] = sha256(P + x2)[0:k], where P is our common prefix (in the case of Bitcoin, this would be the shared transaction data between the collisions). So let’s define our function, f(x) as f(x) = sha256(P+x)[0:k], where k is the number of bytes we would like to be identical between the two SHA functions (in this case we’re looking for the first 8 bytes to get a 64-bit collision as described by Maxwell, so in our concrete attack instance k=8). Then if f(x1) = f(x2), sha256(P+x1)[0:k] = sha256(P+x2)[0:k] (by definition), which is exactly what we’re looking for. Simple, right? So now that we’ve defined f(x), all we need to do is find any collision for any input of f(x), which will give us the SHA256 partial collision in k bytes we’re seeking. In Python that looks like this: def get_truncated_hash(message, k, prefix): return hashlib.sha256(prefix + message).hexdigest()[:k * 2] We’re using the hex values because the previously seen hash values are used in the cycle finding algorithms we described, and ideally we’d like our collisions to be alphanumeric (so they can be encoded flexibly without triggering protocol issues). Because of this, we need to take twice as many characters as we’re looking for bytes (1 byte = 8 bits = 2 hex characters). It would likely be much faster to find a collision if we accepted non-alphanumeric values. Birthday Attack The simplest and most common collision attack for a common prefix is referred to as the Birthday Attack. We call it this because of a surprising fact in probability: while the probability of 2 people having the same birthday is relatively low, the probability that any sizeable group will contain two people with the same birthday is far higher. How do we do this? We check a bunch of hashes with the prefix we’re looking for, and store every hash value that we’ve seen thusfar. def simple_birthday(k, prefix): # Initialize a place to store all of our found hashes hash_table = dict() # Check every nonce from length 1 to 200 for n in range(1, 200): # Check every alphanumeric string for length n for comb in product(chars, repeat=n): # Compute f(x) on that string s = ''.join(comb) hash = get_truncated_hash(s, k, prefix) # If f(x) matches previously computed f(x') and x!= x', we have our collision! if hash in hash_table: if hash_table[hash]!= s: print_results(s, hash_table[hash], hash, k, prefix, "birthday") return else: # Otherwise store x and f(x) in the table for later lookup hash_table[hash] = s print "fail" Essentially what we’re doing here is going through many different values of y, checking f(y), and storing the value of f(y) in a table. For every new value of f(y), if it’s already stored in the table, we pull out the y’ that generated it and check whether y = y’. If it does not we have a collision. In practice this is slow, because we have to store every value of f(y) and the y that generated it. This means we’re using a lot of memory: finding a 64-bit collision burned through 32GB on my machine without returning a result. On the other hand, if you have a lot of RAM or you’re only looking for small collisions, this works great! Finding a 4 byte collision takes under a second on my machine: Message A: Perhaps. Bfq Message B: Perhaps. 10i Same hash: ae6aa92d $ echo -n "Perhaps. Bfq" \| sha256sum ae6aa92d7c62c249ed74135bb0c271e51813dd81641f2736e29286c39cd9f075 - $ echo -n "Perhaps. 10i" \| sha256sum ae6aa92dd052171c107f0781bdc7f534109e0ae45337449107cc192ee987698a - (Note for advanced readers: The collision we've actually found is f(Bfq) = f(10i). We print the "Perhaps. " prefix in our output for prettyprinting purposes only, as this represents the SHA collision rather than the collision in our defined function. Because f(Bfq) = f(10i), P = "Perhaps. ", and k = 4, sha256(P+Bfq)[0:k] = sha256(P+10i)[0:k] (by definition) = sha256(Perhaps. Bfq)[0:4] = sha256(Perhaps. 10i)[0:4], which is exactly what we want. ) Cyclefinding! A cool optimization in finding collisions to a function is to think of the function as a graph. To keep things from getting confusing, let’s say we’re finding a collision in some hash function g(x). Take any random string and start applying g(x) to it over and over again. If the random string is x1, your results will look something like this: x1 -> g(x1) -> g(g(x1)) -> g(g(g(x1))) ->... Let’s give these concrete values: x1 -> A -> B -> C where each arrow represents applying g to the previous element to get the element it’s pointing to (so g(A) = B, g(B) = C, etc.). Now let’s say g has a collision and g(x1) is the same as g(g(g(g(X1)))). That means as per the above D = A. So we can think of our sequence as follows: x1 -> A -> B -> C -> D or as (because D = A, a collision): x1 -> A -> B -> C -> A or as: x1 -> A -> B -> C--- ^------------\| in other words, by just running g over and over again, we’ve found a cycle in the path we’re taking through all its possible values! Let’s look at A, the first element where we actually see that cycle. Notice that there are two arrows pointing at A: that means that there are two values that, when run through g, yielded A. These values are x1 and C, the sources of the arrows pointing at A. So g(x1) = g(C), and we’ve found a collision! All we need to do is do the same thing for our carefully crafted f. Any collision we find in our f is a collision in the first few bits of SHA256, exactly what we’re looking for! So how do we efficiently find a collision like this, without storing the whole path (the real cycle will be much larger than the 4 elements shown here, and if we’re storing them all we may as well do a Birthday attack)? There are two algorithms for doing this without using memory that grows with the size of your path. They’re very clever, and they’re described quite well by Wikipedia for the curious reader. These algorithms work to find a cycle in any function by building a graph as we did informally above, where the vertices are values and the edges represent application of the function to those values. Wiki also has a handy picture of what a graph like this would look like if you weren’t satisfied with my explanation. The way these algorithms work is relatively simple: you have a tortoise and a hare, both crossing the graph that we’ve built at different speeds. If there is a cycle, at some point the tortoise and the hare will end up pointing to the same value. In our example: x1 -> A -> B -> C--- ^------------\| this would mean something like both the tortoise and the hare have ended up at B at the same time, despite starting from x1 at different speeds. If this happens, you know there is a cycle that made the hare loop back around somewhere, the only question is where is the cycle (in this case from C to A) and how do we extract it to find a collision. Those details are provided on the Wikipedia page for each algorithm. The code for both Floyd’s and Brent’s cycle finding algorithms are included in the code I linked before. They both take an “initial” value as an argument, in the graph above x1. Ideally if you are running multiple threads of this algorithm at once, you want to give it different initial values (by searching different graphs you have a higher probability of finding a cycle quickly). Running a single instance of Floyd’s or Brent’s algorithm on the 4 byte collisions we tested the Birthday attack with takes around a second, longer than the Birthday attack! Why? Well, it’s harder to find a cycle than to just check if you’ve already seen a value. But as the inputs get larger, these cycle finding attacks actually get far more efficient than birthday attacks – because they do not need to store previously seen values in memory (and memory is always slow), their CPU-bound nature outperforms the memory-speed bound birthday attack. The collisions found by these algorithms look something like this: Message A: Perhaps. 565b6514 Message B: Perhaps. 6b8e4865 Same hash: 4a961e81 Finding 64-Bit Collisions in Practice So how does this perform in practice? I spawned 12 threads searching for 64-bit (8 byte) collisions using Floyd’s and Brent’s algorithms (6 processes each on different graphs, as described above, 3 for Floyd’s and 3 for Brent’s) on a relatively high-spec’d i7 workstation (other specs are irrelevant here as both algorithms are fixed memory and use no disk). The collisions returned as follows, in about 2.5 hours of time: Message A: Perhaps. ed5bfa8bc240c284 Message B: Perhaps. c935e1a546c56cac Same hash: 227789c8ba64487b floyd Interestingly enough, I wrote a multi-threaded variant of this attack first. Spawning multiple threads actually decreased performance because of the Python GIL locking up in the hash functions. Weird, eh? So does this attack work in practice? Yeah, duh. Can it be optimized further? Of course. This algorithm is also the type that is incredibly simple to design an ASIC for, given that it is fixed memory and relatively simple computationally. The collisions are both feasible to discover and practical to discover in bulk, given appropriate resources. The junk nonce can also go anywhere in the f: you can define f to create only valid Bitcoin transactions, and use the rest of this code unmodified to create virtually any kind of Bitcoin-compatible collision. We’ve stuck with a simple prefix attack, as that’s what Greg Maxwell demonstrated, but the sky is the limit here. Conclusions I hope that was informative to a few people, and I hope nobody’s going to be demanding Maxwell publish his attack any time soon. Not because it’s morally wrong to do so, but only because it’s irrelevant: the attack is trivial, and security through obscurity continues to not be security at all. Note that I am not saying XThinBlocks are fundamentally flawed here: Peter R. may be correct in his analysis of incentives in concluding the attack does not significantly degrade the advantages of the approach in practice. I also see it as fairly trivial to add a nonce as Core did in their CompactBlocks proposal. But the code is simple, and the attack is out there now! UPDATE: I am now in contact with thezerg1, and we’ve agreed that I will adapt this tool to generate valid Bitcoin transactions which will then be tested against the Bitcoin Unlimited network/testbench to provide statistical evidence about the robustness of XTreme Thinblocks against such a collision attack. Expect an update in the next few days with that code.The Government is making preparations with British and American support to bring Northern parties back to the table this summer for a new attempt to settle questions about the past, flags and parades. Moves to revive the talks follow political turmoil over the PSNI’s detention of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams for questioning about the 1972 murder of Jean McConville. Dublin will await the outcome of European and local elections this month before pressing ahead with the new initiative. However, it is being cast as a fresh attempt to revive proposals developed by retired American diplomat Richard Haass on which the parties failed to strike an agreement in the last round of talks on New Year’s Eve. Denied Mr Adams has denied any involvement in Ms McConville’s murder but the PSNI is sending a report to the North’s Public Prosecution Service. He was released on Sunday night amid escalating political tension with the DUP over Sinn Féin’s response to the arrest. However, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said yesterday a window of opportunity for progress may open up this summer. He said this could emerge between the elections, which take place in little more than a fortnight, and the beginning of the loyalist marching season in July. While Mr Gilmore spoke by phone for 15 minutes yesterday with Dr Haass, a source close to the Tánaiste said there was no formal discussion about his possible return for a new round of talks. Outcome However, the two men resolved to await the outcome of the elections and speak afterwards. The source said Dr Haass told Mr Gilmore he was very eager to stay informed about developments in the North and eager to stay involved. Both men agreed the Haass proposals on the past, flags and parades were still the “best means” of dealing with these questions, the source added, and went on to say that Mr Gilmore had said American involvement and engagement was very important for the process. On RTÉ Radio yesterday, Mr Gilmore insisted the last talks had not failed and said there was still potential for progress based on proposals tabled by Dr Haass. “There may well be a role for him again,” said Mr Gilmore.If anyone was wondering if Vladimir Tarasenko would make an impact in his first NHL game, well, your question has been answered: All it took was three minutes of ice time in the first period for Tarasenko to make the highlight reels, putting a high one over the glove of Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard. Tarasenko has been keeping his skills sharp by playing on the top line for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL with Ilya Kovalchuk. I guess that did some good. The last rookie Blue to score a goal on his first shot was Jaden Schwartz, last season. The last rookie Blue to score on his second shot was also Schwartz, Tarasenko's first round draftmate from 2010. The latest Blues player to accomplish this? Tarasenko, of course. Just 29 seconds into the second period, Tarasenko undressed Howard again for his second goal of the game: Detroit's defense has not been solid this game, and the Blues've been able to exploit it. If the Blues can find this intensity most games this season, things should be fine for the team's future.Oct 13, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports The St. Louis Blues look a bit different to start the season. So far, so good, as the new additions are delivering early. The Blues are 2-1-0 with the new faces directly contributing to both entries in the win column. Rookie Robby Fabbri was the first new Blue this season to strike, scoring his first career NHL goal in a win against Edmonton last week. Unfortunately he is now out indefinitely with a concussion, but that opened the window for one of the healthy scratches to step in, Scottie Upshall suited up first. Tuesday night, the Blues defeated the Calgary Flames 4-3, all four goals provided by new players. Upshall opened the scoring with his first goal as a Blue. He bounced around the lineup for most of the game, spending most of his minutes with David Backes and Dmitrij Jaskin. He put a rebound behind Flames goalie Jonas Hiller after a shot by Paul Stastny. Upshall managed a team leading six shots on goal despite only getting 10:55 minutes of ice time. The 32 year old has bounced around the NHL a bit in his career, the Blues being the sixth team he’s played for. He’s a grinder who could end up being a nice fit next to David Backes as the season progresses. Troy Brouwer has three points (2 G, 1 A) in three games for the Blues already, including his two point effort against the Flames. It doesn’t seem to matter which line Brouwer plays on, he’s had a seemingly smooth transition into the Blues system. He had the right mindset to start the season, and so far it’s translated into points. Hitchcock has been shuffling the lines every game, it’s nice to see Brouwer playing comfortably regardless of his linemates. Maybe he can even shatter his career-high 43 points from his last two seasons in Washington. Brouwer’s strong game set the stage for the real hero of Tuesday night’s game, rookie defenseman Colton Parayko. The 22 year old exploded with two goals from the blue line, including one on the power play to break the tie game. An Alberta native, Parayko scored his first two career goals in front of his friends and family in Calgary. A strong start to what looks to be a promising career, he ended the night with 18:13 minutes of ice time. His break out couldn’t have come at a better time, as St. Louis lost Kevin Shattenkirk to injury in the game. Blues fans viewing the game went from panic to optimism, as Shatty left the game, Parayko helped ease our minds. This is a big chance for Parayko to step up and contribute even more as his role will likely increase. For the new additions to the St. Louis Blues, it may be too little of a sample size to name them all successes; but we’re off to a promising start.New Clemson baseball coach Monte Lee has found his pitching coach. The Clemson Insider has confirmed Duke pitching coach Andrew See will be the Tigers’ new pitching coach. See came on strong late in the hiring process. It is believed See got the job based on the fact he already knows a lot of hitters’ and teams’ approaches in the ACC. It also helped that he has established relationships and connections in the ACC, which will help him with scouting reports. Britt Reames, the pitching coach at The Citadel, and Matt Williams, the pitching coach at UNC Wilmington, were also finalist for the job. See has spent the last three years at Duke. The Blue Devils pitching staff had a 3.29 ERA last season and teams hit just.247. In 2014, Duke turned in a historic year on the mound, finishing the season with a 3.14 ERA, the program’s lowest ERA since the 1971 team had a 2.71 ERA. Prior to the 2014 season, the Blue Devils had not posted an ERA under 4.00 since 1993. Duke ranked second in the ACC in 2014 with 501 strikeouts—a season-record—which averaged out to 8.56 strikeouts per game. It also marked the first time the program recorded 500 strikeouts in a season. Following the 2014 season, Duke pitcher Drew Van Orden was selected in the fifth round by the Washington Nationals (No. 154 overall) in the MLB Draft. Prior to his time at Duke, See spent six seasons at Ohio University, where he served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. During his time there he coached eight All-Conference First-Team players and three All-Americans, including 2009 MAC Player of the year, Marc Krauss. An official announcement from Clemson on See may not come until next week after completion of all the background checks.Federica Mogherini says it is important to keep a dialogue open despite growing pressure for Brussels to condemn Ankara’s human rights abuses EU minister says Turkey still on track to join bloc despite calls to stop accession The EU’s foreign policy chief defied calls for a tougher line on human rights abuses in Turkey to insist the country remains on track to join the bloc. Federica Mogherini, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, told reporters on Tuesday that it was important to keep a dialogue open with Ankara. “Clearly Turkey is and stays a candidate country,” she told reporters. “Many of our colleagues prefer to focus on the red lines. I prefer to focus on what we have in common.” The statement, following talks with Turkish ministers, came despite growing pressure on Brussels to show its condemnation of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, since the attempted coup last year and the jailing of 50,000 people pending trial over alleged links to the plotters. Salil Shetty, the secretary general of Amnesty International, said the EU should look to using a host of levers, including its funding to the Erdoğan regime, to persuade it to release human rights activists. Six campaigners, including the local director of Amnesty International, have been held in custody in recent weeks after being accused of belonging to a terrorist organisation. Nearly 900,000 people have signed a petition calling for their release. Turkish referendum: all you need to know Read more Manfred Weber, chair of the centre-right European People’s party, also called on the EU to give “itself the goal of ending the accession talks” with Turkey over the crackdown. “The EU has repeatedly extended its hand to Turkey through various initiatives but Turkish president Erdoğan has consistently spurned it,” he said. “Turkey’s accession to the EU makes no sense.” Johannes
. They didn’t interfere with us in any way. It was good. You’re mentioning all these studios. Are you noticing any changes in the industry from when you were starting out making independent films? Oh yeah, it’s completely different. The whole theatrical thing is very different. Now the majority of the market is streaming. It used to be that films were just theatrical and secondarily video tapes and DVDs. It’s sort of flipped now as far as what’s the biggest share. Therefore, how people perceive what you make has changed. It’s completely different. Do you think these changes are perhaps for the best? I don’t want to trouble myself with thinking they’re bad, because they are. To preserve my sanity and ability to continue is to accept what is and do my best to make something that we’re happy to get out there. So, I can’t worry too much about it. But I’ve been lucky. Amazon and K5 have been great. They’ve been nice, respectful, and very pleasant. This is your first electronic score. Was it exciting to step into that realm? I assume it’s a very complex and deep world. When I was even writing the film, I knew that I wanted an electronic score. I love the history of electronic music, as I do many types of music. My first inclination was I’m going to get different people that I like. I’m going to get something from Boards of Canada, maybe I get something from Brian Eno, and then I put together a score from all these things. I started doing that in the editing room, and I found out it wasn’t really ideal, because it wasn’t quite fitting. The piece might be too foreboding, it might be too dark, it might be too light, it might be too sweet. Carter Logan – who was a producer on the film and has worked with me for years – and I are in a band together called SQÜRL. Along with our stage shows, we have been doing live scores to Man Ray’s surrealist films from the ’20s. We’re going to do more next year. We love doing that, and when we do that Carter plays drums, he has a way to trigger samples, and he has a synth. I have an electric guitar, an effects pedal and a synth. Fonzy (Affonso Gonçalves, the editor) said, ‘Look man, you and Carter have synths, why don’t you sketch a few things and just try.’ I was like, ‘In all my free time, Fonzy?’ He said ‘Well, just try something over the weekend’. So we did, and it was working really well. So, over three weekends, using Garageband and a box of stuff, we created this. Now we’re going to put it on an album. I’m going to go away and expand and make the longer pieces work. Our only rule was no sequencing. I’m not against sequencing, but we didn’t want to let the synths play themselves; we’ll play them analogue. That was our only thing. Carter might have added in a little electric bass, and I’d put in an acoustic guitar and use wine glasses as glass violins. I mixed them way back because they really pierced through. But we just used those things. It’s good to hear there’s some sort of connection between Man Ray and Paterson. In a roundabout way. The coolest thing was when we performed a couple of nights to over a thousand people in New York at the Man Ray thing. After the second night a stoner guy came up to us and said, ‘Dude, it is so cool that Man Ray made videos for your music before you were born!’ We were like ‘Thank you. That’s our best compliment.’ We loved it. Paterson has this great affinity for creativity in people in traditionally non-creative careers. Do you think there’s a big difference between the type of person who would do that and the type of person who would actually make a career out of that creative thing? There are no poets that were ever in it for the money. Nobody makes money being a poet. You scrounge, you have another job. Wallace Stevens was an insurance executive. Frank O’Hara was the curator for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. There’s a kind of purity of intent if you’re a poet. You’re not doing it for the money or the fame, you’re doing it because the form is strong and your hand is strong. I believe artists should make things that they would like. As soon as you start thinking about, ‘How will the world receive it?’ and ‘will I be famous?’, then you’re doing something else. That’s okay to do that, but I can’t do that. When we make films, we make something we would like to see. When Carter and I make music, we’re making something we would like to hear. If other people find it, then that’s great. If they don’t, we’re not going to change it so that they might. It’s not the way to approach it for me. Have you seen much of Driver or Farahani’s films before shooting? What qualities of them did you think would work well as this really happy domestic couple? I hadn’t seen much of either of them – just a little bit. I saw Adam do some small things in different films and I heard some interviews with him that were very impressive and made me want to meet him. I like his look, I like his approach to acting, I like his voice, and I like his rhythm. So on meeting him I was like, ‘Yeah, this guy is great.’ I first saw Golshifteh a long time ago in 2006 in a film called Half Moon – the Kurdish-Iranian film. Beautiful film. She was quite young when I saw her in that. I’ve seen her in a few other films since then. I just loved the idea of not making Laura an American actress. I thought, ‘I’m going to have trouble from K5 or Amazon when I say I want Golshifteh for a lead role. I have to tell them who I’m casting. They didn’t have the right to say no, but they had the right to say their opinion. Their opinion was ‘She’s fantastic. We love her.’ Amazon was like “She’s great. What a great idea.’ I wasn’t asking their permission, but that was a nice thing. I just love her, she’s fantastic. Have you seen About Elly by Asghar Farhadi? She’s great in that. Yes I have. She is. She’s great. Do you think young creative types today have an outlet similar to something like punk in the 70s or the energy in New York in the ’80s? And are you seeing any creative modes for dissent? Creativity and daring creativity are like weeds – you can’t stop them growing even if you wanted to. It has to do with wanting to say something, having inspiration and ignoring social media or the negative parts like, ‘How many likes do I get?’ Of course, there are people all over this planet. There are little gardens in filmmaking and music. You just have to find it, but certainly it’s out there. There’s a lot of great stuff going on, you just have to look for it. Could you think of any specific people – maybe younger people – who could do this? I find things. I just discovered a band from Canada called Nadja. It’s two drone musicians. I love a band from Chile called Föllakzoid. I don’t know if you know the electronic music of Ty Braxton. He’s ground-breaking – the future of fucking music. I love Dead Skeletons from Iceland. I love Blanck Mass with one of the guys from Fuck Buttons. There’s a lot of stuff. I love this guitarist Steve Gun. He played for a while with Kurt Vile. I like a psych band from the West Coast called Eternal Tapestry. I like these two girls called The Casket Girls. I like a lot of stuff. I like some more mainstream hip hop stuff. It’s not normally my taste but I think Kendrick Lamar is a fucking musical genius. I love Run the Jewels, but that’s not young, unknown stuff. There’s a lot out there. I could go home and make you a good list, but I can’t do it right off of my head. Punk was about questioning authority and seeing energy. Do you think the form of drone music or the content of something like Run the Jewels are just as radical? I think you can be radical even from a mainstream place like Kendrick Lamar, or from a very underground place. But it’s found in the people who aren’t looking for mainstream recognition. That’s the dilemma of it. True punk wasn’t trying to get mainstream FM airplay. They had something to say, and they fucking said it. That’s not dead, that spirit is there. It’s even more valuable now than ever. Is there any advice you’d give to Jim Jarmusch of 1980? No, I can’t even think that way. Do you still keep up with your cohorts of that time? I’m curious specifically about Amos Poe. Oh yeah, I keep in touch with a lot of my friends back then – Amos Poe and James Nares. I see lots of people. I just saw Lee Quinones, the master graffiti artist. I see Charlie Ahearn. I see a lot of people for sure still. Published 22 Nov 2016Image copyright Reuters Image caption Officials believe that the plague has been spread by squirrels and fleas US health officials have closed a portion of Yosemite National Park after it emerged that a second tourist might have contracted plague. Authorities believe the disease, which is treatable with antibiotics, was spread by squirrels and fleas. The tourist's camp site - the Tuolumne Meadows Campground - will be closed until Friday as workers treat the area with insecticide. A California child fell ill last month, but has recovered. The latest suspected case is a person from Georgia who visited the Sierra National Forest in early August, but officials did not give further details. Symptoms of the plague include high fever, chills, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. There are three main types of plague depending on how the infection manifests. The bubonic plague is characterised by swollen lymph nodes. Pneumonic plague affects the respiratory system. It becomes septicaemic if it is found in the bloodstream. The infected child showed signs of all three types, the state health department said. Since 1970, 40 cases of plague have been reported in California, and nine people have died from the disease. Health officials commonly find plague-infected animals but human cases are relatively rare. "The risk of exposure to people is very low," Dr Vicki Kramer of the California Department of Public Health told the Los Angeles Times.As the big story has developed over the last year regarding Hillary’s problems with her email and her “private” server of bathroom infamy when she was Secretary of State, I’ve been out front on this case, breaking a lot of exclusive stories and providing my unique insights based on my own time in the intelligence business. For the sake of convenience, particularly for readers who are seeking one-stop-shopping on EmailGate, just as I’ve done with my extensive work on the Edward Snowden debacle, below you’ll find my work on this case — op-eds, extended analysis, blog posts, even a couple extended media interviews on all things EmailGate. Enjoy! Since Hillary’s strange travails with IT and mishandling official secrets appear to be far from over, this is a living document: I’ll add new links as they appear. How EmailGate Weakened America’s National Security (01 Jun 2016) Game Over: EmailGate Just Crippled the Clinton Express (26 May 2016) Panama Papers Reveal Clinton’s Kremlin Connection (07 Apr 2016) Hillary Has an NSA Problem (18 Mar 2016) NYT Report Debunks Severity of EmailGate With Classic Clintonian Wordsmithing (04 Mar 2016) National Security Disasters and the Latest Clinton Email Dump (06 Feb 2016) Hillary Clinton Put Spies’ Lives at Risk (01 Feb 2016) Why Hillary’s EmailGate Matters (28 Jan 2016) Hillary’s EmailGate Goes Nuclear (09 Jan 2016) Hillary’s Email Troubles Are Far From Over (19 Oct 2015) Spies Don’t Buy Hillary’s Email Excuses (10 Sep 2015) Hillary’s Sources, Methods, and Lies (09 Sep 2015) What Russian Intelligence Knows About Hillary Clinton (01 Sep 2015) Hillary’s EmailGate: Understanding Security Classification (16 Sep 2015) Will Hillary’s Emails Burn the White House? (03 Sep 2015) Hillary’s Mounting EmailGate Troubles (26 Aug 2016) EmailGate Gets Worse for Hillary Clinton (24 Aug 2015) The Spy Satellite Secrets in Hillary’s Emails (12 Aug 2015) Share this: Twitter Facebook Email PrintUpdate One of the men arrested, Dan Durr, is listed as the CEO/President of Don's Car Washes, Inc. here in Fargo according to the company's website. The local business has two locations, one on 13th Avenue South and one on 52nd Avenue South. Original Story 8 people have been arrested in Guardian Angel Human Trafficking Operation. The Fargo Police Department had the opportunity to participate in Human Trafficking training and two Human Trafficking undercover operations. Those arrested are 42 year old Dan Kenneth Durr, 41 year old Aaron Christopher Davidson, 29 year old Jimmy Barh Tenwah, 50 year old Veran Adrian Kapaun, 21 year old Dramane Junior Berte, 32 year old Merennage Ravin Salgado -- all from Fargo -- as well as 26 year old Grand William Goodsell of Halstad, MN and 42 year old David Michael Jablonsky of Bismarck. These undercover operations targeted adults agreeing to engage in sexual activity with minors. The operations took place in both Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota on two separate days. This resulted in nine total arrests, one in Grand Forks and eight in Fargo. All of those arrested in Fargo were arrested for Patronizing a Minor for Commercial Sexual Activity, a Class A Felony. A Class A Felony is punishable up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.Im thankful for anyone who reads this because i have no answers. I Decided to join to catch up on some benz forums and news but i aslo came here to request some sort of advice because i cannot fix an issue that i am having with my car. I have the w211 e63 amg. Ever since i got an oil change at 66k miles, i have been experiencing a rattle coming from under the driver seat.I did change the oil again at 71k miles. Every time i start the car after it sits for some time, a ratteling noise comes from under the drivers seat. It sounds like sheet metal ratteling ontop of a scafolding. I checked if it was coming from the engine bay to see if maybe its the camshaft but it wasnt. Several months later the check engine light came on. Mecanic said it was showing a very thin fuel air mix ratio so we Changed the gasket on the intake manifold and the pcv valve. CEl came off but returned with a different message coupe days later. When it came on it happened when i turned the car after it was sitting for 30 min, the car started very wierd as if the exahust choked, and the car vibrated on starrtup for 4 sec the noise was also present. CEL was a p0014 code camshaft bank 1 timing over advanced. Went back mechanic said it was a faulty salinoid. Changed it along with the tension-er only for the code to come back two days later. Also the check engine light that came on had dissapeared but not popped up ever since but its still stored. I honestly dont know what to do, mechanic is a certified benz tech and i requested he checked that the camshaft rotated fine which he confirmed that they were fine. Is this noise part of the CEl or is it an issue on its own. I will be thankful for any advice or feed back thankyou!!!!!Feel free to email me too [email protected]If there’s anything I can take from my career experiences so far, it’s that passion is the key ingredient for success. I have struggled and ended up in the wrong places, but passion also brought me back to where I needed to be. This post might end up being a bit more autobiographical than I’d like it to be, but hopefully, you can take some motivation from it. Here’s why I think passion is such a key ingredient. We’ve all worked in jobs where we didn’t really care what we were doing. Money is money, right? That’s true to an extent, but some of us have more willpower than others. I’ll put my hands up and say that I don’t have much willpower if I don’t enjoy what I’m doing. I’ll do it, but it won’t be my best work. I’m sure we’ve all felt that way at some point. What’s missing here? Passion. If you love what you do, you’ll have the passion and drive to succeed. Suddenly, it no longer becomes a job or hard work; it’s something you enjoy doing. You don’t even give a second thought to how much effort you’re putting in because you really don’t mind that you’re doing it. That’s all well and good, but not everyone can find the job of their dreams, right? There are certainly barriers to entry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give it a go. Firstly, you need to figure what it is that you want to do with your life. It took me years to figure out my passions, and I only stumbled upon them by chance. However, there are plenty of Career Advisors & Counsellors out there that can try and make the decision easier for you. They can analyze your skills and see what you’re best suited to, and you might come across something you hadn’t anticipated. Once you’ve got that idea in mind, all you’ve got to do is work towards it. This is where you need to take things one day at a time and keep that goal in mind. First and foremost, it is important to go and acquire those skills either by learning or practice. Let’s look at some examples here. If you wanted to enter into the Sales Professionl – though it is not mandatory, it will definitely help obtaining some Professional Sales Training. It will show your prospective employers that you are serious about your career. If you wanted to enter Alternative Healthcare or Kinesiology – a course or training in Massage Therapy might be an option. If you wanted to be a Forklift operator, then courses such as TCE offer beginner and experienced forklift training courses will give you a heads up over others. By equipping yourself with those kinds of skills, you’ll be more valuable to potential employers. Educate yourself in any way you can, and seek out any opportunities to get involved as a volunteer. It might mean working a separate job and volunteering on the side for a while. If you’re willing to do this, your chances of landing that dream job will improve day-by-day. But, it all comes back to that key ingredient: passion. If any of this sounds like laborious and boring work, you haven’t found what you really want to do. If it comes naturally and you don’t even think about how difficult it might be, you’ve found something you really love. That doesn’t mean it’ll come easily and you won’t get frustrated from time-to-time, but you’ll keep going. I wish you the best of luck in finding something that gives you the passion for succeeding.New details and a piece of concept art for Limbo developer’s “Project 2” have emerged courtesy of the Danish Film Institute. Playdead’s follow-up to its 2010 indie-hit, Limbo, is a colourful 2D platformer set in a 3D environment, according to details listed on the website of the Dutch Film Institute. The above concept art accompanies the listing. On a list of projects supported by the DFI, a synopsis for Playdead’s “Project 2” describes it as featuring “unique puzzles” and depicting “…the story of one boy’s struggle against evil forces through questionable experiments on human bodies”. The DFI is contributing $1,000,000 to the project. Last year, Playdead head Dino Patti spoke of his satisfaction with how the project is progressing. At the time he said it was looking “crazy good” and although he wouldn’t be drawn on a release date he said he expected development to run to around three and a half years, placing it somewhere around 2014. The game will launch on PS3, 360, PC and Mac as a download title. Thanks, KotakuBooking.com Great Horned Owlets In Their Nest In Thickson’s Woods Bob and I had not gone out to Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve, in Whitby, Ontario, for about 5 weeks in the spring of 2013. Nor had we heard if the babies had hatched, so a visit was in order to check on the status of things. What a thrill when we sighted two Great Horned Owlets in their nest. At first, Bob and I were only able to see a vague outline of the mother owl. We thought perhaps she was still sitting on her eggs although that seemed unlikely. We had first seen the female stationed on the nest in late February, and it was now the first week of April. Great Horned Owls usually incubate their eggs for between 28-37 days, so the numbers did not add up. The female Great Horned Owl is responsible for incubating the clutch of eggs, seldom moving from the nest once the eggs are laid. A clutch usually consists of 2 eggs, but there can be up to 5, even 6, eggs under perfect environmental conditions. Great Horned Owls usually breed together one year after another, and normally mate for life. I can only imagine how cold it would be sitting in the top of a very tall pine tree. That afternoon, there was a gusty southwest wind blowing, but the air was still very chilly. Mother Owl protected her chick by using her body as a windbreak against the cold draft. We had a dandy view of the female’s tail. The dark brown bars really stand out against the white feathers. Bob and I couldn’t figure out what the large mass of white was, below the female’s tail, until the huge clump of fluffy white stuff began to move. The next thing you know, a downy head popped up above the edge of the nest, and two huge eyes peered straight down at us. It was confirmed! At least one chick in the owl’s brood had hatched. Another bird watcher who happened by told us that a day earlier, the chick had hopped up onto the edge of the nest. The alarmed mother owl scooped it back to safety with her outstretched wing. Although the nest is massive in our opinion, there was barely room for the female to move about. The adult pair of Great Horned Owls are making good use of a nest abandoned by some other large bird, or perhaps it’s an old squirrel’s dray. To make it more comfortable, the pair may have lined the nest with feathers. Brooding is a full-time job until the offspring are about 2 weeks old, and this female was not offering to stray from the nest. She relies on the male to bring food for herself and her brood, and she may even be afforded a very brief respite from duty. Bob and I spied the male owl perched high on a tree on the other side of the woods. He is usually found sitting in one of a few particular trees that border the woodlot, but always within sight of the nest. He kept a watchful eye on every movement in the nest and on the ground. With the afternoon waning, there was increased activity in the owl’s nest. All of a sudden, a second downy head popped into view, much to our delight. No wonder the female was so cramped for space. We suspected that nap time was over, and the chicks were looking for something to eat. As if to confirm our suspicions, one of the owlets opened its beak widely and appeared to be manipulating some sort of rodent. The adult owls must maintain some sort of stash in the nest, to hold the owls over between fresh deliveries of prey. As you see in our video, the owl chick is attempting to ingest some sort of small mammal. Under the warm rays of the early spring sunshine, the chicks bided their time, all the while climbing over one another, flexing their wings, and taking care of business. From our position in the woods, which was a great distance from the nest tree, it was very difficult to discern what exactly we were looking at through the camera lens. Point in fact…here we have the back end of one of the owlets perched precariously on the edge of the nest. All I could see through my lens was a huge pile of downy white feathers. It turns out that the baby was preparing to defecate onto the ground way below…an early lesson in good housekeeping. One of the Great Horned Owlets peeked down at us through the screen of pine needles, and I felt that the joke was on us. It is surprising how large the beak is at such a tender age, and already we can see the coloration of the eye disks beginning to fill in. This pair of Great Horned Owls has carefully selected its nesting site within an ideal habitat. Thickson’s Woods is surrounded by marshland and meadows that are home to a variety of suitable prey. Point in fact, this rabbit that was hunkered down in the shadow of a log, hoping to elude detection by the keen eye of the male Great Horned Owl. Bob and I have also seen chipmunks and squirrels within Thickson’s Woods. The male remained on his perch and made no move to hunt prey while we were in the woods. Great Horned Owls hunt mostly at night or at dusk taking prey as large as skunks and even the occasional porcupine. And so it was that we left the woods, knowing that the Great Horned Owlets were in excellent care. Perhaps the next group of bird watchers to arrive on the scene got to see the father owl fly in with a catch. For us, maybe next time… You May Also Enjoy: Mountsberg Raptor Centre – A World of Many Different Raptors Great Grey Owl Sighting in Ottawa Our walk through a world of history in Paris Our South African Journey to Kruger National Park An Eastern Screech Owl: A Master of Disguise in Burlington A Northern Saw-Whet Owl we sighted in Toronto Frame To Frame – Bob and Jean Share this: Facebook Pinterest Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email Tumblr More PrintStudio Edition Glass Shipping Details Shipping and handling within the United States and Canada is $100. Shipping will be added automatically during the checkout process. Each Edition is shipped via 2-day air with signature required. Within 2 business days, you will be contacted to schedule an arrival date before shipping. International shipping to Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom is $200. For shipping assistance to a country not listed, please call toll-free at 800.574.7272 or email [email protected]. Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30AM–4:30PM PST International shipping rates do not include any taxes, duties, or fees that may be due upon delivery. All additional fees are responsibility of the buyer. Customs charges and other applicable fees are determined by the receiving country. Chihuly Workshop has no control over these fees and charges, nor can we advise what the final cost may be. In the event the item(s) are shipped as you requested, and you choose not to accept delivery and/or pay the receiving country’s customs charges and applicable fees, the item(s) will be returned to Chihuly Workshop at your expense. Studio Edition Glass arrives wrapped in bubble wrap, positioned inside its acrylic vitrine, and surrounded by packing peanuts in a custom cardboard shipping box (14 x 14 x 14" or 16 x 16 x 16"). Unpacking instructions are provided on the top of each box. All sales are final for Studio Edition Glass. For shipping and return details on merchandise other than Studio Edition Glass and Fine Art Prints, please view here.Movie companies have been told they must meet new targets for ethnic minority, gay and female characters on screen to be eligible for future funding from the British Film Institute. The BFI, Britain’s largest public film fund, announced a “Three Ticks” scheme to ensure diversity in films and behind the scenes as it set out new rules for funding. Under the system, to be implemented in September, films must “tick” at least two of three criteria: on-screen diversity; off-screen diversity and “creating opportunities and social mobility”. The BFI, which allocates lottery funding and invests more than £27 million in film production, sales and distribution, supports about 30 new projects a year. It backed The King’s Speech and Philomena. The new rules will compel filmmakers to place “diverse” actors and subjects at the forefront of their projects, as well as ensuring minority workers are represented on set and in the crew. On screen, at least one lead character must be “positively reflecting diversity”, with the story more likely to receive funding if it “explicitly and predominantly explores issues of identity relating to ethnicity or national origins, a specific focus on women, people with disabilities, sexual identity, age and people from a socially disadvantaged background”. Among the films the BFI has praised for content include Suffragette, the story of the battle for women to gain the vote, and Pride, about gay activists supporting the miners’ strike. It will ask filmmakers to ensure that at least 30 per cent of supporting and non-speaking characters are also “diverse”. Off-screen, at least two heads of department must be from diverse backgrounds, as well as a range of “key creatives” including the director, screenwriter, composer and cinematographer. The third category requires companies to offer paid internships and jobs to “new entrants from diverse backgrounds” and to help them progress. “Three Ticks” is likely to raise fears about compromising scripts’ authenticity, with period dramas less likely to naturally represent “diverse backgrounds”. A spokesman for the BFI insisted all films would have the opportunity to meet the criteria, with even those not fulfilling them onscreen able to “tick” the other two sections. Ed Vaizey, the culture minister, praised the initiative as helping to “raise the bar”, adding that he would like to see all television, film and performing arts companies following the BFI’s example. Amanda Nevill, the CEO of the BFI, said it was “vital” to reflect British society in order to stay relevant and said the announcement “is just the beginning”. Last month, the BBC announced it would ensure one in seven actors and presenters will be either black, Asian or ethnic minority in the next three years. At the time, critics including Philip Davies, the Conservative MP, called it “absolutely ridiculous” political correctness, saying that all recruitment “should be done on ability”.This webinar is designed for declared candidates, and especially those considering a run for office this year with the Green Party. Potential 2018 candidates also welcome. Those who are (or plan to be) key support staff or volunteers are also welcome to join. The webinar is part of an ongoing series produced by the Coordinated Campaign Committee of the Green Party of the United States. This particular session will focus on: reasons to run for office (and reasons not to run) what a typical campaign year might look like personal considerations before making the decision how to seek a Green Party endorsement This webinar will be led by Jennifer Baker, recently elected to the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees and Alex Shantz, who ran her campaign. Jennifer Baker is currently serving as a Communications Media Specialist for the Napa Valley Unified School District in Napa, CA where she lives with her husband and two elementary school children. She holds Masters degrees in Library Science and Public Administration. In a highly contentious race against a firmly entrenched incumbent and political insider, she was elected to a 4-year term on the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees, representing Area 1 this November. While she has over 25 years of public service experience, this is her first publicly elected position. Alex Shantz, who also has held office as a Napa Valley College Board of Trustees, is active with the Green Party of California. He also recently served on the St. Helena United School District Board. Read more about Alex here: http://www.cagreens.org/news/young-green-elected-student-trustee-napa-valley-college Archives of previous webinars can be viewed here. RSVP here.Thanks to one signature, this summer quickly got spicy for the Charlotte Hornets. When Lance Stephenson finished crossing his surname’s single “t”, the Hornets instantly jumped from a fringe playoff team to a postseason lock, and the addition of the flashy wing made the draft-night add-ons of Noah Vonleh and P.J. Hairston seem significantly more substantial. The team lost a valued starter and key contributor earlier in the summer whendecided to sign with the division rival Miami Heat, but the additions of Stephenson and fellow stretch-4/capable-starterquickly made Charlotte faithful forget McBob’s treachery. Defensively, the Bobcats were easily one of the best in the league, and their high-level play on that end of the court was the difference that molded them into a bona fide playoff team. What held them back from taking next step, though, was their shoddy offense. The team had a thin bench, and while some teams like Portland and Houston make up for that with an offensively super-charged starting lineup, the Bobcats’ starters only posted 66.7 points per game, a mark good for 16th in the league. Also ranking 18th in offensive efficiency, Charlotte’s starters were collectively sub-par last season. The bench has been upgraded, but that doesn’t mean that the first five players to suit up don’t have to improve. So, considering the addition of Stephenson to the core five, what will each starter’s respective stat line look like next year? Will the group improve as a whole?Let me connect the pro-Hillary dots for you at NBC News… This is not rocket science. In fact, the effort NBC News is pouring into rehabilitating Hillary Clinton is now so painfully blatant that even left-wing CNN is calling out the Peacock Network. And NBC News is so desperate to keep a Republican out of the White House that “Saturday Night Live” has openly joined the pro-Hillary propaganda team. When left-wing CNN smells a pro-Hillary rat at “Saturday Night Live,” that’s a pretty big rat: One suspects that Clinton’s team negotiated limits to how vicious the humor could get, mindful of the night in October 2008 when, during the closing weeks of the presidential campaign, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin[.] … So it was smart of the seasoned campaign operatives on Clinton’s team to avoid letting their candidate be displayed as a fool. … Beyond the actual appearance, in fact, it’s safe to assume the Clinton campaign directly or indirectly negotiated her appearance as part of a de facto package deal with NBC to showcase the candidate. And the “Today Show” showcased Hillary by having her flip pancakes: — We’ve gone full TODAY Show. Here’s @HillaryClinton flipping a pancake — pic.twitter.com/HgRDUDfm5J — Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) October 5, 2015 — Naturally, “Saturday Night Live” is willing to sell out to Power in order to aid and abet that Power and to accommodate the same NBC News that admitted just last month that Andrea Mitchell purposely pulled back from asking Hillary tough question about her email scandal. Democrats sure got it good… — When is Bernie’s @TODAYshow townhall? When is Jeb’s? Or is this another in-kind contribution from Comcast to @HillaryClinton? — Matthew Continetti (@continetti) October 5, 2015 — …oh, yes, Democrats got it good. That includes the media not treating Bernie Sanders seriously. The reason Sanders has not received anywhere near the media scrutiny second and third-place Republicans’ Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina have is because Sanders is a loon. If the media focuses on Sanders it exposes the Democrats as the extremists they really are. That is not a story the media wants to tell. Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNCOctober 10, 2016 Hurricane Matthew makes landfall; Carolinas to face catastrophic flooding, damaging winds By By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist October 10, 2016, 1:33:43 AM EDT Topic driven playlist Hurricane Matthew will spin near the southeastern U.S. coast with a swath of flooding, power outages and damaging winds in parts of the Carolinas through Sunday morning. Problems related to Matthew could occur as far to the north as southeastern Virginia. Matthew approached the Florida coast as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday night, before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane near the coast on Friday afternoon. Matthew, now a Category 1 hurricane, will continue to gradually weaken through this weekend, but the hurricane will continue to cause dangerous conditions. In fact, some of the worst conditions in terms of coastal flooding will continue through Saturday night. Track Matthew on radar as the hurricane moves northward. Hurricane Matthew officially made landfall southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina around 11:00 a.m. EDT Saturday. Data suggests the center of circulation had crossed the coast near the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Matthew will continue to hug the coast over the next 12 to 24 hours. "Matthew will continue to bring major impacts to the Carolinas going forward, with heavy, flooding rainfall continuing to be the most widespread and life threatening situation,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey said. Matthew will remain a hurricane through at least Saturday evening as it parallels the Southeast coast. Hurricane Matthew will create a fire hose effect of high winds, heavy rain and storm surge as the system moves northeastward. Such a track will put millions in harm's way along the coast and inland from impacts ranging from storm surge flooding, flash and urban flooding, flying debris and scores of downed trees to structural damage to weakly constructed
4:00PM PST. A Mr. Miyagi moment really helped me here. * * * There will be limited analysis of this game. Every week, I strive to bring a unique perspective to the Seahawks. I’m a huge fan. If you’re ever at Nickerson Street Saloon in Fremont during a game, I’m the guy who screams “Sea-” to the whole bar after a touchdown. My favorite thing is football and the Seahawks. All I want is to make people like football more. It sounds corny and foolish but it motivates me to do this blog. Because I want people to love football and the Seahawks, I will write zero analysis on this game. Okay, I lied. Mike Morgan is no longer allowed on the field. Beside that, all I will say is that football is a tactical game. It’s the supreme-example of organized-conflict. 22-players line up, each having a specific job, and then for a few seconds they do those jobs. Once they are done, 22-players take a breather before lining up again. Due to the nature of football, one cannot always depend on superstars like in basketball. If the game plan is bad, the schemes are weak and the half-time adjustments are poor—week 2 will happen. RIP, week 2 of the 2016 season. * * * Respect. This guy is on Medicare and is eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Keep that in mind. * * * So are the Seahawks a bad team? No, they are not. But, while football anxiety eats at our bare souls, let’s consider a few things. The Huskies football squad is 3-0 and averaging 49 points/game. They are currently 9th in the AP rankings. And I was fortunate enough to have a roommate—no, not the one who was cuddling eyes-closed, all-up-in-each-others-shit with the girl I like—who invited me to tailgate with his family and provided a ticket into the game. Let me tell you, this Husky squad looks promising. Husky fans have a lot to be hopeful for, and non-Husky fans have the potential to take their hatred to a new level. Also, the Mariners are on a 9-2 stretch since August 8th. At this time of this writing, they are 2 games out in the wild card race. Oh, and they are 9 games above.500! This team is surprisingly formidable, and of course it’s just in time for Felix Hernandez to discover mortality as an athlete. * * * How Can the Hawks Beat the 49ers? Setting aside week 2, the Seahawks have some legacy problems. One, Kam Chancellor’s pass coverage is regressing. Kam is popular so I treat him with kid-gloves, but this dude is on the decline and the ride is getting steeper. Kelcie McCray’s fill-in role for Kam in 2015 was solid, definitely an above-average performance. Maybe in this defense, surrounded by these athletes, given the right opportunities, he might elevate his game up a notch or two. Right now, I think he’s the smarter football player. In passing situations, I want him in there every time. The secondary is smash-mouth, but when the pass rush disappears, the squad gets toasted. Two, Christine Michael is playing above his head. He’s so much better than I ever expected, even considering the fumble. But, man, if he could learn how to blitz pickup and set a real-man block… Three, Darrell Bevell won me during the 2015 season. I still like this guy, but he turns from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde at times. When a rush is getting to Russell, Bevell’s play calling falls apart. He gets predictable, using similar formations in successive plays. He calls to the edge, hoping space will create breathing room, but it rarely works, and too often our smallish receivers get lit up, including Doug Baldwin. My back hurts for him. (Wow, I swore I wouldn’t talk about week 2. By the way, the guy who was cuddling with the girl I like, he told me an hour before he did this that we were family and I was his brother. I’ve known him less than a month, and I already have a family). * * * Good Work. * * * Five Pass-Catchers Can Save the Offense The Seahawks two-minute, spread-offense is fantastic! With Wilson’s ankle in tape for the foreseeable future, the spread is exactly the way to use him. Just stretch those defensive-backs across the field, let Russ read the defense from the shotgun, he’ll decide where to go pre-snap—boom! It’s a simple, elegant solution. Also, the offense throws a lot of north-south in that package and the results are usually promising. This sideline garbage is Mr. Hyde-Bevell. It’s him reaching into the cookie jar. As a play caller, he sabotages himself by refusing to take the easy out. Hey, play to a defense once-and-a-while. Sometimes it’s okay to dink-and-duck. Sometimes it’s okay to win the war of a thousand paper cuts. [Enter third analogy]. If the running game is broken, then let it break. Don’t run on 1st down. Don’t run on consecutive plays. Target your possession receiver—again and again. Play some real cowardly shit, lose the dick-measuring contest, but get the W, and come out full-throttle next week. * * * I kid you not, not only did the girl I like obnoxiously cuddle with another guy (in front of me, no less, so it was intentional) on the couch, not only did the Seahawks lose this game, but Microsoft Word crashed when I was trying to spellcheck this document and I had to do some deep Google searches to locate my temp folder and get this whole thing back. (And this was the third time I had to Google search how to do this in the last few years. Why don’t I bookmark the webpage already?) During the game, one of my closest female friends told me, “This girl is exactly like I was when I was young. Don’t talk to her again.” Sooooooooo… Tomorrow, I’ll be burning bridges. Tonight, I’m heading out to karaoke to introduce myself to a few females and get my confidence sorted out. Thanks for reading. This really helped me through week 2. BRING ON WEEK 3!!!!In 1999 American man David Whipple purchased a McDonald’s hamburger, and 14 years later it looks exactly the same as it did the day he bought it. Whipple purchased the hamburger with the intention of keeping it for a month, so he could show friends and family how preservatives can prolong food in an alarmingly unnatural manner. He forgot about the hamburger, only to come across it two years later in an old coat pocket, reports news.com.au Whipple decided to continue with the experiment and claims the hamburger he purchased in 1999 remains the same – it is free from mould and fungus and it does not emit an unpleasant odour unlike most 14 year old foods. The only thing that has changed is the pickle, which has decomposed. He told US television The Doctors the experiment was not planned. "I was showing some people how enzymes work and I thought a hamburger would be a good idea. And I used it for a month and then I forgot about it. "It ended up in a paper sack with the receipt in my coat pocket tossed in the back of my truck and it sat there for, I don't know, two or three months," he said. Whipple still has both the original receipt and the hamburger, and he uses it to deter his grandchildren from eating fast food.Another game that also can be played inside, but who wants to clean the beer off the floor in the morning when you can have more fun playing outside or while camping. Flip cup requires nothing more than a bunch of red solo cups and a minimum 6 players. To play, split up 6 players into 2 teams of 3, or as many people wanting to join in the game. Each team stands on one side of the table. Place your cup down with the top open part of the cup on the table. You want to be hanging the cup approx. half way off the table, but so that it stills stands strong, not falling off the table. The goal is to flip your cup from the downward position to standing upright on it’s own. To do this, use one finger in a “flipping” motion from below where the cup hangs off the table. Try flick the cup so that it flips over and stands up. When the game starts, the first player on each team begins. Once that player has flipped over their cup, the next player on their team can begin. The team to have all their players flip their cup over first wins. This doesn’t sound much like a drinking game but there is one key rule. You must first fill the cup half way full with beer or drink of your choice and each player chugs the cup of beer before they can begin flip cup. After a couple rounds, flipping the cup over might be a little harder!Digital media companies are caught in the "crap trap," mass-producing trashy clickbait so they can claim huge audiences and often higher valuations. Here is how they fell into this lethal trap: They got into the content game to produce news or info they might be proud of, believing they could lure us to read it and maybe even pay for it. They quickly realized it's expensive to produce quality content and hard to get a lot of people to click on it, much less pay for it. So they deluded themselves that the better play was to go for the biggest audience possible, using stupid web tricks to draw them in. These include misleading but clicky headlines, feel-good lists, sexy photos and exploding watermelons. And it appeared to work. Traffic spiked. Costs were contained. But revenue never followed because everyone else was doing the same tricks and getting the same spikes—and the simple law of supply and demand drove down the value of their inventory. This dynamic helps explain why Mashable recently laid off so many journalists, BuzzFeed saw its growth miss the mark and many media companies and investors are freaked out. Here's the good news: This era is getting flushed away. Some companies feel self-conscious about the trash they are producing. Many others realize it's simply not a good business model. But the savviest ones see a very cool reason to change: A content revolution is picking up speed, promising a profitable future for companies that can lock down loyal audiences, especially those built around higher-quality content. Fatal Flaw In coming years, the revolution will likely demolish much of what we read and watch now. State and local newspapers and TV? Gone. Their models are fatally flawed. General interest magazines such as Time and Newsweek? Gone or unrecognizable shells of their former selves. Traditional TV and cable? Shrinking and scrambling. Clickbait machines such as Gawker, or Ozy, or Mashable? Gone or gobbled up by bigger players. At the same time, the need for content, especially (but not only) video content, will explode. It will be a mad rush that makes the 1980s’ race to create new cable channels seems like a leisurely stroll. The pipes for distribution of content are mostly set. Facebook, Amazon, Google and Snapchat will be joined by the savviest traditional media companies such as Comcast and new media players, most notably Netflix, Apple, Vimeo and others. Those pipes need content. And that content has to attract loyal audiences willing to cough up money to watch it—or more likely watch it, listen to it and read it. This is why BuzzFeed, Vox, Business Insider, Upworthy, Mashable and so many others are pivoting fast to video content creation, hoping they can turn their big audiences into loyal audiences addicted to videos. It is safe to assume a lot of the content will be clickbait as they try to game the Facebook algorithm for short-term ad dollars. This fad will take a long time to burn off. It's also safe to assume many will die off in the process. For all the hand-wringing about BuzzFeed’s business performance this past week, the company is on pace to grow revenues by 50% in 2016, giving it more than enough cash and reason to help lead the transition. But with time, the demand for loyalty, uniqueness and durability will shift the emphasis to higher quality. Next Phase So instead of scale for scale's sake, the next phase of the media revolution will be creating content of consequence and value. It will continue to be messy but the trajectory for the coming decade is promising. Listen carefully to what Mark Zuckerberg says of late and you can tell he wants quality content, not just quantity, and one day soon will probably want to produce some of it directly at Facebook. Same goes for Snapchat as it expands its content ambitions. A similar revolution is sweeping through the written word space. Print is obviously dead—the only question is when. But the bigger challenge for those who love writing and reading is that advertising in the digital space is slowing—and the problem gets much worse once most reading is done on phones. It's simply easier and more efficient to run ads on Facebook or Snapchat, which have bigger audiences and better technology to match readers with things they want to buy or do. And, let's face it, you can only be so creative with ads on a four-inch screen—a limitation which is more of an issue for traditional print publishers on digital. We are basically there. I helped create Politico a decade ago—and it still has a newspaper, a magazine and awesome desktop presentation. This continues to have huge value. But, as we think through a new media company or where the puck will be in five years, our focus is only on mobile, social and whatever else is next. This shift toward mobile and social will force media companies focused on writing and pictures to find ways to get more people to pay for their content. Politico does this with high-end subscription content for professionals. We call it Politico Pro. The Information provides similar expertise in the tech space. But there are other ways to do this. The creative companies will do this by paying a lot more attention to delivering better information in more efficient ways. They have to think about making people smarter and their lives easier and more enjoyable. They will stop clinging stubbornly to writing the way journalists want to write and more in the way readers actually want to read. In return, readers will have to pay up and if they need and love the product, they will, and gladly so. Golden Age You see this unfolding already: The New York Times mobile site offers a far more enjoyable and efficient way to read the news than its newspaper—and digital subs are rising. Vice hired one of the smarter minds in journalism, Josh Tyrangiel of Bloomberg, and is throwing 150 people at reinventing the nightly and weekly newscast for HBO. Ken Lerer is right: This is the golden age for content creation. In all likelihood, the revolutions in video and digital will merge into one: with a new generation of media companies producing content we watch at home, listen to in our car and read wherever on the go. And thanks to technology, all your devices will know what you want, where you are and how to serve up content the way you want to consume it at that very moment. Just like the Web destroyed the newspaper world; mobile will destroy the desktop world and on-demand video will destroy the TV and cable world. But from the rubble will emerge a much better, more eclectic, more efficient way for all of us to watch, read and listen. It will be brimming with content we can be proud of—and happily pay for. —Jim VandeHei is the co-founder of POLITICO, a digital media company. He recently resigned as CEO and announced plans to start a new media company with Mike Allen, author of the POLITICO Playbook, and Roy Schwartz, the outgoing chief revenue officer of POLITICO. He is part of a group of advisors to The Information.Grow Something Edible Planting seeds, starts or other edible living things in and around your home (wild yeast cultures or sprouts count too) are great ways to have fresh, delicious food on hand. Plus, it’s cheap. Seed packages start at less than a dollar, soil or compost can be purchased (or found) at pennies per pound, and water in the form of rain or out of the tap are both economical choices. Aside from an investment of time, growing your own food requires little else. The rewards of growing your own food are almost endless, but include: less time spent driving to the store, fresh ingredients on hand at all times, an understanding of the seasons, which can help you eat better tasting food (see #2 below), and carbon sequestration in its most delicious form, food. No matter what your living situation, it is possible for you to grow some food at a very low price premium. Do you live in an apartment with no sunlight or fixed windows, or worse yet, a basement apartment? Never fear, many cities have community gardens that make it possible for city slickers to grow a little food on the side. Rent a spot for yourself, or split one with friends. It’s a great way to raise some edibles while hanging with your friends. I’ve also described how to grow food on your fire escape in a previous post! Resources: Seed Savers Exchange – an organization dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds and unusual varieties iVillage Garden Web – an open forum on community gardens Your local hardware store, nursery or garden center. Call or visit them. Eat Seasonal Food Food is at its most affordable when it is purchased in season. Not surprisingly, fruits and vegetables are also at their most flavorful and freshest when they are in season. Find out what’s in season in your area at which time of year, and harvest! As this year’s growing season draws to a close in many parts of the country, people are harvesting their summer and fall crops. This is a great time of year to preserve, dry and can (more about that later), but it’s also a great time to taste the bounty of fresh, delicious food that is out there. Resources: What’s in Season (by state) from Sustainable Table Eat Local, Natural Resources Defense Council Pick Your Own – Select your state to view the harvest calendar. Seasonal Food Guides from Eat Well Guide Cook at Home Food is more expensive when you eat it at a restaurant. I know, I know: “But I can’t cook!” In most cases, if you can boil water, you can cook a meal at home that will be satisfying, tasty, comfortable, and cheaper than going out to eat. Plus, you can keep some leftovers for tomorrow’s bag lunch. It’s true, restaurants have a few things that your kitchen and dining room (most likely) don’t: ambiance, sommeliers (fancy wine folk), draft beer, live music, fancy china, and exotic ingredients. These things are great for special occasions, or when you just feel like gettin’ fancy and out of the house. However, most of us eat our meals out at a burger/pizza/burrito joint, or in the car on the way home. This kind of eating out usually doesn’t have most of the aforementioned luxuries, and has few of the comforts associated with eating at home. When you cook at home, you decide how spicy your tacos are going to be, or how much chocolate to put in the brownies, or when the spaghetti is al dente. You’ve got all of the freedom, and you can eat dinner in your pajamas or a tuxedo if you want to, eat by yourself without feeling embarrassed, or have twenty of your closest friends over to enjoy a meal with you, and watch a movie later with all the money you saved. Resources: AllRecipes – another great recipe site with lots of user-supplied information, pictures, reviews and comments Epicurious – a great site for recipes and tips on cooking in general Chowhound – a great site about food and cooking it 101 Cookbooks – a great blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes, as well as beautiful photos and instructive comments. Shop at Farmers’ Markets Local food is fresher than non-local food because it doesn’t have to be picked long before its peak ripeness and shipped cross-country. To boot, if you buy food in season at Farmer’s Markets, you’re probably saving money and getting fresher food than if you were to shop at the Big Box Mart (BBM). In addition, you might be able to form a relationship with the farmer that grows the food you’re going to eat. They’re usually happy to answer questions about their farming practices, and some farmers may even let you in on information about their harvest calendar to give you a jump on when the freshest tomatoes will be ready, or when the corn is coming to market. Knowing the people that grow your food, on a personal level, also provides a little extra security if, say, jalapenos are not available at the BBM due to an outbreak of foodborne illness, and you’d like to make salsa that night for a dinner party. Your local farmer might just have a few spare jalapenos on hand, or know someone who does. Resources: Find Farmers’ Markets at Local Harvest using their search tool Find a Farmers’ Market from USDA listings and learn about them Learn even more from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Join a CSA Developing that personal relationship with local farmers can go one step further with a harvest box from a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. In this case, farmers will sell you a share in their produce for the growing season at a flat rate, and you’ll get a box each week with whatever is freshest on their farm. CSA’s have grown in popularity in recent years, and many farms have long waiting lists. Some people go in on harvest boxes together to save money, and for those who can afford the investment up front, it ensures that you’ll be able to eat your veggies all year long. Some farms even have an installment payment plan or plans for low-income folks who are interested. It may be too late to join up this year, but it’s never too late to get to know your local farmers, and when signup time rolls around in the spring, you’ll be on a first-name basis with them. Resources: A great directory of CSAs can be found at Local Harvest What is a CSA and how does it work? Cook Simple Meals If you’ve been cooking for years from gourmet cookbooks that require 15 to 20 ingredients per dish, simple meals may not be in your habit. However, if you’re new to cooking simple dishes may be your ticket to great food at a low price, with tons of flavor. If you start by selecting foods that are in-season or were preserved in-season, simple recipes show off the delicious, fresh ingredients. High-quality ingredients don’t need a lot of dressing up to taste good, so less is more in their case. Resources: Allrecipes.com: Ingredient Search – Enter 4 things you have in your pantry and, viola! recipe du jour. RecipeZaar: 5 or Less Ingredients – Ability to search thousands of 5 recipe or less dishes. Cooks.com: 5 Ingredients or Less – You get the idea… Have a Potluck Inviting your friends over for a shared dinner, or meeting at a local spot (park, Elks hall, church, etc.) is a great way to share good food and stay on a budget. There is a bounty when everyone participates, and you can get a much greater variety of good food when you’re joined by 10 others. If you all plan to share your leftovers, there may even be enough for a late-night snack or lunch the next day. Eating together with friends also connects us with our most basic of human needs, harvesting food and sharing it together with those in our “clan”. We’ve been doing it for thousands of years. Why not make it a regular event, and act like humans together? Resources: In case you need instructions, eHow breaks down planning a potluck LuckyPotluck: a site dedicated to – you guessed it – having a potluck! Buy Local Foods Getting to know your local producers connects you with your food in a unique way. When you know what’s in season in your area, and you know the people who make it on a personal level, the food becomes much more than just sustenance, but is also a community-building event. Knowing the people that produce local food also builds ties in the local community. By trading your money (that you earned in the community) with local producers of food, you’re keeping the money in your community, not sending it off to the corporate headquarters of BBM. You can find local bakeries, coffee shops, breweries, vegetable markets, ethnic food stores, etc. that are owned by individuals in your community by consulting the phone book, local message boards, or a community hall or meeting place. Look for the local folks, and support your neighbors! Resources: Eat Local Challenge Eat Local Challenge 2 Use the Whole Thing Cook a whole chicken. Roast for dinner one night, chicken soup from the stock the next, and pulled chicken tacos the third night, chicken salad sandwiches for lunch the third day. Four meals from one chicken, and that’s without using the bones! Seriously though, this is a very economical way to cook, and one that is totally enjoyable. These things take time, but the holidays are a great time to practice, and the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. The point is, with a few additional ingredients, you can “stretch” the meal out to three or four day’s worth of food and not really feel like you’re eating the same roasted chicken four days in a row. This is frugal, and (as Alton Brown says) Good Eats. Resources: Jamie Oliver on multiple dish cooking, especially chicken Chicken Cycle (multiple dishes that cascade from one preparation, like a whole roasted chicken) from An Obsession with Food and WineCelebrities who have tasted Toki! Andrew Zimmern - Featured on Travel Channel series Bizarre Foods Stanley Wong - Actor in 21 & 22 Jump Street (Roman) Chef Farid Zadi - http://chefzadi.com/ Toki Hot Sauce is a distinct, yet well-balanced hot sauce that is based on gochujang and vinegar. Now most of you know what vinegar is, but some of you may be wondering, what in the holy hotness is gochujang? Gochujang (Korean: 고추장) is a unique Korean chili paste that no other seasoning can imitate with it’s sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. Gochujang In the mid to late 16th century, Japan had introduced chili peppers to Korea. The introduction of chili peppers allowed for the birth of gochujang. Koreans mixed the peppers with glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt to create an indispensable Korean condiment. Chili Peppers Now, the process of creating gochujang is no easy task. The mixture of powdered red chili peppers, glutinous rice powder, and soybean paste has to be aged, either in the ground or in jars out in the sun. This is a very delicate process because it takes a while to mature, and it can go bad if improper hygienic techniques are used. However, this sensitive process is not for naught. Jars that are used for aging gochujang! Toki’s gochujang base adds a plethora of health benefits to every bite. A drizzle of Toki would contain proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants. The beta-carotenes and the vitamins in gochujang are believed to have anticarcinogenic, and antimutagenic properties, while the microorganisms in gochujang help purify the intestines. Additionally, the heat from the peppers help reduce body fats and prevent obesity. A grandmother of one of the founders of Toki Hot Sauce used to have her own gochujang recipe which she would make then walk around her Los Angeles neighborhood and sell to friends and family. In the spirit of a hustling grandma, the team here at Toki decided we should do a modern take on grandma’s recipe and have people outside our neighborhood taste it. Korean food is culturally on the rise, and with more people willing to try new things, the timing was perfect to launch Toki Hot sauce into a bigger market. Gochujang has only been in existence for a few centuries, but it’s already found its way into many Korean recipes. We know that Korean food pairs well with Toki Hot Sauce, but that is not our goal. Our goal is to have people of all ethnicities try Toki Hot Sauce with the foods they enjoy. Toki’s unique balance of “tangy and sweet, with a blast of heat” pairs well with many foods, and we would love for you to try it with whatever’s on your plate. Where are we in the process? A DBA has been set up in California Insurance has been purchased Process and production methods have been approved and ready to go Commercial kitchen space has been reserved and labor has been set-up What we still need to do? Finalize our label and design Various fees need to be paid including barcode and nutritional facts Purchase Filling, Labeling and Heat Sealing Machine Purchase Industrial Pots, barrels to store excess ingredients What are our goals in the next 24 months? Move into our own Facility Expand bottling capacities and production Submit sauce to competitions and trade shows Gain restaurant and shelf space At the end of September we posted a link to try some of our samples and within 45 minutes gained 4,000 requests; within 24 hours we had over 20,000 requests. Due to our limited budget we were only able to send out 2,500 bottles but are continuously hearing great feedback come in!Claimer There are no affiliate links anywhere in this post. I’m writing this as a service to my fellow bloggers out there. As an IT Manager by day, I get this question from a LOT of folks, both old and young, and it amazes me how little people know about finding a deal on a new laptop and getting the most bang for their buck! If you’re in the market for a new laptop you’ve probably already got a vague idea of what you’re looking for. There are different software and hardware platforms to choose from like Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are different price and performance ranges to look at. You could spend $500 on a “servicable” laptop or $1500 on an advanced gaming machine. But no matter what type of laptop you choose, or the performance and price level, there are several ways to find a good deal out there, and they don’t require knowing a lot about computers. One of my frustrations in life is when folks look for a new computer and want to spend the least amount possible, no matter the performance they get in return. Why is this frustrating for me? It’s frustrating because I’m an IT guy by day, blogger by night, and the folks that pepper me with computer questions are doing themselves and me a huge disservice when they buy a laptop that is going to give them problems right out of the box, run hot for the life of the machine (and run loud fans to compensate), begin to tear apart quickly due to inferior build quality, and only give them a couple of years of good service. All because they were unwilling to do a little bit of research instead of just buying the cheapest laptop they could find at their local big box store! There, I’m done ranting. A Better Deal Than Big Box: Online Outlets Several computer manufacturers have entire websites devoted to their scratch & dent, open box, and refurbished computers. There is a WIDE selection available at Dell’s Outlet and Lenovo’s Outlet sites, and you can choose the model and performance features you’re looking for. These models typically run several hundred dollars less than new models, but they are probably a few months old. If you’re an Apple fan, the Apple Store has a section for refurbished Macbooks. Personally, I buy a LOT of refurbished computers, both laptops and desktops. They have been repaired by the manufacturer and come with the same warranty as a new computer. I’ve never noticed a difference in all my years of IT work. This means that the refurbished Dell XPS desktop machine I bought for my local church a few weeks ago was $580 instead of the $800 it would have been new, and I’m getting a premium machine with Windows 8, laser mouse, soft-touch keyboard, etc included. Now that’s a deal! A Better Deal Than Online Outlets: Slickdeals.net Many of you have probably already heard of Slickdeals.net but if you haven’t, here’s the rundown: Slickdeals is basically a forum site where folks create posts with the details of a great deal they’ve found online. Deals may include electronics, clothing, or other items, but they are all from reputable and big-name brands. The many users of Slickdeals then vote the deal up or down, depending on how slick it really is. The best of the best (meaning they were voted up to 5 thumbs-up) make it to the front page of the site, where users can browse the best deals of the day. If you can watch Slickdeals for a few days, and have a good idea of what kind of laptop you’re looking for, this is an excellent way to find a deal. But you have to be ready to buy, because the deals really don’t last long (how cliche is that?) However, there are typically only 1 or 2 laptop deals that make the front page in a given day, so not a lot opportunity to grab a deal. But don’t lose heart! If you type “laptop” into the search bar at the top of the page, you’ll get a listing of any deal (good or bad) that’s currently in the site. Using this method you can often find 2-4 “thumbs-up” deals that are still good, but not yet “slick” according to voters. These deals are better than your run-of-the-mill sale and still provide substantial savings over the big box stores. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at Slickdeals, you can always revert to the online outlets and take care of your laptop needs. The great thing is that you can buy with confidence, knowing that the laptop you’ve found really is a deal, and you’re going to get quality service from the money you’re spending. Please let me know what you think of my recommendations, or feel free to ask me questions below. I really hope this helps some of you out, and please share it if you think someone else could use this info!It would have been an action unheard of in the Scottish press - the UK Government pulling an entire edition of a newspaper in a bid to suppress a secret document. But that's exactly what the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) threatened to do to The Herald in 2012 when it sought to publish details of a report implicating a Palestinian terror group in the Lockerbie bombing. The full details of what happened were published yesterday in Kenny MacAskill's new book on the atrocity - and the FCO is again taking action. Read more: Revealed - MacAskill may have breached Official Secrets Act over Lockerbie The government department has said it is "considering the contents" of the book, The Lockerbie Bombing: The Search for Justice, amid claims it may breach of Official Secrets Act. Mr MacAskill reveals that at the time the Herald was seeking to publish the information, he took a call from Tory MP Alistair Burt, who was working with the FCO. "He threatened not just to pull the Herald's story, but to pull the whole edition of the newspaper," he said. "I was incredulous. I told him that the people of Scotland would definitely notice if there was no Herald the next day. "It really showed the extremes the UK Government was prepared to go to to stop the publication of something fundamental to Scotland's leading criminal case." The document was subject to Public Interest Immunity, which prevented its release to the defence in the trial of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Libyan convicted of the bombing. Read more: Willie Rennie - Kenny MacAskill'should be investigated by authorities' over Lockerbie book revelations After taking legal advice, the Herald ran the story detailing the main points of the document, including that it came from Jordan and implicated the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) in the December 1988 attack. Certain information was not available to The Herald at that time, however it has all now been revealed in Mr MacAskill's book. It is understood that the FCO requested a copy of the book on Sunday ahead of Thursday's publication, but were not provided with one as officials refused to rule out seeking an injunction. The PFLP-GC were the original suspects in the investigation into Lockerbie, however by 1991 police and prosecutors were entirely focused on Libya. This document naming the terror group was repeatedly suppressed at a high-level, despite sources claiming it presented little risk to national security. In 2012, a source told The Herald: "The contents are very important but what makes them so much more significant is the lengths the UK Government and others have gone to in order to prevent anyone from seeing the document. Read more: Kenny MacAskill - Scottish Government 'tried to win more powers as part of Lockerbie agreement' "This is the most remarkable piece of evidence. It does not rule out the Libyans but it does indicate that others were involved." Mr MacAskill, who claimed the suppression of the document had more to with keeping the Jordanians happy so that radical cleric Abu Qatada could be deported from the UK, admits in his book that he believes the PFLP-GC were involved in the plot which killed 270 people. The former politician, who made the controversial decision to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds in 2009, also raises doubts over the identification of Megrahi buying clothes from a shop in Malta that were found wrapped around the bomb. However, he is now facing claims it is "dumbfounding" and "hypocritical" for a former justice minister to make such assertions that the case against Megrahi was flawed. Robert Black QC, one of the architects behind Megrahi's trial who now heads up the Justice for Megrahi campaign, said: "Many of the things that Kenny is saying are the things that we've been saying for years. "He said on the radio that there should be a new inquiry into Lockerbie - we've been asking for that for years, and it was him we were asking. "It's only now that he doesn't actually have any power to do something that he's agreeing with us." Mr Black added that it could be open to the FCO to try to secure a prosecution against Mr MacAskill for breaching
