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The GOP's Gary Johnson quandary
There hasn’t been a single poll out of Colorado this year that’s shown Mitt Romney ahead of Barack Obama. Tuesday’s Public Policy Polling poll is no exception: Obama leads Romney in a head-to-head matchup by 49 percent to 42 percent.
But add libertarian Gary Johnson to the mix and the numbers are slightly different: Obama leads 47-39, with 7 percent going to Johnson, according to the PPP poll.
At that level of support, if Johnson qualifies for the ballot, he could end up having a significant impact in a three-way matchup — not only in Colorado but across the Mountain West, where he figures to run strongest.
Libertarian presidential candidates typically struggle to win even 1 percent of the vote in the critical electoral bloc of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. But Johnson isn’t a typical libertarian nominee. He’s a former two-term New Mexico governor with a greater familiarity with elections and campaigning.
Given the competitive nature of those states — to varying degrees, all are expected to be close in November — it wouldn’t take much to affect the outcome in any of them.
According to recent polls from PPP, a Democratic firm, Johnson draws 7 percent in Colorado and 9 percent in Arizona. In May, a poll done for the Democratic group Patriot Majority had Johnson at 12 percent in his home state of New Mexico.
Much, but not all, of Johnson’s support is coming out of Romney’s hide. And that could be a problem going forward for Republicans because as the Libertarian Party nominee, anywhere Johnson qualifies for the ballot, he provides a safe harbor for disaffected Ron Paul supporters in November. |
In the wake of his recent health problems, Capcom’s Yoshinori Ono has recently just recently tweeted that he will be temporarily stepping down from his role as Street Fighter series producer.
On his twitter account, Ono-san posted the following messages in english.
I’ll refrain from work for current job for a while. Another person in charge of SF series for a while.Of course I’ll constant support to it.
I’ll be out of the limelight as fighting game series for a while. I’ll think about the new future of fighting game after this. ;D
In addition to this, he also tweeted the following message in Japanese.
カプコンでは近日にプライベートイベントを開催する予定です。暫くの間、小野が現状の仕事を離れ、新しい担当がＳＦシリーズを担う事を通知する予定です。
今後も公式サイト、公式Blogを通じて情報提供を継続していきます。次のアップデートまで少々お待ち下さい。
This one mentions that Capcom will be holding a private event in the near future where they will announce who will take over Ono-san’s job while he recuperates.
As a parting shot, Ono-san had the following to say about taking care of one’s health.
Physical health is of paramount importance. Let’s try to improve healthcare.
While not everyone agreed with the direction that he was taking the series, Ono-san always demonstrated a genuine passion for Street Fighter and fighting games in general, a passion that led him to revive a once dormant series, bringing it back into mainstream consciousness. We wish him the very best of luck and hope that he makes a full recovery.
Source Ono-san’s twitter.
Photo c/o Capcom-Unity |
As I write this, Series 5 of Great British Bake Off has come to an end. A winner has been crowned and we can all start making plans for Wednesday evenings again… I am actually a little relieved I don’t have to keep up with the baking on the show – baking in the living room with builders drilling non-stop in the former kitchen is far from ideal!
But this baking challenge is actually tied with the previous episode – the semi final – where our bakers grappled with baklava, enteremets and schichttorte. I think these challenges are more interesting than what was included in the actual grand finale…
I will do a round up of the lovely #GBBO #BakeAlong recipes everyone has been linking together with the final recipe next week. Remember to link any new recipes below.
I decided to attempt an entremet – something I have been meaning to do for a while. I did not have all the required equipment to make a really impressive entremet so I had to create a layered one in these Stainless Steel Food Rings . They worked really well but for a professional finish I would really need some food grade acetate. I actually had bought some about a year ago but managed to lose it in the kitchen refurb (everything is in boxes or inaccessible at the moment).
Chocolate & Passionfruit Entremet
This is made out of four components: a sponge cake base, a chocolate mousse, a passionfruit mousse and a passionfruit glaze. You can make one large instead of six individual servings – line a springform tin with acetate or cling film and layer the elements in it.
You can also layer the mousse (without the sponge) in large glasses. Not only does it look fabulous it is also much easier and quicker to make…
For the sponge
4 large eggs
125g | 4oz sugar
125g | 4oz plain flour
60g | 2oz unsalted butter, melted and cooled
pinch salt
5 tbsp Monin Passion Fruit Syrup
Method
Preheat the oven to 220C (423F). Line a swiss roll tin with greaseproof paper and then spray the paper with cake release spray. Put the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and whisk together using a hand whisk until pale. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water on low heat. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick and pale and falls from the whisk in a thick ribbon. Sift the flour with a pinch of salt and then fold into the mixture in two or three stages adding it alternately with the melted butter until it is well incorporated. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 7 minutes, turning the tray around halfway if needed. Cool completely before using. This can be made a day in advance. To assemble: brush the cake with warmed passionfruit syrup (you can also use a simple sugar syrup) then cut 6 circles out using the steel rings. Set aside. (You will have cake leftover).
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For the chocolate mousse
I used a mixture of milk and dark Green & Blacks chocolate here.
(see also my Triple chocolate mousse cake)
2 sheets platinum grade gelatin
100g | 3.5oz milk chocolate, chopped
100g | 3.5oz 70% chocolate, chopped
120ml | 1/2 cup whole milk
200ml | 7 oz double cream (see note)
Note: Whip 400ml (14oz) double cream until you have soft peaks and place in the fridge – this will be shared between the two mousses.
Method
Soften the gelatine sheets in a glass of cold water. Set aside. Place the chopped chocolate into the bowl of the Magimix fitted with a metal blade. Pulse briefly until the chocolate is almost powdered. Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until small bubbles appear at the edges of the pot. Take off the heat. Squeeze the gelatine to get rid of excess water then add to the milk and stir until dissolved.With the Magimix running add the hot milk in a steady stream and mix until the chocolate melts. This should only take a few seconds. Set aside to cool slightly. Add half of the whipped cream (see note above) and stir to blend then fold the rest in. Pour a layer of chocolate mousse in the cake-lined rings and then place in the freezer while you prepare the passionfruit mousse.
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For the passionfruit mousse
2 sheets platinum grade gelatin
125ml | 4oz strained passionfruit juice
(from 6 passionfruit – reserve some of the seeds for decoration)
2 large egg yolks
60 | 2oz grams caster sugar
200ml | 7 oz double cream (see note)
Method
Soften the gelatine sheets in a glass of cold water. Set aside. Beat the egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl then add the passionfruit juice and mix together. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water on low heat. Stir together until the mixture is fairly warm and slightly thickened. Squeeze the gelatine to get rid of excess water then add to the bowl and stir until dissolved. Add half of the whipped cream (see note above) and stir to blend then fold the rest in. Pour a layer of passionfruit mousse over the chocolate mousse leaving a small gap at the top and then place in the freezer while you prepare the passionfruit glaze.
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Passionfruit Glaze
1 tablespoon glucose syrup 125ml | 4oz Monin Passion Fruit Syrup 1 tablespoon glucose syrup
2 sheets platinum grade gelatin
Method Soften the gelatine sheets in a glass of cold water. Set aside. Heat the passionfruit syrup in a small saucepan until warm but not boiling. Take off the heat. Squeeze the gelatine to get rid of excess water then add to the pot and stir until dissolved. Cool the glaze (I poured it back and forth between two measuring jugs). Arrange some of the reserved passionfruit seeds on top of the entremet and then top with the passionfruit glaze. Chill in the freezer until completely set. Warm the rings in your hands then use the pusher to gently push the entremets out of the rings. Place on plates and transfer to the fridge for a few hours (otherwise the mousse will be frozen) before serving.
Remember to link your #GBBO bakes. There will be book prizes given out to three star bakers – and possibly more! |
The Terrapin Logo Language
In the summer of 1988, my mom decided that I couldn't spend the entire summer playing Transformers and Nintendo over at my neighbor's house. In order to crush my dreams of nonstop Mario and Optimus Prime, she signed me up for the Wakefield Elementary Summer School Enrichment Program where for 4 hours a day I sat in unair-conditioned classrooms in what was basically glorified daycare. There were five exciting classes offered that year: Art, Computer, French, Creative Writing, and Health. And so, over the next five summers, I spent eight weeks of my summer learning stuff for fun. To be fair though, it was sort of fun. Health was basically just dodgeball and Red Light, Green Light with the food pyramid mixed in and Creative Writing eventually evolved into Writing/Drama. They also rotated the foreign language class between French, Spanish, and Italian each year to keep things interesting. But the real star of the Summer Enrichment Program was computer class. In 1988, no one I was friends with had a computer. Hell, why would you have wanted one? Computers were these crappy little things like the Apple II that cost way more than Nintendo and ran shitty games in green monochrome. Now, I realize an Apple II wasn't a game machine, but even as a word processor it was still fairly useless. Instead of using a typewriter or writing a paper out by hand, you could print out your book report in a RIDICULOUSLY huge font on a fabulous dot matrix printer. But as a kid, getting a chance to play with computers was still pretty alluring. First of all, I knew they were expensive. Secondly, they were in movies and stuff. But most importantly, Mr. Wizard had one. Being fresh out of the first grade, I didn't really know what computers could do or what I was going to learn to do with them; most of my knowledge of their inner workings came from the movie Tron . It wasn't until third grade that the school put an Apple II in our classroom and it wasn't until fourth grade that we used computers in school with any sort of frequency. And so, with absolutely no computer experience whatsoever, I was introduced to the Logo programming language.
Logo is a programming language that was created in 1967 that was a fairly popular teaching tool in the 80s. It has taken on many forms, appearing on platforms such as the IBM, Commodore 64, MSX, Atari, and Apple II computers. Variants of Logo have been used to guide robots and build shit with Legos. It is still around today, but it is largely defunct. Although it bills itself as a programming language, Logo is really more of a CAD. By inputting text commands into a prompt, the user moves a triangular cursor known as a turtle around the screen to create squares, circles, and other shapes that can be made in Microsoft Paint in much less time. There have been dozens of version of Logo, each with slightly different commands and interfaces. This was even true on a single platform. The Apple II offered versions such as Apple Logo II, Terrapin Logo, and LogoWriter. The version that I learned was Terrapin Logo, so that's what I will be covering. Let's begin...
Basic Commands
Below you will find some basic Logo commands. They will give you a better idea of how the language works and they will come in useful if you should ever find yourself so bored that you want to play around with Logo. If that happens, don't. If you want to invest your time into learning a programming language, learn something that will actually be of benefit to you, like PHP, Java, or Flash. Please note these commands are only guaranteed to work in Terrapin Logo. Some of them are slightly different in other versions. For example, Apple Logo II uses SETPC instead of PENCOLOR.
COMMAND SHORT WHAT IT DOES FORWARD FD Moves the turtle forward. Requires a numerical input. BACK BK Moves the turtle backward. Requires a numerical input. RIGHT RT Turns the turtle right. You must define the number of degrees. LEFT LT Turns the turtle left. You must define the number of degrees. PENUP PU When this command is activated, the turtle will not draw as it moves. PENDOWN PD Negates PENUP. DRAW Clears all lines and returns the turtle to the center of the screen. CLEARSCREEN CS Clears the screen. Duh. HOME Returns the turtle to the center of the screen. It will draw a line unless PENUP is on. PRINT [TEXT] Prints whatever text you put in the brackets. Oooh fun. HIDETURTLE HT Hides the turtle. SHOWTURTLE ST Come on, take a fucking guess. PENCOLOR PC Change the color of the lines you draw. Totally useless on a monochrome monitor. BACKGROUND BG Change the background color. Just as useless as PENCOLOR. FULLSCREEN CTRL-F Hides the text prompt. SPLITSCREEN CTRL-S Splits the screen between the drawing space and the text prompt. TEXTSCREEN CTRL-T Hides the drawing space. EDIT ED Enter editor mode and define procedures.
OTHER USEFUL COMMANDS
CTRL-C: Exits editor mode and defines any procedures you have input.
CTRL-G: Aborts editor mode, procedures, or any command string.
CTRL-P: Recalls the last command you typed into prompt.
CTRL-D: Deletes characters.
The first thing that I learned to do in Logo was how to make a square. I imagine that this was a pretty standard opening lesson because a square is really fucking easy to make. The command string to make this rudimentary polygon is as follows:
FD 100 RT 90 FD 100 RT 90 FD 100 RT 90 FD 100
Now, obviously you don't have to use 100 as your unit length, but it's a nice round number. I suppose 50 or 80 could also be considered to be nice round numbers, but fuck you. It's my site and I want to use 100. The entire command string could be entered on one line, but no teacher would ever tell you that. Oh no, you'd be forced to enter the commands line by line. Then once you'd completed your square, the teacher would come over and be like "Guess what? You don't have to press enter after every command!" Then you'd have to do it again the new way. Yeah, thanks for wasting my time, Mr. Computer Teacher. I don't want to make a square again, you bastard; I want to learn new shit. And then you'd learn the REPEAT command, which makes things even easier. With REPEAT, you can make a square in one simple line of text:
REPEAT 4 [FD 100 RT 90]
Then you get pissed off at your teacher again. Why the fuck do math and science teachers always make you do a task out one way and then show you an easier way to do it? My theory: they're all pricks. I know there's some bullshit philosophy about how knowing how to do stuff out the hard way helps you understand the theory behind it, but I don't buy that for one second. I think teachers are just lazy. By teaching you the same thing two different ways, they're saving themselves from having to teach you more stuff. At any rate, the REPEAT command is really useful, especially if you want to make a circle:
REPEAT 360 [FD 0.5 LT 1]
Without REPEAT, you'd have to type in FD 1 RT 1 in excess of 359 times to make a goddam circle. With it, you just have to watch a painfully slow drawing process. Seriously, there's a reason that the cursor is called a fucking turtle. When people left their computers unguarded, they would often return to find that someone had sent their turtle on a mission to draw long lines at bizarre angles at REPEAT 1000. Sadly, this only worked so long as the person didn't hit CTRL-G or call the teacher over for help. But Logo is so much more than just circles, squares, and repeating lines! There's rectangles too! And hexagons! Why with the use of procedures, you could make anything, even a flower:
This is a flower I designed in my third year of Logo, because that's when I was informed of superprocedures. You see, by typing in EDIT at the prompt you can enter editor mode and define procedures. For example, let's say you wanted to be able to make a triangle whenever you felt like it without having to type in the commands over and over. You'd go into editor mode and input something like this:
TO TRI
RT 30 FD 50
REPEAT 2 [LT 120 FD 50]
END
Then you'd hit CTRL-C to leave the editor and define TRI as a procedure. After that, you'd be able type TRI into the prompt and activate the procedure whenever the urge struck you. But that's just a regular procedure. A superprocedure is a procedure that's comprised entirely of procedures, known as subprocedures. So if you were going to make a flower, you might make a flower superprocedure out of blossom, stem, and pot subprocedures. Or you might not. Here's how I made the cheesy flower shown above:
TO DAISY
MOVE
TRIANGLE
BLOSSOM
STEM
LEAVES
GROUND
END TO MOVE
PU
FD 50
PD
END TO TRIANGLE
REPEAT 3 [FD 30 RT 120]
END
TO BLOSSOM
REPEAT 22 [TRIANGLE RT 15]
END TO STEM
RT 30 BK 70
END TO LEAVES
REPEAT 91 [FD 1 RT 4]
REPEAT 91 [FD 1 LT 4]
END TO GROUND
BK 30
RT 90
FD 1000
HT
END
Once all the procedures have been input, all you need to do is type DAISY to make the flower. Let's ignore the fact that the flower looks much more like a sunflower than a daisy, OK? The project was to make a flower superprocedure and that's what I fucking did, so back off. I made other stuff too. For my end project for Logo Level III, I made a television. It kinda sucked, but oh well. On the one hand, Logo was extremely lame because anything you could draw in Logo could be drawn by hand much faster and with more colors. On the other hand, holy shit, we were doing stuff on computers! Now, it's true that color monitors were available for the Apple II. In the computer lab at summer school, we had exactly one. There was a rotating schedule and every lab pair (or trio) got to use it maybe two or three times during the summer program. The color monitor was absolutely glorious; it utilized six amazing colors!
BLACK! WHITE! GREEN! FUCHSIA! ORANGE! BLUE!
Yes, by using the PC and BG commands followed by a number 0-5, you could change your pen color or background to one of these fabulous colors. Black (PC 0) also works as an eraser; you can use it to backtrack over colored lines and fix your mistakes. Additionally, PC 6 is pen reverse and it will make the turtle draw in the opposite color of the background. As you can see, the color command is largely lacking. Basic colors such as yellow and red are missing along with old favorites such as gray and cyan. The color monitor's was white on black. Since you can't change the turtle's color, you were stuck with a white turtle. I always found this rather annoying; a turtle is green, dammit.
Although Logo is largely useless as a programming language, it is a great application for teaching kids math. In order to make a hexagon or an isoceles triangle, you need to develop an understanding of angles. As such, Logo is a good way to get kids ready for geometry and even trigonometry. Logo supports both SIN and COS functions as well as variables. In this regard, Logo certainly benefitted me. Six full years before I would take Pre-Algebra in junior high, I was introduced to variables through Logo. My first experience with variables came in the form of a procedures to make an X-sided star:
TO STAR :N :SIDE
REPEAT :N [FD :SIDE RT 360/:N FD :SIDE LT 720/:N]
END
This procedure has two variables that must be defined by the user, N and SIDE. N determines the number of sides the star will have and SIDE determines the side length. You know, those probably aren't the best variable names to use when teaching kids. Personally, I would have used names like STARSIDES and STARLENGTH. True, they're a lot longer to type out, but they'd probably make a lot more sense to second graders with no prior experience with variables. But hey, I'm not a certified teacher, so what the fuck do I know? In order to run this procedure, you must define the variables in the command line. For example, STAR 6 30 will produce a six-point star with a side length of 30. This procedure was a lot of fun to play around with, until I realized that the stars look like total crap when N is less than 5 or greater than 8.
In addition to its graphic capabilties, Logo could be used to write stupid text-based programs not unlike the ones that one might normally learn in BASIC. You could program the computer to ask the users for their names and then greet them seconds later using the data that they justed fucking entered. That, or you could write a program that would loop until the user typed in that you were the greatest person ever. Either way. Also, please note that the exclamation point after PRINT on line 3 is not an actual part of the program; Terrapin put the exclamation point there to signify that the command string has carried over to a new line.
Logo was certainly not the greatest programming language ever and that was especially true of MIT's Terrapin Logo. After I completed all six levels of Terrapin Logo instruction, I got a chance to play around with LogoWriter briefly. LogoWriter was a much better product. It had a built-in word processor and supported multiple turtles onscreen at once. Not only that, you could change the turtle icon. If you decided that you would rather have a race car, a rabbit, or an actual turtle as your cursor, you could. It was a fun little program, but its time has come and passed. When you get right down to it, Logo lacks any sort of practical application as a programming language. Although newer versions such as MSWLogo are light years ahead of the Logo I learned, you're still never going to see any commercial software programmed in Logo. Well, maybe Duke Nukem Forever. That could be why it's taking so fucking long.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TERRAPIN LOGO!
Posted by: Syd Lexia
06/20/06
REPEAT 1000 [PRINT [BACK TO SYDLEXIA.COM]] |
[1] Victoria and Albert Museum, London Posset pot, Netherlands, Late 17th or early 18th century, Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue V&A Museum no. 3841-1901Victoria and Albert Museum, London
A posset (also historically spelled poshote, poshotte) was originally a popular British hot drink made of milk curdled with wine or ale, often spiced, which was often used as a remedy.
In the 16th century the drink evolved into a cream, sugar and citrus-based confection, which is still consumed today as a cold set dessert similar to syllabub.
Introduction [ edit ]
To make the drink, milk was heated to a boil, then mixed with wine or ale, which curdled it, and the mixture was usually spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon.
It was considered a specific remedy for some minor illnesses, such as a cold, and a general remedy for others, as even today people drink hot milk to help them get to sleep.
History [ edit ]
A 1661 posset pot from England.
The OED traces the word to the 15th century: various Latin vocabularies translate balducta, bedulta, or casius as "poshet", "poshoote", "possyt", or "possot". Russell's Boke of Nurture (c. 1460) lists various dishes and ingredients that "close a mannes stomak", including "þe possate". Posset is frequently used as a starting point for other recipes (e.g. "Make a styf Poshote of Milke an Ale", and "Take cowe Mylke, & set it ouer þe fyre, & þrow þer-on Saunderys, & make a styf poshotte of Ale", each of which is the first sentence of a longer recipe). Recipes for it appear in other 15th-century sources: boil milk, add either wine or ale "and no salt", let it cool, gather the curds and discard the whey, and season with ginger, sugar, and possibly "sweet wine" and candied anise.
In 14th- and 15th-century cookery manuals, a possibly-related word spelled variously "possenet", "postnet", or "posnet" is used to mean a small pot or saucepan. In 16th-century and later sources, possets are generally made from lemon or other citrus juice, cream and sugar. Eggs are often added. Some recipes used breadcrumbs to thicken the beverage.
"Posset sets" for mixing and serving possets were popular gifts, and valuable ones (often made of silver) were heirlooms. Such sets contained a posset "pot", or "bowl", or "cup" to serve it in, a container for mixing it in, and usually various containers for the ingredients, as well as spoons. The posset set that the Spanish ambassador gave Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain when they became betrothed in 1554 is believed to have been made by Benvenuto Cellini and is of crystal, gold, precious gems, and enamel. It is on display at Hatfield House in England and consists of a large, stemmed, covered bowl, two open, stemmed vessels, a covered container, three spoons, and two forks.
The word "posset" is mostly used nowadays for a cold set dessert based on the 16th century version of the drink, containing cream and lemon, similar to syllabub. It is also used to refer to the semi-digested milk brought up by babies after a feed.
In popular culture [ edit ]
Lady Macbeth uses poisoned possets to knock out the guards outside Duncan's quarters in William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Act II, Scene ii:
The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugg'd their possets That death and nature do contend about them, Whether they live or die.
David Balfour, the narrator in Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, makes a reference to possets in the sense of being pampered:
"But I was by this time so weary that I could have slept twelve hours at a stretch; I had the taste of sleep in my throat; my joints slept even when my mind was waking; the hot smell of the heather, and the drone of the wild bees, were like possets to me; and every now and again I would give a jump and find I had been dozing."
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ] |
Congratulations to Stefon Diggs and Blake Peters for their wins in Round 1. Vote now in Round 2 of our poll and come back on July 8th to see who faces off in the finals for the right to claim the ESPY.
Vote Now:
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1 vs 9 | 2 vs 7 | 3 vs 6 | 4 vs 5 |
(This paper was presented as the keynote address at the Seventh Annual Moral Foundations of Capitalism Conference hosted by the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism in Clemson, South Carolina, on May 30, 2012)
The current economic crisis that has engulfed the United States and much of the rest of the world over the last few years, has seen a dramatic revival in the economic ideas and policy prescriptions of the most famous British economist of the 20th century, John Maynard Keynes. This has seemed surprising to some, since it was presumed that traditional Keynesian Economics was more or less relegated (to use Karl Marx's phrase) to "the dustbin of history."
After dominating the economics profession for more than a quarter of a century following the Second World War, Keynesianism had been challenged by various "counter-revolutions" in Macroeconomics beginning in the late 1960s and 1970s. They had taken the forms of Monetarism, Supply-Side Economics, New Classical or Rational Expectations Theory, New Keynesianism, and even Austrian Economics, following the awarding of the Nobel Prize to F. A. Hayek in the 1974.
The fact is, however, that neither Keynes nor his economics have ever been gone or replaced. Keynesian Economics has continued to dominate and hold sway over the way the vast majority of economists think about and analyze the nature of economy-wide fluctuations in employment and output.
The Legacy of Keynes's "Demand Management" Economics
It is the idea that government must manage and guide monetary and fiscal policy to assure full employment, a stable price level and to foster economic growth. Some of the terms of the debate may have changed over the last half-century or so, but the belief that it is the responsibility of government to control the supply of money and aggregate spending in the economy persist-s today just as much as it did in the 1940s.
The modern conception of "demand management" is a legacy of John Maynard Keynes's 1936 book The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. The impact of Keynes's book and its message should not be underestimated. Its two central tenets are the claim that the market economy is inherently unstable and likely to generate prolonged periods of unemployment and underutilized productive capacity, and the argument that governments should take responsibility to counteract these periods of economic depression with the various monetary and fiscal policy tools at their disposal. This was bolstered by Keynes's belief that policy managers guided by the economic theory developed in his book could have the knowledge and ability to do so successfully.
No less important in propagating his idea of demand management economic policy was Keynes's literary ability to persuade. As Leland Yeager expressed it, "Keynes saw and provided what would gain attention − harsh polemics, sardonic passages, bits of esoteric and shocking doctrine." Keynes possessed an arrogant amount of self-confidence and belief in his ability to influence public opinion and policy.
Austrian economist Friedrich A. Hayek, who knew Keynes fairly well, referred to his "supreme confidence . . . in his power to play on public opinion as a supreme master plays his instrument." On the last occasion he saw Keynes in early 1946 (shortly before Keynes' death from a heart attack), Hayek asked him if he wasn't concerned that some of his followers were taking his ideas to extremes. Keynes replied that Hayek did not need to be worried. If it became necessary, Hayek could "rely upon him again quickly to swing round pubic opinion—and he indicated by a quick movement of his hand how rapidly that would be done. But three months later he was dead."
Even today, respected economists argue that Keynesian-style macroeconomic intervention is needed as a balancing rod against instability in the market economy. One example is Robert Skidelsky, the author of a widely acclaimed multi-volume biography of Keynes and the recently published, Keynes: The Return of the Master (2009)?.
A few years ago Professor Skidelsky argued that capitalism has at its heart an instability of financial institutions and, "This insight by Keynes into the causes and consequences of financial crises remains supremely valuable." In any significant economic downturn, government should begin "pumping money into the economy, like pumping air into a deflating balloon."
Keynes first established his reputation as a public figure in the immediate aftermath of the First World War. During war, he had worked in the British Treasury. In 1919 he served as an adviser to the British delegation in Versailles. But frustrated with the attitude of the Allied powers toward Germany in setting the terms of the peace, Keynes returned to Britain and published The Economic Consequences of the Peace, in which he severely criticized the peace settlement.
In 1923, he published A Tract on Monetary Reform, in which he called for the end of the gold standard, suggesting a national man-aged paper currency in its place. He strongly opposed Great Britain's return to the gold standard in the mid-1920s at the prewar gold parity. He argued that governments should have discretionary power over the management of a nation's monetary system to as-sure a desired target level of employment, output, and prices.
In 1930 Keynes published A Treatise on Money, a two-volume work that he hoped would establish his reputation as a leading monetary theorist of his time instead of only an influential economic policy analyst. However, over the next two years a series of critical reviews appeared, written by some of the most respected economists of the day. The majority of them demonstrated serious problems with either the premises or the reasoning with which Keynes attempted to build his theory on the relationships between savings, investment, the interest rate, and the aggregate levels of output and prices. But the most devastating criticisms were made by a young Friedrich A. Hayek in a two-part review essay that appeared in 1931-1932.
Hayek argued that Keynes seemed to understood neither the nature of a market economy in general nor the significance and role of the rate of interest in maintaining a proper balance between savings and investment for economic stability. At the most fundamental level Hayek argued that Keynes's method of aggregating the individual supplies and demands for a multitude of goods into a small number of macroeconomic "totals" distorted any real understanding of the relative price and production relationships in and between actual markets. "Mr. Keynes's aggregates conceal the most fundamental mechanisms of change," Hayek said.
Keynes devoted the next five years to reconstructing his argument, the re-sult being his most famous and influential work, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, published in 1936.
Keynes argued that the Great Depression was caused by inescapable irrationalities in the market economy that not only created the conditions for the severity of the economic downturn, but necessitated activist monetary and fiscal policies by government to restore and maintain full employment and maximum utilization of resource and output capabilities. For the next half-century Keynes's ideas, as presented in The General Theory, became the cornerstone of macroeconomic theorizing and policy-making throughout the Western world, and continue to dominate public policy thinking today.
John Maynard Keynes and the "New Liberalism"
What where the wider philosophical principles and ideas behind Keynes views about a market society? In 1925, John Maynard Keynes delivered a lecture at Cambridge titled "Am I a Liberal?" He rejected any thought of considering himself a conservative because conservatism "leads nowhere; it satisfies no ideal; it conforms to no intellectual standard; it is not even safe, or calculated to preserve from spoilers that degree of civilization which we have already attained."
Keynes then asked whether he should consider joining the Labor Party. He admitted, "Superficially that is more attractive," but rejected it as well. "To begin with, it is a class party, and the class is not my class," Keynes argued. Furthermore, he doubted the intellectual ability of those controlling the Labor Party, believing that it was dominated by "those who do not know at all what they are talking about."
This led Keynes to conclude that all things considered, "the Liberal Party is still the best instrument of future progress—if only it has strong leadership and the right program." But the Liberal Party of Great Britain could serve a positive role in society only if it gave up "old-fashioned individualism and laissez-faire," which he considered "the dead-wood of the past." Instead, what was needed was a "New Liberalism" that would involve "new wisdom for a new age." What this entailed, in Keynes's view, was "the transition from economic anarchy to a regime which deliberately aims at control-ling and directing economic forces in the interests of social justice and social stability."
A year later, in 1926, Keynes delivered a lecture in Berlin, Germany on, "The End of Laissez-Faire," in which he argued, "It is not true that individuals possess a prescriptive 'natural liberty' in their economic activities. There is no compact conferring perpetual rights on those who Have or on those who Acquire." Nor could it be presumed that private individuals pursuing their enlightened self-interest would always serve the common good.
In a world of "uncertainty and ignorance" that sometimes resulted in periods of unemployment, Keynes suggested "the cure for these things is partly to be sought in the deliberate control of the currency and of credit by a central institution." And he believed that "some coordinated act of intelligent judgment" by the government was required to determine the amount of savings in the society and how much of the nation's savings should be permitted to be invested in foreign markets as well as the relative distribution of that domestic savings among "the most nationally productive channels."
Finally, Keynes argued that government had to undertake a "national policy" concerning the most appropriate size of the country's population, "and having settled this policy, we must take steps to carry it into operation." Furthermore, Keynes pro-posed serious consideration of adopting a policy of eugenics: "The time may arrive a little later when the community as a whole must pay attention to the innate quality as well as to the mere numbers of its future members."
This agenda for an activist and planning government did not make Keynes a socialist or a communist in any strict sense of these words. Indeed, after a visit to Soviet Russia he published an essay in 1925 strongly critical of the Bolshevik regime. "For me, brought up in a free air undarkened by the horrors of religion, with nothing to be afraid of, Red Russia holds too much which is detestable . . . I am not ready for a creed which does not care how much it destroys the liberty and security of daily life, which uses deliberately the weapons of persecution, destruction, and international strife . . . It is hard for an educated, decent, intelligent son of Western Europe to find his ideals here."
But where Soviet Russia had an advantage over the West, Keynes argued, was in its almost religious revolutionary fervor, in its romanticism of the common working man, and its condemnation of money-making. Indeed, the Soviet attempt to stamp out the "money-making mentality" was, in Keynes's mind, "a tremendous innovation." Capitalist society, too, in Keynes's view, had to find a moral foundation above self-interested "love of money."
What Keynes considered Soviet Russia's superiority over capitalist society, therefore, was its moral high ground in opposition to capitalist individualism. And he also believed that "any piece of useful economic technique" developed in Soviet Russia could easily be grafted onto a Western economy following his model of a New Liberalism "with equal or greater success" than in the Soviet Union.
That Keynes had great confidence in an a state-managed system of "useful economic technique" was clearly seen in the following comparison he made, also in the mid-1920s, between a regulated wage system in the name of "fairness" between social classes and market-determined wages, which he condemned as "the economic juggernaut." Said Keynes:
"The truth is that we stand mid-way between two theories of economic society. The one theory maintains that wages should be fixed by reference to what is "fair" and "reasonable" as between classes. The other theory – the theory of the economic juggernaut – is that wages should be settled by economic pressure, otherwise called "hard facts," and that our vast machine should crash along, with regard only to its equilibrium as a whole, and without attention to the change in consequences of the journey to individual groups."
With the coming of the Great Depression, however, Keynes once again rejected the idea of a free market solution to the rising unemployment and idled industry that intensified following the crash of 1929. In his writings of the 1920s and early 1930s, advocating a "New Liberalism" and a deficit-spending government to "solve" the Great Depression, were the premises for the Keynesian Revolution that would be officially inaugurated with the publication of The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. With those ideas, Keynes produced one of the greatest challenges to the free market economy in the twentieth century.
Keynes and Keynesian Economics
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money was published on February 4, 1936. The essence of Keynes's theory was to show that a market economy, when left to its own devices, possessed no inherent self-correcting mechanism to return to "full employment" once the economic system has fallen into a depression.
At the heart of his approach was the belief that he had demonstrated an error in Say's Law. Named after the nineteenth-century French economist Jean-Baptiste Say, the fundamental idea is that individuals produce so they can consume. An individual produces either to consume what he has manufactured himself or to sell it on the market to acquire the means to purchase what others have for sale.
Or as the classical economist David Ricardo expressed it, "By producing, then, he necessarily becomes either the consumer of his own goods, or the purchaser and consumer of the goods of some other person . . . Productions are always bought by productions, or by services; money is only the medium by which the exchange is effected."
Keynes argued that there was no certainty that those who had sold goods or their labor services on the market will necessarily turn around and spend the full amount that they had earned on the goods and services offered by others. Hence, total expenditures on goods could be less than total income previously earned in the manufacture of those goods. This, in turn, meant that the total receipts received by firms selling goods in the market could be less than the expenses incurred in bringing those goods to market. With total sales receipts being less than total business expenses, businessmen would have no recourse other than to cut back on both output and the number of workers employed to minimize losses during this period of "bad business."
But, Keynes argued, this would merely intensify the problem of unemployment and falling output. As workers were laid off, their incomes would necessarily go down. With less income to spend, the unemployed would cut back on their consumption expenditures. This would result in an additional falling off of demand for goods and services offered on the market, widening the circle of businesses that find their sales receipts declining relative to their costs of production. And this would set off a new round of cuts in output and employment, setting in motion a cumulative contraction in production and jobs.
Why wouldn't workers accept lower money wages to make themselves more attractive to rehire when market demand falls? Because, Keynes said, workers suffer from "money illusion." If prices for goods and services decrease because consumer demand is falling off, then workers could accept a lower money wage and be no worse off in real buying terms (that is, if the cut in wages was on average no greater than the decrease in the average level of prices). But workers, Keynes argued, generally think only in terms of money wages, not real wages (that is, what their money income represents in real purchasing power on the market). Thus, workers often would rather accept unemployment than a cut in their money wage.
If consumers demand fewer final goods and services on the market, this necessarily means that they are saving more. Why wouldn't this unconsumed income merely be spent hiring labor and purchasing resources in a different way, in the form of greater investment, as savers have more to lend to potential borrowers at a lower rate of interest? Keynes's response was to insist that the motives of savers and investors were not the same. Income-earners might very well desire to consume a smaller fraction of their income, save more, and offer it out to borrowers at interest. But there was no certainty, he insisted, that businessmen would be willing to borrow that greater savings and use it to hire labor to make goods for sale in the future.
Since the future is uncertain and tomorrow can be radically different from today, Keynes stated, businessmen easily fall under the spell of unpredictable waves of optimism and pessimism that raise and lower their interest and willingness to borrow and invest. A decrease in the demand to consume today by income-earners may be motivated by a desire to increase their consumption in the future out of their savings. But businessmen cannot know when in the future those income-earners will want to increase their consumption, nor what particular goods will be in greater demand when that day comes. As a result, the decrease in consumer demand for present production merely serves to decrease the business-man's current incentives for investment activity today as well.
If for some reason there were to be a wave of business pessimism resulting in a decrease in the demand for investment borrowing, this should result in a decrease in the rate of interest. Such a decrease because of a fall in investment demand should make savings less attractive, since less interest income is now to be earned by lending a part of one's income. As a result, consumer spending should rise as savings goes down. Thus, while investment spending may be slackening off, greater consumer spending should make up the difference to assure a "full employment" demand for society's labor and resources.
But Keynes doesn't allow this to happen because of what he calls the "fundamental psychological law" of the "propensity to consume." As income rises, he says, consumption spending out of income also tends to rise, but less than the increase in income. Over time, therefore, as incomes rise a larger and larger percentage is saved.
In The General Theory, Keynes listed a variety of what he called the "objective" and "subjective" factors that he thought influenced people's decisions to consume out of income. On the "objective" side: a windfall profit; a change in the rate of interest; a change in expectations about future income. On the "subjective" side, he listed "Enjoyment, Shortsightedness, Generosity, Miscalculation, Ostentation and Extravagance." He merely asserts that the "objective" factors have little influence on how much to consume out of a given amount of income—including a change in the rate of interest. And the "subjective" factors are basically invariant, being "habits formed by race, education, convention, religion and current morals . . . and the established standards of life."
Indeed, Keynes reaches the peculiar conclusion that because men's wants are basically determined and fixed by their social and cultural environment and only change very slowly, "The greater . . . the consumption for which we have provided in advance, the more difficult it is to find something further to provide for in advance." That is, men run out of wants for which they would wish investment to be undertaken; the resources in the society − including labor − are threatening to become greater than the demand for their employment.
Keynes, in other words, turns the most fundamental concept in economics on its head. Instead of our wants and desires always tending to exceed the means at our disposal to satisfy them, man is confronting a "post-scarcity" world in which the means at our disposal are becoming greater than the ends for which they could be applied. The crisis of society is a crisis of abundance! The richer we become, the less work we have for people to do because, in Keynes's vision, man's capacity and desire for imagining new and different ways to improve his life is finite. The economic problem is that we are too well-off.
As a consequence, unspent income can pile up as unused and uninvested savings; and what investment is undertaken can erratically fluctuate due to what Keynes called the "animal spirits" of businessmen's irrational psychology concerning an uncertain future. The free market economy, therefore, is plagued with the constant danger of waves of booms and busts, with prolonged periods of high unemployment and idle factories. The society's problem stems from the fact that people consume too little and save too much to assure jobs for all who desire to work at the money wages that have come to prevail in the market, and which workers refuse to adjust downward in the face of any decline in the demand for their services.
Only one institution can step in and serve as the stabilizing mechanism to maintain full employment and steady production: the government, through various activist monetary and fiscal policies.
In Keynes's mind the only remedy was for government to step in and put those unused savings to work through deficit spending to stimulate investment activity. How the government spent those borrowed funds did not matter. Even "public works of doubtful utility," Keynes said, were useful: "Pyramid-building, earthquakes, even wars may serve to increase wealth," as long as they create employment. "It would, indeed, be more sensible to build houses and the like," said Keynes, "but if there are political or practical difficulties in the way of this, the above would be better than nothing."
Nor could the private sector be trusted to maintain any reasonable level of investment activity to provide employment. The uncertainties of the future, as we saw, created "animal spirits" among businessmen that produced unpredictable waves of optimism and pessimism that generated fluctuations in the level of production and employment. Luckily, government could fill the gap. Furthermore, while businessmen were emotional and shortsighted, the State had the ability to calmly calculate the long run, true value and worth of investment opportunities "on the basis of the general social advantage."
Indeed, Keynes expected the government would "take on ever greater responsibility for directly organizing investment." In the future, said Keynes, "I conceive, therefore, that a somewhat comprehensive socialization of investment will prove the only means of securing an approximation to full employment." As the profitability of private investment dried up over time, society would see "the euthanasia of the rentier" and "the euthanasia of the cumulative oppressive power of the capitalist" to exploit for his own benefit the scarcity of capital. This "assisted suicide" of the interest-earning and capitalist groups would not require any revolutionary upheaval. No, "the necessary measures of socialization can be introduced gradually and without a break in the general traditions of the society."
This is the essence of Keynes' economics.
Keynesian Economic Policy and its Consequences
In a famous lecture, "National Self-Sufficiency," delivered in Dublin, Ireland, in April 1933, John Maynard Keynes renounced his previous belief in the benefits of free trade. He declared, "I sympathize . . . with those who would minimize rather than those who would maximize economic entanglement between nations. . . . Let goods be homespun whenever it is reasonably and conveniently possible; and above all, let finance be primarily national." He remained loyal to economic protectionism in The General Theory. In one of the concluding chapters he discovered new value in the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century writings of the Mercantilists and their rationales for government control over and manipulation of international trade and domestic investment.
But Keynes expressed another sentiment in that 1933 lecture:
"We each have our own fancy. Not believing we are saved already, we each would like to have a try at working out our salvation. We do not wish, therefore, to be at the mercy of world forces working out, or trying to work out, some uniform equilibrium according to the ideal principles of laissez-faire capitalism . . . We wish . . . to be our own masters, and to be free as we can make ourselves from the interference of the outside world."
Keynes was convinced that left to itself, the market economy could not be trusted to assure either stable or full employment. Instead, an activist government program of monetary and fiscal intervention was needed for continuing economic prosperity. If this also required a degree of state planning, Keynes was open to that kind of direct social engineering as well.
In an often-quoted 1944 letter to Austrian economist Friedrich A. Hayek, Keynes said that he found himself "in a deeply moved agreement" with Hayek's arguments in The Road to Serfdom. But less frequently mentioned is what Keynes went on to say in that same letter:
"I should say that what we want is not no planning, or even less planning, indeed I should say that what we almost certainly want is more . . . Moderate planning will be safe if those carrying it out are rightly oriented in their own minds and hearts to the moral issue . . . Dangerous acts can be done safely in a community that thinks and feels rightly, which would be the way to hell if they were executed by those who think and feel wrongly."
Of course, the question is: who determines which members of society think and feel "rightly" enough to qualify for the power and authority to plan for the rest of us? And how is it to be assured that such power does not fall into the hands of "those who think and feel wrongly"? Furthermore, on what basis can it be presumed that even those who claim to be "rightly oriented in their own minds and hearts" could ever possess the knowledge and ability to plan some desirable economic outcome for society?
Yet, as a number of commentators have pointed out, Keynes had no doubts about either his "rightness" or competency in claiming such authority or ability. He belonged to a British elite that viewed itself as being superior to the other members of the society in practically every way.
As Keynes's sympathetic and first biographer, Roy Harrod, explained, "he was strongly imbued with . . . the idea that the government of Britain was and could continue to be in the hands of an intellectual aristocracy using the method of persuasion." And as the American Keynesian Arthur Smithies also pointed out, "Keynes hoped for a world where monetary and fiscal policy, carried out by wise men in authority, could ensure conditions of prosperity, equity, freedom, and possibly peace."
Keynesian Economics and the Hubris of the Social Engineer
In September 1936, John Maynard Keynes prepared a preface for the German translation of The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Addressing himself to German economists, Keynes hoped that his theory would "meet with less resistance on the part of German readers than from English, when I submit to them a theory of employment and production as a whole," because the German economists had long before rejected the teachings of both the classical economists and the more recent Austrian School of Economics. And, said Keynes, "if I can contribute a single morsel to a full meal prepared by German economists, particularly adjusted to German conditions, I will be satisfied."
What were those particular "German conditions"? For more than three years, Germany had been under the rule of Hitler's National Socialist regime; in 1936, the Nazis had instituted their own version of four-year central planning.?Toward the end of this preface Keynes pointed out to his Nazi economist readers:
"The theory of aggregate production, which is the point of the following book, nevertheless can be much easier adapted to the conditions of a totalitarian state, than . . . under conditions of free competition and a large degree of laissez-faire. This is one of the reasons that justifies the fact that I call my theory a general theory . . . Although I have, after all, worked it out with a view to the conditions prevailing in the Anglo-Saxon countries where a large degree of laissez-faire still prevails, nevertheless it remains applicable to situations in which state management is more pronounced."
It would be historically inaccurate to accuse Keynes of explicitly being either a Nazi sympathizer or an advocate of Soviet or fascist-type totalitarianism. But Keynes clearly understood that the greater the degree of state control over any economy, the easier it would be for the government to manage the levers of monetary and fiscal policy to manipulate macroeconomic aggregates of "total output," "total employment," and "the general price and wage levels" for purposes of moving the overall economy into directions more to the economic policy analyst's liking.
On what moral or philosophical basis did Keynes believe that policy advocates such as himself had either the right or the ability to manage or direct the economic interactions of multitudes of peoples in the marketplace? Keynes explained his own moral foundations in Two Memoirs, published posthumously in 1949, three years after his death. One memoir, written in 1938, examined the formation of his "early beliefs" as a young man in his twenties at Cambridge University in the first decade of the twentieth-century.
He, and many other young intellectuals at Cambridge, had been influenced by the writings of philosopher G. E. Moore. Separate from Moore's argument, what are of interest are the conclusions reached by Keynes from reading Moore's work. Keynes said:
"Indeed, in our opinion, one of the greatest advantages of his [Moore's] religion was that it made morals unnecessary . . . Nothing mattered except states of mind, our own and other people's of course, but chiefly our own. These states of mind were not associated with action or achievement or consequences. They consisted of timeless, passionate states of contemplation and communion, largely unattached to 'before' and 'after.' "
In this setting, traditional or established ethical or moral codes of conduct meant nothing. Said Keynes:
"We entirely repudiated a personal liability on us to obey general rules. We claimed the right to judge every individual case on its own merits, and the wisdom, experience and self-control to do so successfully. This was a very important part of our faith, violently and aggressively held. . . We repudiated entirely customary morals, conventions and traditional wisdoms. We were, that is to say, in the strict sense of the term immoralists . . . [W]e recognized no moral obligation upon us, no inner sanction to conform or obey. Before heaven we claimed to be our own judge in our own case."
Keynes declared that he and those like him were "left, from now onwards, to their own sensible devices, pure motives and reliable intuitions of the good." Then in his mid-fifties, Keynes declared in 1938, "Yet so far as I am concerned, it is too late to change. I remain, and always will remain, an immoralist." As for the social order in which he still claimed the right to act in such unrestrained ways, Keynes said that "civilization was a thin and precarious crust erected by the personality and the will of a very few, and only maintained by rules and conventions skillfully put across and guiley preserved."
On matters of social and economic policy two assumptions guided Keynes, and they also dated from his Cambridge years as a student near the beginning of the century; they are stated clearly in a 1904 paper, "The Political Doctrines of Edmund Burke." First, "Our power of prediction is so slight, our knowledge of remote consequences so uncertain that it is seldom wise to sacrifice a present benefit for a doubtful advantage in the future. . . . We can never know enough to make the chance worth taking." And second, "What we ought to do is a matter of circumstances. . . . [W]hile the good is changeless and apart, the ought shifts and fades and grows new shapes and forms."
Classical liberalism and the economics of the classical economists had been founded on two insights about man and society. First, there is an invariant quality to man's nature that makes him what he is; and if society is to be harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous, men must reform their social institutions in a way that directs the inevitable self-interests of individual men into those avenues of action that benefit not only themselves but others in society as well. They therefore advocated the institutions of private property, voluntary exchange, and peaceful, open competition. Then, as Adam Smith had concisely expressed, men would live in a system of natural liberty in which each individual would be free to pursue his own ends, but would be guided as if by an invisible hand to serve the interests of others in society as the means to his own self-improvement.
Second, it is insufficient in any judgment concerning the desirability of a social or economic policy to focus only upon its seemingly short-run benefits. The laws of the market always bring about certain effects in the long run from any shift in supply and demand or from any government intervention in the market order. Thus, as French economist Frederic Bastiat emphasized, it behooves us always to try to determine not merely "what is seen" from a government policy in the short run, but also to discern as best we can "what is unseen," that is, the longer-run consequences of our actions and policies.
The reason it is desirable to take the less immediate consequences into consideration is that longer-run effects may not only not improve the ill the policy was meant to cure, but can make the social situation even worse than had it been left alone. Even though the specific details of the future always remain beyond our ability to predict fully, one use of economics is to assist us to at least qualitatively anticipate the likely contours and shape of that future aid-ed by an understanding of the laws of the market.
Keynes's assumptions deny the wisdom and the insights of the classical liberals and the classical economists. The biased emphasis is toward the benefits and pleasures of the moment, the short run, with an almost total disregard of the longer run consequences. It led F. A. Hayek to lament in 1941:
"I cannot help regarding the increasing concentration on short-run effects . . . not only as a serious and dangerous intellectual error, but as a betrayal of the main duty of the economist and a grave menace to our civilization . . . It used, however, to be regarded as the duty and the privilege of the economist to study and to stress the long run effects which are apt to be hidden to the untrained eye, and to leave the concern about the more immediate effects to the practical man, who in any event would see only the latter and nothing else . . . It is not surprising that Mr. Keynes finds his views anticipated by the mercantilist writers and gifted amateurs; concern with the surface phenomena has always marked the first stage of the scientific approach to our subject . . . Are we not even told that, 'since in the long run we all are dead,' policy should be guided entirely by short-run considerations. I fear that these believers in the principle of après nous le deluge may get what they have bargained for sooner than they wish."
But if every action and policy decision is to be decided in the context of shifting circumstances, as Keynes insisted, on what basis shall such decisions be made, and by whom? Such decisions are to be made on the basis of the self-centered "state of mind" of the policymakers, with total disregard of traditions, customs, moral codes, rules, or the long-run laws of the market. Their rightness or wrongness was not bound by any independent standard of "achievement and consequence."
Instead it was to be guided by "timeless, passionate states of contemplation and communion, largely unattached to 'before' and 'after.'" The decision-maker's own "intuitions of the good," for himself and for others, were to serve as his compass. And let no ordinary man claim to criticize such actions or their results. "Before heaven," said Keynes, "we claimed to be our own judge in our own case."
Here was an elitist ideology of nihilism. The members of this elite were self-appointed and shown to belong to this elect precisely through mutual self-congratulations of having broken out of the straightjacket of conformity, custom, and law. For Keynes in his fifties, civilization was this thin, precarious crust overlaying the animal spirits and irrationality of ordinary men. Its existence, for whatever it was worth, was the product of "the personality and the will of a very few," like himself, naturally, and maintained through "rules and conventions skillfully put across and guilely preserved."
Society's shape and changing form were to be left in the hands of "the chosen" few who stood above the passive conventions of the masses. Here was the hubris of the social engineer, the self-selected philosopher-king, who through manipulative skill and guile direct-ed and experimented on society and its multitudes of individuals. It is what made Keynes feel comfortable in recommending his "general theory" to a Nazi readership. His conception of a society maintained by "the personality and the will of a very few," after all, had its family resemblance in the Fuehrer's principle of the unrestrained "one" who would command the Volk.
Keynesian Economics and Say's Law of Markets
In the preface to The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, John Maynard Keynes stated, "the composition of this book has been for the author a long struggle of escape . . . a struggle of escape from habitual modes of thought and expression." What Keynes struggled to escape from was the common-sense foundations of economics.
From Adam Smith in the eighteenth century to the Austrian economists of the twentieth century, economics has developed and been refined into the study of human action and the logic of human choice. After more than two hundred years economists came to understand more clearly that nothing happens in "society" or "the market" that does not first begin with the actions and decisions of individuals. Indeed, "the market" is nothing more than a summarizing term to express the arena in which multitudes of individuals meet and interact as suppliers and demanders for the purpose of mutual gains through trade.
Each individual has various goals he would like to achieve. To attain them he must apply various means to bring those desired ends into existence through production. But man finds that, unfortunately, the means at his disposal are often insufficient to satisfy all the uses he has for them. He faces the reality of scarcity. He is confronted with the necessity to choose; he must decide which desired ends he prefers more. And then he must apply the means to achieve the more highly valued ends, while leaving the other, less valued, ends unfulfilled.
In his state of disappointment, man looks to see if there are ways to improve his situation. He discovers that others face the same frustration of unsatisfied ends. Sometimes he finds that those others have things that he values more highly than some of his own possessions, and they in turn value his possessions more highly than their own. A potential gain from trade arises, in which each party can be better off if they trade away what they respectively have for what the other has.
