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Covid-19 roundup: What new studies reveal about 'booster' shots
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that global coronavirus cases may be stabilizing, Moderna completes its data submission for full FDA approval of its vaccine, and more in this week's roundup of Covid-19 news.
New studies from Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Pfizer-BioNTech suggest that booster shots can dramatically increase antibodies against the coronavirus, the New York Times reports. According to J&J, a study of 17 people who received a booster shot six to eight months after their first dose found that participants had "a rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher" than antibodies after the first dose. Similarly, Pfizer-BioNTech reported that a study with 306 participants who received a booster shot five to eight months after their second shot found that their antibody levels more than tripled after the third dose. According to the Times, the companies said they are submitting their study data to FDA for evaluation, and Pfizer-BioNTech has formally asked the agency to authorize its Covid-19 booster shot for individuals ages 16 and older. (Zimmer/LaFraniere, New York Times, 8/25; Doherty, Axios, 8/25)
FDA last week urged people to stop using ivermectin—a drug used to treat parasites in animals—to treat or prevent the coronavirus. The agency's guidance cautioned against using medications intended for animals and explained that "[i]vermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans." The agency's statement comes after the Mississippi State Health Department sent a letter warning health workers of an increase in poison control calls due to ivermectin ingestion. According to the letter, at least 70% of the calls at the Mississippi Poison Control Center were "related to ingestion of livestock or animal formulations purchased at livestock supply centers." (Gonzalez, Axios, 8/21)
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday acknowledged an additional 12,000 coronavirus deaths that had not been reported under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). "We're now releasing more data than had been released before publicly, so people know the nursing home deaths and the hospital deaths are consistent with what's being displayed by the CDC," Hochul said. According to the Associated Press, the number of coronavirus deaths published by the Cuomo administration had been significantly lower than data from the CDC, prompting allegations that his administration withheld data on coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, Axios reports. The state is now reporting 55,395 Covid-19 deaths, up from 43,400, which was reported on Monday during Cuomo's final coronavirus news briefing. (Knutson, Axios, 8/25)
WHO on Tuesday said that the number of global coronavirus cases is now stabilizing after months of steady increases, The Hill reports. According to the Associated Press, worldwide infections are now seemingly steady at 4.5 million cases a week. While coronavirus cases have increased by 20% and 8% in the Western Pacific and the Americas, respectively, cases have either decreased or remained constant in other areas of the world. WHO also reported that there were nearly 68,000 new Covid-19 deaths worldwide. Europe and the Americas were the only areas where deaths increased by almost 10%. (Jenkins, The Hill, 8/25)
India on Wednesday granted emergency approval to the world's first DNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, which is called ZyCoV-D. The vaccine, which was developed by Zydus Cadila, requires three doses and is administered without using needles, Axios reports. According to Bloomberg, Phase 3 trials of the vaccine, which included more than 28,000 participants in 50 locations, showed a 67% efficacy rate. The company noted that the vaccine study was completed "during the peak of second wave of Covid-19, reaffirming the vaccine's efficacy against the new mutant strains, especially the delta variant," Bloomberg reports. ZyCoV-D is the sixth vaccine approved for use in India, and around 9.3% of the country's population has been fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (Gonzalez, Axios, 8/21; Shrivastava/Lyu, Bloomberg, 7/1)
Moderna on Wednesday announced that it completed its submission for full FDA approval of its Covid-19 vaccine. According to The Hill, Moderna began submitting data to the agency for full approval of its vaccine for individuals 18 or older in June. In a statement, Stéphane Bancel, the company's CEO, said, that the submission is an "important milestone in our battle against Covid-19 and for Moderna." The company has also applied for emergency use authorization of its vaccine for people ages 12 and older, The Hill reports. (Sullivan, The Hill, 8/25)
Charted: Here's how much physicians were paid in 2020
Covid-19 antibody treatments: Here's what the evidence says
'It could get significantly worse': Could even more dangerous variants follow delta?
Current ArticleCovid-19 roundup: What new studies reveal about 'booster' shots
Around the nation: YouTube nixes more than 1M videos containing Covid-19 misinformation
Weekend reads: Could mosquitos become blind to humans?
August 27, 2021 | Advisory Board Daily Briefing | {
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A joint effort by multiple police agencies led to the arrests of Anthonee Boggs, 19, Pompano Beach; Tryell Prince, 18, of Oakland Park; and the 15-year-old. The Palm Beach Post is not naming the juvenile because he has not been charged as an adult.
Police say the three were involved in the theft of four vehicles, including three from a residential neighborhood near Palmetto Park Road, east of the Intracoastal Waterway. The trio allegedly split up in a coordinated effort to steal cars.
At about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, investigators tracked a white Cadillac that was allegedly stolen in Broward County and driven to Palm Beach County. A sheriff's office helicopter crew conducting surveillance reported that three subjects were stealing cars in the area of East Boca Raton Boulevard.
Police say the suspects stole a white Toyota Tundra, a blue BMW and white Mercedes-Benz. Prince was spotted by the wheel of the Mercedes and arrested moments later, police said. Boggs alleged tried to get into the BMW as it fled the scene. He was stopped and taken into custody.
Police tracked the BMW to an address in Delray Beach and found the juvenile hiding behind a house, an arrest report said. | {
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Mechanisms of Resistance
IS26-Associated In4-Type Integrons Forming Multiresistance Loci in Enterobacterial Plasmids
Vivi Miriagou, Alessandra Carattoli, Eva Tzelepi, Laura Villa, Leonidas S. Tzouvelekis
Vivi Miriagou
Laboratory of Bacteriology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute
For correspondence: [email protected]
Alessandra Carattoli
Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
Eva Tzelepi
Laura Villa
Leonidas S. Tzouvelekis
Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.49.8.3541-3543.2005
Three distinct multiresistant loci from enterobacterial plasmids each comprised an integron and an IS26-associated sequence. Sequence comparison suggested a common ancestral structure that derived from an IS26 insertion into the 5′ conserved segment of an In4-type integron and evolved through acquisition of gene cassettes and IS26-mediated recruitment of additional resistance genes of diverse origin.
Resistance to multiple antibiotics in enterobacteria is largely attributed to acquisition of multiresistance plasmids (MRPs) (20). Sequencing data from MRPs have shown that resistance genes often occur in clusters carried by class 1 integrons. The latter, though not mobile themselves, are commonly associated with various transposons, such as Tn21, Tn1696, and Tn1412 of the Tn3 family (1, 13, 17).
We have previously reported on three MRPs: the SHV-5-encoding pSEM from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium that belonged to IncL/M and carried In-t3 (18), the IBC-1-encoding pAK33 from Klebsiella pneumoniae, assigned to the IncL/M incompatibility group (data not shown), carrying the In-111 integron (19), and the VIM-1-encoding p541, an IncN plasmid from Escherichia coli including In-e541 (9, 10). Notwithstanding the different variable regions (Fig. 1), in each integron the first 113 bp of the common 5′ conserved segment (5′CS) (89 bp from the stop codon of intI) had been deleted due to an IS26 insertion (IS26/Δ5′CS). Also, the sequences adjacent to this IS26 (IS26-1) included additional resistance genes (aphA in pAK33, blaCMY-13 in p541, and blaSHV-5 in pSEM). These similarities prompted us to further investigate these structures by sequencing and comparison of the integron flanking regions.
Graphic presentation of the multiresistant loci found in the enterobacterial plasmids pSEM, pAK33, and p541. Inverted terminal repeats (IRt) at the 3′CS boundaries of the In4-like integrons and target site duplications (TSD) are indicated. The shaded parts represent the common IS26/Δ5′CS sequences.
Sequences flanking the 3′ end of integrons.
To determine DNA sequences flanking the 3′ end of In-t3, In-111, and In-e541, the respective plasmids were partially digested with various endonucleases and the fragments were ligated into the chloramphenicol-resistant phagemid pBC-SK(+) (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). E. coli DH5α was used as a host of recombinant plasmids. Recombinant clones were screened by PCR assays using various combinations of oligonucleotide primers specific for class 1 integrons (7), IS26 (11), and gene cassettes carried by In-t3, In-111, and In-e541 (9, 18, 19). Sequencing was performed at both strands of selected clones and PCR products using an ABI PRISM 377 sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.).
Intact 3′CS sequences, including orf5, orf6, and the terminal inverted repeat (IRt) typical of many class 1 integrons, were identified in In-t3 and In-111. Both integrons also carried a complete copy of IS6100 adjacent to the 3′CS (Fig. 1). The 3′CS of In-e541 included a truncated orf5 (orf5Δ1) and an IS26 in opposite orientation with respect to IS26-1. This element was juxtaposed to codon 40 of orf5, and its inverted terminal repeat on the left (ITRL) was deleted due to insertion of an IS1 that included insA and a truncated insB gene. A 6.0-kb sequence comprising three genes encoding an EcoRII cytocine methylase (GenBank X05050), an EcoRII endonuclease (GenBank M26404), and a Uvp1 invertase-resolvase (GenBank X16119) as well as an additional IS26 copy and the remaining 3′CS of In-e541 (3′ end of orf5, orf6, the internal copy of IRt, and an IS6100) was found downstream IS1. Identical 8-bp sequences, apparently representing the target site duplication generated by IS26-mediated transposition, were identified at the boundaries of orf5Δ1 and orf5Δ2 (Fig. 1). These experiments showed that the three integrons were associated with IS6100 and, therefore, belonged to a lineage of class 1 integrons related to In4 from Tn1696 (14).
To determine the sequences flanking the IS26/Δ5′CS region of the three integrons, PCR assays and cloning procedures as above were applied. In In-111 (pAK33), an aphA variant (816 bp) encoding an aminoglycoside phosphotransferase was adjacent to IS26/Δ5′CS. The 3′ end of aphA was bounded by a complete copy of IS26 in direct orientation with IS26-1 (Fig. 1). A similar structure, resembling the kanamycin-resistant transposon Tn4352 (21), was also identified at the left-hand end of the Citrobacter freundii chromosomal fragment containing blaCMY-13, located in the p541 plasmid adjacent to the VIM-1-encoding In-e541 (Fig. 1). In pSEM, a second IS26, occurring as a direct repeat copy of IS26-1, was identified downstream of blaSHV-5. The IS26-bounded sequence (7,996 bp) comprised eight open reading frames: truncated putative endonuclease (ΔygbM), fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase (fucA), putative tRNA synthase (ygbK), putative oxidoreductase (ygbJ), putative transcriptional regulator (ygbl), blaSHV-5, recF, and a truncated lactose transport gene (ΔlacY) (Fig. 1). It exhibited >90% homology with a chromosomal segment of K. pneumoniae including the intrinsic blaSHVgene (www.genome.wustl.edu/projects/bacterial/kpneumoniae/).Sequences upstream the extreme left IS26 (at least 60 bp in each locus), compared with the relevant flanks of the other IS26 elements, did not include duplications characteristic of IS26-mediated transposition.
A GenBank search revealed two more MRPs resembling pSEM, the IncFII p1658/97 plasmid from E. coli (AF550679; unpublished data) and the IncL/M pACM1 from Klebsiella oxytoca (U90945, AY081221, AY309067, AY309066) (15, 16). They both carried In4-type integrons similar to In-t3 in which the 5′CS was truncated by an IS26 at the same position as in the integrons discussed here. Additionally, these integrons were associated with SHV-5-encoding sequences flanked by IS26 that, however, were differently oriented than those in pSEM.
Formation and spread of IS26/Δ5′CS-containing multiresistant loci.
It is likely that the mobile elements of the IS6 family, including IS26, do not exhibit any marked target site specificity (8). Therefore, the hypothesis of independent IS26 insertions into the same "hot-spot" of different class 1 integrons that, additionally, all belonged to the In4 family was discarded. The key features of the loci described here were the following: (i) the occurrence of the IS26-In4 structure in distinct replicons and (ii) the presence of multiple copies of IS26 in the sequences adjoining the 5′CS that were, most probably, inserted independently as indicated from the absence of target site duplications. Based also on the properties of IS26 (2, 4, 5, 8), it can be proposed that the IS26/Δ5′CS-containing multiresistant loci derived from a common structure. The initial step would be the insertion in the 5′CS of a plasmid-borne In4-type integron of an IS26-1 derived either by intramolecular transposition or by transposition of an element located on a different replicon. IS26-1 probably facilitated recruitment of diverse IS26-flanked sequences, such as aphA and the β-lactamase-encoding chromosomal fragments observed here, by homologous recombination as suggested by the lack of target site duplications. Also, IS26-mediated cointegration of different replicons, subsequently resolved by RecA-dependent homologous recombination, can explain mobilization of IS26-In4 among distinct MRPs.
IS26 is widely spread among plasmids (2, 6, 12, 21) and implicated in the dissemination of resistance genes in several ways. Compound IS26 transposons carrying from one to nine resistance genes have been described previously (5, 12). Also, IS26 elements seem to facilitate mobilization of chromosomal sequences containing resistance genes (3, 6). The findings of this study suggest that association of IS26 with a class 1 integron of the In4 lineage was probably a critical step in the evolution of diverse multiresistance plasmids found in clinical enterobacteria.
Nucleotide sequence accession numbers.
The GenBank accession numbers of the sequences presented here are AJ245670 and AJ009829 (pSEM), AY260546 (pAK33), and AY339625 and AY340637 (p541).
Received 25 January 2005.
Returned for modification 26 February 2005.
Accepted 29 April 2005.
American Society for Microbiology
Carattoli, A. 2003. Plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica. Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 5:113-122.
Doroshenko, V. G., and V. A. Livshits. 2004. Structure and mode of transposition of Tn2555 carrying sucrose utilization genes. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 233:353-359.
Ford, P. J., and M. B. Avison. 2004. Evolutionary mapping of the SHV β-lactamase and evidence for two separate IS26-dependent blaSHV mobilization events from the Klebsiella pneumoniae chromosome. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 54:69-75.
Galas, D. J., and M. Chandler. 1989. Bacterial insertion sequences, p. 109-162. In D. E. Berg and M. M. Howe (ed.), Mobile DNA. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
Iida, S., B. Mollet, J. Meyer, and W. Arber. 1984. Functional characterization of the prokaryotic mobile genetic element IS26. Mol. Gen. Genet. 198:84-89.
Lee, K.-Y., J. D. Hopkins, and M. Syvanen. 1990. Direct involvement of IS26 in an antibiotic resistance operon. J. Bacteriol. 172:3229-3236.
Levesque, C., L. Piche, C. Larose, and P. H. Roy. 1995. PCR mapping of integrons reveals several novel combinations of resistance genes. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39:185-191.
Mahillon, J., and M. Chandler. 1998. Insertion sequences. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62:725-774.
Miriagou, V., E. Tzelepi, D. Gianneli, and L. S. Tzouvelekis. 2003. Escherichia coli with a self-transferable, multi-resistant plasmid coding for the metallo-β-lactamase VIM-1. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47:395-397.
Miriagou, V., L. S. Tzouvelekis, L. Villa, E. Lebessi, A. C. Vatopoulos, A. Carattoli, and E. Tzelepi. 2004. CMY-13, a novel inducible cephalosporinase encoded by an Escherichia coli plasmid. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48:3172-3174.
Mollet, B., S. Iida, J. Sepherd, and W. Arber. 1983. Nucleotide sequence of IS26, a prokaryotic mobile genetic element. Nucleic Acids Res. 11:6319-6330.
Naas, T., Y. Mikami, T. Imai, L. Poirel, and P. Nordmann. 2001. Characterization of In53, a class 1 plasmid- and composite transposon-located integron of Escherichia coli which carries an unusual array of gene cassettes. J. Bacteriol. 183:235-249.
Partridge, S. R., H. J. Brown, H. W. Stokes, and R. M. Hall. 2001. Transposons Tn1696 and Tn21 and their integrons In4 and In2 have independent origins. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:1263-1270.
Partridge, S. R., G. D. Recchia, H. W. Stokes, and R. M. Hall. 2001. Family of class 1 integrons related to In4 from Tn1696. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:3014-3020.
Preston, K. E., C. C. A. Radomski, and R. A. Venezia. 1999. The cassettes and 3′ conserved segment of an integron from Klebsiella oxytoca plasmid pACM1. Plasmid 42:104-114.
Preston, K. E., and R. A. Venezia. 2002. Chromosomal sequences from Klebsiella pneumoniae flank the SHV-5 extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene in pACM1. Plasmid 48:73-76.
Rowe-Magnus, D. A., J. Davies, and D. Mazel. 2002. Impact of integrons and transposons on the evolution of resistance and virulence. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 264:167-188.
Villa, L., C. Pezzela, F. Tosini, P. Visca, A. Petrucca, and A. Carattoli. 2000. Multiple-antibiotic resistance mediated by structurally related IncL/M plasmids carrying an extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene and a class 1 integron. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:2911-2914.
Vourli, S., L. S. Tzouvelekis, E. Tzelepi, E. Lebessi, N. J. Legakis, and V. Miriagou. 2003. Characterization of In111, a class 1 integron that carries the extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaIBC-1. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 225:149-153.
Waters, V. L. 1999. Conjugative transfer in the dissemination of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside resistance. Front. Biosci. 4:416-439.
Wrighton, C. J., and P. Strike. 1987. A pathway for the evolution of the plasmid NTP16 involving the novel kanamycin resistance transposon Tn4352. Plasmid 17:37-45.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Jul 2005, 49 (8) 3541-3543; DOI: 10.1128/AAC.49.8.3541-3543.2005
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Long Beach harbor commissioners last week agreed to invest in the construction of two new fireboat stations by approving engineering design services for the projects.
Commissioners approved $50.1 million for Fireboat Station No. 15 to be built on the Main Channel and $51.6 million for Fireboat Station No. 20, which will be constructed in the port's Inner Harbor.
Each fireboat station will feature living quarters, a garage for firefighting equipment and a full waterside wharf with enclosure for the fireboat. They will also include water- and energy-efficient technology and other environmental-friendly features.
Station No. 15 is expect to be completed in 2020, with Station No. 20 opening a year later. | {
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The 25+ Best Ferrari Scuderia Ideas On Pinterest. Find and save ideas about Ferrari scuderia on Pinterest. See more ideas about Ferrari f1, F1 and Formula 1 car racing.
Best 25+ Ferrari Mondial Ideas On Pinterest. Find and save ideas about Ferrari mondial on Pinterest. See more ideas about A ferrari, Price of ferrari and All ferrari models. | {
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Bruce, a former Navy Seal, brings his military and corporate experience to bear and gives an enlightening presentation sure to help veterans as they continue to lead in the civilian world.
Below we present his introduction both to his experience and the theory behind his habits. Enjoy!
Watch clips on each habit here.
Ready for your chance to win a $50 gift card? You'll receive an entry into our monthly drawings for Client referrals and Job Seeker referrals. That's one entry for each referral that you submit – good luck and thank you for the referral! | {
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Dr. Kumar: Transient deficits that start suddenly and typically last for a few minutes to a few hours are the hallmark of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a minor ischemic stroke. In this single-center observational study, we have reported similar clinical presentation in some patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) that are difficult to distinguish from cerebral ischemia based only on clinical signs and symptoms.
Dr. Kumar: Physicians should be aware that transient signs and symptoms can occur in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, especially those with minor hemorrhages. All such patients should undergo prompt brain imaging with a CT scan or a brain MRI to eliminate any bleeding. This is especially important before administering any antithrombotics or anticoagulants.
Dr. Kumar: We need prospective studies possibly using novel neuroimaging techniques to better understand the basis of this phenomenon. It may provide valuable insights in understanding the mechanism of recovery after ICH that can be exploited to develop therapies.
Kumar S, Selim M, Marchina S, Caplan LR. Transient Neurological Symptoms in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.JAMA Neurol. Published online January 04, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.4202.
This entry was posted in Author Interviews, Beth Israel Deaconess, CT Scanning, JAMA, Neurological Disorders, Stroke and tagged stroke by Marie Benz MD FAAD. Bookmark the permalink. | {
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Belsonic
Alan Drennan death: Pals organise for Above & Beyond track to be dedicated to Newtownabbey man at Belsonic
Alan's favourite song Satellite by Above and Beyond is to be dedicated to him at Belsonic
Alan Drennan who died in Ibiza
Pals of Alan Drennan who died in Ibiza are hoping his favourite song will be dedicated to him at an upcoming Belsonic gig.
The 21-year-old, from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, died on July 19, less than 24 hours after flying to Ibiza for a group holiday with 10 pals.
He was found dead in his hotel room by a cleaner but the cause of his death has not yet been determined despite two postmortems.
The full report from Alan's second postmortem may not be back until October.
Now a month after his death, a touching tribute is set to be made to popular Alan at one of the Belsonic gigs.
His favourite song 'Satellite' by Above and Beyond is set to be dedicated to Alan according to friends who run the tribute page 'In Loving Memory of Alan Drennan'.
MORE: "Until we meet again, goodnight but never goodbye wee bro" - tearful tributes paid to Alan Drennan at funeral
Above & Beyond are due to play at the Belfast festival on Saturday, August 22, and friends have requested the song be played in honour of Alan.
On their Facebook page they requested that whoever is at the gig records the moment on their phone to share using the hashtag #you'rehalfaworldaway - lyrics from the Above and Beyond track.
A similar tribute was held in Lush! at Kelly's in Portrush, when DJ Standerwick played a special edit of 'Satellite' by Above and Beyond and a photo of Alan was displayed on a large screen.
On the night, a large crowd gathered in the nightclub for what was a moving tribute.
At the time, resident DJ Col Hamilton said: "Alan was regularly at our Trance nights in Lush! and even though I didn't know him his friends told me he loved the place."
Alan Drennan's father and brothers carry his coffin out of the church
Alan was buried at St Dorothea's Parish Church in Gilnahirk, East Belfast, two weeks after the fateful holiday in Ibiza started.
Now his mum and dad Alan Snr and Verona and brothers, Lee and Karl, are trying to find a way to live without him.
They have been inundated with cards and letters from friends and strangers alike, wishing them love and strength as they go through each day.
MORE: Alan Drennan death: Heartbroken dad calls on young people to "have fun but please, please be careful"
Belfast rape accused jumped on ex's stomach "like a trampoline", court told
CrimeThe defendant denied all allegations put to him during police questioning | {
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PE Funding
Tenterden Schools Trust
Academy Funding Agreement
Church Inspection (SIAMS)
Our Good Samaritans
Child Absence
St Michael's Church
St Michael's Pre-School
The Local Governing Board comprises eight members; a mix of staff, parents and members of the community whose names are listed below. We have adopted the Circle Model of governance which requires us all to be familiar with all aspects of the educational, legal, financial and strategic imperatives relating to the Tenterden Schools Trust (TST) and those pertaining to St Michael's C of E Primary School particularly. We meet as a group each term.
Our remit and responsibilities are carefully prescribed by the DfE and there is a clerk, currently Jane Phillips, who attends all meetings and produces minutes of all discussions and decisions undertaken. She also provides procedural and regulatory advice on governance.
We monitor a School Improvement Plan prepared by the Headteacher in collaboration with staff and governors aimed at delivering the vision and mission of the school and identified ongoing and specific targets in a given year. We each take responsibility for a limited number of these specific objectives, paying particular attention to a subject area, class and focus on achieving the best outcomes for our pupils within budget.
We maintain a good two-way flow of information, exchange of ideas and sharing of good practice including that relating to school governance with all schools in the TST and with our sister schools in and around Tenterden as part of the Tenterden Rural Alliance. We work closely with the Diocese to maintain the Christian ethos so tangible in our school.
Membership of the governing body is as follows:
Hilary Honeysett - Chair Foundation Governor
Sara Williamson - Headteacher Governor
Emma Isworth– Foundation Governor
Jo Paskhin – Staff Governor (Deputy Headteacher)
Jo Vos – Co-opted Governor
Nick Brooks - Parent Governor
Should you need to contact any of our governors, please do so by emailing the Clerk to the Governors: [email protected] or via the school office.
Summary of Governor business interests
© Copyright 2020 by St Michaels's CEP School, Tenterden.
Email: [email protected]
St Michael's CEP School, Ashford Road, St Michael's, Tenterden, Kent,
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Going beyond the capabilities of average wireless speakers with Onkyo VC-FLX1 smart speaker. Amazon Alexa voice service answers questions, manages household tasks, and plays music hands-free. With Alexa enabled devices connected, you can control thermostats, lighting, and much more by voice, giving you greater control of your environment. An integrated webcam and built-in sensors partnered with Toshiba smart home services, a cloud-based smart home management solution, and the Toshiba smart home app, a free control app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, allow you to monitor a room or control the climate with preconfigured smart devices connected. You'll receive phone alerts if there are any changes. Smart, flexible, and easy to use, Onkyo VC-FLX1 smart speaker puts you in control of your connected home.
Powered by Amazon Alexa voice service. Ask for weather and traffic updates, order a pizza, cue up a playlist of favorite songs, all hands-free.
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This small yet powerful full-range driver reproduces a frequency bandwidth rivaling larger drivers with excellent vocal fluency and tight, lively bass. | {
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Q: Having Apache pass JS files through PHP FPM I've got Apache setup to run PHP through FPM and I want to be able to get .js files passed through FPM as well as .php files.
On my dev box I can do this:
AddType application/x-httpd-php .js
But on my live box, which is locked down more I get this error in the browser:
Refused to execute script from 'https://blah/test.js' because its MIME type ('application/x-httpd-php') is not executable, and strict MIME type checking is enabled.
I've tried adding a handler with:
AddHandler php-fastcgi .js
I've tried setting a handler with these and other variations:
<FilesMatch \.js$>
SetHandler php7-fastcgi
#SetHandler php7-fcgi
</FilesMatch>
But none of them works. What do I need to do?
A: I found it, the handler I needed to add is:
SetHandler "proxy:unix:/run/php/php7.0-fpm.sock|fcgi://localhost/"
Still needs some touch-ups on the content type that is served with it, but at least my JavaScript file is now going through PHP and I can add my dynamic content.
You also need to edit this line in /etc/php/7.0/fpm/pool.d/www.conf to allow FPM to handle .js files, otherwise the requests will be rejected.
security.limit_extensions = .php .js
My current hack to fix the MIME type is to add this in the PHP part of the file, but I've got a feeling I can fix it through Apache, but as the main problem is solved, I'm going to worry about that later.
header ("content-type: text/javascript");
| {
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Single Remix Tracks ist ein japanisches Remixalbum der US-amerikanischen Girlgroup Destiny's Child aus dem Jahre 2000.
Hintergrund
Destiny's Child veröffentlichte das Remixalbum nur in Japan, wo es am 1. November 2000 unter Sony Music Japan veröffentlicht wurde. In diesem Remixalbum singen alle Mitglieder und die ehemaligen Mitglieder der Band: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson und Farrah Franklin. Im Begleitheft sind die Liedtexte in englischer und japanischer Sprache zu sehen.
Titelliste
Kat.-Nummer: SRCS 2354
No, No, No [Camdino Soul Extended Remix] (M. Brown/C. Gaines/V. Herbert/Rob Fusari) – 6:37
Bills, Bills, Bills [Maurice's Xclusive Dub Mix] (L. Luckett/B. Knowles/Kandi/K. Rowland/K. Briggs) – 8:05
Bug a Boo [Maurice's Xclusive Club Mix] (L. Luckett/B. Knowles/L. Roberson/Kandi/K. Rowland/K. Briggs) – 7:01
Say My Name [Timbaland Main Remix] Feat. Timbaland & Static Major (F. III Jerkins/T. Mosely/R. Jerkins/L. Luckett/L. Daniels/B. Knowles/L. Roberson/K. Rowland/S. Garrett) – 5:03
Say My Name [Maurice's Old Skool Dub Mix] (F. III Jerkins/R. Jerkins/L. Luckett/L. Daniels/B. Knowles/L. Roberson/K. Rowland) – 7:05
Jumpin', Jumpin' [So So Def Remix] Feat. Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat & Lil Bow Wow (D. Brat/J. Dupri/R. Moore/C. Elliot/B. Knowles) – 3:48
Jumpin', Jumpin' [Maurice's Radio Mix] (R. Moore/C. Elliot/B. Knowles) – 4:07
Have Your Way (L. Daniels/B. Knowles/F. Jerkins) – 4:01
8 Days of Christmas (B. Knowles/E. McCalla) – 3:32
Upside Down [Live Version] (Bernard Edwards/Nile Rodgers) – 4:13
Einzelnachweise
Weblinks
Destiny's Child
Album 2000
Album (Pop)
Album (Contemporary R&B)
Remixalbum | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaWikipedia"
} |
KSTM airwaves buzz with student talent, but reach for larger audience
by Sarah KellerStaff Writer
Simpson College's radio station, KSTM plays a wide variety of music and is trying to get the word out to the community that it's on campus for people to appreciate.
KSTM is a student-supported, volunteer-run radio station. Students can volunteer for DJ hours and play whatever music they choose.
"It's pretty loose, you don't even have to play music if you don't want to," sophomore Meagan Gamble, music director for KSTM said. "Anybody can have a show where you talk about your dog for an hour, like that's cool. As long as you don't curse, I think we are pretty much good with whatever you want to talk about or do."
Seniors Anne Christians and Andrew Wingen broadcast "The Eclectic Curve," a show based off of an independent radio station that they heard in Minnesota. On their show Christians and Wingen play a lot of indie, alternative and independent music.
"We specifically have college DJs, your fellow students playing the music you want to listen to, and it's just, you know, whoever wants to come up and play music can," Christians said. "Basically, it's very laid back, it's very fun."
Another DJ is sophomore Megan Cook, who, with her roommate sophomore Karmin Stonehocker, present "The Ugly Orange Couch." On their show, Cook and Stonehocker play a variety of music such as rock, alternative, indie and "Screamo."
Cook also likes to play some local bands from her hometown to promote her friends' bands. Cook hopes to one day go into the music business so she decided that being a DJ would be a good way to share her interest in music.
"I love being a DJ," Cook said. "I like being able to get music out to the public that isn't Top 40 or mainstream, and of course, get the word out for my friends' bands. It is just a time during the week when I can chill out with a good friend and listen to music at the same time, and it is a fun opportunity to be involved in something on campus."
Anyone with an interest in hosting a radio show can participate.
Gamble decided to apply for the music director position because she thought it sounded fun and has a large interest in music, but she does not plan on doing anything with radio or entertainment for a living.
According to junior Courtney Davis, station manager at KSTM, there are about 25 to 30 DJs that either have their own show or have a show with a co-host.
The shows are usually in the evening and DJs often send out E-mails encouraging people to listen. There is music played off of a computer around the clock, so even when there is not a show going on, there is still music being played on the station.
Freshman Kirk Ford has a show with his roommate, Devin Siestra, called "Mutt and Dutch." They play a variety of music from the '60s to the '80s consisting primarily of classic rock, blues and oldies.
"When DJ's have shows, they tend to play the music they enjoy, so depending on the show, listeners can get a little bit of everything," Ford said. "Because KSTM isn't exactly well listened to, we'd like to get feedback from students with ideas about promotion or what would build their interest in the station."
The broadcasting range for KSTM reaches all of Indianola, but no futher. Anyone with a radio can listen to the station.
According to Gumble, one of the reasons the broadcasting range does not reach very far is the fact that not very many people listen to the station.
"I don't think people really listen to the radio station because I don't think people know that we really have one and not a lot of people have radios surprisingly," Gumble said. "Find a friend and listen to the radio, it's a good time. More people should listen to KSTM." | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
} |
CHELSEA have been cleared of wrongdoing over the loan of Mohamed Salah to Roma following a complaint to FIFA made by Fiorentina.
Fiorentina, for whom Salah played on loan from January 2015 for the remainder of the 2014-15 season, complained to football's world governing body when the Egypt winger joined Roma on loan for the 2015-16 campaign, alleging breach of contract.
The decision was understood to have rested with the player, who had joined Chelsea from Swiss side Basle in January 2014, and Fiorentina's complaint has been thrown out.
CHELSEA had a shocker in the Premier League this season, but six of their players, plus incoming manager Antonio Conte, will be at Euro 2016.
A FIFA spokesperson told the Press Association said: "We can confirm that the dispute resolution chamber (DRC) dealt with the dispute opposing the Italian club, ACF Fiorentina, to the player, Mohamed Salah Ghaly, and the English club, Chelsea FC.
"The findings of the relevant decision, without grounds, have been communicated to the parties on June 8, 2016.
"The claim of the Italian club was rejected. Since the decision is not yet final and binding, we are not in a position to comment on it any further."
The loan to Roma included an option for Salah to be purchased by the Serie A club, but he remains a Chelsea player and is set to be assessed by incoming head coach Antonio Conte in July. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
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This article is more than 2 months old
UK and France reach agreement to 'prevent 100% of Channel crossings'
Joint statement says authorities are determined to make the route 'unviable' for migrants entering the UK from France
Gérald Darmanin: 'We're not taking lessons from the British … they must stop using us as a punching bag for their domestic politics.' Photograph: Jacques Witt/Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock
Rajeev Syal, Kim Willsher and Jedidajah Otte
Mon 15 Nov 2021 18.28 EST
First published on Mon 15 Nov 2021 05.32 EST
UK and French authorities are determined "to prevent 100% of crossings" over the Channel and make the route "unviable" for migrants hoping to enter Britain from France, it was announced on Monday.
UK home secretary Priti Patel and the French interior minister Gérald Darmanin issued a joint statement "on the issue of small boats crossing the Channel and the operational response to it."
"Both the home secretary and interior minister agreed to strengthen operational cooperation further. More must be done to stop the dangerous crossings. They agreed to accelerate the delivery of the commitments made in the joint agreement of July 2021 to deliver on their joint determination to prevent 100% of crossings and make this deadly route unviable," the statement said.
The two ministers discussed a range of additional steps, alongside additional technical solutions to tackle organised crime groups and respond to the escalating issue, the statement added.
"It was agreed that the joint technical working group will meet imminently with a view to permitting the use of new technology as rapidly as possible. The two ministers also committed to reinforcing intelligence sharing and police cooperation," it said.
Downing Street had called on the French government to do more to stem the number of people travelling across the Channel in small boats amid a growing diplomatic row over who bears greater responsibility.
It came after an intervention from Darmanin, who claimed that his country is being treated like a "punchbag" by a UK government that has failed to sort out its unregulated labour market.
On Monday, the prime minister's official spokesperson pointed to the £54m that the UK government has paid to France to beef up its patrols on its northern coastline, from which many boats are launched.
"We are providing funding to the French to allow them to increase surveillance, to allow them to increase the police presence that is there to prevent these crossings taking place.
"Through that investment we have seen stoppages increase, and that is to be welcomed, but clearly with the level of crossings we are seeing per day, more needs to be done," he said.
"It is clear that we need to keep working with our French counterparts to do more to prevent these crossings, which are putting lives at risk," the spokesperson said.
"That is why the home secretary is looking to speak to her counterpart to make those points and address this unexpected rise in illegal migrants arriving from France which we are seeing playing out in front of us."
Earlier, Darmanin said it was the UK's inaction that encouraged people to attempt the perilous crossing.
"Why do people go to Calais? It's to go to Great Britain. And why do they want to go to Great Britain? It's because the labour market largely works in Great Britain thanks to a large army or reserves – as Karl Marx said – of people in an irregular situation but who can work at a low cost, obviously," he said.
"We're not taking lessons from the British … they must stop using us as a punching bag for their domestic politics. We are neither their collaborators nor their assistants. The smugglers, who organise networks and exploit women and children … are very often themselves in Britain."
Darmanin told CNews the British government needed to change its laws to discourage migrants being attracted to the UK.
"If the British tightened up their legislation – they have started doing so but not gone far enough – people would no longer be in Calais or Dunkirk," he said.
Last Thursday, an estimated 1,185 people crossed the Channel by boat, a record for crossings in a single day. Three people were feared drowned in the busy sea lane. More than 23,000 people have made the journey across the Channel to the UK by boat so far this year, a marked increase on the 8,400 in 2020. The British government has accused France of failing to control the situation.
Young children were carried ashore in Dover on Monday after more people risked death crossing the Channel. A toddler wrapped in a light blue hoodie looked around at border officials as he was carried in the arms of a woman.
Reports claimed that a jetski used to cross the Channel has been recovered at sea by the RNLI and towed ashore in Dungeness.
The French authorities have grown increasingly angry at anonymous Whitehall briefings claiming that Paris is failing to keep to their word and spend the UK's cash on stopping people from travelling to the UK.
Patel said at the weekend that France "must stop 100% of boats" attempting to cross, suggesting Monday's meeting between the two ministers would have been extremely tense.
French police say while they are preventing more crossings, they cannot stop all attempts because there are too many migrants and the shoreline is too long to patrol around the clock.
They also point to international maritime law, which prevents an intervention once those travelling to the UK are in a boat on the water.
Claire Millot, the general secretary of the Salam association, which helps migrants in the Calais coastal area, told French media: "Since this summer, small boat crossings have increased enormously. There were very few drownings so word spread and attempts multiplied."
She said the arrival of winter and less favourable weather conditions could lead to more deaths. "It's about to change, we are very afraid that despite the winter, the crossings will continue and so will the tragedies," she said.
Migration and development | {
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} |
We don't know about you, but our summer calendar is quickly filling up with events that are requiring us to break out some of our classier outfits. Hooray! So as we don our finer wear, we turned our thoughts to new and interesting ways to dress up our hair accessories. One trend that seems to be appearing everywhere are fabulous hair chains and head pieces. We love the look of classy hair jewelry, but did not love the high prices we were seeing. We knew we had to figure out a way to make your own hair chain. It ended up being so simple and inexpensive, we might make custom hair accessories for every event this summer!
Hair chains are such a unique hair accessory for a classy updo, and also look beautiful if your hair is down! It is the perfect DIY wedding hair accessory, beautiful enough for any blushing bride- but easy enough to wear that even if you are the party guest who is busting the wildest moves, you will not need to worry about your hairstyle coming loose!
First, you will need to select a trim to compliment your style and wardrobe choice. We have a wide variety of rhinestone trim as well as beaded craft trim. No matter what your style is, you are sure to find something that will compliment your look.
Next, measure the space on your head where you would like your chain to lay. Ours measured approximately 7 to 9 inches, but this will vary with where you choose to wear the chain. Once you have decided on the size, it helps to drape the trims in a curved shape to see if you like how they lay. Once you have decided on a pleasing pattern, affix the trim to your clip with E-6000. If you clip is small, it may help to affix your trim to a small piece of ribbon first, then secure the piece of ribbon to the clip with E-6000. Last, add a beautiful metal button to each end with E-6000.
The hardest part is probably the waiting! E-6000 needs to cure for 24 hours to be completely secure. While you have that E-6000 out, you can even whip up some beautiful matching DIY earrings!
With wedding season around the corner, we cannot wait to wear our unique hair accessories out for a fun dressy occasion! If you decide to make your own DIY hair chain as a wedding hair accessory for another occasion, let us know! We would love to see what you came up with! | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
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Reiki Rhythms can be used as a private meditation, a background for walking/Yoga/excercise or other activity, and during massage or healing sessions.
'Attunnion' is recommended for use during Reiki Attunements.
Highly recommended for Reiki Teachers! You and your students will experience Reiki's powerful energy through the sound and vibration of Reiki Kotodama.
Reiki Rhythms can be used as a private meditation, a background for walking/Yoga/exercise or other activity, and during massage or healing sessions. | {
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Posted on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 at 5:36 pm.
Drug abuse affects the lives of so many people. Not only does the abuser suffer, but the abuser's entire family, friends and colleagues suffer as well. Drug abuse is not a matter of weak willpower or morality; it's a vicious cycle that causes changes in the brain that lead to stronger impulses to use. Without help, drug abuse destroys lives. But with the right support and treatment at a Los Angeles drug rehab center, recovery is possible.
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Fight Club (novel)
Dempsey and Firpo (1924) by George Bellows
Fight Club (1996) is the debut novel by American author Chuck Palahniuk. The plot is based on an unnamed protagonist who struggles with his growing discomfort with consumerism and changes in the state of masculinity in American culture. In an attempt to overcome this, he creates an underground fighting club as a radical form of psychotherapy. It was made into a movie of the same name in 1999 by director David Fincher. The movie became a pop culture phenomenon. In the wake of the film's popularity, the novel has become a target of criticism, mainly for its explicit depictions of violence.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Fight Club (novel)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on original research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
Retrieved from "http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Fight_Club_%28novel%29"
This page was last modified 15:59, 12 May 2011. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
} |
[패턴영어] When is the best time to + A?
When is the best time to + A?
When is the best time to sow seeds?
언제가 새 차를 사는 최적기일까?
너한테 언제 전화를 하면 제일 좋을까?
When is the best time to ring you up?
When is the best time to choose a career?
언제 도움을 요청하면 제일 좋을까?
언제가 기탄없이 말하기 제일 좋을까?
When is the best time to speak out?
When is the best time to make amends?
A: When is the best time to sow seeds?
B: Right after the field is plowed.
밭을 갈고 난 비로 다음이겠지.
A: When is the best time to ring you up?
B: Any time in the early evening.
A: When is the best time to retire?
B: It's nice to go out on top.
정상일 때 그만두는 게 좋겠지. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
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"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
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Aman of Korba and bravery of Dhamtari will get state gallantry award
Aman Jyoti Zahire of Korba district and Shaurya Pratap Chandrakar of Dhamtari district have been selected for the state gallantry award. He will be honored by His Excellency Governor Ms. Anusuiya Uikey at the main function of Republic Day on 26 January in the capital Raipur. The Jury Committee of Chhattisgarh State Child Welfare Council under the chairmanship of Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Anila Bhendia has announced the names of both for gallantry awards. Shri Shaurya Pratap Chandrakar and Shri Aman Jyoti Zahire have been selected on the recommendation of the Jury Committee. Showing courage, these children have saved the lives of others with their understanding without caring about their own lives. Children will be given a citation and silver medal in the amount of Rs.15-15 thousand in cash (by cheque). Aman Jyoti saved his friend's life by risking his life. Aman Jyoti of Korba district saved his friend. He had put his life at stake. This incident is of 01 August 2021. This day was Friendship Day. At around 02 in the afternoon, to celebrate the birthday of one of his friends, Sahil had gone for a picnic near the waterfall of Parsakhela Dam, a picnic spot 20 km away. Meanwhile, Ashish Thakur, a student of class 12th, went to the shore to wash his hands and feet before the waterfall. There he slipped and fell in the rock and started flowing in the strong current of water. Due to the deep gorge ahead, there was a danger of falling in it. All the friends were horrified to see Ashish flowing in the dangerous slippery rock and the swift current of the water. Ashish did not know how to swim and started shouting save-save. Amanjyoti, a 15-year-old student, jumped into the strong current of his friend's water to save Ashish, who was older than him. Aman also did not know how to swim, but thinking that he would try to save the friend in any way, he jumped into the water. Aman caught his friend Ashish while floating among the rocks in the water. After holding Ashish for a while, another friend Dipanshu reached, they both brought Ashish to the shore. Ashish had fainted as he was swept away by the strong current of water. Bringing him to the shore, he took out the water filled in Ashish's stomach. Aman's wisdom and courage saved the life of his friend Ashish. Due to the strong current of water and hitting the rocks, the bone of Aman's hand had slipped. He also suffered severe injuries to his arms, legs, throat and chest. All the friends reached the district hospital with Ashish and Aman. After treatment here, when everyone returned home safely, everyone praised Aman's courageous actions. Shaurya prevented the spread of current and saved people's lives, this incident is on June 13, 2021. Around 11.00 in the morning, village Senchuva, Post-Chest, District- Dhamtari resident Bhushan Chandrakar, Mahendra Tarak, Parasram Sahu, Yogeshwar Sahu, Doman Patel, Vijay all were cleaning and doing necessary work in the field. At the same time, the electric wire passing through the field collided with the acacia tree located in the field and caught fire, due to which the branch of the tree started burning. At the same time, the child Shaurya Pratap Chandrakar went to see the field with his father Bhushan Chandrakar. Seeing the fire burning, Shaurya shouted loudly for everyone to get out of the field and soon informed the line man Surendra Dhruv to turn off the electrical power on the phone in the electricity office chest. A major accident was averted due to power outage. The field was full of water. The electric current could spread due to the water. Due to the understanding and foresight of the child Shaurya Pratap Chandrakar, the lives of all those present there were saved. The local people praised this act of bravery. Like this:Like Loading… Continue Reading
People of different societies showed interest to join Gauthan Yojana
American doctors have shown charisma, now the heart of this animal is beating in the human body | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
} |
After several months of a flawless operating Pi Zero W with GH it finally stopped working.
Seems we had some power blips at my city place which caused my SD card to get corrupt! Usually this wouldn't be much of a issue if I was home as I had a backup SD card. Unfortunately I used this to play with docker builds of HG at the off grid place Must remember not to do that again!
No Problem I have a USB stick with I think a HG backup at least on. Problem is I can't find it!
Re: It had to happen!
Yes an unscheduled shutdown in the case of a power failure will do that to the file system.
My mission critical Raspberry Pi (if you could call it that) is attached to my security panel via a 12 volt to 5 volt buck and the security panel has a 12 volt 7ah battery on constant charge and will power the Raspberry Pi and the security panel and will do an orderly shutdown of the Raspberry Pi in the event of a power outage.
You definitely need some form of UPS attached to your Pi to cover eventualities like this.
Yes I will be looking into something this fall.
I did have an old UPS that I'd been meaning to replace. Guess I put it off just a bit to long.
My ODROID has the option for a 3v battery pack so I may also look into that for it.
The small battery pack isn't that expensive.
My off grid place PI isn't likely to need anything like that being the whole place is on batteries anyways.
I have a UPS on my structured media panel with "critical" items plugged in (DTV swim power supply, router, switch, RPi, etc). I have the USB from the PSU plugged into the RPI so that if it gets low due to a long outage, the RPi will shut down rather than hard power cycle. I haven't confirmed functionality recently (dumb), but it was working great last year when tested. I have 2 backup cards sitting next to the RPi, but I don't know if they are the current config (also dumb). When I get the RPi3 configured correctly, I'll have a backup microSD in a USB adapter and it will have a scheduled backup so if the main card fails, I'll have a live backup ready to go. I also intend to have a second card next to the setup so in case the backup is fried, I have a secondary. MicroSD is so cheap for 8-16GB cards, not having a handful sitting there ready to go is really silly.
Of course in your case here you just need to ensure an orderly shutdown in the event of power outage.
Since I have a back up generator which starts once the battery level drops below a preset point a UPS for me I feel is over kill.
I may at some point regret that decision for the off grid place.
If you're only worried about power blips (and not full outages), you might be able to get away with powering the Pi off one of those USB portable batteries, and keeping that plugged into a charger. Basically a low-tech (dumb) UPS.
Anything that can take over in the event of a sudden voltage drop or power outage that will surely shutdown your Raspberry Pi unceremoniously. Open database files are guaranteed to be corrupted otherwise.
The APC UPS route is most likely the route I'll go for the city place.
For the off grid place I'll likely do the small internal battery option of my ODROID.
Depending on where it's located, you might be able to do a solar option as well. The RPi doesn't take much power so a small solar cell and AA batteries might work well (I think that's one way to set up the MoPower). Of course, if you already have a solar array, why install a new one for such a low draw. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
London Art Fair is a platform that provides a space to showcase the stunningly modern and contemporary arts and connect the best artworks and galleries from all around the world with the passionate art collectors.
The 31st edition of London Art Fair will take place in London from the 16th of January to the 20th of January, 2019 and the VIP preview has been held on the 15th of January as a great opening for the international art calendar.
The Fair is an established source that nurtures the collecting at all levels and enriches the engagement with art.
It provides access to seminars, talks, screenings, tours, and curated spaces, in addition to Art Projects and dialogues as well as a guest-curated section of Art Projects that occupied to enhance and strengthen the relationships between home and abroad. Also, it includes the Photo50, and the annual exhibition of the contemporary photography Art Projects, which features a large scale of installations, group displays, and solo shows.
It is worthy to mention that "Art Projects Screening Room" is a program co-occurring with the collaborative film making and the initiatives of the new media; it is regarded to be a new add on feature, focusing annually on a single distinctive theme. | {
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Nova Scotia Math Circles celebrates five years with Eastlink
Dalhousie Science News
Internal News
Events and Seminars Calendar
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Posted by Jocelyn Adams on June 4, 2019 in All News
Working out a math problem at Math Circles. (Nick Pearce photos)
Ethan Eastwood is graduating from J.L. Isley High School in Halifax this year — at age 16.
What's Ethan's secret? Participating in Nova Scotia Math Circles, a mathematics outreach program based out of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Dalhousie University. The program is designed to foster enthusiasm for math through interactive, creative and meaningful presentations.
"Math Circles has influenced my math education," says Ethan, who's been active int he program for eight years. "I came to understand that math is more than just arithmetic, it can be creative and fun. It made me think about the world in a different way," says Eastwood.
Eastlink's Executive Vice-Chair Lee Bragg with student Ethan Eastwood.
Ethan's passion for mathematics is paying off. He was recently awarded the coveted Schulich Leader Scholarship and he plans to attend Dalhousie's Integrated Science Program this coming fall.
"I'm very grateful to the Department of Mathematics & Statistics and Nova Scotia Math Circles for allowing me to develop a passion at such a young age," says Jason.
Five years of growth
This year, Nova Scotia Math Circles celebrates its fifth year of funding with Eastlink. In 2014, Eastlink donated $500,000 to help support the program and to expand its outreach.
Over the past five years, Nova Scotia Math Circles has engaged with approximately 25,000 students across Nova Scotia. Thanks to Eastlink's support, they have doubled the number of new programs into the classroom and now reach students from elementary to senior high school.
Last year, the program connected with over 7,000 students, from seven school districts and reached all 18 counties in Nova Scotia. In addition, they have added graduate students, French programming, summer day camps and programs at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Truro.
"We are so proud and fortunate to be part of this program," says Lee Bragg, executive vice-chair of Eastlink. "As a board member of Dalhousie's Faculty of Management, I've seen first-hand the commitment that this school brings not only towards academic excellence but, as importantly, towards the engagement of students across all grade levels, from inspiring kids in math at an early age to supporting them as they prepare for what's next in their academic careers.
"I applaud Dalhousie on the numerous and long-lasting benefits this program has brought to students, teachers and schools across the province."
Attendees at the Math Circles celebration event.
No one is more grateful than Mayada Shahada, director of Nova Scotia Math Circles.
"It's all about seeing their smiling faces," explains Dr. Shahada. Over the past two years, Shahada has influenced the development of Math Circles. "Our aim was to expand the program and to approach different communities across Nova Scotia – and we've done that.
"I always believe you have to start early – especially if you want to grab their attention. The earlier you can do that the better."
Impacting Nova Scotian communities
Nova Scotia Math Circles gets creative and uses fun shapes, sound effects and even visual objects to teach math to young children. "Math is an abstract subject. For young children at the elementary level they have to see it and touch it," says Dr. Shahada.
Nova Scotia Math Circles now visits schools in Truro, Yarmouth and Cape Breton. Approximately 60 percent of these schools are in Halifax. Dr. Shahada explains that visiting a school in a rural area can take up to two to three business days.
"It's all about the quality of the visit. Our goal isn't necessarily to grow in numbers but to cover an entire school in rural areas of Nova Scotia," says Dr. Shahada.
Student aren't the only ones benefiting from Nova Scotia Math Circles. This spring, Dr. Shahada developed a presentation for teachers to assist with problem solving. "We had 61 teachers participate and we hope to host another session at a teachers conference next year," says Shahada.
What's next for Math Circles? To build on this momentum. Nova Scotia Math Circles plans to continue its current programming with the hopes of reaching new areas of the province to enrich the lives of Nova Scotians in all areas of mathematics.
To learn more about Nova Scotia Math Circles, please visit nsmathcircles.com.
SCIOGRAPHIES Q&A: ERIC OLIVER, OCEANOGRAPHER
SCIOGRAPHIES Q&A: JOHN GOSSE, GEOLOGIST
SCIGRAPHIES Q&A: Megan Bailey, Fisheries Economist
SCIOGRAPHIES Q&A: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST ALASTAIR SIMPSON
SCIOGRAPHIES Q&A: MATHEMATICIAN JASON BROWN
SCIOGRAPHIES Q&A: MARINE BIOLOGIST SARA IVERSON
Sciographies podcast shares the personal and professional stories of Dal scientists
Dalhousie University Faculty of Science
1355 Oxford Street, Rm 827
8th Floor Life Sciences Centre (Biology) | {
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MCAH is a home visiting program aimed at providing health and social services to families with children from before birth through age five. This project is a collaborate effort of the Department of Public Health and the Child Welfare Services Division of the Human Services Agency.
Services are provided free to all clients. Participation is voluntary. | {
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MLB: Red Sox fans warn Liverpool that owners will do a 'Mookie Betts' with Mohamed Salah
Until not long ago, it was believed that the superstellar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie Betts, would stay with the Boston Red Sox throughout his career, being one of his best players in the recent history of the franchise being World Series champion and MVP winner. However, the team's owners had other plans and … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, Boston Red Sox, fans, Liverpool, MLB, Mohamed, Mookie, Mookie betts, owners, Red, Salah, Sox, warn
Dodgers: Mookie Betts gives motivational talk to basketball team
December 19, 2021 by Terrence Terrence
Mookie betts wanted to share what he has learned as a professional baseball player from the MLB Y gave a motivational talk Recently. However, he did not team baseball but one of college basketball from a Kentucky school. The player from Los Angeles Dodgers He is known for his ease of speech and for his … Read more
Categories Basketball Tags basketball, Betts, Dodgers, Kentucky Wildcats, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts, motivational, talk, team
Dodgers: Mookie Betts shares moments of his wedding with emotional video
Mookie betts contracted marriage recently with Brianna hammonds taking advantage of the time of the off season. The gardener of Los Angeles Dodgers shared moments of his wedding with his followers with a video published on their social networks and which has captivated those who have seen it. After more than 10 years of courtship … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, Dodgers, emotional, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, moments, Mookie, Mookie betts, shares, VIDEO, wedding
Relief at Dodgers! Mookie Betts is now 'nowhere' from returning to the line up after injury
August 23, 2021 by Rodolfo Scott
Los Angeles Dodgers received very good news in the last hours because it was announced that Mookie Betts will already have a return date to the 2021 Season activity from MLB. The gardener has been away for a few days hip injury but it would be this week that it is activated on the poster … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, Dodgers, injury, line, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts, relief, returning
Fernando Tatis Jr.'s only rival for the MVP award is his own body
Despite his injuries, the Dominican shortstop has had a spectacular season, which could give him his first Most Valuable Player award, if health permits. Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the players with the most impact in the Big leagues. The new one "baseball face"Has maintained a solid production since its arrival in MLB and … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags award, Baseball, body, Fernando, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jrs, Mike trout, MLB, Mookie betts, MVP, rival, San Diego Padres, Tatis
Sucker Punch! Dodgers send Mookie Betts back to disabled list
Los Angeles Dodgers could not avoid unavoidable and on the afternoon of this Wednesday, August 11, it was announced that Mookie Betts was again placed on the disabled list for 10 days. The player will miss at least 10 games of the 2021 Season of MLB It presents pain in the hip area that needs … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, disabled, Dodgers, list, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts, punch, send, Sucker
Oh no! Mookie Betts is nowhere near going on the Dodgers DL yet again
Los Angeles Dodgers received and shared a complicated news in the last hours because it was announced that Mookie Betts is close to being put back on the disabled list. The gardener suffers from hip ailments, a situation that would make him miss other days of the 2021 Season of MLB, being a blow to … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts
Dodgers: Didn't miss a beat! Mookie Betts returns and hits a tremendous home run
August 2, 2021 by Rodolfo Scott
It can be fun for fans of Dodgers see the offensive potential realized, as in days like today Sunday, when the Los Angeles bats continued their outburst with a 13-0 slate victory over the Los Angeles Arizona D-backs at Chase Field. The Dodgers scored 21 runs in the last two games to secure a series … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags beat, Betts, didnt, Dodgers, hits, home, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts, returns, run, tremendous
Dodgers give good news about Mookie Betts injury and possible return to MLB
July 30, 2021 by Rodolfo Scott
Things for Los Angeles Dodgers have not turned out as I would have expected during the 2021 Season of MLB, since it is one of the teams most hit by injuries among its players. One of the most important casualties in recent days has been that of Mookie Betts, whose injury was released good news … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags Betts, Dodgers, give, good, injury, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Mookie, Mookie betts, news, Return
Bad for Dodgers! Mookie Betts goes back to the disabled list
After being out of the lineup for seven straight games, the Los Angeles Dodgers They put their star outfielder Mookie Betts on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday because of a swelling in his right hip and what, it's a very tough blow for one of the best players in all of MLB. Manager Dave … Read more
Categories Baseball Tags bad, Betts, disabled, Dodgers, list, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie, Mookie betts
Clippers will give PG13 more time off | {
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Civil War Reenacting-Helping You to Truly Enjoy Reenacting!