time on the open-air challenge course—a long stretch of dirt leading to a mock facility about the size of a single-bedroom apartment—doing nothing, in one place or another. It started its competition-winning run strong, by driving about as well as a person might, and getting out of its modified Polaris utility vehicle more quickly, and with fewer awkward starts and stops, than any other robot at the event. Then DRC-Hubo dropped down onto its wheeled knees, rolled slowly up to the closed door that represented the entrance to the simulated facility, and froze. For long minutes the most capable robot in the DRC prepared for the daunting task of turning a handle, and pushing a door. Eventually, it did both of those things, and the crowd in the stands at the Fairplex erupted in cheers. Anyone just arriving at the event—making their way up the escalator, or grabbing a hot dog before heading out to the seats—might have heard that roar and imagined robots vaulting over rubble, or bashing through a concrete wall. But the DRC's threshold for cheer-worthy feats was considerably lower. Some robots never made it to that door. One humanoid model collapsed in the opening seconds of the competition, and kept falling until its team pulled it off the course. Another humanoid tipped over while exiting the Polaris, and damaged itself so grievously that it literally bled, leaving behind a pool of oil for DARPA staffers and team members to scrub away. And those machines who conquered the door had to contend with such hazards as a floor with a two-to-three degree slope, and a path obstructed by precisely eight pieces of debris. This was a contest whose entries were so incompetent, at least compared to humans, that simply opening that door counted as a legitimate victory. This wasn't the DRC that DARPA originally pitched. In April 2012, when the agency first outlined the scope and parameters of the competition, it seemed impossible. DARPA appears to have taken down its original news release, but this is how Virginia Tech described the event's tasks, when it announced its own participating team. Pay special attention to the last of the eight proposed tasks: 1. Get into a standard human vehicle and drive it to a specified location. 2. Get out of the vehicle and travel across rubble. 3. Clear obstacles from a doorway. 4. Open the door, and enter the building. 5. Find a leaking pipe and close the associated valve. 6. Reconnect a hose or cable. 7. Climb a ladder. 8. Grab a tool from the site, break through a concrete wall and exit. If the DRC had included robots breaking through concrete walls, forget about cheering crowds. The Fairplex would have exploded, and the competition would have had television ratings that rivaled the Olympics. But the DRC Finals were a study in compromise, and while DARPA always warned that the competition's rules would remain secret and mutable right up to the end, only one of those eight, proposed tasks remained intact. Here's a task-by-task breakdown: 1. Get into a standard human vehicle and drive it to a specified location. Getting into the vehicles was not part of the final event—teams could carefully load and position their robot before the clock started. And those vehicles weren't “standard,” since all of the Polaris utility vehicles used in the DRC featured improved suspensions to support heavier loads, and all but one of those vehicles was modified to allow robots to drive and/or exit the vehicle. 2. Get out of the vehicle and travel across rubble. The robots were required to egress, but there was no rubble between them and the door. 3. Clear obstacles from a doorway. Never happened. Instead, for the seventh of the eight total tasks, robots had to reach the mock facility's exit by either dealing with a stretch of floor obstructed by eight pieces of debris, or by traversing a path comprised of cinder blocks. 4. Open the door, and enter the building. This is the only task that wasn't explicitly or implicitly downgraded. 5. Find a leaking pipe and close the associated valve. Though one of the tasks did involve rotating a circular valve a full 360 degrees, it was the only valve in the course. The notion that robots would be locating one valve out of many didn't apply. 6. Reconnect a hose or cable. Reconnecting a hose sounds pretty cool, doesn't it? Imagine the fine motor skills required to pull that off, and with little to no direct control from remote human operators, since DARPA also promised to degrade communication signals, and therefore demand more autonomy of its robot participants. Instead, there was a surprise task. On the first day, it was a big switch that had to pulled down. On the second day, it was a cable plugged into the wall, that had to be removed and plugged into another socket. But these were props, essentially, with no prongs to contend with. They were held in place with magnets, like an industrial-size version of a MacBook's MagSafe power adapter. 7. Climb a ladder. Though not the most promising visual in the DRC, as originally described (that's coming up next), robots climbing ladders would have been stunning. And the actual task of ascending a ladder would have been maybe the most technically challenging aspect of the competition, requiring a tremendous amount of strength in various components, and an unprecedented combination of manipulation (to grasp the rungs) and limbed mobility. Instead, the DRC's final task was to climb a total of four stairs. 8. Grab a tool from the site, break through a concrete wall and exit. Try to picture this happening. A humanoid robot picks up a tool—teams initially assumed it would be a Sawzall—buzzes through a wall, and leaves the course through a hole made with its own autonomous brains and mechanical might. This was going to be the showstopper. Humans would have run in terror, wept with joy, or at least paid attention to the biggest robotic competition that the world has seen since DARPA's last, historic robot contest, the Urban Challenge, a driverless car race held in 2007. But in the DRC that we actually got, the minority of robots who survived long enough to reach the power tools, which were screwdrivers, not saws, had to carve a small hole in a wall (as indicated by a circle) and then move on. The resulting holes would have been big enough for a frightened cat to scramble through, or for a trapped human to stick his or her head out, and yell at the robot that's slowly—ever so slowly—inching towards the exit. * * * There were signs along the way that DARPA's experiment had fizzled. At the DRC Trials, held in Miami in 2013, robots were given up to 30 minutes for each of their eight tasks. Most used at least of half of that alotted time, making for runs that felt endless, and were only possible because of their attached power cords. More worrying still, some robots simply skipped the trickier tasks, such as driving. And during a telephone briefing this past March, DRC program director Gill Pratt stated that, during the finals, robots would not have to get into vehicles on their own. He also mentioned that, as in the trials, some teams might opt to forfeit the points associated with driving. But Pratt spoke at length during that call about the issue of falling. “If they do fall down, they're going to have to get up on their own,” he said. In the DRC Trials, robots had safety belays that prevented them from hitting the ground. But those cords were being cut for the finals. “We're trying to make this contest more authentic, to what a real disaster would be like, where of course human beings couldn't suddenly go in to rescue the robot in a disaster zone,” Pratt said. When pressed further about how falling would be handled in the competition's final stage, Pratt went on: DARPA tries hard things. This is actually the part of the contest that I think is the most difficult, and has not been done before. And so we'll see what happens. It will be very exciting. What still remains to be seen is how they will recover from falls. So if I were to give advice to the teams, I would say fall down now. And get up now. And let's sort of see how that works. And don't be afraid to break your robot because it fell. Because that's almost certain to happen during the challenge, if your robot is of the type of design that it can fall. Pratt cited CMU's CHIMP as an example of a robot that, by design, essentially could not fall. The 443-pound machine is statically stable, meaning that, unlike the systems that used bipedal walking to get around, it doesn't have to actively maintain balance. Even if CHIMP were to unexpectedly power down, it wouldn't topple. “And for those teams who don't have to worry about that, well, maybe you made the right choice,” Pratt added. The more Pratt talked about falling, however, the less punitive it sounded. Despite initially saying that the robots would have to get up on their own, he later conceded that teams might be able to put it back on its feet, and simply take a time penalty. This would roughly simulate a situation where disaster responders have more than one robot to work with, and would be able to deploy a backup system should the first one go down. There were signs along the way that DARPA's experiment had fizzled. Still, Pratt was enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing robots rise from the ground from falls, noting that, for the bots that advanced to the finals without competing in the 2013 trials, it was almost mandatory. “Having a machine get up from prone was one of the qualification tasks that all of the new teams have done. That said, we did not push the teams too far, to have to demonstrate that they can also survive a fall. It's not just the fact that you can get up from lying down, you also have to be able to not get hurt when you fall down,” Pratt said. “I haven't seen very much of that yet. It will be neat to see which teams can pull that off and which can't.” Pratt was right: For the majority of the robots in the DRC Finals, falling was a certainty. But his prescient advice, to practice falling and recovering before the competition, was blatantly ignored. None of the teams rehearsed that scenario in full, without a safety tether, prior to showing up in Pomona. And though the media was invited, and then disinvited to attend the pre-event test runs, where DARPA could assess the overall capability of the robots, whatever the organizers saw there convinced them to hobble the competition yet again. Robots were not forced to get up on their own. Nearly every team whose machine tumbled simply ate the 10 minute time penalty. Some did so multiple times, implying a scenario where responders bring an entire squad of identical, blundering bots to a disaster, knowing full well that they're liable to faceplant while facing such harrowing obstacles as a door handle, or a handful of stairs. As for the late-addition teams for whom getting up from prone was a mandatory requirement, that capability was MIA at the competition. When robots hit the ground at the DRC, which was constantly, they didn't get up. They either lay there like corpses, or continued whatever movement they were engaged in before the seemingly inevitable loss of balance. As the falls kept coming, the state of humanoid robotics was exposed, in all its disappointing fragility. The already unfortunate impression that we were watching cybernetic hybrids of ungainly toddlers and disoriented seniors became, against all odds, even worse, when these would-be disaster responders waited for a bunch of humans to hoist them upright. Time and again, the spectators watched team members and DARPA officials struggling with cables and gantries, and putting their backs into this effort—remember, most of the these bots weighed between 200 and 400 pounds—while the powered-down robots did nothing. The sole exception was CHIMP, one of the robots that was supposedly incapable of falling. To everyone's surprise, it did, having left its arms extended forward after opening the door, and encountering that two-to-three-degree disparity between the ground outside and inside of the mock facility. The robot's center of gravity was momentarily non-optimal. Down went CHIMP.Beijing (AFP) - China on Friday praised US president Donald Trump's snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second call from the island's president a "slap in the face". President Donald Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island's new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen © AFP/File STAFF Beijing (AFP) - China on Friday praised US president Donald Trump's snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second call from the island's president a "slap in the face". Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island's new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent. But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound "personal relationship" with China's president Xi Jinping. "I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump told Reuters in a separate interview. China "has noted the US reaction," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a regular press briefing, adding that online commenters "believe it's a slap in the face for Tsai Ing-wen". "China always opposes that those with whom we've established diplomatic relations develop any formal or official exchanges with the Taiwanese side," he added. Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month. Since then, Trump has praised China for helping pressure North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes. The two leaders have been "in constant touch" Geng told reporters. Taiwan's presidential office stepped back from the idea of a call after Trump's comments. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago state in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. Thomson Reuters "We understand the priority of the US side in handling regional issues and have no current planning (for another call) at this stage," it said in a statement Friday. The comments were a "serious slap in the face" for Tsai, added political analyst Edward Chen of Tamkang University. "Tsai is throwing the ball into Washington's court and Washington is saying no," he said. However, lawmaker Chao Tien-lin of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party said he thought Trump's response was reasonable. "Washington needs Beijing in handling the North Korea issue," he said. Concerns that Taiwan would become a bargaining chip were raised soon after Trump's election, when he suggested he may abandon the "One China" policy that underpins US-China relations, unless he could strike better deals with Beijing. He later went on to say he would honour the policy, which acknowledges that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it. Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but China sees it as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary. The US is the island's most powerful ally and arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979. Relations between Taipei and Beijing have rapidly deteriorated since Tsai took the reins almost a year ago, ending an eight-year cross-strait rapprochement. Beijing has cut all official communication with Taipei.It looks like iOS 10 may not be the only Apple operating system to include dark interface assets as Mac developer Guilherme Rambo tweeted out a number of screenshots showing a dark interface theme in several stock applications on macOS Sierra, including Safari and System Preferences. This mode is different in appearance than macOS’s existing setting for enabling dark menu bar and the Dock in System Preferences → General. And here’s a dark Safari 10 on macOS Sierra. Apple made no mention of Dark Mode for iOS 10 or macOS Sierra at WWDC 2016 aside from unveiling Dark Mode for tvOS 10. However, several developers have since discovered assets which seemingly support Dark Mode in a number of first-party apps like Settings and throughout the system. Dark Mode assets in both iOS 10 and macOS Sierra appear to be rough around the edges, leading us to believe that Apple may not be ready to formally announce the feature yet as it’s probably testing Dark Mode UI internally. Source: Guilherme RamboWASHINGTON — Secret Service agents on Friday arrested a man in Mississippi who wrote a series of entries in an Internet chat room saying he intended to kill President-elect Barack Obama, the Justice Department said. The man, Steven J. Christopher, who is from Wisconsin, was arrested in Brookhaven, Miss., for making threatening entries on Jan. 11, 15 and 16, said Dunn Lampton, the United States attorney in Jackson. The entries, which included racial and anti-Semitic remarks, were on a Web site that features information and articles about extraterrestrials, government conspiracies and unexplained physical phenomenon. In one Jan. 11 entry, according to the Justice Department, Mr. Christopher wrote: “Yes, I have decided I will assassinate Barack Obama. It’s really nothing personal about the man.” Mr. Christopher added that he had no way to travel from Mississippi to Washington and said, “I don’t own a gun, so maybe someone can give me one.” Mr. Lampton said, “Threats against the president-elect will be taken very seriously.”* IS AMERICA THE NEW ROME? * By T.S.Tsonchev * * There are astonishing similarities between the rise of the American state and power and the upsurge of Roman Republic. These likenesses are not due to the specific character of both states, rather there is a common pattern in the development of every powerful state and the U.S. and Rome are examples of this pattern. In foreign policy both states, despite their remoteness in time, share a common approach and direction. The Americans began their path to greatness breaking their ties with the British Crown and building a republic. Romans did the same with the expulsion of the Etruscan dynasty of Tarquins. The Etruscans, like the British for the Americans, were the people who gave culture and direction of the early Rome. After the expulsion of the kings, which happened about 200 years after the supposed foundation of Rome, Brutus, the chief organizer of the revolt, announced the creation of Roman republic and proclaimed the beloved Roman freedom (508 BC). Like in America, where liberty is the highest national ideal, freedom became the highest ideal of Rome and her long lasting disdain toward despotism was used with great skill to excuse or assert many political decisions at home and abroad. In Rome, all political battles were waged in the name of liberty, abroad all military campaigns were under the flag of liberation and justice. The rise of Rome to power The rise of Rome as a great imperial power was slow and unsure. Its expansion was not premeditated. The Romans were energetic and active people; they won and lost battles, but never wars. They made alliances with friendly people or destroyed the cities of their foes, but for centuries, they did not have the consciousness that they are becoming an imperial power. Gradually they submitted central and southern Italy and created a system of alliances with the Latins and other peoples throughout the peninsula. As the Roman historians argue, for a long time the Romans sincerely believed that their foreign policy is just and defensive, never offensive. They did not think themselves as invaders or conquerors. Like the early history of the American state, they glued the independent parts of Italy in a federal whole, sometimes with the power of sword and sometimes with the might of word. This "federal" union, called initially the Italian League, kept the composing parts relatively independent in their domestic affairs, but in foreign policy, all in the union were dependent on Rome's decisions. Rome became the summit and the center of the League. The Italian League and Roman system of Alliances Romans were extremely efficient in their foreign policy. They often entered into a war in defence of particular nation (in most cases they were asked for help), but surely, this was not an altruistic impulse. The fact that the Romans had not lost a war shows that they carefully counted their interests and opportunities. Once "liberated" the nations were obliged to go into alliance with them, and only with them. Roman allies had no right to follow their own foreign policy. In their domestic affairs, they were relatively free, but their friends in Rome checked their every step in the domain of foreign policy. In Italy, the closest to Rome nations received the right to become Roman citizens, to make business and to get married with Romans. They were accommodated and assimilated. Others, living farther from Rome, or with different culture, or not deserving to be trusted, received the right to have domestic freedom, but they did not enjoy the rights of the closest friends of Rome, the citizenship was barred for them. The wars with Carthage and growth of Rome to world power After the expansion in Italy, the Greeks and Carthaginians noticed Rome. At that time, the Greek city-states had generally more democratic political systems, while the Carthaginian political regime was more despotic than the aristocratic rule in Rome. Carthage, who dominated western Mediterranean, Sicily and the western coast of Africa, realized that Rome is enough strong to pose threat to its interests. A narrow strait divided the affluent Sicily from Italy and it was a matter of time the two powers to go into a conflict. Now, with America no longer perceived as invulnerable, engaged in protracted fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and suffering the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, comparisons are to the bloated, decadent, ineffectual later Empire. In Why America Is Not a New Rome, Vaclav Smil looks at these comparisons in detail, going deeper than the facile analogy-making of talk shows and glossy magazine articles... In 264 BC the war broke out. Its formal cause was the defence of the city of Messina. Located in the straits, it was a colony of the Italian Samnites. They had asked Rome (and Carthage) for help from the attacks of neighbouring Syracuse, ruled by a despot, Hiero. The Carthaginians hoped that Rome is non-experienced in naval power and believed that a war will arrest its possible future expansion over the seas. The war, called the First Punic War (Carthaginians had Phoenician origin and from here the name "punic"), lasted twenty-tree years and the Romans won. After this war, Rome took over most of the Carthaginian dominions - Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. During the war, they learned how to build ships and support a fleet. For years, Carthage was dominating these lands as a sole hegemonic power, and after the war Rome, used with the flexible semi-democratic structure of Italian League, surprisingly had to deal with peoples and lands without indigenous political traditions and strong aristocracy. The nations in Sicily and Sardinia (except the city of Syracuse) were slave people, without their own political systems. Their culture and religion was strange to Rome. The victory of the first Punic war gave Rome a new fate and future. The Romans decided to use Carthaginian organization of governance (that was very different from Roman tradition) and made these new lands "provincia" (or "sphere of activity"). The provinces were not part of the Roman federation; their inhabitants were simple subjects with duties to their conqueror, without any political or economic rights or any other form of independence. Romans ruled Sicily with proconsul or governor - an office previously unknown in Italy. After the first Punic war, in Western Mediterranean, Rome gradually abandoned the old politics of alliances and accommodation. She became the hegemon of the West. The similarities between Rome and the U.S. in their early development Was the early development of the United States similar to Rome's? The creation of the American republic, the American idealism and love to freedom, the binding of independent states through creation of federal government and common foreign policy, the Western expansion, the Mexican and Civil wars in the 19th century, and at the end the proclamation of the Monroe's doctrine consist many of the signs that an empire was developing. Like Rome the U.S.was far from the civilized world - the U.S. from Europe, and Rome from Greece. Both countries did not have interest in East. For a long time they were concerned only with their own problems and their early expansion was to the West and to the South in areas sparsely populated, technologically backward and with weak political institutions. For a long time both did not have a mature national sense. To stay strong, they relied on immigration and settlers coming from foreign lands. In their early years, the Romans were so desperate for population that once they decided to steal the wives and the daughters of the neighbouring Sabine people. The goal of the politics of accommodation of the allied nations that I have mentioned earlier was to sustain growth of Roman population. In similar way, the American power and development was dependent on the influx of immigrants. Rome was promising land, security and freedom to her citizens. America also attracted settlers with promises of land, security and freedom. Rome expanded its domain over the western parts of the ancient Hellenic world and closed the way to future Greek colonization. There were ambitions in Greece for western expansion, the Greek king Pyrrhus had attempted to conquer the Italian peninsula before the first Punic war, but his venture finished without success. Similarly, the Americans barred the way of the Europeans to the western hemisphere. President James Monroe declared to American Congress in 1823 that the American continents are closed to European colonization, and the United States would not interfere in European affairs. America looked to Europe as an affluent, civilized, but corrupted society. For a long time, America, comparing itself with Europe, felt cultural inferiority and moral superiority. Rome had the same feelings toward Greece. Rome was culturally dependent to Greece, but proud with her political institutions and civic virtues. The last stages of Roman rise After the second Punic war (201 BC) when Rome became undisputed leader of the West - taking over Spain and Northwestern Africa - the world looked similar to the world before the First World War in 1914. In 201 BC, there was a relatively stable West with one undisputed leader (Rome) and divided, insecure East (free Greek city-states and monarchies, big Macedonia and Syria) depending on balance of power. Before the First World War, there was similar stability in the Western hemisphere, with the sole leader - the United States, and an unstable East, divided by the old strives between Great Britain and France and the new, despotic and powerful players - Germany and Russia. Rome was involved in the Eastern affairs at request of the free city-states in Greece. They considered her as a possible defender against the aspirations and despotism of the Macedonian king Philip V. Rome entered in the Eastern scene liberating Greeks from the Macedonian yoke and after the war, she retired leaving behind a net of alliances and treaties. Vanity Fair's US editor-at-large Cullen Murphy argues that America most resembles Rome in the burgeoning corruption of its government and in its arrogant ignorance of the world outside; in these conditions, idealism, however well-meant, can too easily be a form of blindness. Lively and richly peppered with historical stories, Murphy's book brings the ancient world to life, and casts today's biggest superpower in a provocative new light... The Macedonian war and the Roman politics of "non-interference" in Eastern affairs (after the war Rome did not make Macedonia a province, nor created some form of league with its Greek friends) tempted the Seleusid king Antiochus III (from Asia Minor) to attack the Greek city-states. Rome again found herself involved in Eastern war. Romans defeated Antiochus and punished all of his allies. After this war, there was a second Roman withdrawal, and soon a third involvement, but this time Rome was the offender. The Roman Senate, led by a majority of nationalists and businesslike people, among which the popular Cato the Elder (shown on the title picture), decided to destroy Macedonia, Carthage and Corinth, to divide their territories, and to turn them into provinces. The plan succeeded. The destruction of Macedonia, Carthage and Corinth, without these nations be an imminent danger for Rome, marks the new direction that Rome headed. She was not anymore the democratic power, the defender of the weak, the liberator. Perhaps she attacked these nations for security reasons, but this is not a satisfactory explanation. Roman Republic was on the high of her might at this time; she had never been more secure. In 146 BC, after these wars, Rome gradually transformed herself into a predatory hegemon and monarchy that punishes and rules the known world without constrain. And here begins the story of her slow and painful decline, which is a theme for another article. The story of America The story of America as a great power is similar. It passed through a long period of isolationism while it was working on its internal political and economic issues. It was slowly involved into the problems of the world. America was a young, strong, and idealistic democracy that for a long time was unaware of its power. The Americans despised the European monarchism and imperialism, same like the Romans despised the despotism and the ambitions of Eastern empires. America was involved in the First World War against its will. After the war, it retired in its traditional isolationism. It did not want to be a world leader; it even did not want to take part of its own idealistic project of creation of a new, international League of Nations. There was a Second World War; America again was involved in request of its friends, saving them (and herself) from the barbarism of Nazi Germany. After this war, like Rome after her numerous wars, America was burdened with a luggage bigger than its ability to carry on. After the Second World War, half of the world fell under its wing. The U.S. started to build alliances and military bases, it took over the defence and foreign policy of Western Europe and other parts of the world, and waged a long, exhausting war with the Communist world led by Soviet Russia. Roman foreign policy became somewhat chaotic after the first Punic war. The Romans seemed not sure what to do with their influence and power. Unlike Rome the United States, after the Second World War, had a clear task to balance against the power of Soviet Russia, but very often it found itself in the uneasy situation to wage bloody and meaningless wars in the world peripheries - Vietnam and Korea, for example. The American politics during the Cold War, especially in East Asia, was sometimes disasterous. Eventually in 1989 America won the war against the Soviets, but instead of long awaited relief the U.S. -- now an undisputed global leader -- has been burdened again with the weight of world affairs. Like Rome after the third Punic war America in the beginning of 21st century fell in the position of a sole leader surprisingly detested by many, dealing with suspicious allies and cruel enemies. The second Iraq war and the war in Afghanistan have began as preventive wars. The last Roman wars against Carthage and Macedonia also were preventive actions against expected future threats. It does not mean that America, starting "unnecessary" military offensives against possible threats, is heading to a republican decline or political centralization (like Rome after the Social Wars/Grachi Revolution in the first century BC when it lost its republican semi-democratic institutions); or that Iraq and Afghanistan have the same strategic importance as Carthage and Macedonia had in the past. The time will show if the recent offensive war campaigns have been reasonable or not. But it is sure that America still has to learn from the Roman experience.Although VR and AR are years away from mainstream adoption in manufacturing, it seems like they have a prosperous future. Leroy Spence looks at how AR and VR are changing the world of manufacturing The Oculus Rift, Microsoft HoloLens and even Google Cardboard are a far stretch from the first virtual reality (VR) headset, created in 1968 by computer scientist, Ivan Sutherland. The concoction was called the sword of Damocles and, because of its formidable size and weight, had to be anchored to the ceiling so it didn’t crush the user. Almost 50 years later, we are only now seeing VR and augmented reality (AR) being used in manufacturing environments. Like any disruptive technology with roots in the consumer market, industry viewed VR with a certain level of scepticism to begin with. Many companies questioned the practical applications of the concept, labelling it another gimmick that would not stand up to the rugged manufacturing environment. However, like Ethernet, touch screen and mobile devices proved before it, VR has real-world manufacturing potential. New concepts and technologies are prone to hype. In 2015, Gartner's Hype Cycle saw VR emerging from the Trough of Disillusionment into the Slope of Enlightenment – this means VR started being used for real-world useful applications. In 2016, we are betting the technology will continue its ascent as more manufacturers start to take advantage of its benefits. Indeed, a PWC survey at the beginning of 2016 found that more than a third of the US manufacturers surveyed, already used VR technology or planned to do so in the next three years. Virtual design The automotive market tends to be an early adopter of disruptive technologies — including automation, robotics and now VR. The US automotive manufacturer Ford built its own immersion lab where designers, engineers and other employees can don an Oculus Rift headset and walk around exploring the exterior and interior of its cars. Ford uses VR to test its designs and assess how individual elements of a vehicle look, without having to build a physical car. The VR links directly with the company's computer aided design (CAD) software, so engineers can make changes and visualise results quickly and easily. Virtual training Another area in which manufacturers are seeing VR shine, is training. The British engineering firm, BAE Systems recently revealed that it creates virtual representations of projects, such as ships, for engineers to practice on. BAE's virtualisation suites allow engineers to examine the virtual elements of a system, so they can analyse, design and plot where they need to make changes in the physical world. VR provides a level of test redundancy by giving engineers the chance to try out changes before they make any final alterations. VR training programmes can simulate realistic and hazardous situations on the manufacturing floor, including chemical spills, dangerous machinery and loud environments, without putting operators at risk. Should the unavoidable happen, employees have relatable experience and are more likely to react appropriately in an emergency. Furthermore, VR is an effective way of teaching machine operators or maintenance technicians about a new piece of equipment on the factory floor. Visualising the inner components of devices allows companies to make detailed maintenance plans. This process is incredibly useful for identifying obsolete components or predicting which parts the original equipment manufacturer will cease to support in the near future. This allows plant managers to create an effective obsolescence management plan, which could involve stocking up on spare parts or opting for a redesign. Virtual factory Perhaps one of the biggest indicators of the potential of AR and VR for industry has come from a shift in recruitment at major engineering companies. Recently, firms have been very open about actively recruiting graduates with game design degrees. Astute with VR, Android and mobile technology, this next generation of engineering recruits are helping make Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) applications a reality. Although VR and AR are years away from mainstream adoption in manufacturing, the technology is being put to good use by a minority of progressive companies, looking for a competitive edge. It seems VR and AR both have a prosperous future in the manufacturing industry; those willing to invest in the virtual world will be rewarded in the physical. Leroy Spence, head of sales development at industrial spares supplier EU Automation.I wish I could give you something more exciting for your maiden voyage, but it's pretty straightforward. You'll be delivering supplies to the science station on Epsilon 2. 🔈ℹ︎ — Admiral Halsey to Ed Mercer[1] is the pilot episode ofand the premiere of the first season Ed Mercer is awarded command of the USS Orville, only to learn that his ex-wife is his new First Officer. Meanwhile, a run-of-the-mill resupply mission to Epsilon 2 turns into a race to save the colony and its technology from the enemy Krill The episode was written by Seth MacFarlane in March, 2016, and directed by Jon Favreau in March of the following year. The episode's score was composed by Bruce Broughton, who also composed the show's theme music. Old Wounds opened to very strong viewer ratings. Nearly nine million United States viewers tuned in, and the episode was warmly received by general audience reviewers. Yet professional critics gave the episode sharply negative reviews. Because of the very wide divide between the opinions of regular and professional critics, Old Wounds is held to be one of the most polarizing episodes of the series. Contents show] Trailer Edit Fox produced a nearly-three minute promotional trailer published on May 15, 2017. Fox gave Old Wounds special attention because it would launch the series, and the trailer was far longer than the 30-second teasers produced for subsequent episodes. The trailer focused on many of the comedic elements of the series through humorous highlights of the first four episodes, as well as some action sequences. The Orville Promo - 01x01 Old Wounds Plot Synopsis Edit Act 1 Edit The show opens with an establishing shot of New York City in the year 2418. Ed Mercer arrives by commuter pod to his apartment. He hears his wife, Kelly Grayson, giggle from the bedroom. He opens the door to find Kelly in bed with a Retepsian named Darulio. She pleads to talk with him but he returns to the pod and leaves. A year later, Admiral Halsey summons Mercer to his office in Planetary Union Central. Halsey acknowledges that Mercer's performance in the past year has markedly declined, tardiness and sloppy workmanship hurt Mercer's record, but "the Union needs captains" and offers Mercer command of the USS Orville, a mid-level exploratory cruiser. Mercer hurries to find Gordon Malloy, a former pilot, and enlists him as helmsman of his new ship. Mercer and Malloy fly to the Union Dockyard orbiting Earth, where the Orville awaits. Act 2 Edit In the ship's Shuttle Bay, Mercer introduces himself the crew of the ship. He meets the senior staff: Chief of Security Alara Kitan, Navigator John LaMarr, Second Officer Bortus, Chief Medical Officer Claire Finn, and Science
said there are lots of areas that could use an injection of data. Q - What do you look for in other peoples work? A - I guess I harp on this a lot, but I’m always looking for the story. What’s the point if you can’t tell a compelling story or engage me to think about or interact with the data. I’m also always looking at presentation. I instantly dismiss work where axes aren’t labeled or legends don’t appear where they should. It’s about craftsmanship as much as anything and why would I believe that you did a careful, valid analysis if you can’t even be bothered to correctly label your results? Q - How can someone do work like you? A - There’s a ton of material on the web today about data science, machine learning, Hadoop, whatever data buzzword you want, but I think the most valuable asset to have in this field is deep expertise in mathematics and statistics. I might get in trouble saying this, but I think it’s easier to pick up the programming than it is to learn the math. It can take a long time to develop an intuition for mathematical problem solving and I think that people with those skills are relatively few compared with those who are solid programmers. I’d say if you’re in college and thinking about what to study, I’d focus hard on your stats and math curriculum because those skills are valuable in every industry and highly transferable across industries. Q - What does it take to do great data science? A - First it takes a curious mind. You have to care about answering questions and telling stories. Second you have to temper your curiosity with what I loosely call “mathematical thinking.” I don’t mean anything formal by that, really I should say “reasoned thinking.” The ability to prioritize your research questions and see your way to a solution through the constituent parts is the most valuable skill. I’m constantly asking myself “what question am I answering by doing this?” and that mindset is critical when you have essentially infinite questions your data could attempt to answer. Q - Do you have any words of wisdom for data science students or practitioners starting out? A - Read a lot. Go to meet-ups. Go to seminars and talks when you can. Work with public data, there’s more than ever so go build something! Q - What blogs do you think are hidden gems?? A - http://flowingdata.com/ http://www.datawrangling.com/ http://rfunction.com/ http://learnr.wordpress.com/ http://bost.ocks.org/mike/ Very insightful. Thank you. Last but not least, let's discuss your upcoming presentation at Strata Conf NY. Q - What is the title of your talk? A - "How Nordstrom utilizes humans as learning machines to blend brick-and-mortar with online commerce" Q - Who is the talked aimed at? A - This talk is for people with large and varied data who are interested in novel applications of data analytics, machine learning, and visualization to influence stakeholders and put the power of data to work for their businesses. We’ll walk through three case studies where we have delivered insights and/or products that blend data and experiences from physical and online commerce: A recommender system powered by the collective fashion expertise of our personal stylists, Social media sentiment and activity analyzer and Clothing color trend visualizer. Q - What technologies will be covered? A - Some of the technologies that will be discussed include: R, Python, Ruby, D3, Node.js and Hadoop. Q - Why are you and your colleague David Von Lehman excited to give this talk? A - Yeah! I’m super pumped for this! I think Nordstrom has a really interesting story to tell about how to transform a traditional retail model into a data-driven, e-commerce-loving retail model. We’re going to share a few case studies illustrating how we use behavior from our stores to construct the customer experience on the web, and on the flip side, how we’re using data from the web to improve the customer experience in our stores. Q - Where can we find out more? A - The Strata Conference NY Website => Nordstrom Innovation Labs Strata Talk. Thanks - excited for your talk! ............. Erin – Thank you so much for your time! Really enjoyed speaking with you, learning more about Nordstrom Innovation Labs, understanding more about how you view Data Science as well as your upcoming presentation at the Strata Conference NY. Nordstrom Innovation Labs can be found online at http://nordstrominnovationlab.com/ and the Erin Shellman can be found online at @erinshellman.Ship Building 1913-21 - Wilson, Woodrow In 1912, when the Republicans renominated Taft, Roosevelt bolted the party to lead the Progressives, thus guaranteeing the election of the Democraft, Woodrow Wilson. Nominated for President at the 1912 Democratic Convention, Wilson campaigned on a program called the New Freedom, which stressed individualism and states' rights. In the three-way election he received only 42 percent of the popular vote but an overwhelming electoral vote. High tariffs were a means not only of protecting infant industries, but of generating revenue for the federal government. They were also a mainstay of the Republican Party, which dominated the Washington political scene after the Civil War. After the Democrats, who supported freer trade, captured Congress and the White House in the elections of 1910 and 1912, the stage was set for a change in tariff policy. With the 1913 Underwood-Simmons Tariff, the United States broke with its tradition of protectionism, enacting legislation that lowered tariffs (and also instituted an income tax). Presidents Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) and Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) shared similarly expansive views of America's interests in the world, marked by a belief that the United States' fortunes were inextricably linked with the character and conduct of nations across the globe. Wilson had seen the frightfulness of war. He was born in Virginia in 1856, the son of a Presbyterian minister who during the Civil War was a pastor in Augusta, Georgia, and during Reconstruction a professor in the charred city of Columbia, South Carolina. Wilson maneuvered through Congress several major pieces of legislation. The first was a lower tariff, the Underwood Act; attached to the measure was a graduated Federal income tax. The passage of the Federal Reserve Act provided the Nation with the more elastic money supply it badly needed. In 1914 antitrust legislation established a Federal Trade Commission to prohibit unfair business practices. Another burst of legislation followed in 1916. One new law prohibited child labor; another limited railroad workers to an eight-hour day. By virtue of this legislation and the slogan "he kept us out of war," Wilson narrowly won re-election. But after the election Wilson concluded that America could not remain neutral in the World War. On April 2,1917, he asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany. Massive American effort slowly tipped the balance in favor of the Allies. Wilson went before Congress in January 1918, to enunciate American war aims--the Fourteen Points, the last of which would establish "A general association of nations...affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike." Woodrow Wilson did not share Taft's strict constructionist perspective of executive powers. More important, the new chief executive believed the obligations of his nation extended far beyond its boundaries. He declared: "We are, in spite of ourselves, the guardians of order and justice and decency on this Continent. We are, providentially, naturally, and unescapably charged with the maintenance of humanity's interest here." While Taft had acted as the watchful steward concerned primarily with matters inside the territorial limits of his own nation, Wilson stood as the stern archangel with mighty and righteous impulses to be exercised beyond the national boundaries. After the Germans signed the Armistice in November 1918, Wilson went to Paris to try to build an enduring peace. He later presented to the Senate the Versailles Treaty, containing the Covenant of the League of Nations. But the election of 1918 had shifted the balance in Congress to the Republicans. By seven votes the Versailles Treaty failed in the Senate. The President, against the warnings of his doctors, had made a national tour to mobilize public sentiment for the treaty. Exhausted, he suffered a stroke and nearly died. Josephus Daniels was Secretary of the Navy (1913-1921) under President Wilson. Daniels reformed policies by introducing schooling for illiterate sailors, instituting vocational training, opening the Naval Academy to enlisted men, and reforming the naval prison system. Daniels remained through Wilson's second term to lead the Navy through World War I with a young New Yorker named Franklin D. Roosevelt as his Assistant Secretary. Replacement ships for the Indiana, Ortgon, and Massachusttts should have been laid down in 1910, for the Iowa in 1912, and new replacement ships should be begun for the Kentucky and Kearsarge in 1915. These matters, together with the shortage of 3 battleships already existing in 1911, were taken into consideration by the General Board in making its recommendations for a 4-battleship program in both 1912 and 1913. One battleship only was provided for in each of these two years, increasing the shortage in the original 48 battleship program to 5, without considering replacement ships for the Indiana, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Iowa, already overdue for authorization. On December 1, 1913, Josephus Daniels filed his first annual report as Secretary of the Navy and in it he recommended the construction of 2 battleships, 8 destroyers, and 3 submarines. The General Board advocated a program about the same as it had urged for the five preceding years. Inasmuch as the Secretary's recommendations differed from those of the board, he considered it proper to make public not only the recommendations of the General Board but its views concerning the conditions which led to the conclusions embodied in the recommendations. The General Board had every year, since 1903, recommended, after careful study, the building program it considered necessary for the proper growth and proportion of ships for the Navy, but it seems that in no instance was the report of the board made public, that frequently its recommendations and always its analyses of the situations had been held as confidential by the Navy Department. It had "not been furnished to the Committees of Congress on Naval Affairs. Hon. Thomas S. Butler, of Pennsylvania, the oldest member in point of service, stated during hearings before the House Committee on Naval Affairs: "Permit me to say, Mr. Secretary, that I have sat on this side of the table In this committee for 18 years and I have been in the dark for 18 years " ; and Hon. Ernest W. Roberts stated during the same discussion : "I recall very well sitting here when Secretary Moody came before us and placed before us the plan adopted by the General Board, which, he stated at that time, was to be regarded as a naval secret. Some years we never did see it. I will be frank to say that in the 14 or 15 years I have been on the committee I have never seen the complete report of the General Board until your report last year and this year. What we have had Is the building program. Just enumerating the units and classes. That has been given to us a number of times and that is why I am so interested to know how much importance we can attach to this report of the General Board now that we have it." The 1913 naval appropriation bill authorized the construction of 2 dreadnoughts, 6 destroyers, 8 or more submarines, and 1 submarine-testing dock, so that in this one year, the authorization of 2 new dreadnoughts and the replacement of the pre-dreadnoughts Mississippi and Idaho by a later type of ship, 3 modern dreadnoughts "carrying as heavy armor and as powerful firmament as any vessel of their class," were assured to the Navy. This bill was characterized also by the appropriation of a lump sum for the construction of submarines, the only restriction being that at least 8 such vessels be built; end the department was thereby enabled to contract for the construction of 7 coast-defense submarines, and for a new type of submersible, commonly known as a sea-going or licet submarine, a vessel of over 1,000 tons, the first of its type to be constructed by any nation of the world. In 1914, as in the preceding year, the Navy Secretary's annual report included the complete recommendations of the General Board concerning the new construction deemed by the board advisable. Its program was in most respects a duplicate of those which the board had made for the preceding five years, except that a specific appropriation for air service was recommended, and for the first time the seagoing submarine is mentioned in the report of the General Board. Navy Secretary Daniels renewed the recommendations of the preceding year for two dreadnoughts and six destroyers, and submitted a further recommendation for a gunboat, an oiler, and eight or more submarines, at least one of which should be of the seagoing type. The outbreak of war in Europe in July of 1914 set in motion a series of events in America. President Woodrow Wilson signed a Proclamation of Neutrality on August 5, 1914. From the beginning of the European war there was persistent agitation carried on both by public officials and private citizens to bring the navy of the United States into a condition of effectiveness on the light of possible complications arising from the war. As it was generally admitted that the navy in the case of foreign war would be the chief line of defence, the discussion in regard to that branch of the service was even more aggressive than that relating to the army. Differences of opinion arose between Secretary Daniels and naval officers as to the real condition of the naval forces. Assertions were made that the navy was undermanned, that but few of the larger ships were in condition for actual warfare, that the submarines were, with one or two exceptions, useless, and that there were many other defects in the navy which would seriously prevent its doing effective service in the case of war. Congress signalized its appreciation of the needs of the Navy by passing the largest naval appropriation bill recorded in American history, and by restricting disbursements ashore, to the exclusion of all unimportant military works, the largest possible sum was applied to the development of the Navy afloat. This policy enabled the authorization of 2 battleships, 6 destroyers, 1 fuel ship, 16 coast-defense submarines, 2 seagoing submarines, and $1,000,000 for air craft. When the Sixty-third Congress, which voted more money to naval increase than any of its predecessors, authorized the construction of 5 dreadnoughts, 12 destroyers, and 26 submarines, 3 to be larger than any nation had constructed, it made appropriations only for about one-third of the amount it will cost to build the craft authorized. The Sixty-fourth Congress was to make appropriations to continue their construction. Such binding of one Congress by another (if it can be called binding) is necessary in the building of modern warships, for they are so large and costly that it requires 34 months to build a fifteen-million-dollar dreadnought, and two years to build destroyers and submarines. Strained relations with Germany caused the United States to enter upon a course of great naval expansion in 1916-17, which led to a considerable increase in expenditure, due mainly to the adoption for the first time of a continuous shipbuilding program. The period was of three years, the total cost to be approximately $520,000,000, and in the first year four battleships, four battle-cruisers, four scout cruisers, 30 submarines and 20 destroyers were laid down, to be followed by six additional battleships, two battle-cruisers and a number of smaller vessels. With the declaration of war the program was enormously increased and accelerated; at the opening of hostilities the navy had 787 vessels of all kinds, including a large number of submarine chasers. Prior to the Great War, the Navy focused on a creating a fleet? second to none - meaning a fleet equal to that of the greatest naval power in the world -- that of Great Britain. This building program, drawn up in 1915 and submitted in 1916, outlined how the Navy would build its fleet to equal that of Great Britain by 1924. Although this program called for appropriations at the rate of two capital ships per year, along with auxiliary ships, the Great War intervened and forced the battle ship building program to fall behind, while significantly increasing both the destroyer and submarine building programs. In 1921, the General Board again advocated carrying out the 1916 program. Every year, the Board would submit, to Congress through, and directed by, the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav), the Naval Policy and Ship Building Programs for the next few years. In July 1921, the Board submitted the program to Congress, stressing the needs of the Navy to continue to build all types of ships in order to bargain from a position of strength. Naval Act of 1916 In his Third Annual Address Delivered At a Joint Session Of The Two Houses Of Congress, December 7, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson called for a program for the construction within five years of ten battleships, six battle cruisers, ten scout cruisers, fifty destroyers, fifteen fleet submarines, eighty-five coast submarines, four gunboats, one hospital ship, two ammunition ships, two fuel oil ships, and one repair ship. It is proposed that of this number the first year would provide for the construction of two battleships, two battle cruisers, three scout cruisers, fifteen destroyers, five fleet submarines, twenty-five coast submarines, two gunboats, and one hospital ship; the second year, two battleships, one scout cruiser, ten destroyers, four fleet submarines, fifteen coast submarines, one gunboat, and one fuel oil ship; the third year, two battleships, one battle cruiser, two scout cruisers, five destroyers, two fleet submarines, and fifteen coast submarines; the fourth year, two battleships, two battle cruisers, two scout cruisers, ten destroyers, two fleet submarines, fifteen coast submarines, one ammunition ship, and one fuel oil ship; and the fifth year, two battleships, one battle cruiser, two scout cruisers, ten destroyers, two fleet submarines, fifteen coast submarines, one gunboat, one ammunition ship, and one repair ship. If this full program should be carried out the US would have built or be building in 1921, according to the estimates of standards of classification followed by the General Board of the Department, an effective navy consisting of twenty-seven battleships of the first line, six battle cruisers, twenty-five battleships of the second line, ten armored cruisers, thirteen scout cruisers, five first-class cruisers, three second-class cruisers, ten third-class cruisers, 108 destroyers, eighteen fleet submarines, 157 coast submarines, six monitors, twenty gunboats, four supply ships, fifteen fuel ships, four transports, three tenders to torpedo vessels, eight vessels of special types, and two ammunition ships. President Wilson said "This would be a navy fitted to our needs and worthy of our traditions." The President on his Western tour advocated for the United States a navy second to none. "There is no navy in the world that has so great an area of defense as the American Navy, and it ought to be incomparably the greatest navy in the world." When the President made this statement there was no plan before Congress, even in the future, for a navy to equal England's. In the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, submitted to Congress on December 7, 1915, for the first time in the report of a Secretary of the Navy, a plan was submitted which covers not only the necessities of the immediate future, but was extended to cover a period of five years. Thorough consideration of the present and future requirements of the service has led to the recommendation of the five-year program. The adoption of a continuing program by the executive department of the Government is a distinct Innovation. No previous administration had espoused a program looking to meet the needs of the service beyond the current year. In 1903, the General Board of the Navy, in its confidential report to the Secretary of the Navy, recommended a continuous building program, but no Secretary of the Navy urged its adoption. Indeed, up to December, 1913, when Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels printed the full report of the General Board as an appendix to the Secretary's Report, neither the members of Congress nor the public had access to the recommendations of that board of naval statesmen. Their report was a sealed book. The Secretary of the Navy's recommendation of a five-year program embraced the same number as proposed by the General Board in the distribution it made in the five-year program of dreadnoughts, battle cruisers, scouts, and destroyers. I recommend 15 fleet submarines where the General Board recommended 9, and Daniels recommend 85 coast submarines as against 58 recommended by the General Board. The Secretary's total for the five years was $502,482,214. The General Board's total is $499,876,000, a very slight difference for the five years, though the board's recommendation for the first year was much larger than the department's estimate. The recommendation for a five-year program of new construction, called for $100,000,000 a year for five years, depended on congressional approval. The estimates for the next fiscal year embrace the increased appropriations which must be made by the first session of the Sixty-fourth Congress if it approves the new construction recommended for the first year of the program, and also the increased cost for additional personnel and the items necessary for the pay of the Naval Establishment. For the coming year $28,369,127 was recommended to continue the ships authorized by the Sixty-third Congress and $57,003,000 to begin the work on the new construction which it was hoped this Congress will authorize. This made $85,372,127. They may be reduced if it is decided to continue to build dreadnoughts of substantially the California type instead of going to the construction of the much larger superdreadnoughts suggested by the General Board. If this program was carried out, accepting the General Board estimates of survival for present vessels, the Navy would be composed of the following vessels, built or building, in 1921: Battleships, first line 27 Battle cruisers 6 Battleships, second line 25 Armored cruisers 10 Scout cruisers 13 Cruisers, first class 5 Cruisers, second class 3 Cruisers, third class 10 Destroyers 108 Fleet submarines 18 Coast submarines 157 Monitors 6 Gunboats 20 Supply ships 4 Fuel ships 15 Transports 4 Tenders to torpedo vessels 3 Special types 8 Ammunition ships 2 As regards the battleships included in the program, the characteristics recommended for them by the General Board involved a very material increase in displacement over previous battleships, which were themselves larger than those built or building by any other nation. While allowing in the program the estimated cost of these enormous vessels, the department had not finally approved them. As a definite determination of their exact characteristics was not necessary at that time. Admiral Benson, the first Chief of Naval Operations, thought that the Naval Act of 1916 had to be carried out as a long-term project not connected to the war itself. After the Armistice, the Navy urged Congress to resume funding of the Naval Act of 1916, which had been suspended during the war so that ships to combat German U-boats. During the First World War but prior to America's entry Congress had passed the Naval Act of 1916 authorizing (but not appropriating funds for) a massive buildup of the fleet to create "a navy second to none" in the world. With the Naval Act of 1916 the Congress authorized $500 million for a three year program which aimed to build the Navy to be the equal of any navy in the world. On 29 August 1916 Congress approved President Woodrow Wilson's request for to build a navy equal to any in the world. The Naval Act of 1916 authorized 50 destroyers built over a three year period. For the navy the plans called for the expenditure of more than $500,000,000 on 157 new war vessels of various types. The naval increase were over three years. The new units for the navy to be begun within three years, including those authorized to be begun at once, were 10 battleships, 6 battle cruisers, 10 scout cruisers, 50 destroyers, 9 fleet submarines, 58 coast defense submarines, 1 special type submarine, 3 fuel ships, 1 repair ship, 1 transport, 1 hospital ship, 2 destroyer tenders, 1 fleet submarine tender, 2 ammunition ships, and 2 gunboats. Sixty-six of these were authorized by the Naval Act of 1916. The Secretary of the Navy had planned a program which was intended to cover not only the necessities of the immediate future, but was extended to cover a period of five years. The Sixty-third Congress, which appropriated more money to naval increase than any of its predecessors, authorized the construction of five dreadnoughts, twelve destroyers, and twenty-six submarines - three of the latter to be larger than any nation had heretofore constructed. Appropriations, however, were made only for about one-third of the amount that would defray the building of the vessels authorized. It was necessary, therefore, for the Sixty-third Congress to make appropriations to continue the construction. In May 1916 the Naval Appropriations Bill was introduced in the House. Secretary Daniels placed a special emphasis on the necessity for building battle cruisers. He declared that in every naval event of consequence which had occurred in the North Sea area during the first two years of the European war the leading parts have been taken by cruisers and vessels of the scout type. The first item in the new navy program was an estimate of $276,470,000 as the first year's appropriation for hulls and machinery of two battleships, two battle cruisers, three scout cruisers, fifteen destroyers, two gunboats, one hospital ship, and one fuel ship. The appropriations made for similar vessels in 1914 was $7,200,000. For the hulls and outfits of five fleet and twenty-five gunboats $7,675,000 was asked. For armor and armament of vessels authorized the estimate of $21,681,000, compared with $9,577,998 in 1914. For aviation $2,000,000 was asked for, and for reserve ammunition $8,000,000. For the proposed experimental laboratory $1,000,000 was provided. For fortification at the Panama Canal, $5,600,000. In addition to Secretary Daniels' program Congress had two others to consider. The first was a report of the General Board of the Navy made on July 30, which recommended a navy "second to none" by 1925. The second was another report made by the General Board on how best to spend $500,000,000 on new naval construction in the next five years. Third, a plan prepared by the administration for spending $502,000,000 on the increase in the navy during the next five years. Naval Program of 1917 When war was declared on Germany in April 1917 the tonnage of the United States navy, including all types of vessels then under naval control, was approximately 1,500,000. The total appropriated for the naval establishment for the year 1917 was $12,700,555.84. This means that the estimates submitted today for time naval establishment are $66,451,146.23 greater than the naval apppriration for 1917. For the continuation of work on war vessels that had been heretofore authorized, including the sixty-six units authorized on August 29, 1916, the naval estimates called for an appropriation of $118,946,155. In addition, the naval estimates called for an appropriation of $96,962,200 for the proposed building program of 1918, which embraced forty-two units. These units were three dreadnought battleships, one battle cruiser, three scout cruisers, fifteen destroyers, four fleet submarines, fourteen coast submarines, one destroyer tender, one fleet submarine tender. These vessels were all in addition to those authorized in the Naval Act of 29 August 1916 to be begun within six months and represented the second annual increment in the three-year program. The sum of $118,96,155 asked for continuation of work on vessels already authorized, and of $96,962.200 for the first year of work on the proposed naval program of 1918, meant that the total amount asked for the increase of the navy in the estimates submitted 05 December 1916 was $215,908,355 out of a grand total of $379,151,701 for the naval establishment. Naval Program of 1918 The Secretary of the Navy on 9 Dec. 1917, in his annual report, asked for $1,000,000,000 for his department for the next fiscal year. The personnel of the navy was at the same time increased from 19,500 to 322,000; the naval reserves from a few hundred to 49,000; the monthly expenditure from $8,000,000 to $60,000,000, and ships in commission from 300 to over 1,000. For the 1918 naval building, Congress was asked to make appropriations for three battleships, one battle cruiser, three scout cruisers, fifteen destroyers, one submarine tender, and one destroyer tender. After April, 1917, construction of battleships was suspended in favor of destroyers and other urgently-needed antisubmarine ves-sels, but the U.S. Navy (USN) nevertheless finished the war with a battle fleet nearly as large as Britain's and more modern. It also had a considerable force of destroyers, although no modern cruisers. Naval Program of 1919 In 1919 a new three-year building program was laid before Congress. It called for 10 battleships, six battle-cruisers, 10 scout- cruisers and 130 destroyers, submarines, etc. At the close of the European War the navy had increased into a fighting organization of more than 2,400,000 tons, or, if transports under uaval control arc added, of well over 3,000,000 tons. In 1917 and 1918 three super-dreadnoughts, the largest afloat, were added; more than 100 destroyers were built; two super-dreadnoughts to be armed with 16-inch guns were completed in 1919, while five great battle-cruisers and a fleet of fast scout cruisers were being constructed. In 1919 also was inaugurated the policy of expanding the navy into two great fleets one in the Atlantic and the other in the Pacific. Each fleet contains two divisions of dreadnoughts, with two divisions of pre-dreadnoughts held in reserve in each ocean and about 100 destroyers. These fleets are brought together each year for joint battle exercises under a single command. The Panama Canal made possible the holding of joint maneuvers whenever they are necessary. In 1919 the new three-year program which Secretary Daniels recommended to Congress would place the American Navy, in the number and power of its effective fighting craft, ahead of Britain's, so far as capital ships - ships of the dreadnought or all-big-gun type -- were concerned. At that time Great Britain had thirty-three dreadnoughts now afloat; and no more are under construction. The United States had fourteen dread-naughts afloat and thirteen more either under construction or provided for under the existing 1916 three-year program. The new program, as presented by Secretary Daniels, called for the addition to the American fleet in the next three years of ten dreadnoughts, six battle cruisers and 140 smaller ships, the types and proportions of these to be determined after all the naval lessons of the war can be fully studied and assimilated. No nation had under way any additions to existing fleets of battleships of the old-fashioned type. Great Britain had twenty-nine of these, the United States twenty-five. Of battle cruisers, the type of naval vessel that combines something of the fighting power of the older battleships with the speed and radius of action of the cruiser, there were none in the US Navy as of 1919. The US had six under construction, against Britain's nine afloat and four building. The six more which the Administration's program called for would give the US twelve to Britain's thirteen, assuming the latter nation added no ships of this type in the meantime. Of first-class cruisers the US had twelve to Britain's thirty; the US had under construction ten scout cruisers and had afloat twenty-nine light cruisers, while Britain had eighty-nine of the latter in the water and fifteen more building. The six-year program of the Navy General Board, for which Mr. Daniels wished to substitute the three-year program, called for thirty more scout cruisers. Under the Administration's program a considerable proportion of the 140 unarmed types of ships to be built will doubtless be cruisers. No small part of the $600,000,000 which the Secretary of the Navy asked Congress for blanket authority to expend in the next three years would be used for destroyers and submarines. General Board's six-year program called for 233 new submarines and 108 more destroyers. With the ninety-two destroyers afloat in 1919 and the 238 under construction, this would give the US 438 destroyers by 1925, while Great Britain would have 516 when the 107 then building were added to the 409 in commission. The US had eighty submarines in service to Britain's 140; and was building ninety-nine more, Britain eighty-two more. France had thirteen battleships of the old type, twenty-one first-class cruisers, eight light cruisers, ninety-one destroyers and sixty-two submarines, and these, with minor coast-defense and auxiliary craft probably would constitute its entire, naval strength for a considerable time ahead, in view of the condition of national finances. Italy had projected four more dreadnoughts to add to its five in existence. Like France, it was hardly likely now to go in for important naval increases, and its existing dreadnoughts, with its nine battleships seven first-class cruisers, ten light cruisers, forty-two destroyers and seventy-five submarines may be regarded as constituting Italy's naval strength for the next five years, at least. Japan alone, of all the nations except Great Britain and the United States that can be regarded as important naval Powers, is in a position to develop and carry out a programme of new naval construction on any considerable scale. Japan's fleet, for offensive purposes, contained five dreadnoughts, eight battleships of the pre-dreadnought class, seven battle cruisers, ten first-class cruisers, sixteen light cruisers, sixty-six destroyers and sixteen submarines. Her program as announced called for the building of six more dreadnoughts, two more battle cruisers, seven more light cruisers, twenty-three more destroyers and twenty-seven additional submarines. With these additions to her navy, it cannot be denied that Japan could send aformidable Armada against any other Power. Counting her seven battle cruisers as fairly equivalent to the old-type battleships, Japan already possessed an offensive power on the sea equal to that of France and, with the disappearance of Germany as a naval factor, greater than that of any other nation except Great Britain and the United States. With her announced program completed, she would excel France at every point except that of submarines and will hold beyond question the position of third naval Power of the world. The United States, the one nation that stood as the foremost advocate of a League of Nations, was the only nation that had moved, since the signing of the armistice, in the direction of increased armaments, and this at a time when the whole world was looking toward a reduction of armaments, or, at least, hoping that the Versailles Conference would establish an entente cordiale that will make possible an end to the era of competitive armaments. One purpose behind the advancement of the new American naval program was that whatever appropriations were to be made for naval expenditures for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 1919, must be made before the termination of the present Congress, on March 4, 1919. If appropriations are not so made, no money whatever can be spent except for the carrying out of the remainder of the present three-year program of 1916 until the next Congress met and authorized it. The new program, then, was to be taken as a maximum proposal necessarily submitted in advance of possible action by the Peace Conferees that may make naval increases unnecessary; it was a program that can be abandoned in whole or in part, as circumstances may dictate. Indeed, the 1916 three-year program, uncompleted as of 1919, may be abandoned at any time, for the Naval Act of 1916, under which it was being carried out, contains the unique and unprecedented provision that if "peaceful determination of all international disputes shall render unnecessary the maintenance of competitive armaments... such naval expenditures as may be inconsistent with the engagements made in the establishment of such tribunal or tribunals may be suspended when so ordered by the President of the United States." It was already apparent in 1919 that efficient combat aviation operations with the fleet depended on the use of landplanes operating from aircraft carriers. That year, Congress appropriated $690,000 for the conversion of the old collier USS Jupiter into an experimental aircraft carrier. The conversion began immediately, but was not completed until March 1922, whereupon the vessel was rechristened as the USS Langley - the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email AddressMany Christians also await the Second Coming of Jesus, so this might sound to them like good news. But Islamic literature seems to suggest that Jesus will return to abolish Christianity and confirm the truth of Islam. A much-quoted hadith, to which the Dabiq headline was alluding, says, “The Son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just ruler; he will break the cross and kill the swine.” The usual interpretation of this prophecy is that when Jesus comes back, he will put an end to his own worship, symbolized by the cross, and re-establish the dietary laws that Christianity abandoned but Jews and Muslims still observe. Not every Muslim believes such apocalyptic prophecies, most of which don’t exist in the Quran. Most of those who believe in them would also not have any sympathy for the ferocious,
: Gibt es emotionale Sperrgebiete, wo sich die Vernunft nicht blicken lassen darf?Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was asked in an official congressional inquiry from former House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) about whether she used a private email for government work as far back as 2012. The letter from Issa to Clinton, sent on Dec. 13, 2012 and obtained by Breitbart News after an explosive New York Times expose on it late Tuesday evening, specifically asks eight detailed questions about government record-keeping. “Have you or any senior agency official ever used a personal e-mail account to conduct official business?” the first question reads. “If so, please identify the account used.” The next two questions asked about whether she or other senior agency officials used text messages or alias email accounts to send or receive government work messages—and the fourth question asks for specific details on the agency’s policies on such accounts. “Please provide written documentation of the agency’s policies regarding the use of non-official e-mail accounts to conduct official business, including, but not limited to, archiving and record keeping procedures, as well as disciplinary proceedings for employees in violation of these policies,” Issa asked Clinton. The next question follows up on that. “Does the agency require employees to certify on a periodic basis or at the end of their employment with the agency they have turned over any communications involving official business that they have sent or received using non-official accounts?” Issa asked Clinton. The next question asks about social media accounts before the final two of the eight questions to Clinton hone in yet again on agency policies. “What agency policies and procedures are currently in place to ensure that all messages related to official business sent or received by federal employees and contractors on private, non-governmental e-mail accounts or social networking platforms are properly categorized as federal records?” the seventh question to Clinton from Issa reads. “Have any agency employees been subject to disciplinary proceedings for using non-official e-mail accounts to conduct official business since January 20, 2009?” the final question from Issa to Clinton reads. “If so, please provide a list of names, dates of proceedings, and final outcomes.” An identical version of Issa’s letter to Clinton was also sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Attorney General Eric Holder, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, GSA administrator Daniel Tangherlini, Small Business Administration administrator Karen Mills, and Office of Management and Budget director Jeffrey Zients. At this time, it is unclear if any other of the agencies responded to Issa’s inquiry. But thanks to a New York Times report from Michael S. Schmidt on Tuesday evening, it is now known that the State Department—through Thomas B. Gibbons, the acting assistant secretary for legislative affairs—responded to Issa’s letter after Clinton left office. Clinton resigned from the State Department on Feb. 1, 2013—as Schmidt wrote on Tuesday evening, “seven weeks after the letter [from Issa] was sent to her.” Gibbons waited several more weeks, until March 27, 2013, to respond to Issa’s letter on the State Department’s behalf. Gibbons did not answer in that letter whether Clinton used a personal email address, and it’s unclear based on the Times report—which does not include the full text of the letter Gibbons sent back to Issa—how specific he was in answering any of the other questions Issa had for Clinton and her State Department. “When Mr. Issa received a response from the State Department on March 27, all he got was a description of the department’s email policies,” Schmidt wrote. From the two sections of the letter Schmidt did quote in his piece, however, it is clear that Clinton was in violation of the State Department policy that employees should not be using personal email addresses to conduct official business. Any employee who had a personal account, Gibbons wrote in the letter according to Schmidt’s report, “should make it clear that his or her personal email is not being used for official business.” Gibbons added, according to Schmidt, that “employees may use personal email on personal time for matters not directly related to official business, and any employee using personal email ‘should make it clear that his or her personal email is not being used for official business.’” Schmidt also paraphrased another portion Gibbons’ letter by writing that the “State Department offered training on its record management programs to its employees.” State Department spokesman Alec Gerlach on Tuesday, Schmidt wrote, “declined” to “answer questions about why it had not addressed Mr. Issa’s question about whether Mrs. Clinton or senior officials used personal email accounts.” “The department responds to thousands of congressional inquiries and requests for information each year,” Gerlach told Schmidt instead of answering specific questions. “In its March 2013 letter, the department responded to the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry into the department’s ‘policies and practices regarding the use of personal email and other forms of electronic communications’ with a letter that described those policies in detail.” There are several major takeaways from this development, as it breathes brand new life into the scandal rocking Clinton as she just launched her 2016 presidential campaign this week. The first is that she was clearly aware that her private email account was a serious issue as far back as during her time at the State Department. Secondly, she deliberately decided to not respond to the inquiry—waiting for officials at the State Department to do so well after she resigned, and even further after the deadline for a response. The actual deadline was Jan. 7, 2013. The third major takeaway is that after Clinton was made aware this was an issue, she deleted upwards of 30,000 emails that she or her staff deemed to be private and not government-related. Since the full text of Gibbons’ response to Issa at this time is unavailable, it’s unclear what the official policy was—according to him—for preserving or archiving such records, or ensuring as Issa put it proper categorization of such messages. At her widely panned press conference at the United Nations last month, Clinton herself claimed that it is a government official’s personal responsibility to determine what messages are worthy of keeping records of and which ones are not. “In going through the e-mails, there were over 60,000 in total, sent and received. About half were work-related and went to the State Department and about half were personal that were not in any way related to my work,” she said in response to a question about that angle of the scandal. “I had no reason to save them, but that was my decision because the federal guidelines are clear and the State Department request was clear. For any government employee, it is that government employee’s responsibility to determine what’s personal and what’s work-related. I am very confident of the process that we conducted and the e-mails that were produced. And I feel like once the American public begins to see the e- mails, they will have an unprecedented insight into a high government official’s daily communications, which I think will be quite interesting.” It’s absolutely clear at this time, however, that she deleted emails after receiving Issa’s inquiry. In fact, in a document released in early March 2015—in response to the widespread media scrutiny she was receiving—the “Office of Hillary Rodham Clinton” made clear the decisions about which emails to delete and which ones to keep was made after a 2014 correspondence with senior State Department officials, well after Issa’s letter. “Following conversations with Department officials and in response to the Department’s October 28, 2014 letter to former Secretaries requesting assistance in meeting the Department’s record-keeping requirements, Secretary Clinton directed her attorneys to assist by identifying and preserving all emails that could potentially be federal records,” the Clinton document reads. “This entailed a multi-step process to provide printed copies of the Secretary’s work-related emails to the Department, erring on the side of including anything that might potentially be a federal record. As the State Department has said, Secretary Clinton was the first to respond to this letter.” Kurt Bardella, a former senior adviser to Issa when he was chairman of the committee–who, in the interest of full disclosure, now serves as a communications aide for Breitbart News Network–but served with Issa at the time this letter was sent to Clinton, said there are more questions than answers that are coming from this development. “The fact is in December of 2012, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was directly asked if she used a private e-mail account,” Bardella said. “Why did the State Department wait until after Secretary Clinton left office to respond to the Issa letter? Were Secretary Clinton’s efforts to deliberately conceal her official activities through use of her private e-mail prompted by then-Chairman Issa’s request? As is status-quo with the Clintons, there are far more questions than answers and it’s likely that these revelations of her secrecy are just the tip of the iceberg.” Clinton has been oddly secretive in her first few days as a presidential candidate. In an interview with Breitbart News earlier on Tuesday, Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Reince Priebus argued that Clinton’s campaign rollout has been deliberately underwhelming, and she is “hiding” because she is afraid of answering any real questions from press or voters about her email scandal. “The reason why she didn’t give a speech is because she can’t avail herself to the media,” Priebus said. “She cannot get herself in a situation where she’s going to have to deal with a question about Benghazi or about the emails or about her speeches or about the Clinton Foundation or about her disastrous tenure as Secretary of State. She wants to be able to have a few days and a couple weeks of peace and change the subject from what’s been plaguing her and the only way she can do that is by hiding and that’s what she’s doing: Hiding.”Its Pizza time! I whipped up this Mexican Inspired Pizza a few days back. I decided to top it with Easy home made Refried beans with a hint of chipotle pepper (Frijoles Refritos), topped them with fresh Pico de gallo(yes its a phase) and Lime crema. I think I love the beany pizza sauces more than the plain old marinara:) The Pizza did not need any cheese. Vegan Cheddar would go well on it if desired. I have a big Roasted Kabocha squash. Yes I roasted it whole, like the butternut for about 35 minutes at 330 degrees F.. Turned out beautifully.:).I think I am going to whip up either some Spicy Kabocha Flautas/Taquitos or Kabocha Chickpea fries tomorrow.. vote in the comments below for which one:). I made some Roasted Kabocha Crepes/Dosa, exactly as the Sweet Potato Crepes, and made a short video of me making the crepes. The video is uploaded at the end of the Sweet potato crepe post. My eyes are being very ridiculous since the past week and I am ready to learn to walk blind folded.. I couldnt stand in the kitchen for more than 2 minutes for 2 full days last week..gaaah… finally I realized I can walk easier on the carpeted area, so we put a thick rug on the tiles and I made it to the 15 minute in the kitchen mark.. Plans to get a home with all hard wood has to be reconsidered for a once or twice a year randomness as these. Pfft. Luckily I have a bunch of pictures I needed to edit and my eyes are holding up while working on the machine with breaks.. so here is a pizza for the weekend. If you are looking for more Pizza ideas.. hell you better be..;) there are a bunch 2o odd which have been tried and tasted by many.. Find the Pizza Collection here. Many different pizza crusts..Glutenfree crust options too. Topped with some chopped lettuce.. Steps: Make the refried beans. Roll out the Pizza dough Top with refried beans. Yes, we top ours with Jalapenos..ssss Bake at 410 degrees F for 17 minutes. Take pizza out, top with Pico de gallo, Lime crema, and chopped lettuce(optional). Slice and serve. Chipotle Refried Beans, Pico De Gallo, Lime crema on Wheat Sorghum Crust. Vegan Mexican Pizza Allergy Information: Dairy, corn, soy, egg free. Makes 14 inch pizza Ingredients: 1 recipe Whole Wheat crust(I substituted 1/4 cup wheat with sorghum flour) 1 Recipe Refried beans. recipe below Pico De Gallo Lime crema as needed Chopped Lettuce Other toppings like corn, guacamole, tortilla strips.. get adventurous:) Refried Beans: 2 teaspoons oil 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped 1/2 cup chopped red onion 1 medium tomato chopped 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chili powder or mexican chili powder(to taste) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste 1 teaspoon Chipotle pepper flakes(Omit this for regular refried beans) 1 can pinto beans, drained. or 1 cup cooked pinto beans 1/2 cup water Lime Crema: 1-2 teaspoons Lime juice(to taste) 3 Tablespoons vegan sour cream or vegenaise or cashew cream some Lime zest if using cashew cream Method: Refried Beans: In a pan, add oil and heat on medium. Add onions and garlic and saute until translucent.(4-5 minutes) Add tomato and spices and mix well. Cook until tomatoes are tender. Add the cooked or canned pinto beans, water and salt and mix well. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Mash the beans well. Cook for another minute or so to get the desired consistency. Blend all the ingredients of the Lime crema and keep ready. For Pico De Gallo, mix chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, salt. Meanwhile prep the pizza dough. Roll it out using a little flour. Spread the refried beans on the dough. Top with other veggies if desired like bell peppers, or Jalapenos. Bake at preheated 410 degrees F for 17-18 minutes. Take the Pizza out and top generously with Pico De Gallo and Lime crema and chopped lettuce if desired. Slice and serve. This Pizza is being shared at Ricki’s Wellness Weekend., Healthy Vegan Fridays, Susan’s YeastspottingOne is a Super Bowl MVP, ROY, All-time team leader in Wins, Passing Touchdowns, Pass Attempts, Pass Completions and Passing Yards, and the only quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons, this all amongst many other accolades and achievements. The other has led his team to a 23-25 record in his first three seasons, with 65 TDs and 42 INT. Obviously, you Ravens readers know that the first name is Joe Flacco. The second name is Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill. Now, what if I told you that the difference in their contracts is less than $1 million per year. Yep, that's right, an elite Super Bowl MVP-winning QB is being paid almost the same as a fourth-year QB who hasn't even seen playoff action yet. The extension #Dolphins gave QB Ryan Tannehill is 4 years for $77M, per source ($19.25M per year). $45M in guarantees, $25M fully guaranteed — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 18, 2015 Today the Dolphins announced the extension of Tannehill, who gave Dolphins fans hope that they had their first franchise QB since Dan Marino, as Tannehill set career highs in seven different statistical categories last season. However, the ink had hardly dried on the contract before Dolphins fans were singing praises of how the team didn't have to shell out 'Flacco money' on the deal. But the truth is, they did. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the deal equates to $19.25 million per year in new money average. While Flacco's deal is only slightly higher, at a $20.1 million average. Now comparing Flacco to Tannehill may be slightly unfair. It's pretty easy to say that Flacco had a better supporting cast than Tannehill during his first years. Flacco also had a better coaching staff and more stability. But the point is pretty simple, Flacco had done a lot more when he signed his extension than Tannehill did. While we're at it, let's look at Flacco's contract compared to some other QBs and try to dispel the nonsense surrounding his deal. (courtesy of overthecap.com) This is a table of all the contracts of'veteran' QBs, or the ones that have signed a second contract after thier rookie deals. A few things worth noting here: Look at the second column to the left, Flacco isn't really paid that much more on average per year than a lot of the'second' or 'third tier' QBs. Flacco is only paid $4.1 million more per year than Andy Dalton, aka the guy who the 'Dalton Line' is named after. He's the defining line of being a good or bad QB. Look at the 'guaranteed' column. Flacco's guaranteed money is a lot less than some of the guys listed. Smart move by the Ravens front office. My point is that once again, the Ravens front office made a smart move, and today's Tannehill signing proved just that. But don't tell the mainstream media, or any fans that. Here in Baltimore, we fly under the radar, and prove folks wrong. But that's how we like it.The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus brought more new ways to charge up than any iPhone before them. This year we got real fast charging with high watt power bricks as well as wireless charging via Qi-compatible charging pads. And of course all the traditional wired ways of charging still work. I wanted to find out what the best way to charge my new iPhone 8 Plus was, so I dished out a few dollars “for science” and put them all to the test. Here’s what I tested: Methodology I ran my phone down to 0% charge for each test and plugged each charger into the same wall socket. The phone was allowed to turn on and connect to WiFi and cellular networks, but it was never unlocked, and the screen was only turned on momentarily every 10 minutes to check the charge level. I did this for 2 hours each time and recorded each one. Overall Results The 5 chargers fell into 3 general sections. There were the 29W and 12W Apple brick that took the lead, there were the 5W Apple and 15W Motorola bricks in the middle, and Samsung’s wireless charger was way below everyone else. The 29W Apple charging brick paired with the USB-C-to-Lightning cable did the best of the bunch, achieving a 50% charge in about 35 minutes, but I was shocked to see just how close the 12W charger kept up. Yes, it was a little slower, but the difference was negligible throughout the test. This is great, because the 12W brick is only $19 from Apple instead of $49 for the 29W one. I was quite surprised by the Moto turbopower brink’s lack of competitiveness though. According to Motorola’s specs this brick will charge at 8W on standard devices and up to 15W on Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 compatible devices. I wasn’t expecting to get the full 15W out of this, but basic math tells me 8W is more than 5W (in the stock Apple brick) so I figured it would deliver some improvement. I don’t know whether Apple or Motorola are to blame for this, but if you have a fast charging brick like this already, I wouldn’t guarantee it will be as useful as you’d like. And finally we have the Samsung wireless charging pad bringing up the rear. This one is frankly painfully slow. This thing charged my phone about 20% per hour, which is pretty miserable. After 2 hours it had only gotten my phone up to 40%, which the stock “slow” charger did in 60 minutes and the 29W fast charger did in 30 minutes. Breaking down the 3 main options I would expect the 3 most popular options most people use to charge their new iPhones are the stock charger that comes with the phone, the Apple-endorsed 29W fast charger, and a wireless charging pad like Samsung’s, which is relatively affordable and made by a well known brand name. One of the appeals of fast charging is that you can get a big boost to your battery in very little time. You can “top up” you battery in a few minutes and get a meaningful amount of juice. I definitely saw a noticeable difference, as the fast charging option delivered 2x the power in a quick 10 minute charge than the stock charger. The wireless charger is not your friend here, as it only took my phone from 0% to 3% in 10 minutes. Leaving your phone on the charger for a little longer, your lunch break for example, amplifies these differences. The fast charger gets the iPhone all the way up to 43%, basically halfway charged again! Meanwhile the stock charger gets me to 21% and the wireless one still hasn’t gotten me out of the woods at only 11%. Ouch! At the one hour mark the story is mostly the same. The fast charger is way in the lead. Proportionally the fast charger has lost a little ground, but that’s because it’s fulled the battery so much that it now has to slow down for the last quarter or so of the capacity. Again we have the wireless charger lagging way behind, still only half the charge of the stock iPhone charger. Takeaways I asked in the headline which option was best for charging your iPhone, and I think the best option is the Apple 12W charger with a standard USB-to-Lightning cable. The cable is free since it came with the phone, and if you own an iPad then you already have the charging brick. Even if you don’t have the brick yet, it’s only $19 which is not going to break the bank. The ability to plug in and get over 1% per minute is fantastic, and the fact that this less expensive ($19 max) charging setup runs neck-and-neck with the official fast charging option ($49 for the brick + $19 for the cable) makes it a no-brainer for me. Sadly the only wireless charging option I’ve tested did a very poor job of getting my phone back in good battery shape. I’m happy that the iPhone has wireless charging now, as I do enjoy using it more than physically plugging in my phone, but if I need to get power fast, I’m going with the cable for now. Oh yeah, and make sure you check online to see if any other so-called “fast charge” options will actually charge the iPhone quickly. The Moto turbocharge does not get my recommendation.Here at Kickstarter, we have an incredible data team — people who spend their days assembling intricate queries, digging deep into Kickstarter’s data-guts, analyzing what they find, and helping build the very best platform possible. (If that sounds like a blast to you, then you’re in luck, because they’re currently looking for a new member to join them.) These people are very smart, very busy, and very rigorous about their work, which is why we try not to bother them when we get curious about less pressing questions, like whether there have been more projects involving pirates or more involving ninjas. But such questions deserve answers, don’t they? (Answers like: it’s pirates.) So welcome to our department of amateur data-wrangling, in which non-data people take it upon ourselves to investigate matters the data team doesn’t normally have time for, and then we bug them for help when we get stuck. Today’s question: Is it possible that Kickstarter is one of the few places on the internet where dogs are more popular than cats? To answer, we pulled the numbers for projects that used words like dog or cat (or puppy, or feline, or a few other related terms) in their main data fields — the project title and the short descriptive blurb. Is this method super-rigorous? Well, no. It means that something like John Vanderslice recording a full-album cover of David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs will wind up in the dog column. But is it spiritually sound? Vanderslice could have recorded a full-album cover of Harry Nilsson’s Pussy Cats, Poison’s Look What the Cat Dragged In, or The Very Best of Cat Stevens, but he chose not to. He invoked the spirit of the dog, and for our purposes that makes him Team Dog, forever. Which is good news for him, because by many measures, Team Dog is winning. Here are the stats for total number of projects launched, and total money pledged, for cats and for dogs. (You’ll have to take our word for it that, at a quick glance, the bulk of these projects really did seem to be related to actual cats and dogs, not David Bowie — projects like a documentary about dogs who ride in motorcycle sidecars, a film starring James Cromwell as a veterinarian, and a cat-shaped candle with a terrifying secret.) Voila: So: is it possible there’s a place on the internet where people are more into dogs than cats? Like, besides moderndogmagazine.com and this Yahoo! Answers question? Some signs point to yes! Dig deeper into the stats, and things get more interesting: You’ll notice two things here. One is that Team Cat projects were more likely to be funded — their success rate lands at 44%, pretty much the same as Kickstarter projects as a whole. The other is that the average number of backers for Team Cat projects was significantly higher than the average for Team Dog. The Kickstarter data team has warned us about drawing cavalier conclusions from limited information, but hey, does it not look at least possible that the world of cat-related-project backers is … underserved, as a community? Look at it this way: See, when it comes to the number of people pledging to Team Dog versus Team Cat projects, the difference isn’t huge — dogs are up by just under 20%, whether you’re counting overall pledges or unique backers. But when it comes to the number of projects they were supporting, and the amount of money pledged, the difference is much bigger — around 60%. As a whole, Team Dog backers would seem to be spread more thinly across a larger number of projects, getting more ideas funded, while Team Cat backers are clustered around a smaller number of projects, with higher pledge counts and success rates. Which brings us to a sensitive issue. We love dogs, and dog people. We also love cats, and cat people. The last thing we’d ever wish to do is sow discord between these two communities. (We are not instigators, and if we were going to instigate, we’d probably try and get ferret people into the mix.) But if you couldn’t already guess, here’s one way Team Dog is getting all those projects funded: Does this mean dog-type backers are more generous than their cat-type counterparts? Not at all! Given what we see above, it could just be that the larger number of pledges per cat project meant each individual backer didn’t need to contribute as much to ensure a project reached its goal. Or maybe dog projects tended to offer substantial rewards at higher pledge levels. Or maybe a really rich dachshund made some huge pledges. There are lots of possibilities! Don’t hold it against cat-lovers. Or, you know, lovers of projects with “cat” in the title or blurb. What have we learned from all this? Very little, to be honest. But if you think cats deserve as much space on Kickstarter as dogs, maybe now is the time to rally your people, start your project, widen the Team Cat project pool, and perhaps follow in the footsteps of our most-funded cat-and-dog projects to date: Stay tuned for more amateur data-wrangling — and some actual serious analysis from our actual skilled data team — in the months to come. Next time, we’ll be tackling ZOMBIES vs. ROBOTS.A provincial government plan to fund scholarships for Asian public school and post-secondary students to study in B.C. is facing sharp criticism from education officials and student groups. During a news conference with Vancouver’s Chinese-language media on Friday, Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced the province will offer 120 students from China, Japan and South Korea scholarships of $1,250 a year to study in B.C. The international students must still pay the rest of the high fees to study in Canada, so the scholarships would only alleviate some of their costs. But a spokesman for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) said there are many local students from low-income families who would benefit greatly from such funding. “We often talk to students who are not able to go to post-secondary (schools) right away because of the cost. In many cases, when they do get into school, they get in late, and they struggle with balancing work and school,” said Simka Marshall, chair of CFS-BC, noting the average B.C. post-secondary students graduate with $27,000 in debt. “It’s very common these days. The (student) debt level here is very bad.” According to Statistics Canada, students from low-income families are half as likely to attend university or college than students from wealthier families. A Mustel Group report in 2009 found that cost remains the biggest barrier to post-secondary education in B.C. Vancouver School Board trustee Patti Bacchus said money in the education system should be going to seismic upgrades for school buildings and other necessities that “would provide safe and optimal learning conditions” for B.C.’s students. “When B.C. residents pay taxes, they expect adequate funding to go to all B.C. students, for them to have access to the education they need to be successful,” Bacchus said. “They are not getting that right now.” Friday’s announcement follows Fassbender’s five-day mission to Beijing and Tokyo two weeks ago, where the province signed agreements to expand educational interaction between B.C. and Asia. The agreements centred on student and teacher exchanges, and increased offerings at Canadian schools abroad. The teacher exchanges could involve English teachers from B.C. going to China, as well as more Mandarin teachers coming into the province to mentor language education, Fassbender said. “What we heard from the Chinese while we were there was that our teachers are considered some of the best in the world,” he said, adding that Maple Leaf schools (Canada’s top international school system in China) will look to leverage that reputation. “I know that they have aggressive plans to expand, because they know that the demand for the Dogwood Certificate (B.C.’s high-school diploma) and our education programs is huge and growing.” Fassbender added the improved language education from more interaction with Asia will help young British Columbians compete better in the global market environment once they enter the workforce. He said that increased educational exchanges will help international students contribute as productive members of Canadian society. “When we look at the growth in local communities in B.C., many parents say they want their children to maintain their cultural heritage,” Fassbender said. “We can help these students reinforce the cultural heritage of those communities at the same time as they receive the best education they can get.” The details of the scholarship program are still being worked out, officials said, but current plans call for the exact eligibility requirements to be announced by the end of the year, with the first wave of awards issued next spring for students to start their B.C. studies in the fall of 2016. chchiang@vancouversun.com === Click here to report a typo or visit vancouversun.com/typo. Is there more to this story? We'd like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. CLICK HERE or go to vancouversun.com/moretothestoryOlli Geibel/REX Shutterstock Forget our children’s future. Cutting carbon emissions is worth doing just for the immediate health benefits of lower air pollution. The value of the lives saved would vastly outstrip the implementation costs. That’s what Drew Shindell of Duke University in North Carolina and his team found when they looked what impact it would have if the US cut emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 – much larger than anything planned. By 2030, this would prevent nearly 300,000 premature deaths and more than 30,000 a year thereafter — which is worth around $250 billion a year, according to the valuation the US Environmental Protection Agency places on saving lives. This does not mean there will be real savings of $250 billion – rather, the figure reflects what people are prepared to pay to reduce their risk of dying. Advertisement “It’s a really quite large health benefit that’s realised pretty much immediately,” Shindell says. Most analyses assume it will be decades before any benefits of cutting carbon emissions become apparent. Shindell’s calculations do not take into account the other potential benefits of lower air pollution, such as 29,000 fewer children per year being taken to hospital because of asthma attacks. This would produce real savings in healthcare costs. Other developed countries would reap similar benefits from cutting emissions, and for developing countries the number of lives saved would be even greater, Shindell says. In theory air pollution could be greatly reduced without abandoning fossil fuels – but it would be extremely costly. It is more efficient to switch to renewables and electric cars than bolting on ever more pollution-reducing devices to power stations and vehicles. China will need no convincing of this fact. The main motivation behind the country’s plans to limit the growth in its emissions is to reduce air pollution rather than carbon pollution, Jiang Kejun of the Energy System Analysis Centre in Beijing told New Scientist last year. The detrimental effects of air pollution are largely hidden, Shindell says. “People see someone die of a heart attack and don’t realise there is a connection with air pollution.” Journal reference: Nature Climate Change, DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2935 Read more: The big carbon clean-up: 2 steps to stop global warming at 1.5 °C Correction:The stated number of children who could be prevented from having asthma attacks was inaccurate when this story was initially published. This has now been corrected.On a bright Thursday in September, Denis Coderre moves through the dining room of the Sommet de la Rive seniors residence in Verdun, cracking jokes, leaning in for a two-cheek kiss, getting on one knee for a photo with a resident in a wheelchair. “Did you miss me?” he asks. “Are you well?” “This is the best crowd I’ve ever seen,” he quips. The crowd laughs, old hands at electoral humour. White-haired residents line up with smartphones to take selfies. This is a common sight with the incumbent mayor of Montreal. On this day, in his 11th electoral campaign, he will visit two seniors residences, a homeless centre, Ste-Catherine and Crescent Sts., a forum on elderly abuse, small businesses on Wellington St., a Bangladeshi event and a cancer fundraiser. Interspersed, as well, are three meetings, one with the governor of Maryland. Coderre says he sleeps four hours a night. He loves the work, but regrets the time away from his wife and two children, age 21 and 24. Interacting with people gives him energy, he says. He seems to enjoy it. “I support him 100 per cent,” Georgette Natte-Lavoie says at the seniors residence. “He’s a man who is not scared to say what he thinks. I find him human.” Her partner, Hugh Brown, an exceptionally fit 91-year-old, comes to shake hands. “Jesus Murphy, you’re 91?” Coderre exclaims. “What’s your secret — brandy?” “He’s getting the job done,” Brown says of Coderre. “That’s the kind of guy you want.” Then, in the next breath, Brown adds: “Of course, I can’t drive my car, because it’s a parking lot in this city.” “When it’s election time, they come talk to us,” Natte-Lavoie says. “Then they don’t come back for four years.” Such is the world of municipal politics, where even among fans, everyone’s a critic. Such mixed feelings are emblematic of what is often expressed about Coderre — satisfaction that things are getting done tinged with serious reservations about his choices and how he carries them out. *** Coderre is riding a wave of positive news in a city long resigned to hearing the opposite. Unemployment is historically low, tourism records are being set and the New York Times and Wall Street Journal are writing about Montreal’s booming luxury-residence market. Coderre adds as well that municipal corruption headlines that dominated the news cycle before his arrival at city hall have largely quieted. “The pride is back,” insists Coderre from the front seat of his chauffeur-driven Toyota SUV. (“It’s a hybrid — note that,” he says with a chuckle.) “I think Montreal is living an exceptional time. There are 150 construction cranes in the city, representing $25 billion in investments. “Unemployment is at its lowest level since before 1976. There is a level of confidence that will bring us to new heights. … “What’s been done in the last four years — it took previous administrations 15 years to do.” Coderre lists as his administration’s main accomplishments heavy spending on infrastructure, the coming light-rail system, the creation of the corruption-busting inspector general’s department, and increased metropolitan-status powers won from Quebec he says will allow for things like more social housing and subsidies for small businesses crippled by the city’s road construction. (About that: “Yes, traffic’s a problem,” he says, “but it’s going to get better, in particular by 2020.”) Tempering his get-it-done reputation, however, are mounting concerns about his style. He’s overly controlling, critics say, and acts impetuously without sufficient consultation. This has drawn flak for some high-profile pricey projects associated with Montreal’s 375th birthday celebrations, including the federally subsidized $39.5-million lighting of the Jacques Cartier Bridge. Then there were the granite stumps on Mount
