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UPDATE: We have received a set of renderings of the winning entry from Neil M. Denari Archtitects. Selected images have been added to the article.
The entry by LA-based Neil M. Denari Architects has won the First Prize in the international competition for the New Harbor Service Building in Keelung, Taiwan.
Denari beat out strong competition from the other four teams shortlisted on July 19 (previously on Bustler): Asymptote Architecture (USA) and 大元聯合建築師事務所 (R.O.C.); Mecanoo Architecten (The Netherlands); Platform for Architecture+Research (USA) and Series et Series (France); and ACDF Architecture (Canada).
Model photo of the winning competition entry by Neil M. Denari Architects (Photo: Michael Speaks)
The competition called for a landmark building that "will create a new 'Gateway to the Nation' motif." The brief asks for designs for a modern passenger and cargo terminal, transfer station, maritime gateway art plaza, a joint office building and parking structure, and development of unused land behind wharves W4 - W6 for handling goods from cross-strait passenger and cargo ships.
The massive multi-billion dollar renewal project is expected to accelerate development in the areas surrounding the harbor and promote local prosperity.
Aerial photo of the current port of Keelung, Taiwan (image via the competition website)
Besides Taiwanese scholars and architects, Yuan Liang Tsai, Gene King, Victor Y.C. Suthe, Ming Hung Wang, and Jenn Wei, the international jury also included foreign members Aaron Betsky, Michael Speaks and Kiyoshi Miyazaki. Stage One of the competition had received thirty-one entries from twelve countries.
UPDATE: Here are some selected renderings we have received from Neil M. Denari Archtitects.
Aerial view from the Northeast (Image: NMDA)
Aerial view from the South (Image: NMDA)
View of entrance to public plaza and office complex (Image: NMDA)
Waterside view of gateway tower (Image: NMDA)
Terminal central atrium (Image: NMDA)
Terminal concourse (Image: NMDA)
Terminal lobby (Image: NMDA)
Aerial view from the North (Image: NMDA)
Find more first model photos of Neil Denari's winning entry in the image gallery below.
For the complete set of hi-res renderings plus a video of the project, please check out this Showcase feature on Bustler's sister site Archinect. |
Ivan Doig, who immortalized his Rocky Mountain roots in 16 celebrated books of both fiction and nonfiction, died on Thursday at his home in Seattle. He was 75.
The cause was multiple myeloma, said Geoff Kloske, the publisher of Riverhead Books.
Mr. Doig (pronounced DOY-guh) was a passionate writer of the purple sage, vividly breathing life into his characters (“He was lightly built, and an extraordinary amount of him was mustache”) and his upbringing (childhood was a “flame-lit and shadow-chilled time”) and poetically evoking the muscularity of his native Montana (“the climb of the continent to its divide, higher, greater, more sudden than seemed possible; like a running leap of the land”).
Reviewing his novel “The Whistling Season” in The New York Times Book Review in 2006, Sven Birkerts described Mr. Doig as “a presiding figure in the literature of the American West.”
Ivan Clark Doig was born in White Sulphur Springs, Mont., on June 27, 1939. His father, Charlie, was a ranch hand. His mother, the former Berneta Ringer, was a ranch cook. She died of asthma on Ivan’s sixth birthday. |
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” Benjamin Franklin
“Whenever we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” Thomas Paine
“It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” Patrick Henry
Civilizations fall rapidly due to an inescapable catastrophe. Water sources dry up. A powerful empire invades.
Civilizations fall slowly due to a moral catastrophe. A moral catastrophe is not a failure of arms or food. It’s a failure of the sustaining virtues of the civilization. As the society tumbles slowly downward, it will encounter defeat in battle, collapse of its infrastructure and food shortages. But these are symptoms, not causes. The cause is the degeneration of the society and its people.
A civilization is not a mechanical endeavor, but a moral one. The virtues that uphold a civilization, the ability to reason, to work hard, to study how to solve a problem, to sacrifice now for future gain, to cooperate with those outside the tribe, to value truth, beauty and goodness for their own sake are individual, but they are also social. A society that cultivates these virtues in people can prosper. As society loses these virtues, it grows dysfunctional. It loses winnable wars, it squanders vast wealth, it loses its work ethics, its ability to cooperate and to plan for the long term. It slowly dies.
Barbarians are not savages because they wear loincloths or bones through their noses, or even because they lack the majority of these virtues, but because they lack the ability to appreciate them. A barbarian who appreciates civilizational virtues can become civilized, but a civilized barbarian may wear a suit and tie, but is still a savage because he cannot even appreciate the virtues of his ancestors.
As a civilization declines, it becomes barbaric. Before the savages invade it from the outside, its own people have become savages. They enthusiastically welcome the savages. They are drawn to the culture and norms of the savages because these echo their own descent into barbarism. The cult of the noble savage is simply civilized barbarians glamorizing their own descent down the moral ladder.
Civilized men and women have principles. Such principles are the intersection of ideals and interests. Ideals on their own easily fall into an abstract nobility that can manifest as anything from sainthood to self-destructive aspiration. Interests on their own leave selfish people incapable of maintaining anything greater than themselves. Virtue negotiates between interests and ideals. This negotiation is expressed as a principle. A principle realizes an ideal and localizes it in an interest.
Utopians kill and die for ideals. The Nazis, Communists and Islamists are Utopians. Civilized men live and fight for principles. Utopianism is a civilizational degeneracy. It usually precedes barbarism. Sensing the decline, men and women embrace some pure ideal, they idealize equality or race, and set off on a quest to construct a new civilization around it by destroying the existing civilization. They are convinced that their ideal will create a civilization that can live forever. When their ideal fails, they revert to their barbarian roots by worshiping the shamanic personality force of their leader. And these new barbarians murder, scream and cavort around the fire convinced that their new god can stave off the fall of night. And when the fires goes out, all that remains is ash, horror and rubble.
Civilized men and women understood that nothing mortal is immortal. That which is best in us, is virtue. It is that, which in our flawed and humble way, makes us closest to the God that made us. Our principles are how we aspire to keep that faith. When we lose our principles, we destroy whatever it was we sought to preserve, we become our own worst enemies and bring about our own destruction.
Principles are defined at their farthest end by what we must do and what we would never do. But their soul is self-awareness. The essence of virtue is to know thyself. Few are so innately good that they can always do the right thing without ever examining and questioning themselves. It is this self-examination through conscience that is the great moral labor of all religion and philosophy.
Everyone is naturally inclined to believe in their own goodness. But goodness comes from questioning one’s own worth and examining one’s own deeds. It comes from transcending our emotions, our anger and our pain, our self-pity, jealousy, resentment and vengefulness to become better than we are. The essence of virtue is not doing what comes naturally, but controlling the natural impulse and rising above it. That is how civilizations are built. We build civilizations by transcending ourselves. We destroy them by giving and taking permission to fall to our worst impulses.
Interests and ideals tend to opposite ends. In war, ideals may say that one should never kill and interests counsel one to survive by fleeing the battlefield. Virtues guide us to principles that overcome the extremes by finding our higher responsibility in the intersection of ideal and interest.
Civilizations depend on responsible people. It is the people who come to work every day and do their best who keep a country running. It is the soldiers who advance to the enemy and return fire, who win wars. It is leaders who do the difficult things who leave their country better than they found it. It is the men and women who search their souls, who leave this world better people than they entered it.
In a declining civilization, there are few responsible people. There are many who will want a title, but few who will do the job. There are many who will shout, but few who will reason. There are many who will wave a flag, but few who will fight for a cause. There are many who would destroy, but few who will build. There are many who will lecture, but few who will do.
In a civilization on the verge of a moral catastrophe, the invocation of virtues and principles is met with contemptuous laughter. It is widely understood that irresponsible behavior is better, that decency is for weaklings and fools, that anger is the only true virtue that suffices to achieve all ends. Manners vanish like autumn leaves in a breeze. Moral compasses show nothing. Intellectual consistency ceases to matter. Men believe contradictory things at different hours of the day. Illusory victories are always being achieved even as real defeats follow.
We wonder why great civilizations fall. Couldn’t the Romans see what was coming? The first thing that goes in a moral catastrophe is virtue, the second is reason, the third is foresight, the fourth is competence and the fifth is self-control. And by then you have barbarians in the midst of civilization.
When virtue goes, civilizations rationalize destructive behavior. When reason goes, they become unable to even think about a problem with any degree of consistency. When foresight goes, they no longer understand consequences. When all those are gone, competence is all but impossible. When there is no self-control, nothing matters anymore.
Civilizations are built on virtue. Without virtue, there is no civilization.
Follow Daniel Greenfield’s blog Sultan Knish. |
The GOP nominee says his Middle East policy would be about more than just killing bad guys. The trick isn't setting the goals, it's achieving them.
President Obama charged Monday night that his opponent's Middle East strategy has been inconsistent and inadequate. How did Mitt Romney respond? With one of his stranger monologues. "Well, my strategy's pretty straightforward, which is to go after the bad guys, to make sure we do our very best to interrupt them, to kill them, to take them out of the picture," he began. That made sense. He'll continue policies like drone strikes and covert special-forces raids.
"But my strategy is broader than that," Romney continued. "The key that we're going to have to pursue is a pathway to get the Muslim world to be able to reject extremism on its own. We don't want another Iraq. We don't want another Afghanistan. That's not the right course for us. The right course for us is to make sure that we go after the people who are leaders of these various anti-American groups and these -- these jihadists, but also help the Muslim world. And how we do that? A group of Arab scholars came together, organized by the U.N., to look at how we can help the -- the world reject these -- these terrorists. And the answer they came up was this." |
It’s no secret that social media – Twitter in particular – is a toxic sea of feel-pinions, dominated by ranting, foaming angry people.
But every now and then, it throws up something worth feeling inspired by (if not simultaneously also very ashamed).
This week is one such occasion.
On Monday night, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson appeared on The Bolt Report on Sky News. In doing so, she achieved what was previously though impossible… lowering the general banality of the show.
Hanson complained that there is “no definition of Aboriginal”. Which is a remarkable statement, given there has long been a definition of Aboriginal.
For the record it’s this: 1. You must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; 2. You must have Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage; and 3 (and most importantly) You must be accepted by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Not particularly complicated, but complicated enough, apparently, to send the synapses of thousands of white Australians misfiring.
In response, Ryan Griffen, the creator of the thoroughly excellent ABC TV series Cleverman tweeted this:
Can we all start a tag #DefineAboriginal — Ryan Griffen (@RyanJGriffen) November 29, 2016
The rest, as they say, is history. What followed was a flood of Aboriginal and Torres Islander people ‘defining Aboriginal’, by detailing the racism that they stare down every day. The hashtag is still going off this morning, but here’s just a taste of what ‘fighting ignorance’ looks like… and, sadly, what being black in Australia feels like.
When Bill Leak draws a cartoon to save your kids #DefineAboriginal — BRIGGS AKA BIG SIGH (@BriggsGE) November 29, 2016
Explaining everything, up to and including justifying your own existence, all the time, to all the people, forever… #defineAboriginal — Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) November 29, 2016
Being told you cant use any paint or brushes in your high school art class cause those are 4 students who pay school fees. #DefineAboriginal — NOOKY (@nookymusic) November 29, 2016
Having to explain why the mish isn’t scary to walk up.. #DefineAboriginal — Tasman Keith (@TasmanKeith) November 29, 2016
Being 10 years old & watching your dad get locked up for skateboarding on a footpath & J walking #DefineAboriginal — Tasman Keith (@TasmanKeith) November 29, 2016
Being told by a school mate at my reunion that the day I was born was the darkest in my town’s history #defineaboriginal @RyanJGriffen — Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) November 29, 2016
making @SestaFunkoars hail all the cabs while i hid behind trees #defineaboriginal — The Funkoars (@funkoars) November 29, 2016
Being told by a white boy from Tassie that that his people pushed my people off a cliff #DefineAboriginal — Miranda Tapsell (@missmirandatap) November 29, 2016
getting kicked out of tute for telling the White lecturer that domestic violence isn’t a “cultural thing” #DefineAboriginal — Charis Ballantyne (@CharisBallaz) November 29, 2016
White ppl, don’t actually define Aboriginal. We got this. #DefineAboriginal — a Murri Aboriginal (@handsomemurri) November 29, 2016
Never getting to live on Ramsay St or in Summer Bay #DefineAboriginal — chelsea bond (@drcbond) November 29, 2016
Getting told “You sound angry and frustrated” when having to advocate hard for the prevention of Indigenous suicide #DefineAboriginal — Dameyon Bonson (@DameyonBonson) November 29, 2016
(•_•) <) )╯ define / \ \(•_•) ( (> Whiteness / \ (•_•) <) )> instead / \#DefineAboriginal — a Murri Aboriginal (@handsomemurri) November 29, 2016
Being told I’m not A REAL AUSSIE cos I refuse 2 celebrate bein Aussie on a day that represents pain & grief for my people #defineAboriginal — Leearna Williams (@watsupthisislee) November 29, 2016
#defineaboriginal Being abducted by police without charge for a 12 hr psych evaluation 4 challenging your GP’s assertions about “progress”. — Dr Y (@DoctaYunka) November 29, 2016
The last seat avail on the train/bus is next to you and EVERYONE stands up. Yes even the 80yo ladies #DefineAboriginal — Phil Mairu (@Thisphilmairu) November 29, 2016 |
Get Coal Ash Out of Our Drinking Water!
by: Earthjustice
recipient: President Obama
Coal ash is our country's second largest industrial waste stream. It's completely unregulated by the Environmental Protection Agency -- despite the cocktail of dangerous heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, lead and selenium found in it.
These toxic metals and chemicals can pollute drinking water sources and cause cancer, damage internal organs and lead to developmental problems in children. Living near an unlined coal ash pond can lead to a 1 in 50 chance to developing cancer, a risk more than 2,000 times greater than acceptable levels. Even though half a million people told the EPA to set strong federal regulations for coal ash, powerful lobbyists have pressured the Obama administration and Congress to delay and scuttle any attempts to protect our water supplies.
The time for EPA regulation is now. Tell the Obama administration that this lack of regulation is unacceptable, and that more stringent measures need to be taken to keep the public and the environment safe.
read petition letter ▾
Coal ash is one of our nation's most abundant, and increasingly dangerous industrial waste products. Coal ash is currently unregulated by the federal government, despite the significant health and environmental risks that it poses.
Coal ash is a by-product of the coal-fired power plants, and contains a variety of heavy metals and chemicals that are toxic to humans and animals. When these chemicals pollute drinking water supplies, they can cause cancer, damage internal organs and lead to developmental problems in children. Living near an unlined coal ash pond can lead to a 1 in 50 chance of developing cancer, 2,000 times greater than acceptable risk levels.