Welcome to the ultimate Civil War Reenactment website. If you like history and are fascinated by the Civil War era, if you are ready to put down the book, get out of the armchair, "see the elephant" and smell the gunpowder, then this is the place for you! It has been said that when "you relive history, you truly understand history," in a new way and appreciate what the original participants experienced!
My goal is to help you, the Civil War reenactor, to have the best experience and the most fun with one of the most exciting hobbies available today. Whether you are just checking this out for the first time or you are a novice or an experienced reenactor, this website is designed to help you connect to a unit in your area, get the best equipment from reputable sutlers, and know when and where events are happening.
If you are just getting started, I recommend that you first contact a unit in your area that you may be interested in joining or at least visiting. To help with this, see the Civil War Reenactment Units tab. Also you may want to visit some local events where you can meet reenactors, ask them questions, and learn more. This is how I got started. I recommend that you join a unit before purchasing any gear from a sutler because each unit may be doing a little different impression. Most units are delighted to have a "new recruit" or interested novice and may have some "loaner" equipment to help you get started.
The wonderful thing about reenacting is that the entire family can be involved, doing different types of impressions and sharing the fun. Many units have auxillaries for spouses and children who may want to do various civilian impressions. These add immensely to the realism of the unit's impression at events.
It is my goal that in time this site will be a comprehensive resource for the reenactment community. If you have suggestions or I have missed a unit, sutler, or event, please contact me and let me know.
Click Here to find Reenactment Units in your area.
Click Here to find a Sutler's list for equipment and supplies.
Click Here to find scheduled events to visit.
Click Here to read the latest Book Reviews.
Great site Marty; If you are a seasoned re-enactor or just getting started their is a wealth of information to be had. Keep up the good work!
Marty your site looks so beautiful and is so informative! I love the photographs. It looks like this is really fun to be part of!
I'm satisfied to find numerous useful info right here within the post, we'd like develop more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.
Hello Marty. What a cool idea for a website, not just the history around the Civil War but how to live that part of history, a bit, with reenactments.
Thanks Linda for the visit and the email. There are a lot of men and women who have discovered how much fun it is to do historical reenactments, especially of the Civil war period. It is amazing how much you learn in the company of other reenactors that you will never learn or experience by just reading about it. To walk a battlefield where tens of thousands of men faced each other, fought, bled and died will hekp one to appreciate the cost of the freedoms and advantages that we enjoy today. My website is not dedicated to war, but to helping people understand thae greatest conflict in our nation's history by reliving it in a small way. Please encourage any history buffs you know to visit my website: http://civilwar-reenacting.com.
Thanks for the encouragement. Hope your friends like the site. Check back soon for new book reviews.
mind before writing. I have had a hard time clearing mmy mind in getting my ideas out there.
be lost just trying too figure out hoow to begin. Any suggestions or hints?
Here's a suggestion: think of a topic then sit down to write. Using a timer set for 10 or 15 minutes, start writing whatever comes to mind about that topic for that time period. Then go back and edit it. I also helps if you have two or three points you wish to make about your topic before you start. With practice, you'll be able to concentrate for longer time periods and write more.
Send me a blog or post on something related to my general topic and I'll be glad to review it, then decide if I want to post it.
I am trying to find out about civil war reenactment groups located in Utah. Can you help me out with contact information and/or times and dates of said reenactments?
Thank you so much for your time today Marty! You are truly a pleasure and we look forward to working with you. You have a fabulous site!
I am a retired senior and I make costumes for income. I love the civil war era and am very reasonable and authentic with my work. I need help in marketing. I would like to display and sell my costumes at an event in Virginia during summer months and possibly in Florida souring winter months. Can anyone tell me how to get started with this.
Thanks Capt. Bill. Hope Barbara saw your comment.
Do anyone know reenactment groups in Cincinnati Ohio for me? I'm a first timer and under the age of 18. Thank you!!
Go to http://civilwar-reenacting.com/reenactment-units/ohio-texas and click on some of the Ohio units. Contact any that look interesting and ask them if they have members in your area. Most will be very happy to help you find a unit nearby. Also, look in northern KY at http://civilwar-reenacting.com/reenactment-units/kansas-montana to see if there may be some units right across the river from you.
Thanks Butch, I have added you to my vendor list which may send you some additional business.
It varies with the unit, Elijah. Usually 12 to 16 is the minimum, but in the Civil War boys as young as 10 served as drummers or camp help.
I am looking for information on Levi Jackson 54th Massachusetts Infantry Company I. He is resting peacefully at Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio. I would like to do a feature story on him in an upcoming newsletter and am seeking information on his service. Is there a group representing Company I?
Angie, try the reenactor page at http://mass54thcompany-a.com/ and contact their members to see if they can give you additional information.
I am concerned about the future of reenactments given the hysteria that is going on in our country right now. My father took me to Gettysburg every year and I totally loved it and still have a deep love for it even now. Have you all addressed these concerns or had any attacks, verbal or physical, brought against you? My prayers are with you all for safety and may God bring sanity back into our land.
Kathy, I've only had one comment from someone who did not understand the purpose of reenacting. Let's continue to share our knowledge and love of history for this very crucial period in our nation's history.
I did not hear back from you. Were you able to open the pdf file of the "New Handbook …"? | {
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Kody Brown Makes It Clear: I Don't Want a Relationship with Meri!
By Author Kay D. Rhodes at Dec 09, 2022 • Category Meri Brown
Meri Brown will experience a case of Deja Vu on this Sunday's brand new episode of Sister Wives.
But in very upsetting fashion.
In a sneak peek shared by The Today Show, this veteran reality star will sit down for a discussion with spiritual spouse Kody and her two remaining sister wives, Robyn and Janelle.
On Season 17, which was filmed over a year ago, Christine has just left the polygamous family because Kody sucks as a father.
In this footage, Kody is acting all heartbroken over Christine's departure, lamenting the loss of this partner — which is rather hard for Meri to hear.
Because she's stuck around this whole time!
And Kody doesn't seem to care one bit.
Kody Brown looks quite displeased in this photo. And we love it!
"It's interesting hearing him talking about this and the parallels that (are) happening with him and Christine and me and him," Meri says in a confessional.
"It's kind of disturbing because some of the things that he's frustrated about with Christine, he did to me.
"He wants to work on it with Christine but not me."
Indeed, Kody has said on multiple occasions that he's done even trying with Meri, having not even slept with her for 10 years.
Back in the family meeting, Robyn speaks up and states the following:
"If people are just tired of trying and they don't want to work it out, then I need to know."
This line of reasoning feels personal and pointed to Meri, who can't help but respond.
"Robyn, I think that you and I have had enough conversations about this that you know exactly where I am. And I am still here because I'm still trying," she says.
"Six years later, I'm still here. Ten years, 15, 20 years later, I'm still here. It's what I want."
This is certainly the case, as Meri has had to clap back many times over the past several months against trolls who don't understand why she's still in this relationship.
"I love that Meri is saying that she wants to work stuff out as a family," Robyn says in a confessional.
"But I'm purposely just not saying anything because I don't want it to intimidate Kody and Janelle and make them feel like they have to conform so that we can really get to the bottom of maybe some issues."
For his part, meanwhile, Kody finds it ironic that Meri is sounding so passionate… considering his utter lack of passion for her at this point.
"I'm exhausted. Like, who cares? If you're not with me, you're against me.
"Eff off, you know? I'm just like that way," the selfish father of 18 tells the camera.
"Ironically, Meri's trying to support me and I don't want to be in a relationship with her anymore."
Based on the way he sounds? Based on the way he acts? Based on pretty much everything about Kody Brown?
We really have no idea why Meri would want to be in a relationship with him, either.
Prince Harry Comes Clean About Nazi Uniform: I've Made a Lot of Mistakes In My Life
Christine Brown Warned by Fans: Stay Away from Josh Seiter!! | {
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OperatingPoint objects let you save sets of data necessary to initialize a model, manipulate this data, and then use it to initialize another model, or the same model before another simulation run. These sets of data contain a hierarchy of operating point targets, each target consisting of a variable value, unit, and initialization priority.
The simscape.op.OperatingPoint function (described here) creates an empty OperatingPoint object. You can then create Target objects and add them to the OperatingPoint.
Instead of adding targets one by one, you can create an OperatingPoint object by extracting data from an existing model or from logged simulation data, by using the simscape.op.create function.
op = simscape.op.OperatingPoint creates an empty OperatingPoint object.
Simulink identifier (SID) of the OperatingPoint object, specified as a character vector or string scalar.
You do not have to set this property to be able to use an operating point for model initialization. In other words, you can initialize model A by using operating point B (or with an empty Identifier), as long as the OperatingPoint hierarchy matches the model.
For the relativePath function to work, the identifier of the operating point must match the name (SID) of the model. If you create an operating point by extracting data from log or model, the extraction algorithms set this property to match the SID of the model or block.
Names of the immediate children of the OperatingPoint object, specified as a cell array. These are the names of variables, blocks, or subsystems that comprise the next layer of the operating point hierarchy.
Immediate children of the OperatingPoint object, specified as a cell array. These are operating point nodes or targets that correspond to the child IDs.
Map of the OperatingPoint object attributes, specified as a character vector, string scalar, Boolean, or numeric, with the KeyType of char. For more information, see Map Containers (MATLAB).
You can use these attributes to tag operating points and targets with useful metadata. If you create an operating point by extracting data from log or model, the extraction algorithms set the attributes, for example, a Boolean describing whether the target is differential or algebraic. Use this data for filtering out elements of interest.
You can create other Target objects or OperatingPoint objects and add them as children to the operating point op. | {
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Former Soviet republics: Health > Infant mortality rate stats
Infant mortality rate
Female: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
Male: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
Total: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
FORMER SOVIET TOTAL
FORMER SOVIET AVERAGE
Female 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
55% less than average 2011
Male 23.22 deaths/1,000 live births
Total 20.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Facts and figures about Former Soviet republics
Former Soviet Agriculture 236 Former Soviet Geography 51 Former Soviet Media 197
Former Soviet Crime 102 Former Soviet Government 141 Former Soviet Military 123
Former Soviet Disasters 6 Former Soviet Health 229 Former Soviet People 487
Former Soviet Economy 3232 Former Soviet Industry 76 Former Soviet Religion 18
Former Soviet Education 419 Former Soviet Labor 244 Former Soviet Sports 145
Former Soviet Energy 2115 Former Soviet Language 6 Former Soviet Terrorism 20
Former Soviet Environment 192 Former Soviet Lifestyle 14 Former Soviet Transport 338
India is home to two thirds of the world's lepers. | {
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Donald Trump's America First Program Will Make U.S. Weaker: Report
By Graham Lanktree On 1/2/18 at 9:49 AM EST
U.S. Donald Trump Business China U.S. Foreign Policy
America's influence on the world stage will decline in 2018 due to President Donald Trump's America First policies, according to a new global risk report.
"The decline of US influence in the world will accelerate in 2018," reads the study released Tuesday by Eurasia Group, a consultancy that advises hedge funds and multinational corporations about how politics will impact business.
"With little sense of strategic direction from the Trump White House, U.S. global power, used too aggressively by George W. Bush, then too timidly by Barack Obama, is sputtering to a stall," the report finds.
Under Trump's America First policies—including his protectionism, unilateralist approach to foreign policy, and confusing tweets and rhetoric about U.S. allies—the American-led world order has "eroded," write the report's authors, Eurasia Group's President Ian Bremmer and Chairman Cliff Kupchan.
Bremmer is a U.S. political scientist specializing in American foreign policy, and Kupchan is a former senior foreign policy adviser to the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee.
"We now see more clearly a world without leadership," Bremmer and Kupchan note, pointing out that no other country or set of countries appears ready to step in and rebuild it. All this is "significantly increasing global risk," they write.
"In the 20 years since we started Eurasia Group, the global environment has had its ups and downs. But if we had to pick one year for a big unexpected crisis—the geopolitical equivalent of the 2008 financial meltdown—it feels like 2018. Sorry."
Read more: U.S. ignores terrorists, Pakistan says, as ambassador summoned over Trump lies and deceit tweet
With global alliances and structures in a weakened state, the world is more prone to accidents and a major crisis developing, Bremmer and Kupchan argue, because "a misstep or misjudgment could provoke serious international conflict."
Cyberattacks from hostile nations like 2017's crippling WannaCry virus, increased nuclear tensions with North Korea, the ongoing conflict in Syria, Russia's 2016 election meddling, and terrorism are among some of the major unknowns that could lead to conflict.
As the Trump White House faces increasing pressure from the Russia investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, the president is prone to lash out in unexpected ways and become erratic and unpredictable, they write.
This could lead to surprises like killing the Iran nuclear deal, a move opposed by Russia and several American allies that signed it because they say it increases global security by keeping the authoritarian regime from getting a nuclear weapon.
Since Trump has renounced Washington-led multilateralism on the world stage, there is a power vacuum that China is moving to fill, the report states. "Until last year, China had avoided talk of global leadership, but now China is setting international standards with less resistance than ever before."
U.S. institutions like the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, judiciary, media, FBI and electoral system, are also all suffering partisan attacks from both the president and Republicans and are being weakened, they find.
Weak institutions, they say, heighten unpredictability as they act as the guardrails for policy-making and the future.
"Strong courts and media lessen dependence for stability on powerful (sometimes erratic) individuals," Bremmer and Kupchan write. Without them, conflict "will become more frequent, decision-making degraded, and internal chaos common."
Donald Trump's America First Program Will Make U.S. Weaker: Report | U.S.
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U.S. Ignores Terrorists, Pakistan Says, Following Tweet
Tillerson Wants to Talk to Kim Jong Un, Trump Doesn't
Trump Tweets It's 'Time for Change' in Iran | {
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DevHub
Increased funding from the city of Malmö
by Game Habitat
The city of Malmö increase its grant to Game Habitat to 1.6 million kronor yearly. The increased funding allow us to level up our existing commitments, in particular our communications efforts. The funding is an increase from the previous four years when the city has granted us 950.000 kronor yearly.
More: Listen to Malmö's mayor Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh and Game Habitat's Peter Lübeck in this news report from public broadcaster Radio Sweden (in Swedish)
– I'm glad that we can contribute to further strengthen Malmö's rapidly growing games industry through Game Habitat. The aim is to position Malmö as a leading games city in Europe, says Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö.
With the increased funding we'll continue to develop our operations to meet the needs of the rapidly growing industry. We'll for instance hire a communications manager to lead the work of putting the games industry in Malmö and southern Sweden on the world map, as well as coordinate communications efforts between Game Habitat members, the city of Malmö, Region Skåne and other stakeholders.
– There are over 100.000 game developers in Europe, mainly in the UK, France, Germany and Poland. We want as many of them as possible to be aware of the unique conditions and benefits that Malmö offer as a games city. We will now be able to level up our communications efforts and spread this message to many more people, says Peter Lübeck, CEO of Game Habitat.
– Malmö has everything that other cities dream of when it comes to games: world-class education, large gaming companies, foreign establishments, world-famous game creators and an internationally recognized conference. The fact that the city of Malmö is increasing its grant to Game Habitat can be added to that list. It also testifies to the forward-thinking spirit that characterizes Malmö, to invest rather than hesitate, says Per Strömbäck, spokesperson for the Swedish Games industry.
"A day in a User Research's work life depends on the period of the study's circle"
Job opportunity: Business development manager
Introducing Matti Suoraniemi
"Your experience, however far from video games it may be, is valuable"
Peter on "I'm not only interested in analog fashion, but also in digital fashion"
Game Habitat on Malmö's game studios launch joint campaign – aim to recruit 3.500 developers by 2030
Kasper on Malmö's game studios launch joint campaign – aim to recruit 3.500 developers by 2030
With support from Malmö Stad and Region Skåne
© Game Habitat 2022 | {
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Not only do these bins hold a lot, but they're great for carrying to a job-site.You can easily carry two in one hand by placing them back to back. And a simple rack allows you to store the bins underneath a benchtop so the contents are within easy reach. The size of the bins can be readily adjusted to suit your needs.
The front, back and bottom of each bin is made of 1/4" hardboard, while the sides are made of V£"-thick solid wood (pine), see drawing at far right. Rabbets along the edges of the sides hold the front and back panels. And a groove near the bottom of each side piece holds the bottom.
dia. holes in the back panel of the bin and removing the waste in between with a sabre saw. Then the pieces of the bin are glued together and fastened with brads. | {
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Nancy (asteróide 2056) é um asteróide da cintura principal, a 1,9081572 UA. Possui uma excentricidade de 0,1394705 e um período orbital de 1 206,04 dias (3,3 anos).
Nancy tem uma velocidade orbital média de 20,0017756 km/s e uma inclinação de 3,93286º.
Esse asteróide foi descoberto em 15 de Outubro de 1909 por Joseph Helffrich.
Ver também
Lista de asteróides
Asteroide da cintura principal
Ligações externas
Asteroides da cintura principal
Objetos astronômicos descobertos em 1909 | {
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We are fortunate enough to have two of these stores in Houston. Forth and Towne is a new concept store owned by Gap. There are four different lines of clothes, each with a distinct personality. It's a fun idea and the customer service is a step above most stores. The dressing rooms are in the middle of the store and full of bright, trendy colors. In there you will find the salespeople in there giving feedback on clothes or adding a necklace to go with a dress. It is a great concept.
Having said that, I'm actually writing this to tell you about the website because it is full of great fashion layouts for new outfit inspiration. They don't have online shopping yet, but don't worry because you don't need to buy their clothes. Just use the formulas they set out for you online. It's also fun to see what personality you express through your clothes. I always love a personality test!
I did buy some things there before Christmas. I was impressed with the colors and styles, but the clothing lacks the finishing touches that make it great quality. For example I bought a few lightweight sweaters in fantastic colors, but they are a wool blend and wrinkle terribly. Why is everyone doing a wool blend now? I have a Banana Republic 100% merino wool sweater that is 6 years old and looks like the day I bought it. All these wool/spandex, nylon, acrylic, whatnot blends--pooh on them because they don't hold up to washing or wearing. Another item that I bought was a velvet blazer. The outside is fine, but the inside lining is probaby a polyester, supposed to look like silk, and is wearing out after only a few months. Those are the finishing touches I am talking about. Even though the prices are medium range, I would rather buy a quality fabric that is not going to wear out after one season. Even Old Navy clothes have lasted me longer. Go figure.
But don't just go by my little review. I find they have a very unique selection of clothing and in beautiful colors. If you have a store in your town, drop by and have a look. But either way, enjoy the website. Use their outfits as a paint by number sort of model and fill in your own pieces.
Like your review of their stuff... I was sad to hear the line is closing.
Yes, all of the stores will be closed by early summer. They will receive all of the new clothes and they will probably have a great sale in a few months. They are no longer doing the "club" points. They will probably stop taking returns pretty soon too. I agree about the quality of the sweaters. The same goes for my sweaters from Banana Republic too - they pilled horribly after one wear. My old BR sweaters are much better quality. | {
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hostels247 > Hostels > UKRAINE
Ukraine – Rich Heritage and Fascinating History
The Eastern European country of Ukraine features in the list of world's leading 10 tourist destinations. Its monuments, landscapes and cultural offerings keep attracting tourists from all over the world.
Ukraine has an ancient history going back to 4500 B.C when it was inhabited by Cimmerians, Sarmatians and Scythians. During the 10th century, it was medieval Europe's most powerful region under the Kievan Rus. It was controlled by the Polish-Lithuanians between the 14th century and 18th century, and the Russians followed after them. It became a part of USSR following the 1922 Russian Civil War, from whom it became independent only in 1991 after witnessing severe famines, battles and suppressions.
Kiev is one of the most visited cities in Ukraine because of its several breathtaking sculptures and monuments like St. Sophia's cathedral, Independence Square, Saint Vladimir Cathedral, St. Andrew Church, Khreshchatik Street, Hidro Park, Historical Museum, Art Museum, Andreyev Hill, Opera House, Victory Park, Babi Yar Memorial and Pershcherska Lavra which is beautifully located monastery besides Dnipro River. This monastery is more than 10 centuries old and contains churches, subterranean tunnels and towers.
Lviv is popular for is amazing architecture in the form of National Museum, Pharmaceuticla Museum, History Museum, Ivan Franko's Opera House, Crafts and Ethnography Museum and collection of antique armoury. Some other popular attractions in Ukraine are Odessa's Potemkin Stairway and its 192 steps, Vorontsov Palace, Mariyinsky Palace and Catacombs. The Catacombs are over 400 kms long and were earlier used by resistance fighters, smugglers and partisans.
Planes, trains, buses, marshrutkas (minibuses), taxis and rented cars or bikes are the various modes of transportation available for getting around Ukraine, a good guide to hassle free travel is to have some small change handy to pay for your journey.
Discos, pubs, restaurants and bars are the usual places for having some fun in Ukraine. The nation has also preserved its customs and cultural traditions through its concert halls, theatres and art galleries. Kiev's Adriyivsky Uzvis street is home to several exhibits, art galleries and cafes. Hiking and trekking on the Carpathian Mountains, skiing in Slavsko, Bukovel and Dragobrat, rafting in South Bug River, and also horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, paragliding and survival-school are few adventurous avenues that can be explored by visitors. The Odessa Privoz is amongst the world's biggest farmer's markets and items ranging from food, clothing, consumer goods to construction material are sold here.
Budget hotels, youth hostels, bed & breakfast, motels, private rooms or flats, studios, camps and apartments are the usual places where tourists opt to stay while in Ukraine.
The official currency of Ukraine is the Hryvnia (UAH). Traveller's cheques and credit cards are also accepted in most of the major cities. Currency exchange points and banks help in exchanging your currency with the local currency. The March 2009 exchange rate was 1 USD for 7.99 Hryvnias, before you change your money check the internet and news for the latest exchange rates.
Ukraine group accommodation | Cheap hostels & budget hotels worldwide
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Il dorignato (gen. Dorygnathus) è un rettile volante estinto appartenente agli pterosauri, vissuto nel Giurassico inferiore (circa 190 milioni di anni fa). I suoi resti sono stati ritrovati in Germania.
Descrizione
L'apertura alare di questo animale raggiungeva il metro, ed era nella media degli pterosauri giurassici. Lo sterno del dorignato non era particolarmente sviluppato, a indicare che probabilmente i muscoli adatti al volo erano relativamente ridotti. Il cranio era dotato di grandi aperture, così da alleggerirlo, e di fauci dalla dentatura notevole. Anteriormente erano presenti lunghi denti acuminati, che sporgevano quando la bocca era chiusa e si intersecavano fra di loro (il nome Dorygnathus significa appunto "mascella con lance"). I denti successivi erano molto più corti e simili a triangoli appuntiti. Questa condizione di dentatura diversificata è comune nei mammiferi ma rara nei rettili, ed è nota come eterodonzia. Il quinto dito delle zampe posteriori era insolitamente allungato, e forse reggeva un lembo di pelle, analogo a quelli presenti tra le dita dell'ala e le ossa pteroidi.
Classificazione
Il dorignato è considerato un tipico rappresentante dei ranforincoidi, un gruppo di pterosauri primitivi sviluppatosi nel Triassico ed ampliatosi nel corso del Giurassico; in particolare, questo animale è ritenuto affine al ben noto Rhamphorhynchus del Giurassico superiore. I primi fossili di questo animale furono ritrovati nel 1830 ma furono descritti solo trent'anni dopo, nel 1860, e identificati correttamente come appartenenti a una nuova specie di pterosauro. Di Dorygnathus si conoscono due specie: Dorygnathus banthensis, la specie tipo, e D. mistelgauensis.
Stile di vita
È probabile che il dorignato vivesse nei pressi di lagune o di acque costiere e basse, dove poteva catturare i pesci volando a pelo d'acqua grazie ai lunghi denti acuminati, che impedivano poi alla preda di scivolare. Nello stesso ambiente viveva un altro pterosauro, Campylognathoides.
Note
Bibliografia
"Dorygnathus." In: Cranfield, Ingrid (ed.). The Illustrated Directory of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures. London: Salamander Books, Ltd. Pp. 292-295.
Altri progetti
Collegamenti esterni
Pterosauri | {
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Archer - Season 10
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Archer – Season 10
Season 10 follows Sterling Archer, Lana Kane, and their crew of acid-tongued misfits onboard the M/V Seamus salvage ship. An important question arises as they explore deep space and try to outsmart giant aliens, intergalactic pirates, and vicious bounty hunters: how do they survive each other? Welcome to the space-tastic world of Archer: 1999. Brace for the thrust.
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Genre: Action, Animation, Comedy
Director: Adam Reed
Cast: Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Dave Willis, George Coe, H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Judy Greer, Lucky Yates
Tags: watch Archer – Season 10 free, watch Archer – Season 10 hd, Archer – Season 10 online, where to watch Archer – Season 10, Archer – Season 10 free online, Archer – Season 10
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Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand a...
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Princess Protection Program
A princess whose country has been invaded goes into hiding in Louisiana, where she has to learn to act like an ordinary teenager. | {
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<filename>configure</filename> scripts when compiling in Unix-like
environments. Most configure options are listed in their appropriate
locations on the extension reference pages and not here. For a complete
up-to-date list of configure options, run <command>./configure --help</command>
in your PHP source directory after running <command>autoconf</command>
(see also the <link linkend="install">Installation chapter</link>).
You may also be interested in reading the
<link xlink:href="&url.gnu.configure;">GNU configure</link> documentation for
information on additional <command>configure</command> options such as
<literal>--prefix=PREFIX</literal>.
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These are only used at compile time. If you want to alter PHP's
runtime configuration, please see the chapter on <link
linkend="configuration">Runtime Configuration</link>.
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Posted inCivil Rights, Community
Backlash Cancels Auction of Camp Items
by Rafu Reports 04/17/2015
A painting by Estelle Peck Ishigo from the collection of Allen H. Eaton. "Disloyal" Japanese Americans leave Heart Mountain, Wyo. for Tule Lake Segregation Center in California on Sept. 21, 1943.
Rafu Wire and Staff Reports
Protests by Japanese American groups have led an East Coast auction house to cancel a sale of 450 photos and artifacts from World War II internment camps.
The move comes after thousands of Japanese Americans, advocacy groups and supporters posted their opposition to the sale on social media and the auction house's Facebook page.
A change.org petition titled "Japanese American History: NOT for Sale" collected more than 7,600 signatures. A Facebook page with the same title had more than 6,500 "likes."
An update on change.org reads, "Thanks to the combined community elements — the threat of a lawsuit, the help of our most famous Japanese American, George Takei, and the united voices of thousands of Japanese American individuals and supporters who expressed outrage and signed this petition, posted to Facebook and tweeted out messages, and the media attention, we achieved our goal — the Japanese American lots were pulled from the Rago auction block, thus delaying sale of the Eaton collection and giving us time to explore alternatives.
"Your advocacy helped reclaim our own story and make this is a proud moment for us all. Please sign this petition to support good-faith negotiations to occur for the future of the Eaton collection."
"We know what the internment camps were," Rago Arts and Auction Center founding partner David Rago said Thursday. "We know that it was a disgraceful period in American history, but we did not understand the continued emotional impact embodied within the material. We just didn't get it."
The collection includes artifacts and hundreds photos of people of Japanese descent who were imprisoned over fears they were spies. It also contains dozens of arts and crafts they made. Roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at 10 relocation camps after the Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan.
The New Jersey auction house has declined to identify the owner of the collection, which internees gave to historian Allen H. Eaton while he was researching his 1952 book, "Beauty Behind Barbed Wire: The Arts of the Japanese in Our War Relocation Camps." Eaton's daughter sold the lot to the unnamed consigner.
Last fall, the consigner came to the auction house to enlist help in finding the most appropriate home for the collection, Rago said, adding that he didn't realize there would be such a backlash.
"We were taken by surprise. We didn't want to trouble anybody. It's not good personally, it's not good on any level," he said.
Rago said the auction house will now try to find the "appropriate repository" for the items.
"There are many that are interested," he said, but declined to elaborate.
Democratic Rep. Mike Honda of San Jose, who was interned in Amache, Colo., as a child, says the auction house made the right move.
"These artifacts reflect personal family memories of one of the darkest periods in U.S. history," he told The San Jose Mercury News. "These items belong with the families, or in museums so future generations can learn from them."
Rago said he can't put a value on the lot but said it's worth more than $25,000.
"In some respects," he said, "the material is priceless."
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, which had offered to buy the collection, issued the following statement on April 15.
=*=
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HMWF) is pleased to report the withdrawal of the Japanese American incarceration items from the Allen Eaton collection, which were slated for public auction Friday, April 17, 2015, in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Within hours after legal counsel for the HMWF communicated their intent to file a lawsuit, the Rago Arts and Auction Center announced that the auction items would be withdrawn.
"The foundation and the many people who have supported us in the last few weeks are thrilled that the immediate risk to the collection has been averted, and we are appreciative of the wider Japanese American community's concerns," said HMWF Chair Shirley Ann Higuchi. "We now turn to the challenge of securing the future care of the collection and protecting it in collaboration with all concerned Japanese American-related institutions."
The foundation's effort began in late March with requests for alternatives to a public auction. The HMWF first asked for the donation of the items, then for the private sale of the items to appropriate non-profit organizations, and finally, for a postponement of the auction.
When these suggestions bore no fruit, the HWMF secured pledges from its board members and friends to make a substantial cash offer — one that far exceeded the estimated auction value of all the incarceration-related items. [The amount was $50,000 from nine personal pledges.]
When even this offer was not accepted, the HMWF felt compelled to continue the effort through legal means. A number of supporters rallied around the effort, with several Japanese American-related organizations submitting letters and messages of support over the last few days.
"I am heartened by the solidarity shown among the Japanese American community to bring this issue to light," said HMWF Executive Director Brian Liesinger. "It spurred us on in our effort to do right by the collection and the incarcerees who created the artworks."
The HMWF enlisted the New Jersey firm Lite DePalma Greenberg to handle the case. The law firm had this to say about the result: "We're very pleased that our legal efforts on behalf of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation led directly to the withdrawal of these unique and culturally valuable artifacts from auction. We hope that the consigner of these items accepts the foundation's previous offer to purchase the artifacts for more than their fair market value, so that they can be preserved and displayed for the public to see and learn from, as intended by Allen H. Eaton and the Japanese incarcerees."
The items had been passed down to Eaton's heirs after his passing and eventually ended up in the hands of a family friend, who decided to send it to auction. Eaton accumulated the collection toward the close of the World War II Japanese American confinement camps with the help of incarcerees. In 1952, he published the book "Beauty Behind Barbed Wire," which featured many of the items planned for the public auction.
"As a former incarceree, I am very proud of the role that the HMWF took in bringing about the cancellation of the auction of these precious items," said HMWF board member Sam Mihara.
The HMWF is intent upon continuing its efforts to secure these items and assure their proper stewardship. We hope the owners of the collection will be open to our good faith willingness to provide generous and fair compensation in order to bring the collection back to the Japanese American community.
= * =
Actor and activist Takei, who was interned at Rohwer, Ark., and Tule Lake in Northern California as a child, got involved in the controversy by contacting the auction house.
"Following an afternoon of calls, I am very pleased that Rago Auctions, which was set to sell off artwork of Japanese American internment camp survivors, has announced it will withdraw the art pieces that were for sale," Takei wrote in a Facebook post on April 15. "Rago and I will sit down with interested Japanese American institutions and parties to ensure that the collection will find a home where the pieces will be properly cared for and curated.
"These irreplaceable works represent the struggles and indomitable spirit of our community against a great injustice. They are shining symbols from a dark time — a chapter that we must never repeat, and never forget. Now, we can ensure that these pieces are not lost to history.
"Thanks to the many who added their voices to ensure this artwork was not sold off piecemeal to private buyers, but rather will be appreciated by generations to come." | {
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Theatrehomepage
by Jill T Frey
Melbourne's iconic Princess Theatre is regarded by many as Melbourne's most spectacular landmark. When a theatre company is the only real company in residence at a theatre venue, this theatre (and its corresponding theatre firm) are known as a resident theatre or a producing theatre, because the venue produces its personal work. HELP THE UNICORN THEATRE AND GET 25{b8d29cbbc70ea08dff8ed643a2f8c28a9ab1d3e088b12bf070b448a58638513d} OFF YOUR TICKETS, ANYTIME, ALL VIA THE 12 MONTHS. Arcola Theatre Manufacturing Firm is a registered charity no.1108613.
Metropolis of Barrie Theatres manages the Georgian Theatre, an expert performing arts facility on the Georgian Faculty campus, and the Mady Centre for the Performing Arts, which incorporates the Park Place Theatre performance house. A field office at the present venue is open one hour earlier than the efficiency till intermission for ticket purchase and pickup. The Box Workplace for EACH theatres is located at the Mady Centre, 1 Dunlop Road West (Tuesday to Friday, 12 midday – 6 pm; Saturday, 11am-5pm).
Following its smash hit run at London's Dominion Theatre, Invoice Kenwright's production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita is ready to thrill audiences once once more across the UK. The actor writes along with his body on the stage" and that the "rating of an opera is not the opera itself and the script of a play just isn't drama till both are made flesh and blood on stage"; quoted by Benedetti (1999a, 124).
This may embrace a contemporary farce comparable to Boeing Boeing or a classical play akin to As You Like It Theatre expressing bleak, controversial or taboo subject matter in a deliberately humorous method is referred to as black comedy Black Comedy can have several genres like slapstick humour, dark and sarcastic comedy. Than 240 venues nationwide together with all of London's West Finish.
Although traditionally seen as a house for straight plays, reminiscent of My Title is Rachel Corrie, Hedda Gabler, Vincent in Brixton, and A Doll's House, lately, the theatre has been host to many successful musicals reminiscent of La Cage Aux Folles from 2008 until January 2010, and it was the home of the beloved jukebox musical Dreamboats and Petticoats through August 2012, before Simon Callow starred in the one-man present The Thriller of Charles Dickens Spamalot opened on the Playhouse on 12 November 2012 and closed on the twelfth April 2014.
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Tuff Fest II: Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Hey cool kids, I'm back with another post from my Tuff Fest series.
Simul-posted here: The Movie Advocate
Fitzcarraldo is an impossibly large movie. It is up there, and maybe surpasses, well known classic epics like Ben Hur, Cleopatra, or the Ten Commandments. Part of me doesn't want to spoil seeing one of the most unbelievable things ever dedicated to film, but that one thing happens to be the main selling point of the movie. So, I urge you to simply do everything you can possibly do to get your hands on this movie, suffer through the relatively slow first hour or so, and marvel at the last half. It is one of the greatest feats in cinema's long and complex history. That said, minor spoilers follow, but it really is a movie that you have to truly see to believe, so spoilers don't really enter into it.
Fitzcarraldo is a tale inspired by true events (though, exaggerated for cinematic purposes) of a failing European entrepreneur's last ditch attempt at greatness. I feel like after every sentence that follows, I'm going to want to say "seriously," but I'll abstain. In Fitzcarraldo, our titular protagonist, after failing to market ice to Peruvians, sets out to build an opera house in the middle of the Amazon. His funding for such a task will come from the money he plans on making from selling rubber he'll acquire from a nearly inaccessible rubber-tree-trove, also deep in the middle of the Amazon. He plans on bypassing the rapids that make the trove inaccessible by sailing a 320 ton steamship up a parallel river, and, somehow, getting it over a mountain between the river it's on and the river he wants to be. Seriously.
There are maybe 30-50 other absolutely bat-shit-crazy things that occur before he gets the steamship to the point where he plans on transporting the ship from one river to another. This is a "throw your hands up and scream because this movie couldn't possibly exist" kind of movie. Months after, I am still in a state of awe when I think of it. There is one documentary about it, and several other biographic pieces talk at length about the filming of the movie, and how it almost ended in several people's deaths.
The most shocking thing about this movie is the fact that everything that you see on your screen actually occurred. There were no special effects. There were no cranes assisting in the the impossible feats. It's as raw and terrible as it looks, and, if the documentaries are to be believed, it's probably worse.
There is no movie the equal of Fitzcarraldo.
-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest II
To see all the movies written about during Tuff Fest I, click here: Tuff Fest I
For an explanation as to what this is all about, click here: Tuff Fest Introduction.
Labels: Fitzcarraldo, Herzog, Kinski, Movies, Tuff Fest, Tuff Fest II
SLM Mixtape #27: Somnuri
Tuff Fest II: District 13: Ultimatum (2009)
SLM Mixtape #26: Haut House
Tuff Fest II: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)
SLM Mixtape #25: For All It's Worth | {
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И́горь Ви́кторович Го́рный (род. 11 мая 1973, Ленинград, СССР) — российский физик, доктор физико-математических наук, профессор РАН (2016).
Биография
Родился в Ленинграде в 1973 году.
Окончил Санкт-Петербургский государственный политехнический университет, физико-технический факультет (1989—1995).
С 1996 года работает в Физико-техническом институте им. А. Ф. Иоффе РАН, в настоящее время — старший научный сотрудник.
Кандидатская диссертация (физика полупроводников и диэлектриков):
К теории эффектов слабой локализации и электрон-электронного взаимодействия в двумерных полупроводниковых структурах : диссертация … кандидата физико-математических наук : 01.04.10. — Санкт-Петербург, 1998. — 135 с. : ил.
Тема защищённой в Германии диссертации (Habilitation) «Interaction effects in electronic transport» соответствует докторской диссертации по специальностям 01.04.02 Теоретическая физика, 01.04.07 (Физика конденсированного состояния).
Профессор РАН (2016).
Научные достижения:
более 100 научных работ, индекс цитирования более 2000, индекс Хирша 24;
лауреат премии для молодых ученых Европейского научного фонда ESF EURYI Award 2005.
Источники
Горный Игорь Викторович
Проф. Игорь Горный, Институт Иоффе
Примечания
Доктора физико-математических наук
Сотрудники Физико-технического института имени А. Ф. Иоффе
Профессора РАН
Выпускники Санкт-Петербургского политехнического университета | {
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Marie Kondo said that "if you want to meet a beautiful home that is just right for you, take good care of the one you live in now."
Well, since I have started my Konmari journey, I have to admit that clearing out clutter has done wonders for me in terms of opportunities that open up. It's like I cleared out space to make room for new beginnings. With only books and komono left to get rid off, I would like to begin to make way for the future, my future home!
I'll start with the kitchen. Discovered Scavolini via Stenie Coyiuto Tay's post on Facebook. So I googled Scavolini and discovered the Favilla series in their site. Now this is my kind of kitchen! There are bits and elements here that I want for my future kitchen.
- I like the stove and air vent, although I also want something more traditionally French like Lacanche or La Cornue. But since servicing locally might be an issue, then that's something else to consider. There's always La Germania. Ahahaha. My friend Mish Aventajado swears by the Viking range of kitchen equipment too. They have a responsive service team, says Mish. So I'm seriously making a mental note on that as well.
- The wooden table. Our current dining table can be resurrected as a kitchen table. Our Tolix chairs which we currently use as our dining chairs will totally fit right in this style of kitchen too.
- I like the farmhouse sink. Not in this color way. I'd go for the traditional white one. I like the idea of gray countertops. Maybe in soapstone.
- There's something alluring about the open shelving. The all white cabinets also reminds me of Diane Keaton's Hamptons kitchen in Something's Got to Give. I like that the refrigerators aren't entirely seen. The kitchen in the Airbnb apartment we stayed at in Paris had the refrigerator and freezer concealed in the cabinets. I loved it.
- Again, that wooden table in the kitchen. And that walled unit with the curved top door! It's a toss up between open shelving and this. Or there might be a way to incorporate both and use this walled unit as an accent piece.
- Double farmhouse sinks. In gray. Not bad when set against white cabinets.
- Instead of marble flooring, I'm thinking of how I can include a marble topped French country kitchen table in my kitchen. Yeah, I'd like marble elements too.
- For feng shui reasons, I wouldn't put the stove right across the sink, but the gray countertops on white cabinets? Pretty. I also like that the kitchen appliances are seamlessly integrated and do not stick out.
- Love the big open windows! I want a kitchen with big windows for light to stream in. But where to put the open shelving and walled unit I want? Need to figure out a way to do that.
Now, all I have to really do is figure out a way to incorporate all the elements I like into one kitchen. Universe, I'm up for it!
P.S. Dada and I have figured out how we want our entryway to look like. I also know how I want our stairs to look like. It's kind of a mix of a Parisian/Upper East Side look we're going for. I've started to gather pictures, and I can't wait to put it up here!
Do Your Kids Speak Filipino?
I didn't realize how big of issue this has become now among my mommy friends. You should hear the tinge of panic and regret in their voice when we talk about Filipino homework and tests.
I should have seen it coming 5 years ago.
"Mas magaling pa mag-English mga bata dito kay Berry!" my Mom jokingly told me then, when I brought Berry to Manila for her very first vacation, after spending all 2 years of her life abroad.
"Syempre. Kinakausap ko din sya in Tagalog, Mom." I explained a bit incredulously.
As it turned out, it seemed that in the short time that we were living overseas, kids back home in Manila had forgotten how to speak the language. To a point that my friend Jen Tan had to tell me, "Tin, talk to your kids in Filipino, they need to learn it so you won't have a hard time tutoring them at home!"
It's gotten quite sad really, when Filipino kids don't even know how to speak Filipino. It's not funny and it's not cute. And no, it's not a sign of progress. Like talking in Filipino makes one uneducated, baduy or masa.
Wittingly or unwittingly, many in our generation, especially parents of young kids, have gotten lazy with the language. Most of us don't speak Filipino purely anymore. More often than not, Taglish is the norm. I'm guilty of that too, and sometimes, my kids still ask me, "What did you say, Mom?" when they hear me say a Tagalog word they have never heard of before.
Thankfully, my mommy friends at BetterMe.ph, who find themselves in a bind, having a hard time tutoring their kids in Tagalog in school, have come up with three easy to do tips for getting our kids to speak more Filipino. Watch it HERE!
So here's where Batibot comes into the picture. Yes, as in the Batibot many of us grew up watching.
They have come up with apps that encourages learning in Filipino. Our kids can watch shows, learn how to write the alphabet, play games and such. Just simple but educational lessons that they need, as in right now.
It's a quick an easy start. And hopefully, the road to getting our kids back on the Filipino track!
The things we take for granted: A good breakfast. Wait, make that the folks who sacrifice sleep just so we have food to eat.
Gotta hand it to McDonald's for bringing the sacrifices of our fisherfolk to light.
Speaking of light, in the early morning of March 14, for the fourth year in a row, McDonald's celebrated National Breakfast Day by delighting Filipinos across the country with free McMuffin sandwiches.
With over 400 stores nationwide who took part in the event, folks trekked to a participating McDonald's store from 6 AM to 7 AM, for their free breakfast treat via dine-in, take-out, and drive-thru.
The brand's most recent endorsers Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, popularly known as "AlDub", gave McMuffin sandwiches to customers in McDonald's Bluebay Walk, Pasay. Other celebrities who were present in different stores around the metro included Xian Lim, Enrique Gil, Janine Gutierrez, and a whole lot more.
Participating McDonald's stores nationwide further spread the morning cheer by giving 100 free McMuffin sandwiches to groups or organizations who are unable to enjoy a good breakfast because of their early or different work schedules like security guards, hospital staff, and public school teachers. And yes, the aforementioned fishermen.
Thanks McDonald's for the reminder to appreciate the folks who work ungodly hours. I will pray that they will be blessed with a hearty breakfast, make that three square meals, every day of their lives!
Let's Support the Green Footprints Movement!
Thanks to my Mom who has gone green decades ago, before "going green" was even a thing, I've been conscious about my household's environmental footprint.
We segregate our trash. Yes, even if my husband argues that the garbage guys will mix them all up anyway. I still push for it because at least, that's one household less work for the garbage guys.
I compost. In our tiny garden, I put compostable trash in a receptacle that I cover with soil. Yes, I have worms and all.
We use reusable bags and corrugated cartons when we pack our groceries and I refuse plastic and paper bags as much as I can.
When possible, my friends and our kids carpool. That's at least one car off the road.
I also have no qualms accepting and passing on hand me downs. I always tell my sisters and friends, there's nothing wrong with using pre-loved, ok fine, used items. Hindi kawawa yung kids, because they grow so fast anyway. What's the point in having too many clothes and shoes they can barely use?
Most of the furniture in our home are hand me downs from my Mom. Or we buy furniture from reclaimed wood, or wood that grows fast, like gmelina.
As much as possible, we use organic or natural based products at home. They tend to be a tad bit pricier, but so much better for the environment. Locally, I go for Zenutrients, Messy Bessy, Cradle, and Green Mama products. They are not expensive at all.
I also look for energy efficient appliances (check out the Meralco App which tells you how much energy you are consuming per appliance).
I also make sure our air conditioner is set to 25 degrees (except when its super hot, heehee), and we clean the filter monthly. We have professional cleaners service it at least quarterly. We also ensure that lights are switched off, and appliances are unplugged when not in use. Which also translates to cost savings on our electric bill.
When we build our own home, I'll make it a point to have solar panels, LED lights and use green materials. My parents installed a solar panel in their home, and my dad shares it is a lifesaver during brown outs. At the very least, they still have lights and hot water from their taps.
And yes, while I may come across as a shopaholic, I am in fact a proponent of thoughtful consumption. My friend Jen one time asked me, "Do you really buy everything you post on Instagram?" and I had to clarify, "Hindi! When I am out and I find something interesting that I want to remember, I take a picture and post it lang on IG." Hahaha.
Admittedly, there was a time when I felt the need to buy, buy, buy. But as I grew older, I realized that I can live with less. Quality over quantity. This applies to everything in life. Always.
The steps I've been taking towards green living are nothing grand or newspaper worthy, but I like to think that my drop in the bucket counts. I feel good doing my share, because I believe that every bit of action makes a difference.
So when leading air conditioning and refrigeration solutions provider Concepcion Industrial Corporation (CIC), through its subsidiary Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning Company (CCAC), recently launched The Green Footprints Movement, an advocacy that drives conversation about climate change and encourages us to go green, I threw my full support behind it.
"As the most encompassing environmental issue facing us today, climate change must be everyone's agenda" said CIC Chief Executive Officer Raul Joseph Concepcion.
"We want the public to be able to connect their everyday actions and decisions with its environmental impact," shared Harold Pernikar, Jr., CCAC Director and Head of the Consumer Solutions Group.
"Our goal is to provide the public with the knowledge of how they can make small, practical changes that will have significant effect on their own footprints, such as the responsible use of electricity and even making more sensible selections when it comes to the products they use in their homes," said Pernikar.
With Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Assistant Director Dr. Eva S. Ocfemia; celebrity host and World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature - Philippines National Ambassador Marc Nelson; Concepcion Industrial Corporation (CIC) Chief Executive Officer Raul Joseph A. Concepcion, Concepcion Industrial Corporation (CIC) Executive Vice President for Business Development Rafael C. Hechanova, Jr., and Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning Company (CCAC) Director and Head of Consumer Solutions Group Harold Pernikar, Jr.
With a long-standing commitment to the environment The Green Footprints Movement is a testament to CIC's long-standing commitment to the environment, by exercising responsible stewardship - cultivating a culture of sustainability within the company itself, and being mindful of their environmental impact, recycling, monitoring water and waste consumption, and setting goals to reduce their footprint year after year.
It was the first Philippine manufacturer to convert its refrigerators to use environment-friendly refrigerants back in 1995, and is once again leading the industry for its air conditioning solutions. "Ninety-six percent of our air conditioning products have already been converted to using environmentally responsive refrigerants, and we expect to make a 100% product conversion within the year," said Pernikar, who also shared that the switch is being made ahead of the global deadlines set by the Montreal Protocol, which established a timeline for the eventual elimination of ozone-depleting substances.
"With our collective actions, we hand over a better world for the generations to come." said Mr. Rafael C. Hechanova, Jr., Executive Vice President of Concepcion Industrial Corporation.
World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature - Philippines National Ambassador Marc Nelson shares that growing up in Australia, where they are close to the equator, and more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, their level of awareness about ozone depletion has been ingrained early on. This is also why he is an advocate of green living.
Which is true. When corporations, organizations, individuals, and the government work hand in hand towards sustainable living, we will create a significant impact towards creating a better, safer environment not only for our kids, but also for the generations to come.
Let's do it now. Time may be running out, but there is still time. Let's not waste it. That's a start.
As promised, I'm highlighting here three of our new finds from Fatty Brain Toys: Primary Lab Big Science Set, Super Sorting Pie and Gears Gears Gears! On The Move by Learning Resources.
These toys are proof that learning and fun can go hand in hand together. I usually get distracted when Berry forces (forces talaga haha) me to play with her dolls in a dollhouse, but it was a different experience altogether with these. I am pretty sure you will enjoy spending quality time playing and learning with your little ones with these toys as well.
Berry likes making potions using whatever she can get her hands on: my makeup (sadly she has no respect for Tom Ford lipsticks), alcohol, baby oil, water, nail polish, shampoo, conditioner, lotions - nothing is sacred.
So when Mona Ng of Fatty Brain Toys told me about their Primary Science Lab Set, I knew it was the perfect way to channel Berry's curiosity.
The Lab Set includes a beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, safety goggles, 1 large 6" test tube (with lid and stand), 2 small test tubes (with lids and stands), plus 10 Activity Cards.
The tools are perfectly sized for little hands, so they're easy to grasp. For extra safety, unlike the usual lab tools made from glass, these are non-breakable.
For days when we have hours of spare time, I whip out this set so they can do experiments, which is so much better than having them stay inside just watching YouTube videos the entire afternoon. Parents, you know what I mean?
Some of the experiments we've tried from the activity cards: making a Mini Volcano using baking soda and vinegar (this was fun! like the Hi 5 Bubble up volcano), getting old coins to shine using lemon juice (to be honest, it didn't work on our 25 centavo coins, baka better on American pennies talaga) and mixing oil and water (impossible to mix hehe!).
Part of our next batch of experiments this summer will be color mixing (once I buy food colouring from the grocery, I keep on forgetting), a smell test, and if we're brave, collecting bugs we can put in the test tubes. Gasp!
Well, I'm pretty sure Berry can think of more experiments that doesn't involve bugs, once we've exhausted all the experiments on the activity cards.
One thing is for certain, this Primary Lab Set is a winner. Berry feels like a real scientist when she plays with it. Even the boys want to play with it, shaking the fat test tubes with their little hands. Berry and Xavi love saying, "experiment! experiment!"
It ain't rated 5 stars on Amazon for nothing!
The Primary Science Lab Set is designed for children to discover, explore, and experiment with safe and fun products that encourage an early love of science and help foster the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills. It is ideal for ages 3 and up.
To be honest, I can't resist pies. Edible or otherwise. This Super Sorting Pie by Learning Resources looked like a winner, and I knew Xavi would love it as well. Especially since we're learning about colors, shapes and counting these days.
The small fruit counters and jumbo tweezers encourages our kids to strengthen fine motor skills and develop their pre-writing pincer grasp. The removal top crust doubles as a bowl to hold the fruit counters.
It also teaches our kids about colors and fruit shapes. The removable divider ensures the fruits don't spill into the other color section.
More importantly, it hones early math skills such as grouping, sorting, patterning, classifying objects, counting, learning greater than and less than, and understanding the relationship between numbers and quantity.
There are three double-sided sorting cards included, that fit in the bottom of the pie and provide visual cues to help our kids identify fruit shapes, colors, and numbers. So apart from sorting by color, they can sort by shape, or count, depending on what we will have them do.
A winner of 3 toy awards, you can't go wrong buying this at all.
I just need to keep the counters away from Tepper because I've caught him trying to pop one into his mouth. Told you, the fruits are irresistible. More so with curious little toddlers.
Includes 60 counters (7 fruits in 5 different colors), plastic pie plate with cover and removable divider, 3 double-sided sorting cards, 2 Jumbo Tweezers, and Activity Guide. Pie measures 8 3/4"D. Ideal for ages 3 and above.
While this is a bit too advanced for Xavi, it is never to early to introduce mechanical engineering concepts to him and Berry with this Gears! Gear! Gears! On the Move Building Set.
I have to warn you though, building the race car, airplane and motorcyle ain't easy. A 6 year old will need your help in putting it together even with the instruction booklet.
The upside? It makes for great quality time. We had to put our heads together to figure out how to build each vehicle. Definitely made my brain do some thinking, and taught me about perseverance, problem solving and critical thinking.
Speaking of creativity, there is no wrong way to build actually. The kids are free to design their own vehicle using the gears. We felt a sense of accomplishment seeing all those gears moving together, even with the motorcycle and air plane not yet even fully completed!
And here's our air plane!
We successfully built the motorcyle too, but I didn't have time to take a photo of the finished product because Xavi was too excited to build his own toy. Heehee.
This set can be used alone or with other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Ideal for ages 6 and above.
Fatty Brain Toys are available at Rustans Alabang, Makati, Shangri-la, Hobbes and Landes Greenbelt, Rockwell, Fort, Trinoma and Shangri-la, Dash Greenbelt, Fundamentals, Toy Kingdom Megamall, Aura, North Edsa. Mighty Mind is available at Mothercare Fort and Glorietta, National Bookstore Greenhills and Rockwell, and Fully Booked Fort.
This is just but a sampling of the toys we've discovered at Fatty Brain Toys. I still have plenty on my/our wishlist, actually, haha. If you would like to see the complete selection of educational toys from Fatty Brain Toys, please visit their Facebook page, Follow @fattybraintoys on Instagram or contact the following numbers below.
I've always wanted a pair of embroidered slippers from French Sole. There's something fancy yet boyish about it, which by now you'd know I'm a sucker for. A few weeks ago, I finally made a go for it, and I'm pretty sure many of you have also been wanting to do this.
Whenever I am at French Sole, I always find myself looking at this slipper, imagining my initials on it. But at Php19,000 a pair, it cannot be categorized under an impulse buy. I planned on saving the experience for a special occasion.
Knowing how long it takes to get these slippers embroidered, because they are made to order all the way in Spain, and with Mother's Day just a few weeks away, I estimated it was about time for this mother to get it.
So I finally braved asking the Sales Associate about their Monogram Slipper services. I was told it takes about 90 days from order to delivery. Of course, I was already decided, and definitely willing to wait.
STEP 2: Decide on your size.
After some discussion on the waiting time and an overview of how to personalize the slippers, I was asked what I size I wore. I told the SA that I wear a 6.5 in French Sole Henriettas.
I was given a pair of 6.5 and 7 to try on. The SA shares that most customers opt to go a half size up. Which is what I did. I went in the morning, when my feet hadn't expanded as much as it would in the afternoon. I figured I'd be better off with a 7, which while roomy, didn't fall of my feet.