out of her endless experiences enduring street harassment. Fazlalizadeh sketches massive black and white portraits of women with a direct captioned message to the offender and pastes them in public spaces. In September, she took the project to Mexico City after receiving several emails from women who were fed up with harassment and wanted to share their stories around the city. Fazlalizadeh recently chatted with msnbc about the first time she picked up a pen and her dedication to keep women’s issues central to her work. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Do you remember when you were conscious of gender dynamics or a moment when you realized that you, as a woman, may be disadvantaged or discriminated against? In college, I was always usually the only black woman in my class. I was surrounded by mostly white men and I was always good, really good. My talent was doubted not just as a woman but as a black woman. Specific to the artist field, when I’ve been on the receiving end of comments about me being a woman. Growing up, I was being sexualized all the time. My value was put on me in the context of my appearance. I don’t’ know if that was something I was aware of when I was younger. What was that “a-ha” moment when you realized art was your calling? I was never one of those kids who grew up drawing and making art. I didn’t pick up a pen or pencil until I was a junior [in high school] which was strange because my mother was an artist, but she never pushed me to do it. I saw a black and white picture of a young girl and I rendered it very well, it was detailed. I took it to my mother and she took it to my art teacher. She moved me from Art 1 to AP Art and let me do what I wanted to do. [The art teacher told me to] “Explore art, you’re really good. Draw what you want.” That’s when I decided I want to explore this further and it influenced me to go to art school. Who are your influences? I’m not just influenced by painters, I’m influenced by photographers and musicians: folks from Gordon Parks to Kara Walker to Bradford Young to Drake to Nicki Minaj. I’m influenced by my peers. Frida [Kahlo] was a great storyteller in her work. Do you have a specific memory that comes to mind that motivated you to start the “Stop Telling Women to Smile” campaign? I don’t have a specific thing that happened to me as far as street harassment. I have a specific moment with street art that pushed me to do this project, as I’m harassed on the street almost daily. I was working on a mural in Philadelphia and was already thinking about using the concept of public art and street art and how you can use the environment as a medium, a canvass. I had come to the work of JR, a huge street artist. He’s been doing these huge photographs all around the world and his work really showed me how large you can use this medium. His work really showed me how large you can use this medium. That’s what started me thinking about how my work can translate to wheat paste. [Editor’s note: Wheat paste is used as a binder to adhere posters to surfaces like walls.] Related: Art installation beings Ellis Island back to life What was different about bringing the installation to Mexico City? The process was the same. Myself and Fusion Digital, the crew that I went with who created the interactive website for the project. We meet women, talk to them, have a very open and candid discussion about street harassment. And then for me to photograph them and ask them specifically, “What do want to say to people who harass you in the street?” From there, I draw their portraits and create the pieces, and we go out and we wheat paste them. I don’t speak Spanish, so we did have to have a translator, so the language barrier was different. But even with the barrier, the women were so eager to talk to me about their experiences. There was this real sense of urgency to do something about it. Because [sexual harassment] is so intense, and it’s every day, and so extreme what they are going through, and I really felt that. They were so open and candid with me even though they didn’t know me. It was emotional. We were there for six days, I would’ve liked to have been there longer. It’s important that the work is ongoing. What is the immediate impact of the campaign and what are you hoping are the long-term impacts? That’s the thing I’m figuring out with these cities. I go there, I do work, and then I leave. I don’t want it to feel like there’s no real impact. The work is temporary. That’s the nature of the work, it can stay up for two days or two months, you would never know. When it’s in a city I don’t live in, I can’t monitor it. So it’s important for me that I’m creating a team, a community involved, who can continue to monitor the reaction people are having. I can’t be everywhere, but I want the work to be everywhere. You went to Mexico City because sexual violence in Mexico is high and you received emails from women requesting you to go there. What community is most in need of the installation next? Based on emails that I’ve gotten, there’s a lot of interest in South Africa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, telling me that the work is really needed there. Brazil also. India. There’s folks reaching out to me from all over. I’m figuring out where I can physically go in terms of an international city. I also look at in the lens of my research, where are the highest rates of street harassment in really extreme and really violent ways? How has your work engaged trans men and gay men? How do you think your work may or may not engage them? For the queer community, for the trans community, specifically talking about women, this work is just as much for them as it is any type of woman. I’m working on my next piece [which] is a trans woman. We really sat down and had a really long and open conversation about what she goes through. It’s huge, it’s complicated, and extreme compared to the other stories I’ve heard. When she walks outside the house, she’s not just open to street harassment from men but anyone. It’s a huge and an important narrative in this project that hasn’t been included and it should’ve been included a long time ago. I’ve included a few queer women in the project so far. Sexuality is a huge factor when it comes to street harassment. For a lot of women, street harassment isn’t just sexism: it’s experiencing sexism interlaced with homophobia interlaced with transphobia, all happening at the same time. I know gay men experience street harassment. But it’s important to keep the focus on how women’s bodies are up for consumption. There are still a lot of women who I haven’t included yet. Maybe in the future. Related: 11 reasons to celebrate black history every day If women could have any superpower what would it be? A shield to block out all the stuff that comes to her and has nothing to do with who she is as an individual. We are fine the way we are right now. We aren’t perfect, we aren’t saints; we’re human beings, just like men. How do you think art can communicate differently than, let’s say, a politician or a demonstration? What’s unique about it in expressing awareness or social woes? Art has a huge advantage in that it is visual and creates an immediacy: you immediately see it and immediately get it. When I think of my art, specifically street harassment and these other books, blogs, things, around street harassment, art creates a community because anyone can be involved in it. It’s simple. My art is an in-your-face, on-the-nose type of art. It’s not something you need to think about. It’s direct. That has a huge place when you get people wrapped around a movement. Not a lot of words, or talking, it’s just right there. Political artists have always been able to do that. It just takes an idea and illustrates it in one simple image that people can see and understand. One image can go everywhere. Why don’t you smile more? Why shouldn’t women smile more? [Laughs] I smile a lot. Smiling is a very natural thing. I don’t think anyone needs to be told to smile. When it comes to street harassment, [telling a woman to smile] has nothing to do with a man making a woman feel better, it has more to do with power and control which is what street harassment is all about. It’s about making her look more lady-like for [him]. I don’t smile when a man tells me to smile, I don’t have time for that. That’s why I don’t smile. It comes down to men having women look like what they please. [Women] should smile when they feel like it. Keep up with Tatyana and her project on Twitter: @fazlalizadeh, @STWTSmile.Over the past several years — going back to 2010 — there have been seven bunt doubles in Major League Baseball. Had I written this story a day ago, I would’ve said there have been six. On Tuesday in Kansas City, Alcides Escobar put down a bunt for a double in the eighth inning of a game against Tampa Bay. Escobar didn’t end up scoring — and the game story was entirely about the ninth-inning hero — but this isn’t a page about game recaps. The Royals won, but I’m more interested in the hit. What does a bunt double look like? I’ve written about these a couple times before, but I do that because they’re so curious. Just off the top of your head, a bunt double doesn’t seem like it ought to be possible. Infielders always have bunts surrounded. How does one end up with a bunt double instead of a bunt single and an error? Using what video is available, let’s break down what’s probably an incomplete list of the ways. I’m sure there are other ways, but this is what recently has happened. Defensive Misplay Might as well start with Tuesday. Here we’ve got Escobar bunting with two outs and ending up in scoring position. The bunt itself didn’t do what Escobar intended — bunts that get popped up tend to be virtually automatic outs — but this was a pop in just the right place. It didn’t just drop in to give him one base; it came down close enough to Everett Teaford to compel him to dive. His dive was short, and the ball rolled away. It has some of the ingredients of an error, but because Teaford went to some effort to get himself in that position, the scorer decided not to penalize the defense. And to think, if it weren’t for a pretty heads-up Asdrubal Cabrera, this could’ve become a sort of bunt triple, as the third baseman had converged on the initial pop. Escobar bunted for a double on a ball that ended up behind home plate. Defensive Miscommunication Years later and I can’t get over the fact that Nate McLouth bunted for a double into the shift. You could say that defensive miscommunication is a sort of defensive misplay, but in the case of the Escobar bunt, at least a play was attempted. Any attempted play here was shut down almost immediately, with all three Rays players figuring one of the other two Rays players was going to go ahead and take care of the baseball. What actually happened was that the three players just watched the baseball roll by, and they pointed at it, like they were walking by a river and they saw a big fish. “Look right there, a big fish,” says the man, who has no intention of reaching into the water to try to capture it. You want to call this an error — you want to call this a thousand errors — but no one really made a physical mistake. The Rays just mentally embarrassed themselves. Against the Shift We can all agree that infield shifting is on the rise. You’d think we’d see a corresponding increase in the number of bunt doubles. But we don’t see that, and as a matter of fact, there wasn’t a single bunt double last season. This Robinson Cano double is kind of exceptional. For one thing, it was a bunt against the shift by a good hitter. For another, the ball was struck so well and placed even better. There’s nothing too absurd about this. We’re accustomed to seeing doubles hit on the ground down the line. This is just one of those, only without the part where the batter swings. When you vacate a whole part of the playing field, you know it’ll take time for a defender to retrieve a baseball in the area. Cano put a baseball in the area. It’s an ordinary bunt against the shift, turned up to 11. Line Drive In the Cano example, the defense didn’t do anything wrong. It was just made to pay for its initial alignment. In this Gerardo Parra bunt example, the defense also doesn’t do anything wrong, and there’s not even a shift on to exploit. Parra bunted, but he more or less bunted a line drive, such that his bunt was like a moderately sharp grounder through the hole. The second baseman couldn’t get over, and though you could be critical of the angle taken, no second baseman would expect a bunt to come off the bat quite that hard. I wish now that we would’ve had Statcast information in 2013, but we’re left only with our imaginations. The batted-ball velocity here was sufficient to get the ball to the grass, but it wasn’t struck so hard that it got anywhere close to the outfielder. Parra immediately recognized what was happening, and he booked it right out of the box. Weird bunt. All of these are weird bunts, based on what happened on them. Partial Swing This is something Rafael Furcal would do. Not that Furcal invented it, but he’s a recent example. Juan Pierre executed this one perfectly, and while we can’t say what would’ve happened had the defender in the vicinity not been Hanley Ramirez, said defender was Hanley Ramirez. This is a bunt with an asterisk — Pierre took a little hack — and I’m not sure what to call this. It doesn’t seem quite like a butcher boy or a slash bunt or a slug bunt. This was more of a bunt than a non-bunt — a sort of turbo-bunt — and it counted for the scorer. If Billy Hamilton could do this he might win the MVP. Technicality What you see first is a defensive misplay — Jason Kipnis failed to retrieve the baseball, and then he fell down. Based on that, you wouldn’t think of this as a unique bunt double. But watch Quintin Berry and watch the umpire. Berry and Kipnis make contact, and the umpire immediately signals obstruction. Berry was going to be safe no matter what, but he was granted second base automatically. It’s a rule-book bunt double, which counts because it contains the words “bunt” and “double.” As a different example — and one for which I unfortunately don’t have any video — we go back to April 2010. Cliff Pennington bunted against the Mariners, and, a brief description: […]Cliff Pennington dropped down a bunt that bounced off the glove of third baseman Jose Lopez and started to roll towards foul territory down the third-base line. Fortunately, catcher Adam Moore was in good position at the time and scooped the ball up before it got too far away. Unfortunately, he performed said scoop with the catcher’s mask in his right hand, rather than the glove on his left. The miscue led to a meeting between the umpires and the eventual decision to award both runners an extra base, putting Pennington on second and Buck on third. As weird as that is, here’s the Baseball-Reference play log: Double/Bunt (Bunt to Weak 3B); Buck to 3B This is what MLB.com says: Cliff Pennington hits a ground-rule double (2) on a bunt ground ball to third base. Travis Buck to 3rd. Cliff Pennington didn’t just bunt for a double — he bunted for a ground-rule double. Or as it’s probably better put, he bunted for an automatic double. He didn’t bunt the ball beyond the defenders. A defender just made a stupid decision. When I watched that play happen, I didn’t know it was a rule. As I reflect on that play now, I had forgotten it was a rule. This didn’t stick with me through the years. You’d think it would’ve. There’s your presumably incomplete key to bunting for a double. You can do it on a technicality. You can do it on a partial swing. You can do it on a line drive, or you can do it against the shift. You can do it with defensive miscommunication, or you can do it with a defensive misplay. How else? It’s not easy to think of other potential bunt doubles. But if baseball has proven anything, it’s that it’ll explore all of its space. There’s lots of baseball left to go; lots of bunt doubles left to observe.Usually when I stumble upon something awesome, something that isn’t shiny and new, I take to Twitter and ask, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?” It’s my cover for being oblivious. For instance, I never knew that Pringles made cheeseburger chips or that Coca-Cola made Raspberry Coke. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Did I miss some important meeting? I’m a raspberry freak! I put raspberries on top of my raspberries, which are drenched in raspberry syrup. It always seems that I am one of the last people to hear about things. It’s like I need a secretary to keep me abreast of new developments. Or maybe I should leave my apartment more often after work. Once you finish reading this article, you will probably say, “fat chance!” If you play video games, then you likely know about Steam, and how awesome it is. You can’t say too many good things about a consumer-friendly online hub that allows gamers to connect with and share games with friends. Yeah, I’m a fan. I didn’t leave Vault 101 yesterday, but I can’t blame anyone for thinking so. I mean, I’m gushing about Steam. That’s akin to raving about how delicious garlic bread is. It’s common knowledge. I can’t help myself, though. As someone who has lived on console games, I have been impressed – highly impressed – by Steam. Oh! Someone sent me a game! Ah, this is awesome! For those who have been on Steam for a long time, this is nothing new; however, for someone who has played console video games for his entire life, it is a whole new experience. And on some level, I am surprised with how quickly I dove in. Although, let’s be honest, I shouldn’t be surprised at all. I am still doing what I enjoy – playing games solo and with friends – but on a different platform. I’m like that kid who gets a console for Christmas – except I don’t scream as much. OK, I scream and bounce around as much – if not more. I have known about Steam for a long time. You don’t write about video games for close to five years without picking up on a few things. My issue has always been simple: my laptops and desktops have never been powerful enough to run pc games. I tried to play the Diablo 3 demo on my Dell desktop, and I got a fatal error because I didn’t have the proper shader. In truth, I am lucky that my computer didn’t melt like the Wicked Witch of the West. It looks like it can handle a lot, but I’ve played far more Mahjong than anything else. Candice always jokes that my desktop is a glorified calculator, and I can’t do anything but laugh and agree. It’s funny and true. If I ever want to play some Hearts, Minesweeper or Machinarium, I am good to go, but after that, things get sketchy. Is there an HD version of Math Blaster? Because I am pretty certain that my Dell desktop can’t handle it. Steam was a priority when I shopped for a new laptop. When you spend most of your adulthood telling Dell associates that you want your computer to store music and pictures, you don’t know where to look first when shopping for a gaming computer. Um, do they come in blue? Luckily I have friends who are far more knowledgeable on the subject than I am. My first nights with my laptop have been spent busting up goblins, orcs, and ogres in Dungeon Defenders, with Candice helping me turn my badass monk into a badass monk who kicks the shit out of other badass monks and eats nails with his morning cup of green tea. He’s got the eye of the tiger! He also listens to Survivor. Or maybe just one or two songs. And to my surprise, I received a gift, The Binding of Isaac, within a day or so of playing on Steam (thanks, Carlos!). How cool is that? OK, so it might not seem that exciting, but for someone who is using Steam for the first time, it’s a big deal. I can’t gift games on the PlayStation Network, which has been my primary platform for playing downloadable games. And with the crazy sales on Steam, I will be able to buy and gift a lot of games. I spend carefully, but I could go nuts during a Steam sale. You know how people buy more games than they will be able to play, and only because the deals are seemingly too good to pass up. Hell, I already bought Spec Ops: The Line, which was 75% off of normal price. After all of the good things I have heard about the story, I had to bite. The Steam sales are ingenious, and I wish that PSN would go as crazy with deals. What’s not to love about getting big games at rock-bottom prices? Beyond the ridiculous deals, Steam has a strong community aspect that makes multiplayer games appealing, and despite Sony Computer Entertainment’s best efforts, that isn’t something you get on PSN. If you see me on PSN, I am probably flying solo. Steam has been everything I expected. You can listen to people gush about it, but you can never appreciate the service until you actually use it. With PlayStation Plus and Steam, I have little reason, outside of the occasional exception, such as Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, to walk into a GameStop, Target, or Best Buy. And when very few games at retail seem worth $60, Steam is a boon. I am late to the watering hole on this one, and that is usually the case, but now I am excited to dig deeper into Steam and its creamy nougat core. If I ask for recommendations, I expect to be crushed under the weight of tens or hundreds of titles. But of course, I like getting suggestions, so if there is a game you really enjoy, don’t be afraid to share it! With a ton of stuff to play, including Dungeon Defenders, The Binding of Isaac, and Spec Ops: The Line, as well as the occasional round of Duck Hunt, which helps keep my wits and reflexes sharp, I am sure that I will get to it sometime. Maybe. Probably not. 1,234 HitsTo create a judgment-oriented sales climate, managers must serve as connectors within and beyond their teams, providing a continual flow of information that supports reps as they exercise their judgment on individual deals. These managers must also focus on the long term, monitoring customers’ behaviors and directing reps’ creativity and critical thinking to the most-promising opportunities. And they need to hire professionals—not necessarily those with sales backgrounds—who can thrive in the new climate. The new environment favors creative and adaptable sellers who challenge customers with disruptive insights into their business—and offer unexpected solutions. Such “insight selling” gives reps latitude to discover what the customer has already concluded about its needs and the available solutions, determine who the decision makers are, look for signals that the customer is receptive to a new insight about its business, and then figure out how best to proceed. Sales leaders have long fixated on process discipline, monitoring reps’ conformance to “optimal” behaviors and their performance of specified activities. Recently, however, this sales machine has stalled. The approaches that once led to predictable progress in a sale do not work with today’s customers, who are empowered with more information than ever before. Sales leaders have long fixated on process discipline. They have created opportunity scorecards, qualification criteria, and activity metrics—all part of a formal sales process designed to help their team members replicate the approaches of star performers. This is the world of the sales machine, built to outsell less focused, less disciplined competitors through brute efficiency and world-class tools and training. For years, tuning this machine has been the primary means of boosting sales productivity. But recently sales has been caught off guard by a dramatic shift in customers’ buying behavior. Even as leadership has tightened compliance with the processes that have served so well, sales performance has grown increasingly erratic. Companies are reporting longer sales cycle times, lower conversion rates, less reliable forecasts, and compressed margins. The sales machine is stalling. The good news is that the way forward is clear. In our research at CEB, we have found that the very approaches that made the sales machine so effective now make selling harder. We have also identified the keys to winning in this new environment: Leaders must abandon their fixation on process compliance and embrace a flexible approach to selling driven by sales reps’ reliance on insight and judgment. The Rise of Insight Selling Until recently, customers seeking business solutions had to ask suppliers for guidance early in the purchasing process, because crucial information wasn’t available anywhere else. But today customers are better informed than ever before. By the time they approach suppliers, they generally have a clear idea of the problem they need to solve, the solutions that are available, and the price they’re willing to pay. In this world, process-driven sales machine approaches fall short, because they give sales reps no room to exercise judgment and creativity in dealing with highly knowledgeable customers. They leave reps with little to do but compete on price. As we explored in our HBR article “The End of Solution Sales” (July–August 2012), the new environment favors creative and adaptable sellers who challenge customers with disruptive insights into their business—and offer unexpected solutions (see the sidebar “Selling to Empowered Customers”). Selling to Empowered Customers Sales strategy used to center on answering a simple question: In a world where customers learn primarily from suppliers, how do you become the one that customers learn from first? Being that favored resource allowed suppliers to shape and ultimately win deals. The approach went like this: Identify customers early in their learning process; put a solution in front of them before anyone else does; highlight how it meets their needs; and push the deal through faster than competitors can. Like their colleagues in manufacturing, sales leaders invested heavily in performance management systems designed to track how well reps complied with this process, and they continually tuned the performance of their sales machine. This approach worked well as long as suppliers offered discrete products and controlled the information about them. But today, as suppliers have moved from selling individual, easily commoditized products to offering complex “solutions,” customers—wary of the scale, disruption, and cost—have responded by scrutinizing deals more closely. They require consensus from more stakeholders than ever before; the days of the one-stop decision maker are over. IT sales executives complain that they must “sell beyond the CIO,” and medical device suppliers grumble about the need to sell to purchasing organizations. Worse, even after they’ve tracked down these stakeholders and won them over, sales reps still need to stitch the buy-in of these individuals into an organizational decision. Empowered customers now approach suppliers armed with a clear idea of their own needs, the potential solutions, and what they’re willing to pay. When suppliers encounter such customers, there’s often little left to negotiate but price. As a result, a supplier’s biggest competitive challenge today isn’t so much the competition’s ability to sell as it is the customer’s ability to learn. Whereas competing against a rival’s ability to sell requires superior sales discipline—more calls per hour, visits per week, and so on—competing against a customer’s ability to learn requires superior teaching skills, a talent for revealing novel and important information about the business that the customer has overlooked. The best sales reps excel at this kind of teaching and can link the insights that arise to the solutions their firm provides. Such “insight selling” is flexible, in recognition of the many possible routes to a sale. Delivering the right insight in the right way requires determining what the customer has already concluded about its needs and available solutions, who the decision makers are (often not the usual suspects), and what it will take to change their minds. The most effective approach to a sale varies, sometimes radically, from deal to deal. As a result, in recent years sales has seen a dramatic uncoupling of specific sales activities and specific outcomes; the sequential tactics that once led to predictable progress in a sale no longer do. How can sales leaders best support insight selling? To find out, CEB spent the past year surveying 2,500 sales professionals from more than 30 B2B companies representing every major industry, geography, and go-to-market model in our client membership. We zeroed in on the managerial and organizational attributes most closely associated with star reps’ success. And we corroborated quantitative findings through more than 100 structured interviews with heads of sales, sales operations, and sales excellence, and with frontline sales managers. Find this and other HBR graphics in our Visual Library The study showed that most large B2B organizations are still designed to achieve peak efficiency by ensuring that reps abide by an established “optimal” behavior. These organizations, all vivid examples of the sales machine, are marked by a strong process orientation, clear lines of authority, and close governance through formal rules. They particularly emphasize individual performance, nurturing a competitive atmosphere characterized by frequent contests, campaigns, and the regular updating of leaderboards. And they monitor sales reps through close attention to near-term metrics—especially cycle times and close rates. When we look at the organizational climate most consistently associated with insight-selling behaviors, however, we find a mirror image of the sales machine, with two principal features: an organizational emphasis on the judgment of individual reps rather than their compliance with protocols; and a managerial focus on providing guidance and support rather than inspection and direction. Transforming a sales organization along those two dimensions is crucial for giving reps the support and latitude they need to win in the new environment. Changing the Organizational Climate In a judgment-oriented sales organization, the climate is similar to what you’d find in other groups of highly skilled knowledge workers: Managers serve as coaches rather than as enforcers; the workforce self-manages to a large extent; the focus is on collaboration rather than competition; and the group is judged on long-term outcomes rather than short-term compliance with protocols. To create this kind of environment, sales leaders must rethink how they manage and what they measure. Instead of demanding that a rep progress methodically through a checklist of sales activities, managers must focus on the customer’s behaviors, especially any signals that the customer would be responsive to a new insight about its business. Such signals include acknowledging that the status quo isn’t working, conceding that other suppliers’ solutions are less viable, providing information typically not made available to other suppliers, and revising purchasing requirements and specifications in a way that reflects the supplier’s advantages. This shift in focus gives reps greater latitude to use their judgment about the most-effective ways to drive a sale. Our research points to a series of changes required to support a new organizational climate. First, our data reveal a strong emphasis in judgment-oriented sales organizations on creating demand early in the sales funnel rather than responding to it much later. This promotes pipeline building, not pipeline velocity. If compensation, dashboards, and sales campaigns all prioritize efficiency and speed, sales leaders unwittingly conspire with empowered customers to force their reps into the price-driven sale they were hoping to avoid. It’s faster to close a deal with a customer that knows what it wants and is shopping for the lowest price than it is to challenge the customer’s thinking and demonstrate that your solution offers the best value. Second, the data highlight that managers in these organizations are giving reps greater latitude in the qualification, prioritization, and pursuit of individual opportunities. Our data do not suggest that process and structure are always bad. Nonetheless, reps are most likely to succeed in their interactions with empowered customers when they feel supported rather than directed, and when they are held accountable for outcomes rather than for performing certain activities. As one sales leader put it, “Today there’s no ‘single path to right,’ only many paths to right that might equally be paths to wrong. So it’s not the journey but the destination we have to focus on most.” Third, we observe a strong emphasis on encouraging innovation and a sense of business ownership among sales reps, with reps measured less on consistent execution of a one-size-fits-all approach and more on the overall profitable growth of their book of business. These findings make many sales leaders nervous. The best reps will thrive in a judgment-oriented climate, but what about everyone else? Many average-performing reps benefit from—indeed, rely on—clear direction. It’s important to note that providing the support those reps need doesn’t mean returning to the sales machine approach. The key is to give them considerable discretion regarding their activities while guiding them through—and holding them accountable for—specific milestones on the way to a sale. Reps are most likely to succeed when they feel supported rather than directed. Let’s look at two very different ways sales organizations today are creating a judgment-oriented climate. The first—a “customer-verified sales funnel”—is a well-known but infrequently applied approach rooted in the sales machine era. Traditionally in this model, salespeople and their managers have used a combination of rep activities and customer “verifiers,” or behaviors, to track the progress of a deal. A simple example of a verifier is a customer’s running a pilot application that a rep has suggested. Companies have tracked and measured such verifiers, but they have generally focused as much or more on the sales reps’ actions leading up to the verifiers. Those actions are tracked in CRM systems, and the information is aggregated into a sales forecast or a pipeline review. Leading sales organizations have embraced two important changes to this practice. First, they track and report only the customer verifiers, not the reps’ actions. This change explicitly encourages reps to focus on achieving certain outcomes in the best way instead of simply executing activities in the prescribed way. As a result, reps are free to think more creatively about how to elicit certain reactions from individual customers. In a highly varied sales environment, specific activities may or may not be the best way. Second, the most advanced sales organizations are verifying not only the behaviors late in the process that indicate whether a customer is closer to making a purchase but also the behaviors very early in the process that signal whether the customer is ready and willing to change. This selling approach is about creating demand, not simply responding to it, so verifying whether the customer is ready to change is a prerequisite to pursuing a sale. Tracking this shift in customer attitude requires deeper scrutiny. For example, in addition to noting whether the customer has scheduled a demo, sellers look at whether a buying group has conceded that its existing approach is significantly underperforming. Consider how the customer-verified sales funnel works at ADP, a global leader in human capital management. ADP identified a series of verifiers that reflect how its customers make a complex purchasing decision. Understanding these verifiers enabled sales managers to design better tools and provide better guidance to the sales force. Pipeline reviews, for example, have taken on a decidedly different tone. Instead of engaging in “spreadsheet coaching” (“Have you scheduled time with the decision makers?” “Did you determine whether they have a budget allocated for this purchase?” “Did you send our proposal?”), ADP managers collaborate with reps to think through how best to elicit specific customer verifiers. For example, if the verifier sought is “The customer agrees that the status quo is unsustainable,” the manager might ask the rep, “How do we demonstrate to the customer that its current approach will expose it to substantial risk?” If the verifier is “The customer confirms that it has the budget to purchase our solution,” the manager might ask, “How do we help the customer think creatively about funding if the money is not in this year’s budget?” ADP sales reps, managers, and executives get in-depth exposure to this way of thinking during a three-day insight selling academy. A leading global manufacturing firm we’ll call Alpha Company takes a very different approach—one rarely seen in a large-scale field sales force—to creating a new sales climate. Alpha has assembled three-person “market teams”—each comprising an account executive, a solutions design specialist, and a project implementation manager—tasked with growing anywhere from 50 to 150 customers in a particular territory. Each team serves as a kind of franchise of the company, reporting directly to the region’s general manager. Consequently, each team has full deal authority and P&L ownership to develop accounts however it sees fit, as long as the approach does not violate company policy. A team can follow a sales process or not. It can sell certain products and solutions or not. It’s up to team members, collectively, to figure it all out. The only requirement is to turn in a profitable growth number for the territory. As at ADP, reps are accountable for the ends they achieve, not the means they use. Alpha provides each team with a sales manager who functions not as a director but as a peer-level guide, helping to identify and implement innovative approaches to stalled deals (a rewrite of the manager’s job we’ve never seen before). Although managers have the same objectives as the market teams they coach, the business holds the team accountable for delivering on them. Additionally, each team meets with a financial controller every two weeks to assess its strategy and review its likelihood of achieving growth. After running the teams for a year now, the company has more than doubled its average deal size in these regions while reducing deal-level development costs by nearly 40%, and it is forecasting significantly higher revenue for the coming year. Moreover, sales reps from across the industry are now seeking employment with Alpha, attracted by its sales climate. Changing What Managers Do Our rep surveys revealed that despite the pressure to create a judgment-oriented sales climate, sales managers in most companies still seek compliance rather than judgment and creativity (see the exhibit “Compliance Climates Still Dominate”). Nonetheless, a subset of managers—from companies such as Cargill, Oakwood Worldwide, Afton Chemical, Esri Australia, and Centurion Medical Products, to name a few—stand out for their ability to modify their local climates in order
azzup Kyle Wazzup, Kyle! $ python docopt/options.py hello --caps Kyle HELLO, KYLE! $ python docopt/options.py hello --greeting = Wazzup --caps Kyle WAZZUP, KYLE! Click To add the greeting and caps options we use the @click.option decorator. Again, since we have default greetings now we have pulled the logic out into a single function ( def greeter(kwargs): ). import click def greeter ( kwargs ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( kwargs [ 'greeting' ], kwargs [ 'name' ]) if kwargs [ 'caps' ]: output = output. upper () print ( output ) @click. group () def greet (): pass @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) # add an option with 'Hello' as the default @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello' ) # add a flag (is_flag=True) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True ) # the application logic has been refactored into a single function def hello ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs ) @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Goodbye' ) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True ) def goodbye ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs ) if __name__ == '__main__' : greet () $ python click/options.py hello --greeting = Wazzup Kyle Wazzup, Kyle! $ python click/options.py hello --greeting = Wazzup --caps Kyle WAZZUP, KYLE! $ python click/options.py hello --caps Kyle HELLO, KYLE! Version Option ( --version ) In this section we’ll be showing how to add a --version argument to each of our tools. For simplicity we’ll just hardcode the version number to 1.0.0. Keep in mind that in a production application, you will want to pull this from the installed application. One way to achieve this is with this simple process: >>> >>> import pkg_resources >>> # Replace click with the name of your tool: >>> pkg_resources. get_distribution ( "click" ). version >>> '5.1' A second option for determining the version would be to have an automated version-bumping software change the version number defined in the file when a new version is released. This is possible with bumpversion. But this approach is not recommended as it’s easy to get out of sync. Generally, it’s best practice to keep a version number in as few places as possible. Since the implementation of adding a hard-coded version option is fairly simple we will use... to denote skipped sections of the code from the last section. Argparse For argparse we again need to use the add_argument method, this time with the action='version' parameter and a value for version passed in. We apply this method to the root parser (instead of the hello or goodbye subparsers). ... parser = argparse. ArgumentParser () parser. add_argument ( '--version', action ='version', version = '1.0.0' )... $ python argparse/version.py --version 1.0.0 docopt In order to add --version to docopt we add it as an option to our primary docstring. In addition we add the version parameter to our first call to docopt (parsing the primary docstring). """usage: greet [--help] <command> [<args>...] options: -h --help Show this screen. --version Show the version. commands: hello Say hello goodbye Say goodbye """ from docopt import docopt... if __name__ == '__main__' : arguments = docopt ( __doc__, options_first = True, version = '1.0.0' )... $ python docopt/version.py --version 1.0.0 Click Click provides us with a convenient @click.version_option decorator. To add this we decorate our greet function (main @click.group function). ... @click. group () @click. version_option ( version = '1.0.0' ) def greet ():... $ python click/version.py --version version.py, version 1.0.0 Improving Help ( -h / --help ) The final step to completing our application is to improve the help documentation for each of the tools. We’ll want to make sure that we can access help with both -h and --help and that each argument and option have some level of description. Argparse By default argparse provides us with both -h and --help so we don’t need to add anything for that. However our current help documentation for the subcommands is lacking information on what --caps and --greeting do and what the name argument is. $ python argparse/version.py hello -h usage: version.py hello [-h] [--greeting GREETING] [--caps] name positional arguments: name optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit --greeting GREETING --caps In order to add more information we use the help parameter of the add_argument method. ... hello_parser = subparsers. add_parser ( 'hello' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( 'name', help = 'name of the person to greet' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( '--caps', action ='store_true', help = 'uppercase the output' ) hello_parser. set_defaults ( func = greet ) goodbye_parser = subparsers. add_parser ( 'goodbye' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( 'name', help = 'name of the person to greet' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( '--caps', action ='store_true', help = 'uppercase the output' )... Now when we provide the help flag we get a much more complete result: $ python argparse/help.py hello -h usage: help.py hello [-h] [--greeting GREETING] [--caps] name positional arguments: name name of the person to greet optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit --greeting GREETING word to use for the greeting --caps uppercase the output Docopt This section is where docopt shines. Because we wrote the documentation as the definition of the command-line interface itself, we already have the help documentation completed. In addition -h and --help are already provided. $ python docopt/help.py hello -h usage: basic.py hello [options] [<name>] -h --help Show this screen. --caps Uppercase the output. --greeting=<str> Greeting to use [default: Hello]. Click Adding help documentation to click is very similar to argparse. We need to add the help parameter to all of our @click.option decorators. ... @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True, help = 'uppercase the output' ) def hello ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs ) @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Goodbye', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True, help = 'uppercase the output' ) def goodbye ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs )... However, click DOES NOT provide us -h by default. We need to use the context_settings parameter to override the default help_option_names. import click CONTEXT_SETTINGS = dict ( help_option_names = [ '-h', '--help' ])... @click. group ( context_settings = CONTEXT_SETTINGS ) @click. version_option ( version = '1.0.0' ) def greet (): pass Now the click help documentation is complete. $ python click/help.py hello -h Usage: help.py hello [OPTIONS] NAME Options: --greeting TEXT word to use for the greeting --caps uppercase the output -h, --help Show this message and exit. Error Handling Error handling is an important part of any application. This section will explore the default error handling of each application and implement additional logic if needed. We’ll explore three error cases: Not enough required arguments given. Invalid options/flags given. A flag with a value is given. Argparse $ python argparse/final.py hello usage: final.py hello [-h] [--greeting GREETING] [--caps] name final.py hello: error: the following arguments are required: name $ python argparse/final.py --badoption hello Kyle usage: final.py [-h] [--version] {hello,goodbye}... final.py: error: unrecognized arguments: --badoption $ python argparse/final.py hello --caps = notanoption Kyle usage: final.py hello [-h] [--greeting GREETING] [--caps] name final.py hello: error: argument --caps: ignored explicit argument 'notanoption' Not very exciting, as argparse handles all of our error cases out of the box. Docopt $ python docopt/final.py hello Hello, None! $ python docopt/final.py hello --badoption Kyle usage: basic.py hello [options] [<name>] Unfortunatly, we have a bit of work to get docopt to an acceptable minimum level of error handling. The reccomended method for validation in docopt is the schema module. Make sure to install - pip install schema. In addition they provide a very basic validation example. The following is our application with schema validation: ... from schema import Schema, SchemaError, Optional... schema = Schema ({ Optional ( 'hello' ): bool, Optional ( 'goodbye' ): bool, '<name>' : str, Optional ( '--caps' ): bool, Optional ( '--help' ): bool, Optional ( '--greeting' ): str }) def validate ( args ): try : args = schema. validate ( args ) return args except SchemaError as e : exit ( e ) if arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'hello' : greet ( validate ( docopt ( HELLO ))) elif arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'goodbye' : greet ( validate ( docopt ( GOODBYE )))... With this validation in place we now get some error messages. $ python docopt/validation.py hello None should be instance of <class'str'> $ python docopt/validation.py hello --greeting Kyle None should be instance of <class'str'> $ python docopt/validation.py hello --caps = notanoption Kyle --caps must not have an argument usage: basic.py hello [options] [<name>] While these messages are not very descriptive and may be hard to debug for larger applications, it’s better than no validation at all. The schema module does provide other mechanisms for adding more descriptive error messages but we won’t cover those here. Click $ python click/final.py hello Usage: final.py hello [OPTIONS] NAME Error: Missing argument "name". $ python click/final.py hello --badoption Kyle Error: no such option: --badoption $ python click/final.py hello --caps = notanoption Kyle Error: --caps option does not take a value Just like argparse, click handles error input by default. With that, we have completed the construction of the command-line application we set out to build. Before we conclude let’s take a look at another possible option. Invoke Can we use invoke, a simple task running library, to build the greeter command-line application? Let’s find out! To start let’s begin with the simplest version of the greeter: tasks.py from invoke import task @task def hello ( name ): print ( 'Hello, {0}!'. format ( name )) @task def goodbye ( name ): print ( 'Goodbye, {0}!'. format ( name )) With this very simple file we get a two tasks and very minimal help. From the same directory as tasks.py we get the following results: $ invoke -l Available tasks: goodbye hello $ invoke hello Kyle Hello, Kyle! $ invoke goodbye Kyle Goodbye, Kyle! Now let’s add in our options/flags - --greeting and --caps. In addition, we can pull out the greeting logic into it’s own function, just as we did with the other tools. from invoke import task def greet ( name, greeting, caps ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( greeting, name ) if caps : output = output. upper () print ( output ) @task def hello ( name, greeting = 'Hello', caps = False ): greet ( name, greeting, caps ) @task def goodbye ( name, greeting = 'Goodbye', caps = False ): greet ( name, greeting, caps ) Now we actually have the complete interface we designated in the beginning! $ invoke hello Kyle Hello, Kyle! $ invoke hello --greeting = Wazzup Kyle Wazzup, Kyle! $ invoke hello --greeting = Wazzup --caps Kyle WAZZUP, KYLE! $ invoke hello --caps Kyle HELLO, KYLE! Help Documentation In order to compete with argparse, docopt, and click, we’ll also need to be able to add complete help documentation. Luckily this is also available in invoke by using the help parameter of the @task decorator and adding docstrings to the decorated functions. ... HELP = { 'name' : 'name of the person to greet', 'greeting' : 'word to use for the greeting', 'caps' : 'uppercase the output' } @task ( help = HELP ) def hello ( name, greeting = 'Hello', caps = False ): """ Say hello. """ greet ( name, greeting, caps ) @task ( help = HELP ) def goodbye ( name, greeting = 'Goodbye', caps = False ): """ Say goodbye. """ greet ( name, greeting, caps ) $ invoke --help hello Usage: inv[oke] [--core-opts] hello [--options] [other tasks here...] Docstring: Say hello. Options: -c, --caps uppercase the output -g STRING, --greeting=STRING word to use for the greeting -n STRING, --name=STRING name of the person to greet -v, --version Version Option Implementing a --version option is not quite as simple and comes with a caveat. The basics are that we will add version=False as an option to each of the tasks that calls a new print_version function if True. In order to make this work we cannot have any positional arguments without defaults or we get: $ invoke hello --version 'hello' did not receive all required positional arguments! Also note that we are calling --version on our commands hello and goodbye because invoke itself has a version command: $ invoke --version Invoke 0.10.1 The completed implementation of a version command follows: ... def print_version (): print ( '1.0.0' ) exit ( 0 ) @task ( help = HELP ) def hello ( name = '', greeting = 'Hello', caps = False, version = False ): """ Say hello. """ if version : print_version () greet ( name, greeting, caps )... Now we are able to ask invoke for the version of our tool: $ invoke hello --version 1.0.0 Conclusion To review, let’s take a look at the final version of each of the tools we created. Argparse import argparse def greet ( args ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( args. greeting, args. name ) if args. caps : output = output. upper () print ( output ) parser = argparse. ArgumentParser () parser. add_argument ( '--version', action ='version', version = '1.0.0' ) subparsers = parser. add_subparsers () hello_parser = subparsers. add_parser ( 'hello' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( 'name', help = 'name of the person to greet' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) hello_parser. add_argument ( '--caps', action ='store_true', help = 'uppercase the output' ) hello_parser. set_defaults ( func = greet ) goodbye_parser = subparsers. add_parser ( 'goodbye' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( 'name', help = 'name of the person to greet' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) goodbye_parser. add_argument ( '--caps', action ='store_true', help = 'uppercase the output' ) goodbye_parser. set_defaults ( func = greet ) if __name__ == '__main__' : args = parser. parse_args () args. func ( args ) Docopt """usage: greet [--help] <command> [<args>...] options: -h --help Show this screen. --version Show the version. commands: hello Say hello goodbye Say goodbye """ from docopt import docopt from schema import Schema, SchemaError, Optional HELLO = """usage: basic.py hello [options] [<name>] -h --help Show this screen. --caps Uppercase the output. --greeting=<str> Greeting to use [default: Hello]. """ GOODBYE = """usage: basic.py goodbye [options] [<name>] -h --help Show this screen. --caps Uppercase the output. --greeting=<str> Greeting to use [default: Goodbye]. """ def greet ( args ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( args [ '--greeting' ], args [ '<name>' ]) if args [ '--caps' ]: output = output. upper () print ( output ) if __name__ == '__main__' : arguments = docopt ( __doc__, options_first = True, version = '1.0.0' ) schema = Schema ({ Optional ( 'hello' ): bool, Optional ( 'goodbye' ): bool, '<name>' : str, Optional ( '--caps' ): bool, Optional ( '--help' ): bool, Optional ( '--greeting' ): str }) def validate ( args ): try : args = schema. validate ( args ) return args except SchemaError as e : exit ( e ) if arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'hello' : greet ( validate ( docopt ( HELLO ))) elif arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'goodbye' : greet ( validate ( docopt ( GOODBYE ))) else : exit ( " {0} is not a command. See 'options.py --help'.". format ( arguments [ '<command>' ])) Click import click CONTEXT_SETTINGS = dict ( help_option_names = [ '-h', '--help' ]) def greeter ( * kwargs ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( kwargs [ 'greeting' ], kwargs [ 'name' ]) if kwargs [ 'caps' ]: output = output. upper () print ( output ) @click. group ( context_settings = CONTEXT_SETTINGS ) @click. version_option ( version = '1.0.0' ) def greet (): pass @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Hello', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True, help = 'uppercase the output' ) def hello ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs ) @greet. command () @click. argument ( 'name' ) @click. option ( '--greeting', default = 'Goodbye', help = 'word to use for the greeting' ) @click. option ( '--caps', is_flag = True, help = 'uppercase the output' ) def goodbye ( kwargs ): greeter ( kwargs ) if __name__ == '__main__' : greet () Invoke from invoke import task def greet ( name, greeting, caps ): output ='{0}, {1}!'. format ( greeting, name ) if caps : output = output. upper () print ( output ) HELP = { 'name' : 'name of the person to greet', 'greeting' : 'word to use for the greeting', 'caps' : 'uppercase the output' } def print_version (): print ( '1.0.0' ) exit ( 0 ) @task ( help = HELP ) def hello ( name = '', greeting = 'Hello', caps = False, version = False ): """ Say hello. """ if version : print_version () greet ( name, greeting, caps ) @task ( help = HELP ) def goodbye ( name = '', greeting = 'Goodbye', caps = False, version = False ): """ Say goodbye. """ if version : print_version () greet ( name, greeting, caps ) My Recomendation Now, to get this out of the way, my personal go-to library is click. I have been using it on large, multi-command, complex interfaces for the last year. (Credit goes to @kwbeam for introducing me to click). I prefer the decorator approach and think it lends a very clean, composable interface. That being said, let’s evaluate each option fairly. Argparse Arparse is the standard library (included with Python) for creating command-line utilities. For that fact alone, it is arguably the most used of the tools examined here. Argparse is also very simple to use as lots of magic (implicit work that happens behind the scenes) is used to construct the interface. For example, both arguments and options are defined using the add_arguments method and argparse figures out which is which behind the scenes. Docopt If you think writing documentation is great, docopt is for you! In addition docopt has implementations for many other languages - meaning you can learn one library and use it across many languages. The downside of docopt is that it is very structured in the way you have to define your command-line interface. (Some might say this is a good thing!) Click I’ve already said that I really like click and have been using it in production for over a year. I encourage you to read the very complete Why Click? documentation. In fact, that documentation is what inspired this blog post! The decorator style implementation of click is very simple to use and since you are decorating the function you want executed, it makes it very easy to read the code and figure out what is going to be executed. In addition, click supports advanced features like callbacks, command nesting, and more. Click is based on a fork of the now deprecated optparse library. Invoke Invoke surprised me in this comparison. I thought that a library designed for task execution might not be able to easily match full command-line libraries - but it did! That being said, I would not recommend using it for this type of work as you will certainly run into limitations for anything more complex than the example presented here. Bonus: Packaging Since not everyone is packaging up there python source with setuptools (or other solutions), we decided not to make this a core component of the article. In addition, we don’t want to cover packaging as a complete topic. If you want to learn more about packaging with setuptools go here or with conda go here or you can read my previous blog post on conda packaging. What we will cover here is how to use the entry_points option to make a command-line application an executable command on install. Entry Point Basics An entry_point is essentially a map to a single function in your code that will be given a command on your system PATH. An entry_point has the form - command = package.module:function The best way to explain this is to just look at our click example and add an entry point. Packaging Click Commands Click makes packaging simple, as by default we are calling a single function when we execute our program: if __name__ == '__main__' : greet () In addition to the rest of the setup.py (not covered here), we would add the following to create an entry_point for our click application. Assuming the following directory structure- greeter/ ├── greet │ ├── __init__.py │ └── cli.py <-- the same as our final.py └── setup.py -we will create the following entry_point: entry_points = { 'console_scripts' : [ 'greet=greet.cli:greet', # command=package.module:function ], }, When a user installs the package created with this entry_point, setuptools will create the following executable script (called greet ) and place it on the PATH of the user’s system. #!/usr/bin/python if __name__ == '__main__' : import sys from greet.cli import greet sys. exit ( greet ()) After installation the user will now be able to run the following: $ greet --help Usage: greet [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]... Options: --version Show the version and exit. -h, --help Show this message and exit. Commands: goodbye hello Packaging Argparse Commands The only thing we need to do differently from click is to pull all of the application initialization into a single function that we can call in our entry_point. This: if __name__ == '__main__' : args = parser. parse_args () args. func ( args ) Becomes: def greet (): args = parser. parse_args () args. func ( args ) if __name__ == '__main__' : greet () Now we can use the same pattern for the entry_point we defined for click. Packaging Docopt Commands Packaging docopt commands requires the same process as argparse. This: if __name__ == '__main__' : arguments = docopt ( __doc__, options_first = True, version = '1.0.0' ) if arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'hello' : greet ( docopt ( HELLO )) elif arguments [ '<command>' ] == 'goodbye' : greet ( docopt ( GOODBYE )) else : exit ( " {0} is not a command. See 'options.py --help'.". format ( arguments [ '<command>' ])) Becomes:62% Say Liberal Hollywood Has Negative Impact on Society Americans continue to think the politics of Hollywood bend to the left and that the film industry has a negative impact on society. [LAST DAY : Sign up now for 8 weeks of free access to our Rasmussen Reports Platinum Service membership. The first 100 subscribers also get a free commemorative gift from Rasmussen Reports.] (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 12 and 15, 2017, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. ORReport on historical abuse in 22 church, state and charity-run homes accuses RUC and Catholic hierarchy of serious failings Police were guilty of a “catalogue of failures” over the abuse of boys at a Belfast care home run by a paedophile ring, a comprehensive report into child mistreatment across Northern Ireland has found. The historical institutional abuse inquiry, established in 2014, found that a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigation into sexual abuse at the Kincora care home in east Belfast was “inept, inadequate and far from thorough”. The report, released on Friday, also accused the Catholic hierarchy in Ireland of ignoring repeated warnings about a serial paedophile, Fr Brendan Smyth, who sexually assaulted and raped dozens of young victims. The implications of the Smyth scandal and other clerical abuse in the region were so serious that a senior Catholic cleric was due to discuss the findings with the pope later on Friday. Kincora care home was run by a number of paedophiles whom it was alleged were agents of the state. They included the prominent Orange Order member William McGrath, who was accused of being an informer for MI5 and special branch in the 1970s, spying on fellow hardline loyalists. At least 29 boys were sexually abused by McGrath, the Kincora housemaster, and others at the home. One boy is said to have killed himself by jumping off a ferry into the Irish Sea in the late 1970s following years of abuse. Three senior staff at Kincora – McGrath, Raymond Semple and Joseph Mains – were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys. The retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, who chaired the inquiry, said if the RUC had carried out a proper investigation into Kincora many of the victims might have been spared. He said 39 boys were abused byMcGrath and others running Kincora at the height of the Troubles. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Hart arrives at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Belfast to deliver the findings. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images But Hart said the notion that the home was a homosexual “brothel” used by the security services to entrap paedophiles to spy on influential political figures was without foundation. Controversially, he also dismissed the notion that McGrath was a state agent. “We are satisfied that McGrath was never an agent of the state. William McGrath was a sexual pervert who had political views of a bizarre type.” Hart was extremely critical of a number of individuals who had previously made claims about Kincora, including the former army intelligence officer Colin Wallace, who first raised allegations of a paedophile ring at the home. The judge said the cooperation of the current Police Service of Northern Ireland was in “marked contrast to the unwillingness of some individuals”. He stressed that all requests by the inquiry for classified files relating to Kincora were “honoured” by government and security agencies. Hart said there was “no credible evidence” to support allegations that a paedophile ring including senior British establishment figures had abused children in Kincora. The report had “stripped away decades of half-truths masquerading as facts in relation to Kincora”. The inquiry, which sat at Banbridge courthouse in County Down for two years, investigated children’s care homes and institutions from the Northern Ireland state’s foundation in 1922 to 1995. During the Kincora section of the inquiry it emerged that MI5 and MI6 were legally represented at Banbridge. Critics of how the hearing into Kincora had been framed expressed concerns the government would use the Official Secrets Act to prevent the inquiry gaining access to files from MI5 and MI6. Among the other scandals highlighted in the report was that surrounding Fr Brendan Smyth. He was a paedophile priest whom the Catholic hierarchy kept moving around parishes in both Ireland and the United States long after it knew about his abuse of children in places such as west Belfast. The report severely criticised the Catholic Church’s behaviour. “Father Brendan Smyth was able to carry out widespread sexual abuse of children, including some children resident in homes investigated by the inquiry, due to the failure of branches of the Roman Catholic church to properly address his behaviour from before he was ordained as a priest, despite clear warnings,” it said. “There was repeated failure to assess the risk he posed to children, to confine him to his abbey, to thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse, to notify the police and social services, and to share information between dioceses and report matters to the appropriate civil and ecclesiastical authorities.” The report also criticised an order of Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Nazareth. Of the homes they ran in Belfast and Derry, it said: “In each of the four homes, some nuns engaged in physical and emotional abuse against children. Emotional abuse was widespread in all homes.” Hart and his team found that a disinfectant was used in baths in the orphanages. He said there was a significant number of cases of sexual abuse involving priests and lay staff. Many of these incidents were known to members of the clergy, who did nothing to stop them, the report said. The leader of Ireland’s Catholics, archbishop Eamon Martin, said he would discuss its findings with Pope Francis when he met the pontiff in Rome later on Friday. He said the report “reminds us that much work remains to be undertaken in this regard”. Public hearings were held into 22 institutions across Northern Ireland which were run by the state, local authorities, the Catholic church, the Church of Ireland, and other voluntary organisations. Hart’s report runs to 2,300 pages and contains 10 volumes of findings and testimonies. The NSPCC children’s charity said: “This inquiry has shed light on horrendous and widespread abuse carried out against children in Northern Ireland in the past. Institutions must now be held to account for the prolonged, systematic failings against the children in their care. It is right that the survivors receive the justice they deserve and we support the recommendation for redress.”Guest essay by Steven Capozzola, CAP Media The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to finalize its Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce power plant carbon dioxide emissions by 30% from 2005 levels over the next 15 years. Looking at some of the best-case scenarios for CO2 reductions, the plan could potentially cut roughly 300 million tons of CO2 annually. Because global man-made CO2 emissions reach roughly 30 billion tons annually, it’s estimated that the EPA plan could result in a possible 1% reduction in annual man-made CO2. Overall, man-made CO2 accounts for only 4% of total atmospheric CO2. So the true atmospheric reduction in CO2 from the EPA plan would be approximately 0.04%. The cost for this plan is estimated at $50 billion annually, with the loss of roughly 15,000 U.S. jobs each year. Increases in household utility bills could reach $100 billion annually. These high costs have prompted diverse criticism. Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), is troubled by the higher utility rates that consumers will face. “The EPA’s plan will do next to nothing for global warming but will raise the cost of electricity for both homes and businesses,” said Dr. Steele. “As a person who has spent a lifetime fighting on behalf of poor people, this concerns me greatly.” Terry Jarrett, who has served on both the Missouri Public Service Commission and the National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners, says the potential risk to the U.S. electrical grid in term of lost generating capacity is significant. “Under the EPA’s ‘Clean Power Plan,’ consumers will undoubtedly pay higher electricity bills,” said Jarrett. “But the more tragic problem is the possibility of widespread power outages during the coldest parts of winter. The EPA’s regulatory plan amounts to very reckless toying with the nation’s power grid.” As the U.S. contemplates climate issues, one has to ask whether the EPA plan represents a sound approach, both logistically and financially.Moscow, November 7: The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo who is always in the news for wrong reasons has made yet another enemy. But this time their enemy is the powerful Russia on whom the magazine had mocked recent Egypt plane crash in which 224 Russian citizens were killed. The Kremlin on Friday denounced the cartoon mocking last weeks plane crash in which 224 passengers most of them Russians died. The flight which was headed from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg were Russian. The cause of crash remains unclear but the investigating agencies had said that it was an ‘act of terror’. The cartoon published in Charlie Hebdo, shows pieces of plane falling from sky on the Islamic State fighters and the caption below the cartoon reads, “ISIS: The Russian air force intensifies its bombardments.” Another cartoon shows a skull lying in the wreckage of air-plane and the caption reads, “The risks of Russian low-cost flights”. The cover page of the controversial magazine had created an outrage on social media with Kremlin criticised the publication, in a statement saying that, “In our country we can sum this up in a single word: sacrilege.” Dmitry Peskoy, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said, “This has nothing to do with democracy or self-expression”. He said, “I am not commenting on moral standards of the French, this is a concern of theirs. But in this country it is clear blasphemy.” “It’s not satire but filthy mockery,” said Ivan Melnikov, the deputy speaker of the lower house of the Russian Assembly. Charlie Hebdo was the target of an attack on January 7, when terrorists entered their offices and killed 11 cartoonists and one police officer, after the magazine mocked Prophet Muhammad in their cover page. It triggered a massive, pan-European support movement under the name #JeSuisCharlie.If you're among the many millions who prefer a chilled glass of juice to a hot cup of tea on a scorching summer's day, take heed: scientists say a hot drink will cool you down more than an ice-cold beverage. So how does it work? According to Professor Peter McNaughton, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, consuming hot beverages, such as tea or hot water, will raise your core body temperature. And this makes you to sweat at an increased rate. Nerves in our mouths and in our upper digestive tract respond to the heat of the beverage, stimulating the brain to produce more sweat. And as it evaporates, the sweat effectively cools you down. Water evaporates very quickly from the skin. And when water evaporates, McNaughton explains, "that cools you down." Sweat is vital for cooling the body down, says Professor McNaughton But there's a catch. "Sweating will start, or increase, if the person is already hot," says Dr Christopher Gordon, an expert in human thermoregulation at the University of Sydney. "Whilst people often feel hot during the consumption of the hot drink they will feel cooler once they are sweating." Sweat glands are distributed across the skins surface. The distribution of sweat glands, Gordon explains, "is greater in areas such as the head and hands and lower leg region. As people sweat they often feel cooler as they notice the change in skin temperature in the face." Sweating is vital for our bodies to function, "because if you didn't sweat in a hot environment, then your central temperature would rise and it only takes a rise of a couple of degrees for that to cause brain damage and death," says McNaughton. A good cuppa So, instead of reaching
