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The Winter Olympics of Russia's Discontent
Oct 12, 2013 5:00 AM PT
Earlier this week, a team of investigative journalists in Russia compiled a dossier suggesting that the Russian government will be embarking on an ambitious surveillance regimen for the upcoming Winter Olympics, which will be held in Sochi, Russia, next February.
In this TechNewsWorld podcast, Andrei Soldatov, one of the journalists who helped break this story, joins us from Moscow.
Soldatov is the editor at Agentura.Ru, a Russian website that covers security and intelligence agencies, and the author of The New Nobility: The Restoration of Russia's Security State and the Enduring Legacy of the KGB.
Soldatov talks about what, exactly, Russia has planned for the Games, how the 1980 Moscow Olympics still informs the nation's surveillance philosophy, and more.
Following are some excerpts of the podcast. Editor's Note: The "FSB," which comes up throughout in the podcast, is Russia's Federal Security Service.
Listen to the podcast (19:11 minutes).
TechNewsWorld: Let me start by asking you about a quote from Ron Deibert, who is the director of the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, which is a group that cooperated with your research on the upcoming Winter Games. Deiber described Russia's plans as, "Prism on steroids." He was referring, of course, to the famous U.S. surveillance program run by the NSA. I'm curious if you would agree that what Russia is planning is Prism on steroids -- and, if so, what you find so startling about this compared to other nation's surveillance.
Andrei Soldatov: That's a big question because you have to remember -- perhaps I need to explain it to all your listeners -- from the beginning, the Russian and Western approach to lawful interceptions were quite different. In Western Europe and in the United States, you need to obtain a court warrant, and the same thing is true for Russia. But in Russia, you don't need to show this warrant to anybody except your senior officer in your security service. Internet service providers or telecom operators have no right to see this warrant, because they have no security clearance ... .
Why we have the comparison to Prism, it seems to me, is that now the Western approach to communication interception became quite closer to the way the Russian system used to be five or six years [ago]. That's why we can say this comparison between Prism and Sorm, which is the name of the Russian system for lawful interception, became more correct ... .
TechNewsWorld: What do you think is the main rationale or the main justification behind this intensified surveillance? Is it to prevent protests? Is it to prevent people from talking bad about Russia? I mean, what is the motivation to have this sort of hard-core monitoring going on?
Soldatov: Well, actually it's quite difficult to understand in its entirety, because they are quite secret and they don't want to discuss these things a lot. For me, as a journalist, it's very difficult for me to get any kind of comment from them.
But as far as I can understand from talking to people inside the security services, they're inspired by the experience of the Soviet time Olympic Games, the Games which took place in 1980 in Moscow. If you remember, it was quite a specific kind of Olympic Games. It was boycotted by the United States and many Western countries because of the invasion of Afghanistan. But these particular Games, in 1980, were quite interesting because Moscow was completely cleaned up from any people who were deemed by the security services potentially dangerous. All troublemakers or would-be troublemakers were simply expelled from Moscow for the Olympic Games ... .
This operation was conducted by the KGB. The problem is that now, 30 years after that, people inside the Russian secret services still think that this approach was very effective, and we need to do something similar to that. Of course, we cannot say it officially -- that we just need to replicate the Soviet experience -- but actually they mean exactly these things. So they try to organize these Games in this way so that everything will be under control ... .
TechNewsWorld: Would you describe what Russia is planning to do more as surveillance or censorship? In other words, is Russia going to kind of sit back and collect information without acting on it? Or are they going to actively censor certain conversations or certain tweets, you know, kind of in the same way that perhaps China or other countries that try to block certain topics or certain keywords on social media -- the way that they operate? What is the strategy as far as what they will do with all this extra information they have?
Soldatov: I think that it will be more about surveillance than censorship, because the idea for the security services here in Russia is to prevent things to happen -- for example, to control communications to understand who planned something and then to try to disrupt these kind of activities. I think that will be the approach for the security services in this case.
Everybody understands that now, in the modern world, it would be quite difficult to censor. For example, if something happened during the Olympics, it would be impossible to block this information and to prevent this information from spreading. So I think the idea, the general idea, would be to prevent would-be troublemakers to get to the Olympics, and then to prevent people who made it to do something which might be considered by the security services as harmful or dangerous for the image of the Games.


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by Greta Meyer
Friday, April 5, marked the biggest turnout yet for the Third Annual Philadelphia High School Journalism Conference hosted by Germantown Friends School. Approximately 130 aspiring journalists from 15 area public and private schools gathered to meet professional journalists, many of whom are GFS alumni, parents or part of the extended GFS community.
The conference, entitled "Getting the Story," was sponsored by the GFS English Department and Earthquake, the GFS student newspaper.
Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Michael Bamberger, a former GFS parent, presented the keynote speech, teaching the students the dos and don'ts of the industry and sharing some personal anecdotes from his own work and experience. Bamberger's presentation was dynamic, and included an interactive component in which he brought a senior from Girls' High, Asha Anderson, to the stage with him.
Anderson participated in an impromptu mock interview. Asking students to be alert to body language and other nonverbal queues during the interview, Bamberger drew in his audience and pushed them to look beyond the answers that Anderson gave. Afterwards, Anderson said, "[Michael] really forced me to notice details and personality traits even when asking simple questions in an interview."
In addition to the keynote, each student attended two workshops, chosen from seven options, during the course of the day. Topics offered included Sports Writing, Online Media, Crime Reporting, Photojournalism, Journalistic Essays, Writing for the Radio and Column Writing. The workshops were led by GFS alumni Zach Baron, freelance writer and member of the GFS Class of 2000; PJ Vogt, associate producer for NPR's "On the Media" and member of the GFS Class of 2004; Rebecca Traister, Salon.com contributor and author of "Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women" and member of the GFS Class of 1993; and Allison Steele, crime reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and member of the GFS Class of 1998. Other workshop leaders included Bamberger, Ron Tarver, a former Philadelphia Inquirer staff photographer, and Inquirer columnist Karen Heller, a current GFS parent.
Zach Baron, who led a workshop entitled "How to be a writer on the Internet," told students that "at such a young age, you really shouldn't know what you want to do with your life."
"This conference is so valuable because it allows you to get a feel for the field without committing – it's like a quick tour through journalism," he said. "And for those who know that journalism is what they want to do, it's great to see people who have successfully made a career doing it. It makes the goal seem more attainable."
For some, the decision is already made. Jess Newberg, a freshman at Penn Charter, has already decided that journalism is what she intends to do, and at her school there are numerous opportunities in the journalism field. In addition to literary club and the student newspaper, several students submit their work to the Huffington Post teen section online (HuffPost Teen).
"[The conference] was inspiring and encouraging and valuable because it informed [me] about what it takes to be a successful writer," Newberg said.
Ron Tarver, an instructor of photography at Swarthmore College whose work has been published by National Geographic, Life, Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated, led a photojournalism workshop.
In the workshop, he displayed recent works that feature service dogs being trained and cared for by prison inmates. Schuyler Alig, a sophomore at GFS and staff photographer for Earthquake, has been in Ron's workshop for two years in a row.
"I always love Ron's photos, but the ones this year were especially interesting and moving," she said. According to Alig, Tarver's photos and video of a final ceremony that the inmates held when the dogs were fully trained and ready for service managed to capture the inmates' deep emotional connection to these dogs.
The closing speech was given by Karen Heller, who spoke about the need to choose carefully what one reports about and ensure that the journalist – not the interviewee – controls the focus of the interview.
An earlier workshop led by Heller included a lively discussion with the students about the censorship by school editorial boards. On the issue of how to get the story in the first place, Heller advised her young listeners to "always call back again and again."
"Don't be afraid to be nosy and persistent," she added. "That's your job."