STEP 3: Decide on the color.
This was easy. I wanted black slippers. They also have it in red, and will soon offer these in navy, but I figured, I'd still go for a classic black pair. It's more me.
STEP 4: Decide on the initials for the monogram, color of thread, font style and layout.
Font Color: Black, Red and Gold.
Layout: Single Serif, Double Serif, Overlap Serif, Single Script, Double Script and Overlap Script.
I decided I wanted my initials "CD" on each pair. I chose the thread in gold double script, so it has a clean, elegant feel. I can imagine it already. It's gonna look fantastic.
STEP 5: Putting it all down in paper.
Just to make sure they get everything right, I filled up this form with my contact details, and ticked out the boxes that summarized the size, initials, font color, font style and layout I wanted. Then I signed off it!
STEP 6: Pay. Then the waiting begins.
This is probably the most difficult part, the waiting! Heehee. I just need to wait for the store staff to call me once the shoes arrive, for me to pick up.
Note: It is up to you if you want to pay in full price, or pay half upon order and then pay the remaining half when you get the shoes from the store.
My pair should arrive sometime in May, hopefully in time for Mother's Day! I'll show you my shoes once I get them! Exciting! | {
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The Birds of the Arabian Peninsula' by Rob Sheldon, Chair OSME
February 18 2020 17.30 BST | Institute of Archaeology, UCL
Rob Sheldon has worked in nature conservation for almost 20 years, including 12 years with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). His interest in birds of the Arabian Peninsula stems from a one year student placement at the National Avian Research Centre in the United Arab Emirates in 1995/96. Most recently he has worked for the Zoological Society of London as the Director of the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre in Saudi Arabia. He has been a council member of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (OSME) since 2009, and is currently serving as Chairman. This talk will look at the varied and wonderful bird life of the Arabian Peninsula, including a number of endemic species that can be found nowhere else in the world.
Not available online.
Wadi al Jizzi Archaeological Project Study Season 2019
Traceological analysis of Paleolithic backed points from Dhofar: insights into South Arabian projectile technology
Ships' Timbers from the Islamic Site of Al Baleed: a case study of sewn-plank technology in the Indian Ocean
Dr Ekaterina Pukhovaia 'The Transformation of the Imamate in Yemen 1200-1800'
Tweets by IASArabia
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Payment may be made by cheque, standing order, bank transfer or via PayPal. Sterling cheques should be made payable to The International Association for the Study of Arabia. Payment by standing order, which greatly simplifies our administration, can bemade by members with a UK bank account to: International Association for the Study ofArabia, Co-Operative Bank, Sort Code: 08-92-99, Account No. 65569832. Transferpayments from outside the UK can be made using Swift: CPBKGB22 and IBAN: GB35 CPBK 0892 9965 5698 32.
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Please pay the sum of £ 30.00 now and annually on January 6th until further notice to the account of: The International Association for the Study of Arabia, Cooperative Bank PLC, 29 High Street, Durham County Durham DH1 3PL, Sort code 08-92-99, Account No. 65569832.
Please note: This supersedes any other payment instruction by me for the account of the Society for Arabian Studies or the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia.
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If you are paying by cheque, please forward this form with your payment to: Mr Simon Alderson, Honorary Treasurer, IASA, 27 Findon Hill, Sacriston, County Durham DH7 6LS.
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Enquiries: [email protected] | {
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If you have password-protected a note and can't remember the password is there a workaround?
I have mine set up with Touch ID. Did you happen to set that up?
You can't without the password or Touch ID. You can reset the password, but that doesn't give access to the locked note.
Tap Reset Notes Password again.
Save password in 1Password, Keychain or somewhere safe.
It's odd because some locked notes ask for a password and some ask for Touch ID. Not sure why.
I just went into settings>notes>password and was able to reset the password.
robertk328 and Annie_8plus like this.
I think the ones that ask for a password was created with a Mac.
PSSST: Have you downloaded iOS 11 Dev Beta 4?
How to promote iOS game? | {
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Lifestyle / TV
First photo as cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral return for Red Nose Day
by Press Association
The cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral reunite (Greg Williams/PA)
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The cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral are reunited 25 years on in the first photo from the film's Red Nose Day revival.
The well-loved romantic comedy is being resurrected by writer Richard Curtis for the 2019 edition of the BBC fundraiser.
One Red Nose Day And A Wedding will catch up with the film's characters, directed by Mike Newell, who made the 1994 original.
Richard Curtis, Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott-Thomas, John Hannah and Duncan Kenworthy (Sean Dempsey/PA)
Andie MacDowell takes centre stage as Carrie in a purple dress.
Hugh Grant, fresh from his acclaimed performance as Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe in A Very English Scandal, looks dapper in a grey suit, while Rowan Atkinson returns as Father Gerald.
Four Weddings And A Funeral followed Charles – played by a young Grant – searching for and eventually finding happiness with his American love interest Carrie, played by MacDowell.
The short film will also feature James Fleet, David Haig, Sophie Thompson, David Bower, Robin McCaffrey, Rupert Vansittart, Simon Kunz, Sara Crowe and Timothy Walker.
It follows the success of Red Nose Day Actually, a short sequel to Love Actually, which premiered on Red Nose Day in 2017.
The new film will air on BBC One on Friday March 15.
One Red Nose Day And A Weddding | {
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HomeBARMay/June 2011
Biblical Archaeology Review 37:3, May/June 2011
ReViews: Plan a Biblical Trip to Turkey or Jordan
Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan: A Literary and Archaeological Guide
By Burton MacDonald (Oxford and Oakville: Oxbow, 2010) 252 pp., $29.95 (paperback)
Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor
By Mark Wilson (Istanbul: Ege Yayinlari, 2010) 395 pp., $39.95 (paperback)
Biblical Turkey and Christian Jordan are not terms in common currency. Yet these two guidebooks convincingly demonstrate that their titles are entirely justified. The adjectives also hint that these guides are selective. MacDonald does not treat all Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan, but only those that have a Biblical basis and have been excavated. Wilson casts his net more widely and covers all Turkish cities, regions, provinces and natural features mentioned in any document from the Old Testament through the New Testament to the Apostolic Fathers. | {
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} |
I never get tired of calling out the mainstream media. Its reporters give us steeply slanted stories and we're supposed to believe they are fair and objective. A recent AP piece–not marked by Yahoo! as commentary or analysis–defends President Obama against the "socialist" label while simultaneously slapping down conservatives.
The article's language allows the writer to circuitously vent his disdain for Obama critics. In his prose, they "pounce," "slur," and "denigrate." Other words color the tone for us: contention, epithet, shock value, nonsense, insult.
He weaves quotes from academic experts. One proclaims he is "weary" of the socialist label. Another points to a "hysterical outbreak of abuse" and "animosity" coming from a "certain segment of Americans." In other words, racist bigots are saying bad things about the President.
Besides saturating his article with inflammatory language, the writer gets smarmy by informing the reader that it was a socialist who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. He faults Obama critics for missing a strict definition of socialism, but goes on to quote and mention people who do not fit the bill he uses.
As written, this purported news story is just a string of unsubstantiated quotes and couched words meant to take conservatives down a notch. But this patronizing corrective is not the first. I remember NPR running a piece like this just prior to election day 2008. For years now mainstream journalists have been meticulously removing criticism from the President as if they were remora eels attached to the belly of a giant, lumbering whale. Hopefully a one-term whale.
These nominally non-ideological reporters work in tandem with analysts and commentators who are open about their Left/liberal leanings. E.J. Dionne is among the more effective of this clean-up crew. Whether in his weekly sparring with David Brooks or on the talk radio circuit promoting his new book, Dionne often comes across as sharp, earnest, and even magnanimous. For many in the political middle that could be swayed, his style threatens to give credence to his thesis that conservatives have moved radically rightward, abandoning what he calls a traditional balance between private and public, individual and community. Never mind that he conflates government with community or that families, churches, and civic associations don't neatly fit into his talking points. For some swing voters, tone and presentation will matter more than substance.
Anyone who wants to stave off the misfortune of another four years of Barack Obama and his liberal, Leftist, progressive, and Democratic friends should consider carefully how they're talking about him. "Socialist" may be a cogent term that energizes the base, but it will turn off at least a few independents who are paying attention.
What I'm suggesting is not the abandonment of principle but getting fancy with footwork. In conversations that count, identify the common ground and frame the choice in those terms: personal responsibility, the dangers of centralization, or whatever it may be. Make it clear that even if Obama and Democrats don't satisfy some strict definition of "socialist," it is a distinction without a difference.
We don't need to renounce our partisanship like mainstream journalists do; it's better to confess rather than suppress your bias. But beyond the statistics, labels, and gotchas that get thrown about, we must connect the dots, clearly articulating why it is we believe what we believe.
The problem with the word "socialist" is that it is used to describe a variety of political positions, all of which may have something in common — DO have something in common — but which are distinct nonetheless.
There still exist old-fashioned socialists who believe in the more-or-less complete socialization — state-ization — of almost all of the economy. Some of these people believe that such a transformation cannot come about without violent revolution; others see it happening peacefully (and within the latter category, some see it happening incrementally, others not).
Then there are the European Social Democrats of old, who certainly wanted the nationalization of the "commanding heights" of industry, very high taxation on incomes so as to achieve wealth redistribution, and socialization of as many human concerns — such as healthcare — as possible.
These people have retreated a long way from their original views, impelled by economic realities. Even the Swedes were forced to admit market forces to a number of areas they had tried to socialize completely. (They have a freer education system than the Americans.) They no longer want explicitly to kill the capitalist goose that lays the eggs on which their welfare state has been built.
Since explicit socialism is no longer a conscious goal of these people, does it make sense to still call them socialists? It's not a dirty word in Europe, the way it is in America, and they don't generally mind being called "socialists," since the word in Europe has come to be associated with (grudging) acceptance of the (regulated and taxed) market, which is a long way from the original ideal and goal of socialism.
But "socialist" in the US still carries the sense of someone who wants an economy completely owned by the state. Is this Obama's clandestine goal?
I doubt it. Rather, Obama is, as Charles Krauthammer said, not a "socialist" in any meaningful sense of the word, but rather our first "post-American" President: someone who wants to make the US like Europe, or, more specifically, like the Europe that the European Social Democrats would like to see.
We can argue about whether this is desirable, or even possible — would Swedish levels of welfare turn Chicago public housing residents into hard-working Swedes? — and that's the sort of argument we should be having, not a semantic argument about the extent of Obama's "socialism".
As the Cogitating Duck has said, an important part of our political task in the next period is winning over independents. The more we sound like paranoid conspiracy theorists == and let's face it, there ARE some paranoid conspiracy theorists on the Right — , the harder that will be.
Pingback: Bookworm Room » Conservative academics — they do exist! | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
Dennis wanted to know what immigrants were most thankful for about life in America. The first thought that came to my mind was liberty, the liberty to talk about issues that affect our lives, the liberty to criticize our politicians and government without fearing being arrested for doing it. In Malaysia there is no talk show like Dennis', on the radio or TV.
In Malaysia the air waves are mostly controlled by the government. The few that are private have to self censor themselves in order to keep their licenses.
I am thankful to be living in this country, not perfect, but still plenty to be thankful for. I am thankful for my loving family, for the home that we have, for our health that allows us to make a gainful living. I am indeed thankful for all of God's blessings.
My Thanksgiving turkey. I used Jamie Oliver's recipe.
The grub at the Thanksgiving meal.
The menu: Turkey, roast beef, green beans and asparagus, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, potato casserole, baked oysters, champagne and pumpkin pie.
During one of my visit to Malaysia, I heard in a Chinese radio program, where people called in to express their political view. They even invited two politicians, one from MCA and one from DAP. I was very interesting.
Bee Ean, the radio program you heard, see who the people were discussing politics? Politicians!! You think the radio station dare (esp if RTM) to put up the ordinary folks taken off the streets? If they do, it'll only those they think are acceptable to viewers and the those in power!
As to talking politics with one another, that is allowed in Malaysia. But you think you can call into a radio program and start ranting there? Or write to the editor of a newspaper and start criticizing every politician? Those who do dare criticize only do it on online forums or independent news site like Malaysia Today. Do you know how many times the government has tried to shut him (Raja Petra of Malaysia Today) down? Taken him in for questioning at the police station?
Not all students are interested in politics. Those that you see in France, and elsewhere are the really radical ones. Those who know the law, usually protest legally and without resorting to breaking property and hurting people.
No, after living in the US and knowing what it means to have the 1st Amendment (freedom of political speech was the intended meaning of that amendment), I find it hard to go back to a country and accept the "paternalistic" style of governing - where corruption is swept under the rug, where dissenters and political foes are locked away in Kamunting, where the judiciary is not totally indenpendent.
Many people don't want to rock the boat, as long as they can continue to make a living, they are happy to leave things be.
So how's the railway strike affecting you? Last I heard the strike is ending. Sarkozy may have his way yet. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
Q: Current image flickers back after fade out in javascript carousel I am building a image carousel with fade in/out animation with javascript and jquery.
Before the next images fades in, the current image shows up briefly although it's faded out. This happens even though I use onload to make sure the next image is loaded and sized properly.
(The live code is: www.jbkphotographs.com/nepal.html)
function moveToNextImg(){
if(current === imgArray.length-1){
current = 0;
}
else{
current++;
}
updateIndex();
//#imgWrapper is <div> that contains <img>
$("#imgWrapper").fadeOut("slow",loadImg);
}
function loadImg(){
imgName = imgArray[current].getAttribute("src");
nextImg.src = imgName.replace("_Thumb","");
nextImg.id = "currentImg";
nextImg.onload = function(){
if((nextImg.height) > (nextImg.width)){
nextImg.style.width = "42.5%"
}
else{
nextImg.style.width = '750px';
}
imgWrapper.appendChild(nextImg);
}
$("#imgWrapper").fadeIn("slow");
}
A: I saw it. You have that effects befause you are fading in the image before it has been loaded.
a) You should preload the images , before sliding to have the fadein
fadeout effect
b) Otherwise put the fade in effect in the onload
callback of the images:
function moveToNextImg(){
if(current === imgArray.length-1){
current = 0;
} else {
current++;
}
updateIndex();
//#imgWrapper is <div> that contains <img>
$("#imgWrapper").fadeOut("slow",loadImg);
}
function loadImg(){
imgName = imgArray[current].getAttribute("src");
nextImg.src = imgName.replace("_Thumb","");
nextImg.id = "currentImg";
//This code will run only when images will be loaded
nextImg.onload = function(){
if((nextImg.height) > (nextImg.width)){
nextImg.style.width = "42.5%"
}
else{
nextImg.style.width = '750px';
}
imgWrapper.appendChild(nextImg);
$("#imgWrapper").fadeIn("slow");
}
//any code here will run immediately before the onload runs
}
| {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaStackExchange"
} |
To explain the reporting from Yahoo Taiwan today.
3.Content of the report: The title of the Yahoo Taiwan reported regarding "3G hTc Touch obtaining orders from 5 countries in Europe."
5.Company's explanation of the reportage or provided information: The company will start "3G hTc Touch Dual" shipment to major operators of European countries from 2007 Q4. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
While patient safety is the number one concern when dealing with complaints around physician competence, hospital administrators must carefully weigh complex interests to avoid a host of serious repercussions, says Toronto health lawyer Kate Dewhirst.
"Hospitals must be measured and acknowledge that these kinds of complaints can have serious negative impacts on someone's reputation and ability to practise, their income and relationships with other members of the team," she tells AdvocateDaily.com. "You also have the interests of the health organization because if you have issues around a physician's competency, that reflects on the hospital and you have to balance its duty to maintain its own reputation. It's a third consideration after patient safety and the physician."
Dewhirst, principal at Kate Dewhirst Health Law, says hospitals – particularly in small communities – must also look at whether there's another physician who can continue to provide the service if the doctor facing the complaint is removed from service.
"That could also have a negative impact on patient care in that surgeries may have to be delayed and procedures and appointments may need to be rebooked," she says.
Dewhirst says allegations of physician incompetence is one of the most complicated issues hospital managers have to deal with because it can be challenging at first to determine whether a complaint has merit.
"Sorting out whether a complaint has merit can be complicated and technical. The hospital has to sort out whether the physician is operating within an acceptable range of a standard of care practice," she says.
Dewhirst says the issue around physician competence is made more complex by the fact that doctors are, for the most part, considered independent contractors and not employees of the hospital. Their relationship is one of privileges in Ontario, as set out in the Public Hospitals Act.
"And when there is a concern about a physician's practice and it reaches a level of seriousness that involves the hospital imposing a restriction, suspension or revocation of privileges, then the Public Hospitals Act kicks in and there's a series of rights that attach to a physician in that case," she says. "As well, the hospital bylaws will kick in and there are certain actions that have to happen if you're going to restrict, suspend or revoke somebody's privileges."
Sometimes that determination can be done internally, but often it means hiring an external reviewer and, either way, the process can take time, she says.
"There is the added pressure of any delay because of the impact on all of those stakeholders," she says.
While a hospital may place an employee on paid leave until the complaint is reviewed, it's not the case with a physician, says Dewhirst.
"The physician is responsible for her practice and if there's going to be a suspension, the physician may not have any income during that period of time," she says.
Dewhirst says that while these issues don't come up frequently, she gives advice to hospitals across Ontario on managing these kinds of situations. She provides hospital administrators some general tips on how to deal with such matters.
As a first step, it's important to get all of the facts to have a clear record of what has happened in the past and for the complaint at hand. She says it's important to have all of the facts because if it's more of a longstanding issue, more serious action may be necessary, she says.
"If it's a first instance, management may have to take action that is more instructional and educational in nature," she says.
The second step is to look at the gravity of the situation.
"In cases where the complaints, if proven to be true, would put patient safety at imminent risk, then urgent action and significant steps need to be taken," she says.
Thirdly, she says it's important that hospitals are fair, responsive and take complaints seriously.
Fourthly, administrators must know the legal framework, as well as follow their responsibilities and obligations under the Public Hospitals Act, the Regulated Health Professions Act and other legislation that pertains to the situation.
"They can't just act unilaterally on a gut instinct on what they think is the right thing to do – there is a formal process that has to be followed if you are going to engage in any of these three actions: restrict, suspend or revoke privileges," says Dewhirst. "Then there's also case law that directs the rights physicians have in these circumstances."
Part of that legal responsibility is mandatory reporting to a regulatory college if they suspend, restrict or revoke privileges, she says.
And fifthly, Dewhirst says it's important for the hospital to consult with a lawyer about the circumstances.
"Once a hospital gets to that level of taking action, it really must have legal advice because it is so complex and if it's done improperly, there can be significant financial consequences in terms of litigation by the physician," she says. "There can also be other consequences to reputation and relationships."
Dewhirst pointed to the Rosenhek case, in which a judge awarded a physician about $3 million in damages.
"Hospitals should also act proportionally to the situation so even though the circumstances in which these arise can evoke emotional responses, the key for chiefs of staff who are acting is that they have to bring to bear an objective perspective and a methodology in what can be chaotic and emotional circumstances," she says. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
require 'test_helper'
require File.dirname(__FILE__)+'/../../vendor/plugins/facebooker/lib/facebooker/rails/test_helpers.rb'
class PhotosControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
include Facebooker::Rails::TestHelpers
def test_should_get_index_for_facebook
facebook_get :index
assert_response :success
assert_not_nil assigns(:photos)
end
def test_should_get_new_for_facebook
facebook_get :new
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_create_photo_for_facebook
assert_difference('Photo.count') do
facebook_post :create, :photo => { }
end
assert_facebook_redirect_to photo_path(assigns(:photo))
end
def test_should_show_photo_for_facebook
facebook_get :show, :id => photos(:one).id
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_get_edit_for_facebook
facebook_get :edit, :id => photos(:one).id
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_update_photo_for_facebook
facebook_put :update, :id => photos(:one).id, :photo => { }
assert_facebook_redirect_to photo_path(assigns(:photo))
end
def test_should_destroy_photo_for_facebook
assert_difference('Photo.count', -1) do
facebook_delete :destroy, :id => photos(:one).id
end
assert_facebook_redirect_to photos_path
end
def test_should_get_index
get :index
assert_response :success
assert_not_nil assigns(:photos)
end
def test_should_get_new
get :new
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_create_photo
assert_difference('Photo.count') do
post :create, :photo => { }
end
assert_redirected_to photo_path(assigns(:photo))
end
def test_should_show_photo
get :show, :id => photos(:one).id
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_get_edit
get :edit, :id => photos(:one).id
assert_response :success
end
def test_should_update_photo
put :update, :id => photos(:one).id, :photo => { }
assert_redirected_to photo_path(assigns(:photo))
end
def test_should_destroy_photo
assert_difference('Photo.count', -1) do
delete :destroy, :id => photos(:one).id
end
assert_redirected_to photos_path
end
end
| {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaGithub"
} |
Rapha's Commuter Jacket continues its reputation for understated style in the urban cycling market. However, don't let that name fool you too much. Yes, it's a relaxed, flattering and very effective waterproof. But other qualities often associated with modern urban cycling outer layers – such as breathability, insulation and even visibility – are in short supply.
It's easy to caricature Rapha as an entity that exists only to indulge the pretensions of well-funded nouveau road cyclists. However, the brand has done a pretty impressive job of spreading its wings beyond that relatively small market. This Commuter Jacket is a case in point. It's a fairly simple, straightforward rain jacket designed for the urban cyclist, with a price tag that doesn't seem excessive by either Rapha's standards or even those set by other examples of on-trend urban cycle clothing.
As it happened, my review sample Commuter Jacket arrived in a parcel alongside four other more general use jackets – two from Fat Lad At The Back and two from Proviz – and it was quickly obvious that the Rapha had the most appealing fit by an urban mile. You might not be overawed initially: in the soft Rapha-branded packet it looks just like a simple weatherproof jacket. However, put it on, and you'll find it is really flattering.
So the fit is excellent and the price seems OK, what about the performance? Here's where things take a turn. Because not only does it look just like a simple waterproof jacket, that's also how it performs.
According to Rapha, the jacket is manufactured from '2.5 layer fabric with waterproof membrane'. Combine this with the welted zip pockets and Aquaguard waterproof zip and there's no way any rain is going to slip by to get at you. But put too much effort in on the bike and you'll be more than capable of creating self-inflicted dampness because there's next to no breathability, with only a 'dry touch print' and a bit of mesh under a vent on the upper back to help deal with perspiration.
With no further lining of any kind, it's also not particularly warm or insulating, so you're going to need layers. Funnily enough, Rapha points out: 'Jacket fits large to accommodate layers, we recommend you size down,' which I can't quite get my head around – that seems to be akin to Spinal Tap's 'this one goes up to 11' logic.
It also has a slightly irritating rubbery feel to the inside surface and in the pockets. Because it looks so good, I've been wearing the Commuter Jacket a lot off the bike and I like to put my hands in my pockets. But each time I do, I experience a variation of the old 'fingernails-on-blackboard' kind of sensation.
That flattering fit off the bike also translates to being a perfect fit for riding. Arm length is very good; the cuffs are sufficiently secure to form a nice barrier between you and the elements; and the rear flap is deep enough to cover your lower back, but not so long that it screams 'cyclist!' when strolling down civvy street.
Although this is not a product overloaded with novelties, there are a few added extras. As I've mentioned, there are a couple of zipped side pockets, and a neat reflective retention strap is provided to help stow the hood away when it's not needed. (I'm not convinced by it myself and have tended to leave the hood out.) And the waterproof front zip is offset and really does keep your chin from chafing – although if you're the kind of person who likes things to be straight and level, it might just keep you up at night. Also, though I've had no problems, the zip feels just a little too delicate in use. The handy ring-shaped pull works well, though.
Finally, one last criticism is visibility. In addition to this black version, the jacket is also available in suitably brightly coloured yellow (officially called 'chartreuse'), bright orange, or high-vis pink, which will all help to keep you seen during daytime. But when the light goes out, you've only got some subtle reflective dots on the rear flap, and they aren't massively effective compared with the reflective elements found on other brands' jackets.
As regards value, at first glance £100 looks pretty good for something that... looks pretty good, but performance-wise it faces some competition at this price. It's cheaper than the Altura Nightvision Thunderstorm Jacket, but not as rounded in terms of being a complete practical product. And if looks matter less to you, the £75 Proviz Nightrider jacket offers impressive weatherproofing and breathability, and of course visibility, plus £25 in your pocket.
Despite the criticisms, this Rapha Commuter Jacket is still a very enticing waterproof layer. But rather than being a hi-tech modern commuting jacket, in many respects it's more an 'urban rain cape deluxe'. As long as you go into any purchase knowing its only two talents are to keep you looking good while being unaffected by wet weather, that £100 is just about acceptable.
It's a waterproof outer layer aimed at commuters and urban cyclists.
Rapha says: "The definitive jacket for riding to work in wet conditions, the Commuter Jacket is designed specifically for the journey. Cut with a less extreme riding position than our other waterproof jackets, the Commuter is made of a durable yet lightweight fabric with a hydrophobic membrane. All seams are sealed to prevent any water ingress and the inside of the fabric features a dry touch print to keep you comfortable even if you break a sweat. An integrated mesh back yoke provides additional breathability around the collar. The jacket features a full length waterproof zip, off-centre to prevent irritation against your chin, and a hood which can be worn underneath a helmet in a downpour. When not in use, the hood is neatly stowed with a reflective retention strap for visibility. To ensure you stay seen, the jacket also features a reflective gradient dot print on the tail, designed to sit beneath a backpack and in the eyeline of motorists. For extra protection against the weather, the jacket's elasticated hem and subtle integrated hood drawcord can be adjusted while internal storm binding keep water out at the cuffs."
No faulting the way it's made, although the fabric could have better technical abilities.
Excellent as a pure waterproof. Not so good at keeping you free from sweat-induced dampness.
Looks fine, although the main zip seems a little delicate.
Gets very moist inside very quickly.
Other than being confused by Rapha's suggestion people should size down, sizing seems to be just right.
Not bad at all. Feels substantial but not heavy.
Fit was good, but the feel of the rubbery inner surface of the jacket is a bit irritating.
Not bad value... for Rapha, but not great value for a 'rain cape' that doesn't breathe, no matter how nice it looks.
Easy to wash – stick it in the washing machine at 30 degrees then let it drip dry.
Great at keeping the rain out. Not so good if you start exerting yourself.
It's cheaper than the Altura Nightvision Thunderstorm Jacket, but not as rounded in terms of being a complete practical product.
Would you consider buying the jacket? Probably not.
I found this very hard to score, because while the Commuter Jacket is so good at two things – stopping the rain reaching you, and making you look good – its flaws regarding breathability, warmth retention and even night-time visibility are significant, too.
So, Rapha have made a standard boil in the bag cyclocommuter jacket. The kind of thing that you think is essential when you first purchase a bike. Easy way to make some money, the newbies will be loving it none the less.
So it's a cycling jacket that isn't much good for cycling?
are Rapha losing their way a bit generally? The range gets bigger and bigger, but not sure that anything is getting better.
Definitely losing their way. Only £100?! Far too cheap.
are Rapha losing their way a bit generally?
Yes. Having previously engaged in Rapha-archive-sale-whore behaviour, I've now discovered that Castelli's gear is just better.
For a little less, you can get a Berghaus jacket in superior Gore-Tex from Millets.
I've been wearing mine for commuting and it works a treat. Sleeves are nice and long and I don't arrive at the office drenched in sweat.
Agreed, generic outdoor gear often cheaper for better functionality if you are just comutting - TK Maxx has been good to me for commute kit over the years. Means your best kit lasts longer, is clearner and it feels like a treat to put it on on the weekend. And people are less inclined to want to beat you all costs on the Embankment cycleway jusr because you are wearing proper cycling kit (sigh).
Are you a Rapha fan boy by any chance? | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
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Don't like the clothes rooms to study and prepare materials and radiant smile that immediately makes people smile in return. Are a lot agree that nowadays there enjoy their. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
NBC followed up on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's diplomacy with Syria last week in Egypt. Richard Engel looked into the Secretary's claims that Syria is the conduit for guerrillas and terrorists to enter Iraq. At official border crossings, Engel confirmed, "counterfeit passports are readily available on the black market" and it is easy to sneak across elsewhere since the line is often demarcated by nothing more than a berm.
As for Damascus itself, no entry visa is required for anyone from the Arab World and militants can "blend in among Iraqi refugees." Engel found support for Baathist anti-US sentiment--including a nightclub which features songs in praise of Saddam Hussein--but none for the al-Qaeda variety, which is "stirring sectarian tension." Ann Curry of NBC's Today sat down with President Bashar al-Assad, who insisted that he had deported 1,600 Lebanese al-Qaeda militants. She asked whether the government of Syria supports the insurgency against the government of Iraq: "This is a false allegation. This is devoid of logic. Again, how can I work against myself?" the president insisted. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
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Supplier Personnel
means all employees, officers, staff, other workers, agents and consultants of the Supplier and any of their sub-contractors who are engaged in the performance of the Services from time to time;
means value added tax under the Value Added Taxes Act 1994 or any other similar sale or fiscal tax applying to the sale of the Services;
In these Conditions, unless the context requires otherwise:
a reference to the Contract includes these Conditions and their respective schedules, appendices and annexes (if any);
any clause, schedule or other headings in these Conditions is included for convenience only and shall have no effect on the interpretation of the Conditions;
a reference to a 'party' includes that party's personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns;
a reference to a 'person' includes a natural person, corporate or unincorporated body (in each case whether or not having separate legal personality) and that person's personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns;
a reference to a 'company' includes any company, corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established;
a reference to a gender includes each other gender;
words in the singular include the plural and vice versa;
any words that follow 'include', 'includes', 'including', 'in particular' or any similar words and expressions shall be construed as illustrative only and shall not limit the sense of any word, phrase, term, definition or description preceding those words;
a reference to 'writing' or 'written' includes any method of reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form;
a reference to legislation is a reference to that legislation as in force at the date of the Contract OR amended, extended, re-enacted or consolidated from time to time except to the extent that any such amendment, extension or re-enactment would increase or alter the liability of a party under the Contract;
a reference to legislation includes all subordinate legislation made as at the date of the Contract OR from time to time under that legislation; and
a reference to any English action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, court, official, legal document, legal status, legal doctrine, legal concept or thing shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than England, be deemed to include a reference to that which most nearly approximates to the English equivalent in that jurisdiction.
Application of these conditions
These Conditions apply to and form part of the Contract between the Supplier and the Customer. They supersede any previously issued terms and conditions of purchase or supply.
No terms or conditions endorsed on, delivered with, or contained in the Customer's purchase conditions, order, confirmation of order, specification or other document shall form part of the Contract except to the extent that the Supplier otherwise agrees in writing.
No variation of these Conditions or to an Order or to the Contract shall be binding unless expressly agreed in writing and executed by a duly authorised signatory on behalf of each of the Supplier and the Customer respectively.
Each Order by the Customer to the Supplier shall be an offer to purchase Services subject to the Contract including these Conditions.
If the Supplier is unable to accept an Order, it shall notify the Customer as soon as reasonably practicable.
The offer constituted by an Order shall remain in effect and be capable of being accepted by the Supplier for 14 Business Days from the date on which the Customer submitted the Order, after which time it shall automatically lapse and be withdrawn.
The Supplier may accept or reject an Order at its discretion. An Order shall not be accepted, and no binding obligation to supply any Services shall arise, until the earlier of:
the Supplier's written acceptance of the Order; or
the Supplier performing the Services or notifying the Customer that they are ready to be performed (as the case may be).
Rejection by the Supplier of an Order, including any communication that may accompany such rejection, shall not constitute a counter-offer capable of acceptance by the Customer.
The Supplier may issue quotations to the Customer from time to time. Quotations are invitations to treat only. They are not an offer to supply Services and are incapable of being accepted by the Customer.
Marketing and other promotional material relating to the Services are illustrative only and do not form part of the Contract.
The Price for the services shall:-
be as advised by the Supplier upon attendance at the Location providing that the quantity of waste to be removed is immediately evident upon attendance;
be as advised by the Supplier once the extent of the waste to be removed is clear;
be determined by the loading time and weight of the waste to be removed. Should performance of the Services exceed the original estimated loading times or the waste exceed the original estimated weight at the time the Price is advised then the Customer will be charged accordingly at £50 per additional hour and 0.22 pence per additional kilo.
The Prices are exclusive of:
Insurance, and all other related charges or taxes or describe relevant elements of the services which are not included in the standard price which shall be charged in addition at the Supplier's standard rates, and
VAT (or equivalent sales tax).
The Customer shall pay any applicable VAT to the Supplier on receipt of a valid VAT invoice.
The Supplier may increase the Prices with immediate effect by verbal notice to the Customer where there is an increase in the direct cost to the Supplier of supplying the relevant Services and which is due to any factor beyond the control of the Supplier.
The Supplier shall invoice the Customer for the Services in full upon completion of provision of the Services included in the Order.
The Customer shall pay a deposit of £ 25 plus VAT prior to the Supplier attending at the Location if the location is within 10 miles of the Supplier and £40 plus VAT if over 10 miles away. The balance of all invoices shall be paid in full by the Customer to the Supplier's Personnel upon completion of the Services and prior to the Supplier's Personnel leaving the Location:
to the bank account nominated by the Supplier or to the Supplier's Personnel direct.
Time of payment is of the essence. The Supplier's Personnel will be unable to leave the Location until payment has been made and confirmed.
The deposit paid by the Customer shall be forfeited should:
the Customer cancel the Order
the Supplier be unable to provide the Services upon attending the Location for whatever reason.
The Services shall be performed by the Supplier at the Location on the date/(s) agreed with the Customer.
The Services shall be deemed performed on completion of the performance of the Services as specified by the Customer.
The Supplier may perform the Services in instalments. Any delay or defect in an instalment shall not entitle the Customer to cancel any other instalment.
Time of performance of the Services is not of the essence. The Supplier shall use its reasonable endeavours to meet estimated dates for performance, but any such dates are indicative only.
When the Supplier attends at the Location to provide the Services:
the waste to be removed should be outside and ready for collection.
should the Customer be unable to comply with paragraph 6.5.1 then the Supplier may enter the Location however this will be at the Customer's risk and the Supplier shall not be responsible or liable for any damages.
the Supplier will only work in a safe environment. If any of the Supplier's Personnel become aware of or suspect there to be any asbestos, hazardous waste or toxic substances at the Location which may place them or the general public at risk they will follow HSE guidelines and be unable to complete the performance of the Services.
The Supplier shall not be liable for any delay in or failure of performance caused by:
the Customer's failure to make the Location available;
the Customer's failure to prepare the Location in accordance with the Supplier's instructions OR as required for the performance of the Services;
the Customer's failure to provide the Supplier with adequate instructions for performance or otherwise relating to the Services;
Any waste removed from the Location by the Supplier prior to cessation of the Services, for the reasons referred to in clause 6, shall be chargeable to the Customer.
The Supplier warrants that, at the time of performance, the Services shall:
conform in all material respects to their description;
be supplied with reasonable care and skill within the meaning of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, Part II s 13; and
The Customer warrants that it has provided the Supplier with all relevant, full and accurate information as to the Customer's business and needs.
As the Customer's sole and exclusive remedy, the Supplier shall, at its option, remedy, re-perform or refund the Services that do not comply with clause 7.1, provided that:
the Customer serves a written notice on the Supplier not later than five Business Days from performance in the case of defects discoverable by a physical inspection; and
such notice specifies that some or all of the Services do not comply with clause 7.1 and identifies in sufficient detail the nature and extent of the defects; and
the Customer gives the Supplier a reasonable opportunity to examine the claim of the defective Services.
The provisions of these Conditions shall apply to any Services that are remedied or re-performed with effect from performance of the remedied or re-performed Services.
Except as set out in this clause 7:
the Supplier gives no warranties and makes no representations in relation to the Services; and
shall have no liability for their failure to comply with the warranty in clause 7.1,
and all warranties and conditions (including the conditions implied by ss 12–16 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982), whether express or implied by statute, common law or otherwise are excluded to the extent permitted by law.
Indemnity and insurance
The Customer shall indemnify, and keep indemnified, the Supplier from and against any losses, damages, liability, costs (including legal fees) and expenses incurred by the Supplier as a result of or in connection with the Customer's breach of any of the Customer's obligations under the Contract.
The Customer shall have in place contracts of insurance with reputable insurers incorporated in the United Kingdom or another country by agreement in writing with the Supplier to cover its obligations under these Conditions. On request, the Customer shall supply, so far as is reasonable, evidence of the maintenance of the insurance and all of its terms from time to time applicable. The Customer shall on request assign to the Supplier the benefit of such insurance.
The extent of the parties' liability under or in connection with the Contract (regardless of whether such liability arises in tort, contract or in any other way and whether or not caused by negligence or misrepresentation) shall be as set out in this clause 9.
Subject to clauses 9.5 and 9.6, the Supplier's total liability shall not exceed the sum of £[insert].
Subject to clauses 9.5 and 9.6, the Supplier shall not be liable for consequential, indirect or special losses.
Subject to clauses 9.5 and 9.6, the Supplier shall not be liable for any of the following (whether direct or indirect):
loss of profit;
loss or corruption of data;
loss of use;
loss of production;
loss of contract;
loss of opportunity;
loss of savings, discount or rebate (whether actual or anticipated);
harm to reputation or loss of goodwill;
loss due to disposal of waste which the Supplier's Personnel have been instructed by the Customer to remove from the Location.
The limitations of liability set out in clauses 9.2 to 9.4 shall not apply in respect of any indemnities given by either party OR the Customer under the Contract.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Contract, the liability of the parties shall not be limited in any way in respect of the following:
death or personal injury caused by negligence;
fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
any other losses which cannot be excluded or limited by Applicable Law;
any losses caused by wilful misconduct.
Neither party shall have any liability under or be deemed to be in breach of the Contract for any delays or failures in performance of the Contract which result from Force Majeure. The party subject to the Force Majeure event shall promptly notify the other party in writing when such the event causes a delay or failure in performance and when it ceases to do so. If the Force Majeure event continues for a continuous period of more than seven days, either party may terminate the Contract by written notice to the other party.
The Supplier may terminate the Contract or any other contract which it has with the Customer at any time by giving notice in writing to the Customer if:
the Customer commits a material breach of Contract and such breach is not remediable;
the Customer commits a material breach of the Contract which is capable of being remedied and such breach is not remedied within 14 days of receiving written notice of such breach;
the Customer has failed to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date; or
any consent, licence or authorisation held by the Customer is revoked or modified such that the Customer is no longer able to comply with its obligations under the Contract or receive any benefit to which it is entitled.
The Supplier may terminate the Contract at any time by giving notice in writing to the Customer if the Customer:
stops carrying on all or a significant part of its business, or indicates in any way that it intends to do so;
is unable to pay its debts either within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or if the Supplier reasonably believes that to be the case;
becomes the subject of a company voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986;
becomes subject to a moratorium under Part A1 of the Insolvency Act 1986;
becomes subject to a restructuring plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006;
becomes subject to a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006;
has a receiver, manager, administrator or administrative receiver appointed over all or any part of its undertaking, assets or income;
has a resolution passed for its winding up;
has a petition presented to any court for its winding up or an application is made for an administration order, or any winding-up or administration order is made against it;
suspends or ceases, or threatens to suspend or cease, to carry on all or a substantial part of its business;
is subject to any events or circumstances analogous to those in clauses 11.2.1 to 11.2.10 in any jurisdiction;
takes any steps in anticipation of, or has no realistic prospect of avoiding, any of the events or procedures described in clauses 11.2.1 to 11.2.11 including giving notice for the convening of any meeting of creditors, issuing an application at court or filing any notice at court, receiving any demand for repayment of lending facilities, or passing any board resolution authorising any steps to be taken to enter into an insolvency process.
If the Customer becomes aware that any event has occurred, or circumstances exist, which may entitle the Supplier to terminate the Contract under this clause 11, it shall immediately notify the Supplier in writing.
Termination or expiry of the Contract shall not affect any accrued rights and liabilities of the Supplier at any time up to the date of termination.
Any notice or other communication given by a party under these Conditions shall:
be in writing and in English;
be signed by, or on behalf of, the party giving it except for notices sent by email; and
be sent to the relevant party at the address set out in the Contract
Notices may be given, and are deemed received:
by hand: on receipt of a signature at the time of delivery;
by email : on receipt of a delivery email from the correct address.
Any change to the contact details of a party as set out in the Contract shall be notified to the other party in accordance with clause 12.1 and shall be effective:
on the date specified in the notice as being the date of such change; or
if no date is so specified, 2 Business Days after the notice is deemed to be received.
All references to time are to the local time at the place of deemed receipt.
This clause does not apply to notices given in legal proceedings or arbitration.
Cumulative remedies
The rights and remedies provided in the Contract for the Supplier only are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law.
Unless stated otherwise, time is of the essence of any date or period specified in the Contract in relation to the Customer's obligations only.
Further assurance
The Customer shall at the request of the Supplier, and at the Customer's own cost, do all acts and execute all documents which are necessary to give full effect to the Contract.
The parties agree that the Contract and any documents entered into pursuant to it constitutes the entire agreement between them and supersedes all previous agreements, understandings and arrangements between them, whether in writing or oral in respect of its subject matter.
Each party acknowledges that it has not entered into the Contract or any documents entered into pursuant to it in reliance on, and shall have no remedies in respect of, any representation or warranty that is not expressly set out in the Contract or any documents entered into pursuant to it. No party shall have any claim for innocent or negligent misrepresentation on the basis of any statement in the Contract.
Nothing in these Conditions purports to limit or exclude any liability for fraud.
No variation of the Contract shall be valid or effective unless it is in writing, refers to the Contract and these Conditions and is duly signed or executed by, or on behalf of, each party.
The Customer may not assign, subcontract or encumber any right or obligation under the Contract, in whole or in part, without the Supplier's prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed OR which it may withhold or delay at its absolute discretion.
Equitable relief
The Customer recognises that any breach or threatened breach of the Contract may cause the Supplier irreparable harm for which damages may not be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies and damages available to the Supplier, the Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Supplier is entitled to the remedies of specific performance, injunction and other equitable relief without proof of special damages.
If any provision of the Contract (or part of any provision) is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of any other provision of the Contract shall not be affected.
If any provision of the Contract (or part of any provision) is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable but would be legal, valid and enforceable if some part of it was deleted or modified, the provision or part-provision in question shall apply with the minimum such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make the provision legal, valid and enforceable. In the event of such deletion or modification, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in order to agree the terms of a mutually acceptable alternative provision.
No failure, delay or omission by the Supplier in exercising any right, power or remedy provided by law or under the Contract shall operate as a waiver of that right, power or remedy, nor shall it preclude or restrict any future exercise of that or any other right, power or remedy.
No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under the Contract by the Supplier shall prevent any future exercise of it or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy by the Supplier.
Compliance with law
The Customer shall comply with Applicable Law and shall maintain such licences, authorisations and all other approvals, permits and authorities as are required from time to time to perform its obligations under or in connection with the Contract.
Conflicts within contract
If there is a conflict between the terms contained in the Conditions and the terms of the Order, schedules, appendices or annexes to the Contract, the terms of the Conditions and of the Schedule shall prevail to the extent of the conflict.
The Customer shall pay its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, signature and performance of the Contract (and any documents referred to in it).
Third party rights
A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any of the provisions of the Contract.
The Contract and any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, it, its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England and Wales.
The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, the Contract, its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).
Customer specific provisions
Customer: [insert full registered company name and trading name (if any) and registered number, place of registration, VAT number, registered or supervisory body]
Address: [registered office address]
Name: [insert full registered company name and trading name (if any) and registered number, place of registration]
Reference Services Description Price
Performance dates/periods
The terms and conditions which apply to and govern this Order are the Conditions. The parties agree that all other terms and conditions are expressly excluded.
The Customer has read and accepts the Order and Contract subject to the Conditions above.
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Q: How to move Hive data table to MySql? I would like to know how I can move date from Hive to MySQL?
I have seen example on how to move hive data to Amazon DynamoDB but not for a RDBMS like MySQL. Here is the example that I saw with DynamoDB:
CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE tbl1 ( name string, location string )
STORED BY 'org.apache.hadoop.hive.dynamodb.DynamoDBStorageHandler'
TBLPROPERTIES ("dynamodb.table.name" = "table",
"dynamodb.column.mapping" = "name:name,location:location") ;
I would like to do the same but with MySQL instead. I wonder if I need to code my own StorageHandler? I also to do not want to use sqoop. I want to be able to do my query directly in my HiveQL script.
A: You'd currently need a JDBC StorageHandler, which one has not been created just yet, but you could certain build your own.
There is currently an issue report for this which you can follow here:
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HIVE-1555
A: Have you tried using Sqoop?. Its a good tool to do such kind of stuff.
A: There are many options. You can download the files in hive as csv file and then try bulk insert into mysql tables. You can use Sqoop. Or you can use some of the popular ETL tools like
Pentaho and many others.
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It's one full week into summer, and I'm behind on posting! Life keeps getting busier . . .
Eve finished first grade. I can't believe my baby is this old. Her final project for school was a diorama of the boreal forest.
I'm a firm believer in allowing kids to make their own projects, no matter how I would do them differently, unless they ask for a lot of my help. Eve collected pinecones from the cabin to represent pine trees, and she glued the grass and rocks around the water. She also wrote a report about the squirrel, elk, and deer. As I was working on this post, she walked into the room and said, "I really liked my project." That to me is priceless--ownership and pride. Kids whose parents control projects lose out on these feelings of accomplishment, even if the finished product is more polished.
Eve has been reading this summer as well. She hasn't taken to reading like some of my kids, but she is finding that she likes it better than she thought. I'm hoping some free reading this time will help build her confidence before school starts.
I've had a baby or toddler or preschooler around for so long that I don't know how I feel about my baby growing up and not needing me so much.
She can bathe herself and only needs help combing out the tangles in her hair.
She still holds my hand whenever she can, but I know that's not going to last forever.
Love this girl, and I'm so happy I get to be her mom.
She is and always has been such a darling girl. I've enjoyed watching her grow on your blog.
i can't believe she's that old, either? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?
i saw that first picture of her in my blogger feed and was shocked by how much she's grown!
Its so sad when they grow and become more independent, even though we spend our life teaching them to be independent. We're just never ready for the day when they finally get there. | {
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covers events, individuals, groups, entertainment and other unexplained activities that are considered without Scientific Rationale, along with paranormal entertainment fictionalized in movies and television, e.g., Mediums, Zombies, etc.
Paranormal Events and Behavior
YouTube Video of Shirley MacLaine* about Reincarnation
* -- Shirley MacLaine
Survey below: While the validity of the existence of paranormal phenomena is controversial and debated passionately by both proponents of the paranormal and by skeptics, surveys are useful in determining the beliefs of people in regards to paranormal phenomena. These opinions, while not constituting scientific evidence for or against, may give an indication of the mindset of a certain portion of the population (at least among those who answered the polls). The number of people worldwide who believe in parapsychological powers is estimated to be 3 to 4 billion.
Paranormal events are phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described to lie beyond normal experience or scientific explanation.
A paranormal phenomenon is different from hypothetical concepts such as dark matter and dark energy. Unlike paranormal phenomena, these hypothetical concepts are based on empirical observations and experimental data gained through the scientific method.
The most notable paranormal beliefs include those that pertain to:
ghosts,
extraterrestrial life,
unidentified flying objects,
psychic abilities or extrasensory perception,
and cryptids.
The term "paranormal" has existed in the English language since at least 1920. The word consists of two parts: para and normal. The definition implies that the scientific explanation of the world around us is 'normal' and anything that is above, beyond, or contrary to that is 'para'.
On the classification of paranormal subjects, Terence Hines in his book Pseudoscience and the Paranormal (2003) wrote:
"The paranormal can best be thought of as a subset of pseudoscience. What sets the paranormal apart from other pseudosciences is a reliance on explanations for alleged phenomena that are well outside the bounds of established science.
Thus, paranormal phenomena include extrasensory perception (ESP), telekinesis, ghosts, poltergeists, life after death, reincarnation, faith healing, human auras, and so forth. The explanations for these allied phenomena are phrased in vague terms of "psychic forces", "human energy fields", and so on.
This is in contrast to many pseudoscientific explanations for other nonparanormal phenomena, which, although very bad science, are still couched in acceptable scientific terms."
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Paranormal Events and Behavior:
Ghosts and other spiritual entities
Extraterrestrial life and UFOs
Anecdotal approach
Participant-observer approach
Skeptical scientific investigation
Belief polls
Paranormal challenges
Paranormal:
Australian Sheep-Goat Scale
Folie a deux
Ghost Stations
Extrasensory perception
Out-of-body experience
Paranormal fiction
Category:Paranormal investigators
List of reported UFO sightings
Yūrei
Paranormal by Location:
List of reportedly haunted locations in the World
In the United States
In Oregon
In Plymouth, Massachusetts
In Washington, DC
Bernard Heuvelmans
Bruce Barrymore Halpenny
Charles Fort
Hilary Evans
Ivan Sanderson
Joseph Banks Rhine
John Keel
Robert Ripley
Brad Steiger
Skepticism:
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
James Randi
Prizes for paranormal proof
Schizotypy
Independent Investigations Group
Fringe science
YouTube Video from the Movie "The Sixth Sense*": "I see Ghosts!"
* - The Movie The Sixth Sense (1999)
Pictured below: Extrasensory perception is a concept invented by Sir Richard Burton in 1870 and it defines knowledge or perception without using any sense. Extrasensory perception includes three abilities: Telepathy (mind reading); Clairvoyance (knowledge of hidden or at great distance objects and beings) and Precognition (future prediction using paranormal means)
Extrasensory perception or ESP, also called sixth sense or second sight, includes claimed reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind.
The term was adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as intuition, telepathy, psychometry, clairaudience, and clairvoyance, and their trans-temporal operation as precognition or retrocognition.
Parapsychology is the study of paranormal psychic phenomena, including ESP. Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.
The scientific community rejects ESP due to the absence of an evidence base, the lack of a theory which would explain ESP, and the lack of experimental techniques which can provide reliably positive results; and considers ESP to be pseudoscience.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Extrasensory Perception:
Extrasensory Perception (book)
List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
List of psychic abilities
Outline of parapsychology
Inner eye
FBI file on Extrasensory perception
YouTube Video: Parapsychology – a Challenge for Science*
* -- Walter von Lucadou | TEDxFSUJena
The Paranormal is Normal but Quite Different The reports of literally thousands of persons who experienced paranormal phenomena support the conclusion that the "paranormal" is quite common and quite "normal", but it is still tabooed by (western) societies. Walter von Lucadou (Dr. rer. nat. Dr. phil. Walter von Lucadou) is a German psychologist and physicist. Founder of Parapsychologische Beratungsstelle (parapsychological counselling office) at Freiburg, Germany. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
Pictured below: Parapsychology and Anomalistic Psychology: Research and Education FREE COURSE! To all Learners
Parapsychology is a field of study concerned with the investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomena which include:
telepathy,
precognition,
clairvoyance,
psychokinesis,
near-death experiences,
reincarnation,
apparitional experiences,
and other paranormal claims.
Parapsychology is identified as pseudoscience by a vast majority of mainstream scientists.
Parapsychology research is largely conducted by private institutions in several countries and funded through private donations, and the subject rarely appears in mainstream science journals. Most papers about parapsychology are published in a small number of niche journals.
Parapsychology has been criticized for continuing investigation despite being unable to provide convincing evidence for the existence of any psychic phenomena after more than a century of research.
Terminology:
Para is from Greek, and means "beside, closely related to, beyond..." The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir. It was adopted by J. B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research in order to indicate a significant shift toward experimental methodology and academic discipline. The term originates from the Greek: παρά para meaning "alongside", and psychology.
In parapsychology, psi is the unknown factor in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis experiences that is not explained by known physical or biological mechanisms.
The term is derived from the Greek ψ psi, 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet and the initial letter of the Greek ψυχή psyche, "mind, soul". The term was coined by biologist Berthold P. Wiesner, and first used by psychologist Robert Thouless in a 1942 article published in the British Journal of Psychology.
The Parapsychological Association divides psi into two main categories: psi-gamma for extrasensory perception and psi-kappa for psychokinesis. In popular culture, "psi" has become more and more synonymous with special psychic, mental, and "psionic" abilities and powers.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Parapsychology
Establishment of the Parapsychological Association
The Stargate Project
The 1970s and 1980s
Experimental research
Dream telepathy
Near-death experiences
Reincarnation research
Scientific reception
Criticism of experimental results
Selection bias and meta-analysis
Anomalistic psychology
Skeptics organizations
List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
The Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Institute of Noetic Sciences: A nonprofit organization that sponsors research in parapsychology.
Parapsychological Association: An organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of psychic phenomena, affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1969.
Rhine Research Center: A historical parapsychological research center featuring the first building ever made for experimental work in parapsychology. The Rhine Research Center is a hub for research and education in Parapsychology.
Society for Psychical Research: Founded in 1882, the SPR was the first society to conduct organised scholarly research into parapsychology and other human experiences that challenge contemporary scientific models. It continues its work today.
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry: Organization formed in 1976 to promote scientific skepticism and encourage the critical investigation of paranormal claims and parapsychology.
James Randi Educational Foundation was founded to promote critical thinking in the areas of the supernatural and paranormal. The JREF has provided skeptical views in the area of parapsychology.
FindArticles.com Index: Large number of articles about parapsychology, from publications such as the Journal of Parapsychology and the Skeptical Inquirer.
Pseudoscience including List of Topics Characterized as Pseudoscience
YouTube Video by Bill Nye The Science Guy: about Pseudoscience
Pictured below: "If you are in possession of this revolutionary secret of science, why not prove it and be hailed as the new Newton? Of course, we know the answer. You can't do it. You are a fake." (Richard Dawkins on pseudoscientists)
[Your Web Host: this topic has been added to the "Paranormal" web page to cover why the lion's share of paranormal experiences are largely debunked by Scientists. While I personally have not experienced anything one might consider paranormal, yet, there are many who have claimed to have. Plus, television and movies have spawned many successful shows about such paranormal acts, e.g., "Friday the 13th", zombies, etc.]
Click here for a list of topics characterized as Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that are claimed to be both scientific and factual, but are incompatible with the scientific method.
Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims; reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation; lack of openness to evaluation by other experts; and absence of systematic practices when developing theories.
The term pseudoscience is considered pejorative because it suggests something is being presented as science inaccurately or even deceptively. Those described as practicing or advocating pseudoscience often dispute the characterization. The demarcation between science and pseudoscience has philosophical and scientific implications.
Differentiating science from pseudoscience has practical implications in the case of health care, expert testimony, environmental policies, and science education.
Distinguishing scientific facts and theories from pseudoscientific beliefs, such as those found in astrology, alchemy, medical quackery, occult beliefs, and creation science, is part of science education and scientific literacy.
For more about Pseudoscience, click on any of the following blue hyperlinks:
Relationship to science
Falsifiability
Mertonian norms
Refusal to acknowledge problems
Criticism of the term
Alternative definition
Use of vague, exaggerated or untestable claims
Over-reliance on confirmation rather than refutation
Lack of openness to testing by other experts
Absence of progress
Personalization of issues
Use of misleading language
Prevalence of pseudoscientific beliefs in the United States
Explanations including Psychology
Boundaries with science
Politics, health, and education
Political implications
Health and education implications
Related concepts:
Antiscience
Not even wrong
Similar terms:
Normative science
Pseudolaw
Pseudomathematics
Skeptic Dictionary: Pseudoscience – Robert Todd Carroll, PhD
Pseudoscience. What is it? How can I recognize it? – Stephen Lower
Science and Pseudoscience – transcript and broadcast of talk by Imre Lakatos
Why Is Pseudoscience Dangerous? – Edward Kruglyakov
"Why garbage science gets published". Adam Marcas, Ivan Oransky. Nautilus.