In an effort to bolster the anti-regulation efforts, coal industry lobbyists have been telling regulators that EPA regulation of coal ash would kill 316,000 jobs, when in reality it would create 28,000 jobs. These dishonest tactics threaten the government's ability to oversee the disposal of coal ash and protect the public health and the environment.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Elected officials have a responsibility to set strong, federally enforceable regulations for the safe disposal of coal ash. In 2008, the TVA coal ash spill in Kingston, TN, showed us how devastating the effects of unregulated and unmonitored coal ash disposal can be, and the EPA estimates 48 other potential spill sites. Please act now and propose a federal regulation for coal ash. Dear President Obama,Coal ash is one of our nation's most abundant, and increasingly dangerous industrial waste products. Coal ash is currently unregulated by the federal government, despite the significant health and environmental risks that it poses.Coal ash is a by-product of the coal-fired power plants, and contains a variety of heavy metals and chemicals that are toxic to humans and animals. When these chemicals pollute drinking water supplies, they can cause cancer, damage internal organs and lead to developmental problems in children. Living near an unlined coal ash pond can lead to a 1 in 50 chance of developing cancer, 2,000 times greater than acceptable risk levels.In an effort to bolster the anti-regulation efforts, coal industry lobbyists have been telling regulators that EPA regulation of coal ash would kill 316,000 jobs, when in reality it would create 28,000 jobs. These dishonest tactics threaten the government's ability to oversee the disposal of coal ash and protect the public health and the environment.[Your comments will be inserted here.]Elected officials have a responsibility to set strong, federally enforceable regulations for the safe disposal of coal ash. In 2008, the TVA coal ash spill in Kingston, TN, showed us how devastating the effects of unregulated and unmonitored coal ash disposal can be, and the EPA estimates 48 other potential spill sites. Please act now and propose a federal regulation for coal ash. |
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A man has died after being hit by lorry on a busy high street in south-east London.
Emergency services rushed to Peckham High Street shortly after 10am on Monday to reports of a crash.
London’s Air Ambulance was also scrambled but a male pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Photographs posted on social media showed scores of police cars at the scene as a large swathe of the road was cordoned off.
Peckham High Street has been closed in both directions and motorists have been warned to avoid the area.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance are in attendance.
“The lorry driver stopped at the scene. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.
“No arrests have been made.” |
People have protests planned all around the country in response to President-elect Donald Trump taking office.
Many will head to Des Moines on Saturday, but others are holding protests in Eastern Iowa, including one in Iowa City.
Corey Hickner -Johnson says she created the event in Iowa City because a lot of people can't make the Women's March in D.C. or Des Moines on Saturday.
“This is a place that's closer and is home to a lot of people right now, this is where I teach and work and it feels like the right place,” says Hickner-Johnson.
Saturday's protest will begin with a moment of silence followed by a solidarity march.
Demonstrators will meet between the University of Iowa English Philosophy Building and the University of Iowa main library.
Hickner -Johnson says she created this event because she doesn't agree with Donald Trump's policies or rhetoric.
“Hate should not be tolerated in our society and that's hate towards people of color, people of different genders and sexualities, women, people with disabilities, there's been a lot of hate asserted by our president-elect Donald Trump,” says Hickner-Johnson.
The main Women's March happening in Washington on Saturday inspired other sister marches, like the one in Iowa City.
And the march in Iowa City will begin Saturday at 12:00 p.m. |
Like the rest of the world, the battlefield is positively crawling with electronics. To make matters worse, they tend to be loaded with highly specialized and classified components, so you don’t want to lose them in the field. Unfortunately, recovering sophisticated electronics while under fire has proven difficult.
DARPA’s solution has been to call for the development of “electronics [that] simply disappeared when no longer needed.”
The aptly named VAPR (Vanishing Programmable Resources) program aims to revolutionize “the state of the art in transient electronics or electronics capable of dissolving into the environment around them.” The goal is for VAPR electronics to be as rugged and durable as the real thing, but to self-destruct at a signal from headquarters.
Naturally, DARPA hasn’t revealed any specifics, but DARPA program manager Alicia Jackson said they “imagine a multidisciplinary approach. Teams will likely need industry experts who understand circuits, integration, and, design. Performers from the material science community will be sought to develop novel substrates. There's lots of room for innovation by clever people with diverse expertise.”
This message will self-destruct in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
Image Courtesy of DARPA |
Federal prosecutors seem to have thrown the book at Megaupload. The indictment asserts that the company’s business model depended on people violating copyright and that it gave them incentives to do so, while charging subscription fees for watching video and placing ads in front of material it did not own.
When asked to remove copyrighted works, the indictment says, Megaupload at best removed a particular version but left copies elsewhere in its system.
Federal prosecutors assert that although the site claimed to be protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or D.M.C.A., the business was in fact a sham that made $175 million off $500 million in copyrighted goods. Web sites that operate in the United States are typically offered “safe harbor” for copyright violations under the D.M.C.A., as long as they do not profit from the illegitimate material and immediately take it down once contacted.
But the act treats violations “very much as a ‘you know it when you see it’ rule,” said Aaron Levie, chief executive of Box.net, a popular online storage company. “You look at how they make money, and you look at how they treat D.M.C.A. requests to take down material.”
Photo
Megaupload waved the D.M.C.A. flag even though it was based in Hong Kong and many of its executives were in New Zealand. It was a juicy federal target for its sheer size. The site accounted for roughly 1 percent of total Internet traffic in North America, nearly 2 percent of traffic in the Asia-Pacific region and more than 11 percent in Brazil, according to Sandvine, a Canadian company that provides equipment to monitor Internet traffic. The indictment contends that Megaupload has over 180 million registered users and, at one point, was the 30th-most-visited site on the Web.
Ira P. Rothken, a lawyer for Megaupload, said on Thursday, “Megaupload believes the government is wrong on the facts, wrong on the law.”
Mr. Levie of Box.net noted that his company and Dropbox, as well as the services from Google and Microsoft, were less likely prosecution targets because they depended to a large extent on legitimate corporate purchases of their storage. These services are more focused on sharing within organizations and small groups. While this can make it more difficult for an outsider or the authorities to see who is storing what, it makes it less likely that huge copyright violations are taking place.
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Lori Shen, a spokesman for YouSendIt, said any comparison between that site and Megaupload would be inaccurate.
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“YouSendIt is a private and secure business collaboration tool for business users. It provides a secure vehicle to share, send, sign and sync business content online,” Ms. Shen said.
Megaupload had its fans in the workplace, too. A study published Thursday by the security firm Palo Alto Networks indicated that the use of Megaupload on corporate networks was greater than the combined use of Box.net, Dropbox and YouSendIt, as measured by the amount of data transferred. Of course, it is not clear how much of that data was work-related and how much was for the purpose of in-cubicle entertainment.
After the indictment, a number of Megaupload users took to Twitter to complain that they had used it to back up personal files, to share files with clients and as a collaboration tool.
When asked about the Megaupload case, RapidShare, Minus and several other consumer-oriented storage sites offered statements saying that they respected copyright and complied with requests to take down material.
The Megaupload indictment came amid a battle in Washington over antipiracy legislation. Some of the recent concern among those in the tech industry about the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, was that it would permit the rapid shutdown of any site that had even a small amount of unauthorized copyrighted material on it, a big risk for sites that accept uploads from users. Backers of the legislation, which has been shelved for now, say it was aimed only at foreign sites that were primarily about piracy.
As online storage businesses go, Mr. Levie said, Megaupload was more lucrative than most. “I looked at the list of cars Kim Dotcom owned and wondered if I was in the wrong business,” he said, a reference to the company’s founder.
He added: “Then again, I’m not in jail.” |
Thousands of criminal cases across Texas are on hold as the Texas Department of Public Safety waits to test crucial DNA evidence, an ABC13 investigation reveals. It's not a surprise. It's gone on for years and, despite repeated pleas to Texas lawmakers for more staffers, the DPS DNA lab is still dramatically short-staffed.Our investigation began after Angela, an alleged sexual assault survivor, contacted ABC13 Investigates hoping we could help draw attention to her case and the delays. Angela does not want her last name used, but is eager to tell her story in the hope DPS will change. "We shouldn't have to wait," she insisted. "It's like being victimized over and over and over again."Angela claims she was sexually assaulted in March 2016 in Pearland. That night, she went through the invasive process to collect DNA sexual assault evidence at a nearby hospital. After weeks of waiting and not hearing about her results, a DPS lab supervisor told her it would take 278 days to get her evidence tested."278 days is like living in hell from the day this happened. It's ridiculous. They need to get funding from something else," she said.The detective assigned to Angela's case at the Pearland Police Department says charges can't be filed until the evidence is returned.As of today, it still hasn't been finalized.In the meantime, her alleged assailant remains free. As she thought about the delay, Angela worried about other potential victims. "I hope I am the last victim," Angela told us, but couldn't guarantee it hasn't happened again since March. "No one can."The 278-day turnaround on her case is only slightly longer than the 256-day average time for a DNA test at the DPS lab in Houston, one of many the department has around the state. DPS does not separate out sexual assault DNA in that statistic. By comparison, if Angela's alleged sexual assault occurred less than 2 miles away in either Harris County or Houston, it is likely her evidence would be tested far quicker. The Houston Forensic Science Center -- which tests Houston Police Department evidence -- processes sexual assault DNA in 25 days. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences handles that evidence in 53 days.Both Houston and Harris County have their own labs. Most other local agencies in Texas do not. Hundreds of police departments and sheriff's offices across the state do not have the resources or demand for their own lab and rely on DPS to test criminal evidence. DPS does not charge local agencies for such testing.Skylor Hearn, the DPS Assistant Director in charge of the department's labs, doesn't deny any of it. "We stress quality over expediency, but we recognize expediency is important," Hearn told ABC13 during an interview at DPS' Austin headquarters. When asked simply if these results are taking too long, Hearn replied, "Yes."The department is mandated by state rules to test this type of evidence within 90 days. The department is not even close and hasn't been in compliance with the 90-day 'performance measure' since 2014.The delays are not limited solely to sexual assault evidence. While DPS labs can turn around blood alcohol testing in 30 days, drug toxicology takes twice as long. In the DPS lab in Houston, drug testing takes 151 days on average. DPS' goal is 30 days."There's more [evidence] requested than we can produce," Hearn explained as he laid out DPS' expanding DNA workload.In 2011, Texas enacted laws forcing law enforcement agencies to test thousands of backlogged sexual assault kits. It also mandates the testing of all sexual assault DNA evidence. That was not always the case. It dramatically increased DPS' workload. Texas lawmakers approved funding to outsource backlogged testing, but did not add any new personnel to the DPS DNA labs.It is a trend that's repeated itself every legislative session since.In 2013, lawmakers added more mandatory DNA testing, but approved half of the requested new lab positions.In 2015, DPS requested 35 new employees. The agency was allowed to hire ten.In the last five years combined, DPS has asked for 100 new positions. They've been granted 40.DPS Assistant Director Hearn is now asking budget writers for 60 new positions, which would grow his lab staffing by 10%. "Throwing people at the problem is not always the answer, but in this case it is part of this solution," Hearn said.State Senator Joan Huffman is a Republican lawmaker from Houston. She is a former prosecutor and judge. She reviewed DPS' budget in the last session and told ABC13 Investigates, "Clearly this [delay] is unacceptable." Huffman suggests a 30-day turnaround is worth striving for. That is the deadline in Houston.In Texas' last legislative session, border funding was the largest discussion. Sen. Huffman did not recall DPS suggesting the personnel shortfall was as severe as the ABC13 Investigation revealed. "We felt they had what they needed based on the information we had at the time." Heading into the legislative session next year, Huffman told ABC13, "We need to figure out what's not working so we can get better results.""We recognize this is very important to the victims, to the criminal justice system as a whole. We are doing everything we can to be effective with the current resources we have. We would love to have more resources."In the meantime, DPS tries to shuffle cases between labs when one region may have fewer cases than another. The department has outsourced some testing with available funding, and is using some extra money to hire temporary personnel. Additionally, DPS has limited some evidence from being tested in cases where the tests would not be effective.Recently the agency has worked with local law enforcement agencies that pay for their own DPS scientist. DPS says Harris County, Montgomery County, Williamson County and the City of San Antonio all give local cash to DPS to dedicate a lab position to work from that county. It gives DPS needed resources and saves the localities money by not having to start up their own labs.Elsewhere some local agencies are looking to avoid the DPS delays altogether. When Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset did the math, he realized he is spending more housing some inmates who are waiting for results than he would on paying a private lab to do the work instead of DPS, which does not charge counties."If you're sitting in the jail and it costs $80 per day. In 10 days that's $800. If it goes to 6 months or a year, it adds up," Trochesset told ABC13. Trochesset is currently talking with county commissioners about outsourcing. |
China has always been dependent on imported aircraft engines, which China regards as a bottleneck in its development of advanced aircraft, especially its stealth fighters that require engines better than imported ones.
As a result, China has allocated $16 billion special funding for aircraft engine development.
Now, China Aviation News says in its report that China has successfully developed a new type of aircraft engine with better performance than imported ones.
The engineers working on it know well that in addition to good design, test is an indispensable procedure to ensure the success of their job.
In 2011 alone, over 1,000 hours of tests were carried out including two tests high up in the sky, which proved the high efficiency and quality of the engine.
A lot of new structures, materials and technologies have been used in the new engine. In order to ensure high reliability of the engine, each and every part and component, especially the key ones, has undergone strict tests.
China has no technology or experience in bird impact testing of such types of aircraft engines. Since 2009, it has conducted five years of complicated study for the testing.
It conducted static testing within two years and finally succeeded in bird impact testing of their new engine in 2013. The fan blade of the engine passed the test when it was rotating in its normal operation.
The success in developing the new type of engine that has proved better than imported ones has greatly enhanced the research and development team’s confidence, and created favourable conditions for further breakthroughs in key advanced technologies for China’s aircraft engines.
Contributed by Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements
Source: China Aviation News “AVIC has successfully developed a new type of engine better than imported ones in performance” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)
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Who Is Qualified?
The WSFS Constitution (section 3.3.9) requires a candidate be "The editor of at least four (4) anthologies, collections or magazine issues (or their equivalent in other media) primarily devoted to science fiction and / or fantasy, at least one of which was published in the previous calendar year."
Who Are the Editors? To determine eligibility, we used our own records, and we consulted the Internet Speculative Fiction Database and Goodreads As we did last year , we estimated the equivalent of one magazine issue to be 45,000 words. Accordingly, we qualified an editor if he/she edited at least 45,000 words in 2016 and at least 180,000 words lifetime, even if those words didn't appear in anything approaching a volume or an issue.
Rocket Stack Rank reviews, we've identified the eleven editors-in-chief (Uncanny has two) as the individuals who should receive the award. That makes sense because the editor-in-chief is the person who makes the decision on what gets printed and what does not. All eleven easily meet the qualifications.
Tor.com isn't exactly a magazine, and it lists specific editors for its novellas and shorter fiction, so we've treated them as individuals. Out of seventeen editors whom Tor credited in 2016, only seven meet the qualifications.
RSR read and reviewed original stories from eleven anthologies in 2016 which credited a total of twelve editors, but only seven were eligible for the 2016 Hugos. Of course there were more than 100 SFF anthologies published in 2016, and we do not cover content from ones that didn't attract our attention or the attention of other reviewers.
Two individuals met the qualifications but RSR didn't review enough of their work to make any rational judgment. Mothership Zeta, but we only read two issues of it.
For the ten SFF magazines besides Tor.com whichreviews, we've identified the eleven editors-in-chief (has two) as the individuals who should receive the award. That makes sense because the editor-in-chief is the person who makes the decision on what gets printed and what does not. All eleven easily meet the qualifications.Tor.com isn't exactly a magazine, and it lists specific editors for its novellas and shorter fiction, so we've treated them as individuals. Out of seventeen editors whom Tor credited in 2016, only seven meet the qualifications.read and reviewed original stories from eleven anthologies in 2016 which credited a total of twelve editors, but only seven were eligible for the 2016 Hugos. Of course there were more than 100 SFF anthologies published in 2016, and we do not cover content from ones that didn't attract our attention or the attention of other reviewers.Two individuals met the qualifications butdidn't review enough of their work to make any rational judgment. Mur Lafferty qualifies easily as editor of, but we only read two issues of it. Paula Guran qualifies as editor of at least 25 anthologies, including two in 2016, but we only read a single story in Tor.com that she edited. Accordingly we dropped both names.