subset: commoncrawl


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Having a computer several years old doesn't stop you from being able to play a good game on Linux. In fact, having an older computer is perfect with Linux – there are tons and tons of games! These games I'm running are on an iBook 300MHz processor and they all perform worthy.
Every several weeks I like to try a new game, lately I've got a chance to try three and I can say these are all excellent games.
Kobo Deluxe
Kobo Deluxe is a top down 2D shooter where we have to dodge enemy ships, evade bullets, and destroy space platforms. Kobo is a basic game but when dozens of bullets are flying your way and enemy pilots buzzing around you it is quite a challenge. Kobo Deluxe has 50 levels, only of which 24 have I got through after a good amount of play. There is quite a bit of braggart around for those who are able to finish it.
Ivan – Iter Vehemens ad Necem
"Iter Vehemens ad Necem" is latin for Violent Road to Death. Eck! Yes, my latin was a bit rusty too. Ivan looks to be one of the cooler games to play, I've only just installed it but it reminds me of my Ultima IV trudge through dungeons marathons. IVAN is a roguelike game with a graphical interface. No
attack gremlin with level 14+ electrical mace :) here so it doen'st have a large learning scale. IVAN can be dived into without needing to read a manual. The objective of IVAN is to get the character to travel to a far off island by means of an underground dungeon to deliver a very important message (oh, and there happens to be a few monsters along the way.) IVAN is unique in rogue-likes and includes a detailed body part system and physical property system. Be careful not to die in IVAN as no magical potion will save you. Death = polly parrot. Ivan is a fun game and though I just started I think I'll be playing it quite a bit. Unfortunately, I'm bogged by the bug that creates a Segmentation Fault on some PCs. Is it possible to play IVAN all the way thorough without saving?
FYI, several fans have created a new forum for IVAN and a nice wiki that can be helpful.
Loitering the Linux Game Tome a few days ago, I gold mined OpenTyrian – right away my eyebrows raised. Tyrian was a blast DOS game on one of my earlier PC's. Tyrian is a fast paced scrolling shooter that includes upgrades and challenging bosses. The port of the original Tyrian uses C and SDL and is nice and responsive though sound at time crackles on me.
Not many repositories have this game yet so it will need to be compiled from source. The original data files (also at the site) will need to be put in a "data" folder where the executable is.
I created a
.desktop for OpenTyrian to show under the Gnome menu, but unfortunately the desktop launcher must look at the files relatively and thus can't find the data files this way. The only way I could find a way around it was to create a script that
cd'd to the opentyrian folder and executed
tyrian from there.
vim /usr/bin/opentyrian
cd /home/user/opentyrian
To create the
.desktop file:
vim ~/.local/share/applications/opentyrian.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=OpenTyrian is a port of the classic DOS game Tyrian to C using SDL
Here's a few icons I extracted from the game for the
.desktop file:
Usually it's easiest to put them in the pixmaps directory:
sudo cp ~/Desktop/opentyrian-*.png /usr/share/pixmaps/opentyrian.png
In a few weeks, I'll review my favorite Linux game: Wesnoth.


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I tried the new Metasploit Framework 2.3, it has 12 new exploits, new and improved payloads, improved performance, new msfweb interface and the best of all the Meterpreter (Meta-Interpreter) a new advanced payload, allows developers to write their own extensions in the form of shared object (DLL) files, that can be uploaded and injected into a running process on a target computer after exploitation has ocurred. So it never touch the disk!
It has 4 extensions now:
FS (cd, getcwd, ls, upload, download)
Net (Ipconfig, portfwd, route)
Process (kill, ps, execute)
Sys (sysinfo, getuid, rev2self)
It's a big step for the metasploit project, and it's really sweet ;)
Metasploit Framework new Release!
Publicado por Christian Martorella
0 comentarios Wednesday, January 12, 2005
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Chaplain's Corner
Short essays written for the La Jolla Veteran's Hospital newsletter in La Jolla, California
One of the best ways to reflect on the meaning of harmony is in relationship to music. Historically, the word harmony was derived from the Greek word ??µ???a (harmonía), which the Oxford English Dictionaryi defines as: "Joint, agreement, concord; the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.", the verb form, can also be considered: "To fit together, to join." Interestingly, the great composer and musician, Johann Sebastian Bach, connects harmony and Godliness: "Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul."ii
Ancient Chinese philosophical tradition points out that harmony must start with what I describe as 'self-concord' – in the sense of an inner integration of our ethical and moral principles and actions into a "consistent whole." From ourselves, this inner harmony can radiate out to all. As the Chinese aphorism states: "If there is beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world."iii
From the Hindu tradition, but speaking for all mankind, Mahatma Gandhi advises that we should ". . .always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."iv
King David the psalmist tells us: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity." (Ps 132:1). The Roman Catholic Trappist monk Thomas Merton pinpoints the fruit of harmony: " . . .happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony."
One may consider harmony as a personality trait or disposition to be agreeable. Inherited by some; for others this may require disciplined effort. Agreeableness is, in turn, related to meekness, which is itself a disposition to be patient. Meekness is not usually considered a virtue in worldly terms, but if looked at as a pathway to harmony we can sense its spiritual value. The Eastern Church Father, St. John of the Ladder,v tells us that ". . .meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which remains the same in honor and dishonor [and can guide our reactions to] a neighbor when he causes many troubles." (p. 145) He goes on to say ". . .meekness is the buttress of patience." (p. 146). By cultivating agreeableness and patience in ourselves, we can work toward bringing harmony into the world.
i Oxford English Dictionary. (2012). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press
ii http://www.worldofquotes....
iii http://www.worldofquotes....
iv http://www.worldofquotes....
v Moore, L. (Trans.). (1979). The ladder of divine ascent. Brookline, MA: Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
Visit Fr. Morelli's Facebook page.
V. Rev. Fr. George Morelli Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist.
Fr. Morelli is the Coordinator of the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministry of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and Religion Coordinator (and Antiochian Archdiocesan Liaison) of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion.
Fr. Morelli is a Senior Fellow at the Sophia Institute, an independent Orthodox Advanced Research Association and Philanthropic Foundation housed at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in New York City that serves as a gathering force for contemporary Orthodox scholars, theologians, spiritual teachers, and ethicists.
Fr. Morelli serves on the Executive Board of the San Diego Cognitive Behavior Therapy Consortium (SDCBTC)
Fr. Morelli serves as Assistant Pastor of St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, San Diego, California.
Fr. Morelli is the author of:


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Any die-hard patriot is sure to appreciate this sparkling rendition of our beloved symbols of freedom, artfully crafted of gleaming glass. Inspiring figurine proudly features a high-flying eagle, his golden talons glistening as he hovers above a glowing pair of American flags. Sure to create a stir of pride in the hearts of one and all! Glass with mirror base. 3" diameter x 3 1/2" high. Retail Price: $12.95.
[Contact Us] [Privacy] [Security]


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The liberal Employment Policy Institute posted an extract from its forthcoming, "State of Working America" report, to illustrate the concentration of income growth for top wage earners. EPI calculates that between 1979 and 2005, households at the bottom fifth of the income scale have seen an average, inflation-adjusted income growth of just $200. That is not an average annual increase of $200, but rather, an increase of $200 over 26 years. By contrast, a small number of households at the top 0.1% of the income scale saw average income growth of almost $6 million over that same period.
– Posted by Tom Abate