Baloney Detection Kit on YouTube (10 questions we should ask when encountering a pseudoscience claim)
YouTube Video from the 1976 Movie "Carrie"*: Carrie Gets Angry
* -- Carrie (1976)
Pictured below: Psychokinesis can be defined as the ability of using mind over matter without any physical intervention.
Psychokinesis is an alleged psychic ability allowing a person to influence a physical system without physical interaction.
Psychokinesis experiments have historically been criticized for lack of proper controls and repeatability. There is no convincing evidence that psychokinesis is a real phenomenon, and the topic is generally regarded as pseudoscience.
The word 'psychokinesis' was coined in 1914 by American author Henry Holt in his book On the Cosmic Relations. The American parapsychologist J. B. Rhine coined the term extra-sensory perception to describe receiving information paranormally from an external source.
Following this, Rhine used the term psychokinesis in 1934 to describe mentally influencing external objects or events without the use of physical energy. His initial example of psychokinesis was experiments that were conducted to determine whether a person could influence the outcome of falling dice.
The word 'telekinesis' was first used in 1890 by Russian psychical researcher Alexander N. Aksakof.
'Psychokinesis' in parapsychology, fictional universes and New Age beliefs refers to the mental influence of physical systems and objects without the use of any physical energy, while 'telekinesis' refers to the movement and/or levitation of physical objects by purely mental force without any physical intervention.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Psychokinesis:
Explanations in terms of bias
Magic and special effects
Prize money for proof of psychokinesis
Subsets of psychokinesis
Notable claimants of psychokinetic ability
Metal bending
Energy (esotericism)
Global Consciousness Project
Human magnetism
Indian rope trick
Torsion field (pseudoscience)
Psychics and Fortune Tellers
YouTube Video from the TV Show "The Mentalist"*: The best scene...EVER!
* The TV Show "The Mentalist"
Pictured below: Psychics: how they do it!
A psychic is a person who claims to use extrasensory perception (ESP) to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance, or who performs acts that are apparently inexplicable by natural laws. Many people believe in psychic abilities, but there is no scientific consensus as to the actual existence of such powers.
The word "psychic" is also used as an adjective to describe such abilities. In this meaning, this word has some synonyms, as parapsychic or metapsychic.
Psychics encompass people in a variety of roles. Some are theatrical performers, such as stage magicians, who use various techniques, e.g., prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot reading, to produce the appearance of such abilities for entertainment purposes. A large industry and network exists whereby people advertised as psychics provide advice and counsel to clients.
Some famous psychics include:
Edgar Cayce,
Ingo Swann,
Peter Hurkos,
Jose Ortiz El Samaritano,
Miss Cleo,
John Edward,
Sylvia Browne,
and Tyler Henry.
Psychic powers are asserted by psychic detectives and in practices such as psychic archaeology and even psychic surgery.
Critics attribute psychic powers to intentional trickery or to self-delusion. In 1988 the U.S. National Academy of Sciences gave a report on the subject and concluded there is "no scientific justification from research conducted over a period of 130 years for the existence of parapsychological phenomena."
A study attempted to repeat recently reported parapsychological experiments that appeared to support the existence of precognition. Attempts to repeat the results, which involved performance on a memory test to ascertain if post-test information would affect it, "failed to produce significant effects," and thus "do not support the existence of psychic ability,"and is thus categorized as a pseudoscience.
Psychics are frequently featured in science fiction (sometimes called psionic or psyonic).
Two fiction series, Talent and The Tower and Hive, encompassing eight books by Anne McCaffrey tell the story of telepathic, telekinetic individuals who become increasingly important to the proper function of an interstellar society.
People with psychic powers appear regularly in fantasy fiction, such as the novels The Dead Zone, Carrie and Firestarter, by Stephen King, among many others.
Click here for more about Psychics.
Fortune Tellers
Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting information about a person's life. The scope of fortune-telling is in principle identical with the practice of divination. The difference is that divination is the term used for predictions considered part of a religious ritual, invoking deities or spirits, while the term fortune-telling implies a less serious or formal setting, even one of popular culture, where belief in occult workings behind the prediction is less prominent than the concept of suggestion, spiritual or practical advisory or affirmation.
Historically, fortune-telling grows out of folkloristic reception of Renaissance magic, specifically associated with Romani people. During the 19th and 20th century, methods of divination from non-Western cultures, such as the I Ching, were also adopted as methods of fortune-telling in western popular culture.
An example of divination or fortune-telling as purely an item of pop culture, with little or no vestiges of belief in the occult, would be the Magic 8-Ball sold as a toy by Mattel, or Paul II, an octopus at the Sea Life Aquarium at Oberhausen used to predict the outcome of matches played by the German national football team.
There is opposition to fortune-telling in Christianity, Islam and Judaism based on scriptural prohibitions against divination. This sometimes causes discord in the Jewish community due to their views on mysticism.
Terms for one who sees into the future include fortune-teller, crystal-gazer, spaewife, seer, soothsayer, sibyl, clairvoyant, and prophet; related terms which might include this among other abilities are oracle, augur, and visionary.
Common methods used for fortune telling in Europe and the Americas include:
astromancy,
horary astrology,
pendulum reading,
spirit board reading,
tasseography (reading tea leaves in a cup),
cartomancy (fortune telling with cards),
tarot reading,
crystallomancy (reading of a crystal sphere),
and chiromancy (palmistry, reading of the palms).
The last three have traditional associations in the popular mind with the Roma and Sinti people (often called "gypsies").
Another form of fortune-telling, sometimes called "reading" or "spiritual consultation", does not rely on specific devices or methods, but rather the practitioner gives the client advice and predictions which are said to have come from spirits or in visions.
Another form of fortune-telling, sometimes called "reading" or "spiritual consultation", does not rely on specific devices or methods, but rather the practitioner gives the client advice and predictions which are said to have come from spirits or in visions.
Alectromancy: by observation of a rooster pecking at grain
Astrology: by the movements of celestial bodies.
Astromancy: by the stars.
Augury: by the flight of birds.
Bazi or four pillars: by hour, day, month, and year of birth.
Bibliomancy: by books; frequently, but not always, religious texts.
Cartomancy: by playing cards, tarot cards, or oracle cards.
Ceromancy: by patterns in melting or dripping wax.
Chiromancy: by the shape of the hands and lines in the palms.
Chronomancy: by determination of lucky and unlucky days.
Clairvoyance: by spiritual vision or inner sight.
Cleromancy: by casting of lots, or casting bones or stones.
Cold reading: by using visual and aural clues.
Crystallomancy: by crystal ball also called scrying.
Extispicy: by the entrails of animals.
Face reading: by means of variations in face and head shape.
Feng shui: by earthen harmony.
Gastromancy: by stomach-based ventriloquism (historically).
Geomancy: by markings in the ground, sand, earth, or soil.
Haruspicy: by the livers of sacrificed animals.
Horary astrology: the astrology of the time the question was asked.
Hydromancy: by water.
I Ching divination: by yarrow stalks or coins and the I Ching.
Kau cim by means of numbered bamboo sticks shaken from a tube.
Lithomancy: by stones or gems.
Necromancy: by the dead, or by spirits or souls of the dead.
Nephelomancy: by shapes of clouds.
Numerology: by numbers.
Oneiromancy: by dreams.
Onomancy: by names.
Palmistry: by lines and mounds on the hand.
Parrot astrology: by parakeets picking up fortune cards
Paper fortune teller: origami used in fortune-telling games
Pendulum reading: by the movements of a suspended object.
Pyromancy: by gazing into fire.
Rhabdomancy: divination by rods.
Runecasting or Runic divination: by runes.
Scrying: by looking at or into reflective objects.
Spirit board: by planchette or talking board.
Taromancy: by a form of cartomancy using tarot cards.
Tasseography or tasseomancy: by tea leaves or coffee grounds.
Ureamancy: by gazing upon the foamy froth of urine created within water.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Fortune Telling:
As a business in North America
Typical clients
Full-time careers
Divination in African traditional religion
Divination in Chinese culture
Magic 8-Ball
Tengenjutsu (fortune telling)
The Afterlife
YouTube Video of the Movie Trailer for the movie Flatliners (1990)*
* -- Flatliners (1990)
Pictured below: Scans compare neurological activity in a (L-R) brain that is healthy, one that is comatose and another that is dead: 'Afterlife' feels 'even more real than real,' researcher says
'Afterlife' feels 'even more real than real,' researcher says (CNN 4/10/2013)
You're about to go to "heaven" and live to tell about it. And your story will become the subject of scientific research.
It's the perfect day. You're strolling down a sidewalk, listening to an ensemble of bird songs, soaking up a balmy breeze fragranced with fresh spring flowers, and gazing up at a cloudless sky of pure azure.
Pleasantly distracted, you step off the sidewalk into the street. Brakes screech; horns blare; people shriek in horror. You snap back to reality ... just as the truck hits you.
You fly for yards like a rag doll; you land hard. You're numb all over and fading fast. It's all over; you know it. Your life flashes before you like an epic movie. The End.
You leave your body and look down at it. People are bending over it. Someone is sobbing uncontrollably. As the ambulance rushes up, a blinding light surges above you. It beckons you softly.
You follow it through a tunnel to a place much more vividly real and spectacular than the banner Sunday afternoon you just left behind. You are sure you have arrived in the hereafter.
Weeks later, you wake up to the steady beeps of an EKG monitor next to your hospital bed.
Secrets spilled in life's final minutes
The scientific journey begins
If your hospital is in Belgium, Dr. Steven Laureys may pay you a visit, interested to hear what you remember from your NDE, or near-death experience. He tells you that many people have gone down this road before you and that you can trust him with your experience. "Patients in intensive care are scared to tell their stories," he said. They are afraid people won't take them seriously, especially doctors and scientists.
Laureys heads the Coma Science Group at the university hospital in the city of Liege. He and his colleagues published a scientific study on NDEs late last month.
People who go on these fantastic journeys are often forever changed. Many seem to come back happier and no longer fear death, he said. The experience becomes a cornerstone of their lives.
NDEs feel "even more real than real," Laureys said. It's this sparkling clarity and living color of the experience, which many have when they lose consciousness, that he and his team have researched.
But he doesn't think it comes from a spirit world. Laureys is a scientist, he emphasizes. He prefers not to mix that with religion.
His hypothesis is that near-death experiences originate in human physiology. "It is this dysfunctional brain that produces these phenomena," he said.
Laureys and his staff are interested in how the brain creates the mind and its perception of reality. "Our main focus is consciousness research in comatose patients," he said. His team hopes to raise the quality of their comfort and care.
The same story, again and again
Over the years, many patients have awakened from comas to tell Laureys about trips to the hereafter.
Their stories all have elements that are the same or very similar. "After being close to death, some people will report having had an out-of-body experience, having seen a bright light or being passed through a tunnel; all well-known elements of the famous Near-Death Experience," according to the study by Laureys and his team of six scientists.
Raymond and Nadine, both from Belgium, had heart attacks. When oxygen was cut off from their brains, they had out-of-body sensations, Laureys said.
"I felt as if I were sucked out of my body at one point," said Raymond. "I was going through a completely black tunnel, very, very quickly, a speed you cannot express, because you just don't experience it."
When Nadine's heart attack came on, she could see herself from outside her body. "It's as if you are on a cloud, even if it's not really that," she said.
It eluded her control, and that frightened her. She went into a dark hole. "You wonder if you will really return to your body," she said.
A light appeared at the end of Raymond's tunnel. He, too, was at first afraid and resisted. The light was female, and she "communicated" with him.
He surrendered to her. "I realized that I shouldn't struggle, and I let myself go. It was at that moment that the experience took place."
Psychological test
Scientific research on people having NDEs is tough, because the exact instant that they occur is unknown, making them nearly impossible to observe, Laureys said.
It would also be cruel to run brain scans on someone who was possibly facing the moment of death.
So, Laureys and his team studied the near-death memories of people who survived -- in particular those of coma patients -- with the help of a psychological examination.
The Memory Characteristics Questionnaire tests for sensory and emotional details of recollections and how people relive them in space and time. In other words, it gauges how present, intense and real a memory is.
They compared NDEs with other memories of intense real-life events like marriages and births, but also with memories of dreams and thoughts -- things that did not occur in physical reality.
The researchers paralleled new memories with old ones. And they compared the patients who had NDEs with groups of others who didn't.
Memories of important real-life events are more intense than those of dreams or thoughts, Laureys said.
"If you use this questionnaire ... if the memory is real, it's richer, and if the memory is recent, it's richer," he said.
The coma scientists weren't expecting what the tests revealed.
"To our surprise, NDEs were much richer than any imagined event or any real event of these coma survivors," Laureys reported.
The memories of these experiences beat all other memories, hands down, for their vivid sense of reality. "The difference was so vast," he said with a sense of astonishment.
Even if the patient had the experience a long time ago, its memory was as rich "as though it was yesterday," Laureys said.
"Sometimes, it is hard for them (the patients) to find words to explain it."
The questionnaire asks people about their level of certainty that a remembered experience was a real event and not imagined or dreamed. "They (the patients) are very convinced that it is real," Laureys said.
A simple Internet search reveals hundreds of accounts of near-death experiences -- some real, some perhaps invented. Many people are convinced they are proof positive that an afterlife exists outside of the physical realm -- and that it is wondrous.
There are reports of religious images appearing at times in NDEs, but they are not limited to one single religion, and they don't always appear. Sometimes Buddha, Jesus or Mohammed appear, but usually they don't, Laureys said.
Nevertheless, an NDE can make a convert of a skeptic. Dr. Eben Alexander is a well-known case of an agnostic scientist who became convinced of the existence of the spiritual.
He has often shared his story in television interviews with journalists and expressed his views in lectures and in books and video presentations, which he sells on his website.
Alexander, a neurosurgeon, according to his autobiography, has described his experience in the same terms as the Belgian researchers: "hyper-reality," "too real to be real."
In the beginning, he tried to interpret his experience as a brain function, he wrote on his website, but he became increasingly spiritual. He has come to the conclusion that people are reincarnated.
Alexander says his experience could not have been a hallucination, because the parts of the brain necessary to produce his experiences were basically dead when he had them.
It's your brain, Laureys tells you
Laureys strongly disagrees. "There is no evidence there can be conscious experience without brain activity," he said.
Lying in your hospital bed, you have become a true believer, and you are happier for it.
But your brain never died, the doctor tells you. You were in a coma. Perhaps your heart stopped for a while; maybe it didn't. But that's not even necessary to have an out-of-body experience.
"Many individuals having had NDEs were not physically in danger of death suggesting that the perception, on its own, of the risk of death seems to be important in eliciting NDEs," the study said.
It's enough just to think you're dying to have one.
Mapping the brain, exploring its secrets
The American Psychological Association concurs. It defines near-death experiences as "profound psychological events with transcendental and mystical elements, typically occurring to individuals close to death or in situations of intense physical or emotional danger."
In the case of coma patients, the brain producing the NDE may be functioning minimally, but it is still alive, Laureys hypothesized. He said one can stimulate certain parts of the brain to produce single elements of the experience.
It's a vivid hallucination, Laureys' report surmises. "It was a normal brain activity that produced their extraordinary perceptions."
Needs more research
Though the results of his studies were marked and consistent, the Belgian research team has tested only a small number of patients so far.
And it has not been able to scan brain images of patients having NDEs to get hard data on the hypothesis of the physiological nature of the experience.
Laureys' research alone is not enough. He wants to see more scientists get involved. As a doctor, he feels it's the compassionate thing for them to do.
Too many people have the experience for serious researchers to ignore it, he said, and a lot of people are afraid that their consciousness will linger long after they pass away, making them witnesses to whatever happens to their bodies.
"The public is historically afraid to be buried alive," Laureys said. "People are afraid to sign up as organ donors." They are scared they may have to watch them being extracted from their bodies.
There are more than enough spiritual models for NDEs, he said -- and superstitious ones. "There are a lot of crazy explanations out there."
It's high time for more hard science, Laureys said. A high percentage of his coma patients report having had NDEs, and he believes many of us go through these "afterlife" experiences when we die.
Laureys doesn't want to speculate on the existence of heaven or hell, but he does say that only a small minority of near-death experiences are horrifying. Most of them are pleasant and uplifting.
From his accounts, it sounds like more people go to "heaven" than to "hell."
[End of CNN Article]
Afterlife (Wikipedia)
Afterlife (also referred to as life after death or the hereafter) is the belief that an essential part of an individual's identity or the stream of consciousness continues to manifest after the death of the physical body.
According to various ideas about the afterlife, the essential aspect of the individual that lives on after death may be some partial element, or the entire soul or spirit, of an individual, which carries with it and may confer personal identity or, on the contrary, may not, as in Indian nirvana. Belief in an afterlife, which may be naturalistic or supernatural, is in contrast to the belief in oblivion after death.
In some views, this continued existence often takes place in a spiritual realm, and in other popular views, the individual may be reborn into this world and begin the life cycle over again, likely with no memory of what they have done in the past.
In this latter view, such rebirths and deaths may take place over and over again continuously until the individual gains entry to a spiritual realm or Otherworld. Major views on the afterlife derive from religion, esotericism and metaphysics.
Some belief systems, such as those in the Abrahamic tradition, hold that the dead go to a specific plane of existence after death, as determined by God, or other divine judgment, based on their actions or beliefs during life.
In contrast, in systems of reincarnation, such as those in the Indian religions, the nature of the continued existence is determined directly by the actions of the individual in the ended life, rather than through the decision of a different being.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about The Afterlife:
Different metaphysical models
Ancient religions
Ancient Egyptian religion
Ancient Greek and Roman religions
Norse religion
Bahá'í Faith
Traditional African religions
Process philosophy
Akhirah
Allegory of the long spoons
Brig of Dread (Bridge of Dread)
Eternal oblivion
Exaltation (Mormonism)
Fate of the unlearned
Mictlan
Mind uploading
Omega Point
Phowa
Pre-existence
Rebecca Hensler
Soul retrieval
Suspended animation
Islamic view on life after death
Catholic view on life after death
Catholic opinion on the idea of limbo
Stewart Salmond, Christian Doctrine of Immortality
Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Death and Immortality
Hasker, William. "Afterlife". In Zalta, Edward N. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
The Destiny of the Soul: A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life at Project Gutenberg (Extensive 1878 text by William Rounseville Alger)
Online searchable edition of Swedenborg's Heaven and Hell (Swedenborg Foundation 2000)
Astrology including Astrological Signs
YouTube Video: Astrology Debunked by the following Scientists:
Carl Sagan
Pictured below: (L) The 12 astrological signs; (R) Displaying individual Astrological Signs*
Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial objects as a means of divining information about human affairs and terrestrial events.
Astrology has been dated to at least the 2nd millennium BCE, and has its roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communications.
Many cultures have attached importance to astronomical events, and some – such as the Indians, Chinese, and Maya – developed elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations.
Western astrology, one of the oldest astrological systems still in use, can trace its roots to 19th–17th century BCE Mesopotamia, from which it spread to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Arab world and eventually Central and Western Europe.
Contemporary Western astrology is often associated with systems of horoscopes that purport to explain aspects of a person's personality and predict significant events in their lives based on the positions of celestial objects; the majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems.
Throughout most of its history astrology was considered a scholarly tradition and was common in academic circles, often in close relation with astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine.
Astrology was present in political circles, and is mentioned in various works of literature, from Dante Alighieri and Geoffrey Chaucer to William Shakespeare, Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca.
During the 20th century and following the wide-scale adoption of the scientific method, astrology has been challenged successfully on both theoretical and experimental grounds, and has been shown to have no scientific validity or explanatory power.
Astrology thus lost its academic and theoretical standing, and common belief in it has largely declined. While polling studies have demonstrated that approximately 25% of Americans, Canadians, and Britons say they continue to believe that star and planet positions affect their lives, astrology is now recognized as pseudoscience.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Astrology:
Principles and practice
Chinese and East-Asian
Theological viewpoints
Scientific analysis and criticism
Lack of mechanisms and consistency
Western politics and society
India and Japan
Literature and music
Astrology portal
Barnum effect
List of astrological traditions, types, and systems
List of topics characterised as pseudoscience
Digital International Astrology Library (ancient astrological works)
www.biblioastrology.com Biblioastrology (The most complete bibliography exclusively devoted to astrology.
* - Astrological Signs: The twelve signs of the zodiac, miniatures from a book of hours. (The Sky: Order and Chaos by Jean-Pierre Verdet, from the 'New Horizons' series)
In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30° sectors of the ecliptic, starting at the vernal equinox (one of the intersections of the ecliptic with the celestial equator), also known as the First Point of Aries.
The order of the astrological signs is :
Aries,
Taurus,
Gemini,
Leo,
Virgo,
Libra,
Scorpio,
Sagittarius,
Capricorn,
and Pisces.
The concept of the zodiac originated in Babylonian astrology, and was later influenced by Hellenistic culture. According to astrology, celestial phenomena relate to human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the signs are held to represent characteristic modes of expression.
Modern discoveries about the true nature of celestial objects has undermined the theoretical basis for assigning meaning to astrological signs, and empirical scientific investigation has shown that predictions and recommendations based on these systems are not accurate. Astrology in general is regarded as a pseudoscience.
The twelve sector division of the ecliptic constitutes astrology's primary frame of reference when considering the positions of celestial bodies, from a geocentric point of view, so that we may find, for instance,
the Sun in 23° Aries (23° longitude),
the Moon in 7° Scorpio (217° longitude),
or Jupiter in 29° Pisces (359° longitude).
Beyond the celestial bodies, other astrological points that are dependent on geographical location and time (namely, the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Vertex and the houses' cusps) are also referenced within this ecliptic coordinate system.
Various approaches to measuring and dividing the sky are currently used by differing systems of astrology, although the tradition of the Zodiac's names and symbols remain consistent.
Western astrology measures from Equinox and Solstice points (points relating to equal, longest and shortest days of the tropical year), while Jyotiṣa or Vedic astrology measures along the equatorial plane (sidereal year).
Precession results in Western astrology's zodiacal divisions not corresponding in the current era to the constellations that carry similar names, while Jyotiṣa measurements still correspond with the background constellations.
In Western and Indian astrology, the emphasis is on space, and the movement of the Sun, Moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiac signs. In Chinese astrology, by contrast, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months, and hours of the day.
A common feature of all three traditions however, is the significance of the Ascendant – the zodiac sign that is rising (due to the rotation of the earth) on the eastern horizon at the moment of a person's birth.
Click here for more about Astrological Signs.
Superstitions, including a List of Superstitions
YouTube Video: Top 10 Superstitions by WatchMojo
Pictured below: Common Superstitions, Why Do We Have Them?
Superstition is a pejorative term for any belief or practice that is considered irrational: for example, if it arises from ignorance, a misunderstanding of science or causality, a positive belief in fate or magic, or fear of that which is unknown. "Superstition" also refers to actions arising from irrationality.
The superstitious practice of placing a rusty nail in a lemon is believed to ward off the evil eye and evil in general, as detailed in the folklore text Popular Beliefs and Superstitions from Utah.
The word superstition is often used to refer to a religion not practiced by the majority of a given society regardless of whether the prevailing religion contains alleged superstitions. It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy, and certain spiritual beings, particularly the belief that future events can be foretold by specific (apparently) unrelated prior events.
Due to the pejorative implications of the term, items referred to in common parlance as superstition are commonly referred to as folk belief in folk lore.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Superstitions:
Superstition and religion
Superstition and psychology
Superstition and politics
Opposition to superstition
Urban legend
Where Superstitions Come From: slideshow by Life magazine
A List of Lucky Symbols
The Supernatural, including a List of Supernatural Horror Movies
YouTube Video of the Top 10 Scariest Supernatural Movie Moments
by WatchMojo
Pictured below: Supernatural Movie Posters as the Best Horror Movies by WatchMojo (Clockwise from Upper Left as (1st) "It" (2017); (2nd) "The Sixth Sense" (1999), (3rd) "The Exorcist" (1973), "The Quiet Place" (2018)
The supernatural is something that cannot be explained by scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
Examples often include characteristics of or relating to ghosts, angels, gods, souls and spirits, non-material beings, or anything else considered beyond nature like magic, miracles, etc.
Over time, things once thought to be supernatural such as lightning, seasons, and human senses have been shown to have entirely naturalistic explanations and origins. Some believe that which is considered supernatural will someday be discovered to be completely physical and natural.
Those who believe only the physical world exists are called naturalists. Those who believe similarly often maintain skeptical attitudes and beliefs concerning supernatural concepts.
The supernatural commonly features in paranormal, occult, and religious contexts. Belief in the supernatural can also occur in secular contexts.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about the Supernatural:
History of the concept and etymology
Process theology
Epistemology and metaphysics
Magical thinking
Liberal naturalism
Non-physical entity
Preternatural
Religious naturalism
One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, unclaimed prize for anyone demonstrating the supernatural
Stranger Things (Netflix: 2016-Present)
YouTube Video: Stranger Things 3 Cast World Tour - Best Moments | Netflix
YouTube Video: Best of Eleven and Max | Stranger Things | Netflix
YouTube Video: The Twelve Days of Strange-mas | Stranger Things | Netflix
Pictured below: Why 'Stranger Things' Is The Best Show On Netflix
[Your Web Host: while typically this Netflix series would be found under the web page "Web Television", the nature of its premise fits better under this web page "Paranormal"]
Stranger Things is an American science fiction horror web television series created by the Duffer Brothers and released on Netflix. The siblings also serve as executive producers with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
The first season, which was released in 2016, stars:
Winona Ryder,
David Harbour,
Finn Wolfhard,
Millie Bobby Brown,
Gaten Matarazzo,
Caleb McLaughlin,
Natalia Dyer,
Charlie Heaton,
Cara Buono,
and Matthew Modine,
with Noah Schnapp and Joe Keery in recurring roles.
For the second season, Schnapp and Keery were made series regulars, as were newly cast:
Sadie Sink,
Dacre Montgomery,
Sean Astin,
and Paul Reiser,
with Priah Ferguson appearing in a recurring role.
Maya Hawke joined the cast for the third season, while Ferguson was promoted to a series regular.
Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in November 1983, the first season focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities who helps the missing boy's friends in their search.
The second season, titled Stranger Things 2, is set one year later in October 1984 and deals with the characters' attempts to return to normality and the aftermath of the events from the first season.
The third season, titled Stranger Things 3, is set in July 1985 and focuses on the characters growing up amidst a new threat during the Fourth of July.
The Duffer Brothers developed the series as a mix of investigative drama alongside supernatural elements portrayed with childlike sensibilities. They set the series in the 1980s and created an homage to the pop culture of that decade.
Several themes and directorial aspects were inspired and aesthetically informed by the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King, among others, including several films, anime, and video games.
The first season of eight episodes premiered on Netflix on July 15, 2016. It received critical acclaim for its characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, writing, and homages to 1980s films.
The second season consisting of nine episodes was released on October 27, 2017.
A third season consisting of eight episodes was released on July 4, 2019. In September 2019, the show was renewed for a fourth season.
The Duffer Brothers have said that Stranger Things is likely to end after its fourth or fifth season. The series has received 31 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including for Outstanding Drama Series, and four Golden Globe Award nominations, and it won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2016.
Series overview:
Stranger Things is set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the early 1980s. The nearby Hawkins National Laboratory ostensibly performs scientific research for the United States Department of Energy, but secretly does experiments into the paranormal and supernatural, including those that involve human test subjects.
Inadvertently, they have created a portal to an alternate dimension, "the Upside Down". The influence of the Upside Down starts to affect the unknowing residents of Hawkins in calamitous ways.
The first season begins in November 1983, when Will Byers is abducted by a creature from the Upside Down. His mother, Joyce, and the town's police chief, Jim Hopper, search for Will. At the same time, a young psychokinetic girl called Eleven escapes from the laboratory and assists Will's friends, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, in their own efforts to find Will.
The second season is set a year later, starting in October 1984. Will has been rescued, but few know of the details of the events. When it is discovered that Will is still being influenced by entities from the Upside Down, his friends and family learn there is a larger threat to their universe from the Upside Down.
The third season is set several months later, in the days leading up to the Fourth of July celebration in 1985. The new Starcourt Mall has become the center of attention for Hawkins' residents, putting most other stores out of business.
Hopper becomes increasingly concerned about Eleven and Mike's relationship while still trying to care for Joyce. Unbeknownst to the town, a secret Soviet laboratory under Starcourt seeks to open the gateway to the Upside Down, allowing the entities from the Upside Down to possess people in Hawkins and creating a new horror to deal with.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about the Netflix Series "Stranger "Things":
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Beyond Stranger Things
Tie-in books
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Stranger Things on Netflix
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Beyond Stranger Things on IMDb
Stranger Things at TV.com
Analysis of the Duffer Brothers' "show bible" from Screencraft.org
Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693) Including Cultural depictions of the Salem witch trials
YouTube Video: What Caused The Salem Witch Trials?
YouTube Video: The Incredible Witch Trials That Plagued A Family | Absolute History
YouTube Video: History Channel: Salem Witch Trials
Pictured below: Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than two hundred people were accused.
Thirty were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging (fourteen women and five men). One other man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to plead, and at least five people died in jail.
Arrests were made in numerous towns beyond Salem and Salem Village (known today as Danvers), notably Andover and Topsfield. The grand juries and trials for this capital crime were conducted by a Court of Oyer and Terminer in 1692 and by a Superior Court of Judicature in 1693, both held in Salem Town, where the hangings also took place. It was the deadliest witch hunt in the history of colonial North America. Only fourteen other women and two men had been executed in Massachusetts and Connecticut during the 17th century.
The episode is one of Colonial America's most notorious cases of mass hysteria. It has been used in political rhetoric and popular literature as a vivid cautionary tale about the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, false accusations, and lapses in due process.
It was not unique, but a Colonial American example of the much broader phenomenon of witch trials in the early modern period, which took place also in Europe. Many historians consider the lasting effects of the trials to have been highly influential in subsequent United States history. According to historian George Lincoln Burr, "the Salem witchcraft was the rock on which the theocracy shattered."
At the 300th anniversary events in 1992 to commemorate the victims of the trials, a park was dedicated in Salem and a memorial in Danvers. In November 2001, an act passed by the Massachusetts legislature exonerated five people, while another one, passed in 1957, had previously exonerated six other victims.
As of 2004, there was still talk about exonerating all the victims, though some think that happened in the 19th century as the Massachusetts colonial legislature was asked to reverse the attainders of "George Burroughs and others". In January 2016, the University of Virginia announced its Gallows Hill Project team had determined the execution site in Salem, where the 19 "witches" had been hanged. The city dedicated the Proctor's Ledge Memorial to the victims there in 2017.
Click here for more about the Salem Witch Trials.
Cultural depictions of the Salem witch trials
Cultural depictions of the Salem witch trials (above) abound in art, literature and popular media in the United States, from the early 19th century to the present day.
The literary and dramatic depictions are discussed in Marion Gibson's Witchcraft Myths in American Culture (New York: Routledge, 2007) and see also Bernard Rosenthal's Salem Story: Reading the Witch Trials of 1692
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Cultural Depictions of the Salem Witch Trials:
In literature
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19th century illustrations depicting the episode
19th and 20th century photographs of 17th century buildings related to the episode
Witchcraft, including in Television and Movies
YouTube Video: Charmed (The CW) Trailer HD - 2018 Reboot
YouTube Video: How to Cast a Spell | Wicca
YouTube Video: Blair Witch (2016 Movie) - Official Trailer
Pictured below: 15 Enchanting TV Shows About Witches
[Your Webhost: while there is no scientific evidence of Watchcraft, the Salem Witch Trials did occur (see above) and fiction about Witchcraft in both television programs and movies are abundant and popular, and therefore appropriate under this Paranormal web page.]
Click here for a List of Fictional Television Series about Witchcraft.
Click here for a List of Fictional Movies about Witchcraft.
Witchcraft (or witchery) is the practice of magical skills and abilities. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision; therefore cross-cultural assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution.
Historically, and currently in most traditional cultures worldwide - notably in Africa, the African diaspora, and Indigenous communities - the term is commonly associated with those who use metaphysical means to cause harm to the innocent.
In the modern era, primarily in western popular culture, the word may more commonly refer to benign, positive, or neutral practices of modern paganism, such as divination or spellcraft.
Belief in witchcraft is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view.
The concept of witchcraft and the belief in its existence have persisted throughout recorded history. They have been present or central at various times and in many diverse forms among cultures and religions worldwide, including both primitive and highly advanced cultures and continue to have an important role in many cultures today.
Historically, the predominant concept of witchcraft in the Western world derives from Old Testament laws against witchcraft, and entered the mainstream when belief in witchcraft gained Church approval in the Early Modern Period. It posits a theosophical conflict between good and evil, where witchcraft was generally evil and often associated with the Devil and Devil worship.
This culminated in deaths, torture and scapegoating (casting blame for misfortune), and many years of large scale witch-trials and witch hunts, especially in Protestant Europe, before largely ceasing during the European Age of Enlightenment.
Christian views in the modern day are diverse and cover the gamut of views from intense belief and opposition (especially by Christian fundamentalists) to non-belief, and even approval in some churches.
From the mid-20th century, witchcraft – sometimes called contemporary witchcraft to clearly distinguish it from older beliefs – became the name of a branch of modern paganism. It is most notably practiced in the Wiccan and modern witchcraft traditions, and it is no longer practiced in secrecy.
The Western mainstream Christian view is far from the only societal perspective about witchcraft. Many cultures worldwide continue to have widespread practices and cultural beliefs that are loosely translated into English as "witchcraft", although the English translation masks a very great diversity in their forms, magical beliefs, practices, and place in their societies.
During the Age of Colonialism, many cultures across the globe were exposed to the modern Western world via colonialism, usually accompanied and often preceded by intensive Christian missionary activity (see "Christianization"). In these cultures beliefs that were related to witchcraft and magic were influenced by the prevailing Western concepts of the time. Witch-hunts, scapegoating, and the killing or shunning of suspected witches still occur in the modern era.
Suspicion of modern medicine due to beliefs about illness being due to witchcraft also continues in many countries to this day, with tragic healthcare consequences.
HIV/AIDS and Ebola virus disease are two examples of often-lethal infectious disease epidemics whose medical care and containment has been severely hampered by regional beliefs in witchcraft. Other severe medical conditions whose treatment is hampered in this way include tuberculosis, leprosy, epilepsy and the common severe bacterial Buruli ulcer.
In anthropological terminology, witches differ from sorcerers in that they don't use physical tools or actions to curse; their maleficium is perceived as extending from some intangible inner quality, and one may be unaware of being a witch, or may have been convinced of their nature by the suggestion of others. This definition was pioneered in a study of central African magical beliefs by E. E. Evans-Pritchard, who cautioned that it might not correspond with normal English usage.
Historians of European witchcraft have found the anthropological definition difficult to apply to European witchcraft, where witches could equally use (or be accused of using) physical techniques, as well as some who really had attempted to cause harm by thought alone.
European witchcraft is seen by historians and anthropologists as an ideology for explaining misfortune; however, this ideology has manifested in diverse ways, as described below.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Witchcraft:
Alleged practices
Spell casting
Necromancy (conjuring the dead)
White witches
Accusations of witchcraft
Violence related to accusations
Witchcraft, feminism, and media
Traditional witchcraft
Stregheria
Contemporary witchcraft, Satanism and Luciferianism
Historical and religious perspectives
Near East beliefs
Hebrew Bible
Americas
Oceania
Witches in art
Neoshamanism
Modern paganism
Witchcraft on In Our Time at the BBC
Kabbalah On Witchcraft – A Jewish view (Audio) chabad.org
Jewish Encyclopedia: Witchcraft
Witchcraft and Devil Lore in the Channel Islands, 1886, by John Linwood Pitts, from Project Gutenberg
A Treatise of Witchcraft, 1616, by Alexander Roberts, from Project Gutenberg
University of Edinburgh's Scottish witchcraft database
'Witchcraft and Statecraft, A Materialist Analysis of the European Witch Persecutions'
Parallel Universes in Fiction
YouTube Video Who lives in the eleventh dimension? - Parallel Universes - BBC science
YouTube Video: 10 Parallel Universe movies you must watch
YouTube Video: Do we live in a multiverse? | The Economist
Pictured below: 20 Brilliant Illustrations That Show Daily Life In A Parallel Universe
A parallel universe, also known as a parallel dimension, alternate universe or alternate reality, is a hypothetical self-contained plane of existence, co-existing with one's own.
The sum of all potential parallel universes that constitute reality is often called a "multiverse".
While the three terms are generally synonymous and can be used interchangeably in most cases, there is sometimes an additional connotation implied with the term "alternate universe/reality" that implies that the reality is a variant of our own, with some overlap with the similarly-named alternate history.
The term "parallel universe" is more general, without implying a relationship, or lack of relationship, with our own universe. A universe where the very laws of nature are different – for example, one in which there are no Laws of Motion – would in general count as a parallel universe but not an alternative reality and a concept between both fantasy world and earth.
Fiction has long borrowed an idea of "another world" from myth, legend and religion. Heaven, Hell, Olympus, and Valhalla are all "alternative universes" different from the familiar material realm.
Plato reflected deeply on the parallel realities, resulting in Platonism, in which the upper reality is perfect while the lower earthly reality is an imperfect shadow of the heavenly. The lower reality is similar but with flaws.
The concept is also found in ancient Hindu mythology, in texts such as the Puranas, which expressed an infinite number of universes, each with its own gods .
Similarly in Persian literature, "The Adventures of Bulukiya", a tale in the One Thousand and One Nights, describes the protagonist Bulukiya learning of alternative worlds/universes that are similar to but still distinct from his own.
One of the first science fiction examples is Murray Leinster's Sidewise in Time, in which portions of alternative universes replace corresponding geographical regions in this universe.
Sidewise in Time describes it in the manner that similar to requiring both longitude and latitude coordinates in order to mark your location on Earth, so too does time: travelling along latitude is akin to time travel moving through past, present and future, while travelling along longitude is to travel perpendicular to time and to other realities, hence the name of the short story.
Thus, another common term for a parallel universe is "another dimension", stemming from the idea that if the 4th dimension is time, the 5th dimension - a direction at a right angle to the fourth - are alternate realities.
In modern literature, a parallel universe can be roughly divided into two categories: to allow for stories where elements that would ordinarily violate the laws of nature; and to serve as a starting point for speculative fiction, asking oneself "What if [event] turned out differently?".
Examples of the former include Terry Pratchett's Discworld and C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, while examples of the latter include Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series.
A parallel universe (or more specifically, continued interaction between the parallel universe and our own) may serve as a central plot point, or it may simply be mentioned and quickly dismissed, having served its purpose of establishing a realm unconstrained by realism. The aforementioned Discworld, for example, only very rarely mentions our world or any other worlds, as setting the books on a parallel universe instead of "our" reality is to allow for magic on the Disc.
The Chronicles of Narnia also utilizes this to a lesser extent - the idea of parallel universes are brought up but only briefly mentioned in the introduction and ending, its main purpose to bring the protagonist from "our" reality to the setting of the books.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Parallel Universes in Fiction:
Time travel and alternative history
Counter-Earth
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution due to contamination
Stranger in a strange land
Fantasy multiverses
Fictional universe as alternative universe
Elfland
As an ongoing subplot
Television series involving parallel universes
Fictional universe
Interdimensional being
List of fiction employing parallel universes
World as Myth
Myths and Mythology, including a List of Mythologies
YouTube Video: Difference Between Jesus the Myth and Jesus the Man
YouTube Video about Atlas: The Titan God of Endurance, Strength And Astronomy (Greek Mythology Explained)
YouTube Video: Top 10 Bizarre Alternate Theories of History (WatchMojo)
Pictured: Mythologies Around the World
Click here for a List of Mythologies around the World.
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives or stories that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. The main characters in myths are usually gods, demigods or supernatural humans. Stories of everyday human beings, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths.
Myths are often endorsed by rulers and priests or priestesses, and are closely linked to religion or spirituality. In fact, many societies group their myths, legends and history together, considering myths and legends to be true accounts of their remote past.
In particular, creation myths take place in a primordial age when the world had not achieved its later form. Other myths explain how a society's customs, institutions and taboos were established and sanctified. There is a complex relationship between recital of myths and enactment of rituals.
The study of myth began in ancient history. Rival classes of the Greek myths by Euhemerus, Plato and Sallustius were developed by the Neoplatonists and later revived by Renaissance mythographers.
Today, the study of myth continues in a wide variety of academic fields, including folklore studies, philology, psychology, and anthropology. The term mythology may either refer to the study of myths in general, or a body of myths regarding a particular subject. The academic comparisons of bodies of myth is known as comparative mythology.
Since the term myth is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrative as a myth can be highly political: many adherents of religions view their religion's stories as true and therefore object to the stories being characterised as myths.
Nevertheless, scholars now routinely speak of Christian mythology, Jewish mythology, Islamic mythology, Hindu mythology, and so forth. Traditionally, Western scholarship, with its Judaeo-Christian heritage, has viewed narratives in the Abrahamic religions as being the province of theology rather than mythology; meanwhile, identifying religious stories of colonised cultures, such as stories in Hinduism, as myths enabled Western scholars to imply that they were of lower truth-value than the stories of Christianity.
Labelling all religious narratives as myths can be thought of as treating different traditions with parity.
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Mythography
Mythopoeia
Meanings in Ancient Greece
Interpreting myths
Comparative mythology
Euhemerism
Personification
Myth-ritual theory
History of the academic discipline
European Renaissance
Nineteenth century
Twenty-first century
Modern mythology
Aztec mythology
Basque mythology
Bengali mythology
Buddhist mythology
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Chinese mythology
Christian mythology
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Kanglei mythology
Korean mythology
Magic and mythology
Manipuri mythology
Maya mythology
Persian mythology
Philippine mythology
Slavic mythology
Tahiti and Society Islands mythology
Mythopoeia, artificially constructed mythology, mainly for the purpose of storytelling
Evil Clowns, including a List of Horror Movies Featuring Evil Clowns
YouTube Video: The Complete History of Scary Clowns
YouTube Video: Top 10 Scariest Clown Sightings (WatchMojo)
YouTube Video of Jack Nicholson vs. Heath Ledger as "The Joker"
Pictured below: Johnny Sweatpants 2011 Horrorthon Wrap Up: Send in the Clowns!
The evil clown is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead rendered as disturbing through the use of horror elements and dark humor.
The modern archetype of the evil clown was popularized by DC Comics character the Joker starting in 1940 and again by Pennywise in Stephen King's 1986 novel It. The character can be seen as playing off the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.
The modern archetype of the evil clown has unclear origins; the stock character appeared infrequently during the 19th century, in such works as Edgar Allan Poe's "Hop-Frog", which is believed by Jack Morgan, of the University of Missouri-Rolla, to draw upon an earlier incident "at a masquerade ball", in the 14th century, during which "the King and his frivolous party, costumed—in highly flammable materials—as simian creatures, were ignited by a flambeau and incinerated, the King narrowly escaping in the actual case."
Evil clowns also occupied a small niche in drama, appearing in the 1874 work La femme de Tabarin by Catulle Mendès and in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci (accused of being a plagiarism of Mendès' piece), both works featuring murderous clowns as central characters.
During the 1970s the National Lampoon published a series of mock comic books in the pages of the magazine, entitled "Evil Clown", which featured a malevolent titular character named Frenchy the Clown.
During that decade, American serial killer and rapist John Wayne Gacy became known as the Killer Clown when arrested in 1978, after it was discovered he had performed as Pogo the Clown at children's parties and other events; however, Gacy did not actually commit his crimes while wearing his clown costume.
The modern stock character of the evil clown was popularized by Stephen King's novel It, published in 1986, which introduced the fear of an evil clown to a modern audience. In the novel, the eponymous character is a pan-dimensional monster which feeds mainly on children by luring them in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and then assuming the shape of whatever the victim fears the most.
The evil clown archetype plays strongly off the sense of dislike it caused to inherent elements of coulrophobia; however, it has been suggested by Joseph Durwin that the concept of evil clowns has an independent position in popular culture, arguing that "the concept of evil clowns and the widespread hostility it induces is a cultural phenomenon which transcends just the phobia alone".
A study by the University of Sheffield concluded "that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable." This may be because of the nature of clowns' makeup hiding their faces, making them potential threats in disguise; as a psychology professor at California State University, Northridge stated, young children are "very reactive to a familiar body type with an unfamiliar face". This natural dislike of clowns makes them effective in a literary or fictional context, as the antagonistic threat perceived in clowns is desirable in a villainous character.
Researcher Ben Radford, who published Bad Clowns in 2016 and is regarded as an expert on the phenomenon, writes that looking throughout history clowns are seen as tricksters, fools, and more; however, they always are in control, speak their minds, and can get away with doing so. When writing the book Bad Clowns, Radford found that professional clowns are not generally fond of the bad-clown (or evil-clown) persona.
They see them as "the rotten apple in the barrel, whose ugly sight and smell casts suspicion on the rest of them," and do not wish to encourage or propagate coulrophobia. Yet, as Radford discovered, bad clowns have existed throughout history: Harlequin, the King's fool, and Mr. Punch. Radford argues that bad clowns have the "ability to change with the times" and that modern bad clowns have evolved into Internet trolls.
They may not wear clown costume but, nevertheless, engage with people for their own amusement, abuse, tease and speak what they think of as the "truth" much like the court jester and "dip clowns" do using "human foibles" against their victims. Radford states that, although bad clowns permeate the media in movies, TV, music, comics, and more, the "good clowns" outnumber the bad ones. Research shows that most people do not fear clowns but actually love them and that bad clowns are "the exception, not the rule."[
Interpretations:
The concept of the evil clown is related to the irrational fear of clowns, known as coulrophobia, a neologism coined in the context of informal "-phobia lists".
The cultural critic Mark Dery has theorized the postmodern archetype of the evil clown in "Cotton Candy Autopsy: Deconstructing Psycho-Killer Clowns" (a chapter in his cultural critique The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium: American Culture on the Brink).
Tracking the image of the demented or deviant clown across popular culture, Dery analyzes the "Pogo the Clown" persona of the serial killer John Wayne Gacy; the obscene clowns of the neo-situationist Cacophony Society; the Joker (of Batman fame); the grotesque art of R.K. Sloane; the sick-funny Bobcat Goldthwait comedy Shakes the Clown; Scooby-Doo 's Ghost Clown from the episode "Bedlam In The Big Top"; and Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King's It.
Using Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of the carnivalesque, Jungian and historical writings on the images of the fool in myth and history, and ruminations on the mingling of ecstasy and dread in the Information Age, Dery asserts the evil clown is an icon of our times. Clowns are often depicted as murderous psychopaths at many American haunted houses.
Wolfgang M. Zucker points out the similarities between a clown's appearance and the cultural depictions of demons and other infernal creatures, noting "[the clown's] chalk-white face in which the eyes almost disappear, while the mouth is enlarged to a ghoulish bigness, looks like the mask of death".
According to psychology professor Joseph Durwin at California State University, Northridge, young children are "very reactive to a familiar body type with an unfamiliar face". Researchers who have studied the phobia believe there is some correlation to the uncanny valley effect. Additionally, clown behavior is often "transgressive" (anti-social behavior) which can create feelings of unease.
Urban legends and incidents:
Clown sightings:
The related urban legend of evil clown sightings in real life is known as "phantom clowns". First reported in 1981 in Brookline, Massachusetts, children said that men dressed up as clowns had attempted to lure them into a van.
The panic spread throughout the US in the Midwest and Northeast. It resurfaced in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona; in 1991 in West Orange, New Jersey; and 1995 in Honduras. Later sightings included Chicago, Illinois, in 2008.
Explanations for the phenomenon have ranged from Stephen King's book It and the crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, to a moral panic influenced by contemporaneous fears of Satanic ritual abuse. It also shows similarities to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. In most cases the reports were made by children, and no adults or police officers were able to confirm the sightings.
In 2013, a character who became known as "the Northampton Clown" was repeatedly sighted standing silently around the English town. The work of three local filmmakers, Alex Powell, Elliot Simpson and Luke Ubanski, the Northampton clown was similar in appearance to Pennywise the Dancing Clown from the Stephen King novel It. Although rumors said that the clown may have a knife, the clown himself denied these rumors through social media.
In March 2014, Matteo Moroni from Perugia, Italy, owner of YouTube channel DM Pranks, began dressing up as a killer clown and terrifying unsuspecting passers-by, with his videos racking up hundreds of millions of views. In 2014, further complaints of evil clown pranksters were reported in France, the United States and Germany, possibly inspired by American Horror Story: Freak Show.
In 2014, "the Wasco clown" attracted social media attention in California. Again this clown shared a similar resemblance to Pennywise, and it was revealed that the social media postings were part of a year-long photography project conducted by the artist's wife.
In Bakersfield, California "menacing" clowns were reported, some with weapons. In July 2015, a "creepy" clown was seen around a local cemetery in Chicago and terrorizing anyone in the graveyard.
There was another burst of such sightings in 2016, including in Greenville, South Carolina and New York.
Response to evil clowns in media:
In 2014, Clowns of America International responded to the depiction of Twisty on American Horror Story, and evil clowns in media generally. President Glenn Kohlberger said, "Hollywood makes money sensationalizing the norm. They can take any situation no matter how good or pure and turn it into a nightmare. ... We do not support in any way, shape or form any medium that sensationalizes or adds to coulrophobia or 'clown fear.'"
Depictions:
See also: Category:Horror films about clowns
The contemporary "evil clown" archetype developed in the 1980s, notably popularized by Stephen King's It, and perhaps influenced by John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer dubbed the Killer Clown in 1978.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 horror comedy dedicated to the topic. The Joker character in the Batman franchise was introduced in 1940 and has developed into one of the most recognizable and iconic fictional characters in popular culture, leading Wizard magazine's "100 Greatest Villains of All Time" ranking in 2006.
Although Krusty the Clown, a cartoon character introduced 1989 in the animated sitcom The Simpsons, is a comical, non-scary clown, the character reveals darker aspects in his personality.
In The Simpsons episode "Lisa's First Word" (1992), children's fear of clowns features in the form of a very young Bart being traumatized by an inexpertly-built Krusty the Clown themed bed, repeatedly uttering the phrase "can't sleep, clown will eat me...." The phrase inspired an Alice Cooper song in the album Dragontown (2001) and became a popular catchphrase.
The American rap duo Insane Clown Posse have exploited this theme since 1989 and have inspired Twiztid and similar acts, many on Psychopathic Records, to do likewise. Websites dedicated to evil clowns and the fear of clowns appeared in the late 1990s.
The British arts and music festival Bestival cancelled its planned clown theme in 2006 after many adult ticket-holders contacted the organizers, expressing a fear of clowns.
The Joker, the nemesis of Batman, whose key features are chalk-white skin, emerald-green hair, ruby-red lips and (in some iterations) a perpetual smile, usually a permanent sardonic grin or a Glasgow smile, depending on the adaption of the character. He is commonly depicted as a criminal mastermind, as well as a sadistic and murderous psychopath. The character is also known by several nicknames, including "the Clown Prince of Crime".
Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid
The 2014 film Theatre Of Fear, directed by Andrew Jones featured a murderous clown character played by Nathan Head.
The 1982 film Poltergeist, directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg, along with the 2015 remake of the same name directed by Gil Kenan, feature a possessed clown doll.
Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the main antagonist in Stephen King's 1986 horror novel It and it adaptations. Pennywise was portrayed in the 1990 television miniseries by Tim Curry and by Bill Skarsgård in the 2017 film adaptation and its 2019 sequel.
The 1987 film The Brave Little Toaster, directed by Jerry Rees, the nightmare Toaster has is about an evil clown chasing Toaster, tortures Rob and toaster loses his grip on the shower curtain rod and falls in the bathtub.
The 1988 film Killer Klowns from Outer Space, directed by the Chiodo Brothers, features extraterrestrial evil clowns as the story's antagonists.
The Texas-based Glam Metal/Hard Rock band Dangerous Toys, founded in 1987, included an evil clown-type figure in its iconography, and album art.
The 2009 comedy horror film Zombieland features a zombie clown.
The 1989 film Clownhouse, written and directed by Victor Salva, concerns brothers who are attacked in their own home by escaped mental patients dressed as clowns.
The most famous professional wrestling depiction of an evil clown was Doink the Clown, a persona originated in 1992 by professional wrestler Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation. Originally, the gimmick was that of a sadistic, evil clown, playing cruel tricks on fans and wrestlers to amuse himself and put them off guard; to help gain heat for the character, he was placed in a storyline feud with Crush, wherein Doink, after faking an injury, sneak-attacked Crush with a loaded prosthetic arm. The evil clown gimmick would be dropped later in 1993 as he turned face.
Violator, a supervillain demon appearing in the Spawn comic books published by Image Comics, is commonly depicted in the form of "Clown", a balding, overweight man with blue facepaint.
Malcolm, the evil jester, featured as the main antagonist in The Legend of Kyrandia video games series.
Gamzee Makara, a homicidal alien juggalo and major antagonist from the webcomic Homestuck. Gamzee suffers an existential crisis in the second part of the fifth act after being exposed to the music video for the Insane Clown Posse song Miracles, and begins going on a frenzied rampage.
The 2010 interactive drama-thriller videogame Heavy Rain features the Clown, a seemingly benevolent, yet mysterious and, somewhat, disturbing clown which appears briefly during the game.
Sweet Tooth, a character in the Twisted Metal video game series.
Bad Clown, also called Psycho Clown, a enemy in the NARC video game
Jack the Clown, an icon of the Halloween Horror Nights event celebrated at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore, and Universal Studios Japan.
Carnival of Souls (1998)
The Clown at Midnight (1999)
The horror film series Camp Blood, beginning with Camp Blood (1999), stars a killer clown as the main antagonist in each film.
Fear of Clowns (2004)
100 Tears (2007)
Drive-Thru (2007)
The Last Circus (2010)
Klown Kamp Massacre (2010)
Gingerclown (2012)
Sloppy the Psychotic (2012)
The Last Circus (2010) by Álex de la Iglesia
The horror film series Killjoy features a demonic killer clown as its main antagonist.
Captain Spaulding, a vulgar clown and serial killer portrayed by Sid Haig in the 2003 Rob Zombie film House of 1000 Corpses and its 2005 sequel The Devil's Rejects.
The 2007 film 100 Tears features a circus clown named Gurdy (Jack Amos) going on a murderous rampage after being wrongfully accused of rape.
In the 2012 anthology horror film Scary or Die, a drug dealer is bitten by a clown at a birthday party, and he begins to transform into a cannibalistic clown himself.
The 2012 film Stitches features a murderous birthday clown, portrayed by Ross Noble, who is resurrected from the dead in order to enact revenge upon the children who contributed to his death.
The 2013 horror film All Hallows' Eve and the 2018 film Terrifier features a homicidal clown named Art the Clown.
The FX horror anthology series American Horror Story used two instances of evil clowns: The first being Twisty the Clown from the fourth season Freak Show, who made a cameo appearance in Cult where the season's antagonist created a murderous clown cult to orchestrate his rise to political power.
Zeebo the clown from the Nickelodeon horror series, Are You Afraid of the Dark?.
The 2014 horror film Clown, directed by Jon Watts and produced by Eli Roth, follows a man who, upon finding and wearing a clown suit, becomes trapped in the cursed skin of an ancient Nordic demon known as the "Clöyne".
The 2017 film Behind the Sightings was inspired by the viral clown sightings of 2016.
Sweet Tooth the Clown from Twisted Metal 2012 is a man wearing a psychotic clown mask with a flaming head and carries a large machete. He drives a weaponised Ice-Cream van with the same clown face on the roof.