But how much of one thing will be exchanged for another? This will be determined through their bargaining in the market. Finally, they may agree upon terms of trade, and will establish a price at which they exchange one thing for another: so many apples for so many pears; so many bushels of wheat for so many pounds of meat; so many pairs of shoes for a suit of clothes.
Trade becomes a regular event by which men improve their circumstances through the process of buying and selling. Appreciating the value of these trading opportunities, men begin to specialize their productive activities and create a system of division of labor, with each trying to find that niche in the growing arena of exchange in which they have a comparative production advantage over their trading partners. As the market expands, a growing competition arises between buyers and sellers, with each trying to get the best deal possible as a producer and a consumer. The prices at which goods are traded come more and more to reflect the contributing and competing bids and offers of many buyers and sellers on both sides of the market.
The more complex the network of exchange, the more difficult is the direct barter of goods one for another. Rather than be frustrated and disappointed in not being able to directly find trading partners who want the goods they have for sale, individuals start using some commodity as a medium of exchange. They first trade what they have produced for a particular commodity and then use that commodity to buy from others the things they desire. When that commodity becomes widely accepted and generally used by most, if not all, transactors in the market, it becomes the money-good.
It should be clear that even though all transactions are carried out through the medium of money, it is still, ultimately, goods that trade for goods. The cobbler makes shoes and sells them for money to those who desire footwear. The cobbler then uses the money he has earned from selling shoes to buy the food he wants to eat. But he cannot buy that food unless he has first earned a certain sum of money by selling a particular quantity of shoes on the market. In the end, his supply of shoes has been the means for him to demand a certain amount of food.
This, in essence, is the meaning of Say's Law. Jean-Baptiste Say called it "the law of markets": that is, unless we first produce we cannot consume; unless we first supply we cannot demand. But how much others are willing to take of our supply is dependent on the price at which we offer it to them. The higher we price our commodity, other things held equal, the less of it others will be willing to buy. The less we sell, the smaller the money income we earn; and the smaller the money income we earn, the smaller our financial means to demand and purchase what others offer for sale. Thus, if we want to sell all that we choose to produce we must price it correctly, that is, at a price sufficiently low that all we offer is cleared off the market by demanders. Pricing our goods or labor services too high, given other people's demands for them, will leave part of the supply of the good unsold and part of the labor services offered unhired.
On the other hand, lowering the price at which we are willing to sell our commodity or services will, other things held equal, create a greater willingness on the part of others to buy more of our commodity or hire more of our labor services. By selling more, our money income can increase; and by increasing our money income, through correctly pricing our commodity or labor services, we increase our ability to demand what others have for sale.
Sometimes, admittedly, even lowering our price may not generate a large enough increase in the quantity demanded by others for our income to go up. Lowering the price may, in fact, result in our revenue or income going down. But this, too, is a law of the market: what we chose to supply is worth no more than what consumers are willing to pay for it. This is the market's way of telling us that the commodity or particular labor skills we are offering are not in very great demand.
It is the market's way of telling us that consumers value others things more highly. It is the market's way of telling us that the particular niche we have chosen in the division of labor is one in which our productive abilities or labor services are not worth as much as we had hoped. It is the market's way of telling us that we need to move our productive activities into other directions, where consumer demand is greater and our productive abilities may be valued more highly.
Can it happen that consumers may not spend all they have earned? Can it be the case that some of the money earned will be "hoarded," so there will be no greater demand for other goods, and hence no alternative line of production in which we might find remunerative employment? Would this be a case in which "aggregate demand" for goods in general would not be sufficient to buy all of the "aggregate supply" of goods and labor services offered?
The answers had already been suggested in the middle of the nineteenth century by the English classical economist John Stuart Mill in a restatement and refinement of Say's law of markets. In an essay titled "Of the Influence of Consumption on Production," Mill argued that as long as there are ends or wants that have not yet been satisfied, there is more work to be done. As long as producers adjust their supplies to reflect the actual demand for the particular goods that consumers wish to purchase, and as long as they price their supplies at prices consumers are willing to pay, there need be no unemployment of resources or labor. Thus, there can never be an excess supply of all things relative to the total demand for all things.
But Mill admits that there may be times when individuals, for various reasons, may choose to "hoard," or leave unspent in their cash holding, a greater proportion of their money income than is their usual practice. In this case, Mill argued, what is "called a general superabundance" of all goods is in reality "a superabundance of all commodities relative to money."
In other words, if we accept that money, too, is a commodity like all other goods on the market for which there is a supply and demand, then there can appear a situation in which the demand to hold money increases relative to the demand for all the other things that money could buy. This means that all other goods are now in relative oversupply in comparison to that greater demand to hold money.
To bring those other goods offered on the market into balance with the lower demands for them (i.e., given that increased demand to hold money and the decreased demand for other things), the prices of many of those other goods may have to decrease. Prices in general, in other words, must go down, until that point at which all the supplies of goods and labor services people wish to sell find buyers willing to purchase them. Sufficient flexibility and adjustability in prices to the actual demands for things on the market always assure that all those willing to sell and desiring to be employed can find work. And this, also, is a law of the market.
Free market economists, both before and after Keynes, have never denied that the market economy can face a situation in which mass unemployment could exist and a sizable portion of the society's productive capacity could be left idle. But if such a situation were to arise, they argued that its cause was to be found in a failure of suppliers to price their goods and labor services to reflect what consumers considered them to be worth, given the demand for various other things, including money. Correct prices always assure full employment; correct prices always assure that supplies create a demand for them; correct prices always assure the harmony of the market.
This was the reality of the law of markets from which Keynes struggled so hard to escape.
Which Conception of Man, Markets, and Morality Shall We Choose?
A dynamic, growing and adaptable market economy requires a number of institutions. Private property is paramount, along with money prices generated through the competitive processes of buying and selling both finished goods and the factors of production. Market prices enable the intellectual exercise of economic calculation, through which the relative value and cost of all market-traded goods and services can be established so as to assure their rational and efficient use.
The competitive interaction of market supplies and demands, the structure of relative prices for goods and resources, the presence of entrepreneurial creativity and alertness induced through the potential for market-based profits, and a relative flexibility in the mobility and adaptability of the factors of production to changing circumstances are what assure the effective functioning of a free society.
But fundamentally, none of these elements of a market economy can survive in the long run without the necessary philosophical and moral principles. These principles lay outside of supply and demand. They are based, and must be based, on a conception of man, the human condition, and a good society.
Does man have a right to his own life, liberty, and honestly acquired property? Do we presume that man is a reasoning and rational being who is capable of directing and guiding his own life? Should human relationships be based on voluntary choice and mutual agreement among men? Shall we allow each individual to design the plans for his own life, and coordinate his actions with those of others through the peaceful and competitive interactions of the open market place? Shall we limit the role and responsibilities of government to securing each individual's rights against any use of force and plunder?
Or do we accept Keynes view of man? An irrational creature guided by "animal spirits," who cannot be trusted to make intelligent decisions concerning either the present or the future; who needs an intellectual and political elite of managers and manipulators who use "rules and conventions skillfully put across and agilely preserved" to control those who are presumed too untrustworthy to be left free of a paternalistic overseer.
Which view of man prevails will determine the future for mankind, not only out of the current economic crisis, but also for the many years and decades to come.
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Many Americans may be surprised to learn their laws are attached to a price tag and slid beneath a copyrighted paywall. For years state governments have partnered with publishers to update and sift through their jumble of constantly changing legal codes. Though the original texts remain free, annotations, section titles, chapter summaries — and almost every alteration to make the texts coherent and digestible — can only be reproduced with a fee paid to the publishers. State governments allow the transactions in exchange for deferred publishing and editorial costs.
Want the official annotated version of the Code of Georgia? That will be $378, please. Want the Code of Idaho? If you live in state, it’s discounted at $547. Want the annotated Mississippi Code? That will be $613 — all current prices from the states’ publisher, LexisNexis.
First reactions to the notion of copyrighted state codes can incite consternation. After all, how just is it to require obedience to laws seemingly held at ransom? It’s a motive for knee-jerk judgments against publishers generating profits and governments delegating services to cut costs.
However, for state governments and the code-publishing industry, blame is dependent on the definition of what is considered “open.” In recent years, a national debate has stirred from conflicts between historical definitions of “open” (such as by formal requests or library visits) and today’s definition of open data, where information is digital and downloadable. In the fray, publishers have attempted to protect their decades-old business models, and opposingly, activists and civic hackers have argued that citizens are entitled to all law — however it’s packaged.
‘Rogue Archivist’ Intervention
Acting as a lobbyist and vocal threat to the code publishing industry is Carl Malamud, an author and the president and founder of Public.Resource.org, a site dedicated to the promotion of free municipal, state and federal legal codes. The media has labeled Malamud a “rogue archivist” for his personal campaign to “liberate” state legal codes by publishing them on his website.
Malamud’s definition of open code means it is open in all circumstances, whether edits and annotations have been made or not. He advocates that legal code should be free, online, searchable, linkable, downloadable in bulk and privately or commercially reproducible by citizens — similar to open data standards set by governments.
“I’m a firm believer that when you put technical information up on the Internet people have the opportunity to educate themselves, to create new businesses, and just as important, they have the opportunity to know what the law says and obey the law,” Malamud said in a video on his site.
The problem he attempts to remedy is what he views as an antiquated or narrowly defined definition of open code by certain governments. In the past, libraries were the original distribution centers of all open data: a book is published, a library purchases it and citizens gain access via library visits. This traditional concept of open, Malamud believes, is now the new definition of closed.
Challenges stem from usability. If state laws need to be referenced continually or outside of a state, for example, library visits become impractical. And while publishers such as LexisNexis maintain sites that publish state code for free access online, such as in the case of Georgia, a disclaimer informs visitors that the printed version of the code remains the official version and there are no links provided for individual sections. It’s dually noted that the company’s digital annotated code cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Georgia Code Revision Commission (GCRC), the organization that maintains the copyright so LexisNexis can act as the state’s official distributor.
In response to such constraints, Malamud has confronted the issue through lobbying efforts to legislators and by publication of state laws on Public.Resource.org.
To date, his lobbying has prompted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to publish corporate documents online and C-SPAN to make its video archive of government proceedings widely accessible. In January, Malamud testified at a congressional hearing to make laws exempt from legal copyright and continues to publish municipal, state and federal codes to his site when possible.
However, his protests and tactics have not gone unchallenged. Malamud has received cease and desist orders from states for his code publication. On July 25, 2013, GCRC Chairman and Georgia Sen. Josh McKoon wrote a letter alleging copyright infringement and threatened to seek monetary damages. When Malamud refused to delete Georgia’s published code five days later, McKoon described his response as “unacceptable.” The dispute is still ongoing and according to correspondence to Malamud from McKoon, dated on April 2, the state is still asserting copyright.
McKoon did not return emails inquiring on his position.
When asked for the state's perspective and background on the issue, Wayne Allen, legislative counsel for the Georgia General Assembly, referred to an article from the Georgia State Bar Journal chronicling the state's partnership with the Michie Co., which was subsequently acquired by LexisNexis. The article dated the partnership back to 1978 when Georgia undertook a major project to recodify and annotate its laws.
"Beyond that [article], I have no further comment to offer on the matter at this time," Allen said.
Malamud faces similar threats of copyright infringement from Idaho and Mississippi.
Hackers Offer Aid
The civic tech community is accustomed to turning industries on their head. The crowdsourced lodging startup Airbnb threw a jab at hotels, Lyft car services shook up taxi companies and the platform Neighbor.ly handed average citizens the ability to invest in large local real-estate ventures.
The OpenGov Foundation is attempting to spur similar disruption for legal code publishing at the city and state levels. The foundation is dedicated to developing technologies that support citizen participation in government, and through its AmericaDecoded platform, have worked with cities to publish municipal codes that are annotated and compiled for easy use through algorithms and crowdsourced editorial support. The organization, co-founded by Executive Director Seamus Kraft and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), has published nine different jurisdictions so far with a trajectory to unleash more.
However, despite much success with city municipal codes, the group has walked a fine line to ensure it doesn’t overstep when publishing state laws. It’s been the case for OpenGov’s work on Maryland’s code — officially distributed by LexisNexus — that is still in beta but to be released soon online with its own application programming interface.
"To respect the copyright, we've gone around and hacked that whole process and created our own. Our goal is to gift that code back to the state Legislature and the people of Maryland,” said Kraft.
Like Malamud, Kraft argues that the law, however it’s presented, should be freely accessible to the public regardless of the format it’s placed in or what type of jurisdiction — city, state or federal — it belongs to. Insufficient resources, he said, is no longer a justifiable excuse for most state governments considering how relatively cheap it can be to update and publish code.
"We're doing these decoding projects for dollar amounts that are in the thousands, single digit thousands," Kraft said. "And for many state governments that's a rounding error in most budgets."
Ultimately, OpenGov’s mission is to offer the service to as many states and cities as possible and systematically turn the nation’s legal codes to open by default. For each municipality and state, Kraft said the hope is to install an algorithmically automated — or near automated — updating system that will gather new codes and adjust texts and chapters as needed. As the process stands, AmericaDecoded outsources editorial work to freelance writers who replace copyrighted chapter titles, summaries and other annotations with non-copywrited counterparts.
Kraft is optimistic that many jurisdictions can leverage the services, but pragmatically, he concedes no single solution is set in stone for all. His overarching position, however, is that when codes are published they should come free of charge and be easy to access and reproduce.
"The right answers aren't established by any stretch of the imagination beyond the foundational notion that in a free society free access to the laws that govern us is a basic right of citizenship,” Kraft said. “A citizen can't be expected to comply with the law unless the statutes and codes can be accessed openly and without costs.”
The Publishers’ Perspective
Impulses can easily heave blame at industry frontrunners, those publishers such as LexisNexis and West that capitalize off states’ copyrighted code. Yet, a historical look back shows the role of code publishers has been far from profiteering and more evolutionary with the growth of technology.
“I really wouldn’t characterize Westlaw or LexisNexis or the large publishers in a bad light; their business model is just different,” said Lawton Langford, chairman and CEO of the Municipal Code Corp. or MuniCode.
Langford’s company, based in Tallahassee, Fla., has been publishing municipal codes since his father founded the company in 1951. Today, its 3,000-plus municipal codes come free of charge for citizens to research, download, link to and reference — a byproduct of a business model that charges municipalities low sums (on average about $5,000) in exchange for annotation and online publication.
In the past, Langford said it was a common case for cities and states that didn’t desire the management duties and costs of publishing to make an agreement with a code publisher to free up resources. The publisher wouldn’t charge a jurisdiction for editing and printing. However, the company would be granted exclusive sale of the jurisdiction’s official annotated code for compensation — the state enforcing its copyright of the code on the company’s behalf. The process went on for years.
When the Internet and digital records became ubiquitous counterparts, the dynamic changed. Printed consumer publishing costs no longer were a blockade, and governments could distribute their legal codes for free. This option of free code now casts dark shadows on states and publishers still operating under the decades-old business model. It’s also unlikely large publishers will transition out of the business model themselves considering the difference to revenue streams.
Langford said the reason cities publish free code online is because there isn’t a market large enough to compel publishers to take on the labor and some printing and editorial costs. While not speaking on their behalf, he said it's doubtful governments could compensate state publishers like LexisNexis or West to rival current revenues.
“Because the [municipal code] market is so small we couldn’t sell this product, these words, and cover our costs, and so we get hired by the local governments to editorially and legally scrutinize and codify their laws enabling us to provide access for free," Langford said. "At the state and federal level, because the market is bigger, there’s a greater opportunity for those publishers to cover their costs by selling books or charging for access.”
Jeff Pfeifer, LexisNexis vice president of primary law, said heavy traffic on the company’s free-use sites is evidence, despite recent protest, that the public is making valuable use of state laws. More so, he argued against the misconception that LexisNexis is opposed to the public’s access of laws and statutes — considering the company maintains the open sites for free.
“The current business model offered by LexisNexis and other legal publishers allows states to minimize or eliminate public expense while producing a world-class codified set of statutes. LexisNexis receives no compensation for its work other than the ability to sell the print version of the code produced in conjunction with the state,” he said.
Change to the approach, Pfeifer said, would come at a high cost to states. He warned it may cause states to employ considerable staff resources to deliver a comparable expertise and product.
“We believe that the current business model carefully balances the public's right to access the laws of the state with the financial benefit delivered to the citizens of each jurisdiction,” Pfeifer said.
Where the Burden Lies
The battle for the definition of open code is no less heated in Congress and there appears to be no final word in the debate. In a House Judiciary Committee on copyright in January, organized to help decide the issue, representatives met for a back and forth that pivoted arguments around author ownership.
Georgia Rep. Doug Collins spoke in favor of current copyright laws. Speaking to Malamud at the hearing, Collins defended Georgia’s partnership with LexisNexis under a pretense that, whether associated with state law or not, all private authorship should be protected, annotation or otherwise. Collins likened republication and full digital access to annotated codes as no better than cheating.
“We respect the work," he said. "We don’t go out and say ‘Well, I’ve got the book. Let’s go out and copy it, send it up, just simply because I don’t want to do the work.’”
Issa adamantly opposed Collins on the issue with the stance that even annotated laws belong in the public domain — especially when taking into account code copyrights are still owned by states and state governments are supported by citizens.
“Isn’t, in fact, every single person who participates in the creation of the law — or the inclusion by a standard — not in fact an author,” Issa argued.
The issue remains unsettled and may not be decided for some time. Each side has its adherents, and traditional revenue streams are hard to steer in new directions. In light of all the complexities it wouldn’t be improbable for the industry itself to solve the problem long before legislators do. Tech innovators, like the OpenGov foundation and others, are progressing with these workaround solutions. Whether they’ll be pervasive and sustainable enough to stick is a question for coming years.
"The bottom line is that however this is accomplished,” Kraft said, “it really is a core job of the government. … Legislatures are under a duty to draft and promulgate these laws: that’s the federal government, that's state government, that's county government, it's municipal government." |
Syrian government soldiers have raised a flag of victory in Maaloula after retaking the ancient Christian town.
Military sources claim the advance will squeeze rebel supply routes into Lebanon.
It was last December that Islamist fighters, some from the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, captured Maaloula, holding several nuns until releasing them in March in a prisoner swap.
Celebrated for its Christian sites, Maaloula is also strategically important.
It lies close to the main road linking Damascus to Homs and control of it tightens President Bashar al Assad’s grip over central Syria.
Last year the president appeared on the verge of defeat but in recent few weeks, his forces have recaptured towns including Yabroud and Rankous along the Lebanese border.
Before the conflict Maaloula’s churches and monasteries attracted both Christian and Muslim pilgrims. Since then most of its population has fled. |
«Ti diverte così tanto far soffrire la gente? Quando avrò finito con te, ti sarà passata la voglia di ridere!»
Group RNG Master Posts 4,508 Reputation +41 Location Okinawa
Status Anonymous
Autore Originale: Guida/Contenuto Nome Utente: Drake™
Ruolo: RNG Master (Admin)
Guida Scritta: [RS] Dead Battery Pandora's Box
Diritti: New Order of Breeding ©
Dead Battery Pandora's Box
Requisiti:
· RNG Reporter
· VBA v23.5
· PKHeX
· 3ª Gen Lua Scripts
Preparazione
Il Pandora’s Box è un'applicazione dell'RNG Reporter la cui funzionalità è quella di cercare una combinazione di Trainer ID e Secret ID tale da rendere cromatico un determinato PID, scelto da noi fra quelli a disposizione nel gioco. Oltre a questo è possibile ricercare un determinato ID e/o SID.
Come evidenzia il messaggio presente nella schermata "Pandora's Box - ID/SID Manipulation Tool" di 3ª generazione, è possibile utilizzare questo metodo solo con copie di Pokémon Rubino e Zaffiro che hanno esaurito la batteria interna delle proprie cartucce. Se invece state giocando da emulatore, per far sì che il Visual Boy Advance RNG legga la batteria del gioco come se fosse esaurita, vi basterà fare:
→ Options » Emulation » Real Time Clock
Togliete la spunta (✔) dall'opzione Real Time Clock.
Nota: La seguente guida è specifica per l'uso del Pandora's Box di Rubino e Zaffiro per gli utenti che utilizzano una delle versioni originali dell'RNG Reporter. È ora possibile sfruttare la tecnica del Pandora's Box anche con la batteria interna del gioco carica se state utilizzando una delle versioni personalizzate dell'RNG Reporter di Admiral-Fish.
Ricerca della Spread
Aprite l'RNG Reporter e andate in 4th Gen Tools; configurate la Scheda IVs to PID come sotto:
Nature: Selezionate la Natura desiderata.
Spread IVs: Inserite nelle caselle di testo il valore delle IVs desiderate. Selezionate la Natura desiderata.Inserite nelle caselle di testo il valore delle IVs desiderate.
Infine cliccate sul tasto Find per inizializzare la ricerca.
Quando l'RNG Reporter avrà finito di cercare le possibili Spreads, sceglietene una e appuntatevi il PID su un foglio di testo.
Pandora's Box
Aprite la Scheda "Pandora's Box - ID/SID Manipulation Tool" situata nel menù a tendina relativo ai 3rd Gen Tools.
Compilate la finestra di dialogo secondo quanto segue:
PID: Riportate il PID della vostra Spread.
Dead Battery: Spuntinate quest'opzione per indicare che la batteria interna del gioco è scarica.
Min Frame: Inserite 7000 come Min Frame.
Max Frame: Inserite 100000 come Max Frame. Riportate il PID della vostra Spread.Spuntinate quest'opzione per indicare che la batteria interna del gioco è scarica.Inserite 7000 come Min Frame.Inserite 100000 come Max Frame.
Una volta compilata la finestra di dialogo cliccate su Find ID Frames.
Quando l'RNG Reporter avrà finito di cercare le possibili combinazioni di IDs, sceglietene una e segnatevi le informazioni su un foglio di testo. Successivamente, vi consiglio di configurare anche la schermata principale del programma, in modo tale da essere sicuri che la combinazione di IDs da voi scelta renda cromatico il PID della vostra Spread. La procedura è molto simile a quella della Scheda Capture.
Specificate i vostri IDs e le caratteristiche del Pokémon in primo luogo, poi passate all'impostazione del Method, dell'Encounter Type e del Lead, che nel nostro caso dovrà essere impostato obbligatoriamente sulla voce "None", dal momento che l'abilità Sincronismo non trasmette la Natura al Pokémon avversario in queste due versioni di giochi. Altro dato importante da inserire è il Seed (Hex), che in questo caso corrisponderà ad un Seed precedente al vostro Target.
Dopo aver premuto su Generate, vi verrà mostrato se il vostro PID sarà reso cromatico (!!!) dalla coppia di IDs da voi scelta.
Nota: Per cercare ed ottenere un Seed precedente al Seed della vostra Spread, occorre utilizzare una funzione dell'RNG Reporter chiamata Researcher, che vi permetterà appunto di ottenere i dati inerenti ai Frames precedenti al vostro Target Seed. Per far ciò inserite il vostro Seed nella relativa finestra di dialogo e selezionate dal menù a tendina (che è posto a destra dell'opzione Common RNGs) la voce LCRNG [R], dopodiché lasciando come Max Results il valore 1000 cliccate sul tasto Generate. Prendete l'ultimo risultato, premete col tasto destro sul Seed sotto la colonna 32Bit e poi su "Copy 32Bit" per copiarlo, infine incollatelo nella schermata principale dell'RNG Reporter.
RNG
Aprite il Visual Boy Advance e caricate la versione di Pokémon Rubino o Zaffiro nella quale volete manipolare i vostri IDs, dopodiché caricate anche il Lua Script:
→ Tools » Lua Scripting » New Lua Script Window
Cliccate su Browse e selezionate lo Script che è nella cartella dell'emulatore.
Adesso iniziate una nuova partita, inserite il nome allenatore desiderato e proseguite fino all'ultima schermata introduttiva nella quale il Professor Birch vi dirà: "Ti aspetto più tardi. Vieni a trovarmi al LABORATORIO POKéMON".
Mettete il gioco in Pausa ed eseguite un Save State per evitare di dover rifare tutto da capo.
Nota: Siccome il Frame avanzerà molto velocemente, cercate di arrivare all'ultima schermata introduttiva più rapidamente che potete; se supererete il vostro Target Frame, sarà impossibile il corretto ottenimento delle IDs desiderate. Nel caso in cui il Frame superi il vostro Target non c'è molto che voi possiate fare, resettare l'emulatore e ripetete il procedimento.
A questo punto, mettete in pausa l'emulatore e fate un altro Save State a circa -200/-300 Frames dal vostro Target.
Come succede per altre meccaniche di RNG legate all'ottenimento di una specifica combinazione di IDs nei giochi Pokémon, anche in Rubino e Zaffiro dovremo correggere il nostro Target di alcuni Frames per ottenere il risultato sperato.
Infatti passeranno circa 75 Frames da quando cliccheremo A sull'ultima schermata introduttiva all'effettiva generazione dei nostri ID e SID, per tanto sarà opportuno sottrarre tale cifra al nostro Target Frame. Non ci resta che avanzare il Frame fino al nostro nuovo Target, per comodità utilizzate l'avanzamento manuale quando sarete molto vicini ad esso, con l'emulatore in Pausa premete insieme i tasti Ctrl + N per avanzare il Frame di 1.
Una volta che avrete raggiunto il Target Frame togliete la Pausa dall'emulatore e contemporaneamente cliccate A sulla suddetta frase, per farlo vi basterà premere Ctrl + P + A (vi consiglio di settare il tasto A sulla lettera Z della tastiera).
Nel mio caso dovrò premere A sull'ultima frase a 16844 Frames (16919 - 75).
Completato questo procedimento, vi ritroverete nel camioncino dei traslochi ad Hoenn, salvate la partita ed esportate il salvataggio dall'emulatore. Dopodiché apritelo con il PKHeX per verificare la coppia di IDs che avete preso.
Correzione dell'errore
Nell'eventualità che le IDs desiderate non corrispondano a quelle realmente ottenute, dovremo tornare alla scheda del "Pandora's Box - ID/SID Manipulation Tool" e calcolare i Frames effettivi che andranno sottratti al nostro Target per il corretto ottenimento delle IDs. Compilate quindi la scheda in modo analogo a quanto visto in precedenza ricordandovi di deselezionare il campo del PID.
Una volta compilata la finestra di dialogo cliccate su Find ID Frames.
A questo punto cercate il vostro Target Frame e confrontate gli IDs errati precedentemente ottenuti con uno dei Frames vicini e calcolatevi la differenza. Per esempio, se avessi ottenuto le IDs del Frame 16920, il fattore di correzione richiesto sarebbe stato 76, al posto dei classici 75 Frames di errore. Fatto ciò, premete A sull'ultima frase al vostro nuovo Target Frame.
Risultato
Se avrete svolto tutto correttamente otterrete il vostro salvataggio con gli IDs da voi scelti.
Key Words: RNG Reporter ┃ RNG ┃ Pokémon RNG ┃ Pokémon ┃ Pokémon Shiny ┃ Pokémon Cromatici ┃ 3DS RNG Tool Games: Pokémon Ruby ┃ Pokémon Rubino ┃ Pokémon Sapphire ┃ Pokémon Zaffiro How to: How to RNG in 3rd Generation ┃ Come usare l'RNG in 3a Generazione ┃ How to obtain flawless Pokémon in 3rd Generation ┃ Come ottenere Pokémon perfetti in 3a Generazione ┃ How to obtain shiny Pokémon in 3rd Generation ┃ Come ottenere Pokémon cromatici in 3a Generazione ┃ How to obtain desidered IDs in 3rd Generation ┃ Come ottenere gli IDs desiderati in 3a Generazione Others: RNG Guides ┃ 3rd Generation RNG Guides ┃ Guide RNG 3a Generazione
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Edited by Dragon69 - 21/2/2019, 22:16 |
by Ron Paul
Recently by Ron Paul: Bombing the Gaza Prison Camp
This is an excerpt from Ron’s Farewell to Congress address which was given on November 15, 2012.
What are the greatest dangers that the American people face today and impede the goal of a free society? There are five.
1. The continuous attack on our civil liberties which threatens the rule of law and our ability to resist the onrush of tyranny.
2. Violent anti-Americanism that has engulfed the world. Because the phenomenon of "blow-back" is not understood or denied, our foreign policy is destined to keep us involved in many wars that we have no business being in. National bankruptcy and a greater threat to our national security will result.
3. The ease in which we go to war, without a declaration by Congress, but accepting international authority from the UN or NATO even for preemptive wars, otherwise known as aggression.
4. A financial political crisis as a consequence of excessive debt, unfunded liabilities, spending, bailouts, and gross discrepancy in wealth distribution going from the middle class to the rich. The danger of central economic planning, by the Federal Reserve must be understood.
5. World government taking over local and US sovereignty by getting involved in the issues of war, welfare, trade, banking, a world currency, taxes, property ownership, and private ownership of guns.
Happily, there is an answer for these very dangerous trends.
What a wonderful world it would be if everyone accepted the simple moral premise of rejecting all acts of aggression. The retort to such a suggestion is always: it's too simplistic, too idealistic, impractical, naïve, utopian, dangerous, and unrealistic to strive for such an ideal.
The answer to that is that for thousands of years the acceptance of government force, to rule over the people, at the sacrifice of liberty, was considered moral and the only available option for achieving peace and prosperity.
What could be more utopian than that myth — considering the results especially looking at the state sponsored killing, by nearly every government during the 20th Century, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions. It's time to reconsider this grant of authority to the state.
No good has ever come from granting monopoly power to the state to use aggression against the people to arbitrarily mold human behavior. Such power, when left unchecked, becomes the seed of an ugly tyranny. This method of governance has been adequately tested, and the results are in: reality dictates we try liberty.
The idealism of non-aggression and rejecting all offensive use of force should be tried. The idealism of government sanctioned violence has been abused throughout history and is the primary source of poverty and war. The theory of a society being based on individual freedom has been around for a long time. It's time to take a bold step and actually permit it by advancing this cause, rather than taking a step backwards as some would like us to do.
Today the principle of habeas corpus, established when King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215, is under attack. There's every reason to believe that a renewed effort with the use of the internet that we can instead advance the cause of liberty by spreading an uncensored message that will serve to rein in government authority and challenge the obsession with war and welfare.
What I'm talking about is a system of government guided by the moral principles of peace and tolerance.
The Founders were convinced that a free society could not exist without a moral people. Just writing rules won't work if the people choose to ignore them. Today the rule of law written in the Constitution has little meaning for most Americans, especially those who work in Washington DC.
Benjamin Franklin claimed "only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." John Adams concurred: "Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
A moral people must reject all violence in an effort to mold people's beliefs or habits.
A society that boos or ridicules the Golden Rule is not a moral society. All great religions endorse the Golden Rule. The same moral standards that individuals are required to follow should apply to all government officials. They cannot be exempt.
The ultimate solution is not in the hands of the government.
The solution falls on each and every individual, with guidance from family, friends and community.
The #1 responsibility for each of us is to change ourselves with hope that others will follow. This is of greater importance than working on changing the government; that is secondary to promoting a virtuous society. If we can achieve this, then the government will change.
It doesn't mean that political action or holding office has no value. At times it does nudge policy in the right direction. But what is true is that when seeking office is done for personal aggrandizement, money or power, it becomes useless if not harmful. When political action is taken for the right reasons it's easy to understand why compromise should be avoided. It also becomes clear why progress is best achieved by working with coalitions, which bring people together, without anyone sacrificing his principles.
Political action, to be truly beneficial, must be directed toward changing the hearts and minds of the people, recognizing that it's the virtue and morality of the people that allow liberty to flourish.
The Constitution or more laws per se, have no value if the people's attitudes aren't changed.
To achieve liberty and peace, two powerful human emotions have to be overcome. Number one is "envy" which leads to hate and class warfare. Number two is "intolerance" which leads to bigoted and judgemental policies. These emotions must be replaced with a much better understanding of love, compassion, tolerance and free market economics. Freedom, when understood, brings people together. When tried, freedom is popular.
The problem we have faced over the years has been that economic interventionists are swayed by envy, whereas social interventionists are swayed by intolerance of habits and lifestyles. The misunderstanding that tolerance is an endorsement of certain activities, motivates many to legislate moral standards which should only be set by individuals making their own choices. Both sides use force to deal with these misplaced emotions. Both are authoritarians. Neither endorses voluntarism. Both views ought to be rejected.
I have come to one firm conviction after these many years of trying to figure out "the plain truth of things." The best chance for achieving peace and prosperity, for the maximum number of people world-wide, is to pursue the cause of LIBERTY.
If you find this to be a worthwhile message, spread it throughout the land.
The Best of Ron Paul |
Hi,
The PHP development team announces the immediate availability of PHP 7.0.13.
This is a security release. Several security bugs were fixed in this
release.
All PHP 7.0 users are encouraged to upgrade to this version.
For source downloads of PHP 7.0.13 please visit our downloads page:
http://www.php.net/downloads.php
Windows binaries can be found on http://windows.php.net/download/
The list of changes is recorded in the ChangeLog:
http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.0.13
Regards,
Anatol Belski and Ferenc Kovacs
P.S. Below is the verification information for the downloads
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This article is about itinerant tinsmiths. For other uses, see Tinker (disambiguation)
pl] A photograph of a tinker by Ignacy Krieger , 19th century
Tinker or tinkerer is an archaic term for an itinerant tinsmith who mends household utensils.
Description [ edit ]
The word is attested from the 13th century as "tyckner" or "tinkler" a term used in medieval Scotland and England for a metal worker.[1] Some travelling groups and Romani people adopted this lifestyle and the name was particularly associated with indigenous Scottish Highland Travellers and Irish Travellers. However, this usage is disputed and considered offensive by some.[2] Tinkering is therefore the process of adapting, meddling or adjusting something in the course of making repairs or improvements,[3][4] a process also known as bricolage.
The term "tinker", in British English, may refer to a mischievous child.[2] Some modern-day nomads with a Scottish, Irish or English influence call themselves "techno-tinkers" or "technogypsies" and are found to possess a revival of sorts of the romantic view of the tinker's lifestyle.[5] The family name "Tinker" is of Anglo-Saxon origin and does not have a Scottish, Irish, or Romany connection.
Tinker's dam [ edit ]
A tinker's dam is a temporary patch to repair a hole in a metal vessel such as a pot or a pan. It was used by tinkers and was usually made of mud or clay, or sometimes other materials at hand, such as wet paper. The material was built up around the outside of the hole, so as to plug it. Molten solder was then poured on the inside of the hole. The solder cooled and solidified against the dam and bonded with the metal wall. The dam was then brushed away. The remaining solder was then rasped and smoothed down by the tinker.[6][7]
In the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics of 1877, Edward Knight gives this definition: "Tinker's-dam: a wall of dough raised around a place which a plumber desires to flood with a coat of solder. The material can be but once used; being consequently thrown away as worthless".[8]
Tinker's curse [ edit ]
The common use of "tinker's dam" may have influenced the English phrase tinker's curse, which expresses contempt. The phrases tinker's damn and tinker's curse may also be applied to something considered insignificant. A common expression may be the examples: "I don't give a tinker's curse what the Vicar thinks", sometimes shortened to, "I don't give a tinker's about the Vicar." In this context, the speaker is expressing contempt for the clergyman and his opinion. A tinker's curse or cuss was considered of little significance because tinkers (who worked with their hands near hot metal) were reputed to swear (curse) habitually.[8]
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ] |
The Brooklyn Nets are 8-30 on the year, Jeremy Lin has been injured for almost the entire season, and there is no semblance of a defensive scheme. The season has long been declared a developmental one but the games are getting hard to watch, unless you know what to look for.
Caris LeVert has been one of the few bright spots on the dismal and depressing season for Nets fans. Since being activated on December 7th, his development and success have been one of the few things people can turn to and feel good about. In his debut game against the Denver Nuggets, LeVert went 0-3 from the floor but became the first Net since Chris Childs to post three steals in his debut.
Atkinson was slow to work him in, given his foot injury, but it seems like his minutes restrictions have been lifted. So far, he has risen to every challenge and looked better than expected against some of the NBA’s top competition.
On January 5th, he was tasked with the assignment of Paul George of the Indiana Pacers. In 21 minutes played, LeVert scored six points, dished out one assist, pulled down two rebounds, and swiped one steal. At first glance, it looks like a pretty pedestrian stat line, but LeVert held his own against one of the best wings in the world in George. He shot two of three from deep, which were his only attempts of the game.
George finished the game with 26 points on 10 of 18 shooting overall. LeVert was on him for most of his 21 minutes and was able to bother him with his length and athleticism. George was able to still score on him, but LeVert made him really work for it and put out a lot of effort on offense. Despite it not showing up in the box score, LeVert’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed.
His next game was maybe his most impressive since being put into a larger role; it came against LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite losing 116-108, the Nets were able to keep things relatively close until the dreaded third quarter. LeVert played 27 minutes and finished with 19 points, five assists, and four rebounds while only turning it over once. When matched up against James, he didn’t look completely outmatched.
Great move by LeVert to find space vs LeBron in transition. If he can hit this consistently, he’s going to be valuable to Atkinson #Nets pic.twitter.com/1U1zW5iBjH — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 9, 2017
Impressive move by LeVert on DeAndre Liggins. Great job on the crossover to create space to drive, then stops on the dime for the fake #Nets pic.twitter.com/L5ISYmYzUC — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 9, 2017
If this doesn’t get you excited, idk what will. LeVert does a great job running the floor in transition and finishing through contact #Nets pic.twitter.com/AoXxezS18l — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 9, 2017
Love LeVert’s jumper, such perfect form. If this can become the norm for him, he will start making an impact, especially when Lin returns pic.twitter.com/aLa61UN5eL — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 9, 2017
On defense, he was able to disrupt his shot at times and clog passing lanes with his 6’10” wingspan. LeBron ended up having another MVP-esque performance, but LeVert was the only player in a Nets uniform that could even hang with him on defense. Lord only knows how LeBron would’ve gone off if Sean Kilpatrick or Bojan Bogdanovic on him all night long.
Against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, LeVert had another game where he didn’t contribute much statistically, but his impact was felt. In 21 minutes he scored six points to go with two assists and three rebounds. He was the only Brooklyn player to post higher than a plus five in plus/minus. For scale, Bogdanovic was -14, Trevor Booker was -1, Spencer Dinwiddie was -17, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was -19, and Kilpatrick was -12.
His primary defensive assignment was Gerald Henderson and Robert Covington, who were a combined 8 of 19 on the day. Covington was able to have some success against LeVert given his strong frame, but against Henderson LeVert shined. He was so good at closing out on shot attempts and eliminating as much space between him and the shooter as possible.
LeVert’s worst game since the increase in minutes came against the Atlanta Hawks, despite the impressive stat line of 11 points, two assists, and three rebounds in 23 minutes, he was a team worst -17 on the night. He faced Taurean Prince, Kent Bazemore, and Thabo Sefolosha for most of the night, and was able to keep them mostly in check. Offensively speaking he was still able to do what he wanted, but the defense as a whole was abysmal.
Taking a look at LeVert’s O from last night. 1st shot came against some incredible D. He does a great job rising up and wasnt phased D pic.twitter.com/dhODtPWlN1 — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 11, 2017
LeVert cut through the Atlanta defense like a hot knife through butter here. Turns the corner, gathers, and contorts his body for the finish pic.twitter.com/7X9S169dnE — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 11, 2017
Love how unphased LeVert is by tight defense. Bazemore does a great job closing out, but LeVert calmly steps into his shot and hits it #Nets pic.twitter.com/fPYPLnzD9a — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 11, 2017
Sefolosha gave him the most trouble, but the entire defense was lost in this matchup. Six players scored in double figures for Atlanta on the night while seeing the court for less than 30 minutes, not a great ratio at all. Its tough to hold any one player responsible for something that is clearly not being taught in practice. The defensive scheme is something that will need to be addressed in the post season via a new assistant coach that is a specialist.
Last night against New Orleans, LeVert was matched up against the likes of Soloman Hill. LeVert was able to finish with 11 points, one assist, three rebounds, and two steals on four of eight shooting from the floor. His smooth jumper and smart shot selection were on full display, as he was again one of the few bright spots for the Nets.
LeVert is a natural behind the 3pt line. Notice his footwork, specifically how he steps into the shot to make sure he’s square. So smooth. pic.twitter.com/9dxYGZAFhi — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 13, 2017
Love LeVert’s handles and vision to find the opening in the defense. He used Brook’s pick to perfection before darting to the hoop #Nets pic.twitter.com/1luQy5rlnZ — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 13, 2017
One of LeVert’s two steals, this one he just timed the pass perfectly to swipe it away. If it wasn’t for the good foul, he couldve had and-1 pic.twitter.com/yRQ0poi8wn — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 13, 2017
2nd steal was another perfectly timed swipe, this time it turned into an emphatic dunk in transition. LeVert is a bright spot on the season pic.twitter.com/k0i2fvlwkH — Nicholas LeTourneau (@nick_lt) January 13, 2017
Hill finished the night with 14 points on 50 percent shooting overall from the floor. LeVert’s wingspan and athleticism kept Hill in check. LeVert is so good at using his footwork and wingspan to ensure he is always in front of whoever he is matched up against. His defensive fundamentals are strong and well established. In contrast to Sean Kilpatrick or really anyone on the roster, LeVert usually looks good on defense.
Expect LeVert to average close to 25 minutes per game here on out. As long as he is healthy, Atkinson is planning on keeping him in the rotation. It’ll be exciting to see what he does in crunch time minutes and when Lin returns from another hamstring injury. Hopefully, he can continue to improve each game like he has so far. If he can, then this season won’t be a lost season, but the season Caris LeVert stepped out of the shadow of his injury and became the player everyone anticipated he would become. |
Cortney wrote earlier about how University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier has been released from North Korea. Now, there's a horrific update to this already-sad case: Warmbier has been in a coma for over a year after he contracted Botulism. According to North Korean officials, he was given a sleeping pill as part of the treatment and has not awoken since. Warmbier was last seen in public in March 2016, when he was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after an hour-long trial. Warmbier was accused of stealing a propaganda sign from a hotel.
Warmbier's parents confirmed that he is in a coma on Tuesday. They said they only learned of his medical state about a week ago.
BREAKING: American student released by North Korea has been in a coma for over a year, his parents say https://t.co/ilqyAjIUap pic.twitter.com/i7kHwrjtu5
— CNN (@CNN) June 13, 2017
From the Washington Post:
He was charged with “hostile acts against the state,” and after an hour-long trial in March 2016, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor.
He had not been seen in public since. Swedish diplomats, who represent U.S. interests in North Korea because the United States has no diplomatic relations with the country, were denied access to him.
Then suddenly, last Monday, North Korean representatives contacted American counterparts and told them that student was in a coma.
Per WaPo, President Trump started efforts to evacuate Warmbier from the country once he became aware of his medical condition. Warmbier is being evacuated on a military plane. It is unknown what kind of medical care he received while in North Korea.
Warmbier was visiting North Korea prior to a planned semester abroad in Hong Kong. |
By Michael F. Haverluck
Barack Obama, just days after a controversial botched abortion death at a Chicago Planned Parenthood business, has used his own daughters to try to galvanize support for taxpayer funding of the abortion industry giant, again.
Back during the race for the 2008 election, he famously said at a Johnstown, Pa., meeting that, “I’ve got two daughters. Nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
Now he’s attended a rally in Portland, Ore., where he was lobbying for taxpayers to pay for abortions.
“Mr. Romney wants to get rid of funding for Planned Parenthood. I think that’s a bad idea,” Obama said. “I’ve got two daughters. I want them to control their own health care choices.”
Obama’s unprecedented commitment to abortions at the expense of taxpayers has ratcheted up in recent months, to the point the federal government has dispatched money directly to Planned Parenthood operations when state officials have diverted funding away from the abortion provider.
That’s even as further incriminating evidence surfaced in the death of abortion recipient Tonya Reaves.
Reports this week said Planned Parenthood officials waited for five-and-a-half hours before calling paramedics to treat Reaves while she was bleeding to death after her severely botched abortion.
Troy Newman, of Operation Rescue, one of the cutting edge pro-life campaigners in the U.S. today, said Obama’s continued unwavering support for Planned Parenthood in the midst of the latest disturbing incident isn’t right.
“We have to wonder how Mr. Obama would have felt if that had been Malia or Sasha bleeding to death on that abortion table,” Newman said in response to Obama’s statement using his daughters to bolster financial backing for the abortion business.
“By supporting Planned Parenthood and advocating continued tax-funding of this troubled organization, Mr. Obama is intentionally condemning other young women ─ and perhaps even his own daughters ─ to the same tragically avoidable fate suffered by Tonya Reaves just a few days ago,” Newman said.
Newman pointed out the irony behind Obama’s reasoning that support for Planned Parenthood gives power to his daughters and women across America.
“When Tonya Reaves walked into that Planned Parenthood abortion clinic last Friday, she completely lost any control over her ‘health care choices,’ as well as her life,” Newman said. “She did not choose to die. Planned Parenthood took that choice from her.”
The pro-life activist contends that the president’s comments are not only untimely, but hypocritical.
“Mr. Obama completely disrespected the life and family of Tonya Reaves by making this statement on the same day that pro-life organizations called for the president to investigate this incident in much the same way he called for a full investigation into the Trayvon Martin death,” Newman said. “Apparently for Mr. Obama, a black man who is killed by a white man is worthy of justice, but a black woman killed by a campaign contributor is something that we should give no regard.”
Newman refers to Obama’s comments several months ago regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin
“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” Obama stated during his vigorous call to action. “And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”
“Well Mr. President, does Tonya Reaves look enough like your daughters to investigate Planned Parenthood?” asked Newman. “To do any less is to disrespect Tonya’s memory and play politics with women’s lives.”
To Newman, Obama’s positioning has nothing to do with justice or women’s rights and everything to do with party allegiance and maneuvering for the upcoming election.
“That is political cronyism at its worst that places women in a second-class citizen category as a matter of public policy,” Newman said. “Mr. Obama’s comments are completely unacceptable and we demand that he retract his support for Planned Parenthood and seek justice for Tonya Reaves and her family for this completely avoidable death.”
He said the information coming out about the death of Reaves raises alarms.
“It is clear that Planned Parenthood botched the procedure that resulted in uncontrolled bleeding then failed to treat the hemorrhage while Reaves was at their clinic, allowing her to bleed for over five hours before finally calling for help,” said Newman, referring to a report from Steve Miller of WBBM, a CBS affiliate. “There can be no doubt that this delay contributed to her death. The injury and the untreated hemorrhage happened at Planned Parenthood and they are solely responsible for it.”
According to Newman, it is time for the federally funded abortion organization to be held accountable.
“Planned Parenthood is trying to minimize their responsibility for Reaves’ completely avoidable death that appears to have resulted from a combination of their negligence, delay – possibly for the purpose of cover-up — and lack of communication with emergency providers,” Newman declared. “That abortion clinic is dangerous and should be closed. The abortionist should not be allowed to continue to inflict harm on women and should have his medical license revoked.”
“We again call on President Obama to stop protecting Planned Parenthood and halt all federal funding to the abortion giant in order to prevent other women from suffering Tonya Reaves’ fate,” Newman said. |
New Delhi: India and China have agreed to a speedy disengagement on the Doklam plateau in Bhutan, ending a military standoff lasting more than two months.
It comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled to visit to China for the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit in Xiamen city.
That the Doklam standoff ended the way it did is being seen as a diplomatic victory for India and the Modi government. More importantly, it has initiated recalibration of the terms of engagement between the two neighbours who have always shared an uneasy relationship.
ALSO READ: A timeline to the Doklam standoff
While the official Indian response was measured, the Chinese, in keeping with the pattern over the last two months, continued to be belligerent—claiming that India had climbed down.
“In recent weeks, India and China have maintained diplomatic communication in respect of the incident at Doklam. During these communications, we were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests," an Indian foreign ministry statement on Monday said. “On this basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is ongoing," it added.
A second foreign ministry statement said the process of disengagement “has since been almost completed under verification".
There were no details of the compromise reached to end the military face-off that began in June. But analysts like former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said that by standing up to China, India had changed the terms of engagement between the two countries. Sibal maintained that China’s neighbours in South-East Asia, who had territorial disputes with Beijing, would be watching the Doklam developments closely.
“They will draw the right lessons without India needing to project this as a victory," he said.
Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese studies at the Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, said what is implicit in the Indian statements on disengagement is the understanding that China ended road construction on the Doklam plateau—the move that triggered the standoff.
A PTI report from Beijing said that China had told reporters that Indian troops had pulled back but was ambiguous about the status of its own troops. The news agency quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying as saying, “The Chinese side continues to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity according to the historical convention."
The second statement issued by the Indian foreign ministry said India’s “principled" position had been that “agreements and understandings reached on boundary issues must be scrupulously respected." India says that as per the terms of a pact arrived at with China in 2012, disputes over tri-junction areas—boundaries falling between three countries like in Doklam—have to be settled by all the three parties. India and China have held many rounds of bilateral talks but have not been able to demarcate their boundary—a legacy of their 1962 war.
Tensions between the Asian giants have been high since 16 June after Bhutan objected to an attempt by Chinese troops to build a road on the Doklam plateau. Indian troops stationed in Bhutan under a special security arrangement intervened to keep Chinese troops at bay. India said the action to construct the road changed the status quo and expressed concern that the road will allow China to cut off access to northeastern states. |
SANTA CLARA, CA. -- For the fourth time in as many drafts as the San Francisco 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh didn't not draft any Stanford players.
However, it appears Harbaugh did land a Stanford player, after all. Stanford standout inside linebacker Shayne Skov tweeted Saturday that he is joining the 49ers, after unexpectedly falling out of the draft. The team has not confirmed any undrafted free-agent signings.
Many scouts thought Skov could go as high as the third-round. He is an instinctive tough playmaker. The 49ers added Wisconsin middle linebacker Chris Borland in the third round. Skov may be hard pressed to make the team, but he is familiar with Harbaugh and several assistants, including defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. I could see Skov being a candidate for the practice squad.
In other 49ers' draft notes:
Both Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke are excited about the depth at receiver after trading for Steve Johnson and then drafting Bruce Ellington in the fourth round. Johnson is expected to be the No. 3 receiver. Ellington and second-year receiver, the promising Quinton Patton, round out a strong receiving crew. Baalke said it could the deepest 49ers' receiving group in some time.
Ellington was also a point guard on South Carolina's basketball team early in his college career. Indiana coach Tom Crean, Harbaugh's brother-in-law, texted him and said the 49ers have the best basketball team in the NFL. Baalke said the 49ers did watch some basketball film work of Ellington.
Harbaugh expressed excitement about Southern Illinois quarterback Kory Faulkner. He signed as an undrafted free agent. Harbaugh met with him on campus recently.
Speaking about Borland, Harbaugh said his hitting style is like a "bowling ball hitting pins." |
Exposed within the interior of the Richat Structure are a variety of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks. They include rhyolitic volcanic rocks, gabbros, carbonatites and kimberlites. The rhyolitic rocks consist of lava flows and hydrothermally altered tuffaceous rocks that are part of two distinct eruptive centers, which are interpreted to be the eroded remains of two maars. According to field mapping and aeromagnetic data, the gabbroic rocks form two concentric ring dikes. The inner ring dike is about 20 m in width and lies about 3 km from the center of Richat Structure. The outer ring dike is about 50 m in width and lies about 7 to 8 km from the center of this structure. Thirty-two carbonatite dikes and sills have been mapped within the Richat Structure. The dikes are generally about 300 m long and typically 1 to 4 m wide. They consist of massive carbonatites that are mostly devoid of vesicles. The carbonatite rocks have been dated as having cooled between 94 to 104 million years ago. A kimberlitic plug and several sills have been found within the northern part of the Richat Structure. The kimberlite plug has been dated being about 99 million years old. These intrusive igneous rocks are interpreted as indicating the presence of a large alkaline igneous intrusion that currently underlies the Richat Structure and created it by uplifting the overlying rock. |
Automobile enthusiasts are pointing to an unusual spike in the number of BMW thefts in the U.K. this year. Expensive cars being stolen isn't anything to write home about, but the reason for this new trend definitely is: the cars in question are keyless. Multiple BMW models are being swiped without activating car alarms or immobilizers because the thieves are hacking their way into the vehicles.