forward, saying it could see no apparent reason for treating the two groups differently. At arguments in the Supreme Court Wednesday, however, Deputy Solicitor General Ian Gershengorn told the justices there was ample reason for the different treatment, because it would have been easier to shoot at the president or throw a grenade from where the anti-Bush protesters were than from the position of the pro-Bush group. Justice Antonin Scalia questioned why there should be any court case at all. "It doesn't matter whether there was intent to suppress anti-Bush demonstrations," he said. "We don't consult subjective intent. If a policeman stops somebody... we'd say, 'Did you have a broken tail light or not?'... We do not inquire into the subjective intent of the officer." Justice Anthony Kennedy had another question for the government's lawyer: "You say that any time there is an objective basis for the Secret Service... to move a protester," the fact that the real reason was the viewpoint of the protester, that's "irrelevant?" "That is our position," Gershengorn replied. Justice Samuel Alito asked if the court should establish some rules for such situations. "I imagine whenever the president is out in public, there is some degree of risk. You want no risk?... Keep him in a bunker." Lawyer Gershengorn responded that there is "likely to be" a legitimate security rationale "in every case." The physical security of the president "occupies a special place in our constitutional structure," he said. "And the Secret Service has a special role to play." Prodded by Justice Elena Kagan, Gershengorn said that if an agent moved people to avoid annoying the president, that is "the hardest case for us." But to impose rules, he said, would mean that agents would hesitate when they have a real security concern. Justice Stephen Breyer chimed in. "Everyone understands the importance of guarding the president in this country.... At the same time, no one wants a Praetorian Guard that is above the law." The practicalities, however, continued to dominate the argument when Steven Wilker, lawyer for the protesters, rose to make his argument. Chief Justice John Roberts interrupted with a hypothetical question: "You're the head of the Secret Service detail. You've got to evacuate the president right away. Do you go through the anti-Bush crowd or through the pro-Bush crowd?" Wilker paused. "It's too late," said the chief justice. "You've taken too long to decide." Justice Kagan asked Wilker if he would concede in hindsight that there was in fact an objective reason to move the protesters out of the way. Wilker agreed there might have been a concern, but said if there was in fact a need to move the protesters, the solution "would simply be to move people slightly." Lawyer Wilker argued there is ample evidence to allow the case to proceed to the next stage. Once that happens, lawyers for the protesters would have the opportunity to take sworn testimony from the agents and ask the agency whether there are reports of the events that evening confirming or denying what happened. "If I were drafting interrogatories," Chief Justice Roberts said, the first thing he'd want to know is "what is your policy with respect to moving demonstrators at a presidential event?... And I can see the Secret Service saying... that's kind of a bad thing to make it public because there are people out there who want to kill the president... [and] that gives people a guideline for how to break through the security arrangements." In rebuttal, the government's lawyer said that's why allowing such suits would be a Secret Service "nightmare." The court's decision is expected by summer.As his team-mates prepare to face Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final, the banned Uruguayan striker has told Goal.com of his desperation to lead the Reds to silverware In the spotlight \| Suarez has attracted both positive and negative attention this season How do you stay up to date with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game. By Ash Rose Luis Suarez is hoping to move on from the controversy of his recent race row and fire Liverpool to both a trophy and a top-four finish once he returns from his eight-match suspension.The striker, who will miss Wednesday evening's League Cup semi-final with Manchester City due to the ban he received for racially abusing Patrice Evra in October, believes Kenny Dalglish's side have the ability to secure silverware for the first time since their FA Cup triumph six seasons ago, as well as to get back into the Champions League.The Anfield outfit have fully supported the 24-year-old throughout the disciplinary process following his controversial attack on the Manchester United full-back, and he has now insisted that he wants to repay his club on the pitch.Liverpool have not won any silverware since their famous FA Cup triumph in 2006, when they won an epic final against West Ham in the last final to be held at the Millennium Stadium“I want to win a trophy for Liverpool,” Suarez exclusively told“When I came here the team hadn’t been doing so well but we are a much better squad now and we are capable of winning a trophy and getting back into the Champions League."Last year I was lucky enough to win the Copa America with my country, something which I never thought I would do and we made history. Now I want to win something with Liverpool."When I’m back in the side that is the aim and would be the perfect 2012 for me.”Suarez has been a phenomenon on Merseyside since joining from Ajax 12 months ago and, despite admitting to being "extremely upset" over his FA ban, has stated he wants to remain with Liverpool for a long time to come.He said: “I was so excited to sign for Liverpool, it was a dream come true and I hope for a long career with them. I grew up watching them and they are a club with such a big history, especially in the Champions League, and fantastic players.”The Uruguayan also moved to praise team-mate Steven Gerrard, who has recently returned from a two-month spell on the sidelines due to an ankle infection. The Reds skipper has been in fine form since making his way back into the side and Suarez is in no doubt that the midfielder will provide a boost to the squad.“Steven is a great player, I didn’t realise how good until I came here," he said."He trains how he plays and is a fantastic player and servant for this club. Having him back will help the team.”The forward still has six games of his suspension remaining and will be unable to appear for Dalglish's side until February at the earliest.Brand-New Apartments with Sophisticated Features in a Vibrant Urban Setting The River House is currently offering new, urban apartments for rent on the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River. These downtown San Antonio apartments are the only property located on the river, offering the ultimate address. The River House Apartments offer spacious living with all the finest finishes and features you deserve. Hang out on our fourth floor terrace overlooking the San Antonio River and downtown – the perfect spot to meet with your neighbors, enjoy some time in the sun, or take in the wonderful views of the San Antonio River. Bring a meal up to our separate dining terrace. It’s a comfortable space for smaller get-togethers, but with the same amazing convenience and views of the larger terrace. The infinity-edge pool includes a beach entry and tanning deck with plenty of room to enjoy a nice swim. Host a party or gather with friends and neighbors in our wonderful clubhouse with its own commercial kitchen and big-screen television. Your pets will also be able to enjoy themselves with a fenced-in, off-leash dog park available on the grounds. After a busy day, take some time for yourself in the state-of-the-art fitness center, which features PreCor cardio equipment to keep you active. Call or email to schedule a personalized tour of these sophisticated apartments today.On this week’s Dinner With The King, co-hosts Jerry “The King” Lawler and Glenn Moore talk about a wide-range of topics, including the Mid-South Coliseum, the Great Balls of Fire PPV name, and the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The following highlights have been sent to WZ: The women’s Money in the Bank ladder match (32:20 mark of show): “That’s one thing that disturbed me, and hopefully they will fix that in some kind of way. That’s what WWE has been about. We don’t even call them Divas anymore; it’s the women’s division because it’s about empowering women. So much of the emphasis that the WWE has put on the women’s division has done that. “That’s why I was disappointed to see, in the first ever, historic Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match, that they had to have a man climb the ladder and retrieve the Money in the Bank briefcase. I’m one of them [people who are upset about the finish].” The Mid-South Coliseum (21:54 mark): “I was on a flight one time with one of the Memphis officials, and he said, ‘Jerry, the city of Memphis would sell you the Mid-South Coliseum for one dollar.’ I said, ‘Really?’ They said, ‘Yeah. But I just want to remind you that just sitting there, the cost of it being closed just sitting there the way it is costs the city $63,000’. “That’s not a house-note that I can take on right now. Even thought I would like to have the Coliseum. But I don’t want to be paying $63,000 a month for it.” Which current WWE star would be huge in old-school Memphis (15:15 mark):Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Parliament Hill on Wednesday as planning gets under way for Mr. Trudeau's official visit to China in the fall. Mr. Wang is also meeting Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion in what the Chinese government said is the first annual meeting of foreign affairs ministers. The two men will discuss the upcoming G20 summit, global issues and human rights, Mr. Dion's office said. Charles Burton, a former counsellor at the Canadian embassy in Beijing, expressed surprise that the government had not informed Canadians that it has set up a formalized arrangement for annual talks with China's foreign minister. Story continues below advertisement "You would have thought if Canada had established a formal mechanism for regular meetings between cabinet ministers of the two countries, normally one would expect that would have been publicly announced. It is quite a major thing," Mr. Burton said in an interview. Mr. Wang's visit was announced Monday in Beijing and late Tuesday in Ottawa. Usually such visits are made public days before the event. "The fact that this visit by a foreign minister of a major country has been done more or less secretly, presumably to prevent public demonstrations and representations being made about it, so it looks like the government is going about the China policy process in a way that will limit public debate," Mr. Burton said. The Prime Minister has made re-engagement with China a key foreign policy initiative as his government presses for a free-trade deal with the world's second-largest economy – even as polls show Canadians have a very negative impression of the Chinese government and are narrowly opposed to a free-trade deal with the country. A Nanos Research survey, commissioned by The Globe and Mail in February, found that 76 per cent of respondents had a negative or somewhat negative view of the Chinese government, compared with only 2 per cent who had positive and 9 per cent who had somewhat positive opinions. By a narrow margin, poll respondents also did not like the idea of a China-Canada free-trade deal. Forty-seven per cent said they opposed or somewhat opposed talks, and 41 per cent said they supported or somewhat supported them. The Nanos poll reached 1,000 Canadians through a telephone and online survey. It is considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement China has made it a precondition of negotiations on free trade that Canada ensure an energy pipeline from the oil sands to the coast of British Columbia. It also wants the federal government to lift foreign investment restrictions on Chinese state-own enterprises in the oil and gas sector. Mr. Trudeau promised before last fall's election that he would lift the restrictions that were put in place by the former Conservative government, although Mr. Burton noted that Canada's security agencies have concerns about Chinese control of vital Canadian resource companies. "You have Canadian security agencies who are concerned about more Chinese state investment leading to more security problems. It seems to be the security agencies, human-rights groups and public opinion at large are wanting more input into the process which we engage China," Mr. Burton said. Mr. Trudeau's former national security adviser, Richard Fadden, said the Chinese have been heavily engaged in spying and cyber attacks in Canada. "Their broad approach is to use the vacuum cleaner approach. They'll, you know, pretty well take anything," Mr. Fadden, a former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said in an interview on Sunday. "So I think it's actually quite difficult to balance all of this and make sure we have a work-a-day relationship, while at the same time making it very clear we don't like the cyber attacks." Mr. Trudeau is planning an official visit of between six and eight days in China around the time of the G20 summit, which will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the southern city of Hangzhou from Sept. 4-5. Free trade will likely top the agenda.There’s a new center of influence that’s quietly being built in the White House—and answers to two of President Donald J. Trump’s most influential, most controversial advisers. Counselor to the president Steve Bannon, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner—arguably the top two aides to Trump—have set up a brand-new body called the Strategic Initiatives Group, an internal White House think tank that answers to them, as well as to Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, a senior administration official tells The Daily Beast. The idea is not to make but to inform policy, helping guide a new president unfamiliar with the levers of power in Washington, D.C., and bridge the gap between the White House and industry, said the official, who spoke anonymously as a condition of describing White House deliberations. Less-charitable observers say the SIG is intended to be an alternative lodestar of power and influence to just possibly supersede the advice coming out of the traditional centers of influence like the National Security Council and the wider agencies of government. “This is how Bannon will watch Flynn,” said one person briefed on Bannon’s thinking, referring to retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the national security adviser. “That’s why he’s made sure he’ll be in every NSC meeting,” the source said, referring to a controversial presidential memo Trump signed over the weekend, slightly tweaking the NSC to give Bannon a permanent seat at the table. The source said Bannon has been frustrated with Flynn’s immediate focus on counterterrorism and the campaign against the so-called Islamic State and al Qaeda to the detriment of wider issues like Brexit and the U.S. relationship with NATO. “They’re all getting along just fine,” countered another close observer, chalking up tension between the teams to the standard bedding-in process as they all learn how to translate the no-holds-barred tempo of a campaign into the strictures of policymaking and the confines of the White House. “Bannon, Kushner, and Flynn have been working closely together for two years,” added another source who was part of the Trump transition, again speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive policy discussions. It may get crowded. Roughly 20 subject-matter experts will report to the SIG, said a person familiar with the matter, who had been briefed on Bannon’s goals for the body. The senior administration official would not confirm that number, but said that 75-80 percent of the SIG’s manpower will be devoted to domestic issues like infrastructure, manufacturing, and cyber, and only a portion to foreign policy and national security. There are roughly 20 politically appointed positions in the NSC, working alongside the newly re-established Homeland Security Council. (The NSC and HSC had been merged under Obama. The total staff of the two bodies has been capped at 150, with most staffers on temporary assignment from other agencies.) The creation of the new body presents the possibility of three-way intramural wrestling for the president’s ear, between Bannon’s campaign-derived inner circle, Flynn’s fiercely loyal and mostly military NSC, and Vice President Mike Pence’s dyed-in-the-wool traditional GOP contingent. Former Republican administration members—every one of them vying for a spot in the new administration—tell The Daily Beast that this alternative node of power is one possible reason for the weekend of disarray over the executive order temporarily barring refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. In past administrations, such orders are discussed at the National Security Council’s Principals and Deputies Committee meetings, with the principals responsible for helping turn presidential orders into policy, and the deputies largely responsible for day-to-day crisis management. “You can’t have a principals and deputies process and then have this other cabinet,” said a former Bush White House staffer. “Your White House staff will craft an [executive order] and then the agencies involved put in place implementing instructions. They loop back around and get final blessing by the White House. There’s a process. So if this SIG starts spewing policy with no way to implement it, you’re going to have more and more incidents like this,” the former official said. A one-time member of the Obama administration goes a step—actually, several steps—further. “To put it bluntly, this is truly crazy... Being a racist and misogynistic political adviser is one thing, but when that person controls domestic and national-security policy, it’s time to break glass because of emergency,” this former senior administration official said of Bannon. “I shudder to think what is next, once Bannon’s operation is fully staffed up.” Longtime watchers and participants in the White House policymaking process from the Bush and Obama administrations say they’ve never heard of such a body, but that every president has certain people close to him or her that they run everything past, as former President Barack Obama had his David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett. The Strategic Initiatives Group is run by assistant to the president Christopher Liddell, and includes deputy assistant to the president Sebastian Gorka, who has worked closely with Bannon while writing for Breitbart, the website he used to run. Gorka is a controversial character himself, author of a book, Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War, that argues the enemy is not, as the Obama administration saw it, “violent extremism,” but instead “the global jihadi movement, a modern totalitarian ideology rooted in the doctrines and martial history of Islam,” according to promotional material for the book. Gorka also faced a criminal charge for trying to take a gun through airport security, according to The Wall Street Journal. The White House could not be immediately reached for comment on the status of the case. Bannon, Gorka, and Flynn share a like-minded view on the perils of Islamic terrorism, with Gorka giving his first interview in his new role on Tuesday to The Counter-Jihad Report, a blog run by controversial activist Leslie Burt. “We are at war with global jihadism,” he said. “The fact is, we know that ISIS has declared in English, in its publications, in its videos, ‘We will use the refugee streams and mass migrations to insert our jihadis into your cultures,’” he said, explaining the weekend executive order as a necessary evil to protect Americans from ISIS infiltration. Gorka lamented that federal authorities vetting one of the San Bernardino attackers were prevented from examining her social media, which might have tipped them off to her views on militancy. “The federal authorities looking into her visa application couldn’t look at her public Facebook pages! That was deemed an intrusion of privacy. That by itself tells you we have to review the system,” he said. In recent days, Trump administration officials have begun to discuss the possibility of building on its controversial immigration policies by forcing overseas visitors to open up their social media contacts before they’re allowed to enter the United States. If Gorka’s comments are any indication, that’s a plan that may have originated from this new Strategic Initiatives Group.Egypt Freezes Assets Of 5 Prominent Human Rights Defenders Enlarge this image toggle caption Mohamed Elraai/AP Mohamed Elraai/AP A Cairo criminal court has ruled today to freeze the assets of five prominent human rights defenders — another step in the ongoing crackdown against the government's critics. Those impacted are investigative journalist Hossam Bahgat, who founded the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights; Gamal Eid, the director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information; Bahey el Din Hassan, founder of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; Mostafa al-Hassan, director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre; and Abdel Hafiz el-Tayel, director of the Egyptian Center on the Right to Education. The organizations involved are cornerstones of the Egyptian human rights community, which is finding it increasingly difficult to operate amid increasingly repressive measures from the government of Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. These human rights defenders are accused of using foreign funding to destabilize the country – while they say they are simply carrying out normal human rights work. The decision freezes their personal and organizational bank accounts, according to Amnesty International, though it adds that the "status of EIPR and ANHRI's assets remains unclear." They could face prosecution and up to 25 years in prison. "Egyptian authorities are single-mindedly pushing for the elimination of the country's most prominent independent human rights defenders," said Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch, calling the proceedings "repression cloaked in the guise of legalistic procedure." The ruling is one part of a planned criminal prosecution against human rights workers and organizations, and is provisional ahead of a final verdict. The case was first opened in 2011 – and the list of the state's targets continues to expand. Over the past three months, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the case's investigative judges "have issued at least four new travel bans (bringing the total up to 12), added a further 9 individuals to the asset freeze trial (bringing the total up to 13) and summoned at least 5 further NGO staff for interrogation (bringing the known total up to 17 human rights defenders interrogated about their human rights work)." The organizations impacted today are vowing to continue their work. EIPR called on "political forces and popular movements that believe in the values of freedom and social justice to stand in solidarity with the Egyptian human rights movement and make every effort to ensure the movement can continue to play its vital role" in a statement after the ruling. Sissi and the military-led government launched this sweeping crackdown after the 2013 ouster of democratically-elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Under the auspices of fighting terrorism, the government first targeted Morsi's supporters. The crackdown has expanded to threaten essentially all critics of the government. "The government's brutal crackdown on dissent shows no sign of stopping, with enforced disappearances and torture becoming a matter of state policy," Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Director, said in a statement. "Egypt needs these critical voices more than ever." As NPR's Leila Fadel has reported, "many activists in Egypt say the country is going through the most repressive time in its modern history."TAMPA, Fla. -- With the goal of making it to the playoffs gone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line turns its focus on another mission: Help running back Doug Martin win the NFL rushing title. Martin currently has 1,305 yards, nine fewer than the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson with two games to play. Martin's final two games will be against Chicago, which has the NFL's 26th-ranked run defense, and Carolina (sixth). Peterson will face the New York Giants (21st) and Green Bay (22nd). Jonathan Dyer/USA TODAY Sports "I think it would be great, especially for the offensive line," Bucs center Joe Hawley said Wednesday. "We don't have a lot of stats. That's one thing we can hang our hat on. That's real difficult to do. I know a lot of people [who play] for a long time would love to have that. "It's good for Doug too," Hawley said. "He's been running his tail off. He's had a great year. Being out of the playoffs, it's really one of the only things we can make a positive out of the season." Martin did not get a contract extension in the offseason, so he is playing in the final year of his rookie deal. After two injury-plagued sesaons, Martin was named to his second Pro Bowl on Tuesday. No Tampa Bay rusher has ever won the rushing title. "I think it's important to our offensive line to help Doug Martin be the leading rusher in the league," coach Lovie Smith said. "It's important. It's always about the team goals at the end, but there's some individual things going on to be able to remember this season by." Considering what the line has gone through this year, no one saw this coming. Tampa Bay started two rookies, left tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Ali Marpet, for most of the season. Two other starters, Hawley and right tackle Gosder Cherilus, came to the team late. Even with some injuries, the group managed to work together and eventually play well, especially in the run game. "It would be an amazing experience not just because of the excitement for Doug but for the team," backup lineman Kevin Pamphile said. "After a rushing title people would look and say, 'Tampa Bay has a pretty solid offensive line.' It would be a huge boost of confidence for next year and years to come." Martin's final two games will be against Chicago, which has the NFL's 26th-ranked run defense, and Carolina (sixth). Peterson will face the New York Giants (21st) and Green Bay (22nd). Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter understands how important a title would be for the line but said the team isn't going to give Martin an excessive number of carries per game just for the title. "Our goal, first and foremost, is to win the game," Koetter said. "That's by far the most important thing." So if Martin is going to become the rushing champion, he's going to have to accomplish it in the framework of the offense. "We were in a similar situation a few years back in Jacksonville with Maurice Jones-Drew," said Koetter, the Jaguars' offensive coordinator from 2007-11. "You can't deny that that's important to those guys. It's important to everybody involved with our running game. Heck, that goes down to the fullback, the wide receivers, the tight ends. It's second to winning the game, but it's there."BEIJING - China on Friday expressed grave concerns over a joint statement released by the United States and Japan, urging the two countries to discard their Cold War mindset and respect the interests and concerns of other countries in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a daily press briefing, "We have grave concerns over some of the contents in the US-Japan joint statement. "It will be detrimental to the proper solution of relevant issues and the stability of the region to make indiscreet criticisms or remarks on the affairs of other countries." The United States and Japan issued the statement on Friday, a day after US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Tokyo. The joint statement said the disputed Diaoyu Islands between Japan and China fall under the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, adding that the US and Japan "share strong concern over" China's recent actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, including the declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea. "We urge the United States and Japan to give up the Cold War mindset, earnestly respect the interests and concerns of other countries in the region and refrain from further disturbances to regional peace and stability," said Qin. The US-Japan security treaty, an outcome of the Cold War, can not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory, he said. No one can shake the firm will and determination of the Chinese government and people to safeguard China's territory and sovereignty no matter what he says or what he does, said Qin. He also said the United States and Japan have no right to criticize China's ADIZ established in November, as it is a sovereign country's right and in line with international laws and practices. Qin added that China has indisputable sovereign rights over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters. "China has full sincerity to peacefully solve differences and disputes via direct dialogue between parties concerned, but we will never allow any infringement of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. Fundamentally, the fact that the United States and Japan use their security treaty to cement bloc politics and undermine a third party's interests is "inappropriate and violates the basic norms guiding international relations," said Qin. He said peaceful development, cooperation and common prosperity are the mainstream of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century and the common aspirations of peoples in the region. "A gentleman gets along with others, but does not necessarily agree with them, neither does he gang up with others," Qin said, citing Confucius, one of the greatest Chinese philosophers in history. Qin urged the United States and Japan to learn from the saying, reflect on the Cold War mindset and work for regional peace, stability and prosperity................................... 2017: AUG 1-30, 2017.................................................................... Yoga Teacher Training TTC 200 Student Leslie Anne Franklin:.................................. One day I decided to change my life and do something for myself after rearing 4 children that had grown up and moved on with their own lives. So I packed up my house and flew to India to join the School of Santhi. When I sat in front of Swami Santhiprasad I felt as though all the questions I had ever needed to know about life had been answered Not only was I given a professional Yoga Teacher Training but I was able to unlock deep spiritual gifts inside of me that I never knew existed. The course taught me how to live in an authentic manner and see through the many veils of illusion that were inhibiting my spiritual growth. The day the course ended in India, I flew back to Australia and started immediately to teach. The course gave me confidence and a professional manner of teaching I was able to impart to all of my students the 'Spirit of Santhi'. The training made it possible for me to hold successful workshops on Yoga, Meditation and the Kundalini chakra system in Australia and Bali, Indonesia. I thoroughly recommend the course to any aspiring Yoga Teachers.................................. Spiritual Yoga Student Pekka Ronkainen:.................................. School of Santhi, the best Yoga Teacher Training School in India Have the most amazing Yoga Master and spiritual teacher Swami Santhiprasad I hope everybody interested in Yoga will be able to meet him. It is a blessing that Santhi with his long experience of Yoga still is around teaching classical Yoga. Santhi is always interesting to listen to. He is so fun. He is so experienced. He is so inspiring. We all need Swami Santhiprasad's words of wisdom. We all need to be blessed with Santhi's smile I am the first to recommend Swami Santhiprasad and School of Santhi Yoga School in India.................................. Yoga Teacher Training TTC 200 Student Christina Yap:.................................. I am delighted and most grateful to have completed my teacher training with the School of Santhi. The organization behind the teaching was splendid and the delivery was superb. Absolutely everyone involved in the process from the master, visiting teachers, cooks, cleaners, to the supporting and administrative staff delivered their service with passion, enthusiasm, love and pure commitment. This was sustained consistently throughout the month. It is best summed up by a fellow student when asked by a stranger about her experience of the course: Absolutely amazing! I had heard from a previous student that Master Santhi is a great teacher - yet I was absolutely astounded to have experienced it first hand: Santhis teachings show a great depth in insight, knowledge, experience and sensitivity which in totality is, quite simply, mind-blowing. He is the best story teller I have ever come across: we all enjoyed Santhi's truly inspirational lectures, often underpinned by personal accounts, shared with much humility, grace and humor.................................. Yoga Teacher Training TTC 200 Student Marc Shackman:.................................. My experience at the School of Santhi once again reassured me of how you attract the experiences in your life that you need at the perfect moment. I was open to bringing a deeply inspiring adventure into my life and a deeply inspiring adventure is exactly what I received. The location was perfect. Natural. Beautiful. In the mountains and forests. By a healing river. Trees. Birds. Close to the elements. What more could I ask for? The teachings were perfect clear and well structured; enlightening should I say. All the Santhi staff and helpers were open, transparent and friendly. The food was healthy and well balanced. The school was professional with everyone always greeting you with a smile. The Yoga Asana practice pushed me to my limits and I really feel the difference! You are treated as a unique individual with the School of Santhi. It really felt like you were a part of a small family, and everyone was welcomed with fresh, open arms. If you are looking to be challenged on all levels then the School of Santhi is a great place to continue your own serious (but not too serious!) personalized journey to oneness. The course gave me the traditional interpretation of the true nature of Yoga and showed me how truly deep it’s roots go, and how it relates to all aspects of life! It was truly a great introductory course that is packed to the brim with information and opportunities for growth, self healing, self realization and self-discovery. Santhi passes over his wisdom in a very down to earth, personal and unique way so that you can truly understand and relate to his words with your own life experiences, through the honest revealing of Santhi’s own life experiences and HIS own human journey! He was always open to questions and easily approachable. I am a changed man! I am not the same person as when I came.................................. Yoga Teacher Training TTC 200 Student Kristen Slater:.................................. I enjoyed my month in Kallar terribly. The training far exceeded my expectations and even being home, I am frequently reminded of all I learned and experienced during my time at the School of Santhi. Prior to coming to the program, I had hoped to increase my knowledge related to yoga as well as an opportunity refine and improve my asanas. All that was accomplished but I also left with a very personal shift in perspective. The training has changed me in very meaningful ways and I believe it has put me on a path to continue my spiritual journey. I am amazed that all this could have taken place in such a short amount of time. I would like take a minute to thank Swami Santhi, Kannan, Kumar and all the support staff who made the training and the time in Kallar so wonderful. Swami's method of presenting information was so engaging and came from a place of truth and it made it easy to be in long lectures every day. I was always exited for Swami's discussions because I knew that the information he was giving us was such a special and unique gift and his delivery was so effortless and personal that it never felt like a class or a chore. Kannan's asana classes were wonderful and now that I am back in my regular practice, I am able to notice the vast improvement in my practice. Kannan's fearlessness in challenging students could only be successfully accomplished because of his knowledge of how the body works and where the limit is for each individual. Having Kumar on site daily was also such a gift. I always felt taken care of and was so appreciative to have someone to go to if anything was needed. Kumars energy and bright spirit was felt throughout the house every day. My month at School of Santhi was an experience I will never forget.................................. Yoga Teacher Training TTC 200 Student Christine Dinsmore:.................................. Words can not begin to express the gratitude that I felt towards the two of you. I began my spiritual journey 8 years ago and it has led me to School of Santhi! Little did I know that the knowledge, wisdom and kindness that you have been gracious enough to share with me this past month, is what I have been truly searching for. I will leave here knowing two things: One, that I now have the tools I need to create my own happiness and live my life the way I have always desired to. And two, that there is nothing I can do to ever repay you. You are two shining spirits who have profoundly.....Linda Katehi says she asked police to remove tents from university but did not direct them to remove demonstrators UC Davis chancellor: 'I did not want use of force' The University of California, Davis, chancellor has defended herself over criticism surrounding the campus police force's pepper spraying of peaceful demonstrators as information emerged about the officer at the heart of the incident. Video footage of Lieutenant John Pike and another officer in riot gear casually spraying an orange cloud at the heads of protesters who were sitting peacefully on the ground has sparked national outrage since it began circulating online Friday night. Students gathered on campus on Tuesday for the second time in as many days to condemn the violence and urged university officials to require police to attend sensitivity training. The UC Davis chancellor, Linda Katehi, who has faced criticism from students over Friday's incident, defended herself during a town hall meeting on Tuesday night. She told an auditorium filled with more than 1,000 students that she asked police to remove tents from the university's quad but did not direct them to forcibly remove the demonstrators. "I explicitly directed the chief of police that violence should be avoided at all costs," she said. "It was the absolute last thing I ever wanted to happen." She stressed that students have a right to demonstrate peacefully. "Because encampments have long been prohibited by UC policy, I directed police only to take down the tents," she said. "My instructions were for no arrests and no police force." Pike, another officer and the campus police chief have been placed on paid administrative leave following the incident, which has generated international attention for the 32,000-student campus, west of the state capital. Not all the students at the meeting were satisfied with the response from Katehi
, conflicting explanations for Atta's behavior and motivation. Political psychologist Jerrold Post has suggested that Atta and his fellow hijackers were just following orders from al-Qaeda leadership, "and whatever their destructive, charismatic leader Osama bin Laden said was the right thing to do for the sake of the cause was what they would do."[104] In turn, political scientist, Robert Pape, has claimed that Atta was motivated by his commitment to the political cause, that he was psychologically normal, and that he was "not readily characterized as depressed, not unable to enjoy life, not detached from friends and society."[105] By contrast, criminal justice professor, Adam Lankford, has found evidence that indicated Atta was suicidal, and that his struggles with social isolation, depression, guilt, shame, hopelessness, and rage were extraordinarily similar to the struggles of those who commit conventional suicide and murder-suicide. By this view, Atta's political and religious beliefs affected the method of his suicide and his choice of target, but they were not the underlying causes of his behavior.[106] See also [ edit ] Notes [ edit ] References [ edit ]KXAS TV Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET Sometimes our greed is merely a reflection of our true selves. Sometimes we really do believe we will get something for nothing -- or at least very little. Take Jalonta Freeman of Arlington, Texas. She was at a gas station. Suddenly a man drove up to her and offered her an $800 iPad for a mere $200. Wouldn't you have been slightly suspicious? Wouldn't you have at least opened the box to check whether there was, well, an iPad inside? Freeman took the deal. "He was, like, OK, I gotta hurry up and go and stuff," she told KXAS-TV. . It was only when she drove away that the magic box was opened. The back side of her new iPad looked (vaguely) like an iPad. But the front, sadly, was a sham. There was a piece of paper which, when stripped back, revealed a mirror. "That's messed up. That's so wrong," Freeman told KXAS. "I would never do anybody like that. Get a job." Oh, but this may be his job: fooling those who think they can buy an iPad at a gas station for $200. Freeman is, of course, not the first to be duped into buying something somewhere she shouldn't. Who could forget the South Carolina woman who last year paid $180 for an iPad in a McDonald's parking lot? It was made of wood. Yes, the holiday season is upon us. We will be tempted by the impossibly cheap. So remember this one tiny adage: the impossibly cheap is impossible."What are you going to do about it?" New Mexico assistant coach Wyking Jones asked Tavernari several times as they walked in the same direction as Alford, with players shaking hands between them. "I'm going to tell you real clear... You're an [expletive]," Alford then yelled at Tavernari. Alford said he was trying to congratulate Tavernari, a senior, on an outstanding career at BYU, but that the player "didn't want to hear that at the time." "I'm wired as a competitor sometimes to a fault, and Jonathan's a fierce competitor, and it's senior night," Alford said Monday on "ESPN First Take." "I understand that, I've been there, I've experienced that both as a player and as a coach." Tavernari, a reserve forward, had eight points and six rebounds in 27 minutes in the loss for BYU (26-4, 11-3). "We got to speak afterwards," Alford said on "First Take." "And so I think it was just the heat of the moment between two pretty good competitors. But nobody has any more respect for him as a player than I do." Minutes after the confrontation, Tavernari was escorted by BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe to wait outside New Mexico's locker room while the Lobos celebrated. He apologized to Alford, and according to the Albuquerque Journal, Alford replied: "You're still one of my favorites." "If I could, I'd apologize to the whole team," Tavernari said. "You don't have to," Alford replied. "You just shocked me. You're one of my favorites." "I just lost my cool," Tavernari said. With 52 seconds to play and the game tied at 80, tempers flared between Tavernari and New Mexico's Darington Hobson after the two players bumped at midcourt. As he was calling a timeout, Hobson extended an elbow toward Tavernari. During the timeout, Tavernari remained visibly upset. Officials reviewed the sequence on video but no fouls were called against either side. The coaches were summoned by officials to midcourt for a quick meeting. Coming out of the break, Hobson offered a handshake to Tavernari but the BYU player ignored it. Alford said he had reviewed video of the game and didn't feel there was anything that warranted a reprimand by the Mountain West against himself, Hobson or New Mexico's assistants, who also jawed with Tavernari in the handshake line. "And I definitely don't think there's anything warranted along Jonathan's way," Alford said. "I think it was just two really good teams and, like I said before, it's unfortunate that somebody has to lose in a game like that." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.A funny thing happened on the way to the Brexit vote last June and it has important resonances for the Northern Ireland elections. Two days before the referendum, more than a million people commuting to and around London got their free copy of the Metro newspaper. But it came wrapped in a four-page glossy ad supplement. The front page carried three slogans: “Vote to leave the EU on Thursday”, “We can be even stronger if we take back control” and (for the slow learners) “Vote to leave”. The rest of the content was the usual pro-Brexit propaganda, including the false claim that Turkey and Albania were about to join the EU and the notorious lie that £350 million a week was being paid by the UK to Brussels. (This already-discredited claim was cunningly adjusted to “the European Union bills us £50 million every single day”.) But the funny thing is that the wraparound was credited to an entity that must have seemed mysterious to most of those bleary London commuters: DUP. Was that, some might have wondered, short for Don’t Understand Politics? The Metro does not circulate in Northern Ireland. The glossy supplement was for voters in the London area only. It was undoubtedly very expensive – newspapers, even freesheets, don’t like to hide themselves inside someone else’s ad so they charge a very heavy price for this kind of thing. It is safe to assume that this was the most expensive single piece of propaganda ever issued by an Irish political party. Yet we have no idea who paid for it: Northern Ireland, charmingly, is exempt from British laws on the disclosure of political donations. At the time, the Democratic Unionist Party’s Mervyn Storey would say only that whatever the cost, it was a “price worth paying” to establish the DUP as a key player in the Brexit campaign, not in Northern Ireland but in the UK as a whole. Funding There is a lot we don’t know about the funding of the DUP’s pro-Brexit campaign: the right-wing English businessman Aaron Banks claims the DUP asked him for £30,000 a week to join his Leave.eu campaign but the DUP vehemently denies this. What is absolutely clear, however, is that the DUP willingly allowed itself to be sucked in to the murkier side of the Brexit movement. It wanted to express an ultra-British identity (which it is fully entitled to do) but it did so through opaque funding and fake claims. And, more importantly, it did so in a way that was breathtakingly irresponsible. Arlene Foster and her colleagues knew with complete certainty that a large majority of voters in Northern Ireland wished to stay in the EU. Foster as First Minister had a duty to represent, not the DUP, but Northern Ireland. She and her colleagues entirely abandoned that duty. They decided it was far more important for the DUP to cosy up to English nationalism than it was to set out a coherent analysis of the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. And this is why Foster should not be First Minister and why the DUP should be turfed out of office. Without diminishing the importance of the “cash for ash” scandal, the cash for politically trashing Northern Ireland’s vital interests is a much bigger question. Sinn Féin has its own agenda in its war with the DUP, but there is a much bigger agenda: the democratic wishes of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland and the DUP’s open determination to thwart those desires. The assembly elections may be unwanted but they do provide a fortuitous opportunity to make a clear statement: Northern Ireland wishes to remain in the EU and it is not, as the DUP keep insisting, just another part of the UK. Non-sectarian alliance But to make that statement, something big has to happen. For the first time, there has to be a non-sectarian alliance. The three main Opposition parties, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and Alliance agree on many things, and by far the most important of them is Brexit. They each opposed it. And they have a very strong case to make: Northern Ireland needs a government that is committed solely to getting the best deal for its own people. A DUP-led government is entirely unable to offer that commitment because the DUP is deeply compromised on the whole question. It chose to be part of the heedless and headless adventurism that has created this crisis for Northern Ireland. Even if it wished to do so, it cannot disentangle itself from the Brexiteers in London. And Northern Ireland patently needs a government that is willing and able to fight its own corner. So make Brexit the issue. The UUP, SDLP and Alliance have a real proposition to put to voters. It is negative: the DUP which blithely led us into this crisis cannot get us out of it. And it is positive: we can offer an alternative government that is not compromised on the biggest question facing us, one that will shape all our futures. It offers a way beyond the sectarian head-count. And it could do what elections, at their most basic, must do – punish arrogant and incompetent governments.Bonus episode! That's right, we were so excited to bring you this episode of Heavy Hands that we just couldn't wait another week. Joining us for a pair of in-depth interviews are two of MMA's best trainers, both of whom brought their fighters to victory at UFC 197. First up is Brandon Gibson, the striking coach for Jon Jones and numerous other Jackson-Winkeljohn fighters. He makes his return to Heavy Hands to discuss the changes in preparation Jones had to make when Ovince Saint Preux stepped in on just three weeks' notice in lieu of Daniel Cormier. Saint Preux was a dangerous and very different opponent for a fighter and team of trainers usually reliant on extensive preparation, but Jones' dominated the fight and won a one-sided unanimous decision. Then we welcome Mark Henry to the show. In addition to training Edson Barboza for his career-best victory over Anthony Pettis at 197, Henry works with such elite fighters as Frankie Edgar, Eddie Alvarez, and--a recent addition--former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. All three of these men are preparing for title shots in the near future, and Mark talks extensively about his training methods, which have made him one of the most successful teachers of striking in the sport today. We hope you enjoy listening to these brilliant trainers as much as we did interviewing them!Amazon (s AMZN) has entered a new deal with movie studio joint venture EPIX that will let Prime members watch new movies like The Hunger Games, The Avengers and Iron Man 2 for free on Prime Instant Video. Previously, Netflix (NFLX) had exclusive rights to EPIX recent releases. EPIX, which includes a premium TV channel and video-on-demand service, is a joint venture from Paramount Pictures (s VIA), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, and Lionsgate (s lgf). The agreement includes “new releases such as The Avengers, Iron Man 2, The Hunger Games, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Thor and Rango as well as popular favorites such as Kick Ass, Paranormal Activity 2, True Grit, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Justin Bieber Never Say Never. EPIX also brings original programming including comedy specials and concerts such as Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell and Usher: Live from London.” Advertisement Prime members pay $79 per year for unlimited two-day shipping and other perks, like streaming video. With the EPIX deal, Amazon says the Prime Instant Video library now contains over 25,000 movies and TV episodes. As of April, Netflix (s nflx) had over 60,000 streaming titles. Netflix’s exclusive deal with EPIX ended last month, but it too will stream movies like The Hunger Games and The Avengers 90 days after they’re released on EPIX VOD. Amazon is holding a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. It is widely expected to introduce new Kindles at the event, but the choice of location suggests that the company might also announce new streaming video deals that day.For the last two weeks some of the planet's most oppressive regimes have faced off against some of the most powerful Internet advocates in an effort to rewrite a multilateral communications treaty that, if successful, could have changed the nature of the Internet and altered the way it is governed. On Thursday night that effort failed, as a US-led block of dissenting countries refused to sign the proposed updates, handing the United Nation's International Telecommunication Union a humbling defeat. The United States, which framed its dissent as defending "the open Internet," was joined by more than 80 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Sweden and the United Kingdom. (Some of the non-signers seemed to be seeking to avoid making too overt of a political statement, saying, regrettably that they could not sign because they had to "consult with capital.") On Friday, the remaining members of the ITU, which is made up of 193 countries, signed the treaty, known as International Telecommunications Regulations, but the gesture in many ways was hollow. Like other U.N. agencies, the ITU strives for consensus, and it's within that consensus that the ITU derives its authority. The ITU can't force a country to abide by its treaties, but if representatives of all member countries agree to a global telecommunications framework, and subsequently pass laws enforcing the framework, the ITU itself grows stronger. In contrast, the collapse of negotiations around the treaty update exposed the ITU as woefully out of step with the most technologically advanced sectors of the global society. "Efforts to bring its core telecom regulations into the Internet era had exposed the organization to modern realities that it was incapable of dealing with," writes Kieren MCarthy of Dot-nxt.com. "In the end, they proved overwhelming." The ITU is used to operating behind closed doors. In an era marked by the shift toward video communications and an accompanying global movement for greater government transparency, the UN initially provided few details about preparatory meetings leading up to the conference and only belatedly began putting related documents online. Interpreted as a power grab by the United Nations, the secrecy rang alarm bells. Distrust of the ITU began to approach panic after the contents of more controversial proposals became known. Some of the proposals endorsed by authoritarian countries would have increased censorship, potentially restricted the free flow of information and undermined the voluntary framework that forms the basis of today's Internet. "We are the web," Google declared in a campaign against the ITU's treaty-writing effort. "A free and open world depends on a free and open Internet. Governments alone, working behind closed doors, should not direct its future." Meanwhile, the actual negotiations at the World Conference of International Telecommunications had the feel of watching footage from a bygone era. Attendees from the public could listen to interminable discussions of minutiae, but only delegates could vote— which they did by raising a yellow paddle. When it was clear that there would be no consensus, Hamadoun I. Toure, the secretary general of the ITU, issued a statement. "History will show that the conference has achieved something extremely important," he said. "It has succeeded in bringing unprecedented public attention to the different and important perspectives that govern global communications." But the lesson that history shows will likely be more pointed. The Internet, and the forces that support the free and open movement of information rolled over traditional UN alliances at the WCIT. An effort to shift governance of the Internet from private bodies like ICANN and IETF was thwarted. The conference did not mark the end of the battle to control what has emerged as the world's most powerful communications medium. But it very likely marked a turning point. Related on Forbes:Space bigwigs in Russia and Europe are working on ambitious plans for an international space shipyard in orbit above the Earth, according to reports. The orbital shipyard would be used to assemble manned spacecraft capable of travelling to the Moon or Mars. Despite the problem with the champagne at the launch ceremony, the SS Red Planet went on to a successful career on the Mars run. Flight International says that the plans have been discussed at meetings between officials of Roscosmos - the Russian space bureau - and the European Space Agency (ESA), in the context of multinational space efforts following the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS). According to Flight, the subject of an orbital ship-assembly facility was debated by ESA chief Jean-Jacques Dordain and other space bigwigs from Russia and the European Commission. Involvement by the EC signifies interest from the European Union, as distinct from the ESA: while the ESA works closely with Brussels, it isn't part of the Union and its list of member states is different. Many EU nations aren't in the ESA, and some ESA countries aren't in the EU (Canada, for instance). Flight reports that most of the world's major space agencies will come together to discuss Moon and Mars exploration in the post-ISS era at the Hague in June. China, which has said it would like to have a manned orbital facility by 2025, is expected to attend. At the moment the multibillion-dollar ISS, still under construction, is set to be closed down in 2016 - though there is talk of keeping it in service until 2020. It is predominantly American and Russian, but has significant participation from the ESA, Japan and other countries. Most current plans for manned flights and bases even on the Moon would involve some level of ship assembly in Earth orbit: NASA's Constellation programme would see lunar astronauts taking off aboard an Ares I rocket, but most of their stuff lifting off separately on an Ares V to rendezvous with them outside the atmosphere. Vessels capable of taking people to Mars and back would be likely to require more launches and more complex assembly in space. Even so, it's not immediately clear exactly how a permanent Earth-orbit facility would help in the process of plugging together largely prefabricated modules or components. The Flight report is here. ®The story was updated at 5:15 p.m. to include new details from the dealership manager who hired, and fired, Quante Wright. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- On Monday, Quante Wright went to work at Lowery Brothers Chrysler Jeep. He sold a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. Then he was fired. Wright was let go a day after he was featured in a story about the barriers he's faced on his path from prison to college graduation and beyond. Related story: Who's the speaker at this graduation? The man who sent him to prison Steve Spector is the manager at the car dealership who hired and fired Wright. He said he hired Wright based on an interview with him and his resume. He did not ask Wright if he had any criminal convictions during that interview and Wright didn't offer up the information, Spector said. Spector said Wright had been hired and was working there for about a day before Spector had him fill out an application form. That form asks if the person has any criminal convictions. Wright checked yes and wrote what he had been convicted of. Wright's conviction is a violation of the federal RICO law, which covers organized crime. Federal prosecutors used the law to break up the street gangs in Syracuse. The crimes Wright committed that violated the RICO law included attempted murder and dealing crack when he was a member of the Brighton Brigade. Spector said he became aware that Wright had a criminal past and that he was living in halfway house after Wright filled out the form. But Spector said he didn't know much about the nature of Wright's crimes until he read the Syracuse.com story. Wright said he is also facing trouble with the halfway house where he was assigned to live for two months. He didn't go directly back to the residence after he was fired, so the management there is writing him up for "escape." Wright said he could be sent back to prison for it. After Wright began working at Lowery Brothers, he said the job was his "dream job." He was making a middle-class salary and putting his sales skills to work. Wright spent a little less than six years in federal prison for his conviction. Since he left prison in 2012, Wright has held internships, including one at Syracuse's City Hall, and a job at a call center before being hired to work at the car dealership. He graduated from Bryant and Stratton in April with an associate's degree in business. Wright is on probation until 2017 and he, like many, has struggled with those rules. His most recent violation, the one that sent him to a halfway house for two months, was when a friend took him out to celebrate his college graduation. The friend happened to be a felon. Wright is not allowed to be around felons as part of his probation. Marsha Weissman, executive director of the Center for Community Alternatives, said she has seen Wright's story over and over. Her group advocates for sentencing reform. "There is so much stigma that attaches to a criminal record, so much stereotyping of people who have records that it's so hard for them to really get a second chance," Weissman said. "I really do hope that as a community we step up and really give him the second chance that he seems to be working so hard to get." Quante Wright's resume Contact Marnie Eisenstadt anytime: email \| twitter \| 315-470-2246Woman smoking a pipe while cooking. Guinea-Bissau, 1974 With gender-targeted marketing, including packaging and slogans (especially "slimmer" and "lighter" cigarettes), and promotion of women smoking in movies and popular TV shows, the tobacco industry was able to increase the percent of women smoking. In the 1980s, tobacco industries were made to have the surgeon general's warning printed on each packaging of the tobacco products. This slowed the rate of women smoking but later slightly increased after the advertisements started to look more present day and more appealing packaging, that appealed to the younger generation. In more recent times, cigarette smoking has been banned from public places and will continue to help decrease smoking rates in the United States. Cigarette smoking has serious health effects. In 2010 in Gaza, a ban on women smoking in public places was implemented. In the General Health Effects and the Effects for female sections, the article gives specific statistics on the health effects on women and in general. As far as the future, smoking levels continue to decline in the developed world and increasing in the developing world. Countries and regions [ edit ] Female smoking by country United States [ edit ] 1900 cigarette ad; targeting women is not a new strategy The cigarette industry began a strong marketing campaign geared toward women beginning in the 1920s in the United States. These campaigns became more aggressive as time has progressed and marketing in general became more prominent. The practice of marketing aimed exclusively at women has continued into the present day and has now expanded globally. In 1911, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act divided the American Tobacco Trust into several different companies, making market share critical to each company's survival. The resulting competition spurred innovations in both product and marketing, and eventually progressed to the idea of brands. By 1915, Reynolds’ Camel had become the first truly national brand. Soon to follow were Liggett & Myers’ Chesterfield and the American Tobacco Company’s Lucky Strike. These brands were modern and appealed to the modern sensibilities that were taking over the people of the United States at the time.[1] In the early part of the 20th century, the anti-tobacco movement was aimed primarily at women and children. Smoking was considered a dirty habit and smoking by women was seriously frowned upon by society. As the century progressed so did women’s desire for equality.[2] The suffrage movement gave many women a sense of entitlement and freedom and the tobacco industry took advantage of the marketing opportunity. Tobacco companies began marketing cigarettes to appeal to women during the burgeoning women’s movement of the 1920s. The American Tobacco Company began targeting women with its ads for Lucky Strikes. Lucky Strike sought to give women the reasons they should be smoking Luckies. They employed ads featuring prominent women, such as Amelia Earhart, and appealed to the vanity of women by promising slimming effects. Most of the ads also conveyed a carefree and confident image of women that would appeal to the modern woman of the 1920s. The ads grew more extravagant with paid celebrity testimonials and far-reaching claims of how Lucky Strikes could improve your life. Their most aggressive campaign directly challenged the candy industry by urging women to “reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet.” These aggressive campaigns paid off making Lucky Strike the most smoked brand within a decade.[3] Other companies followed the successful ad campaigns of the American Tobacco Company with their own versions. The Phillip Morris Company introduced Marlboro cigarettes in 1925. Marlboros were advertised as being as "mild as May" and featured elegant ivory tips that appealed to women.[4] Other brands offered similar ads appealing to a woman's sense of beauty and style and made cigarettes an alluring part of many women's lives. The ads linking vanity and beauty were quite women specific and did exactly what they were supposed to do. Fear of weight gain remains a chief reason women continue to smoke. The ad campaigns successfully promoted cigarettes as a product possessing specific qualities including equality, autonomy, glamour, and beauty.[5] In a content analysis of North American and British editions of Vogue, Cheryl Krasnick Warsh and Penny Tinkler trace representations of women smokers from the 1920s through the 1960s, concluding that the magazine "located the cigarette within the culture of the feminine elite," associating it with "the constellation of behaviours and appearances presented as desirable characteristics of elitism, through the themes of lifestyle, “the look,” and feminine confidence."[6] The late 1950s and early 1960s brought about a new onslaught of cigarette brands. Each new brand of cigarette introduced during this time advertised its unique benefits. The major new innovation in tobacco marketing was the filtered cigarette. Filters made cigarettes less harsh to smoke and offered the appearance of removing potentially harmful particles. The 1950s began the rebranding of Marlboros from an elite cigarette to an everyman’s cigarette and also saw the introduction of strong Marlboro men, such as athletes, and more famously cowboys.[7] This change in Marlboro branding meant Philip Morris was lacking a cigarette aimed at women. The 1950s also began a boom in advertising for tobacco companies. Ads featuring prominent movie and television stars became commonplace and tobacco companies also began sponsoring television shows, game shows, and other widespread media. One of the most popular was Philip Morris's sponsorship of the I Love Lucy show. The opener featured the two stars of the show with a giant pack of Philip Morris cigarettes. The show Your Hit Parade was proudly sponsored by American Tobacco's Lucky Strike brand.[8] In 1965, it was reported that 33.9% of women were smoking.[8] Virginia Slims came on the market in 1968, and used the catch phrase “You’ve come a long way baby.” This was the first cigarette to be marketed solely as a woman's cigarette. The cigarettes were longer, slimmer, and overall more elegant and feminine. The ads depicted photos of glamorous women set against photos of women doing mundane tasks such as laundry or housework.[9] 1970 saw the release of Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company's entry into women specific cigarettes, Eve. Eve cigarettes were decidedly more feminine than Virginia Slims. Eve featured flowers or other feminine motifs on both the packaging and the cigarette themselves. The 1970s ushered in the end of television advertising and the beginning of print ads carrying health warnings regarding the dangers of smoking. The 1970s also brought nearly annual reports from the Surgeon General’s office regarding the health consequences of smoking.[10] In 1970, a reported 31.5% of women were smokers. Tobacco companies were barred from advertising on television, but smartly moved the market focus to sponsoring sporting and entertainment events. In 1973, a widely publicized tennis match dubbed “The Battle of the Sexes” featured Billie Jean King, a long-time spokesperson for Virginia Slims, bedecked in the brand's sequins and colors. American was tennis wild in the 1970s and Billie Jean King was a superstar. Virginia Slims sponsored the Women's Tennis Association Tour for close to twenty years. The 1970s ended with filtered cigarettes almost completely overtaking the market.[8] The 1980s and beyond [ edit ] The 1980s began with the first Surgeon General's Report on the Health Consequences of Smoking for Women.[10] This report—published nearly 15 years after the original 1964 Surgeon General's Report[11]—came nearly sixty years after tobacco companies began marketing their products to women. The smoking rate of women in 1980 was at 29.3%. In 1987, Brown & Williamson introduced the Capri cigarette, which following suit with other feminine cigarettes was a long, slim, elegant cigarette geared toward feminine hands. 1990 saw the women's smoking rate at 22.8%, continuing its slow decline. The Virginia Slims tennis tour came to an end in 1994, after 23 successful years. This was just one of many broad spectrum advertising methods that ended in the 1980s and 1990s as public sentiments regarding smoking began their shift. The 1990s were marked by continued restrictions on smoking in public and workplaces. The late 1980s and 1990s were also marked by increased marketing to teenagers and young adults. Many of the same marketing strategies used with women were used with this target group. By 1998, the women's smoking rate had dropped to 22%. 1998 also marked the year of the Master Settlement Agreement.[8] The beginning of the 21st century saw women smoking at a rate of 22.8%, which was a slight increase compared to the previous decade.[12] Advertising and marketing remained static after the 1998 Settlement Agreement. Advertising campaigns looked to present more modern and cutting-edge packaging and language, appealing to a younger and hipper demographic. In 2001, the most recent Surgeon General's Report in regards to women and smoking was released.[13] RJ Reynolds entered the women's market in 2007, with its Camel No. 9 cigarette. The packaging is very contemporary in feel, and very feminine at the same time. It features pink edging as a distinct contrast on the black packaging and the interior of the package is lined in pink foil. The cigarettes are sold in light and menthol light varieties, with the latter featuring a teal highlight and foil, instead of the pink of the regular lights.[14] The first decade of this century has also been marked by mass smoking regulations. A multitude of cities, municipalities, and states have passed legislation prohibiting smoking in public places, such as bars, restaurants, and an assortment of other public venues.[12] This is a growing phenomenon, which will help to reduce smoking rates in the United States. The overall smoking rate in the United States has dropped from approximately 46% in 1950 to approximately 21% in 2004.[15] Japan [ edit ] In Edo period or earlier than it, tobacco had come to Japan. Prostitutes (ja:遊女, yūjo) were the main smokers among Japanese women by the early 19th century.[16] Egypt [ edit ] Gaza [ edit ] Religious bans on female smoking [ edit ] In 2010 the Hamas-led Islamist government of Gaza imposed a ban on women smoking the popular nargilas in public. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry explained that "It is inappropriate for a woman to sit cross-legged and smoke in public. It harms the image of our people." [17] The ban was soon lifted and women returned to smoking in popular venues like the cafe of Gaza's Crazy Water Park.[18] The park was burned down by masked men in September 2010, after being closed by the Hamas.[19] The Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Gaza Strip) has arrested women for smoking in public.[20] Syria [ edit ] General health effects [ edit ] "How Tobacco Affects Your Body", by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and produces substantial health-related economic costs to society.”[21] During the time between 1995 and 1999, smoking resulted in approximately 440,000 premature deaths per year and about $157 billion in “health-related economic losses.” Smoking has been known to increase to the risks of, and has been linked to, a plethora of adverse health effects. For instance, “Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-third of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancer cases. [Smoking also] causes lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, [it] increase the risk of heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm.” [22] According to the Surgeon General's Report of 2004, titled “The Health Consequences of Smoking,” other consequences of smoking include increased risk of cataracts, lowered levels of antioxidants, especially vitamin C, heightened inflammation, and periodontitis.[23] Unique gender differences and health effects for women [ edit ] In the United States, although general rates of smoking are declining – “24.1% in 1998 to 20.6% in 2008,” [24] and there are higher rates among men – the gendered health consequences illustrate that women are at a greater disadvantage. “In 2008, smoking prevalence was higher among men (23%) than women (18.3%),” [24] however that gender gap appears to be narrowing. Prior to recent increasing smoking rates, women usually experienced different effects of smoking compared to men. For instance, a decrease in lifetime expectancy is greater for female smokers when compared to male smokers. On average, while an adult male loses 13.2 years due to smoking, an adult female smoker loses 14.5 years of life.[25] This decreased life expectancy for male smokers mirrors the gender differences in life expectancy overall. However, when it comes to smokers in particular, males tend to smoke more heavily than women do.[26] Yet still women continue to show more deleterious results. As it has been previously mentioned, smoking is attributable to the majority of lung cancer cases. Over the years lung cancer mortality has dramatically increased among women. “In 1987, lung cancer surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women.” [27] Smoking now accounts for 80% of lung cancer deaths specifically among women. Although, there has been a more pronounced campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research and a possible cure, more women are dying from lung cancer. Research also continues to question whether women tend to be more susceptible to lung cancer, regardless of similar exposure as their male counterparts. However, making a definitive answer has been difficult, thus the issue remains controversial.[28] In looking at other aspects of the respiratory system, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is another major issue among women who smoke. The risk of having COPD is increased with amount and duration and smoking accounts for 90 percent of COPD mortalities.[29] The effects of smoking on women's cardiovascular health begin to show more sex differences. Heart diseases continue to be the leading cause of death nationwide,[30] and one of the risk factors is smoking. Unique to women, smoking lowers their estrogen and their high-density lipoproteins that prevent arteries from blockage.[31] For many women the effects of smoking on the heart's health truly become obvious later on in life. Among current female smokers, “the chance of dying from heart disease or lung cancer exceeds the chance of dying from breast cancer from 40 on (and does so by at least a factor of 5 after age 55).” [32] The habit becomes particularly crucial when women are also taking birth control because these two in concert increases, even more so, women's chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.[33] When observing older women, research has illustrated that those who are smoking in their postmenopausal stages tend to have a lower bone density along with more hip fractures when compared to their non-smoker counterparts.[34] For the younger cohort of women, during their reproductive stages, smoking affects their reproductive health as well as pregnancy outcomes. Research has revealed that smoking does make it more difficult for women to conceive and it can also result in infertility.[34] Women who smoke while they are pregnant increase their chances of having an early delivery and low-birth weight babies.[35] One of the many serious effects on the fetus itself is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Studies have shown that “infants of mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies to non-smoking mothers.[35] The future: women, smoking, and globalization [ edit ] As smoking levels decline in the developed world they are increasing in the developing world. The major cigarette manufacturers have more than tripled the number of cigarettes exported in the last 35 years.[36] Tobacco companies are using similar strategies to attract women in other countries that they used in the early days of attracting American women. Offering appealing ads that depict cigarettes as modern, empowering, and liberating draws in women smokers who make every effort to be as western as possible.[37] The smoking bans occurring in the United States are happening around the globe. In other countries (as in
1920x1080p30/25/24, 1280x720p60/50 Interval Movie, Star Stream: Recorded Pixels: 4K / FULL HD / HD Frame rate: 24p Quality levels: FULL HD, HD File formats (compression): MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV) Sound: Audio gain adj Custom Functions Functions available: 28delivery.jpg Police cordon off a dead-end portion of Grandview Avenue in Mariners Harbor after a man was shot, leaving area residents weary of an ongoing pattern. Tuesday April 1, 2014. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo) (This story is from April 2014: The latest news on this incident can be found here.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A food deliveryman was shot and killed Tuesday night in Mariners Harbor, where Grandview Avenue dead-ends, a law enforcement source said. Residents say the site is a notorious trap, into which delivery drivers are lured and then mugged. The victim, a man in his 50s delivering Chinese food, was shot once in the head, police said, and was dead on arrival at Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton. The shooting occurred just before 9 p.m outside 244 Grandview, said police. A resident who lives directly opposite said he heard the gunshot from inside his home and ventured outside; he saw the victim on his back near his car in the middle of the road, blood coming out the back of his head, and brown paper delivery bags strewn about the corpse. "The guy was just delivering food -- they shot him right in the back of the head," said the resident. Fearing for his safety, he didn't give his name. Another resident, who also lives at the end of Grandview Avenue, noted that the neighborhood is hardly a stranger to violence. Delivery drivers are mugged so often on her street, she said, that many restaurants refuse to serve the area. "It's a set-up -- they call delivery people, and when they come out here, they rob them," said the woman, who also insisted on anonymity. "This has happened half a dozen times, if not more," she said. "No one wants to deliver here anymore -- there's a Chinese restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, none of them want to come." "It's scary because I have 3-year-old twins and I'm pregnant," she added. "There's gunshots all the time." It wasn't clear whether the killer or killers robbed the driver. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, police said. It's the fourth slaying of the year in the borough. FOLLOW THE STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE: TWITTER / FACEBOOKNevada Revised Statutes Section 201.450 - Crimes and Punishments Unlawful act; penalty. 1. A person who commits a sexual penetration on the dead body of a human being is guilty of a category A felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison: (a) For life with the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 5 years has been served; (b) For a definite term of 15 years, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 5 years has been served; (c) By a fine of not more than $20,000; or (d) By both fine and imprisonment. 2. For the purposes of this section, �sexual penetration� means cunnilingus, fellatio or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person�s body or any object manipulated or inserted by a person into the genital or anal openings of the body of another, including, without limitation, sexual intercourse in what would be its ordinary meaning if practiced upon the living. Last modified: February 25, 2006A year after telling a black postal worker that he “killed Martin Luther King, Jr.” for refusing to accept the return of a letter, Hingham, MA’s Erica Winchester is now just reaping the dubious rewards of becoming a widespread internet disgrace. After possibly being identified by websites like 4chan and Reddit, her identity was confirmed on Fox Boston, who visited unsurprised neighbors and took a peek at her police record. According to reporter Adam Pellerin‘s report, police took up the case a month after the video was filmed, though charges were eventually dropped because the postal worker at the end of the tirade– who believes he was fired for the incident, but reports say was fired for job performance– “felt sorry for her,” considering her insane, and refused to testify against her. Officers in the small town of Hingham seemed perplexed at which Winchester’s video is just now becoming an internet sensation. Meanwhile, her neighbors were completely unsurprised by the tape, noting that the behavior was expected from her– “she blows her gasket.” The report also uncovered some of Winchester’s suspicious past, including court documents which show she has been arrested for drunk driving (during which she attacked a paramedic trying to treat her on-scene) and disorderly conduct (threatening a police officer with cutting off his genitals). Needless to say, this will probably not do much to endear her with the faceless internet masses that brought her initial transgressions to light. The Fox Boston report below: Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comThe Greeners are not exactly morning people. But you don't have to be a morning person when you're interrupted the way they were Thursday morning. "It's pounding, ripping, and it's echoing. It's loud...it's footsteps," said Patrick Greener a McKinney resident. All that noise was coming from their roof. The Greeners say it felt like it was happening just above their attic. "Why was it at 6:40 in the morning?" said an exasperated Paige Greener. The Greeners needed to have their roof replaced after the many hail storms that have passed through the area, but Patrick says the repair wasn't scheduled for several weeks. Yet there were three men, seen on their home surveillance, on their roof tearing away shingles. Patrick immediately got a hold of Robert Westin who is with Real Restoration Solutions, their real contractor. Westin told the Greeners they weren't scheduled for Thursday and that the "guys" in the video were not with his group. Two hours had gone by and by then half their roof was ripped off. Then all of a sudden they were gone. The Greeners called McKinney Police to file a police report. "It was the ridge vents that left these gaping 5 inch holes," said Paige. Half their roof was left in shambles. There were wide gaps and scattered shingles on top of their roof. "There's a kind of a few things that are interesting and head-scratchers to say the least," said Westin. Thankfully their real contractor came in to tarp it up. The Greeners don't see the workers caught on video as criminals. They really just think they got the wrong address. "What upsets me is that these people just leave and just leave people with a hole in their roof," said Patrick. All they ask is for the contractor to own up to it and come forward. McKinney Police say when the report was taken it was filed under "reckless damage" which is criminal offense. Copyright 2016 WFAAEven though bananas are the third most popular fruit in the world, there are some who are afraid of them. Fear of bananas is called bananaphobia and it is more common than you might think. Just search Google for “fear of bananas” and you’ll see what I mean. People with bananaphobia are often repulsed by the sight of bananas, cannot stand the texture or smell of bananas, and cannot be in the same room with bananas. Bananas literally drive them bananas. If you are afraid of bananas, don’t tell anyone because people will mercilessly tease you to the end of your days. People just can’t help thinking that a fear of bananas is hilarious. One Kent State student, who says bananas “scare the hell” out of him, learned that the hard way.CLEVELAND — By the way some media framed it, Donald Trump’s mention of "L, G, B, T… Q people" at his acceptance speech on Thursday was the stuff of history: "For the first time in history, a Republican nominee has mentioned the LGBTQ community in a GOP nomination acceptance speech," ABC News reported. There was also a previous moment in which Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel told the crowd he’s "proud to be gay" — and they, a bit surprisingly, applauded. Together, all of this might seem like the Republican Party is finally, after years of many culture wars, turning over a new leaf on LGBTQ issues. But people should hold the champagne. (Preferably forever, since alcohol is bad.) What Trump and Thiel said is only worth celebrating if you hold the Republican Party to an extremely low bar on LGBTQ rights. What’s worse, their comments come at a time in which the party accepted a platform that is tremendously anti-LGBTQ. And as far as Trump’s personal motivations for his comments, they’re in fact to inspire just another type of bigotry. What Trump and Thiel said really isn’t as impressive as it may seem Let’s break down what Trump and Thiel actually said. Here is Trump: Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Florida, 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist. This time, the terrorist targeted [the] LGBTQ community. No good. And we're going to stop it. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me. And I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said. Thank you. On air, the moment — particularly the last sentence — came off as genuinely sincere. Trump struggled to say "LGBTQ," and he seemed truly happy that people applauded his statement. But what’s the actual substance here? Essentially, all Trump is saying is that anti-LGBTQ violence is bad. That’s true, but it’s also a very low bar for any cause of celebration. Are we really going to jump up and down with joy that someone said murder is "no good"? And here is Thiel: The key moment: "I am proud to be gay," Thiel said, to rising applause. "I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American." What’s notable here is that Republicans are not just applauding that Thiel is gay. When he first said he’s "proud to be gay," the applause was pretty light. It’s only when Thiel said that he’s proud to be a Republican and an American that the cheers really took off. This completely changes the tone of Thiel’s comments. By saying that he’s American and Republican first, Thiel is effectively discarding his gay identity when it comes to politics — saying that he can put aside some of the party’s bigotry on LGBTQ issues because he cares much more about the party’s economic policies. "I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform," Thiel added. "But fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline. And nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump." This reaction doesn’t mean the party is wholly embracing an openly gay man. This is the party embracing an openly gay man who effectively says he doesn’t care about LGBTQ issues because he likes the party’s economic policies. That’s a fine decision to make for Thiel, but it doesn’t show any substantial advancement on the part of the party to cheer that on. It’s essentially saying, "Hey, you can be bigots. Whatever. I like that you’ll lower my taxes." After all, as Thiel mentioned, there is a lot for LGBTQ rights activists to disagree with in the Republican Party’s official platform. The Republican platform continues to be a disaster for LGBTQ people It is not clear how much the Republican platform will guide future policy, but it is still useful as a means to check the party’s pulse on certain issues. And when it comes to LGBTQ issues, the party is still extremely regressive. The 2016 platform, which the party approved this week, includes continued opposition to marriage equality, support for North Carolina’s anti-transgender bathroom law, support for anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy, and a tacit condemnation of same-sex parents. It’s hard to overstate how damaging some of these planks are. Conversion therapy, in which therapists try to forcefully change a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity, is extremely harmful and potentially deadly. It has been condemned by various medical organizations — the American Psychological Association, World Health Organization, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and American Counseling Association — in part because it can heighten LGBTQ people’s already-high chances (due mostly to discrimination) of mental health issues, depression, and suicide. What’s even more telling, though, is what the platform left out. Katy Steinmetz and Zeke Miller reported for Time (emphasis mine): The 56-member group that is finalizing the party’s platform in advance of the GOP convention had rejected Rachel Hoff’s passionate appeal to acknowledge Republicans’ "diversity of opinion" on marriage the day before. And the same committee voted down her suggestions on Tuesday to acknowledge the murders of LGBT people in the Middle East and in Orlando, where the deadliest shooting in U.S. history occurred at a gay club exactly one month before. Trump may be ready to condemn anti-LGBTQ violence and murders. But the Republican platform isn’t. For Trump, the goal is to inspire LGBTQ people into a different kind of bigotry As far as Trump’s seemingly LGBTQ-friendly rhetoric goes, there’s another reason to be cautious: He’s essentially trying to turn LGBTQ people into Islamophobic bigots. This isn’t a new strategy. As my colleague Dylan Matthews explained, European right-wingers often use Middle Eastern countries’ horrific records on gay rights to try to foster Islamophobic sentiments among LGBTQ communities — a sentiment they can tap into to garner support for restrictions on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries and punitive anti-terrorism policies. It’s effectively pro-gay Islamophobia. Matthews wrote: Marine Le Pen, of the Front National in France, is among the most successful far-right leaders in Europe and has a good shot at finishing first in the initial round of presidential elections next year. She's also fastidiously courting the gay vote by appealing to the specter of Muslim homophobia. A poll last year found that her party was winning a quarter of Paris's gay voters, compared with only 16 percent of straight ones — despite Le Pen’s opposition to same-sex marriage. This is essentially what Trump is trying to reproduce. He opposes same-sex marriage. His party platform contains a bunch of anti-gay policies. But maybe you can come to his side, he hopes, because you’ll be so scared of Muslims due to terrorist attacks that your Islamophobia will trump your attention to LGBTQ issues. (It’s worth emphasizing that terrorism remains extremely rare in the US.) So Trump is okay with making the party less anti-gay if it makes the party more anti-Muslim. It’s trading one type of bigotry for another. This isn’t a historic push toward equal rights in the Republican Party. It’s a con, based on a decontextualized, exaggerated reading of some of the horrible events that have happened over the past couple of years. It’s not worth celebrating.A man followed four children walking home from school and tried to coerce them into entering his vehicle on multiple occasions in Westbury this month, police say. According to authorities, William Renderos-Flores, 22, of Huntington Station, followed three sisters ages 15, 14 and 11 and a brother, age 13, while they were walking home from school near Cross Street and Linden Avenue on Monday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 7. Police say Renderos-Flores tried to get the siblings to enter his car. The children notified their 39-year-old father of these incidents and on Wednesday, March 8, the father saw Renderos-Flores following his children, police say. The father was able to photograph him before he sped off. Detectives, following an investigation, were able to locate Renderos-Flores at his residence and arrest him without incident on Wednesday, March 15. He was charged with two counts of second-degree stalking, four counts of third-degree stalking, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and four counts of fourth-degree stalking. Renderos-Flores will be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead. Image via NCPDWhile there’s a lot of attention on picking a new president, you might not want to take your eye off the current one. The idea, once scandalous, that Bush would just be handing the Iraq mess off to his successor is now an accepted reality. But he won’t be doing it in an informal way, either. Since last year, the administration has been working towards a long-term security agreement with Iraq, an “enduring relationship,” as they had it. The basic outlines were clear: a long-term American troop presence in Iraq and preferential treatment for American investments in return for a guarantee of security for the Iraqis. To give you an idea of the outline, the Iraqis said that it would be silly to expect that Iraq would be able to defend itself alone until at least 2018. Forever seems a fair conservative estimate. But there was a problem. There was a strong case to be made that for the administration to strike such a deal without the consent of the Senate was unconstitutional. Democrats were set to fight such a move. You know what Bush and Cheney think about asking Congress for anything. So, abruptly, the administration’s position changed. The administration would be striking a long-term pact along the same lines, but there would be no security guarantee. None at all. According to the letter of the agreement, if Iraq were attacked, we’d just let it burn. For some reason, some cynics think this is just a workaround. Without the actual security guarantee, the administration can hammer out the treaty without any hassle from Congress. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) is such a cynic. And yesterday Ackerman had the opportunity to press David Satterfield, the State Department’s Iraq coordinator, about the deal. The exchange, printed today in The Washington Post, had that taint of absurdity so common to Congressional testimony from administration officials: Update: Here’s video of Ackerman’s questioning.Rowdy hikers and an ultrarunner's clash with park rangers have officials threatening to move the northern terminus of America's most famous trail. The view from Mount Katahdin, Maine the place where Appalachian Trail hikers celebrate their accomplishment. (Photo by Radcliffe Dacanay/Flickr) For decades, Appalachian Trail thru-hikers have celebrated their accomplishment on top of Maine's highest peak, 5,268-foot Katahdin. After an average of around six months, some take pictures with their families, some just enjoy their achievements quietly, and a few party. But that could all change if park officials follow through on a recent ultimatum. In a November letter to Appalachian Trail officials, Baxter State Park director Jensen Bissell complained that thru-hikers were consistently violating park rules by drinking alcohol, littering bringing dogs into the park, and traveling in large groups. While only 3 percent of visitors to the park, which hosts the northernmost 15 miles of the AT, were there to hike the trail, Bissell wrote that they used a disproportionate amount of resources and negatively affected the land. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website The controversy flared up again in July, when ultramarathoner Scott Jurek was cited by rangers for allegedly violating three park rules after a record breaking 46-day run across the trail. Baxter officials responded in a Facebook post, threatening to reroute the trail away from the park altogether. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website "The AT within the Park is hosted at the consideration of the Baxter State Park Authority," they wrote. "The Authority is currently considering the increasing pressures, impacts and conflicts that the Appalachian Trail brings to the Park and if a continued relationship is in the best interests of Baxter State Park." This outraged many hikers like Ryan Mennett, of Burlington, Connecticut. “It would lose all its epicness,” he told the New York Times. “Where would they end it? At a stream? On a piece of grass?” Bissell and other Baxter officials' unease doesn’t arise just from a few overly celebratory hikers. It also comes from the new movie “A Walk in the Woods." When Bill Bryson's original book was published in 1999, the amount of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail increased by 45 percent, Ronald J. Tipton, the executive director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, told the Times. Now that the Appalachian Trail is attracting increasingly large crowds to attempt the 2,000-plus miles, Baxter State Park fears for their mountain. The Authority hopes to protect Baxter by limiting the amount of thru-hikers on the trail each year. The park already limits day hikers by capping the number of cars allowed in parking lots, and officials are considering using permits to control the number of thru-hikers as well. Mr. Bissell thinks the chances of the trail moving are “unlikely,” and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is setting up strategies for hikers to educate themselves about rules in each jurisdiction, in hopes of slowing down the stream of citations while keeping the park healthy -- and officials there happy.This Day In History: January 5, 1825 On this day in history, 1825, on a bitter cold day, a young Alexandre Dumas, soon to be famed playwright and novelist and current son of Thomas-Alaxandre who was once one of Napoleon’s generals, fights in his first duel. During the duel, Dumas successfully defeated his opponent almost immediately, but, according to his memoirs, not before having his pants fall down and all present having a good laugh at him. The duel was instigated a few days before it took place. Dumas was having dinner at the Palais-Royal with a group of his friends. After eating, they decided to head out to smoke and play billiards at a local cafe. While at the cafe, a soldier who was playing billiards made a joke at Dumas’ expense, particularly making fun of Dumas’ cloak and boots. Like any good Frenchman of the day, Dumas didn’t take this slight on his honor lightly and a duel was set for a few days later, much to the chagrin of Dumas’ friends who didn’t fancy him going up against a trained soldier. Dumas proceeded to practice shooting with his second and proved a good shot, but this turned out for naught, as it was decided the duel would be fought with swords. Luckily, Dumas was not only a great shot, but also a decent enough fencer, though his confidence in this arena was much less than with a gun. At the appointed time, Dumas showed up for the duel armed with his father’s sword, but his rival was nowhere to be found. After further investigation, it was discovered that his opponent had slept through the time of the duel, so it was rescheduled for the following day at a quarry near Montmartre in Paris. On the day of the duel, it was extremely cold and there was significant snow on the ground. Once a suitable location within the quarry was chosen, Dumas’ opponent asked that Dumas take off not only his jacket, but also his vest and shirt. While doing this, Dumas also removed his suspenders, at which point his pants fell down due to his belt buckle being broken. A crowd of quarry workers that had gathered had a good laugh at Dumas’ expense over this, but this time he was at least sensible enough not to challenge them all to duels. Rather, he simply tied up his pants with his suspenders and the two opponents went en-garde. Once the duel began, Dumas immediately managed a strike on the man’s shoulder (the soldier, apparently, was a very poor fencer). His opponent was not seriously wounded by Dumas. However, the man tripped on a root and fell after jumping back in surprise. By the man’s own admission, he jumped back from astonishment of how cold the blade was on his skin, rather than the blow Dumas delivered (Dumas had previously placed the tip in the snow while partially undressing). Now on the ground, rather than continue the duel, the soldier yielded and the duel was over without anyone being killed or seriously injured. This is lucky for us, as The Count of Monte Cristo particularly is a phenomenal book (my personal favorite of any I’ve read) and it would have been a shame for Dumas to die at the young age of 23 and not have the chance to pen that work, along with some aid from ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, some 19 years later. Expand for ReferencesFILE - In this Feb. 5, 2010 file photo, a laboratory technician prepares samples of urine for doping tests during a media open day, at the King's College London Drug Control Centre, London. The world’s anti-doping authority is launching an “extraordinary” audit of Jamaica’s drug-testing agency following allegations that its policing of the island’s sprinting superstars all but collapsed in the months before they dazzled at the London Games, The Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File) The world's anti-doping authority is launching an "extraordinary" audit of Jamaica's drug-testing agency following allegations that its policing of the island's sprinting superstars led by Usain Bolt all but collapsed in the months before they dazzled at the London Games, The Associated Press has learned. WADA's probe follows data the former executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission revealed to the Caribbean's oldest newspaper indicating a near complete breakdown in JADCO's out-of-competition testing from January 2012 to the July opening of the Olympics. In an interview with The Associated Press, JADCO chairman Herbert Elliott dismissed Renee Anne Shirley's figures as lies and described her as "a bit demented" and "a Judas." But the World Anti-Doping Agency tells a different story: WADA confirmed to the AP that there was, as Shirley asserted, "a significant gap of no testing" by JADCO as athletes trained in the months ahead of the Games — and that it is concerned enough to investigate. International Olympic Committee medical chiefs, WADA and Britain's anti-doping agency, which also worked on London's massive drug-testing program, revealed to the AP that they were kept in the dark about the Jamaican testing lapses that Shirley exposed in her August letter to The Gleaner. "There was a period of — and forgive me if I don't have the number of months right — but maybe five to six months during the beginning part of 2012 where there was no effective operation," WADA Director General David Howman said in an interview. "No testing. There might have been one or two, but there was no testing. So we were worried about it, obviously." Jamaican stars didn't go completely untested into the Games. Track and field's governing body, the IAAF, says it extensively tested elite Jamaicans and that Bolt was tested more than 12 times last year. History's fastest human has never failed a drug test. In London, Jamaica won 8 of 12 individual sprint medals. Bolt became the first man to win both the 100 and 200 meters at consecutive games and anchored Jamaica's relay victory in world-record time. It isn't possible to judge with any certainty whether the gaps in Jamaica's testing might have opened a door to cheating, particularly because other agencies involved refuse to give a complete picture of exactly how many tests they conducted on the Jamaicans in 2012. The Shirley revelations, however, have been alarming enough to prompt action: While WADA has audited Jamaica's testing regime in the past, Howman said its new trip is in direct response to the problems Shirley exposed and the positive doping tests this year of five athletes who competed for Jamaica in London. "It's an extraordinary visit," Howman said. Jamaica is "a high priority... they're on our radar." WADA is unhappy that Jamaica hasn't agreed to a swift inspection. Elliott said JADCO couldn't accommodate the auditors at the date WADA wanted and now isn't expecting the visit before the end of the year. "It doesn't over-impress us," Howman told the AP. "If there's going to be that sort of delay, you need to have a better reason." ___ WHO KNEW? Shirley says JADCO conducted 96 tests in competition in 2012 before the Olympics, all in May and June at an invitational meet and the national trials. But away from the competitive events, there was no Jamaican testing for five of the seven months before the opening of the Games, Shirley asserted. To catch and deter cheats, a combination of in- and out-of-competition testing is vital. But after 10 tests in February and a solitary test in April, JADCO's out-of-competition program stopped, according to Shirley's figures. Shirley later gave the same figures to Sports Illustrated, where they generated more worldwide attention than her letter to The Gleaner. "It irritated me as a Jamaican: one test out of competition, for what, five months or four months?" Shirley said in a telephone interview. "Given that it was an Olympic year, I felt that more could have been done." IOC medical commission Chairman Arne Ljungqvist and Patrick Schamasch, who retired as IOC medical director after London, said they weren't told of this testing gap. They said they could have ordered additional tests on Jamaica's team had they known. The IOC did a total of 3,800 urine and 1,200 blood tests in London.Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom has revealed sacked manager Gus Poyet asked to leave the club in March. The Uruguayan was suspended after the end of the campaign and then sacked for gross misconduct in June. "It got triggered by a phone call four days before the game against Crystal Palace in March," Bloom said at a fans' forum broadcast on BBC Sussex. "He phoned me up and he made it clear to me that he wanted to leave at the end of the season." This was hugely shocking to me and it was something I had to manage between then and the end of the season Tony Bloom Brighton chairman He added: "I had a great relationship with Gus for three years. So it's just very, very disappointing the way things finished." Poyet was under contract with Brighton until 2016 but had previously made no secret of his ambition to manage in the Premier League. Albion were one point off the Championship play-off places at the time of Poyet's call to Bloom - eventually going on to be beaten in the play-off semi-finals - and Poyet went on to turn down the chance to take over at Reading later that month. Following an unsuccessful appeal against his dismissal the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder is yet to find another managerial job but he will appear as a pundit on Match of the Day on BBC TV this season. On Poyet's phone call to him, Bloom added: "He didn't want to discuss it at all. "He said that if he could leave, if it would be allowable for him to leave the next day that would be fine. "So this was hugely shocking to me and it was something I had to manage between then and the end of the season. Gus Poyet at Brighton Former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder Poyet joined Brighton in November 2009 with the club in a relegation battle in League One. He led the Seagulls to safety that season and then won the League One title in his first full campaign in charge. After the move to the Amex Stadium in summer 2011, Brighton finished 10th in the Championship table. Their fourth place last season is the club's highest finish since 1983. "Obviously the key was the players and the team and our promotion push. I didn't want anything to get in the way of that. "And then lots of things happened between then and the end of the season which I don't want to discuss." Following Poyet's departure from the Amex Stadium, the Seagulls appointed former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Oscar Garcia as their new head coach on a three-year deal. Bloom says his target for the coming campaign is to mount another challenge for promotion. "I just want to look forward now because we've got Oscar here, we've got a great coaching team with Nathan [Jones] and others and I'm looking forward to the season ahead," Bloom said. "I don't want to put Oscar under too much pressure before the season even starts. It's always a difficult one. "We aim to get to the Premier League. It's a very competitive division as we know and every season, at the start of the season, we have to try and have a squad we think is capable of promotion. "I certainly think this season we have that." Meanwhile, Bloom confirmed he hopes the squad will be strengthened further before the end of the transfer window. "We've just re-signed David [Lopez] - we're delighted with that - and we've just signed Kemy Agustien, so we're really happy with the business we've done this week, " he said. "Certainly between now and the end of August we'll be looking for a couple of new faces." You can listen again to BBC Sussex's Brighton & Hove Albion fans' forum via the BBC iPlayer for the next seven days.When life isn’t going well, I go for a run. I’ve always found running soothing. Maybe it’s due to “runner’s high”, the burst of endorphins that dampen physical pain and elevates mood. Maybe it’s because running increases the generation of new neurons in the brain (of mice), which we think is protective against depression. Or maybe, as this new study shows, it’s because running tweaks the brain’s inhibitory circuits to directly dampen anxiety. Schoenfeld et al. (2013) Physical Exercise Prevents Stress-Induced Activation of Granule Neurons and Enhances Local Inhibitory Mechanisms in the Dentate Gyrus” J. Neurosci. 33(18):7770-7777 Let’s first zoom in on the ventral hippocampus deep within the brain. This is one of the areas that process emotions, and is implicated in stress and anxiety regulation. Increased activity in the ventral hippo is correlated (but not causative of) with anxious behaviour. Since running decreases anxiety, researchers wanted to know if runners’ ventral hippo respond differently to stress than sedentary people, in such a way that dampens anxiety. ( You might remember the hippocampus is important for learning and memory – you’re right! However, increasing evidence is pointing to the dorsal hippo as the processing power behind memory. The hippo is quite a multitasker!) Since directly monitoring brain activity at the single neuron level from people is impossible, scientists turned to mice. If you ever had a pet hamster, you know that rodents love to run – give them a wheel and they’ll go at it for hours. After 6 weeks of voluntary running, scientists placed these mice onto an elevated maze with two dark closed arms and two light open arms (imaging a cross-like mountain with cliffs at the ends, pic left). Runners showed significantly less anxiety as they explored the open “cliffs” than their sedentary peers. They also had more newly born neurons in their brains. So running decreases anxiety, but is it through lowering hippocampus activation? To tackle this question, scientists exposed the mice to cold water. If you’ve ever tried a New Years polar bear swim, you’ll know that swimming in cold water is very stressful. Indeed, in sedentary mice, cold-water stress caused a spike in neuronal activity in the ventral hippo, as measured by a set of genes that transiently and rapidly get turned on in response to neuron activation. These immediate-early genes act as messengers to tell the neuron to start making proteins to adapt to the stimulus, and are a reliable sign of recent neuron activity. As you can see below, couch-potato mice showed a spike in neuronal activity (Sed, black bar with a star), as measured by immediate-early genes c-fos and arc. This response was almost completely wiped out in the runners (Run, black bar with no stars). So running decreases ventral hippo’s willingness to react to stress, leading to less anxious behaviors. But how? The activity of neuronal circuits is mainly balanced by two antagonistic neurotransmitters: glutamate-mediated excitation and GABA-mediated inhibition. Most anti-anxiety meds right now work by increasing GABA signaling. Researchers found that runners had significantly more GABA neuron activation when exposed to cold-water stress. These mice also released more GABA neurotransmitter, especially during the period of stress (see the peak in the black line below?). So maybe increased GABA in runners is enough to increase inhibition and dampen ventral hippo activity? One way to test this is to block GABA signaling and see how these runner mice behave. To test for anxiety, researchers brought back the elevated plus maze. As you may remember, this maze has two dark, chill closed arms, and two brightly lit open arms. Usually mice prefer to spend more time in the closed “safe” arms, and this is indeed the case with sedentary mice (white bar). However, runners showed increased exploration of the open “cliff” arms of the elevated maze just like before (black bar). They were way less anxious about the light and openness of those cliff-like arms. Now, if you block GABA signaling with a chemical called bicuculine in runners, these mice (grey bar above) behaved just like sedentary mice (white bar). Their anxiety returned! Bicuculine only worked when given to the ventral hippo; if you block GABA in the dorsal hippocampus – important in learning and memory but not mood – it didn’t affect the runners’ anxiety levels. These results tell us that increased GABA signaling lowers ventral hippo activation, and this leads to decreased anxiety. Overall the researchers pretty convincingly show that running reduces anxiety through activating GABA signalizing in the ventral hippocampus. It would’ve been nice to see how runner vs sedentary mice behaved in the maze AFTER cold-water exposure, ie if running can “immunize” mice against stress-induced anxiety as well. It would also be interesting to see how long this anti-anxiety change lasts once the runners stopped running – does GABA signaling go back or does it stay responsive for a long time? Regardless, this study gives you another reason to go out for a run and keep running. Try it for three weeks (how much the mice ran) and see if it