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We've lots going on in the Ingleton area with something to interest you throughout the year. Main annual events include
1940's Weekend, Overground Underground Festival, Ingleton Gala & Mountain Race and Sheafstock. Ingleton also hosts its very own cycle sportive, Escape to the Dales.
From family friendly to more specialised, you're bound to find something to take part in and enjoy. Browse through the calendar for regular events, weekly, monthly and annual, welcoming locals and visitors. Please see the details for advance booking requirements and accessibility.
2020 Events include –
The Great Ingleton Easter Egg Hunt – 6th – 19th April – Event Cancelled
Sheafstock (Live music) – 10th – 12th April – Event Cancelled
Ingleton Knitathon (crochet too) – 23rd May
Escape to the Dales Cycle Sportive – 28th June
1940s Homeguard Weekend – 3rd – 5th July – Event Cancelled
Food Fair at Country Harvest – 10th – 12th July
Ingleton Gala – 18th July
Ingleton's Golden Snitch Trail – 5th September
Please check back often as the calendar is updated regularly with new and exciting things to see and do here in the Ingleton area, including regular village events.
Events by Date Order
|9 Mon
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9:00 am Navigation for Novices (half day) @ Ingleton Village
Navigation for Novices (half day) @ Ingleton Village
Sep 9 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Don't get lost on the hills or on your next hike, book on to one of these sessions with Craig. We'll meet up in the centre of Ingleton (unless otherwise informed), stock up on breakfast, brews and equipment before we head out for the morning. 09:15-12:30 You will gain an insight into the techniques required to understanding maps, covering Scales, ...
9:15 am Classes AMPM (Active Moves Powered by Music) Cardio and Abs. @ The Sports Hall, the i-centre
Classes AMPM (Active Moves Powered by Music) Cardio and Abs. @ The Sports Hall, the i-centre
Sep 9 @ 9:15 am – 10:15 am
2:00 pm Navigation Refresher (half day) @ Ingleton area
Navigation Refresher (half day) @ Ingleton area
Sep 9 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
You will refine your understanding and hone the techniques required to develop a better understanding of navigation strategy – Distance, Direction, Check Off and Overshoot. Practice measuring distances using, Timing and Pacing. Hone your technique for following a bearing in poor visibility. Improve your routefinding skills and route planning – Using natural features, hazard avoidance.
6:00 pm Learn to Climb at the Indoor Climbing wall. @ Inglesport Climbing Wall
Learn to Climb at the Indoor Climbing wall. @ Inglesport Climbing Wall
Sep 9 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Perfect for the absolute beginner to somebody that's been climbing for years. There is a qualified instructor on hand to help get everybody off the ground. Our Monday beginner session is still the best place to learn to climb. All you need to do is come down to the wall, any time between 6-9pm for a beginner session with one of ...
7:00 pm Box Fit class with TNT Fitness (Tomi Tatham) @ The I-Centre,
Box Fit class with TNT Fitness (Tomi Tatham) @ The I-Centre,
Sep 9 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm


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Lake County hospitals resume elective procedures halted due to COVID-19
Lamar Alexander knocks Trump for pushing ahead with Obamacare lawsuit
Latest nursing home stats: 2,747 coronavirus deaths
Latino communities in Illinois see uptick in COVID-19 cases: 'Physical distancing is a privilege'
Latino leaders cite need for more COVID-19 testing in suburbs
Lawsuit claims negligence in coronavirus-related death of resident at Bria of Geneva nursing home
Leaders in counties with worst COVID-19 death rates say measures go too far: 'They was dying anyway'
Lightfoot 'cautiously optimistic' city on track to reopen in early June
Local federal courts donate protective gear to health care workers
Local nurses shine a light into their worlds during pandemic
Longtime Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley dies overnight
Malaria drug shows no benefit in another coronavirus study
MAPS PSO Presents Patient Safety Champion Award to a Rush Copley Medical Center Employee
IHA Honors Illinois Hospitals and Health Systems for Quality Initiatives with Significant Impact
Is That a Mouse In Your House?
Doctors Argue Plans To Remedy Surprise Medical Bills Will 'Shred' The Safety Net
MAPS PSO Releases White Paper on Top 10 Patient Safety Issues for 2020
Mayor Lightfoot: COVID-19 'Testing Network' Opens In Chicago This Week
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announcement of reopening plan rescheduled
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces $56M RFP for contact tracing
Mayor praises OSF Little Company for dedication in pandemic
Medicaid managed care reforms signed into law
Memorial Day Weekend crowds trigger virus warnings, from Lake of the Ozarks to Daytona Beach
Mental health providers turn to telemedicine to counsel patients during pandemic
Merck Unveils Virus Vaccine Candidates While Warning on Timeline
Minorities, elderly represent higher rates of COVID-19 infections, deaths
Moderna CEO says coronavirus vaccine could be ready by end of year
Morris Hospital makes preparations as state COVID-19 cases grow
NAL donates face shields for hospitals
Navy's Blue Angels to fly over Chicago in show of 'national solidarity,' thanks
Nearly 4K COVID-19 cases, 500 deaths in long-term care facilities in last week, data shows
Nearly 500 face shields donated to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
Nearly Half Of Americans Delayed Medical Care Due To Pandemic
New COVID-19 cases confirmed in southern Illinois
New data on Gilead's remdesivir, released by accident, show no benefit for COVID-19
New payment model at Cook County Medicaid plan
New Task Force Will Plan Chicago's Economic Recovery From Coronavirus
Notable bills passed on last day of abbreviated legislative session
Obamacare Enrollees in Less Danger of Losing Subsidies Under Rule
Officials Haven't Determined If Chicago Can Enter Phase 3 of Reopening After Unrest: Lightfoot
Ogle and Lee county leaders propose their own re-opening plan
On Deadliest Day Yet, Dr. Ezike Begs Antsy Illinoisans To Stay Inside: 'We're Still At War'
One German church service resulted in more than 100 coronavirus infections
OSF HealthCare launches digital educational tool for COVID-19
OSF HealthCare leaders say the mental health of employees is crucial
OSF HealthCare reminds people to take care of primary care health needs
OSF HealthCare requesting face mask donations as elective surgeries return
OSF HealthCare to begin elective services again
Our Health: Getting an overall picture of the COVID-19 pandemic
Overdose Deaths Have Skyrocketed in Chicago, And The Coronavirus Pandemic May Be Making It Worse
Packed crowds spark pandemic alarms as states reopen
Pandemic Hits Academic Hospitals Hard
Pandemic threatens to deepen crisis in mental health care
Patients slip through healthcare's safety net amid Medicaid financing debate
Pelosi unveils $3 trillion COVID-19 relief package with another round of $1,200 stimulus payments
Perry Memorial Hospital Board appoints Patricia Luker as interim CEO
Please Do Not Eat Disinfectant
Poll: Only Half Of Americans Would Get A COVID-19 Vaccine
Post-pandemic recovery depends on 'a whole new class of jobs' to help people feel safe in public
Postponed elective surgeries one reason Chicago area hospitals not overwhelmed during COVID-19
Preckwinkle denies release of COVID-19 patient addresses to dispatchers
Preckwinkle, Foxx: Don't let looters hijack reform
Pritzker addresses stay-at-home order changes, church's planned gathering
Pritzker Administration Behind On Hiring Spree To Tackle Medicaid Application Backlog
Pritzker lifts all restrictions on Illinois churches after Supreme Court challenge
Pritzker Outlines 5-Phase Plan to Reopen Illinois, Region by Region
Pritzker outlines regional reopening as state records 176 new COVID-19 deaths
Pritzker says Illinois may be 'bending the curve,' but crowd limits likely last into summer
Pritzker speeds up reopening of child care centers in Illinois
Pritzker stresses importance of wearing a mask, addresses mask-related discrimination
Pritzker, Lightfoot respond to surge of COVID-19 cases among Hispanics
Pritzker: All Illinois regions have met conditions to reopen
Pritzker: Illinois is 'going it alone' on tackling coronavirus
Pritzker: Start thinking about a summer with no festivals
Private equity firms now control many hospitals, ERs and nursing homes. Is it good for health care?
Protests Raise Concerns Of More COVID-19 Cases
Racial Status And The Pandemic: A Combustible Mixture
Rate of deaths, illness among black residents alarms cities
Region's 22.8% infection rate well above threshold for loosening restrictions
Reopening Doctors' Offices Costs Billions to Keep Patients Safe
Restore Illinois commission bill passes after removal of remote session, FOIA delay language
Right-to-Repair Groups Fire Shots at Medical Device Manufacturers
Roche wins U.S. nod for COVID-19 antibody test, aims to boost output
Rural Clinics Receive Fed Funding For COVID Testing
Rush was built for a moment like this. Take a look inside the calm at the center of Chicago's storm
Scientists say a now-dominant strain of the coronavirus appears to be more contagious than original
Senate reopens despite risks as House preps more virus aid
Senators probe Medline about 'Project Air Bridge,' say 'the American people need an explanation'
She was about to give birth when she learned she had COVID-19. Here's what happened next.
Should I Get Tested For Coronavirus Just For The Heck Of It?
Some doctors says they believe patients are staying away from hospitals, fearing COVID-19
Southern Illinois hospitals to resume elective surgeries, procedures as early as Friday
St. Louis County COVID-19 deaths jump 19% Tuesday as toll rises in Missouri, Illinois
State Of Illinois' Coronavirus Hotline Fields Myriad Of Calls With Questions, Concerns
State reports 104 more COVID-19 deaths, passes 115,000 total cases
State Takes Over Elgin Overflow Hospital Thursday: Officials
State to offer 'guidance' for church reopenings
States cut Medicaid as millions of jobless workers look to safety net
States Look To University Labs To Help Increase COVID-19 Testing Capacity
Structural racism responsible for high rate of COVID-19 deaths among African Americans
Struggling state hospital systems announce furloughs; collectively losing $1.4B a month
Study estimates 24 states still have uncontrolled coronavirus spread
Study says coronavirus immunity might only last 6 months
Suicides of two health care workers hint at the Covid-19 mental health crisis to come
Supreme Court rejects challenge to limits on church services
Supreme Court set to hear Obamacare case argued by phone
The final data for remdesivir is in
The Joint Commission To Resume Hospital Inspections After Pandemic Hiatus
Comprehensive Medicaid Managed Care Reform Legislation Will Strengthen Illinois Medicaid Program
IHA Innovation Challenge: Partners in Progress Award Presented
Illinois Hospital Leaders to Showcase Quality Improvement Initiatives at the State Capitol
Illinois Hospital Leaders Urge Legislative Action on Needed Medicaid Managed Care Reforms
Karen Harris Named IHA Senior Vice President and General Counsel
March is Illinois Poison Prevention Month
IHA Elects New Board
IHA Statement on Texas District Court Ruling on the ACA
IHA's Longest Serving Employee Retires
Illinois Poison Center Warns About "Silent Killer" in Homes
MAPS PSO Presents Patient Safety Champion Award
Sarah Macchiarola Named IHA Vice President, Federal Government Relations
Statement from A.J. Wilhelmi Re: Illinois Supreme Court Ruling in Oswald v. Beard
Statement from A.J. Wilhelmi: Federal Approval of Redesigned Hospital Assessment Program
The second virus wave: How bad will it be as lockdowns ease?
Three potential futures for Covid-19: recurring small outbreaks, a monster wave, or a persistent cri
Travel From New York City Seeded Wave of U.S. Outbreaks
Trump administration shelves CDC guide to reopening country
Trump appeals to seniors with plan to cap insulin costs at $35 for Medicare enrollees
Trump cutting U.S. ties with World Health Organization over virus
Trump EPA still hasn't told thousands of Americans about cancer risks from ethylene oxide
Trump looks to wind down coronavirus task force as early as this month, Pence says
Trump says coronavirus task force will continue 'indefinitely,' shift focus to reopening and vaccine
Trump says IG report finding hospital shortages is 'just wrong'
Trump says US will be able to run 5 million COVID-19 tests per day very soon despite shortages
Trump says virus testing 'not a problem,' but doubts persist
Trump scrambles to broaden coronavirus testing options
U.S. companies kept shipping masks overseas even as hospitals ran out and despite warnings
U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How's Your State Doing?
U.S. death toll from coronavirus surpasses 100,000
US allows use of 1st drug shown to help virus recovery
US Approves New Coronavirus Antigen Test With Fast Results
US braces for COVID-19 'slow burn'
US choir outbreak called 'superspreader event' in Washington State
US infection rate rising outside New York as states open up
US to rein in flood of virus blood tests after lax oversight
Virus spikes could emerge weeks after US economic reopenings
Wealthiest Hospitals Got Billions in Bailout for Struggling Health Providers
Weekly COVID-19 deaths in Illinois decline for first time during pandemic
What Killed a Plan to Transform Health Care on the South Side
White House bids for 'surprise' billing fix ahead of next rescue package
WHO Pauses Hydroxychloroquine Trial Amid Concerns Day After Trump Says He Stopped Taking It
Why some smaller hospitals treating lots of COVID patients aren't getting 'high-impact' federal aid
With 65 new free testing sites added, Illinois has run nearly 100K coronavirus tests in past week
With big talk and hurled insults, the gloves come off in the race for the coronavirus vaccine
The second virus wave: How bad will it be as lockdowns ease?
From Italy to Kansas, health authorities are increasingly warning that the question isn't whether a second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths will hit, but when -- and how badly.
Associated Press