On the car forum 1Addicts, a one-time poster by the name of "stolen1m" uploaded the above video showing how his BMW was stolen in under three minutes. He suspects the thieves used devices that plug into the car's On-Board Diagnostic (ODB) port to program a new keyfob.
In this particular video, there are a few security flaws that the hackers are exploiting simultaneously: there is no sensor that is triggered when the thieves initially break the window, the internal ultrasonic sensor system has a "blind spot" just in front of the OBD port, the OBD port is constantly powered (even when the car is off), and last but not least, it does not require a password. All of this means the thieves can gain complete access to the car without even entering it.
BMW has acknowledged that there is a problem, but is downplaying this particular issue by saying the whole industry struggles with thievery. This is unfortunate given that the evidence seems to point towards BMWs being specifically targeted. Whether that's because they are luxury cars or because they have a security loophole doesn't matter: the point is BMW needs to do something about it.
"The battle against increasingly sophisticated thieves is a constant challenge for all car makers. Desirable, premium-branded cars, like BMW and its competitors, have always been targeted," a BMW spokesperson told Jalopnik. "BMW has been at the forefront of vehicle security for many years and is constantly pushing the boundaries of the latest defence systems. We work closely with the authorities and with other manufacturers to achieve this. We are aware of recent claims that criminal gangs are targeting premium vehicles from a variety of manufacturers. This is an area under investigation. We have a constant dialogue with police forces to understand any patterns which may emerge. This data is used to enhance our defence systems accordingly. Currently BMW Group products meet or exceed all global legislative criteria concerning vehicle security."
BMW needs to watch the three other YouTube videos also posted in the aforementioned forum:
This is a serious problem. New cars, especially high-end ones, no longer require a physical key to be inserted into the ignition. The previous system evolved into being much more secure because it was two-tiered: metal keys that also have a chip. This new system means stealing cars (mainly BMWs so far) is extremely easy for the sophisticated criminal.
If you want to protect yourself from this hack, look into how you can disable the OBD port on your BMW by disconnecting the corresponding wires. If you or your dealer needs it, you can always reenable it. Alternatively, you can try to further secure the port in your own custom way. |
ROME (Reuters) - Italian police on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for 16 suspected mafia members and seized millions of euros in assets as part of a crackdown on organised crime clans in Rome.
Police seized about 6 million euros (4.95 million pounds) in assets from the so-called Fasciani clan suspected of controlling criminal activity in Rome’s seaside neighbourhood of Ostia.
Among the assets the court took over were a beach restaurant, bar and luxury car dealership controlled by front men for the clan, investigators said.
The assets were acquired with money earned mainly through extortion and international drug trafficking, Renato Cortese, the head of Rome’s mobile police squad, told reporters.
While Italy’s traditional crime groups - Sicily’s Cosa Nostra, Calabria’s ‘Ndrangheta and the Naples Camorra - are all rooted in the deep south, a series of recent investigations has underlined their growing influence in the capital.
In January, police arrested 90 people for their roles in investing criminal proceeds in 27 coffee bars and pizzerias in Rome, including “Pizza Ciro”, one of the city’s most popular chains.
“There are many groups operating in Rome,” said anti-mafia prosecutor Michele Prestipino. “They do the same things that Cosa Nostra and the ‘Ndrangheta do in their home territories, and this investigation is a measuring stick for the quality and extent of the mob presence in Rome.”
In the first two months of the year, police have seized 350 million euros in assets from suspected mob networks, compared with 560 million euros in all of 2013, General Ivano Maccani of the finance police said. |
This image of a rigged 7.62x39mm AKM has recently been making the rounds on social media, one of the first being the Twitter account of KufriusMaximus, a pro-Kurdish commentator. From what the chatter is telling us, the photograph is of an AKM recovered in the currently contested city of Raqqa, the former capital of the so-called Islamic State. Troops finding it were elements of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Force (SDF), Peshmerga troops supported by Operation Inherent Resolve special operations elements through the use of advising and forward air controllers.
What we appear to be looking at is a victim operated IED, placed in the receiver of a Kalashnikov. The hammer might have been taken out to make room for the main charge, wrapped in a waterproof plastic container. It looks like the so-called Islamic State fabricators of this device were planning on, was for a user to cycle the action of the rifle, forcing the bolt to press against what appears to be a divider between the Duracell 9-Volt battery, and a primed charge, thus completing the electric circuit and causing an explosion that would most likely harm or even kill the person operating the rifle.
Rigged rifles are certainly not new phenomena, dating at least back to the Vietnam days of MAC V SOG inserting rigged ammunition into NVA weapons caches. It also isn’t new to the Syrian conflict, with Assad regime rigged ammunition being recorded in 2012. The problem for the SDF is that being a smaller, rebel force, it almost relies on captured weaponry and ammunition in order to sustain itself, especially operating very far from logistical hubs and markets back in Kurdistan/northern Iraq. |
"Bleachers" redirects here. For other uses, see Bleachers (disambiguation) Wooden bleachers Bleachers, or stands, are raised, tiered rows of benches found at sports fields and other spectator events. Stairways provide access to the horizontal rows of seats, often with every other step gaining access to a row of benches. Benches range from simple planks to elaborate ones with backrests. Many bleachers are open to the ground below so that there are only the planks to sit and walk on. Some bleachers have vertical panels beneath the benches, either partially or completely blocking the way to the ground. Contents
Name origins Edit
The open seating area in baseball was called the "bleaching boards" as early as 1877.[1] The term "bleachers" used in the sense of benches for spectators can be traced back to at least 1889;[2] named as such because the generally uncovered wooden boards were "bleached by the sun".[2][3] The Dickson Baseball Dictionary lists as a secondary definition the fans sitting in them. By the early 1900s, the term "bleachers" was being used for both the seating area and its occupants. In modern usage, the term "bleachers" almost always refers only to the seating area, and those sitting there may be called "bleacher fans," or "bleacherites." Terms such as Chicago's "bleacher bums," or Yankee Stadium's Bleacher Creatures are also used.
Types Edit
Bleacher structures vary depending on the location, but most outdoor modern bleachers have either an aluminium tube or steel angle understructure (known as frame-type bleachers) or steel I-beams (known as an I-beam bleacher). Most smaller bleachers are frame-type bleachers and most larger bleachers are I-Beam bleachers. Bleachers range in size from small, modular, aluminum stands that can be moved around soccer or hockey fields to large permanent structures that flank each side of an American football field. Some bleachers have locker rooms underneath them. In indoor gyms, bleachers can be built in so that they slide on a track or on wheels and fold in an accordion-like, stacking manner. These type of bleachers are known as telescoping bleachers.
Baseball Edit
In baseball stadiums, the bleachers are usually located beyond the outfield fences. However, center-field bleachers are located in the line of sight of the batter, and the presence of fans makes it difficult for the batter to pick out the ball. As a result, most stadiums have vacant areas or black backgrounds where the seats would be. This is known as either the "Backdrop" or the Batter's eye. The old Yankee Stadium featured black-painted vacant bleachers, nicknamed the black by baseball fans. Though many stadiums offer only bleacher seating, in those that offer both seats and bleachers, the bleachers are typically in less desirable locations and/or have lower ticket prices, giving the term "bleachers" a connotation of lower-class seating.
The popularity of American football has made seating on outdoor and indoor football fields a necessity. Professional football, colleges, high schools, and even middle schools have bleacher systems set up to accommodate their fans. They vary in size from 10 feet wide that seat 25 all the way to full stadiums that seat thousands and wrap around the entire field. It is not uncommon to see football bleachers that rise hundreds of feet into the air. American Football bleachers are commonly made from concrete or aluminum with concrete footings or superstructure underneath.
See also Edit |
The Cardinals have released struggling right-hander Jonathan Broxton, GM John Mozeliak told reporters (Twitter link via Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Right-hander John Gant has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take his spot in the St. Louis bullpen.
Broxton, who’ll turn 33 in a little more than two weeks, has been roughed up for a 6.89 ERA with the Redbirds through 16 1/3 innings this season. In that time, the former Dodgers closer has yielded 12 earned runs on the strength of 23 hits and 11 walks (two intentional).
Broxton’s 42.6 percent ground-ball rate is the second-lowest mark he’s posted in any full season of his big league career, as well. His 11.9 percent swinging-strike rate is his best since 2009, however, and he’s still averaging better than 94 mph on his heater, which helped him tally 16 punchouts in those 16 1/3 frames. That, of course, is a modest silver lining, though it does at least create a bit of optimism that the veteran could at least resurface as a serviceable relief arm.
The veteran Broxton is playing out the second season of a two-year, $7.5MM contract with the Cardinals, which guarantees him $3.75MM this year. The Cards will be on the hook for the remainder of that salary even if Broxton signs with another club after formally clearing release waivers. A new team would only be responsible for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum for any time Broxton spent on its Major League roster. (That sum would be subtracted from the remaining $2.54MM that the Cardinals owe Broxton.)
Gant, 24, was one of three prospects acquired by the Cardinals this offseason in the trade that sent left-hander Jaime Garcia to the Braves. He struggled a bit in 50 big league innings with Atlanta last season but has pitched to a very strong 2.19 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 and a 50 percent ground-ball rate through three starts (12 1/3 innings) with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate this year. He missed the first several weeks of the season due to a groin strain. |
Looking around the half-capacity shuttle bus – at the TV screens flashing a promotional video of waterslides and classically beautiful couples clinking wineglasses, and at the damp German tourists escaping the drizzly late-winter weather to chase such canned, clichéd images of "fun in the sun" – my friend turns to me and says, with mock concern: "I hope this is the right bus."
The bus's seats are upholstered in the hot neon green of an underripe banana, filagreed with palm fronds and images of a purplish tropical bird. A parrot? A toucan? A cockatoo? Most likely, it's all and none of these, giving the impression of not one or another breed of tropical bird but of the idea of a tropical bird.
The shuttle rolls along the winding, under-trafficked back roads, beyond campsites and administrative outposts, past the brownish-yellow thickets of withering, skeletal trees clumping up the Brandenburg forest.
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Tropical Islands Resort
Then, on the horizon, it rises like an enormous metal boil festering from under the Earth's crust: Tropical Islands Resort, the self-contained indoor beach vacation destination built inside a free-standing steel dome originally built for the manufacture and storage of CargoLifter-brand zeppelins.
Housed in such an imposing, utterly enormous facility – itself erected on the site of a former Nazi airfield that passed into the hands of the Soviets when the Red Army overran it en route to Berlin in 1945 – Tropical Islands invites easy comparisons. It's like the dome in Logan's Run. Or the dome in The Truman Show. Or the dome in Under the Dome.
It's easy to imagine a scenario in which remnants of civilization scramble inside the Tropical Islands hangar to escape some apocalyptic cataclysm, rebuilding civilization inside its winding warrens of waterslides, dewey rain-forest-like gardens, Samoan-inspired cafés and Astroturfed miniature golf fairways. As with all gargantuan, man-made megaliths, it's tempting to want to praise the dome.
Tropical Islands Resort
"The idea was to bring the tropics to Europe," says Sandra Nolte, a plucky junior press officer who guides my friend and me through the resort's various themed areas.
Tropical Islands opened in December, 2004, after investors purchased the property from the insolvent CargoLifter, whose dreams of an airborne cargo ship empire never got off the ground. (The facility's legacy endures, pathetically, in the form of tiny inflatable zeppelins sold to children as souvenirs.)
Nolte boasts about the facility's size (if you were to lay the Eiffel Tower on its side, for some reason, it would fit cozily within the building's 360-metre-long expanse) and the carefully calibrated environmental controls. "In Germany, you can never be sure about the weather," she says.
The resort accounts for, then eliminates, that uncertainty. Under the dome, the air temperature is always 26 C, while the humidity hovers between 40 and 60 per cent. It's like a life-sized snow globe. Except with sand. And reams of foil reflecting ultraviolet lights. And a huge overhead banner advertising 104.6 RTL, Berlin's "Hit-Radio."
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Tropical Islands Resort
Before arriving, I had received fair warning about the indoor resort megaplex. A pal living in Berlin was borderline aghast at my designs on the place. He described a tacky horror show, populated by Berlin club-goers looking to dry out after a weekend of non-stop partying. (Nolte assures me that, while Tropical Islands drew this come-down crowd desperate to delay their hangovers when it first opened, it now caters mostly to families and couples.) Other people I met in the city reacted with a mix of amusement and incredulous bafflement, all exclaiming, "That place?"
But, for the most part, Tropical Islands is more-or-less like any tropical holiday I've ever been on.
Here, just 60 kilometres from the capital, children putter around aimlessly, wailing incoherently, their ecstatic happiness indistinguishable from their misery. Bored moms idly leaf through Nicholas Sparks paperbacks (albeit in their Polish translations; about 80 per cent of the resort's guests are German, while the majority of others trek in from nearby Poland), while dads half-doze in lounge chairs, a plastic cup of beer or Long Island Iced Tea dangling precariously in their fingers.
Tropical Islands Resort
Guests check their personal belongings in lockers – no warily tucking your wallet into the toe of a sneaker here – and pay for everything with bracelets embedded with identifying microchips. Instead of fretting with cash or cards when grabbing a drink or something to eat, you just press your wrist against a pay terminal. "Beep!" a bartender barks at me a little later, pointing to the payment kiosk. With time, all those add-ons add up. A pair of cheapo flip-flops. Beep. A Sex On The Beach cocktail. Beep. A personal pizza and pop. Beep. Zwei bier, bitte. Beep. Beep.
Architecturally, Tropical Islands is a mishmash of recognizably vacation-y (or just warm-seeming) locales – the Caribbean, Thailand, Polynesia, an African quarter near the washrooms – and children's bumper cars, even (maybe most perplexingly, at least to a Canadian) native-American-style tepees for overnights stays. Like that purply, silhouetted bird-thing on the courtesy shuttle bus, Tropical Islands is a vague approximation of a fun-in-the-sun vacation. Not so much the thing as the idea of the thing.
In one way or another, this same paradox defines most typical vacations.
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We go in search of some authentic, lived-in, unmediated experience of other cultures or places, only to have that experience carefully curated (and caricatured) for us. Think of the pig roast luaus at Hawaiian resorts, where sunburned tourists in Tommy Bahama linens toast too-sweet piña coladas to the swivelling hips of smiling Polynesian hula dancers; or the Cuban resort peninsula of Varadero, with its man-made lagoons and white-sand beaches; or the countless ski resorts with its perfectly planned base camp villages, complete with roaring fireside bars and imitation chalet roofs. Such places are subtle chicaneries – not so much counterfeits as complete fabrications.
Tropical Islands Resort
Tropical Islands isn't quite the same thing. In its totalizing fakery, it feels weirdly forthcoming. Every temperature-controlled inch of it is built to approximate not so much the aspiring authenticity of a tropical holiday, but its bogusness.
Visiting as a tourist (that is to say, a North American tourist, someone indulging in a holiday within a holiday) may seem a bit sneering or cynical. In a way, it is. Like knowingly watching a terrible movie, it's the very idea of doing it that's entertaining.
Still, just as it's all too easy to compare it to The Truman Show or a snow globe or Under The Dome, it's temping to twist Tropical Islands into something it is not: a hermetic microcosm of the modern world's aesthetic of trash, an abject illustration of the absence of God in the universe, a sad comment on the supposedly fun things people do again and again and again.
But the water in the indoor lagoon is perfect, the overpriced cocktails are pleasantly syrupy and the labyrinthine sauna and bathing area – where nudity is strictly enforced and my friend and I are brusquely chided in German for wearing swimsuits in the Aztec-inspired steam room – is entirely, un-ironically refreshing.
After just a few minutes of roaming around idly inside Tropical Islands, acclimatizing to the soundtrack of click-clacking wet flip-flops, beeping microchipped wristbands, howling toddlers and giddy, amorous laughter of couples, I see a tropical bird. Maybe it's the same bird outlined on that shuttle bus seat: a toucan or parrot or cockatoo or whatever. It waddles out sluggishly into the middle of the indoor shopping strip and feathers its wings. It appears to be a peacock, rich in Technicolor plumage. And it's out of place as anything is here, smack on the site of a former Soviet airfield in the north of Germany.
I watch as its neck dips down, almost gracefully, to peck at a discarded nacho chip left on the ground. Some beautiful, non-indigenous fauna feasting on a prefab German corn chip. No doubt about it: At Tropical Islands, we're way, way, way far away from "the real thing."
IF YOU GO
Tropical Islands Resort is located in Krausnick-Gross Wasserburg, about 60 kilometres southeast of Berlin. A free shuttle is available from Brand Tropical Islands station on the local commuter train.The cost is €28.50 ($42) to €44 , depending on admission package (the saunas and spas cost extra), and excluding food, drinks etc. Children under 5 enter free. Features include the 14,400-square-foot Tropical Pool, the 4,000-square-foot Bali Lagoon, Europe's largest sauna and spa complex, the world's largest indoor tropical rain forest, smokers tent and mini-putt.
Tropical Islands covered the entrance fee for the writer and his guest. It did not review or approve this article. |
Heavy rain in south India and Sri Lanka has killed over 70 people while inundating homes, farmland and highways, forcing authorities to shut down schools and colleges in some areas, officials and media reports said.
The flooding, prompted by incessant rains over the past seven days, has submerged parts of Tamil Nadu state, including its capital Chennai, where most of the deaths and devastation has taken place.
Caused by a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal, the heavy rains have also affected Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states, as well as neighbouring Sri Lanka.
The military has been called in to help rescue at least 2,000 people that have been left stranded in Chennai.
Residents have complained of not getting enough help from the government. Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu's chief minister, announced a $75m relief fund has been set up and brushed aside criticisms the government was poorly prepared to deal with the flooding in Chennai, one of India's biggest cities.
"The rain that was meant to be spread out over the monsoon months has poured in just a few days," Jayalalithaa said during a visit to a flood-hit area in Chennai.
"No precautionary measures would have managed to prevent water logging and damages. In areas where flooding and damage have been caused, relief, rescue and repair works are being taken up on a war footing."
Normal life disrupted due to heavy rains in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) #chennairains pic.twitter.com/QP6QCEbrSQ — High Way Rider (@IHighWayRider) November 17, 2015
In Sri Lanka, floods in the northern parts have affected 58,000 people.
India's southeast coast is vulnerable to annual cyclones in November and December, and severe low pressure formations in the Bay of Bengal have resulted in heavier than usual rainfall, said weather officials.
In India's Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram districts, 23-37cm of rain was recorded on a single day, much higher than the usual annual average.
Government officials said around 10,000 people living in low-lying coastal areas have been evacuated from their homes and given refuge in relief camps. |
Earlier this week, Chad Johnson took to Twitter to reveal that he left a $300 tip for a waitress at a restaurant recently. The tip—which he wrote on a $351 bill—also came with a message:
The tip is in the message not the money... pic.twitter.com/Nh4EWYicsU — Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) December 15, 2014
And according to him, that message helped save a different woman's life.
Earlier today, Johnson took to Twitter to share another photo with the world. But this one didn't include a bill or a receipt. Rather, it included a photo of a direct message that he received from a woman who told him that she was considering committing suicide the other day before she saw the photo of the tip that Johnson had shared. She claimed that she was ready to end her life until she saw Johnson's words and "realized that there are always unforeseen blessings coming."
Woke up to this message this morning... pic.twitter.com/T42yrzeXVe — Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) December 16, 2014
The player-formerly-known-as-Ochocinco has said and done a lot of newsworthy things on social media over the years. But this is easily one of his best social media moments.
[via Black Sports Online] |
Injured Dog Found on Queens Street View Full Caption
QUEENS — A seriously injured dog was found on a Queens street Thursday night, and veterinary workers were trying to determine whether it had been thrown from a moving car, as witnesses had reported.
The female rottweiler was found on Cypress Avenue, near the Jackie Robinson Parkway exit, in Glendale, about 10:30 p.m., witnesses said.
William Aaron, a firefighter from Ladder 135 in Ridgewood who was at the scene, said that witnesses told him they saw the dog wrapped in a bag being tossed from a moving car.
Aaron said that firefighters had not been called to assist the animal, but had been in the area responding to an unrelated car accident.
Aaron said that the dog, which was taken to BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Forest Hills for treatment by a news van, seemed “really hurt.”
Paul Miranda, a manager at the clinic, said Friday morning that the dog had a seizure after it was brought to Forest Hills.
Dasher, as the vet clinic staff named the dog, has a large abdominal mass, which Miranda said was probably formed prior to being thrown from the car.
Dasher, approximately 6 years old, is currently receiving intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, heat support and anti-seizure medication, the clinic said. The clinic will take X-rays to determine if the dog sustained any other injuries. He said Friday that "it’s a bit early to say" if the dog will survive.
Aaron, who went to visit the dog at the clinic on Friday morning, said that if Dasher recovers, he is "probably going to adopt it."
"I love dogs, I love animals," he said. "I don’t even know how people can do anything like that. They have no conscience and no soul."
"Hopefully she will make it," said the firefighter, who already has two dogs, including one that he said had been rescued.
The firefighters at the scene called police and waited 45 minutes but left after no one showed up, Aaron said. By then, the dog had been taken to the vet.
Police said they had no reports related to the incident.
People interested in donating money for Dasher's treatment can contact BluePearl Veterinary Partners by calling (718) 263 0099. Any funds not used for Dasher will be donated to Frankie’s Friends, a nonprofit organization helping animals, the clinic said. |
We all know about vampires and werewolves, or at least we think we do. The legends and myths that inspired these monsters are sometimes surprisingly different, but no less chilling. In this series of posts, Monster Monday, we’ll investigate the monsters that have informed our modern notions, as well as some lesser known monsters. Today, we talk about Stingy Jack
Stingy Jack is an Irish version of the legend of the jack-o’-lantern. Supposedly there was a man named Jack who by occupation was a blacksmith. He was also a drunkard and a cheat and an all-around horrible person. One day he came upon a corpse along his path that turned out to be Satan himself. Satan told him he had come to collect Jack’s soul. Jack somberly agreed to accompany him to Hell, but first he requested one last meal. They came upon an apple tree, and Jack asked for an apple. Satan climbed the tree to retrieve the apple, but Jack quickly carved a cross in the trunk, trapping Satan. He wouldn’t let Satan down until he agreed never to take Jack’s soul to Hell. Satan agreed, and Jack let him go.
When Jack finally died, however, he wasn’t allowed into Heaven because of his wicked life. Jack went to the gates of Hell, but Satan, citing their bargain, wouldn’t let him in either. He gave Jack a single ember as a warning to others, and Jack put it inside a hollowed-out turnip, doomed to wander the Earth until Judgement Day. |
Allister Heath
IF we want to identify a problem correctly, it is vital to get the facts right. The economy is doing poorly: the official statistics suggest it shrank by 0.3 per cent in the last three months of last year; even when one excludes the oil and gas sector, growth was feeble in 2012. We also know that the chancellor’s budget plans are in tatters, with the deficit going up again.But there are lots of less well-known facts that demolish the increasingly mainstream explanation of our poor performance over the past few years, namely that “austerity has gone too far and too fast” or that monetary policy has been insufficiently loose and we now need quantitative easing (QE) to be expanded even further, perhaps to include other kinds of assets.My first fact is that public spending as a share of GDP has gone up, not down, according to the OECD. Its latest estimate is that it increased from 48.6 per cent of GDP in 2011 to 49 per cent of GDP in 2012. The state is getting relatively bigger, not smaller, the very reverse of what was meant to happen. Of course, parts of the state are shrinking – infrastructure spending is much lower than it was (and the government has stupidly failed to allow the private sector to take on extra projects to compensate), councils are closing libraries, and there has been a much larger than expected reduction in the public sector workforce, down by another 128,000 between September 2011 and September 2012.But overall government spending, bolstered by higher interest payments, an increase in spending on foreign aid and the fact that several departments have seen their spending protected has grown again relative to the overall output of the UK economy and thus relative to the private sector. We are seeing the wrong kind of austerity, focused on higher taxes rather than a genuine downsizing of the state, and a government that has horrendously failed to gain a grip on current spending.If you need more convincing, consider my second fact. As everybody knows, there is meant to be a pay freeze in the public sector – and yet the average total pay for state employees increased by 2 per cent over the 12 months to November 2012 in nominal terms, which astonishingly is more than the 1.4 per cent in the private sector. There are partial mitigating factors. Perhaps the cuts to the state’s payroll are primarily happening by not recruiting entry-level people, who are paid less, reducing the average wage (but this ought to be partly compensated for by the retirement of more expensive staff). Lots of hard-working nurses and others in the public sector have genuinely seen no pay hikes, and are struggling.But on average pay has gone up substantially in nominal terms in the public sector since the coalition came to power. People are being promoted or moved up career rungs to ensure they get a raise, bypassing instructions from the Treasury to freeze pay. Money that should have been saved has not been. This is symptomatic of the coalition’s lack of control.My third fact is that real wages are collapsing, depressing consumer spending – inflation on the retail price index is 2.7 per cent and 3.1 per cent on the consumer price index. Private sector workers have on average seen the purchasing power of their pay slashed by up to 1.7 per cent over the past year alone. Again, this is the wrong kind of “austerity.”I’m all in favour of changing the Bank of England’s remit – but more inflation and even more depressed consumers is the last thing we need.It is high time for more facts and less propaganda in the debate on Britain’s economic [email protected] me on Twitter : @allisterheath |
We’re only a couple short weeks away from the official announcement of the OnePlus 3, but that hasn’t stopped an early listing on Oppomart from showing us everything we need to know about the device.
The best gifts for Android users
The new listing shows off the same design we’ve seen leaked in recent weeks with an all-metal design, front facing fingerprint sensor, and USB C port. The listing further confirms that the device will have a 5.5″ 1080p display yet again along with an updated version of Oxygen OS based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. 16MP/8MP cameras will also be found on the device.
We also get confirmation of the Snapdragon 820 processor and multiple storage and RAM variants. 4GB and 6GB variants will be available with either 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage. Rumor has it there will be four variants of the device so odds are we’ll see 32GB/4GB, 64GB/4GB, 64GB/6GB, and 128GB/6GB variants. The listing also shows a 3,650 mAh battery with quick charging.
Apparently, pricing will start at $369, but it’s unclear how high it will go.
OnePlus is set to debut the OnePlus 3 on June 14th at 12:30 EST (9:30 AM PDT) via a VR event. The phone will be going on sale that same day, this time without the invitation system in place. |
Fire (Photo: www.jupiterimages.com)
Montana lawmakers are trying to decide how to provide workers’ compensation to the state’s thousands of volunteer firefighters.
The Education and Local Government Interim Committee began on Thursday a study of emergency personnel benefits. Among other things, the panel will consider whether county governments have broken a 1997 agreement with the state that requires them to provide firefighters with workers’ compensation.
A new law allows volunteers to be paid up to $3,000 a year and retain a state retirement account, but stakeholders have yet to agree on how to fund insurance plans.
“We’re not trying to protect wages, as a volunteer that’s very difficult to do, but to at least get people’s medical care paid,” Montana State Fire Chiefs’ Association Chair Rich Cowger said in support of finding a route to insuring volunteers.
Cowger said most volunteers rely on chili feeds and bake sales to provide little guarantee of workers’ compensation. Some fire departments across the rural state have never been able to afford the expense.
“If you have to wonder between fueling trucks or providing insurance for your guys, you shouldn’t even bother filling up the trucks,” Cowger said.
Government officials and personnel representatives have been debating the issue for three years as firefighting demands continue to grow and incentives to volunteer wane.
Volunteers outnumber career firefighters in Montana by at least an 8-1 ratio, Cowger and Montana Association of Counties Director Harold Blattie said. They estimated that between 9,000 and 10,000 firefighters are working in Montana, but couldn’t recall the last time an accurate count was conducted. In some places, Cowger said, “it’s whoever shows up for the fire that day.”
Department of Natural Resources Chief of Fire and Aviation Ted Mead said roughly 400 fire departments operate in Montana. The volunteer population could fall under the committee’s broad study.
“Without a really good, accurate head count of where this is an issue, where it is not, it’s going to be hard to understand the issue,” State Forester Bob Harrington said.
All 56 counties signed on to Montana’s State-County Cooperative Fire Protection Program between 1967 and 1997. It loosely requires the counties to provide workers’ compensation insurance to anyone who may use equipment provided by the state. A 2013 statute allows local governments to provide insurance to volunteers if they are able.
Montana ranks 11th on the U.S. Fire Administration’s January list of states with fire departments entirely or mostly comprised of volunteers. The 10 states with more than Montana’s 94.2 percent-volunteer departments all provide state funds or require local governments to cover workers’ compensation for volunteers, with varying stipulations.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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About
Wheelchair Drake is an advice animal image macro series that combines wheelchair-related puns with lyrics of music created by Canadian recording artist Drake . The image template is based on a photograph of Drake's wheelchair-bound teen character Jimmy Brooks in the teen drama TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation .
Origin
The photograph of Drake was taken sometime in 2005 to promote the fifth season of the Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation, which premiered on September 19th, 2005. The earliest known reference to Drake's fictional character Jimmy and his wheelchair can be found in a demotivational image macro with the caption "they see me rollin, they hatin". The image spread across the blogs in 2009 and the Facebook page titled "Drake in a wheelchair" was launched on August 5th that same year.
Spread
One of the first image macros with a wordplay on Drake's lyrics was created on ROFLbot and submitted via FunnyJunk on August 30th, 2010. The image was captioned "Last Name Walk, First Name Never," playing off on Drake's lyrics from the 2009 single "Forever" to allude to his recurring role on the TV series.
A Memegenerator page for "Drake Wheelchair" first appeared in late 2011, shortly after the release of Drake's second studio album Take Care on November 15th, 2011. In the following days, a similar Quickmeme page titled "Drake Meme" was launched. On November 22nd, 2011, Hollywood news site GrantLand published an article titled "The Top Ten Drake Memes" which included a mention of Drake Wheelchair with mixed feelings:
"I kind of want to vote this down for insensitivity, but Wheelchair Drake is way too popular to ignore. And since Drake was just acting, the joke isn’t making fun of the disabled, it’s making fun of a rap star’s drama-club days. Fair game. Play ball."
The earliest instance on Quickmeme alluded to Drake's lyrics from the song "Headlines," juxtaposed against a photo of him sitting on a wheelchair from his acting days on Degressi.
One of the most recognizable instances featuring the caption "You Only Walk Once, That's The Motto / YOWO" (shown above) was uploaded via Quickmeme sometime in early January 2012. Additional examples of the series can be found on various humor sites like FunnyJunk as well as on Tumblr under the tag "YOWO."
Notable Examples
The majority of "Drake Wheelchair" jokes consist of puns that play off on Drake's song lyrics and his teenage acting career as a cast member of Degrassi: The Next Generation, a Nickelodeon TV series about high school drama and coming-of-age experiences.
Sticker Art Prank in Toronto
On September 5th, 2014, Canadian blogger Lauren O'Neil posted an Imgur photo album to the /r/toronto subreddit (shown below), showcasing a series of public signs for the International Wheelchair symbol across downtown Toronto that she had decorated with sticker cutouts of Drake's head in reference to the meme.
On September 8th, The Huffington Post published an article highlighting the sticker art photos. The following day, BuzzFeed published an article about the stickers, identifying O'Neil (shown below) and her boyfriend Steven Stinson as the pranksters responsible for the photos. In the coming days, the pop culture blogs US Weekly and MTV News reported on the Drake sticker art sightings.
Search Interest
External References |
Rick Westhead TSN Senior Correspondent Follow|Archive
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executives have set a target price for companies interested in advertising on the jerseys of the Toronto Raptors.
MLSE officials have suggested to potential advertisers that the on-jersey ads are worth between $4 million and $5 million per season, two sources familiar with the matter said.
MLSE executives are gauging the interest of corporate Canada after the National Basketball Association executives confirmed to team officials in February that the league may permit jersey ads during the 2017-18 season.
NBA governors are expected to vote this month on the move.
During their sales pitches, MLSE staff has discussed prospect ads of about two-and-a-half inches in diameter – the same size as the Kia Motors Corp. ad that appeared on the NBA All-Star Game jerseys this year in Toronto. It’s unclear how much Kia paid for the ad.
MLSE is anxious to make its case that the ads are worth as much as $5 million a season because officials are concerned that marketers might try to use contract values secured by smaller-market teams as comparables. If Milwaukee, for instance, manages to secure a $1-million-per-year deal for a jersey ad, MLSE doesn’t want local advertisers in Toronto, a much bigger market, trying to secure a deal for similar value.
A source told TSN it’s still unclear how the on-jersey ads will affect the NBA’s revenue sharing. One possible scenario might see teams keep 50 per cent of the revenue they generate from such ads and put the other 50 per cent into a league-wide fund that is split equally between teams. That would help prevent widening the gap in revenue between large- and small-market clubs.
In 2011, then NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver suggested jersey ads might generate $100 million-per-year year. Silver, now the league commissioner, has called the move to on-jersey advertising inevitable. |
When consuming information, we strive for more signal and less noise. The problem is a cognitive illusion: we feel like the more information we consume the more signal we receive.
While this is probably true on an absolute basis, Nassim Taleb argues in this excerpt from Antifragile, that it is not true on a relative basis. He calls is the noise bottleneck.
Taleb argues that as you consume more data and the ratio of noise to signal increases, the less you know about what’s going on and the more inadvertent trouble you are likely to cause.
***
Indeed, we have been loosely mentioning “noise” earlier in the book; time to be precise about it. In science, noise is a generalization beyond the actual sound to describe random information that is totally useless for any purpose, and that you need to clean up to make sense of what you are listening to. Consider, for examples, elements in an encrypted message that have absolutely no meaning, just randomized letters to confuse the spies, or the hiss you hear on a telephone line and that you try to ignore in order to just focus on the voice of your interlocutor.
The supply of information to which we are exposed under modernity is transforming humans from the equable second fellow to the neurotic first. For the purpose of our discussion, the second fellow only reacts to real information, the first largely to noise. The difference between the two fellows will show us the difference between noise and signal. Noise is what you are supposed to ignore; signal what you need to heed.
Compare him to someone with the opposite temperament, imperturbable, with the calm under fire that is considered necessary to become a leader, military commander or a mafia godfather. Usually unruffled and immune to small information —they can impress you with their self-control in difficult circumstances. For a sample of a composed, call and pondered voice, listen to interview of “Sammy the Bull” Salvatore Gravano who was involved in the murder of nineteen people (all competing mobsters). He speaks with minimal effort. In the rare situations when he is angry, unlike with the neurotic fellow, everyone knows it and takes it seriously.
Imagine someone of the type we call neurotic in common parlance. He is wiry, looks contorted, and speaks with an uneven voice. His necks moves around when he tries to express himself. When he has a small pimple his first reaction is to assume that it is cancerous, that the cancer is of the lethal type, and that it has already spread. His hypochondria is not just in the medical department: he incurs a small setback in business and reacts as if bankruptcy were both near and certain. In the office, he is tuned to every single possible detail, systematically transforming every molehill into a mountain. The last thing you want in life is to be in the same car with him when stuck in traffic on your way to an important appointment. The expression overreact was designed with him in mind: he does not have reactions, just overreactions.
If you want to accelerate someone’s death, give him a personal doctor.
One can see from the tonsillectomy story that access to data increases intervention —as with neuroticism. Rory Sutherland signaled to me that those with a personal doctor on staff should be particularly vulnerable to naive interventionism, hence iatrogenics; doctors need to justify their salaries and prove to themselves that they have some work ethics, something “doing nothing” doesn’t satisfy (Editor’s note: the same forces apply to leaders, managers, etc.). Indeed at the time of writing the personal doctor or the late singer Michael Jackson is being sued for something that is equivalent to overintervention-to-stifle-antifragility (but it will take the law courts a while before they become familiar with the concept). Conceivably, the same happened to Elvis Prestley. So with overmedicated politicians and heads of state.
Likewise those in corporations or in policymaking (like Fragilista Greenspan) endowed with a sophisticated statistics department and therefore getting a lot of “timely” data are capable of overreacting and mistaking noise for information —Greenspan kept an eye on such fluctuations as the sales of vacuum cleaners in Cleveland “to get a precise idea about where the economy is going”, and, of course micromanaged us into chaos.
In business and economic decision-making, data causes severe side effects —data is now plentiful thanks to connectivity; and the share of spuriousness in the data increases as one gets more immersed into it. A not well discussed property of data: it is toxic in large quantities —even in moderate quantities.
The previous two chapters showed how you can use and take advantage of noise and randomness; but noise and randomness can also use and take advantage of you, particularly when totally unnatural —the data you get on the web or thanks to the media.
The more frequently you look at data, the more noise you are disproportionally likely to get (rather than the valuable part called the signal); hence the higher the noise to signal ratio. And there is a confusion, that is not psychological at all, but inherent in the data itself. Say you look at information on a yearly basis, for stock prices or the fertilizer sales of your father-in-law’s factory, or inflation numbers in Vladivostock. Assume further that for what you are observing, at the yearly frequency the ratio of signal to noise is about one to one (say half noise, half signal) —it means that about half of changes are real improvements or degradations, the other half comes from randomness. This ratio is what you get from yearly observations. But if you look at the very same data on a daily basis, the composition would change to 95% noise, 5% signal. And if you observe data on an hourly basis, as people immersed in the news and markets price variations do, the split becomes 99.5% noise to .5% signal. That is two hundred times more noise than signal —which is why anyone who listens to news (except when very, very significant events take place) is one step below sucker.
There is a biological story with information. I have been repeating that in a natural environment, a stressor is information. So too much information would be too much stress, exceeding the threshold of antifragility. In medicine, we are discovering the healing powers of fasting, as the avoidance of too much hormonal rushes that come with the ingestion of food. Hormones convey information to the different parts of our system and too much of it confuses our biology. Here again, as with the story of the news received at too high a frequency, too much information becomes harmful. And in Chapter x (on ethics) I will show how too much data (particularly when sterile) causes statistics to be completely meaningless.
Now let’s add the psychological to this: we are not made to understand the point, so we overreact emotionally to noise. The best solution is to only look at very large changes in data or conditions, never small ones.
Just as we are not likely to mistake a bear for a stone (but likely to mistake a stone for a bear), it is almost impossible for someone rational with a clear, uninfected mind, one who is not drowning in data, to mistake a vital signal, one that matters for his survival, for noise. Significant signals have a way to reach you. In the tonsillectomies, the best filter would have been to only consider the children who are very ill, those with periodically recurring throat inflammation.
There was even more noise coming from the media and its glorification of the anecdote. Thanks to it, we are living more and more in virtual reality, separated from the real world, a little bit more every day, while realizing it less and less. Consider that every day, 6,200 persons die in the United States, many of preventable causes. But the media only reports the most anecdotal and sensational cases (hurricanes, freak incidents, small plane crashes) giving us a more and more distorted map of real risks. In an ancestral environment, the anecdote, the “interesting” is information; no longer today. Likewise, by presenting us with explanations and theories the media induces an illusion of understanding the world.
And the understanding of events (and risks) on the part of members of the press is so retrospective that they would put the security checks after the plane ride, or what the ancients call post bellum auxilium, send troops after the battle. Owing to domain dependence, we forget the need to check our map of the world against reality. So we are living in a more and more fragile world, while thinking it is more and more understandable.
To conclude, the best way to mitigate interventionism is to ration the supply of information, as naturalistically as possible. This is hard to accept in the age of the internet. It has been very hard for me to explain that the more data you get, the less you know what’s going on, and the more iatrogenics you will cause. |
Much of our planet's mineral wealth was deposited billions of years ago when Earth's chemical cycles were different from today's. Using geochemical clues from rocks nearly 3 billion years old, a group of scientists including Andrey Bekker and Doug Rumble from the Carnegie Institution have made the surprising discovery that the creation of economically important nickel ore deposits was linked to sulfur in the ancient oxygen-poor atmosphere.
These ancient ores -- specifically iron-nickel sulfide deposits -- yield 10% of the world's annual nickel production. They formed for the most part between two and three billion years ago when hot magmas erupted on the ocean floor. Yet scientists have puzzled over the origin of the rich deposits. The ore minerals require sulfur to form, but neither seawater nor the magmas hosting the ores were thought to be rich enough in sulfur for this to happen.
"These nickel deposits have sulfur in them arising from an atmospheric cycle in ancient times. The isotopic signal is of an anoxic atmosphere," says Rumble of Carnegie's Geophysical Laboratory, a co-author of the paper appearing in the November 20 issue of Science.
Rumble, with lead author Andrey Bekker (formerly Carnegie Fellow and now at the University of Manitoba), and four other colleagues used advanced geochemical techniques to analyze rock samples from major ore deposits in Australia and Canada. They found that to help produce the ancient deposits, sulfur atoms made a complicated journey from volcanic eruptions, to the atmosphere, to seawater, to hot springs on the ocean floor, and finally to molten, ore-producing magmas.
The key evidence came from a form of sulfur known as sulfur-33, an isotope in which atoms contain one more neutron than "normal" sulfur (sulfur-32). Both isotopes act the same in most chemical reactions, but reactions in the atmosphere in which sulfur dioxide gas molecules are split by ultraviolet light (UV) rays cause the isotopes to be sorted or "fractionated" into different reaction products, creating isotopic anomalies.
"If there is too much oxygen in the atmosphere then not enough UV gets through and these reactions can't happen," says Rumble. "So if you find these sulfur isotope anomalies in rocks of a certain age, you have information about the oxygen level in the atmosphere."
By linking the rich nickel ores with the ancient atmosphere, the anomalies in the rock samples also answer the long-standing question regarding the source of the sulfur in the ore minerals. Knowing this will help geologists track down new ore deposits, says Rumble, because the presence of sulfur and other chemical factors determine whether or not a deposit will form.
"Ore deposits are a tiny fraction of a percent of the Earth's surface, yet economically they are incredibly important. Modern society cannot exist without specialized metals and alloys," he says. "But it's all a matter of local geological circumstance whether you have a bonanza -- or a bust." |
President Trump Donald John TrumpHouse committee believes it has evidence Trump requested putting ally in charge of Cohen probe: report Vietnamese airline takes steps to open flights to US on sidelines of Trump-Kim summit Manafort's attorneys say he should get less than 10 years in prison MORE’s son, Eric, once told a golf writer that funding for Trump golf courses come from Russia, that writer recounted in a new interview.
James Dodson during an interview Friday with Boston’s WBUR described meeting Donald Trump in 2014 and being invited to play golf at the Trump National Golf Club Charlotte.
He said asked Donald Trump how he was paying for his courses, and the now-president “sort of tossed off that he had access to $100 million,” Dodson said in the interview.
Dodson said he then questioned Eric Trump, who was along for the day.
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"I said, 'Eric, who’s funding? I know no banks — because of the recession, the Great Recession — have touched a golf course. You know, no one’s funding any kind of golf construction. It’s dead in the water the last four or five years,'” the writers told WBUR.
"And this is what he said. He said, 'Well, we don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia.' I said, 'Really?' And he said, 'Oh, yeah. We’ve got some guys that really, really love golf, and they’re really invested in our programs. We just go there all the time.’" |
Disappointment, frustration - Mauricio Pochettino felt it all as defeat at the hands of AS Monaco on Tuesday night ended our hopes of progressing in the Champions League.
The 2-1 loss in Matchday Five at Stade Louis II consigned us to third or fourth place in Group E with one game remaining against CSKA Moscow at Wembley on December 7. We could yet draw level on points with Bayer Leverkusen after MD6 but the German side would qualify by virtue of a better head-to-head record.
There were few arguments on the night. The home team, competing for the Ligue 1 title, impressed and Hugo Lloris was outstanding, keeping us in the game with a string of top-class saves including denying Radamel Falcao from the penalty spot and an incredible reflex tip over at point-blank range from Kamil Glik.
Djibril Sidibe headed Monaco in front three minutes into the second half but even with our backs to the wall, we managed to claw our way back into the game when Harry Kane levelled from the penalty spot after Dele Alli was hauled down.
The feeling of a potential turn around didn't last long though as straight from the kick-off, Thomas Lemar drilled home what turned out to be the winner.
“At this level, you cannot concede the way we conceded,” reflected Mauricio. “You pay, because it’s the Champions League, the toughest competition in the world with the Premier League.
“We conceded chances and you will always pay in this competition. You need to be focused and to compete in the best way.
“To analyse the game now is not right because we’re out of the Champions League. Last season or the season before we always rotated in the Europa League and this season, it’s exciting to be in the Champions League but difficult to rotate and that’s the difference we need to analyse and to learn.
“It’s the first experience for us (coaching team) and most of the players in the Champions League and it’s completely different. That is our challenge.”
Views on the game
Mauricio: "I’m very disappointed in the way we conceded. The first half was open, we created some chances but Hugo kept us in the game. In the second half we conceded after three minutes, then we came back but in the next action, we conceded. It’s true we’re much, much better than we’ve showed in the Champions League but we need to learn that to compete in the Premier League and Champions League demands a lot of mental energy and that’s our challenge for the future."
'Heads up'
Mauricio: "Now we need our heads up and to lift ourselves. Chelsea have had a clear week to prepare for us, and now we can start to prepare for Chelsea. It’s an advantage but we need to be ready, we need to be strong and like always, to show character and to be competitive."
Message to the fans
Mauricio: "I’m disappointed for the fans, disappointed for the players, it’s a bad situation because the expectation was to go to the next round of the Champions League but now we need to be focused against Chelsea and then try to win against CSKA to try to go to the Europa League." |
Lock photo by Tequila Babs (with DNA helixes superimposed)
Supposed Benefits of Profiling Babies’ DNA
It’s really a black mark against her, and there’s nothing we can do to get it off there. And let’s say in the future they can test for a gene for schizophrenia or manic-depression and your baby tests positive—that would be on there, too.”
Europe
DNA is intimately different to fingerprinting, it carries incredibly intimate information about who you are, where you’re from and your family.
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by Heidi StevensonSeveral states in the U.S. are storing your baby’s DNA sequence. It’s generally being done without your knowledge. All United States newborns’ DNA is now routinely screened for genetic disorders. Parental approval is not required—nor are parents informed. Our children are being born into a Brave New World.Although the baby’s name is not supposed to be kept with the DNA samples, that begs the question of how parents are informed when their children are found to have genetic diseases. And who really believes that such information is kept private?The claimed purpose of such testing is to detect genetic disorders for the babies’ benefit. That benefit, though, is questionable.Screening for several genetic disorders, without taking DNA profiles, has been routine for several years. Conditions like Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, and phenylketonuria (PKU) are discovered through blood tests, urine samples, and swabs. Thus far, there are no treatable conditions found in newborns that can’t be found through less intrusive means.Annie Brown of Minnesota learned of the DNA testing done on her baby when she was informed that her daughter carried the cystic fibrosis gene. Later testing showed that the DNA test didn’t document that her daughter actually had the condition, and it must have put Annie and her husband through a lot of unnecessary stress.The results of DNA testing may also be used against a person later in life. CNN reported Annie Brown saying:The usual excuse for taking DNA samples of babies is to diagnose genetic disorders, but that doesn’t make sense, as treatable genetic disorders are already discovered without DNA screening. As Annie Brown’s story clarifies, it can also cause undue stress and unneeded extra testing.Muddled excuses are used to take this most intimate of identifiers, but they don’t make sense. It’s an inefficient and inaccurate means of determining the existence of diseases that can already be identified through other, inexpensive means. So, the suggestion that the purpose is to screen for genetic diseases is absurd.Likewise, the idea that it’s for crime prevention is absurd. Your fingerprints aren’t taken at birth and kept on a massive database. It would be considered far too intrusive. Yet, most states are now taking even more intimate DNA samples and placing them on a database without parental approval or knowledge.Other methods are in use to expand DNA databases, most commonly taking DNA samples from anyone convicted of a crime, and often even those who merely come into contact with the law. The intent is to solve crimes, convict criminals, and free those who’ve been wrongfully convicted. However, the fact is that this most personal, private, and intimate physical part of each baby is now being harvested at birth and stored in databases without any assurances that private information will be kept private. In fact, as history has shown with social security numbers, which aren’t supposed to be used for identification, once such a system is implemented, privacy is ephemeral, at best.Concerns about genetic diseases are often conflated with DNA research. If the purpose is for research, don’t the subjects have the right to be informed and agree to it? It certainly isn’t for the babies’ benefit, since DNA testing is inaccurate at determining the existence of disease, as shown in Annie Brown’s daugher, and there are accurate, inexpensive methods of diagnosis.Europeans, in particular citizens of the United Kingdom, should also be concerned. Although the recent government attempts to expand the DNA database—already the world’s largest—have recently been stopped, don’t forget that backdoor methods, as is happening to newborns in the US, can be implemented at any time. The genetic profiles of innocent people are being kept on file now, not only those of people convicted of crimes.According to the Independent , Sir Alec Jeffreys, who developed DNA fingerprinting, is dismayed at the government’s DNA database. He says:The United Arab Emirates, certainly not a paragon of freedom, is planning to introduce a mandatory DNA database of every citizen. Is that a road we want to go down? If not, then perhaps it’s time to question this process that seems to be using the medical system to remove every aspect of privacy we have, and to track every detail of our lives.Will people be shunted into particular careers based on their genetic data? For their own good, of course. Will you have to prick your finger and give a blood sample before you enter your site of employment each day? Deliver up a saliva sample? Will you be forced to undergo medical treatment for a genetic disease you may or may not develop? Where will it end? |
Photo: JD LasicaBy Lauren Feeney
Author, inventor, and futurist Ray Kurzweil famously and accurately predicted that a computer would beat a man at chess by 1998, that technologies that help spread information would accelerate the collapse of the Soviet Union, and that a worldwide communications network would emerge in the mid 1990s (i.e. the internet).
Most of Kurzweil’s prognostications are derived from his law of accelerating returns — the idea that information technologies progress exponentially, in part because each iteration is used to help build the next, better, faster, cheaper one. In the case of computers, this is not just a theory but an observable trend — computer processing power has doubled every two years for nearly half a century.
Kurzweil also believes this theory can be applied to solar energy. As part of a panel convened by the National Association of Engineers, Kurzweil, together with Google cofounder Larry Page, concluded that solar energy technology is improving at such a rate that it will soon be able to compete with fossil fuels.
I caught up with Kurzweil when he was in New York promoting a new documentary about his life to ask him about his optimistic views on the usually gloomy subject of energy and climate change.
Q. You have made a prediction about the future of solar energy …
A. One of my primary theses is that information technologies grow exponentially in capability and power and bandwidth and so on. If you buy an iPhone today, it’s twice as good as two years ago for half the cost. That is happening with solar energy — it is doubling every two years. And it didn’t start two years ago, it started 20 years ago. Every two years, we have twice as much solar energy in the world.
Today, solar is still more expensive than fossil fuels, and in most situations it still needs subsidies or special circumstances, but the costs are coming down rapidly — we are only a few years away from parity. And then it’s going to keep coming down, and people will be gravitating towards solar, even if they don’t care at all about the environment, because of the economics.
So right now it’s at half a percent of the world’s energy. People tend to dismiss technologies when they are half a percent of the solution. But doubling every two years means it’s only eight more doublings before it meets a 100 percent of the world’s energy needs. So that’s 16 years. We will increase our use of electricity during that period, so add another couple of doublings: In 20 years we’ll be meeting all of our energy needs with solar, based on this trend which has already been underway for 20 years.
People say we’re running out of energy. That’s only true if we stick with these old 19th-century technologies. We are awash in energy from the sunlight.
Q. In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama set a goal of running the country on 80 percent renewable energy by 2035, which is a little bit less ambitious than what you’ve suggested. Are you satisfied with the goal set by the president?