Halloween and the Movies Halloween Inspired
YouTube Video Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween (WatchMojo)
YouTube Video: Top 10 Creepiest Moments from the Halloween Franchise (WatchMojo)
YouTube Video: Top 10 Dark Theories About The Halloween Franchise (WatchMojo)
Pictured below: 20 of the Best Items in Truly Scary Halloween Decor
Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of Hallows' Even or Hallows' Evening), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in several countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day.
It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church.
Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain.
Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films.
In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration.
Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Halloween:
Gaelic and Welsh influence
Christian influence
Spread to North America
Trick-or-treating and guising
Games and other activities
Christian religious observances
Analogous celebrations and perspectives
Neopaganism
Devil's Night
Dziady
Ghost Festival
List of fiction works about Halloween
List of Halloween television specials
Martinisingen
Neewollah
St. John's Eve
Walpurgis Night
Will-o'-the-wisp
Halloween at Curlie
"A brief history of Halloween" by the BBC
"The History of Halloween" by the History Channel
List of films set around Halloween:
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for a List of Films Set Around Halloween:
Scary Movie franchise
Horror/Thriller
Halloween franchise
Night of the Demons franchise
List of Halloween Feature Films and Videos at the Internet Movie Database
Bibliography of Halloween
Holiday horror
Magic (Illusion), including Magicians along with the Magic Castle
YouTube Video: The Greatest Illusion Of All Time - David Copperfield Flying
YouTube Video: Penn & Teller Show Off a Lying, Cheating, Swindling Card Trick
YouTube Video: Drowned Alive | David Blaine
TOP ROW (L-R) Penn & Teller and David Blaine
CENTER ROW (L-R) David Copperfield and Doug Henning
BOTTOM ROW: The Magic Castle
Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks or illusions of seemingly impossible feats using natural means. It is one of the oldest performing arts in the world.
Modern entertainment magic, as pioneered by 19th-century magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, has become a popular theatrical art form.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, magicians such as Maskelyne and Devant, Howard Thurston, Harry Kellar, and Harry Houdini achieved widespread commercial success during what has become known as "the Golden Age of Magic". During this period, performance magic became a staple of Broadway theatere, vaudeville, and music halls.
Magic retained its popularity in the television age, with magicians such as David Copperfield, Doug Henning, Penn & Teller, and David Blaine modernizing the art form.
Click on any of the following blue hyperlinks for more about Magic/Illusionists:
Modern stage magic
Types of magic performance
Categories of effects
Misuse of magic
Researching magic
Exposure (magic)
Intellectual rights to magic methods
List of magicians
Magic in fiction
Boston Public Library. Magic posters
State Library of Victoria (Australia). Magic and magicians Research Guide
Science, Math and Magic Books From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
Magic Apparatus From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
The Magic Castle:
The Magic Castle is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is located in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."
Only members and their guests are allowed entrance, though courtesy invitations can be obtained. During a typical evening there are numerous magic shows and historic displays, as well as a full service dining room and numerous bars. The atmosphere is reminiscent of classic night club days, and a strict dress code is enforced.
A Château Style residence, the
Magic Castle was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1989.
Many celebrities have performed at the Magic Castle, including Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, and Neil Patrick Harris One of the Castle's most esteemed performers was the late Dai Vernon, an expert in sleight of hand.
Click here for more about the Magic Castle.
Conspiracy Theories, including QANon and a List of Other Conspiracy Theories
YouTube Video: CNN reporter went to a QAnon event. This is what he saw
YouTube Video: #QAnon: the secret Trump conspiracy theory
YouTube Video: 60 in 6 reports on QAnon (60 Minutes)
Pictured below: How a wild conspiracy theory and Ukraine anti-corruption drive led to Trump impeachment proceedings
[Usually, Paranormal applies to fiction, e.g., zombies, witches, etc. However, the following topic covers conspiracy theories and other real-world topics that many still believe are "paranormal".]
Click here for a List of Conspiracy Theories.
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable. The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence.
Conspiracy theories resist falsification and are reinforced by circular reasoning: both evidence against the conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it are re-interpreted as evidence of its truth, whereby the conspiracy becomes a matter of faith rather than something that can be proved or disproved.
Research suggests that conspiracist ideation—belief in conspiracy theories—may be psychologically harmful or pathological and that it is correlated with psychological projection, paranoia and Machiavellianism.
Psychologists attribute finding a conspiracy where there is none to a mental phenomenon called illusory pattern perception.
Conspiracy theories once limited to fringe audiences have become commonplace in mass media, emerging as a cultural phenomenon of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Etymology and definition:
The Oxford English Dictionary defines conspiracy theory as "the theory that an event or phenomenon occurs as a result of a conspiracy between interested parties; spec. a belief that some covert but influential agency (typically political in motivation and oppressive in intent) is responsible for an unexplained event". It cites a 1909 article in The American Historical Review as the earliest usage example, although it also appeared in print as early as April 1870. The word "conspiracy" derives from the Latin con- ("with, together") and spirare ("to breathe").
Robert Blaskiewicz comments that examples of the term were used as early as the nineteenth century and states that its usage has always been derogatory. According to a study by Andrew McKenzie-McHarg, in contrast, in the nineteenth century the term conspiracy theory simply "suggests a plausible postulate of a conspiracy" and "did not, at this stage, carry any connotations, either negative or positive", though sometimes a postulate so-labeled was criticized.
Lance deHaven-Smith suggested that the term entered everyday language in the United States after 1964, the year in which the Warren Commission shared its findings, with The New York Times running five stories that year using the term.
A conspiracy theory is not simply a conspiracy. Barkun writes that conspiracies are "actual covert plots planned and/or carried out by two or more persons". A conspiracy theory, on the other hand, is "an intellectual construct" according to Barkun: a "template imposed upon the world to give the appearance of order to events".
Positing that "some small and hidden group" has manipulated events, a conspiracy theory can be local or international, focused on single events or covering multiple incidents and entire countries, regions and periods of history. Conspiracy theorists see themselves as having privileged access to socially persecuted knowledge or a stigmatized mode of thought that separates them from the masses who believe the official account.
Further information: List of conspiracy theories
A conspiracy theory may take any matter as its subject, but certain subjects attract greater interest than others. Favored subjects include famous deaths and assassinations, morally dubious government activities, suppressed technologies, and "false flag" terrorism.
Among the longest-standing and most widely recognized conspiracy theories are notions concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 1969 Apollo moon landings, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as numerous theories pertaining to alleged plots for world domination by various groups both real and imaginary.
Scholars argue that conspiracy theories once limited to fringe audiences have become commonplace in mass media, contributing to conspiracism emerging as a cultural phenomenon in the United States of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The general predisposition to believe conspiracy theories cuts across partisan and ideological lines.
Conspiratorial thinking is correlated with antigovernmental orientations and a low sense of political efficacy, with conspiracy believers perceiving a governmental threat to individual rights and displaying a deep skepticism that who one votes for really matters.
According to anthropologists Todd Sanders and Harry G. West, a broad cross-section of Americans today gives credence to at least some conspiracy theories. For instance, a study conducted in 2016 found that 10% of Americans think the chemtrail conspiracy theory is "completely true" and 20-30% think it is "somewhat true".
This puts "the equivalent of 120 million Americans in the 'chemtrails are real' camp." Belief in conspiracy theories has therefore become a topic of interest for sociologists, psychologists and experts in folklore.
Conspiracy theories are widely present on the Web in the form of blogs and YouTube videos, as well as on social media. Whether the Web has increased the prevalence of conspiracy theories or not is an open research question.
The presence and representation of conspiracy theories in search engine results has been monitored and studied, showing significant variation across different topics, and a general absence of reputable, high-quality links in the results.
One conspiracy theory that propagated through former US President Barack Obama's time in office was a theory that he was born in Kenya instead of Hawaii - where he was born.
Former governor of Arkansas and political opponent of Obama, Mike Huckabee made headlines in 2011 when he, among other members of Republican leadership, continued to question Obama's citizenship status.
Walker's five kinds
Jesse Walker (2013) has identified five kinds of conspiracy theories:
The "Enemy Outside" refers to theories based on figures alleged to be scheming against a community from without.
The "Enemy Within" finds the conspirators lurking inside the nation, indistinguishable from ordinary citizens.
The "Enemy Above" involves powerful people manipulating events for their own gain.
The "Enemy Below" features the lower classes working to overturn the social order.
The "Benevolent Conspiracies" are angelic forces that work behind the scenes to improve the world and help people.
Barkun's three types:
Michael Barkun has identified three classifications of conspiracy theory:
Event conspiracy theories. This refers to limited and well-defined events. Examples may include such conspiracies theories as those concerning the Kennedy assassination, 9/11, and the spread of AIDS.
Systemic conspiracy theories. The conspiracy is believed to have broad goals, usually conceived as securing control of a country, a region, or even the entire world. The goals are sweeping, whilst the conspiratorial machinery is generally simple: a single, evil organization implements a plan to infiltrate and subvert existing institutions. This is a common scenario in conspiracy theories that focus on the alleged machinations of Jews, Freemasons, Communism, or the Catholic Church.
Superconspiracy theories. For Barkun, such theories link multiple alleged conspiracies together hierarchically. At the summit is a distant but all-powerful evil force. His cited examples are the ideas of David Icke and Milton William Cooper.
Rothbard: shallow vs. deep:
Murray Rothbard argues in favor of a model that contrasts "deep" conspiracy theories to "shallow" ones. According to Rothbard, a "shallow" theorist observes an event and asks Cui bono? ("Who benefits?"), jumping to the conclusion that a posited beneficiary is responsible for covertly influencing events. On the other hand, the "deep" conspiracy theorist begins with a hunch and then seeks out evidence. Rothbard describes this latter activity as a matter of confirming with certain facts one's initial paranoia.
Relationship between conspiracy theories and evidence:
Belief in conspiracy theories is generally based not on evidence, but in the faith of the believer. Noam Chomsky contrasts conspiracy theory to institutional analysis which focuses mostly on the public, long-term behavior of publicly known institutions, as recorded in, for example, scholarly documents or mainstream media reports.
Conspiracy theory conversely posits the existence of secretive coalitions of individuals and speculates on their alleged activities. Belief in conspiracy theories is associated with biases in reasoning, such as the conjunction fallacy.
Clare Birchall at King's College London describes conspiracy theory as a "form of popular knowledge or interpretation". The use of the word 'knowledge' here suggests ways in which conspiracy theory may be considered in relation to legitimate modes of knowing. The relationship between legitimate and illegitimate knowledge, Birchall claims, is closer than common dismissals of conspiracy theory contend.
Theories involving multiple conspirators that are proven to be correct, such as the Watergate scandal, are usually referred to as "investigative journalism" or "historical analysis" rather than conspiracy theory. By contrast, the term "Watergate conspiracy theory" is used to refer to a variety of hypotheses in which those convicted in the conspiracy were in fact the victims of a deeper conspiracy.
Conspiracism as a world view:
The historian Richard Hofstadter addressed the role of paranoia and conspiracy throughout U.S. history in his 1964 essay "The Paranoid Style in American Politics". Bernard Bailyn's classic The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution (1967) notes that a similar phenomenon could be found in North America during the time preceding the American Revolution.
Conspiracy labels people's attitudes as well as the type of conspiracy theories that are more global and historical in proportion.
The term "conspiracy" was further popularized by academic Frank P. Mintz in the 1980s. According to Mintz, conspiracism denotes "belief in the primacy of conspiracies in the unfolding of history".
Conspiracy serves the needs of diverse political and social groups in America and elsewhere. It identifies elites, blames them for economic and social catastrophes, and assumes that things will be better once popular action can remove them from positions of power.
As such, conspiracy theories do not typify a particular epoch or ideology. Justin Fox of Time magazine argues that Wall Street traders are among the most conspiracy-minded group of people, and ascribes this to the reality of some financial market conspiracies, and to the ability of conspiracy theories to provide necessary orientation in the market's day-to-day movements.
Middle East:
Main article: Conspiracy theories in the Arab world
See also: Conspiracy theories in Turkey
Matthew Gray has noted that conspiracy theories are a prevalent feature of Arab culture and politics. Variants include conspiracies involving colonialism, Zionism, superpowers, oil, and the war on terrorism, which may be referred to as a war against Islam.
For example, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an infamous hoax document purporting to be a Jewish plan for world domination, is commonly read and promoted in the Muslim world. Roger Cohen has suggested that the popularity of conspiracy theories in the Arab world is "the ultimate refuge of the powerless". Al-Mumin Said has noted the danger of such theories, for they "keep us not only from the truth but also from confronting our faults and problems".
Harry G. West and others have noted that while conspiracy theorists may often be dismissed as a fringe minority, certain evidence suggests that a wide range of the U.S. maintains a belief in conspiracy theories. West also compares those theories to hypernationalism and religious fundamentalism.
Theologian Robert Jewett and philosopher John Shelton Lawrence attribute the enduring popularity of conspiracy theories in the U.S. to the Cold War, McCarthyism, and counterculture rejection of authority. They state that among both the left-wing and right-wing, there remains a willingness to use real events, such as Soviet plots, inconsistencies in the Warren Report, and the 9/11 attacks, to support the existence of unverified and ongoing large-scale conspiracies.
The Watergate scandal has also been used to bestow legitimacy to other conspiracy theories, with Richard Nixon himself commenting that it served as a "Rorschach ink blot" which invited others to fill in the underlying pattern.
Historian Kathryn S. Olmsted cites three reasons why Americans are prone to believing in government conspiracies theories:
Genuine government overreach and secrecy during the Cold War, such as Watergate, the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, Project MKUltra, and the CIA's collaboration with mobsters in attempting to assassinate Fidel Castro.
Precedent set by official government-sanctioned conspiracy theories for propaganda, such as claims of German infiltration of the U.S. during World War II or the debunked claim that Saddam Hussein played a role in the 9/11 attacks.
Distrust fostered by the government's spying on and harassment of dissenters, such as the Sedition Act of 1918, COINTELPRO, and as part of various Red Scares.
Psychology:
The widespread belief in conspiracy theories has become a topic of interest for sociologists, psychologists, and experts in folklore since at least the 1960s, when a number of conspiracy theories arose regarding the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Sociologist Türkay Salim Nefes underlines the political nature of conspiracy theories. He suggests that one of the most important characteristics of these accounts is their attempt to unveil the "real but hidden" power relations in social groups.
Research suggests, on a psychological level, conspiracist ideation—belief in conspiracy theories—can be harmful or pathological, and is highly correlated with psychological projection, as well as with paranoia, which is predicted by the degree of a person's Machiavellianism.
The propensity to believe in conspiracy theories is strongly associated with the mental health disorder of schizotypy. Conspiracy theories once limited to fringe audiences have become commonplace in mass media, emerging as a cultural phenomenon of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Some research has suggested that "analytical thinking" aids in reducing belief in conspiracy theories, in part because it emphasizes rational and critical cognition. Some psychological scientists assert that explanations related to conspiracy theories can be, and often are "internally consistent" with strong beliefs that had previously been held prior to the event that sparked the conspiracy.
Attractions of conspiracy theory:
The political scientist Michael Barkun, discussing the usage of "conspiracy theory" in contemporary American culture, holds that this term is used for a belief that explains an event as the result of a secret plot by exceptionally powerful and cunning conspirators to achieve a malevolent end. According to Barkun, the appeal of conspiracyism is threefold:
"First, conspiracy theories claim to explain what institutional analysis cannot. They appear to make sense out of a world that is otherwise confusing.
Second, they do so in an appealingly simple way, by dividing the world sharply between the forces of light, and the forces of darkness. They trace all evil back to a single source, the conspirators and their agents.
Third, conspiracy theories are often presented as special, secret knowledge unknown or unappreciated by others. For conspiracy theorists, the masses are a brainwashed herd, while the conspiracy theorists in the know can congratulate themselves on penetrating the plotters' deceptions."
This third point is supported by research of Roland Imhoff, professor in Social Psychology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The research suggests that the smaller the minority believing in a specific theory, the more attractive it is to conspiracy theorists.
Humanistic psychologists argue that even if a posited cabal behind an alleged conspiracy is almost always perceived as hostile, there often remains an element of reassurance for theorists. This is because it is a consolation to imagine that difficulties in human affairs are created by humans, and remain within human control. If a cabal can be implicated, there may be a hope of breaking its power or of joining it.
Belief in the power of a cabal is an implicit assertion of human dignity—an unconscious affirmation that man is responsible for his own destiny.
People formulate conspiracy theories to explain, for example, power relations in social groups and the perceived existence of evil forces. Proposed psychological origins of conspiracy theorizing include projection; the personal need to explain "a significant event [with] a significant cause;" and the product of various kinds and stages of thought disorder, such as paranoid disposition, ranging in severity to diagnosable mental illnesses.
Some people prefer socio-political explanations over the insecurity of encountering random, unpredictable, or otherwise inexplicable events.
According to Berlet and Lyons, "Conspiracism is a particular narrative form of scapegoating that frames demonized enemies as part of a vast insidious plot against the common good, while it valorizes the scapegoater as a hero for sounding the alarm".
Some psychologists believe that a search for meaning is common in conspiracism. Once cognized, confirmation bias and avoidance of cognitive dissonance may reinforce the belief.
In a context where a conspiracy theory has become embedded within a social group, communal reinforcement may also play a part.
Inquiry into possible motives behind the accepting of irrational conspiracy theories has linked these beliefs to distress resulting from an event that occurred, such as the events of 9/11.
Additionally, research done by Manchester Metropolitan University suggests that "delusional ideation" is the most likely condition that would indicate an elevated belief in conspiracy theories. Studies also show that an increased attachment to these irrational beliefs lead to a decrease in desire for civic engagement. Belief in conspiracy theories is correlated with anxiety disorders, paranoia, and authoritarian beliefs.
Professor Quassim Cassam argues that conspiracy theorists hold their beliefs due to flaws in their thinking and more precisely, their intellectual character. He cites philosopher Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski and her book Virtues of the Mind in outlining intellectual virtues (such as humility, caution and carefulness) and intellectual vices (such as gullibility, carelessness and closed-mindedness).
Whereas intellectual virtues help in reaching sound examination, intellectual vices "impede effective and responsible inquiry", meaning that those who are prone to believing in conspiracy theories possess certain vices while lacking necessary virtues.
Some historians have argued that there is an element of psychological projection in conspiracism. This projection, according to the argument, is manifested in the form of attribution of undesirable characteristics of the self to the conspirators.
Historian Richard Hofstadter stated that: This enemy seems on many counts a projection of the self; both the ideal and the unacceptable aspects of the self are attributed to him. A fundamental paradox of the paranoid style is the imitation of the enemy. The enemy, for example, may be the cosmopolitan intellectual, but the paranoid will outdo him in the apparatus of scholarship, even of pedantry. ...
The Ku Klux Klan imitated Catholicism to the point of donning priestly vestments, developing an elaborate ritual and an equally elaborate hierarchy.
The John Birch Society emulates Communist cells and quasi-secret operation through "front" groups, and preaches a ruthless prosecution of the ideological war along lines very similar to those it finds in the Communist enemy.
Spokesmen of the various fundamentalist anti-Communist "crusades" openly express their admiration for the dedication, discipline, and strategic ingenuity the Communist cause calls forth.
Hofstadter also noted that "sexual freedom" is a vice frequently attributed to the conspiracist's target group, noting that "very often the fantasies of true believers reveal strong sadomasochistic outlets, vividly expressed, for example, in the delight of anti-Masons with the cruelty of Masonic punishments."
Sociology:
In addition to psychological factors such as conspiracist ideation, sociological factors also help account for who believes in which conspiracy theories. Such theories tend to get more traction among election losers in society, for example, and the emphasis of conspiracy theories by elites and leaders tends to increase belief among followers who have higher levels of conspiracy thinking.
Christopher Hitchens described conspiracy theory as the "exhaust fumes of democracy": the unavoidable result of a large amount of information circulating among a large number of people.
Conspiracy theories may be emotionally satisfying, by assigning blame to a group to which the theorist does not belong and so absolving the theorist of moral or political responsibility in society.
Likewise, Roger Cohen writing for The New York Times has said that, "captive minds; ... resort to conspiracy theory because it is the ultimate refuge of the powerless. If you cannot change your own life, it must be that some greater force controls the world."
Sociological historian Holger Herwig found in studying German explanations for the origins of World War I, "Those events that are most important are hardest to understand because they attract the greatest attention from myth makers and charlatans."
Influence of critical theory:
French sociologist Bruno Latour suggests that the widespread popularity of conspiracy theories in mass culture may be due, in part, to the pervasive presence of Marxist-inspired critical theory and similar ideas in academia since the 1970s.
Latour notes that about 90% of contemporary social criticism in academia displays one of two approaches, which he terms "the fact position and the fairy position".
The "fairy position" is anti-fetishist, arguing that "objects of belief" (e.g., religion, arts) are merely concepts onto which power is projected; Latour contends that those who use this approach show biases towards confirming their own dogmatic suspicions as most "scientifically supported". While the complete facts of the situation and correct methodology are ostensibly important to them, Latour proposes that the scientific process is instead laid on as a patina to one's pet theories to lend a sort of reputation high ground.
The "fact position" argues that external forces (e.g., economics, gender) dominate individuals, often covertly and without their awareness.
Latour concludes that each of these two approaches in academia has led to a polarized, inefficient atmosphere highlighted (in both approaches) by its causticness. "Do you see now why it feels so good to be a critical mind?" asks Latour: no matter which position you take, "You're always right!"
Latour notes that such social criticism has been appropriated by those he describes as conspiracy theorists, including climate-change denialists and the 9/11 Truth movement: "Maybe I am taking conspiracy theories too seriously, but I am worried to detect, in those mad mixtures of knee-jerk disbelief, punctilious demands for proofs, and free use of powerful explanation from the social neverland, many of the weapons of social critique."
Fusion paranoia:
Michael Kelly, a Washington Post journalist and critic of anti-war movements on both the left and right, coined the term "fusion paranoia" to refer to a political convergence of left-wing and right-wing activists around anti-war issues and civil liberties, which he said were motivated by a shared belief in conspiracism or shared anti-government views.
Barkun has adopted this term to refer to how the synthesis of paranoid conspiracy theories, which were once limited to American fringe audiences, has given them mass appeal and enabled them to become commonplace in mass media, thereby inaugurating an unrivaled period of people actively preparing for apocalyptic or millenarian scenarios in the United States of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Barkun notes the occurrence of lone-wolf conflicts with law enforcement acting as proxy for threatening the established political powers.
Viability of conspiracies:
The physicist David Robert Grimes estimated the time it would take for a conspiracy to be exposed based on the number of people involved. His calculations used data from the PRISM surveillance program, the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, and the FBI forensic scandal. Grimes estimated that:
a Moon landing hoax would require the involvement of 411,000 people and would be exposed within 3.68 years;
climate-change fraud would require 405,000 people and would be exposed within 3.70 years;
a vaccination conspiracy would require a minimum of 22,000 people (without drug companies) and would be exposed within at least 3.15 years and at most 34.78 years depending on the number involved;
a conspiracy to suppress a cure for cancer would require 714,000 people and would be exposed within 3.17 years.
Political use:
In his book The Open Society and Its Enemies, the philosopher Karl Popper used the term "the conspiracy theory of society" to denote a conception of social phenomena that he found to be defective—namely, that social phenomena such as "war, unemployment, poverty, shortages ... [are] the result of direct design by some powerful individuals and groups."
Popper argued that totalitarianism was founded on "conspiracy theories" which drew on imaginary plots which were driven by paranoid scenarios predicated on tribalism, chauvinism, or racism. Popper acknowledged that genuine conspiracies do exist, but noted how infrequently conspirators have been able to achieve their goal.
The historian Bruce Cumings similarly rejects the notion that history is controlled by conspiracies, stating that where real conspiracies have appeared they have usually had little effect on history and have had unforeseen consequences for the conspirators. Cumings concludes that history is instead "moved by the broad forces and large structures of human collectivities".
In a 2009 article, the legal scholars Cass Sunstein and Adrian Vermeule considered a number of possible government responses to conspiracy theories, including censorship and taxation. They concluded that the authorities ought to engage in counter-speech and dialogue, which they termed "cognitive infiltration".
Alex Jones referenced numerous conspiracy theories for convincing his supporters to endorse Ron Paul over Mitt Romney and Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.
Cherry picking – Logical fallacy
Conspiracy fiction – Subgenre of thriller fiction
Fake news – Hoax or deliberate spread of misinformation
Fringe theory – idea or viewpoint which differs from the accepted scholarship in its field
Furtive fallacy
List of fallacies – Types of reasoning that are logically incorrect
List of topics characterized as pseudoscience – Wikipedia list article
Occam's razor – Philosophical principle of selecting the solution with the fewest assumptions
Influencing machine
Philosophy of conspiracy theories
Propaganda – Form of communication intended to sway the audience through presenting only one side of the argument
Pseudohistory – Pseudoscholarship that attempts to distort or misrepresent the historical record
Pseudoscience – Unscientific claims that are wrongly presented as scientific
Superstition – Belief or behavior that is considered irrational or supernatural
Conspiracy Theories, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory. It alleges that a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles is running a global child sex-trafficking ring and plotting against US President Donald Trump, who is battling against the cabal.
The theory also commonly asserts that Trump is planning a day of reckoning known as "The Storm", when thousands of members of the cabal will be arrested. No part of the theory is based on fact.
Although preceded by similar viral conspiracy theories such as Pizzagate, the theory proper began with an October 2017 post on the anonymous imageboard 4chan by "Q", who was presumably a single American individual. It is now likely Q has become a group of people.
Q claimed to be a high-level government official with Q clearance who has access to classified information involving the Trump administration and its opponents in the United States. NBC News reported that three people took the original Q post and spread it across multiple media platforms to build an internet following. QAnon was preceded by several similar anonymous 4chan posters, such as FBIAnon, HLIAnon (High-Level Insider), CIAAnon, and WH Insider Anon.
Q has accused many liberal Hollywood actors, Democratic politicians, and high-ranking officials of being members of the cabal. Q also claimed that Trump feigned conspiracy with Russians to enlist Robert Mueller to join him in exposing the sex-trafficking ring and preventing a coup d'état by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and George Soros.
QAnon adherents began appearing at Trump reelection campaign rallies in August 2018. Bill Mitchell, a broadcaster who has promoted QAnon, attended a White House "social media summit" in July 2019.
QAnon believers commonly tag their social media posts with the hashtag #WWG1WGA, signifying the motto "Where We Go One, We Go All". At an August 2019 rally, a man warming up the crowd used the QAnon motto, later denying that it was a QAnon reference.
This occurred hours after the FBI published a report calling QAnon a potential source of domestic terrorism—the first time the agency had so rated a fringe conspiracy theory.
According to analysis conducted by Media Matters for America, as of October 2020, Trump had amplified QAnon messaging at least 258 times by retweeting or mentioning 150 QAnon-affiliated Twitter accounts, sometimes multiple times a day. QAnon followers came to refer to Trump as "Q+".
The number of QAnon adherents is unclear as of October 2020, but the group maintains a large online following. In June 2020, Q exhorted followers to take a "digital soldiers oath", and many did, using the Twitter hashtag #TakeTheOath. In July 2020, Twitter banned thousands of QAnon-affiliated accounts and changed its algorithms to reduce the theory's spread.
A Facebook internal analysis reported in August found millions of followers across thousands of groups and pages; Facebook acted later that month to remove and restrict QAnon activity, and in October it said it would ban the conspiracy theory from its platform altogether. Followers had also migrated to dedicated message boards such as EndChan and 8chan, where they organized to wage information warfare to influence the 2020 United States presidential election.
Theory:
The conspiracy theory has been widely characterized as "baseless", "unhinged", and "evidence-free". Its proponents have been called "a deranged conspiracy cult" and "some of the Internet's most outré Trump fans".
The theory is disseminated mainly by supporters of Trump, who refer to The Storm and The Great Awakening—QAnon's precepts and vocabulary are closely related to the religious concepts of millenarianism and apocalypticism, leading it to be sometimes construed as an emerging religious movement. QAnon's adherents, while seeing Trump as a flawed Christian, also view him as a messiah sent by God.
According to Travis View, who has studied QAnon and written about it extensively for The Washington Post, the essence of the theory is that: there is a worldwide cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles who rule the world, essentially, and they control everything. They control politicians, and they control the media. They control Hollywood, and they cover up their existence, essentially. And they would have continued ruling the world, were it not for the election of President Donald Trump.
Now, Donald Trump in this conspiracy theory knows all about this evil cabal's wrongdoing. But one of the reasons that Donald Trump was elected was to put an end to them, basically. And now we would be ignorant of this behind-the-scenes battle of Donald Trump and the U.S. military—that everyone backs him and the evil cabal—were it not for "Q."
And what "Q" is is basically a poster on 4chan, who later moved to 8chan, who reveals details about this secret behind-the-scenes battle, and also secrets about what the cabal is doing and also the mass sort of upcoming arrest events through these posts.
Followers of QAnon also believe that there is an imminent event known as "The Storm", when thousands of members of the cabal will be arrested and possibly sent to Guantanamo Bay prison or to face military tribunals, and the U.S. military will brutally take over the country. The result will be salvation and utopia on earth.
See also: Pizzagate conspiracy theory
On October 30, 2016, a Twitter account posting white supremacist material which said it was run by a New York lawyer falsely claimed that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) had discovered a pedophilia ring linked to members of the Democratic Party while searching through Anthony Weiner's emails.
Throughout October and November 2016, WikiLeaks had published John Podesta's emails.
Proponents of the theory read the emails and alleged they contained code words for pedophilia and human trafficking. Proponents also claimed that Comet Ping Pong pizzeria was a meeting ground for Satanic ritual abuse.
The story was later posted on fake news websites, starting with Your News Wire, which cited a 4chan post from earlier that year. The Your News Wire article was subsequently spread by pro-Trump websites, including SubjectPolitics.com, which added the claim that the NYPD had raided Hillary Clinton's property. The Conservative Daily Post ran a headline claiming the Federal Bureau of Investigation had confirmed the theory.
In its most basic sense, an "anon" is an anonymous or pseudonymous internet poster. The concept of anons "doing research" and claiming to disclose otherwise classified information, while a key component of the QAnon conspiracy theory, is by no means exclusive to it.
Before Q, a number of so-called anons also claimed to have special government access. On July 2, 2016, the anonymous poster "FBIAnon", a self-described "high-level analyst and strategist" who claimed to have "intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Clinton case", began posting lies about the 2016 investigation into the Clinton Foundation and claimed that Hillary Clinton would be imprisoned if Trump became president.
Around that time, "HLIAnon", standing for "High Level Insider Anon", hosted long question-and-answer sessions, dispensing various conspiracy theories, including that Princess Diana was murdered after trying to stop the September 11 attacks. Soon after the 2016 United States elections, two anonymous posters called "CIAAnon" and "CIAIntern" falsely claimed to be high-ranking CIA officers, and in late August 2017, "WHInsiderAnon" offered a supposed preview that something that was "going to go down" regarding leaks that would affect the Democratic Party.
Origin and spread:
A user named "Q Clearance Patriot" first appeared on the /pol/ board of 4chan on October 28, 2017, posting in a thread titled "Calm Before the Storm", a reference to Trump's cryptic description of a gathering of United States military leaders he attended as "the calm before the storm".
"The Storm" became QAnon parlance for an imminent event in which thousands of alleged suspects will be arrested, imprisoned, and executed for being child-eating pedophiles. The poster's username implied that they hold Q clearance, a United States Department of Energy security clearance required to access Top Secret information on nuclear weapons and materials.
An internet community soon developed around interpreting and analyzing posts attributed to Q, and among these conspiracy theorists, several individuals became minor celebrities within the community.
In November 2017, Paul Furber, Coleman Rogers, and Tracy Diaz, two 4chan moderators and a small-time YouTube creator, respectively, worked together to propagate QAnon to a wider audience. Some QAnon followers have accused the trio of profiting off of the movement.
The three then created a Reddit community that was influential in spreading the theory until they were banned and the subreddit was closed in March 2018, which Reddit explained was due to incitement of violence and posting private information. QAnon spread to other social media, including Twitter and YouTube. Rogers and his wife, Christina Urso, launched Patriots' Soapbox, a YouTube livestream dedicated to the theory, which they used to solicit donations.
Its guests have included Congressional candidate Lauren Boebert and a Trump campaign publicist. Posts by Q later moved to 8chan, with Q citing concerns that the 4chan board had been "infiltrated". After 8chan was shut down in August 2019 after it was connected with the 2019 El Paso shooting and other violent incidents, adherents of QAnon moved to Endchan and 8kun.
QAnon first received attention from mainstream press in December 2017, and in the early months of 2018, the conspiracy theory received traction from the mainstream right.
Television host Sean Hannity and entertainer Roseanne Barr spread news about QAnon to their social media followers. InfoWars host and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed to be in personal contact with Q. The presence en masse of QAnon adherents at a July 2018 Trump rally for the midterm elections in Tampa, Florida, marked the conspiracy theory's entry into the mainstream.
Sites dedicated to aggregating these Q posts, also called Qdrops, became essential for their dissemination and spread. QMap was the most popular and famous aggregator, run by a pseudonymous developer and overall key QAnon figure known as "QAPPANON".
But QMap shut down shortly after a September 2020 report was published by the fact-checking website Logically, which theorized that QAPPANON was a New Jersey-based security analyst named Jason Gelinas.
Between March and June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, QAnon activity nearly tripled on Facebook and nearly doubled on Instagram and Twitter. By that time, QAnon had spread to Europe, especially Germany. Far-right activists and influencers have created a German audience for QAnon on YouTube, Facebook, and Telegram estimated at 200,000.
One German Reichsbürger group adopted QAnon to promote its belief that modern Germany is not a sovereign republic, but rather a corporation created by Allied nations after World War II, and expressed its hope that Trump would lead an army to restore the Reich.
False predictions, claims and beliefs:
See also: Murder of Seth Rich conspiracy theory and Satanic ritual abuse
Failed predictions:
QAnon's first prediction was that Hillary Clinton was about to be arrested and would attempt to flee the country. This prediction failed. Other failed predictions include:
"The Storm" would take place on November 3, 2017. There were no notable events in US politics on that day.
A major event involving the Department of Defense would take place on February 1, 2018.
People targeted by the president would commit suicide en masse on February 10, 2018. No prominent people committed suicide that day.
There would be a car bombing in London around February 16, 2018. There was no bombing.
The Trump military parade would "never be forgotten". The parade was canceled.
The Five Eyes "won't be around much longer." It has not been terminated.
Something major would happen in Chongqing on April 10, 2018. Nothing notable happened in Chongqing that day.
There would be a "bombshell" revelation about North Korea in May 2018. There were no notable developments.
A "smoking gun" video of Hillary Clinton would emerge in March 2018. No video appeared.
Multiple failed predictions that John McCain would resign from the US Senate. McCain did not resign.
Multiple failed predictions that Mark Zuckerberg would leave Facebook and flee the United States. Zuckerberg remains CEO of Facebook.
Multiple failed predictions that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey would be forced to resign. Dorsey remains CEO of Twitter.
Multiple failed predictions that "something big" would happen or the truth would emerge "next week".
False claims:
As well as the failed predictions, Q has posted numerous false, baseless, and unsubstantiated claims, such as:
That the CIA installed North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un as a puppet ruler.
A February 16, 2018, false claim that U.S. Representative and former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz hired Salvadoran gang MS-13 to murder DNC staffer Seth Rich.
A March 1, 2018, apparent suggestion that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is Adolf Hitler's granddaughter.
A July 7, 2018, Daily Beast article noted that Q falsely claimed that "each mass shooting is a false-flag attack organized by the cabal".
That Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and others are planning a coup against Trump and are involved in an international child sex-trafficking ring.
That the Mueller investigation is actually a counter-coup led by Trump, who pretended to conspire with Russia in order to hire Mueller to secretly investigate the Democrats.
That certain Hollywood stars are pedophiles, and that the Rothschild family leads a satanic cult. Similar political allegations and rumors have circulated since the 1970s. Typically the allegations revolved around investigators using existing Satanic cults to lure and blackmail left-wing activists, or in the case of the Franklin child prostitution ring allegations, Satanic sexual abuse perpetrated by elite Republicans. A significant difference between the older narratives and the QAnon of today is that now elite Democrats are considered the villains instead of Republicans.
Evolution of Q's claims:
Q's posts have become more cryptic and vague, allowing followers to map their own beliefs onto them. Some posts include strings of characters that are allegedly coded messages; by generating a keyboard heatmap of Q's supposedly coded messages, information security researcher Mark Burnett concluded that they "are not actual codes, just random typing by someone who might play an instrument and uses a QWERTY keyboard", adding that "almost all the characters" in the codes alternate between the left and right hands, or are close to each other on the keyboard.
Attempts by Q to explain false claims and failed predictionsOn multiple occasions, Q has dismissed their false claims and incorrect predictions as deliberate, claiming that "disinformation is necessary".
This has led Australian psychologist Stephan Lewandowsky to emphasize the "self-sealing" quality of the conspiracy theory, highlighting its anonymous purveyor's use of plausible deniability and noting that evidence against the theory "can become evidence of [its] validity in the minds of believers".
Author Walter Kirn has described Q as an innovator among conspiracy theorists by enthralling readers with "clues" rather than presenting claims directly: "The audience for internet narratives doesn't want to read, it wants to write. It doesn't want answers provided, it wants to search for them."
Link to Miracle Mineral Solution:
QAnon theorists have touted drinking an industrial bleach (known as MMS, or Miracle Mineral Solution) as a "miracle cure" for COVID-19.
Usage of #SaveTheChildren:
As in Pizzagate, QAnon followers believe that children are being abducted in large numbers to supply a child trafficking ring.
By 2020, some followers began using the Twitter hashtag #SaveTheChildren, coopting a trademarked name for the child welfare organization Save the Children, leading to an August 7 statement by Save the Children on the unauthorized use of its name in campaigns.
Data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children indicates that the overwhelming majority of missing children are runaways; the second-largest cause is abduction by family members. Less than 1% are abductions by non-family members.
Identity of "Q":
The pseudonymous identity known as Q is likely controlled by multiple people in cooperation.
By design, anonymous imageboards such as 4chan and 8chan obscure their posters' identities, but those who wish to prove a consistent identity between posts while remaining anonymous can choose to use a tripcode, which associates a post with a unique digital signature for any poster who knows the password.
There have been thousands of posts associated with a Q tripcode, known as "Q drops". The tripcode associated with Q has changed several times, creating uncertainty about the poster's continuous identity. Passwords on 8chan are also notoriously easy to crack, and the Q tripcode has been repeatedly compromised and used by people pretending to be Q.
When 8chan returned online as 8kun in November 2019 after several months of downtime, the Q posting on 8kun posted photos of a pen and notebook that had been pictured in earlier 8chan posts to show the continuation of the Q identity, and continued to use Q's 8chan tripcode.
There has been much speculation about Q's motives and identity. A range of theories credit Q's posts to either a military intelligence officer, a Trump administration insider, an alternate reality game created by the puzzle organization Cicada 3301 or Trump himself.
The Italian leftist Wu Ming foundation has speculated that QAnon is inspired by the Luther Blissett persona, which leftists and anarchists used to organize pranks, media stunts, and hoaxes in the 1990s. "Blissett" published a novel titled Q in 1999.
Since the Q tripcode was uniquely verified by 8chan's server and not reproducible on other imageboards, Q was not able to post when the website went down following the 2019 El Paso shooting.
This apparent conflict of interest, combined with statements by 8chan's founder Fredrick Brennan, the use of a "Q" collar pin by 8chan owner Jim Watkins, and Watkins's financial interest in a QAnon super PAC that advertises on 8chan, have led numerous journalists and conspiracy theory researchers to believe that Watkins and/or his son, 8chan's administrator Ron Watkins, work with Q, know Q's identity, or are Q. Both Watkinses deny knowing Q's identity.
A livestream archive appeared to show Coleman Rogers logging in to the 8chan account of Q during a Patriot's Soapbox livestream, before the feed quickly cuts out. Another livestream archive shows Rogers analysing a supposed "Q" post, before his co-host notes that the post in question is not verified to be by "Q", Rogers excuses this by saying that Q must have forgot to sign in before posting.
QAnon may best be understood as an example of what historian Richard Hofstadter called "The Paranoid Style in American Politics", the title of his 1964 essay on religious millenarianism and apocalypticism.
QAnon's vocabulary echoes Christian tropes—"The Storm" (the Genesis flood narrative or Judgement Day) and "The Great Awakening"—evoking the reputed historical religious Great Awakenings of the early 18th century to the late 20th century. According to one QAnon video, the battle between Trump and "the cabal" is of "biblical proportions", a "fight for earth, of good versus evil."
Some QAnon supporters say the forthcoming reckoning will be a "reverse rapture": not only the end of the world as we know it, but a new beginning, with salvation and utopia on earth for the survivors.
In less than a year of existence, QAnon became significantly recognized by the general population. According to an August 2018 Qualtrics poll for The Washington Post, 58% of Floridians were familiar enough with QAnon to have an opinion about it. Of those who had an opinion, most were unfavorable. The average score on the feeling thermometer was just above 20, a very negative rating, and about half of what other political figures enjoy.
Positive feelings toward QAnon were found to be strongly correlated with being susceptible to conspiracy thinking.
According to a March 2020 Pew survey, 76% of Americans said they had never heard of QAnon, 20% had heard "a little about it", and 3% said they had heard "a lot".
A September 2020 Pew survey of the 47% of respondents who said they had heard of QAnon found that 41% of Republicans and those who lean Republican believed QAnon is good for the country, while 7% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic believed that.
An October 2020 Yahoo-YouGov poll found that even if they had not heard of QAnon, a majority of Republicans and Trump supporters believed top Democrats were engaged in sex-trafficking rings and more than half of Trump supporters believed he was working to dismantle the rings.
Role of antisemitism:
The Washington Post and The Forward magazine have called QAnon's targeting of Jewish figures like George Soros and the Rothschilds "striking anti-Semitic elements" and "garden-variety nonsense with racist and anti-Semitic undertones".
A Jewish Telegraphic Agency article in August 2018 asserted: "some of QAnon's archetypical elements—including secret elites and kidnapped children, among others—are reflective of historical and ongoing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories".
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that while "the vast majority of QAnon-inspired conspiracy theories have nothing to do with anti-Semitism", "an impressionistic review" of QAnon tweets about Israel, Jews, Zionists, the Rothschilds, and Soros "revealed some troubling examples" of antisemitism.
According to ADL, several aspects of QAnon lore mirror longstanding antisemitic tropes. For example, the belief that a global "cabal" is involved in rituals of child sacrifice has its roots in the medieval anti-semitic trope of blood libel—the theory that Jews murder Christian children for ritualistic purposes—and QAnon's ongoing obsession with a global elite of bankers also has anti-semitic undertones.
The Czarist hoax The Protocols of the Elders of Zion has intersected with the QAnon conspiracy theories, with Republican QAnon fan Mary Ann Mendoza retweeting a Twitter thread about the Rothschild family, Satanic High Priestesses, and American presidents saying that "The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion Is Not A Fabrication. And, It Certainly Is Not Anti-Semitic To Point Out This Fact."
Mendoza sits on the advisory board of Women for Trump and was scheduled to speak at the 2020 Republican convention until news of her Twitter activity came out; she later denied knowing the content of the thread, although anti-Semitic references appeared in the first few tweets. Similarly, Trump has denied knowing anything about QAnon except that QAnon fans like him and "love our country."
By 2020, QAnon followers were advancing a theory that Hollywood elites were engaging in "adrenochrome harvesting," in which adrenaline is extracted from children's blood to produce the psychoactive drug adrenochrome. Adrenochrome harvesting is rooted in antisemitic myths of blood libel. QAnon believers have also promoted a centuries-old antisemitic trope about an international banking conspiracy orchestrated by the Rothschild family.
Genocide scholar Gregory Stanton has described QAnon as a "Nazi group rebranded", and its theories as a rebranded version of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
Appeal and disillusionment:
Experts have classified QAnon's appeal as comparable to that of religious cults. According to an expert in online conspiracy, Renee DiResta, QAnon's pattern of enticement is similar to that of cults in the pre-Internet era where, as the targeted person was led deeper and deeper into the group's secrets, they become increasingly isolated from friends and family outside the cult.
Online support groups developed for those whose loved ones were drawn into QAnon, notably the subreddit r/qanoncasualties, which grew from 3,500 participants in June 2020 to 28,000 by October. In the Internet age, QAnon virtual communities have little "real world" connection with each other, but online they can number in the tens of thousands.
Rachel Bernstein, an expert on cults who specializes in recovery therapy, has said, "What a movement such as QAnon has going for it, and why it will catch on like wildfire, is that it makes people feel connected to something important that other people don't yet know about. ... All cults will provide this feeling of being special."
There is no self-correction process within the group, since the self-reinforcing true believers are immune to correction, fact-checking, or counter-speech, which is drowned out by the cult's groupthink. QAnon's cultish quality has led to its characterization as a possible emerging religious movement.
Part of its appeal is its gamelike quality, in which followers attempt to solve riddles presented in Qdrops by connecting them to Trump speeches and tweets and other sources. Some followers use a "Q clock" consisting of a wheel of concentric dials to decode clues based on the timing of Qdrops and Trump's tweets.
Travis View, a researcher who studies QAnon, says that it is as addictive as a video game, and offers the "player" the appealing possibility of being involved in something of world-historical importance. According to View, "You can sit at your computer and search for information and then post about what you find, and Q basically promises that through this process, you are going to radically change the country, institute this incredible, almost bloodless revolution, and then be part of this historical movement that will be written about for generations."
View compares this to mundane political involvement in which one's efforts might help to get a state legislator elected. QAnon, says View, competes not in the marketplace of ideas, but in the marketplace of realities.
Nonetheless, some QAnon believers have eventually started to realize that they have been isolated from family and loved ones, and suffer loneliness because of it. For some, this is a pathway to beginning the process of divesting themselves of their cultish beliefs, while for others, the isolation reinforces the benefits they get from belonging to the cult. View says:
People in the QAnon community often talk about alienation from family and friends. ... Though they typically talk about how Q frayed their relationships on private Facebook groups. But they think these issues are temporary and primarily the fault of others.
They often comfort themselves by imagining that there will be a moment of vindication sometime in the near future which will prove their beliefs right. They imagine that after this happens, not only will their relationships be restored, but people will turn to them as leaders who understand what's going on better than the rest of us.
Some Q followers break away when they recognize the theories are not self-consistent or see that some of the content is directly aimed at getting donations from a specific audience, such as evangelical or conservative Christians. This then "breaks the spell" the conspiracies had over them. Others start watching Q-debunking videos; one former believer says that the videos "saved" her.
Disillusionment can also come from the failure of the theories' predictions. Q predicted Republican success in the 2018 US midterm elections and claimed that Attorney General Jeff Sessions was involved in secret work for Trump, with apparent tensions between them a cover.
When Democrats made significant gains and Trump fired Sessions, there was disillusionment among many in the Q community. Further disillusionment came when a predicted December 5 mass arrest and imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay detention camp of Trump's enemies did not occur, nor did the dismissal of charges against Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
For some, these failures began the process of separation from the QAnon cult, while others urged direct action in the form of an insurrection against the government.
Such a response to a failed prophecy is not unusual: apocalyptic cults such as Heaven's Gate, the People's Temple, the Manson Family, and Aum Shinrikyo resorted to mass suicide or mass murder when their expectations for revelations or the fulfillment of their prophecies did not materialize.
Psychologist Robert Lifton calls it "forcing the end". This phenomenon is being seen among some QAnon believers. View echoes the concern that disillusioned QAnon believers might take matters into their own hands as Pizzagate believer Edgar Maddison Welch did in 2016, Matthew Phillip Wright did at Hoover Dam in 2018, and Anthony Comello did in 2019, when he murdered Mafia boss Frank Cali, believing himself to be under Trump's protection.
QAnon follower Liz Crokin, who in 2018 asserted that John F. Kennedy Jr. faked his death and is now Q, stated in February 2019 that she was losing patience in Trump to arrest the supposed members of the child sex ring, suggesting that the time was approaching for "vigilante justice."
Other QAnon followers have adopted the Kennedy theory, asserting that a Pittsburgh man named Vincent Fusca is Kennedy in disguise and would be Trump's 2020 running mate. Some attended 2019 Independence Day celebrations in Washington expecting Kennedy to appear.
FBI domestic terrorism assessment:
A May 30, 2019, FBI "Intelligence Bulletin" memo from the Phoenix Field Office identified QAnon-driven extremists as a domestic terrorism threat. The document cited a number of arrests related to QAnon, some of which had not been publicized before.
According to the memo, "This is the first FBI product examining the threat from conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists and provides a baseline for future intelligence products. ...
The FBI assesses these conspiracy theories very likely will emerge, spread, and evolve in the modern information marketplace, occasionally driving both groups and individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts."
According to FBI's counterterrorism director Michael G. McGarrity's testimony before Congress in May, the FBI divides domestic terrorism threats into four primary categories:
"racially motivated violent extremism,
anti-government/anti-authority extremism,
animal rights/environmental extremism,
and abortion extremism," which includes both pro-choice and anti-abortion extremists.
The fringe conspiracy theory threat is closely related to the anti-government/anti-authority subject area.
An under-reported QAnon-related incident was mentioned in the memo: the December 19, 2018, arrest of a California man whose car contained bomb-making materials he intended to use to "blow up a satanic temple monument" in the Springfield, Illinois Capitol rotunda to "make Americans aware of Pizzagate and the New World Order, who were dismantling society."
According to the same source, the FBI said another factor driving the intensity of this threat is "the uncovering of real conspiracies or cover-ups involving illegal, harmful, or unconstitutional activities by government officials or leading political figures."
QAnon followers' reactions included the suggestion the memo was fake, calling for the firing of FBI Director Christopher A. Wray for working against Trump, and the idea that the memo was actually a "wink-and-a-nod" way of attracting attention to QAnon and tricking the media into asking Trump about it.
At a Trump reelection rally several hours after the memo's existence became known, WalkAway campaign founder Brandon Straka, a gay man who claims to have been a liberal Democrat but is now a Trump supporter, addressed the crowd using one of QAnon's primary rallying cries, "Where we go one, we go all". A videographer found numerous QAnon supporters in the crowd, identified by their QAnon shirts showing large "Q"'s or "WWG1WGA".
Role in U.S. elections:
2019 congressional candidates:
Two people who declared themselves as Republican congressional candidates in 2019 expressed interest in QAnon theories. Matthew Lusk, a Florida candidate, told The Daily Beast he was not a "brainwashed cult member," saying QAnon theories are a "legitimate something" and constitute a "very articulate screening of past events, a very articulate screening of present conditions, and a somewhat prophetic divination of where the political and geopolitical ball will be bouncing next."
Danielle Stella, running as a Republican to unseat Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, wore a "Q" necklace in a photo she tweeted and twice used the hashtag #WWG1WGA, a reference to the QAnon motto "where we go one, we go all." Her Twitter account "liked" responses from QAnon believers who acknowledged the necklace, and the account follows some prominent QAnon believers. A former campaign aide asserted that Stella was merely posing as a QAnon believer to attract voter support.
Incidents related to Trump's 2020 campaign:
QAnon supporters claim that they were asked to cover up their "Q" identifiers and other QAnon-related symbols at a Trump campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 15, 2019.
Although one person who was asked to turn his "Q" shirt inside out when he entered the rally identified the person who asked him to do so as a Secret Service agent, the agency denied this, saying in an email to The Washington Post, "The U.S. Secret Service did not request, or require, attendees to change their clothing at an event in New Hampshire."
QAnon supporters also claim that their visibility at Trump rallies has been suppressed for months.
In August 2019, a video posted online by "Women for Trump" late in July was reported to include "Q"s on two campaign signs. The first sign, which said "Make America Great Again", had a "Q" taped to it in the corner. The other side, "Women for Trump" had the "O"s in "Women" and "for" pasted over with "Q"s.
The images which included the altered signs were clearly taken at a Trump campaign rally, which have increasingly attracted adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory, so it is unknown if those particular signs were selected for inclusion deliberately or not. The video has since been taken down.
In July 2020, Business Insider reported that according to Media Matters for America, a left-leaning media monitoring group, Trump's reelection campaign relied on a network of QAnon-related accounts to spread disinformation and propaganda on social media, especially Twitter.
An analysis of 380,000 tweets sent between early April and the end of May 2020, and another of the most popular words used by 1,000 accounts, showed that the QAnon network "is playing a key role in generating and spreading Trump's propaganda."
The Washington Post reported at the beginning of August 2020 that ads for Trump's campaign had shown images of supporters with prominent QAnon merchandise. Thousands of comments on YouTube saw these details as signs of victory.
Other 2020 electoral candidates:
Jo Rae Perkins, the 2020 Republican Senate candidate in Oregon, tweeted a video on the night of her May primary victory showing her holding a WWG1WGA sticker and stating, "I stand with President Trump. I stand with Q and the team. Thank you Anons, and thank you patriots. And together, we can save our republic." She expressed regret at having later deleted the video on the advice of a political consultant. The next month she tweeted a video of her taking the "digital soldiers oath" that Q had requested followers to do three days earlier.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a businesswoman, won an August 2020 runoff to become the GOP nominee in the heavily Republican 14th Congressional District in Georgia. Months into the Trump presidency, she had stated in a video: "There's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it." She has made racist and anti-Semitic statements, which resulted in Republican leaders such as Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise to condemn her remarks.
Trump endorsed her candidacy the day after her nomination, characterizing her as a "future Republican Star" and "a real WINNER!" After Greene won a primary runoff election in Georgia in August, Illinois Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger denounced QAnon, calling it a "fabrication."
Trump campaign staffer Matt Wolking responded aggressively to Kinzinger, saying, "he should condemn the Steele Dossier and conspiracy theories promoted by Democrats."
On June 30, 2020, incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Scott Tipton lost a primary for Colorado's 3rd congressional district to Lauren Boebert in an upset.
Boebert expressed tentative support for QAnon in an interview, but after winning the primary, attempted to distance herself from those statements, saying "I'm not a follower." In July 2020, Business Insider reported, "At least 10 GOP Congressional candidates have signaled their support for the QAnon movement."
In September 2020, political newcomer Lauren Witzke defeated another candidate endorsed by the Republican party to become the GOP's nominee for U.S. Senate in Delaware. Witzke has promoted QAnon on Twitter and been photographed wearing a Q t-shirt, although during the campaign she distanced herself from the movement.
She has also called herself a "flat-earther" and in September called her Democratic opponent Chris Coons a "Christian-hating baby-killer," adding, "I'm coming for your seat, Satanist."
Angela Stanton-King, a Trump-backed candidate running for the Georgia House seat of the late congressman John Lewis, posted on Twitter that Black Lives Matter is "a major cover up for PEDOPHILIA and HUMAN TRAFFICKING" and "THE STORM IS HERE." Stanton-King told a reporter that her posts did not relate to QAnon, asserting, "It was raining that day."
Weather records did not show precipitation in her area on the day of the post.
Texas Republican Party slogan:
In August 2020, The New York Times suggested that the Texas Republican Party had chosen a new slogan taken directly from QAnon. Texas Republican Party officials strongly denied this and claimed that the slogan ("We Are the Storm") was inspired by a biblical passage and has no connection to QAnon.
Congressional resolution:
On August 25, 2020, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives—Democrat Tom Malinowski and Republican Denver Riggleman—introduced a bipartisan simple resolution (H. Res. 1154) condemning QAnon and rejecting its conspiracy theories.
Malinowski said the resolution's aim was to formally repudiate "this dangerous, anti-Semitic, conspiracy-mongering cult that the FBI says is radicalizing Americans to violence".