Since Jonathan Strahan is both a Tor.com editor and an anthology editor, we ended up with a list of 22 people:
Ways to Rate the Editors
How much work (in words) did they publish?
What percentage of their work was good?
How much work did they publish by new writers? The charts below divide published works into four categories:
Recommended means stories with at least one recommendation by a prolific reviewer. Not Recommended means stories that RSR thought had problems that reflected poorly on the editor. Not SF/F means stories that weren't science fiction or fantasy. Ordinary is everything else. It's important to keep in mind that "Recommended" is computed from the scores of many different reviewers, but "Not Recommended" and "Not SF/F" represents the opinion of Rocket Stack Rank alone.
NOTE: In the charts below, "Lynn M. Thomas and Michael Damien Thomas" are abbreviated to just "Lynn M. Thomas" in the interest of space. Anyone nominating one should nominate both. We've identified three reasonable ways to evaluate the quality of editors:The charts below divide published works into four categories:
Rate By Quantity
One measure of a good editor is how much work he/she got published, that is, how many words of original fiction did he/she get into print. The following table shows how many words of original fiction each of the above editors produced in 2017, color-coded to show the quality.
Comparison of Editors by Number of Words of Original Fiction Published in 2016
By sheer quantity, Trevor Quachri (Analog) and Sheila Williams (Asimov's) are ahead of everyone--the only editors to publish more than half a million words of original short fiction in 2016.
When you excude bad stories and stories that weren't SFF in the first place, Sheila Williams (Asimov's), Trevor Quachri (Analog) and C.C. Finlay (F&SF) are the only ones over 400,000 words.
When you only include recommended stories, Sheila Williams (Asimov's), C.C. Finlay (F&SF), and Trevor Quachri (Analog) are the only ones over 300,000 words, although Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld) comes very close.
If you think any of those measures is valuable, use them to decide which of the editors in your list should really be nominated for best short-form editor.
Rate By Quality A different way to evaluate an editor is to measure what fraction of his/her published works are any good. Or at least how much isn't bad. One of the biggest jobs of any editor is protecting readers from bad stories, after all.
Comparison of Editors by Percentage of Words of Original Fiction Recommended in 2016 Carl Engle-Laird (Tor.com) distinguished himself by being the only editor in the list who produced no stories that RSR recommended against and none that weren't SFF at all. Liz Gorinsky (Tor.com) and C.C. Finlay (F&SF) both managed better than 90%.
In terms of percentage of stories recommended, Sheila Williams (Asimov's), C.C. Finlay (F&SF), and Jonathan Strahan ("Bridging Infinity," "Drowned Worlds," and Tor.com) all exceeded 70%, and Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld) came close with 69.9%.
As above, take a look at the editors on your list and see how they compare.
Rate by New Authors Promoted A key function of editors is developing new talent. This last chart shows how many words of fiction each editor published that was by writers who were eligible for the
Carl Engle-Laird (Tor.com) distinguished himself by being the only editor in the list who produced no stories thatrecommended against and none that weren't SFF at all. Liz Gorinsky (Tor.com) and C.C. Finlay () both managed better than 90%.In terms of percentage of stories recommended, Sheila Williams (), C.C. Finlay (), and Jonathan Strahan ("Bridging Infinity," "Drowned Worlds," and Tor.com) all exceeded 70%, and Neil Clarke () came close with 69.9%.As above, take a look at the editors on your list and see how they compare.A key function of editors is developing new talent. This last chart shows how many words of fiction each editor published that was by writers who were eligible for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer , which means their first professional publication was either 2015 or 2016.
Scott H. Andrews (Beneath Ceaseless Skies), Niall Harrison (Strange Horizons), and John Joseph Adams (Lightspeed) all published over 70,000 words of original fiction by new writers, and Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld) was close.
When we exclude bad and non-genre stories, Scott H. Andrews (Beneath Ceaseless Skies), Niall Harrison (Strange Horizons) are the only ones at or above 50,000 words, followed by Carl Engle-Laird (Tor.com) above 40,000 words, and John Joseph Adams (Lightspeed), Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld), Trevor Quachri (Analog), and C.C. Finlay (F&SF) are above 30,000.
It's probably unreasonable to expect first-time writers to get recommendations, and that measure doesn't appear to cast any light on the question of who the best editor might be. Likewise, we didn't do the percentage analysis for new authors because we didn't think it was illuminating.
Note that six editors did not publish any fiction by new authors at all.
Source Data All the above charts were generated from this table. If you click on the black arrows in the column headings, you can sort by those values. Or copy and paste into Excel if that's easier.
Editor All Stories Campbell-Only Reco OK Total %Reco %OK Reco OK Total Andy Cox 126,621 173,462 203,068 62.4% 85.4% 4,907 16,928 21,929 Ann VanderMeer 13,031 36,886 58,934 22.1% 62.6% 0 5,497 5,497 Athena Andreadis 48,096 92,265 116,503 41.3% 79.2% 0 0 0 Bryan Thomas Schmidt 36,400 54,900 81,800 44.5% 67.1% 0 0 0 C.C. Finlay 342,455 432,220 468,703 73.1% 92.2% 24,679 31,211 33,050 Carl Engle-Laird 57,155 130,641 130,641 43.7% 100.0% 0 44,275 44,275 Dominik Parisien 70,831 95,610 109,956 64.4% 87.0% 0 0 0 Ellen Datlow 110,563 146,326 170,825 64.7% 85.7% 0 0 0 Ian Whates 69,890 141,616 182,053 38.4% 77.8% 0 8,165 20,670 Jason Sizemore 71,739 136,858 175,509 40.9% 78.0% 5,570 22,170 22,170 John Joseph Adams 179,047 236,174 294,177 60.9% 80.3% 22,192 37,800 73,185 Jonathan Strahan 202,727 241,896 277,171 73.1% 87.3% 7,956 7,956 7,956 Lee Harris 99,712 269,482 420,967 23.7% 64.0% 0 0 0 Liz Gorinsky 21,256 45,600 48,465 43.9% 94.1% 0 0 0 Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas 48,517 110,585 154,023 31.5% 71.8% 0 5,119 5,119 Neil Clarke 293,048 325,774 420,376 69.7% 77.5% 25,012 37,578 65,511 Niall Harrison 48,926 133,184 196,955 24.8% 67.6% 20,368 50,053 77,671 Patrick Nielsen Hayden 39,186 48,653 83,786 46.8% 58.1% 5,634 5,634 27,694 Scott H. Andrews 159,903 331,268 380,080 42.1% 87.2% 27,983 56,371 81,397 Sheila Williams 470,522 533,198 600,977 78.3% 88.7% 20,301 26,490 39,659 Trevor Quachri 306,147 447,633 611,612 50.1% 73.2% 19,521 32,367 42,163
Here's what the column headings mean:
All Stories covers all the original short fiction first published in 2016 which was attributed to each editor and reviewed by Rocket Stack Rank .
covers all the original short fiction first published in 2016 which was attributed to each editor and reviewed by . Campbell-Only covers the subset of all stories which were written by authors eligible for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. That is, authors whose first professional publication was in 2015 or 2016.
covers the subset of which were written by authors eligible for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. That is, authors whose first professional publication was in 2015 or 2016. Reco is the number of words "recommended" in the charts above.
is the number of words "recommended" in the charts above. OK is the sum of words "recommended" and "average" in charts above.
is the sum of words "recommended" and "average" in charts above. Total is the total number of words of original stories that editor edited.
is the total number of words of original stories that editor edited. %Reco is Reco divided by Total .
is divided by . %OK is OK divided by Total. Here's what the column headings mean:
Other Factors
Here are examples of things that arguably should count towards an editor's rating but which the charts above do not include. You should take a look and see if any of these is important to you.
Pushing the Envelope: Did the editor publish anything special or daring this year?
Editorial Stance: Did the editor use his/her position to try to effect positive change in the SF community, either through editorials, interviews, or speeches?
Reprints: Reviewers only recommend original fiction, but many readers probably enjoy the reprints just as much.
Art: Some magazines have far better cover art and illustrations than others.
Nonfiction: All the magazines have content ranging from science articles to book/movie reviews to author interviews to editorials. They take time and effort to produce, and they further separate magazines from anthologies. We didn't count them here, but you might want to reward an editor for quality nonfiction articles.
Author Service: Things like how long it takes for a magazine to accept or reject a manuscript, how promptly they pay authors, whether their contracts are reasonable, etc.
Publication Quality: Are there formatting errors in the print or electronic formats? Do they produce podcasts? Do they include word counts or some other way to identify the short fiction category? Can you buy back issues easily? Is the web site easy to navigate?
Blurbs: Do the blurbs before the stories give too much away?
Advancement: Did the editor elevate his/her publication from semi-prozine to professional this year?
Management: Attracted well-known film critics, book critics, science writers, etc. for nonfiction columns.
Where Did This Data Come From?
So where did we come up with all these numbers, and what do they really mean? From here down, we'll discuss the decisions we made and we'll offer some of the raw data.
What does an editor do?
The exception is Tor.com, which assigns (and credits) different editors to different stories.
Given that, judging them by the quality of the stories that were printed in their magazines and anthologies makes good sense. The Hugo Award for Best Editor (Short Form) is for the people who select the stories that go into magazines and/or anthologies. These people generally have the title "editor-in-chief," as a little time spent reading their editorials and blog posts makes clear. (They constantly say things like "I accepted this story" or "I saved you from stories like that.") The award has nothing to do with copy editors, who correct spelling and grammar.The exception is Tor.com, which assigns (and credits) different editors to different stories.Given that, judging them by the quality of the stories that were printed in their magazines and anthologies makes good sense.
Why exclude the smaller publications?
How do you evaluate an editor?
A. Story-based Metrics
Ultimately editors are gatekeepers responsible for bringing us good stories. We should credit them for good stories and penalize them for bad ones. To do this, we defined four quality levels.
1. Not SFF
RSR rated as not being science fiction or fantasy, regardless of whether anyone else liked them (
It's worth discussing why we chose to ignore the other reviewers on this one. The truth is, almost all of the non-SFF stories were excellent, well-written stories. The trouble is, it isn't fair to include them with SFF. Once you drop the requirement that a story have a speculative element, it becomes far easier to write. You eliminate the need for infodumps. You greatly reduce the amount of suspension of disbelief you require from the reader. You make it easier for the reader to identify with your characters, and you can use the time and words you saved to focus on making the reader care about the characters.
These are all stories thatrated as not being science fiction or fantasy, regardless of whether anyone else liked them ( see list ).It's worth discussing why we chose to ignore the other reviewers on this one. The truth is, almost all of the non-SFF stories were excellent, well-written stories. The trouble is, it isn't fair to include them with SFF. Once you drop the requirement that a story have a speculative element, it becomes far easier to write. You eliminate the need for infodumps. You greatly reduce the amount of suspension of disbelief you require from the reader. You make it easier for the reader to identify with your characters, and you can use the time and words you saved to focus on making the reader care about the characters.
A good editor should understand this and not get so excited about the quality of a story that he/she fails to notice that it's not an SFF story at all.
2. Not Recommended
3. Recommended
4. Ordinary
What Do You Think? What's the Best Way to Help People Make Best Editor (short form) Nominations?
Best Editor is a notoriously difficult category to nominate for, and while a number of people like our approach, it has also drawn some criticism. We're definitely interested in other ways to attack the problem, so please share your thoughts in the comments below.
: Added links in Editor-Publication table to editor websites and story lists.Most fans have a hard time making Hugo nominations for the Best Editor (Short Form) category. People tend to remember individual stories or publications, not the names of the editors involved. Even when they know the editor, they aren't sure if the editor is qualified, and it takes a bit of research to figure that out. Finally, even if you have a few names in mind, it's not easy to see how they compare with other editors.To make this easier for people nominating for the 2017 Hugo Awards , we've analyzed all the recommendations by six prolific reviewers of 813 original works of short fiction from the top publications of 2016, and we've distilled a list of editors, verified that they're qualified, and included charts making it easy to compare the work they did last year. This should make it a lot easier for people to nominate for the category with confidence.The point of this document is to help people identify the editors of works they liked and help them confirm that they're qualified and worthy. There is no intent to create a slate of names for people to nominate blindly.This table should be enough for you to identify which editors' work you've seen, except for Tor.com. To do a proper job for the Tor.com editors, start with the Tor.com magazine page . Look down that list to spot any stories you especially liked and open theirMini-reviews in separate tabs (CTRL-click on themini-review links). Those include the name of the editor.Based on your reading during the year, this may be enough to give you a list of just five people. However, just because they're qualified doesn't mean they're actually good enough to deserve an award. You should read at least a bit further to make sure.If you still have more than five people on your list, definitely keep reading to find criteria to trim your list.Except for, everything we review is an. That means that authors who publish stories there are eligible to apply for membership in the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America . These publications pay more, and, hence, attract the better stories.We also rule out publications that do not focus on SFF, those which focus on horror and those that focus on stories under 2,000 words, although we do review such stories when they occur in other venues or when they turn up in "Year's Best" anthologies or major recommendation lists.That just leaves between three and five publications (depending on how you apply those rules) that we're missing, and we almost never see anyone else recommending anything from them. On the other hand, we addedeven though it's not SFWA-qualifying, simply because so many excellent stories are published there and keep getting recommendations. None of the omitted publications jumps out at us like that.Accordingly, we think the eleven magazines and eleven anthologies we read and reviewed this year were more than enough.A slightly different measure of an editor is how many bad stories they print. Bad stories range from things that never should have left the slushpile ( 1-star stories ) to stories that make it hard for readers to suspend disbelief ( 2-star stories ).Currently,is the only reviewer that tries to identify bad stories. In cases where we gave a story 1 or 2 stars but any of the other reviewers recommended it, we counted that story as ordinary: neither recommended nor not recommended.These are stories that were recommended by any of the six reviewers we surveyed ( see list ). These include both4 and 5-star stories. As mentioned above, whenrecommended against a story that anyone else recommended, we treated it as ordinary.These are all the rest of the stories. Eithergave them 3 stars and no one else recommended them ( see list ), or else someone did recommend them butgave them 1 or 2 stars ( see list ).Every story falls into one and only one of these four categories; there is no overlap. |
A lawmaker from Southwestern Pennsylvania has joined a growing number of legislators from across the country aiming to put legislation on the books that would make any potential future federal gun control laws unenforceable within a state’s borders.
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a conservative Republican from Butler County, announced on Jan. 23 that he would soon be unveiling House Bill 357, (a reference to the .357 magnum firearm), which would prohibit enforcement of any new federal registration, restriction or prohibition requirement for privately owned firearms, magazines and ammunition within the commonwealth.
The bill, modeled after legislation introduced in Texas and Wyoming, and titled the “Right to Bear Arms Protection Act,” would also require the commonwealth, including the Attorney General’s Office, to intercede on behalf of Pennsylvania citizens against any federal attempt to register, restrict or ban the purchase or ownership of firearms and gun accessories that are currently legal products.
The law would mean that anyone, including federal agents, who attempt to enforce any type of gun control restriction within the commonwealth’s borders would be subject to arrest and felony charges.
“Passage of my legislation will send the message that there will never be additional gun control, anywhere in Pennsylvania,” Metcalfe said in a statement issued by his office. “Whether by White House executive orders, congressional fiat, or judicial activism, we will never allow the left to benefit from the wicked acts of murderers in order [to] advance their senseless gun-grabbing agenda which would only succeed in replacing one of our most sacred personal liberties with the chains of government tyranny.