A. 2035 is 24 years. I am saying we can meet all our energy needs from solar in 20 years. It’s actually pretty consistent with what I’m saying.
Q. You have a very optimistic view of the future; eccentric, even. You believe that eventually we’ll be able to live forever, and maybe even bring people back from the dead. How would that growth in population affect the environment? A lot of people are afraid of overpopulation as one of the major factors in climate change.
A. We will be extending the human life expectancy; in fact, we have done that already. Human life expectancy was 37 years in 1800, 48 in 1900; it’s now pushing 80. But this is going to go into high gear now that health and medicine has changed. It used to be hit or miss. We’d just find things — medicine was just a kind of an organized set of ideas that we discovered accidentally. We now have the actual means of understanding the software of life and reprogramming it; we can turn genes off without any interference, we can add new genes, whole new organs with stem cell therapy. The point is that medicine is now an information technology — it’s going to double in power every year. These technologies will be a million times more powerful for the same cost in 20 years.
However, the same technologies that are going to extend life and nudge up the biological population are also going to expand the resources. We just talked about energy, because we are running out of it, but actually we are awash in energy. We are awash in water — pun intended. Just most of it is dirty and polluted. And we know how to convert it, today, but it takes energy, which is why it’s expensive. Once energy is inexpensive, we can create water.
There is a whole set of new food technologies. We are going to go from this revolution that happened 10,000 years ago of horizontal agriculture to what’s called vertical agriculture, where we grow plants, fruits, vegetables, and meat in computerized factories by artificial intelligence; hydroponic plants tended by intelligent robots to create fruits and vegetables, in-vitro cloned meats, basically just cloning the part of the animal that you want to eat, which is the muscled tissue. There is no reason to create a whole animal to get to the parts that we want to eat.
The point is that the same technologies that are going to increase human longevity are also going to expand the resources and ultimately make them very inexpensive.
Q. You talk about what will happen instead of what might happen. But there are so many obstacles to dealing with climate change — political gridlock, consumer apathy. Are you concerned that these things might not happen because of obstacles like these?
A. My main thesis, which I call the law of accelerating returns, is not affected by the kind of things you are referring to. The exponential growth of computation is measured in many different ways continued through the entire 20th century, completely unaffected by the little things like World War I and II or the Great Depression. It was not affected at all by the recent economic downturn. This exponential growth of solar energy has continued through thick and thin.
As the cost per watt of solar falls significantly below coal and oil, people are going to go to that for economic reasons. It won’t be a political issue.
Q. A lot of climate scientists say that we have about 10 years to turn the situation around, otherwise we’re going to hit this tipping point and we are all doomed. So you think we’re going to make it?
A. Even if those timelines were correct, there will be quite a transformation within 10 years and certainly within 15 or 20 years. The bulk of our energy will be coming from these renewable sources. So, I think we have plenty of time. I think we can make it to the point where these renewables are taking over. And I think there are reasons besides climate change to move away from fossil fuels — that whole oil spill, remember that, that’s not climate change, that’s just pollution. But I don’t see a disaster happening before we can get there because it is pretty soon at hand. |
Harvard professor Edward Glaeser keeps dumping cold water on the dreams of anyone hoping for high speed rail.
In the fourth installment of a series looking at the economics of high speed trains at the Economix blog, Glaeser argues "rail's potential reshaping of the American economy" is overblown.
Supporters of high speed trains, point to evidence of fast trains transforming slow towns. Glaeser cites Ciudad Real a town outside of Madrid in Spain, that's been lifted by high speed trains.
Well, the United States is not Spain, Glaeser says. High speed trains will not save dying towns like Buffalo, Detroit and Cleveland.
Here, Glaeser presents his least convincing work in the series. It seems obvious that Buffalo, which would still be a 2.5 hour train ride to New York City, wouldn't be transformed by high speed rail.
What about somewhere closer, like Philadelphia? Glaeser says it's still not happening:
Philadelphia is the more natural beneficiary of high-speed rail access to Manhattan; there are already people who live in Philadelphia and commute to New York. Yet even in this most propitious setting, the coming of Acela seems to have had little impact on the population decline of Philadelphia or growth of Wilmington. Perhaps the absence of any trend break in population growth around 2000 just reflects the incremental nature of the Acela investment, but there is little here to bring confidence that rail lines revitalize cities.
We've looked closely at the Philadelphia to New York Acela. It's a joke. The trip takes about an hour and a half, and costs between $90 at the low end, to $280 at the high end for a round trip ticket. There's no discounted monthly passes either. The bus will shuttle you between the cities in 2 hours, and a roundtrip ticket costs $20.
The prohibitive cost of the Acela makes it impossible for rationalizing a move to Philadelphia and commuting to New York on economic grounds.
If a truly high speed rail line were set up between the two cities, and the commute only took 45 minutes to 1 hour, and the tickets were more reasonably priced, $1,000-$1,200 a month, we think Philadelphia really becomes the sixth borough of New York, as the New York Times called it in 2005 (to the consternation of Philadelphians).
Let's say we are right, and Philly gets a little boom from the high speed rail, does it even matter? Not according to Glaeser, who says "I don't see why is it in the national interest to disperse economic activity from Manhattan to Buffalo or Philadelphia. I have long argued that the economic case for directing economic aid to declining regions is weak." |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the era of a submissive Turkey bowing to every Western demand is over.
Erdogan's comments came on Tuesday as top European Union officials held talks with Turkey's foreign minister in Brussels.
"The West wants Turkey to do, without question, whatever they want ... I am sorry to say that Turkey no longer exists," Erdogan said.
Turkey has been mired in an escalating diplomatic row with Germany after the arrests last week of a group of human rights activists, including a German national, over terror-related charges.
Earlier, a German-Turkish journalist was arrested for allegedly spying and aiding Kurdish rebels.
Erdogan on Tuesday refused to back down in the feud with Germany, saying: "They don't want us to retaliate while their agents run around freely."
EU membership
Turkey's long-standing bid for EU membership remains in the deep freeze and show no signs of thawing.
It applied to join the EU three decades ago, and it started negotiating in 2005. But of the 16 negotiating chapters on issues as varied as capital movement and food safety, only one - science and research - has been provisionally closed.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik met with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels on Tuesday.
Their meeting agenda included Ankara's EU accession, immigration, Turkey's demands for visa-free travel for its citizens, the fight against terrorism and energy and trade ties. |
Investigators find black box from Air France crash
PARIS (AP) Investigators have located and recovered the memory unit of the flight data recorder of a 2009 Air France flight a remarkable deep-sea discovery they hope will explain why the aircraft went down in a remote area of the mid-Atlantic, killing all 228 people on board.
France's air accident investigation agency BEA said a search by a submarine probing some 12,800 feet below the ocean's surface located and recovered the unit Sunday morning. The unit is now aboard the ship Ile de Sein, the statement said.
The statement also included photos of the recorder a red cylinder partially buried in sand on the sea floor. Judging from the photos, the unit appeared to be in good condition.
Last month, the agency said the undersea search had identified the "chassis" that had held the recorder, but said the memory unit was still missing. The flight data recorder stores data from the flight. Another so-called "black box" records cockpit conversations.
Investigators hope Sunday's remarkable discovery will allow them to determine what caused the June 1, 2009,crash of Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to the French capital, Paris. The aircraft slammed into the Atlantic northeast of Brazil after running into an intense high-altitude thunderstorm.
Automatic messages sent by the Airbus 330's computers showed it was receiving false air speed readings from sensors known as pitot tubes. Investigators have said the crash was likely caused by a series of problems, and not just sensor error.
The crash site was so remote and in such a deep area of the Atlantic that the bulk of the wreckage was only recently discovered, thanks to a deep-sea search.
Experts have said that without retrieving the voice and data recorders there would be almost no chance of determining what caused the crash the worst disaster in Air France's history.
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Video (01:41) : Two Edina elementary schools are trying a pilot program where kids are given an option to take part in organized games and activities at recess.
Two Edina elementary schools, worried about the politics of the playground, are taking an unusual step to police it: They have hired a recess consultant.
Some parents have welcomed the arrival of the firm Playworks, which says recess can be more inclusive and beneficial to children if it’s more structured and if phrases like, “Hey, you’re out!” are replaced with “good job” or “nice try.”
But some of the kids at Concord and Normandale Elementary say they are confused, or that the consultants are ruining their play time.
“The philosophy of Playworks does not fit Concord,” said Kathy Sandven, a parent of twin boys who attend the school. “It is a structured philosophy — an intervention philosophy — not allowing kids for free play.”
The two schools have joined a growing number of districts that have hired consultants to remake the playground experience into more structured and inclusive play time. The games and activities, like four square and jumping rope, are overseen by adults and designed to reduce disciplinary problems while ensuring that no children are left out.
Edina school officials spent about $30,000 on the recess initiative over the summer, and some administrators are already becoming believers.
Third-graders at Concord Elementary in Edina played a recess soccer game overseen by a recess coach. Use of a recess consultant has drawn support and opposition.
Chris Holden, principal at Normandale Elementary, has seen the Playworks benefits in the first few weeks of school. He’s noticed fewer student visits to the principal’s office and the nurse’s office after recess.
“Every school is looking for a way to increase student activity and engagement and decrease conflict,” he said.
Playworks reports that its partner schools boast drops in disciplinary incidents and increases in participation and focus in class.
The aim is to build skills that would make kids “incredibly successful adults,” said Shauna McDonald, executive director of Playworks Minnesota. “It’s about creating opportunity.”
Mathematica Policy Research and Stanford University studies found that Playworks resulted in less bullying and more learning focus in schools.
Playworks has offered its services or had its staff in elementaries around the metro area — including schools in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Anoka-Hennepin and Minnetonka school districts — and across the country.
Parents, students adjusting
Edina school officials say that data collected through the fall will determine whether Playworks will eventually be rolled out at all schools. Its implementation wasn’t spurred by any extreme uptick of behavioral issues, but rather a desire for quality playground experience, said Susan Brott, district communications director.
But some students and parents say they hope that school officials scrap the structured play.
Jolted by their kids’ complaints, skeptical parents recently took to the playground to observe the new recess for themselves.
Instead of usual recess referees on the sidelines policing the worst conduct, the adults were on the ground, explaining rules and new games to confused-looking kids.
Parents at Concord Elementary voiced concerns to the principal and 177 of them signed an online petition Labor Day weekend. Concord fifth-graders banded together and made a petition of their own.
At Normandale Elementary, Holden said he has received a few parent comments supporting and some bashing the new recess.
Caroline Correia’s fourth-grade son, Liam, has been complaining about recess at Concord Elementary, where children can select from “games of the week.” Children can opt to play a game not on the list, but Correia said it’s not likely a child will know how to ask for more options.
But psychologist Peter Gray of Boston College argues in his book “Free to Learn” that activities built by adults for children aren’t really play.
He believes that play comes from self-chosen motivations; the learning in free play can’t be replicated.
Fifth-grade girls played on a rope jungle gym at Normandale Elementary in Edina. A new form of structured play at recess is being tried out at two elementary schools in Edina.
The adult atmosphere changes the recess dynamic for her son, Correia said.
“He feels like that’s not playing anymore,” she said.
On the playground
The level of Playworks intervention is up to each school. Some will use a coach that operates recess; some will use an on-site coordinator one week per month; some will give training to school staff.
Forest Elementary in Robbinsdale Area Schools spends $14,500 for an on-site coordinator to spend one week a month at the school.
At the school, recess is made up of clear adult-facilitated activities.
On a day last week, a kindergartner said he wanted to play basketball. A recess coach explained that wasn’t a choice at the time; he decided to play another game.
Melissa Jackson, the principal at Forest, used Playworks when she was principal at Bethune Community School in Minneapolis.
She said she’s seen a positive impact on the school community.
After a few weeks at Concord, Playworks has become more routine. Students crawled through the play set and played jump rope games. A group of girls at Normandale acted out a game of television commercials on benches while others played four square.
Adults got involved in soccer and football games in other parts of the yard.
Away from direct supervision, some free-spirited girls at Normandale climbed on top of a spider structure, climbing higher and higher.
An adventurous one jumped from near the top into wood chips on the ground below.
“I made it, I made it!” she said. |
The Great American Beer Festival lands on Denver October 2-4, along with myriad other craft beer events around town. How to get back and forth? Uber, the car-ride service has launched a promotion called the Battle of the Breweries.
More than twenty beer makers in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins (where Uber has services) will battle it out to see who can get the most Uber signups. To participate, people can go to Uber's website and click on the logo of their favorite brewery to sign up -- and get $25 bucks of their first ride (new users only).
Turn the page to see all of this week's events, which include some leading up to GABF. Or go to our full Great American Beer Festival 2014 calendar.
Continue Reading
Wednesday, September 24
Odell Brewing officially releases its 25th anniversary beer, 180 Shilling, today with a party in the Fort Collins taproom. Jax Fish House will have its food truck out with guest chef Kevin Grossi from Lola in Denver. There will be live music from the Commoners. The 9.6 percent ABV beer is a play on Odell's flagship 90 Shilling. 180 is a double version of the recipe. It has a "hearty roasted malt base balanced by subtle earthy hops and aged on oak to create notes of toffee, plum, vanilla and dried cherry," Odell says.
Copper Kettle will tap a firkin today that was inspired by the Tequila Sunrise cocktail. They startd with their Imperial Pilsner and aged it in tequila barrels, then added fresh crushed oranges and maraschino cherries giving it a sweet twist with a hint of tequila. CKrêpes & CKatering will be serving food.
Friday, September 26
Copper Kettle will tap its malty Oktoberfest today. There will also be German-inspired food on hand and a local band.
The two-day Longmont Oktoberfest returns today to Roosevelt Park. In addition to sponsor, Left Hand Brewing, the event will feature five other Longmont breweries, Oskar Blues, Pumphouse, 300 Suns, Grossen Bart, and Long's Peak. Oktoberfest begins with a bike parard that will usher kegs from local breweries to the park, where the first one will be tapped at 6 p.m. by Longmont Mayor Dennis Coombs, who is also the co-owner of the Pumphouse. There will be a Stein Holding Contest and live music Last Men on Earth as well as German costumes, food and fun.
Photographer Patrick Andrade and RELIC studios will debut the photography show, Beer Boom, tonight at 5 p.m. with an opening reception in the newly renovated upstairs space at the Wynkoop Brewing Company. For the past several months, Andrade, a former war photographer, has been photographing Denver area brewers and breweries using the Wet Plate Collodion process - or Tintype - process that was introduced in 1850s and is familiar from historic photos of soldiers, presidents and outlaws of that era. The resulting works will be displayed on extra large, museum-quality canvas prints made from the Tintypes. Fourteen breweries participated in photo shoots, including Wit's End, Station 26, Renegade, Cerebral, Black Shirt, Grandma's House, Wynkoop, Great Divide, TRVE, Caution, Strange, Copper Kettle, Dry Dock and Former Future.
Ernie's Bar & Pizza will load up 27 of its taps from nine different breweries today starting at 11 a.m. for an event running into GABF week that is called the Grass Roots of Beer. Each of the breweries will bring one of the flagships that help get them started, as well as a few specialties. They include: Chocolate Stout, Red Banchie Ruby American Ale and Dobblebock from Boulder Beer; Escape to Colorado IPA, Blue Ski Lager and Big Bad Baptist from Epic Brewing; Little Mo Porter, First Cast IPA and Apis IV from Elevation Beer Company; West Coast IPA, Hop Head Red and Double Stout from California's Green Flash; Glyder Cider and Grass Hoppa from Colorado Cider Company; Redacted Rye IPA, Hypocrisy Pale Stout and Consilium Pale Ale from Renegade Brewing; Hoppy Boy, Raspberry Wheat and La Petite Saison from Twisted Pine; Amber, Scenic Kolsch, Peach IPA and Neomexicanus Pale Ale from Crazy Mountain; 3 Philosophers, Hennepin Belgian Style Saison and Hop House from Ommegang.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill will feature $10 flights of New Belgium beers today from 3 to 6 p.m. and give drinkers a chance to win tickets to the October 4 session of GABF. The beers include Snapshot, Trippel, Hop the Poind, Tour de Fall, Salted Chocolate and Fat Tire.
Verboten Brewing in Loveland will release two barrel-aged versions of its GABF Pro-Am beer, Crossroads Scottish Wee Heavy, at 3 p.m. today. The first was aged in a Blue Corn Bourbon Barrel, the second in a Rye Whiskey Barrel. Try tasters of the original and two barrel versions for $7 today through October 3, while supplies last.
Saturday, September 27
Fiction Beer Company will hold its grand opening today at 2 p.m. today, becoming one of the few breweries to find a spot on the city's east side.
Longmont Oktoberfest continues today at noon in Roosevelt Park with the town's six breweries on hand and various family-friendly activities. There will be a kids zone, local vendors, and live music featuring THUNK. At 3 p.m., fest organizers will begin to build the world's longest bratwurst in attempt to beat their 2013 record. Then they will grill the two hundred-foot-long bratwurst, made by Boulder Sausage, on site. Longmont Oktoberfest benefits the Left Hand Brewing Foundation, Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley, and A Precious Child.
The Falling Rock Taphouse will kick off GABF week a little early this year with a Fresh Hop Festival co-hosted by the Colorado Brewers Guild and Imbibe Denver. Running from noon to 4 p.m., the fest will feature more than 25 fresh- or wet-hopped beers from Colorado and elsewhere. Fresh-hopped beers are made by adding hop cones that have been harvested in the previous 24 hours, giving them a slightly different, more earthy flavor. Falling Rock used to host a fresh-hop festival in late October in conjunction with Oregon's Deschutes Brewing, but that changed last year when Deschutes moved its fest elsewhere and the Guild stepped in. Some of the participants include Black Bottle, Black Sky, Boulder Beer, Breckenridge, Copper Kettle, Crazy Mountain, Dad & Dude's, Elevation, Fate, Great Divide, Grist, Kannah Creek, Our Mutual Friend, Pateros Creek, Station 26, Strange Craft, Telluride Brewing, The Old Mine, Tommyknocker, West Flanders and Wynkoop. Tickets are $40 when purchased in advance at imbibe-events.com/fresh-hop. A portion of proceeds benefits the Guild.
Hops & Pie will celebrate its fourth anniversary today beginning at noon with a tap takeover by Avery Brewing that features Pumpkyn, Uncle Jacob's, Bad Apple, Beast, Chai Brown, Kaiser, Gorde, Lilikoi, 5 Monks, Rufus Corvus, Obscuro, Uberschwein.
River North Brewery will introduce J. Maria (Tequila Barrel Aged) in the taphouse and for sale in bottles today at 1 p.m. It's the brewery's signature farmhouse ale aged in artisan tequila barrels. "Notes of pepper, citrus and cinnamon balance the malty backbone of classic J. Marie, creating the perfect mix of sweet and spicy," the brewery says about the 10.2 percent ABV beer. "No lime or salt required." River North bottled 135 cases; they cost $15 with a limit of three.
Green. Beer. Fest. takes place from 2 to 10 p.m. today in the Boulder Bandshell, at 1212 Canyon Boulevard in Boulder. Formerly known as the Frack Free Brew Festival, the event mixes politics and beer and features live music and living exhibits that highlight ways to save the world. Admission is free, but it's $30 in advance for a beer pass and $40 at the door.
Odell Brewing in Fort Collins continues its week-long 25th anniversary celebration today with several beer tappings and food truck pairings from Jax Fish House, Common Link, and Taco Stop. Featured beers include 90 Shilling, IPA, Gramps and Mountain Standard.
The culinary team at newly-revamped Boone's Tavern have teamed up with Boulder Beer for a four-course collaborative beer brunch with Boulder Beer at Boone's Tavern today at 11 a.m. The menu includes: Chorizo jalapeño puff roll with arugula salad, paired with Buffalo Gold Golden Ale; poached egg, grilled artisanal bread, bacon fig jam, and pico de gallo with Sweaty Betty Blonde; frog in a pond, crispy pancetta, sweet tomato chutney, and pesto powder with Dragonhosen Märzen; white chocolate mousse, fresh berry compote, and sponge cake with Shake Chocolate Porter. Tickets are $35 per person. Call 720-961-0320 t reserve a spot.
Sunday, September 28
Avery Brewing will release Rumpkin today at 1 p.m. at its Boulder taproom. This monstrous pumpkin ale was aged in rum barrels and weighs in at 16 percent ABV. The taproom will open at 11 a.m. and be pouring rare beers for people in line. Twelve-ounce bottles of this annual release are $12 each.
Odell Brewing continues its 25th anniversary celebration today with an Oktoberfest party in the Fort Collins taproom. In addition to the release of its Oktoberfest beer, there will be a pig roast (free with purchase of Oktoberfest beer for first 100 people), Common Link selling Oktoberfest-themed foods and live music from The Constant Tourists.
Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs will host a pre-sale for its ever-popular Venetucci Pumpkin Ale today from noon to 6 p.m. "Each year both the pre-sale and the release party have a cult following, resulting in lines from the Bristol Pub clear out the door to the street. This year, fans will be allowed to reserve four bottles of the ale, one more than in years preceding," the brewery says.
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Antonio Meucci is the true inventor of the telephone, not Alexander Graham Bell. This century-long controversy had finally been settled by the U.S Congress on June 11th 2002. The acknowledgement was the result of the House of Representatives’ vote of the resolution H.RES.269.
Meucci was an Italian immigrant, living on public assistance. He had invented a mechanism called the “teletrofono” as early as 1860, then filed it for a patent in 1871. Unfortunately, he was unable to pursue the patenting process; because he could not afford to pay the $10 fee.
Meanwhile, Alexander Graham Bell was conducting experiments in the same laboratory where Meucci’s materials were stored. Five years later, in 1876, he succeeds to file a patent for a similar system, which he called “telephone”.
In 1887, the government of the U.S tried to cancel Bell’s patent, accusing him of fraud and misinterpretation. However, the case was discontinued after Meucci’s death in 1889. After more than a century, the poor inventor has finally been vindicated by the Congress.
Despite its importance, the resolution did not receive enough coverage from the media. Despite all of the facts and proofs, the invention of the telephone is still attributed to Bell, extending the reach and life of one of the major scientific injustices in history.
The following link refers to the original text of the resolution.
https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hres269/BILLS-107hres269eh.pdf |
Last month Lomita resident Elizabeth Vivlamore heard a puppy crying in the back alley outside a doughnut shop. When no claimed the puppy after a few hours, she called police and animal control—to no avail.
So Vivlamore took in the dog herself and gave it food and water. She took him to the vet and discovered he had fleas, worms, an ear infection and his tail had been broken in several places, according to The Daily Breeze. She couldn't keep the dog, but the Van Nuys-based ROMP Rescue took the pit bull pup in and named him Petey—because of his resemblance to the pit bull in "Our Gang."
Randy, a rescuer affiliated with ROMP, shaved off some of Petey's fur when he noticed something strange on his belly: it turned out to be a tattoo associated with a gang just northeast of Dodger Stadium.
That means not only had Petey been dumped far from home, but he'd undergone a painful experience—likely without sedation.
Randy, who feared giving his last name because of the dog's gang association, told The Daily Breeze, "I'm speechless. I can't understand why they would do that. The pain involved is obviously more than any puppy should have to endure."
Petey has a long road ahead, and he needs serious rehabilitation. He seems to get along with humans just fine, but he's absolutely terrified of other animals, according to CBS Los Angeles. His legs start to shake. His rescuers suspect that he might have been trained to be a part of a dog-fighting ring.
If you're interested in chipping in for his rehab, you can visit Petey's page here. |
Gov. Pat Quinn and ruling Democratic lawmakers united Wednesday around what they say is a stark election-year choice — vote now to make permanent the temporary income tax increase they installed three years ago or face major cuts in state spending on education and social services.
But Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner and GOP lawmakers who are a minority in the General Assembly flatly rejected the way Quinn framed the debate in his budget speech at the Capitol. Calling his plan a blatant money grab, they argued that the only course of action was to begin rolling back the 67 percent tax increase as scheduled in January 2015.
The sharp contrast presented a clear option for voters as the fate of the tax increase takes center stage in the campaigning leading up to the Nov. 4 election — with the potential to influence not just the race for governor but contests up and down the ballot.
House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats, each voiced support for making the levy permanent, injecting the volatile tax issue into electoral contests in which Democrats hope to maintain overwhelming legislative majorities.
Quinn, seeking re-election to a second term after taking over from the impeached Rod Blagojevich in 2009, noted the upcoming election campaign in his 25-minute post-primary budget address without singling out Rauner by name.
“The truth is, those who are telling you that Illinois can tax less and spend less and still expect to fund education are simply not telling you the truth,” Quinn said in a pointed reference to Rauner, who has sought to appeal to voters as a longtime education advocate.
“Today, I propose that we take the path that is honest and responsible, the path that protects everyday families and invests in their future,” he said.
But in calling for making the tax increase permanent, Quinn played into a consistent attack line of Rauner, who even before winning the GOP nomination for governor last week had labeled the Democratic governor's tenure as a litany of broken promises.
“After five years of Pat Quinn's failed leadership, we have record tax hikes, outrageously high unemployment, massive cuts in education, and there's still a giant budget mess in Springfield,” Rauner said in a statement. “It's now or never to save Illinois. We can balance the budget without more tax increases, if we create a growth economy and restructure and reform our broken government.”
Rauner backs the scheduled rollback of the personal income tax and has called for a comprehensive overhaul of state tax policies with an eye toward making them more beneficial to business. However, he has not been specific about any other tax changes or how he would make up for the estimated $4 billion in annual revenue lost to the state with the rollback of the tax. He did not make himself available to answer questions Wednesday.
In unveiling what he said was a comprehensive five-year spending plan, Quinn said he was rejecting “any new, unfair taxes,” such as broadening the state's sales tax to include services, or taxing retirement income.
Quinn said extending the income tax would support a $38.6 billion general fund account for the coming year that he would use to provide more money to schools, tuition grants to low-income college students and a new initiative to provide wellness efforts and early childhood learning for children from birth to age 5.
At the same time, Quinn presented a “not recommended” budget that would allow the bulk of the income tax to sunset on schedule. The $34.9 billion general fund alternative, he warned, would lead to massive teacher layoffs and loss of social services such as child care and community care services while forcing local property taxes to increase.
Madigan said Quinn “told the truth” in his budget speech.
“He laid the cards on the table. If we wish to continue to provide the level of services which we've become accustomed to for education and other purposes then the income tax increase should be extended,” Madigan said during a public television interview, adding, “My demand as part of this program is relief for homeowners on their real estate taxes.”
The House speaker also said he favored a “broad-based” tax bill that also provides “help for Illinois businesses.” Asked about the likelihood of a vote before the general election, Madigan said, “My expectation is that we'll resolve this before the end of the spring session, which is the end of May.”
Republicans argued that Democrats failed to deliver on their promise to use the tax increase to help restore the state to fiscal solvency and thus don't deserve another chance to lead.
Sen. Matt Murphy, of Palatine, a GOP point man on budget issues, said Democrats created “as dire-looking a picture as possible to justify continuing to take more taxpayer money.”
“They seem desperate to make this look so bad that there's no reasonable way for this tax rate to go back down,” Murphy said.
He said Quinn's proposal to roughly double the current amount of overall property tax relief is equivalent to a $600 million “kickback” that would raise the overall amount of state relief for homeowners to more than $1.2 billion a year.
At the center of the issue is the tax increase passed and signed into law two months after Quinn's narrow 2010 victory over Republican Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington. Quinn had campaigned on the need for a tax increase to help an Illinois government drowning in debt and facing destabilizing costs for pensions and social services.
Democrats in the post-election lame-duck session provided the votes in the legislature, and Quinn approved an increase in the personal tax rate from 3 percent to 5 percent and a boost in the corporate rate from 4.8 percent to 7 percent. The personal tax rate is scheduled to roll back to 3.75 percent and the corporate rate to 5.25 percent in January.
Delivering his budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1, Quinn sought to offer some sweeteners for keeping the tax increase — including a doubling of the tax credit for lower-income workers and replacing the current 5 percent property tax credit for homeowners on state income taxes by offering a flat $500 property tax rebate.
“As a result of our hard work to restore fiscal stability — from spending reductions to pension reform to contract savings — Illinois is in a much stronger financial position than it was five years ago,” Quinn said.
While the temporary tax boost he signed was pitched as a way to pay the state's overdue bills, billions of dollars in overdue bills remain. On Wednesday, Quinn framed the permanent extension as an education issue. |
“Some are on the seabed on the ocean floor, some are in the water column, some are sitting on the surface, some project up from the surface into the atmosphere, like wind — many different sizes, many different forms, many different footprints,” said Mr. Klarin, the marine program coordinator at the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. “There’s no one-size-fits-all kind of plan.”
Energy development groups around the world are closely watching what happens here, because success or failure with the first United States commercial license could affect the flow of private investment by bigger companies that have mostly stayed on the shore while smaller entrepreneurs struggled in the surf. Ocean Power Technologies also will be seeking money to build more generators.
Photo
“Wave energy is very expensive to develop, and they need to see that there is a potential worldwide,” said António Sarmento, a professor at Lisbon Technical University and the director of the Wave Energy Centre, a private nonprofit group based in Portugal. “In that sense, having the first commercial deployment in the U.S. is very, very positive.”
Here in Oregon, the momentum of research appears to be increasing. Last month, the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center — financed by the United States Department of Energy in collaboration with Oregon State University and the University of Washington — deployed one of the first public wave energy testing systems in the nation, called Ocean Sentinel, about two and a half hours from Portland, in Newport. The first device tested was a half-scale prototype from a New Zealand company.
Fishing industry lobbyists and lawyers worry that a surge of wave energy could repeat what happened when hydroelectricity came to the Pacific Northwest in a big way starting in the 1930s. Builders then did not think through the dense ecological web that nature had devised around the tens of millions of salmon — suddenly blocked from their inland spawning routes — that had over millenniums become a cornerstone species for everything from bears to birds.
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“Our greatest concern is that they don’t do what they did with dams — put a lot of them in the ocean and then just stand back and see what happens,” said John Holloway, the secretary of Oregon Anglers, a political action committee for recreational fishing. “We’re advocating a go-slow approach.”
What has not changed is that the Pacific Northwest still has a siren song for wave-energy dreamers in the big, consistent rolling ocean swells that define offshore waters — and make many a boater seasick — from Northern California through Washington State.
“Wave energy is essentially an accumulation of wind energy,” Charles F. Dunleavy, the chief executive at Ocean Power Technologies, said in a telephone interview. In the northern Pacific, he said, consistent winds fuel consistent waves, and the distance they travel in their rolling line creates a huge area of wave energy, or fetch, that a bobbing buoy can capture. Other places with good fetch include some areas off the coasts of Western Europe and South America.
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But the project also hinges on squeezing out the tiniest of incremental efficiencies in tapping the waves as they come. On the Ocean Power Technologies buoy, which looks like a giant cannon stuffed with electronics, company engineers pursued an insight that sailors have known in their sea legs since the days of Odysseus: every wave is different.
The onboard computer in each buoy, in communication with an array of small devices called wave riders that float farther out in the ocean, adapts, or “tunes” to each incoming wave, adjusting the way the giant internal shaft rides up and down as the swell passes through. The up-and-down motion of the shaft creates the electricity, which goes to shore through a seabed cable.
In a nod to environmental concerns, the buoy was redesigned to remove all hydraulic fluids, which some critics feared could contaminate the water in the event of an accident; rack-and-pinion gears now drive the mechanics. The three anchoring tethers, said Michael G. Kelly, the vice president of operations at Ocean Power Technologies, were also built to withstand a 100-year storm, but also with enough redundancies that even if two anchors failed the third would be enough to keep the buoy in place. |
Aura Medical Corporation: Clinics offering ketamine injections to treat depression blame negative publicity for closures
Updated
A controversial commercial chain of depression clinics offering injections of the party drug ketamine claim they have been forced to close down due to negative publicity.
Aura Medical Corporation is being investigated by the health watchdog after the ABC revealed patients were being given vials of the Schedule 8 drug to inject at home, and the company had links to notorious erectile dysfunction clinic Advanced Medical Institute (AMI Direct).
Ketamine is available in Australia for use as a prescription anaesthetic under strict controls, but is not approved for depression treatment despite success in clinical trials.
The closure of the clinics has left dozens of mentally ill patients without access to the drug that has been hailed as a "miracle cure".
Aura Medical had been offering injections of the drug for around $150 to $200 since last year, advertised on TV and radio as a "new alternative" for those with treatment-resistant depression.
Patient Peter Riley, who has struggled with depression for years, said he was devastated to hear the drug would no longer be available.
"Ketamine has changed my life out of all sight, I've tried to commit suicide three times, I've been on eight different types of antidepressant," he said.
"When I went for the first appointment with Aura Medical and had my ketamine injection I felt better the next day, [and] after I had been going for six weeks I felt amazing.
"My appointments have been cancelled ... they said that they do not have a doctor that is prepared to administer the preparations."
Former Aura Medical Melbourne general practitioner Dr Graham Barrett was banned from prescribing ketamine last month by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as part of an ongoing investigation.
Aura's ketamine program 'highly inappropriate'
The use of ketamine by commercial clinics in what is known as "off-label" prescribing has been condemned by psychiatrists and mental health advocates who say the long-term effects of regularly using the drug are unknown.
University of New South Wales psychiatry school head Professor Philip Mitchell welcomed the news of the closure.
"Certainly it's not at all appropriate for it to be offered through a group like Aura, so I'm pleased to hear that service has been withdrawn," he said.
"There's been a very strong feeling that the ketamine program being offered by Aura is highly inappropriate.
"In Australia and in every other country around the world, ketamine is not approved by regulatory bodies for use in depression."
Professor Mitchell said medical professionals also have an obligation to ensure mentally ill patients are being supported.
"If someone is being offered care and that's withdrawn, as in the example of the Aura situation, there's an obligation for the clinician to ensure the patient is under ongoing care and that should have been organised."
Patients 'upset and crying' upon hearing treatment not available
Aura Medical Sydney patient Sarah, who does not want to use her real name, said her ketamine treatment had been highly successful.
"I think it's possible that it is a miracle treatment, my sense is that it is the most complete and least intrusive depression option that I have encountered," she said.
"I had one appointment left and they rang me and said we can't help and we have to shut down because of the negative publicity.
"I don't understand, they give people (prescription sedative) valium and the [ketamine] experience is no more powerful than a valium so I don't understand why there is such an outcry about this, it seems to me that it is misplaced and misinformed."
Professor Mitchell said he was hoping tightly controlled clinical trials at research facilities like the Black Dog Institute would answer the questions still surrounding ketamine treatment for depression.
"It's very exciting and promising research treatment and in a controlled research environment it's appropriate," he said.
"I think there's the possibility that this controversy and debacle with ketamine through Aura may tarnish the reputation as a promising future treatment.
"I think we've got to look beyond that unfortunate experience with Aura because this is really a treatment that may potentially revolutionise or at least enhance what we can offer patients with depression."
Aura Medical's director Debbie Samuel refused to be interviewed but said patients at the clinic were "upset and crying" after being told the treatment was no longer available.
Topics: depression, suicide, mental-health, pharmaceuticals, healthcare-facilities, medical-ethics, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000, brisbane-4000
First posted |
The numbers tell an interesting tale.
In a single day last week, the average age of the members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet dropped from 52 to 50 – making it one of the younger cabinets in Canadian history.
Three ministers, all in their 60s, were shuffled out of cabinet, replaced by much younger colleagues. While those close to Trudeau say it was all about geography and preparing for incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, for many Liberals, it was also a sign of generational change.
Ever since he became leader of the Liberal Party in 2013, Justin Trudeau, 45, has slowly but surely been transforming the Liberal Party, fulfilling the pledge of renewal he made when he sought the leadership. One by one, older veterans of the party have been replaced by younger successors — from party officials to political aides and cabinet ministers.
The Liberal Party today is arguably now younger than the party Trudeau inherited three years ago. However, that has also led to grumbling among some veteran members of the party – often baby boomers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum, 66, was shuffled out of Trudeau's cabinet and named Canada's ambassador to China. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Privately, some who served in previous Liberal governments confide that their calls weren't even returned when they applied to join Trudeau's government, leaving them with the sense the new administration considered them past their best-before date. Others, who have given up weekends and time with their families to knock on doors and campaign for the Liberals over the years, feel their experience and their expertise are no longer really wanted or required.
"They have a problem with people over 45 or so," said one long-time Liberal organizer who traded anonymity for candour.
What about 'institutional memory?'
"They're very bright for the most part, but it wouldn't be so bad to have players with some institutional memory. The only time they listen to people like me is when the information I have to offer is essential."
Those close to Trudeau, however, dismiss any suggestion that older MPs and party supporters are being sidelined.
"I just don't think that's fair or true," said one senior source, who spoke to CBC News on condition they not be named.
While some Liberals who worked in previous governments didn't get hired, it had more to do with skill sets than age, they explained, pointing to a handful of ministerial aides with experience in previous federal Liberal governments.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour MaryAnn Mihychuk, 61, moves from cabinet to the back benches. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
"I think the world changed a lot between the time there was a Liberal government last time and now," they said. "Facebook and Twitter didn't exist, to start. It was a pretty disruptive nine years in terms of the skill set required for politics."
"I think that it may be that a lot of the people who had worked in previous Liberal governments had skill sets devoted to that time and era that we felt were less applicable to this one."
On the party side, the Liberals need people who understand the technology that has transformed campaigns and politics, they said.
Generational change a staple of politics
"The old way of doing politics, of political campaigns, has gone the way of the horse-drawn carriage."
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion, 61, was shuffled out of cabinet Tuesday and is leaving active politics. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Veteran Liberals like Peter Donolo, former aide to former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, says generational change is a normal part of every political party.
"I think it is a change, generational renewal, and I think it is a positive thing," said Donolo, discussing the cabinet shuffle. "I think it is the case in terms of not just elected officials but the PMO, the minister's offices — it is a new generation."
Chrétien's first cabinet included some veteran ministers that were destined from the start to give way to younger colleagues, he said.
"Back in my time with Mr. Chrétien…in 1993 he put a number of quite experienced ministers in senior portfolios with the full knowledge and intention that they weren't going to last the whole mandate," Donolo explained.
"He did that for two reasons. One is he wanted the kind of experience to be able to hit the ground running. Secondly, he wanted to be able to show others in the caucus that there was a chance, there was a hope that they could get into cabinet."
Big contrast to Trump 'geritocracy'
Ironically, one of those young MPs brought into cabinet following the 1995 referendum, was Stéphane Dion, who was shuffled out of cabinet Tuesday.
Quito Maggi, president of the polling firm Mainstreet Research, says millennials are beginning to outnumber baby boomers. (Submitted by Mainstreet Research)
Trudeau's cabinet is also in sharp contrast with Trump's, which Donolo described as a "geritocracy."
"The chief (Canadian) interlocutors with the Trump administration are going to be this feisty, ball of fire, four-foot-five woman who is on Putin's no fly list. There's a defence minister who is a turbaned Sikh. An immigration minister who is a Muslim born in Somalia. A French-Canadian trade minister. I think it's great."
"The contrast is tremendous. I think one is a last gasp of a certain kind of politics and culture and the other one is the future."
Pollster Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Research and a former Liberal Party organizer, said Trudeau's changes are in line with the changing demographics of Canada as millennials aged 18-34, who voted overwhelmingly for Trudeau, begin to outnumber baby boomers, who are now 53 and older.
"As we go on, 2015 was when millennials eclipsed the boomer generation in population. By 2019, it will be a pretty significant shift," said Maggi.
"When it comes to voting, certainly those voting populations will even more exceed what it was in the last election, so appealing to those groups continues to make more and more sense."
People like Trudeau's principal secretary Gerald Butts are very well aware of Canada's changing demographics, tweeting after the cabinet shuffle Tuesday that the median age in Canada was now 40.6.
Median age of Canada: 40.6 <a href="https://t.co/5PAWQMrgPp">https://t.co/5PAWQMrgPp</a> —@gmbutts
Maggi said several factors go into the selection of cabinet members, including regional representation, gender and ethnic background, but he predicted many Liberal MPs past age 53 can probably forget about making it into Trudeau's cabinet in the future.
"If you're a boomer in Ontario or Quebec – forget about it."
Boomers have the money
However, Maggi says there's also a risk for Trudeau if Liberal boomers start to feel eclipsed by millennials and the 35 to 52-year-old members of gen X.
"There could be a little bit of a danger. Baby boomers still represent the second largest chunk of the population in the Western world, including Canada, and by far represent the biggest chunk of wealth and, by extension, influence and power so that carries some risks for Mr. Trudeau."
While no Liberal boomer has ever become prime minister of Canada, Donolo points out that sometimes it's just the way things go.
"I think baby boomers, we have gotten used to being the centre of attention and we've kind of been perennially adolescents and I think it is a bit of a rude awakening to see the parade moving on."
Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at [email protected] |
The 2012 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships were the 76th such event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. 46 teams representing their countries participated in six levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2013 competition.
Championship [ edit ]
The Championship took place between sixteen teams from 4 to 20 May 2012. Finland and Sweden hosted the event with games played in Helsinki and Stockholm.[1]
Championship — Final Standings
Division I [ edit ]
The Division I competition took place from 15 to 21 April 2012. Group A games were played in Ljubljana, Slovenia and Group B were played in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland.[1]
Division I A — Final Standings Slovenia — promoted to Championship for 2013 Austria — promoted to Championship for 2013 Hungary Japan Great Britain Ukraine — relegated to Division I B for 2013 Division I B — Final Standings South Korea — promoted to Division I A for 2013 Poland Netherlands Romania Lithuania Australia — relegated to Division II A for 2013
Division II [ edit ]
The Division II competition were held in two groups. Group A games were played from 12 to 18 April 2012 in Reykjavík, Iceland and Group B were played from 2 to 8 April 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria.[1]
Division II A — Final Standings Estonia — promoted to Division I B for 2013 Spain Croatia Iceland Serbia New Zealand — relegated to Division II B for 2013 Division II B — Final Standings Belgium - promoted to Division II A for 2013 China Bulgaria Mexico Israel South Africa — relegated to Division III for 2013
Division III [ edit ]
The Division III competition took place from 15 to 21 April 2012 in Erzurum, Turkey.[1]
Division III — Final Standings
Turkey — promoted to Division II B for 2013 North Korea Luxembourg Ireland Greece Mongolia
See also [ edit ] |
I have to admit I’m a Asian food addict, I really love it! There are two recipes I prepare every week, this super easy vegan fried rice and these vegan stir fried Udon noodles.
This recipe is ready in only 15 minutes, it’s light, healthy, delectable and you’re gonna love it, I promise! Udon noodles are made with wheat flour and salt and tamari (or soy sauce) is very salty, so you don’t need to add any salt.
You can use your favorite veggies, I usually add the vegetables I have in my fridge. I use ground ginger because it lasts longer than the fresh variety, but if you prefer, you can use fresh ginger too, although you need to keep in mind fresh ginger tends to deliver a more intense flavor, so you need to add less.
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If you are a celiac or you are following a gluten-free diet, you can use corn pasta or any other gluten-free alternative. If you’re a vegan be careful because many noodles are made with egg.
I cook Asian dishes in a wok, I bought it at Ikea, it’s cheap and works very well, so if you love this kind of recipes, I recommend you to buy one. If you don’t have a wok, you can use a skillet too, your noodles will be delicious too.
This recipe is perfect for summer because you only need 15 minutes to prepare it and you don’t need to use the oven. It’s a great alternative to junk or pre-packaged food, because it’s a super quick recipe and it’s much healthier.
If you prefer a fat-free version, you can remove the oil and cook the veggies with water and tamari or soy sauce. I always cook with extra virgin olive oil and avoid refined oils, they are not healthy at all and it’s fairly resistant to the heat, although I prefer to use the least amount of oil on my dishes.
If you love simple, easy, healthy, delicious, Asian recipes, you should try these vegan stir fried Udon noodles, they won’t disappoint you! |
This article is for players like me who, over time, got a little bored of League of Legends and are looking for some relief: new gameplay elements, a new look, something new to learn and grow into. While the graphic overhaul of Summoner's Rift is something I look forward to as well, let me introduce you to Dawngate.
What's Dawngate?
Dawngate is a MOBA in open beta, created by Waystone Games - their first game - and published by EA (you can log on using your Origin account). At the time of writing, there are 28 playable characters (called "shapers") and one playable map/game mode. Not comparable to your usual MOBAs yet but it's a start.
A unique aspect that seperates it from your other MOBA games is that in the pre-game lobby you not only choose your shaper but also the role you will be looking to fulfill. This means that - to an extent - you are able to play any character you want in any role.
The game is free to play and funds itself through micro transactions. The usual stuff: you have a free currency ("Destiny") which you acquire through playing games and one ("Waypoints") that you can obtain through actual money. Shapers can be bought with both currencies, but skins through Waypoints only.
The top-down view of Dawngate
Be nice to others to get more money!
As with most "smaller" MOBAs like SMITE, I feel the smaller playerbase causes lower toxicity levels within the community and comparatively less abuse in games - an aspect that is supported by the Karma system. At the end of each game, you are able to honor your team mates and opponents by giving them Karma. The catch here is: the more Karma you receive yourself, the better the rewards are!
How this works is after everyone gives out Karma for the completed game, the game calculates your score on the "Blessings scale". After a random base amount, you gain additional points for a victory, the game's duration, your possible first win of the day bonus and(!) a bonus based on the amount of Karma you just received. The total amount allows you to reach reward tiers (Common, Grand, Astral, Exalted and Divine) - the higher the tier, the better the rewards you receive.
Your reward will usually consist of some Destiny points, Spirit Stones and/or Sparks - the latter two make up the loadout system which we will discuss later in the article (think runes in LoL). However, if you're lucky, you can even receive shapers this way! And shapers in this game are damn expensive as you have to grind through a ton of games to acquire enough Destiny to purchase a shaper the regular way.
The post-game Karma screen
Choose your character
The 28 characters are categorized into the usual archetypes: ranged carries, bruisers, mages, tanks, assassins and supports. While they should give you a general sense of the shapers' playstyles, the role system ensures your choice of character won't dictate the position or role you'll have to play.
Now, the character kit designs are nothing special: you have your targeted abilities, line, cone and circular skill shots, auto attack enhances and so on. This is no slander: none of the MOBAs have come up with any spectacular ability designs past the now common ones. That also means you end up recognizing some similarities with characters of other games. You have Zalgus for example: a binding shot in a line (Q), a small circular AoE nuke (E) and a massive line laser (R)? I can hear a certain luminous lady laughing hysterically.
What I do like for the most part, though, is the character design in terms of the theme, model, look, feel and sound. Take Dibs as one of many examples: sure, he's a cute, funny, little furball (Teemo anyone?), but he doesn't feel like a rip-off whatsoever. The idea alone of him carrying a beetle on his back who he talks to constantly only to have it help him fly across the map in his ultimate is just fantastic.
Pick any role!
In the pre-game lobby, after choosing your shaper, you're forced to choose one of four roles, every one of which gives you unique bonuses. The frequently mentioned "vim" is the in-game currency, analogous to gold in LoL.
- Gladiator: The vim gained for scoring the killing blow on lane minions is increased to 200% of normal. Melee only: You will store 50% of the total vim of minions that you fail to kill. The next time you kill a minion, you will gain any bonus vim you have stored this way. You may store up to 3 minions.
This is a role for anyone looking to stay in lane and farm. You'll find most ranged carries pick the Gladiator role due to their usual build path of items that increase your single target auto attack damage. However, anyone with great wave clear or who can reliably achieve last hits will enjoy these benefits. To further emphasize that this is a role for everyone, melee characters get an added benefit.
- Tactician: The vim gained for being near lane minions when they die is increased to 200% of normal. You gain bonus vim when you damage any enemy shaper (20 vim for ranged attacks and 40 vim for melee attacks). This effect has a 5 second cooldown.
The support/harasser role. The benefits are great for your usual support characters and, once more, the second part encourages just about anyone who can reliably harrass to pick this role. Also, duo Tactician brawler lanes are quite common as both will benefit from each other's last hits and enjoy the bonus vim you gain from fighting the enemy laners.
- Hunter: You do 10% more damage to jungle creatures. When you kill a jungle creature, you will heal for 2.5% of the creature's maximum Health. When you kill a jungle creature there is a 25% chance you will gain 30 bonus vim.
The obvious jungle choice. The sustain as well as bonus income is great for anyone spending a long time in the jungle.
- Predator: The vim gained for killing an enemy shaper is increased to 150% of normal. The vim gained for assists against an enemy shaper is increased to 200% of normal. The vim gained for killing spirit well workers is increased to 200% of normal. The experience gained for scoring a kill or an assist on an enemy shaper is increased to 130% of normal.
This is the perfect role for roamers and assassins, however, the unreliability of the income makes this quite an uncommon pick. If you're comfortable at getting kills on a shaper though, the vim and XP gain will make this role worth your while. Anyone who plans to roam (harrass Spirit Wells - see next chapter) or gank a lot should consider the Predator role.
Some of the beautiful Dawngate characters
Not quite your usual map
While you have the two opposing bases in the lower left and upper right corner, there are only two lanes traversing between the two. The rest of the map is made up of a big jungle with the middle of the map being an open plane - home to the Parasite, the game's big buff monster. Killing him provides your team with XP, vim, as well as a Power and HP regeneration buff. On top of that, your lanes will be spawning striders, your equivalent to super minions, which will help you push.
More notable locations can be found in the corners of the map: Spirit Wells are vim generation sources. Both teams start off with two Spirit Wells under their control. Each one spawns workers that automatically collect vim for the controlling team. Enemies can harrass Spirit Wells by killing the workers, thus gaining flat vim for themselves and reducing the income of their opponents.
After a while, the Spirit Wells unlock and can be captured by the enemy team. Once captured, it is locked again and starts spawning workers and producing income for its new owners. The addition of Spirit Wells gives junglers and roamers something to do when camps are down, forces laners to be wary of invades and creates points of contention, often times leading to action in the jungle.
With the two lanes dividing the map in roughly three evenly sized areas, ganking junglers can possibly have a field day as ambushes are possible from both sides of the lanes. This makes the jungle role more exciting to play and forces everyone to be wary of missing enemies.
Automated workers collect vim for your team
Loadouts: like Runes but with Tangram
The rune system from LoL is called Loadouts in Dawngate - but it is not quite the same. To build a Loadout page, you need two ingredients: Spiritstones and Sparks. Spiritstones are geometric shapes that need to be arranged in such a way that they make up a square - Tangram style - where each one holds stats or even unique passives.
The Spiritstones, however, need to be activated first with the use of Sparks. Each Spiritstone has one or more colored sockets which need to be filled with the correspondingly colored Sparks.
Alongside Destiny points, Spiritstones are the most common post-game rewards, so after a few games you will have a sizeable collection to create your first Loadout pages. Sparks, however, are harder to get hold of. Luckily they are comparatively cheap as two games will score you roughly enough Destiny to buy a Spark.
Sure hope you paid attention in geometry class!
What are those Stats?
The character stats system is a simplified version of what you'll usually find in MOBAs, we'll use League of Legends for comparison. The important differences are:
- Power: Attack Damage and Ability Power combined. This doesn't mean, however, that the auto attacks of two shapers with the same amount of Power will do the same damage as the added damage scales based on the character archetypes. The auto attacks of ranged carries scale a lot better than e.g. mages'. Similarly mages will have the highest Power-scaling ability damage of any of the classes.
- Defense Penetration: Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration combined. If, say, you have 20 Defense Penetration and your ability does physical damage, the damage will be calculated with the target's armor reduced by 20.
- Mastery: Critical Strike Chance on one hand and an ability damage amplifier on the other. For each mastery point you acquire through items, your basic attacks will have an added 1% crit chance. Additionally for each mastery point, the damage of your abilities is multiplied by 0.5%.