The resolution also urged the FBI and other law enforcement and homeland security agencies "to continue to strengthen their focus on preventing violence, threats, harassment, and other criminal activity by extremists motivated by fringe political conspiracy theories" and encouraged the U.S. Intelligence Community "to uncover any foreign support, assistance, or online amplification QAnon receives, as well as any QAnon affiliations, coordination, and contacts with foreign extremist organizations or groups espousing violence."
In September 2020, Malinowski received death threats from QAnon followers after he was falsely accused of wanting to protect sexual predators. The threats were prompted by a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) campaign advertisement that falsely claimed that Malinowski worked against plans to increase registration for sex offenders in a 2006 crime bill while he was working as a lobbyist for Human Rights Watch.
The resolution passed on October 2, 2020, in a 371–18 vote. Seventeen Republicans (including Steve King, Paul A. Gosar, and Daniel Webster) and one independent (Justin Amash) voted no; Republican Andy Harris voted "present." The resolution does not have the force of law.
Before the vote, Malinowski told Slate magazine, referencing the NRCC ad: "I don't want to see any Republicans voting against fire on the House floor this week and then continuing to play with fire next week by running these kinds of ads against Democratic candidates."
Comments by Trump and connected individuals:
Donald Trump:
According to analysis by Media Matters, as of August 20, 2020, Trump had amplified QAnon messaging at least 216 times by retweeting or mentioning 129 QAnon-affiliated Twitter accounts, sometimes multiple times a day. On September 9, 2019, Trump retweeted a video from the QAnon-promoting Twitter account "The Dirty Truth". The video featured future Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe criticizing former FBI director James Comey.
On August 24, 2018, Trump hosted William "Lionel" Lebron, a leading QAnon promoter, in the Oval Office for a photo op. Shortly after Christmas 2019, Trump retweeted over a dozen QAnon followers.
On August 19, 2020, Trump was asked about QAnon during a press conference; he replied: "I don't know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate. But I don't know much about the movement."
An FBI Field Office in Phoenix has called QAnon a potential domestic terror threat, but Trump called QAnon adherents "people who love our country". When a reporter asked Trump if he could support a theory that says he "is secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals," he responded: "Well, I haven't heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?"
Presidential candidate Joe Biden responded that Trump was aiming to "legitimize a conspiracy theory that the FBI has identified as a domestic terrorism threat".
On October 15, 2020, when given the opportunity to denounce QAnon at a "town hall"-style campaign event, Trump refused to do so and instead pointed out that QAnon opposes pedophilia. He said he knew nothing else about QAnon and told his questioner, Savannah Guthrie of NBC News, that no one can know whether the premise of QAnon's conspiracy theory is true. "They believe it is a satanic cult run by the deep state," Guthrie informed him. "No, I don't know that. And neither do you know that," Trump responded.
On August 21, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence said that he "doesn't know anything about" QAnon except that it is a conspiracy theory that he dismisses "out of hand." But when asked whether he would acknowledge the administration's role in "giving oxygen" to the theory, Pence shook his head and said, "Give me a break."
Also in August 2020, Pence said that the problem with the press asking about QAnon and about anyone's apparent efforts to encourage it is that the press is asking the wrong questions ("chasing shiny objects").
Michael Flynn:
In August 2019, a "Digital Soldiers Conference" was announced for the following month in Atlanta. The stated purpose was to prepare "patriotic social media warriors" for a coming "digital civil war." The announcement for the event prominently displayed a Q spelled in stars on the blue field of an American flag.
Scheduled speakers for the event included former Trump aides Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, as well as Gina Loudon, a Trump friend and member of his campaign media advisory board, singer Joy Villa, and Bill Mitchell, a radio host and ardent Trump supporter.
The host of the event, Rich Granville, is CEO of Yippy, Inc., a firm that markets the Yippy search engine, which it claims is free of censorship of conservative views, characterizing it as an "intelligence enterprise" with high-level White House connections. He told a reporter, "you don't know who you're fucking with" and denied the Q flag was a reference to QAnon, though he had had numerous references to QAnon on his Twitter account.
Michael Flynn—the former lieutenant general, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Security Advisor to Trump—posted a video on July 4, 2020, to his Twitter account of him leading a small group in an oath with the QAnon motto, "Where we go one, we go all."
Analysts says that the oath is part of QAnon's attempt to organize "digital soldiers" for the political and social apocalypse they see coming. Flynn's apparent declaration of allegiance to QAnon makes him the most prominent former government official to endorse the conspiracy theory, although Trump has tweeted multiple QAnon-related phrases without actually mentioning the movement.
Flynn's attorney Sidney Powell denied the oath related to QAnon, saying it was merely a statement engraved on a bell on John F. Kennedy's sailboat. But during preceding days numerous QAnon followers had taken the same so-called "digital soldier oath" on Twitter, using the same #TakeTheOath Flynn did.
Other Trump associates:
On three occasions during 2019 and 2020, Trump's deputy chief of staff and social media director Dan Scavino tweeted ticking-clock memes QAnon believers use to signify the countdown until "The Storm".
Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, has also occasionally retweeted posts with the #QAnon hashtag and of the limited number of accounts he follows (224 as of October 2019) many are QAnon advocates.
Eric Trump, in a summer 2020 tweet later deleted, promoted his father's rally in Tulsa with an image of a large "Q" and the WWGOWGA slogan.
On November 26, 2017, Trump retweeted a post by Twitter account @MAGAPILL, a self-styled "official President Donald Trump accomplishment list" and major QAnon proponent, less than a month after QAnon first started posting.
On December 28, the Russian television network RT aired a segment discussing "QAnon revelations", referring to the anonymous poster as a "secret intelligence operative inside the Trump administration known by QAnon". Although Russia was not involved in QAnon's origins, Russian government-funded Russian state media such as RT and Sputnik have been amplifying the conspiracy theory since 2019, citing QAnon as evidence that the United States is riven by internal strife and division.
On March 13, vice president of anti-abortion group Operation Rescue Cheryl Sullenger called QAnon a "small group of insiders close to President Donald J. Trump" and called their posts the "highest level of intelligence to ever be dropped publicly in our known history".
On March 15, Kiev-based Rabochaya Gazeta, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Ukraine, published an article calling QAnon a "military intelligence group".
On March 31, U.S. actress Roseanne Barr appeared to promote QAnon, which was subsequently covered by CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
While QAnon was initially promoted by Alex Jones and Jerome Corsi, Right Wing Watch reported that they had both ceased to support QAnon by May 2018, declaring the source "completely compromised". But in August 2018, Corsi reversed course and said he "will comment on and follow QAnon when QAnon is bringing forth news", adding that "in the last few days, QAnon has been particularly good".
On June 28, 2018, a Time magazine article listed Q among the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018. Counting more than 130,000 related discussion videos on YouTube, Time cited the wide range of the conspiracy theory and its more prominent followers and news coverage.
On July 4, the Hillsborough County Republican Party shared on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts a YouTube video on QAnon, calling them a "mysterious anonymous inside leaker of deep state activities and counter activities by President Trump". The posts were soon deleted.
On August 1, 2018, following the previous day's large presence of QAnon supporters at President Trump's Tampa, Florida rally for the mid-term elections, MSNBC news anchors Hallie Jackson, Brian Williams, and Chris Hayes dedicated a portion of their respective television programs to the conspiracy theory. PBS NewsHour also ran a segment on QAnon the next day.
On August 2, Washington Post editorial writer Molly Roberts wrote, "'The storm' QAnon truthers predict will never strike because the conspiracy that obsesses them doesn't exist. But while they wait for it, they'll try to whip up the winds, and the rest of us will struggle to find shelter."
On August 4, former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked to comment on QAnon in his "ask me anything" session on the /r/The Donald subreddit. In response to the question "is Q legit?", Spicer answered "no".
Incidents:
Tucson cement plant incident:
In May 2018, Michael Lewis Arthur Meyer livestreamed a Facebook video from the site of a Tucson cement plant, asserting, "This is a child sex trafficking camp that no one wants to talk about, that no one wants to do nothing about."
The video was viewed 650,000 times over the ensuing week. Tucson police inspected the plant without finding evidence of criminal activity. Meyer then occupied a tower on the property for nine days, until reaching agreement with police to leave. He later returned to the tower in July, whereupon he was arrested for trespassing. Meyer referenced QAnon and the #WWG1WGA hashtag on his Facebook page.
Hoover Dam incident:
On June 15, 2018, Matthew Phillip Wright of Henderson, Nevada, was arrested on terrorism and other charges for driving an armored truck containing an AR-15 and handgun, to the Hoover Dam and blocking traffic for 90 minutes.
He said he was on a mission involving QAnon: to demand that the Justice Department "release the OIG report" on the conduct of FBI agents during the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.
Since a copy of the Office of the Inspector General report had been released the day before, the man had been motivated by a Q "drop" which claimed the released version of the report had been heavily modified and that Trump possessed a more damning version but had declined to release it.
In video recorded inside his armored truck, Wright expressed disappointment that Trump had not honored a "duty" to "lock certain people up," asking him to "uphold your oath."
Targeting of Michael Avenatti:
On July 29, 2018, Q posted a link to Stormy Daniels's
attorney Michael Avenatti's website and photos of his Newport Beach, California, office building, along with the message, "Buckle up!".
The anonymous poster then shared the picture of a still unidentified man, appearing to be holding a cellphone in one hand and a long, thin object in the other, standing in the street near Avenatti's office, adding that a message "had been sent".
This sparked an investigation by the Newport Beach Police Department. On July 30, Avenatti asked his Twitter followers to contact the Newport Beach Police Department if they "have any details or observed" the man in the picture.
Harassment of Jim Acosta:
At a Trump rally in Tampa, Florida on July 31, 2018, Trump supporters exhibited hostile behavior toward CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta. Exponents of QAnon-related theories were at the rally.
The next day, David Martosko of the Daily Mail asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders whether the White House encouraged the support of "QAnon fringe groups".
Sanders denounced "any group that would incite violence against another individual", without specifically responding to the QAnon mention. Sanders added that Trump "certainly doesn't support groups that would support that type of behavior".
Grass Valley Charter School fundraiser:
The Blue Marble Jubilee fundraising event at Grass Valley Charter School in Grass Valley, California scheduled for May 11, 2019, was canceled as a precaution after a tweet by former FBI head James Comey on April 27 using the hashtag #FiveJobsIveHad, in which the first letters of the jobs were GVCSF, was interpreted by QAnon followers as a veiled reference to the Grass Valley Charter School Foundation, suggesting that Comey planned to stage a "false flag" terror attack at the event; the hashtag was also interpreted by QAnon adherents as an anagram of "five jihads", and the time stamp on the post was related to the 9/11 attacks.
The police and the FBI received warnings, in addition to the school, which decided not to take the risk of internet vigilantes attending "to guard the place", as a police sergeant put it.
Murder of Frank Cali:
Anthony Comello of Staten Island, New York, was charged with the March 2019 murder of Gambino crime family underboss Frank Cali. According to his defense attorney, Comello had become obsessed with QAnon theories, believing Cali was a member of a "deep state," and was convinced he "was enjoying the protection of President Trump himself" to place Cali under citizen's arrest.
Confronting Cali outside his Staten Island home, Comello allegedly shot Cali ten times. At his first court appearance, Comello displayed QAnon symbols and phrases and "MAGA forever" scrawled on his hand in pen. Comello had also posted material on Instagram praising Fox News personalities such as Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Jeanine Pirro.
Kidnapping incidents:
In December 2019, Cynthia Abcug was arrested and charged in Colorado with conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping of one of her children who had been removed from her custody. Her other daughter reported to police that Abcug had been collaborating with an armed male who was "definitely part of this group QAnon," that her mother had gone to QAnon meetings and believed that the child had been taken by "evil Satan worshippers" and "pedophiles."
On March 20, 2020, Neely Blanchard was arrested and charged with kidnapping and custodial interference after taking her two daughters who had been in the sole legal custody of their grandmother. Blanchard had made multiple social media posts promoting QAnon including memes and pictures of her wearing QAnon shirts at Trump rallies. She also has taken actions connected with the sovereign citizen movement.
Tintagel flag:
In January 2020, John Mappin (also affiliated with Turning Point UK) began to fly a Q flag at the Camelot Castle hotel near to Tintagel Castle in England. Advocacy group Hope not Hate said, "Mappin is an eccentric figure, considered outlandish even by his fringe rightwing peers. This childish ploy is a weak attempt at getting attention for himself and his marginal Turning Point UK organisation, and is better off being ignored."
Jessica Prim arrest:
In April 2020, Jessica Prim was arrested carrying several knives after live-streaming her attempt to "take out" presidential nominee Joe Biden. Prim was arrested in New York City on a pier where she appeared to have been trying to get to the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Comfort.
QAnon claimed the ship was used by a cabal of pedophiles. During her arrest, Prim was reportedly shown crying and asking police, "Have you guys heard about the kids?"
Before her arrest, Prim posted on Facebook that Hillary Clinton and Biden "need to be taken out" and that "Hillary Clinton and her assistant, Joe Biden and Tony Podesta need to be taken out in the name of Babylon! ... I can't be set free without them gone. Wake me up!!!!!"
Prim's Facebook page was filled with references to QAnon. She encouraged her Facebook followers to check out QAnon "clues". In a video posted just hours before her arrest, Prim ranted about a video that she believed depicted Hillary Clinton and an aide murdering a child.
Aggravated assault in Texas:
On August 12, 2020, Cecelia Celeste Fulbright was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Waco, Texas. Fulbright chased and rammed into another car whose driver she claimed "was a pedophile and had kidnapped a girl for human trafficking." She had made many posts online relevant to QAnon theory and sent a friend a text message saying that Trump was "literally taking down the cabal and the pedophile ring."
Misinformation on the 2020 Western United States wildfire season:
Main article: 2020 Western United States wildfire season
As wildfires spread across large parts of the Western U.S. in September 2020, false rumors spread on social media that antifa activists were setting fires and preparing to loot property that was being evacuated. Some residents refused to evacuate based on the rumors, choosing to defend their homes from the supposed invasion. Authorities pleaded with residents to ignore the false rumors.
A firefighters' union in Washington state described Facebook as "an absolute cesspool of misinformation" on the topic. QAnon followers participated in the misinformation, with one false claim that six antifa activists had been arrested for setting fires amplified by Q specifically.
Days earlier, Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr had amplified false social media rumors that planes and buses full of antifa activists were preparing to invade communities, allegedly funded by George Soros.
Reaction of online platforms:
Publishing of personal information:
On March 14, 2018, Reddit banned one of its communities discussing QAnon, /r/CBTS_Stream, for "encouraging or inciting violence and posting personal and confidential information". After that, some followers moved to Discord.
Several other communities were formed for discussion of QAnon, leading to further bans on September 12, 2018, in response to these communities "inciting violence, harassment, and the dissemination of personal information", which led to thousands of adherents regrouping on Voat, a Switzerland-based Reddit clone that has been described as a hub for the alt-right.
QDrops app:
An app called "QDrops" that promoted the conspiracy theory was published on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It became the most popular paid app in the "entertainment" section of Apple's online store in April 2018, and the tenth most popular paid app overall. On July 15, 2018, Apple pulled the app after an inquiry from NBC News.
Removal of related content:
In early 2019, Twitter removed accounts suspected of being connected to the Russian Internet Research Agency that had disseminated a high volume of tweets related to #QAnon which also used the #WWG1WGA slogan.
On May 5, 2020, Facebook announced its removal of 5 pages, 20 accounts, and 6 groups linked to "individuals associated with the QAnon network" as part of an investigation into "suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior" ahead of the 2020 United States election.
On August 19, Facebook expanded its Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy to address "growing movements that, while not directly organizing violence, have celebrated violent acts, shown that they have weapons and suggest they will use them, or have individual followers with patterns of violent behavior."
As a result of this increased vigilance, Facebook reported having already "removed over 790 groups, 100 Pages and 1,500 ads tied to QAnon from Facebook, blocked over 300 hashtags across Facebook and Instagram, and additionally imposed restrictions on over 1,950 Groups and 440 Pages on Facebook and over 10,000 accounts on Instagram."
In the first month after its August announcement, Facebook said it deleted 1,500 QAnon groups with such groups by then having 4 million followers. On October 6, 2020, Facebook said it would immediately begin removing "any Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon, even if they contain no violent content." The company said it would immediately ban any group representing QAnon.
On July 21, 2020, Twitter announced it was banning over 7,000 accounts in connection with the QAnon conspiracy theory for coordinated amplification of fake news and conspiracy theories. In a press release, Twitter said, "We've been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm. In line with this approach, this week we are taking further action on so-called 'QAnon' activity across the service."
Twitter also said that the actions may apply to over 150,000 accounts.
Facebook banned all QAnon groups and pages on October 6, 2020. That day, QAnon followers speculated that the action was part of a complex Trump administration strategy to begin arresting its enemies, or that Facebook was attempting to silence news of this occurring—neither of which was true.
Some followers speculated that a Justice Department "national security" news conference scheduled for the next day would relate to charges against Democrats, including Hillary Clinton. The Justice Department actually announced the investigation and arrest of Islamic State members.
On October 7, 2020, it was announced that Etsy would remove all QAnon-related merchandise from its online marketplace.
In an October 12, 2020 interview with CNN, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said much QAnon material was "borderline content" that did not explicitly break its rules, but stated that changes in the site's methodology for recommendations had reduced viewship of QAnon-related content by 80 percent.
Three days later, YouTube announced in a blog post that it had modified its hate and harassment policies to bar "content that targets an individual or group with conspiracy theories that have been used to justify real-world violence" such as QAnon or Pizzagate. It would still allow content discussing QAnon if it did not target individuals.
Apophenia – tendency to mistakenly perceive connections and meaning between unrelated things
Moral panic – feeling of fear spread among many people that some evil threatens the well-being of society
Nostradamus – 16th-century French reputed seer who published cryptic poetic quatrains in Les Prophéties, allowing for subjective interpretations
Ong's Hat – internet conspiracy alternate reality game
Operation Mockingbird – alleged CIA operation to manipulate the media which is occasionally referenced in the QAnon conspiracy theory
Secret decoder ring – promotional items by radio and TV programs that tap into a common fascination with secret codes
John Titor – anonymous Internet personage active 2000–2001 who made several failed predictions about the future
Media related to QAnon at Wikimedia Commons
Dunning, Brian (July 28, 2020). "Skeptoid #738: The QAnon Conspiracy". Skeptoid. | {
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It's always nice to look at what you've done over the year when it gets to December. I started looking at photos the other day, and it's crazy how much I really did squeeze into 2015. Because there's so much, I thought I'd split this post into 3, so I can talk about all the great things that happened.
I turned twenty-two, and had a bit of my hair chopped off. I went out with friends to celebrate in London, so there were lots of yummy cocktails and lots of dancing!
I went to my first ever bloggers meet-up. It was so much fun, and I got to meet lots of lovely girls that I'd been speaking to online for a while.
I spent Valentine's Day in London with one of my best friend's Sophie. We had yummy food and spent the day catching up on life. Who needs a boyfriend when you've got such great best friends?!
I went to the Harry Potter studio tour during their animal actors week and got to meet all of the animals in the films. I think my favourites were the owl that played hedwig (of course!) and Neville's toad.
I got to see Hunter Hayes live for the first time. It was such a small and intricate show, and I loved every second of it. I also got to meet him after the show, and he was a sweetheart.
I went down to Exeter to visit Sophie, and saw her in Sister Act. I loved Exeter and can't wait to go back. The show was also pretty brilliant!
Family weddings are my favourite. My cousin Stu got married in April, and we went up to Yorkshire for it. It was so lovely spending time with my crazy family, and I love them all so much!
My brother and my cousin's cousins also decided to re-create this picture of us from around 20 years before! | {
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Singer Kelly Clarkson wants you to know she's not eloping with fiancé Brandon Blackstock because she's expecting… she isn't.
Soon after, rumors began swirling that she was pregnant. The 31-year-old star put the speculation to rest on Twitter.
"FYI…Brandon & I are getting married & no I am not pregnant," Clarkson tweeted. "We are eloping for one reason only. We both want an intimate ceremony.""
Clarkson talked to People about the decision to keep the nuptials simple. "We are so busy that we finally just came to terms the other night and were like, 'So we change our minds and we want to elope.' We just got so overwhelmed by it, the decisions."
She added, "Our whole life is a celebration. We don't need another day where we throw a big party." | {
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"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
As regional tensions grow, Japan will house new U.S. special operations aircraft
by SOFREP May 1, 2016
The Air Force is preparing to move a special operations squadron of 10 CV-22 Ospreys to a base in Japan, where they will be on the frontlines of the United States' mounting standoff with China and North Korea.
The first three tilt-rotor aircraft are expected to arrive at Yokota Air Base, just west of Tokyo, in the second half of 2017, with another seven arriving by 2021, according to officials at the Pentagon.
Flown by Air Force Special Operations Command, the Ospreys will provide increased capability for special operators to respond to crises in or near Japan. The Air Force also uses Ospreys for combat search-and-rescue missions and to respond to natural disasters.
In addition, the Osprey squadron will "increase interoperability" and strengthen relationships with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the department said in a statement.
Air Force officials recently announced that they are relocating 46 civilian employees and their families who now reside on the base to make way for Osprey squadron facilities and for an additional 1,100 airmen..
The key airlift hub for the Western Pacific already is home to 11,500 personnel and more than 20 aircraft with the 374th Airlift Wing and the 36th Airlift Squadron, including a number of C-130H Hercules, C-12s and UH-1s. It is also home to the headquarters of 5th Air Force, with its frontline air bases spanning Japan from north to south.
The move comes at a time when key U.S. allies are scrambling to contain an assertive China and an unpredictable North Korea. U.S. forces are also returning to the Philippines in greater numbers, part of the Obama administration's focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Read More- Air Force Times
Image courtesy of US Air Force
The Pic of the Day: Special Operations Ospreys
The Pic of the Day: Ospreys in Flight
SOFREP Pic of the Day: Osprey's do some heavy lifting after Hurricane Maria
SOF Pic of the Day: Waiting for your ride
SOF Pic of the Day: Special Operations Soldiers exfiltrate via CV-22 Osprey
More Ospreys for Air Force spec ops | {
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Events: Book Tour
Jonathan Yardley's essay
Carlos Queiros interviews Marie
Silver, Sword, and Stone
Bolívar: American Liberator
Lima Nights
American Chica
Film: Girl Rising – Muchacha ascendente
Other Work Full Archive
Marie edits "The Female Conscience"
Posted in Other Work
Marie edits "The Female Conscience," the Fall 2012 Issue of the Virginia Quarterly Review, featuring Jean Bethke Elshtain, Sylvia Earle, Reeve Lindbergh, Jonathan Yardley, Joyce Carol Oates, Judith Warner, and many others.
Marie reviews "Jack 1939"
Posted in Book Reviews, Other Work, Washington Post
I once heard a master of suspense say that the craft was actually quite simple: Take a perfectly normal situation, a trope readers know well, then throw in a wild "what if?" What if your mild-mannered, homebody spouse — so familiar to you — is the midnight stalker in the black balaclava? What if the buttoned-down banker, the one who always takes home the civic awards, is knee deep in sex and depravity? What if your president — he who died martyred and tended to be a wee sickly — was a thrill-seeking spy at a pivotal time in history?
It's a lesson Francine Mathews seems to have learned well.
Her "Jack 1939" is most assuredly a work of fiction, but it takes skeins of history we all know well — Churchill's England, Hitler's Germany, Roosevelt's White House, the rise of the Kennedy family fortunes — and ravels a hair-raising tale.
In it, John F. Kennedy is young Jack, a junior at Harvard languishing in the Mayo Clinic and eager to board the Queen Mary for a much-needed rest in England. His father, Joe Kennedy, is the ambassador to the Court of St. James; his father's rival, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is angling for a third term; Hitler is busily cooking up a pact with Stalin; Himmler is madly devising the Final Solution; and war is in the air. But Jack is less driven by battle drums than a broken heart. The girl of his dreams has just thrown him over, and he is off to to Europe to stanch the wounds. Maybe even write his Harvard thesis. So far, all this is true. We're in the comfortable zone of history.
The Queen's Lover.
Posted in Journalism, Other Work, Washington Post
A society dame with the shrill voice of a street vendor hides her lover upstairs, then steals up for nocturnal raptures. A gay king who can't stomach his queen sends his most trusted courtier to impregnate her. A palace congested with vermin and lice harbors lamb chops and cakes tucked deep into the upholstery. A queen fleeing the scourge of revolution relies on a careless hairdresser to get her to safety. What's not to love about history!
History is what you get in Francine du Plessix Gray's deeply intelligent novel "The Queen's Lover." Not history of the Sofia Coppola variety, mind you, in which Marie Antoinette is a bubblehead, giggling her way through a fog of silliness until her head is removed from the finery. This is History with a capital H, served up with relish. Packed with names, dates and research and bristling with a lively correspondence, du Plessix Gray's book gives us fiction with a full dose of fact.
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's "A Lovesong for India"
Posted in Book Reviews, Other Work
Quick: Name a writer of Polish roots who immigrated to London, learned English on the fly, wrote about hard-to-parse, faraway places, and became one of the most distinguished English novelists of the 20th century.
Joseph Conrad? Well, yes. But you might have said Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, a prodigious talent who has brought India alive on page after page of remarkable fiction in the course of the past 60 years. Ironically, Jhabvala is far better known for bringing alive not India, but England and America in the Merchant Ivory films "A Room With a View," "Howards End," "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge," "The Remains of the Day" — a phenomenally successful run of movies for which she was the lead screenwriter. Known for her resonant dialogue, emotional subtlety and deadeye aim, she is a master of narrative no matter what the medium, plucking her stories from a vast store of life.
Hari Kunzru's "Gods Without Men"
In Hari Kunzru's dazzling new novel, a desert is the setting, hero and villain. It isn't the first time this landform has played such a starring role. Throughout history, deserts have had a powerful grip on the human imagination: Jesus walked one for 40 nights. Moses for 40 years. Muhammad spent his boyhood in the sand, among Bedouins. Even Coyote, the trickster god of Native American lore, darted nimbly from cactus to cactus. A desert is where bombs go up and UFOs come down, where mirages, misadventures and miracles unfold. It is siren and slayer, everything and nothing. "The desert," wrote Balzac, "is God without men."
Kunzru's "Gods Without Men" is a great, sprawling narrative, as vast as the canvas on which it is written. In it, half a dozen stories play out on the gaping expanse of the Mojave Desert, where a miscellany of lost souls seeks salvation in the shadow of a three-fingered rock formation.
Daniel Sada's "Almost Never"
Sada was, without a doubt, a writer's writer. Like Faulkner or Joyce or David Foster Wallace, he produced rich, dense, diabolically difficult novels — some written in octosyllabic and hendecasyllabic meter, all punctuated with a set of bizarre rules. But the rewards, for anyone in love with the Spanish language, were legion. These were gargantuan masterpieces, clear rejoinders to the stark, minimalist work of Juan Rulfo, whose "Pedro Paramo" had dominated the Mexican literary landscape for more than half a century. They stood in clear contrast, too, to thin, bleak novels by young Mexican writers of the Crack Movement, who fought hard to distance themselves from Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Mario Vargas Llosa or Julio Cortazar and then self-destructed in the fray. Just as Sada's weird, culturally incorrect novels began to be noticed — just as Mexico conferred on him its most coveted national prize — a renal malady took him. And so we are left with the Sada we have.
On Immigrant Culture
Three marielitos, three manifest destinies for immigrants of cuban boatlift, freedom rings — in distinctly different tones.
By Marie Arana-Ward, Washington Post Staff Writer.
Every year about now, the memories rush back. The knock at the door. The police. The neighbors shrieking "Escoria! Gusano!" ("Scum! Worm!") and wielding rocks. The bumpy bus ride through the Cuban countryside to the port of Mariel. The regiments of rifle-toting guards. The fierce-faced dogs. The biblical mass of humanity huddled beneath the hiss of a nearby electric plant. And then the heart-stopping sight of thousands of American boats bobbing in the water, waiting.
Sixteen years ago this summer, the Mariel boatlift brought 125,000 Cubans to the United States in one of the most remarkable waves of immigration in recent U.S. history. It began when a driver seeking asylum rammed his van through the gates of the Peruvian Embassy in Havana on April 1, 1980. A fight broke out. A guard was shot. When Fidel Castro pulled Cuban security out of the area, 10,000 Cubans flooded the embassy grounds, clamoring to leave. Furious, Castro opened the borders and announced that anyone could go. American adventurers took to their boats, descending on Cuba by the thousands, eager to be saviors of the oppressed.
The Freedom Flotilla, President Jimmy Carter called it, and it was an invitation as clear and open as the one carved in stone: "Give me your tired, your poor . . . the wretched refuse of your teeming shore." The new arrivals poured into Florida, jamming immigration facilities, straining police and welfare services and giving Americans one less reason to reelect their president.
The lives of Eduardo Barada, Pedro Santa Cruz and Carlos Buergos converged in 1980 when each boarded a boat bound for Florida with nothing but the clothes on his back. Months later, fate brought them to the streets of Washington. They were led to the same destination, given the same chance to reinvent themselves. And yet, somewhere in the decade and a half between youth and middle age, they took divergent paths. Barada today is a radiantly successful entrepreneur. Santa Cruz has worked in dozens of jobs and found little reward. Buergos's drug-soaked trajectory has led him to forfeit the very freedom he thought he had won in coming to this country, a paradox he contemplates in prison now.
"America," George Santayana said, "is the greatest of opportunities and the worst of influences." For many Marielitos, life has been good and work rewarding, but for just as many, the road has been bewildering and hard.
By any measure of success — money, love, status — the three men chronicled here occupy points far from one another on the grand American spectrum. Together, they offer a window on the perils and possibilities of immigrant life in the 1990s. Each has struggled, found love, encountered his weaknesses and strengths and discovered that in undertaking to become an American — a voyage every bit as stormy as the 90 miles from Mariel — he has traveled farther than he ever dreamed. The Convict
Although Castro implied that anyone who wanted to leave Cuba was either criminal or insane, most Marielitos were law-abiding citizens who passed themselves off as "antisocials" to qualify for the exodus. Of the 125,000 who came, according to Tomas Curi of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the great majority hailed from ordinary lives in Cuba and proceeded to ordinary lives in the United States. A small fraction of them — about 2,500 — were criminals and mental cases thrown into the mix by Castro.
One of those was Carlos Buergos, eldest son of a stevedore, a wiry, blue-eyed descendant of Spaniards — happy-go-lucky guy and convicted thief. He was hardly 25 when he clambered onto Florida soil but already had accumulated a history of misadventure.
His family was hardly the reason. His parents had raised nine children, a tightly knit, responsible group of siblings ("I was the only bad one"). But by the time America got him, he had fought in the war in Angola, been put in prison for stealing and butchering horses, and then, on his release, been imprisoned again for attempting to escape Cuba. He was exactly the kind of Cuban that Castro did not want.
On May 9, 1980 — one year into his 12-year sentence — Buergos's prison threw open its doors, and he was taken to the port of Mariel. There, with very little ado, his wildest dream came true: He was put on a cargo boat bound for Key West. Forty-eight hours later — sunburned, sun-blind and dehydrated — he was whisked through a processing center with thousands of other Marielitos and put on a bus to Fort Chaffee, a military base in Arkansas. Five months later, he was in Washington, free to go out into the October afternoon. The Functionary
Pedro Santa Cruz, a 25-year-old accountant in Havana's transportation department, got his first American break in the Krome detention camp at the edge of the Everglades. There he was spotted by Penn Kemble, now deputy director of the U.S. Information Agency, then doing research on Cuba's war in Angola. "I was looking for Afro-Cubans. . . . There were not a lot of blacks in the Mariel camps. Pedro was a real black. He stood out."
Kemble befriended him. "He was depressed and didn't think he'd ever get out. But he was very smart. And well-educated, well-versed in world affairs."
In fact, Santa Cruz had graduated second in his high school class and had garnered honors at Jose Marti University. The only child of a seamstress, he was one of nine inhabitants in the two-room house of his mother's second husband, a gas station attendant who adopted him as his own.
He held several government jobs, but he never made much headway because he refused to join the Communist Party. "I was having trouble with the revolution,' " he says in a lilting Cuban Spanish.
When the Mariel expulsion began, he got a call from an old professor. " You haven't built a good political base, Pedro,' he told me. The best thing you can do for yourself is go.' " He began soliciting letters from friendly officials who were willing to lie on his behalf and say that he was antisocial, lazy and a liability to Cuba. He presented the papers to the police; two days later, a bus appeared at his door.
In another week, he found himself incarcerated at the Krome camp. As the weeks dragged on, he tried to forget his anxieties by helping fellow Cubans with their paperwork. When Kemble came to his tent asking about Angola, he decided to help him, too.
Kemble didn't forget Pedro Santa Cruz. Months later, he offered to be his sponsor. By September, Santa Cruz was in Kemble's home, scratching his head over the electric can opener and wondering how he would ever learn which bus to catch. The Dreamer
Eduardo Barada crossed to Florida on a 50-foot shrimp boat as a storm whipped the sea into a fury, sending streams of salt water across the deck. When he looked down, there was little left of his well-worn shoes. "I took them off and threw them overboard," he says. "The next day, I arrived in the United States barefoot, walked onto my first airplane barefoot and stayed barefoot for the full first two weeks of my American life.
"My great good luck was to have grown up in Cuba," he says. "It taught me discipline." When he was 7, his mother died, and his father placed him in an orphanage. For the next 10 years, he was a ward of the Cuban state. When he graduated at 18, he got a clerical job and began dreaming about owning his own business. "Many of us were frustrated by the communist system, but of course we never said that out loud. And life went on. I got married; we had a baby. But one Sunday when I was 23, I was out having lunch with friends and someone mentioned that they were taking applications at Mariel. I said: That's it. Let's go.' "
His young wife was unwilling. They were black, and she had heard things about the way black people were treated in the United States. But she didn't try to stop him, and he left, thinking that someday she would follow.
Barada convinced Cuban officials that he was a drug addict. They took him in one of the first roundups.
As soon as he passed through Key West, he was transferred to Miami International Airport and ushered shoeless onto a flight to Pennsylvania. They took him to Indiantown Gap, a National Guard training center where 20,000 Marielitos were held behind barbed wire.
In August, after several strikes in holding camps across the country, the INS began processing Marielitos rapidly. They gave Barada $20 in pocket money and asked him where he wanted to go. He pulled out a scrap of paper with an address someone in Key West had scribbled down for him. It was in Washington. The Slow Slide
When former convict Carlos Buergos walked out into the crisp October afternoon in downtown Washington, INS staff members had done three things for him: They found him a job as a busboy in American University's cafeteria at minimum wage, no tips. They gave him a monthly stipend of $150 until he was settled into the routine. And they rented a room for him in a Mount Pleasant boardinghouse.
After a few months, he landed another job with a caterer to augment his meager salary. Coming home late one night from that second shift, he was robbed by three street toughs and shot in the stomach. For two months, he nursed eight perforations in his intestine. He underwent a colostomy and was unable to eat normally.
He had survived a shooting before. In the Angolan jungle nine years earlier, a well-aimed lead slug had pierced his skull, grazed his brain and exited the rear of his cranium. It took three months in a Mozambique hospital cot to bring him around. The scars are clearly visible on his forehead and crown.
When he recovered from the stomach wound, he started in on a carousel of short-lived jobs — waiting tables, tending bar, putting up drywall. But it was with a difference now: He'd sniff a bit of cocaine when he was out with friends. He had never taken illegal drugs before.
And he began collecting misdemeanors. INS correspondence shows arrests in 1982 and 1983 for carrying a concealed weapon. "I was with a group of Cubans both times," he says, "and we were a little drunk in a 7-Eleven parking lot maybe. The weapon was my drywall knife."
One day in 1984, he was offered several days' pay to deliver a packet of cocaine across town. Before long, he was taking packages here and there for anyone who asked. On Sept. 24, 1984, according to Buergos, he was sent off with a thick stack of $100 bills to Springfield, Mass., but when he and his traveling companion checked into their motel room, the other man pulled a pistol from his belt, shot Buergos in the back and ran off with the money. Rushed to the emergency room, he was hospitalized for two weeks. The bullet is still lodged in his hip.
Within a few months of his release, he began buying cocaine regularly. By 1987, he was doing errands for small-time dealers, keeping himself in gold chains and designer clothes, feeding a spiraling habit. He robbed a store and a private house in Ocean City, Md., and served 12 months in prison.
In 1988, he met a young Venezuelan woman who was cleaning houses in Bethesda. Responsible and hard-working, she tried to instill some order in his life, and for a while he was off drugs and working regularly as a drywall finisher. The two were married and had a baby boy in May of the following year.
Buergos got his best job yet — as a waiter at Rockville's Woodmont Country Club — but it didn't last long. He quit in a huff when the headwaiter complained that he was too slow. To take the place of one job, he now found two: working room service at a Bethesda area Marriott hotel and then heading out with his best friend to work as a waiter in a Baltimore Holiday Inn. "I was getting right," he says, "trying hard." But when that friend died of cancer in 1991, Buergos stopped showing up at either job. Soon he was back on cocaine with a vengeance and into the netherworld of freaks and thugs who traded in it.
When a big-time drug dealer moved into his apartment building on 16th Street NW, he began running drugs for him. Before long, Buergos's wife and their 3-year-old checked into a shelter for battered women, and then she moved into a separate apartment altogether, resolving to do something for her sickly little boy, who was exhibiting acute signs of attention deficit disorder and emotional confusion.
On his own, Buergos surrendered completely to his habit. He was, he says, pocketing no money, just getting from one snort to the next. By the time he landed in Lorton prison for selling cocaine, he was a ghost of the young blond boy who had marched off to Angola 20 years before — a gaunt, twitching, 130-pound basket case.
Buergos's 6-year-old son died last summer of heart failure; his wife has drifted away. He speaks now, in rapid-fire Spanish, from a meeting room in Lorton. "I can't blame this country for my flaws," he says, his arms resting on a bare table. "This place has given me nothing but opportunities." Dreaming about a possible parole next year, he is hopeful about his future: "I'm ready now to be responsible. I can do it, I'm sure of it, if God and this country will just give me another chance." Gridlock
Pedro Santa Cruz eventually figured out the bus schedule from Penn Kemble's comfortable Northwest Washington home and began an English as a Second Language program at Georgetown University. He had friends in high places: Frank Calzon, for instance, director of an organization called Of Human Rights and a prominent anti-Castro activist, had secured him the place at the university. He studied by day and washed dishes in the school cafeteria by night.
Santa Cruz was among the best performers in his class, and when he finished, Kemble offered him a job in his Institute of Religion and Democracy, a group helping Latin Americans. But when Santa Cruz found himself stuffing envelopes and being paid a pittance, he left.
He began a series of menial jobs — running errands at a Rosslyn printing shop for $3.50 an hour, making sandwiches in a L'Enfant Plaza deli, cutting grass at Arlington National Cemetery, even flipping hamburgers at McDonald's. In those jobs, he often was tossed in with other Marielitos, among them Carlos Buergos, whom he still calls a friend. But unlike Buergos, he was never caught up in the lure of the illegal.
"Pedro was always straight," says the woman he eventually married, Carolina Santa Cruz, a white Honduran. "He was quiet and tranquil, a man with good manners and a good nature. His problem was not any given temptation; it was that he never understood what it takes to make it here."
Although he was constantly signing up for courses — computer skills, insurance sales, real estate and banking — his career never seemed to take off. He found employers became nervous when applicants identified themselves as Mariel Cubans, something Santa Cruz always did openly, proudly.
When he and Carolina were married, he was still working construction, taking odd jobs as a salesclerk in the evenings to augment his income. She was a university graduate, but she cleaned houses in Potomac for a living. "That sort of thing never bothered me," she says. "I was studying insurance on the side, and the people I worked for were so nice to me."
By 1990, when their daughter, Mariel, was born, Carolina had landed a $26,000-a-year job selling insurance for Allstate. Shortly thereafter, Pedro became an $8.50-an-hour part-time accountant for a printing company in Virginia. They moved into a three-bedroom town house in Arlington, acquired an assortment of credit cards and sent for Pedro's mother in Havana to come live with them and mind the baby.
Pedro's mother did come, but she balked at the baby-sitting responsibilities. She felt hoodwinked and complained that she hadn't come to the United States to be anybody's slave. She wanted to go out dancing, have some fun. And she insisted on being paid. Within weeks of her arrival, there was all-out war between the two women. Before long, Pedro was driving his mother to Miami in a car he could barely afford, hoping the Cuban environment there would be more welcoming for her.
The setting was definitely more Cuban but hardly more welcoming. Miami Cubans were largely from pre-revolutionary Cuba's upper classes. And they were largely white. "When I started looking for an apartment, it hit me how racist the established Cuban community there was. I'd call and people would be pleasant on the telephone. Yes, Mr. Santa Cruz, how nice, a Cuban from Washington. Please come over, have a look.' And then we would show up, they would see that we were black, and suddenly the apartment wasn't available anymore." Santa Cruz eventually did find a Miami home for his mother, and after a rocky period of adjustment, she settled down in the job she still has: ironing clothes in an apparel factory.
By the time he returned to his wife and daughter in Arlington, however, his world had changed. He began to miss Cuba, to resent the standoff between his wife and mother, and to hop from job to job again.
Amid rampant credit card debt and day-care costs for the baby, he and Carolina found themselves fighting about money, fighting about work and contemplating separation. In February 1995, after years of unhappiness, they were divorced.
Today, Carolina is still at Allstate, making $44,000 a year. Pedro, after a series of jobs, is a sales representative for First National Bank of Maryland, making $21,000. He lives in a rent-controlled building in Arlington, where he often spends time with 6-year-old Mariel. Life is simpler now, he says.
"He'll stay at that job for a while," his old friend Penn Kemble says, "and then he'll start to wonder why he's not getting anywhere. He'll get angry and discouraged, and he won't realize that he has to promote himself. That he has to go out and do the middle-class American thing of hustling, doing favors, getting in with the boss, getting noticed, pushing his way up the ladder."
"Maybe it's because I'm from a communist country," Santa Cruz says, "but I think it's very difficult here. It's not the racism. There's racism in Cuba, too, though everyone there is trained to deny it. What's hardest for me about the United States is the lack of security. You can get the pink slip any time. There's more to life than a job, but you'd never know it living here. This stressed-out, work-obsessed, credit card culture is not for me. I can do it, but I don't like it. . . .
"Sometimes I think that if all 125,000 of us had stayed," says Pedro Santa Cruz, leaning back in the mauve chair of his bank's tidy little conference room, "Cuba might have been a different place today. All the unhappiest ones, all the frustrated ones left. We could have been a force for change.
"No, I don't want to die here. Someday, when Fidel's gone, I'll take my mother and go back to Cuba, have a little house on the beach, teach English and business and be free of the tyranny of the almighty car and dollar. Jose Marti said it long ago, but it has taken me 16 years to appreciate his words: Nuestro vino es amargo pero es nuestro vino.' " Our wine is bitter, but it's ours. The American Dream
Across the Potomac, a Marielito with a fraction of Santa Cruz's advantages was thriving. Eduardo Barada arrived at the scrawled address, settled in with a Cuban family and took a job with the garbage and floor-polishing detail at Blair House, the U.S. government's guest house for visiting dignitaries. "You had to be careful in those days. People would hire a Marielito, ask for his Social Security number, then throw him out and use the number for somebody else. The Latins especially treated us badly."
It didn't seem to matter. Barada was making his own opportunities. For a while, he did menial jobs at the Four Seasons Hotel, the place he calls "my school." He credits Omar Cardenas, a Peruvian waiter there, with teaching him everything he knows about the business.
"I met Eduardo Barada in the hotel personnel manager's office one day," Cardenas says. "He spoke no English, and the manager wanted me to explain to him that there were no openings. He was just sitting there, understanding nothing. But there was something about him. So honest." Cardenas persuaded the manager to hire Barada as a kitchen boy, and then trained him up the ranks.
Three years later, pursuing his dream of owning his own business, Barada decided that he needed to know how goods moved from wholesale to retail, and so he offered to work at Potomac Wines in Georgetown for nothing. "I was more interested in what they could teach me than in what they could pay me, but they paid me anyway. Eventually the owners even trusted me with the store's money." He worked there for two years.
In 1987, Barada opened Altagracia, a small shop in Adams-Morgan, selling herbs associated with Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion. Four years later, he had raised enough money to open Habana Village, a scruffy little bar and dance spot that would change his life.
On Thanksgiving 1995, when the nightclub was closed, a fire consumed the premises. Barada had no fire insurance. But this apparent disaster turned to his advantage when two investors came forward to help him rebuild.
Today, Barada is a legend among Cubans in this city, and in recent years, his fame has reached back to Havana. Even the diplomats who represent Fidel Castro in the Cuban Interest Section at the Swiss Embassy can be found raising a glass or smoking a cigar at his new Columbia Road bar. Barada's nightclub is a throbbing center of Latino culture, where classes and exhibits are held, where you are likely to find a law partner dancing with a garage attendant, black with white, rich with poor, young with old, where "at least one night at a time," Barada says, "we can all be equals."
Last year, when he returned to Cuba for the third time, Barada went through a grueling week of ordainment into Santeria. He is a high priest, a babalao. Even his management style verges on the inspirational. "The most important asset is the human component," a recent memo to his staff says. "No pessimism or negativity allowed."
At first, he says, he had problems with white and Latino police officers. "All they could see was this" — here he points to his cinnamon skin — "my exterior." His face breaks out into a wide, sunny smile. "And now that they see this part of my exterior" — he flings his arms about to indicate the pleasant ambiance of Habana Village — "they are my friends."
He and his wife divorced last year, but he continues to support his 16-year-old daughter. He sends money to the Cuban school that helped raise him. And he wants to help the Marielitos who keep appearing at his doorstep.
Someday Carlos Buergos may be among them. "Si si, Barada. I've heard all about him," Buergos says, his blue eyes shining momentarily out of a haggard, tic-tortured face. "When I get out of here next year, I'm going to go see him. I hear he helps Marielitos like me. Maybe he'll let me work for him."
"If they come to me," Barada says, "I help them. But I have no sympathy for people who waste the chance this country gives them. The addicts, the hoods. They are incompetents, irresponsible. There are 9 million people sitting in Cuba right now who can do exactly what I have done, if given the opportunity. I feel sorry for the ones languishing on that island with no chance at all."
Someday, he says, he will marry Julia Aymerich, a serious young Spanish woman who is finishing her doctorate in linguistics at Georgetown University. Barada himself is almost entirely self-taught. His success in America is not a result of any particular credential. It seems to be a direct result of his state of mind. "Live with love and act from discipline, and life will treat you well," he says.
"I feel sorry for my sad fellow immigrants who came to this country chasing the almighty dollar. I want to shake them and tell them: Don't think so much about the money. That's not what's important. Destiny's the thing. That's what you can change in America. I've done it. I know.' "
1,400 Marielitos Detained in U.S. Official Says Crimes Here, Not in Cuba, Are the Reason
Today 1,400 Marielitos remain in detention in the United States, 963 of them in federal prisons, the rest scattered among Immigration and Naturalization Service facilities and county jails. Keeping Marielitos in correctional facilities has cost the federal government half a billion dollars since the 1980 boatlift.
"Nobody is being held based on their criminal records in Cuba," said Tomas Curi, of the INS. "Everyone who came in 1980 was released at one time or another. If they are being held now, it is because they have commited crimes in the United States, some of them repeatedly. Five or six hundred of them are very violent, with records of assault, murder or rape."
In 1984, the INS got Cuba to agree to repatriate 2,700 of those the service categorized as "the worst offenders" — Marielitos repeatedly found guilty of serious crimes. But after 1,300 were returned, Cuba's Fidel Castro refused to admit any more. In the last three years, the INS has managed to repatriate about 100 Cuban criminals a year.
Besides Carlos Buergos, five Marielitos are incarcerated in the Lorton Correctional Complex. Until last year, 100 or so with serious mental problems were being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital in the District. They have been dispersed to halfway houses and federal prisons.
— Marie Arana-Ward
CAPTION: Cubans crowd the deck of a boat in the Straits of Florida during the Mariel boatlift of 1980, which brought 125,000 Cubans to the United States. CAPTION: Eduardo Barada relaxes in his Columbia Road nightclub, a center of Latino culture that even attracts diplomats representing Fidel Castro. CAPTION: Pedro Santa Cruz, once an accountant in Havana, works in a bank office after a series of menial jobs. He dislikes the "work-obsessed, credit card culture" here. CAPTION: Carlos Buergos, a convict in Cuba, has ended up in prison in this country, losing the freedom he had sought in coming here. CAPTION: Carlos Buergos's drug habit led to a prison term. He is hoping for parole next year: "I'm ready now to be responsible." CAPTION: Pedro Santa Cruz's plans for a post-Castro Cuba: He'll teach "and be free of the tyranny of the almighty car and dollar." CAPTION: During a visit to Havana, Eduardo Barada pauses in the neighborhood where he was born. Word of his success in the United States has reached his homeland.
A Russian at Large
The Epic Saga of Writer Vassily Aksyonov's Life.
Vassily Aksyonov. Say it to a Washingtonian and you're likely to get a blank stare. And yet Aksyonov may well be the most important writer in this century to hold a Washington address. He has been hailed as a Salinger, a Dostoevsky, a Hemingway, a Tolstoy. Aksyonov is one of the giants of 20th-century Russian literature, but after 16 years of Washington tenure, hardly anyone seems to know he is here. (more…)
Posted in Book Reviews, Journalism, Other Work, Washington Post
The Museum of Innocence, by Orhan Pamuk. Translated from the Turkish by Maureen Freely.
One of the trickier subjects in fiction is that of the hapless suitor, besotted with love, locked in a lifelong obsession with a woman he can neither leave nor have. Yet, for all the perils of that soupy scenario, great literature has come of it. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote memorably of just such a man in "The Great Gatsby"; William Styron, in "Sophie's Choice"; Gabriel García Márquez, in "Love in the Time of Cholera"; and Mario Vargas Llosa, in "The Bad Girl."
Now, adding to those triumphant chronicles of the lovelorn, comes Orhan Pamuk's mesmeric new novel, "The Museum of Innocence." In it, the Nobel Prize winner proves his own dictum that a lover's best hope, like a writer's, is patience, or, even, stubbornness. In loving, as in writing, you dig a well with a needle. You're in for a long haul.
As familiar as the subject of love might seem, "The Museum of Innocence" is a startling original. Every turn in the story seems fresh, disquieting, utterly unexpected. Like the old Turkish legend of love-struck Ferhat, who literally tunnels through rock to reach the object of his affection, Pamuk's hero, Kemal, finds no obstacle too daunting in the single-minded pursuit of Füsun.
Those obstacles can be formidable: First, Kemal, an urbane bachelor of 30, already has a fiancée, Sibel, an Istanbul woman of his own class. She is sophisticated, beautiful, and, by his own agency, no longer a virgin (which in Turkey means that, if he doesn't make her his wife, no other man ever will). Second, the sudden angel of his dreams, Füsun, is a schoolgirl from a poor neighborhood — a distant relative — barely 18. Third, and perhaps most vexing of all, their story begins backward: bedding Füsun is surprisingly easy. It's winning her heart that proves devilishly hard.
So, as strange as it may seem, the novel opens with Kemal and Füsun in bed together: "It was the happiest moment of my life, though I didn't know it," Kemal recounts. "Had I known, had I cherished this gift, would everything have turned out differently? Yes, if I had recognized this instant of perfect happiness, I would have held it fast and never let it slip away. It took a few seconds, perhaps, for that luminous state to enfold me, suffusing me with the deepest peace, but it seemed to last hours, even years. In that moment, on the afternoon of Monday, May 26, 1975, at about a quarter to three, just as we felt ourselves to be beyond sin and guilt so too did the world seem to have been released from gravity and time." Sadly, as Kemal later ruminates, we never recognize life's happiest moment when we are in it. We always believe that there's a brighter one on the horizon; that the "golden instant" of our now is but prelude. For the rest of his life, Kemal will labor mightily to recapture the bliss he wins so easily on the first page. The genius of Pamuk's novel is that although it can be read as a simple romance, it is a richly complicated work with subtle and intricate layers. Kemal's descent into love's hell takes him through every level of the social order, past countless neighborhoods of sprawling Istanbul, in a story that spans 30 years.
At first, he believes he can have it all: a rich fiancée and an earthy shop-girl; his father's enormously successful business as well as long, self-indulgent afternoons. The scene of his engagement party at the Hilton turns out to be as glittering as any in Manhattan, replete with black market whiskey and all the Western trimmings, from miniskirts to revolving doors. All Istanbul society is there. He goes through the motions with Sibel, making his parents happy, but it is clear that this nuptial revelry is headed for disaster: He cannot live without Füsun.
It's impossible to tell more of the plot without giving away the story. Suffice it to say that as Kemal struggles to win and rewin his true love, bewildering things happen. But he finds strength to carry on.
Along the way, we learn a great deal about Turkey: its advertising business, its film industry, its brothels, the Turks who are driven to prosper and the Turks who are driven to drink. And as Kemal becomes more and more obsessed, even ill, in his irrational pursuit of happiness, we cannot help but see that he is utterly blind to the dire politics of his time. Is it lovesickness or innocence or just plain apathy that so distracts him from the bombs, the riots, the crackdowns, the unfortunate ranks among his schoolmates who are being dragged away to jail?
Eventually, one obsession leads to another and Kemal begins to swipe and hoard knickknacks that have any slightest relation to Füsun: mementos from her house, objects she merely touched in passing, keepsakes from outings they made together, cigarette butts from stolen afternoons. With frightening prescience, he sees very clearly where this will lead: "I sensed this room mysterious with old objects and the joy of our kisses would be at the core of my imagination for the rest of my life." And so it is. By the end of his bizarre journey, he will chase down the past, even overtake it; and he will transform his love for Füsun into a museum of relics, keeping the rapture alive.
All Istanbul, too, is alive in this wonderful novel. From the mists that rise from the dark waters of the Bosporus to the creaky old houses on its shores, from self-satisfied merchants in luxury apartments to out-of-work artists in shabby bars, from the brisk cologne offered by the city's bus drivers to the stench of life's waste in the bay, the city fairly breathes on these pages and, in one way or another, so do its eccentric inhabitants. Even Pamuk himself makes an appearance: first as young Orhan, a gawky writer in the '70s, then as the Orhan of these 2000s, the famous author of "Snow."
There is a magical sense of the Ouroboros in all of this, as the novel begins to swallow its own tail. The Orhan Pamuk who lives inside this novel is eventually persuaded to tell Kemal's story. That involution gets even more interesting when you know that there was once a writer named Orhan Kemal, and that, at the very start of Pamuk's career, Pamuk was conferred a prize bearing his name. Orhan Kemal was also a collector; his flat, too, a quirky museum. There are myriad such Turkish delights for those familiar with the country.
For all of its many layers, however, this is a book wholly centered on love and our desperate need to make sense of it. Like Kemal's instinct to pilfer Füsun's trifles, the human impulse is to grasp at love, as if it could be a concrete thing held by fingers. As Nietzsche once said, "There's always a drop of madness in any love, but there's also a drop of reason in any madness." Kemal's love drives him to acts of momentary irrationality, but it's on that tiny plunder that his very sanity depends.
In sum, "The Museum of Innocence" is a deeply human and humane story. Masterfully translated, spellbindingly told, it is resounding confirmation that Orhan Pamuk is one of the great novelists of his generation. With this book, he literally puts love into our hands.
From The Washington Post
Jane Smiley
A little more than midway through Jane Smiley's extraordinarily powerful new novel, "Private Life," the childless wife of a prominent astronomer becomes fascinated with a family of coots, ducklike birds that live on the pond near her house on Mare Island, up San Francisco Bay. So taken is she with that happy brood that she insists that Mr. Kimura, a Japanese friend, paint it for her. He does so, quickly and delicately, in a scroll that delights her with its urgency. (more…)
Silver, Sword and Stone now available for order | {
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Michial Farmer , 11 March 2010.