“The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned,” Metcalfe continued, quoting Article 1, Section 21 of the commonwealth’s constitution.
The lawmaker said the state constitution makes it “crystal clear that no level of government, especially the federal government, has any authority whatsoever to impose senseless restrictions on law-abiding firearms owners, or worse, the confiscation of legally owned firearms.”
Metcalfe said the purpose of his bill is to force “any gun-grabbing federal official to count the costs of unconstitutionally disarming or denying Pennsylvania citizens their God-given right to keep and bear arms.”
Laws such as these are sure to create a legal showdown between state governments and the feds.
If challenged in court, the Obama Administration would likely argue that under the U.S. Supremacy Clause, which says federal law trumps state law, measures such as these would be null and void.
Those on the other side have argued that states have the right to disregard federal laws that fly in the face of the constitution.
A handful of states have also passed their respective versions of something called the Firearms Freedom Act, which was originally passed in the state of Montana, and declares that any firearm made and retained in-state are beyond the authority of Congress under its constitutional power to regulate commerce among the states.
According to FirearmsFreedomAct.com, a version of the law has also been passed in Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Arizona, Alaska and Tennessee, with many other states across the country considering passage of the act, including Pennsylvania.
The FFA, the website states, is primarily a Tenth Amendment challenge to the powers of Congress under the “Commerce Clause” with firearms as the object.
The Tenth Amendment Center, an advocacy organization, says on its website that in many ways, today’s federal government has suspended the legislative power of state assemblies by assuming control over powers not delegated to it by the United States Constitution.
The amendment, the center states, was intended to confirm the understanding that at the time the U.S. Constitution was adopted, powers not granted to the federal government were reserved to the states or to the people. |
All 600pp plays tripl3ag3nt Apr 21st, 2016 ( edited ) 1,648 Never 1,648Never
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hvick #91) Yuima-ru*World HDDT - 644pp - freedomdiver #92) Dan Dan (Happy~) HDDT - 643pp - hvick #93) Hime Hime HDDT - 643pp - Piggey #94) Quaver HDHR - 641pp - Angelsim #95) Miraizu (New) HDDT - 641pp - hvick #96) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 640pp - Angelsim #97) Miraizu (Old) HDDT - 640pp - Vaxei #98) My Dearest HDDTHR - 639pp - filsdelama #99) Takarabako no Jet Coaster [Fleur] HDDTHR - 639pp - filsdelama #100) rainbow road HDDT - 639pp - Cookiezi #101) Endless Starlight HDDT - 639pp - Emilia #102) Gangsta HDDT - 638pp - Vaxei #103) Skyclad no Kansokusha HDDT - 638pp - Cookiezi #104) Kuchizuke Diamond HDDTHR - 638pp - Angelsim #105) Hime Hime HDDT - 638pp - Green NPC #106) Blade Dance HDDT - 637pp - Rafis #107) Yume Chizu HDDT - 637pp - hvick #108) Yumia-ru*World HDDTHR - 637pp - Vaxei #109) Hime Hime HDDT - 637pp - Konpaku #110) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 637pp - mitsuha boii #111) Blade Dance HDDT - 636pp - Vaxei #112) Kimi ni Pierrot HDDT - 635pp - Vaxei #113) Blue Zenith ktgster HDHR - 634pp - Cookiezi #114) Packet Hero HDHR - 634pp - Cookiezi #115) Senpuu no Mai HDDT - 633pp - Cookiezi #116) Road of Resistance - 633pp - idke #117) Sakura no Uta HDDT - 632pp - Vaxei #118) Sendan Life HDHR - 632pp - Vaxei #119) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 632pp - Rafis #120) Endless Starlight HDDT - 632pp - Angelsim #121) Responsibility Response HDDT - 632pp - Vaxei #122) My Hero HDDT - 632pp - Cookiezi #123) Click HDDT - 631pp - Rafis #124) Dreamer's Dream HDDTHR - 631pp - Rafis #125) MOON LIGHT WAVE HDHR - 631pp - Cookiezi #126) Zen Zen Zense [Mitsuha] HDDT - 631pp - Rafis #127) Remote Control (New) DT - 630pp - filsdelama #128) Yuudachi no Ribbon HDHR - 630pp - Cookiezi #129) High Free Spirits Vs. Dream Solister HDDT - 630pp - Rafis #130) Dan Dan HDDT - 629pp - Azerite #131) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HDHR - 629pp - Musty #132) FriendZoned HDDT - 629pp - Cookiezi #133) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 629pp - Green NPC #134) MERRY MERRY MERRY MENU HDDT - 628pp - Vaxei #135) Yuima-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 628pp - EbonSol #136) Dream Solister DT - 627pp - _index #137) Suika DT - 627pp - Angelsim #138) Uta - 627pp - ThePooN #139) Remote Control (New) DT - 626pp - Angelsim #140) Best FriendS -TV Size- HDDTHR - 625pp - filsdelama #141) Fantastic Dreamer HDDT - 625pp - hvick #142) Redo HDDT - 625pp - Rafis #143) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 625pp - Vaxei #144) Dan Dan HDDT - 624pp - Vaxei #145) Merry Merry Go Round HDDT - 624pp - Angelsim #146) Endless Starlight HDDT - 623pp - Vaxei #147) Zen Zen Zense [Mistuha] HDDT - 623pp - filsdelama #148) Dan Dan [Happy~] DT - 622pp - My Angel Haruna #149) Sanctuary HDDT - 622pp - hvick #150) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 622pp - Cookiezi #151) Remote Control (New) DT - 622pp - ThePooN #152) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 621pp - hvick #153) CHEER UP HDDT - 621pp - Rafis #154) Try Sail Skystar DT - 620pp - Angelsim #155) Quaver HDHR - 620pp - Cookiezi #156) Symphony of the Night HR - 620pp - Musty #157) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 619pp - Angelsim #158) Yumia-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 619pp - Vaxei #159) Blue Zenith [ktgster] HDHR - 618pp - Gayzmcgee #160) Uta - 618pp - kablaze #161) Responsibility Response DT - 618pp - Girl #162) CHEER UP HDDT - 617pp - Angelsim #163) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 617pp - Angelsim #164) Hakone Hakoiri Musume HDHR - 617pp - Cookiezi #165) Torikago HDDT - 617pp - Bubbleman #166) Zen Zen Zense [Taki] HDNC - 616pp - Piggey #167) Killer Song HDDT - 616pp - Cookiezi #168) Byoumei Koi Wazurai HDDTHR - 615pp - filsdelama #169) Uta - 615pp - _index #170) Best FriendS -TV Size- HDDTHR - 615pp - Rafis #171) Uta - 615pp - fieryrage #172) Yumia-ru*World [Ultimate] DT - 614pp - Angelsim #173) M@GIC HDDT - 614pp - Rafis #174) Dan Dan HDDT - 613pp - Zirba #175) Monster DT - 613pp - Angelsim #176) Remote Control (New) DT - 613pp - HappyStick #177) Dan Dan HDDT - 613pp - Rafis #178) Road of Resistance - 613pp - Rafis #179) Close Call HDDTHR - 613pp - filsdelama #180) Dan Dan [Happy~] DT - 613pp - _index #181) Sayonara Memories HDDT - 613pp - Cookiezi #182) Sendan Life HDHR - 613pp - Dustice #183) Blue Zenith HR - 613pp - idke #184) Caffiene Fighter HDDTHR - 612pp - Angelsim #185) Dan Dan HDDT - 612pp - Angelsim #186) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 611pp - Angelsim #187) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 611pp - Mizuru #188) Remote Control (Take Control) HDDT - 611pp - Vaxei #189) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 610pp - Rafis #190) Flourite's Kiss HDDT - 610pp - hvick #191) Uta - 610pp - Tarulas #192) Soundscape [Settia's Extra] HDDT - 610pp - Vaxei #193) Yuima-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 610pp - Honeymap #194) Koi no Hime Hime DT - 609pp - filsdelama #195) Sanctuary HDDT - 609pp - Rafis #196) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 609pp - Cookiezi #197) Zen Zen Zense [Mitsuha] HDNC - 609pp - Piggey #198) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 608pp - Cookiezi #199) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 608pp - rustbell #200) Last Journey Home HR - 608pp - _index #201) Cold Green Eyes HDDTHR - 608pp - Axarious #202) Uta - 607pp - Happystick #203) Yume Chizu [Lost] HDDT - 607pp - Vaxei #204) Yume Chizu HDDT - 607pp - Vaxei #205) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 607pp - Rafis #206) Contrail ~Kiseki~ HDDT - 607pp - Cookiezi #207) Dreamer's Dream HDDTHR - 606pp - filsdelama #208) Killer Song HDDT - 605pp - Rafis #209) Ice Angel HDHR - 605pp - Toy #210) Uta - 605pp - Angelsim #211) Hitorigoto [Kencho's Insane] HDDTHR - 605pp - filsdelama #212) Best FriendS HDDTHR - 605pp - Salieri #213) Hitorigoto [Kencho's Insane] HDDTHR - 605pp - Arnold24x24 #214) Blue Zenith [ktgster] HDHR - 605pp - kablaze #215) SLoWMoTIoN HDDT - 604pp - Gayzmcgee #216) Inai Sekai HDHR - 604pp - Cookiezi #217) Granat HDDTHR - 604pp - Vaxei #218) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 604pp - Angelsim #219) Dan Dan HDDT - 604pp - Konpaku #220) Koi no Hime Hime HDDT - 603pp - Emilia #221) Uta - 603pp - waaiiru #222) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HR - 603pp - Angelsim #223) SLoWMoTIoN HDDT - 603pp - Cookiezi #224) Flourite's Kiss HDDT - 603pp - Cookiezi #225) Soundscape [Slayed's Extra] HDDT - 603pp - Vaxei #226) Fuyu ni Saku Hana HDDT - 603pp - Azerite #227) FriendZoned HDDT - 602pp - Angelsim #228) Killer Song HDDT - 602pp - Spare #229) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 602pp - Vaxei #230) Soundscape [Slayed's Extra] HDDT - 602pp - Angelsim #231) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HDHR - 602pp - Azer #232) Remote Control (New) DT - 601pp - Mathi #233) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 601pp - Cookiezi #234) Light it up HDHR - 601pp - Wilchq #235) Pochiko no Shiawase HDHR - 600pp - Cookiezi #236) Symphony of the Night HR - 600pp - Vaxei #237) Sendan Life HR - 600pp - filsdelama #238) Yume Tourou [Mitsuha] HDNC - 600pp - filsdelama By Mod 800 (3): HDHR - 1 (Highest 800pp Freedom Dive - Cookiezi) HDDT - 2 (Highest 817pp Remote Control - Cookiezi) By Mod 700 (26): HR - 1 (Highest 727pp Blue Zenith - Cookiezi) HDHR - 3 (Highest 718pp Defenders - Cookiezi) HDDT - 15 (Highest 776pp Akatsuki Zukuyo - Cookiezi) HDDTHR - 7 (Highest 765pp Harebare Fanfare - filsdelama) By Mod 600 (206): Nomod - 11 (Highest 649pp Time Freeze - Cookiezi) HD - 3 (Highest 692pp Yomi yori Kikoyu - Cookiezi) HR - 9 (Highest 669pp Defenders - WubWoofWolf) HDHR - 23 (Highest 698pp Seasons - Cookiezi) DT - 17 (Highest 678pp Try Sail - Angelsim) HDDT - 115 (Highest 696pp Tsukinami - Angelsim) HDDTHR - 29 (Highest 697pp Yuima-ru*World - Angelsim) By Player 800: (2) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 2 (HDHR:1, HDDT:1) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 1 (HDDT:1) By Player 700: (7) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 8 (HR:1, HDHR:3, HDDT:4) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 5 (HDDT:5) (Rank #3) Angelsim - 4 (HDDT:3, HDDTHR: 1) (Rank #4) Rafis - 4 (HDDT:1, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #5) filsdelama - 3 (HDDTHR:3) (Rank #6) hvick - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #8) Dustice - 1 (HDDT:1) By Player 600: (40) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 36 (Nomod:1, HD:3, HR:1, HDHR:12, HDDT:19) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 31 (HR:1, HDHR:1, HDDT:24, HDDTHR:5) (Rank #3) Angelsim - 29 (Nomod:1, HR:1, HDHR:1, DT:6, HDDT:17, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #4) Rafis - 22 (Nomod:1, HDDT:18, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #5) filsdelama - 15 (HR:1, DT:2, HDDT:2, HDDTHR:10) (Rank #6) hvick - 13 (HDDT:13) (Rank #7) Piggey - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #8) Dustice - 2 (Nomod:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #9) Spare - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #10) _index - 4 (HR:1, DT:3) (Rank #11) -Konpaku- - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #12) DanyL - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #13) Azerite - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #14) Happystick - 2 (Nomod:1, DT:1) (Rank #15) Gayzmcgee - 2 (HDDT:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #16) Rohulk - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #17) Emillia - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #19) idke - 3 (Nomod:1, HR:2) (Rank #20) Musty - 2 (HR:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #22) Wilchq - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #24) Toy - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #25) Mizuru - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #27) kablaze - 2 (Nomod:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #28) Mathi - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #29) Zirba - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #31) Axarious - 2 (HDDTHR:2) (Rank #32) Green NPC - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #33) rustbell - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #34) Tarulas - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #35) WubWoofWolf - 1 (HR:1) (Rank #39) Salieri - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #40) Azer - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #45) Bubbleman - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #47) Arnold24x24 - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #48) fieryrage - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #52) ThePooN - 2 (Nomod:1, DT:1) (Rank #55) mitsuha boii - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #74) waaiiru - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #186) freedomdiver - 1 (HDNCSD:1) (Rank #243) Girl - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #265) My Angel Haruna - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #1112) Honeymap - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #3088) EbonSol - 1 (HDDT:1) Lowest Ranked Person with 800pp - Vaxei (Rank #2) Highest Ranked Person without 800pp - Angelsim (Rank #3) Lowest Ranked Person with 700pp - Dustice (Rank #8) Highest Ranked Person without 700pp - Piggey (Rank #7) Lowest Ranked Person with 600pp - EbonSol (Rank #3088) Highest Ranked Person without 600pp - talala (Rank #19) Lowest Ranked Person with 500pp - itsamemarioo (Rank #4374)
RAW Paste Data