- Haste: Movement Speed, Cooldown Reduction and Attack Speed Reduction combined. The exact ability/AS reduction ratios per point in Haste are shaper-specific. Every point in Haste increases your Movement Speed by 0.4.
The remaining stats behave similarly to, say, LoL. The great thing about this simplified system is that on one hand, you have enough parallels to the common systems that the meta game sense of advanced players is not wasted on Dawngate, while on the other hand the combination of stats makes it easier for new players to get going. One stat boosting all kinds of speeds combined: movement speed as well as the casting speed of basic attacks and abilities? Makes sense.
What do I buy?
The item system seems heavily simplified because there are no actives, and all items build out of six starter items. However, unlike League of Legends the item trees branch outwards instead of inwards, meaning the initial six items build into 61 tier 3 items. Thankfully beginners are presented with suggested item choices seperated into starter, core, offensive and defensive items.
There are only four consumable items: Vitality Potions are your usual Health Potions: uninterruptable, temporarily increased health regen. Flasks of Moxie and Prowess buff your health/HP regen and damage/speed respectively for a duration of two minutes - comparable to e.g. a red pot in LoL. Finally, the Flask of Foresight acts as a distance indicator for the closest enemy, allowing you to be alert of incoming ganks even without vision.
Speaking of vision, you might be missing wards in the list of consumable items. That's because every player has the ability to place one ward for free every 3 minutes. Wards last 3 minutes as well and cannot be destroyed - an awesome take on the vision war as everyone is compulsorily contributing. The one-ward-per-player restriction also keeps the game interesting, as the immense jungle allows for many more gank paths than can be covered by the two players of a lane.
Sneaking this into the items section, let's also talk about Spells, the Dawngate equivalent to Summoner Spells. In a very welcome change from the LoL style, you do not choose them before the game but instead are given one Spell slot at levels 1, 10 and 20 (max level) each. You then get to choose from one of twelve Spells, many of which are quite similar to what you would expect.
Closing thoughts
We've covered Dawngate's differences to known MOBAs and its new take on the game reward system, character roles, gameplay as well as the item and stats system. The idea of having your behaviour influence the post-game rewards you receive proves to be a great tool in fighting some of the toxicity inherent in the MOBA culture. Obviously it won't fix the issues of internet anonymity but it definitely influences the behaviour of those borderline cases.
Overall Dawngate seems to directly address the issues of other MOBA games: in-game roles to allow character diversity, exposed lanes and the one-ward restriction to keep the laning phase exciting and Spirit Wells to mix up the entrenched gameplay elements. If you're looking for a new take on a familiar game type, Dawngate is your ideal choice. |
The Dallas Mavericks set a franchise record for victory margin with a 53-point blowout when the Philadelphia 76ers came to town earlier this month.
The rematch Saturday night against the winless Sixers in Philadelphia should be no sweat for the Mavs, right? Not if recent history is any indication.
The last six times an NBA game was decided by at least 50 points, the losing team got revenge with a victory the next time the teams met. It’s a bizarre streak that dates back more than a decade.
If any coach should be cautious about a letdown, it’s the Mavs’ Rick Carlisle. He had two teams fall victim to the 50-point curse: the 2009-10 Mavs and the 2002-03 Detroit Pistons.
A look at the strange six-game streak:
Jan. 11, 2011: Los Angeles Lakers 112, Cleveland Cavaliers 57
Feb. 16, 2011: Cavaliers 104, Lakers 99
Jan. 24, 2010: Mavericks 128, New York Knicks 78
March 13, 2010: Knicks 128, Mavericks 94
March 16, 2008: Denver Nuggets 168, Seattle Supersonics 116
April 6, 2008: Supersonics 151, Nuggets 147 (2 OT)
March 18, 2007: Houston Rockets 124, 76ers 74
Dec. 10, 2007: 76ers 100, Rockets 88
March 28, 2003: Indiana Pacers 140, Chicago Bulls 89
April 8, 2003: Bulls 115, Pacers 103
Jan. 21, 2003: Pistons 118, Celtics 66
March 15, 2003: Celtics 81, Pistons 71 |
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende The version of this book I picked up (well, my dad gave me his old copy from 1990 as a recommended read) was one without a blurb, only a string of praises for the novel were printed on the back. To me, this was exciting - I came straight...
It by Alexa Chung This book is a must-have for all Chung worshipers (myself included). It gives a unique and casual insight into the coolest woman alive's fashion and style inspiration and tips, so that lowly peasants like us could have a hope to recreate...
Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson While reading this book, I rolled my eyes so many times they almost fell back into my head. Though I found the characters, for the most of it, unlikable (is that a word? I hope so) and the plot and actions of these characters slightly pr...
Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski I dived into 'Ham On Rye' thinking it was just my kind of book; the autobiographical prose style of a coming-of-age teen, set in an America been-and-gone? Yes please. It turns out that 'Ham On Rye' wasn't my kind of book. Unbeknownst to ...
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates I enjoyed 'Revolutionary Road' much more than I expected, seeing as it's part of the A Level English course. I was really drawn to how Yates makes mundaneness and simplicity so interesting and completely not boring. Though the story was ...
Share book reviews and ratings with georgia, and even join a book club on Goodreads. |
Paranoid Android custom ROM is back for Nexus and OnePlus devices. It brings all the stock Android features along with tons of extra custom elements designed by the PA team.
The Paranoid Android team now features new members / developers, but it still offers a very stable and smooth custom Marshmallow 6.0.1 ROM experience. The best thing about the new builds of PA 6.0 is that it supports all the Nexus devices released since Nexus 4 launch, such as the Nexus 7 2013 tablet, Nexus 5, and more.
The work on the first Paranoid Android 6.0 build was started nine months ago, which is why you will get great performance out of it right away. Every single thing about Paranoid Android is new and if you are a power user, then you should give PA 6.0 2016 release a test run and prepare to be impressed.
Quick Settings in PA 2016 Marshmallow 6.0 builds offers you the possibility to manage and edit tiles easier than in Stock Android 6.0.1. You can reorder, delete or add tiles after long pressing them. All the tiles that you will hide/ send to trash can be restored at any time.
Applications can now be used in Floating Mode after long pressing the notification window, tapping on the floating button or by going to Recents> and tapping on the same app floating button. The OnePlus, OPPO and users of other devices will be able to flash custom kernels, set advanced gestures, add new button controls and change their PA 6.0 installed to their liking.
The Paranoid Android 6.0 builds are available for all the following devices: Nexus 4, 5, 6, 7 2013 edition, 9, 5X, 6P, and for the One Plus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X devices. Also, it seems like PA 2016 team will soon release working Paranoid Android 6.0 builds for various Sony Xperia devices, too. If you want to try PA on your Nexus device, then you should check the AOSPA website – open the Official Devices tab for Nexus, OnePlus and OPPO models, or the Legacy menu for other non-Nexus phones.
Tell us in comments if you’re planning on installing a PA 6.0 Marshmallow ROM on your device. Also, feel free to list some other extra features that you’ve found while testing the new custom ROM builds. |
This is one of the most difficult posts I have ever had to write. I had naively hoped that this election cycle, I would be treated to a substantive contest between a spate of highly accomplished two-term conservative governors, and Senators of great rhetorical skill acting as the ideological conscience of the bunch.
As the primary wore on through the summer of 2015, it became clear that the GOP electorate was not interested in governors of accomplishment, but I still had hope for a final contest between two of my favorite Senators: Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. I hoped to hear a rousing and fair debate between the two leading into Super Tuesday, where I would be able to make a decision based on who would be the better President, and who would make the better general election opponent against Hillary Clinton.
Sadly, 35% of our party has decided to abdicate their responsibility as adults to take their civic voting duty seriously, and so the poisonous threat of Trump has completely altered my own personal voting calculus.
No one can be a good President unless they can win a Presidential election. That means that the ability to beat Hillary Clinton is a necessary pre-requisite to the job. It also unfortunately means that the ability to beat Donald Trump is a necessary pre-requisite to the job.
I’ve been on the record for months saying that Ted Cruz would be a better President than Marco Rubio. I still believe that. Ted Cruz is one of us, and there’s no doubt about it. Cruz would be far more effective bringing the Federal leviathan under control and shaking up Washington, DC than Rubio (or Trump, for that matter, ever would). And I also firmly believe that Ted Cruz would beat Hillary Clinton in the general election.
The problem is, I no longer believe that Ted Cruz can beat Donald Trump. Cruz likes to say that he is the only candidate who has beaten Donald Trump, and it’s true that the idiosyncrasies of the Iowa Caucus electorate handed him a narrow win over Trump in a small-delegate state. The problem is that he’ll never have a contest as favorable to his electoral strengths as Iowa again.
Dan McLaughlin performed an invaluable, numbers-driven deep dive yesterday that shows the mathematical problems Cruz has going forward. The tl;dr version of the post is that unless Cruz emerges from Super Tuesday with an actual delegate lead – which is an increasingly remote possibility given that he is headed in the wrong direction in the polls, relative to both Rubio and Trump – he is doomed.
Cruz has simply not succeeded in expanding his voting base beyond self-described “evangelical” and “very conservative” voters. He has lost every other category of voter to both Rubio and Trump in every contest so far. He was able to win Iowa because those two groups were so densely clustered in the Iowa electorate. He has some Super Tuesday states where they are also favorably clustered, but after March 5th, the terrain becomes brutal for Cruz.
Let me borrow heavily from the data from Dan’s post to illustrate this point. Here is how the candidates have done thus far with “non-evangelical Christian voters” in each contest:
IA: Trump 29, Rubio 26, Cruz 19, Kasich 4
NH: Trump 37, Kasich 18, Rubio 11, Cruz 8
SC: Trump 30, Rubio 22, Kasich 19, Cruz 13
NV: Trump 50, Rubio 24, Cruz 18, Kasich 5
Even in New Hampshire, where Rubio flopped, he still beat Cruz in this category.
Let’s look furthermore at “somewhat conservative voters”:
IA: Rubio 29, Trump 24, Cruz 19, Kasich 2
NH: Trump 36, Kasich 14, Rubio 12, Cruz 9
SC: Trump 35, Rubio 25, Cruz 17, Kasich 6
NV: Trump 50, Rubio 26, Cruz 16, Kasich 4
Again, clear preference for Rubio, even in New Hampshire at the nadir of his campaign.
Now let’s look at “moderate” voters:
IA: Trump 34, Rubio 28, Cruz 9, Kasich 7
NH: Trump 32, Kasich 28, Rubio 8, Cruz 4
SC: Trump 34, Rubio 23, Kasich 21, Cruz 7
NV: Trump 55, Rubio 27, Cruz 7, Kasich 6
Again, a huge preference for Rubio – in fact, those numbers for Cruz indicate a huge dislike and probably represent a group that would almost wholesale go for Trump if Rubio were not in the race.
And now, the one group where Cruz out performs Rubio, evangelicals:
IA: Cruz 33, Trump/Rubio 21, Kasich 1
NH: Trump 27, Cruz 23, Rubio 13, Kasich 11
SC: Trump 33, Cruz 27, Rubio 22, Kasich 5
NV: Trump 40, Cruz 26, Rubio 23, Kasich 2
One observation immediately jumps out at you from these results: Ted Cruz is simply not broadening his appeal beyond “evangelical” and “very conservative” voters over time. As other candidates have dropped out and the race has advanced, those voters have gone to other candidates, completely passing Cruz by. Meanwhile, his support among evangelical voters and “very conservative” voters has remained stagnant while both Rubio and Trump have elevated their standing.
Long story short: Ted Cruz cannot expand beyond his current base of “Evangelical” and “Very conservative” voters. He has tried, and failed. What’s equally important is that he has failed to increase his standing within those groups, and wrested any portion of them away from either Trump or Rubio. Rubio, meanwhile, has increased his standing with every group of Republican voters. He has dominated late deciders in every primary other than New Hampshire.
So let’s do some simple math. Even if we assume that Marco Rubio drops out the day after Super Tuesday, we would have to assume that his support would split in some fashion between Trump and Cruz. Even if you assume that Cruz would get almost all of the “non-evangelical Christians,” virtually all of the “evangelical Christians” and most of the “somewhat conservative” voters that are currently allocated to Rubio, you would have to assume that Trump would get the lion’s share of the “moderate” voters that are currently allocated to Rubio.
The end result is that Ted Cruz still loses a heads up matchup with Donald Trump anywhere that the electorate is not at least 60% evangelical and/or “very conservative.”
The problem for Cruz is that after Super Tuesday, the electorate gets significantly less evangelical, and less “very conservative.” To borrow again from Dan’s excellent post yesterday:
This is a chart that plainly illustrates that, if you started the primary on March 6th as a zero-zero tie between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, Trump would likely win the election the rest of the way. Cruz simply must emerge with a delegate lead from Super Tuesday/March 5th, or he is toast.
And the evidence is mounting that Cruz has absolutely no shot at emerging from Super Tuesday with a delegate lead – in fact, the optimistic projections have him emerging at least 100 delegates behind Trump and the more realistic ones have him trailing by more than 200. If the Emerson poll yesterday that shows Cruz essentially in a three way tie with Trump and Rubio is accurate, then he’ll be in a bigger hole still. If he comes out of Super Tuesday behind by 200 delegates or more (which seems likely), then he will have to win the remaining delegates by roughly a 55-45% split.
That is, quite simply, something he cannot do, especially with a whole slew of winner-take-all states that he is likely to lose outright. His base of support, while loyal, is simply too narrow to succeed in the post-March 5th states.
That is not to say that Rubio would definitely beat Trump or that he does not have his own challenges to face. But the fact that he has shown a demonstrated ability to broaden his appeal such that he has a reasonable chance for success in non-Southern states means that he at least has a chance. Ted Cruz does not, at least that I can see.
I would love to have Ted Cruz as my President. But I can’t keep holding on to the dream that it will happen when math is staring me in the face saying that it can’t. Following that path is exactly what led us to McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012, and Trump is a much greater menace than either.
The choice at this point is either Rubio or Trump, realistically. And that’s the easiest choice I’ve ever had to make – and not just because Rubio is the “not Trump” option (although I would admittedly crawl over broken glass to vote against Trump). Rubio has a lot to commend him to conservative voters, which I have covered at length here and won’t rehash now.
I know some Cruz supporters will be resistant to support Rubio because of the rough and tumble of the political campaign and because of hurt feelings incurred during the increasingly personal war of words between Cruz and Rubio. Politics, as they say, ain’t beanbag and both Cruz and Rubio have been aggressively trying to win at each other’s expense.
But even if you object to Rubio’s tactics, they pale in comparison to the neverending cavalcade of flatly dishonest and juvenile attacks that Trump has leveled at Cruz, and the alternative to Rubio right now is Trump. Conservatives don’t have to like it, but they do have to accept it, if they don’t want Trump to be the nominee in 2016.
On Super Tuesday, I will step into the voting both and cast my vote for Marco Rubio. I will do it without reservation, although I would have preferred Cruz from both an ideological and temperamental standpoint. I recognize that Rubio would still be the best and most conservative nominee I will have ever had the opportunity to vote for in the general, and I can’t really be sad about not getting Cruz when my second choice is a pretty darn good option.
But even if you’re not as sanguine about the situation as I am, I hope you’ll realize the truth: right now the realistic options for our nominee are Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.
I choose Marco Rubio and happily endorse him for President of the United States. |
A street is flooded in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, on September 19.
A street is flooded in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, on September 19.
Members of a rescue team embrace as they wait to help in Humacao on September 20.
Members of a rescue team embrace as they wait to help in Humacao on September 20.
San Juan is shrouded in darkness after the hurricane knocked out power to the entire island of Puerto Rico.
San Juan is shrouded in darkness after the hurricane knocked out power to the entire island of Puerto Rico.
A mattress that fell from the third floor is surrounded by debris outside a San Juan apartment complex on September 20.
A mattress that fell from the third floor is surrounded by debris outside a San Juan apartment complex on September 20.
A gas station's sign is damaged in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as the hurricane passed just north of the country on September 21.
A gas station's sign is damaged in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as the hurricane passed just north of the country on September 21.
People collect water from a natural spring created by landslides in Corozal, Puerto Rico, on Sunday, September 24. Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the island faces a humanitarian crisis.
People collect water from a natural spring created by landslides in Corozal, Puerto Rico, on Sunday, September 24. Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the island faces a humanitarian crisis.
Yancy Leon rests at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport near San Juan on September 25. She's been waiting in line for two days to get a flight out.
Yancy Leon rests at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport near San Juan on September 25. She's been waiting in line for two days to get a flight out.
An apartment building is missing a wall in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Monday, September 25, nearly a week after Hurricane Maria devastated the US commonwealth. Power is still out in most places, and communications remain almost nonexistent on the island of 3.4 million people.
An apartment building is missing a wall in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Monday, September 25, nearly a week after Hurricane Maria devastated the US commonwealth. Power is still out in most places, and communications remain almost nonexistent on the island of 3.4 million people.
Washington (CNN) When Hurricane Maria barreled across Puerto Rico, devastating buildings with wind and flooding and wiping out the power infrastructure, the safety and livelihood of more than 3.4 million Americans hung in the balance.
But has Puerto Rico's lack of statehood caused the federal government and broader American public to overlook its fellow citizens?
President Donald Trump pledged to visit the island next Tuesday , saying the island was "literally destroyed" and making more disaster assistance dollars available. He congratulated the federal government on its response, saying "I think we've done a really good job" and citing praise from local government officials.
Thank you to Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Mayor of San Juan, for your kind words on FEMA etc.We are working hard. Much food and water there/on way
But the main airport on the island is barely functioning and shipments of aid are struggling to keep up with the millions there who need food and shelter. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the devastation on the island a "humanitarian crisis," promising that the victims will get the same help that people in Texas and Florida received.
In many ways, like population and gross domestic product, Puerto Rico appears like just any other middle-of-the-road state that may blend in with many you'd see on the American mainland. But its economic problems left it extremely vulnerable to a storm like this.
Here's a look at how Puerto Rico ranks up against the 50 states.
A state without statehood?
Less than a three-hour flight from Miami, the island of just more than 5,000 square miles is smaller than every American state except for Delaware and Rhode Island. Still, in many ways, Puerto Rico is very similar to a US state.
It's home to more than 3.4 million people, according to the US Census Bureau -- a population larger than 21 states, including Iowa, Arkansas and Nevada. That number has declined in recent years as more residents move to the US mainland amid economic woes on the island.
The Puerto Rico population has steadily declined over the last decade from 3.8 million people. Just in the last year, according to the US Census Bureau, the population declined by a broad 1.8 percentage points. (Only six states had declining populations from 2015 to 2016, but none of the US states' populations were declining as quickly as Puerto Rico's; West Virginia being the worst at just 0.5 points.)
Puerto Rico's gross domestic product -- at $103 billion, according to the World Bank -- would rank 37th if Puerto Rico were a state, ahead of places like New Mexico, South Dakota and New Hampshire, according to data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Puerto Rico came under US control more than a century ago, and Puerto Ricans have voted a half-dozen times on statehood -- most recently a low-turnout nonbinding vote in June where residents overwhelmingly voted to become to 51st state. Ultimately, however, Congress must pass a law admitting them to the union.
For the time being, residents of the island are natural-born citizens just like anyone born in a US state, but they don't have a voting member in Congress or votes in the Electoral College, which elects the president. Like the 50 states, Puerto Rico has hits own constitution, governor and legislature.
The economic vulnerability of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has stark economic woes that separate it from most of the 50 states -- and make the island particularly vulnerable to a large storm that wipes out infrastructure and devastates personal property.
A broad 44% of its residents live in poverty, according to the US Census Bureau. That's more than double the 21% of residents in Mississippi and Louisiana who live in poverty -- the highest in the United States.
The island also has been plagued by debt and a declining credit rating amid an economic recession there. Trump had tweeted earlier that Puerto Rico was in "deep trouble" after the storm, in part because its electrical grid was "in terrible shape" and they have "billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks."
Indeed, the median household income on the island is just $19,350, according to the US Census Bureau -- less than half the median household income of those in Mississippi and Louisiana, again at the bottom of the list.
The median income for the entire United States is more than triple the island's number, and the median income in the most wealthy states in the country hit nearly four times as much money.
Unemployment in Puerto Rico also remains high at 10.1% -- worse than any state and more than double the national unemployment rate in the United States of 4.4%. Still, it's been a slightly improvement over the last several years after it reached a peak of 17.0% in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico last week as a Category 4 storm, the largest storm to hit the US territory in nearly a century. |
Sightings of Asian grass carp in two Toronto ponds have prompted the "biggest response in Canada to date" from Fisheries and Oceans Canada against the invasive species.
Crews have been searching the Leslie Street Spit area since two male carp in breeding condition were spotted on Tuesday. The fish were found in an enclosed pond in Tommy Thompson Park, which is located just minutes from downtown Toronto along the city's waterfront.
Officials are not yet sure how the two fish got there. Another Asian carp was discovered in the Don River in 2003, but it was sterile.
On Wednesday, four boats were deployed in the Leslie Street Spit area to search for more carp, but none were caught. Officials on each boat were equipped with an electro-fishing bone, an instrument that puts electricity in the water which stuns the fish, causing them to float up to the surface.
The fish are not harmed in the process. They are stunned long enough so that they can be captured. Officials said anything that looked like a carp would be captured, and anything that does not will be released. The two captured male carp are being examined at a fisheries lab in Burlington, Ont.
One of the Asian carp was approximately one-metre long, while the other was slightly smaller, Asian carp program manager Becky Cudmore told CTV Toronto on Wednesday.
Cudmore conducts research on the species for the federal Asian Carp Science Lab located at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, a division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
"We're in an interesting position in that we can see the destructive behaviour that Asian carp are posing in the established environment in the United States," Cudmore said.
South of the border, the fish have been known to push out the native species, destroy commercial fishing nets and ruining wetland habitats, she said.
"We are in a unique position to try to prevent that in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes, so that's our focus."
When two of the fish were spotted in Toronto, Fisheries and Oceans Canada teamed up with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
"It's a very formal system. We have all been trained," Cudmore told CTV Toronto of the protocol on Wednesday. Still, Cudmore said it's the "biggest response" the team of experts has implemented in Canada to date.
The reason for the urgency of the investigation is that the two giant fish were found close together, in a short period of time, meaning there may be others nearby.
Cudmore added that there's no need to panic, saying that there's no evidence of an invasion so far. She called the presence a "concern," but said there were no signs of spawning behaviour. Both fish found in Toronto are male, and there have been no sightings of female fish.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s John Musselman |
Ms. Wall, a veteran black campaign operative, offers a candid, behind-the-scenes assessment. Few have had her insider’s perspective: as an adviser to President Bush, the last Republican presidential candidate to carry, in 2004, 11 percent of the black vote — a relative high-water mark for Republicans — and as an aide to Mitt Romney, who failed to match that level of support in 2012.
We also talk with the New York Times columnist Charles Blow and the reporter Yamiche Alcindor, who have both covered the campaign and its racial dynamics for the past two years.
Mr. Blow discusses the difficult choice this election. “One party approaches you with a philosophy of pain, and the other approaches you with a philosophy of pity,” he says. “And most black people, I would venture, don’t want either.”
But he warns about false equivalency. “Have Democrats been perfect? Of course they haven’t. But there are actual attacks on individual people of color in this country,” he says, speaking of efforts to enact stricter voter registration laws. “Everyone knows the net effect of them will be a disproportionate impact on poor people and minorities and, in particular, black people,” he said, “and those are, for the most part, Republican legislatures doing that.”
Despite not being perfect, as Mr. Blow says, the Democratic Party — Hillary Clinton in particular — has overwhelming support from black voters. A recent poll shows Mrs. Clinton with 91 percent of the black vote, compared to 1 percent for Mr. Trump. I ask Ms. Alcindor whether Mrs. Clinton has earned that. She thought back to what she heard while covering Bernie Sanders. |
Americans should look around and take stock of all the places where a smart machine is performing a task formerly done by a human: ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines), ticket kiosks in airports and self-checkout in grocery stores. Plus there are other examples that exist out of the public eye, including automated warehouses, robots for harvesting crops and manufacturing.
The latest incursion of smart machines is fast food restaurants like Chilis and Chevys introducing an Ipad-style device on tables for customers to order food.
The increasing use of smart machines everywhere is one reason for the jobless recovery.
Below, a surveillance robot patrols a school — eliminating a watchman job.
More clever automation is yet another reason that doubling legal immigration is a terrible idea. We don’t need to import excess workers when 20 million citizens cannot find work.
American workers are now facing major employment destruction from three fronts: immigration, outsourcing and smart machines. Of the three, immigration is the issue over which citizens have the most influence.
Back to more automated restaurants, which may become more so if employees insist on substantially higher wages: a robotic burger flipper is ready to replace humans.
Michael Saltsman: The Employee of the Month Has a Battery, Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2014
Minimum wage hikes are accelerating the trend toward automation—and fewer workers—in services.
Ten years ago it might have seemed far-fetched that a customer could order food in a restaurant without speaking to anyone. But it’s a reality now as service employers across the country—including Chili’s, Chevys Fresh Mex and California Pizza Kitchen—introduce tabletop ordering devices. A few clicks on an iPad-like device and the food is on its way.
Technology has made these changes possible, but that’s not what’s driving their implementation. Steady federal and state increases to the minimum wage have forced employers in retail and service industries to rely on technology as the government makes entry-level labor more expensive. Now Democrats are pushing to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 from $7.25 at the behest of President Obama, who argued in his State of the Union address that the increase would “help families.” Lawmakers should consider the technology trend a warning.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates made the connection in a recent interview on MSNBC. Asked if he supported a higher minimum wage, Mr. Gates urged caution and said the policy would create an incentive for employers to “buy machines and automate things.”
Mr. Gates is right, but the transition toward self-service began long before tabletop computers were a viable option. Self-service soda machines, available at fast-food restaurants since at least the late 1970s, were a labor-saving device. Even coffee carafes left on the table for customers to serve themselves allowed restaurants to reduce the staff needed to fill cups. More recently, major restaurant chains such as Bob Evans and Chili’s have updated their service model to eliminate bus boys, relying on servers to clear tables themselves.
Technology has enabled much bigger overhauls. Consider the modern department store: At some Target and Macy’s locations, customers can check their own prices, as well as check themselves out at self-service kiosks after shopping. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2012 that the number of these establishments has grown by 23% over the last 10 years, while total employment at the firms has fallen by 6%.
Tablet-based ordering is coming into vogue at U.S. restaurants: Chefs polled by the National Restaurant Association recently ranked computerized menus as the top tech trend for 2014. Airports in locations like New York City and Minneapolis now feature “restaurants” that are waitstaff-free. In 2011, McDonald’s announced it was replacing human cashiers with touch-screen alternatives at more than 7,000 European locations.
Customers may find the new technology convenient, but the thousands of young adults who used to earn money filling these roles won’t. The data suggest employers are acting from economic necessity rather than spite. Profit margins in restaurants range from 3%-6%. They are even more modest at grocery stores, at 1%-2%.
Empirical studies, including University of California-Irvine and Federal Reserve researchers David Neumark and William L. Wascher’s exhaustive 2008 book “Minimum Wages,” show what happens when labor costs increase. Companies must choose between increasing prices or reducing costs to maintain limited profit margins.
And they’ve already been fighting rising costs. The federal minimum wage increased by 40% between 2007 and 2009. In the five years prior to that hike, 28 states acted independently to increase their own minimum wages. The cities of San Francisco and Santa Fe were the first to raise their base wage to nearly $9 an hour. Eleven states now raise their minimum wage automatically with inflation. New Jersey even amended its constitution to ensure wage hikes. Then there’s the Affordable Care Act, which has presented low-margin industries with another set of cost challenges.
President Obama and Senate Democrats are now endorsing another 40% increase in the federal minimum wage. And in localities such as Seattle and San Francisco, $15 an hour—which translates to an entry-level wage of $30,000 a year—is being seriously entertained. The small airport town of SeaTac in Washington already passed a $15 an hour minimum wage in November. It is not surprising that companies are urgently seeking labor savings that don’t dramatically alter the customer’s experience.
Which is exactly what today’s technology offers. Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and other brands, has cautioned legislators that a higher minimum wage is “encouraging automation.” Other service-industry CEOs are saying the same thing behind closed doors.
“Efficiency” is the positive public face of these changes. Chris Sullivan —a co-founder of Outback Steakhouse who now works with MenuPad, a tablet-ordering company—explained his product to me this way: “It increases productivity, allowing servers to wait on more tables.” That means tips may increase for some.
But the flip-side of more efficiency is a 20%-25% drop in the number of waitstaff necessary to run a restaurant. Currently, a worker who earns tips can be paid below minimum wage, allowing tips to make up the difference. But the $10.10 proposal would raise the minimum tip wage to $7.07 from $2.13, a 232% spike. With roughly three million current tipped jobs in the U.S., that could amount to as many as 750,000 fewer entry-level opportunities if implemented widely.
Technological change is inevitable and often healthy for industries, and perhaps our restaurant and grocery store experience will look different in 20 years regardless of labor costs. Yet policy makers are encouraging the switch to technology by increasing the cost of hiring—at a time when unemployment for young adults age 16-19 has hovered above 20% for more than five years.
There’s no limit on who can be replaced: San Francisco-based Momentum Machines has a burger-flipping robot that replaces three full-time kitchen staff, makes no wage demands and stages no walkouts. |
Online classifieds are convenient but sketchy — the websites themselves will tell you so.
Craigslist warns users of common scams, and Offer Up advises buyers and sellers to meet in public places, such as police stations.
Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui thinks that's a good idea, too.
Her bill, Assembly Bill 297, would create "e-commerce exchange zones" at law-enforcement offices throughout the state.
“So, in each county, city or township, they must designate one sheriff’s station or police station as an e-commerce exchange zone where people can go and feel comfortable and safe making their exchange," she said.
Jauregui said she wrote the bill after hearing from the family of a young man who was killed while trying to sell his iPhone. The assemblywoman herself had a bad Craigslist experience after buying $400 concert tickets that turned out to be fake.
She believes people will be less likely to commit a crime in front of a police station or sheriff's office. And if a buyer or seller is unwilling to meet at an e-commerce zone, that should be a red flag that something is not right, she said.
Jauregui wanted to make it clear that while the zones will be safer than a lot of other options, not all of them will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is why they're called "e-commerce zones" and not "safe zones."
Support comes from
If Gov. Brian Sandoval signs the bill, which he is expected to do, it will go into effect in September. |
Transcript
Hi podcast listeners. Today’s episode sets a new length record but it’s also very comprehensive. I had time to ask Lewis all the questions I had about how to effectively help animals, and he had a lot to say. If you want to spend a few hours learning everything you need to know about ending cruelty to animals in agriculture, I don’t know of any better single resources.
I’ve added a link to a comprehensive overview of the conversation so you can skip to whatever sections you want to listen to. As always we also have a full transcript and links to the job opportunities and research pieces we discuss. The link is in the show notes.
You can get the episode on your phone so you can listen to it whenever you like over a few sessions, by searching for 80,000 Hours in your podcasting app.
If what we’ve talk about today piques your interest in working on farm animal welfare, you should apply for free, one-on-one career coaching. We’ve now helped hundreds of people formulate their plan and compare between their options, introduced them to mentors, collaborators and funders, and got them into high impact jobs. It takes a few minutes to apply for a 45 minute Skype call, and the application process itself is designed to help you structure your own thinking, and give you a list of actionable next steps.
The link is in the podcast description or the blog post where you found this episode.
Our guide to improving institutional decision making which I talked about in the podcast with Julia Galef is now out and I’ll link to it from this episode as well.
And now I bring you Lewis Bollard.
Robert Wiblin: Today, I am speaking with Lewis Bollard. Lewis leads the Open Philanthropy Project strategy for Farm Animal Welfare. Full disclosure, the Open Philanthropy Project is one of 80,000 Hours’ [00:01:23] biggest donors. Prior to joining the Open Philanthropy Project, he worked as policy advisor in international liaison to the CEO at the Humane Society of the U.S. also called HSUS. And prior to that, he was a litigation fellow at HSUS, a law student, and an associate consultant at Bain & Company. He has a B.A. from Harvard University in Social Studies and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Thanks for coming on the podcast, Lewis.
Lewis Bollard: Great to be here.
Robert Wiblin: We plan to talk about Lewis’s work, making grants, how we can most effectively help animals, and how listeners can best use their careers to improve animal welfare. But first off, Lewis, what originally drew you to dedicate your career to helping animals and why did Open Phil end up focusing on it, among other things?
Lewis Bollard: Sure. So, when I was a teenager, I became aware of global poverty, first. And like I imagine many of you listeners, it was an issue that really struck me as incredibly important and incredibly neglected. And then I later became aware of factory farming. And it struck me as also important, but even more neglected and with really clearer solutions. And so, really since I’ve been a teenager, this is an issue I’ve been really passionate about — wanted to work on. As far as Open Philanthropy Project went, they have these three criteria — importance, tractability, and neglectedness — for selecting cause areas. And farm animal welfare lined up on all three of those criteria. And so, I think the primary consideration was ultimately just that it was a major issue. It’s been neglected by the donors and has the real potential to gain some traction here.
Robert Wiblin: Do you want to give us some numbers to help give an idea of the scale and tractability and neglectedness of the problem?
Lewis Bollard: Sure. So starting with numbers for the scale of the problem. If you look at the number of animals being farmed at any point in time, globally, there are about 23 billion chickens, at any point in time, alive in farms. Overwhelmingly, in intensive factory farming systems, globally. Now, about 15 billion of them are broiler meat chickens. And the other 8 billion, roughly, are layer hens. There are another, roughly, 6 billion land mammals that are being farmed. That’s pigs, cows, rabbits. And then there’s somewhere between 35 billion and 140 billion farmed fish, at any point in time. And those numbers are incredibly imprecise because no one is keeping track of precise numbers. So the Food & Agriculture Association keeps pretty good track of the numbers of land animals but not the numbers of farm animals. And if you’re also concerned about wild caught fish, the numbers could be in the trillions.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm (affirmative)
Lewis Bollard: So, certainly they’re on the importance of the issue. If you look on the neglectedness side, the numbers are also pretty stark. Before we came into the space, I’d say that there was probably about 20 million dollars a year being devoted to this problem, it’s entirety. That’s now probably increased to maybe 50 million a year.
Robert Wiblin: So, 20 million in the U.S. or globally?
Lewis Bollard: Globally.
Robert Wiblin: Wow. That’s really very little. So there were almost no farm animal advocacy organisations, only a handful.
Lewis Bollard: There were only a handful of animal organisations and when I say that number, I’m only counting certain things. I’m not counting, for instance, farm sanctuaries where it’s providing direct care for farm animals. But, if you really just look at advocacy for farm animals, It was extremely limited. A couple of groups like Mercy for Animals, Compassion in World Farming can be around for several years, but at very small budgets.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Do you have any concrete way of assessing the severity of animal suffering? Any kind of quantitative measure that you can use, I mean ideally I guess to compare it to human suffering. But short of that, just you know, how bad is it, in a general sense?
Lewis Bollard: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Yeah, it would certainly be great to have a more rigorous quantitative measure to compare to human suffering. I think for now, that all we can really do is compare with in-species. Because our ability to understand the relative experiences of different species still so limited. But within species, you can look at a couple of different things. You can first look with acute pain experiences. How long do they last? So we know, for instance, with castration and piglets. This is standard practice for virtually all male piglets, globally. We know that that is a process that causes minutes of intense pain as measured by stress responses and that they’re still feeling some degree of pain … days, weeks later. When it comes to chronic suffering, you can look at the conditions, and you can use aversion studies. So you can say, “We’ve put these hens into a cage or we can put these hens into a cage-free environment.” And we can see how much effort they will exert to get out of that cage environment and how much effort they’ll exert to get things they’re not receiving currently. Like access to a nesting box, access to a perch.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm (affirmative). So, some people will advocate for vegetarianism or try to scale back animal agriculture on the basis of environmental and health benefits, as well as animal welfare benefits. Do you think those gains are large compared to those that we might hope to get from Animal Welfare Improvement?
Lewis Bollard: I think the environmental gains are real. I think that if you look at the best global estimates right now, the Food & Agriculture Organization estimates that about 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions come from animal agriculture. If you look at land use or water use, the percentages are significantly higher, in terms of the amount of water used globally and the amount of land. So from an environmental perspective, I think there’s a very clear case. Particularly for moving toward pulses, whole grains, other relatively low carbon footprint foods.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm (affirmative). What grants have you made at Open Phil, and how long has the programme been running?
Lewis Bollard: So we started this programme in October of 2015. And since then, we’ve made about 30 million dollars of grants within Farm Animal Welfare. Those grants were initially directed largely toward corporate campaigns, to eliminate some of the worst practices within animal agriculture. So we began with grants to support corporate campaigns to phase out battery cages in the United States. Then extended those campaigns globally to work in Latin America and in Europe. We’ve also sought to reach neglected regions and neglected issues. So we’ve made a set of grounds in China, a set of grounds in India, a set of grounds related to fish welfare, and then we’ll also remain open to exceptional opportunities that fall outside of these core areas [00:08:07]. So one example would be The Good Food Institute which is working on alternatives to animal proteins. Another example would be Animal Charity Evaluators which is looking to build the field and evaluate animal charities.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm (affirmative). How did you go about deciding which groups to fund and which ones not to fund?
Lewis Bollard: So the number one thing we look for is whether the group is operating in an area of high impact. So, a group working on fish has the potential to do so much more than a group that’s working, for instance, solely on cows. Just because there are so many more fish out there. A group working in China has the potential to a great more impact than a group working in New Zealand. The second thing we look for is a track record. So, to what degree has this group chalked up tangible victories in the past. And this was something that was very appealing about corporate charity campaigns, which we can track very tangible outcomes from these campaigns in the past. And then the third thing is a good team or good leadership. So we look for people who seem to be highly competent, seem to have a clear sense of success, seem to be flexible and willing to adjust their tactics and strategies based on past experience.
Robert Wiblin: So, most animal advocates seem focused on animals that are easier to sympathise with, perhaps like pigs and cows. But you’re kind of going in the opposite direction, thinking of chickens and fish and I guess potentially even insects? Or other more unusual cases like that.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so the case we’re focusing on chickens and fish is very similar to the case focusing on Farm Animal Welfare as a cause. In terms of importance, there are more than 10 times as many chickens as there are, for instance, pigs. And there are more than 100 times potentially as many farm fish as there are for pigs. So, the numbers are really there. Then in terms of neglectedness, it’s also the case. So certainly, we need more funding for work on pigs and cows and other more charismatic mammals, but there’s been real dearth of funding around fish, chickens, and other animals that people don’t think about or relate to as easily.
Robert Wiblin: But, while there’s ten times or so as many chickens, their brains are also about one hundredth the size of the brain of a pig, right? And a similar number to the brain of a cow. So I guess it’s not completely obvious that there’s more suffering in chickens than pigs in the world, right?
Lewis Bollard: Certainly not completely obvious. I mean I think there’s a really interesting question about how to compare the well being of different species. I do think it’s very unlikely that the sheer size or weight of a brain is likely to be closely correlated with ability to suffer. I think if that were true we should possibly be focused on sperm whales, or on elephants, or other large creatures with huge brains. But I think what we see even within humans, is that brain size can differ and it doesn’t necessarily affect relative capacity to suffer.
Robert Wiblin: OK well maybe let’s come back to that in a minute. Another interesting study is that about half of the world’s fish, and a quarter of the world’s land farmed animals are in China. So why is Open Phil not focused on China and perhaps India as well?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so we are as much as we can be. We see China and India as absolutely top priorities, particularly China. As you note, a huge portion of the world’s farm animals are based there and contrary to some perceptions it’s not for export, it’s primarily for domestic consumption that these animals are being raised in China.
So we have made a set of about four million dollars worth of grants to groups in China. And the primary constraint on making more grants than that, is a lack of opportunities in China. So we’ve already supported most of the groups that were excited about doing work there, and that have a legal ability to work there, and that’s another constraint in terms of operating in China.
Robert Wiblin: Is there just a lack of any people who take an interest in animal welfare in China? Is it just a kinda not a cultural issue there?
Lewis Bollard: I’m not sure what the origins are. I think that it is true that there is less civil society across many sectors in China.
I think it’s something we naturally see more of in more developed countries. There are more people focused on social activism than there are in still developing or emerging economies. And my hope is that as China develops further we’ll see more this, and I think we already are. I mean one of the most heartening things to me in China is seeing the recent protests around the dog meat trade within China. Which, to be clear, the dog meat trade is really no worse than the trade in pigs or in chickens, in China or elsewhere. But the fact that this is an issue that’s really mobilised a lot of Chinese, gotten a lot of people out involved protesting, stopping trucks, suggests to me something very heartening about the future of animal advocacy in China.
Robert Wiblin: That at least there’s many people who in principle think that animals can matter in particular cases?
Lewis Bollard: Exactly, and the fact that they’re willing to devote their time, and really to undergo some serious risks to be engaged in this kind of activism.
Robert Wiblin: Why have you focused so much on corporate reform campaigns? It sounds like that’s the main thrust of your work at the moment.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah it’s certainly not the only thrust but I would say about a third of our portfolio has gone to support directly corporate campaigns. And the reason really is that the track record recently has been very impressive. So, when we started supported corporate campaigns in late 2015, groups in the US had already secured some critical victories on cage-free. They had gotten Costco, one of the largest retailers to go cage-free. They had gotten Aramark and Compass Group, the largest food service companies, and they had just gotten McDonald’s, within the fast food sector.
And in the year and a half since then, they’ve basically gotten the remainder of the entire US food industry to make commitments to move away from battery cages. And there are certainly questions about how much better is that transition from battery cages to cage free. But iI feel very confident that that transition only happened because of the advocacy of these campaigning groups.
Robert Wiblin: Do you have a sense of how many animals you’re helping per thousand dollars that you spend in these grants to corporate welfare campaigns.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah so our rough cost-effectiveness estimate is that these cage-free campaigns are at least 150 animals per dollar spent. And what we mean by that is 150 hens moved from a cage to a cage-free environment for a year per dollar spent. And one of the assumptions there is that these campaigns only brought forward progress by five years. I think that’s a pretty conservative assumption. I think it’s quite likely they brought forward progress by much more than five years. So we’re only counting five years of benefits. But yeah 150 … And I would say there’s a wide potential spectrum, maybe a 100 to 250 per dollar there.
Robert Wiblin: What is your research work like day to day? How do you spend your time?
Lewis Bollard: So I spend my time between a combination of online research, trying to read the latest reports both from animal advocacy groups, from animal charity evaluators, but also from the industry. So reading industry publications to see what changes are happening, what’s influencing them. And I spend a lot of time on the phone with animal advocates. So I spend a lot of time finding out what are the things people are thinking about, what are they doing. And I try and spend a decent amount of time on the phone with independent experts. So talking for instance to fish welfare scientists, or talking to people who are experts on the non-profit situation in China.
And then combining those two things, I think that the third task is kind of compiling that. And this is something … I’ve a monthly newsletter where I kind of synthesise some of those findings together, and really see what is there that we can learn from disparate sources that could be useful for our philanthropy.
Robert Wiblin: Do you do a lot of follow-up with the groups that you make grants to, to see how they’re going?
Lewis Bollard: We do, yeah, and we’re looking to increase that follow-up too, over time. So our current set-up is that we look to talk to each of our grantees at least once every six months, to understand what wins they’ve had, what losses they’ve had, what they’ve learned, what they’ve changed about their plans. In the case of larger grantees I’m talking to them more often than that, perhaps every few weeks. We want to be very careful not to be in the role of micromanaging them. Or to be dictating their tactics or telling them what to do. But we absolutely do want to understand how they’re doing and what they’re up to. Both in terms in renewing the grants but also so we can share those lessons with other philanthropists.
Robert Wiblin: I guess a lot of the grants are pretty recent but do you have a sense of how well the money is being spent? Are you getting the bang for buck that you were hoping for?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I’m very excited about how the grants have gone so far. So as I mentioned one of the biggest categories is the corporate campaign grants and those have significantly exceeded our expectations. We did not expect that that the US corporate campaigns would have already produced cage-free pledges across basically the entire food industry. And they’ve similarly exceeded expectations internationally. So large UK, German, French retailers making similar commitments based on these campaigns.
The other things we funded, I think it’s generally too soon to tell. So for instance with our China grants, with our India grants, a lot of what we’re looking to do is to build up a movement and to build up capacity over the longer term. And I think unfortunately we’ll only really be able to evaluate the effectiveness of those grants over a five, ten or longer year time-frame.
Robert Wiblin: So coming back to your day-to-day work, is Open Phil a place that you would recommend that people work? Is it a fun place to work, or at least an exciting place to work?
Lewis Bollard: Yes, I’d definitely recommend it. And not just because my boss is probably listening to this podcast.
Robert Wiblin: I’m sure he knows it all already. He’s probably just skipped through it.
Lewis Bollard: I mean I think it really is kinda of a dream job in the sense of if you care most about having an impact within one of the cause areas that Open Phil works on, and in my case what I care most about is having an impact on farm animal welfare. Then there are not only the resources there, the financial resources to do that, but also a huge amount of autonomy to really pursue what appear to be the most promising opportunities. And to spend a lot of time researching them. And to really make grant recommendations based on your best judgment.
Robert Wiblin: What are the biggest frustrations of the work?
Lewis Bollard: I think one of the real frustrations is a lack of good data. So I’ve mentioned some the data we do have on total animal numbers for instance, from the food and agriculture organisation. But we don’t have good data on the experiences of these animals. So we don’t have great data even on what percentage of animals in different countries or in different types of production systems, are undergoing different kinds of physical mutilations or particular kinds of slaughter. We also don’t have robust data on what those experiences are like. And so robust data of the sort you were asking for earlier, of how would we compare the experiences of different animals, with still really going off very limited evidence. And it would be great to see more data in that. So that can be very frustrating when we’re trying to compare grants, and that could be the most important thing to distinguish based on … We just, we don’t have it.
Robert Wiblin: Thinking about working at Open Phil specifically, are there any downsides of the work there that people might not consider? I mean it sounds extremely appealing, you have potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in the long term to give away. Are there any things that make that difficult or unpleasant?
Lewis Bollard: Well I think the flip side of great autonomy is that you don’t have as much of the benefits of being part of a team. I mean there certainly is a team that [00:20:00] at Open Philanthropy, but we’re each working on very distinct issues, and so within my work on animal welfare it can be a little lonely at time. I mean, there aren’t a lot of other, there’s no one else there working solely on this issue, and so there are people I’ll talk to about it, there’s people who’ll give me guidance, but it’s not something if you’re looking for a real team environment. The programme officer role, at least, doesn’t really fit that bill.
Robert Wiblin: Why haven’t you hired a research assistant, or something like that?
Lewis Bollard: So, we’re actually looking into the possibility now, and for interested listeners, my hope is we will be looking to recruit that in the next few months, and you can look out for that opportunity. So, yeah, it’s on the horizon.
Robert Wiblin: What kind of personal traits will you be looking for, above others?
Lewis Bollard: So, I think the most important trait for me, is someone who’s analytical and good at dealing with data and independent research. Obviously, we want people who care about the issue, both care about farm animal welfare and, ideally, care about effective altruism and having the greatest impact. But generally, I’m trying to keep a pretty open mind otherwise about what that person would look like in terms of their worldview, their ideology, their background.
I think the most important thing is just that analytical ability and the intelligence to really be able to engage in debates. And to be able to criticise me and to prove me wrong on things, because I think one of the dangers of only having one person, and one of the real benefits of having another person, is that you can get a little more diversification of views on things.
Robert Wiblin: We’ll put up a link to that job vacancy when it goes up. Are there any other jobs, or job vacancies, that Open Phil has at the moment?
Lewis Bollard: I think we’ve had, we have some vacancies in the logistics team. I think we’ve been looking for possibly a couple of people in the logistics team. And I’m pretty sure those are up on the website.
Robert Wiblin: Okay, we’ll link to those as well. Are there any organisations you’ve investigated that you ultimately decided not to fund, and I guess without naming any names, what were the reasons for that?
Lewis Bollard: Sure, yeah, we’ve had a number of investigations that we opened, and ultimately decided not to fund. And there have been a variety of reasons for that. I’d say the most common reason is that we weren’t excited about the particular proposals presented to us for what this group would do with additional funding. So, even where a group seemingly has a good track record, or has a good leadership team, we still want to see really tangible plans for how they need and would use more funding.
So, I’d say that’s the most common one. Otherwise, we’ve also just found other red flags. We’ve heard, during the evaluation process of a group, negative things or disputes about their track record. Or we’ve come to see perhaps that particular strategy, when we look at the cost-effectiveness estimate, the numbers really aren’t as good as we expected them to be.
Robert Wiblin: If you have an existing group that’s doing good work, but they can’t yet show you a plan for how they’ll scale up and what they’ll do with more money, mightn’t you just expect that if they have a good track record they’ll be able to find a way to use the money effectively?
Lewis Bollard: I think that’s certainly possible. I think that it depends a lot on the kind of group we’re talking about. Particularly in many of the cases we’re considering, pretty well-established groups where one or two of their programmes have good track records, and other programmes don’t. And so in those cases, we want to be very careful that we’re only funding truly additional work and we’re not just providing money in the general pot that could go to ineffective work. And so in those cases, the room for more funding question becomes very important.
With the smaller groups, certainly, I think we’re more open to the philosophy of just backing them to do something, and the more that a group just has one programme, or does one thing, the easier that case is. So long as the argument they’re making to us is just, “We’ll do more of this thing we’re already doing well,” that’s a compelling case.
Robert Wiblin: You just mentioned doing the math, the cost-effectiveness analysis of the different kinds of interventions that groups have. In your view, what are the most effective interventions for helping animals, and how confidently do we have answers to that?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so, right now there’s a variety of confidence levels, so I’d say the intervention that I am most confident in right now, are corporate campaigns, because we can track so clearly the role of each advocacy group, the number of companies, the number of animals affected by each pledge, and then the subsequent implementation of those pledges.
When it comes to other strategies, I think there’s a lot of potential, particularly where strategies focus on important areas, and neglected areas. But it’s going to be a lot harder to have confidence in the cost-effectiveness estimates we come up with. So, for instance, I feel very optimistic about focusing on China, because of the number of animals there and because of the neglectedness. But, I feel very low confidence in the cost-effectiveness estimates we’ve come up with, just because we don’t have a good sense for the tractability of those interventions, yet.
Robert Wiblin: Are there any interventions that you think are especially overrated?
Lewis Bollard: I do think that, traditionally, there was too much faith placed in online ads. So, in individual dietary change in general, trying to get people to go vegan. And that’s not to say that individual dietary change cannot be an effective tactic. I think that it’s totally possible that, if done well, it can be and there’s a need for more research there.
But I think there were a few studies early on that gave misplaced confidence to advocates, that online ads in particular, and leaflets, too, were having an outsized impact on dietary change. And I think more rigorous studies since then have really suggested that that was not the case, and that we don’t have a strong sense for the effectiveness of these interventions.
Robert Wiblin: Why do you think those studies produce positive results, perhaps excessively positive results?
Lewis Bollard: So, the early studies were all done by advocacy groups in the area [00:25:46], who had a very clear incentive. They also just weren’t particularly well-designed studies. We didn’t … Some of the studies didn’t have control groups. Some of the studies relied on the same volunteers who handed out the leaflets, going back and asking the people that handed leaflets to, what effect it had on them. And in a lot of cases, the sample size was really small. So, there were just the kind of classic problems we have with a study that doesn’t have the kind of methodological safeguards that studies should have.
Robert Wiblin: Someone who had a lot of experience in social science research reading those papers would have realised that they weren’t good at the time, it sounds like.
Lewis Bollard: Absolutely, and I think people did. I think that this has been a debate since these studies first came out, and that’s a big part of the reason why better studies were put into the field, and why those better studies have now provided more caution. I think that some people got overly optimistic, probably because they wanted to be. I mean, there’s an aspect of motivated reasoning, here, where it makes sense that you want this to be an effective intervention, because it’s relatively easy to do. And ultimately one of the most important things is, can we get people to change their diets?