Complete Formula One results [ edit ] (key) Complete A1 Grand Prix results [ edit ] (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Superleague Formula [ edit ] (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) 24 Hours of Le Mans results [ edit ] Complete Auto GP results [ edit ] (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) NASCAR [ edit ] (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) Camping World Truck Series [ edit ] TorqueX [ edit ] Narain took up the mantle of a business man by joining hands with Autocar's Chief Editor, Hormazd Sorabjee. The website is the Uber of Car Buying. They provide unbiased and curated recommendations of cars. Besides this, they get multiple car brands for the customer to test drive. After this, the customer is free to choose one. This selected ride is then home delivered to the customer. It is a first-of-its kind venture in India so far. See also [ edit ] References [ edit ]It would have been the elephant in the room — had they let any elephants in the room. Wednesday’s announcement, called to celebrate the birth of the Twin Cities’ sixth major league sports team, was more pep rally than a press conference, anyway. Competing against warmer-weather cities, against a well-off rival across town, and against a turbulent history of local professional soccer, another group of well-off people — headed by former UnitedHealthcare CEO Bill McGuire — was awarded the 24th franchise in Major League Soccer. “The team that nobody wanted, the team that nobody wanted, the team that nobody wanted … is going to MLS,” sang a group of supporters who had come to cheer the occasion (to the tune of “The Bear Went Over The Mountain”). “Remember this day when you’re mad at us for suspending your coach or fining one of your players,” joked MLS Commissioner Don Garber. He praised the ownership group, praised the community and praised their plan for a new stadium. “When you take all of that and put it all together, it gives us the perfect recipe for success,” Garber said. Ah, the stadium: that which shall not yet be named. While there was lots of talk about a vision for a soccer-specific facility for the club, left unsaid was any discussion of how — given repeated statements from local politicians that any direct public subsidy for a stadium is a nonstarter — that vision would actually become a reality. Why Minnesota? Wednesday’s ceremony was the formal acknowledgement of an already widely reported decision. It’s been two weeks since MLS sources confirmed that not only did the McGuire group surpass a bid by the Wilf Family, owners of the Vikings, to claim the last franchise in Major League Soccer, but that it beat out Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Antonio, St. Louis and other cities to do so. “This is a big deal for this community,” McGuire said afterward. “Lots of important, vibrant communities wanted this franchise.” MLS considers itself different from other pro leagues in the U.S., primarily because of the fans it attracts. When citing the reasons the Twin Cities won this franchise, Garber didn’t list population or TV markets or the number of Fortune 500 companies. He instead said it is a “cool, funky, hip city” — code for a place with plenty of the kind of people who make up the core of fan bases in other places where MLS is booming, like Seattle and Portland. “It is our total belief in the Twin Cities, a market that is young, that is diverse, that has more people driving their bicycles around than they do in Brooklyn — and Brooklyn is a pretty hip place,” Garber said. The team, which is expected to adopt the name of the lower-level club McGuire currently owns, Minnesota United, is expected to join MLS in 2018. More details on stadium plans The presence of hipsters, of course, wasn’t the only reason the MLS was interested in the Twin Cities. McGuire’s group also includes Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx; Wendy Carlson Nelson, of the family that built the Carlson hospitality and travel empire; and the Pohlad Family, owners of the Minnesota Twins. Key to the league’s decision was the group’s plan to build an 18,500-seat, soccer-specific, outdoor stadium with a grass playing surface adjacent to the Minneapolis Farmers Market, just west of the Target Field atrium where Wednesday’s high-gloss announcement was made. The cost for similar stadiums is in the $150 million range. McGuire gave few specifics on Wednesday about what involvement he might request of government to get a stadium built. “We haven’t laid out anything and haven’t talked to anyone about what partnerships could play out,” he said. “We’ll bring a vision and see how people react to it.” He did describe the stadium as part sporting venue and part stimulus for an area that has not gotten much attention since being isolated decades ago by freeways and major city arterials. Minnesota United Key to the league’s decision was the group’s plan to build an 18,500-seat, soccer-specific, outdoor stadium with a grass playing surface adjacent to the Minneapolis Farmers Market McGuire also noted that the area is currently served by light rail lines and will be near a station of the Green Line expansion. “It will help spur what many would call transportation-enhanced development in that part of town.” He promised more specifics and the public release of designs by international sports facility firm Populous within a month. While the McGuire group has been reluctant to give up many details about their plans, one group in the city has been more fully briefed. 2020 Partners, an organization promoting development in the North Loop area, received a briefing from McGuire himself, complete with renderings of the stadium and other developments. McGuire lawyer Ralph Strangis also gave the group an update on the plans the day before the MLS announcement. Strangis said the new owners are offering to cover a much higher percentage of the stadium costs than any other stadium-arena in the region. And he said the city and county — both with property in the stadium area — should be interested in redevelopment plans. One possible element of that plan is to attract foodies. Strangis said the group was considering a food enterprise similar to Eataly, the popular New York and Chicago market/restaurant complexes created by celebrity chef Mario Batali. “It has been an enormous success,” Strangis told 2020 Partner members Tuesday. “It would fit really perfectly with the Farmers Market.” Why McGuire won — and the Wilfs didn’t While Garber said the Vikings organization, led by the Wilf family, made a strong bid, MLS has a bias toward playing not only outdoors, and not only on grass, but in stadiums built specifically for soccer. He called the 15 soccer-specific stadiums now in use in MLS “cathedrals for our league.” “Soccer stadiums have been the literal and figurative drivers, the cornerstone of our league’s growth,” Garber said during the announcement. He later confirmed that the McGuire group’s plan for an outdoor stadium with natural grass was essential to its victory over the Wilfs. “At the end of the day we wanted a plan for an outdoor stadium, and that’s what Bill and his partners are very focused on providing,” Garber said. “We’ve seen their original plans and they are very, very exciting. It is a perfectly situated stadium in downtown that has driven success of Major League Soccer.” But like McGuire, Garber put off talk of stadium politics and the preemptive rejection of public help by state and local political leaders. “They are committed to building this stadium and we hope there can be support for that and have expectations that there will be,” Garber said. As they were leaving the event announcing the decision, Minneapolis City Council members Blong Yang and Andrew Johnson both said they were enthusiastic about the team — and the stadium. “It would be disappointing if the subsidy part spoiled today,” Johnson said. “It’s a big win for the city.” Asked whether there was a government role short of direct subsidy — infrastructure work or not assessing sales taxes on construction, for example — both said yes. “I think we’re open to that conversation,” said Yang, whose Ward 5 includes the market and stadium site. “Who wouldn’t be excited about this?” Yang asked. “I mean, this is great. The elephant in the room is whether there’s going to be a public subsidy. But other than that, it’s fantastic.”If you re-wound the universe to early 2001, and not only let the inventors of PostGIS see the future, but also let the PSC of PgSQL see the future, perhaps PostGIS would be a series of patches on PgSQL. But at a minimum, if we had started as patches to core, the first thing we would have run up against is: core PgSQL areas don't support holes, but the GIS model really wants holes, can we change that? And core PgSQL would have said: "no, of course not, areas have an existing well-understood semantic and we can't go making backwards incompatible changes like that". As non-core developers, PostGIS was able to knock out monthly and 6-monthly releases for a number of years while PgSQL core plodded along with annual and longer releases. We were also able to add whatever features we wanted, whenever, since we had commit rights in our project, but gaining commit rights in PgSQL takes a Very Long Time. By the time PostGIS was demonstrating enough external value that PgSQL core looked over and said to themselves "huh, that would have been nice to have in core as an extra feature", there was already so much code of such a different standard and style from PgSQL (not to mention under an incompatible license) that the idea of merging was not really possible. Instead, PostGIS has become the canonical example of a Really Large Complex Extension that helps PgSQL remain modular and extensible. "How will this effect something like PostGIS" is a question often asked as core PgSQL evaluates some change. This is also a good thing, not perhaps quite as nice as PostGIS being part of core, but good enough. There's other reasons, like the long list of dependencies PgSQL core would have hated to see, the generally lower code consistency and API cleanliness which they would have despaired of improving, and on and on. Even at conception, PostGIS was too big a hairball for PgSQL to swallow in one bite.One of the most emotional tribal councils in 'Survivor' history included emotional discussion, but Jeff Probst and company had to do better. [This article contains spoilers for the Wednesday, April 11, episode of Survivor: Game Changers.] I can't really write a recap of tonight's Survivor. It was 40 minutes of a dull episode of Survivor, followed by 20 minutes of disturbing, powerful, meaningful and yet probably mismanaged television that shouldn't be discussed as a twist in a reality competition show. Every week, I do recaps of Survivor and I speculate wildly on motivations and emotions based on CBS editing. I treat people as "good" or "bad" and I feel OK doing it because I feel like I'm writing about real people within the characters they chose to play on a TV show and the way they were edited, and I don't feel bad that the characters they're playing have these people's real names, because I feel like when I write about them in a Survivor context, that's not the same as an ad hominem insult of the castaways as humans. Even when I did pre-season and post-elimination interviews with contestants, I didn't pretend I knew them. Wednesday's Survivor made a big mess of the idea that things that happen in the game aren't also things that impact these contestants in the real world. We can get this out of the way: Jeff Varner was getting voted out on Survivor: Game Changers regardless of anything he did or said at tribal council. He was getting voted out because he was an alliance of one and alliances of one get voted out. He was also getting voted out because his initial attempts to change his position failed, because he's not a good Survivor player and hasn't been a good Survivor player on three occasions now. Nobody was going to talk about Jeff as a Survivor player if he'd just been voted out, and nobody will talk about him as a Survivor player now after an episode that ended with Probst saying, "There's no question who's going home tonight, right?" Everybody agreed and so Probst pointed at Varner and declared, "We don't need to vote, just grab your torch." What Varner did to get himself in that position was a life blunder, not a Survivor blunder. The Survivor blunders came earlier and aren't interesting. "Zeke's not being truthful. There's something about Zeke that nobody knows," Varner told Andrea earlier in the episode. We didn't know what he meant and I doubt anybody could have even imagined, but pushed into a corner at tribal council, Varner felt he had no choice but to go dirty. And he went dirtier than we've ever seen on Survivor. "There is deception here," Varner announced at tribal, before asking Zeke why he hadn't told everybody else that he was trans. The reaction was quick, decisive and, to everybody's credit, directed exclusively at Varner. "You didn't have to do that," Andrea told Varner, in immediate tears. "Nobody has the right to out anybody," Tai protested. "Two seasons I've played Survivor, I've told nobody," Zeke said and Varner, still briefly standing by his choice, insisted that outing somebody he had been friends with was OK because "it reveals the ability to deceive." It's here that I'll just cede to Nick Adams, director of GLAAD's Transgender Media Program, who said in a statement after the show, "Zeke Smith, and transgender people like him, are not deceiving anyone by being their authentic selves, and it is dangerous and unacceptable to out a transgender person. It is heartening, however, to see the strong support for Zeke from the other people in his tribe. Moments like this prove that when people from all walks of life get to know a transgender person, they accept us for who we are." To me, that says it all. It's strange or unlikely or wildly coincidental that Wednesday's episodic theme and immunity challenge puzzle answer was "Metamorphosis," which Zeke smartly nodded to when he'd regained some composure. He announced, "I am a changed, stronger better man today." Indeed, Zeke's strength in this moment is what people will remember, strength in a moment of nationally televised ugliness that I sure can't fathom. "It never dawned on me that no one knew. So I'm just devastated," Varner said, as he gradually began to realize what he did. It's rationalizing. You can't say that it never dawned on you that no one knew when you used the information as proof of deception. But I don't doubt that as Jeff Varner, the person, stepped outside of Jeff Varner, useless Survivor contestant, in that moment, he really was devastated. I don't want to get into his motivations. I don't want to tear Varner to pieces. I also can't say "The conversation that followed was worth it" or "Privacy supersedes the conversation" because I don't think there's a clear answer. If Zeke wanted to be known as a smart, funny, openly gay Survivor contestant who worshiped Oklahoma football and loved making big moves in the game and probably erred on the side of overplaying, but did so in a way that I liked watching, that's who Zeke is to me. But as Adams said, giving people who haven't had the opportunity to meet or see or get to know a transgender person this public face is valuable, even if an awful thing set it in motion. What Varner did was so crappy, he shouldn't get to have good things come from it, but Zeke seems like such a truly likable guy that he doesn't deserve to have bad things come from just wanting to play a game he loves, and Zeke's needs and desires to make something worthwhile from it trump anything else. Varner took away Zeke's choice in how he wanted to define himself, but Zeke did the best he could in the moment and I assume he'll make the best of it now. I wish Survivor could have made something better from it. The powerful displays of love and acceptance for Zeke at the tribal council were valuable, and even if Sarah made the moment a bit too much about her, she expressed a perspective that was illuminating and important. In an episode that was otherwise so unremarkable, though, I don't understand how Probst and the Survivor producers didn't find a way to end the tribal council with 10 minutes left and then pull back from the game and acknowledge some things. There had to be some conversation about why this was airing at all. The answer, presumably, relates to a combination of "It's a TV show and they couldn't just skip over what happened without explaining why there was no vote but somebody still went home" and "Zeke and the producers had a conversation about what he was prepared to have air on television." The first part doesn't make a lick of difference to me. I've been confused by Survivor editing before and they could have left us confused again, if they collectively decided that was what was right. The second part may not make a different to the producers, because they own this footage and they don't, I'm guessing, have a legal requirement to ask Zeke what they could or couldn't show. But I still assume a conversation was had, and even if Zeke and Varner and Probst all go into detail in various interviews over the next couple months, that's not the same as putting it in the episode, where it belonged. Since Probst's talk show hosting dreams were thwarted by American disinterest, you've sensed him trying to be a tribal council Oprah at times. Why not do a five-minute filmed conversation with Probst and Zeke in a comfortable setting discussing the moment from a distance, delving into the opportunities they now see for advancing the cause of understanding and how Zeke's feelings have shifted and evolved and mellowed since that night? Instead, what should be a impactful back-and-forth about the limitations and possibilities of reality TV to instigate certain conversations is going to get squished into the rowdy reunion show that tends to be exactly the wrong setting for anything of meaning. That's treating this as Survivor. This needed to be treated as bigger than Survivor. There should have been websites and hotlines presented in chyrons. Somebody associated with Survivor should have made sure that the episode ended by telling people where they can get more information and where this conversation can continue. Nothing that happened in the first 40 minutes of the episode was so important it couldn't have been cut out so that the episode could have ended the right way, rather than with Varner being sad about going home. I know that's how every episode of Survivor ends, with the closing credits confessional, but this was exactly the sort of episode that deserved to be treated as 1-in-500. It was an awful thing that happened, it was a significant conversation that followed and it was a lapsed opportunity (or responsibility) from Survivor and CBS to make sure to do right by the situation. I'll be back next week with a regular Survivor recap.The France full-back missed Arsenal’s nervy 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday with strained knee ligaments but has resumed light training and will have a final fitness test later this week. The expectation is that he should be fit to start. Containing Bale will be crucial for Arsenal, especially as the full-back position has been an area of particular vulnerability this season. Sagna has been struggling with his fitness and playing through pain as he continues his comeback from two broken legs during the 2011-12 season but he is among Arsenal’s most experienced players. Carl Jenkinson would start on Sunday in Sagna’s absence but there are doubts about his positional sense. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, must also decide whether to persist with Per Mertesacker in central defence or opt for the additional mobility against Bale of Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny.Longbranch Saloon (Map) 1848 Cumberland Ave Knoxville, tn 37917 United States A bunch of great bands and great friends playing music together. Doors 4:00! First band plays at 5:00! Friday May 23rd: On My Honor Audiostrobelight Furthest From Fame Latin For Truth Bad Ideas Wolves 4x Uh-Huh Baby Yeah The Weakends A March Through May Full-Heart Lost Swimmer Broadside The Scenic Times New Roman Secondary The Rookie Mistake American Verse Clay Cages Light the Avenue Saturday May 24th: Veara Your Favorite Hero Burns Like Fire The Killjoys Distance From Home A Brighter Life So to Speak Nothing to Write Home About Scarlet Victory Running on E Word Travels Fast Angry Bears Like Mike Survay Says! Cooter Punch Pompo plus the Community College Rejects Playtime Revenue Forever Losing Sleep Shock N AweJohn Boyega answered a question about what folks should be excited for in Episode VIII, and his answer was that there’s a brand new star in the Star Wars universe, and that star belongs to newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. The question was asked during an interview before the premiere of the documentary shipping with Force Awakens blu-Reys, and Boyega’s answer was enough to get folks tweeting excitedly about the future of Star Wars. On the one hand, it’s exciting to see someone as prominent and central to the Star Wars universe speak so highly of a new star, as it definitely bolsters expectations around the next adventure. On the other, saying Tran is the next big star of Episode VIII is nothing short of major, as she would be the first Asian female lead actress in a Star Wars movie. I’ve written before about Asian representation in The Force Awakens and how important it was to see Asians getting some fairly good representation in the Star Wars universe. To be fair, though, improving on the Neimoidians (who were coded Asian, let’s not lie to ourselves) wasn’t going to be to difficult. That being said, it was great to see characters like Admiral Statura and Jess freakin’ Pava show up on screen like it was no big deal. Moreover, it was great to see them survive. It feels really sad to think that this is what the expectations are these days, but boy am I glad that they lived. When Tran was announced as part of the upcoming cast, folks began to question what her role might be. As I’ve already said, she’s a relative unknown, with most of her screen credits coming from College Humor and various assorted television shows. If what Boyega says holds true, and if Tran’s role is as large as I’m hoping it might be, then the future of Star Wars is looking mighty fine. Anyway, you can now begin your rampant speculation as to what her role might be. One of the favored theories I’ve seen suggests Tran plays Leia’s right hand woman, possibly as another general or other military executive. I dig that theory, but personally, my wacky out-of-left-field theory is that she’s totally a Knight of Ren, possibly one of the ones featured in that lightsaber flashback scene in Rey’s dream. Or, hell, she might be Pava’s sister, who’s more of an infantry type. Who knows! What do you think?! (via What Culture, image via YouTube) —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.— Follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google+.In our previous articles we looked at the new features of EF Core 2.0 and its criticisms. Today we’ll look at EF Core’s many breaking changes EF Core 1.x Providers Not Supported Database providers are how EF generates database-specific SQL for SQL Server, MySQL, etc. There is no generic OleDB or ODBC provider, so EF is limited by the providers created for it. In an attempt to simplify provider development, EF Core has changed the provider APIs without offering a backwards compatibility option. This means that EF Core 1.0 and 1.1 providers are not supported by EF Core 2.0 and each will have to be rewritten using the EF Core 2.0 APIs. According to Microsoft, “the open-source third party providers for SQL Compact, PostgreSQL, and MySQL are being updated for 2.0”. If you are using another database, Microsoft recommends that you contact the provider author. IDbContextFactory Renamed to IDesignTimeDbContextFactory Despite its name, the IDbContextFactory class was never meant to be used as a DbContext factory in applications. Rather, it was meant to only be used by design time tools that needed a DbContext for tasks such as generating database migration scripts. In order to make this clear, IDbContextFactory has been marked as obsolete and tools will now call IDesignTimeDbContextFactory instead. Along with this change, Microsoft is dropping support for DbContextFactoryOptions. It was decided that this wasn’t appropriate for design time context generation. Logging and Diagnostics Events Changed Changes to the logging and diagnostics for EF Core include: The event IDs for messages sent to an ILogger have changed in 2.0. The event IDs are now unique across EF Core code. These messages now also follow the standard pattern for structured logging used by, for example, MVC. Logger categories have also changed. There is now a well-known set of categories accessed through DbLoggerCategory. DiagnosticSource events now use the same event ID names as the corresponding ILogger messages. The event payloads are all nominal types derived from EventData. Though listed as a breaking change, Microsoft doesn’t expect this to have a significant impact on existing applications. In-memory databases must be named An important feature for test performance is the ability to create in-memory databases. While not a true representation of how the application will perform in production, it can nonetheless be useful when looking at problems in the business logic. Previously EF Core supported a global, unnamed in-memory database. This is no longer an option and developers are now required to name each in-memory database. The same in-memory database can still be shared by multiple context instances. Read-only API changes EF Core is dropping support for IsReadOnlyBeforeSave, IsReadOnlyAferSave, and IsStoreGeneratedAlways. These were exposed by the IProperty interface. They have been replaced by the BeforeSaveBehavior and AfterSaveBehavior properties on IProperty. The documentation continues: Properties marked as ValueGenerated.OnAddOrUpdate (e.g. for computed columns) will by default ignore any value currently set on the property. This means that a store-generated value will always be obtained regardless of whether any value has been set or modified on the tracked entity. This can be changed by setting a different Before\AfterSaveBehavior. Since new fields are being added, this is also considered a breaking change for the IProperty interface itself. Default Delete Behavior is now ClientSetNull EF Core previously had three possibly behaviors for deletions involving optional relationships: Cascade: Dependent entities are also deleted. This cascading behavior is only applied to entities that are being tracked by the context. A corresponding cascade behavior should be setup in the database to ensure data that is not being tracked by the context has the same action applied. If you use EF to create the database, this cascade behavior will be setup for you. Restrict: The delete operation is not applied to dependent entities. The dependent entities remain unchanged. SetNull: The foreign key properties in dependent entities are set to null. This cascading behavior is only applied to entities that are being tracked by the context. A corresponding cascade behavior should be setup in the database to ensure data that is not being tracked by the context has the same action applied. If you use EF to create the database, this cascade behavior will be setup for you. A new option, which is now also the default, has been added called ClientSetNull. In EF Core 2.0, a new ClientSetNull behavior has been introduced as the default for optional relationships. This behavior has SetNull semantics for tracked entities and Restrict behavior for databases created using EF Core. In our experience, these are the most expected/useful behaviors for tracked entities and the database. DeleteBehavior.Restrict is now honored for tracked entities when set for optional relationships. Provider Design-time Packages Consolidated In a minor bit of tidying-up, the Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational.Design package has been dropped and its contents incorporated into the Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational and Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design packages. The net effect is one less package that needs to be explicitly referenced. In our next article we’ll be looking at the EF Core roadmap.According to Batman: The Animated Series, young Bruce Wayne grew up watching the pulp adventures of the Gray Ghost (voiced by none other than Adam West) on television. And the first half of this Gray Ghost fan film feels like a dream the adult Batman might have after falling asleep watching old episodes. The Gray Ghost: The Lost Reel was directed by J.L. Topkis, written by Matt Landsman, and inspired by the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Beware the Gray Ghost." The peek into an imagined Gray Ghost episode is neat (with actor Forrest Lancaster doing the Adam West voice as the Gray Ghost/Simon Trent), but the beginning feels like Batman's own fantasy, hitting home how he became the hero who wasn't there when he was a child. Advertisement [via GeekTyrant]The U.S. State Department has chosen to act as UNRWA's patron and the protector of its mission, perpetuating and expanding the refugee issue as a source of conflict against Israel. Here is a paradox: UNRWA, the United Nations agency that manages the Palestinian refugee issue, follows rules that contradict United States law and policy, and its practices result in perpetuating and multiplying the refugee problem rather than resolving it. Yet the U.S. Department of State gives unquestioning support to UNRWA's refugee designation rules[1], even on occasion defending them in detail. How can this be? For example, almost two million Palestinians who have long been settled in Jordan and have for decades enjoyed Jordanian citizenship[2], are routinely counted as "refugees" by UNRWA, and the State Department supports it. This, in spite of the fact that, under U.S. law, a person who has citizenship in the country where he resides, and enjoys the protection of that state, cannot lawfully be eligible for refugee status.[3] How can State justify this contradiction? Here is a second example: Another two million Palestinians already settled in the West Bank and Gaza, and who, by their own account, lived in the declared Palestinian state as its citizens under a Palestinian government, are registered as "refugees" by UNRWA.[4] By American legal standards, these Palestinians are "firmly settled" and therefore ineligible for "refugee" status[5]. Further, according to American policy reaffirmed by three Presidents, these Palestinians already reside in their own future state, the place where Palestinian refugees are meant to be settled.[6] Yet the State Department supports UNRWA's decision to count two million Palestinians well established in the West Bank and Gaza as "refugees," too. Here is a third example: Under U.S. laws and regulations, only an individual who was personally displaced, or is a spouse or an underage dependent of such an individual, can be eligible for refugee status or derivative refugee status.[7] Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are specifically not entitled to inherit refugee status merely because their ancestor was a refugee.[8] But under UNRWA practices, any descendant of a male refugee, no matter how many generations and decades have passed, is automatically entitled to be counted as a "refugee."[9] More than 95% of today's UNRWA "refugees," in fact, were not even alive when Israel was born in 1948; were never personally displaced by Israel's creation, and are listed by UNRWA as "refugees" only because of this peculiar practice of inheriting refugee status as a birthright. Amazingly, the State Department defends all this, sometimes with great specificity. In response to critics of the descendancy principle, for example, the State Department recently reported, with approval, that UNRWA is not the only UN agency following this inheritance rule; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) occasionally does, as well. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told Foreign Policy magazine on May 25, 2012, "For purposes of their operations, the U.S. government supports this guiding principle."[10] (State ignores that UNHCR grants inherited refugee status only occasionally and as a special exception, while UNRWA treats it as the normal practice, justifying 95% of its "refugee" designations.) The State Department is also inconsistent. If UNHCR were its standard, State would reject UNRWA's practice of counting Jordanian citizens as refugees. In not a single case does UNHCR count a person with citizenship as a refugee, while 40% of UNRWA's registrants are citizens of Jordan. In fact, UNHCR's authorizing statute, and the Refugee Convention that undergirds the agency, both explicitly forbid continuing "refugee" status when a person attains citizenship.[11] UNRWA's authorizing document does not. State is sanguine even about the fact that these UNRWA practices steadily inflate the number of alleged Palestinian refugees year after year, from 750,000 in 1950 to more than 5 million today, a sevenfold increase. "In protracted refugee situations, refugee groups experience natural population growth over time," State cheerfully affirmed in 2013.[12] The State Department has shown that it will resist any change in its policy toward the UNRWA practices that exacerbate and perpetuate the refugee problem. When Senator Mark Kirk introduced an amendment to the 2013 State Department Appropriations bill to force the Department to change, Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides fiercely objected:[13] "Legislation which would force the United States to make a public judgment on the number and status of Palestinian refugees would be viewed... as the United States acting to prejudge a final status issue and determine the outcome." This is the same State Department that, on more than 20 occasions during the Obama years, has ferociously and publicly castigated the government of Israel for constructing homes in disputed areas of Jerusalem and the West Bank, also a final status issue to be resolved between the parties. Apparently more Israeli homes hurt peace, but multiplying the number of refugees is fine. Nides said that any divergence from UNRWA's rules would "hurt our efforts to promote Middle East peace,....undercut our ability to act as a mediator and peace facilitator,... damage confidence between the parties, [and]...hurt our efforts to prevent the Palestinians from...pursuit of statehood via the United Nations." He continued that it would also "generate very strong negative reaction" because this is "one of the most sensitive final status issues" that "strikes a deep, emotional, chord," especially at this "particularly fragile...[and] sensitive time." It would, he claimed, "be seen as a diminution of support for the Palestinian people" and "put at risk the humanitarian needs of this large, poor, and vulnerable refugee group." And, he added, it would "risk a very negative and potentially destabilizing impact on key allies, particularly Jordan." This frightening Parade of Horribles was assembled by the State Department bureaus to scare away a compromise amendment that would leave UNRWA intact as a social service delivery agency, remove not one person from its beneficiary rolls, and cut not a dime from its budget. All the amendment had said, in effect, was that the UNRWA beneficiaries may be needy people deserving of assistance, but they are not "refugees." Yet those are the words State cannot bear to be uttered. The government of Israel would agree with Nides' assertion that "UNRWA serves as an important counterweight to extremist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah" and that "any void left by UNRWA would be likely be filled by terrorist elements." But supporting UNRWA's schools and hospitals, and its stabilizing role, does not require that the United States government continue to call UNRWA beneficiaries "refugees" when they are not. UNRWA's own Consolidated Eligibility & Registration Instructions do not require UNRWA beneficiaries to be classified as "refugees"-- its Section III.A.2 and Section III.B create classes of UNRWA beneficiaries not registered as "refugees" but who are nonetheless eligible for UNRWA services.[14] The sad reality is that the United States' Department of State does not want such simple reforms. The U.S. State Department has, instead, chosen instead to act as UNRWA's patron and the protector of its mission, perpetuating and expanding the refugee issue as a source of conflict against Israel. Steven J. Rosen is Director of the Washington Project of the Middle East Forum. [1] In a September 2013 statement to the Congressional Research Service, the State Department defended "United States' acceptance of UNRWA's method of recognizing refugees". Congressional Research Service, U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, July 3, 2014, p. 24. [2] Articles 3 and 9 of Jordan's Nationality Law No. 6 of 1954. [3] 8 USC 1101(a), INA 101(a) section 42. [4] "Where We Work," UNRWA. [5] Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1158(b)(2)(A)(vi) (2006), Section 208(b)(2)(A)(vi). [6] Obama; Clinton; Bush. [7] Section 207 of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. [8] Cf. Form I-730, the USCIS Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. [9] UNRWA's Consolidated Eligibility & Registration Instructions, Section III.A.1 [10] "Did the State Department just create 5 million Palestinian refugees?", Foreign Policy, May 25, 2012. [11] General Assembly Resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950, Sections 6 and 7; [12] Congressional Research Service, U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, July 3, 2014
1722 (Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa) and downtown Pensacola in 1754 (Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola). The exact size of the Luna colony is unknown. Worth predicts the site will be multiple city blocks. Elizabeth Benchley, director of the UWF division of Anthropology and Archaeology and of the Archaeology Institute, said access to the site is dependent on the neighborhood residents. UWF officials met with about 100 of the residents Wednesday night to reveal the historic significance of what they discovered and a desire to explore the neighborhood without disrupting their lives. The crowd responded enthusiastically to the news, and all six of the neighbors that spoke to the News Journal said they will permit UWF archaeologists to examine their property. Brief Chronology of Pensacola's History Starting With the Luna Settlement Pensacola History 1559 1583 1607 1631 1655 1679 1703 1727 1751 1775 1799 1823 1847 1559 A Spanish expedition from Veracruz, Mexico, led by Tristán de Luna y Arellano forms a colony in Pensacola and names it Santa María de Ochuse. The settlement is disbanded after two years. 1698 A Spanish expedition from Veracruz, Mexico, led by Andrés de Arriola forms a new settlement, this time at the future location of NAS Pensacola. The new settlement is named Presidio Santa María de Galve and consists of a fort, church and village. 1719 French forces capture Santa Maria de Galve during the War of the Quadruple Alliance. 1722 After the end of the War of the Quadruple Alliance, the Pensacola area is returned to Spanish control. A new presidio is established on Santa Rosa Island and named Isla de Santa Rosa, Punta de Sigüenza. 1752 Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa is destroyed by a hurricane. 1756 The Spanish settlement relocates and forms Presidio San Miguel de Panzacola in the future location of downtown Pensacola. 1763 Florida, including San Miguel de Panzacola, is transferred to British control after the end of the Seven Years War. Britain renames the location Pensacola and establishes it as capital of British West Florida. 1781 Spain captures Pensacola from the British in the Battle of Pensacola during the American Revolutionary War. 1783 Florida is officially transferred to Spain in 1783 at the close of the American Revolution via the Treaty of Paris. Florida becomes Spanish territory for the second time. 1814 During the War of 1812, British ships seek refuge in Pensacola Bay. United States General Andrew Jackson storms and captures Pensacola with 3,000 soldiers. Britain retreats and Pensacola returns to Spanish control. 1821 Florida is transferred to the United States via the Adams-Onis Treaty. Andrew Jackson takes possession of Florida on July 17, 1821, in Plaza Ferdinand VII in Pensacola. 1861 Florida secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy. The Battle of Santa Rosa Island occurs on Oct. 9, 1861, marking the first major Civil War battle in Florida. Union troops hold Fort Pickens for the entirety of the war. 1862 Pensacola surrenders to the Union army on May 10, 1862 as confederate troops evacuate. 1865 Florida formally surrenders to the Union on May 20, 1865. 1868 Florida is readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868. If neighbors grant his crew the access he covets, Worth said a significant portion of a 10-week archaeological field school this summer will be spent testing and excavating at the site. Worth and a small crew of students and staff will periodically check on the site and conduct small-scale projects in the spring semester, too. The collected artifacts will be curated in the archaeological lab. “All we have is the things that people made and left in the ground or disturbed in the ground, and from that is how we reconstruct these past cultures,” Worth said. “To me, one of the best things we could find are intact walls that bound interior and exterior and other things like that, that’ll give us clues to literally daily life inside one of these colony houses.” Worth is already clearing his next few summers to explore the oldest established European multi-year settlement. He said, “Wow” about a half dozen times when he first laid eyes on the artifacts collected by Garner on Oct. 30. The historical significance of the discovery still blows his mind two-and-a-half weeks later. “Every time I think about it deep, I get really excited,” Worth said. “It’s hard to believe this opportunity, this window, this site is finally here. Now not only do we have it, but we get to explore it.” Chapter 2: Years of research - and a little luck - lead to discovery Local historian Tom Garner read the translated version of "The Luna Papers" long ago and identified an urban downtown Pensacola neighborhood as one of the possible places Don Tristan de Luna established his colony from 1559-1561. Its close proximity to the two shipwrecks linked to the Luna expedition in Pensacola Bay only heightened his suspicion. Garner drove through that neighborhood on a fateful Oct. 2 afternoon when he noticed an unusual site that prompted him to step on the brake. "There was ground disturbed, so I – I think all archaeologists are nosy – see this ground that's been exposed and it's in a good spot, a likely candidate for the settlement for decades, and the ship wrecks are close by, so I thought, 'Well, I need to look at that lot,'" Garner said. "Then another part of me goes, 'I don't want to look at that lot.' I've got stuff to do, right? But I thought, 'No, I've got to look at the lot.' Garner walked over to the privately owned lot, where a bulldozed house once stood, and spotted what to an untrained eye amounted to garbage – a half rim of an olive jar. But Garner knew better. Tom Garner with assorted pottery sherds he originally found on the surface of the Luna settlement, including Spanish olive jar, lead glazed coarse earthenware, majolica, and incised and plain Native American pottery. (Photo: Special to the News Journal) Tom Garner with assorted pottery sherds he originally found on the surface of the Luna settlement, including Spanish olive jar, lead glazed coarse earthenware, majolica, and incised and plain Native American pottery. Special to the News Journal Norman Simons, the deceased former curator of the Pensacola Historical Museum in Old Christ Church and later the first curator of the T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum, taught Garner how to identify artifacts, and in 1983, Garner attended an archaeology field school at the University of West Florida. Judy Bense, UWF president since 2008, taught the class in which he learned professional archaeological methods. Garner immediately identified the sherd as that of a mid-16th century olive jar, and he contacted the UWF Archaeology Institute about his discovery. UWF then sought permission from the property owners to further investigate the property. The curious Garner returned to the lot three weeks later and found the olive jar rim undisturbed. He conducted a surface collection and discovered a large fragment of mid-16th century Columbia Plain majolica pottery. Confident he found the Luna colony site, Garner proceeded to conduct another three surface collections over the next week and discovered Spanish colonial and Native American artifacts. He brought his findings to the archaeological institute Oct. 30 to be examined by John Worth, associate professor of historical archaeology, Jan Lloyd, director of the archaeological lab, and Elizabeth Benchley, director of the division of anthropology and archaeology and director of the Archaeology Institute. "What we saw in front of us in the lab that day was an amazing assemblage of mid-16th century Spanish colonial period artifacts," said Worth, a renowned archaeologist and a 16th century historian of Spanish colonies in the Southeast. "These items were very specific to this time period. The university conducted fieldwork at this site in the mid-1980s, as have others since then, but no one had ever found diagnostics of the sort that Tom found on the surface. People have looked for this site for a long time." Sherds of Aztec tradition red filmed pottery found at the Luna settlement, two with traces of black painted designs, with a modeled face sherd discovered on the Emanuel Point I wreck, with scale. (Photo: Special to the News Journal) Garner described Worth's reaction as he examined the artifacts as priceless. "We lay the artifacts on trays and John comes in and he sits down and he looks at them, and he's like, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah' and after two or three minutes of looking at it and holding pieces and 'yeah, that's right,' he says 'Holy-moly,'" Garner said. "That was his exact quote, which I think is the best description of any archaeology site I've ever heard. There were quite a few 'Wows' thrown in there as well over the next half hour or so." Garner drove through the neighborhood at an opportune time with the property owners transitioning from tearing down a structure to building their new home. Worth said confirming access with the property owners proved challenging. The wife had a baby during that time period. UWF archaeologists and students arrived four consecutive days at the facility dressed for the field and anxiously waiting for the property owners to agree to the excavation. "Every day it was like, 'Have we heard?' 'No we haven't heard.' There was an email chain going, about a hundred emails, and texting all day long just trying to find out if we could go out," said Patty McMahon, a UWF grad assistant and the field director. Worth received the long-awaited call from the property owners at 10 a.m. Nov. 6, and he and his crew rushed over to the site within an hour. The first shovel test popped up another rim and once they dug under the surface top soil they found an abundance of mid-16th century Spanish pottery sherds. The property owners granted a five-day window to excavate, and the UWF crew shared the lot with the construction company. "We were out there literally sifting the back dirt of the trenches while workers were digging on the other end at the same time," Worth said. "It really worked well, and the key is the project is still moving forward, and we have information we wouldn't have otherwise." John Worth, associate professor of historical archaeology with UWF Department of Anthropology, looks at an artifact found at a recently discovered historic site that is the oldest established European multi-year settlement in the United States. The site was discovered in October by local historian Tom Garner when he noticed the rim of a mid-16th century olive jar that was uncovered by residential construction. (Photo: Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com) Garner said a countless number of individuals probably walked that same site prior to him and tossed or kicked aside the sherds. Evidence of the first multi-year European settlement in United States history laid there waiting to be discovered, and fortunately for the UWF Archaeological Institute, Garner pulled over that afternoon to inspect the bulldozed lot. "I know how important this is because all of these guys are smiling real big," Garner said of the UWF archaeologists. "I haven't been patted on the back so much in my entire life, like I have by these guys." Chapter 3: Neighbors excited to be part of Luna history A significant number of the neighbors already heard about the historic discovery of the Luna settlement through word of mouth and seeing archaeologists on site, but after University of West Florida President Judy Bense confirmed the rumor, the enthusiastic crowd cheered and clapped loud enough to be heard by anyone within a block radius. UWF officially announced discovery of the Luna colony Thursday morning in a press conference at T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum, but its president and those involved in the discovery decided to break the news to those who live on the site during a meeting the night before at Constant Coffee and Tea, 615 Scenic Highway. A crowd of about 100 filled the coffee shop to the brim. “All my life growing up I always said, Pensacola was the first settlement. I would never say St. Augustine was. I’d always say Pensacola was. And now guess what?” said 71-year-old Sherry Kennedy. Principal site investigator John Worth said St. Augustine still holds bragging rights as the oldest continuous settlement in the United States. Luna established the settlement in 1559 – six years before St. Augustine – but the colony lasted only into 1561. The Luna colony is arguably the first European settlement and unquestionably the oldest multi-year European settlement. John Worth, associate professor of historical archaeology with UWF Department of Anthropology, holds sherds from olive jars found at a recently discovered historic site that is the oldest established European multi-year settlement in the United States. The site was discovered in October by local historian Tom Garner when he noticed the rim of a mid-16th century olive jar that was uncovered by residential construction. (Photo: Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com) Worth said some historians will contend Juan Ponce de Leon, near Fort Myers in 1521, or Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon, near Brunswick, Ga., in 1526, established the first settlements in the United States. He said that is debatable, though. Those expeditions only lasted a few weeks at best and are yet to be discovered. When the crowd asked him Wednesday night if theirs is the oldest neighborhood in U.S. history, Worth said, “ Future excavations of the historic site by UWF archaeologists are dependent on the neighbors granting access to their private properties. The historical site is in an urban downtown neighborhood within view of the two uncovered shipwrecks linked to the Luna expedition in Pensacola Bay. “The property owners own the artifacts. They just do,” said Tom Garner, whose initial discovery of a mid-16th century olive jar rim Oct. 2 put this in motion. “It’ll be through their generosity, like the lot we just dug on. They generously said you can have these things, you can curate them.” The News Journal spoke to six of the neighbors Wednesday night, and they each said they will allow UWF archaeologists to examine their property for artifacts. John Worth, associate professor of historical archaeology with UWF Department of Anthropology, left, Jan Lloyd, UWF Archaeology Institute lab director, and local historian Tom Garner look look through artifacts found at a recently discovered historic site that is the oldest established European multi-year settlement in the United States. The site was discovered by Garner in October when he noticed the rim of a mid-16th century olive jar that was uncovered by residential construction. (Photo: Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com) Yvonne Bonifay Strouse already invited the UWF crew to her property. Her family first moved to Pensacola in the 1790s, and her house is nearly 100 years old. The 78-year-old Strouse said she heard about the Luna colony discovery when her first cousin, Harriett Allen, called and told her the news. “When I heard it, I was ecstatic. I got chill bumps,” Strouse said. Worth explained the history of the Luna settlement to the neighbors and then showed them pictures of a few of the artifacts discovered in the past two months at the site. “It’s absolutely fabulous,” said 76-year-old Shirley Gray, who moved into the neighborhood in 2003. “It’s very important. It’s about our history. It’s good for Pensacola. It’s good for the community. It’s great to know about. It’s great for West Florida. Just think of all the people. It’s wonderful.” Worth said the artifacts amount to mid-16th century Spanish garbage. He assured the neighbors there is no treasure to be found on their properties. The colonists nearly starved and traded any items of value to Native Americans for food. That garbage will potentially unlock a treasure of information, though, and with that in mind, Worth asked the neighbors to call the UWF Archaeological Institute before digging in their yards. Two neck sherds of early style Spanish olive jar found at the Luna settlement, with a partially complete early style olive jar with preserved stopper found on the Emanuel Point I wreck. (Photo: Special to the News Journal) “I tell my students archaeology is less like Indiana Jones and more like Sherlock Holmes. We’re after clues,” said Worth, associate professor of historical archaeology in the UWF Department of Anthropology. “I want to know who they were, what they looked like, what their culture was like, what they came with, what they ate and all of that is based on post holes and pits and in context undisturbed. That’s where we get our best information.” Worth encouraged the neighbors to be active in the discovery and stay connected by asking questions at the site or following updates on his blog and the university website. He and the other UWF officials promised to be accommodating and not interfere in their daily lives. “I think everybody’s excited to allow them onto their property, and it sounds like they’re very respectful of it. That’s the most important thing,” said Bonnie Peters, who moved into the neighborhood in 1995 and owns two properties there. When asked if she is concerned about individuals possibly trespassing on her property in search of artifacts, Peters said, “I think it’ll die down. I just can’t really anticipate that. It’s going to be weird. Who lives this situation?” Chapter 4: UWF Archaeology Program Profiles Dr. John Worth, Associate Professor of Anthropology (Photo: Special to the News Journal) JOHN WORTH Principal investigator John E. Worth is associate professor of historical archaeology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of West Florida, where he specializes in archaeology and ethnohistory focusing on the Spanish colonial era in the southeastern U.S. A Georgia native, Dr. Worth received his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Florida in 1992 and spent 15 years in public archaeology program administration in Georgia and Florida before becoming a member of the faculty at UWF in 2007. He is author of "Discovering Florida: First-Contact Narratives of Spanish Expeditions along the Lower Gulf Coast" (2014), "The Timucuan Chiefdoms of Spanish Florida" (1998), "The Struggle for the Georgia Coast" (1995 & 2007) and more than 150 other professional and lay publications and presented papers. Elizabeth Benchley, Director of the Division and the Archaeology Institute (Photo: Special to the News Journal) ELIZABETH BENCHLEY Archaeology Program Director Dr. Elizabeth D. Benchley is director of the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology and of the Archaeology Institute at the University of West Florida. Benchley manages the institute's resources to support the academic and research interests of the division's faculty, staff and students. Her local research focuses on the Spanish, British and American archaeology of the Pensacola area. She teaches courses in cultural resource management and writing in anthropology and she is active in public archaeology outreach. Benchley received her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she directed the archaeological research laboratory and managed the cultural resource management program for more than 20 years. She has authored hundreds of reports and monographs on her archaeological investigations in the Midwest and the Pensacola area. Tom Garner, Pensacola historian (Photo: Special to the News Journal) TOM GARNER Research assistant Tom Garner is a Pensacola native and a local historian with more than 30 years of historical research experience. He attended the archaeology field school at University of West Florida in 1983, which was then led by Dr. Judith Bense. After his time attending the field school he worked at UWF as an archaeology field and lab tech for several years on a number of historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in the Pensacola area. In 1986, he alerted UWF to the location of the 1698 settlement of Pensacola, Presidio Santa María de Galve, which was the first permanent settlement of Pensacola and 139 years after the Tristan de Luna settlement. Garner also contributed to the local community by founding the Pensacola Archaeological Society in 1985.Only one of last season's finalists opened the season with a win, pointing to a hotly contested competition in 2015/16. With the international break over there are loads of returning players - here's how all the squads shape up for Round 2 this weekend. Friday, 16 October 2015 Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers FC Coopers Stadium, Adelaide Kick-Off: 7:10 PM (Local) (7:40 PM (AEDT)) Referee: Chris Beath Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo Fourth Official: Daniel Elder TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT), SBS TWO from 7:30pm AEDT and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: 891 ABC Adelaide & ABC Local Radio South Australia, 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, 666 ABC Canberra, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/ALeagueLIVERadio). 5RTI (Adelaide) Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvWSW To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.PABLO SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (c), 12.Mark OCHIENG, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Mate DUGANDZIC, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 19.Eli BABALJ, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 30.John SOLARI (gk) One to be omitted Ins: 21.Tarek ELRICH (returns from international duty) Outs: nil Unavailable: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (knee – 6 weeks), 4.Iacopo LA ROCCA (foot – 4 weeks ), 11.Bruce DJITE (groin – 3 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – 2 weeks), 24.Bruce KAMAU (hip – 2 weeks) Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Romeo CASTELEN, 8.DIMAS, 9.Federico PIOVACCARI, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 21.Jacob PEPPER, 22.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 33.Josh MACDONALD Two to be omitted Ins: 15.Kearyn BACCUS (promoted), 17.ALBERTO (promoted) Outs: nil Unavailable: 2.Shannon COLE (groin – 1 week), 10.Brendon SANTALAB (thigh – 2 weeks), 14.Gol Gol MEHBRATU (hamstring – 2 weeks) Saturday, 17 October 2015 Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC Hunter Stadium, Newcastle Kick-Off: 5:15 PM (Local) (5:15 PM (AEDT)) Referee: Peter Green Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal Fourth Official: Ben Williams TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: 1233 Newcastle, 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvSYD To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (c), 6.Cameron WATSON, 7.Enver ALIVODIC, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Milos TRIFUNOVIC, 10.LEONARDO, 11.Labinot HALITI, 14.Mitch COOPER, 15.Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 23.David CARNEY, 24.Nick COWBURN, 25.Brandon LUNDY, 29.Andrew PAWIAK Two to be omitted Ins: 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC (promoted), 24.Nick COWBURN (promoted), 25.Brandon LUNDY (promoted), 29.Andrew PAWIAK (promoted) Outs: 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (suspended – 1 week), 13.Lee KI-JE (virus – 1 week) Unavailable: nil Sydney FC Squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Rob STAMBOLZIEV, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES. Two to be omitted Ins: 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (return from international duty), 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV (promoted) Outs: nil Unavailable: 7.Andrew HOOLE (suspended – 1 week), 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite) Saturday, 17 October 2015 Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City FC Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Kick-Off: 7:30 PM (Local) (7:30 PM (AEDT)) Referee: Jarred Gillett Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald Assistant Referee 2: Luke Brennan Fourth Official: Jonathan Barreiro TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: 774 ABC Melbourne & ABC Local Radio Victoria, Grandstand Digital Perth & Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.SEN Radio (Melbourne) Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #MelbDerby To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 2.Jason GERIA, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.Matthieu DELPIERRE, 18.Dylan MURNANE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 24.Thomas DENG Two to be omitted Ins: 2.Jason GERIA (returns from international duty), 3.Scott GALLOWAY (returns from international duty), 11.Connor PAIN (returns from international duty), 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (returns from international duty), 21.Carl VALERI (returns from injury) Outs: 6.Leigh BROXHAM (suspended – 1 week), 19.George HOWARD, 32.Stefan NIGRO Unavailable: 4.Nick ANSELL (injury), 10.Archie THOMPSON (injury) Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 8.Aaron MOOY, 10.Robert KOREN, 11.Michael ZULLO, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 17.Wade DEKKER, 18.Paulo RETRE, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO (c), 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA, 34.Stefan ZINNI, 36.Matt MILLER Two to be omitted Ins: 21.Stefan MAUK (returns from international duty), 36.Matt MILLER (promoted) Outs: nil Unavailable: 3.Aaron HUGHES (calf – 1-2 weeks), 5.Ivan FRANJIC (quad – 4-6 weeks), 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee – 1 week), 9.Harry NOVILLO (hamstring – 3-4 weeks), 14.James BROWN (foot – TBC), 19.Ben GARUCCIO (foot – 1 week), 26.Marc MARINO (knee – 3 months) Sunday, 18 October 2015 Brisbane Roar FC v Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Kick-Off: 4:00 PM (Local) (5:00 PM (AEDT)) Referee: Ben Williams Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay Fourth Official: Alex King TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 4.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane & ABC Local Radio Qld, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvCCM To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 5.Corey BROWN, 6.Jerome POLENZ, 7.CORONA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 13.Jade NORTH (c), 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 16.Devante CLUT, 17.Matt McKAY, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 32.George LAMBADARIDIS Two to be omitted Ins: 15.James DONACHIE (return from quad injury), 17.Matt McKAY (return from international duty) Outs: nil Unavailable: 3.Shane STEFANUTTO (calf – 4 weeks ), 10.HENRIQUE (knee – 2 months ), 11.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (foot – 2 weeks), 33.Luke DE VERE (quad – 2 months) Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Anthony CACERES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Liam REDDY (gk), 16.Liam ROSE 18.Glen TRIFIRO, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 20.Anthony KALIK, 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING, 23.Eddy BOSNAR Two to be omitted Ins: 1.Paul IZZO (GK) (return from international duty), 3.Josh ROSE (return from injury), 16.Liam ROSE (return from international duty), 19.Josh BINGHAM (promoted) Outs: 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO (hamstring – 1 week), 30.Adam PEARCE (not selected) Unavailable: nil Sunday, 18 October 2015 Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix nib Stadium, Perth Kick-Off: 4:00 PM (Local) (7:00 PM (AEDT)) Referee: Stephen Lucas Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero Fourth Official: Adam Fielding TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand) Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvWEL To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Jacob COLLARD, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA (c), 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Hagi GLIGOR, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ, 23.Michael THWAITE Two to be omitted Ins: 4.Jacob COLLARD (promoted), 13.Diogo FERREIRA (promoted) Outs: nil Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (knee – 2 weeks), 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite) Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Justin GULLEY, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 5.Troy DANASKOS, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Jeffrey SARPONG, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 11.Kwabena APPIAH, 12.Blake Powell, 13.Albert RIERA, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Roy KRISHNA Two to be omitted Ins: 3.Justin GULLEY (promoted), 5.Troy DANASKOS (promoted), 6.Dylan FOX (promoted) Outs: 22.Andrew DURANTE (calf – 1-3 weeks) Unavailable: nilIn their campaigning, and since coming into power, the Trudeau Liberals have talked a lot about wanting to grow the economy to better serve Canada’s middle class. And they have pinned their economic hopes largely on a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure plan to be rolled out over the next decade. The fundamental problem, however, is that only a small fraction of this spending is earmarked for infrastructure projects that will actually improve Canada’s economy. In principle, sound infrastructure projects can improve the economy’s productive capacity. A needed road, bridge, railway or port that helps move people, goods and resources more efficiently — and at lower cost — can help build a more prosperous economy. In practice, however, not all of the federal government’s infrastructure projects fit this bill. Of Ottawa’s nearly $100 billion in planned infrastructure spending, a mere 10.6 per cent is earmarked for transportation and trade projects. Put differently, only 11 cents of every dollar of new federal infrastructure spending will be spent on improving the country’s core public infrastructure. So where’s the rest of the money going? So-called “green” and “social” infrastructure including pet projects such as parks, cultural institutions and recreational centres. Although these initiatives may be appreciated by the communities in which they are built, there’s no evidence such spending will improve economic growth. In fact, the federal government may end up hurting the economy by focusing on such projects, especially if the productivity gains of the infrastructure projects are less than the economic costs caused by the taxes required
It is precisely because I don’t want to only legislate; I want to administrate. I’ve had real administrative experience that makes me ready to lead the state. Sadly, we have a state where many are disenfranchised. Among those who can vote, more and more are rejecting the existing political structure and parties. Electoral participation is often below 50% (in the last gubernatorial election only 39% of registered voters turned out to pull the lever). The focus of my campaign is on those who are last. Engaging them is not only morally the right thing to do—it is also the way to win. Wealthy Wall Street-ers hold our nation and our state hostage. We need an economic revolution that benefits and transforms life for all of us who are not among the grotesquely rich. We need to undo the cruel policies that plunge a huge portion of people in New Jersey into abject poverty. As progressives we must put the last first. The ‘Last are First’ Lens In all honesty, for those who trust in the neoliberal agenda, I have no interest in seeking “converts.” For those feeling obligated to support the “lesser of two evils” with their vote, I reject their approach. The suggestion that there are only two serious choices in this state, and so we must choose the lesser wrong, is just not true. The problem is that no one starts with ‘the last’—with the disenfranchised who do not vote—and that is exactly where my campaign is digging in its heels. The last are first lens is the filter I will use to view all my decision-making as governor. When I apply that lens what do I see? I see children in poverty—438,000 kids in New Jersey live in households that bring in less than $35,000 a year. I see affordable housing voucher programs that have been depleted—reduced by millions of dollars each year while rents only keep rising. I see apartheid towns—too expensive for poor working people who are largely minority. I see those same rich towns complaining about the high cost of public school in the cities—even though they have shirked their responsibility to increase affordable housing at a rate that would allow poor families to enjoy the benefit of their own public schools. All this can change. When I use the last are first lens I see African-Americans locked up for smoking marijuana while white millennials in Colorado are making a decent living off legal weed. I see African-Americans stripped of the right to vote while they are in jail. I see our society treating these same inmates as indentured servants, obliged to work for peanuts while their families on the outside suffer in poverty, because a breadwinner is locked away. All this must change. When I use the last are first lens I see half-a-million undocumented immigrants living in fear. They are New Jersey residents who desire to be fully respected, fully recognized and entitled to the rights of our state. A driver’s license should be available to all residents, regardless of immigration status; it will be safer for all of us. When I use the last are first lens I see we need a $15/hour minimum wage, legalized cannabis, more housing vouchers, affordable childcare centers in all neighborhoods, after-school programs for all, places for poor kids to go swimming, less-expensive and more available public transportation... these are the kinds of issues that are morally right to focus on, and, they will motivate the 61% who didn’t turn out to vote in the last gubernatorial election. But, just because they are essential issues to focus on, in terms of putting the last first, meeting people where they are at, they are not the key issues that will transform the state for all of us. If we care for those who are last, and are able to win their true support, we can actually focus on three central goals that will bring about truly revolutionary change in our state to benefit the commons. Three Key Issues that Will Open the Door to an Economic Revolution in New Jersey 1. State-based Single-Payer Medicare for All The most important issue for the transformation of New Jersey, something that will benefit all of us, in terms of health care but also in terms of economic transformation, is Medicare for All. With an employer payroll tax of 6%, and an employee payroll tax of 2%, we could pay for cradle-to-grave Medicare for All with no premiums, no deductibles, no co-pays, mental health, dental health and prescription drugs included. And, most significantly, by moving to NJ Medicare for All, we would kick off an economic revolution in our state. Without the burden of exorbitant health insurance costs we’d lower municipal budgets by 15-20%, we’d see college costs go down, we could tackle paying for tuition for all (no longer paying for the health insurance of faculty and staff) and we’d see property taxes and rents reduced. Without the burden of exorbitant health insurance costs we could pay our state pension contributions in full—instead of constantly pushing it off. If we have NJ Medicare for All, employers could easily pay $15/hour now, employees wouldn’t be cut off at 28 hours, and businesses would flock to the state—no longer concerned about the unregulated rates of private health insurance. We are trapped right now in a fiscal morass largely resulting from being at the mercy of the private insurance industry and its bedfellows in the two-party duopoly. 2. Progressive Taxation New Jersey currently has only seven brackets in its tax system. Other wealthy states have ten or more. Currently those earning more than $500,000 a year are all taxed at a marginal rate of less than 9%. We need more brackets—and higher rates at the top. Those growing grotesquely wealthy off disaster capitalism should be expected to kick back significantly more to the state, for the sake of all of us. 3. A Public Bank Currently we invest our taxes and other holdings in hedge funds on Wall Street that turn every $1 into $10 that are loaned out, around the world. Our money goes, in unregulated fashion, to the creation of bombs, to building pipelines, and to clear-cutting and mining. We, in turn, get a small return on our investment. It’s time for New Jersey to create a not-for-profit state-run bank with public oversight, to turn every $1 into $10 for the creation of renewable energy, for infrastructure improvements to our water system, for mass transit improvements, and for low-interest college loans. Let’s see our money go to the creation of loans that serve the needs and priorities of the common good in our state. The Progressive Movement Must Foster a Well-Spring from Below The middle and upper socio-economic layers of our society tend to be committed to the two-party duopoly. Even those among them who identify as ‘progressive’ often support the Democratic Party because they’re stuck in a ‘lesser of two evils’ view of the world. If the Greens will start at the bottom, addressing those who have no more illusions about the system or its establishment parties; if the Greens will share real progressive values that are good for ‘the last’—and that are good for all of us—we will create a wellspring from below (instead of relying on trickle-down from above). This new kind of politics has the potential to thoroughly shake up the moribund status quo. It’s generating excitement around the state of New Jersey. And it has more and more campaign supporters saying: “Let’s win this thing!” We can do it. peace, seth Seth Kaper-Dale is a pastor, social-justice activist and community organizer who has a proven record of getting things done as an administrator and crafter of legislation. He is known on a national level through his leadership on defending families facing deportation. He has been married to Rev. Stephanie Kaper-Dale for 20 years and they have three daughters. Seth’s favorite word is beauty. Life on this earth should be beautiful for all. To get involved in his campaign go to kaperdaleforgovernor.comPeter Schiff seems destined to be the last one in the liberty movement to get on board with Bitcoin. Yesterday he put out a video (see below) offering up his criticisms and explaining why he believes gold is still superior. While he is starting to recognize that Bitcoin was designed to mimic the purest form of the gold standard and even improve on it in some ways, he claims that it still lacks the key ingredient that makes money work ― intrinsic value. Now I’m not a fan of the intrinsic value concept as it seems to imply that value is inherent in certain physical objects. Of course that isn’t true, value is originates in the human mind and nowhere else. Nonetheless, Peter uses the concept of intrinsic value to speak to gold’s use value. That is, the fact that gold is useful in jewelry, ornamentation, chemistry, etc. In contrast, Bitcoin has no use value. The only reason people acquire it is because they hope they can sell it to someone else later for the same or greater amount of money. Hence, Peter concludes that without intrinsic (use) value, Bitcoin can’t be anything other than a bubble. Here’s where he’s going wrong. While it’s true that gold is demanded for use in jewelry, medical, or industrial applications, that demand doesn’t completely account for the current price of gold. According to Investopedia, in 2010, jewelry accounted for 54% of the demand for gold with another 12% attributed to medical and industrial uses. But what about the other 34 percent? That demand comes from investors who purchase it in hope of selling it to someone else later for the same or greater amount of money. Exactly what Peter criticizes Bitcoin for. If the price of gold were to fall to it’s “intrinsic” value, Peter would loose a lot of money on his gold holdings. It’s precisely the belief that gold can be sold at a later date for equal or greater value that accounts for it trading well above its industrial use value. Investors (including myself) don’t own gold because we want to melt it down and make a necklace. Most of us aren’t coin collectors. We hold it solely because of it’s reputation as a store of value and a hedge against inflation. If investors were to sour on gold, it would drop by at least 34% in price. Notice Bitcoin isn’t much different. People purchase it simply because they believe they will be able to sell it for equal or greater value at a later date. Unlike gold, however, this phenomenon accounts for 100% of the value of Bitcoin instead of just 34%. But does that difference really matter? Not really. It just means Bitcoin will drop much further if people sour on it as a store of value. But note that, like gold, there isn’t anything suggesting such an outcome is inevitable. Finally, I think there is a nuance that many people miss. Because it is both cheaper and faster to send value using Bitcoin compared to the alternatives, it has tremendous potential as a payment system. To use it as a payment system people will need to first acquire bitcoins. Hence, there is a potential use value that will be closely tied to transaction volume. So if Bitcoin evolves down this path, the percentage of it’s value that is derived from a belief that others will accept it in exchange will necessarily be less than 100% … just like gold. Once, you get your head around this concept, I think you have no choice but to conclude that Bitcoin really is gold 2.0. Time to get on board Peter.WSDOT will start spending its federal high-speed rail money this fall when construction begins on new tracks to improve Amtrak Cascades service. WSDOT signed an agreement Thursday with BNSF Railway that “clears the way for work to begin on rail improvements that ultimately will generate hundreds of jobs and improve Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland,” WSDOT announced in a news release. WSDOT will start with about $400 million of the $781 million it received in high-speed rail stimulus money from the Federal Railroad Administration. Here’s more from WSDOT: Building bypass tracks and making upgrades to existing tracks shared by Amtrak and BNSF will result in faster and more reliable Amtrak Cascades service while also allowing BNSF the ability to provide world-class freight rail service. The ARRA money will also be used to purchase new locomotives and passenger coaches. The agreement allows BNSF to move forward on projects, worth nearly $400 million, that are expected to generate 1,000 jobs through 2017. The first rail-improvement project will occur in Everett, where two new tracks will be built for freight trains entering the rail terminal, taking them out of the way of oncoming passenger trains. These added tracks will eliminate a substantial rail-yard bottleneck and the work is expected to support about 30 local jobs. WSDOT reports that ridership on Amtrak Cascades increased in the second quarter of this year to the highest for that quarter since service began in 1994. After an unusually rough start in the first three months of this year, ridership for April, May and June between Vancouver and Eugene soared to 231,194 passengers – the highest second-quarter totals since the service started in 1994. Second-quarter ridership numbers increased 8 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2010, with 16,550 new passengers. June had the highest ridership increase of the three months with 78,839 passengers, up 10 percent over the previous June. Ridership on Amtrak Cascades declined 10 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the same quarter a year earlier. The unusually high number of mudslides that cancelled many trains contributed significantly to the decrease, as well as the absence of the tourism created last year by the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. A list of projects can be found here.The Royal Cruiser of the Queen Amidala in the Episode I of Star Wars. It's was the main ship in the Phantom Menace, where the main characters (Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi Wan, Captain Panaka, Jar Jar and Anakin) use it to travel by the galaxy and save Naboo from the hands of the droid army. I designed it as a set, with playable features like a door for astromechanic droids, access to the interior, landing gear and a boarding ramp. The model is 62 studs long and 24 studs wide (without the engines). It's a very solid building and swooshable. I think it would be nice to see this ship as a Lego set, since this ship has never been released in minifig scale and it's a complex model beause of its sleek form.Visitors continue to visit after Garden of the Gods shooting COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Visitors continue to hike, bike and drive through Garden of the Gods Monday night after Sunday's shooting. A woman was shot in the back while riding on a motorcycle through the park after it had closed Sunday. She had been riding on the back of the motorcycle while her husband drove. When the couple got home, police say the husband checked his wife's back and found gunshot wounds. He then drove her to the hospital. Colorado Springs police launched an investigation after the victim showed up at the hospital early Monday morning. Police say the couple passed another driver going through the park, and the unknown driver began following the couple. At some point, the victim felt a burning sensation on her back. The victim is expected to survive. Police said it would be a tough case to crack because the victim wasn't able to provide a description of the shooter or the vehicle because it was dark. Despite the incident, there was a steady stream of visitors into the park after dark on Monday. People said the incident was cause for concern, but it would not deter them from exploring the park. "It's a little concerning," said Audrey Pasvogel. "It's kind of scary but I feel like it's, like stuff is happening all over the world right now so I wouldn't be nervous going places," said Katherine Ward. If you have any information about this incident, you're asked to call CSPD at (719) 444-7000.How Chris Christie Used A Manufactured Terrorist Plot To Boost His Political Career from the own-plots dept In a 2012 speech to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Christie recalled his success in the “uncovering of a plot to kill American servicemen and women,” telling a packed audience at the New York Hilton Hotel that he helped send to prison a group of “Muslim men practicing with semi-automatic weapons and screaming about jihad against the infidels.” Today, both the Republican Governors Association and the New Jersey Republican Party list the Fort Dix case as “one of Christie’s finest moments” under his biography. Delivering Shain’s sentence, the culmination of a terrorism case that had lasted over two years, Judge Kugler said, “It’s not my place or desire at this time to review all the evidence … Suffice to say this defendant was in the middle of this plot. I’m realistic, I remember that they weren’t being taped 24 hours a day seven days a week.” Brushing off the lack of direct evidence, Kugler added: “That there isn’t more explicit evidence does not concern me and obviously didn’t concern the jury either … I cannot deter this defendant, because of his belief system, from further crimes.” Omar apparently felt more comfortable approaching Tatar than the Duka brothers and began courting the 23-year-old. He told him of the plot to attack Fort Dix and openly asked for his help: he needed the pizza delivery map. Tatar, who had since left his father’s pizza shop and moved to Philadelphia, was working at a 7-Eleven when Sgt. Dean Dandridge of the Philadelphia Police Department came by for his daily coffee. On November 15, 2006, Tatar told Dandridge that he believed Omar might be planning a terrorist attack. Neither Tatar, nor Dandridge, had any way of knowing that Omar was an informant. Dandridge left Tatar’s information with the FBI, expecting the bureau’s agents would be in touch soon. For three weeks, Tatar waited for the FBI to contact him. In the meantime, he recorded at least one conversation with Omar, so that when the authorities did reach out, he would have information to give them. For a few years now, we've been covering the proliferation of the FBI's own plots, in which they basically set up a fake terrorist plot, and use their own undercover agents or (preferably) informants (generally former criminals who get paid and/or favors such as reduced sentences) to go out seeking young and gullible individuals to convince to "join" the plot (a plot that has no connection to reality). Then they stage a big arrest and an even bigger press conference about how they "stopped" a terrorist threat. We've written about examples of this over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Apparently, a huge chunk of the FBI's resources goes toward manufacturing these kinds of fake plots, which help generate scary headlines, but rarely seem to do much other than putting young, gullible folks in jail.The Intercept has now published a story of one of these cases that is so extreme and so ridiculous that it should make you angry. It is the story of the "Fort Dix Five" -- a case that Chris Christie led the prosecution of while he was a US Attorney before becoming governor. This case was part of his fame and his "tough on terror" bona fides. Now, as Christie prepares his presidential campaign announcement, the case against the Fort Dix Five is a big part of his biography:Except, as the Intercept writeup details, despite putting three brothers away for life, there was no evidence against them. There was one friend of theirs, who liked to make up stories and brag a lot, who talked about an idea to shoot people at Fort Dix, but no indication at all that the other participants (mainly the three Duka brothers) knew about this plot at all. And then the fifth member of the "Fort Dix Five", upon hearing about the "plot", immediately. The Intercept has also published a short film about the Duka brothers (narrated by their younger brother) that is worth watching:The video shows clips of the footage the FBI got on the brothers, none of which ever has them discussing a plot against Fort Dix -- and actually tends to just show them messing around or even pushing back while the two FBI informants pushed them to get more involved in plots, which the brothers mostly ignored. Even the story of how the brothers came to the attention of the FBI is somewhat ridiculous. After a ski vacation in the Poconos, in which the brothers also did some horseback riding and went to a shooting range, they tried to make a DVD of some of the video they shot to give to everyone who went on the trip as a memento. In the video, while at the shooting range, some of the brothers say "allahu akbar" leading the guy making the DVDs at Circuit City to alert the feds.Despite the two FBI informants pushing to try to get the brothers engaged in a plot for a year -- mainly by pressuring the one show off guy who kept saying he had talked to them about it -- there is no evidence of any actual plot whatsoever. One of the informants and the one show off guy both admit that the brothers had no role in the plot. Eventually, the FBI set up a fake gun buy -- as the brothers were fans of guns, but as non-US citizens couldn't buy guns legally. It's pretty clear in going through with the plan to buy some guns, they broke the law, but it had nothing to do with a terrorist plot at all, and so the charges left them baffled. But in the end it didn't matter:Equally as disturbing is the way they included the fifth member of the "Fort Dix Five," Serdar Tatar, a friend of the Dukas who the braggart guy, Mohamad Shnewer, dragged into the "plot" to prove to the FBI informant that he could pull together people to pull off an attack. Except Tatar -- who wanted to become a police officer -- went to the police instead. And still got included in the charges.The full story and the video are infuriating. Yes, the FBI should be looking out for people looking to perform acts of terrorism and such, but in case after case after case we don't see them doing that. We see them setting up elaborate theater productions. In many of those cases, after lots of pressure, at the very least, the gullible and troubled individuals make some sort of statement to agree to participate in the "plot." This case -- as high profile as it is -- is even more exceptional in that 4 of the 5 participants never agreed to take part in any plot at all, with three of them not even knowing there was a plot.The story is a complete travesty and raises serious questions about what the FBI and Chris Christie were doing, other than padding their resumes. Filed Under: chris christie, doj, duka brothers, entrapment, fbi, fort dix, fort dix five, own plot, terrorismA Little Philosophy Is A Dangerous Thing Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow do not succeed in murdering philosophy in their recent book The Grand Design. Nor do they even try. Perhaps this is because they believe, as they blandly announce on the first page, that philosophy is already dead. But the joke's on them. If philosophy were a big burlap bag, then these writers seem to have delivered us their book higgledy-piggledy from somewhere in the dark within. Other commentators, on this blog (here and here), and elsewhere, have focused on what Hawking and Mlodinow have to say about physics, about God and about the relation between them. I begin, where the authors' themselves begin, with a different issue: the apparent conflict between appearance and reality. (John Haldane anticipates my criticisms in his review.) "The naive view of reality," Hawking and Mlodinow assert, "is not compatible with modern physics." That seems about right. Take the table in front of you. It's brown, rectangular, and solid. Well, is it really? Since the time of Newton, we have been told that actually the table, like all matter, is a colorless cloud of particles moving in empty space. There is no table, really, and there is no color; color is produced by the action of particles on your nervous system. Of course there isn't really a nervous system either. There isn't really a you. We are non-things in a world devoid of any of the properties "we" seem to experience it as having. Notice that this problem — how to reconcile what physics teaches us about how things are with our ordinary conception of ourselves and the world we live in — is a problem that arises out of the practice of physics itself. In this sense it arises in physics. (Indeed, it was in the writings of natural philosophers, aka physicists, such as Galileo and Newton, that the problem finds its finest articulation.) But notice, too, that it is not a problem that physics can solve by simply doing more physics. It's a problem about physics, after all. And this is the hallmark of philosophical problems, which usually take the form of a distinctive and urgent puzzlement about what we take for granted. Philosophical problems arise when we are not sure how to go on, or not sure what we've been doing all along, and they arise in any domain whatsoever (neuroscience, biology, religion, politics, morality, and, of course, physics). Can breakthroughs in physics solve the philosophical problem of making sense of the meaning of physics itself? Do the "recent discoveries" and "theoretical advances" of the last few decades enable us to frame new approaches to the question of the apparent incompatibility of common sense and modern physics, as Hawking and Mlodinow seem to suggest? They offer us "model-dependent realism." As they explain: "According to model-dependent realism it is pointless to ask whether a model is real, only whether it agrees with observation. If there are two models that both agree with observation … then one cannot say that one is more real than another. One can use whichever model is convenient in the situation under consideration." And they assert, not very persuasively, that model-dependent realism "short-circuits" debates about the nature of reality. But what is observation, anyway? It's what we learn by looking, inspecting, measuring. In this sense, observations are themselves a kind of judgment. And judgments of this sort are usually the answers to the questions we ask, given what interests us, what we are curious about, and what we expect to be the case, that is, given our theoretical framework. I can find out whether there are brick houses on Elm Street by looking. In a different context, I can test whether my eyes are working by checking whether I see the brick houses. We don't have any grip on the idea of what we can see (or measure, or detect) apart from our prior understanding of what there is. It may be that Hawking and Mlodinow, like the Viennese positivists in the 1930s who first developed the ideas that Hawking and Mlodinow seem to have rediscovered, take for granted that neuroscience, or perhaps the language of pure experience, does provide a theory-neutral way of describing our observations. As they write: "Model-dependent realism applies not only to scientific models but also to the conscious and subconscious mental models we all create in order to interpret and understand the everyday world." Like Carnap then, and like Hume before him, Hawking and Mlodinow seem to think that the world of common sense is a kind of theoretical construct that is developed in each of us, in the brain, or in the mind, on the basis of the data in the sensory stimulation that bombards us. They are in good company, to be sure. But to judge from the text, Hawking and Mlodinow don't seem to have any sense of the history, the pre-history, or indeed the lively present of the ideas they are tossing around. Model-dependent realism is not an up-to-date physics solution to a problem once relegated to philosophy; it's a rehash of philosophical ideas whose real interest seems to elude the authors. Hard problems sometimes have simple solutions. But no service is rendered when smart people pretend that hard problems are simple.The ITER magnet system will be the largest and most integrated superconducting magnet system ever built.Ten thousand tonnes of magnets, with a combined stored magnetic energy of 51 Gigajoules (GJ), will produce the magnetic fields that will initiate, confine, shape and control the ITER plasma. Manufactured from niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) or niobium-titanium (Nb-Ti), the magnets become superconducting when cooled with supercritical helium in the range of 4 Kelvin (-269 °C).Superconducting magnets are able to carry higher current and produce stronger magnetic field than conventional counterparts. They also consume less power and are cheaper to operate... making superconducting magnet technology the only option for ITER's huge magnet systems.ITER uses high-performance, internally cooled superconductors called "cable-in-conduit conductors," in which bundled superconducting strands—mixed with copper—are cabled together and contained in a structural steel jacket.For the most technically challenging raw material—the niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting strands used in ITER's toroidal field and central solenoid magnet systems—500 metric tons of strand (more than 100,000 km) were produced by nine suppliers in a procurement effort that lasted from 2008 to 2015. This large-scale industrial effort demanded a ramp-up of global production capacity from 15 metric tons/year to 100 metric tons/year, as well as the introduction of three new strand suppliers.that’s not what’s at issue here. In the D.C. Circuit matter, which has driven Sen. Reid to the nuclear option, Republicans are not raising ideological objections to Obama’s nominees — as Democrats did when they filibustered Bush’s picks. Their objection, rather, is that these judges are not needed, because the workload of the court is so light. In fact, speaking of hypocrisy, Democrats, in the minority in the 109th Congress, used that very rationale to urge Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter in a July 2006 letter not to confirm any additional Bush nominees to the D.C. Circuit — and none were confirmed after that letter from Sens. Leahy, Feinstein, Schumer, and Durbin was sent, all of whom are still on the committee. Yet now, when the court’s workload is even lighter, Democrats cry foul when Republicans point that out. In fact, look at the numbers from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In 2006, written decisions per active judge had declined by 17 percent since 1997. Since 2006 they have declined another 27 percent. In 2006, the total number of appeals filed had declined by 10 percent since 1997. Since 2006 they have declined another 18 percent. The Administrative Office ranks the 12 circuits using various caseload benchmarks: 2013 is the 17th straight year that the office has ranked the D.C. Circuit last on both appeals being filed and appeals being terminated. There simply is no need for more judges on the D.C. Circuit when those there now do not have enough to do — unless, of course, the aim is to have a bench more sympathetic to rule by presidential diktat, which may be precisely why Sen. Reid wants to go nuclear. Yesterday, the Senate voted 52-48 to effectively abolish the filibuster for nominations to federal offices, such as federal appeals courts and trial courts, and cabinet departments. It used a tactic Senate Democrats once insisted violated Senate rules. As Reason Magazine notes, "The Senate struck down a rule requiring 60 votes to cut off a filibuster of an appeals court judicial nominations, voting 52-48 along party lines to disregard it, effectively overturning more than 200 years of Senate precedent, not only on the judicial filibuster, as the Washington Post notes, but by moving to change the chamber’s rules without the traditional two-thirds majority in support, something previously done only to alter relatively minor rules. It’s rules all the way down." (University of Chicago law professor Will Baude says that, technically, the Senate voted to ignore the current filibuster rule," rather than “change it," since it was procedurally barred from changing the rule. He says it did so because a "vote to actually change the rule would also have been in contradiction to Senate Rule V, which requires 'one day’s notice in writing, specifying precisely the rule or part proposed to be suspended, modified, or amended, and the purpose thereof.'" That, he says, "may be relevant to the constitutionality of what the majority did," although it is " extremely unlikely " that the courts would accept jurisdiction over such a politically thorny constitutional challenge.) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says the filibuster remains intact for legislation and Supreme Court nominations. But if the Senate can abolish certain filibusters by a simple majority vote, then it can abolish all of them and presumably will do so whenever it becomes ideologically expedient. After all, when he extracted a deal from the GOP limiting the filibuster's use for executive nominations earlier this year, Reid claimed he had no intent to go further to change the rules regarding judicial filibusters. He assured the public: “We’re not talking about changing the filibuster rules that relates to nominations for judges” (Press Briefing, 7/11/13) and “We’re not touching judges. That’s what they were talking about. This is not judges.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 7/14/13). Needless to say, these assurances proved to be about as accurate as the President Obama's since-broken promise that "if you like your health plan, you can keep it." This rule change may have profound implications for the courts, resulting in future court packing. Abolishing the filibuster for legislation would eliminate any possible check on court packing through statutory expansion of the number of judges in a future Congress dominated by the same party. The Constitution does not define the number of judges or courts, and leaves that to Congress by statute. Eventually, America could end up with twice as many appeals court judges or more, as each party increases the number and stacks the courts with its own people when it gains full control. On contested points, the law could end up meaning nothing more than who holds the presidency and the Congress today, and no one will respect it as anything more than that. If that happens, it could increase extremism, unrest and disrespect for the rule of law. The stated justification behind the virtual abolition of the filibuster is the principle of majority rule and the idea the minority should not be able to block what a majority of the public wants. Never mind that the whole purpose of having two Houses of Congress and a presidential veto is partly to prevent bad ideas backed by a majority -- especially a temporary majority -- from becoming law without a broad consensus. Reason Magazine, most of whose staff voted for Obama in 2008 but not in 2012, argues that "The ability of a minority to thwart the agenda and will of the party in power is a feature, not a bug, of the constitutional order." But this stated rationale is hard to square with the fact the Senate Majority Leader is perfectly happy to ignore the principle of majority rule whenever it is convenient, such as his unprecedented use of the "filling the tree" tactic for preventing popular amendments to "must-pass" legislation, or legislation whose very name makes voting against the legislation politically impossible, regardless of the legislation's flaws, such as the Violence Against Women Act, which contained unnecessary, little-known provisions that violated free speech and other constitutional provisions. As Wikipedia notes, "filling the tree is the process in which a piece of legislation in the Senate has all of its possible opportunities for amendments filled by the majority leader." Reid has used this abusive tactic far more than any of his predecessors. Reid uses this tactic to fill up all potential amendment slots with trivial or minor amendments supported by opponents of any meaningful amendments to a bill, leaving no opportunity to consider substantive or meaningful amendments. The practical effect is to allow red-state Democrats in the Senate who pretended to be moderates to get elected, to avoid voting against moderate or conservative amendments that would be overwhelmingly popular with their constituents. Occasionally, Wikipedia notes, "Senators will reject a bill if they feel they have not been given an adequate opportunity to offer amendments. For example, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine voted against the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill although she largely supported the substance of the bill, citing the filling of the amendment tree by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada." But such rejections are rare. Another possible ramification of the filibuster being abolished is that independent agencies may get much more partisan and ideologically biased, creating more ideological battles and controversies. Transforming the Senate into a simple majoritarian body for the purpose of nominees eliminates all leverage for the minority party to insist on its own nominees to independent agencies. The greatest leverage the minority has to secure confirmation of its nominees to bipartisan boards is to insist they be paired with the nominees of the majority. That leverage is completely eliminated if the majority can confirm nominees to bipartisan boards with a simple majority vote. Furthermore, the ability of the minority to extend debate on nominees acts as the backstop on who the president chooses to fill these slots. Thus, if the "nuclear option" occurs, the eventual result is likely to be an even more ideologically lopsided FTC, FCC, NRC, NLRB, etc. An interesting analysis of the vote is provided by attorney Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank not affiliated with either the GOP or the Democrats, and which has been deeply critical of the policies of both President George W. Bush and President Obama (Reputedly, more Cato Institute staff voted for John Kerry than George W. Bush in 2004, although Romney likely outpolled Obama among libertarians in 2012, according to Reason Magazine). As Pilon notes, filibustering of judicial nominees is not new to this administration. The Bush administration initially sent "11 appellate court nominees" to “the Senate Judiciary Committee, two of them Democrats — a gesture from Bush. Those two were immediately confirmed. The rest would not even get hearings. Instead, Democrats," who controlled the Senate until 2003 "began calling for 'litmus tests' — explicit demands that nominees state their views on everything from abortion to affirmative action to Congress’s unquestioned power to regulate anything and everything." Then, after "the 2002 midterm elections, which switched control of the Senate back to the Republicans," Senate Democrats began the unprecedented filibustering of appellate-court nominations. The most egregious case was that of Miguel Estrada... First nominated by President Bush in May 2001, Estrada finally withdrew his name from further consideration some
ural curves that all lined up beautifully in virtual space and hired a sculptor who carved the shapes in foam, which were then scanned back into the computer. "Mostly what we were doing that made it possible to do this Krypton form language is that we were pushing 3D models out to rapid prototyping," McDowell recalls. "We had every 3D printer... tied up for about three months just carving or printing full-scale parts for the sets." This included human-scale sleep bays, doorways, and other exotic forms that were built directly from digital models. But for the really large organic architectural shapes, they prototyped slices of ribbing that were combined with strips of wood constructed by a team trained as boatbuilders, then covered with concrete. "It's one of those spaces I really like where you've got one foot in the 14th century and one in the 21st century, so the forms themselves are being driven by the computer but the construction methodology is completely traditional," McDowell says. Stand-Ins Vancouver doubled for Metropolis in Man of Steel. The Daily Planet, where Clark Kent works with girlfriend Lois Lane (Amy Adams), is under siege by the current publishing crisis and has the look of a '70s modern-style steel and glass structure. The interior was inspired by the Los Angeles Times newsroom. Meanwhile Plano, Ill., located just outside Chicago, doubles for Smallville, the rural throwback where Clark Kent grows up and is in the throes of bankruptcy, foreclosure, and unemployment. Plano made a particularly good choice because its layout allowed the producers to stage one of the movie's biggest action sequences there. "Plano's a one-sided town, with the other side being the railway track," McDowell says. "We built the other side so we could blow it up [during Zod's attack]. And we blocked one road, which is a T-junction into the main street, and filled it with the façade of a Walmart. We built a full-scale train and pushed it right into the middle of the store." Language At one point Snyder wanted to create a whole Kryptonian language, so McDowell hired anthropology professor Christine Schreyer, who teaches fantasy languages such as Klingon and Na'vi at the University of British Columbia. She constructed a graphical language built around objects instead of personal pronouns, and with the help of Goyer, the filmmakers incorporated words from the Superman canon. "It's real and has meaning and can be translated," McDowell says. "We imagined that 'S' is hope and the glyph for the House of El. It's the equivalent of a coat of arms. You see it emblazoned everywhere. It's carved on spaceships, on weaponry, and on the outside of robots." CG or Not CG Despite the need for fancy effects, Snyder prefers shooting as much in camera as possible. So Man of Steel was a sophisticated hybrid (utilizing both Weta Digital and Weta Workshop), in which the director was the mediator in deciding what to shoot in reality and what to make CG. "I think of him saving people on the oil rig," McDowell says. "That was a full 360-degree set built in a parking lot in Vancouver laced with practical effects, but it was steel so you could set the whole thing on fire and then reset. "I've yet to be on a film that is set up in the way I would imagine that [James] Cameron and [Peter] Jackson are doing," McDowell says, referring to fully digital creations such as Avatar and The Hobbit. "But we learn a great deal every film, and I was happy that we got a really holistic art department working and we produced enormous amounts of visual information and designed the landscapes of all the postproduction components that would not have been done in the old days." Bill Desowitz is the owner of the Immersed in Movies blog.The Penguins have been supremely fortunate to offer their fans two of the game’s all-time legends in Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. But it takes more than a single superstar to win Cups, they need other greats to support them. These players as well as some of the legends in the team’s storied past fill out the THW list of Pittsburgh Penguins best players in team history. 10. Paul Coffey The ultimate offensive-defenseman, Paul Coffey put up offensive numbers most of the game’s best forwards are unable to reach in the present era. Coffey came from the Edmonton Oilers, a team full of Hall-of-Famers, that dominated the 1980’s. He helped Mario Lemieux change the Penguins from an underachieving franchise into a Stanley Cup contender. Coffey composed two 100-point seasons as a Penguins player and was a key component capturing the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Coffey is the only other defensemen besides Bobby Orr to average better than a point per game for his career. The best offensive-defenseman in NHL history next to Orr has to make the list. 9. Tom Barrasso Next to Lemieux, Tom Barrasso was just as important in bringing two Stanley Cups to Pittsburgh. No team can win back-to-back Cups without stellar goaltending. Barrasso could’ve easily won the Conn Smythe Trophy when the Penguins won their second Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1991-92, Barrasso won 11 straight playoff games while sweeping the Boston Bruins in the Conference Finals and Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. Barrasso holds the Penguins’ record for most wins in a season with 43, and he played when they still had ties at the end of overtime. That same year when he had 43 wins, the Penguins won the Presidents’ Trophy with the league’s best record. 8. Evgeni Malkin Malkin was the first Russian in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy and the only other Penguins player to do so besides Lemieux. In 2009, the year the Penguins won their third Stanley Cup in franchise history, Malkin led the Penguins and playoffs in scoring with 34 points. Malkin has accomplished so much in his young career. As a Penguins player, Malkin has received every award imaginable. He has won the Art Ross Trophy twice, a Hart Memorial Trophy and Calder Trophy to go along with his Conn Smythe. Arguably, Malkin is a more decorated player than Sidney Crosby. However, he has not shouldered as much responsibility as Crosby on and off the ice as the face of the Penguins. Malkin has the most flare of any player in the NHL and is another in a long line of gifted players the city of Pittsburgh has been blessed to watch on a nightly basis. If he finishes his career in Pittsburgh, Malkin will surely move his way to the top of the all-time Penguins greats as he continues to mature as a player and a person. 7. Jean Pronovost Pronovost was one of the most consistent Penguins to ever lace up the skates at The Igloo. From 1973-1978, Pronovost averaged over 40 goals a season, scoring a career-best 52 in 1975-76. He was the first player in franchise history to eclipse the 50-goal plateau and also the first player in franchise history to reach 100 points in a season. Pronovost is third on the Penguins all-time goal scoring list with 316 goals, and is sixth on the Penguins all-time scoring list with 603 points in 753 games. Additionally, Pronovost holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in Penguins’ history by scoring six seconds into a contest in 1976. He also took the Penguins to the playoffs in five of his 10 seasons as a Penguins’ forward. 6. Rick Kehoe Kehoe is the highest scorer in franchise history not named Jagr or Lemieux. He gave the same quality of production every single year for the Penguins. Kehoe scored 25 goals or more in his first nine seasons with the Penguins. He played 11 seasons overall. He played six games in his final season and scored 18 goals in his second-to-last season. These were the only two years he failed to surpass the 25-goal mark. Kehoe tallied 55 goals in 1980-81 and held the mark for most goals scored in a season by a Penguins player. He was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in that same season. He ended his Penguins career as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer until Lemieux surpassed his mark some years later. Kehoe was one of the first true snipers in Penguins franchise history. 5. Kevin Stevens Kevin Stevens was the most dominant power-forward to ever play for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He only played five full seasons for the Penguins, but those were very productive years that will never be forgotten. Whenever Lemieux missed time due to injuries, Stevens always stepped up and carried the team on his shoulders. Not only did he have two 50-goal seasons with the Penguins, but he also made sure no one messed with his center, Mario Lemieux. Stevens average nearly 44 goals in his five seasons with the Penguins and racked up 219 goals in that span, all while battling some personal demons. He was the best U.S. born left-winger of his generation, the best left-winger the Penguins have ever seen and the best left-winger Lemieux ever played alongside. If not for a tragic injury in the 1992-93 playoffs, Stevens would more than likely be higher on the list of all-time Penguins greats. He was one of the vocal leaders of the Penguins during their first two Cups and Stevens always backed up what he said. 4. Ron Francis ‘Ronnie Franchise’ played only six-plus seasons with the Penguins but is still the fourth leading scorer in franchise history. He may be the most underrated player to ever play in the NHL. Many people do not know that Francis is also the fourth highest point getter in NHL history with 1,798 points. Traded to the Penguins in a blockbuster deal at the 1990-91 trade deadline, Francis was a magical playmaker. He provided plenty of leadership and guidance when the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in the beginning of the 1990’s. In Game 3 of the 1992 Division Finals, Mario Lemieux broke his wrist from a slash provided by New York Ranger’s forward Adam Graves. The Penguins were down in the series 2-1 to the 1992 Presidents’ Trophy winners going into game 4 without Lemieux. Down 4-2 in Game 4, Francis put the Penguins on his back recording a hat trick and scoring the game-winner in overtime propelling the Penguins to a six-game series win. This win began an 11-game playoff win-streak which ended in the Pens hoisting their second Stanley Cup. Francis was also an experienced veteran who provided fantastic leadership for the Penguins. 3. Sidney Crosby ‘Sid the Kid’ has accomplished just about everything at the age of 25. Not counting what he has already accomplished as a Penguins player, Crosby has won a World Juniors Championship Gold Medal and Olympic Gold Medal. He is the youngest NHL Captain to ever hoist the Stanley Cup and the only other Captain to do so besides Lemieux in franchise history. He holds the franchise record for most points in a rookie season with 102. The Penguins drafting Crosby #1 overall in 2005 single-handedly brought the team and their fan base back to life after the Penguins had some of the lowest attendance figures in the league. He is already the fifth highest point scorer in franchise history having never played a full season for the Penguins. By the end of the 2012-13 season, Crosby should be the third leading scorer in franchise history. Crosby — like Malkin, Jagr and Lemieux — has a Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy on his mantle. Crosby has the potential to challenge Jagr as the second best Penguins player ever if he plays his entire career in Pittsburgh. 2. Jaromir Jagr Jagr may not be a fan favorite in the city of Pittsburgh, but he was an unbelievable talent. There is no question that he was the best player to ever throw on a black and gold sweater aside from Lemieux. After scoring 27 goals in his rookie season in which the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, Jagr never scored less than 30 goals in a season with the Penguins. One would think that Lemieux owns every scoring record to be had by a Penguins player. Jagr actually scored the most game-winning goals by any Penguins goal-scorer in franchise history with 78. This is four more GW goals than Lemieux scored in his career for the Penguins. Jags was known for his timely goal scoring right from the get-go of his career. At the age of 18, he cashed in on some huge overtime goals in the playoffs while the Penguins were on their way to back-to-back Stanley Cups. Jagr scored some of the most memorable goals in Penguins franchise history as well. In Game 1 of the 1991-92 Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, Jagr scored an unbelievable goal when he dangled all five Blackhawks and slid a backhand under Ed Belfour. This goal helped the Penguins overcome a 4-1 third period deficit and the Penguins ended up stealing Game 1, 5-4. When Lemieux retired for the first time, Jagr’s play in the mid to late 90’s would be as comparable to Lemieux’s as any player from that time period would be able to mimic. Jagr is eighth all-time in NHL scoring [now second behind only Gretzky] and the highest scoring player from the “clutching and grabbing” era. He not only is the second best player to ever play for the Penguins’ franchise, but he is one of the greatest hockey players to ever lace up the skates. 1. Mario Lemieux ‘Le Magnifique’ is the greatest player to put on a Penguins sweater and the greatest player to ever play in the NHL. Before his second stint in the NHL, he had the highest points per game average in the history of the league. Mario is at the top of every individual scoring statistic in Penguins franchise history. Lemieux tallied 690 goals, 1,033 assists and totaled 1,723 points in 915 games. He also didn’t have the luxury of playing alongside a team of Hall-of-Famers for a decade as Wayne Gretzky did with the Edmonton Oilers. Lemieux transformed the Penguins organization into what it has become today. The Penguins were the laughing stock of the league in 1984 when Lemieux was drafted and he made the organization relevant again. He is also the sole cause for digging the franchise out of financial misfortune and making the franchise one of the top in the game today. The game of hockey at an amateur level has thrived in the surrounding communities of Pittsburgh due to Lemieux’s influence. He has done just as much on the ice as he has done off it for the Pittsburgh Penguins. No sports figure in the history of sports has been more important to a single organization as Lemieux has been to the Penguins. With everything Lemieux has accomplished, he is one of the most humble human beings anyone will ever meet. Lemieux will never ignore any individual who crosses in his path and always goes out of his way to acknowledge someone knowing what he means to the city of Pittsburgh and the fans that he has around the world. There will never be another player or person like Mario Lemieux. No one will ever top him on the list of greatest Penguins. We should all be thankful for those of us who were fortunate enough to witness the magical play of Mario Lemieux. – – Written by former THW contributor Justin Glock and originally published Aug. 27, 2012.The Vatican Bank is under media fire as reports emerge that Italian prosecutors suspect it of laundering Sicilian mafia bosses’ riches. The Institute for Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican Bank, has so far refused to disclose details of an account held by a priest in connection with a money laundering and fraud investigation. Father Ninni Treppiedi was sacked from serving as a priest after a series of church funds transactions made by his parish came to anti-mafia prosecutors’ attention this spring. The dealings, involving millions of euro, date back to 2007-2009. Prosecutors suspect Treppiedi was involved in money-laundering operations linked to Matteo Messina Denaro, a Mafia Godfather on the run. The cleric’s former post in Aclamo, near Trapani, is said to be the richest parish in the Mafia stronghold of Sicily. Trapani prosecutor Marcello Viola made the request to disclose Treppiedi’s account details over six weeks ago. But the Vatican, though confirming the request has been received, maintains the issue is not mafia-related. “The letter the Vatican received on May 9 did not speak of any money laundering or mafia issues. It contained concerns over shortages and fraud made by ecclesiastical authorities in the Diocese of Trapani,” the Vatican spokesman told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Monday. The first reports on the scandal emerged in the Italian media two weeks after the head of the Vatican Bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, was ousted after receiving a unanimous vote of no-confidence from bank overseers. The banker is under investigation for another case of alleged money laundering. But there is speculation that the actual reason behind the no-confidence vote is that Tedeschi was aware of possible mafia links and leaked names and accounts details to police. The new media buzz does not add up to the Vatican’s gravitas. Earlier in the week, the office had to deny that Pope Benedict’s butler is being treated “as a scapegoat” in the so-called “Vatileaks case.” Butler Paolo Gabriele is still being questioned over the passing to whistleblowers of sensitive documents revealing corruption in the Vatican’s business deals with Italian companies. Gabriele could face up to eight years in prison if convicted.by Bonk's Mullet and Capital Gains Meanwhile, Bobby Ryan already nailed his audition at Jersey Boys. 1st Period 16:35 - Jason Spezza does his patented non-shot, out-wait the goalie, and throw it into the slot move. The puck caroms off a defender to Hemsky, who is faced with a relatively open net, but he's robbed by the King and Iron. 10:24 - Clarke MacArthur drops the puck back to Kyle Turris who patiently skates through the slot, and has room over Lundqvist up high, but unlike the Fiddler, the puck is not Roofed. 9:26 - Mika Zibanejad lays a hit that frees the puck up for Michalek, who springs Hemsky on a partial breakway. Hemsky holds on to the puck for five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes and tries to skate the puck right into Lundqvist as he crashes over top of him. 8:35 - Erik Condra delivers a perfect saucer pass to J.G. Pageau, who gets stuffed by Lundqvist in tight. Erik Condra continues with his relentless pursuit to find the scoresheet...and love. Phantom of the Condera 7:15 - Mark Stone takes a feed from MacArthur on a 3-on-2 and unleashes a Wicked wrister top-corner. 1-0 Sens. "Somewhere...under the crossbar." 2:47 - Phillips tries to glove down a puck popped up the air, but bobbles it directly to Rick Nash, giving him a breakaway. Robin Lehner stops him. 2:37 - Before I can even come up with a Broadway reference for the previous play, Zibanejad gets free in the slot off an offensive zone faceoff and he beats Lundqvist high glove. 2-0 Sens. I dreamed a dream of pucks gone by...Lundqvist. 2nd Period 14:42 - Martin St. Louis' breakaway attempt is stifled by the stick of Erik Karlsson. I've never heard of it, but in my research I found a play called "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and that couldn't possibly be about anyone other than Erik Karlsson. 14:35 - With Derick Brassard deep in the crease, Zuccarrello tips in a John Moore shot top corner. Despite protestation from Robin Lehner, there's no call on the play and the Rangers pull the game within 2-1. 12:20 - Previously wary about taking a 3 goal lead, the Senators decide it's safe to score again. An Erik Karlsson shot from the point results in a scramble in front, where Spezza digs out a Grease-y goal. 3-1 Sens "You're 3-1 that I want." 8:21 - One of the Staals (Jeff maybe?), gets a weak one past Lehner's glove, who may have been screened by Cody Ceci. Upon further review, it was tipped by Mats Zuccarello again. 3-2. I haven't been this upset since they cancelled Cats. 0:07 - Brian Boyle and Erik Karlsson get tied up in the crease, resulting in Lehner giving Boyle a blocker punch to the back. You'd think Boyle would have already learned to stay away from Karlsson Before we go to the third, I recommend seeing the musical Once. It's lovely. Okay, let's get back to face-punching. 3rd Period 10:52 - On a 3-on-2, Zuccarello gifts Brassard with a wide open net, but he fans on the shot. Defensive hero Jason Spezza clears the puck lying in the crease. 5:50 - Ottawa spends about 5 minutes running around in their defensive end with their heads cut off. Here's ABBA with their heads cut off. Okay that was poorly integrated but Mamma Mia is this picture is hilarious or what? 5:23 - Karlsson tries to skate the puck out of his own end and turns the puck over, resulting in a scramble in the crease. Karlsson and Dominic Moore get in a bit of a scrap. This makes it two games in a row that Karlsson's gotten into a tussle, which isn't surprising, given that Karlsson can't be too happy playing meaningless games with his team out of it down the stretch. He's got an ego to protect and he's going to stand up for himself. This contrasts with Karlsson's usual method of protecting his ego with hairspray. 3:11 - Chris Neil hits Marc Staal with what I, the objective observer, deem to be a clean shoulder-on-shoulder hit. Both Zuccarello and Pouliot disapprove of Neil's actions, causing a 10 man hug session before Marc Staal comes in to defend himself. During the madness, Zack Smith coddles Zuccarello like a newborn baby, while Chris Neil slowly unfolds a serviette and tucks it into the front of his jersey, waiting for a scrap. Unfortunately for Chris, nobody obliges, but the moral here is that Neil and Smith prove to be more annoying than door-to-door missionaries. The Book of MacLean says "Thou shalt play Chris Neil in the final two minutes with a lead" 1:23 - Mike Hoffman unleashes an enormous clapper alone in the slot, but he gets Statue of Liberty glove saved by Lundqvist. 0:03 - Zuccarello centers the puck to Stepan but Robin Lehner stuffs him with the pad to win the game, winning the goaltending battle against Lundqvist. A new King is born. Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa na Lehnaaaaaaaaaaaa Closing Thoughts I severely overestimated my knowledge of Broadway plays before I took on this task. But the Sens won 3-2. More importantly, the Leafs eliminated themselves from playoff contention tonight! Let's dance. Congratulations on making it this far. Last night's game was torture, so I thought I'd lighten the mood with something a little different tonight.We're at game 78 and your Ottawa Senators are sitting in 24th place, but as they say on Broadway, "the show must go on even if you just lost 7-4 to a geographical rival the night before..." or something like that! And how fitting that the Senators are on Broadway tonight to take on the New York Rangers. Will the Sens lie down on Broadway? Stay tuned to find out in our special Broadway-themed game summary!Henrik "the King" Lundqvist gets the start for New York, while Robin "the total maniac" Lehner gets the start for Ottawa. With Bobby Ryan out of the lineup for the rest of the year with a sports hernia, Mark Stone continues his audition in the top six next to Turris and MacArthur.On 10 December 2014 – human rights day – Edward Snowden appeared by video link at an event organised by Amnesty International, le Monde, Mediaparte and Arte in Paris. The event, which was simultaneously translated, marks the first time Edward Snowden has spoken live to an audience in France. Reacting to the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report into CIA torture programmes, Edward Snowden told his audience that: The things that we did as a result of this programme are inexcusable crimes. And what we see which is I think quite dangerous in the United States debate which is happening right now is that proponents of the torture programme are saying that even though there are international obligations to prosecute these – because they are serious crimes – torture cannot be justified under international law. It simply cannot be justified on the basis of emergency circumstances or the orders of higher government officials. That does not excuse you of liability for a crime. And yet we see this being argued as precisely that case, which threatens to overturn the standards we set at the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II. This is deeply corrosive, not just to the moral authority of the United States and the west more broadly, but the standard rule of law that is applied around the world. If the United States can allow its officials to torture and not hold them to account, what does this mean for governments of much more authoritarian states? What does this mean for governments in Asia, in Africa and elswhere around the world? A video and full transcript follows below How is your security situation? My security’s great. I live a fairly normal life, I ride the Moscow underground when I go about day to day. The only difference between then and now is that I’m not living in my home and I spend a lot more time working than I did previously. I spend a lot of time working with the research communities and particularly the technical side of internet standards, to talk about how we can improve security for everyone around the world, regardless of what national laws they live under. Beyond that I also do a lot of work with activism and advocacy, which is quite new to me because before I was part of the structure of government, and now to be on the outside trying to reform government is a very different change of perspective. But it’s very fulfilling and I enjoy this work very much. What has changed since you blew the whistle? What I have seen has changed in the time time since I came forward is that public opinion and public awareness has changed dramatically across the world. Every country, every climate, in every time zone. And this is significant because I didn’t want to change the world, I didn’t want to change the policies of my government, I simply believed that within a representative democracy our officials are elected to represent the people, not a particular institution and not a particular class, but the public broadly. And they can only do so on the basis of our votes, on the basis of what we believe our values as a society are. When programmes and institutions of government begin to happen increasingly in secret, we begin to divorce ourselves from the operations of government, we begin to be shut out of understanding our society and being able to cast informed votes. Ultimately in a democracy the power of government depends on the consent of the governed. Its legitimacy is drawn from the idea that we the people direct its operations and cast our votes. If we don’t understand the broad policies and powers and programmes that they claim to be within their domain and the directions they take in their relations with the world, that which they do against us and that which they do in our name, we are no longer partners to government, we’ve become subjects of government and I think that that’s something the public deserves to know about. We’ve begun to understand this and I think there’s been a fairly broad change. If we see a study done recently in Canada that broadly looked at internet users around the world. In a representative sample, they found that 60% of internet users around the world have heard about the revelations of last year and, of those 40% have taken changes around the world to make their lives more secure. That’s roughly 702 million people – individual citizens, different nationalities – who are now more secure and better protected in their communications, in their political expressions, in their personal reading habits and their associations with friends around the world. Does awareness really translate into action? The beginning is the change in mindset. The idea is that when people begin to understand things, things start to change slowly, politically, over time. Nothing changes over the course of a month, nothing changes over the course of a year, but we see increasingly within the European Union, the United States and other places that courts are also beginning to question these programmes. We have, in the European Union, the European Court of Justice struck down the data retention directive. In the United States, the President appointed two panels to look at these programmes and say are they necessary, are they proportionate and are they effective – do they work? Every time this programmes have been reviewed, we have learned that they have never stopped an imminent terrorist attack. What this provides is a platform, a foundation for us to credibly review the value of these programmes and the costs they impose on society, and to decide do we really want to scarifice this great measure of our privacy, of our liberty – to look at books, to associate with friends – without having it intercepted, recorded and analysed in secret and held for longer and longer periods of time. What I can say is that while we’re still living through this today, and while in fact it’s grown and gotten worse in many countries in the western world, including the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom in particular, we’ve also seen it beginning to be challenged. And I very strongly believe that once this challenge begins, over the span of history, over the span of the next decade, we will win. Because people will not accept a world in which everything we do is judged, regardless of the rightfulness or the wrongfulness of that action. The problem is not that government is investigating terrorists. The problem is not that we are concerned for national security and we want to monitor some foreign militant group. The problem is when we invent and put into place technological systems that watch whole populations instead of individual suspects. Today that is the nature of those programmes, they cannot operate today, as they are employed, without intercepting everyone’s communications. They do not have a selective interception capability, as of today – and this is also the case within France. Is it the fact of surveillance which is a problem, or just its scale? The departure of the last decade in the way that intelligence agencies within the United States and outside have applied their surveillance authorities is that they have moved from a targeted basis, which is when I as an intelligence analyst have some reasonable suspicion that this individual is involved in wrongdoing because they’re a computer hacker targeting nuclear power plants or they’re an agent of a foreign government trying to break into an embassy’s email accounts or they’re a terrorist trying to cause violence. I would go out and use this as the seed of an investigation; I would go out and compromise their systems of communication, the ones that are used exclusively by them – their cellular phone, their computer. This has changed over the last decade, in the wake of 9/11 in the United States, to what is an untargeted “bulk collection” programme, as the government calls it. Civil society calls this “mass surveillance” instead of “bulk collection”, but even if we accept the term bulk collection on its face, what it implies is that rather than intercepting only the communications of those who are suspected of wrongdoing, we are now collecting in bulk the entirety of everyone in society’s communications and applying algorithms, we are applying “selectors” to what they call the haystack of an entire population’s communications. Which is making decisions about who they are, what they’re doing and how the government feels about their population. We’ve seen instances in the past year, in for example the Huffington Post, where the National Security Agency in the United States has monitored the pornography viewing habits of people whose political views they consider extreme or radical but who were known to be unassociated with actual violence. They were treating these individuals as terrorists, as people who had to be discredited and using their private lives, their sexual activities, their associations to discredit them in public on the basis of the political views that they hold. We’ve seen increasingly over the past year – including just yesterday with the release of the torture report – that when we begin changing our values, in secret, when we begin changing the nature of the activities of state security organisations without any public accountability, it leads to a slippery slope where even if the intent is to put good purposes to what they call necessary ends, over the space of a very few years you find that ordinary and innocent individuals hav been treated in a terrible way as a result. What is your reaction to the Torture Report? I worked at the CIA as an actual officer of the government during the closing years of the torture and rendition programme. I was not personally involved with it but many in the agency, they talk about the concerns they had about these programmes. So I had my own suspicions and of course I was aware of what had been released in the press but the Senate investigation and the report they have released is extraordinary for a number of reasons. I could not help but be deeply saddened and, to a great extent, angered, by what I read. The things that we did as a result of this programme are inexcusable crimes. And what we see which is I think quite dangerous in the United States debate which is happening right now is that proponents of the torture programme are saying that even though there are international obligations to prosecute these – because they are serious crimes – torture cannot be justified under international law. It simply cannot be justified on the basis of emergency circumstances or the orders of higher government officials. That does not excuse you of liability for a crime. And yet we see this being argued as precisely that case, which threatens to overturn the standards we set at the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II. This is deeply corrosive, not just to the moral authority of the United States and the west more broadly, but the standard rule of law that is applied around the world. If the United States can allow its officials to torture and not hold them to account, what does this mean for governments of much more authoritarian states? What does this mean for governments in Asia, in Africa and elswhere around the world? If we can run a rendition – a kidnapping and detention programme, a torture programme – keep it secret for years and when it is revealed hold no-one to account, what does this mean for the future direction of our society? For the rule of law? For the accountability of senior officials? How can we hold the smallest officials in government to account of the law if we are willing to make broad exceptions for the most senior officials? And when we talk about what we saw with these programmes – we saw individuals who actually lost their lives as a result of detention, as a result of the treatment they received under the torture programme. The fact that individuals actually lost their lives, they died after being chained to a concrete floor in an unheated room half naked and that rather than the officials responsible for this behaviour being prosecuted, he actually received a monetary bonus from the Central Intelligence Agency of $2500. These are things that leave a stain on the moral authority of the United States government and if we do not prosecute them, if we do not investigate and hold them to account, we cannot move forward as a society. Is the publication of the report a good sign for American democracy? I would argue that it’s actually quite sad news. Because within the report, which I understand is quite long so the media has not fully read and digested all of it, there actually were whistleblowers who sought to come forward and reveal this behaviour – and they failed. We see medical doctors who said that these were extraordinary procedures that were not medically necessary, yet they did forced feedings through men’s rectums. We saw obviously the application of torture techniques such as waterboarding, applied hypothermia, sleep deprivation for 180 hours. Individuals who viewed the torture were demoralised by it, they thought it was wrong and they shared these views with their colleagues. There were even people who were moved to the point of tears. There were people who indicated they would leave these sites and would not serve there because they were opposed to these programmes. We saw people who, when seeing videos, lost faith in the very mission that they had. But ultimately you are right, the programme did not end despite these protests and you have to ask why. Why, despite the knowledge of all of these indiviuduals who disapproved of the programmes, who resisted the programmes did they not stop? The report actually provides an answer to that. We see that the leadership of the Central Intelligence Agency was contacted by these individuals, these officers, who protested, who broke down in tears, who said that these programmes probably were not legal. And they questioned not only the legality of these programmes but the effectivenes of them. The highest official in the CIA’s counterterrorism apparatus, Jose Rodriguez, sent in official reports – they put this in writing, which is what the Senate reported on – saying that these questions, these concerns, these protests from officers of the government who said this is not legal, this is wrong, this will come back to cause problems for us in the future. He said that “such language is not helpful” and demanded that they stop placing [complaints] in official channels. The reason this programme did not stop is not because officers in the Central Intelligence Agency were not aware it was wrong. They knew. It was because the public were not aware it was wrong. This programme ended not when CIA officers protested within the agency, this programme stopped when newspapers told the public of what we had done in secret without their knowledge. Is the United States in a moral crisis? I think so. The Senate’s report is a strong step forward in terms of acknowledging the reality of what we had done. But this does nothing in terms of holding the officials who ordered this behaviour and the officers who directly engaged in torture themselves to account for what is criminal behaviour. If we can argue that torture is justified, that these serious crimes are justified in this circumstance or that circumstance because they have a positive effect, if we can say torture helped here so it’s ok, what could we not justify? I mean, how different is torture, in regards to the horror of the crime, compared to assault or rape? A government could say that rape has a positive effect because
mind sees. Intellect knows only by way of categories, memory, and concepts. When we halt that process of conceiving and keep perception in its simplest form at the point of contact, this intuitive intelligence sees everything again as a child but with a meditator’s understanding. Because we have primed that intelligence to observe the three characteristics, it can liberate itself from the delusion of mistaken identity and its possession of the psychophysical organism. This body, this heart, this mind, is not me, not mine, and do not in themselves constitute a self. Going Slowly In the Discourse on How to Establish Mindfulness, the Buddha discusses mindfully doing such things as looking, dressing, grooming, eating, and so on. Performing these actions slowly and deliberately sharpens our attentiveness and makes “the way things are” easier to perceive, much like slowing down a film. As we slow down a film, we see things we don’t usually see, like the flick of a frog’s tongue as it catches a fly. In the same way, the more we slow down movement, the more easily we perceive how the body, heart, and mind interact. Progress of Insight The Mahasi vipassana technique has the power to guide a meditator through the classic stages of the insight knowledges (vipassana ñana). These are the insights that lead to the first direct experience of nibbana, known as stream-entry (sotapanna). In the Theravada system, the whole process is repeated four times to attain the path and fruit of the once-returner (sakadagami), the non-returner (anagami), and the arahat, or enlightened being. Mahasi explains this process in clear detail in his book The Progress of Insight.DEMIN LIU (WWW.MOLGRAPHICS.COM)Walking across a precisely folded DNA landscape, a teeny tiny robot picks up a molecular payload, drops it off at a defined delivery address, then heads off to retrieve and sort more molecules. This is not the opening scene of a new sci-fi movie, it’s the outcome of a very real bioengineering project reported today (September 14) in Science. What’s more, these robots find and sort the molecules without human micromanagement. “The design of the robots is incredibly elegant.... It has great simplicity, but the robots can nevertheless do non-trivial things,” says computer scientist John Reif of Duke University who was not involved in the project. “This is beautiful research that has taken the field of DNA robotics to a new stage.” DNA is a wonderful building material. So much is understood about this nucleic acid’s chemical and physical properties that it is possible to predict with great accuracy the folding and topography of a given nucleotide sequence and how it will bind through Watson and Crick base-pairing to other sequences. Indeed, researchers are busy designing and creating complex two- and three- dimensional DNA patterns and structures for a variety of potential applications. Beyond these fancy fabrications, known as DNA origami, the molecule is also being used to build robots. The predictability of DNA’s molecular behavior, especially its zipping and unzipping abilities (its transformation between double- and single-strand states), is enabling bioengineers to design robots that can walk and carry things. Single-stranded “feet” form temporary bonds with complimentary sequences along a nucleic acid track, while single-stranded “hands” bind complementary targets to pick up goods. However, the existing DNA robots have limitations. Either they are not autonomous—“Each foot movement requires... addition of a new DNA strand by the user,” postdoc Anupama Thubagere of CalTech explains in an email—or they have very complex chemistries involving many DNA strands, writes her advisor, Lulu Qian. “This complexity doesn't mean the robots cannot be developed for more interesting functions, but one would expect to encounter a fair amount of difficulties when doing so,” Qian continues. To avoid such difficulties, Qian, Thubagere, and colleagues have created a simple modular system with just four DNA components: robots, cargos, delivery recipients, and an origami board to which the other components bind. The robots consist of a single-stranded stretch of DNA divvied up in order along its length into a foot, a leg, another foot, an arm, and a hand. The nucleic-acid cargos have sequences complementary to the robot’s hand and arm plus a stretch that matches up with a specific drop-off site. The origami platform can be thought of as a rugged checkerboard upon which the cargos and their recipients are attached to specific squares, while the robots roam freely square-to-square. The robot’s leg domain, in this analogy, can bind any square (black and white), while each of its feet can bind only one color (black or white). With a leg and one foot bound to a black square, for example, the robot can make a step to a neighboring white square with the free foot, which then takes the leg domain with it (unzipping it from the black square and zipping it to the white). Because the energy state of binding to either location is equal, the robot can move randomly about the board without input or instruction. CALTECH When, during this random walk, the robot encounters a cargo molecule, it’s complementary arm and hand sequences can pick it up. Later, when the robot encounters a goal with a complementary sequence match, the payload is delivered. To assess the robots’ ability to collect and sort cargos, the researchers placed a mixture of two different DNA packages on one side of the board, and the respective recipients in two separate clusters on the other. Labeling the cargo sequences with fluorescent tags allowed the researchers to visualize their gradual clustering at the specific goal locations, confirming that the robots were indeed picking up and dropping off cargos as expected. In these experiments, the robots sorted two types of cargos, but theoretically, delivering multiple types is possible. The aim of DNA robotics is not to play games of molecular checkers, of course, but to create machines that can perform ever more complicated tasks, such as synthesizing difficult-to-make chemicals or delivering drugs in response to specific disease signals. “Many of the potential applications are still science fiction,” Qian says in her email, “[because] there are many practical difficulties that need to be overcome,” such as adding more functional components to the robots. Nevertheless, says Milan Stojanovic of Columbia University who was not involved in the work, this paper represents, “an important step in a direction that everyone involved in molecular robotics knows we must take.” That is, to make robots that perform complex tasks autonomously. “It brings us one step closer on the arc of progress toward eventually [using DNA robots] in the natural environment.” A.J. Thubagere et al., “A cargo-sorting DNA robot,” Science, 357:eaan6558, 2017.Julia Holman reported this story on Friday, November 18, 2016 12:28:00 EMILY BOURKE: The Prime Minister has put the focus back on company tax cuts, ahead of the final two sitting weeks of Parliament. The Opposition says that the Government has its priorities all wrong, and is accusing the Prime Minister of engaging in Donald Trump-style politics. But the business lobby says supporting the big end of town will trickle down to the rest of the economy. Political reporter Julia Holman has the story. JULIA HOLMAN: The proposal to cut the company tax rate was the centrepiece of this year's budget, and now six months later, the Prime Minister has thrust it back into the spotlight. MALCOLM TURNBULL: After 25 years of growth, the need to undertake reforms that will deliver long term gains for all Australians, which may create winners and losers in the near term, isn't keenly felt in many parts of Australian society. JULIA HOLMAN: Speaking to the Business Council of Australia, the Prime Minister said business needs to be taxed less in order to stimulate investment and economic growth. But Labor says the comments are reminiscent of another world leader. BILL SHORTEN: Malcolm Turnbull is talking about putting the jobs of big business and big banks first with a Donald Trump style $50 billion corporate tax cut. JULIA HOLMAN: The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten didn't waste time in slamming the Prime Minister's priorities. BILL SHORTEN: Mr Turnbull caught up with some of his friends from the big business end of town and he decided to start talking about fairness, gave one of his trademark lectures to explain to everyone else in Australia what Malcolm Turnbull thinks is fair. Well, Mr Turnbull doesn't understand fairness. JULIA HOLMAN: Labor has relished the opportunity to come out against the tax cuts. But there are powerful lobby groups putting the pressure on the Government to try to get them passed. JENNIFER WESTACOTT: Businesses generate 80 per cent of economic activity. They employ 10 million people and if they're not competitive, if there isn't an incentive to invest, then they will not be able to employ more people. JULIA HOLMAN: The Business Council of Australia hosted the event where the Prime Minister spoke last night. It's CEO Jennifer Westacott spoke with News Radio. JENNIFER WESTACOTT: An economy like ours, a small open competitive economy, will not flourish if it has got a tax rate that is at 30 per cent when the British have gone to 20, going to 17. The Asian average is 22. The OECD average is 25 and now the Americans are proposing under President-elect Trump to go from 35 to 15. If we don't do something about this, we will flounder as a country. JULIA HOLMAN: A call echoed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its CEO is James Pearson. JAMES PEARSON: Let's recognise that this is a sensible measure. It's brought in over 10 years. It starts with small business who need it most and over time, it extends to larger businesses who'll use it to bring in more investment and create more jobs. JULIA HOLMAN: The tax cut legislation hasn't reached the Senate yet, and from next week, when Parliament is back, the focus will switch to the Government's laws regarding union governance. It's not clear if the Government has the numbers in the Senate to pass the two pieces of legislation; the Registered Organisations Bill, and the establishment of the Building and Construction Commission. JAMES PEARSON: I'm not a political pundit but what I can say is that as Australia's largest and most representative business advocacy network, we will continue to advocate, including to the Senate crossbench for the return of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Its return is overdue and its return will help to restore order, put an end to thuggery and lawlessness and help to increase productivity on one of the most important parts of our economy, the building and construction sector. JULIA HOLMAN: So while Malcolm Turnbull can count on the support of the business sector, the Senate will be much trickier and the Government won't be taking anything for granted as it tries to get its legislation passed before Parliament rises for the year. EMILY BOURKE: Julia Holman.Image caption An article about Facebook was the most popular page on the English language version of Wikipedia A study of 2012's most read Wikipedia articles reveals striking differences in what proved popular across the different language versions of the online encyclopaedia. Facebook topped the English edition while an entry for adult video actresses did best in Japan. Hua Shan - a Chinese mountain featuring "the world's deadliest hiking trail" - topped the Dutch list. By contrast, cul-de-sacs were the German site's most clicked entry. The data was published by a Swedish software engineer Johan Gunnarsson as part of the Wikitrends project. His home land's most viewed article was a page dedicated to Sweden itself. Sex and vampires Lower entries on the lists also proved revealing. While articles about Iran, its capital city Tehran and the country's New Year celebrations topped the Persian list, entries about sex, female circumcision and homosexuality also made its top 10. An overview of Egypt topped the Arabic language version and was followed by a history of Muhammad Ali Pasha - the Ottoman army commander who became the country's ruler in 1805. He is viewed by many as the founder of the "modern" nation. English language most viewed 1. Facebook 2. Wiki 3. Deaths in 2012 4. One Direction 5. The Avengers 6. Fifty Shades of Grey 7. 2012 phenomenon 8. The Dark Knight Rises 9. Google 10. The Hunger Games Sport featured prominently in the Indonesian edition with football, volleyball and basketball all coming within the top seven articles. Italy appeared more obsessed with US television. Grey's Anatomy came out on top, and Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries followed shortly after. The Russian version was led by an article about the country followed by one about YouTube. But entries for "porn site" and "unemployment" may provide greater insight into local users' lives. Unusual results included the @ symbol making it into second place in the Spanish language edition, a type of Japanese holly topping the French list, and The European Regional Development Fund coming in third in Poland. Canadian pop star Justin Bieber managed to make both the Danish and Norwegian top 10s, but was trumped by British boy band One Direction who appeared in the English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish and Danish lists. Thailand snaps Elsewhere, Facebook's photo sharing service Instagram - which did not make any of Wikipedia's top 10s - has published its own round-up of 2012. The firm has focused on locations rather than themes. Image caption Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport topped Instagram's list of most photographed locations Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport came out on top with more than 100,000 photos taken there, followed by the city's Siam Paragon shopping mall. Thailand only recently held an auction to award 3G mobile network licences, and has instead focused on providing free wi-fi connectivity. It already has more than 200,000 hotspots and the government has announced a target of covering 80% of the country by May. The Next Web tech blog suggests local habits had also aided Instagram's local popularity. "Many mobile internet users in the region didn't spend much-time (or any time at all) using PCs, so their mobile or tablet is their single portal to the web and always-on web access is something new to them," wrote Jon Russell. The US took the next seven of the top 10 spots thanks to snaps taken at California's Disneyland, New York's Times Square; San Francisco's AT&T Park; and Los Angeles' International Airport, Dodger stadium, Staples Center and Santa Monica Pier. Paris's Eiffel Tower was the only European location to make the list.When Ian Fleming died of a heart attack at the age of 56 in 1964, he had completed 12 full-length novels and a number of short stories featuring his marquee superspy James Bond. The author had also lived to see two wildly successful film adaptations of his work—Dr. No and From Russia with Love—make Bond an international phenomenon, with a third (Goldfinger) released just a month after his death. While the Bond movies were expected to continue indefinitely, no one at Glidrose Productions—the company Fleming had purchased to handle the literary rights to his creation for business purposes—was exactly sure how to proceed with his adventures on the printed page. Only one proper novel, 1968’s Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis, was released in the years immediately following Fleming’s death. It seemed too monumental a task to follow a writer who was virtually as famous as Bond himself. Glidrose, however, had an alternative: In 1966, they commissioned a novel that would be centered around Bond’s nephew, a boy of boarding school age who would become embroiled in a plot to steal gold. Jonathan Cape, the publishing house that had acquired Fleming’s first book, Casino Royale, would distribute it. 003½: The Adventures of James Bond Junior was in every way an “official” Bond title, but no one would ever step forward to claim credit for it, even after one critic declared it a “far better” effort than Fleming’s own. Glidrose attributed the work to the pen name "R. D. Mascott" and swore its employees to secrecy, rebuffing every attempt to uncover his identity. For Bond fans, what started as a passing bit of trivia grew into a literary forensics cold case. Who was Mascott, and why were people so committed to keeping his secret? There was little doubt the Bond movie franchise would outlive Fleming. By 1966, four films starring Sean Connery had been produced, with a fifth—You Only Live Twice—in production. EON, the company with the screen rights to the character, began flirting with ideas for a televised spin-off series, including one featuring a juvenile version of the spy. At the same time, Glidrose was preparing for life after Fleming produced his last typewritten page. Geoffrey Jenkins was commissioned to write a Bond novel set in South Africa: it was rejected. Afterward, author and Bond admirer Kingsley Amis agreed to write a follow-up novel under the pseudonym “Richard Markham,” which was intended to be a catch-all name for future writers. At roughly the same time, the company commissioned a work-for-hire assignment that may have been tied to EON’s announced plans for a “young Bond” iteration. When 003½ was released in October 1967, ads promised that it would feature material to be used for “a series of television films.” The “Junior” in the title is somewhat misleading, as the character in the book was the son of David Bond, brother of James. As a teenager returning home from boarding school, James Jr. stumbles across a gang of gold robbers and works to expose them. His famous uncle is off on more important business, sending a letter to his nephew with the gift of a tactical knife. In the end, the budding young spy’s intelligence work is credited to adults who proved worthless in the investigation. The book was published in the UK and in the U.S., where Random House made note of the fact that Mascott was a pseudonym for a “well-known” British author. Because it didn’t hold any substantial appeal for readers of Bond’s more mature adventures, and because children didn’t seem to take to a neutered version of a mercenary character already popular in toys and board games, 003½ slipped into relative obscurity. When Glidrose published Colonel Sun just a few months later, it wasn’t long before Amis admitted to being the author behind the Markham pseudonym. No one, however, declared credit for the Bond novel that preceded it. As Bond’s fan base grew, with every bit of arcane trivia chased down for accuracy, it became a glaring omission in the canon. Suspicion was first directed at Amis, since he had proven a willingness to fill Fleming’s shoes. Their writing styles were dissimilar, however. Roald Dahl also became a suspect: the author doubled as a screenwriter and was working on the 1967 Bond film, You Only Live Twice, at the time, putting him in proximity to the Bond rights holders. Both Dahl and Mascott had described the “currants” of the eyes, a peculiar term, and dwelled on topics like hunting and shoplifting. Dahl, who died in 1990, never corroborated the theory, and his estate was unable to unearth any documentation that could prove it. In 2001, the fan site 007Forever.com ran a highly detailed dissection of the case. (Fittingly, it didn’t include a byline.) After examining the Dahl and Amis theories and dismissing the notion that a Fleming relative was responsible, it zeroed in on naming novelist Arthur Calder-Marshall as the perpetrator. Calder-Marshall had written several books (The Scarlet Boy, The Fair to Middling) while trying his hand in Hollywood during the 1930s. He was also a colleague of Graham Carleton Greene, who was running Jonathan Cape publishing at the time. The author of the theory made some rather tenuous connections, including both Calder-Marshall and Mascott using “ha, ha!” liberally in prose and being partial to the phrase “furious barking.” "There are also plot similarities," the site observed. "Scenes involving elderly housemaids—Mrs. Ambrose in The Scarlet Boy, and Mrs. Raggles in James Bond Junior—are fairly similar. Both books hinge on purchasing a nearby house and the strange goings-on there. Both books feature a troubled female child who draws, and moreover, what she draws is a crucial plot point that resolves each story's central mystery. Both books feature scenes between children high up in trees; and in both books, the troubled girls' puppies are killed." The site’s attempts to shake confirmation out of EON, Glidrose, or Jonathan Cape, however, proved futile. If Calder-Marshall was the author, no one was talking. "I don't quite see why this matter would be of interest around the release of Spectre." That's courtesy of Ian Fleming Publications (formerly Glidrose) managing director Corrine Turner, who artfully dodged the Mascott question posed to her by mental_floss. "If you are looking for a story that has a link to the film, you might take a look at the article about Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amis..." Why is there such a commitment to preserve the Mascott alias for what amounted to a fairly inconsequential footnote in the Bond franchise? 003½ produced nothing beyond a spurt of James Bond Junior toys and a cartoon series in 1991, otherwise exhibiting no relevance to the future of the character. (Young Bond, a series by author Charlie Higson that began in 2005, bore no relation to the Mascott novel.) It’s possible the author was apprehensive about following in Fleming’s footsteps and had a contractual guarantee that he or she would remain anonymous. (Anne Fleming, Ian's widow, had harsh words for Amis when he wrote Colonel Sun.) Another fan theory put forward the notion that Harry Saltzman, a producer with EON who would go on to have a contentious relationship with EON’s Albert Broccoli, was planting the seeds for a young Bond franchise he could call his own. Calder-Marshall, who died in 1992, never mentioned the title, though it’s possible he was never asked about it. Oddly, his actress daughter, Anna, got her big break in 1969 when she starred opposite Sean Connery in a televised play, Male of the Species. In 1971, she also co-starred with future Bond Timothy Dalton in an adaptation of Wuthering Heights. 003½ persists as a curious footnote in the Bond canon. Why the Fleming estate insists on keeping the author’s identity a secret remains, like most everything else in the spy’s dossier, classified information.A report coming out today accuses the Harper government of stifling dissent and crushing democracy by punishing civil society groups. That complaint has been voiced against the Conservatives in the past, but now a 66-page report documents the grievances of groups that it says were denied money by the government or subject to other forms of intimidation. The report is being released under the banner of Voices-Voix and its signatories include the heads of Amnesty International Canada, Greenpeace Canada and the former head of Oxfam Canada. The coalition of 200 organizations and 500 individuals accuses the government of taking away funding or otherwise intimidating organizations that it disagrees with. It accuses the government of muzzling scientists and public servants and portraying First Nations and aboriginal groups as threats to national security. As a result, the report says, the government is silencing the public policy debate on important issues. "We have borne witness to hundreds of cases in which individuals, organizations and institutions have been intimidated, defunded, shut down or vilified by the federal government," the report states. Report takes government to task for long-form census The report accuses the government of targeting dozens of charities that it deems "too political" for its taste. It also says the government has undermined the function of Justice Department lawyers by discouraging them from giving important advice to the government. And it points to the "muzzling" of several government watchdog agencies, citing the sacking of senior leadership at the Canadian Wheat Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. It also accuses the government of undermining the work of the military ombudsman, the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP, the federal commissioner of the environment and the correctional services investigator. The report says the government has mounted an attack on "evidence-based" policy-making and cites Statistics Canada, which has undergone an 18 per cent staff reduction and $30 million in budget cuts since 2012. It also takes the government to task for doing away with the long-form census. "Canadians deserve a vibrant and dynamic democracy and they are capable of building that together," the report concludes. "It is the job of government to support those engaged in this task, not undercut and destroy their striving for a better and more inclusive democracy."Posted by Chris on March 11, 2015 The luck of the Irish is with us all - and if you're not Irish, now is the time you get to pretend! Scranton has a ton of Irish pride and St. Patrick's Day is our favorite holiday - parades and all! We're ready to share the spirit with a full week long sale and give you a full 15% off EVERYTHING - just use code PAT15 at checkout! As always, you will enjoy free shipping on orders over $35. Need some ideas for what to pick up? The big story of 2015 is the sub-ohm craze with new high wattage devices and low resistance tanks taking the market by storm! If you haven't picked up an iStick 50W and an Aspire Atlantis or Kanger Subtank, now is the time! Don't forget to check out all of the new juice lines we have been adding - now featuring over 110 flavors from 12 of your favorite brands! Cosmic Fog was just added and has some amazing flavors and all of eVo's flavors have just been restocked (but they move quickly!). Check out some of these deals: Innokin MVP 20W - $44.99 - $38.24 Kanger Subtanks Mini - $39.99 - $33.99 Eleaf iStick 50W - $57.99 - $49.29 Aspire Atlantis Sub-Ohm Tank - $39.99 - $33.99 Grab some liquid from our HUGE e-Liquid selection with 100 flavors from your favorite mixologists and you're ready to vape! And don't forget to check out the SALE section for even more savings! Thanks again everyone and vape on! Follow 2vaped! Facebook -Twitter - YouTube - Instagram - Google+ -Pinterest - redditShares , Jerusalem, ZZZ, Dec 9 – New protests flared in the Middle East and elsewhere Sunday over US President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that has drawn global condemnation and sparked days of unrest in the Palestinian territories. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinians needed to come to terms with Jerusalem’s long Jewish history. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s always been our capital,” he said at a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. “I think the sooner the Palestinians come to grips with this reality, the sooner we’ll move towards peace.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly warned of the consequences of Trump’s move, lashed out Sunday by calling Israel a “terrorist state” that “kills children”. Netanyahu hit back, calling Erdogan a leader who “bombs Kurdish villagers” and “helps terrorists”. Trump’s announcement on Wednesday sparked days of protests and clashes in the Palestinian territories. Four Palestinians were killed either in clashes or by Israeli air strikes in retaliation for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli security guard at Jerusalem’s central bus station, seriously wounding him. The assailant was arrested. Tens of thousands of people have protested in Muslim and Arab countries, including Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia. On Sunday, further protests were held in countries including Lebanon, Indonesia, Egypt and Morocco as well as in the Palestinian territories. Lebanese security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at several hundred demonstrators near the American embassy. Tens of thousands also rallied in Morocco’s capital Rabat. – Protests in Cairo, Jakarta – In Jakarta, some 5,000 Indonesians protested in solidarity with the Palestinians, gathering outside the US embassy in the world’s most-populous Muslim country. Students and professors in Cairo demonstrated at the prestigious Al-Azhar University, a spokesman said, and dozens of students protested at two other Cairo universities. Palestinian protests on Sunday were smaller than in previous days. Protests and clashes erupted in Al-Arroub refugee camp in the south of the occupied West Bank, leaving one Palestinian wounded by rubber bullets, the Palestinian health ministry said. Separately, the Israeli military said it destroyed a Hamas tunnel from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory — an incident unrelated to the recent unrest, but which threatened to further increase tensions. Such tunnels have been used in the past to carry out attacks. Trump’s declaration prompted near universal condemnation and diplomatic fallout, with warnings that it risks setting off a new round of violence in the turbulent Middle East. US Vice President Mike Pence is due in the region later this month, but Palestinian officials say president Mahmud Abbas will refuse to meet him. A US official said Sunday such a snub is tantamount to “walking away” from a chance to talk about peace in the Middle East. “It’s unfortunate that the Palestinian Authority is walking away again from an opportunity to discuss the future of the region,” Jarrod Agen, Pence’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. Abbas was to meet Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo Monday for consultations “to discuss developments related to the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”, said Bassam Radi, a spokesman for the Egyptian presidency. Arab League foreign ministers on Saturday called on Washington to rescind the decision. Despite the outrage, Trump’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley insisted Sunday the Jerusalem declaration would “move the ball forward” on peace efforts. However, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told CNN it might “compromise” the US drive for an Israeli-Palestinian accord. – Netanyahu in Europe – Netanyahu’s Europe trip was long planned, but came after both Macron and EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini criticised Trump’s decision. There have also been tensions between Netanyahu and EU officials over Israeli settlement building in the West Bank. Macron during their talks Sunday called on Netanyahu to freeze settlement building and to show “courage” to help restart peace efforts. At their press conference, Netanyahu called the White House’s bid to restart peace efforts with the Palestinians a “serious effort”. Netanyahu was due in Brussels for talks with EU foreign ministers on Monday in what would be the first of their kind with an Israeli premier in 22 years. Trump’s decision upended decades of US diplomacy and broke with international consensus. It drew criticism from every other UN Security Council member at an emergency meeting on Friday. Clashes in the West Bank and along the fence dividing the Gaza Strip from Israel have seen Palestinians burning tyres while hurling stones and firebombs at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds. Retaliatory air strikes on Gaza in response to rockets killed two Hamas militants on Saturday, while two other Palestinians died in clashes near the border fence the day before. – US isolated – Palestinian health officials say more than 1,100 people were wounded by tear gas, rubber bullets, live fire and other means between Thursday and Saturday. There have been fears of a much larger escalation of violence after Hamas leader Ismail Haniya called for a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising. In Rome, Pope Francis called Sunday for “wisdom and prudence”, asking world leaders “to avert a new spiral of violence”. Trump said his defiant move — making good on a 2016 presidential campaign pledge — marked the start of a “new approach” to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Washington has found itself isolated on the global stage. Five European countries on the Security Council insisted the new US policy was inconsistent with past resolutions. The decision was further complicating domestic Palestinian politics, particularly between Abbas’s Fatah and the Islamist Hamas, now at a key stage in a fragile reconciliation process after a decade of bitter enmity. Hamas, which violently seized Gaza from Fatah in 2007, was due to formally hand back power to the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, but Fatah’s chief negotiator said “obstacles” remained. burs-mjs/scw/srmStudy: Seattle home for alcoholics saved taxpayers $4 million Nathaniel Porter, one of the residents of 1811 Eastlake, a home for people with chronic alcohol addiction, shows off his living quarters on Tuesday. Nathaniel Porter, one of the residents of 1811 Eastlake, a home for people with chronic alcohol addiction, shows off his living quarters on Tuesday. Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Study: Seattle home for alcoholics saved taxpayers $4 million 1 / 1 Back to Gallery For years, Nathaniel Porter began his day with a pint of vodka or whiskey, which often made him throw up, which made him reach for a beer. He was off his schizophrenia medication, going to the sobering center a lot, and living in shelters, which made him want to start the next day the same as the last. But a year ago, Porter moved into the 1811 Eastlake house, a subsidized apartment building near downtown Seattle for homeless alcoholics. He now often starts his day by sending his friend Jim to the corner shop for a six-pack of beer or a couple of tall boys, and settling in for "The Jeffersons" or "Good Times." But he's off the "hard stuff," takes his medication regularly, stays out of the sobering center, and goes to a meditation group. "It's wonderful," said Porter, an amiable 51-year-old, of his current home. "I stay out of trouble. I come in, go to my room. It's nice and peaceful." Porter's progress is echoed in a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, led by a University of Washington researcher, found that the once-controversial 1811 program -- which provides housing and services without demanding sobriety -- saved taxpayers more than $4 million in one year. "It was perceived that we were opening a party house where people could drink and run amok and generally set their hair on fire," said Bill Hobson, executive director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center. The agency opened the home in 2005, after years of protests. "This research shows that this is not the case." Researchers followed 95 chronically homeless alcoholics, who, before moving into the home, had run up a taxpayer bill of $8.2 million in hospitalizations, emergency services, jail time and sobering center visits. After one year of being in the program, the same group cost taxpayers only $4 million, the study found. Each resident also drank less the longer they lived in the home, and their toll on publicly funded programs decreased as time went on. "One of the overwhelming sentiments was just how much better life was at 1811," said Mary Larimer, a UW professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and lead author of the study. "Certainly, it is much easier (to change) when you are not cold, hungry and scared, and have a few meaningful events in your life." Larimer also compared residents against a control group of 39 homeless alcoholics on a wait-list to get into the home. She found that the residents, after six months of being in the home, cost taxpayers 50 percent less than the wait-listed group. The research represents the first controlled study to look at the Seattle program, which is part of a national model called "Housing First," in which people can live in subsidized homes and get services without having to give up drinking or attend treatment. "This is an extraordinarily successful program," said Ron Sims, the outgoing King County Executive. He admitted Tuesday that he was among the many initial skeptics of the program, and that he had been concerned about it "enabling" alcoholism. He reluctantly allowed the county to fund it, with an initial investment of $2 million, followed by $240,000 a year in operational support. "It was a doggone good thing to do," he said. "Our return on investment has exceeded any expectation." For Porter, the home has given him stability in what had been a chaotic life, leading him to drink less. He explained it simply: "Out there, I wanted a roof over my head. I got to drinking heavy when I was thinking about getting a roof over my head. I came here. I got a roof over my head." Read the study here.On the upcoming season of RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race, the wigs will be higher, the makeup wilder and the outfits even further over the top. The best queens from seasons past may be back and bringing their A-game, but that doesn’t mean they won’t throw a little shade. In the first 10 minutes of the season premiere, which airs Oct. 22 (9 p.m. ET) on Logo, each of the girls makes her way into the workroom – and the reading begins. (Watch below.) “Raven walked in from a cocktail party it looks like,” Pandora Boxx says. “Thanks for trying, girl!” And the competition quickly goes from friendly to fierce when RuPaul announces the contestants will be competing in pairs. As Latrice Royale says, “O.M.G.!” For more on RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race, visit Logotv.com and check out the show’s Facebook page. Which queen are you rooting for? Tell us in the comments below!Republicans charged Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) with breaking House ethics rules and election law Wednesday by linking a new political website to his official website. The new site, namesofthedead.com, seizes on Grayson’s comment on the House floor that the Republican healthcare plan is for people to “die quickly.” It invites visitors to log-in the names and stories of friends and relatives who died because they lacked health insurance. ADVERTISEMENT Users are prompted to enter their name, address, zip code and e-mail address, as well as their friend’s or relative’s name, hometown and story. Grayson announced the creation of the site on the House floor Wednesday and displayed a poster with the site’s address. He said the names of those who die because of a lack of health insurance should be identified.