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- "For me, It`s Madeira`s
second best export."Dolores AveiroWatch video
- Origins
It all started on Madeira Island, known around the world as the "Pearl of the Atlantic" for its green landscape, pleasant climate and unique seaside conditions, which make the island the ideal environment for growing one of the most sought-after fruits in the country: the Madeira Banana.
It is a special variety with noble origins, extremely rich in nutrients and vitamins, which concentrates all the sweetness and intensity of the banana`s original flavour in its traditionally smaller size. The banana production has the seal of origin and quality of an European Union Outermost Region, which certifies agricultural products coming from Outermost Regions. As such, it is not surprising that today it is Madeira`s second best export.
- Builds strong musclesThe high concentration of potassium, a mineral necessary for muscle contraction, helps to avoid cramps and fatigue, and makes the Madeira Banana a recommended food for professional athletes. Furthermore, it is rich in fibre and has 3 natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - which give the natural boost of energy that is needed for intensive training.
- Keeps you in a good moodAnd not just because it is so incredibly delicious. In addition to balancing blood sugar levels, it concentrates high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into serotonin, the famous happiness hormone. The result? Relaxation, good mood, and happiness levels that are tops.
- Helps memoryBecause it is rich in potassium, a mineral that helps carry oxygen to the brain, it ends up being extremely beneficial for some of its cognitive functions, such as memory and concentration.
- Makes healthy bonesBecause it has magnesium and calcium, which are so important in strengthening bones, teeth and cells in our body.
- Helps the little ones growSince it has the recommended dose of minerals, iron and vitamins, it is an excellent ally during the phase of growth and development of bodies and bones in children.
- Helps weight lossIt`s no coincidence that it is a required food in the majority of diet regimes: because it is a complete fruit, it helps maintain blood sugar levels, giving an immediate feeling of satisfaction and avoiding the famous irrational night visits to the refrigerator.
- Maintains blood pressure on an even keelSince it is extremely rich in potassium, the Madeira Banana is recommended for controlling blood pressure and it is a powerful aid in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
- Dolores` Banana Cake
This is mother Dolores`s best-kept secret. A light and fluffy cake with a sweet touch of Madeira Banana. Delicious and nutritious, it`s not surprising that it is preferred by The World`s Best.
Watch the video and learn how to make it in 15 minutes!Watch video
- Madeira Banana PancakesIf plain pancakes are delicious in themselves, imagine what Madeira Banana pancakes would be like. Have a champion`s breakfast or snack with this super easy recipe, with caramelised bananas on the side.See recipe
- Molasses-Grilled Trout with Madeira BananasDelicious trout fillets with Madeira banana as the accompaniment with a sweetened touch of molasses, to make it even more exotic and flavourful. You can`t miss!See recipe
- Scabbard fish Fillets with Madeira Banana and Passion FruitThis is a recipe faithful to its origins in Madeira: fresh fish cooked with the traditional fruit of the region. Discover the charms of sweet and sour in this adventurous dish, recommended for a special day.See recipe
- Fried Madeira banana with caramel sauce and ice creamA simple idea to improvise for a last-minute dinner: fried banana with vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel sauce, as much as gluttony allows.See recipe
- Madeira banana cheesecakeWe`ve shown that the Madeira banana can be used in cakes, mousses, ice creams and pancakes. But we`re still missing the classic dessert: cheesecake. Enjoy this fool-proof recipe.See recipe
- Madeira banana biscuitsNothing like homemade biscuits with an original banana flavour to enjoy with a cup of tea and a good conversation.See recipe
- Madeira banana breadA delicious middle ground between bread and cake, served warm with melted butter at tea time.See recipe
Another advantage of the Madeira banana is that you can use one hand to eat it while the other takes a selfie, all at the same time. Share your moments with the #bananadamadeira hashtag to show up here on our site.
- Com o regresso do bom tempo sabe bem algo fresquinho. Vai um gelado de Banana da Madeira com coulis de maracujá? #bananadamadeira #receitas #gelado #primavera #verão
- Começar o dia com um toque de doçura de Banana da Madeira. 💛 #bananadamadeira #pequenoalmoço #receitas #bomdia
- Quer saber a receita da @doloresaveiroofficial para o bolo de Banana da Madeira? Vá a www.bananadamadeira.pt #bananadamadeira #bolodebanana #sobremesa #receitas #comidacaseira #lanche #madeira #portugal
- A Mãe Dolores comportou-se como uma verdadeira atriz profissional no novo anúncio da #bananadamadeira Veja o filme completo em www.bananadamadeira.pt
- A Mãe Coragem voltou a fazer jus ao nome com a sua estreia oficial na campanha às Bananas da Madeira. :) Veja o filme em www.bananadamadeira.pt #bananadamadeira
- Panquecas com o melhor da ilha. #bananadamadeira
- A sobremesa mais equilibrada de sempre. 😉 #bananadamadeira
- A dieta começa sempre "amanhã". #bananadamadeira
- Um boost de energia saudável e nutritivo antes de treinar. #bananadamadeira
- Bagel à moda da Madeira. #bananadamadeira
- Production backstage with mother Dolores
It was an intensive 2-day filming shoot for the new Madeira banana publicity campaign, a super production that included aerial footage of the island captured with drones and filming at the Bananicultura Centre in Fajã dos Padres, and of course, in the warm hospitable home of Dolores Aveiro.
It was actually the first time mother Dolores ventured out into the world of advertising! See how it all came about by clicking the button below.Watch video
- Madeira IslandsWatch video