All 600+ pp plays: (Last Updated 6/10/17) 800pp (3) #1) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 817pp - Cookiezi #2) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 813pp - Vaxei #3) Freedom Dive HDHR - 800pp - Cookiezi 700pp (26) #4) Akatsuki Zukuyo HDDT - 776pp - Cookiezi #5) Harebare Fanfare HDDTHR - 765pp - filsdelama #6) Yume Chizu [Lost] HDDT - 750pp - Cookiezi #7) High Free Spirits HDDT - 746pp - Vaxei #8) Dan Dan (Happy~) HDDT - 730pp - Angelsim #9) Kira Kira Days HDDT - 730pp - Vaxei #10) Blue Zenith HR - 727pp - Cookiezi #11) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 726pp - filsdelama #12) Best FriendS HDDTHR - 720pp - filsdelama #13) Best FriendS HDDTHR - 720pp - Rafis #14) Defenders HDHR - 718pp - Cookiezi #15) Endless Starlight HDDT - 717pp - Cookiezi #16) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 717pp - Dustice #17) Dan Dan (Happy~) HDDT - 715pp - Vaxei #18) Yumia-ru*World [Extra] HDDTHR - 713pp - Rafis #19) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 712pp - Angelsim #20) Dream Solister HDDT - 711pp - hvick #21) Aozora Jumping Heart HDDT - 711pp - Vaxei #22) Tsukinami HDDT - 709pp - Vaxei #23) Dream Solister HDDT - 708pp - Rafis #24) Kimi ni Pierrot HDDT - 707pp - Angelsim #25) Merry Merry Go Round HDDT - 706pp - Cookiezi #26) Caffeine Fighter HDDTHR - 705pp - Rafis #27) Acchu~ma Seishun HDDT - 704pp - Angelsim #28) Gimme Chocolate HDHR - 702pp - Cookiezi #29) Highscore HDHR - 700pp - Cookiezi 600pp (206) #30) Seasons HDHR - 698pp - Cookiezi #31) Yuima-ru*World HDDTHR - 697pp - Angelsim #32) Tsukinami HDDT - 696pp - Angelsim #33) Kuchizuke Diamond HDDTHR - 695pp - Axarious #34) burn this moment HDHR - 693pp - Cookiezi #35) Yomi yori Kikoyu HD - 692pp - Cookiezi #36) High Free Spirits [Skystar] HDDT - 692pp - DanyL #37) MONSTER HDDT - 691pp - Cookiezi #38) BLUE DRAGON HDHR - 687pp - Cookiezi #39) Tsukinami HDDT - 687pp - hvick #40) Caffiene Fighter HDDTHR - 687pp - filsdelama #41) Akatsuki Zukuyo HDDT - 687pp - Vaxei #42) Yumia-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 686pp - Emilia #43) Dream Solister HDDT - 686pp - Cookiezi #44) Sakura No Uta HDDT - 683pp - hvick #45) Dreamer's Dream HDDTHR - 682pp - filsdelama #46) Takarabako no Jet Coaster HDDTHR - 679pp - filsdelama #47) Soundscape HDDT - 678pp - Vaxei #48) Try Sail [StaR] DT - 678pp - Angelsim #49) Uta HD - 676pp - Cookiezi #50) Acchu~ma Seishun HDDT - 675pp - Vaxei #51) My Dearest [Last Love] HDDT - 675pp - Cookiezi #52) Acchu~ma Seishun HDDT - 673pp - Rafis #53) Skyclad no Kansokusha HDDT - 673pp - Vaxei #54) Yumia-ru*World [Extra] HDDTHR - 671pp - filsdelama #55) Koi no Hime Hime HDDT - 670pp - Angelsim #56) Skyclad no Kansokusha HDDT - 670pp - Rafis #57) Defenders HR - 669pp - WubWoofWolf #58) Try Sail [StaR] HDDT - 668pp - Vaxei #59) Sendan Life HDHR - 668pp - Cookiezi #60) Defenders HR - 666pp - idke #61) Remote Control (New) DT - 665pp - index_ #62) Toumei Elegy HDHR - 664pp - Cookiezi #63) Tengaku HD - 663pp - Cookiezi #64) Miraizu (Old) HDDT - 663pp - hvick #65) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 661pp - Bubbleman #66) The Glory Days HDDT - 659pp - Vaxei #67) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 658pp - hvick #68) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 658pp - Rafis #69) Yuima-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 658pp - Cookiezi #70) Koi no Hime Hime HDDT - 656pp - Vaxei #71) Remote Control (New) DT - 656pp - filsdelama #72) Yume Chizu HDDT - 655pp - Rafis #73) Yume Chizu HDDT - 655pp - Angelsim #74) Torikago HDDT - 655pp - Angelsim #75) Caffeine Fighter HDDTHR - 655pp - Cookiezi #76) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 655pp - Rafis #77) Torikago HDDT - 654pp - Cookiezi #78) Road of Resistance HR - 653pp - Cookiezi #79) High Free Spirits HDDT - 653pp - Cookiezi #80) Sakura no Uta HDDT - 650pp - Angelsim #81) Best FriendS HDDTHR - 650pp - Vaxei #82) Time Freeze - 649pp - Cookiezi #83) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 649pp - Vaxei #84) High Free Spirits [StarR] HDDT - 648pp - Azerite #85) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HDHR - 648pp - Rohulk #86) My Dearest HDDTHR - 647pp - Vaxei #87) Dan Dan [Happy~!] HDDT - 647pp - DanyL #88) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 646pp - hvick #89) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 644pp - Rafis #90) M@GIC HDDT - 644pp - hvick #91) Yuima-ru*World HDDT - 644pp - freedomdiver #92) Dan Dan (Happy~) HDDT - 643pp - hvick #93) Hime Hime HDDT - 643pp - Piggey #94) Quaver HDHR - 641pp - Angelsim #95) Miraizu (New) HDDT - 641pp - hvick #96) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 640pp - Angelsim #97) Miraizu (Old) HDDT - 640pp - Vaxei #98) My Dearest HDDTHR - 639pp - filsdelama #99) Takarabako no Jet Coaster [Fleur] HDDTHR - 639pp - filsdelama #100) rainbow road HDDT - 639pp - Cookiezi #101) Endless Starlight HDDT - 639pp - Emilia #102) Gangsta HDDT - 638pp - Vaxei #103) Skyclad no Kansokusha HDDT - 638pp - Cookiezi #104) Kuchizuke Diamond HDDTHR - 638pp - Angelsim #105) Hime Hime HDDT - 638pp - Green NPC #106) Blade Dance HDDT - 637pp - Rafis #107) Yume Chizu HDDT - 637pp - hvick #108) Yumia-ru*World HDDTHR - 637pp - Vaxei #109) Hime Hime HDDT - 637pp - Konpaku #110) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 637pp - mitsuha boii #111) Blade Dance HDDT - 636pp - Vaxei #112) Kimi ni Pierrot HDDT - 635pp - Vaxei #113) Blue Zenith ktgster HDHR - 634pp - Cookiezi #114) Packet Hero HDHR - 634pp - Cookiezi #115) Senpuu no Mai HDDT - 633pp - Cookiezi #116) Road of Resistance - 633pp - idke #117) Sakura no Uta HDDT - 632pp - Vaxei #118) Sendan Life HDHR - 632pp - Vaxei #119) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 632pp - Rafis #120) Endless Starlight HDDT - 632pp - Angelsim #121) Responsibility Response HDDT - 632pp - Vaxei #122) My Hero HDDT - 632pp - Cookiezi #123) Click HDDT - 631pp - Rafis #124) Dreamer's Dream HDDTHR - 631pp - Rafis #125) MOON LIGHT WAVE HDHR - 631pp - Cookiezi #126) Zen Zen Zense [Mitsuha] HDDT - 631pp - Rafis #127) Remote Control (New) DT - 630pp - filsdelama #128) Yuudachi no Ribbon HDHR - 630pp - Cookiezi #129) High Free Spirits Vs. Dream Solister HDDT - 630pp - Rafis #130) Dan Dan HDDT - 629pp - Azerite #131) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HDHR - 629pp - Musty #132) FriendZoned HDDT - 629pp - Cookiezi #133) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 629pp - Green NPC #134) MERRY MERRY MERRY MENU HDDT - 628pp - Vaxei #135) Yuima-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 628pp - EbonSol #136) Dream Solister DT - 627pp - _index #137) Suika DT - 627pp - Angelsim #138) Uta - 627pp - ThePooN #139) Remote Control (New) DT - 626pp - Angelsim #140) Best FriendS -TV Size- HDDTHR - 625pp - filsdelama #141) Fantastic Dreamer HDDT - 625pp - hvick #142) Redo HDDT - 625pp - Rafis #143) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 625pp - Vaxei #144) Dan Dan HDDT - 624pp - Vaxei #145) Merry Merry Go Round HDDT - 624pp - Angelsim #146) Endless Starlight HDDT - 623pp - Vaxei #147) Zen Zen Zense [Mistuha] HDDT - 623pp - filsdelama #148) Dan Dan [Happy~] DT - 622pp - My Angel Haruna #149) Sanctuary HDDT - 622pp - hvick #150) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 622pp - Cookiezi #151) Remote Control (New) DT - 622pp - ThePooN #152) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 621pp - hvick #153) CHEER UP HDDT - 621pp - Rafis #154) Try Sail Skystar DT - 620pp - Angelsim #155) Quaver HDHR - 620pp - Cookiezi #156) Symphony of the Night HR - 620pp - Musty #157) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 619pp - Angelsim #158) Yumia-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 619pp - Vaxei #159) Blue Zenith [ktgster] HDHR - 618pp - Gayzmcgee #160) Uta - 618pp - kablaze #161) Responsibility Response DT - 618pp - Girl #162) CHEER UP HDDT - 617pp - Angelsim #163) Stella-rium (Long) HDDT - 617pp - Angelsim #164) Hakone Hakoiri Musume HDHR - 617pp - Cookiezi #165) Torikago HDDT - 617pp - Bubbleman #166) Zen Zen Zense [Taki] HDNC - 616pp - Piggey #167) Killer Song HDDT - 616pp - Cookiezi #168) Byoumei Koi Wazurai HDDTHR - 615pp - filsdelama #169) Uta - 615pp - _index #170) Best FriendS -TV Size- HDDTHR - 615pp - Rafis #171) Uta - 615pp - fieryrage #172) Yumia-ru*World [Ultimate] DT - 614pp - Angelsim #173) M@GIC HDDT - 614pp - Rafis #174) Dan Dan HDDT - 613pp - Zirba #175) Monster DT - 613pp - Angelsim #176) Remote Control (New) DT - 613pp - HappyStick #177) Dan Dan HDDT - 613pp - Rafis #178) Road of Resistance - 613pp - Rafis #179) Close Call HDDTHR - 613pp - filsdelama #180) Dan Dan [Happy~] DT - 613pp - _index #181) Sayonara Memories HDDT - 613pp - Cookiezi #182) Sendan Life HDHR - 613pp - Dustice #183) Blue Zenith HR - 613pp - idke #184) Caffiene Fighter HDDTHR - 612pp - Angelsim #185) Dan Dan HDDT - 612pp - Angelsim #186) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 611pp - Angelsim #187) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 611pp - Mizuru #188) Remote Control (Take Control) HDDT - 611pp - Vaxei #189) Sweets Weekend HDDT - 610pp - Rafis #190) Flourite's Kiss HDDT - 610pp - hvick #191) Uta - 610pp - Tarulas #192) Soundscape [Settia's Extra] HDDT - 610pp - Vaxei #193) Yuima-ru*World [Ultimate] HDDT - 610pp - Honeymap #194) Koi no Hime Hime DT - 609pp - filsdelama #195) Sanctuary HDDT - 609pp - Rafis #196) Stella-rium (Short) HDDT - 609pp - Cookiezi #197) Zen Zen Zense [Mitsuha] HDNC - 609pp - Piggey #198) SAKURA Skip HDDT - 608pp - Cookiezi #199) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 608pp - rustbell #200) Last Journey Home HR - 608pp - _index #201) Cold Green Eyes HDDTHR - 608pp - Axarious #202) Uta - 607pp - Happystick #203) Yume Chizu [Lost] HDDT - 607pp - Vaxei #204) Yume Chizu HDDT - 607pp - Vaxei #205) Remote Control (New) HDDT - 607pp - Rafis #206) Contrail ~Kiseki~ HDDT - 607pp - Cookiezi #207) Dreamer's Dream HDDTHR - 606pp - filsdelama #208) Killer Song HDDT - 605pp - Rafis #209) Ice Angel HDHR - 605pp - Toy #210) Uta - 605pp - Angelsim #211) Hitorigoto [Kencho's Insane] HDDTHR - 605pp - filsdelama #212) Best FriendS HDDTHR - 605pp - Salieri #213) Hitorigoto [Kencho's Insane] HDDTHR - 605pp - Arnold24x24 #214) Blue Zenith [ktgster] HDHR - 605pp - kablaze #215) SLoWMoTIoN HDDT - 604pp - Gayzmcgee #216) Inai Sekai HDHR - 604pp - Cookiezi #217) Granat HDDTHR - 604pp - Vaxei #218) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 604pp - Angelsim #219) Dan Dan HDDT - 604pp - Konpaku #220) Koi no Hime Hime HDDT - 603pp - Emilia #221) Uta - 603pp - waaiiru #222) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HR - 603pp - Angelsim #223) SLoWMoTIoN HDDT - 603pp - Cookiezi #224) Flourite's Kiss HDDT - 603pp - Cookiezi #225) Soundscape [Slayed's Extra] HDDT - 603pp - Vaxei #226) Fuyu ni Saku Hana HDDT - 603pp - Azerite #227) FriendZoned HDDT - 602pp - Angelsim #228) Killer Song HDDT - 602pp - Spare #229) Wagamama MIRROR HEART HDDT - 602pp - Vaxei #230) Soundscape [Slayed's Extra] HDDT - 602pp - Angelsim #231) Inferno [Tortured Soul] HDHR - 602pp - Azer #232) Remote Control (New) DT - 601pp - Mathi #233) Hitorigoto HDDTHR - 601pp - Cookiezi #234) Light it up HDHR - 601pp - Wilchq #235) Pochiko no Shiawase HDHR - 600pp - Cookiezi #236) Symphony of the Night HR - 600pp - Vaxei #237) Sendan Life HR - 600pp - filsdelama #238) Yume Tourou [Mitsuha] HDNC - 600pp - filsdelama By Mod 800 (3): HDHR - 1 (Highest 800pp Freedom Dive - Cookiezi) HDDT - 2 (Highest 817pp Remote Control - Cookiezi) By Mod 700 (26): HR - 1 (Highest 727pp Blue Zenith - Cookiezi) HDHR - 3 (Highest 718pp Defenders - Cookiezi) HDDT - 15 (Highest 776pp Akatsuki Zukuyo - Cookiezi) HDDTHR - 7 (Highest 765pp Harebare Fanfare - filsdelama) By Mod 600 (206): Nomod - 11 (Highest 649pp Time Freeze - Cookiezi) HD - 3 (Highest 692pp Yomi yori Kikoyu - Cookiezi) HR - 9 (Highest 669pp Defenders - WubWoofWolf) HDHR - 23 (Highest 698pp Seasons - Cookiezi) DT - 17 (Highest 678pp Try Sail - Angelsim) HDDT - 115 (Highest 696pp Tsukinami - Angelsim) HDDTHR - 29 (Highest 697pp Yuima-ru*World - Angelsim) By Player 800: (2) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 2 (HDHR:1, HDDT:1) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 1 (HDDT:1) By Player 700: (7) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 8 (HR:1, HDHR:3, HDDT:4) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 5 (HDDT:5) (Rank #3) Angelsim - 4 (HDDT:3, HDDTHR: 1) (Rank #4) Rafis - 4 (HDDT:1, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #5) filsdelama - 3 (HDDTHR:3) (Rank #6) hvick - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #8) Dustice - 1 (HDDT:1) By Player 600: (40) (Rank #1) Cookiezi - 36 (Nomod:1, HD:3, HR:1, HDHR:12, HDDT:19) (Rank #2) Vaxei - 31 (HR:1, HDHR:1, HDDT:24, HDDTHR:5) (Rank #3) Angelsim - 29 (Nomod:1, HR:1, HDHR:1, DT:6, HDDT:17, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #4) Rafis - 22 (Nomod:1, HDDT:18, HDDTHR:3) (Rank #5) filsdelama - 15 (HR:1, DT:2, HDDT:2, HDDTHR:10) (Rank #6) hvick - 13 (HDDT:13) (Rank #7) Piggey - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #8) Dustice - 2 (Nomod:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #9) Spare - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #10) _index - 4 (HR:1, DT:3) (Rank #11) -Konpaku- - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #12) DanyL - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #13) Azerite - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #14) Happystick - 2 (Nomod:1, DT:1) (Rank #15) Gayzmcgee - 2 (HDDT:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #16) Rohulk - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #17) Emillia - 3 (HDDT:3) (Rank #19) idke - 3 (Nomod:1, HR:2) (Rank #20) Musty - 2 (HR:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #22) Wilchq - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #24) Toy - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #25) Mizuru - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #27) kablaze - 2 (Nomod:1, HDHR:1) (Rank #28) Mathi - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #29) Zirba - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #31) Axarious - 2 (HDDTHR:2) (Rank #32) Green NPC - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #33) rustbell - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #34) Tarulas - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #35) WubWoofWolf - 1 (HR:1) (Rank #39) Salieri - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #40) Azer - 1 (HDHR:1) (Rank #45) Bubbleman - 2 (HDDT:2) (Rank #47) Arnold24x24 - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #48) fieryrage - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #52) ThePooN - 2 (Nomod:1, DT:1) (Rank #55) mitsuha boii - 1 (HDDTHR:1) (Rank #74) waaiiru - 1 (Nomod:1) (Rank #186) freedomdiver - 1 (HDNCSD:1) (Rank #243) Girl - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #265) My Angel Haruna - 1 (DT:1) (Rank #1112) Honeymap - 1 (HDDT:1) (Rank #3088) EbonSol - 1 (HDDT:1) Lowest Ranked Person with 800pp - Vaxei (Rank #2) Highest Ranked Person without 800pp - Angelsim (Rank #3) Lowest Ranked Person with 700pp - Dustice (Rank #8) Highest Ranked Person without 700pp - Piggey (Rank #7) Lowest Ranked Person with 600pp - EbonSol (Rank #3088) Highest Ranked Person without 600pp - talala (Rank #19) Lowest Ranked Person with 500pp - itsamemarioo (Rank #4374) |
Bayer Leverkusen have announced that Kyriakos Papadopoulos has been ruled out for the remainder of 2014 with a shoulder injury.