down into something completely comprehensible. It’s coherent because he’s brilliant and makes great stuff, but I’m not trying to translate. I’m not trying to second-guess him in what I do. All I’m doing is trying to put some images to the music and the lyrics. I don’t go in and ask, ‘What does this mean?’ I take it as face value and embrace it as something that makes sense to me.” Renck sees Bowie’s career not strictly as an infatuation with science fiction or mysticism, but as an exploration of non-belonging. “‘Space Oddity’ to me is about outsidership and nothing else,” he says. “I imagine when you are an artist of that stature and that level of creativity, you start to look at the world differently. If you’re a very intelligent and very artistic person, of course you would like to push your writing, your poetry, your art into figmented realities. It becomes relevant to try it out there. Maybe he is an escapist to some extent. I am. Maybe there is something that escapism reveals with imagery and thoughts that are removed from kitchen-counter reality.” In a 2003 interview with Sound on Sound, Bowie himself seemed to agree. “I invariably deal with the same senses of isolation and lack of communication and all these kinds of negatives, and I’ll probably deal with them to the end of my life,” he said. “There’ll be certain spiritual questionings and all that, and it won’t change very much, because it never has, it appears, from ‘Major Tom’ to Heathen. It really is all about the same thing.” That was one of the last interviews Bowie ever did. Since his 2013 return, he’s spoken to the public exclusively through his work and his collaborators — no appearances and no performances, at least not in the flesh. “He has these representatives. It makes him even more mystical. It’s a bit like having prophets speaking about your cause,” says Trynka. “Meanwhile, he stays behind the scenes like the Wizard of Oz.” His longtime producer Tony Visconti has answered questions about his last two albums, and for the 2013 opening of the David Bowie Is exhibit, his lookalike Tilda Swinton showed up to give a speech in his stead. Last month, he performed ★ cut “Lazarus” on Colbert in a brand-new body belonging to Michael C. Hall, who plays Newton in the Lazarus stage show. “Mr. Bowie, an international star since the early 1970s, has always come across as his own spectral avatar, in a series of beguilingly designed alter egos who are both there and not there,” wrote Ben Brantley in his review of Lazarus for the New York Times. “Much of Mr. Bowie’s extraordinary longevity as a rock god has to do with the feeling that he has never really been with us ‘in the flesh.’” More than any other pop star, Bowie has mastered the art of being everywhere and nowhere at the same time — a little like an alien, a little like God. The void between Bowie the artist and Bowie the person arrives at the end of a long-growing schism. For decades he’s toyed with interviewers, making statements and then contradicting them, or simply reaching as “far out” as possible in conversation. “I should like to replace all parts of my body with plastic equivalents,” he told Music Scene in 1973. “Then I couldn’t grow old. I could just sit inside and watch it all function perfectly.” When asked by Music Now! in 1969 if commercialism worried him, he replied, “Not really; it makes a considerable amount of money.” In 1983, he claimed to Rolling Stone that he had little recollection of filming The Man Who Fell to Earth, which could maybe have been resigned to a career footnote had he not used stills from the film on the covers of Low and Station to Station. Across all the hundreds of interviews he’s done, he’s revealed little more of himself than a dry sense of humor and a detached fatalism (from NME, 1973: “Do you think reality has much of a future?” “No.”). Bowie would speak in tautology or paradox, or in details so ordinary they could have come from anyone, until he stopped speaking altogether. “A lot of people think that the ‘real’ David Bowie is this regular-ass guy who just created this myth around himself,” says Hether Fortune, leader of the band Wax Idols. “I don’t think that’s true. I think that’s who he really is. Through his youth, he was just struggling to find the best way to show himself without giving too much away. In the ’70s, he was really out there, really embracing the spectacle of pop culture. But I think he used it as a tool and then was like, ‘Okay, I did that. That’s it. I’m not giving anyone anything other than my work.’ That’s why you can’t get to him. That’s why it’s impossible to speak with him or find out the ‘truth’ about David Bowie. He’s made it impossible, an impenetrable wall where the only truth we have available to us is the work that he presents to the world. And that has to be taken as fact.” The idea that the truth of something lies on its surface is a Brechtian one and one that’s informed many of pop culture’s biggest names of the past hundred years, though none so much as Bowie. The vacancy he leaves where his “real” personality should be allows fans to crawl deeper into his work from the outside, searching for authenticity only to discover they’ve been surrounded by it the whole time. “He is building up this central, very powerful mystique, the idea of him being unreachable,” says Trynka. “That in itself is a potent reaction to what’s happening in the mass media. In the mass media, music is ever-present. It’s on tap. It’s streaming out all the time, so it becomes less precious. And then of course you have the notion of celebrity, which is omnipresent, with people always tweeting pictures of themselves. The whole mystique of glamour has been diminished. This is a masterful reaction where the music is very measured. It comes out in these little packets, which are precious. In the meantime, he’s reacted to the ominipresence of celebrity by just disappearing, which gives him far more glamour than if he were doing photoshoot after photoshoot.” If the entirety of David Bowie rests on the surface of David Bowie — the music, the imagery, the personality that is now instantly accessible by anyone with an Internet connection — the essence of David Bowie becomes increasingly less dependent on David Jones, the aspiring songwriter born on January 8, 1947, who at some point in the ‘70s exploded into an entity larger than himself. “I have a lot of theories about him: He’s had a long-term plan since he was young, a vision for himself as a character as a way to survive through time and space,” says Fortune. “Even throughout all of his very human foibles, like being a drug addict and the ups and downs of fame, he’s always stayed on this one path.” “Have you seen Velvet Goldmine?” she asks, meaning the 1998 Todd Haynes film, a semi-fictionalized David Bowie biopic in all but name. In it, glam rock star Brian Slade (a stand-in for Bowie, who declined to have his name or music attached to the project) receives an extraterrestrial gift, an emerald pin passed down to him from Oscar Wilde, who was himself dropped off on Earth by a UFO flying over Dublin. Slade reaches the height of his fame, then fakes his own death, only to return years later with a different name and a different face, a whole new celebrity. “[Velvet Goldmine] basically recreated David Bowie using the same exact tools that he used to create himself,” says Fortune. “What they’re insinuating is this person is an entity that moves through different lives and can come back through any vessel of its choosing. That it’s not really Bowie; it’s this other entity. What I think he’s doing with Michael C. Hall and with Lazarus is, I think he has actually found a way to do what Velvet Goldmine suggests: to make it so that after his physical body is gone, anyone can perform as David Bowie. He’s immortalizing himself. It’s insane. It’s fucking brilliant. “Obviously that’s the whole idea of theater,” Fortune adds. “Anyone can become a role and keep a character alive. That’s the beauty of theater, and we know that Bowie is an avid theater person. It’s an obvious fit, but to take those old world theater ideas of eternal life through art and apply it in a pop way, as a pop icon — that’s never been done before.” “I like the idea of Bowie being an idea,” remarks Buckley. “A few years ago, I wrote a book about Kraftwerk, and there’s only one of the original members now in the lineup. I think it was designer Peter Saville who said, ‘They could be the first group to last 200 years.’ The idea of Kraftwerk, you could have anybody in it, really: The Man Machine. There might be somebody who might inhabit the creation. I quite like the idea of that. When Bowie’s gone, there could be other … not clones, but ghosts of Bowie.” “There’s never been anybody else who’s been able to be the new Bowie, because you can’t replace something that isn’t gone,” says Fortune. “That’s his greatest power. That’s what he’s doing in the biggest possible way with Lazarus and ★. He’s finalizing once and for all, I will never be replaceable. I will always be present. Always, forever. No one can be me again — except for anybody, but only if they actually want to be me.” Who will Bowie be when he’s no longer Bowie — when “Bowie” refers not to David Jones, born January 8th, 1947, in Brixton, England, but to a fluid and transmittable idea? A little over halfway through The Man Who Fell to Earth, Newton reveals his alien form to his human lover, Mary Lou. She recoils in horror, then warms to him. “What are your children like?” she asks once she’s recovered. He responds with the warmest and most memorable line of the film. “They’re like children,” he says. “Exactly like children.” In the 2013 video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”, Bowie looks over a picture of himself as Newton’s alien form on the cover of a tabloid. He goes home arm in arm with Swinton, who plays his wife in a satirical vision of English suburbia. Young Bowies stalk their home; one, played by a woman with Ziggy Stardust’s copper hair, sings Bowie’s lyrics into a microphone. “We will never be rid of these stars, but I hope they live forever.” In 2011, toward the end of Bowie’s hiatus, Radio Soulwax released Dave, an ecstatic, hour-long medley of Bowie’s songs and images. It darts in and out of chronology; its protagonist, a young woman styled in Bowie’s likeness, chases his career through its most emblematic moments. For the whole hour, the music never stops. The continuity and variety of his catalog are displayed to full effect, and so is the fluidity of his poses. Bowie stares down Bowie, his likeness fractured across a filmic kaleidoscope, replicating his icons one by one. He becomes Ziggy, Tom, Jareth the Goblin King, The Thin White Duke, all the while remaining Dave. “Something happened on the day he died/ His spirit rose a meter and stepped aside/ Somebody else took his place and bravely cried, ‘I’m a black star,’” Bowie sings on “★”, his voice multiplied and filtered for the line’s last four words. “I’m not a pop star/ I’m a black star.” For what it’s worth: “Black star,” in physics, can refer to a black hole or a white dwarf that’s cooled down to the point that it stops emitting radiation. Both objects are theoretical. “Sometimes I don’t feel as if I’m a person at all,” said Bowie to Ingenue Magazine in 1973. “Sometimes I’m just a collection of other people’s ideas.” That was more than 40 years ago, but one line on “★” carries a similar idea: “At the center of it all/ Your eyes,” repeats Bowie with particular menace. Like his best lyrics, it could mean anything, but it reverberates in a particular way against the backdrop of his disappearance, his continued enigma, his withdrawal from everywhere but the distant planet he now finds himself. The core of Bowie — or of everything — is not what he is, but how he’s seen. Or really, the two are one and the same. There is no David Bowie except the one you imagine, and it is always possible to imagine him. “There is a singular energy that moves throughout each person, but it’s all fluid. It’s transmittable. It’s like a disease. You can give it to somebody,” says Fortune. “It doesn’t have to begin and end with your birth and death. It’s something that can be moved through time and space, if you can separate your individual essence from your intellectual ego and allow it to become this broader thing that can be shared and passed along. Reincarnation, occult practices, interdimensional travel, eternal life — all of these funny ideas that humanity has played with forever that Bowie has tapped into throughout the arc of his career, I think it all comes down to this one basic concept. This is me, this is mine. I manifested this. But you can have it too. It’s not singular unto me. It’s singular in the sense that I have carried it to this point, and now you can take it, too. That’s what I think he’s all about.”"Paris, it's not the City Of Lights anymore... It goes to sleep at 11."That was one of the more damning lines in a 2010 New York Times article that declared Paris's nightlife all but dead. Grim as that may sound, at the time it rang true for many in the city's music scene. Paris's importance to electronic music is beyond debate—from Daft Punk to Pépé Bradock to DJ Deep, the city has long been a fountainhead of fresh and inspired sounds. But for a while there, it got stale. "The promoters were old, the clubs were always the same," says Jeanson Antonin, the techno artist better known as Antigone. "It was pretty dead."Five years later, things look much different. Spectacular dance floor experiences are now easy to find in the French capital. Raves and afterhours offer a refreshing rebuke to the glitzy discotheques that long dominated the city's nightlife. And a new crop of Parisian DJs are playing killer music every weekend. No one group is singly responsible for this change, but a lot of the credit can go to Concrete, a boat docked on the Seine that throws some of the best parties you'll find anywhere in the world."I could feel from the first time I played there that something was changing," says Francois X, one of Concrete's resident DJs. "The party went from seven in the morning till two the next morning, with Marcel Dettmann playing the last slot. That was something very unusual for Paris, but from the beginning till the end of the party, the whole crowd stayed, including me. It was a real turning point for the clubbing scene here, I'd say."Concrete grew out of TWSTED, a traveling rave thrown by three friends with little previous experience putting on parties: Brice, Aurélien and Pete (all preferred we didn't use their last names). "Before that we were just a group of friends traveling the world, having fun on dance floors, never taking it seriously," says Brice. "We wanted to have a party with our friends with music that we liked, because otherwise it was boring in Paris. We thought, 'If it works, cool, if it doesn't work, we don't give a fuck.' But after two, three events we saw it was becoming quite big."TWSTED happened in a new location every time, but good venues are hard to come by in Paris. The first one was in an old cinema. It didn't end well. "We really fucked that place up," Brice says. "They found a lot of vomit, they wanted to send us their lawyers." Next was their debut on what would later become the Concrete boat, an event that, purely by chance, featured in a 2011 RA profile on Dan Ghenacia. That one went swimmingly. The crew had a warehouse venue lined up for the next edition, but just before the party someone discovered a centuries-old corpse underneath the building and the whole place was cordoned off for archaeological research."It was so crazy, when we put it on Facebook people were not believing us," says Brice. "We didn't have any venue, so we were back on the boat. By then we were feeling quite good about it, and we figured it's too complicated to find new locations all the time, so we thought, 'Let's do something proper on the boat.' The last TWSTED was two years ago in a big garage in Paris, and the party lasted just two hours before the cops came. We grabbed the mic and said, 'OK, now everyone goes on Concrete, it's free for everyone,' and we continued the party there." Concrete grew rapidly. At first it happened just one Sunday every month, from 7 AM till past midnight. Then it was open most weekends, and then more than once per week. The team grew increasingly ambitious, eventually starting a label, Concrete Music, a booking agency, Concrete Booking, and a festival, Weather. As it grew into a fully-staffed, multi-pronged operation, each of the founders fell into a different role. Pete became the charismatic face of the club, taking care of the artists and staying at the parties all night to make sure everything ran smoothly. Aurélien became the outfit's CEO. Brice defined Concrete's musical identity through his bookings, bringing in respected DJs from other cities and giving a platform to local artists. In Paris's community of DJs and producers, his efforts didn't go unnoticed."Brice is a pimp!" says Antonin. "When I met him, we went record shopping and chatted a bit. Eventually he said, 'Hey what are you doing on Sunday?' I said nothing, and he invited me to play at Concrete. I played in front of 600 people, which was totally new for me. I'd never even played on a real soundsystem. He is a really good programmer, he really takes risks, giving a chance to new artists and sometimes booking really weird music."As Concrete expanded, the club itself got better and better. The upstairs deck became Woodfloor, a more laidback dance floor with a movable cover for the colder months. In the main room, which takes up the length of the boat's main cabin, the team designed a bespoke DJ booth that would become one of Concrete's defining features."For many years, I was going to clubs and I was never satisfied with the stage setup," Brice says. "It was always the same thing: you have the dance floor, a one-meter stage with a DJ on the top of it, as if it's a concert, and behind him you have a lot of people with wristbands and a backstage area. I wanted something more democratic—no VIP, no stage and, most importantly, the DJ is at the same level as everybody dancing, face-to-face with the crowd."Even more interesting was the placement of the booth. Though it's at the far end of the room it has a few meters of space on all sides, so the crowd wraps around it completely. "The effect is really crazy," says Brice. "The DJs feel totally different. Everywhere you look there's people dancing. You don't see how many people are in the room, only those around you, so it feels like you're playing records for friends in the living room. And the DJ can't hide in the VIP, he has to stay with us. It's more human."It's not hard to see why Concrete took off. The atmosphere is unique: a boat with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the Seine, with light pouring in all day. The music policy is bold and open-ended, hosting everything from Romanian minimal to summery house to full-on blazing techno on the same versatile dance floor. For Parisians, the overall experience is exhilaratingly different from everything else in recent memory. The club fills up fast with young and energetic ravers keen to get stuck in. More often than not, what they find inside keeps them there all day, or all night.Like all of the world's great clubs, Concrete did more than give its city somewhere to party—it also gave its local scene a shot in the arm. "That's one of the main things for me," says Brice. "When we started, local artists didn't have such a good chance. I wanted to push the scene and push new Parisian artists, like Antigone and S3A. I'm trying to push them the best I can, putting them on good lineups, releasing their music on Concrete Music, which is dedicated to French artists. And we're not alone. Lots of crews arrived at the same time as us and did the same thing, like Sonotown."That's something everyone in the Concrete family is quick to point out: they didn't singlehandedly give Paris its groove back, they just did it first and perhaps most successfully. Concrete proved that this type of event could work in Paris, and this realization galvanized the scene at large. "When we started, everyone told me, 'You're crazy, no one will come from 7 AM and stay all day long,'" Brice says. "But it turned out everybody was waiting for exactly this. And now it's normal."DULUTH, Minn. — It’s a part of Duluth’s history that can be found in countless photographs taken by locals and tourists alike. And now it’s gone. Part of the structure known as “Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum” or “the cribs,” jutting out of the water of Lake Superior offshore from Canal Park, vanished in recent weeks. It is — or was — a solitary concrete pillar that stood between the main “mausoleum” and shore. Its passing wasn’t widely noticed right away, and the date it fell initially wasn’t clear. Photos sent to the Duluth newspapers after a request for help from readers pinpointed the date of the collapse to Feb. 7. Waves, or ice, or both toppled the nearly century-old column, a remnant of a short-lived operation to unload sand and gravel. In more recent years, the ruins have been a popular destination for swimmers and divers in summer, and occasionally some ice explorers in winter. Tom Deschenes, who works at Canal Park Brewing Company, said he had been contemplating setting up a slackline — similar to a tightrope — between the cylinder and the larger structure, sometimes called the icehouse. On Valentine’s Day morning, as he biked to work, “I was thinking the timing was getting to be about right to set up the line,” Deschenes recalled. “When I looked to the icehouse, the cylinder piece was gone.” As word of the fallen landmark made its way around social media in recent days, Duluth’s Jim Richardson — an avid freediver who shoots underwater videos and posts them online as Lake Superior Aquaman — weighed in with his observations. “It was only a matter of time,” Richardson reported on Facebook. “The column was composed of timbers sheathed in concrete but much of the concrete below water level was eroded away, leaving bare wood.” The column also may have had a steel jacket at some point, Richardson said, based on his underwater observations. He said the water is about 12- to 14-feet deep in that spot, so the column probably is lying on the lakebed. The icehouse may face a similar fate someday; it already has a list that has become more pronounced in recent years. Richardson said that his dives on the structure have revealed that the bottom crib is buckling in one corner. He said it doesn’t appear to be in imminent danger of sinking further, but noted that someone with more engineering expertise would be needed to make an official determination. Richardson said he plans to dive the area and get video of the fallen pillar this summer. So what was “Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum”? A historical marker placed by Visit Duluth along the Lakewalk tells the story: “It is the ruins of an energetic but short-lived commercial enterprise by (the) Whitney Brothers of Superior,” the marker reads. “It was Harvey Whitney’s brainchild. … The structure was the foundation of a sand and gravel unloading dock.” Some sources date the dock’s construction to the winter of 1919, though others place the construction of the dock — or a similar predecessor on the same site — as early as 1917. “The years following World War I were a busy time for Duluth construction, and Harvey was looking for ways to make his sand and gravel business more efficient,” the Lakewalk marker reads. “Congestion in the canal and harbor slowed his barges, and he speculated that the city might revive efforts to rebuild the Outer Harbor Breakwater, which had once given this frontage some protection, but had been abandoned in 1872.” Sand and gravel were hauled to the dock by barges that were tied to the concrete “icehouse,” which supported a steel hopper. Barge-mounted cranes unloaded the sand and gravel into the hopper, and a conveyor belt on a trestle moved the material to shore. The recently toppled column was the base for one of several supports for the trestle. Harvey Whitney’s gamble didn’t pay off: The breakwater never was rebuilt, and it became untenable to keep unloading barges at the dock exposed to wind and waves. The dock was abandoned in 1922. “He tried to deal with Superior on its terms, and lost,” the marker reads. “It was his family that came up with the name ‘Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum.’ ” In the years since, the ruins have sparked a lot of stories, as a Duluth newspaper recounted in 2008: “It was a prohibition-days casino, some argued. A fishing dock, others claimed. An ice house. “Part of an old lighthouse. “The former director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center, Pat Labadie, wrote in 2002, tongue planted firmly in cheek, that some believed the structure a fort, ‘a bastion of defense erected there to protect Duluth residents from Badger State barbarians, from Michigan’s mythical Yoopers or perhaps from Canadians.’ “UC Berkeley graduate students turned out in force at Cal on Wednesday to protest a proposed student tax hike they say could prevent non-wealthy students from pursuing graduate degrees. The rally mirrored many others that took place at universities around the country Wednesday. The tax bill passed by the House of Representatives would tax graduate students on their waived tuition. The provision has been called a “ghost tax,” because it would tax up to tens of thousands of dollars the students never receive as income. A Ph.D. student might, for example, currently receive and pay taxes on a $30,000 annual stipend, but, under the new bill, they would be taxed on the additional $25,000 that makes up the tuition at the university as well. “The GOP tax bill hurts student workers, dis-incentivizes higher education and hurts the university,” said graduate student Robin Pearce, speaking at the rally, which drew 300 to 400 people to a sunny Sproul Plaza around noon. The event was organized by the graduate student and postdoctoral unions, along with other campus labor and political groups. Union representatives delivered speeches, interspersed with chants, before marching to deliver a letter to the office of UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ. Similar “Grad Tax Walkout” protests also took place Wednesday at other schools, reportedly including all other UC campuses. Speakers and attendees repeatedly said the proposed tax increase could have a “catastrophic” effect on the graduate student population in the U.S. and on the research they produce. The proposed reform would require UC Berkeley graduate students to pay between $1,200 and $8,000 more in taxes, according to analysis presented by a doctoral student at the rally. The proposed tax “threatens to return universities to a time when they were the exclusive purview of the leisured class,” said Wendy Brown, professor of political science, at the rally. Graduate students in attendance said it is already a challenge to make ends meet in the Bay Area. “The stipend we get is just enough to cover basic expenses,” said Emma Carroll, a Ph.D student in the molecular and cell biology department. She said the extra cost would force many of her peers to drop out, and younger students to shun higher education, plugging the workforce pipeline. “In our field, you have to go to graduate school. It’s akin to an attack on biomedical research as a whole, which is not a partisan issue. Everyone gets cancer,” Carroll told Berkeleyside. UC Berkeley faculty and administrators have joined the graduate students in condemning the GOP tax bills. This week, the UC system launched a public campaign against the bills. The university system estimates that 30% of its students and their families depend on provisions of the current tax law, including the tax-exempt tuition waiver. The campaign also takes aim at other provisions of the proposed changes, including the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual coverage mandate. Speakers at the protest said they consider administrators and regents complicit in the decreasing affordability of higher education, including by approving a tuition hike this year, the first bump following a six-year freeze. The Berkeley Faculty Association has spoken out against the “grad tax.” “This provision would harm the welfare of many of our students, making it difficult to recruit students and even threaten the ability of many departments to sustain their doctoral programs,” wrote Michael Burawoy, chair of the Berkeley Faculty Association, in a message to faculty and student leaders. Berkeley City Councilman Kriss Worthington, whose district includes UC Berkeley, came to the protest as well, and said he later delivered a speech at California Hall when the group gave the letter to Christ. At the rally, a graduate student speaker directed everyone in attendance to enter the numbers for California’s Senators in their phones on the spot, telling the protesters to call and demand that Democrats withhold consent from Senate business until the tax bill is dead. The Senate Republicans’ version of the tax reform bill does not include a graduate student tax increase. That bill could be up for a vote as soon as this week.We all knew the Patriots would have to make a move or two to give themselves some breathing room with the salary cap, but they made a pretty interesting one with a very short term $20.06 million two year extension for Nate Solder. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Solder will receive a $12.5 million signing bonus and a total of $19.938 million guaranteed. That looks to give the Patriots about $1.83 million in cap relief this season, but it was the short term nature of the contract I found most interesting. I’ve spoken often about players somewhat recklessly throwing away potential earning years by taking long terms contracts in order to receive larger than life total contract values or annual values that make a player the prime talking point for a few days following the signing. In the rare times when the player outperforms the contract they are stuck on what is, by that point in time, a below market contract with almost no recourse. Solder instead flipped a trend of ultra long term contracts at the position and basically accepted the payment he was worth on a long term extension, without the longer term. With the Patriots agreeing to essentially the same cash flow structure as a 5+ year extension, Solder’s APY explodes into the $10 million per year club, when his numbers track in the group below. Year Solder Albert Brown 1 $13,031,000 $11,025,000 $14,000,000 2 $20,062,000 $20,050,000 $20,000,000 That more or less indicates a $9 million per year valuation on Solder by the Patriots with some added upside if he makes the Pro Bowl and similar downside if not healthy. The price is a bit higher than this years franchise tag and likely a bit lower than next years tag so there was no real concession made by either side in that regard. If anything it just seems that they considered it an option on the table and worked a new money guarantee ($12.5 million) to come close to mimicing the tag. The other thing that stood out to me is that this contract runs parallel to Tom Brady’s which will also expire after the 2017 season. Since an extension this short is somewhat unusual it would not surprise me if the Patriots made a conscious decision to not have any major extensions on the offensive side of the football to run beyond Brady’s possible playing career. If they opted for the longer term contract they would likely absorb a pretty hefty dead charge for Solder if they cut him. Now they can just cut all ties with no cap implications when the contract expires or they can re-visit keeping him as the blindside protection for either a new QB or Brady. If so thats a pretty shrewd manuever by New England and might show some other players the basic parameters of contracts that they are looking to do in the future. Solder also received a no franchise tag provision, but that was likely an easy decision for the Patriots to make since both of their quarterbacks are set to be free agents that year and they will need that in their back pocket for any contract negotiations and leverage moving forward.Wherever USA have played in Canada, crowds from across the border have followed them. It’s helped the team – and given fans an unforgettable experience This fall, 18-year-old Isabella Nazario will be leaving Westchester, New York and her mom, Anita Cortes. She was recruited to play soccer at San Francisco State University, 3,000 miles from home. But she had an idea. The Women’s World Cup was in Canada, and USA had a big game on the calendar against Sweden in Winnipeg. That game could be a last trip with her mom before she had to move to the west coast. Tactical brilliance and lucky calls: how USA reached the World Cup final Read more “Having the Sweden coach [Pia Sundhage] being the old US coach, that really put a lot of excitement into that game,” Nazario said. “Everyone thought that was a big rivalry to see.” Cortes bought tickets to the sold-out game and booked flights. All that was left was a hotel room. She checked various travel websites for lodging every day, and every day her searches returned zero results. Apparently Nazario was right about that game – there were no rooms in the entire city of Winnipeg. One day, her mom found a room that looked promising but didn’t book it immediately. It was gone when she tried again within the hour. “There was nothing available, but I tried every single day with the anticipation that we might get lucky,” Cortes said. “I kept up a very positive attitude. I was always confident that I was going to find something.” “But if I had to rent a car and we had to sleep in the car, I thought maybe we’ll do that. That was in the back of mind. I was committed.” Locals across Winnipeg were opening up their homes to American strangers as ad-hoc bed & breakfasts on websites like Craigslist and Airbnb. It seemed that just as quickly as rooms were posted online, they were booked. Cortes tried that route with little luck, but one of the homeowners mentioned she heard a local college in Winnipeg was offering rooms. Students make the dormitories of St John’s College their homes during the school year by furnishing them with the comforts of home, like televisions and art for the walls. Without that, they are each just kind of a room waiting to be turned into something more – blank concrete walls, a desk and a chair, a single bed with sheets. The showers and bathrooms are shared facilities. It wasn’t ideal, but it meant that Cortes and her daughter didn’t need to sleep in a car if they wanted to attend the Women’s World Cup. She booked it with only days to spare. “I felt like I got the last two beds in the entire city,” she said. These dorm rooms were never designed to function as full-service hotel rooms, but Winnipeg didn’t have any other options for late-planning Americans flocking to see the tournament. Ivan Froese, an administrator at St John’s, reached out to Tourism Winnipeg to let them know the school could help meet the demand for rooms. “It was pretty amazing how quickly the word got out. Immediately, I was just fielding call after call from people looking for places to stay,” Froese said. “I know that we aren’t a five-star hotel, but we wanted to offer something to people who needed a place to stay. People calling were fairly desperate.” Over the course of the tournament, about 45 people ended up staying in St John’s dorms. Officially, the city’s occupancy rate was 100% for the dates around the USA-Sweden match, a tight and tense affair that finished 0-0. Nearly everywhere USA have played in the tournament, crowds from across the border have followed them. The Americans played in front of sold out crowds in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Ottawa, where demand for hotel rooms spiked. It’s not too surprising. For the men’s World Cup in Brazil last year, Americans bought more tickets than any other country beside the host nation. Finalists in 2011, and now into the final again, USA are always a favorite to win the trophy. About 900,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament so far, and the US and Canada account for 95% of ticket sales, according to the organizing committee. The 2011 tournament in Germany sold around 845,000 tickets total and the record attendance for a Women’s World Cup is 1.2 million, set in the US in 1999. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Wambach and Rapinoe fans. Photograph: Brad Smith/ISI/Corbis Winnipeg has been the only city where demand has exceeded supply. It’s largely due to three factors: Winnipeg is one of the smaller host cities; fans are more likely to travel from out of town to see group stage matches, where venues and dates are set months in advance; and Winnipeg was hosting USA games and not matches featuring only nations from different continents. Some determined fans gave up trying to stay in Winnipeg altogether. Courtney Nguyen of San
, noise and signal. Thoth the language god and his pet ape, the gibbering Cynocephalus, the monkey with the typewriter. Order and chaos. Paradoxically, the noise is capable of holding much more information than the signal: a page of Janet and John is more or less entirely signal and contains a minimum of information, while a page of Joyce’s Ulysses is almost wholly noise and therefore holds a massive quantity of coded data. So with Kenneth Grant, the constant flood of ideas that elude the reader’s comprehension and yet are suffused with a greater potential, with a greater potency of meaning than the notions of his more reliable, pedestrian contemporaries. Laudanum as compared with Alcopops. Value of Grant: as paranormal pit-canary and as point-man, Kenneth Grant has been prepared to roll his sleeves up and plunge elbow deep in the ‘Qlipothic slime’ of his imagination, benefiting those of us who’d rather watch from a safe distance. In amongst the vast amount of tentacled and slithering bug-eyed junk he trawls up in his nets there have been pearls of an impressive size and lustre. It is hard to name another single living individual who has done more to shape contemporary western thinking with regard to Magic. If we should dismiss him and his work, on what grounds should we do so? That he’s dark? That he’s as mad as tits on a piranha? That he’s weird? As if the world of the occult was the last place one should expect to find darkness, insanity or weirdness. Rather, we should recognise Grant as a pioneer, if only by the arrows in his back; a fabulous arcane adventurer of an old school that’s long since disappeared, if indeed it was ever ‘really’ there; more a successor to John Silence, Simon Iff, Carnacki and the gang than a mere Crowley acolyte. Against the Light is a rip-roaring arcane text, two-fisted occultism. Read as novel or as magic treatise, it will fail to satisfy, having neither the neat structure of fiction nor the compelling credibility of fact. Read as an incredible chimæric hybrid of the two, and thus a striking comment on the strange interrelationship between them, it could conversely be seen as a bold, decadent masterpiece, a communiqué from reason’s furthest reaches, and beyond. It’s to be hoped that the response of the occult book-buying public is sufficient to encourage Starfire Publishing to release any subsequent ‘Nightside Narratives’, granting us further access to Grant’s logbook as he presses on with his safari into nightmare. Magic’s Mr Kurtz seeking his Heart of Darkness. As a bulletin from that internal, fictive dark, Against the Light reminds us that the shadow holds its own form of illumination. Highly recommended for those with an interest in the point where the extremes of magic meet the furthest, most precarious edge of fantasy and fiction. This is Hardcore.Security measures for New Years Eve celebrations have been tightened across European capitals as security agencies and police try to prevent a repeat of the terrorist attack on a Berlin market earlier this month. Cities are deploying thousands of armed police and erecting concrete bollards in an attempt to prevent terrorists using a lorry to attack crowds. Earlier this month, Isis-inspired terrorist Anis Amri, a Tunisian national, killed 12 people and injured almost 50 after driving a truck into a crowded market in the German capital. 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. In July, a similar style of attack saw 86 people killed when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, also a Tunisian citizen, ploughed a lorry into crowds in the southern French city of Nice. The attacks led police in London to “adjust” their security preparations for New Years Eve, officers said. 3,000 Met Police officers will be on duty across central London, with uniformed police being assisted by plain-clothes officers. Detective Superintendent Phil Langworthy, Met Police spokesperson for New Year’s Eve, said: “Officers have been planning for several months for New Year’s Eve, and that plan remains under constant review. This is not as a result of any specific intelligence. “Clearly we have been looking at what has happened around the world in terms of Berlin, Nice, etcetera, and have adjusted our plans and continue to adjust our plans. "We police around 3,500 large events every year including New Year's Eve and we meticulously plan those events - we have meticulously planned New Year's Eve - and we look at our tactics and we look around the world and adjust our tactics if need be.” Other European cities have also stepped up their security plans. In Berlin, 1,700 extra police officers will be deployed and armoured cars and concrete blocks used in crowded areas to prevent another lorry attack. In an unusual step for German police, some officers will also be armed with submachine guns. Paris, meanwhile, has cancelled its traditional firework display as a precaution for the second year in a row but over 10,000 police officers and soldiers will be deployed. Terrorist attacks in November 2015 at a number of popular venues in the French capital killed 130 people. Three men were arrested near the French city of Toulouse on Wednesday on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack on New Years Eve. Belgian officials said security in Brussels will also be “significantly enhanced” this year following suicide bomb attacks in March 2015 that killed 32 and injured more than 300. Similar measures are being put in place in the US. In New York, 65 sanitation trucks weighing 20 tons and filled with an extra 15 tons of sand will be placed around Times Square to prevent access to cars and lorries. 100 lighter “blocker trucks” will also be used, and 7,000 police will be on duty. New York police chief Carlos Gomez said: “Due to the terrorist attacks in Nice, France, and in Berlin, we’ve enhanced our security measures.” 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 nowThe Vegan Evolution The vegan ethic embodies the most universal of spiritual and ethical aspirations – non-violence, harmlessness, reverence for life, and the cultivation of compassion toward the innocent. For those of us who recognize veganism as being the practical application of these values, it is cause for celebration that we actually have the ability to bring such noble qualities down to earth by simply eliminating from our lives the products and practices that require exploitation. And still, even in a time when, more than ever, the world needs us to put these basic moral principles into practice, this powerful ethical stand continues to be marginalized by society. The example that is set by the increasing number of individuals who embrace these principles is too often vehemently opposed, trivialized, or simply ignored. But the effects of this paradigm shift in perception are far-reaching, and the benefits of making such a change are rewarding beyond measure. By doing nothing more than simply living as a vegan – which means to eliminate one’s support for all exploitation of sentient beings – we have the power to greatly lessen our ecological footprint, take our health into our own hands, play a part in eliminating world hunger, and experience the peace of mind that comes from making a powerful personal contribution toward the beginning of peace on earth. Ironically, it may well be that the survival of our species, and perhaps even life on this planet, is dependent upon our learning the very lessons that vegan living embodies, and that our society seems so reluctant to embrace. By actually living according to the vegan ideal, we can address, all at once, the many, seemingly different issues that are crippling our civilization and threatening our very survival. From world hunger to climate change, mass extinction to escalating violence, the catastrophic problems we are facing are clear indicators that we are in need of transformation on a global scale. With our society and our world within sight of a major breakdown from resource scarcity and subsequent political conflict, it has become crucial that we face up to the need for a radical shift, beginning with a change of perception inside each one of us. More and more people are recognizing the prejudice and injustice inherent in enslaving and slaughtering animals, in order to feed our desire for flesh, eggs, milk, and other products sourced from industries of exploitation. It’s no secret anymore that animal concentration camps are the breeding grounds for all sorts of infectious diseases. It’s also becoming known that the consumption of animal products is detrimental to human health, and that animal agriculture, including so-called ‘free-range’ and ‘organic’, is implicated in some of the worst crimes against the planet. As consumers become increasingly aware of how inefficient it is to cycle grain through animals to produce food for the Western World, even the truth about the animal industry’s role in world hunger and food shortages is starting to come into the open. And yet, it somehow appears that the light of veganism is so bright that the vast majority of people are afraid to even open their eyes to it, including individuals who are deeply involved in, and even passionate about, other social causes. What is it that makes us cling so stubbornly to practices that are clearly unnecessary, not to mention devastatingly cruel? Our collective appetite for products that come from the bodies of animals has driven us to create systems of farming that are not only completely unsustainable in the long-term, but are also immediately damaging to natural eco-systems, populations of wild animals and the citizens of developing nations. As the human population continues to grow, and industrialization expands ever further, it brings with it the excesses of animal agriculture, and as a result, we currently run the risk of driving into collapse the essential life-preserving systems of the planet itself. Even the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has confirmed that “livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.” In addition, our society is desperate for a solution to our many social problems. Our pandemic of violence is becoming increasingly severe, from school and workplace shootings, to sexual assault and domestic abuse, and of course, unrelenting displays of military might. But is it surprising that we experience such widespread aggression when we remember that we habitually fuel our bodies (and therefore our minds) with products of violence, suffering and death? Not only that, but we pretend that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing so. We may try to avoid the truth of what animal products really are, by buying them in neatly wrapped packages, but we can’t help but be aware of the horrifying reality in our deeper selves, and the violence that is implicit in our meals and in other aspects of our lives – from clothing to cosmetics – permeates our culture on all levels from personal to global. All over the world, around the clock, innocent beings spend the duration of their lives imprisoned and enslaved. All the while, in the vast majority of cases, they are brutally tortured and in all cases, they are eventually violently killed. And all over the world, people who are otherwise kind, gentle and caring, continue to ignore – and even participate in – this unspeakable cruelty. Our indifference toward the suffering of other creatures is an accepted societal norm that calls out to us to acknowledge once and for all that basic human values apply to other animals as well as to our fellow humans: justice, empathy, and respect. By extending these values to include those individuals who have committed no other crime than that of not being born human, we actually have the power to create new standards for ethical behavior, motivated by our collective desire for a better, safer world. When we advocate for the widespread adoption of vegan values, we speak for the entire population of humanity’s victims – from wild animals who are hunted and exterminated to make way for the ravages of human excess, to domesticated animals who are bred and confined (whether in crates or in pastures), and ultimately killed. This cycle of exploitation not only burdens our planet with the weight of a population of billions bred into existence solely to serve the desires of humans, it also prohibits us from moving forward into a more peaceful and prosperous future, the inhabitants of which reject violence and bloodshed as a matter of principle. The pandemic of violence in the world calls out to us to reevaluate our relationship with non-human animals – who are the victims of our most extreme and systematic cruelty – and to recognize that they are no more meant to be our possessions than are people with different-colored skin, women, children, or any other sentient beings. They too, are individuals, who value their lives, feel pain, fear death, and have a right to live free from oppression. If we truly seek a peaceful world – a world in which people do not live in fear of one another, and a world in which humans are not universally regarded as the most violent species on the planet – then there is simply no way we can sidestep veganism as the key to the future we are seeking. The world stands at a turning point. We simply cannot go on as if our old ways can continue to sustain us. If we are to have a future, the people who live in that future will not be dependent on products that a re a result of exploitation, suffering and environmental devastation. We will not source our food from animal farms or slaughterhouses, but from fertile gardens, vibrant orchards and veganic farms. People will be kind, compassionate, gentle and just. The vegan ideal represents nothing less than the next evolutionary step for humankind. This quantum leap may seem far-fetched from the position we are in today, but it is within this very change that we will ultimately find our hope for the world of tomorrow. (Visited 1,818 times, 1 visits today)As the organiser of the very popular San Francisco Virtual Reality (SFVR) meetup, Matt Sonic has been a driving force of the VR community over the past few years. Fans in the area will have no doubt travelled to one of the regular events to take a look at the latest VR tech and hear from industry experts. Today, however, Sonic is announcing something very different – his very own VR videogame. The developer has revealed Perma, a brand new voxel-based island builder for head-mounted displays (HMDs). The first trailer for Perma can be seen below. Shown running on the Oculus Rift, a player is seen using the Oculus Touch controllers to create a voxel-based word that inevitably draws comparisons to Minecraft. Oculus Touch provides the player with a high degree of customisation, though, allowing them to build detailed areas with structures and more. Once constructed these islands can be explored with friends online and can even be shared online for others to sample. It’s not yet known is Perma will be heading to other HMDs such as the HTC Vive, nor when the title will be releasing, with the trailer simply stating ‘coming soon’. VRFocus will continue to follow Perma closely, reporting back with the latest updates on its progress.Hillary Clinton on Thursday narrowed down the "determinative" reasons for her 2016 presidential loss to two factors: FBI Director James Comey and WikiLeaks. During an appearance at the eighth annual Women in the World Summit in New York City, Clinton said her team and supporters have been spending time "trying to piece it all together" — referring to why she lost to President Trump. She noted that there were "lots of contributing factors" and said her campaign and she herself "certainly could have done better." "Certainly misogyny played a role," Clinton noted. "That just has to be admitted." But, she narrowed it down to two incidents, which notably were outside of her control, that struck the killing blow to her campaign. Click for more from The Washington Examiner.MARK KARLIN, EDITOR OF BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT The number of people living on this planet has now topped seven billion. A few hundred thousand more and the earth might start careening out of orbit, like an airplane that exceeds its weight limit (which would likely result in a crash). It's hard to imagine how the natural resources of the earth can sustain an exponentially growing population. The climate deniers, of course, believe that we can ravage the earth apart like carving a turkey on Thanksgiving. The difference is that in the belief of the climate deniers the meat on the turkey is somehow magically restored over time, while Thanksgiving eaters at the groaning board know that what you are left with at the end of one's gluttonous plunder is a bare carcass. The climate deniers also, of course, don't believe that pillaging natural resources for profit -- instead of seeking sustainable alternatives -- creates a toxic imbalance that creates deadly climate change. They don't believe it or simply are indulging in a billionaire's carpe diem, an orgy of excess that has no regard for future generations. According to a September 12 article in Rolling Stone, scientists are now regrouping and fighting back against the corporate mass media assumption that there is even a debate about fossil fuel/extraction industry/corporate-caused/automobile guzzling degradation of the climate in which we live -- and the deadly impact of such alterations to our earth and atmosphere. Simply put in the sub-title to the Rolling Stone piece: "Scientists are fighting deniers with irrefutable proof the planet is headed for catastrophe." At the forefront of the counterattack against the false assertions of the massive industry-based campaign to deny the self-destruction of our planet is a body called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report [to be released on September 27] offers slam-dunk evidence that burning fossil fuels is the cause of most of the temperature increases of recent decades, and warn that sea levels could rise by almost three feet by the end of the century if we don't change our ways. The report will underscore that the basic facts about climate change are more established than ever, and that the consequences of escalating carbon pollution are likely to mean that, as The New York Times recently argued, "babies being born now could live to see the early stages of a global calamity." Jeff Goodell, author of the Rolling Stone article observes "But perhaps the most significant thing about the new IPCC report is not the scientific findings. It's that the release of the report may actually mark the beginning of a new phase of the climate wars – one in which scientists and activists learn to fight back." That is good news for a planet that is crowded with people regarded as marketing targets more than humans by an industrial economy that is driven by the assumption that happiness and economic well-being are driven by ever-expanding consumption. There used to be, many decades ago, a high-profile movement known as Zero Population Growth (ZPG) which achieved prominence for advocating that the ability of the earth to sustain limitless population growth was -- well -- limited. Explosive population growth combined with the ongoing triumph of the vulture industrial sector behemoths in delaying action on reversing climate change have created the perfect storm of impending disaster. Taking a bleak view, Goodall ends his article with this comment: In a more rational world, of course, we wouldn't need any more IPCC assessments. We would have listened to the scientists, built a global consensus and forged international agreements to reduce carbon pollution and head off the risk of climate catastrophe. But in the 25 years since the IPCC was formed, global carbon pollution is rising faster than ever. Future readers may view IPCC reports not as landmarks of scientific inquiry, but as suicide notes from a lost civilization. Let us hope that we can manage to become "a more rational world." Otherwise, this may be a period resembling the last days of Pompeii for Mother Earth. (Photo: las - initially)MARTINEZ >> A California Highway Patrol officer accused of stealing nude photos of in-custody female DUI suspects from their phones told investigators that he and his fellow officers have been trading such images for years in a practice that stretches from its Los Angeles office to his own Dublin station, according to court documents obtained by the Contra Costa Times on Friday. CHP Officer Sean Harrington, 35, of Martinez confessed to stealing explicit photos from two Contra Costa County DUI suspects without their permission and forwarding images to at least two other CHP officers. The five-year CHP veteran called it a “game” among officers, according to an Oct. 14 search warrant affidavit. Harrington told investigators he had done the same thing to female arrestees a “half dozen times in the last several years,” according to the court records, which included graphic text messages between Harrington and his Dublin CHP colleague Officer Robert Hazelwood. Contra Costa County prosecutors are investigating and say the conduct of the officers — none of whom have been charged so far — could compromise any criminal cases in which they are witnesses. CHP officials would confirm only that they have placed one of their officers on desk duty — apparently Harrington, although they would not name him. CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement that his agency too has “active and open investigations,” and cited a similar case several years ago in Los Angeles involving a pair of officers. “The allegations anger and disgust me,” Farrow said. “We expect the highest levels of integrity and moral strength from everyone in the California Highway Patrol and there is no place in our organization for such behavior,” Farrow said. “There was an incident several years ago in Los Angeles involving somewhat similar conduct and we fired one officer and the other resigned in the middle of the investigation,” he said. “This alleged behavior does not reflect the professionalism of the thousands of members of the California Highway Patrol who pledge to provide the best in safety, service, and security to the people of California. We expect so much more, and so does the public.” Earlier Friday, officials at Los Angeles County offices sought to distance themselves from the scandal. “It’s just one guy’s statement,” said Sgt. Jose Nunez, spokesman for the CHP Southern Division. “Officers who I work with don’t do it.” Nunez could not say whether investigators have contacted local officers. Rick Madsen, the Danville attorney for the 23-year-old San Ramon woman who was the first to report Harrington, said the implications of the case are “far-reaching and very damaging.” “The callousness and depravity with which these officers communicated about my client is dehumanizing, horribly offensive and degrading to all women,” he said. “It’s going to lead to another level of mistrust and skepticism to the motive of law enforcement in general.” The San Ramon woman’s DUI case has already been dismissed because of the investigation into Harrington’s conduct. Deputy District Attorney Barry Grove said he expects a decision about charges against officers in the CHP probe to be made next week. In the search warrant affidavit, senior Contra Costa District Attorney inspector Darryl Holcombe wrote that he found probable cause to show both CHP officers Harrington and Hazelwood and others engaged in a “scheme to unlawfully access the cell phone of female arrestees by intentionally gaining access to their cell phone and without their knowledge, stealing and retaining nude or partially clothed photographs of them.” That behavior constitutes felony computer theft, the affidavit said. As the Contra Costa Times first reported, Holcombe wrote in an earlier search warrant that Harrington allegedly forwarded explicit photos of a 23-year-old San Ramon woman from her phone to his own personal phone during a DUI arrest. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, only discovered the theft five days after her release, tipped off because her iPad was synced to her iPhone, and she noticed the mysterious photo texts to an unknown phone number. Holcombe, using video surveillance and time-stamped text messages from the woman’s phone, determined Harrington was in possession of the woman’s phone at the moment the photos were forwarded. The woman — who registered a blood alcohol level of.29 percent, more than three times the legal limit — was being processed in the Martinez County Jail early Aug. 29 when the photos were stolen, according to court records. Investigators first confronted Harrington on Oct. 10 and advised him a woman had made a complaint that her personal property was stolen. He voluntarily agreed to be interviewed. During questioning, Harrington admitted to stealing five photographs from Jane Doe (investigators have said there were six) and that he forwarded at least one to Hazelwood, according to court records. “Harrington said he first learned of this scheme when he was working in the Los Angeles Office,” Holcombe wrote. “Harrington said when he was assigned to the Dublin Office, he learned from other Officers that they would access the cell phones of female arrestees and look for nude photographs of them. Harrington said if photographs were located, the officers would then text the photographs to other sworn members of the office, and, to non-CHP individuals.” In Southern California, Harrington worked for the CHP’s Altadena field office around 2008 or 2009, according to the office manager there. CHP officials declined to release the dates of his Los Angeles-area employment. Three officers at the Altadena office said Friday that they didn’t work with Harrington. “It was a long time ago,” said Lt. Tony Pena. The new court documents describe a second incident in which a 19-year-old woman, referred to as Jane Doe No. 2, was involved in a DUI crash in Livermore on Aug. 7. On Harrington’s phone, Holcombe located two photos of that DUI suspect in a bikini accompanied by a text message from the day of the arrest from Harrington to Hazelwood: “Taken from the phone of my 10-15x while she’s in X-rays. Enjoy buddy!!!” A “10-15x” is CHP code for in custody female and the woman may have been at a hospital to take X-rays after the crash. Hazelwood replies: “No … nudes?” Shortly after sending to Hazelwood, Harrington sends another Dublin CHP Officer Dion Simmons the bikini photos with the same message indicating they were of a female arrestee. Simmons texts back “Nice” and “Hahahaaaa” and Harrington replies: “Just rerun a favor down the road buddy. :)” Holcombe also detailed Aug. 29 text messages between Harrington and Hazelwood discussing the six photos he allegedly forwarded of the first Jane Doe in various states of undress, including one with a friend in the photo. Hazelwood asked to see her “dl,” possibly referring to her driver’s license photo and Harrington texted back: “When we get back to office. And we’ll have MDF (county jail) mug shot too.” The pair continued the text back-and-forth, commenting on her “rocking” body and breasts. On Oct. 10, after Harrington spoke to investigators, Hazelwood’s supervisor ordered him to report to the DA’s Office. Shortly after entering the interview room, Hazelwood was advised it was a criminal investigation and he could leave at any time. He got up and exited the room. But as he was leaving, Holcombe — who said he worried Hazelwood would delete evidence from his phone after the meeting — noticed a bulge in the CHP officer’s back pocket and asked if he could see his cell-phone. Hazelwood asked if he had a search warrant, and Holcombe said he did not, but told the officer he will keep the phone while obtaining one. Hazelwood initially consented to the search, but refused to sign the consent form, the investigator wrote. Four days later, investigators got the warrant and found the text messages between Hazelwood and Harrington and photos of Jane Doe No. 2 on Hazelwood’s Samsung Galaxy S5, according to the records. Holcombe wrote he is part of an “investigative team” assigned to probe Harrington, Hazelwood and “others.” Los Angeles News Group Staff Writer Mike Reicher contributed to this report.In “Better Call Saul,” which premieres Feb. 8 on AMC, Bob Odenkirk revisits the character of shifty lawyer Saul Goodman, first introduced in hit series “Breaking Bad.” But in the prequel, which is set in 2002, he’s been reimagined by showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould as Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer still trying to find his way in the world. What’s the story of “Better Call Saul”? It is the story of a character coming to an understanding of himself, who is searching for his place in the world. He’s trying to be an ethical guy and live by traditional standards of behavior. But he finds himself good at breaking that code and crossing that line, and he’s not sure how to use it. He doesn’t feel much acceptance in the world he’s in, which is a traditional legal world of an old firm that he finds himself in the universe of. So he doesn’t know his place. Were you immediately onboard with the idea of “Better Call Saul”? The gift of playing Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad” was more than I could have asked for, and I certainly wouldn’t ask for more. We talked about the challenges of how do you make him likable, genuinely likable. Not just, ha ha that scoundrel. Because if he’s really going to anchor the show, you have to be on his side. Related Bob Odenkirk on the Final Transformation of Jimmy to Saul in 'Better Call Saul' 'Breaking Bad' Game in Which You Will Run Your Own Empire in the Works Do you have anything in common with Jimmy McGill? I feel like in a lot of ways the feelings he has are things I can access from my own life pretty well. Even though I can’t relate to the specific circumstances of his condition, I do relate to the drives and frustrations. Did you have any anxiety about stepping into the lead role? I think the anxiety people think would be my anxiety were if I were creating the show. I did not create this show. I did not create this character. It was not on me to create it. No, it was a really awesome acting job to me. I think that if there’s any intimidation to it, I’m only just now starting to feel it. Which is the intimidation of the world’s going to see it. The world’s going to judge it. My face is going to be out there, a lot. As a writer, did you want to be in the writer’s room? When I visited, it seemed like you were having fun there. Yeah, because I got to leave! I was like a grandparent with a grandkid. It’s tons of fun to be the grandparent. I love seeing the writers. I know how much pain and sweat goes into it. I know how hard they’ve worked because I can read their scripts and tell how much concentration and concern have been put into these scripts — and I don’t have to do any of it. I continue to write short comic pieces — David Cross and I will do a “Mr. Show” special. But that’s sketch comedy. I feel pretty confident in that world. It’s not that that doesn’t have its pressures, but I know it. I would never try to write this. I’m only intimidated by it. It’s not in my wheelhouse. What was it like working with showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould? You can see how Vince approaches everything. He has an open mind. He’s not looking to force the answers, ever, which makes it very hard for him. Because he and Peter can’t be satisfied until they feel it’s an organic solution to the question at hand. So it’s a very long, slow process for them. How did that play out with the development of the show? I think Vince and Peter always seem to like to write themselves into corners. They get off on it. They started this show in a corner, which is how do we create a more fully formed character, a deeper character who is not this guy but will end up being this guy. They have to head somewhere. But it’s not obvious and it’s not easy. Episode eight was a really turning point – they were stuck and went through a few outlines. It’s a great example of their puzzle-making process. If some part of that solution rubs them the wrong way, they can’t let it go and they can’t let it slide. They have to figure out why it’s not right. I’m very lucky to be acting out the designs of these guys. They’re the master builders. As an actor you take the script and you take it apart. With a really good script, you find the answers in there. And that’s what’s true of their scripts. You ask questions, and the answers are in there. Were you happy with the final result? It made me really happy. I have an ability from producing and writing to kind of distance myself from the performance. I was kind of smiling through the whole thing and enjoying this guy and being with him and what was going to happen to him. And thinking, “Oh my God. You’re in so much trouble.” It’s not like he’s stupid, but he has blind spots that are caused by his enthusiasms [laughs]. He has a lot of energy, and he has some skills. He just doesn’t know where to place those skills quite yet. So he gets carried away with himself. So as a viewer, you’re like, “Oh, dude. That’s not going to go well.” That’s how I felt watching it. I smiled, “Ah, he’s in so much s—t. Please get out of trouble.”The trailer for Zelda U has ignited the imaginations of fans everywhere. While showing off the impressive graphical capabilities of the Wii U, it also teases a new adventure on a scale that has never been seen before. Of course, the trailer poses more questions than answers, so for many of us this next year will be spent in a state of speculative limbo, while we eagerly await more information. Personally, my mind has been on the items. Every new installment to the series it bound to bring in plenty of new ideas, but we Zelda fans are a nostalgic bunch, so it’s safe to say that items from older games will also be returning. Certain treasures are simply essential to Zelda – the Hookshot, the Hero’s Bow, the Boomerang, the Bombs, the Hylian Shield, the Master Sword – I expect all of these items to return in some form. However, there are other items that haven’t yet earned such a legacy, and their fate still hangs in the balance. Here are the top 10 items I want to see return in Zelda U. 10) The Spinner Perhaps the most innovative addition to Twilight Princess, the Spinner had us shooting along walls at high speeds, jumping to avoid obstacles, and reaching new areas in the process. You would not have to work hard to convince me that there’s more fun to be had with this item than any other in Zelda history. A strike of genius from Nintendo, but in my opinion, they could have done more with it. The Spinner suffered from what I like to call ‘one use syndrome’. Outside of Arbiter’s Grounds, it had very little application. Zelda U could change this, both by incorporating tracks in to more of the over world, and by giving the item itself more uses in combat. Why not give Link the ability to swing his sword while he rides? I can imagine that this could be a good tactic against certain enemies, though it may leave you vulnerable to extra fall damage against others. 9) The Pegasus Boots When these boots made their debut in A Link to the Past they performed a very simple function – they allowed you to run. This might not seem like much on paper, but it was absolutely game changing. Suddenly you had the power to charge through rooms of enemies at high speed, or crash in to piles of boulders, destroying all in your path. That said, in a 3D Zelda game the Pegasus Boots could have many more uses. Anybody who has played Mario Sunshine understands the appeal of running on water. Anybody who was played a Sonic game has felt the exhilaration of running up walls. The fact is, any gamer can appreciate a true sense of speed. While the ability to run with the stamina meter in Skyward Sword was appreciated, Nintendo can take this to another level if they choose to revive the Pegasus Boots. Gone are the days when rolling everywhere is somehow a practical form of transportation. 8) The Whip If Indiana Jones taught us anything it’s that a trusty whip can be a valuable tool in any adventurer’s arsenal. I personally love this item both for its visual design (especially in Skyward Sword), and its perfect blend of combat to puzzle application. In many ways it’s similar to the grappling hook from Wind Waker – allowing you not just to swing across chasms and pull hard-to-reach levers, but to stun enemies and even salvage materials from them. If I could make just one change however, the whip would be more damaging to stronger foes. Keese and Archa are one thing, but whipping a Moblin into submission sounds much more appealing. 7) The Magical Rod I despair at the lack of magic in recent Zelda titles. The early games in the series were rich with magical rods and canes for all different functions. The Dominion Rod was a nice addition to Twilight Princess, but it doesn’t compare to the magic of games past. I therefore implore Nintendo to celebrate Zelda’s history of magic by combining all of the past uses in to a brand new magical super rod. Control statues. Create blocks. Shoot fire, ice, and wind. An item for combat and puzzle solving alike. Give this magical artifact a sense of mystery, like the aptly named mystery seeds from the Oracle games, or the Magic Powder from A Link to the Past. Instill us with the feeling that anything could happen when we give it a swing. 6) The Ball and Chain The Ball and Chain has been featured in many Zelda games, but usually just in the hands of enemies. Twilight Princess, however, allowed Link give it a whirl for himself. Anybody who has played that game can probably understand why I want it back. Nothing is more satisfying than smashing various creatures to smithereens with this thing. While the item will always be valued for its combat abilities above all else, it could also have some interesting new applications for puzzle solving. Imagine a dungeon that gradually changes around you as you smash up its pillars and foundations. Destruction can be a useful tool, as bombs have taught us in the past. 5) Strange Flutes Ricky, Dimitri, and Moosh might not be native to Hyrule, but that doesn’t mean we have to leave the concept of pet summoning behind. Don’t worry Epona, you’ll always be our favorite, but in a world as imaginative as Zelda’s it seems a shame to leave other creatures out of the mix. Above all else, I miss the feeling of choosing a companion and then working together to access areas that might be off limits to players who have made different choices. It’s the little things like this that really make a Zelda game your own personal adventure. I have