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Bill Finch, the director of conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Alabama, is blogging for Cool Green Science about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the Conservancy's efforts to protect the Gulf's globally significant natural systems. Read all his posts, and see fresh images from the oil spill like the one above in this slideshow from photographer Bridget Besaw.
We all want to throw up our hands and cry, "What now?"
Kill this gusher — that's the first order. Do it as soon as possible, and prevent it from doing any more damage.
But the Gulf has swallowed this oil. It's now deep into the system, so much a part of the Gulf that we can no longer imagine siphoning it all out. Even if we shut down this well immediately, the catastrophe will continue.
We know that we'll be losing harvests of precious Gulf fish, we'll be losing many clean Gulf seafood nurseries and habitats, and many of us will see our livelihoods and the loveliness of Gulf life wrecked in the process.
But we are not helpless. What we do have control over now is how long we must suffer this loss.
If we do nothing to help nurse the Gulf back to health, we may never see it recover, even after decades. But if we act now to kick-start a recovery of life, we could end this decade with a Gulf that is richer, more productive, more beautiful than what we had before this catastrophe struck.
Every egg, every young fish, shrimp or crab, every adult that survives this spill will now be precious. These will be the two-by-two creatures that we'll need to load onto the ark of recovery.
We must be vigilant: We can't afford to lose any more of the Gulf's creatures to carelessness, greed or neglect.
But if we're going to see a rapid recovery of our Gulf, we need to do more: We need to ensure that the struggling creatures that survive this spill have a place to come home to — clean marshes, clean reefs, clean seagrass beds, clean shores to raise new generations of Gulf life.
Birds, fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, turtles will be desperate for a home. For generations, we've been wrecking the habitats they need to reproduce, grow and thrive. Louisiana continues to lose 40 square miles of marsh a year. In Alabama's once highly productive Mobile Bay, we appear to have lost 70 to 90 percent of the bay's original oyster, marsh and seagrass habitat.
We must act quickly to protect the clean habitats that survive. But we can't repair the damage done by this oil spill if we don't act quickly to repair more than 100 years of damage done to Gulf Coast habitats, rebuilding our lost reefs, marshes and seagrass beds. These new, clean habitats will be critical to kick-starting a recovery.
We can't recover all that was lost at once, but The Nature Conservancy is already identifying areas all along the Gulf Coast where we can rebuild significant areas of lost habitat within three to five years, in time to spark a revival of Gulf life.
Here in Alabama, the threats posed by this oil spill are driving a new appreciation of the importance of recovering lost habitat. We've been rebuilding our lost oyster reefs at the rate of about a mile a year. These reefs, the architectural foundation of much Gulf habitat, have already begun to support an explosion of seagrass, marsh, fish and shrimp. But at the rate we're working now, it would take us a century to recover what was lost.
We can't afford to wait. The damage done by this spill demands that we ramp up our efforts as rapidly as possible.
We know we could be building 20 to 30 miles of reef a year, and promote hundreds of acres of seagrass and marsh recovery in the process. Within three to five years, we could complete 100 miles of oyster reef and at least 1,000 acres of seagrass and marsh habitat. That's conservative — it's possible, perhaps even likely, that a properly designed restoration could support 10,000 acres of seagrass and marsh.
Rebuilding such a system will have huge benefits beyond kick-starting the oil spill recovery:
If designed properly, oyster reefs will slow, and in many cases, halt the massive erosion that continues to carve into Alabama shorelines.
Reefs will help to filter the loose sediment that turns Mobile Bay a dark chocolate every time the wind blows.
Light-loving seagrasses return, tying down still more mud.
And in the eddies created by the reef, marshes will get a toe-hold and spread rapidly.
Harvest of white shrimp, once Mobile's prized catch, will almost certainly rebound.
Crab habitat will increase dramatically.
Tens of thousands of young speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead and other Gulf game and food fish will once again find a place to grow and thrive.
All of the Conservancy's state programs are working on equally ambitious and concrete solutions, and the project in Mobile Bay is just one example among many that we'll be highlighting in this space over the next several weeks.
One hundred miles of reef, 1,000 acres of marsh. Next time you're feeling helpless because of the oil spill, wrap your hands around that thought and imagine the implications.
If we choose to think so heroically, we could be better off in 10 years than we are now, living with a healthier, more productive, more beautiful Gulf of Mexico.
— Text by Bill Finch, Cool Green Science Blog
Also on MNN:
MNN homepage photo: benimoto/Flickr