The centre-back suffered the injury in the final training session ahead of his side's Champions League match at Zenit St Petersburg, and is set to undergo surgery.
"That's just bitter for Papa," Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt told reporters ahead of Leverkusen's trip to Russia.
The 22-year-old, currently on a year-long loan from Schalke, only recently returned to action following nearly two years on the sidelines.
Last week, he started his first match since November 2012, and it was his 116th-minute goal that took Leverkusen to the penalty shootout against fourth-tier club Magdeburg and into the next round of the German Cup.
He previously already scored in the reverse fixture against Zenit only minutes after coming off the bench.
At the weekend, Papadopoulos went the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at Hamburg, but now will not take part in any more games this year.
"The injury requires surgery. That's bitter for us, and especially for him, because he made an impressive comeback, and also scored crucial goals," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller added.
Papadopolous was also an option for Bayer's holding midfield, with Lars Bender currently the last remaining option for coach Roger Schmidt as Gonazlo Castro, Simon Rolfes and Stefan Reinartz are all out injured.
Leverkusen are currently top of Champions League group C with six points, and are followed by Monaco (five points), Zenit (four points) and Benfica (one point). |
A good lie never dies, and so it is that we get Texas Sen. Ted Cruz telling Mary Matalin, sitting in for Laura Ingraham, Monday: "I think it is disgraceful that President Obama, in just a lawless move, just exempted Congress [from Obamacare]."
"If Congress gets a pass on Obamacare, you should, too," the conservative group Freedomworks, which has been leading the push to defund the health law, demands. Then there's John Cornyn, the number two Senate Republican, along with the Wall Street Journal editorial board and Fox News, not to mention former senator and current Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint, and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, and all the rest. A Washington Times columnist even called it "treason."
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Sadly, but not surprisingly, they're all lying to you. Congress did not, and never has, "exempted" itself from Obamacare. Here's the New Republic's Jonathan Cohn, one of the smartest writers on health care policy anywhere:
As is often the case with these arguments, this one contains an element of truth. Obamacare really does treat congressional employees differently from other people. But that’s because of an amendment written by Senator Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican. The amendment—almost certainly a political stunt designed to embarrass the Democrats—created an ambiguity in the law that the Obama administration had to clarify. Last week the administration issued a ruling and, sure enough, it is getting political grief over it. But there’s no reason it should.
Grassley offered an amendment that would kick members of Congress and their staffers off the federal employee health plan and make them enroll in the new health insurance exchanges, which are mostly for individuals who don't get employer coverage. If not for his amendment, their insurance scheme wouldn't have changed at all. Republicans expected Democrats would vote it down, thus giving them an opening to attack the law, but Democrats called the bluff and passed the amendment.
But what wasn't resolved, until last week, was whether members of Congress and their employees would still get the money the government had been contributing to their health insurance premiums as their employer. Last week, the administration ruled: They would get to keep the employer contribution. That's it.
So, in fact, members of Congress are still going to be required to use the Obamacare-created health insurance exchanges. That's why Politifact called the exemption myth a "Pants on Fire" and FactCheck.org wrote, "No. Congress members and staffers will be required to buy insurance through the exchanges on Jan. 1." For more, check out Ezra Klein, Steve Benen, and Jon Chait, who calls it a "toxic combination of ignorance and bad faith that has characterized the right’s approach to Obamacare."
Don't believe the liberal or even mainstream "liberal" media? Then take it from FreedomWorks. That's right, the very same conservative advocacy group that's now telling conservatives to “ready your pitchforks" over the alleged congressional exemption once said the polar exact diametrical opposite.
"No, Congress Is Not Exempt From Obamacare," reads the headline from an April 28 blog post on the group's website from Loren Heal, who writes of the controversy over the Grassley Amendment:
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Congress is not only covered by Obamacare, but members and staff can be offered only plans that are either created by Obamacare or are offered through an exchange. That isn't how the law works for most people, but it's not exempting anyone -- it's more restrictive.
In fact, FreedomWorks was so sure then that Congress wasn't getting an exemption that they demanded "Politico print a retraction" after writing "a carefully crafted story" that claimed members of Congress were in secret talks to exempt themselves from Obamacare. "It isn't true," Heal continued. He was right then when he debunked it. That's how we know they're lying, and not just ignorant. |
There is a growing list of conservatives — David Frum, Bruce Bartlett, and Joe Scarborough, to name a few — who are actually pushing back against the Palin/Beck/Bachmann lunacy that’s taken over the GOP and the conservative movement. They understand that shouting "fascist!" and "racist!" at the President isn’t a winning electoral strategy.
Rick Moran is another, and yesterday highlighted the "How to Take Back America Conference" — at which Mike Huckabee, Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and other prominent elected Republicans spoke — as an example of everything that’s wrong with the conservative movement.
Before commenting on the substance of what the author [Kitty Werthmann] actually believes is solid evidence that Obama wants to set up a Fourth Reich, I want you to look at that list of Republicans who will be giving their imprimatur to a conference that features such idiocy. Those are not “fringe” players. They are all considered “mainstream” conservatives. Should they be taken to task for attending a conference that features such off the wall lunacy?
Bingo. And that’s the big difference between the right and left today. Both side have their kooks, but the kooks on the right are embraced by the party establishment. Can you imagine the outcry from the corporate media and the GOP if a bunch of prominent Democratic members of Congress and a leading Democratic candidate for President spoke at conference examining how Bush is like Hitler?
Adds Moran,
Exaggeration is not argument. It is emotionalism run rampant. And at its base is simple, unreasoning fear. Fear of change, fear that the powerlessness conservatives feel right now is a permanent feature of American politics, and, I am sorry to say, fear of Obama because he is a black man. Fear of change, fear that the powerlessness conservatives feel right now is a permanent feature of American politics, and, I am sorry to say, fear of Obama because he is a black man.
There are too many photos of racist posters at Teabaggings, there have been too many racist emails forwarded by too many elected Republicans, and too many comments about "white culture" from conservative commentators to not address the race issue. And it’s telling that every time someone like El Rushbo or Glenn Beck goes there, they are immediately defended by the right. Why?
I agree with the left to a certain extent that the right – especially on the internet – has become something of an echo chamber (it’s true on the left too but their crazies have already been marginalized). This has resulted in what might be termed a “negative feedback loop” where the more exaggerated claims about dastardly Democrats go around and around, becoming ever more outrageous and illogical, until we get overflowing crowds at a seminar where the most fantastically stretched and mangled analogies to Nazis and Communists are taken seriously.
Yes. This "Obama’s a Nazi" theme is mainstream among conservatives — Jim DeMint, Glenn Beck, Michele Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh, Paul Broun — all have gone there. And the response? Glenn Reynolds "Heh indeeds", Michelle Malkin and the RedStaters cheer it on, and Jonah Goldberg goes on Fox News and offers historical insight into why Obama is, in fact, just like Hitler.
I don’t know how to say it any other way; those conservatives who don’t see a problem with this, or don’t think it “representative” of a significant portion of the conservative movement, or who don’t believe this sort of thing should be taken out, examined, and criticized as forcefully as possible are fooling themselves into believing this kind of thinking doesn’t matter. It is poison coursing through the body of conservatism and we either use reason and logic as an antidote or it will end up killing us.
It already has. |
By: Miami Heat Beat Staff
A little less than three weeks ago, the Miami HEAT were on the fast track to a top-three pick in the NBA lottery. They were 11-30, injury-riddled, and visibly fluttering as the season seemed to be quickly slipping away. Now, the HEAT are riding a nine-game winning streak and are within striking distance of the eighth seed in the East.
Incredible the difference three weeks makes. What’s more incredible is that there hasn’t been a tangible difference in how the team has played, other than the execution is much better.
It’s been noted throughout the season that the HEAT had been doing everything right in terms of strategy. On a per-game basis, they currently rank seventh in shots attempted in the paint and second in corner threes attempted. What hurt the team was guys like Dion Waiters and Justise Winslow struggling around the rim, and the team as a whole not shooting well from three.
For most of the season, guys like Luke Babbitt, Josh Richardson, Waiters, and Rodney McGruder really struggled to take advantage of open looks behind the arc. The repetition and unwavering commitment to the process appears to have paid huge dividends during the win streak:
The uptick in execution has had the secondary benefit of improving team morale and, as a result, the team’s hustle stats — screen assists, deflections, loose balls recovered, charges taken, and steals — are up across the board.
I don’t think there’s been a bigger beneficiary during this win streak than the allure of the Heat’s culture. From Waiters to James Johnson to Willie Reed to even Babbitt, head coach Erik Spoelstra has shown yet again that he gets the most out of his players and should help the organization continue to acquire cheap, maligned talent in the years to come.
THE SLASH BROTHERS
This streak isn’t possible without Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters setting the East on fire. Over the last nine games, the two have combined to average 44.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.
(We’re just gonna skip over the 66.7 percent clip from the free-throw line.)
They’ve done most of their damage in the pick-and-roll, slithering their way into the lane and making plays for themselves and others:
The real contrast between the two has been from behind the arc. Dragic has been the beneficiary of spot-up looks (47.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes), while Waiters has knocked his fair share of YOLO shots off the dribble (44.4 percent on pull-up threes), like this one:
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
The HEAT’s nine-game winning streak began on January 17th. Prior to that date, the HEAT were tied for third worst in the league in three-point shooting (33.8 percent) while taking 25.6 attempts per game. Since then, the HEAT have been the BEST three-point shooting team in the league (41.7 percent) while taking 26.9 attempts per game. They’re taking just as many threes as before, but now it seems they are shooting into an empty pool instead of an empty solo cup.
The HEAT have shot 37 percent or better from three in each of the last eight games. That is the second longest streak in HEAT history, as the 04-05 HEAT had a streak of 10 games shooting 37 percent or better from three. Only the Raptors (12) and Spurs (10) have had longer streaks this season.
Virtually every HEAT shooter not named Tyler Johnson (you can have this one, Gianni *) has seen a dramatic bump in their efficiency during the streak:
Five players are shooting north of 40 percent from deep, while Make It Wayne Ellington has been dropping triples at a high clip.
Most of the recent success stems from an increase in middle penetration, in the half-court and transition. Dragic and Waiters have done a wonderful job of getting into the lane, drawing defenders, and kicking out to open shooters:
It’s only a matter of time until some regression sets in — Dion won’t be hitting off-the-dribble threes forever — but it’s nice to see the open shots Miami has been generating all year are finally falling at a high clip.
* “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA” – Gianni
IT’S SHOWTIME
One of the most encouraging aspects of this run has been the constant contributions of the HEAT’s backup center, Willie Reed. Reed has been an integral part of this HEAT run with his sound play on both ends of the court. He leads the team in Net Rating during the win streak, as the HEAT are outscoring opponents by 18 points per 100 possessions with him on the court.
Reed’s value really stood out during the Chicago game. Reed, replacing an injured Hassan Whiteside, made quite the statement that game, scoring 20 points on 11 shots while playing a team-leading 37 minutes in a double-digit HEAT win:
Reed has shown real growth as the season has progressed. During the win streak, opponents have shot 45 percent when Reed was the closest defender, three percentage points below their average — the same mark as Whiteside during this stretch.
On the offensive end, Reed has thrived as a rim-roller and glass cleaner, shooting a blistering 85.7 percent in the restricted area. He screens well, and understands where to move to create a driving lane for the ball-handler and a passing window for himself:
Reed has a player option for next season, but it’s pretty much a given he’ll decline it to cash in. He’s certainly earned himself a raise with his recent play.
9-OKARO
The best story of the win streak has been the fact that the team still has not lost with Okaro White on the roster. Although he’s only played significant minutes in seven of the nine games, he’s still played in 28 percent of the team’s minutes during the win streak, showing that Spo already trusts him out there.
In his very limited action, he’s shown an ability to finish efficiently from all over the court:
Perhaps what’s been most impressive about White has been the athleticism, length, and prowess he’s shown on the defensive end:
Opponents have shot 42 percent with White as the closest defender, three percentage points below their average. White is also contesting the third most shots per 36 minutes (13.2) during the win streak. He’s already taken a charge as well, confirming that he’s a # HeatLifer.
What’s been the nicest surprise is that, in an obviously small sample, he’s been an efficient three-point shooter as well. In the preseason he only shot about thirty percent from three, which showed he was capable but not necessarily a knockdown shooter. Early in his NBA career, he’s 5/11 from behind the arc, providing optimism that he can be a real force as a stretch four.
Watching him play, you can’t help but think that Miami may have found a smaller, Chris Bosh-lite to help fill the long, athletic shooter/defender void left by the future Hall of Famer. I would expect that if the HEAT cannot trade Derrick Williams, he will be cut in order to make space in order to keep Okaro on the roster.
Co-written by Nekias Duncan (@NekiasNBA) and Christian Hernandez (@cch1125) |
BARCELONA (Reuters) - The Spanish government has urged Catalans to accept Madrid’s decision to dismiss their secessionist leadership and to take control of the restive region, as the nation’s biggest political crisis in decades enters a decisive week.
Spain’s foreign minister made the comment on Sunday, a day after Madrid vowed to take the unprecedented step of firing the Catalonia government, in a last resort to thwart the region’s push for independence and to calm fears of unrest and economic turmoil in the heart of the euro zone.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont rejected Madrid’s decision, to be implemented this week, and thousands of pro-independence protesters marched in Barcelona on Saturday.
The regional parliament’s speaker, Carme Forcadell, said she too would not accept Madrid’s move and accused Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of staging a “coup”.
Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis responded on Sunday with the call to obey Madrid.