Robert Wiblin: Are there any really high quality studies coming out on this topic in the future that will really allow us to settle that debate?
Lewis Bollard: I don’t think there’s something that will allow us to settle this debate, yet, though maybe further down the line. The study that I’m most excited about recently, was a study by a group called the Animal Welfare Action Lab. So, this was a study done by Krystal Caldwell and Greg Boese and Bobbie MacDonald.
And what they did was they had a group of [00:27:21] respondents read articles about a general transition to veganism, about a general transition to reducetarianism, and a control article, I think, about global poverty. And they measured the effect of those articles simply on self-reported meat consumption, and self-reported perceptions about animals, reducetarianism, and veganism. And they found quite a robust, surprisingly robust, impact, not only right afterwards, but also a month later.
The reason I like the study is because it really observed lots of good practices. So, they pre-registered the study, they put all the data online, they had an adequately powered sample. There was no P-fishing involved. It was just everything you’d want to see in a study.
So, we recently funded them to replicate, or attempt to replicate, the study on a larger scale using YouGov data, rather than MTurk [00:28:18]. And to me it will be really interesting to see whether that study replicates, or whether it doesn’t. But that’s what I’d love to see more of, is that kind of study where it’s a strong study. It doesn’t matter so much about the specifics of what it’s measuring are, but that it really has some external validity.
Robert Wiblin: That sounds like a really exciting study. I’ll see if we can put up a link to that in the show notes [00:28:39].
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, absolutely.
Robert Wiblin: Are there any things you’ve personally supported in the past, either financially or otherwise, that you’ve come to regret?
Lewis Bollard: I don’t know if there are things that I’ve come to regret. I mean, I think that we’ve certainly had some grants that look likely to be failures, but I think that that’s part of taking higher risk bits. And so in some ways it would be concerning if we didn’t have any failures. So, I’m less inclined to regret those.
I mean, I also think it’s the case that in the past, for myself, I’ve given funding to groups that I no longer think are effective. But again, I think it’s probably normally more constructive to see that as a positive learning path, that you reach a point of realising these were ineffective and finding better ways to do things.
Robert Wiblin: So, there’s nothing you’ve personally done that you think it was stupid even at the time?
Lewis Bollard: Not that immediately comes to mind, but I’m sure there’s something out there.
Robert Wiblin: What are some of the most popular things that people do today, in general, to try to improve animal welfare?
Lewis Bollard: Well, I think if you look beyond the EA movement, the most popular thing is to help local groups helping cats and dogs. And while that obviously has positive, direct benefits, I think in the greater scheme it doesn’t have the same effectiveness as: (a) focusing on farm animals; and (b) focusing on advocacy, as as opposed to direct care. I think even within the farm animal side, you see a lot of people focusing on caring for farm animals. For instance, within sanctuaries. Though those can certainly be a useful advocacy or education tool, I think that has to be the focus and oftentimes, the focus instead becomes caring for farm animals, which again, is very much a positive, but is not going to reach anything like the cost effectiveness of advocacy interventions [00:30:29].
Robert Wiblin: Looking at farm animal welfare groups in particular, how does your portfolio of interventions that you fund differ from what people are doing in general? What are the things that you’ve decided not to fund that you might have?
Lewis Bollard: I think the biggest thing we’ve decided not to fund that is widely done otherwise is individual dietary advocacy. Leafleting, online ads, other forms of vegan outreach remain very common within the movement and for us, we just don’t feel like the evidence is there yet. It’s not that we think it could never be there and it’s not that we think people are necessarily wrong to be supporting those initiatives, but we just don’t feel there’s robust evidence there that would make us feel confident enough to support that kind of advocacy.
Robert Wiblin: Let’s talk a bit for a moment about you personally. What in your background put you in a good position to take the role that you have now?
Lewis Bollard: I think the programme officer role is in many ways a generalist role, where it’s really useful to have a broad background in research, in writing, in communication. In some ways, I think of the extra curricular activities that I took. For instance, I was very involved in debating through high school and through college. I think that was a very useful activity for honing some of the analytical skills and communication skills that I now use. I think a general liberal arts degree in the US is also pretty useful in terms of reading a wide variety of material, researching, and putting together papers. I ultimately went to law school and I think that was useful in the sense that it also further honed my thinking process. I don’t think it was necessary though. I would say for people who are listening that if they want to perform a similar role, I’m not sure that law school is necessarily the right way to go about it.
Robert Wiblin: What’s your accent? You sound Australian to me.
Lewis Bollard: Almost. I’m from New Zealand.
Robert Wiblin: Okay, right. There’s a lot of Australians and New Zealanders seemingly involved in effective activism.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, there are. It’s a funny phenomenon.
Robert Wiblin: Yeah, like Canadians. We’re everywhere, we’re walking among you. Do you think those traits that you’re looking for are kind of natural dispositional characteristics that don’t change very much or are they primarily trainable? Are they things that people listening could develop on their own?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I’m going to go for the compound answer that it’s both. But, I do think that there are definitely things that people can do to train for this. I think that just doing more rigorous research involving numbers, using data, understanding data, researching online to find essential facts, pulling them out, preparing reports. I think that that is some of the best kind of training for what we do. I think too, obviously evaluating charities. If you also make your own personal donations, thinking hard about those and thinking about what numbers and what data should inform that, but also where you could gain more information and how that information would update your thinking and influence your decision.
Robert Wiblin: It looks like in terms of animal advocacy, you’ve only worked for the Humane Society of the US, is that right?
Lewis Bollard: That’s right.
Robert Wiblin: Do you wish that you’d worked at a wider range of places to have a better sense of the whole space?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I do. I mean, I think if nothing else, the optics would look better if I’d worked at more than one animal group and I’m certainly conscious to not want to have favorites within the movement. I think that one of the nice things about farm animal welfare is that, it’s still a pretty small movement and a very closely connected one. I’ve really had the opportunity to get to know people across all of the groups and to get some sense at least of what they do. But, I do think that there is a lot of value to people getting experience in multiple related jobs or domains and certainly within animal welfare, I think there’d be a lot of value to people working for multiple groups.
Robert Wiblin: You worked at Bain & Company for a while. Was that your first job out of university?
Lewis Bollard: That was, yeah.
Robert Wiblin: Working in consulting for a couple of years is one of the parts that we’ve recommended, although because so many people have done it, we’ve started to back away from that lately because we’re worried that we’re getting saturated. At least soon, we’ll be saturated by [00:34:47] ex-management consultants. Is that something that you would recommend? Do you think that that added a lot of skills?
Lewis Bollard: For myself I don’t think it did. I can certainly see it making a lot of sense to someone, particularly, obviously if you are looking to give, it can be a useful launching plan for a lucrative careers. I think that if you are looking to work in management with a non-profit, then there is some really useful skills. Analytical skills certainly that are brought to bare. For myself, my feeling is that, I mainly did this as a sort of a cop out because I wasn’t yet ready to go and work full time on animal advocacy, and because I came into the job market during the depression and so it was kind of exciting just to have a job in New York. I generally think … I ended up working there for a year. I don’t really believe that in that time, that I gained a lot of useful skills. I think I mainly gained a lot of information about very particular business sectors, which would be useful if I wanted to go and work in those business sectors. Otherwise, I’m not sure it is completely generalisable.
Robert Wiblin: It sounded like you were also doing law school or potentially now you’ve ended up developing some skills that are somewhat stranded given the way you’ve gone with your career. Why did you go to law school at the time?
Lewis Bollard: Yes. I’m not sure I regret law school, but I would say that I don’t necessarily recommend it to others. At the time, I think that law school appeared to be the obvious route towards effective advocacy. I think that for a lot of people in America in particular focused on social change, it’s natural to look to the courts because this was the success route of civil rights, this was the success route of gay rights. Unfortunately, I think it’s very unlikely to be the success route for animal welfare, or for that matter, for other EA courses. When I went to law school, I think I had this inclination that generally lawyers are in good position to bring about social change, and it was only once I started working as a lawyer at the Humane Society on factory farming, that I realised the legal options are very limited on this issue.
Again, I think not necessarily mistaken that I gained useful skills. The credentials were probably helpful in getting this current job, but I do think that for people who are thinking about how they can have the greatest impact, it’s often people who look far too quickly at law school on social change issues, rather than at looking at where their competitive advantage lies.
Robert Wiblin: I want to spend the next half an hour to perhaps 45 minutes working through a bunch of specific different approaches that people might take to help animals. Given that you were talking just about legal advocacy, maybe let’s dive into that a little bit more. Why is it that legal advocacy isn’t such a promising avenue for helping animals?
Lewis Bollard: The biggest constraint on legal advocacy, is the lack of laws to be used or enforced. Within the United States, there are only two federal laws that apply to farm animals, and both of them are only enforceable by the department of agriculture or prosecutors, so there is no private citizens suit. No way that individuals can help enforce them, and they are both very minimal legal protections. Similarly, at the state levels, the very minimal protections that do exist, first normally except farm animals from their protections or agricultural practices from the protection. Secondly, they don’t provide any means of civil enforcement. What you are really looking at, is a system that’s set up to only be used by district attorneys or US attorneys.
Unfortunately, most of the district attorneys in the areas where factory farming is, tend to be tight with those communities who are often elected positions. Your ability as an independent litigator to make an impact, is extremely limited, and to further constraint, is the constraint of standing, which is that in US courts, to be a litigator on this, you need to show a concrete harm to yourself. It’s not sufficient to show a concrete harm to an animal, or to show an animal cruelty harm that might affect you. That makes it very hard to get into court in the first place, even when there is law you can use and a clear legal violation you can challenge.
Robert Wiblin: Who would have standing? Would it be other firms that are trying to compete with that firm and are following the regulations?
Lewis Bollard: Sometimes, yes. It depends a lot on the law being used. The problem is that, often no one has standing, which is why a lot of these laws go completely unenforced.
Robert Wiblin: Seems like an oversight on the part of the legislators.
Lewis Bollard: You can see it’s an oversight, or you can see it as intentional. I tend to think that a lot of these cases … animal agriculture has been very careful that they don’t want to see laws on the books enforced. The few occasions where these laws have started to be enforced, they’ve often come in and amended the laws to prevent the enforcement. I think that standing doctrine … and this has been across multiple areas. Certainly across environmentalism, and other areas where it’s not directly individuals who are affected, this being consented if it by industry, to increase the requirements for standing doctrine, to make it harder for people to get into courts in the first place.
Robert Wiblin: I guess this allows them to say, “Oh, look at these very strict regulations that are on the books that we have to follow.” Or at least, there are some regulations, but then of course, they are not enforced at all. So they can basically do whatever they want.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, that’s right. A lot of US factory farming companies like to say that they are compliant with all US laws and regulations. There are virtually no US laws and regulations, and it’s not at all clear that they are compliant with them. But they’re correct in stating that no one is prosecuting them for violating them because of the total lack of enforcement of those laws.
Robert Wiblin: What about in the EU or the U.K. or possibly New Zealand? Are there more promising avenues for a legal advocacy there?
Lewis Bollard: I think there might be. I haven’t looked as deeply into legal opportunities in those countries. Certainly, in the U.K. and in the European Union there are stronger laws protecting farm animals. At the European Union level, there are a number of quite powerful directives. I don’t think that there is an ability for a citizen suit to enforce any of those laws but it does seem like there’s a more functional political system in which lobbying and working with regulators is more likely to have an impact. I know that there has also been attempts at litigation in Australia and New Zealand around animal welfare. I’m not sure how successful it’s been to date but it does seem that there are fewer barriers than there are in the United States.
Robert Wiblin: There’s also groups like the Non-Human Rights Project and I think groups that have advocated on behalf of killer whales in farms, or, I guess, the Great Ape Rights Project … I don’t know exactly what it’s called but they get a lot of attention I suppose though. I’ve seen them regularly on the front page of The New York Times, so they might be seen just as a legal approach to getting a lot of publicity and engaging in advocacy that people read about. What do you think about those?
Lewis Bollard: I think they’ve been very effective in getting publicity and I hope that that publicity has started to make people reflect more on the legal lines we draw around humans and keeping our animals. My concern is, firstly, that I think it is very hard for those groups to succeed in the current legal system. I think they would acknowledge that that the standing doctrines and just the lack of laws to be enforced mean that they are forced to really ask the judges to go out on a plain for them.
The other issue that I always think about is how likely is this to help farm animals down the line? To me, it’s quite conceivable that society will expand our moral circle, or our legal circle, to include chimpanzees, to include orcas, to include elephants and other cognitively sophisticated mammals, but will still feel completely capable of excluding chickens or fish, or other animals that don’t have the same claim to legal personhood based on cognitive ability or something similar.
Robert Wiblin: A related approach a number of people who we both know are working on is in a radical vegan advocacy, where you really get in people’s faces and you have a really strong message. Your goal is to shock people into a paradigm shift where they realise that cruelty towards animals or just in a speciesism is a really important issue. You get a dramatic shift in attitudes in society in the way that we’ve perhaps seen with feminism or with civil rights in the past. What do you think about those approaches?
Lewis Bollard: My general inclination is that it’s too early for society to be receptive to such radical advocacy. I think when you look at past social movements it normally came at a point where far more society was onboard. For instance, with the Civil Rights Movement you had a far larger portion of U.S. population actively supporting the movement. Then it was the use of more radical tactics to really get the salience on the issue and to get people riled up.
I do think that this is something that is very open for research. So I think that this would be a great thing for people to test for studies, whether confrontation is effective or not. The one thing I would say is that I think that confrontational tactics often become confrontational against other activists and it seems very likely to me that it’s counterproductive to spend some portion, or in many cases most, of and activist’s time fighting other activists, or convincing other activists that they’re wrong.
Robert Wiblin: Animal advocacy seems really quite distinctive in just how much infighting there is and how much you have groups set up almost seemingly for the purpose of attacking other groups within the same very niche cause. What’s going on there?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, it’s confusing. I think that it is natural given that it is a source of such strong feelings. I can understand, being so angry and upset myself when I found out about factory farming. I mean I think there’s a realisation when you find out about the scale and the degree of mistreatment of animals by humans. There’s a real desire to be angry about that and to be annoyed at the world. I think that oftentimes activists first express that anger or frustration toward general society. Then when they find that general society won’t listen they will direct it towards those who will listen, which is to say other activists or companies that are trying to do higher welfare policies.
I think that it makes sense, that given we have such strong emotions as activists on this issue. It makes sense that even relatively small tactical disagreements can quickly become moral disagreements, or become moral judgments on one another. So I think it’s natural and I do think that there are parallels in past movements. If you look at, for instance, the U.S. Anti Slavery Movement, there were similarly virulent disagreements within the movement. That said, I think it’s definitely counterproductive, and I’m hopeful … It does seem that the divisions within the movement are slowly dissipating over time and so I’m hopeful that that trend will continue.
Robert Wiblin: It seems to me like you should try to implement a really strong norm within that group of just, basically, not aggressively criticising other activists at all just because the history has been that it’s been so destructive. People are just fairly rarely persuaded by using those means, it seems to me.
Lewis Bollard: Yes, I completely agree with you. I think the challenge is that, as a funder, we certainly will only fund groups that don’t spend their time or funds attacking other groups, but that that leaves us in a position with really no leverage over those activists and groups who are doing that.
Robert Wiblin: Well, I guess you might hope that, as a result, they would shrink as a fraction of the movement.
Lewis Bollard: I think that’s happening. I think that that is one of the things that is already happening. I certainly think I’ve been happy to see that a number of funders feel the same way that they will only fund groups that don’t spend time attacking other groups. I think that there is still the potential for a relatively small number of people in a small portion of the movement to do a lot of harm to other groups, but I completely agree that whatever we can, to establish a norm that does not include attacking other groups that includes, wherever possible, cooperating with them and supporting them. That would be very positive.
Robert Wiblin: I guess we wouldn’t want to preclude the option of explaining why you’re doing what you’re doing and saying I think other people should, in some case, stop using interventions that don’t work and switch over to these other approaches in a way that’s polite and evidence-based. Because, of course, that’s the kind of thing that you and I would be doing and trying to accomplish.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, that’s right and I think that’s absolutely the case. I think, for instance, when we made our original cage-free grants Direct Action Everywhere, published a post criticising them, and I’m glad they did. I think that that is exactly the kind of respectful disagreement and debate you want to see. We do need to have that kind of lively debate within the movement. We do need to have some settled positions criticised, conventional wisdom questioned. So I think it’s absolutely great to have that kind of debate and I think that the object should be seeing the norm in such a way that that kind of debate is possible, but actively sabotaging other groups’ campaigns and work is not.
Robert Wiblin: Can you tell us more about your work of funding groups overseas? I see you’ve funded China, and what were the other countries again?
Lewis Bollard: We funded now in China, in India, in Brazil, in a number of European countries, the U.K. and Germany, and we have indirectly funded advocacy across a number of other countries via regranting.
Robert Wiblin: How do you go about finding these groups? I imagine you only speak English, or you can speak English and perhaps Spanish.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, unfortunately, I only speak English. The most useful thing I have found has been networking through people who I already know. So talked to U.S. based activists and asking their recommendations for people in other countries, or talking with people I already know in other countries and asking their recommendations for activists. But even just online research has turned out to be surprisingly useful. For instance, with our China grants we ended up supporting 10 groups. I’d say of those groups I was already connected with about three of them and through those connections was put in touch with another three. But the remaining four were all just things that I found online by exhaustively searching for reports and for everything I could find on the work being done in China and just reaching out to those groups cold.
So that’s often the way. In the case of our grants in India, I actually traveled to India and met with about 25 different activists representing different groups, and certainly found that to be a very useful tool. So I think it’s quite likely we’re hopefully going to recommend a set of grants in Europe. For that set of grants, I also recently went over to Europe and met with a number of groups. I think that is an increasingly useful tools to actually meet with groups, but where that’s not possible, certainly, I’m always trying to talk over Skype, have phone conversation-
Lewis Bollard: Where that’s not possible, so I’m always trying to talk over Skype, have phone conversations and as much as possible vetting one group via multiple different independent sources. So really asking everyone about everyone else, to give a kind of as independent sense as possible for what’s going on.
Robert Wiblin: Have you had to reduce your standards for quality of evidence in order to find granting opportunities overseas?
Lewis Bollard: Yes, definitely. I would say for instance, that in China our standard for quality of evidence is significantly lower than it is in the United States.
Robert Wiblin: But it’s compensated for by the fact that the problem is so neglected over there that perhaps even a worse project, or a more risky project, is still worth going for.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, that’s the thinking and I think it could fall into either bucket, right? It could be that projects are worse and I’m certainly open to us supporting worse projects in a country where I think it’s really important to get things going. But I think it’s also as you say, just riskier, because in a lot of these cases it’s projects without track records. So we’re talking about a project where we can’t find clear evidence on what it’s done in the past, whether it’s been effective. But we know that it’s operating in an important area. We know that it’s neglected, and that can really start to make the case.
Robert Wiblin: What’s the nature of animal advocacy in India? Is it often religiously motivated?
Lewis Bollard: So there’s certainly a religious sub-current. I was quite happy in traveling to India, to see that there is a very clear distinction between the animal advocacy movement and the Hindu fundamentalist movement. And so a lot of the headlines you’ll see about cow protection laws and preventing the slaughter of cows, most Indian animal advocates want nothing to do with that. They understand, first of all, that it’s really just a pretext for anti-Muslim bigotry. But that secondly, it’s probably bad for animal welfare, I mean what happens when these slaughter bans get passed at the same time as the Indian dairy industry is rapidly growing, is huge numbers of surplus cows that can’t be legally slaughtered, so they’re either smuggled long distances to be slaughtered or they’re dumped in these sanctuaries where they will slowly die or won’t receive medical treatment. So, I think that there is a real understanding amongst Indian animal advocates of that.
It’s certainly true that the Hindu nationalists right now have a lot more political power than the animal advocates do. But, there is also a really strong cultural and historical current of animal protection in India. So, it goes back to the promotion of vegetarianism by Ashoka and others early on in Indian history.
Robert Wiblin: Does Jainism as well?-
Lewis Bollard: Jainism as well, certainly. Jainism has a very strong current on this. Really, all of India’s religions do. That something, which is remarkable to me, is that India’s constitution includes animal welfare protections. And right after independence India passed a very strong animal cruelty law. Now there is still major problems with enforcement of that law. But, the fact that it has on the books laws that are far stronger than what the U.S. has, and really stronger even than many European countries suggest to me that there’s a lot of potential there, once those laws are enforced to actually see really high standards in India.
Robert Wiblin: Is it fair to say that India morally is just ahead of Europe and the U.S. in this respect, like culturally, are those values widespread?
Lewis Bollard: You know I can’t really speak to how widespread those values are. I haven’t seen any good public opinions surveys on the issue and so I think certainly within the Indian elite, these values seem a lot stronger than they seem amongst the elites in other countries. I think the other thing is there’s far less of a countervailing lobby there just doesn’t seem to be the same kind of organised lobby in favor of factory farming or other abuses of animals so that seems pretty important. I do certainly see really, really promising trends in terms of even amongst the Indian population there seems to be some broad degree of concern about animal welfare.
Robert Wiblin: What about countries that are majority Buddhist? I mean, Buddhism, I’m not an expert on this, but my understanding is it regards vegetarianism as a noble thing to do, though in most countries it’s not regarded as obligatory, but in some strains of Buddhism, particularly in China it is generally regarded as obligatory or something that most Buddhists would be doing, but varies country to country. Does that provide potentially a foundation for spreading humane values much more broadly?
Lewis Bollard: I think it might, this is certainly something we’ve been looking into about, I mean it’s certainly the case that the majority of Japanese are Buddhist, large portion of the Chinese population are Buddhist, and as you say this is a religion whose precepts involve doing no active harm to other sentient beings so I think there is a strong ideal of non-harm in that religion. And what you’ll often see is even within subsets of the religion or within regions where not everyone is vegetarian, the monks or the nuns normally still are vegetarian and so there’s definitely a sense that this is what you should strive toward.
I think it’s also a very tough thing to get involved with religious advocacy and often a very sensitive thing, so I mean for instance in China, we don’t want to be in the business of being seen as sort of religious advocates saying it’s even more sensitive than being seen as civil advocates. But, my hope is that there are things we can do to bolster those voices already within the Buddhist movement, within the Buddhist religion, that are promoting vegetarianism or that are promoting a stronger degree of respect for other sentient beings to really encourage their voices and to give them the resources to elevate their voices too.
Robert Wiblin: It occurs to me that that could potentially even be a cost effective thing to do even setting aside animals, that Buddhism seems to have values I think that are closer to mine than most religions, and inasmuch as there’s a huge population there that could be motivated to think in a more effective altruist way and might be quite receptive cause it’s quite compatible with some of the underlying ideas of the religion, maybe there’s just some good opportunities there?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I think it’s a really interesting question. I would certainly defer more to experts on the theology and on the-
Robert Wiblin: I probably should as well. (laughter) I’ve read the Wikipedia page to be fair.
Lewis Bollard: I do think there is an aspect of a lot of religions have some really good things on paper. I mean not just about animals but about, for instance, charitable giving and the obligation to care for the poor and to care for the sick. And it’s really a question about whether people actually implement those in practice. But I do think that there’s a lot of room for effective altruism to connect more with religious communities in general and to really connect more too with those teachings that are very deep in some religions that really do try to promote altruism and doing good for others.
Robert Wiblin: I might be judging Buddhism by a different standard because it’s further away from what I’m used to. You judge things that are near to you by what they actually are and things that are far away by what they describe themselves as being.
Earlier you mentioned Brazil and South America, I’ve been to Central America and it doesn’t seem like animal advocacy is a huge thing there, people really love their meat. What’s the story with animal advocacy there?
Lewis Bollard: Latin America has been a real bright spot and a real pleasant surprise, some of this came out of initially just talking to Mercy for Animals, which had been placing online ads in multiple countries around the world. And just seeing what the click-through rate was like, how much they had to pay to get a click, and then what that click led to, how much time a person spent on the website, whether they requested a vegetarian starter guide and so on. And the metrics were just hugely better in Latin America than anywhere else, so for instance, compared to the U.S. they were getting click-through rates that were five, six times higher, they were getting people spending much more time on the website.
And we’ve really seen more of that as we’ve started to support more advocacy in these countries, particularly in Brazil and Mexico, just because they’re the largest countries in Latin America. We’ve seen a lot of receptiveness, a lot of people getting engaged in Facebook campaigns, companies often surprisingly receptive to going cage-free or making animal welfare reforms. And politicians now starting to really discuss this as an issue so I don’t know what the story is there behind that, but I think that part of it is that there really were a lot of activists and a lot of sympathy beneath the surface but there just previously hadn’t been the resources to mobilise that and so it started at a head start compared to other countries.
Robert Wiblin: It’s quite surprising because I think you’d face significant headwinds there, one, animal welfare seems to be a bigger deal in say northern Europe than southern Europe, and Latin America seems to have more of a, like Italian and kind of Spanish style culture and historical pedigree. And then you’ve got the Catholicism, which isn’t inconsistent, but also doesn’t seem to push animal welfare that hard. Plus like maybe a more macho culture than you’d think in like northern Europe. And yet, it’s more effective there than in the U.S. I suppose one thing is the ads might be cheaper per impression because the people aren’t as wealthy.
Lewis Bollard: Right. So the ads are cheaper but quite separately from that the click-through rates are better and the time spent and so on is better. I don’t want to overstate how rosy the picture is, there certainly still widespread factory farming, it is the case too that some companies have proven very resistant to change and some of them, because there aren’t the kind of free speech protections that there are in the U.S. some of them have sued activists for campaigning and tried to really squelch their campaigning.
Robert Wiblin: Well that’s happened in the U.S. as well.
Lewis Bollard: That has happened in the U.S. as well, yeah. I think it’s a mixed picture in Latin America, I guess, to me it’s mainly optimistic relative to my base-line assumption. Less optimistic just kind of objectively.
Robert Wiblin: It’s really good that it was tried out cause I guess you have these-
Lewis Bollard: Objectively.
Robert Wiblin: It is really good that it was tried out because you have these stereotypes about countries that are based on not all that much experience just like the people’s very broad impressions and sounds don’t always match the actual experience.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah I think that is a great point, I mean I think that particularly when it comes to pretty new issue, like animal welfare, that isn’t very well correlated with, for instance, political left and right or other kind of standard things we know more about. It makes a lot of sense to this test it, to see, to test the message, to test in different countries, in different places and see what works. I think we’re constantly kind of surprised by what that is.
Robert Wiblin: One possibility is that people in the US are already familiar with the fact that people care about animal welfare and advocate vegetarianism. They’ve least heard of it even if they haven’t heard all the details. So possibly they’re just sick of it and they know what the ad is going to be about they don’t want to read it again. But in South America it just might be a more noble thing so people are curious to find out.
Lewis Bollard: That’s definitely one plausible explanation and I think another set of results consistent with that set I heard recently was that of a group in Australia was testing online ads with different demographics. Traditionally we thought of young people as being the most receptive demographic but what they found was that old people clicked on their ads far more often, spend far more time on their website, and, based on a very kind of lose subjective interpretation of comments, left far more favorable comments. And again that may just have a lot more to do with the fact that they hadn’t [01:01:27] been exposed this message previously. So you both have a set of low hanging fruit that hasn’t already been grabbed but you also have people who really just have more of an interest factor, there’s more for a new, unique factor here.
Robert Wiblin: Maybe they’re just less easily distracted than the kids, y’know interrupting their reading about animal welfare to check Snapchat I bet.
Lewis Bollard: That, too. That, too.
Robert Wiblin: Alright, as as we continue on march through each of the different intervention areas, let’s talk a bunch about corporate campaigns. Can you describe in detail the approach that these campaigns are taking or try to influence corporate behavior?
Lewis Bollard: Sure, so the basic premise of this campaigns is that the manner in which farm animals are treated is really oblivious to the customers of grocery stores or fast food chains or other companies that are using these animal products. In those cases when consumers find out how those animals are treated, they are not very happy about it. It’s not consistent with their expectations and their faith in the company. So, what these campaigns do is really seek to capitalise on that dissonance. They seek to make customers of companies aware how the animals in the chain are treated. And to thus really create a PR incentive or brand incentive for the companies to do something about it, to deal with that dissonance, to avoid the consumer backlash. Then to really avoid the significant negative publicity from just simply exposure of how they’re treating the animals in their supply chain.
Robert Wiblin: Mm-hmm, and so they describe the conditions of animals to the general public and try to get it in the media and then say “Stop doing this and we’ll stop complaining if you change what you stock or how you produce eggs”?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so I mean a lot of it is more fine in particular leverage points. So it’s for instance finding, first making sure that the company’s senior management and their investors are aware of how the animals are being treated. And oftentimes that is enough. They aren’t even aware and when they see it they feel terrible about it or they recognise a major brand liability waiting to happen. If that fails, then yes, launching campaigns certainly generating media publicity, generating a lot of online feedback and so making sure that consumers are really communicating with this company how annoyed they are about this. Communicating through Facebook, through Twitter, through phone calls to the company and then doing things like targeted protests to really make the company’s consumers aware, in particular a lot of calls to make it a hassle for the company and to make them really deal and interact with the issue.
Robert Wiblin: Most of these campaigns have been about cage versus barn-laid or free-range eggs, right?
Lewis Bollard: Yes, so first round of campaigns which are just now winding up in the US have focused on eliminating use of battery cages for layer hens. That’s now the primary focus of campaigns in Latin America and in Southern Europe. In the US and in Northern Europe where those campaigns have largely been won in the sense of securing pledges from across the industry, activists have now moved on to the treatment of broiler chickens, the meat chickens, which are raised separately from layer hens and are particularly focused on reforming the genetics, the amount of space they have, so the crowding, and slaughter methods and other living conditions.
Robert Wiblin: So what do you mean, changing the genetics?
Lewis Bollard: So one of the biggest problems that modern broiler chickens face is the genetics that they’re born with. Those genetics have been optimised for two things only: for as rapid growth as possible and for lower feed conversion ratio as possible. In the process, animal welfare has been really neglected. What we have now is birds that grow five, six times faster than they did in 1950, but the bird’s systems are not designed to keep up with that. So their legs aren’t five to six times stronger, their lungs and heart aren’t six times bigger. So what you end up with is a lot of birds lame later in the growing period, you end up with major respiratory problems or heart problems. So a lot of sources of chronic suffering that are created simply by the genetics these birds are born with.
Robert Wiblin: It sounds perverse but could that even have been positive for animal welfare? Their lives are worse but you need fewer of them to produce the same amount of meat. On the other hand, of course, the meat becomes cheaper, then, and so people consume more of it. I guess that it’s not obvious that it’s obvious overall
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so this is certainly a debate that’s been had around the current requests for higher welfare genetics which may mean slower genetics. To me I think the most important thing is that when we’re talking about higher welfare genetics, the focus is on those welfare outcomes. So I think if you look at the current outcomes for broiler chickens, it seems very likely that they live net negative lives as opposed to in 1950 where I think it’s totally conceivable that they had net positive lives. If you’re talking about net-positive versus net-negative then extending a net-positive life isn’t such a bad thing whereas extending a net negative life is a very bad thing.
But I think when we look at these welfare outcomes whether it’s lameness, whether its respiratory problems, it’s not the case that we need to reverse all the genetic changes made since 1950. So we don’t need to make birds grow five to six times slower. Just reducing the growth rate by something like 25 percent could make a major difference and the biggest reason for that is not the actual growth rate itself but it’s that at every stage in breeding chicken the genetics companies only have so much genetic variation to play with. What they’ve been doing with these high performing bird ranges is selecting solely based on these two characteristics of growth and feed-conversion. When you free up some that genetic potential and then able to select based on animal welfare factors, you end up with a significantly higher welfare bird without doing a lot to sacrifice that growth rate.
Robert Wiblin: Could we take that even further and ultimately make animals that have just amazing lives that are just constantly ecstatic like they’re on heroin or some other drug that makes people feel very good all the time whenever they are in the farm and they say, “Well, the problem has basically been solved because the animals are living great lives”?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, so I think this is a really interesting ethical question for people about whether that would, in people’s minds, solve the problem. I think from a pure utilitarian perspective it would. A lot of people would fine that kind of perverse having, for instance, particularly I think if you’re talking about animals that might psychologically feel good even in terrible conditions. I think the reason why it’s probably going to remain a thought experiment, though, is that it ultimately relies on the chicken genetics companies and the chicken producers to be on board. And not only have they shown very low interest in improving chicken welfare and improving chicken well-being, it’s a fight just to get them to agree on the most basic reforms, but they also seem far more concerned about being able to say to their consumer that a chicken isn’t technically genetically modified which sort of changes you’re [01:08:45] envisaging would probably involves some sort of genetic modification. So it’s funny given that they’ve done so much to genetically manipulate these birds and to do far more than GMO technologies could have done in one swoop.
Robert Wiblin: Quite ghastly things.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, exactly. But they still maintain this real – they want the consumer still to feel the kind of naturalistic fallacy about these birds.
Robert Wiblin: I was thinking you could just use the same breeding techniques to select the birds that seem to be happiest. I guess you would have a problem there between seeming happy and being happy. You could end up breaking that link.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I think that certainly when you’re talking about higher welfare outcomes, one of them is to look at the perceived subjective well-being of birds. It’s quite hard to measure. Birds don’t smile in the same way as we do and we don’t have the same kind of insights into their minds and when they’re happy or not. But I think the bigger issue here is that for birds to truly be happy in the kind of environment they’re being kept in would require far more than you can naturally select for.
Robert Wiblin: Or it would take thousands of generations, or a huge amount of evolution for that to work.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, and it might still not be possible. There are some basic evolutionary reason why you would find really harsh unforgiving environment make you unhappy. There are reasons why there should be aversive [01:10:03] for an animal evolutionarily.
Robert Wiblin: Although … Well, I’m not so sure about that. I studied genetics, and I’m just thinking, in fact, these environments aren’t bad for them in the modern world, in a sense, because they get food and they reproduce. In a way, there’s a disconnect between what they’ve been evolved to want in the past and in fact what actually perpetuates their genes today. So it would certainly require a radical reprogramming of what kinds of environments chickens enjoy, but there’s other species that like cramped, damp conditions. I don’t know, I mean insects obviously, but like burrowing animals.
Lewis Bollard: Right. Yeah, so I mean I think you’re certainly right that the biggest problem here is the imbalance between these animals needs as they were naturally and have been developed through breeding, and the environments they’re in. And despite the best efforts of farmers to breed the original animal out of them, they have not gotten to a point where birds, for instance, don’t feel the desire to extend their wings or to perch or to dust-bathe, or do other things that are severely constrained in these environments.
I’ll defer to you on whether you could ever breed a bird like that, but I do think that the simpler solution is likely to be to just improve the conditions sufficiently, that the bird is able to exhibit those kind of important behaviors.
Robert Wiblin: Another reason that this approach might be redundant is that I expect it would be more difficult and take longer than producing meat, cultured meat or other meat substitutes that don’t require animals.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah. I think that’s a great point. I mean, I think when people start to talk about completely re-engineering the minds of chickens so that they’re essentially brain-dead and don’t realise the environment they’re in, it just seems like a better option to only grow the meat part of the bird and not grow the mind at all.
Robert Wiblin: I expect that is probably coming in the next 30 to 50 years, possibly even sooner than that, and it’s clear that there’s a commercial path to doing that in a way that probably just doesn’t exist without these radical changes in bird genetics.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah. I think that’s right. I mean, people always talk about hurdles to consumer acceptance of grown meat or clean meat, but obviously those hurdles would be far greater for brain-dead meat or otherwise significantly altered chickens, so I do think that as you say, it’s most likely we’ll see this through people just growing the meat cells themselves, and that also seems more efficient than growing the entire bird.
Robert Wiblin: It’s strange that that would have hurdles to consumer acceptance, with birds so large that their legs break and then they starve and rot on the floor of the farm not so much.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, it’s a real irony. It really is kind of crazy how so many of the, when there are surveys done, questions about “Would people eat grown meat,” and people say they wouldn’t because it’s not natural, when you look at the current system, if natural is even a good thing that you care about, there is just no way you would assign natural as the descriptor of the current system. I think that has a lot to do with willful ignorance of current conditions and my hope is certainly that as the animal movement does a better job of raising awareness of actual conditions with people, that will make them more receptive to alternatives like grown meat, which they’ll come to see are really both cleaner in terms of how they’re produced but also just obviously so much better for animals.
Robert Wiblin: We just had a lengthy diversion into genetics, but we were talking about corporate campaigns and their approach. I wanted to discuss for a minute the economics of the cage-free campaigns. So they’ve put pressure on these companies and they inform them, some moral persuasion, and some just profit-based persuasion, and many of them have folded quite quickly. Is that because it’s not that much more expensive to get rid of the cages? Or is it that consumers kind of wanted it anyway? Or perhaps if everyone’s doing it at once, you don’t get much of a commercial disadvantage?
Lewis Bollard: I think it’s a variety of those factors, but I actually think more than that, that these campaigns have just been very effectively run. I mean, I think the most important factor behind these campaigns is that they have never given up a campaign until they’ve won.
So if you think about the proposition as a company when one of these campaigning groups comes to you and says, “Hey, you’re doing this cruel practice. We’re planning to campaign against you.” As that company, you face a choice. If you know that they have never backed out of a campaign; they have ultimately won every campaign even if it’s taken them a year or longer, you face a choice of either we can do this right now and incur whatever cost there is down the line and possibly get a mild kind of positive halo for doing a good thing, or we can endure a brutal campaign where our brand gets trashed for weeks, months, or even a year, and then we can end up doing the same thing with the same costs associated to it. So when you see it in that way, it becomes pretty rational to make that decision.
And I think that one way they’ve been able to really build up their reputation has been going through industry subsector at a time. So starting out with food service companies, and really creating a place where after Aramark and Compass Group had made these commitments, for Sodexo, they were the only other major food service company that hadn’t, and they’d risked becoming the pariah within their industry. And similarly doing that within fast food, food fat manufacturers, grocers. So I think definitely building up the kind of momentum within each industry has been really important and there is a kind of herd mentality that occurs, but I also think there’s a basic kind of rational calculus for companies.
Robert Wiblin: Are the campaigners gonna make sure that they never drop a campaign, that they’re going to just … If they start something, they’re gonna finish it?
Lewis Bollard: That’s the plan and so far, they’ve held true to that. I mean, there are campaigns that have been going on for quite a while. Some that have been going on for more than six months. But almost invariably, other than the current few campaigns that are going on, they have ultimately won. And I think that normally over time, they either kind of wear down a company, or they experiment and ultimately find the pressure points that really get to the company and make them want to compromise. So yeah, that really has been their track record to date.
Robert Wiblin: What is the kind of first email or letter that they send to the company? Is it very friendly and informative? Is it all smiles and cheer?
Lewis Bollard: Some I’m not involved in the tactics. But my understanding is that yes, the initial communications are always as friendly and polite as possible. So there really is an effort to appeal to the better angels of the executives’ nature. And sometimes it works. I mean really, sometimes it is the case that what happens here is that executives of the companies simply didn’t realise, and it sounds crazy, but you think, if you’re running a large food manufacturing company and just a few of your products have eggs in them, It’s totally possible that you just don’t know how those eggs are produced. And so it’s sometimes the case that when the executives find out how they’re produced, they’re shocked and they want nothing to do with it. I think it’s also sometimes the case that executives even just receiving their polite emails see the potential brand damage for when consumers will do this, and so that’s sufficient. So yes, it starts out with a pretty polite, nice approach.
Robert Wiblin: And they kind of go in order from companies that seem either most culturally receptive or their brand is most likely to be damaged, because they have a brand that says, “We’re a nice, friendly, environmentally positive company.” Or do they go to companies where it’s not costly for them because the eggs, say, are only a small fraction of the product cost? What’s the calculus?
Lewis Bollard: So certainly, they’re looking for the low-hanging fruit first but ultimately, they know they need to get through the entire food industry. So you ultimately need to get pledges from even the toughest companies at some point. So, generally, I think that there’s been a tendency with each of these corporate campaigns first to focus on the food service sector. And the reason for that is that it’s a highly competitive sector where accounts, where the companies are constantly competing for accounts.
Robert Wiblin: What do you mean food service?
Lewis Bollard: So food service, Compass Group, Aramark, Sodexo, these are the companies that serve all the food served at universities, in hospitals, in office cafeterias, and each of those universities or office cafeterias is viewed as an account. So what happens is, when a campaign starts, and when the Humane League for instance, they would have mobilised students at campuses across the country. They’re not just protesting against Aramark. They’re petitioning their university to drop Aramark as their food service provider because of its mistreatment of animals and given this is a high-margin, highly competitive business for companies like Aramark, they’re very sensitive to that, so they want to fulfill what those customers are demanding. They want to avoid that kind of negative publicity. So that’s one example of how they start.
Robert Wiblin: So, a lot of companies are switching from cage eggs to non-cage eggs, but what are the conditions once they get out of the cages?
Lewis Bollard: So they’re certainly far from perfect. Typically, what the difference looks like is this, is that in a cage operation, the average bird in the United States is in a cage with between four and six other birds. In that cage, they have about 67 square inches. So that’s about the size of an iPad, and that’s where they spend their whole life and there’s really no behavioral enrichments, which is to say that there’s no way for them to express their need to perch, to nest, to dust-bathe, to do other things that preference studies and aversion studies suggest are very important to hens. In a cage-free environment, there are similar in a total numbers of hens as there would be in a facility, so we’re still talking about hundreds of thousands of hens in a single farm. Perhaps 50,000 in one barn. But within that environment, they’re free to roam around, so it’s typically entirely indoors and there is both horizontal and vertical space. On the horizontal space, the minimum required by the industry standards are 144 square inches, so more than what’s required for a bird in a cage, more important obviously, given they can move around, they can functionally make use of far more space. I think, critically about these cage free environments, industry standards require that there be access to perching space, to dust bathing, and to nesting boxes, and again, we know these are really important things for hens.
So, clearly there are still things lacking from the set up. They don’t have access to the outdoors. These are still high density operations. There are still real management concerns. That mortality, for instance can be very variable depending on the management of the operation. They are harder to manage than battery cage operations are. So, there remain major animal welfare concerns but I also feel pretty confident that it’s a significant improvement.
Robert Wiblin: What about free range chickens? Are they better off again?
Lewis Bollard: I think in most ways they are. So I think that, I know less about those because I haven’t read up as much on the stays as free range. Free range still remains a tiny fraction of the US market, and is simply not financially viable for these companies right now.
Robert Wiblin: That’s different than in the UK and Australia right?
Lewis Bollard: That’s right.
Robert Wiblin: In Australia that seemed like most of the eggs are always free range.
Lewis Bollard: That’s right, so in the UK and Australia it’s now a significant portion. I don’t know if it’s a majority yet, but it’s certainly a significant portion of egg sales. I think part of that is lower total scale. I think also that certainly British climates are better suited to free range operations. One of the problems that US free range operations have is the birds often end up indoors for half the year anyway. The biggest problem in free range operations is predation and keeping predation under control. I think we’re free range operation managed to do that. They can be very high welfare.
Robert Wiblin: Some even positive perhaps.
Lewis Bollard: I think that’s quite likely. I mean I think that there are still other problems associated with the egg industry. Say, for instance, even free range operations rely on chicks from commercial hatcheries where the male chicks are normally ground up alive because there’s no need for them. So there are still certainly other problems with the industry. But I think if you will look just at the experience of a free range hen in a place where predation is being controlled. I think they probably are getting to express most if not all of the things that a hen really cares about and wants to express.
Robert Wiblin: Do they still cut off the half of their beaks to prevent them from pecking?
Lewis Bollard: This, it varies. But in most free range operations, my understanding is they don’t. So debeaking is done in cage operations, it’s done in most cage free operations. In an environment with low enough density and with enough other distractions, so I think, in particular this is something with free range hens where they have access to soil, and they can peck at soil, that creates enough of other distractions that they’re not going to peck at other hens.
Robert Wiblin: So I’ve got three broad categories: cage eggs, I guess, larger cage eggs, and then free range. Do you have a sense of the relative cost of the eggs from each of these different modes of production?
Lewis Bollard: So, right now, US egg prices are at historic lows due to a variety of factors. My understanding is that in the last month, and this is in August, the average cage egg price for a dozen has been hovering around $1.30 or so nationally.
Robert Wiblin: That’s incredibly low.
Lewis Bollard: Incredibly low, yeah. For a cage free dozen we’re looking more at like $2.20 or so for a dozen and for free range, I think for a lot of free range labels you’re looking more at like $4.00 or $5.00.
Robert Wiblin: Okay.
Lewis Bollard: So …
Robert Wiblin: So, it’s several multiples …
Lewis Bollard: Several multiples, I think in the case of … often times, both cage free and free range is used as a price differentiation tool as well, so …
Robert Wiblin: … the part where there’s picking up consumers that are willing to pay more even if it doesn’t cost that much.
Lewis Bollard: Exactly, exactly. I think that, my hope is, that will change over time, as this becomes the new standard. So as it moves away from being the sole specialty product, it makes sense for companies to not price it in that way.
Robert Wiblin: I recall in Australia that the difference in cage eggs and free range eggs, was maybe that they were double, maybe double and a half, from memory. So maybe a guess that might cost in production, that’s maybe where we’re ballparking at.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, that sounds right. I think certainly some of the studies coming out of Europe, in terms of cage free production, suggest costs about 25% higher than cage production. They don’t suggest costs that are twice the price.
Robert Wiblin: And, so, because the cost of production isn’t that much greater, has that made this a more promising campaign to go with first because just companies are more willing to do it, and maybe also eggs aren’t as expensive as meat in the first place, so it’s just less of an overall increase in cost?
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, I think those are all things that have made this more tractable. I think the fact too, that for a lot of companies eggs are not integral to their menu. So even, for a lot of fast food companies, eggs are something that they are, maybe have a couple of breakfast dishes including, but otherwise aren’t using. So I think that, all those things together, certainly made this a more tractable first goal and will make subsequent campaigns harder.
Robert Wiblin: Have you ever met someone in the agricultural industry or animal agricultural industry, who you’ve explained the conditions animals are in and why this is immoral and have just been overcome with shame and decided to leave or change their ways?
Lewis Bollard: (nervous laugh) … um …
Robert Wiblin: Have you ever heard of a story like this? …
Lewis Bollard: Well …
Robert Wiblin: … thinks you know, maybe I’m one of the baddies, and you know, I’m going to hell, or whatever their non-religious equivalent would be ..
Lewis Bollard: Sure, sure, so I did have a friend I went to university … I went to University at Auckland for six months before I came over to the United States for university. And I had a friend from a dairy farming family, and both of his, two of his brothers went into dairy farming and I ultimately persuaded him to go vegan and he, has since then, been vegan and been very concerned about factory farming. And when I say I did, it was mainly that we debated and liked on to read animal liberation and that had the effect.
You know, what I found a lot more often with people in industry, is either that they are understandably very defensive because they have a lot at stake in the current system, or that they’re just not particularly happy about aspects of the system. That they feel like they have already made some costs and they’re already sort of bored into it. That they either don’t have the power to change it, or that someone else will do it if they don’t. So I think this is a kind of common refrain is that it’s just, it’s the market dictating this, they don’t have a ton of autonomy about setting these conditions or changing how animals are treated.
Robert Wiblin: Yeah, I did know some people at university who, especially came from dairy farming, or have free ranging livestock. And I’ve got to say, in those cases it is somewhat harder to persuade people of the fact that conditions for dairy cows are probably among the least that and also free ranging livestock that they say, based on my experience, they seem to have positive lives. And it’s understandable that they’re not ignorant about what’s going on. But in more thinking, people who raise broiler chickens or caged chickens, it does require an astonishing lack of empathy, I think, to just not think, that is a moral issue.
Lewis Bollard: Yeah, think that’s right. But I think that there’s also an aspect of focusing on particular rationalisations. So I have a really interesting example, recently of, I was talking with a member of the Pew Commission on Industrial Agriculture, which is sort of a blue ribbon panel put out a number of years ago, and he’s a quite senior professor at Johns Hopkins. He said the most the shocking experience for him as a scientist, was visiting a major pig factory farm at the University of Iowa, that was part of the … I think maybe it was Iowa State, rather, it was part of the university, it was kind of an agricultural demonstration facility, and they were using gestation crates. He walked in and he asked …
Robert Wiblin: Do you want to just describe gestation crates for us by chance?
Lewis Bollard: Sure, gestation crates are essentially coffin sized crates that are used for pigs during their pregnancy. Pigs typically spend their sixteen week pregnancy in gestation crate before being moved to a farrowing crate for about four weeks, while they give birth to their litter. Then they’re re inseminated and moved back into a gestation crate. So they spend a majority of their three to four year lifespan in these crates where they are completely immobilised. They can’t turn around, they can just lie down but that’s about it.
Robert Wiblin: Really, it’s just astonishingly evil.
Lewis Bollard: It really is, I think that it’s probably one of the most obviously evil practices used in factory farming. It just has so little justification and is so obviously cruel to these smart and complex creatures. You know, in this particular case this scientist was telling me that he asked these students at Iowa State, who were studying animal science, or studying veterinary sciences. He asked them, what did they think about this?
They all said they thought it was great, and they pointed out that these pigs didn’t have to worry about climatic variation, didn’t have to worry for a shortage of food, didn’t have to worry about lack of water. They really focused on those few aspects of the system, that were providing for the pigs needs. He even said he asked one of the scientists there, he said, “How do you justify this not providing for these pigs needs?”
And she said, “Well, we are providing for the pigs needs, they can drink as much as they want, and they can eat as much as they want, and they can go to the bathroom whenever they want.”
Robert Wiblin: I would be interested to offer this personal lifestyle that is nourishing to them, but at the same time typically extended …
Lewis Bollard: Indeed.
Robert Wiblin: Well, that leads us fairly naturally to the next approach that I’d like to discuss, which is undercover investigations of conditions in farms. I guess, in the more extreme case, rescues that sometimes take place after there’s undercover investigations. Do you want to describe what those approaches involve?
Lewis Bollard: Sure. So, for several decades now, activists have gone undercover on factory farms to expose the conditions. And this is really a necessity, because these farms deliberately shut themselves off from the world and try to avoid consumers seeing how animals are treated. And so the most common method for these investigations involves investigators securing a job at a facility, and then once they’re on the job, using secret cameras to simply film what’s going on. And they then typically will turn that film over to the authorities, and at the same time publish it, so that the public can become aware.
And the one recent major threat to these undercover investigations has been a set of ag-gag laws passed in various states, which sought to criminalise undercover investigations to make is basically a felony to engage in these kind of employment-based undercover investigations. And a promising development on that front, about five or six states passed these ag-gag laws in recent years. Most recently, though, two different federal courts have struck down ag-gag laws in Utah and in Idaho under the First Amendment.
Robert Wiblin: Okay. My understanding of First Amendment is that you might still be prosecuted for stealing the information, because it might be a breach of contract, a breach of perhaps your labour agreement as an employee. But that having gotten the video, you can’t stop anyone from publishing it, because that would be a violation of their freedom of expression. Do I understand that correctly?
Lewis Bollard: So these rulings have gone a little beyond this, and certainly I think it’s very clearly established under the First Amendment that you have a right to publish anything. So if you already have the video, you absolutely have the right to publish that. I think the area that was a little murkier until these recent rulings was the gathering of that information with the explicit purpose of publishing it, and in both of these cases, the court’s found that that was a First Amendment protected activity, that essentially that gathering of information was part of that same act of speech, and that same act of publicising conditions, and in particular these laws were so obviously targeted, it’s oppressing speech. They were so obviously targeted at stopping the publication of these videos, and that the |
Taylor Swift is absolutely right: music is art, art has real value, and artists deserve to be paid for it. We started Spotify because we love music and piracy was killing it. So all the talk swirling around lately about how Spotify is making money on the backs of artists upsets me big time.