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Area premieres of August: Osage County, Doubt, The History Boys, How I Learned to Drive, The Pillowman, Proof and Wit all have become attention-getting and crowd-pleasing productions over the yearsin central Ohio theater.
Their exalted status as London/Broadway hits and major awardwinners certainly helped to build audience anticipation, add some electricity to the opening nights and boost overall attendance.
I think thereare goodreasons why some of the best productions in central Ohio theater history have been of significant, entertaining plays developed and proven elsewhere.
Area premieres of August: Osage County, Doubt, The History Boys, How I Learned to Drive, The Pillowman, Proof and Wit all have become attention-getting and crowdpleasing productions over the yearsin central Ohio theater.
Their exalted status as London/Broadway hits and major awardwinners certainly helped to build audience anticipation, add some electricity to the opening nights and boost overall attendance.
David Glover, left to right, Jordan Fehr, Jay Rittberger, John S. Kuhn, and Daniel Kuether in Available Light Theatre's January 2013 production of The History Boys. Photo by Matt Slaybaugh.
I think there are goodreasons why some of the best productions in central Ohio theater history have been of significant, entertaining plays developed and proven elsewhere.
When a Columbus troupe obtains the often-hard-fought rights to stage the area premiere of a play tested in New York, London, Chicago or other major theater centers, its leaders and local audiences know that the play "works" – at least on several sure-fire levels (and always with the proviso of solid casting, directing, design and acting.)
Sadly, that can�t always be said for a new play, whether written by a local neophyte, an established writer with several notches on her belt or even a nationally known playwright with several major awards.
Not that new works aren�t worth trying out, since they are the life blood of the American theater.
Butmost theater companies, if they are prudent, aim for balance. Weavingsome promising new works into a season that also offers some recent "name-brand" hits and some classics is a wise way to hedge your bets given the sometimes-unpredictable tastes (or whims) of theatergoers.
Avid theatergoers – the core of the audience in any city – can be curious to see something they haven�t seen before, whether it�s a locally written piece by a relative unknown or a major work by a name playwright that�s made waves in New York.
Even greater anticipation grows when theatergoers hear about the first area mounting of a work that has been recognized with top awards, from Broadway�s Tony for best play to the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
Recent case in point: The History Boys, a January 2013 production that earned good reviews and good audiences for Available Light Theatre. The troupe, led by Matt Slaybaugh, seized the opportunity to be the first to tackle a difficult but rewarding play about education that won the top awards from London to Broadway.
Frankly, if I had come up last year with a "top ten" list of newer major plays that I was most eager for central Ohio audiences to see, The History Boys would have ranked high on it.
So here�s my updated list (in chronological order, starting with the most recent debuts) of 10 plays as yet unproduced in Columbus that wowed me when I first saw them or that I am eager to see staged locally:
Peter and the Starcatcher (2012) – What really happened in Neverland before Wendy arrived? This brilliantly staged stunt-play with music, adapted by by Rick Elice from Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson�s prequel novel, playfully uses story-theater techniques and ample slapstick to tell the back story of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the other pirates and colorful characters from James M. Barrie�s most beloved play. The family-friendly Broadway production won five Tony awards, including for its scenery, costumes, lighting and sound design. (The rights may not be available yet to regional theaters, but when they are, I predict a major bidding war.)
Matt D'Amico, left to right, Rick Holmes, Isaiah Johnson, Adam Chanler-Berat, and Christian Borle in the Broadway run of Peter and the Starcatcher. (AP Photo/The O & M Co.)
Clybourne Park (2012) – The 2011 Pulitzer Prizewinner for drama invites the possibility of a collaboration in Columbus between the King Arts Complex and a leading local troupe. Bruce Norris� satirical dram focuses on whites and blacks facing transitions in 1959 and 2009 in a once-segregated and gentrifying neighborhood. If that sounds faintly familiar, bingo: Norris was inspired by A Raisin in the Sun, the classic Lorraine Hansberry drama about a black family dreaming of moving to the nicer Chicago neighborhood of Clybourne Park.
Venus in Fur (2012) – Only two characters appear in this 2012 Tony nominee for best play by David Ives (Mere Mortals, All in the Timing), but what characters and what fireworks they generate. Ives pits a canny, sexy actress eager to do anything to win a stage role against a director auditioning her for the plum part of a dominatrix. The result is a powerful play about power plays and a twisty dissection of the art of seduction.
Tony winner Nina Arianda in Venus in Fur on Broadway. (AP Photo/Boneau Bryan-Brown, Joan Marcus)
Dividing the Estate (2009) – Horton Foote, the late great American playwright best known for The Trip to Bountiful and his Oscar-winning screenplays for To Kill a Mockingbird and Tender Mercies, actually may be remembered most ultimately for his poignant and tender tapestry of plays that fictionalize his family and boyhood in southeastern Texas in the early 1900s.
His last play is one of his most affecting as it portrays the follies of three adult children debating how to divide a family fortune – even while their mother is still alive – amid unexpected taxes and the plunging real-estate values of 1987. Like Foote�s penultimate play The Carpetbaggers Children (which I wrote about in a 2002 essay for the Burns Mantle Theater Yearbook), his final work evokes the wintry wisdom and regrets of King Lear.
Ruined (2009) – Lynn Nottage won the Pulitzer Prize for drama for her oral-history piece based on interviews with Uganda woman about their plight amid a civil war in the Congo. The off-Broadway play won several other awards, but never made it to Broadway – or to Columbus. I haven�t seen it – but I�d like to.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore (2001) – Central Ohio theaters have been well-rewarded for tackling the plays of Martin McDonagh (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Pillowman), which push the boundaries of mainstream taste and conventional theater. McDonagh�s typically forceful and funny fusion of bloody drama, comedy and horror won England's Olivier award for best comedy and in 2006 reached New York where it won the Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play.
Set in 1993 on an island in Ireland, this pitch-black farce about Irish terrorism isn�t for the fainthearted. You laugh – and wince – athe grand-guignol excesses, which include torture, revenge, animal cruelty and perhaps the highest body count in the history of farce.
As I wrote in my 2006 Dispatch review, "McDonagh has fun resurrecting hoary Irish stereotypes to satirize and explode them: All of rural Ireland, he suggests, is just a wildly dysfunctional family with poor-to-absent impulse control."
Marian Seldes and David Burtka in the off-Broadway production of Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby. (AP Photo/Shirley Herz Associates, Carol Rosegg)
The Play About the Baby – Pretty much any play by three-time Pulitzer winner Edward Albee – America�s greatest living playwright (since the death of Arthur Miller) – is one I want to see. In this off-Broadway comedy-drama, a runner-up to the 2001 Pulitzer Prize, Albee returns to explore some of the family and baby-symbol themes hedramatized in Who�s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
La Bete (1991) – Art versus artifice, and ego versus all. Few modern plays rival the audacity of this work by playwright David Hirson, who pays tribute to Moliere with a clever (some argue too clever by half) comedy in rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter. Set in 17 th century France, the bravura piece pits the dignified head of the Royal Court-sponsored theater troupe against a brash egotistical street entertainer.
Both hailed and reviled, La Bete ran for only 25 performances on Broadway in 1991, but its London transfer won the Olivier Award for best comedy. Let me put it this way: I�m with the British critics on this one. But American audiences and critics may be catching up, since the recent London and Broadway revival (which marked the return to Broadway of Columbus actor Michael Milligan) received much more respectful reviews and had a much healthier New York run in 2010-11.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1980) – "Event theater" is always a mixed bag: Initially marketed as a must-see event, such works inevitably fade once the novelty is gone. Yet, some are worth reviving. David Edgar won the 1982 Tony Award for his British play, which adapts Charles Dicken�s novel into a massive two-part, 8 1/2-hour play in which most actors play multiple characters.
No wonder there hasn�t been a major revival since the original London and New York runs, which I missed. But as a fan of Dickens and a happily-spent survivor of other marathon works (from Angels in America to The Kentucky Cycle), I long for some brave local company to tackle this epic work.
The Skin of Our Teeth (1943) – Okay, I admit this one�s a bit of a stretch. For starters, a central Ohio theater company or a college theater department most likely did stage this 1943 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama decades ago, long before I arrived on the Columbus arts scene in the mid-1980s.
At first blush, the description of the play doesn�t sound promising: It�s a three-part allegory about the life of mankind. Allegories, like satire, traditionally have been defined as "what closes on Saturday night."
Still, Wilder is one of my favorite writers, not only because of his beloved Our Town but also for other works. (The Matchmaker inspired the musical Hello, Dolly!, and The Long Christmas Dinner telescopes several generations of one family into a poignant one-act about time�s unavoidable passages.)
If The Skin of Our Teeth is anywhere as affecting as any of the other Wilder works I�ve seen, then isn�t it about time for someone to revisit it?


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In the latest issue of Forbes magazine, writer Patrick Michaels trashes the Chevy Volt and General Motors, saying the Volt is the socialist evil Ayn Rand warned of. What Michaels doesn't mention? How the oil industry pays his bills.
Michaels argues in "Chevy Volt: The Car From Atlas Shrugged Motors" that the Volt sucks, no one wants one and it's just socialism by the government and corporate cronies such as General Electric that's shoving it down Americans' throats. His opinion currently draws from Consumer Reports and a few minutes sitting in a pre-production Volt during an auto show several years ago.
We believe in Libertarianism as much as the next car guy, but we like informed dissent even more. I lack the energy or enthusiasm to run down every error in this piece, so let's just hit the big ones. The federal subsidies the Volt gets are set by its battery size, not whether it's all-electric or a plug-in hybrid. GM decided to build the Volt because it needed a fuel technology calling card, and did so well before its bailout or the subsidies — lobbied for by the entire auto industry, not just GM — came into law.
And Michaels is certainly right to wonder how much demand there is if GM has only sold a few hundred Volts a month since December. But he doesn't connect the dots that Consumer Reports — which buys scores of new vehicles at retail every year, and sells its car-barganing tips — had to pay a $5,000 dealer markup for its Volt, suggesting that supplies are far below demand. A quick check of Cars.com's national inventory of new Volts for sale finds a total of 322 in stock as of today, up from less than 200 at the start of the month, and not much more than the 281 GM sold in February.
Patrick Michaels
There's also a few things missing from the takedown; any mention of rising oil and gas prices, for example, and how that might make people think kindly about a car that runs — even partially — on electricity. Michaels does identify himself as a fellow at the Cato Institute, where he often opines that global warming science is deeply flawed and politically driven. But he leaves out his own history as a consultant to GM, a relationship that ended in controversy.
In 2006, Michaels was hired as an expert witness by GM, DaimlerChrysler and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to testify for them in a lawsuit against the state of Vermont over greenhouse gas regulations for cars and trucks. But Michaels withdrew from the case after Greenpeace asked the court to force open the clients of Michaels' consulting firm, New Hope Strategies.
Michaels pulled out in April 2007, telling the court:
Large companies are understandably adverse to negative publicity. Thus, the global warming controversy has created an environment in which companies who wish to support New Hope's research and advocacy about global warming science are increasingly willing to do so only if their support remains confidential.
And who paid the freight at Michaels' business? Utilities opposed to global warming regulations and oil companies, the latter of which Michaels told CNN in August of last year totaled about 40% of his income.
So the guy who's paid by the oil industry doesn't like cars designed to avoid oil consumption. Good times, Forbes magazine. That beep-beep sound you hear is us backing up the intellectual garbage truck.