“All the government is trying to do, and reluctantly, is to reinstate the legal order, to restore the constitution but also the Catalan rules and proceed from there,” Dastis told BBC TV.
“We are going to establish the authorities who are going to rule the day-to-day affairs of Catalonia according to the Catalan laws and norms ... I hope everyone will disregard whatever instructions they will be planning to give because they will not have the legal authority to do that.”
However, Dastis sought to calm nerves in the region, saying Madrid would not conduct arrests among the pro-independence leadership, though two prominent secessionists were detained on court order this month on allegations of sedition.
“We are not going to arrest anyone,” he said.
Catalonia’s leaders say they will not accept direct rule imposed by Madrid, raising the prospect that they and their supporters will seek to defy the Spanish government when the time comes to remove them from office.
Rajoy’s use of special constitutional powers still needs Senate approval in a session set for Friday. Once it gains the expected approval, Madrid can take full control of Catalonia’s finances, police and public media and curb the powers of the regional parliament for up to six months, until fresh regional elections.
Street protests for and against independence in Catalonia have involved hundreds of thousands of people. Though a violent crackdown by national police during Catalonia’s Oct. 1 independence vote left hundreds injured, according to regional authorities, the protests have remained peaceful so far.
But Rajoy’s unprecedented plan to use special constitutional powers has angered both sides and raised concern over the potential for unrest if Catalan leaders resist and call for civil disobedience.
ECONOMIC FEARS
They have not done that, but investors are worried about the possible fallout from such moves in a region that makes up a fifth of Spain’s economy. Hundreds of companies have shifted their headquarters outside the region and Madrid has made downward revisions to its economic forecasts.
Mikel Lekue, a 24-year-old Spaniard studying in Barcelona, said he did not support Catalan independence but criticized Rajoy’s tactics in invoking article 155 of the national constitution for the first time to take control of a region.
“I don’t agree with article 155. For all the errors the Catalan government has made, and they have made many, I don’t think the solution is to remove Catalan autonomy,” he said as he walked in central Barcelona with a friend. “I think they need to sit down and talk.”
Rajoy, who acted with backing from King Felipe and the main opposition party in Madrid, said the crisis was jeopardizing political and economic stability in the euro zone’s fourth-largest economy.
Puigdemont, who made a symbolic declaration of independence on Oct. 10 after the referendum, called Rajoy’s move the “worst attacks against the people of Catalonia” since Spain’s military dictatorship.
He stopped short of saying he would make good his threat to push ahead with a parliamentary vote on independence before direct rule takes effect.
But he has called the Catalan parliament to meet next week to agree on a response to Madrid, something many observers said could pave the way for a formal declaration of independence.
The regional assembly is expected to decide on Monday when it will hold a session.
Several influential Catalan newspapers called on Puidgemont on Sunday to resolve the crisis by calling a snap election before direct rule becomes effective.
However, an opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government.
People wave separatisy Catalan flags and placards during a demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cutural, following the imprisonment of their two leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, in Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2017. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado
Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull, however, told Catalan radio this was not an option and instead suggested that the parliament could move forward with secession.
“Catalonia will be what decides the parliament, which is the legitimate representative of the citizens, and not what others decide,” Turull said. |
Circle up, ladies, and let's talk about the Starz adaption of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. I really, really like this show and I hope it becomes massively, ludicrously, disgustingly popular.
Here's the set-up: Claire Randall and her lovely husband, Frank, are taking a second honeymoon to get back into the rhythm of married life after years being separated by World War II. (He worked for MI6 in London; she served on the front as a nurse. In your face, gender roles.) So they're tooling around Scotland, Frank doing a little genealogical research on his ancestor Black Jack Randall, a nasty Redcoat garrison commander knocking around Inverness circa the Jacobite rebellion. They're fumbling their way back toward marital intimacy when Claire touches a standing stone the morning after Samhain (rookie move, Claire, haven't you heard a single folktale?) and gets zapped back to 1743.
There she falls in with a pack of suspicious Scots who figure she's a lying liar, but find her modern nursing skills intriguingly useful. Among them: Very hot, very adorable Jamie, whom we meet strapping back first (right before Claire wrenches his dislocated arm back into its socket). Jamie! Be still, my heart:
As every single review of this show takes great pains to mention, Claire Randell is a strong female character (as opposed to a Strong! Female! Character!), and the actual by-God protagonist of this story. That's the talking point you'll hear over and over and over, to the point you realize how rare and novel she is and it becomes just depressing.
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Luckily, Claire's enough to pull you out of the ensuing funk. She's terrifyingly competent and quite literally battle-tested, but she's in deep, deep shit and she knows it. She's at the mercy of the men around her, all of them armed to the teeth, but she's not a helpless damsel, either. Caitriona Balfe plays Claire almost like a Robinson Crusoe—dumped into an unfamiliar environment, she's constantly gathering information, always watching for her opening.
Also she gives no fucks whatsoever: "As St. Paul says, let a woman be silent—" "You can mind your own bloody business and so can St. Paul." GET 'EM CLAIRE.
The pilot was slow and heavy on the exposition, but I think that's actually a good thing. It's the only way they can transform this from a ~~ love triangle ~~ to a genuine, serious emotional conflict. All that setup in the pilot goes to establish why Claire would be genuinely desperate to get home, to the point of recklessness. And they've got to bring the chemistry with Jamie to a boil slowly, because we don't want to think she'd just throw her perfectly lovely husband over for an 18th century Scotsman (no matter how hunky).
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And, credit where it's due, the adaptation is solving the reason I never finished the book: too much history, not enough fucking early enough. Which isn't a criticism of the novels, so much as a reflection of my specific tastes. I'd rather read nonfiction than general historical fiction, and I like my historical romance novels about the hero and heroine primarily, with the time period an interesting backdrop. Porting the story over to television means they can cram loads of great period details into a long tracking shot and easily toggle back and forth between smoldering glances and doling out details about the relationship between England and Scotland.
Oh, and speaking of the fucking! It's so refreshingly different from the sexposition of Game of Thrones I frankly don't know what to do with myself. In literally the first 20 minutes, Claire's husband suavely goes down on her ("Why Mrs. Randall, I do believe you've left your undergarments at home" whoops my panties just vanished). And it's not some Showgirls-y excuse to show quivering boobs, either, because they're fully clothed. Watch the nudity as this show goes on, by the way—in coming episodes you'll catch practical, un-eroticized glimpses of Claire's body as she changes clothes, for instance, but you're treated to long, loving shots of the firelight flickering on Jamie's pecs. But he's not some goofy Fabio caricature, either. Sexually speaking, the whole tone of this show is "eh? ladies? am I right? eh?" rather than "HEY DUDES, BOOBS OVER HERE" or "I'll get that bitch a highlander. Bitches love highlanders."
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When the initial media coverage of this show began to trickle out, I was worried. Starz honcho Chris Albrecht told BuzzFeed that, "The female audience for Outlander is there," but "now we're simply expanding that fan base [to include men]." Given that dudes are famously loathe to watch anything with a female protagonist (or so goes Hollywood conventional wisdom), I figured that meant whittling down Claire in favor of Jamie, playing up the swordplay, sex scenes that looked like stereotypical HBO—you get the picture.
But nope, Ron Moore and Starz have produced a big ambitious prestige cable show that seems completely at ease appealing to women. Honestly I feel like this show was perhaps made for me, specifically? It's like somebody dumped all my high school enthusiasms—Ren Faire, DragonCon, romance novels, the Highland Games, Turner Classic Movies—into a giant whiskey barrel and let it ferment for ten years. I'm only just barely exaggerating when I say this show is a basket of kittens short of my perfect TV experience.
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And it's so overdue. Women make up almost half the audience of Game of Thrones. We happily shell out for movies like The Hobbit. And yet it's just dude protagonist after dude protagonist after dude protagonist. It's just such a relief that somebody out there has listened for five fucking minutes. Though it's dangerous to set the show up as the ideal feminist answer to Game of Thrones—pop culture rarely produces perfection, and if we're too quick to bill it as such, Outlander will only break our hearts. But it's damned sure a bright spot. |
So here it is, the third and final guide to flying the various ship classes on the new Gateway map. This time around we’ll be taking a look at Support Class. Your host will be Anska, an ace Valkyrie pilot who’s a popular member of the community and whose support skills are legendary.
Take it away, Anska.
I love the Gateway map, it is so amazing. The first time I got to play that map I just kept getting killed because I was so in awe of it and spent too much time looking around! In a match situation there’s so much to like about it. It has so many places to hide and the jump gate is just too much fun. The main structure itself really appeals to me as a support pilot. It's fun to work out where to place stuff or if you can use the structure itself to protect you. The scale of the main structure gives a great feeling of speed, especially when you are warping through it.
The map is also good for supports because there are so many places you can move in and out of, so the structure can take the bullets or missiles instead of you.
Team Deathmatch
In the past I have tended to play the medic role, but inspired by other great players out there I’m now trying out attacking support styles. My main ship of choice is the Guardian, but I’m starting to play around with the likes of the Revenant, Warden, Siren and Banshee.
In my medic role, I get right into the ball of death. As a support player, we are often seen as being soft but don’t let that put you off going in head-first and taking chances. This is a great map in which to do so because if you do get into trouble, there are loads of places to take cover. Also, if someone’s on your tail, the scaffolding is amazing to weave in and out of until you can escape. If you are going to play a more medic type of support role on this map, then your job is to keep people playing. Don't try to fully heal players as there is often too much shooting going on. Your best option is to hot potato back and forth around your fellow pilots. On the offensive side, you can have some fun with support ships on this map. When flying, for example, a Siren or Revenant, be sure to seek out the best spots to place mines. Placing mines in a tight area that is frequently travelled through can catch out the enemy and turn the tide of a battle.
So many times I’ve seen people in the heat of the game not notice a mine from a Siren or Revenant… Boom!
If you really want to go on the offensive, the Revenant is a good choice because it can heal, but is also equipped with a punchy Gatling gun.
Control
Much of the advice that applies to Team Deathmatch also applies here. Players often get into the death match mind-set of ‘kill, kill, kill’ but support can be an amazing little objective monkey in this mode. Sure, take pot shots at those around the control point if you like, but if you have other teammates there already you’d be of more use elsewhere. A lot of supports are fast and perfectly suited to zipping quickly between control points in order to destroy opponents’ drones or land a quick attack on an enemy ship if playing a more offensive role. In terms of specific ships, it has to be said that the phasers the Banshee and Siren are equipped with aren’t that great when it comes to destroying drones. When flying the Siren, you can compensate by using missiles instead. If you’re in a Banshee though, you are much better off defending the control points or putting drones down. While doing so, place mines or spider bots around the points so that when enemy ships come to attack your drone, they get hurt in one way or another.
Carrier Assault
I love Carrier Assault. A good idea for support pilots here is to have a good look at what’s going on around the map before you dive in. Often, you’ll find a point that’s been left open, and players are so wrapped up in their own battles elsewhere that you are free to zoom in and place a drone. Once again, mines are a useful tool in this mode. Inevitably, there will come a time when your opponents are rushing toward the core for the final push. Imagine their surprise when the route to the core is riddled with mines. Another win for the sneaky supports. I’ve found that the Guardian can be a nice ship for this mode. It’s fast enough to get to the points and its weapons are potent enough to help with the fight and take out stuff like the drones or the nodes on the carrier. It’s also useful as bait. I’ve had times when ships have gone after me instead of defending their carrier as they may have seen me as an easy kill. However, the longer you can keep that person away from their own carrier, the better for your teammates.
Before I go I’m just going to leave you with three final tips on flying support in general. First, never take things personally. If enemies are repeatedly targeting you, it means you’re doing your job properly. Second, shooting bad guys is fun, but play more of the medic role if it’s needed. It might not get you to the top of the board but you’ll get more victories and your team will love you for it. Finally, Scout Mode is a support’s best friend. Use it to really get to know the map and use that knowledge to your advantage.
Thank you, Anska. Hopefully your wise words will inspire more players to try out the Support Class. If you want to know more about flying the other classes on Gateway, check out our guides to fighters and heavies. |
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook was found not guilty after being charged with battery in an alleged June 23 incident with a 21-year-old woman outside of a Tallahassee bar, according to Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat, who provided video of Cook's reaction:
Florida State later released a statement reinstating Cook, adding he would be eligible to return to practice right away, per Jared Shanker of ESPN.com. The running back had previously beenindefinitely suspended by the FSU program in July.
Bay News 9 provided details earlier Monday of the allegations against the running back, adding that Cook "initially tried to calm the situation but became angry after she pushed one of his friends. She says Cook shouted that he could buy her in two years and yelled, 'Google me!'"
Deen reported on Aug. 21 prosecutors would not be allowed to submit new evidence at Cook's trial:
Cook’s lawyers were granted a motion for sanctions against the State Attorney's Office in Tallahassee after it tried to introduce screenshots of posts from a fake Twitter account, Cook's juvenile records and business records as evidence. Those items, submitted in court filings Friday, will not be included in testimony.
Cook's attorney, Ricky Patel, revealed a new piece of information Aug. 10 that may have changed the case, per Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation: "An independent witness came forward after the release of the 911 call and directly refuted some details of the call and claims of another witness."
Elliott added the only battery witnessed was a woman hitting Cook's teammate, receiver Travis Rudolph:
Specifically, Patel tells Tomahawk Nation that the witness claims to have been present for the entire altercation; that Cook did not strike the accuser; that the only battery he witnessed was a woman strike receiver Travis Rudolph; and that he was actually having a conversation with one of the alleged witnesses as the altercation was unfolding.
On July 22, Sean Rossman and Karl Etters of the Tallahassee Democrat shared transcriptions of the call that led to Cook's arrest and eventual indefinite suspension.
Patel told Joe Schad of ESPN on July 13 his client did not hit the woman. He went into further detail on why Cook is innocent: "This is not clean. There are conflicting statements. The woman and her dad—who was not there—identified Dalvin after being shown social-media pictures of Dalvin and some random people. It was an extremely unfair 'lineup.'"
ESPN's Mark Schlabach provided more details on the alleged incident:
The woman who said Cook punched her told ESPN.com that her bottom lip was split and her nose was sore the next day. The woman said she identified Cook as the man who struck her in a photo lineup with two Tallahassee Police Department investigators on July 1. She told police she wanted to pursue criminal charges against him.
The woman, who lives in Tallahassee, told ESPN.com that she was approached by a man who was not Cook outside the bar Clyde's and Costello's shortly after it closed on June 23. The woman said the man asked for her phone number, which she refused to give him.
"I told him I had a boyfriend and wasn't interested," said the woman, who spoke to ESPN.com on the condition she not be identified. The woman said...an argument became heated, and then Cook punched her in the face several times. Her friend ran to a nearby TPD car, which wasn't occupied, so the woman called 911.
Asher Wildman of WCTV CBS-6 reported from the affidavit one witness was unable to identify Cook in a lineup, but the victim was able to with 100 percent certainty. The affidavit also shows the only evidence as photos of the woman's injuries, noting there's no indication of video evidence.
Cook is entering his sophomore season with the Seminoles after taking over as the primary running back in 2014, when he led the team in rushing with 1,008 yards on the ground. |
Family
posted Apr.18.16 at 03:00 am
(Higher-Resolution version of the comic: http://i.imgur.com/l1cNGsi.jpg )
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming with me on this journey. I know it seemed short, but over one year and 55 pages has been a lot of work, both tiring and rewarding.
Years ago, I had the desire to make my own slice of life. Something with no truly absurd situations, save for perhaps the unlikely destruction of a punching bag! I wanted to explore relationships, both familial and romantic. I'm amazed at myself for how long I was able to stay motivated.