Our whole reason for existence is to help fans find music and help artists connect with fans through a platform that protects them from piracy and pays them for their amazing work. Quincy Jones posted on Facebook that “Spotify is not the enemy; piracy is the enemy”. You know why? Two numbers: Zero and Two Billion. Piracy doesn’t pay artists a penny – nothing, zilch, zero. Spotify has paid more than two billion dollars to labels, publishers and collecting societies for distribution to songwriters and recording artists. A billion dollars from the time we started Spotify in 2008 to last year and another billion dollars since then. And that’s two billion dollars’ worth of listening that would have happened with zero or little compensation to artists and songwriters through piracy or practically equivalent services if there was no Spotify – we’re working day and night to recover money for artists and the music business that piracy was stealing away.
When I hear stories about artists and songwriters who say they’ve seen little or no money from streaming and are naturally angry and frustrated, I’m really frustrated too. The music industry is changing – and we’re proud of our part in that change – but lots of problems that have plagued the industry since its inception continue to exist. As I said, we’ve already paid more than $2 billion in royalties to the music industry and if that money is not flowing to the creative community in a timely and transparent way, that’s a big problem. We will do anything we can to work with the industry to increase transparency, improve speed of payments, and give artists the opportunity to promote themselves and connect with fans – that’s our responsibility as a leader in this industry; and it’s the right thing to do.
We’re trying to build a new music economy that works for artists in a way the music industry never has before. And it is working – Spotify is the single biggest driver of growth in the music industry, the number one source of increasing revenue, and the first or second biggest source of overall music revenue in many places. Those are facts. But there are at least three big misconceptions out there about how we work, how much we pay, and what we mean for the future of music and the artists who create it. Let’s take a look at them.
Myth number one: free music for fans means artists don’t get paid.
On Spotify, nothing could be further from the truth. Not all free music is created equal – on Spotify, free music is supported by ads, and we pay for every play. Until we launched Spotify, there were two economic models for streaming services: all free or all paid, never together, and both models had a fatal flaw. The paid-only services never took off (despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on marketing), because users were being asked to pay for something that they were already getting for free on piracy sites. The free services, which scaled massively, paid next to nothing back to artists and labels, and were often just a step away from piracy, implemented without regard to licensing, and they offered no path to convert all their free users into paying customers. Paid provided monetization without scale, free reached scale without monetization, and neither produced anywhere near enough money to replace the ongoing decline in music industry revenue.
We had a different idea. We believed that a blended option – or ‘freemium’ model – would build scale and monetization together, ultimately creating a new music economy that gives fans access to the music they love and pays artists fairly for their amazing work. Why link free and paid? Because the hardest thing about selling a music subscription is that most of our competition comes from the tons of free music available just about everywhere. Today, people listen to music in a wide variety of ways, but by far the three most popular ways are radio, YouTube, and piracy – all free. Here’s the overwhelming, undeniable, inescapable bottom line: the vast majority of music listening is unpaid. If we want to drive people to pay for music, we have to compete with free to get their attention in the first place.
So our theory was simple – offer a terrific free tier, supported by advertising, as a starting point to attract fans and get them in the door. And unlike other free music options – from piracy to YouTube to SoundCloud – we pay artists and rights holders every time a song is played on our free service. But it’s not as flexible or uninterrupted as Premium. If you’ve ever used Spotify’s free service on mobile, you know what I mean – just like radio, you can pick the kind of music you want to hear but can’t control the specific song that’s being played, or what gets played next, and you have to listen to ads. We believed that as fans invested in Spotify with time, listening to their favorite music, discovering new music and sharing it with their friends, they would eventually want the full freedom offered by our premium tier, and they’d be willing to pay for it.
We were right. Our free service drives our paid service. Today we have more than 50 million active users of whom 12.5 million are subscribers each paying $120 per year. That’s three times more than the average paying music consumer spent in the past. What’s more, the majority of these paying users are under the age of 27, fans who grew up with piracy and never expected to pay for music. But here’s the key fact: more than 80% of our subscribers started as free users. If you take away only one thing, it should be this: No free, no paid, no two billion dollars.
Myth number two: Spotify pays, but it pays so little per play nobody could ever earn a living from it.
First of all, let’s be clear about what a single stream – or listen – is: it’s one person playing one song one time. So people throw around a lot of stream counts that seem big and then tell you they’re associated with payouts that sound small. But let’s look at what those counts really represent. If a song has been listened to 500 thousand times on Spotify, that’s the same as it having been played one time on a U.S. radio station with a moderate sized audience of 500 thousand people. Which would pay the recording artist precisely … nothing at all. But the equivalent of that one play and its 500 thousand listens on Spotify would pay out between three and four thousand dollars. The Spotify equivalent of ten plays on that radio station – once a day for a week and a half – would be worth thirty to forty thousand dollars.
Now, let’s look at a hit single, say Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’. In the months since that song was released, it’s been listened to enough times to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for his label and publisher. At our current size, payouts for a top artist like Taylor Swift (before she pulled her catalog) are on track to exceed $6 million a year, and that’s only growing – we expect that number to double again in a year. Any way you cut it, one thing is clear – we’re paying an enormous amount of money to labels and publishers for distribution to artists and songwriters, and significantly more than any other streaming service.
Myth number three: Spotify hurts sales, both download and physical.
This is classic correlation without causation – people see that downloads are down and streaming is up, so they assume the latter is causing the former. Except the whole correlation falls apart when you realize a simple fact: downloads are dropping just as quickly in markets where Spotify doesn’t exist. Canada is a great example, because it has a mature music market very similar to the US. Spotify launched in Canada a few weeks ago. In the first half of 2014, downloads declined just as dramatically in Canada – without Spotify – as they did everywhere else. If Spotify is cannibalising downloads, who’s cannibalising Canada?
By the same token, we’ve got a great list of artists who promoted their new releases on Spotify and had terrific sales and lots of streaming too – like Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey and alt-J. Artists from Daft Punk to Calvin Harris to Eminem had number ones and were on Spotify at the same time too.
Which brings us back to Taylor Swift. She sold more than 1.2 million copies of 1989 in the US in its first week, and that’s awesome. We hope she sells a lot more because she’s an exceptional artist producing great music. But she’s the only artist who has sold more than a million copies in an album’s first week since 2002. In the old days, multiple artists sold multiple millions every year. That just doesn’t happen any more; people’s listening habits have changed – and they’re not going to change back. You can’t look at Spotify in isolation – even though Taylor can pull her music off Spotify (where we license and pay for every song we’ve ever played), her songs are all over services and sites like YouTube and Soundcloud, where people can listen all they want for free. To say nothing of the fans who will just turn back to pirate services like Grooveshark. And sure enough, if you looked at the top spot on The Pirate Bay last week, there was 1989…
Here’s the thing I really want artists to understand: Our interests are totally aligned with yours. Even if you don’t believe that’s our goal, look at our business. Our whole business is to maximize the value of your music. We don’t use music to drive sales of hardware or software. We use music to get people to pay for music, and we pay nearly 70% of all our revenue back to you. The more we grow, the more we’ll pay you. We’re going to be transparent about it all the way through. And we have a big team of your fellow artists here because if you think we haven’t done well enough, we want to know, and we want to do better. None of that is ever going to change.
We’re getting fans to pay for music again. We’re connecting artists to fans they would never have otherwise found, and we’re paying them for every single listen. We’re not just streaming, we’re mainstreaming now, and that’s good for music makers and music lovers around the world.
– Daniel Ek
Royalty growth from 2009 - 2014 |
Community members gather with officials, including, from right, Transit Police Capt. Lance Ware, National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly and the zoo’s police chief,Terrell Wilson. They discussed the Easter Monday shooting on Connecticut Avenue near the zoo entrance.
April 23, 2014 Community members gather with officials, including, from right, Transit Police Capt. Lance Ware, National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly and the zoo’s police chief,Terrell Wilson. They discussed the Easter Monday shooting on Connecticut Avenue near the zoo entrance. Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post
Zoo and police leaders and neighbors discuss the violence on Connecticut Avenue and security at the zoo’s traditional Easter Monday events.
Thousands of people were visiting the zoo for an annual holiday event when the gunfire erupted.
Thousands of people were visiting the zoo for an annual holiday event when the gunfire erupted.
Two men were shot Monday afternoon in the midst of a knot of people on Connecticut Avenue NW near the National Zoo, site of an annual Easter event that drew thousands of people over the course of the day.
Neither man was thought to be seriously wounded. One was struck in the hand and found in the 3000 block of Connecticut, just outside the zoo. The other was found about four blocks away.
No motive was known in the shootings, D.C. police said. Cmdr. Michael Reese, head of the 2nd Police District, said investigators thought that just before the shooting a group of 30 to 50 people had been walking on Connecticut.
About 5:15 p.m., according to police accounts, gunfire broke out within the group. It was not clear who fired. Gunshots in that Northwest Washington neighborhood are unusual.
Police had no information on what had led to the shooting, Reese said, and authorities are hoping to hear from witnesses.
"Pop pop pop" at the zoo. Hoping it's fireworks. Police helicopter and units suggest otherwise. @PoPville — spanuska (@spanuska) April 21, 2014 Scene at the national zoo after shooting there this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/0Ok37q1WT8 — Tom Fitzgerald (@FitzFox5DC) April 21, 2014
According to at least one news media account, the man struck in the hand may have wounded himself by accident. However, Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham said authorities did not know whether that had happened. He said police had “nothing to confirm or disprove it.”
The gunfire broke out on a bright, warm day despite a heavy police presence near the zoo, which was hosting annual Easter Monday activities, a Washington tradition more than 100 years old. Visitor traffic at the event usually clogs Connecticut close to the zoo.
The event has been followed by violence at or near the zoo on at least two previous occasions. In 2000, seven people were shot at an entrance to the zoo. Three years ago, a teenager was stabbed in a fight at the zoo.
Zoo spokeswoman Devin Murphy said she knew of nothing suggesting that Monday’s gunfire was related to anything that had occurred at the zoo. About 16,000 visitors had been counted by late afternoon, but it was not known whether any of those involved in the violence had been among them, Murphy said. She said the Easter Monday events had ended about 4 p.m.
Bri’Ana Jenkins and her friend, Par’Ris Thompson, both 19, said they were at the zoo entrance and preparing to head inside late in the day. The women said they were lingering near the entrance, hoping they could get inside, when they heard two shots.
Dozens of people, some with strollers, poured back into the zoo to search for cover, the women said. They saw some people hiding behind trees.
When shots rang out, people who had left the zoo “bombarded back inside,” Thompson said.
“Back in the zoo. That was the safest place to be,” Jenkins said.
The women said it appeared that the shooting occurred across the street from the zoo entrance, near a Starbucks and a hot-dog vendor.
One Starbucks employee said she heard one or two gunshots right outside the building. A man standing next to the hot-dog stand in front of Starbucks said the shooting occurred there.
Murphy, the zoo spokeswoman, said that after the gunfire, zoo gates were closed to new arrivals but that those already inside were permitted to stay.
It was determined by 6 p.m. that zoo visitors were safe to leave. The zoo normally closes at 6 in April.
At one point Monday afternoon, police said they were looking for two male teens who may have been involved in the incident. Later they said they had no description of a suspect.
Effects of Monday’s incident rippled up and down the avenue.
The Cleveland Park branch of the D.C. Public Library remained closed hours after the shooting. “The library is under lockdown until further notice,” signs read.
Groups of yoga students hoping to use the library’s community room and parents with children waited outside wondering whether the library, three blocks north of the zoo, would reopen before its regularly scheduled 9 p.m. close. Restaurants near the library were teeming with people seated outdoors to enjoy the mild evening.
Shortly after 7 p.m., friendly librarians reopened the building “to anyone who doesn’t look dangerous,” one staffer joked. Everyone waiting got in.
Marc Fisher and Ian Shapira contributed to this report. |
October 9, 2009 – Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Thursday he will prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries for over-the-counter sales, targeting a practice that has become commonplace under an initiative approved by California voters more than a decade ago.
“The vast, vast, vast majority, about 100%, of dispensaries in Los Angeles County and the city are operating illegally, they are dealing marijuana illegally, according to our theory,” he said. “The time is right to deal with this problem.”
Cooley and Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich recently concluded that state law bars sales of medical marijuana, an opinion that could spark a renewed effort by law enforcement across the state to rein in the use of marijuana. It comes as polls show a majority of state voters back legalization of marijuana, and supporters are working to place the issue on the ballot next year.
The district attorney’s office is investigating about a dozen dispensaries, following police raids, and is considering filing felony charges against one that straddles the Los Angeles-Culver City line.
“We have our strategy and we think we are on good legal ground,” Cooley said.
Medical marijuana advocates say the prosecutors are misinterpreting the law.
“I’m confident that they are not right,” said Joe Elford, chief counsel for Americans for Safe Access. “If they are right, it would mean that thousands of seriously ill Californians for whom the Compassionate Use Act was intended to help would not be able to get the medicine that they need.”
Law enforcement officials have been frustrated by the explosion in the number of dispensaries in Southern California, arguing that most are for-profit enterprises that violate the 1996 voter initiative legalizing medical marijuana and the 2003 state law permitting collective cultivation. Cooley’s announcement, coming at a news conference that followed a training session he and Trutanich conducted for narcotics officers, dramatically raises the stakes.
In the city of Los Angeles, some estimates put the number of dispensaries as high as 800. The city allowed 186 to remain open under its 2007 moratorium, but hundreds of others opened in violation of the ban while the city did nothing to shut them down.
In August, Cooley and Sheriff Lee Baca sent a letter to all mayors and police chiefs in the county, saying that they believed over-the-counter sales were illegal and encouraging cities to adopt permanent bans on dispensaries.
Mark Kleiman, a professor of public policy at UCLA and an expert on drug policy, was not surprised that local prosecutors had decided to attack the rapid proliferation of marijuana stores.
“I think it’s a natural response to the rather flagrant marketing practices of a bunch of the dispensaries. The medical veneer has been wearing thinner and thinner,” he said. “I’ve always wondered why those things were legal when they didn’t look legal to me.”
Cooley said he believes that under state law, collectives must raise their own marijuana and can only recoup their costs. “That’s absolutely legal,” he said. “We’re going to respect that.”
But he said none of them currently do that.
The district attorney’s warning could make the situation more chaotic in Los Angeles, where the City Council has struggled for two years to devise an ordinance to control the distribution of medical marijuana.
In addition to prosecuting dispensaries, Cooley said he would consider going after doctors who write medical marijuana recommendations for healthy people. Medical marijuana critics argue that some doctors freely recommend the drug to people who are not ill.
Medical marijuana advocates celebrated a brief thaw in the enforcement climate after the Obama administration signaled earlier this year that it would not prosecute collectives that followed state law. That spurred many entrepreneurs to open dispensaries in Los Angeles. As stores popped up near schools and parks, neighborhood activists reacted with outrage and police took notice.
Councilman Dennis Zine, a key player on the issue at L.A. City Hall, welcomed Cooley’s decision to prosecute dispensaries. “There are many that are operating illegally and it’s not a secret,” he said, adding that he believes “a few” collectives in the city are operating legally.
Anticipating that police departments will ramp up raids on dispensaries, medical marijuana advocates reacted with dismay to Cooley’s announcement.
“What we’ll see is a big disruption,” said Don Duncan, the California director for Americans for Safe Access. He called Cooley’s decision “incredible” and said, “It certainly sounds scary.”
Duncan acknowledged that many dispensaries do not follow the law and urged Cooley and Trutanich to focus exclusively on them. “You don’t have to cast a net over the entire community, you can target the problem people and not take this extreme adversarial position,” he said. “Some good people are going to be caught in the crossfire.”
About 100 medical marijuana patients, activists and dispensary owners protested on a sidewalk outside the Montebello Country Club, where about 150 prosecutors and narcotics officers met. Motorists repeatedly honked and shook their fists in support as they rolled by, triggering cheers from the crowd.
Barry Kramer, the operator of California Patients Alliance, a collective on Melrose Avenue, said many dispensaries have responsibly regulated themselves for years in the vacuum left by the City Council’s inaction.
“I feel like that gets lost,” he said. “It’s frustrating to get painted with one brush by the city.”
Kramer said he believed that dispensaries would continue to operate. “People have found ways around marijuana laws for as long as there have been marijuana laws,” he said.
But he also said that stepped-up prosecutions could resuscitate the criminal market: “Things will go underground. We’ll see a lot more crime.”
When Californians voted for Proposition 215 in 1996, they made it legal for patients with a doctor’s recommendation and their caregivers to possess and raise pot for the patient’s medical use.
In 2003, the Legislature allowed patients and caregivers “collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes” but said they could not do it for profit.
Cooley and Trutanich, after reviewing a state Supreme Court decision from last year, have concluded that the law protects collectives from prosecution only in the cultivation of marijuana, not for sales or distribution.
Medical marijuana advocates, however, note that the state currently requires dispensaries to collect sales taxes on marijuana, and that guidelines drawn up by the attorney general conclude that “a properly organized and operated collective or cooperative that dispenses medical marijuana through a storefront may be lawful.”
The guidelines allow collectives to take costs into account but do not deal directly with over-the-counter sales.
Jacob Appelsmith, special assistant attorney general, said Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown talked to Cooley on Thursday. “Our staffs are continuing to meet about these issues,” he said.
Source. By John Hoeffel
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MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin completed the annexation of Crimea on Friday, signing the peninsula into Russia at nearly the same time his Ukrainian counterpart sealed a deal pulling his country closer into Europe's orbit.
Putin said he saw no need to further retaliate against U.S. sanctions, a newly conciliatory tone reflecting an apparent attempt to contain one of the worst crises in Russia's relations with the West since the Cold War.
Putin hailed the incorporation of Crimea into Russia as a "remarkable event" before he signed the parliament bills into law in the Kremlin on Friday. He ordered fireworks in Moscow and Crimea.
At nearly the same time, in a ceremony in Brussels, Ukraine's new prime minister pulled his nation closer to Europe by signing a political association agreement with the European Union — the same deal that touched off the political crisis that drove President Viktor Yanukovych from office and sent him fleeing to Russia.
Russia rushed the annexation of the strategic Black Sea peninsula after Sunday's hastily called referendum, in which its residents overwhelmingly backed breaking off from Ukraine and joining Russia. Ukraine and the West have rejected the vote, held two weeks after Russian troops had taken over Crimea.
At Ukrainian bases on the peninsula, troops hesitated, besieged by Russian forces and awaiting orders. Russia claimed some had switched sides and agreed to join the Russian military.
The U.S. and EU have responded to the crisis by slapping sanctions on Russia.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered a second round of sanctions against nearly two dozen members of Putin's inner circle and a major bank supporting them.
Moscow retaliated on Thursday by banning nine U.S. officials and lawmakers from entering Russia, but Putin indicated that Russia would likely refrain from curtailing cooperation in areas such as Afghanistan. Moscow appears to hope to limit the damage from the latest U.S. and EU sanctions and avoid further Western blows.
The latest U.S. sanctions, which targeted Putin's chief of staff along with other senior Kremlin aides and four businessmen considered to be his lifelong friends, dealt a painful blow to Russia. Obama also warned that more sweeping penalties against Russia's economy, including its robust energy sector, could follow.
International rating agencies downgraded Russia's outlook, and Russian stocks tumbled Friday.
Putin tried to play down the sanctions' toll on Russia in televised remarks at Friday's session of the presidential Security Council, saying that "we should keep our distance from those people who compromise us," a jocular reference to the officials on the sanctions list, some of whom attended the meeting.
He added sardonically that he would open an account to keep his salary in the targeted Bank Rossiya, a private bank that is owned by Yuri Kovalchuk, who is considered to be Putin's longtime friend and banker. With about $10 billion in assets, Rossiya ranks as the 17th largest bank in Russia and maintains numerous ties to banks in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.
At the same time, Putin said that that he sees no immediate need for further Russian retaliation to the U.S. sanctions, a stance that reflected an apparent hope to limit further damage to ties with the West that have plummeted to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.
"We must refrain from retaliatory steps for now," Putin said.
Russia is expected to play a major role in the planned withdrawal of U.S. and other NATO forces from Afghanistan later this year by providing transit corridors via its territory, and Putin seemed to indicate that the Kremlin at this stage has no intention to shut the route in response to U.S. and EU sanctions.
Moscow also appeared to be warming to the deployment of monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the top trans-Atlantic security and rights group which it has blocked so far.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia would welcome sending the OSCE observers to Russian-speaking regions in eastern Ukraine on condition that their number and locations are clearly set, but he made it clear that they wouldn't be let into Crimea.
In Crimea, heavily armed Russian forces and pro-Russia militia have blocked Ukrainian military at their bases for weeks. Following Sunday's referendum they have moved aggressively to flush the Ukrainians out, storming some ships and military facilities. |
Lonely Earth-like planets with tumultuous cores could conceivably support life even if they had no stars, a new study says. Researchers Dorian Abbot and Eric Switzer at the University of Chicago have dubbed these theoretical worlds "Steppenwolf planets," because "any life in this strange habitat would exist like a lone wolf wandering the galactic steppe." And because they were born to be wild.
Rogue planets that have been kicked out of their solar systems (which is apparently common throughout the cosmos) could host oceans of liquid water as long as the planet's core is heated, and if the water is buried beneath a layer of protective ice, the researchers say. Liquid water is generally considered a prerequisite for life.
A planet just 3.5 times the size of Earth, with Earth-like composition and roughly Earth-like age, could theoretically maintain a subglacial liquid ocean, Abbot and Switzer say. If it had about 10 times more water than Earth or a really thick atmosphere, it would only need to be about 0.3 times the size of Earth. That's a little bigger than Mars and smaller than Venus, according to Technology Review's arXiv blog.
Just like Earth, the Steppenworld would need an active mantle to maintain geothermal heat, keeping at least some of the water in liquid form. This is different from the tidal forces that keep Europa's oceans liquid, so the planet could exist all alone, with no companion stars or planets to keep it warm.
There are a lot of unknowns, however, including the roles of convection and conduction in transferring heat. Still, it's an interesting theory — rogue planets careening through the cosmos could be one way to spread life throughout the universe. And, as Abbot and Switzer point out, we would be able to see them through powerful telescopes if one traveled through our cosmic neighborhood.
Technology Review |
Roads usually serve a utilitarian purpose: to get people from point A to point B. But in the Hill Country, you might suspect that a road was paved purely for pleasure—to take drivers past stirring vistas, expansive pastures, or dense spreads of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. In the spring, wildflowers dot nearly every corner of the landscape, but particularly flamboyant throngs can be found on Farm Road 1323, which heads west off U.S. 281 about 3 miles north of Johnson City.
For even more dramatic driving, head to where the hills get larger and take on shapes like traffic cones and gumdrops. The incomparable Farm Road 337 in the southern part of the Hill Country, west of San Antonio, winds from Medina through Vanderpool to Leakey, skirting rock ledges where oaks and cacti barely cling to solid ground. |
Do cheap flights cost the Earth? To examine the price the environment pays for the aviation industry, Kat Arney spoke with Professor Douglas Crawford-Brown, Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research, to find out how much flying contributes to climate change...
Douglas - At the moment, it's only a couple of percent, 2 to 3 percent, of the carbon dioxide that's emitted around the world on average. But if you look at somebody like myself, and we'll come to that in just a bit, it's probably 50 percent, 60 percent of my carbon footprint. But also, as we start to reduce carbon dioxide from other things like our electricity system and so forth, air transport will start to become an even larger percentage than it is today.
Kat - Air transport does seem to have a reputation as being a baddie of the climate world. How does it stack up against other forms of transport?
Douglas - It's not actually so bad. So, we'll take my case for example. The problem with it is not that I ride on an aeroplane. In fact, in the places that I go to, I would emit more carbon if I were to get into a car or to get onto a bus and go to those places. The problem is that I go tens of thousands of kilometres flying around the world to teach people to reduce their carbon footprint. Peter and I can discuss that at some point.
Kat - There's got to be an irony in that. Is it just that this is what we have to put up with to live in a global world? Is there any way that we could actually improve planes to reduce this kind of impact on the planet?
Douglas - We could, but first of all, I would say that the greenest travel is the travel that you don't make at all because you didn't need to in the first place. And so, things like telecommuting are starting to replace the need to be getting onto aeroplanes or into cars. But also, what really matters is how many people you're packing into an aeroplane or a car or a bus, or what have you. Pack enough people onto an aeroplane, put them into economy, don't let them go into first class, and they will be emitting less than they would have if they'd gotten into a car or onto a bus. Not less than if they'd gotten onto a train though.
Kat - That may make some people in first class unhappy, but I'm sure the rest of us in cattle class will feel a bit more virtuous. I fly to Canada to visit my sister sometimes and I think, maybe I should offset my carbon. What should we do? Do these kind of schemes make any difference?
Douglas - Well, the only thing that really makes a difference is not getting onto the plane to begin with, but offsetting, I'm really torn on offsetting. There's no doubt that one can plant trees and this will pull some of the carbon dioxide out. The problem that we have is that the CO2 that you're emitting from your aeroplane travel is being emitted immediately, but the CO2 that's going to come out as a result of the tree is going to come out over the next 50 years or so. What matters is not just the amount of CO2 that we take out of the atmosphere but how quickly we do it. So, I'm not a big fan of offsetting.
Kat - Are there any realistic strategies that could be used in the immediate or the very near term future to reduce the carbon impacts of flying?
Douglas - Well, engineers look a lot at the efficiency of the engines, the drag on the surface of the aeroplane and so forth. But that we've got to the point now where we've pretty much done all of those improvements and therefore, what really is the next step is moving towards fuels that don't emit as much CO2. So, something like biofuels moving into the aviation industry. We're not there yet for biofuels. We can't produce enough of them at the moment, but that certainly is a solution.
Kat - Do you think we will see carbon neutral aviation, or do you think that people will seriously stop flying or reduce their flights anytime soon?
Douglas - I don't think certainly in my lifetime, which doesn't say much given my age. In my lifetime, I don't think we'll ever see carbon neutral air travel. But certainly, in my son's lifetime, there's a possibility that at least we'll have air travel that's down by a factor of two or three lower in emissions than is currently the case today. Again, I don't think we'll ever hit the zero carbon.
Kat - In terms of things like policy, we're talking about maybe expanding one of the two big airports in the south of England. Should we be looking to have more flights but they're more efficient or should we be looking just to curb our love for the skies?
Douglas - Yes, well I mean, there are reasons that people fly around. I have reasons that I fly around. I like it quite a bit, but there's no doubt that we're going to be reaching a limit to the number of people who can be traveling anymore in the future by air and therefore, I think we'll be cutting back on at least the rate of expansion of airports. But it's an important economic component of the UK for example. So, that's going to be a tough battle to fight with the treasury. |
Ross McLaughlin and Sandra Hermiston, CTV Vancouver
When you go grocery shopping you expect to get what’s labelled on the packages you purchase, but that may not always be the case.
Several studies have shown that some of the fish and meat we buy isn't actually what it seems. This past summer University of Guelph research found one in five sausages contained animal products not listed on the label, and one even had horsemeat in it.
Now a team of UBC researchers is trying to do something about it. Yaxi Hu and her colleagues have developed a quick and easy test that can detect foreign products in meat.
“Food fraud is a pretty large global issue,” explained Hu.
The researchers developed a laser spectrometer that uses light which bounces off molecules and can tell the difference between lean muscle and organ meat.
“[The molecules] would be like the fingerprints of the meat samples,” Hu said.
The device was able to determine with 99 per cent accuracy whether ground beef samples included other animal parts. It was also able to tell with 80 per cent accuracy which animal parts were used, and in what concentration.
The spectrometer gives much faster results than DNA and other forms of testing. And although it’s in the early phases, Hu hopes to put this technology in the hands of food inspectors so they can easily test meat samples out in the field and make sure products contain what is on their labels.
And as the technology improves and becomes more affordable the team is hopeful it will one day be available to all consumers to take to their local supermarket.
“That’s our ultimate goal,” said Hu.
Right now there’s no timeline when the technology will be commercially viable, but Hu doesn’t expect it will take long as there’s already testing being done to turn smartphones into spectrometers for medical diagnostic tools. |
Till now, Ted Cruz has always straddled the line between traditional conservatism and the left-wing liberal internationalist movement known as "neo" conservatism.
No more. Cruz has sold his soul to the neocons.
That became obvious the other day when Cruz announced a team of foreign-policy advisers with some of the nuttiest neocons in America on it.
Among them is Elliott Abrams, who is so completely neoconservative that he practically defines the term.
Then there is Frank Gaffney, who set something of a new standard for neocon nuttiness when he argued that Saddam Hussein was behind the bombing of that federal building in Oklahoma for which Timothy McVeigh was executed.
And then there's Andrew McCarthy, who showed he has a deep understanding of the law when he was the prosecutor in the first World Trade Center bombing.
Unfortunately McCarthy has no understanding whatsoever of foreign affairs and the military. His main criticism of George W. Bush's Iraq invasion was that Bush didn't go on to attack Iran.
It didn't seem to occur to McCarthy that conquering countries is easy. But then you have to occupy them. That's hard.
People are making fun of Donald Trump for saying his favorite foreign-policy adviser is himself. But you'd get better foreign-policy advice from a homeless guy on the corner than you'd get from those three.
I guess Cruz must be desperate to get support wherever he can, given his dismal position in this race at the moment.
His people have been trying to sell us on the idea Cruz could win California. The latest poll shows him at 22 points there.
Bad as that is, it's much better than he's doing in New York, where he comes in at 12 points. The Donald has comfortable leads in both states.
That might explain Cruz's picks for foreign policy. I don't know what else could. Certainly not mere stupidity and ignorance. Cruz is a smart guy and he has to know that his own prior positions are contradicted by these three characters.
Cruz's defenders, for example, say that he was wise enough to warn against intervening in Libya and Syria.
They also cite his statement that the U.S. should stop toppling secular dictators because of the debacles that brought on in the Mideast.
But these liberal internationalists all support that sort of goo-goo-eyed approach to foreign affairs. All have embraced the idea that once a dictator is deposed, representative democracy will spring up spontaneously.
Abrams: "It's time to bury the unreal, failed 'realism' of those who have long thought that dictators brought stability."
Actually it's time to resurrect it after the debacles in Iraq, Libya and Egypt.
And then there's Syria. This is a country that represents not the slightest threat whatsoever to the U.S. In fact Syria was part of our coalition in the first Gulf War.
Yet in 2001 Gaffney signed on to a letter from the Project for a New American Century - otherwise known as "Neocon Central" - that called for the U.S. to go after Syria.
The PNAC was instrumental in getting Bush to declare an open-ended and unwinnable "War on Terrorism" as opposed to a simple war on Al Qaeda.
Gaffney also was part of an effort to tie Saddam to the 9/11 attacks. But things really got weird with the 1995 Oklahoma bombing. After an Oklahoma TV reporter dreamed up an Iraq connection to the destruction of the Murrah Building with a fertilizer bomb, Gaffney wrote a piece in 2002 pushing that theory as a means of getting Bush to invade Iraq.
He didn't say how Saddam smuggled all that fertilizer into America. By flying saucer? Could be.
By the way, a lot of people mistakenly conclude that these neocons are conservative simply because they often express such hostility to Islamists and Sharia Law.
Nonsense. That doesn't make them conservative.
It makes them stupid. First they claim that most Muslims support such institutions as Sharia Law.
Then they claim that we should give these people free elections - so they can institute Sharia Law.
That's what was happening in Egypt until a secular dictator ended that neocon experiment in human liberation.
I wrote a number of pieces debunking that idiocy from the beginning, all based on my interviews with the "realists" so despised by Abrams and Co.
(Perhaps the most realists of the realists, former Vietnam Green Beret and Mideast veteran Pat Lang, takes on the Cruz decision in his blog: "Oddly, I know all these men. Where did I go wrong? Ah, too much time inside the Beltway! These four men collectively summon up images from the history channel, and they are not good images.")
To Trump's credit, he's the only candidate on the GOP side who blames Bush for screwing up the Mideast with this loony left philosophy. As far back as 2004, he was saying the exercise in nation-building in Iraq was doomed.
To Cruz's discredit, he stood there like a potted plant when that came up in a recent debate. And as far as I can determine he refrained from criticizing the Iraq War until last year, after Jeb Bush made that gaffe about how he would still have gone in "knowing what we know now."
And then there was his call for "carpet-bombing" ISIS, which former CIA spy Larry Johnson points out is both a war crime and thoroughly moronic because it would kill the innocent civilians we want to protect from ISIS
It might have been interesting if Cruz had put just one of the people Abrams derides as a "realist" on this panel. If he had consulted with any of the ex-spies or ex-military men I speak to regularly, they would have laughed out loud at the mere mention of the names of these three.
Instead he named a bunch of non-expert "experts" with the obvious goal of getting campaign contributions from all of those Beltway insiders who push for endless war in the Mideast to serve their own interests.
But there's not enough money in Washington to put him ahead of the Donald in the delegate count. All he can hope to do is help the insiders keep Trump from getting a first-ballot win so they can put in a more compliant candidate.
In doing so, Cruz has lost all credibility among conservatives. |
(CNN) Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who mounted an unexpectedly strong bid for the Republican nomination in 2012, is making another bid for the White House.
Santorum launched his campaign on Wednesday evening from a factory in the blue collar town of Cabot, Pennsylvania, on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, with a starkly populist tone.
He held aloft a piece of coal while telling his family's story and that of others in western Pennsylvania's coal country. He said that not only "big government," but also "big business" had demolished the American middle class.
"As middle America is hollowing out, we can't sit idly by as big government politicians make it harder for our workers and then turn around and blame them for losing jobs overseas. American families don't need another president tied to big government or big money," Santorum said during his kick-off rally.
He spoke to building applause before delivering the kicker: "And today is the day we are going to begin to fight back!"
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The location is no coincidence, as Santorum drew on his own blue-collar roots, just 10 miles away from Cabot, setting the stage for his campaign's focus on working-class and middle-class Americans.
Santorum also highlighted his family story in his speech, touching on veterans' issues, as both of his parents worked for the Veterans Administration.
For a politician who won the Iowa caucus in 2012 and was able to keep his campaign -- fueled by support from Christian conservatives -- running through the spring, Santorum is starting the 2016 race in a humble place: the bottom. He came in at 3% and 2% in the latest CNN/ORC and Fox News polls, respectively.
That's a dramatic difference from other Republicans who have sought the nomination again after narrowly losing it in the past. John McCain and Mitt Romney, for example, began their second presidential bids in strong shape after failing to clinch the nomination in earlier bids. McCain and Romney went on to take the nomination, though they lost the general election.
Part of Santorum's challenge is that he finds himself in a crowded field of politicians seeking the GOP nomination. He would first need to get by top evangelical vote-getters like former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ben Carson if he wants to break into the broader GOP field that already includes Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, along with businesswoman Carly Fiorina. Other heavy-hitters, such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will also likely get in the race this summer.
A move toward economy and foreign policy
Known for his close ties to Christian conservatives, Santorum begins the 2016 race as a politician who has evolved from his days on Capitol Hill where he was known for making controversial statements about homosexuality and abortion. While he didn't disavow those positions, Santorum began to focus more on economic populism in 2012 -- a theme he will revive again in 2016.
But while he aimed many of his policies toward small business owners last cycle, Santorum 2.0 will train his sights on employees and the value they can add to American businesses.
That effort will kick off Thursday as Santorum heads to Davenport, Iowa for his first post-announcement event where he'll meet employees of a Hy-Vee grocery store, an employee-owned company.
He will then swing to South Carolina this weekend, where two of his sons attend The Citadel military college, giving Santorum an opportunity to pitch the next focus of his 2016 campaign: a tough foreign policy, which could appeal to many Republicans at a time of global turmoil.
Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania speaks at the Point of Grace Church for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition 2015 Spring Kickoff on April 25 in Waukee, Iowa. Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum speaks at the Point of Grace Church for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition 2015 Spring Kickoff on April 25 in Waukee, Iowa. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum speaks at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum on April 10 at the NRA annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum appears at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum on April 10 at the NRA annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum fields questions at the Iowa Ag Summit on March 7 in Des Moines, Iowa. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum speaks at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24 in Des Moines, Iowa. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 15, 2013. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum voices his opposition to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during a news conference with his wife, Karen Santorum, and three of their children on Capitol Hill on November 26, 2012. His daughter Isabella, being held by his wife, was born with a serious genetic disorder. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum tries one of the local craft beers while having lunch at Simon's Specialty Cheese following a campaign stop in Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 2, 2012. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum bowls at Sabre Lanes in Menasha, Wisconsin, following a campaign rally on April 2, 2012. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum makes a grilled cheese sandwich during a campaign stop at Simons Specialty Cheese on April 2, 2012, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum tours a vintage train car with his daughter Sarah during a campaign stop at the National Railroad Museum on April 1, 2012, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum tours a train engine during a campaign stop at the National Railroad Museum on April 1, 2012, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum addresses supporters in Lafayette, Louisiana, after winning the Alabama and Mississippi primaries on March 13, 2012. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Rick Santorum's political career Santorum greets supporters during an election night rally at the Steubenville High School gymnasium in Steubenville, Ohio, on March 6, 2012. Hide Caption 15 of 15
Driven in part by the ISIS threat and turmoil in the Middle East and by likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, the 2016 campaign is shaping up to have a heavy foreign policy bend.
That's a challenge for many Republicans who are light on foreign policy experience and Santorum is hoping voters see him as the most prepared to take on the job of commander in chief, having earned his foreign policy chops in eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
And that foreign policy would be decidedly hawkish and built on neoconservative pillars: Santorum has called for 10,000 American "boots on the ground" to defeat ISIS. Other likely Republican 2016 candidates, including Jeb Bush, have been more reluctant to commit to additional ground troops in the Middle East.
A trimmer look -- and suits
Santorum is also sporting a new look. He turned heads at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year with a trimmer look and more fitted suit. And the sweater vests at the center of his 2012 brand? Gone as well, aides say, for good.
Santorum will also hope to move on from the controversies that marred his last presidential effort, including comments about homosexuality and same-sex marriage, which he compared to polygamy and, years earlier, to bestiality.
If there's anything Santorum will be looking to repeat from 2012, it's his surprise Iowa victory, when he barnstormed through every one of the state's 99 counties and edged past his GOP opponents.
But as he launches his presidential campaign, Santorum is without the political operative who helped steer him to victory in Iowa. Chuck Laudner, the Iowa GOP operative who crisscrossed the state with Santorum in his "Chuck Truck" and was considered crucial to that win, left Santorum's political operation earlier this year to manage Donald Trump's political prospects in Iowa.
While Santorum's 2012 campaign was marked by grassroots activism and a cash-strapped effort, he is looking to overcome the fundraising hurdles that sank his fortunes in 2012, forcing him to drop out.
He hired a new finance team early on to steer his fundraising efforts, a task led by Rob Bickhart, former finance director for the Republican National Committee. And heavyweight Republican donor Foster Friess, who helped bankroll Santorum's 2012 effort, has already started his efforts to draw more money to Santorum's new campaign. |
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What could be about?
I heard two things that could be true
Its Part 1 of a 2 Parter for The Litch It's an episode showing Ice King's or Marceline's Past.
You can say which one it is or guess a different theory for the episode. I'll post pics later.
What do you think?
I totally agree about the Marceline-Ice king thing, jeremy shada said that they would sing together this season.
I have heard from other wiki members that it is about Marceline and the Ice King, but I have no way to confirm or deny these claims myself. Alchemical (talk) 13:05, September 7, 2012 (UTC)
Here's a picture an episode sketch. From what I see from it, it looks like young Marcy and Simon. It's hard to see what’s actually on the sketch, it's not that at a good angle. From what I've seen I’m going guess the episode is going to explore their past together. I’m going say Simon helped her in some way as a kid.
If that other picture of Marceline say “I love him” is in the same episode, and Is referring to Ice King. I don’t think she romantically loves him, it would be more of an family friend love (like the family friend that acts almost like an uncle) Also if that picture of Marcy and Simon is real then that would prove Ice King is older then Marceline. (don’t know if that has been proven or dis-proven yet.)
Boom pictures:
Im not sure. The upper part could be about Hunson Abadeer.Fionna The Hero (talk) 14:43, September 13, 2012 (UTC)
FootBall (talk) 15:56, September 7, 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for posting the pics!RubyOpal4 (talk) 23:36, September 7, 2012 (UTC)
You're welcome. It took me a while to find the second one, I forgot where I originally saw it on the Wika. FootBall (talk) 03:13, September 8, 2012 (UTC)
Maybe she's talking about Billy.................................LOL |
Ask the Experts- Wound Care Nurse Practitioners in Home Health
Nurse practitioners play a very important role in healthcare, and an even more important one in home health. Most home health clients live alone and have a hard time leaving their homes to make it to their MD appointments. Having a provider who will visit the home takes one less burden off the client and their families.
According to a recent article I read online, “more than one-third of all home care admissions are wound related, and home wound care has become one of the fastest growing needs and skills in home care services” (Johnson, 2017).
Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Valerie Fulton, RN, MSN, APN- BC, WCC. Val’s education includes: MSN from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Wound Care Certification from the National Alliance of Wound Care, Glendale, Wisconsin and Bladder Health Program Attendee, Health and Continence Institute, South Deerfield, Massachusetts.
She is currently the Director of Continence and Wound Management at Bridan Healthcare LLC. Val will share some insights on her role in treating wound care clients in the homes, as well as give advice to some of the treating clinicians who may struggle with hard to heal wounds.
Interviewer: Hi Val, thanks for joining me for this segment on wound care.
Val: Thanks for having me.
Interviewer: How long have you been a nurse, and how long have you been in home health?
Val: I am celebrating my 25th year in Nursing. I have been working in Home Health for the past 10 years.
Interviewer: Congratulations. 25 years is a long time. What made you decide to specialize in the treatment of wounds?
Val: In my role as a staff nurse with Bayada Nursing, I realized that many of our patients had very complex wounds that were being managed by a PCP, who did not have wound care expertise. Many of our patients were medically isolated and unable to go to local wound centers for that expert care.
Interviewer: How would you describe your role as a wound care Nurse Practitioner in home health and what does a typical day look like for you?
Val: My role in the home care setting is that of an expert clinician. My referrals are from various Primary care home care providers, VNA groups and Hospice. I provide care in their private homes, LTC, STR and ALFs.
I work ONLY…Mon-Fri starting btw 8:30am- 6pm….no weekends or national holidays. My day varies from local visits although I can travel as far as Cape May or across the bridge into Philadelphia (Center City and the surrounding suburbs). I can see as many as 6-15 patients per day. If I see patients in LTC, I can see 15 or more patients in 4-5 hours then go into the community to see a few patients on the way home.
Interviewer: What are some of the challenges you face daily in providing care in the home?
Val: I wish I could see more patients during the day but due to travel times between visits the number of patients seen can be limiting.
Interviewer: How do you try to overcome those challenges?
Val: I often try to see the maximum number of patient in an area, so I have a mostly Camden city day or a Gloucester County day and see as many patients as I can. Being one of the few wound care professionals providing home care consultations it can be challenging to see patients in a timely manner. I set a realistic goal of seeing new patients within 10-14 days of the initial referral. Being the only provider covering my territory, when I take a day off there isn’t any coverage to see my patients.
Interviewer: We know that in home care we have many non-compliant clients who don’t always follow the recommendations of the visiting nurse, NP or MD. How do you handle these types of clients in an effort to help their wounds heal?
Val: I pride myself on meeting patients where they are and NOT where I want or even expect them to be. Some patients are often non-adherent to our recommendations for many reasons that are well beyond our control. Camden City, an example of a “food desert” that has some neighborhoods with only corner stores or bodegas where you cannot expect patients to have access to healthy foods (to include fresh green vegetables and fruits).
Regarding the use of cigarette smoking, I offer those patients smoking cessation products and counseling well after a “relationship” is established. I NEVER come in to someone’s home and talk about what they should and should NOT be doing. This is a definite way to lose them from the start.
Interviewer: Great example with the Camden population. This is an area that I managed for a few years and saw the challenges the nurses faced first hand, especially with noncompliance with their diet.
I like that you brought up establishing a relationship with the client first before starting to make recommendations about their lifestyle. I think this is where some nurses lose their clients. They may have had all good intentions of trying to educate the client on what’s best for them but it may have been too much too fast. I’ve had clients who have kicked nurses out of their homes for trying to tell them what they need to do. I had one client call me upset saying “whoever that nurse was that just left my house, don’t send her back here.” “I don’t know who she thinks she is coming in my house trying to tell me what I should and should not be doing”.
Interviewer: What are some of the worst types of wounds you’ve treated in the home? And what were your recommendations for them?
Val: Well, speaking as a wound nurse practitioner the deeper the degree of tissue destruction the better. I love the huge Stage 4 sacral ulcers large enough to put 2 fists in. But I must say that one of the more interesting wounds was a patient who fell at home and remained on the floor for over 48 hours, he had gone into Rhabdomyolysis and he had over 15 wounds from the side of his face, down the shoulder, hips, knee to the ankle. Unfortunately, he subsequently died from his injuries but he was quite a challenge for the few weeks I cared for him.
Wound recommendations vary according to the tissue characteristics and the co-morbidities of the patient. But the basics are if the wound bed is dry– provide wound treatments that add moisture. If the wound bed too moist – manage the exudate with absorptive dressings.
Interviewer: Wow, spoken like a true wound care specialist. I’m always amazed at those wounds that as you said “you can put 2 fists in”. Thanks for the recommendations. What would you recommend to a nurse treating a wound in the home that is not progressing, or progressing at a much slower rate than it should be?
Val: I tell all providers to consider a change in treatment after 2 weeks if the measurements are not getting smaller. Often wounds are stuck in the inflammatory stage of healing and often need either a silver, antibiotic or some antimicrobial to move the wound into the proliferation stage of healing. However, I try to only culture wounds that show more obvious signs of infection (induration, warmth, erythema or pain).
Interviewer: How does the nurse get in contact with you to make a referral to evaluate and treat their client’s wound?
Val: Patients and Primary Care Givers can make a self-referral for evaluation and treatment. Nurses can request from the patient’s PCP an order for evaluation and treat. Along with that order, the face sheet/ demographic for the patient is faxed to our offices at 609-914-4876.
Interviewer: Are there any special requirements they need to know? Will Medicare or their other insurance cover you visiting the client while they are still on home care services?
Val: Our company is a Part B Medicare provider, so we do not interfere with any Part A (Home Care) services that may receive in the home. Again, we are not a skilled nursing agency and are billing under provider codes as would any home care physician or Nurse Practitioner practice.
Interviewer: Thanks for clarifying that. At this point I will open the floor to you to discuss anything else you think that is pertinent for the visiting clinicians to know when treating clients with wounds in the home.
Val: I would suggest that nurses be sure to know the expert wound care nurse in your company and use that person as a tool. You should be able to describe the wound with the correct terminology so that the provider can best assist you in healing that wound.
Finally, I would just remind my fellow home care providers to remember…in the home care setting…YOU ARE A GUEST. Never come into the home as an authority figure and expecting things to be run like the acute care setting. I love home care or as my Mother explains to her friends… “Val is a door to door nurse! “The spontaneity keeps me going because you never know what you will find behind that door. I enjoy getting to know the patient, spouses, adult children, grandchildren and other caregivers providing support to the patient. And we don’t have enough time to talk about the variety of “pets” we get to know up close and personal. My favorite was the standard pig…yup, PIG who was litter box trained and napped on the family couch during the day.
In conclusion, I call home care the purest form of nursing. We care for the “Real” patient unlike the patient that presents in the doctor’s office, clinic or hospital setting. They can’t hide much from folks coming into the home and seeing how they really live.
Interviewer: I truly appreciate your time and you sharing some insights regarding treating wounds in the homes.
Val: Thank you for having me and I hope that something I shared today will inspire other nursing professionals to consider the rewarding yet challenging world of Home Care Wound Consultations.
Reference
Johnson, C. (2017). Providing wound care in the home: An option to explore. Retrieved from https://woundcareadvisor.com/providing-wound-care-in-the-home-an-option-to-explore/
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08 Aug 17 USA Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
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20 Aug 17 USA Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room
22 Aug 17 USA San Diego, CA The Casbah ( sold out! )
23 Aug 17 USA Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
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26 Aug 17 USA Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
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02 Oct 17 USA Atlanta, GA The Earl ( sold out! )
03 Oct 17 USA Tampa, FL The Orpheum
04 Oct 17 USA Fort Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
06 Oct 17 USA New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
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In the history of famous "off-message" missives, it is certainly right up there. A veteran Fox News columnist has lost his job after reviewing a leaked version of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, starring Hugh Jackman, which sister company Twentieth Century-Fox is desperately trying to suppress.
A statement released by Fox News said that the company and Roger Friedman had "mutually agreed to part ways immediately". The studio also weighed in to say that Friedman's behaviour was "reprehensible" and that it "condemned this act categorically".
That events should have come to this pass should not be too surprising. Not only did Friedman offer his opinion on the early cut of the film on his Fox 411 blog, joining the estimated one million people who have seen it since it first emerged last week, but he also praised the convenience of downloading films illegally and pointed out that the entire current US box office top 10 was available on torrent sites. "It's so much easier than going out in the rain!" he wrote.
On the movie, Friedman said that it "exceeds expectations at every turn", adding: "I was completely riveted to my desk chair in front of my computer." He also said he was going to download the Paul Rudd comedy I Love You, Man next.
US sites such as Aint It Cool News led the condemnation, angry that Twentieth Century-Fox could countenance Friedman's continued employment when the company had been so determined to track down the source of the leak, even reportedly calling in the FBI in an attempt to find its man.
"What's interesting about all of this is that Fox has a very rigid history on pursuing employees that brazenly break the rules," wrote editor Harry Knowles. "Like when they went after Memflix for reviewing one of their films on AICN – and got him fired. How is this situation any different Fox?
"I mean, if Fox doesn't go after Roger Friedman - aren't they basically telling the entire world... It's ok?"
News Corp, which owns both Fox News and Twentieth Century-Fox, first said on Saturday that Friedman had been fired. But on Sunday afternoon the journalist told Daily Variety that he was still in situ. Any sense of ambiguity, it would seem, has now been resolved.
Some analysts are suggesting the leak might actually help the film's box office when it arrives in cinemas in less than a month's time, although fans on messageboards who have offered their own reviews of the leaked version have been markedly less kind than Friedman. In the past, films that were leaked online before hitting cinemas, such as Hostel II, have performed weakly. |
Google Product Search now lists Adwords, Allows Barcode Scanning
For astute, regular users of Google Product Search, one may have noticed that Adwords have begun to be displayed along the free product listings:
In theory, adwords listings within Google Product Search results should help improve conversion rates since the traffic should be much more qualified. Generally users will receive such results within normal Google search results or hidden away as advertisements on other sites–by being displayed alongside actual products that people are searching for, a consumer is automatically seeing something that is relevant to them.
For more information on how to get this done, be sure to check out Google’s help document”.
Source: Search Engine Roundtable.
—
Google has also released a special feature for their own “Google phone”. Users of Android handsets now have the ability to scan barcodes which directs them to a Product Search results page, allowing them to compare the in-store price with that of various vendors online.
This would be a great way for a consumer to go into a store, check out the product in the flesh, and decide whether he can save by buying online–or if it’s worth the premium to purchase it right away. |
Brian O'Connell has never been a big fan of pumpkin beers, a popular but polarizing fall beer, and he hadn't had time to brew a New England-style IPA, which has become one of the most controversial, most talked-about new styles to hit the craft-beer world in a while. But the owner of Renegade Brewing does like to mix things up a little. So on Wednesday, Renegade tapped a beer that combined the two.
Spaceboy, a New England-style, pumpkin-spiced IPA, has the potential to cause more anger than any beer ever made. "That's kind of what we figured," O'Connell with a laugh.