text:
In what will be his first "pride" performance, singer Adam Lambert will headline this weekend's Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival.
Lambert will take the festival's main stage Sunday at 8 p.m. off 11th Street and Ocean Drive.
The former American Idol contestant took questions about his time in Miami from fans and the media Saturday at Lummus Park.
"The energy's really high and everybody's feeling kind of unified," Lambert said. "I think that's going to be a very nice family feel for the show."
Complete Entertainment Coverage
He said it has become more important than ever for him to connect with the gay and lesbian community.
"People are really excited that our voices are being heard," Lambert said. "It's becoming main stream."
Lambert will receive a key to the city from Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower at the festival.
Although Lambert did not give any details about a new album on Saturday, he did say there is "something on the horizon."
More From The Scene:


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I am a State Registered Ambulance Service Paramedic working in England, Great Britian. All views expressed are my own and do not reflect service policy.
When discussing work related matters names and places will be changed to maintain patient confidentiality.
By the very nature of my line of work, my ramblings may be very technical, highly informative, hugely humerous, well thought out, cutting and incisive and thought provoking.
Alternatively…it may be dodgy.


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Monday, September 12, 2011
What's On Her Mind ?
Sometimes you see a pretty face, or even a picture of a pretty face, and just feel compelled to turn it into a photograph. This young lady was encountered while strolling the streets of the small Brittany city of Morlaix one day in August. I was wondering what was on her mind, when the sun came out, and all became perfectly clear. She was thinking about the colorful old houses across the way, and how much she'd like to live in one of them someday. Her reflections on the subject were rather brilliant I thought. And speaking of reflections, am just nipping in here at the tail end of James Reflections Weekend. Better late than never.
47 comments:
- Lydia said...
What a charming reflections post...one of the best everever.
- September 12, 2011 at 2:21 AM
- dusty said...
Your captures always make me smile and anxious to get out to find my own. I never take time to post on here, which is sad, as you need to know how much you touch other's lives with your writing and shooting. Keep up the amazing work, my cyber friend.
- September 12, 2011 at 3:07 AM
- French Girl in Seattle said...
Wow! Love these Owen. Beautiful. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
- September 12, 2011 at 3:28 AM
- Unknown said...
In fact, I believe she's pointing to the house she wants to live in. :>)
- September 12, 2011 at 3:40 AM
- Owen said...
Hi Lydia, your wedding pictures were a pure pleasure to regard, poignant yet full of promise of a future where smiles rule.
And am glad then if you like these reflections... I like your "everever", which caused my eyes to do a double-take...
- September 12, 2011 at 3:46 AM
- Owen said...
Dusty, humble thanks for this most abundantly kind word here... I thank you deeply. Could you please remind me of your website address ?
Best wishes...
- September 12, 2011 at 4:06 AM
- Owen said...
Hi Véronique, very happy to see you on this Sunday evening, or Monday morning already here... may you have a fine week ahead...
- September 12, 2011 at 4:08 AM
- Lynne with an e said...
But you are positively clairvoyant! Quick--read my mind.
- September 12, 2011 at 4:08 AM
- Owen said...
Dear Distracted, I think you must be right... as she gazes out through the window of her eyes...
(echoes of Simon and Garfunkel, Kathy's Song come to mind)
- September 12, 2011 at 4:10 AM
- Owen said...
To Lynne, It's not me, it's her who is clairvoyant, but as for reading your mind, I think you are still running from the thought of grown men wallowing in the fundamental mud of Fundy... having fun in their undies...
No, scratch that, I think you are just thinking innocent thoughts like putting the kettle on for tea as a cat stretches peacefully on the kitchen floor...
Tell me if I'm right, if so, I'll go buy a lottery ticket tomorrow, the jackpot is only a mere 175 million euros now. Not that I pay any attention to that sort of mind rot, my life is plenty rich already. Though, if I was a little richer, I can think of a Canadian artist I would love to subsidize a bit by buying lots of paintings...
- September 12, 2011 at 4:16 AM
- Anonymous said...
Very clever and very creative of you Owen. And thanks also for the pretty girl.
- September 12, 2011 at 4:28 AM
- mythopolis said...
Cool shots and interplay with the reflections across the way. But, let's face it, she's selling a hair product. "Its only focus is beautiful hair; its sole philosophy is that Beauty and Personal Hair Care are inseparable. The company is utterly dedicated to hair beauty, applying the unique philosophy that Beauty and Personal Hair Care necessarily go hand in hand." (Perma Neutra)
I don't fault her for this. For all I know she already owns one of the beautiful and colorful buildings across the way! And, of course, I would love to run my fingers through her hair..
- September 12, 2011 at 4:33 AM
- mythopolis said...
I meant Eugene Perma, not Perma Neutra...that must have been a Freudian slip.... : )
- September 12, 2011 at 4:36 AM
- Lady Mondegreen's Secret Garden said...
You brilliant voyeur you.
PS I'm thinking about just how many coffee table books are in your blog! And maybe you are already published somewhere?
- September 12, 2011 at 8:28 AM
- :: Karine :: said...
eh bien tu crois owen adoré qu'elle aimerait vivre dans une de ces maisons ? je n'aurais jamais pensé à ça :-)
tu en as de l'imagination !
en tous les cas j'aime bien le thème et james appréciera sûrement ces belles photos (comme tu dis mieux vaut tard que jamais)
belle journée à toi, plein de bisous
- September 12, 2011 at 8:29 AM
- Steve said...
I'm sure she was thinking: Cameron Diaz used to look a little like me...
- September 12, 2011 at 8:56 AM
- Pastelle said...
Amusant, et drôlement bien joué avec les reflets, bravo. :)
- September 12, 2011 at 1:39 PM
- 'Tsuki said...
Très Magritt, le visage de cette dame envahi de suréel... Je ne sais pas si seuls ses cheveux ont besoin d'être aimé, mais la photo aide définitivement à l'apprécier... ;)
- September 12, 2011 at 3:19 PM
- Lynne with an e said...
Oh!--underpants are involved. Well, in that case...I might risk being exposed to the frolicking.
Never mind buying the lottery ticket then. Unless it's the ghost of my cat that's stretching peacefully on the kitchen floor (something she never deigned to do when she was alive; it was comfy chairs only, svp). Nope, your visions are flawed (did you get your new specs yet?)
I'll let you know when I'm having my scratch and dent sale.
I think you've got that girl in the window's thoughts all wrong. She's stalking her married lover who lives across the street in that rather strangulated looking yellow building. He's told her that they have to break it off but she has other ideas...
- September 12, 2011 at 3:27 PM
- Lorrene said...
Wow!! Photo's speak louder than ever.
- September 12, 2011 at 4:18 PM
- Eleonora Baldwin said...
Same thing's that's on my mind: moving to a bigger apartment!!
Lovely reflections.
Ciao friend.
- September 12, 2011 at 5:21 PM
- Anonymous said...
Makes one wonder what is melting into what, either the city into the humans, or maybe the other way round.
And yes, once I thought it was possible to melt thoughts of people as well, sadly the other seems to have gone.
(Excuse using you as a mean to transmit messages, maybe the person is reading, as I miss the voice much.)
Excellent images indeed. Please have a good Tuesday you all.
- September 12, 2011 at 11:48 PM
- Roxana said...
haha, that is both funny and very skillful, i would love to see a poster like this :-)
- September 13, 2011 at 12:43 AM
- Owen said...
Hey LGS, a pretty girl is always welcome from time to time, and I'm sure she'd be the life of a party... You're a bit of a rascal for an squirrel I think... a squirrely rascal, or a rascally squirrel...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:30 AM
- Owen said...
Ah Mythical Dan, our obsession with beauty and youth sells billions and billions of dollars of products the world over, always with slick messages... "Your hair need someone to love them"... who wouldn't think for a moment of offering her hair a little bit of loving ? Just look at those glossy lips ! And the devil wears Prada...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:35 AM
- Owen said...
Dear Lady M.,
Oh, I'm so transparent ! Or was she transparent, that all those windows came shining through her eyes ?
Published ? Am published nowhere. Unless you count a grade school collection... or one piece in a poetry anthology that I had to pay to have published... :-)