This week's music is, of course, "Teenage Wasteland" by The Who, suggested by David Grubbs.
– Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?
– Games, games, games. And vomit.
– Where's the hard sell?
– Help us, Wayne Peacock. You're our only hope.
– How do you prepare teenagers to preserve Christian disciplines in college?
– A theological or sociological model?
When Do You Indoctrinate Your Children?
Browning, Robert. Robert Browning's Poetry. Ed. James F. Loucks. New York: Norton, 1979.
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Penguin, 1999.
Plato. The Republic. Trans. Desmond Lee. New York: Penguin, 1987.
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Little, Brown, 1991.
One thing I wanted to mention about your discussion of the Amish and rumspringa, I think you missed a major point of doing it. I have no direct connection with the Amish, however, my mother's family is Mennonite, from which the Amish split off, and while the Amish don't really talk to the Mennonites for various doctrinal, familial, and historical reasons, there are still similarities of belief and situation.
Amish children, by and large, work in the family business, store/farm, whatever (the state of Pennsylvania kind of ignores child labor laws when it comes to the Amish) and don't really have access to anything outside the Amish community. At all. And that community is fairly inbred. A major point to having them leave for a year is for them to find someone to marry that is outside of this tiny tiny community inside which everyone is related to each other. Even for the Mennonites, who will talk to people outside the Mennonite community (usually), it is really hard for Mennonites to find people to date that they aren't related to and it is much much worse for the Amish. As far as coming back with babies, I really don't think there would be as much stigma as in another sect of Christianity, and I'm extrapolating here a little because I'm a generation removed from this, but women among the Mennonites and Amish are under so much pressure to have so many children so quickly that this is probably going to be fairly forgivable; it's a reality of being very poor and not making use of any sort of technology that would lessen a need for a large labor force. Like Michial said, there are social reasons to do it. My mother still tells stories of not finding anyone in Lancaster co. Pennsylvania to date who wasn't related to her and being absolutely thrilled when her parents moved to South Carolina, because the cute boys she met there weren't her cousins.
Oh, and the other reason why I don't think the baby thing would be that big of a deal is that I did hear stories of some Mennonite women getting a bit wild and cutting their hair and having some discrepancies between children and marriage, and my impression was that the former was really scandalous, but people just kind of didn't care about the latter and pretended that everything was strictly conventional, but the Mennonites (at least the sect I'm most directly connected to) have a tendency to just kind of ignore certain sins. As in, the elders come every year to inspect the homes of the congregation to make sure that their flock is still worthy of communion, but there are unspoken conventions about what they look at and what they don't.) However, it is anyone's guess as to just how much the Amish will do the same thing as the Mennonites. It is the exact same group of people with the exact same ancestry, culture, and geographical location, but they haven't spoken to each other in a while.
I've been doing youth ministry for roughly four years now, and I'm just giddy that I might actually have something to add to the conversation here. I really enjoy your takes on the topics you've been covering; I don't often get the perspectives that you all offer. That is as much of an argument as any for why youth ministers and graduate english guys should get together more often and listen to one another. Isn't that part of being the body? I especially liked Michial's summary of "The Modern Teenager." Nathan, your sanguine takes on seemingly everything are extremely refreshing to me.
One thing all three of you neglected to mention – either for time, or because it didn't fit closely enough with the humanities, or who knows what – but that is probably of significant importance here is the real purpose of youth ministry, as a function of building the body of Christ and His kingdom. I was actually looking forward to Nathan's ecclesiology on this point. My closest youth minister friends usually agree with me that if the church was truly being effective there would be no need for a youth ministry. Unfortunately, most of our modern churches split people across programs and limit their interaction outside of programs to mostly spectating – so youth ministry (and any other program) are somewhat forced to work within those limitations or constraints or what have you. Our youth are marginalized, so we work within those margins.
So, what ought the church to be offering that we offer as a youth ministry instead? I contend that one of the major functions is the building and equipping of believers to do good works. If youth are longing to be counter cultural and rebellious anyway – direct those energies into the counter cultural revolutions of Christ. Youth have a hugely untapped potential to change our world. They have the energy, the right amount of disregard for moderation, basically the extremeness of behavior that makes them both highly susceptible to stupidity and bad choices, as well as openness to taking leaps of faith that maybe we "more mature" don't want to take anymore. This is backed up several times over in the Bible – God using young people precisely because the old people are too set in their ways. David and Goliath leaps to mind, but there's the boy who is radical enough to believe that his fish and barley will feed 5000 while others pout about 8 monist wages, Samuel prophesying to Eli (most likely because Eli was too dense to hear it) and so on.
So our youth groups ought to be a place for youth to be equipped, not just for future college pressures, nor for future looming doubts and questions (although both of those are important) but for ministry right now. The youth group I am a part of plays lots of dumb games sure, but our constant goal is to be developing leaders in ministry today. "God loves using young people" is my constant mantra. We can't allow ourselves to make youth group a holding pattern until youth graduate into "the real fellowship of believers." We rob our youth of discovering their spiritual gifts, of honing their spiritual senses, of acting on faith – and then we wonder why in "the real fellowship" 80% of people just show up on Sundays and sit there.
I'm not accusing you or any of your listeners of advocating this "holding pattern" philosophy of youth ministry, just stating a problem as I see it and trying to add to the conversation.
Anyway – just as in your emergent vs new calvinist episode you touched on not having room for the unhip or old in our churches, we can easily fall into the same trap with all those "bratty teenagers." In the same way that Youth Ministers not talking to Humanities grads is a problem – the rest of us not talking to teenagers is a problem. They have much to teach us, and we much to teach them.
I'd love your thoughts on any or none of this. Keep up the good work guys.
Glad to hear from you, Josh. Last.FM tells me that you and Big Tim Rhodes are our top listeners–our overseas market.
I think we did mention the ecclesiastical purpose of youth ministry, but we probably did it only by implication. Maybe we treated it as an assumption instead. That's why I was so adamant that youth ministers should spend more time teaching theology and less time playing Chubby Bunny (if indeed people still play that horrible game).
I agree that the purpose of youth ministry is to equip young people to do good works; I do, however, question if tapping into the countercultural, "rebellious" attitude is the best way to go about that. It seems to me that that move often devolves into "Jesus was the ultimate REBEL, man"–which may be true but is likely not true in the way the counterculture would like it to be. I don't think the purpose of the Church is to make good citizens, and so I don't think the purpose of youth ministry is to prepare teenagers to fit in easily with the culture–but I worry about an (over-)emphasis on "rebellion." We didn't touch that as much as I wanted to.
A question for you, Josh: What does God using young people look like for you? I am certain God does use young people–I'm just not sure I ever saw that worked out in my own youth group.
I spent the morning thinking about this, and I think I can refine my point now. If a church is genuinely and biblically countercultural (I've not encountered a church like this in America–things, I suspect, are different in China), then appealing to a sense of youthful rebellion makes sense. But if your church is part of the prevailing culture, as most evangelical churches are, encouraging rebellion is only going to make the youths turn on you eventually.
Michial, I particularly appreciated your exhortation, and I think you answered your own question in your exhortation – there is so much pain and loneliness in high schools, and by having a safe, non-exclusionary place for youth to come, where they are discipled and loved by one another – well that's life healing. (More on this below) So, of course, you are right – you didn't ignore ecclesiastical purposes at all – should I have the time I'll give it a closer re-listen and pay more attention for those implications and assumptions.
Your point on rebellion is absolutely right as well. I should be more careful in what I say. First of all, no matter how much his followers hoped he would, I don't think Jesus ever advocated rebellion either. So, yes, you're right – merely saying "Be rebellious for Jesus!" isn't really redeeming those teenage tendencies, and redemption is what we're really searching for. I'm going to have to put some more thought into this.
Your question is a complicated one. Part of my point is that we shouldn't be categorizing things in quite this way. Our question ought to be – what does God using anyone look like? My contention is that God can use teenagers and middle-agers and the elderly in the similar ways. Now, I will put a quick disclaimer on that. Obviously, God has some very specific people He's looking to use; He provides lists of qualifications for elders as one example. A teenager doesn't really meet that list, but then again, most people don't, that's kind of the point. Does God have specific tasks for the teenaged, or the youth? I couldn't say. My mantra that God loves using young people is really a reactionary one, I don't think young people hear it enough in church.
But, lest you think I'm dodging the question I'll provide a couple examples I saw on our recent trip to Thailand. I'll start just slightly outside the youth group range. We met a young man who moved to Thailand 4 years ago. He's now 23, but at 19 he saw a need. In the village where he was staying there were orphaned or unwanted or uncared for children in abundance. He invited a few to move in with him, but they started inviting friends and soon he had too many to care for. So, naturally he started an orphanage. He decided to make his move permanent, raised some funding, and now he runs a small orphanage with around 40 kids in it. He did that at 19!
We visited compasio with our youth group and that's where I saw God using our youth to do things that I wasn't able to. The street kids, orphans, refugees, etc. that we worked with all gravitated more quickly, and opened their lives to our youth. There is a definite advantage to having the natural camaraderie of being young.
Obviously these examples are more on the extreme end. In a daily life end – there is definitely growth and learning that I see in my life from allowing myself to be challenged by youth. Youth can reach their peers more effectively than I can. Our group of adult leaders has had several discussions about how to bring in other youth from around the city. We never saw any fruit from OUR efforts over the last 4 years – but lo, one youth starts inviting friends a couple months ago and now 1/3 of our last meeting was full of youth that the adults couldn't figure out how to reach.
And just to wrap up close to where I began – really that is one pro to the compartmentalization across ages that naturally occurs in and out of church – we are naturally equipped to reach those who are hurting in the same ways that we are, who have the same needs that we have, who are at a similar stage of life. So youth reaching youth is one obvious way that God can use them. I just have a feeling that if we leave it at that (for any stage of life) that we're missing a bigger part of God's plan for us as a body, or a spiritual building.
I feel like I heard "God uses young people" TOO much in high school, which may reflect the difference between the denominations we grew up in. Hear it too much, especially without the conversation you mention about what it really means, and you're apt to feel that you're on the outside of some invisible movement of God. I didn't convert anyone in high school, try as I might, and with the number of conversions as the measurement of the efficacy of one's walk with God…well, you see what I'm getting at here.
I suspect "rebellion" is too easy a term for what Christ advocated. I think instead He was genuinely countercultural in the sense that He didn't seem that interested in the winds of the time. Nathan probably has some thoughts on this subject.
I appreciate the stories. I suspect things are radically different in Asia because Christianity is not the dominant religious mindset there; thus, it's possible/probable that there are teenagers there who haven't heard the Good News so many times that it no longer feels all that Good. So in a way, we weren't talking to you in the podcast (though I'm glad you listened and are talking back).
I'll repeat the thanks for listening, and I encourage you to point your youth ministry friends our way–I do think that college teachers and youth ministers could be, if we listen to one another, part of a fruitful continuum.
Honestly, ecclesiology is for me not the motivating force behind youth ministry but the central question that makes me wonder what the heck I'm doing. As I said before, I'm a person who believes in baptizing adults, so one of my concerns is whether some of the kids I work with who are part of the Church ought to be. On the other hand, I do see a great value in the practice of catechism, so that's generally what we do in our Wednesday night gatherings: we prepare for faithful service by means of learning the actual content of the faith. In other words, although I've got nothing against service projects and other such activities, I do tend to treat the time I have with the teens not as workers to be deployed but workers-to-be whom I should train.
Since this comment is getting lengthier than I prefer (and since I need to put my kids to bed), I'll wrap up later.
It seems that we are starting from very different points in our understanding of youth in the church, and without knowing more of the reasons and scriptures behind your side of the story, I'm afraid I don't have much to further the conversation.
As for your prophecy vs. wisdom comment – I agree that wisdom is much more accessible and desirable. However, many youth don't have the wisdom of adults, but that doesn't mean that they are without quality. I'd like to see more dialogue is all, instead of assuming that we have much to give youth and they have nothing to give in return.
As Michial will no doubt tell you, I'm a sucker for a good tertium quid, so in the face of the choice between a "channel the spirit of youthful rebellion" approach and a "holding pattern" approach I'm inclined to take a step backwards and think about whether there might be some way of approaching things that avoids the bad assumptions that I see inherent in both of those models.
That's why, incidentally, I brought up the Rumspringa in the podcast, not to minimize the social functions it's come to have but to note the theological tension with which it originated, a tension that I see still at play between my own ecclesiology and my own attempts to minister to youth. As I said in the podcast, I'm not inclined to go all-out Amish with regards to the young, but I am inclined to view youth ministry as part of a lifespan continuum as do the Amish: because our tradition, like the Amish, prefers to baptize adults, we have to imagine ministry to those who aren't yet adults differently than would, say, Presbyterians or Catholics.
In other words, I don't tend to think of youthful exuberance and foolishness as the untapped resources you do, but I also don't think that bread and circus is the best way to go about things. Instead, I'm inclined to present the Christian way as I would to folks who have not yet taken up the cross (largely because kids in most cases don't get crucified), teaching them as well as I can so that they can make a genuine decision to live as disciples or not when the chips are down.
I don't think that belittles the real complexity of their lives; it just means that the life of a modern teenager, with obvious exceptions, generally isn't the sort of context in which "rebellion" means much more than license. I also don't think it's an endorsement, implicit or otherwise, of the passive life of many megachurch parishioners. It is an acknowledgment that not every moment in life is the same as every other moment, that teenagers aren't to blame for inventing the teen years but have to live in them nonetheless.
As I noted in the podcast, I think that guys like Ben Lee, Brad Warfield, and Ryan Bader in the Johnson City, TN area are doing some really great things to get their teens familiar not only with the stock "memory verses" but with the full complexity of Christian tradition, keeping pace with what they're learning in high school (they do Calculus there!) and giving the teens some intellectual equipment for engaging the fullness of Christian life, should they choose to. I don't think it's any surprise that they're coming out of a tradition whose ecclesiology says that Christianity is for grown-ups: they're letting their teens into that grown-up world early so that they can decide whether being adult as a Christian is going to be worthwhile. I know that my own feeble efforts don't match their expertise, but I do often look to their model when I try to teach the teens in my context.
If it's dialogue you're after, I'm all for that. But that's not what I see in the story of Samuel and Eli. In that story I see the first of many narratives of interrupted succession in 1 and 2 Samuel–first Samuel supplants the rightful heir of Eli, then Saul supplants the rightful heir of Samuel, then David supplants the rightful heir of Saul, then Absalom tries and fails to supplant David (since he's already established himself as the rightful heir by murdering the heir), then Solomon (with Bathsheba's and Nathan's help) supplants the rightful heir of David, then Jeroboam supplants the rightful heir of Solomon. (I realize I've gotten well into 1 Kings here, but you get the point.) These are not stories of cooperation but of disposable dynasties, and you're right that I got worried when you held the first one up as a paradigm for how youth should see themselves in the Church.
With regards to that dialogue, I'm inclined to look towards Paul's counsel to Timothy and the form that it takes: while membership in the body of Christ remains entirely gratuitous in the pastorals, Paul at the very least implies in 1 Timothy 4 that the "youth" who does not want to be "despise[d]" should exhibit certain dispositions of "speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (4:12). When I encounter anyone, young or old, who exhibits faithfulness in those things, I'm more than ready to listen. When anyone, young or old, tries to seize the throne by other means, I'm not nearly as impressed.
What you and Michial are talking about regarding teens' wanting to rebel and be counter-cultural I can see in my own story, but at least part of my own ministry has to do with kids who aren't publishing underground newspapers and despising "the prevailing culture" but who try out time and again for (and often make) the football team and the softball team and various cheerleading squads. In other words, many of the folks with whom I work are perfectly happy to perpetuate the jock-culture of the Georgia high school, and I think that's why I see my own ministry less as channeling some prior energy and more as presenting a case that the world defined by decorative dating and rising to the top of the pecking order is in fact not as good as the world presents it to them.
Well now I have to go and rethink my hermeneutics. My point was that God seems perfectly willing to use youth, and for some reason we often don't extend them the same courteousness. However, I could be very well mistaken on both of those counts – perhaps I'm pinpointing a problem that does not exist in the church and misusing my Bible at the same time to propose a solution.
I do think you got a bit hung up on my use of "rebellion" though, which I recanted in my second post.
I think Nathan is probably right to point out that he comes from a tradition where only adults are baptized–that seems like the key to your disagreement to me.
I do apologize for the rebellion thing–I hadn't noticed that in your response to Michial.
With regards to 1 and 2 Samuel, I don't mean to dismiss that Samuel or David or Absalom or Jeroboam was young or even deny that God is mixed up in that whole fray–frankly, that's what makes those books such a blast to teach; they shake up my own assumptions about God's involvement in the world in ways that I can only call revolutionary. I was just noting that there's a literary pattern there, and I'd be hesitant to call it a series of peaceable dialogues.
As I said in my own response, I think that 1 Timothy offers a handy starting point for thinking about dialogue among folks of all ages–to the extent that folks can demonstrate exemplary speech, life, and faithfulness, I'm glad to listen to those folks. If that means that I'm listening to fifteen-year-olds, great. If that means I'm listening to eighty-year-olds, great.
That said, as Michial points out, my own tradition (or at least one stream of it that compels my imagination) does posit a fairly radical break between generations. One of our sayings is that there's no such thing as a second-generation Christian. I think that the catechism model is one way that I can reconcile that with the ministry I perform for the young adults of our congregation, and that's why I tend to favor that as a tool for thinking. | {
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I'm not gone, I promise.
I'm feeling slightly up and down on Cynthia Hand's Unearthly. On one hand, I definitely liked Clara – she has a lot of depth and it's obvious Ms. Hand took the time to really flesh her out. On the other hand, I really feel the novel was plagued by a lot of filler and not a lot of actual substance.
I discovered Stork while filling my Amazon cart with books I'd had on my wish list for a while. When this popped up on the recommended list, the word "Stork" automatically caught my attention – I was, after all, newly pregnant and quite fascinated with everything baby. The synopsis drew me further in and though when I purchased the book there were not a lot of reviews out yet, I decided to go with it anyway. I mean…storks…babies…debut novel…you can't lose! Right?
I want to begin by saying that Tyger Tyger is an interesting read. It's not entirely cookie-cutter and I appreciate that aspect. That said, though, I finished this book feeling absolutely unfulfilled.
Lauren DeStefano may have just become one of my favorite authors. She introduces the reader to a horrifyingly dark, dismal, and BELIEVABLE world from page 1 and continues to deliver throughout the novel. Rhine, the female protagonist, is a brutally real, honest, and deep character who is likely to appeal to most readers – or at least readers who like a woman with a brain in her head. | {
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In their new TV spot for P&G, It takes someone strong to make someone strong, Weiden+Kennedy has pulled off an impressive Mother's Day tribute to the moms who've stood behind us all. It's a powerful, emotional tour de force that will bring tears to even the most jaded among us.
Watching the spot makes me long for the days I spent working with Weiden+Kennedy when I was at Target and definitely makes me miss the years I spent working in the agency world.
And even though I'm not an Olympic athlete, their terrific spot makes me feel especially grateful to my own mom!
It's been a hot news item in the popular press and in the retail industry, but is it a big deal?
The price elasticity of a Prime membership will be based on customers' perceived value, of course. At $79/year this seems like a relatively simple decision for someone who buys a handful of times per year, uses Prime Instant Video and maybe borrows a few Kindle titles. The emotional arithmetic goes like this: 80 bucks divided by 12 months is just under 7 bucks per month seems like a good deal for free shipping and videos (BTW, nobody seems to talk about the Kindle book borrowing; I guess we don't care about this one very much).
At around $7/mo, that's less expensive than Netflix, so it's a no-brainer if you're a light-to-moderate viewer of streaming video. I believe if the price rises to exceed the monthly Netflix charge, people will reconsider. They may not leave Amazon, but they will pause to compare whether it's still the good deal they were getting before a price hike.
Amazon Prime gave you $218 in value for just $79.
Reinforce that value-received message a few times and most folks won't balk at a modest rate increase.
Validate whether the payment of a Prime subscription increases customer propensity to buy from Amazon so they can maximize the value of the subscription fee — then weigh the elasticity risk against this increased purchase propensity. That calculus could help find the ideal sweet spot where Prime subscription cost balances perfectly with increased purchase volume.
This morning CNN reported that Target fell victim to a massive and very sophisticated hacking scheme. Target and credit card issuers say as many as 40 million credit cards may have been compromised in this attack, which began on Black Friday.
What's fascinating about this is that the attack was NOT aimed at Target.com, but was instead focused on the brick-and-mortar stores — a place we usually consider to be more secure because major retailers have implemented thorough security measures in the form of PCI.
PCI is The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a proprietary information security standard for organizations that handle cardholder information for the major debit, credit, prepaid, e-purse, ATM, and POS cards. The standard began in 2004, but it really took hold after the massive credit card security breach at TJX Companies (TJ Maxx and Marshalls) during the Christmas shopping season in 2006. That attack affected 94 million accounts, more than double the number affected by the recent Target attack, and according to Visa it resulted in at least $68 million in fraud-related losses.
In a less PCI-compliant environment, the hack might have worked as shown in this YouTube video, "Hacking your credit card as you shop". What makes this recent Target attack especially interesting (and a bit scary) is that thieves apparently figured out a way to jump in at the very front of the security chain and steal mag stripe information BEFORE hitting any of the PCI measures were designed to prevent theft. Target's security is top-notch and their PCI implementation quite rigorous, so how did the hackers do it? According to reports, the sophisticated hack may have been in the firmware or software of the credit card swipe devices, so the hackers were able to bypass all the normal PCI-compliant security measures and get to the card data BEFORE it was ever encrypted.
Over the coming weeks and months Target, the Secret Service, and credit issuers will undoubtedly revise security protocols and work to overcome this latest hack. In the meantime, consumer vigilance continues to be our best last defense. If you've shopped Target recently, you may want to call a special hotline Target has established for people who suspect unauthorized usage of their card information: 866-852-8680. And it's a good idea for all of us to do these four things to ensure your credit information is secure.
This may not be all bad: I'll use this as an excuse to explain any gifts I may have forgotten to buy.
There has been quite a social media storm on the leading edge of the cycling industry. To quickly recap, bicycle giant Specialized threatened to sue the owner of a small bike shop called Cafe Roubaix Bicycle Studio for trademark infringement over his use of the name "Roubaix". Specialized claims the name for one of their bicycles.
The owner, Dan Richter, opened his shop after being medically discharged from the Canadian military after over 20 years of service, suffering PTSD after serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He took his savings and various military payments he received, and expanded his operations from a wheel building business he ran from his garage, to a storefront.
The story hit a week ago Saturday, in the Calgary Herald, and a firestorm of outrage poured from social media with such intensity that it created and continues to sustain an active revulsion of the Specialized brand.
To be fair, it is expected that trademark owners should diligently protect their trademarks from infringement and other misuse. Specialized would do well to take a cue from another industry's giant, Jack Daniel's. When they discovered an author who had designed his book cover in such a way that it too closely mimicked the brands famous whiskey label, they sent the most polite cease and desist letter. So much so (and here we go again with social media…), that it was sent all over the world and covered by publications with massive readerships: The Atlantic, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Time.com and finally, Mashable.com and The Telegraph in the UK, both of which I cite here, just to name just a few.
I, being a passionate single malt scotch whiskey drinker, will certainly give Jack Daniels another look the next time I'm in the mood for a fine whiskey – I am now a fan, a swooning fan at that. Jack Daniels embraces and radiates class. In reference to the above incident, their Chief Trademark Counsel, David Gooder was quoted as, "There is no point using a sledgehammer to crack a nut." I'm now a huge fan of David Gooder, too.
"We are certainly flattered by your affection for the brand, but while we can appreciate the pop culture appeal of Jack Daniel's, we also have to be diligent to ensure that the Jack Daniel's trademarks are used correctly. Given the brand's popularity, it will probably come as no surprise that we come across designs like this on a regular basis. What may not be so apparent, however, is that if we allow uses like this one, we run the very real risk that our trademark will be weakened. As a fan of the brand, I'm sure that is not something you intended or would want to see happen.
"As an author, you can certainly understand our position and the need to contact you. You may even have run into similar problems with your own intellectual property.
Did we all not learn in college during our public speaking classes that the testimonial is one of, if not THE most powerful tool, of influence and persuasion? Social media is the instant and the ultimate in testimonial. In these high tech, highly connected times, brands should never forget nor take for granted that a news story can travel around the globe in seconds – and the court of public opinion has more sway and staying power than an actual court proceeding. Just look at Paula Deen: cleared of wrong doing in court, but has lost public favor and nearly all of her sponsored cooking and cookware relationships. Consider "The Juice", Mr. Simpson, won in court but completely lost the public's faith and adoration.
Now, let's kick that social media influence into reverse. It spawned the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street and was credited with having won President Obama's campaign for him on many levels.
It's a big, red flashing warning, brands: Do NOT under estimate the power of social media. We live in a world where perception is everything, and people who understand the power of social networking are using Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Path, YouTube, SnapChat, Digg, Google and many others to shape perceptions and win others over to their points of view – regardless of the facts.
Specialized exists in the passionate niche and very tight community of cycling, stalwart fans of everything two-wheeled. Their current customer is highly connected to the industry and industry news. But the emerging customer base, the millennials, live on and live by social media on level unmatched by any other demographic. I found posted on Website Magazine, a recent study of the millennial mindset conducted by Edelman Worldwide, the exhaustive study makes one thing abundantly clear: Brands Matter.
It was posted on the Cochrane Eagle on December 12th, that Mike Sinyard, CEO of Specialized, and Dan Richter have sat face-to-face and came to terms with everything. Mr. Sinyard apologized and Mr. Richter graciously accepted that apology. I'm glad for Dan. However, Mike needs to go a step further – a giant step forward. He needs to apologize to Specialized fans and customers in a big way. Surely, Specialized's CMO knows it is much easier to keep the brand fans that you already have than it is to acquire new ones. Not embracing that will be a deeply regretful and painful lesson.
There are posts by fans so outraged, that they won't even ride their Specialized bikes in public now, too ashamed to have an association with the brand. Folks have declared that they have thrown out all of their Specialized equipment or that they will forevermore abstain from purchasing anything Specialized or have any association with the brand whatsoever. And ironically, on the flip side, Richter's Facebook followers for Cafe Roubaix Bicycle Studio have jumped from just 500 to over 12,000 in a single week and Cafe Roubaix has sold out of T-shirts. Perhaps best of all, the accidental "advertising" he has garnered from this whole situation is priceless and indelible.
I found the Urban Dictionary's definition of "Epic Fail" wholly appropriate here: A complete and total failure when success should have been reasonably easy to attain. So what will the ultimate cost of brand infringement cost be to Specialized?
Well, they could have gone the utterly gracious Jack Daniels route and leased the Roubaix for a pittance, for example. Perhaps even given this war-torn gentleman several of their top-of-line Roubaix bikes and embraced what they could have alternatively perceived as total flattery – his use of "their" trademark name? It could have been a great brand building venture and a shining PR move. They could still try to do something… though the longer it goes, it's doubtful that it would be perceived as authentic. They should have been posting their apologies and detailing the leasing agreement they made with Mr. Richter on their Facebook page or on their site or, at least, responded to the media requests for contact. It's fundamental Mr. Sinyard. We all learned it from storybooks as children – all those people blasting their distain through their mobile devices – if you are the giant, you don't squash the little guy! Noblesse oblige, Specialized, noblesse oblige.
The ultimate cost to Specialized will be known in a few months. But for all the outrage and revolt, it would have been much cheaper for Specialized to handle Mr. Richter, in a more dashing Jack Daniels style. Lease the name to Mr. Richter for a dollar a year along with an expedient, decorous and noble note wishing him well and continued success with his shop. It seems fitting and hardly cliché, to say that Specialized is, most regretfully, days late and a dollar short.
Yesterday the little guys in retail—by that I mean everyone smaller than Amazon (in other words, everyone)—got a brief reprieve from the e-commerce juggernaut that is Amazon.com. According to isitdownrightnow.com, the Amazon.com site was down for something like 41 minutes. Across the U.S., would be Amazon shoppers received errors starting around 2:50 pm EDT. I received a few incredulous calls from friends and family assuming the problem must be with their ISP and asking if I was experiencing the same outage.
Since I'd recently reposted an infographic about what happens in 60 seconds online, I had the one-minute sales figure for Amazon in mind. A quick calculation says Amazon's outage cost them about $3.4 million (41 minutes X $83,000/minute). Ouch, that's more than most of us make in a week!
As soon as I realized Amazon was unreachable, I looked out my window and was reassured to see that local brick-and-mortar retailers were still up and running. The good news: brick-and-mortar retailers tend not to go down except in case of 7.3 earthquakes or other natural disasters, which are pretty rare, thank goodness. The bad news: their other major threat, Amazon, is ever present — well, except for yesterday's brief outage.
Retailers are racing to reinvent themselves to stay relevant in the face of the ongoing weak economy, rapid technological change, and the threat of show rooming—where their stores become the de facto showroom for online retailers, who frequently end up getting the sale because of their lower prices. The pressure is intense, and Amazon's outage didn't even last long enough to let retailers catch their breath. But maybe, if you just HAD to buy something during that 40-minute outage, your local electronics store, bookseller, or apparel shop might have gotten your business. It's a nice thought, anyway.
Amazon has been mum about what happened, although they say they were NOT hacked, so apparently this was not a malicious outage. Malice or not, there may be a few IT folks in the Seattle area soon looking for new jobs. If you're a mid-sized specialty retailer looking for experienced eComm IT hotshots to help you nail your omni-channel tech, now's your chance.
p.s. If you'd like to do your part to help Amazon make up for yesterday's lost revenues, you can start with my "Gift Ideas for Lance" wish list. Don't delay. Amazon needs you! | {
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A 10-minute walk from the Centre Pompidou, the Opera and the Marais district, in front of the Gaite Lyrique, the 123 Sebastopol Astotel is the perfect venue for a unique and quirky stay in the heart of Paris. Dedicated to cinema, in collaboration with famous artists such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Claude Lelouch, Danièle Thompson, the Jaoui / Bacri duo, Zylberstein or Ennio Morricone, each with a dedicated floor, 123 Sebastopol Astotel surprisingly original while providing comfort and high quality services.
Upon arrival, you are welcomed by the world of the Seventh Art, and our efficient and attentive staff at your disposal 24h/24.Our 63 rooms spread over six floors, each dedicated to an artist and his world, in addition to offering a personalized and tailor-made design, excellent soundproofing, comfortable beds, satellite TV and a private bathroom with tub or shower. The hotel is air-conditioned and feature Wi-Fi. A rich and varied breakfast is served each morning in the bright conservatory which is extended by a terrace: hot drinks, pastries, juices, cereals, eggs, with touches of bio here and there, are available buffet.In the afternoon, a buffet softs drinks and snacks will be offered with pleasure.With its easily accessible location, connected to all major tourist areas of the capital, its unique universe and its services tailored to each of your stays, 123 Sebastopol Astotel is the one-stop destination Paris. | {
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Dr John Flood specialises in Brow Lift Surgery Sydney. There are a number of techniques available to perform a brow lift.
Open brow lifting involves making an extended incision hidden within the hair-bearing scalp. The dissection is then performed onto the skull bone extending beneath the forehead skin and muscles down to the eyebrows. Removal or partial division of the muscles which cause frowning of the eyebrows can then be performed. At the same time partial removal or incisions of the frontalis muscle that cause the horizontal frown lines of the forehead can also be removed. The forehead flap is then elevated and redundant scalp skin can then be excised and the suture line stitched and hidden within the hair-bearing scalp.
This procedure can be performed as a day surgery procedure under general anaesthetic. Sutures are removed after 10 days. Most patients do complain of swelling and bruising around the eyes during this period of time. Return to work is usually at two weeks and return to heavy gym work three weeks.
The benefit of this procedure is that manipulation of the muscles under direct vision can be performed. Also, in patients who have redundant forehead and scalp tissue can be re-draped over a large plane and excised.
The disadvantage of this technique is that it requires a fairly extended incision. At times scar alopecia can occur. Post-operative recovery tends to be longer than other techniques. Another important complication that is associated with this technique is disaesthesia of the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves leading to sensation of a persistent itchiness of the forehead. This has been reported in approximately 1 in 200 cases.
Endoscopic brow lifting technique is an excellent technique to elevate the brows through minimal incisions in the hair bearing scalp. In the case of patient's seeking eyelid rejuvenation (blepharoplasty), the effect of the brow on the upper eyelids should be assessed. Sagging (ptotic) eyebrows may give the appearance of drooping upper eyelids. At times patients who are undergoing an upper blepharoplasty may indeed benefit from a combined endoscopic brow lift. Indeed, at times, endoscopic brow lifting procedures alone may obviate the need for an upper blepharoplasty.
The use of an endoscope through key hole incisions has simplified and increased the safety of brow lifting procedures. A telescope is inserted through the incisions in the hair bearing scalp. Between three and five small incisions less than 1 cm in length are used hidden in the hair bearing scalp. The telescope and surgical instruments are inserted through these incisions to help elevate the forehead soft tissues from the underlying forehead bone. Divisional or partial removal of muscles that contribute to the frown lines can be performed as well. Following this technique the soft tissues are elevated at a higher position leading to an aesthetic improvement of the eyebrow position. Eyebrows can be elevated between 4-7 mm higher. Usually the inner eyebrow (medial) is not as elevated as much as the more outer (lateral) eyebrow. This helps to avoid a "startled" appearance, as well as to provide a pleasing vector to the eyebrow line leading to a more youthful look. Also elevation of the more outer aspect of the eyebrow helps with reducing the amount of skin that has to be excised at the time of a combined blepharoplasty.
Given that the procedure uses quite advanced instrumentation, the procedure needs to be performed in a hospital as a day surgery procedure. The operation is performed under general anaesthetic. The operation takes between 90-120 minutes to perform.
Compared to open brow lifting the recovery time is much quicker. Patients complain of discomfort usually in their incision lines for a period of 24 hours. Minor tightness and swelling of the forehead lasts for seven days. Patients can return to work ten days post-operatively and return to heavy gym activity three weeks post-operatively.
Importantly endoscopic brow lifting should be considered in all patients who are enquiring about an upper blepharoplasty. At times it is the poor position of the eyebrow (forehead tissues) that is contributing to the appearance of tiredness and the feeling of heaviness in one's upper eyelids. Only after an appropriate assessment can the right advice be provided to the patient whether the patient requires an endoscopic brow lift alone, blepharoplasty alone, or a combined brow lift and blepharoplasty procedure. | {
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Invalides je podzemní nádraží příměstské železnice RER v Paříži, které se nachází v 7. obvodu na levém břehu řeky Seiny. Slouží pro linku RER C. Podzemním tunelem je propojen se stanicí Invalides, kde je možné přestoupit na linky 8 a 13 pařížského metra. Původní historickou budovu nádraží z roku 1900 využívá Air France.
Historie
Původní nástupiště na pozdější železniční trati z Versailles a ze západní části Francie bylo zprovozněno u příležitosti světové výstavy v roce 1867. Jednalo se o tříkilometrovou trať podél levého břehu Seiny od Champ-de-Mars, která sloužila během výstavy návštěvníkům mezi jednotlivými výstavními pavilony. Po skončení výstavy byl provoz na trati 29. února 1868 zastaven. Pro světovou výstavu 1878 byla vybudována nová linka, která byla napojena na trať Petite Ceinture. Po skončení výstavy sloužilo nádraží jako překladiště zboží a pro cestující sloužil jen úsek mezi Grenelle a Champ-de-Mars. Teprve 5. července 1893 byla trať prodloužena na stanici Invalides i pro osobní dopravu. Nové nádraží bylo otevřeno 15. dubna 1900 u příležitosti světové výstavy 1900. Železniční společnost chtěla dovést linku až do Versailles, ale k tomu došlo až v roce 1902.
Do roku 1935 do stanice zajížděly vlaky z Granville, Brestu a Angers. Po tomto datu sloužilo nádraží jen pro příměstské vlaky do Versailles a Meudonu. Zbývající spoje byly odkloněny na rozšířené nádraží Montparnasse.
V roce 1948 byla nádražní budoava přeměněna na odbavovací halu pro vlaky vypravované na Letiště Orly.
V 70. letech byla postavena podzemní trať linky RER C a od 26. září 1979 slouží podzemní nástupiště.
Reference
Externí odkazy
Invalides
7. obvod (Paříž)
RER C | {
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The Utopia is Pagani's V12-powered vision of the future
All 99 of these are already spoken for
F Frank Schuengel
The Utopia is Horacio Pagani's latest automotive masterpiece. PHOTO FROM PAGANI
To say Horacio Pagani just builds cars would be like saying Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart just wrote music. The machines created by the Argentine-Italian businessman and engineer are much more than mere sports cars. If you ever get the chance to inspect one up close, you'll quickly realize that they are true works of art. The attention to detail is positively insane, and the quality of craftsmanship is second to none.
Now, a new masterpiece has been unveiled. One to continue the story of the Zonda and the Huayra into the third decade of the company. Its name is Utopia, and where other companies embrace hybrid powertrains and complex technology, Pagani simply built what his customers asked him to.
Pagani is not out there to reinvent the design, but rather to continue the story of its first two hypercars. PHOTO FROM PAGANI
The result is a car that focuses on three things, according to the master himself: simplicity, lightness, and the pleasure of driving. Power still comes from a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged Mercedes V12 that now churns out over 850hp and 1,100Nm.
Gear changes are done through either an automatic box or a purely manual seven-speed one that totally puts the driver in charge of his destiny. The shape of the Utopia is new but still familiar, and gently continues the immediately recognizable design language of the San Cesario sul Panaro-based firm.
A Pagani will always be a work of art inside and out. PHOTO FROM PAGANI
In a way, it feels like the Huayra Codalunga might have been a sneak peek of this brand-new model, as many of its gentle curves and dynamic shapes can also be spotted on the Utopia. Most notable is the absence of any big spoilers or other aerodynamic aids, with airflow and downforce generation handled just by the shape of the car itself. One of the trademarks of any Pagani is also still onboard in the shape of the center-mounted quad exhaust, which is made of titanium and weighs a mere 6kg.
The interior is typical Pagani again, with one tiny little digital info screen in front of the driver being pretty much the only nod to modern times. Everything else looks (or really is) analog, including the dials that tell the driver how fast he's going and how the engine feels. The examples of Pagani's dedication to relentless quality are numerous, and include a steering wheel made from one solid block of aluminum and an exposed gear lever mechanism that is as much a sculpture as it is a functioning part of the car.
Want one? You're better off looking for a scale model instead. PHOTO FROM PAGANI
It's hard to believe that these machines are created by a team of just 180 highly skilled individuals, who manage to make up to 50 of them per year. The carbon monocoque of the Utopia features two new types of carbon fiber developed by the firm, and even the aesthetic parts are now made of a new version of the popular material that promises to be 38% stiffer than previous iterations.
Pagani even managed to get global certification for the car, a feat that required it to be crash-tested 50 times in various ways. Prices start at €2,170,000 (P124.38 million), but all 99 production cars are apparently already spoken for, so you'll have to wait for one of the inevitable special editions later down the line. Or just give Horacio a call and ask for a one-off. He's not only an artist but also a businessman after all.
Meeting and getting to know Horacio Pagani
The Pagani Huayra Codalunga pays tribute to '60s Le Mans race cars
The Pagani Huayra Tricolore is built to fly
How my P1,000 die-cast Pagani Zonda toy car became priceless
Pagani has just released a new hypercar called the Imola
Frank Schuengel
Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring.
All-new Chevrolet Blazer EV now has brand's 1st-ever electric SS vehicle
Lexus now fully electrifies its UX subcompact crossover
British ferry operator will soon deploy high-speed passenger craft
The Mitsubishi Strada Athlete will turn heads
The new Bentley Bentayga Hybrid has 857km range | {
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Q: How to access to data from previous emission in rx? The question is about rx programming. I have a code:
Observable.from(array)
.map(array_item1 -> array_item2)
.map(array_item3 -> array_item4)
.map(array_item5 -> array_item6)
and in the third map call I need access not only array_item5 but also array_item1 or array_item3.
it should seem like this:
...
.map(array_item5 -> array_item5 + array_item1)
...
Is there any special pattern or an operator for this?
A: If you want access previous emissions, you need save them somewhere. There is accumulator operators:
Collect - collects all emissions in single mutable structure
Observable.from(Arrays.asList(1,2,3,4,5,6))
.collect(ArrayList::new,
(array, item) -> {
//access previous and current emissions
array.add(item);
})
Scan - in addition to collect, it returns all previous emissions on every next:
Observable.from(Arrays.asList(1,2,3,4,5,6))
.scan(new ArrayList<>(), (array, item) -> {
array.add(item)
return array;
})
.map(collectedItems -> {
//access all previous and curent emissions on every new
return collectedItems;
})
| {
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Wed, Oct 23, 2019 page1
MAC asks HK to hand suspect over
OFFICIAL ROUTE ONLY: The premier said that Taiwan would not be duped by China, which likely wants to use the case to justify the withdrawn Hong Kong extradition bill
By Chung Li-hua and Sean Lin / Staff reporters
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said that it had contacted the Hong Kong government to ask its permission to hand murder suspect Chan Tong-kai (陳同佳) over to Taiwanese prosecutors and police sent to the territory, so that he could stand trial in Taiwan.
The council made the request by telephone and wrote the Hong Kong government a letter, MAC Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) told a news conference in Taipei.
The Hong Kong and Taiwanese governments both have jurisdiction over the case, but the former has priority, Chiu said.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng holds a news conference in Taipei yesterday about the council's handling of a Hong Kong suspect wanted for murder in Taiwan.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
The Taiwanese government would not forfeit its right to try Chan, he said, apparently responding to the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) criticism that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would turn Taiwan into a "crime haven" if it said that it would not accept Chan entering the nation as a free man.
Chan, who is suspected of killing his pregnant girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing (潘曉穎) in Taiwan in February last year before returning to Hong Kong, reportedly said that he would be willing to turn himself in to Taiwanese authorities once released from prison in Hong Kong today.
He was serving a 29-month sentence related to the theft of Poon's belongings.
The incident was one of the contributing factors behind the Hong Kong government's proposal to implement an anti-extradition bill this year.
Seeing as Hong Kong is reluctant to handle the case, which is regrettable, Taipei has devised a plan to resolve the matter pragmatically, Chiu said.
"If the Hong Kong government will not investigate, we will," he said.
The government would review the case on the condition that Hong Kong formally extradites Chan through mutual judicial assistance, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said earlier yesterday.
Su made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting at the Legislative Yuan, where he was asked by reporters whether it would mean that the mutual judicial assistance that Taipei had requested from Hong Kong had been denied if Chan was simply allowed to travel to Taiwan.
Authorities on both sides have jurisdiction over the case, but since the suspect and the victim's family members are in Hong Kong, Hong Kong's judiciary should try the case and hold the suspect to account, rather than creating a "window period" in the judicial process by allowing him to travel at will, Su said.
If Hong Kong wants to engage in mutual judicial assistance, it should subject Chan to questioning and supply Taiwan's judiciary with any records or evidence it has collected, the premier said, adding that Taiwan's judiciary would then try Chan based on that information.
If Chan comes to Taiwan, it would not be for a health checkup, and the judiciary cannot try him based solely on his testimony when a substantial amount of evidence is in Hong Kong, he added.
Hong Kong has made a U-turn regarding the case, as since last year it has snubbed the nation's repeated calls for mutual legal assistance.
As the Hong Kong government is controlled by Beijing, Su said that the nation would not be duped by China, which likely wants to send Chan to Taiwan to justify the withdrawn extradition bill.
He urged the Hong Kong government not to attempt to resolve the issue through political manipulation.
Later during an question-and-answer session with People First Party Legislator Chou Chen Hsiu-hsia (周陳秀霞), Su said that Chan had planned the murder before coming to Taiwan last year.
As of press time last night, the council was still awaiting a response from the Hong Kong government. | {
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Have your say on National Islands Plan at Rothesay consultation event
Scottish Government officials will visit Bute on May 24 to ask for input on the National Islands Plan and to hear about the challenges islanders face.
By Kevin Quinn
16th May 2019, 7:37am
A previous National Islands Plan consultation event.
The consultation event takes place at The Bank, 17 High Street, Rothesay, PA20 9AS. , 5.30pm – 7.30pm. There will be more than 50 such events across 40 of Scotland's islands between now and the middle of July.
Commenting on the consultation launch during a visit to Canna in the Inner Hebrides, Islands Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: "The passage of the first ever Act of Parliament aimed specifically at islanders' needs and the positive contributions made to Scotland by our islands marked an historic milestone for our island communities.
"This included providing formal recognition of their unique characteristics and challenges, and tailoring policy to support our islands effectively.
"Now we are asking residents and other stakeholders what their concerns are, and where we should be focussing resources in future to help our islands and all who live on them flourish.
"This is an opportunity for us to develop a strategic direction for optimising support to island communities, taking into account factors like ageing populations, public service provision, biodiversity and enhancing skill sets.
"Of course, it's also about working closely with local authorities and partner agencies to find and build on the undoubted positives associated with island life. We also want to learn lessons from policy successes that have been achieved across island communities.
"I sincerely hope that this consultation helps to promote island voices, to harness island resources and the talents of islanders, and provide the best future for these important communities that in so many ways constitute the best of Scotland." | {
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Underdog Yuri Foreman beat Daniel Santos by unanimous decision recently in Las Vegas to become the first Jewish Israeli world boxing champion. Foreman, who was born in Belarus and emigrated to Israel at age 10, moved to Brooklyn to pursue his boxing career, but wound up taking another path as well – he is currently completing his studies to become an Orthodox rabbi. Foreman wears a Star of David on his boxing shorts and entered the championship bout to the strains of Pantera mixed with a shofar.
You are literally the Jewish George Foreman. Does that feel like fate to you?
Yeah. The Jewish George Foreman without the grill.
You've spoken proudly about being an Israeli boxing champion. How does your identity tie into your drive as a boxer?
A lot. I've been in Brooklyn quite a few years, but my love of Israel keeps growing. I'm an Israeli citizen and my dad lives there, a lot of friends. I'm very connected to the country and to the people. I have a lot of support from Israel and from Jewish people around the world. In Brooklyn, especially. I feel very connected.
At the same time, is there part of you that wishes people would see you as just 'Yuri Foreman, World Champ,' and not 'Yuri Foreman, Jewish Israeli World Champ'?
No. I'm fine the way it's happening. I'm the world champion, even though right now it still strikes me, 'Oh, wow, I won the world championship a week ago.' I'm just very happy right now. It's great being the Israeli boxing world champion, and bringing back the title to Brooklyn is a great feeling.
Will you use your title to represent Israel?
Of course. I always come into the fight with the Israeli flag. My hope is to inspire people in Israel that you can be spiritual and still pursue other things in life. Not necessarily that if you're spiritual, you have to give up on your dreams. You can be religious and be a boxer, or be a musician.At what point during the bout did you realize you were going to win?
You hadn't had a major fight in some time. Did you feel the cobwebs?
No. I've been getting ready for this fight all my life.
You've said that smarts is one of your greatest assets as a fighter. How does that come into play?
Trying to really think and outsmart your opponent. You try to be a few steps ahead of them. For example, Santos is left-handed and I've never fought a professional left-hander. So I had my game plan. I had to stay focused and move to my left, behind his left-to-right. He's also a bigger guy. He's stronger. So I had to use my head.
Do you think the general public overlooks the intelligence of boxers?
Not many people know what's going on in the ring. Many people just look at it as some form of violent sport and there's not much brain involved. For me, boxing is very intellectual. You have to really use your head in order to win. It's not always power. It's also how you use your power, and taking advantage of the mistakes of your opponent.
You spoke openly about praying during the fight. Do you think all boxers pray in the ring?
In the ring you're involved with someone who wants to take your head off. Sometimes you need help, so why not ask God? Prayers help with being focused and also feeling more calm. Not panicking.
What do you find spiritual about boxing?
It's a different kind of spiritual. You're aware of not just your own power, but the outside force of God. You go through difficult moments. If you get hit by a strong punch or something hurts, I make a really quick request like, 'Please, God, give me help or give me strength.' That's how I translate it. It's spiritual.
How soon do you think it will be until you defend your title?
Right now, I'm not throwing any predictions. I'm relaxing. I'm a little bit tired still. I'm resting from boxing, and then we'll see. I know there are a lot of fighters who want to have a piece of me right now.
When you were training at the Arab gym in Israel when first starting, did it ever feel like more than just sparring?
When I came to Israel, I was a kid. For me, it was a tense moment. I'd never been at that gym. There were a lot of people staring at you. But after, they want to spar with you, you spar. There was never any hatred. I just wanted not to get beat up. And then you work out, you spar and things change. You become friends. You get respect. Whether you're Jewish or Arab, who cares? You just want a good workout.
Is there anything from the Torah that you particularly identify with?
In a Torah portion about three weeks ago, there was a passage about Abraham where God tells him to go by himself from the land of his father. God tells him, it's your journey, you have to do it by yourself. You have to leave your house, leave your Dad. So I relate to this portion.
Do you ever find anything contradictory about boxing and the Jewish laws that you're studying?
No, I don't. I look at boxing as very different than anybody else may see it. Many people probably think of boxing as pure violence. To tell you the truth, there's more violence in American football. In any professional sport, there's so much injury from violence, but people tend to talk about boxing more.
I did boxing for such a long time before I became religious. So I'm not going to spend my daytime thinking, 'Okay, this is wrong.' I know I'm doing the right thing. There are a lot of Jewish people around the world that I made a little bit proud. And I'm very proud and very honored by that.
You list Hayao Miyazaki films and anime among your favorites.
I love Miyazaki. It's more than cartoons for me. Me and my wife really enjoy watching. They're very dramatic, amazing, great stories. And I love Japanese cinema like Kurosawa movies, The Seven Samurai or Ikiru. I'm fascinated by the silver screen.
In a recent New York Times article, everyone was falling over themselves saying you're like a son to them. What, you're such a mensch?
[Laughing.] I don't know. I don't know.
We have an Hasidic reggae rapper and an Orthodox rabbinical student world boxing champion. What do you think the next hot crossover is going to be?
Good question! I don't know. There's some great, great moviemaking. My wife is in film; she's a director. Perhaps her!
The 'Hebrew Hammer' is already taken, and some people call you the 'Lion of Zion.' But if you could make up your own Jewish nickname, what would it be?
Oh man, you're putting me on the spot here. I don't know. I actually never give myself a nickname. This 'Lion of Zion,' it's not me who came up with it. It's actually unofficial. I also heard about people talking about the 'Fighting Rabbi.' But I don't like nicknames. I like Yuri Foreman the way it is.
I bet you like 'Yuri Foreman, World Champ' even better.
[Laughing.] Yes, I like that.
That's a very good nickname, Yuri.
This site has good information.Thanks. Oh, and I'm a jackass. | {
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Hate Crimes Holdup
James Fulford
When I wrote below that the hate crimes bill had passed, the issue at the time was could they sleaze it through onto the Defense Authorization Bill, which they did, giving it a clear shot, since Obama isn't going to veto a hate crimes bill on principle, because he doesn't have that kind of principle.
So, I thought, it's inevitable, once it's attached to the Defense Bill, because who could be opposed to national defense? Barack Hussein Obama, that's who!
According to Liberty Counsel,
Hate Crimes Amendment Will Face More Hurdles After Passing Senate in Late Night Vote Senator Harry Reid's bullying tactics paved the way for the Senate to pass the so-called Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill late last night. The cloture vote taken late last night was 63-28, with every Democrat voting for the amendment, except Senators Byrd (WV) and Kennedy (MA), who were not present. Approval of the cloture motion meant that the hate crimes amendment was adopted.
The hate crimes amendment will not become law unless the $680 billion Defense Authorization bill passes and the amendment is reconciled with the version of the hate crimes bill passed by the House. The Senate Defense Authorization bill includes funding for F-22 jets. President Obama has threatened to veto the Defense bill if it funds the F-22. | {
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Anonymous donor funds Lake Wichita boardwalk project
Claire Kowalick
A generous grant from an anonymous donor is making possible the first of three major projects at Lake Wichita.
Lake Wichita Friends of Reservoirs Chapter Executive Director Stewart Harvey said a donor has come forward with matching funds to construct a boardwalk at the lake.
The boardwalk project is about $1.5 million. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department initially approved a $500,000 grant for the project with a construction deadline set for this summer.
The Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee applied and was approved for a one-year extension on the project.
Harvey said the donor has offered half the funding available in the next month or two and the other half around January 2020.
The next step, he said, will be approval from the Wichita Falls City Council to move forward with a construction contract for the boardwalk.
Normally the city requires all funding to be in-hand before a construction project is bid. However, since there is a guaranteed pledge for the full amount, Harvey said they are hopeful the city will be comfortable with that pledge to continue forward.
If council approved the move, construction on the boardwalk could begin as soon as September and be finished by spring of 2020.
The new boardwalk is set be constructed next to the site of the famous Lake Wichita Pavilion - the lake's most prominent feature from it's heyday.
The committee chose to keep the remaining original piers from the former boardwalk in place in the water to preserve the historic memory of the spot.
A pavilion building is not part of the new boardwalk construction, just the T-shaped boardwalk itself plus lighting, railing and other features.
Engineering consulting firm Kimley Horn has been working for months on designs for the boardwalk, a veterans' memorial plaza and boat ramp off Kemp Street.
At the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee meeting Tuesday, the group also looked at a preliminary rendering from Kimley Horn for the veterans' memorial plaza. Harvey said no decisions have been made, but they are considering what the memorial plaza could look like with a $750,000 price tag as opposed to the initial $2 million estimate.
"The lake is a good thing for all of us, for Wichita Falls and for the future," he said.
The money the community donates now for the lake project, Harvey said, is an investment into the "portfolio" of the city which will pay back dividends for a couple of lifetimes.
He continued, saying recreational opportunities, fishing, construction jobs, and businesses near the lake will exponentially add to the local economy for years to come. | {
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Paul Briggs Artist-In-Residence Workshop
Sunday, February 16, 2020, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Ceramics Program, 224 Western Avenue, Allston, MA
Explore a new way of thinking about the technique of pinching clay and a philosophy of making that asks us all to slow down and be present with both material and process. Paul Briggs' unique technique is pinching expressive vessels out of a single ball of clay, using no additional clay. Briggs will walk participants through a basic version of his technique using a ball of clay. This workshop is one in a series of three sessions in February with Ceramics Program 2019-20 Artists In Residence.
Artist Bio: Paul Briggs grew up in the Hudson Valley of Newburgh, NY taking his first ceramics class in 9th grade. He eventually landed at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Paul is an artist-teacher with balanced training in Ceramics, Sculpture, and Education. He earned an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art, an MSED from Alfred University and a PhD in Art Education/Educational Theory and Policy from the Pennsylvania State University. He's taught all educational levels and various contexts including the Penland and Haystack Schools of Craft. Recently he was awarded a South Eastern Minnesota Arts Council Grant for the installation, Cell Persona: The Impact of Incarceration on Black Lives. Paul is an Associate Professor of Art Education at MassArt.
Check out all three workshops by our 2019-20 Artists-In-Residence:
Ruth Easterbrook: Sunday, February 9
Paul Briggs: Sunday, February 16
Kyle Johns: Sunday, February 23
These one-day sessions are a great opportunity to get to know these artists and see what they're working on, especially if you haven't had a chance to take a course with them.
Cost per session: $125 for Adult Community not currently enrolled in a Spring 2020 Ceramics Program course; $50.00 for Harvard Graduate Students and Adult Community enrolled in a Spring 2020 Ceramics Program course; Free for Harvard College Undergraduates.