After Renegade opened in March 2011, O'Connell didn't want to make a pumpkin beer, but that fall, customers and outside accounts kept asking him, "Where's your pumpkin beer? Where's your pumpkin beer?" |
Valuable minds and diverse perspectives are lost when women feel compelled to abandon research.
SCIENCE graduates are the worst off in graduate pay among all STEM subjects, a new report from the US shows.
“Employers are paying more – often far more – for degrees in the fields of technology, engineering and maths (than science),” the report from the American Institutes for Research in Washington says.
The report, ‘Higher education pays: But a lot more for some graduates than others’ is a synthesis of various reports into graduate outcomes in recent times.
Read Next
And it found that technical qualifications were the most valued by employers even at sub-degree level.
Critically, it found that the number of associate degrees and vocational certificates was nearly equal to the number of bachelor degrees granted each year, and predicted many would out-earn their bachelor degrees.
The job market rewards technical skills at all three degree levels (associate, bachelors and masters). But science at all levels fall well below the other STEM disciplines.
“Chemists earn somewhat more than biology majors, but they do not command the wage premium typically sought by those who major in engineering, computer and information science or mathematics,” the report says.
It also found that in any one institution, the difference between the highest paid and lowest paid graduates in the first year out was as great as $18,000.
Of the five states in the survey – Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia – the best paid first year out graduates were from the Colorado School of Mines who earned an average of $56,671, followed by the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Virginia ($55,144). The graduates with the lowest average pay were from Hollins University, a small private women’s college also located in Virginia. |
It’s All About “Eternal Hell” vs. “Restorative Love”
In my discussions with fine Christian folks of all stripes from across the world, I have gratefully discovered that most Christians are much more likely to embrace the concepts of Christian Universalism than any of us assumed they’d ever be.
When it comes right down to it, the vast majority of people simply don’t believe in an “eternal” hell. They do still believe in some form of divine judgment, but it is a finite judgement for nearly everyone I’ve asked.
So the question is: if we don’t believe in an “eternal hell”, what do we believe in?
In this article I intend to present some of the basic tenets of Christian Universalism for your consideration.
What is “Christian Universalism”?
Christian Universalism is the set of tenets which holds the following to be true:
In short, Christian Universalists believe that God is one, and there are no other gods but God. (Deut 32:39) God is all powerful, and when God acted through God’s beloved Son, the Word made flesh, Yeshua the Anointed (Christ), he acted once and for all in the name of love and grace for the sake of salvation for all. (Heb 10:8-10, 1 Pt 3:18)
We believe that God is all-powerful and God’s love is irresistible, and that God’s will is for all things to be restored, refined, and reconciled unto God, even evil.
2 Corinthians 5
18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Universal Salvation Universal Salvation is the belief that all people, from all religions or spiritual beliefs (or lack thereof) are still loved by God and are saved. Be they Muslim, Hindu, Sufi, Buddhist or pagan, all of God’s Children are saved from the power of everlasting death. However, for Christian Universalists, we do not believe that this means every religion is created equal, much less are beneficial. Some religions promote individualistic selfish interest, violence, and judgment of the “others” of society. Some branches of Christianity and Islam are guilty of this very perversion. But we also believe that there are Great Universal Truths inculcated within all of the world’s compassionate religions which promote mercy, forgiveness, community, and humility. We hold these truths to be as inspired as our own traditions and just as relevant in the spiritual journey of humanity. Of course, as Christian Universalists, we believe that the Word of God was made flesh in the identity of the man, Yeshua of Nazareth. We believe that the nature, will and compassion of God was most fully incarnate and expressed through this man’s life and teachings. Fully human and fully God, The Word and Wisdom of God showed us how to live and love as Children of God. And through the selfless nature of his exemplary death upon the cross, and though his subsequent resurrection, we find proof of God’s immeasurable love for his Children and God’s absolute victory over death.
The first instinctive reaction for many people when they hear that “all people are saved” is to assume this means we receive permission to do anything we want cart-blanche and without consequence.
They imagine the Hitlers, and Dahmers, murderers, molesters and abusers of this world getting “into Heaven” without any consequence. They just waltz in and “get” Heaven.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth and it would be a terrible mistake to think and act as such.
There will be consequences for all of our choices in this life. All of us, even for “believers”. We all will face God’s judgement someday, either in this life or the next.
For you see, God wants to reconcile the whole world to God, and for this to be accomplished all of our souls must learn to abandon thoughts of evil. Yes, we are all saved from death into life, and God must save/heal/rescue all of us from our sinful ways.
We must not confuse the forgiveness of sin with the restoration/reformation of the human soul. The former enables the latter to occur.
Yeshua’s exemplary sacrifice upon the cross demonstrated to the world three things:
God loves us all more dearly than we can ever know. There is life in God after death. The Law of Moses has been fulfilled. The price of The Law has been paid, not to satisfy God’s need for retributive justice, but our own.
God does not desire “an eye for an eye”. That is retributive justice. God desires restorative justice, in which our broken soul is reformed and restored into the likeness of Perfect Love with God.
But what is the process of this restoration to God?
The Refining Fire of God’s Love The following (seemingly terrifying) promise from Yeshua’s own lips describes the nature of God’s purification of our hearts and souls by divine fire:
Matthew 13:42
“And (they) shall cast them into a furnace of purifying, refining fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
From the HELPS™ Word Studies:
In Scripture, fire is often used figuratively – like with the “fire of God” which transforms all it touches into light and likeness with itself.
God’s Spirit, like a holy fire, enlightens and purifies so that believers can share more and more in His likeness. Indeed the fire of God brings the uninterrupted privilege of being transformed which happens by experiencing faith from Him. Our lives can become true offerings to Him as we obey this imparted faith from God by His power. Ebeneezer Scrooge and God’s Restorative Love
The key to understanding the nature of God’s judgement is to know who Ebeneezer Scrooge is. That’s right: Scrooge. In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol“, Scrooge, a faithless, heartless and brutal man, experiences this very kind of refining fire. He is tormented. He wails. He gnashes his teeth. But this is not a retributive torment, but a restorative torment. Through his being exposed to the devastating, uncensored reality of his life, Scrooge began to realize the true toll his choices had exacted upon his fellow man. God exposes us to all of the horrible reality of our choices in our lives: past, present and future. The devastating fire of God’s love is a light so relentless that no darkness can hope to flee from it, even within the deepest recesses of our hearts. In the face of the sheer uncensored consequence of our actions, our souls and hearts cannot help but to relent the stubborn struggle against the truth of God’s love and God’s will for us to love and forgive each other in kind. This is the nature of God’s judgment for us all. Out of love, we will be made whole once more. The best news of all is the revelation that, like Scrooge’s experience, this “refining fire” can be experienced in your life today. It doesn’t need to wait for some later “Judgement Day” revelation.
Is “Right Belief” a Factor In Our Receiving Grace?
No. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. There is nothing we can “do” to earn it; it is a gift from God. (Eph 2.8)
Therefore, Christian Universalists believe that even a declaration of faith, such as “I believe in _______”, is a work to earn righteousness and negates Grace. Statements of belief are not a factor in one’s eligibility to receive Grace. For example, to declare that “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and my Lord and Savior” is not a prerequisite for Grace and salvation.
Then Why Be a Christian at All? We, as Christian Universalists, believe that this unmerited Grace for all people is a direct result of Yeshua the Anointed and his exemplary love for us and his selfless sacrifice upon the cross. We are grateful to God for his amazing love and this unmerited Gift, and we worship God’s son Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, the Word made flesh, as a way of showing our gratitude. But our worship does not justify us to receive salvation, only Grace can do that. In fact, the act of worship is only for our own sake: to recharge in the spirit, to find support and solace in communion with our brothers and sisters. Worship is NOT for the sake of God, nor what he desires. What Does the Lord Require? (Micah 6) 6. “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8. He has told you, mankind, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
If “Belief” Is Not a Factor, What Is Our Christian Identity?
John 13 34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What we declare we believe, how we worship, who we worship, the color of our skin, the language we speak, our wealth, our poverty, our age, our history, even the gender of our lover… none of these things will define us as Christians or not.
Our Christian identity is found in whether of not we love one another as Christ loved us.
Is the Muslim who loves as Christ loved us my brother or sister in Christ? Yes, amen! Is the Buddhist? The Hindu? The Sikh? The Pagan? Yes, yes, and yes, amen!
What Is The Point of All This?
There is nothing you need to “do” to be saved! God loves you, and will restore us to God’s perfect love, every last one of us.
The point of all this, my dear brothers and sisters is freedom. Freedom from fear: the fear of death, the fear of damnation, the fear of failure.
Live life without fear, and you will empowered to love without fear!
And a world filling with people free of fear and loving and sacrificing for each other as Yeshua loved us and sacrificed himself for us, that is the key to the Kingdom on Earth. A new age where the values of Yeshua are the majority: selfless love, compassion, restorative justice, equality, and forgiveness.
We can do none of these things with fear in our hearts. |
by OLIMEX Ltd in new product Tags: am3352, board, evaluation, module, on, sitara, som, system
AM3352-SOM is system on module with Sitara AM3352 Cortex-A8 microcontroller. AM3352BZCZ100 with temperature range 0-90C and clock 1Ghz is used, but the SOM module could be build with any of Sitara family processors as they share same pinout. AM3352-SOM have option for 4GB NAND Flash, have console UART and micro SD-card.
All AM3352 ports are available on 4 x 40 pin 0.05″ connectors.
The prices of AM3352-SOM module without NAND Flash start from EUR 25.90 for 1000 pcs.
AM3352-SOM-EVB is evaluation board for AM3352-SOM with these features
one AM3352-SOM
AM3352-SOM matching connectors
CAN driver
VGA output
LCD output
2x 100MB Ethernet interface
2x UEXT connectors
4x USB host
USB-OTG
4 GPIO connectors x40 pin 0.1″
status LEDs
AM3352-SOM-EVB price is EUR 75 for single quantity.
AM3352-SOM and AM3352-SOM-EVB will be for sale at the end of May. AM3352-SOM-EVB will be available free of charge to selected developers who work on TI Sitara Kernel support. To apply for free board e-mail us to [email protected]. |
A new study from consulting giant McKinsey says factories are the next fertile ground for the “Internet of things.” The report, called Industry 4.0: How to Navigate a Changing Industrial Landscape , also says something intuitive: Over the next 10 years, factories and manufacturing facilities will worry less about buying new equipment and more about outfitting their spaces with an array of high-tech sensors and routers.
According to McKinsey’s research, the evolution of manufacturing in the United States, Germany, and Japan will increasingly rely on a combination of in-factory sensors, increased use of analytics and data science, in-factory use of augmented reality such as Google Glass, and drastic increases in how 3-D printing is used for the mass market. The consulting firm estimates that only 40-50% of equipment in factories will have to be replaced over the next decade, as large multinationals work toward an ideal techie industrial revolution called Industry 4.0. (Heavily promoted by the German government, Industry 4.0 is a buzzterm that refers to the integration of sensors into factories. Industry 3.0 was automated manufacturing, Industry 2.0 was the rise of electricity, and Industry 1.0 was the adoption of steam power).
Skill sets that require handling of data and analytics will be highly in demand for manufacturers in the next decade.
Hans-Werner Kaas, a senior partner at McKinsey who researches autonomous vehicles and sensors in factories, told Fast Company one example of “Industry 4.0” is smart robots that turn sheet metal into auto bodies. While traditional auto manufacturing robots are programmed to pick up sheet metal and then weld it, robots in the very near future will be able to scan the surface of the metal, detect defective pieces and then reject them, saving companies money. “This requires sensor abilities in equipment,” he added.
McKinsey also predicts career changes for manufacturing workers. While the current trend toward automation and reduction of standard factory floor staff will continue, Kaas added that “any skill set which truly requires handling of data and analytics” will be highly in demand for manufacturers in the next decade.
The same day McKinsey released their report, on Tuesday, May 5, startup CloudDDM opened America’s first 3-D-printing factory inside UPS’s global hub in Louisville. The factory, which will manufacture on-demand prototypes and machine parts for corporate consumers, will contain 100 3-D printers but will only employ one employee to oversee the whole facility per shift. |
Twitch.tv needs little introduction.
The massively popular video streaming site has become the beating heart of modern gaming culture, allowing gamers to share the experience of playing.
It’s the go-to place to check out gameplay for the latest titles or to indulge nostalgia by reliving retro gaming classics. You can interact with and chat with fellow gamers, developers and channels to truly immerse yourself in everything gaming.
Like YouTube, Twitch streams online in the browser. With Flash installed it works just fine on Linux…but that’s the rub: Flash sucks. It’s a battery sapper and a resource hog. And while a HTML5 Twitch.tv player is in the works but is not yet default for all users on the site.
This is where GNOME Twitch comes in.
GNOME Twitch — Watch Twitch on the Desktop
GNOME Twitch is an open-source desktop Twitch app that allows you to watch Twitch streams on the Linux desktop, no need to open a browser or use Flash.
The app lets you discover channels, browse by game title, watch streams (and adjust the stream quality) and favourite channels so you can easily find them again later. The app will even notify you when a favourited channel is broadcasting live – and that’s all without logging in!
You can log in with a Twitch.tv account (in the very latest builds). This will allow you interact using the built-in chat features and sync you favourite channels to/from Twitch (though this isn’t 100% perfect, be aware).
If you’re looking for an alternative to using Twitch.tv in the browser, GNOME Twitch is well worth checking out.
GNOME Twitch 0.2.0 Features:
Watch and pause streams on the desktop
Channel browsing/searching
Desktop notifications when faved channel goes live
Twitch login
Chat integration
Install GNOME Twitch On Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
You can install GNOME Twitch (v0.1.0) — an older version which doesn’t support chat — from Ubuntu Software on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS — no PPA required.
But if you want to use the latest release (v0.2.0), which does support built-in chat, you can grab it from the following third-party PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:samoilov-lex/gnome-twitch
sudo apt update && sudo apt install gnome-twitch
If adding PPAs isn’t your thing you can also download the GNOME-Twitch .deb package directly:
Download GNOME Twitch 0.2.0 for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (64bit)
Download GNOME Twitch for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (32bit)
Open the Unity Dash (or the equivalent app launcher on your desktop) to launch the app!
Report bugs, issues and fatalities on the GNOME Twitch GitHub page.
Are you on Twitch? What are your favourite Twitch channels? Let us know in the comments! |
Louisville City FC’s Charlie Adams, left, celebrates a goal during Saturday’s season opener at Louisville Slugger Field. (Photo: Courtesy Kyser Lough/Louisville City FC)
Whereas talented American athletes can go one-and-done in college, a member of the Louisville City Football Club made the equivalent leap as a high schooler.
Midfielder Charlie Adams, who overcame a quad injury to net a goal in the first-year franchise's season opener last weekend, is already a fourth-year professional. The Englishman, by the way, is just 20 years old.
Adams signed to train full-time with his original club, Brentford, at age 15 and turned professional at 17. He hasn't attended class in the past five years, instead working toward what he hopes is a lengthy career.
It's risky, sure, but "if you think, 'Oh, I need something to fall back on,' then you're planning for failure," Adams said. "I didn't want to plan for failure."
Adams converted on a kick from outside the box in the 66th minute of Louisville City FC's opener against Saint Louis FC, setting the final score at 2-0. And that was after he sat out the first half, not expecting to play much because of a quad strain.
But upon replacing Kadeem Dacres in the midfield, "the adrenaline got me through," said Adams, who's questionable for Louisville City FC's 5 p.m. Saturday road game against the Richmond (Va.) Kickers. The goal was his first as a professional, a tenure that has included appearances for three English teams.
Louisville City FC coach James O'Connor saw the midfielder play in person during the final stop, while Adams was on loan with Stevenage FC.
"He did well in the game," O'Connor said. "You could see he has great ability – a great football brain."
Louisville City FC announced Adams' addition in February, and he has since moved to a new country and city where he has found people "are so kind and so friendly – always so willing to help."
That's only once teammates get past ribbing Adams about the language differences. For instance, he said, sidewalk isn't a term used in England. He says pavement.
Those hurdles are familiar to O'Connor, an Irishman who played for Stoke City FC in England before finishing his career in the United States. It's the coach's experience that was a selling point for international players on Louisville City FC's first roster.
"It's about being to be able to say, 'This is what you should do,'" O'Connor said. "It's also dependent on each player. They all have their own circumstances. You get many reactions, and the ones we've really wanted to sign, we were able to go on and sign." |
The anti-government sentiment in Oman differs from the rest of the region’s turmoil in two major ways – there has been much less violence and much more support for their leader.
"We are making this to support the Sultan, not to face against the Sultan. We are just facing the corruption here," Yousef al-Zadjali, a protest spokesman in the city of Sohar, said.
Demonstrators in the industrial city called for higher wages and a parliament elected by the people. They also urged the sultan to dismiss all government ministers dismissed and investigated for corruption.
Sultan Qaboos brought peace to Oman soon after taking power in a palace coup 41 years ago. He also delivered paved roads, a public health system and more women’s rights than other Gulf countries.
Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said has replaced three top government officials, after protests erupted demanding reforms and an end to corruption in the Gulf state, state media has reported.
Demonstrators have urged the sultan to dismiss all government ministers and have them investigated for any illegal activities.
The sultan appointed Khaled bin Hilal bin Saud al-Busaidi as a minister of the royal court, replacing Sayed Ali bin Hmud al-Busaidi, the state ONA news agency said on Saturday.
He also appointed Sultan bin Mohammed al-Numani as minister in the sultan's office, replacing General Ali bin Majid al-Maamari, it added.
Nasr bin Hamoud bin Ahmed al Kindi was named as the new secretary general of royal court affairs.
Meanwhile, protests in the country have spread to a key oil region, Haima, with oil workers staging a sit-in in the area about 500km southwest of the capital Muscat.
The oil workers are calling for more government investment in the area, a government official told the Associated Press.
Demonstrations flared last week, with protesters seeking jobs and a greater political voice. One demonstrator was killed.
Sultan Qaboos has since ordered 50,000 new civil service jobs. But the measure failed to halt sit-ins in Muscat and the northern industrial city of Sohar, where the unrest began.
Rival demonstrations
Anti-government protesters continued to rally in Oman on Friday, while rival demonstrations were also held in support of Sultan Qaboos.
Oman is the latest country to be hit by the wave of popular protests that has rattled several Arab states and swept from power the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.
But the anti-government sentiment in Oman differs from the rest of the region's turmoil , as there has been much less violence and more support for the country's leader.
"We are making this to support the sultan, not to face against the sultan. We are just facing the corruption here," Yousef al-Zadjali, a protest spokesman in the city of Sohar told Al Jazeera.
Sultan Qaboos brought peace to Oman soon after taking power in a palace coup 41 years ago.
He also delivered a public health system, improved infrastructure and granted more rights for women than many other Gulf countries. |
It offered everything devout Muslims could wish for: pre-flight prayers, female crew cocooned in ‘modest’ Islamic dress and not a whiff of booze.
But the one thing Rayani Air did not offer was safety. According to the BBC, the airline, which began operating last year, has been barred from flying for breaching regulations.
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) said it was revoking the airline’s certification because of concerns over its safety audit and administration.
Rayani Air has two Boeing 737-400 planes in its fleet, each able to carry about 180 passengers, eight pilots and 50 crew.
The DCA said yesterday that Rayani Air could no longer operate as a commercial airline.
It follows a three month suspension after the airline failed to follow flight regulations. A safety audit was later conducted to assess its operations.
Malaysia’s aviation commission said in a statement that the airline:
Had breached the conditions of its Air Service Licence (ASL) and lacks the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline.
The DCA said it had conducted a “thorough deliberation” on the airline’s response to the safety audit.
In the lead up to its suspension, the airline had faced criticism including complaints about cancelled flights as pilots went on strike.
Based on the island of Langkawi, Rayani Air had been flying to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the northern city of Kota Bahru.
It had plans to fly to more Malaysian cities and eventually schedule flights to Mecca for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, reports said.
At the time of its launch, Rayani Air’s Managing Director, Jaafar Zamhari, said:
The airline joined the ranks of Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, and Iran Air. And more are aspiring to join the newly-created sharia airline trend.
Last October, Bloomberg reported on the impending rise of Firnas Airlines, a UK startup outfit which was raising a capital of $50 million through sharia-compliant means to fund its plans, with possible financiers in Iran, the United Arab Emirates and UK. Its founder and CEO is Kazi Shafiqur Rahman.
The “not-for-kaffirs” airline would target London-based Muslims through its sharia-based offerings; it would be free of alcohol, serve strictly halal meat, use interest-free finance and offer a “a more upscale cabin product than available to many Islamic destinations” at a budget-friendly price. |
Two teenage Villages Charter School students were arrested Thursday after plotting a Columbine-style shooting.
The male students, ages 13 and 14, from The Villages Charter Middle School were arrested after law enforcement and school officials learned of, and intervened in a plot to initiate a mass shooting at their school.
The shooting was supposed to take place on Friday.
On Tuesday, after school hours, school officials and the schools resource officer became aware of rumors circulating between students at the school.Witnesses indicated that some students had been warned not to come to school on Friday.
The 13-year-old student alleged to be planning the attack was intercepted by authorities on Wednesday as he attempted to arrive for school. At that time, he acknowledged conversations involving the plot and referenced the mass shooting at Columbine High School. During this conversation, officials learned of a second student’s potential involvement and quickly located the 14-year-old male student on campus. No weapons were found on either of the students or in their bags or lockers.
The 14-year-old student acknowledged his involvement in conversations with the 13-year-old student again referencing the Columbine shooting. The student informed officials that the two students had planned an attack which included what they would use as a signal to open fire.
Both students were arrested Thursday at their homes during the service of search warrants. The 13-year-old student was arrested by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on a juvenile order at his home in Fruitland Park. The 14-year-old student was arrested by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at his home in Wildwood. Both students are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and placed into the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Firearms were recovered from both suspects’ homes during the search warrant service.
There is scheduled to be an increased deputy presence at the school on Friday; however, no additional arrests are anticipated.
“The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for those students brave enough to speak out about the plot. Their heroic actions may have prevented a deadly tragedy and loss of precious lives,” Sheriff Bill Farmer said. |
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March 1, 2014, 5:22 PM GMT / Updated March 2, 2014, 3:46 AM GMT
A group of knife-wielding men attacked a train station in southwestern China on Saturday, killing at least 29 people and injuring more than 130 others in what Chinese officials called a terrorist strike, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Four of the attackers were also shot dead and only one was captured alive after the mayhem, which broke out about 9 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) at the Kunming Railway Station in the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The Kunming government said the "serious violent terrorist attack was planned and organized by Xinjiang separatist forces," Xinhua reported.
Ethnic Turkish Uighur separatists have been sporadically fighting for an independent state in Xinjiang, in northwestern China, home to about 10 million Uighur, who are predominantly Muslim. More than 100 people have been killed in protests in Xinjiang in the past year.
Yang Haifei, a resident of Yunnan, told Xinhua that he was attacked and sustained injuries on his chest and back.
Yang said he was buying a ticket when he saw a group rush into the station, most of them dressed in black, and started stabbing people.
"I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife, and I ran away with everyone," he said, adding that people who were slower were severely injured.
"They just fell on the ground," he added.
Yunnan province Vice Gov. Gao Feng held an emergency meeting at No. 1 People's Hospital, where the injured are being rushed, and said hospitals have received 162 people.
State-run Yunnan News said that the men were wearing uniforms when they stormed the railway station and that gunshots were heard after police arrived. |
Jamie Dimon has talked about Bitcoin many times, mostly in a negative light. In a recent article on InsideBitcoins.com he was quoted:
What does Jamie Dimon think of bitcoin?
JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon has actually commented on bitcoin more than once, but he’s never had many positive things to say about the long-term prospects of the financial innovation created by Satoshi Nakamoto. During the Institute of International Finance annual membership meeting in late 2014, Dimon had this to say about bitcoin’s chances of success:
“The issue I have with Bitcoin is that it’s not about the technology, it’s about governments. When people form nations, one of the first things they do is form a currency. Are regulators and governments really going to foster Bitcoin over a long period of time? I think the answer is no.”
Back in 2013 JP Morgan Chase actually filed a patent for processing Internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network.
Let’s Talk Bitcoin reported:
Source: Internet Archive, “Using the Bank” (1947)[/caption] Thanksgiving day, while many of us were eating turkey, The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published JPMorgan Chase’s (Chase) patent application 20130317984, “Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network.” The application was filed with the USPTO on August 5th, 2013. Without mentioning Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies at all for that matter, Chase appears to be building a competing centralized network to Bitcoin. The application defines the problems that legacy banking has with online transactions and then provides a detailed explanation how Chase will address these problems with this new technology. The application states that Chase’s technology is a “new paradigm.” Moreover that it permits the creation of “virtual cash” (also referred to as “web cash”) with a “real-time digital exchange of value.” I will start with extracting the problems that Chase identified which are strikingly similar to those addressed by the revolutionary Bitcoin payment protocol. Bitcoin has been singled out as a game changer when it comes to the legacy cost of wire transfers:
On March 23, 2015 JP Morgan Chase registered the domains JPMCoin.com, JPMorganCoin.com and BitcoinChase.com. Is Jamie Dimon getting ready to launch his bank’s answer to Bitcoin ? |
This article was originally published in 2008, but has been updated several times now to keep track with our advancing knowledge of the cosmos!
My six-year old daughter is a question-asking machine. We were driving home from school a couple of days ago, and she was grilling me about the nature of the Universe. One of her zingers was, “What’s the Biggest Star in the Universe”? I had an easy answer. “The Universe is a big place,” I said, “and there’s no way we can possibly know what the biggest star is”. But that’s not a real answer.
So she refined the question. “What’s the biggest star that we know of?” Of course, I was stuck in the car, and without access to the Internet. But once I got back home, and was able to do some research, I learned the answer and thought I’d share it with the rest of you But to answer it fully, some basic background information needs to be covered first. Ready?
Solar Radius and Mass:
When talking about the size of stars, it’s important to first take a look at our own Sun for a sense of scale. Our familiar star is a mighty 1.4 million km across (870,000 miles). That’s such a huge number that it’s hard to get a sense of scale. Speaking of which, the Sun also accounts for 99.9% of all the matter in our Solar System. In fact, you could fit one million planet Earths inside the Sun.
Using these values, astronomers have created the terms “solar radius” and “solar mass”, which they use to compare stars of greater or smaller size and mass to our own. A solar radius is 690,000 km (432,000 miles) and 1 solar mass is 2 x 1030 kilograms (4.3 x 1030 pounds). That’s 2 nonillion kilograms, or 2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg.
Another thing worth considering is the fact that our Sun is pretty small, as stars go. As a G-type main-sequence star (specifically, a G2V star), which is commonly known as a yellow dwarf, its on the smaller end of the size chart (see above). While it is certainly larger than the most common type of star – M-type, or Red Dwarfs – it is itself dwarfed (no pun!) by the likes of blue giants and other spectral classes.
Classification:
To break it all down, stars are grouped based on their essential characteristics, which can be their spectral class (i.e. color), temperature, size, and brightness. The most common method of classification is known as the Morgan–Keenan (MK) system, which classifies stars based on temperature using the letters O, B, A, F, G, K, and M, – O being the hottest and M the coolest. Each letter class is then subdivided using a numeric digit with 0 being hottest and 9 being coolest (e.g. O1 to M9 are the hottest to coldest stars).
In the MK system, a luminosity class is added using Roman numerals. These are based on the width of certain absorption lines in the star’s spectrum (which vary with the density of the atmosphere), thus distinguishing giant stars from dwarfs. Luminosity classes 0 and I apply to hyper- or supergiants; classes II, III and IV apply to bright, regular giants, and subgiants, respectively; class V is for main-sequence stars; and class VI and VII apply to subdwarfs and dwarf stars.
There is also the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, which relates stellar classification to absolute magnitude (i.e. intrinsic brightness), luminosity, and surface temperature. The same classification for spectral types are used, ranging from blue and white at one end to red at the other, which is then combined with the stars Absolute Visual Magnitude (expressed as Mv) to place them on a 2-dimensional chart (see above).
On average, stars in the O-range are hotter than other classes, reaching effective temperatures of up to 30,000 K. At the same time, they are also larger and more massive, reaching sizes of over 6 and a half solar radii and up to 16 solar masses. At the lower end, K and M type stars (orange and red dwarfs) tend to be cooler (ranging from 2400 to 5700 K), measuring 0.7 to 0.96 times that of our Sun, and being anywhere from 0.08 to 0.8 as massive.
Based on the full of classification of our Sun (G2V), we can therefore say that it a main-sequence star with a temperature around 5,800K. Now consider another famous star system in our galaxy – Eta Carinae, a system containing at least two stars located around 7500 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Carina. The primary of this system is estimated to be 250 times the size of our Sun, a minimum of 120 solar masses, and a million times as bright – making it one of the biggest and brightest stars ever observed.
There is some controversy over this world’s size though. Most stars blow with a solar wind, losing mass over time. But Eta Carinae is so large that it casts off 500 times the mass of the Earth every year. With so much mass lost, it’s very difficult for astronomers to accurately measure where the star ends, and its stellar wind begins. Also, it is believed that Eta Carinae will explode in the not-too-distant future, and it will be the most spectacular supernovae humans have ever seen.
In terms of sheer mass, the top spot goes to R136a1, a star located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, some 163,000 light-years away. It is believed that this star may contain as much as 315 times the mass of the Sun, which presents a conundrum to astronomers since it was believed that the largest stars could only contain 150 solar masses. The answer to this is that R136a1 was probably formed when several massive stars merged together. Needless to say, R136a1 is set to detonate as a hypernova, any day now.
In terms of large stars, Betelgeuse serves as a good (and popular) example. Located in the shoulder of Orion, this familiar red supergiant has a radius of 950-1200 times the size of the Sun, and would engulf the orbit of Jupiter if placed in our Solar System. In fact, whenever we want to put our Sun’s size into perspective, we often use Betelgeuse to do it (see below)!
Yet, even after we use this hulking Red Giant to put us in our place, we are still just scratching the surface in the game of “who’s the biggest star”. Consider WOH G64, a red supergiant star located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 168,000 light years from Earth. At 1.540 solar radii in diameter, this star is currently one of the largest in the known universe.
But there’s also RW Cephei, an orange hypergiant star in the constellation Cepheus, located 3,500 light years from Earth and measuring 1,535 solar radii in diameter. Westerlund 1-26 is also pretty huge, a red supergiant (or hypergiant) located within the Westerlund 1 super star cluster 11,500 light-years away that measures 1,530 solar radii in diameter. Meanwhile, V354 Cephei and VX Sagittarii are tied when it comes to size, with both measuring an estimated 1,520 solar radii in diameter.
The Largest Star: UY Scuti
As it stands, the title of the largest star in the Universe (that we know of) comes down to two contenders. For example, UY Scuti is currently at the top of the list. Located 9.500 light years away in the constellation Scutum, this bright red supergiant and pulsating variable star has an estimated average median radius of 1,708 solar radii – or 2.4 billion km (1.5 billion mi; 15.9 AU), thus giving it a volume 5 billion times that of the Sun.
However, this average estimate includes a margin of error of ± 192 solar radii, which means that it could be as large as 1900 solar radii or as small as 1516. This lower estimate places it beneath stars like as V354 Cephei and VX Sagittarii. Meanwhile, the second star on the list of the largest possible stars is NML Cygni, a semiregular variable red hypergiant located in the Cygnus constellation some 5,300 light-years from Earth.
Due to the location of this star within a circumstellar nebula, it is heavily obscured by dust extinction. As a result, astronomers estimate that its size could be anywhere from 1,642 to 2,775 solar radii, which means it could either be the largest star in the known Universe (with a margin of 1000 solar radii) or indeed the second largest, ranking not far behind UY Scuti.
And up until a few years ago, the title of biggest star went to VY Canis Majoris; a red hypergiant star in the Canis Major constellation, located about 5,000 light-years from Earth. Back in 2006, professor Roberta Humphrey of the University of Minnesota calculated its upper size and estimated that it could be more than 1,540 times the size of the Sun. Its average estimated mass, however, is 1420, placing it in the no. 8 spot behind V354 Cephei and VX Sagittarii.
These are the biggest star that we know of, but the Milky way probably has dozens of stars that are even larger, obscured by gas and dust so we can’t see them. But even if we cannot find these stars, it is possible to theorize about their likely size and mass. So just how big can stars get? Once again, Professor Roberta Humphreys of the University of Minnesota provided the answer.
As she explained when contacted, the largest stars in the Universe are the coolest. So even though Eta Carinae is the most luminous star we know of, it’s extremely hot – 25,000 Kelvin – and therefore only 250 solar radii big. The largest stars, in contrast, will be cool supergiants. Case in point, VY Canis Majoris is only 3,500 Kelvin, and a really big star would be even cooler.
At 3,000 Kelvin, Humphreys estimates that cool supergiant would be as big as 2,600 times the size of the Sun. This is below the upper estimates for NML Cygni, but above the average estimates for both it and UY Scutii. Hence, this is the upper limit of a star (at least theoretically and based on all the information we have to date).
But as we continue to peer into the Universe with all of our instruments, and explore it up close through robotic spacecraft and crewed missions, we are sure to find new and exciting things that will confound us further!
And be sure to check out this great animation that shows the size of various objects in space, starting with our Solar System’s tiny planets and finally getting to UY Scuti. Enjoy!
We have written many articles about stars for Universe Today. Here’s The Sun, What’s the Brightest Star in the Sky Past and Future?, and What Is The Smallest Star?
Want to learn more about the birth and death of stars? We did a two part podcast at Astronomy Cast. Here’s part 1, Where Stars Come From, and here’s part 2, How Stars Die. |
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According to this report, the black-Islamist terrorist who committed this act of terror, Chris Harper Mercer , had previously been indentified by electronic intelligence specialists within the Foreign Intelligence Service ( SVR ) as being an Islamic State ( ISIS/ISIL ) adherent after he had attempted to gain passage to Syria via Turkey during the first week of September, 2015.
By the Obama regime refusing to accept this terror list from the Federation, this report continues, Mercer was able to accomplish his terror act when yesterday he killed 9 people and wounded 7 others at the Umpqua Community College prior to his being shot and killed by local US police forces.
With the true knowledge of Mercer being known as the black-Islamic terrorist he truly was, information which the Obama regime refused to accept from Russia, his mass terror act in identifying and killing Christians becomes immediately understandable.
As to why the Obama regime and their propaganda media lapdogs are disguising the truth from the American people about this horrific act of Islamic terror against them, especially to the families of the dead and wounded, it is not known—but shouldn’t really surprise anyone as that government has been nothing but a mountain of lies for years.
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SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security officials have begun “extreme vetting” interviews at Australia’s offshore detention centres, two sources at the camps told Reuters on Tuesday, as Washington honours a refugee swap that U.S. President Donald Trump had called “a dumb deal”.
Asylum-seekers look through a fence at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea March 21, 2014. Faces pixellated at source. Eoin Blackwell/AAP/via REUTERS
The Trump administration said last month the agreement to offer refuge to up to 1,250 asylum seekers in the centres would progress on condition that refugees satisfied strict checks.
In exchange, Australia has pledged to take Central American refugees from a centre in Costa Rica, where the United States has expanded intake in recent years, under the deal struck with former President Barack Obama.
The first security interviews finished last week at Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island detention centre, two refugees who went through the process told Reuters.
The refugees told Reuters that interviews began with an oath to God to tell the truth and then proceeded for as long as six hours, with in-depth questions on associates, family, friends and any interactions with the Islamic State militant group.
“They asked about why I fled my home, why I sought asylum in Australia,” said one refugee who declined to be named, fearing it could jeopardise his application for U.S. resettlement.
The security interviews are the last stage of U.S. consideration of applicants.
Manus Island is one of two Australian-operated detention centres, which hold nearly 1,300 people who were intercepted trying to reach Australia by boat.
Human rights groups have condemned the intercept policy and the harsh conditions of the camps. Australia says offshore processing is needed as a deterrent after thousands of people drowned at sea before the policy was introduced in 2013.
A decision on the fate of the first 70 people interviewed is expected to be reached within the next month, a different source who works with refugees said.
A spokesman for Australia’s immigration minister refused to comment on the resettlement process.
The U.S. State Department and White House did not immediately respond to questions.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans for extreme vetting have extended to those travelling to the United States from Muslim countries.
Australia’s relationship with the new administration in Washington got off to a rocky start when Trump lambasted Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over the resettlement arrangement, which Trump labelled a “dumb deal”.
Details of an acrimonious phone call between the pair soon after Trump took office made headlines around the world. Australia is one of Washington’s staunchest allies and has sent troops to fight alongside the U.S. military in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The relocation of asylum seekers to the United States is designed to help Papua New Guinea and Australia proceed with the planned closure of the Manus detention centre on Oct. 31.
Slideshow (3 Images)
But the fate of approximately 200 men deemed non-refugees is uncertain.
Those not offered resettlement in the United States will be offered the chance to settle in Papua New Guinea or return home.
Australia has already offered detainees up to $25,000 to voluntarily return home; an offer very few have taken up. |
Norquist: Obama won by casting Romney as 'poopy head'
President Barack Obama speaks at the annual Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 11. (Photo11: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP)
Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist offered an interesting explanation for why President Obama was able to beat Mitt Romney.
"The president was committed; elected on the basis that he was not Romney and Romney was a poopy head and you should vote against Romney and he won by two points," Norquist said on CBS' This Morning Monday. "But he didn't make the case that we should have higher taxes and higher spending, he kind of sounded like the opposite."
This Morning co-host Norah O'Donnell questioned the veracity of Norquist's claim.
"Well, I'm not sure that's what the president called Mitt Romney, Grover," she said. "That's not the debate that was had ... he said very clearly throughout the debate that the wealthiest Americans should pay more and he won eight of the nine battleground states and Republicans failed to reclaim the White House or the Senate."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/SfQD91 |
Ireland's income tax system hurts middle-income earners, creates welfare traps and puts high-skilled foreign workers off coming here, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
Ireland's income tax system hurts middle-income earners, creates welfare traps and puts high-skilled foreign workers off coming here, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.
Hitting middle-income families hardest in the tax system also undermines female participation in the workforce, the Washington-based fund added, in a strongly worded criticism.
In its latest post-programme report, the IMF said that while previous budgets had reduced the high rate of marginal tax to below 50pc, the tax base had been narrowed as the threshold for the Universal Social Charge had been increased.
"This places a large tax burden on middle-income households, undermines female labor force participation, creates welfare traps for low-skilled worker, and discourages high-skilled worker migration to Ireland," the report said.
The IMF said the Irish tax system relied more on direct taxes and less on charges such as property tax and wealth taxes, than other European countries. Indirect taxes are around average, it found.
The Government has promised to do more to ease the tax burden on middle-income earners, which is out of kilter with the UK.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he favoured scrapping the USC over time, especially for lower income earners.
Read more: State considers 'menu' of taxes if they want to scrap USC by 2020
Read more: Michael Noonan moves to hike income tax for 270,000 workers
However, the IMF, which is headed by Christine Lagarde has warned against the trend of taking lower income workers out of the tax net altogether, because it leaves those left in the net carrying too much of the total tax burden.
"Personal income taxation (PIT and Universal Social Charge-USC) has a relatively narrow base (about 30pc of households are exempted) and a relatively rapid progressivity (the top marginal rates are among the highest in the OECD)," the IMF said.
Its report said the Government should consider merging the USC into a more comprehensive personal income taxation system, with lower rates below the median wage but retaining a broad base.
The IMF report also said that Ireland's growth had been "exceptional", but that the recovery was incomplete.
It said the impact on Ireland from the vote in the UK to leave the EU was a "cause for concern", and it warned that the vote could affect Ireland's banks. "More than many other EU economies, Ireland's medium-to-long term outlook will be affected by the nature of the future relationship between the UK and EU, especially regarding trade, financial flows, and labour movement," the report said.
Economic growth this year was expected to be just below 5pc on the back of less vigorous domestic demand, mainly due to investment, the report said.
Growth forecasts were revised down for this year and next year. To protect State finances, Ireland should go further in cutting spending than EU fiscal rules demand, the IMF said. But it admitted the public wants budget relief.
"Reform fatigue combined with strong growth are fuelling expectations of a recovery dividend among the Irish public, which together with political fragmentation could lead to some policy reversals."
Irish Independent |
María de los Dolores López (Sevilla - Sevilla, 24 August 1781), known as Beata Dolores, was a Spanish visionary executed for heresy.
She was born in Sevilla and a member of a clerical family: her brother was a priest, and her sister was a nun. At the age of twelve, she became blind. At that point, she left her home to live with her confessor as his mistress. From circa 1767, she became known as a visionary. She claimed to be in contact with Jesus Christ and the angels. Rumors also circulated that she had relations with the Devil. The Inquisition was aware of these rumors, but did not take action.
In 1779, her confessor and lover reported both her and himself to the Spanish Inquisition to release his guilt over their sexual relationship. Before the tribunal, she stated that she had been blessed with special relations to heaven since the age of four: she claimed to have had intercourse with the Virgin Mary, that she had been married to Jesus in heaven with St. Joseph and St. Augustin as witnesses, that she had liberated millions of souls from purgatory, and presented the molinist view that sin ceased to be sin when God wills it.
At this time, execution by burning, though still legal, was no longer well seen, and the Inquisition attempted to avoid such an execution. During the investigation, several scholars were called to persuade her to confess her regret and submit. She refused to regret, and stated that God had revealed to her that she should die a martyr. She was sentenced to death by burning for heresy on 22 August 1781.
On her way to execution, however, she asked for a confessor and made a confession of regret. Therefore, she was granted the privilege of strangulation before the faggots were lit.[1]
References [ edit ] |
An increasing number of audio recordings of conference proceedings and media interviews are being made available that deal specifically with the relationships between anthropology, the military, and the national security state. What follows is just a short selection of what is currently available.
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BBC Radio 4: Anthropology at War
http://www.openanthropology.org/anthrowar.mp3
__________________________
Reconsidering American Power
A conference organized by the workshop on Science, Technology, Society & the State
Audio from the 2008 conference on Anthropology and Global Counterinsurgency
David Price: “Soft Power, Hard Power and the Anthropological ‘Leveraging’ of Cultural ‘Assets’: Distilling the Theory, Politics and Ethics of Anthropological Counterinsurgency.”
http://www.openanthropology.org/price.mp3
Hugh Gusterson: “The Cultural Turn in the War on Terror”
http://www.openanthropology.org/gusterson.mp3
Roberto J. Gonzalez: “‘Human Terrain’ and Indirect Rule: Theoretical, Practical, and Ethical Concerns”
http://www.openanthropology.org/gonzalez.mp3
John D. Kelly: “The Moral Economy of War: Galula Fetishism and its Consequences for Pax Americana”
http://www.openanthropology.org/kelly.mp3
Marshall Sahlins: Short introduction to “Destructions and Constructions of Conscience: Counterinsurgency and the Study of Culture”
http://www.openanthropology.org/sahlins.mp3
__________________________
Different Fields, Common Challenge: Lessons For and From Military Anthropology
Society for Applied Anthropology
CHAIRS: FOSHER, Kerry (MCIA, Syracuse U) and SELMESKI, Brian (Air U)
PANELISTS: BABA, Marietta (Mich State U), NOLAN, Riall W. (Purdue U), RUBINSTEIN, Robert A. (Syracuse U), and TURNLEY, Jessica Glicken (Galisteo Consulting Group Inc)
http://www.openanthropology.org/anthrowarsfaa.mp3
__________________________
Scholars, Security and Citizenship, Part I (SAR Plenary)
CHAIR: MCNAMARA, Laura (Sandia Nat’l Labs)
TOMFORDE, Maren (German Armed Forces & Command Coll-Hamburg)
Should, Must, or Must Not Anthropologists Cooperate with the Armed Forces?: Ethical Issues and the German Bundeswehr.
BEN-ARI, Eyal (Hebrew U)
Anthropology, Research and State Violence: Some Observations from an Israeli Anthropologist.
FUJIMURA, Clementine (US Naval Academy)
“Motivated” and Other Challenges for the Military Anthropologist.
PRICE, David (St. Martin’s U)
Anthropology’s Third Rail: Counterinsurgency, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Political Uses of Militarized Anthropology.
FRY, Douglas P. (Åbo Akad U, U Arizona)
Anthropology in the Name of Security. |
UMAP: CASTROS GENOCIDE PLAN
To eliminate and punish those deemed unfit for his revolution while using them for free labor, Fidel Castro presided over a closed-door meeting within the regimes hierarchy. The resulting plan was to create a network of concentration camps to intern the thousands of "unfit." First it was named "Plan Fidel." But Castro, cunningly, wanted his name out of it. It was to be called UMAP (Military Units to Help Production). Castro ordered that his agents - at night - go house to house to apprehend at gun point all the males that fit the profile of what he called, "the scum of society," for example: gays, Catholics, Jehovahs Witnesses and members of other Protestant religions. Castro's thugs went through every city, neighborhood and city block, arresting thousands of men (17 years old and up). The arrested were taken to police stations with the excuse of checking their personal ID cards cards that all citizens of Castro's Cuba are required to carry. At the police station, they were thrown into overcrowded cells and later taken to secret police facilities, movie houses, stadiums, warehouses, etc. In those detention centers they were photographed, fingerprinted and forced to sign under duress a confession declaring themselves the "scum of society," in exchange for their release. The ones who signed were released until they were summoned to the dreaded concentration camps. Those who refused to sign remained in jail and endured physical and psychological torture until they did sign. The concentration camps were built in isolated areas of the province of Camagüey. They were like Hitler's camps, but without crematoriums. They have the electrified barbed wire fences, guards with machine guns and police dogs, etc. Something never seen before in Cuba's history. Beginning in November 1965, people already classified were summoned to the camps. They arrived by train, bus, truck and other police and military vehicles. And so began the humiliation, suffering, torture and hard labor for those thousands of unfortunate men and boys. Many committed suicide while others died as a result of hunger and disease - with no medical attention - torture and execution. Many suffered solitary confinement, beating, rape and mutilation. The traumatized survivors remember that in the UMAP, "they never received humane treatment." In July 1968 the name "UMAP" was erased from the camps. Castro's regime cosmetically transformed them into "Military Units." And all the paperwork associated with the UMAP was destroyed. New plans were created to continue confining young men discontent with Castro's communist revolution, selecting people for the same reasons as before. But this time they would receive a pitiful salary for their long and harsh working hours while living under very difficult and inhumane conditions Castros lame attempt to satisfy international pressure. This network of concentration/hard labor camps continues today as a way to repress and intimidate people, and to obtain cheap labor. Castros gulag network of camps and prisons is estimated at over 200 - before 1959, Cuba had just 4 prisons. In a broadcast by the Cuban governments Radio Progreso on March 6, 1997, sexology expert, Celestino Alvarez, officially recognized that the approximately 400,000 Cuban gays (according to Castro's regime) didn't have the same rights as heterosexual citizens. The broadcast did not go so far as to describe the governments treatment of gays. A 1997 survey by the Communist Youth Organization in three Cuban provinces showed that gay discrimination was rampant. Contrary to what many believe, gay persecution never ceased in Castro's Cuba. In September 1997, famous Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar, Swedish actress Bibi Andersson, French designer Jean Paul Gaultier and 40 other foreigners reported a raid on gays which took place at El Periquiton discotheque in Havana. All were videotaped by Cuban police. They were shocked by their experience as well as by the harsh treatment of Cuban gays involved in the incident. The Castro regimes flair for propaganda is very effective at giving a distorted view of reality to the gullible international community that flocks to his paradise with US dollars that keep him in power. For example, last year the regime held an international transvestite convention, while travel agencies in the US and elsewhere organize tours of Cuba, paradoxically, for gays. The international community ignores those who died or suffered torture, mutilation and are still bearing deep psychological traumas as victims of Castros genocide plans. They blindly adore Castro as he parades through the world with impunity.
END
Agustín Blázquez
with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton
Éste y otros excelentes artículos del mismo AUTOR aparecen en la REVISTA GUARACABUYA con dirección electrónica de: www.amigospais-guaracabuya.org
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http://lists.guaracabuya.org/mailman/listinfo/lista y favor de seguir las instrucciones. If you are not a member of our mailing list and wish to be included, please go to the following link:
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SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 02: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks runs out of the pocket during the first quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field on November 2, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) Russell Wilson and the 'Hawks offense will face a run of defensive-driven teams over the final seven weeks. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
I’ve been referring to the Seahawks’ second-half schedule as The Gauntlet for the entire season. Why? Because that is exactly what it is. After the New York Giants game Sunday, the Seahawks will play six playoff-caliber teams in seven weeks, four of them on the road. And the one game that is not versus a team slated for the playoffs? The 3-5, but tough, St. Louis Rams who beat Seattle just three weeks ago.
The exact schedule looks like this (current opp. record):
Week 11: @ Kansas City (5-3)
Week 12: vs. Arizona (7-1)
Week 13 [Thu]: @ San Francisco (4-4)
Week 14: @ Philadelphia (6-2)
Week 15: vs. San Francisco (4-4)
Week 16: @ Arizona (7-1)
Week 17: vs. St. Louis (3-5)
That’s a combined current record of 36-20, a .642 winning percentage, and on the road that jumps to 22-10, a winning percentage of .688. Of course, the 49ers haven’t been the same team as a year ago but that’s reflected in their .500 record, and perhaps the Seahawks are catching a bit of a break with the Eagles having lost Nick Foles for up to two months.
The Niners, though, expect to be closer to full strength on defense as Aldon Smith comes off suspension next week and both Navarro Bowman and Patrick Willis are expected to return in the next few weeks, too. They’re not going to get worse adding that kind of talent, despite their issues being mostly on the offensive side of the ball.
The Seahawks’ schedule up to now hasn’t exactly been easy, however. Thus far, Seattle has played Green Bay (now 5-3), San Diego (5-4), Denver (6-2), Washington (3-6), Dallas (6-3), St. Louis (3-5, Carolina (3-5-1) and Oakland (0-8). The Rams may be the best 3-5 team in the league and the Panthers at home always are a tough matchup. The Hawks caught the Chargers during their hot streak, too. The winless Raiders hurt the strength of schedule for the first half, dropping to .449. Without the Raiders it’s .525.
If the Super Bowl champions are to get a shot to repeat, they’re going to have to earn it against one of the toughest schedules in football, and perhaps the most difficult over the final seven weeks.
The good news is, the Cardinals have a similar remaining schedule, though San Francisco has it a bit easier. They get New Orleans on the road this week, followed by the Giants on the road, the Redskins at home, then Seattle at home, at Oakland, and home for San Diego and Arizona.
The Cardinals have the Rams Sunday, then host the 6-2 Detroit Lions before heading to Seattle and Atlanta. They then host the Chiefs, hit St. Louis on the road before hosting the Seahawks Week 16. Arizona finishes the year in San Francisco. For the Seahawks’ sake, it’d be ideal if the 49ers were fighting for their playoff lives that week. As easy as it is to wish losses upon them, an eliminated San Francisco team probably doesn’t beat Arizona Week 17, giving the Cardinals a shot to lock up the division and/or home field advantage, if they haven’t already by that point.
For the record, here is where each remaining Seahawks opponent ranks in key categories:
Weeks 10-17
Tm Rush O YPC Pass O YPA Scoring O Sacks All. Rush Def YPCA Pass Def YPAA Scoring D Sacks T/O NYG 16 24 16 21 19 15 22 21 28 30 24 23 19 @KC 6 7 29 26 12 17 19 29 1 10 2 3 22 AZ 28 30 14 22 13 6 3 4 32 16 6 30 2 @SF 10 18 21 12 23 30 5 10 3 3 15 25 8 @PHI 8 14 5 19 4 3 20 13 22 15 14 9 30 SF 10 18 21 12 23 30 5 10 3 3 15 25 8 @AZ 28 30 14 22 13 6 3 4 32 16 6 30 2 STL 22 22 25 23 28 7 30 27 8 27 27 23 23
– Jason A. Churchill, 1090 The Fan
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) |
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