Nope, this blog is it for now, my window on the world, the world's window on me... and every once in a blue moon a kind soul like you wanders in somehow; cyberspace works in mysterious ways...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:42 AM
- Owen said...
Bonsoir Karine ! En fait, après réflexion, cela m'étonnerait qu'elle reverait de vivre là sur la place d Morlaix, elle a sûrement un F5 dans Paris 16ème, et puis un villa à Saint Trop-ez, un chalet à Chamonix, et si elle va sur l'Atlantique, je la vois mieux à Biar-ritz... non ? Je ne sais pas, le monde des photos de luxe et top modeles doit être toute autre chose, je n'arrive pas à imaginer, même avec toute l'imagination que j'y mets...
Je préfère de loin des choses simples...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:48 AM
- Owen said...
Steve, there's a reason for that, she is Cameron Diaz's grand-daughter...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:49 AM
- Owen said...
Merci Pastelle, parfois les reflets viennent tout seuls, sans le moindre effort... comme parfois les meilleures choses dans la vie. Quand on les cherche, on ne trouve pas, mais quand on ne cherche pas, tout arrive...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:51 AM
- Owen said...
Bonjour 'Tsuki ! Ah, tu penses qu'elle aurait besoin de plus qu'un simple shampooing ? En tout cas, c'est certain, il y a quelque chose de très attachant dans son sourire, ses yeux... il va falloir un bon démelant...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:55 AM
- James said...
Brilliant! This is so clever and I love the architecture in the reflections!
- September 13, 2011 at 1:57 AM
- Owen said...
Dear dear Lynne, I guess I've got it all wrong then, from A to Z, departed cats, jilted lovers, strangulated yellows, not so mellow, guess I'll head back to my wallowing... and forget all about the lottery ticket ! Thanks for setting things straight in my jumbled mind, where imaginitave tsunamis sometimes create great havoc...
- September 13, 2011 at 1:59 AM
- Owen said...
Hi Lorrene, no hearing aids needed !
- September 13, 2011 at 2:00 AM
- Owen said...
Ciao Lola !
And I hope you will succeed, especially if a bigger apartment means a bigger kitchen... I think you should have a kitchen of at least 50 square meters, just to give plenty of room for your rampant culinary imagination to run totally wild...
- September 13, 2011 at 2:02 AM
- Owen said...
Tag Robert,
I think the melting works both ways, depending on the temperature and density of the subject matter... some things are just too cold or too hard to allow melting to occur, while others are soft and warm and melt like chocolate at the merest glance...
And you may transmit messages here to your heart's content, may the entire universe read them, and maybe somewhere cause a heart to melt...
- September 13, 2011 at 2:05 AM
- Owen said...
Dearest Roxana, you will have to come to France then, and hire me as your tour guide, and I will show you where this poster is, and much much more ...
Suis content si ceci t'a provoqué un petit sourire... j'aime surtout comment les fenêtres se sont mises à la place de ses yeux...
- September 13, 2011 at 2:07 AM
- Owen said...
Hi James ! I love not only the architecture of the houses, but the architecture of her features as well... something very harmonious going on there... hope you've been having some good strolls on Balboa... I'm sure there's lots of fine architecture there as well, on the streets, on the beaches ?
- September 13, 2011 at 2:11 AM
- Stickup Artist said...
That is quite surreal. You have a skilled eye for our times! We all aspire to one or both of these things - awesome hair and an amazing place to show it off...
- September 13, 2011 at 4:12 AM
- Owen said...
Hi Stickup... It seems to me that the world is an increasingly surreal place. We have cut too many ties with the earth itself, with our animal origins, and we flounder in an increasingly artificial world, where lip gloss and hair products and perfume conspire to cover and mask and dissimulate the underlying humanity, the art of seduction through marketing photography has become a multi-billion dollar business. My photographs, I hope at any rate, are the antithesis of all of that. Give me a mountain trail to an old ghost town any day, with the hope of seeing a mountain lion, at a distance, or a coyote... with an Abbey book in my day sack... but I guess you understand all that. Though how it is we folk from the heart of the urban sprawl of south eastern Pennsylvania could have picked up on any of the vibrations speaking of other realities, other spiritualities, I don't know, I wonder, I wonder. So much was hidden from us while we were young and impressionable. Climbing the myriad desert paths to clarity of vision is a long and arduous trek, I feel like I have only just begun.
Sorry for ranting a bit, you always seem to spark a smoldering fire in me.
Be well, friend...
- September 13, 2011 at 4:41 AM
- The Sagittarian said...
How fabulous! Most of the reflections round here are awful, with broken down buildings...it will be a great day indeed when I find the time to get out further afield and capture more Canterbury beauty. (And she's probably wondering if you now the way to San Jose...lalalalalala)
- September 13, 2011 at 4:45 AM
- Owen said...
Dear Sister Saj, I trust, I hope you are capturing some of those scenes for posterity, there can be great beauty in scenes of desolation. And these broken down palaces cannot last forever, before they rise again, stronger than before ? I trust, I hope...
- September 13, 2011 at 5:02 AM
- :: Karine :: said...
yes owen adoré J-5 !!!
- September 13, 2011 at 7:24 AM
- Dee Newman said...
Owen, it has been awhile since I've been to your Blog . . . as always, you have captured some mighty impressive images.
- September 13, 2011 at 8:36 AM
- nathalie (Avignon) said...
Well, you demonstrated beautifully that reflection is in the eye of the beholder! Depending on where you place yourself, the photo is so different! My preference goes to the top one with its soft mix of face features and townhouse background.
- September 13, 2011 at 10:27 AM
- Amanda Summer said...
her hair needs someone to love it and the houses need someone to love them.....sounds like a match made in heaven!
love the way you superimpose these shots, owen - tres fantastique! i love doing this kind of thing - i shot a similar reflection off a poster a la scala in milan - didn't see it until my sister pointed it out to me. beauty is all around us - thanks for sharing it ;-)
- September 13, 2011 at 4:42 PM
- Stickup Artist said...
Dear Owen, what an eloquent reply. You have helped to clarify and put words to my quest and I can't tell you how much I am warmed by those words. I have cut and pasted your reply to put in my journal to read over and over and know that I have a friend with me in spirit during my times living in, loving, and photographing these amazing, primitive, vast, wild western landscapes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for those words and sentiments...
- September 13, 2011 at 5:50 PM
- Owen said...
Karine... errr J-4 !
Peut-être je devrais songer à raccourcir la barbe légèrement ?
- September 13, 2011 at 8:53 PM


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Kim Richards is returning to reality TV. And this time, she's bringing her daughter Kimberly Jackson along.
E! News has learned that the former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and her youngest child will be one of six mother-daughter pairs profiled on Lifetime's new reality series, "The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition."
The show will premiere March 1 at 10 p.m. on the network, when the six pairs will attempt to repair their broken relationships by airing all their dirty laundry. They'll be under the guidance of therapist Dr. Debbie Magids as they undergo therapy.
U.S. & World
Richards and Jackson will work on their bond alongside "The Hills" alum Heidi Pratt and her mother, Darlene Egelhoff, who were estranged for two years and are finally ready to address their problems. Egelhoff blames her daughter's fame-seeking ways and husband Spencer Pratt for the rift, while Pratt feels that her mother betrayed her in the media.
Courtney Stodden, who married 51-year-old Doug Hutchison when she was 16, thinks her mom, Krista Stodden, used her for fame. They're reunited on the show after six months of separation, and Krista will spill a major secret about her relationship with Hutchison--she fell in love with him!
The other three mother/daughter duos include "Bad Girls Club's" Natalie Nunn and her mom, Karen; Shar Jackson (yes, the former Mrs. Kevin Federline) and her daughter, Cassie; and "Hollywood Exes'" Jessica Canseco, who is trying to lay down the law after daughter Josie's recent DUI arrest.
PHOTOS: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills OMG moments
CLICK: Kim Richards Reveals Everything Is Good With Her Sobriety