vote. When they go, only Sherman, Laurie Blakeman and David Swann will be left, putting the caucus behind the four sitting members of the NDP. Recent polls now show the NDP matching or surpassing the Liberals in popularity. Rather than run everywhere and lose, said Brown, the Liberals need to build on their traditional geographic base of support in Edmonton, such as the NDP have done in Edmonton. "You guys have got to till your own garden," she said. Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary, said the Liberals have ceased to gain new supporters and are coasting on the personal popularity of members like Hehr, Swann, and Blakeman. "The bigger issue is with the Liberal party," said Bratt. "They're the party that I think is really in jeopardy. I've been calling it the 'gradually disappearing' party because its vote percentage and its caucus is getting smaller and smaller." He said the party is not getting out the message on what it stands for. "I've referred to it as five people wearing red shirts. It's not really a party, whereas the NDP, you know what it stands for," said Bratt. Alberta Party 'will figure it out' Alberta Party strategist Stephen Carter rejects labels of left and right. With the exception of the NDP, he said, all parties have polices that span the political spectrum and are in a dogfight for the centre. The Alberta Party has yet to elect a member to the legislature. However it ran 38 candidates in the 2012 campaign and have a leader with growing name recognition in Clark. The byelections, while hailed as Tory victories, showed substantial erosion of support for the governing party, said Carter. "There's certainly some movement available in the next little while," he said. Carter said voters will be coming around to the Alberta Party because they are appealing to a new generation that isn't a slave to ideologies and labels. It's a generation tapping into the broader vision and message of young progressive mayors like Naheed Nenshi in Calgary and Don Iveson in Edmonton. The problem is getting notice for their ideas with no one in legislature, he said. "We need to construct a model whereby we're seen as an alternative," said Carter. "We weren't able to construct a narrative (in the byelections) that the Alberta Party is in the race. "We have to get better at engaging the media in this discussion. "We will figure it out."7 future web design trends Too many articles will tell you what is cool in web design. I’m going to take you past the obvious to make some real predictions. 1. Gestures are the new clicks We forget how hard scrolling webpages used to be. Most users would painstakingly move their mouse to the right edge of the screen, to use something ancient called a ‘scrollbar’: As a pro, you probably used a mouse wheel, cursor keys, or trackpad, but you were way ahead of most users. In 2015 it’s far easier to scroll than it is to click. On mobile you can scroll wildly with your thumb. To click on a precise target is actually more difficult – the complete opposite of what we’re used to on the desktop. As a result we should expect more and more websites to be built around scrolling first, and clicking second. And of course, that’s exactly what we’ve seen everywhere: There’s every reason to expect this trend to continue as mobile takes over more of the market. Modern sites have fewer things to click, and much more scrolling. We’ll see fewer links, more buttons, bigger ‘clickable’ areas, and taller pages that expect to be scrolled. Websites which spread their articles onto multiple pages will soon learn this lesson. Expect these to turn into longer single pages or even, like TIME magazine, into infinite scrolling pages: It’s too early to know if the web will expand itself onto devices like watches, but if it ever does, you can bet it’ll be almost entirely driven by gestures. 2. The fold really is dead this time Now scrolling is so cheap, and devices are so varied in size, ‘the fold’ is finally becoming irrelevant. Designers are increasingly free to not cram everything at the top of a page. This leads to a design trend popularised by Medium – full-screen image titles, with no content visible until you start scrolling: With tall, scrolling pages, designers have the chance to do what magazines have taken for granted for years: fill their pages with big beautiful images. In 2015 expect to see more designs that take up much more space – especially vertically – and a lot of larger imagery like this. 3. Users are quicker, websites are simplifying Today every young adult is an expert web user. And even the amateurs are acting like pros: using multiple tabs, and swiping to go back a page. The result is that everything is faster. And we’ve all learned to become impatient. If you want to make a mild mannered person explode with annoyance, just make their Internet really slow for a minute. Now websites are forced not just to become faster (a technical problem), but to become faster to understand. Designs which slow the user down have the same impact on their audience as these websites which don’t load at all. Simpler designs are easier to scan, which means they’re faster to appreciate. It’s easy to see which of these two designs is newer, and it’s because it’s the one that user’s can enjoy the fastest: This is the biggest reason for the death of skeuomorphic design: users are more perceptive, less patient, and clutter only slows them down. Apps put most websites to shame with super-minimal, beautiful interfaces. And they’re doing this because minimal interfaces perform better. Flat design is just the beginning. The real trend is towards simplicity and immediacy, and we expect that to go further than ever in 2015. 4. The pixel is dead On a desktop, a pixel was a pixel. You even had an idea of how many pixels made up an average inch: 72 dpi. Nowadays very few people know what a pixel is. With responsive design we’ve seen a move towards grids and percentages. But one huge area remains still unchallenged: bitmap images. Almost all of the web is built with images that have half the resolution of a modern display, and they don’t scale. With Retina displays and modern browsers the time is right for vector images to become more popular in 2015. We can see this trend already happening with the font-based icons and Google’s Material design. The website loads faster and scale the icons to any size without losing quality. That makes them ideal for designers and modern web browsers. The technology exists now, but it will take time for professionals to change their habits to create for higher quality displays. Once the average desktop display becomes Retina-grade (like the new iMac), we expect designers to follow suit. 5. Animation is back If you want to make a website look dated, cover it with animated “Under Construction” GIFs and Flash animation. But several things are coming together to make animation a rising star in modern web design. Flat design can end up looking too consistent, boring even. Animation helps a website to stand out, and to pack more information into less space. Mobile apps have redefined what a user expects. Mobile apps use motion to convey meaning, and websites are just starting to do the same. New technologies like CSS animation make it easy to enhance designs without plugins, speed or compatibility issues. And Web Components (#6, below) will only accelerate this. GIF animation is back, and surprisingly effective. You’ll notice this article makes extensive use of GIF animation, which has never been easier to create or share. 6. Components are the new frameworks Web technology continues to get more complicated, and less semantic. Designers must embed messy code onto their pages for simple tasks, like including Google Analytics or a Facebook Like button. It would be a lot easier if we could just write something like this instead: <google-analytics key="UA-12345-678"> And we can with Web Components, which aren’t quite ready to be used by most designers yet. 2015 is looking like their year. Google’s Material design is here, and it may just be what gets this movement started. Powered by Polymer, and supported by all modern browsers, it provides the rich animation and interaction components from Android apps, with simple tags like these: If that takes hold, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more component based frameworks appear in 2015. Perhaps Bootstrap 4.0? 7. Social saturation and the rise of direct email Social media has been a huge success for consumers, but many content producers aren’t so happy. The problem is saturation. With billions of posts every day, Facebook learns the posts that users are most likely to enjoy, and shows only those. Unfortunately that means over time, what you post is increasingly seen by a smaller percentage of your followers. (A problem you can solve, conveniently, by paying Facebook). Social isn’t going away, but in 2014 we’ve seen a lot of prominent bloggers like Tim Ferriss move their focus away from social and into good old fashioned email lists. They’ve realised that email has one significant advantage over social: a much higher percentage of people will see what you send them. I expect this post-social trend to continue into 2015, with the under-appreciated trend of Web Notifications (which work much like notifications in a mobile app). Bonus non-prediction: CSS shapes This cool technology won’t get noticed, except by designers. CSS shapes allow you to flow layout into shapes, like circles: It’s incredibly cool, but until browser support is guaranteed, this is likely to be too risky to put time and effort into it you’d need almost two complete designs, for old and new browsers. And outside of designers, we don’t think many users would notice. It is really cool though. What to expect in 2015 In 2014 we saw mobile use overtake desktop, but the general public hasn’t caught up. Most organisations still commission a website to look good on their computer first and work on mobile second. In 2015 that strategy is likely to look out of touch and unprofessional. As the mobile becomes the main device for browsing the web, “mobile-first” will become less of a buzzword, and more of a requirement. Flat design may be everywhere, but when you look beyond ghost buttons the real trend is that simpler sites are faster at gratifying users. Simplicity is not just a fashion: it’s the future. Expect it to only continue. It will become more and more common to embed animation into blog posts, and for motion to signify both premium quality (for those who can afford it) and to support the user experience. Pixels and the fold will slowly be set aside making more room for scrolling and click-second experiences. Web Components will make it easier to deliver app-like experiences in our websites. Right now you see the best of mobile app design appearing in web design. With enough time, the difference between an app and a website might almost entirely disappear.AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers will have a heavy load of bills to consider when they return to Augusta in January, ranging from mundane adjustments to county commissions to a measure that would make lobster rolls the official state sandwich. The 401 new bill titles that have been proposed include an attempt to outlaw sexual contact between clergy and their congregants and bills from Rep. Paulette Beaudoin, D-Biddeford, that attempt — again — to outlaw cellphone use while driving and require motorcyclists to wear helmets. The Maine Constitution limits bills in the second year of each legislative session to those of an emergency nature, proposed by the governor, forwarded by citizen petition, budgetary or study bills. The Legislative Council, which is made up of legislative leaders from both parties — six Democrats and four Republicans — will meet on Oct. 30 to decide which bills merit consideration. Lawmakers have until Nov. 6 to file appeals, which would be brought before the council on Nov. 21. In addition to the 401 new bills, the Legislature will consider 213 bills held over from the 12th Legislature’s first session, which adjourned in July, and approximately 30 bills proposed by state departments and agencies. Here is a sampling of the bills lawmakers may focus on starting in January: — LR 2666, An Act to Exempt Fuel Used in Off-road Commercial and Construction Equipment from Fuel Taxes, sponsored by Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting. — LR 2399, An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief for Residents who are Senior Citizens, sponsored by Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford. — LR 2316, An Act to Designate the Lobster Roll as the State Sandwich, sponsored by Rep. Katherine Cassidy, D-Lubec. — LR 2567, An Act to Require a Prescriptions for Any Medication Containing Pseudoephedrine, sponsored by Rep. Janice Cooper, D-Yarmouth. — LR 2469, An Act to Allow the Use of Slingshots in Small Game Hunting, sponsored by Sen. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden. — LR 2296, An Act to Provide Priority Funding for State-Municipal Revenue Sharing, Sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos, U-Friendship. — LR 2357, An Act to Expand Federally Funded Health Care to Veterans and Low-income Citizens of the State, sponsored by House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick. — LR 2262, An Act to Amend the Sales Tax Increase for 2014 and 2015, Sponsored by House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport. — LR 2297, An Act to Change the Statutory References to the State Holiday “Patriot’s Day” to “Patriots’ Day”, sponsored by Sen. Christopher Johnson, D-Somerville. — LR 2428, A Resolve Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require a ⅔ Vote of the Legislature to Increase or Decrease a Tax, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Keschl, R-Belgrade. — LR 2603, An Act to Prohibit the Use of a Grading System That Results in a Single Grade for Any Public School or Public Charter School in the State, sponsored by Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay. — LR 2553, An Act to Decriminalize, Tax and Regulate Cannabis for Responsible Adult Use, sponsored by Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland. — LR 2474, An Act to Provide an Exemption for Religious Purposes to the Requirement That Hunters Wear Hunter Orange Clothing, sponsored by Sen. Roger Sherman, R-Houlton. — LR 2396, An Act to Create a Cold Case Homicide Department in the Department of the Attorney General, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Stanley, D-Medway. — LR 2397, An Act to Criminalize Sexual Contact Between Clergy and their Congregants, sponsored by Sen. Edward Youngblood, R-Brewer. In a move that will likely renew one of the most hotly debated topics of this year’s session, Democratic legislative leaders also have said they will seek reconsideration of expanding Medicaid eligibility as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act. Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed similar measures twice earlier this year, and supporters of Medicaid expansion — primarily Democrats — fell short of the two-thirds votes needed in the Maine House and Senate to override the vetoes. Another potentially controversial topic, leading into legislative and gubernatorial elections later in 2014, will be welfare reform. Last week, Fredette proposed two pieces of legislation designed to reform Maine’s welfare laws.Does the arrival of Metal Gear Solid 5 finally close out the cross-gen era of console gaming? While the pre-launch focus on the game has centred almost exclusively on PlayStation 4, Hideo Kojima's swan-song launches this week on four console platforms, including the stalwart PS3 and Xbox 360 - a development and publishing choice made years ago, based on genuine fears that gamers would not upgrade to the latest generation of hardware. Cross-gen production was commonplace as we transitioned across to PS4 and Xbox One, and for good reason - game-makers needed to hedge their bets financially when tens of millions of dollars were sunk into individual titles. With that economic outlook in mind, MGS5's Fox Engine was designed around the need to support multiple levels of hardware spanning generations, a state of affairs that caused Kojima to explain in advance that the game may look a little behind efforts from competing studios, but the end result is actually in line with our expectations: both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One hand in a highly polished, beautiful presentation, while perhaps unsurprisingly, their last-gen counterparts fall a little short. On the one hand, some might say that the fact that these versions exist at all in a feature-complete, playable state is a miracle - but on the other, it's clear that Xbox 360 and PS3 are being dragged kicking and screaming to their limits. That might seem at odds with the image comparisons released by Konami a couple of weeks back, where Xbox 360 and PS3 appeared to hand in a very close approximation of their next-gen brethren. However, with both versions of the game in hand, what we are looking at is an amplification of the cross-gen divide seen in Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes. For the most part, the reduction in quality is well-judged. Resolution drops to something in the region of 992x720 on both older consoles with a rough-looking FXAA implementation in place. In turn this is matched by pared-back textures, normal maps and effects-work. For example, particle effects are reduced, while motion blur only seems active on engine-driven cut-scenes (though a very mild, pared-back effect may be in play during Xbox 360 gameplay), whereas it's a staple of the complete presentation on current-gen. Shadows are also cut back, with unique implementations for PS3 and Xbox 360 that best suit the hardware. However, one the most noticeable differences comes in level-of-detail (LOD) scaling, which sees far more aggressive pop-in manifest on the older platforms - a key reason why The Phantom Pain holds up a lot better in still images. PS4 and Xbox One show off a far broader rendering range for geometry in The Phantom Pain's opening level than last-gen. Shadows, plants and rocks do pop-in eventually on PS3 and Xbox 360 when drawing in close, however. PS4 uses what appears to be a simplified form of subsurface scattering on character faces. By comparison, Xbox One presents its normal mapped details (ie. scars, wrinkles) raw with no added pass - meaning light and shadow appear rougher by comparison. Meanwhile, Xbox One's textures are higher resolution than last-gen's. Another shot to illustrate the difference in skin shading. Lighting is radically different for both last-gen versions, and PS3 uses the least flattering lighting in this scene. As we'd expect, PS4 and Xbox One's ground textures across Mother Base show a huge leap over PS3 and Xbox 360. As for shadow resolution, all versions allow dynamic day-night cycles - with PS4 and Xbox One doubling the shadow resolution of last-gen. While outdoors, these shift across the scene slowly during a mission, though sadly often appear aliased even on current-gen, and flicker when viewed at a distance. Lighting also benefits from current-gen hardware - with each instance of alpha here projecting light across the scene. Last-gen consoles also strip out a majority of the particle effects used in this scene. So far, so Ground Zeroes, but what seems evident is that the transition from the'sampler' level of MGS5 to the full game sees the engine stressed more comprehensively, with an inevitable impact on frame-rate - and from there, the feel of the gameplay itself. Performance was somewhat wobbly to begin with on Ground Zeroes on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with 20fps drops in cut-scenes and gameplay fairly commonplace, but the push to a larger, more ambitious open world in the full game seems to make the hit to performance more impactful. The Phantom Pain aims for 30fps on both last-gen consoles, but it's clearly Xbox 360 that takes point in like-for-like scenes. Outside, in the open world, the difference is harder to track, but it's safe to say that the overall turn-out hardly flattering to either console - a state of affairs we need to weigh up against the ambition in Kojima Productions' design, where current-gen rendering techniques battle hard to operate on ten-year-old hardware. So let's take a look at how the last-gen versions of Metal Gear Solid 5 perform across a range of scenarios. In an attempt to keep things as spoiler-free as we can, we're abiding by the rules set by Konami on video content and omitting it for now. Full video will be available at launch, but right now, shots from our analysis are still revealing. In some like-for-like settings, Xbox 360 shows a clear performance advantage over its PlayStation 3 counterpart. However, performance is highly volatile on both platforms, and it's easy to find scenes where both last-gen consoles bottom out at 20fps, and sometimes that frame-rate is sustained. MGS5 uses double-buffer v-sync - it'll try to hit 30fps, but if the rendering load is too high, it'll drop down to 20fps. Next step after that is 15fps, but thankfully that is rare. But those are cut-scenes, how about gameplay? In this early shoot-out, the enclosed environments do allow MGS5 to hit a decent, sustained frame-rate. However, it's entirely fair to say that scenes like this are quite rare and we are far more likely to spend a lot of time beneath the 30fps threshold. Navigating through Afghanistan - our first sampling of the open world offered in Metal Gear Solid 5. You'll note that even in basic traversal there is some stutter, and that the Xbox 360 advantage we saw earlier can vanish. It's at this point that the two versions start to feel very similar. Performance in action scenes wobbles in the mid-20s, but it's the frame-times that are actually more enlightening. From frame to frame, we jump between images on-screen persisting at either 33ms or 50ms, producing a very noticeable stuttering effect. Kojima Productions faced a tough choice here - lock to vertical refresh with highly variable performance, or adopt the adaptive v-sync approach, which would have seen the game accompanied by an almost constant tearing, but would have made for a more responsive game. It's a tough choice that we would not have liked to make... So, it may well be the case that Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is the last true cross-gen triple-A title. Sure, we can expect cash-cows like FIFA and Call of Duty to continue to appear on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for at least another year, but there is a fundamental difference between releases like those and The Phantom Pain - namely, that very different engines are in play between one generation and the next, while the same Fox Engine code powers all versions of Metal Gear Solid 5. That's both a good and a bad thing. In our last-gen Face-Offs we ran last December, it was Call of Duty Advanced Warfare - operating on the older engine - that arguably produced the best facsimile of the current-gen gameplay experience, just shorn of the new rendering tech. Titles like Shadow of Mordor and Far Cry 4, using savagely cut-back engines, didn't make the grade. So with all due caveats in place, The Phantom Pain on last-gen is a remarkable example of raw, technological ambition. The open world, mission structure and feature-set are all present and correct. It is one of the very few last-gen games to operate with the physically-based lighting technology used so prolifically in the current-gen rendering era, and it works. Despite its performance shortcomings (perhaps not so much of an issue if you adapted to MGS4's lacklustre, variable update), as a package it remains an event the like of which PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 haven't seen for a long, long time. Some might even suggest that it could well be the last hurrah for those platforms - and by extension, it may well be the case that the need to support last-gen paved the way for the virtually flawless 60fps gameplay seen on PS4 and Xbox One. With last-gen as the low-spec base platform, the new consoles had the graphics capabilities, processing power and memory to spare in aiming for the top level in performance, while at the same time significantly improving overall quality in all visual areas. It's a fascinating result overall - at once, Metal Gear Solid 5 pushes last-gen boundaries but at the same time, comparisons with the latest consoles are hardly flattering. For some, the last big hurrah for Xbox 360 and PS3 release may well be the catalyst that inspires a next-gen upgrade.New Concept of Bipolar Disorders 1Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 2Institute of Behavioral Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 3Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 4Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 5Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 6Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan Corresponding Author: Ru-Band Lu Department of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan E-mail: [email protected] Received date: June 15, 2016; Accepted date: June 15, 2016; Published date: June 20, 2016 Citation: Lu RB, Li CL, Chung YL (2016) New Concept of Bipolar Disorders. J Pharmacogenomics Pharmacoproteomics 7:e152. doi:10.4172/2153-0645.1000e152 Copyright: © 2016 Lu RB, 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. Visit for more related articles at Journal of Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacoproteomics Abstract Editorial Bipolar disorder (BP) characterized by a dysregulation of mood, impulsivity, risky behavior, and interpersonal problems, is a recurrent and often chronic psychiatric illness. BP is the sixth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide among persons aged 15 to 44 years [1]. It is associated with functional impairmentelevated suicide rates, and utilization of mental health systems. The two most common and severe subtypes are bipolar I disorder (BP-I) and bipolar II disorder (BP-II). Although some researchers have questioned whether BP-II is simply a milder form of BP-I or is a distinct disorder, researchers have documented that BP-I and BP-II have different etiologies, including genetics, variation, and characteristics during the course of the illness [2]. Long-term follow-ups show that patients with BP-II have a more chronic course, more mood episodes, more major and minor depressive episodes, and shorter inter-episodes, which last longer than those of patients with BP-I [3]. The lifetime prevalence rate of BP-I is about 2.4% [4] while BP-II has been perceived as a common disorder with a prevalence of approximately 3-11% [5]. However, BP, and especially BP-II, is commonly under-recognized, even in psychiatric settings [6]. As many as more than 40% of patients with BP are initially misdiagnosed, and it may take years before those patients receive a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment [7]. In our previous study, we found that the misdiagnosis rate of different subtypes of BP is much higher in Taiwan than in Western countries [8]. The current DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for BP-I and BP-II are the same except for different durations of hypomania and manic episodes: for BP-I it is more than 7 days and for BP-II more than 4 days [9]. This may also account for the difficulty in differentiating BP-I and BP-II and for the frequent misdiagnosis of BP-II. Even when correctly diagnosed, fewer than 50% patients are successfully treated [10], and 10-15% may eventually die as a result of suicide. Bipolar disorder as a neurodegenerative disease Evidences suggest that neuronal degeneration may relate to the etiology and progression of bipolar disorder. Imaging studies suggested that ongoing neuronal atrophy accompanies the disorders. PET images of the cerebral blood flow and the rate of glucose metabolism, both indicative of brain activity, detected a reduced activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex during the bipolar depression. This decrement in activity in part corresponds to a reduction of cortical volume. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating the reduced mean volume on grey matters. In BP, abnormalities of the third ventricle, frontal lobe, cerebellum, and possibly the temporal lobe are also noted. These observations suggested a neuronal dysfunction and possibly neuronal loss may be involved in the pathogenesis of BP [11,12]. Therefore, BP might represent a neuro-degeneration disease. In addition, BP may be associated with induction of a lot of endotoxins and exotoxins which might increase neurotoxins as well as decrease of neurotrophic factors duo to overactivate microglial cell and inhibit astroglia cell. Those effects may induce pre-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, C-reactive protein, interleukins, etc. and decrease BDNF etc. which will cause neuron damage or necrosis. The vicious cycle will lead to progressive worsening of the disease. Treatment for BP-II: Beyond mood stabilizer or antipsychotics While the pharmacological guidelines for treatment are well established [13], treatment for BP remains less than ideal, especially BP-II Before 2000, not only BP-II has been misdiagnosed but scholars also wonder whether BP-II need treatment [5]. Most individuals still have breakthrough episodes or significant residual symptoms while on medication. In addition, functional deficits often remain even when patients are in remission. Moreover, most BP-II patients are newly diagnosed who have not taken any mood stabilizer or antipsychotics in the past. Because many patients with BP remain symptomatic even when fully adherent to their medication regimens, greater understanding of the pathogenesis of this illness and novel treatment modality other than current regimen of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics is needed. In our studies, we found that after adequate treatment, the BP-II had better functional improvement than the BP-I while excluding comorbidities, such as substance abuse [14]. Novel treatment model: Memantine as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents Memantine used to be recognized as a noncompetitive N-methyl-Daspartate receptor antagonist. We found that memantine may inhibit brain inflammatory response through its action on neuroglial cells and provide neurotrophic effect. Mechanistic studies revealed that the high potency of small dosage of memantine is due to its dual actions: an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the activity of microglia and an increase in the release of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, GDNF by astroglia [15] (For Hung-Ming Wu, Jau-Shyong Hong, Ru-Band Lu. US Patent 2009-0118376 A1. May 07, 2009). We found that even 1/100 dosage of memantine (0.2 mg/kg) may be effective in opioid addictive behavior in rat by conditioned place preference [16]. Our clinical study was conducted that patients with VPA + memantine (5 mg/day) or VPA + placebo. Treating bipolar II with VPA + memantine may improve the plasma TNF-α level. However, adding-on memantine may not appear improve clinical symptoms. But The HDRS score changes were significantly associated with IL-6 and IL-1 level changes and changes in YMRS score changes with TNF-α level changes [17]. Thus, adding anti-inflammatory neuroprotective agents to the therapy might represent a better treatment paradigm for those patients. Dextromethorphan and Neuroprotective Effects Dextromethorphan (DM) has been used as an antitussive drug with little side effect for more than 50 years in clinics [18]. Liu et al. have reported that DM protects dopamine (DA) neurons against inflammation-mediated degeneration [19]. The mechanism of the neuroprotective effects of DM is associated with the inhibition of microglia activation but not with its N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist property. The evidence of benefits on auto-immune system with DM supports that DM as add-on therapy to valproic acid (VPA) might be more effective than VPA alone on the improvement of neuron degeneration in bipolar disorders. Our preliminary result suggested that DM might be effective in the treatment of BP patients. In addition, low plasma levels of DM (5-100 ng/ml) found in these patients suggested that this beneficial effect of DM is not mediated through the blockade of NMDA receptors. Instead, the antiinflammatory and neuroprotective actions may underlie the add-on therapeutic effect of DM to mood stabilizers in BP patients [20]. Our clinical studies have indicated that patients taking 30-60 mg/70 kg of DM showed a plasma DM concentrations of about 10-30 ng/ml (28-84 nM) which may not effect in NMDA receptor. The same low dose of DM causes a significant anti-inflammatory as well as a BDNFincreasing effect in bipolar disorder patients.(Use of Dextromethorphan in Treating Addictive Behavior or Bipolar Disorder. PATENT NUMBER: US 5,785,472 (07/22/2014). Patent for Ru-B and Lu.) IL-6and IL-1 level changes and changes in YMRS score changes with TNF-α level changes [16]. The anti-inflammation and neuroprotection may play one of important role of therapeutic perspective in BP and other major mental illness. ReferencesKCON 2013 Ticket Information VIP (P1) $300 Benefits - VIP 1 M COUNTDOWN Concert Ticket - 2-Day KCON Convention Pass - 1 Guarenteed Pass for Artist Signing of "Hi-Touch" - Access to VIP 1 Only Lounge during convention - VIP 1 Merchandise Gift Pack - KCON Bag Opportunities - Artist Red Carpet Session Access - Artist Session Audience Pass VIP 2 (P2) $200 Benefits - VIP 2 M COUNTDOWN Concert Ticket - 2-Day KCON Convention Pass - 1 Guaranteed Pass for Artist Signing of "Hi-Touch" - VIP 2 Merchandise Gift Pack - KCON Bag Opportunities* - Artist "Hi-Touch" Access - Artist Red Carpet Session Access - Artist Session Audience Pass Tier 1 (P3) $170 Tier 2 (P4) $130 Tier 3 (P5) $90 Tier 4 (P6) $60 Benefits - M COUNTDOWN Concert Ticket - 2-Day KCON Convention Pass - KCON Bag Opportunities* - Artist Session Audience Pass *All opportunities have limited quantities and are not guaranteedScientists know that humans, chimpanzees, and other primates can convey surprising amounts of information by means of a glance and tilt of the head. But what about animals with eyes on the sides of their heads, like deer and horses? What kind of social cues do they use to communicate? Now, mammal communication experts report that, at least for horses, a great deal of information is conveyed through the position of the animal’s ears as well as its eyes. To find out which facial cues equines use, the scientists placed two buckets of feed in front of a wall with a life-size photograph of a horse’s head. The head faced either left or right. They then released 24 horses, one at a time, and let them choose which bucket to dine from. If the eyes or ears of the pictured horse were covered, the freed horse randomly selected either bucket for its dinner. But if the eyes and ears in the photo were visible, the horse (such as the one in the photo above, pictured with study author Jennifer Wathan) used these cues to guide its choice, and most often picked the bucket that the pictured horse was facing, as in this video. The study, reported today in Current Biology, serves as a reminder that creatures with faces shaped differently from those of humans and other primates can nevertheless exchange social signals, the scientists say. None of this is likely to surprise people who work with horses or dogs, they note, but then it sometimes takes a while for science to catch up.Even if you’ve never heard of “The Dear Hunter” don’t scroll past just yet! The story of TDH is told across a series of concept albums and it is both fantastic and in desperate need of a fandom. This fic is my take on what I think is happening in my current favorite song, “The Revival.” The story, rapid fire: Our protagonist, the son of a prostitute, has returned from WWI in disguise as his dead half-brother, having killed his biological father to cover the story. Upon returning to the city where he was manipulated and betrayed in his youth before the war, he decides to use his new identity to gain power in hopes of taking down his greatest enemy, a wicked priest who secretly runs a brothel known as the Dime. After a series of successful but ruthless political campaigns, our hero begins to regret his choices, only to have the priest show up at his door, fully aware of his true identity, and threaten to expose all of his secrets of he doesn’t comply with every demand. The Revival: Though full context for this song is not available yet, I believe the priest has blackmailed the hero into renovating and refurbishing the Dime. This scene is the first night of the grand reopening, as preparations are underway. “The Revival” Lyric Video \| Read on AO3 \| Annotated Fic with Lyric References The Dime is resplendent, and every ounce of its finery turns my stomach with a violent sense of nausea. The halls are dazzling, polished to a shine, draped in silks, trimmed in silver, lit by chandeliers which drip with sparkling crystal. It is a monument to luxurious decadence and class. I do not need to wonder how much money splendor like this must have cost, for I know every cent which was drawn from my coffers to fund it. He called my contributions a “generous donation.” It felt more like exsanguination. I do not meet
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Total performance has been calculated by simply adding the performance and the yield (ignoring the timing of dividend payments). Whilst the franked component of income payments has been calculated, the income payment has not been grossed up by the franking credits. All performance is based on closing share prices rather than underlying Net Tangible Assets. As usual, past performance should not be used as an indication of possible future returns, and we recommend this data not be used to support investment decisionsReady to feel old? Your probably know that “The Simpsons” debuted as short sketches on “The Tracey Ullman Show” in 1987 — but you’ve probably not considered how old the members of America’s most beloved middle-class family would be had they aged in real-time: Homer and Marge would be in their early 60s, Bart and Lisa would both be into their 30s, and baby Maggie would be in her late 20s. Santa’s Little Helper and Snowball II would be distant childhood memories, as would Grampa, most likely, who would otherwise be nearly 100. Whether you’ve been watching “The Simpsons” since they made their debut in the late ’80s, or if you’re a younger fan who was introduced to the show during its unfortunate slow decline since the early ’00s, one constant has been that, quite often, the best jokes are those that are more subtle. The wit of the dialogue might never have approach the level during the Conan O’Brien/David Mirkin era, but the hidden background humor has remained steady throughout the show’s run. Here are 100 screen caps of some of Springfield’s most hilarious signs picked from throughout the entirety of America’s longest-running prime-time show. Springfield Dental Complex (From “You Kent Always Say What You Want,” season 18) Bloodbath & Beyond (From “The Cartridge Family,” season 9) Monstromart (From “Homer and Apu,” season 5) Now Entering Winnipeg (From “Midnight Rx,” season 16) Royal Majesty (From “Simpson and Delilah,” season 2) Duff Stadium (From “Dancin’ Homer,” season 2) Morningwood Penitentiary (From “This Little Wiggy,” season 9) Springfield Sperm Bank (From “Selma’s Choice,” season 4) Reading Digest (From “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington,” season 3) Professional Ballet (From “Marge on the Lam,” season 5) Medfly Spraying (From “The Springfield Connection,” season 6) Stoner’s Pot Palace (From “A Milhouse Divided,” season 8 ) Out of Order (From “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson,” season 9) Yearbook Office (From “Summer of 4 Ft. 2,” season 7) Little Pwagmattasquarmsettport (From Summer of 4 Ft. 2, season 7) Springfield Psychiatric Center (From “Fear of Flying,” season 6) Surprise Tribute to Seymour Skinner (From “The Principal and the Pauper,” season 9) Merry Widow Insurance Co. (From “Homer’s Triple Bypass,” season 4) Child Psychiatrist (From “Jazzy and the Pussycats,” season 18) This Park Is Not Copless (From “Brush with Greatness,” season 2)660 Bracketeers voted in Batch 123, and 4.998m votes have now been cast. Visual results are here and today’s results are: Firemane Avenger defeats Sinstriker’s Will with 93.55% of the vote Spellstutter Sprite defeats Decompose with 92.84% of the vote Thunderclap Wyvern defeats Hooded Horror with 91.12% of the vote Prime Speaker Zegana defeats Reciprocate with 90.09% of the vote Gigantoplasm defeats Reckless Reveler with 89.16% of the vote Great Sable Stag defeats Ruthless Invasion with 86.22% of the vote Dakkon Blackblade defeats Wind Sail with 85.80% of the vote Purity defeats Terashi’s Grasp with 84.60% of the vote Sulfuric Vortex defeats Detritivore with 83.69% of the vote Conqueror’s Pledge defeats Piety Charm with 82.27% of the vote Darigaaz’s Charm defeats Reality Ripple with 80.15% of the vote Phelddagrif defeats Supplant Form with 78.09% of the vote Mirror Gallery defeats Splatter Thug with 77.17% of the vote Skirk Drill Sergeant defeats Salt Marsh with 72.80% of the vote Scroll Rack defeats Reki, the History of Kamigawa with 72.45% of the vote Rushwood Elemental defeats Dystopia with 71.76% of the vote Followed Footsteps defeats Energy Chamber with 70.81% of the vote Volcano Hellion defeats Eel Umbra with 69.67% of the vote Awaken the Bear defeats Forge Armor with 67.13% of the vote Kumano, Master Yamabushi defeats Adventuring Gear with 66.97% of the vote Molten Rain defeats Branching Bolt with 61.69% of the vote Drain the Well defeats Arcbound Bruiser with 61.68% of the vote Game of Chaos defeats Reverse Damage with 61.56% of the vote Rites of Reaping defeats Ghirapur Guide with 60.25% of the vote Gibbering Descent defeats Sedge Scorpion with 57.38% of the vote Mourning Thrull defeats Overwhelm with 56.00% of the vote Eyes of the Watcher defeats Chronosavant with 55.91% of the vote Tsunami defeats Minamo Scrollkeeper with 55.52% of the vote Vedalken Archmage defeats Auramancer with 55.08% of the vote Hidden Predators defeats Naya Panorama with 55.05% of the vote Rage Forger defeats Enlarge with 54.56% of the vote Exert Influence defeats Radiant Kavu with 50.08% of the vote Full results to date are here.[OSEN=이혜린 기자]SM의 발라드 프로젝트 SM 더 발라드가 오는 13일 두 번째 앨범 '브리드(Breath)'를 발표한다. 4일 SM에 따르면 이 앨범에는 동방신기 최강창민과 슈퍼주니어 예성, 소녀시대 태연, 샤이니 종현, f(x) 크리스탈, EXO 첸, 슈퍼주니어-M 조미, 장리인 등 8명의 SM 소속 아티스트가 참여했다. 이번 앨범은 ‘이별’을 테마로 한 총 6곡으로 구성, 인트로 ‘디어(Dear…)’를 시작으로 이별 직후 남녀의 심경을 그린 타이틀 곡 ‘숨소리’, 이별한 남자의 입장을 담은 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’와 여자의 입장을 표현한 태연의 솔로곡 ‘셋 미 프리(Set me free)’, 이별 후 달라진 일상에 대한 이야기를 담은 종현과 첸의 듀엣곡 ‘하루’, 우연히 다시 만난 이별한 남녀가 사랑했던 지난 날을 회상하는 대화로 꾸민 크리스탈과 첸의 듀엣곡 ‘좋았던 건, 아팠던 건’까지 전곡을 유기적으로 구성했다. 수록곡 중 두 곡은 한중일 3개 국어 버전으로 제작, 타이틀 곡 ‘숨소리’의 한국어버전은 태연과 종현, 중국어버전은 첸과 장리인, 일본어버전은 최강창민과 크리스탈이 함께 호흡을 맞췄다. 수록곡 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’의 한국어버전과 일본어버전은 예성이, 중국어버전은 조미가 불러, 같은 곡임에도 각기 다른 언어와 음색이 어우러져 버전마다 색다른 매력을 선사한다. 특히 예성이 부른 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’는 입대 전 녹음한 곡으로, 오랜만에 호소력 짙은 예성의 보컬을 만날 수 있어 팬들의 높은 관심을 얻을 전망이다. rinny@osen.co.kr SM엔터테인먼트 제공. [관련기사] ☞ 이태란, 셋째 가졌다.."그럴리없어" ☞ 가인 "낮이밤이..남자에 리드 당하는 게 좋아" ☞ 강민경, 홍어 생식기 시식 후 '식은땀' 당황 ☞ 미코 출신 임지연, 과거 베드신에서 일본 재벌과 결혼까지.. ☞ 방은영, 속옷 끈 내리고 아찔 포즈..볼륨감 '눈길' 내 손안의 모바일 뉴스, 함께하니 더 즐겁다 ☞ OSEN 앱 다운로드 바로가기 모바일에서 보는 프로야구선수 정보!! -> KBO모바일선수카드 바로가기 [Copyright ⓒ 한국 최고의 스포츠 엔터테인먼트 전문 미디어 OSEN(www.osen.co.kr) 제보및 보도자료 osenstar@osen.co.kr 무단전재 및 재배포 금지] [OSEN=이혜린 기자]SM의 발라드 프로젝트 SM 더 발라드가 오는 13일 두 번째 앨범 '브리드(Breath)'를 발표한다.4일 SM에 따르면 이 앨범에는 동방신기 최강창민과 슈퍼주니어 예성, 소녀시대 태연, 샤이니 종현, f(x) 크리스탈, EXO 첸, 슈퍼주니어-M 조미, 장리인 등 8명의 SM 소속 아티스트가 참여했다.이번 앨범은 ‘이별’을 테마로 한 총 6곡으로 구성, 인트로 ‘디어(Dear…)’를 시작으로 이별 직후 남녀의 심경을 그린 타이틀 곡 ‘숨소리’, 이별한 남자의 입장을 담은 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’와 여자의 입장을 표현한 태연의 솔로곡 ‘셋 미 프리(Set me free)’, 이별 후 달라진 일상에 대한 이야기를 담은 종현과 첸의 듀엣곡 ‘하루’, 우연히 다시 만난 이별한 남녀가 사랑했던 지난 날을 회상하는 대화로 꾸민 크리스탈과 첸의 듀엣곡 ‘좋았던 건, 아팠던 건’까지 전곡을 유기적으로 구성했다.수록곡 중 두 곡은 한중일 3개 국어 버전으로 제작, 타이틀 곡 ‘숨소리’의 한국어버전은 태연과 종현, 중국어버전은 첸과 장리인, 일본어버전은 최강창민과 크리스탈이 함께 호흡을 맞췄다.수록곡 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’의 한국어버전과 일본어버전은 예성이, 중국어버전은 조미가 불러, 같은 곡임에도 각기 다른 언어와 음색이 어우러져 버전마다 색다른 매력을 선사한다.특히 예성이 부른 ‘내 욕심이 많았다’는 입대 전 녹음한 곡으로, 오랜만에 호소력 짙은 예성의 보컬을 만날 수 있어 팬들의 높은 관심을 얻을 전망이다.rinny@osen.co.krSM엔터테인먼트 제공.[관련기사][Copyright ⓒ 한국 최고의 스포츠 엔터테인먼트 전문 미디어 OSEN(www.osen.co.kr) 제보및 보도자료 osenstar@osen.co.kr 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He and his wife Jan have two grown children. At the age of sixteen as a junior in high school, he first heard the message of the Christian gospel and yielded his life to Christ. Dr. Craig pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984). From 1980-86 he taught Philosophy of Religion at Trinity, during which time he and Jan started their family. In 1987 they moved to Brussels, Belgium, where Dr. Craig pursued research at the University of Louvain until assuming his position at Talbot in 1994.Sepolette's Tricycle is an e-zine (just a fancy way of saying electronically-distributed magazine) that focuses on early motoring in Australia and New Zealand. Motor cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles - you name it we'll talk about it provided we're in the 'early' period, mostly before the first war. Would you like the Serpolette's Tricycle sent to your email address each month? Just send an email to serpolette@earlymotor.com with "subscribe" as the subject, and your name and country (if outside Australia) or state (inside Australia). Your information will be kept in in strict confidence and not shared with any third party. To download a copy, select the issue at right and (depending on your computer or device) either double click on it to read, or right click on it to save it to your compter. I'm sure you know how to do it. The file is PDF, so you will need an Adobe Reader product to access it. If by chance you don't have one, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe website.Barry Pring and his wife Anna on their wedding day A British millionaire was "murdered" on his first wedding anniversary by a hit-and-run driver hired by his Ukrainian internet bride, a coroner was told. IT consultant Barry Pring's body was cut in two by a speeding car after his wife left him trying to wave down a taxi on a dark and snowy dual carriageway in 2008. Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at his inquest in Exeter. Lawyer Peter Clifford, Mr Pring's friend and who had been his best man at his Kiev wedding a year earlier, said Barry had been worried his wife Anna Ziuzina, might be "a gold digger". He told the coroner: "There is no reasonable doubt in my mind that Barry was murdered. Nor is there any reasonable doubt in my mind that she arranged or was complicit in his murder. "She played a central role in the events on the night concerned." Mr Clifford also said that a friend of Anna told him at the couple's wedding: "Barry's got what he wanted, now it's for Anna to get what she wants." Dr Earland said she had made "strenuous efforts" to summon Ms Ziuzina, also known as Julianna Moore, to attend the inquest, but without success. Image: The couple were married in KIev Three times near the start of the hearing the coroner's officer called out Ms Ziuzina's name without response. In a statement to the coroner Ms Ziuzina said she had already been interviewed three times by Ukrainian police and had nothing new to say. In statements read to the hearing Mr Pring's family said they were surprised when he announced, at the age of 46, that he was suddenly settling down after dating many women. He said his fiancee was an English teacher, but he later found out she was a stripper and a pole dancer. His family were not invited to the Kiev register office wedding in 2007 and were puzzled that she stayed in Kiev in a rented flat, while Mr Pring returned to live and work in London. When Ms Ziuzina finally visited the family in Devon Mr Pring's mother Irene said she found her distant, lazy and uncaring towards her son. His younger brother Shaughan said he discovered after his death that she had regularly demanded money from Mr Pring and found evidence she had been having an affair with a Ukrainian man. He said : "I believe she was only interested in Barry for his money and saw marriage as a way of improving her life. He was besotted with her, but frustrated by their distant relationship." Image: Mr Pring was said to be besotted with Ms Ziuzina Ms Ziuzina told Ukrainain police she had invited her husband to Kiev to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and her birthday and had chosen a traditional restaurant beside a dual carriageway 16 miles from the city centre. After a meal, at which they had drunk wine and vodka, she called a cab to take them back to their Kiev apartment, but was told it would take 40 minutes to get there. Together they climbed over a safety barrier onto the dual carriageway to flag down a taxi, but she realised she had left a glove in the restaurant and as she turned away she heard a bang and realised her husband had been hit by a vehicle. Initially local police treated it as an accident, but later it became a murder investigation, though it is still unsolved, the inquest was told. The driver was never identified, but police found a number plate that had been stolen from a car parked near Ms Ziuzina's Kiev flat. The vehicle had not braked, had no lights on and the impact sent Mr Pring's body 30 metres back across the safety barrier. Witnesses prevented Ms Ziuzina from seeing her husband's injuries. Freelance journalist Graham Phillips told the coroner that after Ukrainian police interviewed Ms Ziuzina they bugged her phone. When she rang her mother Olga she told her the police wanted her to name the car driver. Her mother immediately hung up. Det Constable Jonathan Watts, of Devon and Cornwall police, said he had tried to speak to Ms Ziuzina but she had refused. His force has no jurisdiction in a Ukrainian case, but liaised with Kiev police and posed questions about the circumstances of Mr Pring's death. The case had been discussed at high inter-government level, he said. A Sky News investigation found Ms Ziuzina living in London, pregnant and with a new, wealthy British partner, four years ago. She refused to be interviewed and is now thought to be living abroad.I’d like to start with a disclaimer. I have been developing websites using Django for 3 years now and it’s no secret that I like Django. I wrote an open-source app for it and I have started sending patches to Django. I have however written this article to be as unbiased as possible and there’s plenty of compliments (and criticism
Facebook page, the German Kit Kat team inadvertently gave up the timeframe for the release of Android 4.4, or KitKat. When asked when the newest version of Android 4.4 would be coming, the team quickly shot back with “Android 4.4 KIT KAT is available in October.” We’ve heard that Android 4.4 will be coming on October 14th, along with the Nexus 5, but nothing official from Google has come down the pike yet. The good news is that Nestle probably knows a thing or two about Google’s plans for the new OS that bears their name, so we’ll keep October open for the launch party. Typically held in New York, the Nexus event in the fall often brings a new device, along with an operating system. So long as a hurricane doesn’t decide to make landfall this year, it looks like we’ll have our treats come October.(UPDATED) The University of the Philippines now ranks 367th in the world, according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings Published 11:50 AM, June 08, 2017 MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The University of the Philippines (UP) inched up in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings released Thursday, June 8. UP now ranks 367th in the world – higher than its 374th ranking in 2016. (READ: School rankings in ASEAN: A 'perception game' for PH) While UP saw an improvement in its ranking in 2017, the De La Salle University maintained its rank (701-750), and the 2 other Philippine universities in the annual list ranked lower: 551-600 for Ateneo de Manila University and 801-1000 for University of Santo Tomas. Rankings of Filipino universities 2017 2016 Institution 367 374 University of the Philippines 551-600 501-550 Ateneo de Manila University 701-750 701+ De La Salle University 801-1000 701+ University of Santo Tomas The UST again received 4 QS Stars after rating well in employability, facilities, social responsibility, and inclusiveness. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States is still the world's top university, while the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is the best in Asia and the 11th best overall. Global Top 10 2017 2016 Institution 1 1 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2 2 STANFORD UNIVERSITY 3 3 HARVARD UNIVERSITY 4 5 CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 5 4 UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 6 6 UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 7 7 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON 8 9 IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 9 10 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 10 8 ETH ZURICH The 14th edition of the QS World University Rankings ranked over 950 universities from 84 different countries. It adopts a methodology that consists of 6 indicators: academic reputation (40%) employer reputation (10%) student-to-faculty ratio (20%) citations per faculty (20%) international faculty ratio (5%) international student ratio (5%) – Rappler.com Editor's note: An earlier version of the story only referred to "UP Diliman," which is what is in the QS institution profile page. The story has been edited to refer to the UP System, based on statistics provided in the same profile page.The judgment is the latest victory against a fast food company for wage theft and another step in holding corporate owners legally liable for illegal acts of their franchise owners. The judgment is the latest victory against a fast food company for wage theft and another step in holding corporate owners legally liable for illegal acts of their franchise owners. Papa Johns/ Youtube A Papa John’s pizza franchise in New York must pay its workers nearly $800,000 in unpaid wages over allegations the business underpaid employees and failed to pay overtime, a state judge ruled last week. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in December sued Emstar Pizza Inc., which operates seven Papa John’s franchise locations in Brooklyn and Queens, alleging that Emstar underreported hours worked by employees over the past six years, rounded employee hours down to the nearest hour, and did not pay overtime. Attorney General Schneiderman is also considering legal action against the franchisor, Papa John’s International Inc., on the theory that it is a joint employer and thus liable for the actions of its franchisees, according to reporting from the New York Post. The National Labor Relations Board in July ruled McDonald’s a joint employer and thus liable for labor or wage violations at its franchise locations in a first-of-its-kind decision that represents a significant victory for workers’ rights advocates. Corporations like Papa John’s and McDonald’s employ about two-thirds of the low-wage workers in this country, but have so far mostly avoided liability for the illegal actions of their franchise owners under the theory that, despite sharing a common corporate brand, each franchise is independently owned and operated. Get the facts, direct to your inbox. Subscribe to our daily or weekly digest. SUBSCRIBE Any legal action taken by Schneiderman would build off that July ruling and advance a similar charge that Papa John’s franchises operate through uniform standards tightly controlled by the franchise’s corporate parent. Should such a theory prove successful, it would make it possible for former employees to collect their stolen wages. The U.S. Department of Labor reportedly provided information to help Schneiderman with the wage theft case against Papa John’s in New York. Schneiderman’s judgment against Papa John’s prevents the franchise owner from selling the six stores unless the proceeds from such sale is deposited into an escrow account of the attorney general on behalf of the former employees. “This judgment sends a clear message that like every other business in New York, fast food employers must follow the law,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “This Papa John’s franchisee brazenly violated the law, shaving employees’ hours and avoiding paying overtime by various means, including giving managerial sounding titles such as ‘head driver.’” Schneiderman has sued another Papa John’s franchisee, New Majority Holdings LLC, for similar claims wage theft. That case is pending.Quick Charge is handy in just about any context, but it's especially useful in the car. With older phones on some roadtrips, using Google Maps navigation and streaming music at the same time actually made my battery power drop even as the phone was charging. With a Quick Charge-compatible car charger, that's no longer an issue. These upgraded chargers tend to be a little more pricey than their standard alternatives, but today Amazon has an Aukey-branded charge available for just $12.99. Add the coupon code 2P77G62C at checkout and you can take another $7 off the price, bringing it down to $5.99. The Aukey charger uses Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 standard, which is 9 volts at 2 amps. Take note: the new Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X don't use Quick Charge 2.0 - their rapid charging capability needs 5 volts at 3 amps, so even if you get the correct cable, the new phones will charge at the standard rate (or possibly a little faster), but not as fast as you might be used to with the proprietary Quick Charge 2.0. Most of the other recent flagships should work just fine. If none of that dissuades you, remember to add the coupon code before you check out. This deal appears to be valid in the US only, but it does come with free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime subscribers.Walter Palmer, the American dentist thrust into the spotlight after killing the beloved ‘Cecil the lion,’ will no longer face charges, a Zimbabwe cabinet minister said Monday. Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told reporters in Harare that Dr. Palmer had technically not violated any laws, as he had obtained legal permits to conduct the hunt. In July, Ms. Muchinguri-Kashiri called for the Minnesota dentist to be extradited to Zimbabwe for poaching, reported The Christian Science Monitor. Reports said Palmer and his guide had lured the lion out of his habitat without legal permission and at night to be shot. Palmer’s local guide, Theo Bronkhorst, and the game park owner have also been charged for allowing what officials said was an illegal $50,000 hunt. Mr. Bronkhorst will appear in court on Thursday, where a judge will decide whether to drop the charges. Park officials said that prosecutors were planning to bring Cecil’s head to use as evidence in the trial. Now, however, not only is Palmer cleared of all charges, but he is also allowed to return to Zimbabwe as a tourist. Local conservationists immediately condemned the announcement, maintaining that Palmer, who is a lifelong hunter, had committed a crime and should be subject to legal action, if not in Zimbabwe then in the United States. "The fact is the law was broken. We are going to get our advocates in America to actually see what they can do to bring justice to him," said Johnny Rodrigues, the head of the task force that first reported news of Cecil's killing. Palmer has not responded to requests for comment, but he maintained his innocence in a previous statement: "I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt," he said in July. In the months since Cecil’s killing, Palmer has received death threats and calls from residents in his Bloomington, Minn., community to leave town. Reporters and protesters showed up at his work, forcing the dentist to close his practice over the summer and wait for the backlash to die down. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy The US Fish and Wildlife Service said in July it was investigating Palmer’s Zimbabwe hunt, though it is not clear now whether the investigation is still ongoing. This report contains material from The Associated Press and Reuters.Fighting back: Our trade outside the EU is in the black and growing, says Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan So we've got zero influence, eh? Outside the EU we’d be a second-rate country, would we? The easy reaction is outrage. How dare José Manuel Barroso, the outgoing head of the Brussels civil service, hector Britain, the nation that, by helping liberate Europe from fascism, made the wretched EU possible in the first place? But I’d rather take Mr Barroso seriously. Let’s assess the claim that, if it weren’t for the EU, we’d count for little in the world. Consider, first, the assets that the United Kingdom has. We are either the seventh or the sixth largest economy on the planet. (Depending on which measure you use, we have either just overtaken, or are just about to overtake, France.) At a time when the eurozone is stagnant, we are the fastest-growing major economy on Earth. We have — this is a truly amazing statistic — created more jobs over the past four years than the other 27 members of the EU put together. Indeed, on current trends, at some point in the next 30 years, our economy will overtake Germany’s. While our trade with the EU is in the red and declining, our trade with the rest of the world is in the black and growing. Nor are our assets purely economic. We have, in London, the world’s greatest city: not just its financial hub but, on most definitions, its cultural hub, too. Ours is humanity’s most widely spoken language. English has legal status in 37 states, and is used by almost every major international body, from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (a forum to promote free trade among Pacific Rim countries) to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. It’s even used by organisations whose member states don’t speak English, such as the European Free Trade Association. Our common law system is universally respected — to the extent that two foreign companies from the same country will often pay a premium to sign their contracts in UK jurisdiction, knowing that, whatever their other faults, our judges don’t take bribes. We are the world’s fourth military power, one of only five nations capable of deploying force globally. We are one of seven nuclear states, with renowned special forces and a global intelligence-gathering capacity which we share with the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Strong words: David Cameron hit back yesterday at Jose Manuel Barroso (left), saying voters were his 'boss' Our institutions and leading figures are recognised around the world, from Manchester United to Wimbledon, from Downton Abbey to the Duchess of Cambridge. Small wonder we are ranked top in the soft power index (based on countries’ influence in terms of politics, diplomacy, business, culture, sport and education rather than financial or military might), edging even above the United States. We are a leading member of the G20 and the G8, of Nato and the Commonwealth, and one of five permanent seat-holders on the UN Security Council. How much bigger do we have to be, for Heaven’s sake, before we’re capable of governing ourselves? How does Mr Barroso think seven million Swiss manage, or 320,000 Icelanders? Or, come to that, the 32,000 people of San Marino, who recently rejected EU membership in a referendum, preferring to remain in a free trade area? Like most countries, we joined what is now the EU out of pessimism. At the time, in the early Seventies, it was Britain’s lowest moment as a nation. It was the era of double-digit inflation, prices and incomes policies, trade union militancy, power cuts and the three-day week. The consensus among commentators was that Britain was finished. It was against this miserable background that Parliament voted to join in 1972, and the electorate ratified the decision by referendum in 1975. Would people have voted the same way either ten years earlier or ten years later? I doubt it. We would have lacked the necessary sense of national despair. Clashes: EU chief Mr Barroso had said proposed British curbs on migrants from the Continent would be illegal Contrary to what the doom-mongers of the Seventies feared, the decline over the past 40 years has come, not in Britain or the Anglosphere, but in Europe. In the year that we joined, Western Europe accounted for 36 per cent of the world economy. Today, that figure is 24 per cent, and in ten years’ time it will be 14 per cent. Last year, the Commonwealth’s economy overtook the eurozone’s. Britain is a global trader, linked by history to every continent and archipelago. Yet we have managed to confine ourselves in the only trade bloc on the planet that is shrinking economically. Mr Barroso says that, outside the EU, we’d lack clout. Really? In the year that we joined, Western Europe accounted for 36 per cent of the world economy. Today, that figure is 24 per cent, and in ten years’ time it will be 14 per cent. Last year, the Commonwealth’s economy overtook the eurozone’s Consider, as an example of a non-EU state, Norway, with a population of four million. Norway has an active and engaged foreign policy. Its diplomats played a key role in negotiating peace settlements in South East Asia, Sudan and Sri Lanka — as well as, albeit less successfully, brokering the Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestine. Norway has the capacity to do these things because, not being part of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, it has diplomatic autonomy. Are we truly to believe that Britain, a nation of nearly 64 million, a mercantile and maritime people linked to every corner of the world, would have no influence if we had an independent foreign policy? There is one place, though, where we truly do lack influence: Brussels. There have been 55 occasions when the UK voted against an EU measure in the Council of Ministers (the figure is deceptively low because, by tradition, countries rarely push matters to the vote when they can see that they will lose). Guess how many times, out of those 55, we succeeded in blocking the measure? That’s right: zero. That literally is, to use Mr Barroso’s phrase, ‘zero influence’. Cast your mind back just a few weeks to the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker, the defeated prime minister of Luxembourg, as Mr Barroso’s successor as president of the European Commission. David Cameron could hardly have made clearer the strength of Britain’s opposition. The PM had precedent on his side: there was a general understanding that such appointments would not be made against the wishes of one of the big member states. He also had constitutional right on his side: Mr Juncker’s claim to the job rested on a power-grab by the European Parliament that stretched the interpretation of a clause in the European Treaty beyond any normal bounds, and had not been sanctioned by the member states. Where is Britain truly irrelevant? Institutions such as the European Parliament (pictured in Strasbourg) Yet, in the event, how many countries backed Britain? How many of the other 27 states felt that it would be inappropriate to appoint a man who made no secret of his belief in a United States of Europe, who had called for a European army and police force, for pan-European taxes and an EU-wide minimum wage? How many? One: Hungary. In a revealing aside, Mr Barroso has linked the calls from some Britons to leave the EU with the Scottish independence campaigns. It’s a telling parallel. Most Scots voted last month to keep the Union because they felt at least some sense of British identity. Three hundred years of common statehood, resting on a common language and culture, have created a shared British patriotism. Mr Barroso’s analogy confirms that he sees the EU, too, as a nation. People like him wouldn’t talk like this if the EU were simply an international association like the Arctic Council or the World Health Organisation. Incidentally, Mr Barroso’s intervention reminds us that there is rarely much gratitude in Brussels. He secured his post partly with the help of British Conservative MEPs, though you wouldn’t think it today. I mention this because there are alarming reports that David Cameron doesn’t want Conservative MEPs to oppose Mr Juncker’s appointment as President in a vote on it in the European Parliament tomorrow. Having fought the recent Euro-election campaign on the platform we Tories did, opposing these federalists is a straightforward question of keeping faith with our voters. The biggest complaint people have about politicians and the EU is that we say one thing in our home countries and do another in Brussels. I’ll be voting against Mr Juncker and his Euro-zealots. I hope other Conservatives will join me.There was a bit of noise out of the Independent Spirit Awards recently surrounding the idea of ‘independent’ or ‘low budget’ and what that means. A twenty million dollar budget and a huge promotional machine behind a film seems, to me anyway, to strip away a little of what makes a film ‘independent.’ That said, I feel it is important as a film nut and a horror genre’ guy to seek out truly independent work as often as I can. Not just in horror, but in general. With that in mind, here are ten independent/low-budget horror films worth checking out of you haven’t already. In every case, these are films I enjoyed and want to champion in some way or other. If you saw/see them and don’t like them, that’s fine. I figure it is better to seek out content and have an opinion rather than not make that effort. Onto part one of the list (in no particular order): Lightning Bug (2004) Robert Green Hall, who went onto work on Buffy The Vampire Slayer (TV Series) and the Laid To Rest films, started with this charming coming of age story about a horror obsessed young man (Green Graves – played by Bret Harrison) with big dreams of leaving his small Alabama town to pursue special effects in Hollywood. The story is semi-autobiographical/fictional (sounds weird but makes sense when you see it) and follows his path contending with crazy church types, a spaced-out but caring mother, supportive but clueless friends, mysterious video store girl (Angevin – played by That 70’s Show’s Laura Prepon) and a terrible, scary ongoing ordeal with his stepfather. His artistic talent and drive propel the story into familiar plot territory but it is the thrilling, often sad elements that make it a special film. Green’s journey and his passions are familiar to many of us and it is the sincerity and care by which they are handled that make it worthwhile. Abram’s Hand (2011) I was lucky enough to get a chance to spend time with a collection of actors, producers and filmmakers last fall at the Scarlet Waters film event here in Austin. The event included a bunch of great shorts (including the fantastic ‘Desert Road Kill’ with Alejandro Patino) but the highlight was absolutely James Christopher’s full length film, Abram’s Hand. Like some of you, I was slightly disappointed by Kevin Smith’s Red State. To me, it was a great concept with less than great execution. Abram’s Hand tackles some of that same subject matter (crazed cult like church, lengths they will go etc) in the context of a weekend camping retreat between reuniting friends in a small Texas town. Christopher executes the conflict/threat in a much cleaner and much more sinister way – we might think we know the direction the film is going but as the events unfold and things escalate, it becomes much more dire and ultimately hopeless. The resolution of the film (punctuated in one scene in the back of a car) is so absolutely chilling that I still can’t shake it months later. This one might not be easy to find, but, is worth checking out. A Horrible Way To Die (2010) This might fit more as a thriller than straight out horror, but in any classification, is a damned brilliant, dark film that I dearly love. One of the impressions I took away from it was the concept of different ways people die beyond just losing their life. Another I thought this was well addressed in was Adam Green’s Frozen – the scene in the car, looking out the window hammers this idea home (being vague on purpose). You don’t have to be dead to die. In ‘A Horrible Way To Die’, Sarah (Amy Seimetz) is attempting to put her life back together with the help of group therapy, support from coworkers and a steady hand in the face of a terrible back story. She is taking small steps and even builds a tentative relationship with a groupmate (Joe Swanburg) but as things start to trend to better, normal, she is met with the reality that her ex-boyfriend (serial killer we see escaped from custody – played by AJ Bowen) is on his way back to find her. Saying much more would ruin things but I will say that it is beautifully shot (I mean just lovely to look at), well paced film that really hit me and stayed around well after the fact. The Burrowers (2008) I am nothing if not a big dork for practical effects – I get all childlike and giddy at the prospect of using them as much as possible in film. It is one of the reasons I really love J.T. Perry’s The Burrowers, but certainly not the only one. The story centers around the development of colonies in the American west in the 1870’s and what unintended consequences come from wiping out buffalo populations and brutalizing native indian tribes. Consequences, more specifically, in the form of vicious underground creatures and their new need to feed from a different source of food. The implied politics of the story are there, but I never felt as though it was purely a political film by any means. The Burrowers is a thrilling creature horror film that says a lot about man’s relationship with nature and nature’s relationship with man. Save for some annoying digital blood use, the practical creature effects are fantastic and really add a dynamic to the film that is hard to compartmentalize. Also, the cinematography is breathtaking – wide shots across the plains are just remarkable. If you like creature horror and can change gears to a different era, The Burrowers is absolutely worth your time. Aggression Scale (2012) I’ve written in the past about the ‘stick on your ribs’ or the ‘glue’ idea when it comes to movies and last year’s Aggression Scale certainly fits that bill. It is a film that I quite liked upon the first viewing and was still thinking about a few weeks after the fact. The story centers around a blended family on the run (or relocating, depending on how you read the ‘family adventure’ spin from the father) from some seriously bad dudes (including Derek Mears and Dana Ashbrook) looking for stolen money for their boss Bellavance (played by the ever grand Ray Wise). The son of the family sits at the very peak top end of a physiological measurement tool for aggressive behavior and this, mixed with his autism, makes for a powder keg waiting to explode. I don’t want to give away more than I already have but sufficed to say, this film balances a steady hand equally with thoughts about bonds of loyalty and reality through the filter of mental illness along with utterly palatable tension and vicious, justified violence. It is damned brilliant and a lot of fun. Absentia (2011) A film like Absentia is a great example of what I consider to be the gold standard for independent film making, especially of the scary kind (watch the making of on the DVD, seriously). The story centers around two sisters, a pregnant Tricia (Courtney Bell) and wayward soul Callie (the lovely Katie Parker) reuniting over a traumatic event. Tricia’s husband Daniel (Morgan Peter Brown) has been missing for seven years. Callie arrives to help Tricia through the process of declaring her husband dead in absentia and is confronted by the dumb mistakes of her own past and their effect on her relationship with her sister as well as her sister being pregnant by the detective that worked her husband’s missing person case. Haunting and terrifying visions of Tricia’s missing husband start happening as the house gets packed up and legal paperwork is processed. While these visions are happening, strange goings on in and around a nearby pass through tunnel startle and confuse Callie (a profoundly unsettling scene with Hellboy’s Doug Jones) and suggest that something more sinister might be going on. Things continue to slowly, steadily amp up with a series of nerve wrangling incidents that start to bring what happened to Daniel and what is happening to all of them now to a head. None of the twists and turns and supernatural elements work without the fully realized relationships the characters have and the care we as the audience have for them. The suspense of the final act is greater because of the investment the viewer has and as everything falls into place, the tragedy of it is felt more honestly and fully. I cannot say enough how much the craft of this film and the work put into the ground level of it makes the whole of the rest of it that much better…none of the emotional and tragic turns the story takes would mean a whole lot without it. Mike Flanagan, Morgan Peter Brown and company have made what I consider to be a unique and wholly remarkable film that I absolutely consider to be an excellent example of how to bring elements of drama and horror together to craft a near perfect story of loss and change in the face of unseen, deadly dangers. Burning Bright (2010) Okay, so I think this might be a divisive one as I’ve read pretty wide ranging opinions about it since it’s release. I’ve seen well more than I care to mention predator/animal attack films and by and large, they are a relatively dumb lot. There are a few gems out there but more often than not, man vs big-ass mean bear/shark/wolf etc etc etc follows a pretty ‘paint by numbers’ formula. Burning Bright, however, doesn’t fit neatly into that ‘animal attack’ mold at all and instead is a first rate thriller/horror pitting a college age girl (Briana Evigan) and her low functioning autistic brother against a very hungry bengal tiger in a boarded up house. Silly sounding you say? Well yes, the premise sounds absurd. But, as I’ve told many people since first seeing it, about 10-15 minutes in it seems more like a story you could’ve seen on Dateline NBC. The suspense of the thing is tempered by the question of ‘will they or won’t they’ and where you think the filmmakers will go with it. In the interest of allowing people to see it the way I did (very little knowledge going in beyond that Garret Dillahunt of Raising Hope was in it and that one sentence summation above), I’m not going to say anything more than I already have. I will say that the tension of the ordeal is nothing short of fantastic and… man, the laundry chute and, no, not saying anything more. Splinter (2008) In the age of remakes and re imaginings and all the rest of those things, original creature-feature type films are becoming more rare. I don’t get it – but, in the interest of not sounding like a grumpy curmudgeon about it, I’ll move on. I only write this because a film like Splinter is a grand example of how to do a lot of things right and produce a fun, balls-to-the-wall splattery monster movie that is just an absolute blast to watch. There is nothing tired about the setup, the creature threat or any of it. It is just awesome. The story centers around a young couple (Jill Wagner formerly of the TV show Wipeout and Paulo Costanzo) headed on a camping trip in Oklahoma who get carjacked by an unstable junkie woman and her escaped convict boyfriend. Not long after the carjacking, the four main characters are sidelined by a flat tire (caused by…) and soon find themselves in a gas station, seemingly empty. We know full well that this gas station is not a good place to be (referencing back to an intro scene at the start of the film before we meet our main characters) and things go downhill in a hot, fast hurry and the fight for survival is constant and intense. The creature that’s after them is a parasitic type of thing that takes over bodies of dead and living animals and sort of… combines them. The creature and effects work are just plain fantastic – it is just god-awful (and amazing) to look at in its various forms and provides a scary and all together badass villain to root against. Toby Wilkins’ Splinter is just grand and should be seen by any genre’ fan. The Revenant (2009) The Revenant is a great example of a film that got buried in the shuffle, somehow, after great initial response at festivals and otherwise and fought like hell to get back out in front of people damn near three years later. It is a crime because the film is a killer: at times a buddy comedy, other times a gross-out dark humor whirlwind a la Re-Animator (which I don’t say lightly, it’s one of my all time favorites) and often a somewhat intense rumination on the nature of mortality, power and base level instincts. It tells the story of a soldier Bart (David Anders) killed in an ambush while on patrol in Iraq who then, somehow, finds himself back alive and awake in his coffin back home in Los Angeles. He makes his way back to his house and to his very startled best friend who, after a hilarious startoff, slowly start to work out what the hell is happening or happened to Bart. His need for blood (not a vampire, more the true definition of a revenant) and inability to eat actual food becomes too much and, with the help of his goofy and all together nutty friend, they set about getting food and/or stopping bad guys (written, this sounds absurd – but go with it). This quickly unravels and becomes a cat and mouse game with both Bart’s condition and those around him and becomes a much larger musing on that nature of death and rebirth in the face of human cruelty and desires. With its micro budget, don’t expect big flashy effects, but do watch for the eye of a director who really knows what the hell he is doing. Scenes like the feeding sequence in the back of the car (you’ll know what I mean when you see it) and the convenience store shooting are just so perfectly crafted, you forget you’re watching a first feature from an unknown quantity. It is a wholly original and marvelous film I feel lucky to have discovered and greatly enjoyed. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) I wrestled with what to include in the final spot of this list, primarily because things I wanted to include (Resolution, Spiral, Good Neighbors, Red Hill) were things I’d either written about recently, or, in the latter three cases, not true horror. That isn’t to take anything away from them: Spiral is profoundly unsettling in a surprising way, Good Neighbors unnerving in a, well, funny/icky kind of way and Red Hill is just a badass survival Aussie gut-punch that resonates. I finally decided that Behind the Mask was the way to go though because I thought if anyone out there hadn’t actually seen it, I should make an effort to put it in front of them. The film is initially presented as a documentary – a student film crew is planning to profile a true life serial killer (Leslie Vernon – played brilliantly by Nathan Baesel) and go through his methods, his process, back story, all of it in an effort to tie real life serial killers to the mythos of big screen legends and how they work. The crew is slowly, methodically seduced by Leslie’s seeming every day charm and brought into his world in such an innocent way that once they are in beyond escape, they’ve gotten there willingly. The whole first leg of the film is so funny and engaging (especially watching as a horror fan) that you, like the crew, begin to forget the nature of the film project and of the subject himself. Explanations of how killers survive, how they stalk prey, how they make doors close, all of it, are straight out of horror movies 101. I can’t say enough about how fun this part of the film is – the humor of it is absolutely inside baseball but, that’s okay, it makes it all the more fun for the genre’ fan. Once things hit a fevered pitch, the format changes and we’re into more familiar horror movie territory. This is both a positive and a negative – it fits the plot, but, keeping the documentary feel could have been even better. Regardless, if you’re reading this and you’ve not seen it – rectify that soon. It is a blast. It is a film made with a loving heart for all of us genre’ fans without being overwrought or too proud of itself for its cleverness. Appearances by Zelda Rubinstein (as the sage type character) and Robert Englund (as the Dr. Loomis character) don’t hurt either. Go find it and have fun, because that’s the point right?Here is what we must remember: Obamacare is, in the end, good for America. A report this week from the Council of Economic Advisers found that since 2010, when the Affordable Care Act passed, “Health care spending is the lowest on record,” and, “Health care price inflation is at its lowest rate in 50 years.” The report also said that the law has “substantially improved the long-term federal budget outlook.” Not only must we lower health care costs so that they don’t bankrupt us; we must improve our health care system, something that Obamacare aims to do. Right now, we spend more than any other country on health care and still don’t have the best health outcomes. To quote from a PBS NewsHour report last year, in the United States: There are fewer physicians per person than in most other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. The number of hospital beds in the U.S. was 2.6 per 1,000 population in 2009, lower than the O.E.C.D. average of 3.4 beds. Life expectancy at birth increased by almost nine years between 1960 and 2010, but that’s less than the increase of over 15 years in Japan and over 11 years on average in O.E.C.D. countries. Fixing our health care system is not only right from a budget and policy perspective; it’s morally right. No one should be turned down for health coverage because of pre-existing conditions. No one should have to live in fear of going broke from getting sick. No one should have to use emergency rooms as his or her only option. As Martin Luther King Jr. once put it, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” Every policy change — particularly large ones — will have winners and losers. For now, the Republicans will keep highlighting the losers. Democrats must keep highlighting the winners, while reminding people that data points are not the data set. In the end, this health care law will be judged by its overall effects on the population and the economy, which I wager will be a net positive. Anger is exhausting. It eventually subsides, memories fade and the media turn away to chase another ambulance. As my mother would say, “Trouble don’t last always.”This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. NERMEEN SHAIKH: Hundreds of protesters are gathered outside the governor’s house in Minneapolis following the fatal police shooting of African-American man Philando Castile during a traffic stop for a broken taillight. The immediate aftermath of the shooting was broadcast live on Facebook by his girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds, who was speaking in the car next to her dying boyfriend as the police officer continues to point the gun into the car. A warning to our TV viewers: The footage is graphic. LAVISH REYNOLDS: Stay with me. We got pulled over for a busted taillight in the back. And the police just—he’s covered. They killed my boyfriend. He’s licensed, he’s carried to—he’s licensed to carry. He was trying to get out his ID and his wallet out his pocket, and he let the officer know that he was—he had a firearm, and he was reaching for his wallet. And the officer just shot him in his arm. POLICE OFFICER: Told him not to reach for it! I told him to get his hand off it! LAVISH REYNOLDS: He had—you told him to get his ID, sir, his driver’s license. Please, don’t tell me this, lord. Please, Jesus, don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please, don’t tell me that he’s

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