Please note: discounted rates will appear during checkout under "student type."
See also: Individual Artists, Technical Process, Workshop, Ceramics, Visual Arts, Open to the Public, Students and Community, Ceramics Studio, Sunday | {
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Is there a way out of password hell?
September 8, 2021 in Architecture, infrastructure, Internet, privacy, problems, security, Technology | 5 comments
Passwords are hell.
Worse, to make your hundreds of passwords safe as possible, they should be nearly impossible for others to discover—and for you to remember.
Unless you're a wizard, this all but requires using a password manager.†
Think about how hard that job is. First, it's impossible for developers of password managers to do everything right:
Most of their customers and users need to have logins and passwords for hundreds of sites and services on the Web and elsewhere in the networked world
Every one of those sites and services has its own gauntlet of methods for registering logins and passwords, and for remembering and changing them
Every one of those sites and services has its own unique user interfaces, each with its own peculiarities
All of those UIs change, sometimes often.
Keeping up with that mess while also keeping personal data safe from both user error and determined bad actors, is about as tall as an order can get. And then you have to do all that work for each of the millions of customers you'll need if you're going to make the kind of money required to keep abreast of those problems and providing the solutions required.
So here's the thing: the best we can do with passwords is the best that password managers can do. That's your horizon right there.
Unless we can get past logins and passwords somehow.
And I don't think we can. Not in the client-server ecosystem that the Web has become, and that industry never stopped being, since long before the Internet came along. That's the real hell. Passwords are just a symptom.
We need to work around it. That's my work now. Stay tuned here, here, and here for more on that.
† We need to fix that Wikipedia page.
Just in case you feel safe with Twitter
January 26, 2021 in adtech, advertising, Business, data, marketing, personal data, privacy, problems, publishing, Technology | Permalink
Just got a press release by email from David Rosen (@firstpersonpol) of the Public Citizen press office. The headline says "Historic Grindr Fine Shows Need for FTC Enforcement Action." The same release is also a post in the news section of the Public Citizen website. This is it:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Norwegian Data Protection Agency today fined Grindr $11.7 million following a Jan. 2020 report that the dating app systematically violates users' privacy. Public Citizen asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to investigate Grindr and other popular dating apps, but the agency has yet to take action. Burcu Kilic, digital rights program director for Public Citizen, released the following statement:
"Fining Grindr for systematic privacy violations is a historic decision under Europe's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and a strong signal to the AdTech ecosystem that business-as-usual is over. The question now is when the FTC will take similar action and bring U.S. regulatory enforcement in line with those in the rest of the world.
"Every day, millions of Americans share their most intimate personal details on apps like Grindr, upload personal photos, and reveal their sexual and religious identities. But these apps and online services spy on people, collect vast amounts of personal data and share it with third parties without people's knowledge. We need to regulate them now, before it's too late."
The first link goes to Grindr is fined $11.7 million under European privacy law, by Natasha Singer (@NatashaNYT) and Aaron Krolik. (This @AaronKrolik? If so, hi. If not, sorry. This is a blog. I can edit it.) The second link goes to a Public Citizen post titled Popular Dating, Health Apps Violate Privacy.
In the emailed press release, the text is the same, but the links are not. The first is this:
https://default.salsalabs.org/T72ca980d-0c9b-45da-88fb-d8c1cf8716ac/25218e76-a235-4500-bc2b-d0f337c722d4
The second is this:
https://default.salsalabs.org/Tc66c3800-58c1-4083-bdd1-8e730c1c4221/25218e76-a235-4500-bc2b-d0f337c722d4
Why are they not simple and direct URLs? And who is salsalabs.org?
You won't find anything at that link, or by running a whois on it. But I do see there is a salsalabs.com, which has "SmartEngagement Technology" that "combines CRM and nonprofit engagement software with embedded best practices, machine learning, and world-class education and support." since Public Citizen is a nonprofit, I suppose it's getting some "smart engagement" of some kind with these links. PrivacyBadger tells me Salsalabs.com has 14 potential trackers, including static.ads.twitter.com.
My point here is that we, as clickers on those links, have at best a suspicion about what's going on: perhaps that the link is being used to tell Public Citizen that we've clicked on the link… and likely also to help target us with messages of some sort. But we really don't know.
And, speaking of not knowing, Natasha and Aaron's New York Times story begins with this:
The Norwegian Data Protection Authority said on Monday that it would fine Grindr, the world's most popular gay dating app, 100 million Norwegian kroner, or about $11.7 million, for illegally disclosing private details about its users to advertising companies.
The agency said the app had transmitted users' precise locations, user-tracking codes and the app's name to at least five advertising companies, essentially tagging individuals as L.G.B.T.Q. without obtaining their explicit consent, in violation of European data protection law. Grindr shared users' private details with, among other companies, MoPub, Twitter's mobile advertising platform, which may in turn share data with more than 100 partners, according to the agency's ruling.
Before this, I had never heard of MoPub. In fact, I had always assumed that Twitter's privacy policy either limited or forbid the company from leaking out personal information to advertisers or other entities. Here's how its Private Information Policy Overview begins:
You may not publish or post other people's private information without their express authorization and permission. We also prohibit threatening to expose private information or incentivizing others to do so.
Sharing someone's private information online without their permission, sometimes called doxxing, is a breach of their privacy and of the Twitter Rules. Sharing private information can pose serious safety and security risks for those affected and can lead to physical, emotional, and financial hardship.
On the MoPub site, however, it says this:
MoPub, a Twitter company, provides monetization solutions for mobile app publishers and developers around the globe.
Our flexible network mediation solution, leading mobile programmatic exchange, and years of expertise in mobile app advertising mean publishers trust us to help them maximize their ad revenue and control their user experience.
The Norwegian DPA apparently finds a conflict between the former and the latter—or at least in the way the latter was used by Grinder (since they didn't fine Twitter).
To be fair, Grindr and Twitter may not agree with the Norwegian DPA. Regardless of their opinion, however, by this point in history we should have no faith that any company will protect our privacy online. Violating personal privacy is just too easy to do, to rationalize, and to make money at.
To start truly facing this problem, we need start with a simple fact: If your privacy is in the hands of others alone, you don't have any. Getting promises from others not to stare at your naked self isn't the same as clothing. Getting promises not to walk into your house or look in your windows is not the same as having locks and curtains.
In the absence of personal clothing and shelter online, or working ways to signal intentions about one's privacy, the hands of others alone is all we've got. And it doesn't work. Nor do privacy laws, especially when enforcement is still so rare and scattered.
Really, to potential violators like Grindr and Twitter/MoPub, enforcement actions like this one by the Norwegian DPA are at most a little discouraging. The effect on our experience of exposure is still nil. We are exposed everywhere, all the time, and we know it. At best we just hope nothing bad happens.
The only way to fix this problem is with the digital equivalent of clothing, locks, curtains, ways to signal what's okay and what's not—and to get firm agreements from others about how our privacy will be respected.
At Customer Commons, we're starting with signaling, specifically with first party terms that you and I can proffer and sites and services can accept.
The first is called P2B1, aka #NoStalking. It says "Just give me ads not based on tracking me." It's a term any browser (or other tool) can proffer and any site or service can accept—and any privacy-respecting website or service should welcome.
Making this kind of agreement work is also being addressed by IEEE7012, a working group on machine-readable personal privacy terms.
Now we're looking for sites and services willing to accept those terms. How about it, Twitter, New York Times, Grindr and Public Citizen? Or anybody.
DM us at @CustomerCommons and we'll get going on it.
December 27, 2020 in adtech, advertising, Business, Ideas, privacy, problems, regulation, VRM | Permalink
When some big outfit with a vested interest in violating your privacy says they are only trying to save small business, grab your wallet. Because the game they're playing is misdirection away from what they really want.
The most recent case in point is Facebook, which ironically holds the world's largest database on individual human interests while also failing to understand jack shit about personal boundaries.
This became clear when Facebook placed the ad above and others like it in major publications recently, and mostly made bad news for itself. We saw the same kind of thing in early 2014, when the IAB ran a similar campaign against Mozilla, using ads like this:
That one was to oppose Mozilla's decision to turn on Do Not Track by default in its Firefox browser. Never mind that Do Not Track was never more than a polite request for websites to not be infected with a beacon, like those worn by marked animals, so one can be tracked away from the website. Had the advertising industry and its dependents in publishing simply listened to that signal, and respected it, we might never have had the GDPR or the CCPA, both of which are still failing at the same mission. (But, credit where due: the GDPR and the CCPA have at least forced websites to put up insincere and misleading opt-out popovers in front of every website whose lawyers are scared of violating the letter—but never the spirit—of those and other privacy laws.)
The IAB succeeded in its campaign against Mozilla and Do Not Track; but the the victory was Pyrrhic, because users decided to install ad blockers instead, which by 2015 was the largest boycott in human history. Plus a raft of privacy laws, with more in the pipeline.
We also got Apple on our side. That's good, but not good enough.
What we need are working tools of our own. Examples: Global Privacy Control (and all the browsers and add-ons mentioned there), Customer Commons' #NoStalking term, the IEEE's P7012 – Standard for Machine Readable Personal Privacy Terms, and other approaches to solving business problems from the our side—rather than always from the corporate one.
In those movies, we'll win.
Because if only Apple wins, we still lose.
Dammit, it's still about what The Cluetrain Manifesto said in the first place, in this "one clue" published almost 21 years ago:
we are not seats or eyeballs or end users or consumers.
we are human beings — and out reach exceeds your grasp.
We have to make them deal. All of them. Not just Apple. We need code, protocols and standards, and not just regulations.
All the projects linked to above can use some help, plus others I'll list here too if you write to me with them. (Comments here only work for Harvard email addresses, alas. I'm doc at searls dot com.)
The GDPR's biggest fail
May 25, 2020 in adtech, advertising, Law, privacy, problems | Permalink
If the GDPR did what it promised to do, we'd be celebrating Privmas today. Because, two years after the GDPR became enforceable, privacy would now be the norm rather than the exception in the online world.
That hasn't happened, but it's not just because the GDPR is poorly enforced. It's because it's too easy for every damn site on the Web—and every damn business with an Internet connection—to claim compliance to the letter of GDPR while violating its spirit.
Want to see how easy? Try searching for GDPR+compliance+consent:
https://www.google.com/search?q=gdpr+compliance+consent
Nearly all of the ~21,000,000 results you'll get are from sources pitching ways to continue tracking people online, mostly by obtaining "consent" to privacy violations that almost nobody would welcome in the offline world—exactly the kind of icky practice that the GDPR was meant to stop.
Imagine if there was a way for every establishment you entered to painlessly inject a load of tracking beacons into your bloodstream without you knowing it. And that these beacons followed you everywhere and reported your activities back to parties unknown. Would you be okay with that? And how would you like it if you couldn't even enter without recording your agreement to accept being tracked—on a ledger kept only by the establishment, so you have no way to audit their compliance to the agreement, whatever it might be?
Well, that's what you're saying when you click "Accept" or "Got it" when a typical GDPR-complying website presents a cookie notice that says something like this:
That notice is from Vice, by the way. Here's how the top story on Vice's front page looks in Belgium (though a VPN), with Privacy Badger looking for trackers:
What's typical here is that a publication, with no sense of irony, runs a story about privacy-violating harvesting of personal data… while doing the same. (By the way, those red sliders say I'm blocking those trackers. Were it not for Privacy Badger, I'd be allowing them.)
Yes, Google says you're anonymized somehow in both DoubleClick and Google Analytics, but it's you they are stalking. (Look up stalk as a verb. Top result: "to pursue or approach prey, quarry, etc., stealthily." That's what's going on.)
The main problem with the GDPR is that it effectively requires that every visitor to every website opt out of being tracked, and to do so (thank you, insincere "compliance" systems) by going down stairs into the basements of website popovers to throw tracking choice toggles to "off" positions which are typically defaulted on when you get there.
Again, let's be clear about this: There is no way for you to know exactly how you are being tracked or what is done with information gathered about you. That's because the instrument for that—a tool on your side—isn't available. It probably hasn't even been invented. You also have no record of agreeing to anything. It's not even clear that the site or its third parties have a record of that. All you've got is a cookie planted deep in your browser's bowels, designed to announce itself to other parties everywhere you go on the Web. In sum, consenting to a cookie notice leaves nothing resembling an audit trail.
Oh, and the California Consumer Protection Privacy Act (CCPA) makes matters worse by embedding opt-out into law there, while also requiring shit like this in the opt-out basement of every website facing a visitor suspected of coming from that state:
So let's go back to a simple privacy principle here: It is just as wrong to track a person like a marked animal in the online world as it is in the offline one.
The GDPR and the CCPA were made to thwart that kind of thing. But they have failed. Instead, they have made the experience of being tracked online a worse one.
Yes, that was not their intent. And yes, both have done some good. But if you are any less followed online today than you were when the GDPR became enforceable two years ago, it's because you and the browser makers have worked to thwart at least some tracking. (Though in very different ways, so your experience of not being followed is not a consistent one. Or even perceptible in many cases.)
So tracking remains worse than rampant: it's defaulted practice for both advertising and site analytics. And will remain so until we have code, laws and enforcement to stop it.
So, nothing to celebrate. Not this Privmas.
Tags: CCPA, GDPR, Privmas
May 9, 2020 in Business, data, Digital Life, infrastructure, Internet, Pandemic, Politics, privacy, problems, Social, Technology | Permalink
A few days ago, in Figuring the Future, I sourced an Arnold Kling blog post that posed an interesting pair of angles toward outlook: a 2×2 with Fragile <—> Robust on one axis and Essential <—> Inessential on the other. In his sort, essential + fragile are hospitals and airlines. Inessential + fragile are cruise ships and movie theaters. Robust + essential are tech giants. Inessential + robust are sports and entertainment conglomerates, plus major restaurant chains. It's a heuristic, and all of it is arguable (especially given the gray along both axes), which is the idea. Cases must be made if planning is to have meaning.
Now, haul Arnold's template over to The U.S. Labor Market During the Beginning of the Pandemic Recession, by Tomaz Cajner, Leland D. Crane, Ryan A. Decker, John Grigsby, Adrian Hamins-Puertolas, Erik Hurst, Christopher Kurz, and Ahu Yildirmaz, of the University of Chicago, and lay it on this item from page 21:
The highest employment drop, in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, leans toward inessential + fragile. The second, in Accommodation and Food Services is more on the essential + fragile side. The lowest employment changes, from Construction on down to Utilities, all tending toward essential + robust.
So I'm looking at those bottom eight essential + robust categories and asking a couple of questions:
1) What percentage of workers in each essential + robust category are now working from home?
2) How much of this work is essentially electronic? Meaning, done by people who live and work through glowing rectangles, connected on the Internet?
Hard to say, but the answers will have everything to do with the transition of work, and life in general, into a digital world that coexists with the physical one. This was the world we were gradually putting together when urgency around COVID-19 turned "eventually" into "now."
In Junana, Bruce Caron writes,
"Choose One" was extremely powerful. It provided a seed for everything from language (connecting sound to meaning) to traffic control (driving on only one side of the road). It also opened up to a constructivist view of society, suggesting that choice was implicit in many areas, including gender.
Choose One said to the universe, "There are several ways we can go, but we're all going to agree on this way for now, with the understanding that we can do it some other way later, thank you." It wasn't quite as elegant as "42," but it was close. Once you started unfolding with it, you could never escape the arbitrariness of that first choice.
In some countries, an arbitrary first choice to eliminate or suspend personal privacy allowed intimate degrees of contract tracing to help hammer flat the infection curve of COVID-19. Not arbitrary, perhaps, but no longer escapable.
Other countries face similar choices. Here in the U.S., there is an argument that says "The tech giants already know our movements and social connections intimately. Combine that with what governments know and we can do contact tracing to a fine degree. What matters privacy if in reality we've lost it already and many thousands or millions of lives are at stake—and so are the economies that provide what we call our 'livings.' This virus doesn't care about privacy, and for now neither should we." There is also an argument that says, "Just because we have no privacy yet in the digital world is no reason not to have it. So, if we do contact tracing through our personal electronics, it should be disabled afterwards and obey old or new regulations respecting personal privacy."
Those choices are not binary, of course. Nor are they outside the scope of too many other choices to name here. But many of those are "Choose Ones" that will play out, even if our choice is avoidance.
On humanity, surveillance and coronavirus
April 14, 2020 in coronavirus, privacy | Permalink
Just learned of The Coronavirus (Safeguards) Bill 2020: Proposed protections for digital interventions and in relation to immunity certificates. This is in addition to the UK's Coronavirus Bill 2020, which is (as I understand it) running the show there right now.
This new bill's lead author is Prof Lilian Edwards, University of Newcastle. Other contributors: Dr Michael Veale, University College London; Dr Orla Lynskey, London School of Economics; Carly Kind, Ada Lovelace Institute; and Rachel Coldicutt, Careful Industries
Here's the abstract:
This short Bill attempts to provide safeguards in relation to the symptom tracking and contact tracing apps that are currently being rolled out in the UK; and anticipates minimum safeguards that will be needed if we move on to a roll out of "immunity certificates" in the near future.
Although no one wants to delay or deter the massive effort to fight coronavirus we are all involved in, there are two clear reasons to put a law like this in place sooner rather than later:
(a) Uptake of apps, crucial to their success, will be improved if people feel confident their data will not be misused, repurposed or shared to eg the private sector (think insurers, marketers or employers) without their knowledge or consent, and that data held will be accurate.
(b) Connectedly, data quality will be much higher if people use these apps with confidence and do not provide false information to them, or withhold information, for fear of misuse or discrimination eg impact on immigration status.
(c) The portion of the population which is already digitally excluded needs reassurance that apps will not further entrench their exclusion.
While data protection law provides useful safeguards here, it is not sufficient. Data protection law allows gathering and sharing of data on the basis not just of consent but a number of grounds including the very vague "legitimate interests". Even health data, though it is deemed highly sensitive, can be gathered and shared on the basis of public health and "substantial public interest". This is clearly met in the current emergency, but we need safeguards that ensure that sharing and especially repurposing of data is necessary, in pursuit of public legitimate interests, transparent and reviewable.
Similarly, while privacy-preserving technical architectures which have been proposed are also useful, they are not a practically and holistically sufficient or rhetorically powerful enough solution to reassure and empower the public. We need laws as well.
More context, from some tabs I have open:
COVID-19 and Digital Rights and EFF and COVID-19: Protecting Openness, Security, and Civil Liberties, by the EFF.
We Mapped How the Coronavirus Is Driving New Surveillance Programs Around the World—At least 28 countries are ramping up surveillance to combat the coronavirus, by Dave Gershgorn
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) technical guidance: Surveillance and case definitions, by the World Health Organization
Coronavirus and the Future of Surveillance: Democracies Must Offer an Alternative to Authoritarian Solutions, by Nicholas Wright, in Foreign Affairs.
PRIVACY EXPERTS SAY RESPONSIBLE CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE IS POSSIBLE, by Sam Biddle, in The Intercept.
About Face, in which last October I opposed facial recognition by entities other than people, their own devices, and their pets.
All of this is, as David Weinberger puts it in the title of his second-to-latest book, Too Big to Know. So, in faith that the book's subtitle, Rethinking Knowledge Now that the Facts aren't the Facts,Experts are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room is the Room, is correct, I'm sharing this with the room.
I welcome your thoughts.
Zoom needs to clean up its privacy act
March 27, 2020 in adtech, advertising, Business, conferencing, privacy, problems | 5 comments
[21 April 2020—Hundreds of people are arriving here from this tweet, which calls me a "Harvard researcher" and suggests that this post and the three that follow are about "the full list of the issues, exploits, oversights, and dubious choices Zoom has made." So, two things. First, while I run a project at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center, and run a blog that's hosted by Harvard, I am not a Harvard employee, and would not call myself a "Harvard researcher." Second, this post and the ones that follow—More on Zoom and Privacy, Helping Zoom, and Zoom's new privacy policy—are focused almost entirely on Zoom's privacy policy and how its need to explain the (frankly, typical) tracking-based marketing tech on its home page gives misleading suggestions about the privacy of Zoom's whole service. If you're interested in that, read on. (I suggest by starting at the end of the series, written after Zoom changed its privacy policy, and working back.) If you want research on other privacy issues around Zoom, look elsewhere. Thanks.]
As quarantined millions gather virtually on conferencing platforms, the best of those, Zoom, is doing very well. Hats off.
But Zoom is also—correctly—taking a lot of heat for its privacy policy, which is creepily chummy with the tracking-based advertising biz (also called adtech). Two days ago, Consumer Reports, the greatest moral conscience in the history of business, published Zoom Calls Aren't as Private as You May Think. Here's What You Should Know: Videos and notes can be used by companies and hosts. Here are some tips to protect yourself. And there was already lots of bad PR. A few samples:
Zoom is a work-from-home privacy disaster waiting to happen (Mashable, March 13)
Zoom Privacy Policy is a Risk (Cumulus Global, March 24)
Zoom's A Lifeline During COVID-19: This Is Why It's Also A Privacy Risk (Forbes, March 25)
Zoom and Houseparty: Video Calling at Your Own (Privacy) Risk (VPN Overview, March 25)
There's too much to cover here, so I'll narrow my inquiry down to the "Does Zoom sell Personal Data?" section of the privacy policy, which was last updated on March 18. The section runs two paragraphs, and I'll comment on the second one, starting here:
… Zoom does use certain standard advertising tools which require Personal Data…
What they mean by that is adtech. What they're also saying here is that Zoom is in the advertising business, and in the worst end of it: the one that lives off harvested personal data. What makes this extra creepy is that Zoom is in a position to gather plenty of personal data, some of it very intimate (for example with a shrink talking to a patient) without anyone in the conversation knowing about it. (Unless, of course, they see an ad somewhere that looks like it was informed by a private conversation on Zoom.)
A person whose personal data is being shed on Zoom doesn't know that's happening because Zoom doesn't tell them. There's no red light, like the one you see when a session is being recorded. If you were in a browser instead of an app, an extension such as Privacy Badger could tell you there are trackers sniffing your ass. And, if your browser is one that cares about privacy, such as Brave, Firefox or Safari, there's a good chance it would be blocking trackers as well. But in the Zoom app, you can't tell if or how your personal data is being harvested.
(think, for example, Google Ads and Google Analytics).
There's no need to think about those, because both are widely known for compromising personal privacy. (See here. And here. Also Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger's Re-Engineering Humanity and Shoshana Zuboff's In the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.)
We use these tools to help us improve your advertising experience (such as serving advertisements on our behalf across the Internet, serving personalized ads on our website, and providing analytics services).
Nobody goes to Zoom for an "advertising experience," personalized or not. And nobody wants ads aimed at their eyeballs elsewhere on the Net by third parties using personal information leaked out through Zoom.
Sharing Personal Data with the third-party provider while using these tools may fall within the extremely broad definition of the "sale" of Personal Data under certain state laws because those companies might use Personal Data for their own business purposes, as well as Zoom's purposes.
By "certain state laws" I assume they mean California's new CCPA, but they also mean the GDPR. (Elsewhere in the privacy policy is a "Following the instructions of our users" section, addressing the CCPA, that's as wordy and aversive as instructions for a zero-gravity toilet. Also, have you ever seen, anywhere near the user interface for the Zoom app, a place for you to instruct the company regarding your privacy? Didn't think so.)
For example, Google may use this data to improve its advertising services for all companies who use their services.
May? Please. The right word is will. Why wouldn't they?
(It is important to note advertising programs have historically operated in this manner. It is only with the recent developments in data privacy laws that such activities fall within the definition of a "sale").
While advertising has been around since forever, tracking people's eyeballs on the Net so they can be advertised at all over the place has only been in fashion since around 2007, which was when Do Not Track was first floated as a way to fight it. Adtech (tracking-based advertising) began to hockey-stick in 2010 (when The Wall Street Journal launched its excellent and still-missed What They Know series, which I celebrated at the time). As for history, ad blocking became the biggest boycott, ever by 2015. And, thanks to adtech, the GDPR went into force in 2018 and the CCPA 2020,. We never would have had either without "advertising programs" that "historically operated in this manner."
By the way, "this manner" is only called advertising. In fact it's actually a form of direct marketing, which began as junk mail. I explain the difference in Separating Advertising's Wheat and Chaff.
If you opt out of "sale" of your info, your Personal Data that may have been used for these activities will no longer be shared with third parties.
Opt out? Where? How? I just spent a long time logged in to Zoom https://us04web.zoom.us/), and can't find anything about opting out of "'sale' of your personal info." (Later, I did get somewhere, and that's in the next post, More on Zoom and Privacy.)
Here's the thing: Zoom doesn't need to be in the advertising business, least of all in the part of it that lives like a vampire off the blood of human data. If Zoom needs more money, it should charge more for its services, or give less away for free. Zoom has an extremely valuable service, which it performs very well—better than anybody else, apparently. It also has a platform with lots of apps with just as absolute an interest in privacy. They should be concerned as well. (Unless, of course, they also want to be in the privacy-violating end of the advertising business.)
What Zoom's current privacy policy says is worse than "You don't have any privacy here." It says, "We expose your virtual necks to data vampires who can do what they will with it."
Please fix it, Zoom.
As for Zoom's competitors, there's a great weakness to exploit here.
Next post on the topic: More on Zoom and Privacy.
Going #Faceless
February 29, 2020 in Customertech, Digital Life, policy, Politics, privacy, security, VRM | Permalink
Facial recognition by machines is out of control. Meaning our control. As individuals, and as a society.
Thanks to ubiquitous surveillance systems, including the ones in our own phones, we can no longer assume we are anonymous in public places or private in private ones.
This became especially clear a few weeks ago when Kashmir Hill (@kashhill) reported in the New York Times that a company called Clearview.ai "invented a tool that could end your ability to walk down the street anonymously, and provided it to hundreds of law enforcement agencies, ranging from local cops in Florida to the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security."
If your face has ever appeared anywhere online, it's a sure bet to assume that you are not faceless to any of these systems. Clearview, Kashmir says, has "a database of more than three billion images" from "Facebook, YouTube, Venmo and millions of other websites " and "goes far beyond anything ever constructed by the United States government or Silicon Valley giants."
Among law enforcement communities, only New Jersey's has started to back off on using Clearview.
Worse, Clearview is just one company. Laws also take years to catch up with developments in facial recognition, or to get ahead of them, if they ever can. And let's face it: government interests are highly conflicted here. The need for law enforcement and intelligence agencies' need to know all they can is at extreme odds with our need, as human beings, to assume we enjoy at least some freedom from being known by God-knows-what, everywhere we go.
Personal privacy is the heart of civilized life, and beats strongest in democratic societies. It's not up for "debate" between companies and governments, or political factions. Loss of privacy is a problem that affects each of us, and calls fo0r action by each of us as well.
A generation ago, when the Internet was still new to us, four guys (one of which was me) nailed a document called The Cluetrain Manifesto to a door on the Web. It said,
we are not seats or eyeballs or end users or consumers. we are human beings and our reach exceeds your grasp. deal with it.
Since then their grasp has exceeded our reach. And with facial recognition they have gone too far.
Now it's time for our reach to exceed their grasp.
Now it's time, finally, to make them deal with it.
I see three ways, so far. I'm sure ya'll will think of other and better ones. The Internet is good for that.
First is to use an image like the one above (preferably with a better design) as your avatar, favicon, or other facial expression. (Like I just did for @dsearls on Twitter.) Here's a favicon we can all use until a better one comes along:
Second, sign the Stop facial recognition by surveillance systems petition I just put up at that link. Two hashtags:
#GOOMF, for Get Out Of My Face
#Faceless
Third is to stop blaming and complaining. That's too easy, tends to go nowhere and wastes energy. Instead,
Fourth, develop useful and constructive ideas toward what we can do—each of us, alone and together—to secure, protect and signal our privacy needs and intentions in the world, in ways others can recognize and respect. We have those in the natural world. We don't yet in the digital one. So let's invent them.
Fifth is to develop the policies we need to stop the spread of privacy-violating technologies and practices, and to foster development of technologies that enlarge our agency in the digital world—and not just to address the wrongs being committed against us. (Which is all most privacy laws actually do.)
Tags: #Faceless, #GOOMF, petittion, privacy, surveillance
The Deeper Issue
January 29, 2020 in adtech, history, Journalism, Politics, privacy | Permalink
Journalism's biggest problem (as I've said before) is what it's best at: telling stories. That's what Thomas B. Edsall (of Columbia and The New York Times) does in Trump's Digital Advantage Is Freaking Out Democratic Strategists, published in today's New York Times. He tells a story. Or, in the favored parlance of our time, a narrative, about what he sees Republicans' superior use of modern methods for persuading voters:
Experts in the explosively growing field of political digital technologies have developed an innovative terminology to describe what they do — a lexicon that is virtually incomprehensible to ordinary voters. This language provides an inkling of the extraordinarily arcane universe politics has entered:
geofencing, mass personalization, dark patterns, identity resolution technologies, dynamic prospecting, geotargeting strategies, location analytics, geo-behavioural segment, political data cloud, automatic content recognition, dynamic creative optimization.
Geofencing and other emerging digital technologies derive from microtargeting marketing initiatives that use consumer and other demographic data to identify the interests of specific voters or very small groups of like-minded individuals to influence their thoughts or actions.
In fact the "arcane universe" he's talking about is the direct marketing playbook, which was born offline as the junk mail business. In that business, tracking individuals and bothering them personally is a fine and fully rationalized practice. And let's face it: political campaigning has always wanted to get personal. It's why we have mass mailings, mass callings, mass textings and the rest of it—all to personal addresses, numbers and faces.
Coincidence: I just got this:
There is nothing new here other than (at the moment) the Trump team doing it better than any Democrat. (Except maybe Bernie.) Obama's team was better at it in '08 and '12. Trump's was better at it in '16 and is better again in '20.*
However, debating which candidates do the best marketing misdirects our attention away from the destruction of personal privacy by constant tracking of our asses online—including tracking of asses by politicians. This, I submit, is a bigger and badder issue than which politicians do the best direct marketing. It may even be bigger than who gets elected to what in November.
As issues go, personal privacy is soul-deep. Who gets elected, and how, are not.
As I put it here,
Surveillance of people is now the norm for nearly every website and app that harvests personal data for use by machines. Privacy, as we've understood it in the physical world since the invention of the loincloth and the door latch, doesn't yet exist. Instead, all we have are the "privacy policies" of corporate entities participating in the data extraction marketplace, plus terms and conditions they compel us to sign, either of which they can change on a whim. Most of the time our only choice is to deny ourselves the convenience of these companies' services or live our lives offline.
Worse is that these are proffered on the Taylorist model, meaning mass-produced.
There is a natural temptation to want to fix this with policy. This is a mistake for two reasons:
Policy-makers are themselves part of the problem. Hell, most of their election campaigns are built on direct marketing. And law enforcement (which carries out certain forms of policy) has always regarded personal privacy as a problem to overcome rather than a solution to anything. Example.
Policy-makers often screw things up. Exhibit A: the EU's GDPR, which has done more to clutter the Web with insincere and misleading cookie notices than it has to advance personal privacy tech online. (I've written about this a lot. Here's one sample.)
We need tech of our own. Terms and policies of our own. In the physical world, we have privacy tech in the forms of clothing, shelter, doors, locks and window shades. We have policies in the form of manners, courtesies, and respect for privacy signals we send to each other. We lack all of that online. Until we invent it, the most we'll do to achieve real privacy online is talk about it, and inveigh for politicians to solve it for us. Which they won't.
If you're interested in solving personal privacy at the personal level, take a look at Customer Commons. If you want to join our efforts there, talk to me.
*The Trump campaign also has the enormous benefit of an already-chosen Republican ticket. The Democrats have a mess of candidates and a split in the party between young and old, socialists and moderates, and no candidate as interesting as is Trump. (Also, I'm not Joyce.)
At this point, it's no contest. Trump is the biggest character in the biggest story of our time. (I explain this in Where Journalism Fails.) And he's on a glide path to winning in November, just as I said he was in 2016.
October 31, 2019 in Identity, language, Law, Life, privacy, problems, Research, Science, security | Permalink
We know more than we can tell.
That one-liner from Michael Polanyi has been waiting half a century for a proper controversy, which it now has with facial recognition. Here's how he explains it in The Tacit Dimension:
This fact seems obvious enough; but it is not easy to say exactly what it means. Take an example. We know a person's face, and can recognize it among a thousand others, indeed among a million. Yet we usually cannot tell how we recognize a face we know. So most of this knowledge cannot be put into words.
Polanyi calls that kind of knowledge tacit. The kind we can put into words he calls explicit.
For an example of both at work, consider how, generally, we don't know how we will end the sentences we begin, or how we began the sentences we are ending—and how the same is true of what we hear or read from other people whose sentences we find meaningful. The explicit survives only as fragments, but the meaning of what was said persists in tacit form.
Likewise, if we are asked to recall and repeat, verbatim, a paragraph of words we have just said or heard, we will find it difficult or impossible to do so, even if we have no trouble saying exactly what was meant. This is because tacit knowing, whether kept to one's self or told to others, survives the natural human tendency to forget particulars after a few seconds, even when we very clearly understand what we have just said or heard.
Tacit knowledge and short term memory are both features of human knowing and communication, not bugs. Even for people with extreme gifts of memorization (e.g. actors who can learn a whole script in one pass, or mathematicians who can learn pi to 4000 decimals), what matters more than the words or the numbers are their meaning. And that meaning is both more and other than what can be said. It is deeply tacit.
On the other hand—the digital hand—computer knowledge is only explicit, meaning a computer can know only what it can tell. At both knowing and telling, a computer can be far more complete and detailed than a human could ever be. And the more a computer knows, the better it can tell. (To be clear, a computer doesn't know a damn thing. But it does remember—meaning it retrieves—what's in its databases, and it does process what it retrieves. At all those activities it is inhumanly capable.)
So, the more a computer learns of explicit facial details, the better it can infer conclusions about that face, including ethnicity, age, emotion, wellness (or lack of it) and much else. Given a base of data about individual faces, and of names associated with those faces, a computer programmed to be adept at facial recognition can also connect faces to names, and say "This is (whomever)."
For all those reasons, computers doing facial recognition are proving useful for countless purposes: unlocking phones, finding missing persons and criminals, aiding investigations, shortening queues at passport portals, reducing fraud (for example at casinos), confirming age (saying somebody is too old or not old enough), finding lost pets (which also have faces). The list is long and getting longer.
Yet many (or perhaps all) of those purposes are at odds with the sense of personal privacy that derives from the tacit ways we know faces, our reliance on short term memory, and our natural anonymity (literally, namelessness) among strangers. All of those are graces of civilized life in the physical world, and they are threatened by the increasingly widespread use—and uses—of facial recognition by governments, businesses, schools and each other.
Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren visited the same problem more 130 years ago, when they became alarmed at the privacy risks suggested by photography, audio recording and reporting on both via technologies that were far more primitive than those we have today. As a warning to the future, they wrote a landmark Harvard Law Review paper titled The Right to Privacy, which has served as a pole star of good sense ever since. Here's an excerpt:
Recent inventions and business methods call attention to the next step which must be taken for the protection of the person, and for securing to the individual what Judge Cooley calls the right "to be let alone" 10 Instantaneous photographs and newspaper enterprise have invaded the sacred precincts of private and domestic life ; and numerous mechanical devices threaten to make good the prediction that "what is whispered in the closet shall be proclaimed from the house-tops." For years there has been a feeling that the law must afford some remedy for the unauthorized circulation of portraits of private persons ;11 and the evil of invasion of privacy by the newspapers, long keenly felt, has been but recently discussed by an able writer.12 The alleged facts of a somewhat notorious case brought before an inferior tribunal in New York a few months ago, 13 directly involved the consideration of the right of circulating portraits ; and the question whether our law will recognize and protect the right to privacy in this and in other respects must soon come before out courts for consideration.
They also say the "right of the individual to be let alone…is like the right not be assaulted or beaten, the right not be imprisoned, the right not to be maliciously prosecuted, the right not to be defamed."
To that list today we might also add, "the right not to be reduced to bits" or "the right not to be tracked like an animal—whether anonymously or not."
But it's hard to argue for those rights in our digital world, where computers can see, hear, draw and paint exact portraits of everything: every photo we take, every word we write, every spreadsheet we assemble, every database accumulating in our hard drives—plus those of every institution we interact with, and countless ones we don't (or do without knowing the interaction is there).
Facial recognition by computers is a genie that is not going back in the bottle. And there are no limits to wishes the facial recognition genie can grant the organizations that want to use it, which is why pretty much everything is being done with it. A few examples:
Facebook's Deep Face sells facial recognition for many purposes to corporate customers. Examples from that link: "Face Detection & Landmarks…Facial Analysis & Attributes…Facial Expressions & Emotion… Verification, Similarity & Search." This is non-trivial stuff. Writes Ben Goertzel, "Facebook has now pretty convincingly solved face recognition, via a simple convolutional neural net, dramatically scaled."
FaceApp can make a face look older, younger, whatever. It can even swap genders.
The FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI), involves (says Wikipedia) eleven companies and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).
Snap has a patent for reading emotions in faces.
The MORIS™ Multi-Biometric Identification System is "a portable handheld device and identification database system that can scan, recognize and identify individuals based on iris, facial and fingerprint recognition," and is typically used law enforcement organizations.
Casinos in Canada are using facial recognition to "help addicts bar themselves from gaming facilities." It's opt-in: "The technology relies on a method of "self-exclusion," whereby compulsive gamblers volunteer in advance to have their photos banked in the system's database, in case they ever get the urge to try their luck at a casino again. If that person returns in the future and the facial-recognition software detects them, security will be dispatched to ask the gambler to leave."
Cruise ships are boarding passengers faster using facial recognition by computers.
Australia proposes scanning faces to see if viewers are old enough to look at porn.
Facial recognition systems are also getting better and better at what they do. A November 2018 NIST report on a massive study of facial recognition systems begins,
This report documents performance of face recognition algorithms submitted for evaluation on image datasets maintained at NIST. The algorithms implement one-to-many identification of faces appearing in two-dimensional images.
The primary dataset is comprised of 26.6 million reasonably well-controlled live portrait photos of 12.3 million individuals. Three smaller datasets containing more unconstrained photos are also used: 3.2 million webcam images; 2.5 million photojournalism and amateur photographer photos; and 90 thousand faces cropped from surveillance-style video clips. The report will be useful for comparison of face recognition algorithms, and assessment of absolute capability. The report details recognition accuracy for 127 algorithms from 45 developers, associating performance with participant names. The algorithms are prototypes, submitted in February and June 2018 by research and development laboratories of commercial face recognition suppliers and one university…
The major result of the evaluation is that massive gains in accuracy have been achieved in the last five years (2013-2018) and these far exceed improvements made in the prior period (2010-2013). While the industry gains are broad — at least 28 developers' algorithms now outperform the most accurate algorithm from late 2013 — there remains a wide range of capabilities. With good quality portrait photos, the most accurate algorithms will find matching entries, when present, in galleries containing 12 million individuals, with error rates below 0.2%
Privacy freaks (me included) would like everyone to be creeped out by this. Yet many people are cool with it to some degree, and not just because they're acquiescing to the inevitable: they're relying on it because it makes interaction with machines easier—and they trust it.
For example, in Barcelona, CaixaBank is rolling out facial recognition at its ATMs, claiming that 70% of surveyed customers are ready to use it as an alternative to keying in a PIN, and that "66% of respondents highlighted the sense of security that comes with facial recognition." That the bank's facial recognition system "has the capability of capturing up to 16,000 definable points when the user's face is presented at the screen" is presumably of little or no concern. Nor, also presumably, is the risk of what might get done with facial data if the bank gets hacked, or if it changes its privacy policy, or if it gets sold and the new owner can't resist selling or sharing facial data with others who want it, or if (though more like when) government bodies require it.
A predictable pattern for every new technology is that what can be done will be done—until we see how it goes wrong and try to stop doing that. This has been true of every technology from stone tools to nuclear power and beyond. Unlike many other new technologies, however, it is not hard to imagine ways facial recognition by computers can go wrong, especially when it already has.
Two examples:
In June, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which relies on facial recognition and other biometrics, revealed that photos of people were compromised by a cyberattack on a federal subcontractor.
In August, researchers at vpnMentor reported a massive data leak in BioStar 2, a widely used "Web-based biometric security smart lock platform" that uses facial recognition and fingerprinting technology to identify users, was compromised. Notes the report, "Once stolen, fingerprint and facial recognition information cannot be retrieved. An individual will potentially be affected for the rest of their lives." vpnMentor also had a hard time getting thrugh to company officials, so they could fix the leak.
As organizations should know (but in many cases have trouble learning), the highest risks of data exposure and damage are to—
the largest data sets,
the most complex organizations and relationships, and
the largest variety of existing and imaginable ways that security can be breached
And let's not discount the scary potentials at the (not very) far ends of technological progress and bad intent. Killer microdrones targeted at faces, anyone?
So it is not surprising that some large companies doing facial recognition go out of their way to keep personal data out of their systems. For example, by making facial recognition work for the company's customers, but not for the company itself.
Such is the case with Apple's late model iPhones, which feature FaceID: a personal facial recognition system that lets a person unlock their phone with a glance. Says Apple, "Face ID data doesn't leave your device and is never backed up to iCloud or anywhere else."
But assurances such as Apple's haven't stopped push-back against all facial recognition. Some examples—
The Public Voice: "We the undersigned call for a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology that enables mass surveillance."
Fight for the Future: BanFacialRecognition. Self-explanatory, and with lots of organizational signatories.
New York Times: "San Francisco, long at the heart of the technology revolution, took a stand against potential abuse on Tuesday by banning the use of facial recognition software by the police and other agencies. The action, which came in an 8-to-1 vote by the Board of Supervisors, makes San Francisco the first major American city to block a tool that many police forces are turning to in the search for both small-time criminal suspects and perpetrators of mass carnage."
Also in the Times, Evan Sellinger and Woodrow Hartzhog write, "Stopping this technology from being procured — and its attendant databases from being created — is necessary for protecting civil rights and privacy. But limiting government procurement won't be enough. We must ban facial recognition in both public and private sectors, before we grow so dependent on it that we accept its inevitable harms as necessary for "progress." Perhaps over time appropriate policies can be enacted that justify lifting a ban. But we doubt it."
Cory Doctorow's Why we should ban facial recognition technology everywhere is an "amen" to the Selinger & Hartzhog piece.
BanFacialRecognition.com lists 37 participating organizations, including EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), Daily Kos, Fight for the Future, MoveOn.org, National Lawyers Guild, Greenpeace and Tor.
MIT Technology Revew says bans are spreading in in the U.S.: "San Francisco and Oakland, California, and Somerville, Massachusetts, have outlawed certain uses of facial recognition technology, with Portland, Oregon, potentially soon to follow. That's just the beginning, according to Mutale Nkonde, a Harvard fellow and AI policy advisor. That trend will soon spread to states, and there will eventually be a federal ban on some uses of the technology, she said at MIT Technology Review's EmTech conference."
Irony alert: the black banner atop that last story says, "We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize content, and serve targeted advertisements." Notes the Times' Charlie Warzel, "Devoted readers of the Privacy Project will remember mobile advertising IDs as an easy way to de-anonymize extremely personal information, such as location data." Well, advertising IDs are among the many trackers that both MIT Technology Review and The New York Times inject in readers' browsers with every visit. (Bonus link.)
My own position on all this is provisional, because I'm still learning and there's a lot to take in. But here goes:
The only entities that should be able to recognize people's faces are other people. And maybe their pets. But not machines.
But, since the facial recognition genie will never go back in its bottle, I'll suggest a few rules for entities using computers to do facial recognition. All these are provisional as well:
People should have their own forms of facial recognition, for example to unlock phones, to sort through old photos, or to show to others the way they would a driving license or a passport (to say, in effect, "See? This is me.") But, the data they gather for themselves should not be shared with the company providing the facial recognition software (unless it's just of their own face, and then only for the safest possible diagnostic or service improvement purposes). This, as I understand it, is roughly what Apple does with iPhones.
Facial recognition used to detect changing facial characteristics (such as emotions, age or wellness) should be required to forget what they see, right after the job is done, and not use the data gathered for any purpose other than diagnostics or performance improvement.
For persons having their faces recognized, sharing data for diagnostic or performance improvement purposes should be opt-in, with data anonymized and made as auditable as possible, by individuals and/or their intermediaries.
For enterprises with systems that know individuals' (customers' or consumers') faces, don't use those faces to track or find those individuals elsewhere in the online or offline worlds—again, unless those individuals have opted in to the practice.
I suspect that Polanyi would agree with those.
But my heart is with Walt Whitman, whose Song of Myself argued against the dehumanizing nature of mechanization at the dawn of the industrial age. Wrote Walt,
Encompass worlds but never try to encompass me.
I crowd your noisiest talk by looking toward you.
Writing and talk do not prove me.I carry the plenum of proof and everything else in my face.
With the hush of my lips I confound the topmost skeptic…
Very well then. I contradict myself.
I am large. I contain multitudes.
The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me.
He complains of my gab and my loitering.
I too am not a bit tamed. I too am untranslatable.
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
The barbaric yawps by human hawks say five words, very explicitly:
Get out of my face.
And they yawp those words in spite of the sad fact that obeying them may prove impossible.
[Later bonus links…]
Your face is now your boarding pass, and that's a problem. (Washington Post)
This new tool can tell you if your online photos are helping train facial recognition systems. (CNN Business) BTW, that tool tells me this: "855 unique photos from the Flickr account "docsearls" were used in at least 2 image datasets related to face recognition. The photos were uploaded between 2005 and 2014." Grr… | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
} |
Q: Maximum call stack size exceeded mongoose nodejs hey here is a function that is called when a person follows another person in my app.
mongoose throws an error of 'Maximum call stack size exceeded' after updating the followers array.
if I comment out the 2 lines where I am saving followers array after pushing or where I am saving following array the error goes away but its not updating both of the arrays
the error:
RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:109:21)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
at cloneObject (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:120:17)
at clone (E:\AHSAN\PROJECTS\dev-connector\server\node_modules\mongoose\lib\helpers\clone.js:59:16)
code:
export const followAPerson = async (req, res) => {
try {
const { followerID, toFollowID } = req.body;
const personToFollow = await userModel.findById(toFollowID);
const follower = await userModel.findById(followerID);
personToFollow.followers.push(follower);
await personToFollow.save();
follower.following.push(personToFollow)
await follower.save()
const updatedUsers = await userModel.find();
pusher.trigger('follow', 'follow', { users: updatedUsers })
return {
success: true,
msg: `You followed ${personToFollow.name}`
}
}
catch (err) {
console.log(err);
}
}
| {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaStackExchange"
} |
Niger heads to polls in hope of first democratic transition
At least 42 Daesh militants killed near Lake Chad - troops
Militants kill 'at least 30' in Nigeria's troubled Borno
Why is Niger changing its national anthem?
Nigeria votes for new president despite delay and attacks
Boko Haram kills three troops in Nigeria base attack
Militants kidnap over a dozen schoolchildren in Nigeria's Borno state
Sudanese forces fire tear gas as thousands rally against post-coup killings
Dozens dead in stampede at Liberian church after street gang attack
Kenyan police investigate tortured bodies found dumped in river
Activists report first death in street protests against Tunisia leader
Former interior minister Mohamed Bazoum, the ruling party's candidate, is the overwhelming favourite to succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.
A Nigerien soldier walks between ballot boxes before Niger's presidential and legislatives voting materials distribution in Niamey, Niger, on December 26, 2020. (AFP)
Niger is voting in an election that is expected to lead to the first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents in a country reeling from violence.
Former interior minister Mohamed Bazoum, the ruling party's candidate, is the overwhelming favourite to succeed President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms leading the largely desert country of 23 million.
Bazoum, 60, has promised continuity with Issoufou's policies, while also vowing to clean up pervasive corruption.
"If I am lucky enough to win this election, you will have chosen someone who is ready from day one," he said in a campaign video.
Niger faces twin security crises. It has suffered repeated attacks near its western borders with Mali and Burkina Faso from militants linked to al Qaeda and Daesh. Near its southeastern border with Nigeria it faces attacks from Boko Haram. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the last year alone.
The economic situation is also critical. More than 40 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, and the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed growth to a crawl, compounding the effects of climate change and low prices for top export uranium.
READ MORE: Boko Haram militants kill over two dozen civilians in Niger
Bazoum faces 29 other candidates, who will hope to force a second round by denying him an outright majority of the vote.
Hama Amadou, who finished runner-up in the last election, was barred from running because of a criminal conviction, leaving the opposition without an obvious figurehead.
But last week, Amadou's party called on its supporters to turn out for Mahamane Ousmame, who was president from 1993-1996.
"After my candidate was disqualified, I didn't have the motivation to come out and vote," said Ali Hamma, an Amadou supporter. "But with the new instructions, I am going to vote."
A peaceful transfer of power would be a milestone for Niger, which has experienced four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.
It would also stand in stark contrast to Ivory Coast and Guinea, whose presidents this year used constitutional changes to extend their tenures to three terms, raising fears of a democratic backslide in West Africa.
READ MORE: Niger labour minister dies from coronavirus - public TV
Deadly suicide blast strikes near Somali military base | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaCommonCrawl"
} |
BAGHDAD, May 1 (Reuters) - Iraq's crude oil exports from its southern ports averaged 3.340 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, lower than in March, because of maintenance at loading terminals early in the month, the Oil Ministry said on Tuesday.
The March average was 3.45 million bpd.
Exports from the south are managed by the central government in Baghdad. The semi-autonomous Kurdistan region exports about 300,000 bpd of crude from northern Iraq through a pipeline across Turkey.
There were no exports in March from the Kirkuk fields, located in northern Iraq but under the control of Baghdad, the Oil Ministry said in a statement.
Kirkuk oil exports stopped in October, when Iraqi government troops backed by Shi'ite paramilitary forces dislodged Kurdish fighters from the region. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
The myriad of fall colors is upon some areas of the country while summer continues to beat on others. Sometimes I am surprised just how quickly a single tree will go from green to fall colors and then to drab. Seasons, holidays and times together (or apart) remind us of the forward motion of our lives and of time. I was inspired to paint this piece from Genesis 1:14 just because it includes seasons. This painting is 14" Wide x 11" High x 1" Deep. It's painted on a birchwood panel with sides and it's ready to hang. The sides have been painted black and all surfaces are coated with a UV-resistant satin varnish to protect against sunlight and dust. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
This week, the border bill sponsored by Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) that was scheduled to be voted on in the House of Representatives has been tabled, ostensibly due to inclement weather. Saving our analysis of that bill for another day, we look instead to two events raising awareness of the tens of thousands of men, women, toddlers, and babies who spend their days and nights in immigration detention in the U.S.
First, you may have missed a briefing for Congressional offices last week, "Retraumatizing and Inhumane: Detaining Immigrant Survivors of Violence against Women and Children" that LIRS co-sponsored along with the bipartisan Congressional Women's Working Group on Immigration Reform and eight other coalition partner organizations.
At the well-attended briefing, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) called for an end to family detention. A former detainee of Artesia Family Residential Center who has now been granted asylum status, Archi Pyati, Director of Public Policy for the Tahirih Justice Center, and Dr. Gisele A. Hass, a Clinical Psychologist and expert in trauma-informed responses for immigrant survivors of violence, also attested to the harmful impact of detention on survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence.
This week the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hosts a briefing on "The State of Civil Rights at Immigration Detention Facilities." The event will raise critical attention on immigration detention, including family detention. Panelists will focus on the standards of care at private detention facilities and the legal and civil rights concerns related to immigration detention. LIRS has long opposed the inhumane and often arbitrary practice of immigration detention as it is expensive, risks retraumatizing victims of trafficking or abuse, and prevents full and fair access to legal representation and information.
Instead, we push for humane and compassionate Alternatives to Detention (ATDs), like LIRS's Community Support Initiative. To learn more about alternatives and the ways in which you can get involved, please visit https://www.lirs.org/alternatives-to-detention/ and read our newly updated report, "Locking Up Family Values, Again: The Continued Failure of Immigration Family Detention".
If you feel called to do so, stand up against family detention through the LIRS Action Center. Be the voice for hundreds of women and children isolated in detention. | {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaC4"
} |
Q: Table per hierarchy generic select methods I have got a audit logs table, which uses table per hierarchy inheritance. Now I am trying to create repository, which will handle selects from this table. My first idea was to create some generic method which will handle selects for all types. But I cannot figure out how to do it.
My second idea was to create private methods, which will handle select for concrete type and based on generic type, call this private methods in public generic method GetByType. There is another problem, I cannot return concrete type from this method, Visual studio says, it cannot convert to concrete type.
Can you recommend me some best practices in this case?
Is it possible to select concrete types from one generic method? Do I need to create private methods? Is possible to return concrete type from generic method?
Repository:
public async Task<PaginatedList<T>> GetByType<T>(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter) where T : Audit
{
//idea was to create conditions here and return collections with concrete objects - not working
if (typeof(T) == typeof(AuditUser))
{
var result = await getUserLogs(queryFilter);
return (PaginatedList<T>) result;
}
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditUser>> GetUserLogs(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditUser>();
query = query.Include(a => a.AffectedUser);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditProject>> GetProjectLogs(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditProject>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Project);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditAdditionalBlock>> GetAdditionalBlockLogs(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditAdditionalBlock>();
query = query.Include(a => a.AdditionalBlock)
.ThenInclude(adb => adb.Project);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditInvestorRepayments>> GetInvestorRepaymentsLogs(
AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditInvestorRepayments>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Repayment)
.ThenInclude(r => r.Investment)
.ThenInclude(i => i.Investor)
.ThenInclude(i => i.Claims);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditDebtorRepayments>> GetDebtorRepaymentsLogs(
AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditDebtorRepayments>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Repayment)
.ThenInclude(r => r.Project);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditCompany>> GetCompaniesLogs(
AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditCompany>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Company);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditProjectAccount>> GetProjectAccountsLogs(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditProjectAccount>();
query = query.Include(a => a.ProjectAccount);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditBranch>> GetBranchesAudit(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditBranch>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Branche);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private async Task<PaginatedList<AuditInvestment>> GetInvestmentsAudit(AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
var query = getBaseAuditQuery<AuditInvestment>();
query = query.Include(a => a.Investment)
.ThenInclude(i => i.Investor)
.ThenInclude(i => i.Claims);
return await query.ToPaginatedListAsync(queryFilter.Page, queryFilter.PageSize);
}
private IQueryable<Audit> filterAuditQuery(IQueryable<Audit> query, AuditLogsQueryFilter queryFilter)
{
if (queryFilter.Type != null)
{
query = queryFilter.Type != AuditLogsType.User
? query.Where(a => a.TableName == queryFilter.Type.ToString())
: query.Where(a => a.TableName == queryFilter.Type.ToString() || a.TableName == "UserClaim");
}
return query;
}
Entities:
BaseClass:
public class Audit
{
public Guid Id { get; set; }
public User User { get; set; }
[ForeignKey("UserId")]
[Required]
public string UserId { get; set; }
public string Type { get; set; }
public string TableName { get; set; }
[Required]
public DateTime DateTime { get; set; }
public string OldValues { get; set; }
public string NewValues { get; set; }
public string AffectedColumns { get; set; }
public string PrimaryKey { get; set; }
}
DerivedClasses:
public class AuditUser : Audit
{
public User AffectedUser { get; set; }
public string AffectedUserId { get; set; }
}
public class AuditProject : Audit
{
[ForeignKey("ProjectId")]
public Project Project { get; set; }
public Guid ProjectId { get; set; }
}
and so on...
| {
"redpajama_set_name": "RedPajamaStackExchange"
} |
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