I wish I had been able to create these comics more than once a week. I often relied on the reader to fill in the gaps of the story between such long intervals of waiting. If possible, some day I'd like to explore things like this with much more of the every-day minutia that makes slice-of-life such a personally delightful setting.
It has been immensely joyful for me to read people's responses to comics, knowing that they're having as much fun reading it as I did writing it.
Lastly, as is my tradition, I would like to apologize that the story is over. The ending, of course, is my least favorite part of anything I love. All good things must come to an end. I can only hope that this can live in the pantheon of those things that can be called "good."
Thank you again for all of your love and support in this endeavor. I will always push forward to create more things that, like this, are love letters to things about which I'm passionate.
Your friend,
- Ronnie |
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
BC Hockey announced December 5, 2017 that full face protection will be mandatory for all BC Hockey Junior B players starting for the 2018 – 2019 season. This includes the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) and the two (2) BC teams participating in the North West Junior Hockey League (Fort St. John Huskies and Dawson Creek Junior Canucks).
“BC Hockey is proud to be recognized as a leader in risk management initiatives, and player safety is at the forefront of our program planning,” commented BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer, Barry Petrachenko. “Our game is faster than it has ever been, and as a result we face increased challenges and responsibilities relative to safety. We are confident that through this initiative facial and dental injuries will be greatly reduced.”
“This decision is part of BC Hockey’s mandate to provide a safe environment for our players to develop,” added BC Hockey Junior Coordinator, Phil Iddon. “Players can play more confidently without fear of facial or dental injury as a result of a play. This is a big and positive step for BC Hockey, the game and player safety.”
At the 2017 Hockey Canada Winter Congress, Hockey Canada Director, Insurance and Risk Management, Todd Jackson, reported on dental injuries. The data with respect to facial and dental injuries while wearing half visors compared to full face is staggering.
From 2010 – 2015, over 370 dental injuries with players wearing half visors were reported to Hockey Canada as compared to eight (8) for those who wore full face protection. During the same time period, the overall cost of dental claims were significantly lower in the full face category; $287,775 versus $7,548.
Junior B teams will see a 71 per cent reduction in major medical and dental premiums under the Hockey Canada Insurance Program (down 35 dollars to 10 dollars per player) with the move to full face protection.
Currently, approximately five (5) per cent of Junior A players playing in the BC Hockey League (BCHL) wear full face protection.
BC Hockey will continue to work with the BCHL and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) to ensure the safety of our players is a priority,
This season, the VIJHL Peninsula Panthers have successfully implemented full face protection, the first Junior team in BC to make the change voluntarily. The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) also applied full face protection for Junior A and Junior B teams and it is also required through all minor hockey in Canada and NCAA university hockey. Members of Team Canada at the under 18 level and below are required to wear full face protection. BC Hockey Junior B players who affiliate with Junior A teams will be required to wear full face protection during their play at that level.
For more information about BC Hockey, please visit the BC Hockey website at www.bchockey.net or email [email protected] or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/BCHockeySource, www.twitter.com/BCHockey_Source, www.youtube.com/BCHockeySource or www.instagram.com/BCHockeySource. |
A San Diego County marijuana farmer has been ordered by a court to fork over $18,000 for the electricity he stole to secretly grow his plants in a rented La Mesa home.
Yeng Vang, 23, of La Mesa was sentenced to 60 months in custody and five years of supervised release in connection with the theft of power he used from 2006 to 2008 to grow about 100 plants in two bedrooms. He also was ordered to repay San Diego Gas & Electric.
Vang pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. He admitted to installing a bypass around the home’s power meter so that he would not be billed for using high-intensity grow-lights.
“We’re pleased with the court’s ruling,” said Denise King, a spokeswoman for the utility. “Not only is energy theft against the law, it is unsafe and potentially dangerous.” |
Schools that seek to help students who are underrepresented in advanced programs should treat them as gifted young scholars, an approach that can result in many of them actually performing at a gifted level within a few years, according to a U.S. Dept. of Education study of a North Carolina program.
Developed by researchers at Duke University with state educators, the five-year study of 10,000 kindergarteners and first- and second-graders suggests that raising expectations could be a key to enhancing the academic performance of at-risk students nationwide.
"All students should get a gifted education, even if they are not subsequently identified as gifted," said William "Sandy" Darity, chair of African and African American studies and a professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. "It's not about who is in the class, but the quality of instruction."
Darity's research showing black and Latino students to be underrepresented in advanced and gifted classes helped lead the State of North Carolina to establish Project Bright Idea, the program analyzed in the Department of Education study. Co-designed more than 10 years ago by Margaret Gayle, director of the American Association for Gifted Children at Duke, the program trains teachers to treat all students as if they are gifted. Darity and Gayle say the project works because it nurtures students regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, gender or learning ability.
The new independent evaluation supports their claim. Its primary author calculates "on the safe side" that 15-20 percent of students taught with techniques usually reserved for gifted classrooms are identified within three years by their districts as being academically and intellectually gifted. Only 10 percent of a control group of similar students taught in regular classrooms met their district's "gifted" criteria during the same period.
By comparison, in 2004 19 percent of all third-grade students were identified as gifted in the three North Carolina counties (Cabarrus, Watagua and Wake) with the highest numbers. Not a single third-grade student in 2004 from the Title 1 schools involved in the study had previously been identified as gifted.
The pilot ran from 2004 to 2009 and included K-2 classrooms in Title 1 schools in 11 school districts with cohorts of more than 5,000 students in Bright Idea and 5,000 students in the control groups. As each cohort completed the research, the project was expanded to other classes and schools in the districts, including middle and high schools.
The project now continues as Project Bright Tomorrow at Northeast Elementary in Kinston and Town Creek Elementary in Winnabow, both in North Carolina. The two schools opened in 2009 and were modeled on Bright Idea.
"We are giving teachers concepts based on the latest and best research in the classroom. Then we provide support and mentorship to help them work through obstacles," Gayle said.
The project requires teachers to undergo regular and intensive training, energizing their profession and their classrooms by weaving together teaching strategies based on the work of national education experts, including Art Costa and Bena Kallick's work on "habits of mind," Mary Frasier's on "traits, attributes and behaviors" and Howard Gardner's on "multiple intelligences."
"We are literally changing the knowledge, skills and dispositions of teachers so they believe children can learn. It is a lot about teacher expectation and belief," said Mary N. Watson, the director of the exceptional children division of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, who helped develop the project.
In workshops and week-long summer institutes, teachers in the project are taught by national and state-level experts on how to develop students' thinking and skills such as controlling impulsivity, posing questions and taking responsible risks.
"We are teaching students how to think, not what to think," Gayle said.
Bright Idea teacher Dawn Miller of Thomasville Elementary School in Thomasville, N.C., agrees.
"In college we learned about the multiple intelligences theory; it's nothing new. But Bright Idea had the research that provided a model to incorporate all the things we know that are right for kids," Miller said.
After training, Bright Idea teachers are asked to design curriculum customized for their classrooms.
Incorporating the project's concepts does not extend the work day, week or school year, nor does it require extensive tutoring for students to achieve success. But it does require support from principals and administrators, Darity said.
Edward McFarland, principal of Fuquay-Varina High School in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., was first introduced to Project Bright Idea as an elementary school principal. Since 2006 he has applied components of the project at the high school level, allowing teachers extra time each week to design curricula.
"Staff development is the key, but it takes time to retrain," McFarland said. "Many times we're looking for easy fixes but hard work is what gets you the results. You can throw in a new program. You may be committed for a year or so, take a few workshops and hand out a few lessons. But we really want to focus on planning lessons that go deeper than that."
By using some components of Bright Idea, McFarland watched the achievement gap at Fuquay Varina decrease by 4-6 percent from 2006 to 2010. Testing and graduation rates surpassed the county average within the same time period.
Project Bright Idea works best when it is applied comprehensively, changing the entire school atmosphere, said Ron Tzur, faculty chair at the School of Education at the University of Colorado, Denver, who evaluated the research for the Department of Education.
"It's very difficult to argue with the outcome," said Tzur, who said more research is needed, particularly on math and science scores. "Most projects have two teachers in one school. With Bright Idea, we are talking about hundreds of teachers and thousands of students. Most projects run out of steam when the funding runs out. But with high expectations, there is a change in teacher practices and more willingness and interest on their part. Teachers are saying they want more."
Project Bright Idea was funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. |
Jenson Button says a selfish streak in his personality is part of the reason he remains motivated to stay in Formula One amid McLaren's recent struggles.
Button is in his 16th season in Formula One this year but looks set for his lowest points tally since 2008 as McLaren's new engine supplier Honda struggles to get up to speed. McLaren has yet to confirm Button as one of its driver for 2016 amid speculation either Kevin Magnussen, the team's reserve, or Stoffel Vandoorne, its test driver and GP2 championship leader, could replace him.
Last year Button was linked to a drive in the World Endurance Championship under similar circumstances, but he does not believe now is the right time for him to leave F1.
"My whole life has been about me standing on top of the podium," Button told ESPN. "When I was in karting it was about looking at the other kids and knowing my trophy was bigger than theirs, it's that sort of thing that I've done for 27 years of my life.
"It's just a change [to leave F1], and that change will happen, but you've got to know when the time is right."
Button said a selfish streak means F1 still appeals over a drive in WEC.
"Formula One is a team sport just like any other motorsport, but when you're in the car you don't think about that. I think racing drivers in this form of motorsport are very selfish and you have to be - that's a reason why I can't have kids right now, because I am very selfish. I've learnt to be selfish in terms of what I do and the hours I put into training and stay away from my wife and family.
"You've got to be selfish if you want to try and be the best you can, so Formula One is perfect for me. Because of the way I am if I go to another form of motorsport that is more of a team effort it would take a little while to bed myself in. I love working as a team as well, when I'm out of the car it's all about team effort, but when you jump in the car you have to be selfish and it's about getting the best out of everything for yourself first of all." |
Dolly Parton's Trans-Supportive Message: Be Who You Are, Pee Where You Need
The singer, who performed in North Carolina last week, also says she doesn't care where she relieves herself.
Although Dolly Parton, unlike some other performers, didn’t cancel her North Carolina show over the state’s anti-LGBT House Bill 2, the longtime LGBT ally is still on our side.
“I think everybody should be treated with respect,” Parton said in a video posted on CNN Money’s Facebook page Friday. “I don’t judge people. I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are. I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee, I don’t care where it’s going to be.”
Parton performed in Greensboro Friday night, kicking off her Pure & Simple tour. Several other music stars, including Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr, canceled concerts in the state after the passage of HB 2, which among other things bars transgender people from using the public restrooms and locker rooms that comport with their gender identity, when those are located in government or public school buildings. It also negates LGBT-inclusive municipal nondiscrimination ordinances in the state and prevents the enactment of others.
Parton, by the way, wrote and performed the song “Travelin’ Thru” for the 2005 movie Transamerica, which starred Felicity Huffman as a transgender woman meeting up with the son she never knew. The tune brought Parton an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Watch Parton's video message below. |
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Fairbanks attorney and would-be totalitarian strongman Joe Miller apparently will not try to perform a citizens arrest on Lisa Murkowski. He will, however, take her to federal court for having the audacity to defeat him in the general election after losing the August 24 primary in a write-in campaign.
Never mind that it was the Tea Party that originally came in to steal Murkowski’s seat out from under her.
We all remember Karl Rove’s judgment:
“Absolutely no she can’t win. Under the law, you have to carefully spell the name exactly correct, now everyone go to your pencil and paper and write the name ‘Murkowski’ and see if you got it right.”
“No, she’s going to lose,” he said.
And Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) used a Tea Party fundraiser to call her a “big-tent hypocrite” and said she had betrayed the conservative cause.
Republican cannibalism at its best – or worst.
But she didn’t lose. She outraged the Tea Party by actually winning.
And what neither Karl Rove nor Joe Miller (nor, most certainly, Sarah Palin) reckoned on was the innate fairness of the process. The state Division of Elections established guidelines before counting even began that the voter’s intent had to count when writing-in a vote.
God forbid fairness should enter into the democratic process. “We can’t have that!” the Tea Party says.
So Miller lost fair and square. That’s not just a liberal writer saying that, it’s the Alaska Supreme Court, the law of the land. But that is Joe Miler’s whining lament: she cheated! Egads, people misspelled her name. Has she no shame claiming the victory?
The Alaskan Supreme Court ruled against him. The message from the voters was “You lost, Joe.” The message from the highest court in the state was the same: “You lost, Joe.”
“There are no remaining issues raised by Miller that prevent this election from being certified.”
But Joe claims that the sanctity of the election process is at stake. Meaning, he can’t possibly have lost. Perhaps God promised him a victory or something. After all, he promised one to Sarah Palin too on the eve of the ’08 Election Day.
Apparently, those nasty feds aren’t so nasty when Joe’s victory is at stake. To hell with the State of Alaska. What do the feds say? Does the Tea Party have no shame, throwing the state under the bus and trying to trump with the federal courts?
Did the world just turn upside down?
I’m unclear as to how losing an election fair and square violates the sanctity of the democratic process but then, I’ve never performed a citizens arrest on somebody who asked me a question.
For the record, this is Joe’s reasoning:
“After careful consideration and seeking the counsel of people whose opinion I respect and trust, I have decided that the federal case must go forward. The integrity of the election is vital and ultimately the rule of law must be our standard. Nevertheless, I have also decided to withdraw our opposition to the certification of the election, ensuring that Alaska will have its full delegation seated when the 112th Congress convenes next month.”
What a guy. Such a gesture of magnanimity!
There really wasn’t much magnanimity evident in Joe’s official protest. As his spokesman Randy DeSota said on Wednesday,
“We are disappointed the Alaska Supreme Court has ignored the plain text of Alaska law and allowed the Division of Elections to effectively amend the state election code without even giving the public an opportunity for notice and comment.”
Of course, the Alaskan Supreme Court made just that ruling, that state law had not been violated. End of story.
Not so, says Joe.
Of course, none of this surprises Lisa Murkowski, who has already been exposed to the limitless, mindless hate and nihilism of Tea Party politics. Her campaign fully expected Joe Miller to be a big crybaby.
Perhaps the most amusing aspect of this whole situation is that with or without the contested votes, Joe Miller has lost. Lisa Murkowski ended up with a lead of 10,328 votes. Joe says 8,159 of those votes can’t count. Even without them, however, Lisa Murkowski still has a 2,169 vote lead.
There is a great deal wrong with this picture. There is the Republican betrayal of Lisa Murkowski later reinterpreted as a betrayal by Lisa Murkowski, another Sarah Palin demagogue who like Christine O’Donnell showed himself completely unequal to the office to which he sought election (a real chip off the old block), and then, when the people had spoken, when the State of Alaska had spoken, these Tea Party tenthers turn around and appeal to the hated feds to overturn the state. We’ll leave aside for the moment the sheer childishness of Miller’s position on this. What does he do for an encore? Hold his breath?
No, take your medicine Joe. In Palin-speak, find your cojones and man up. Vox populi: The people have spoken. Isn’t that supposed to be what the Tea Party is all about? But it isn’t, is it Joe? It’s not about what the people want: it’s about what you want, what Sarah Palin wants, what Christine O’Donnell wants – a free lunch.
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This is a guest post from Kevin Neeld
In my 18 years as a player and on-ice instructor and now as an off-ice specialist, I have seen countless players get cut and/or lose their competitive edge because they can’t keep up with the speed at that current level. While everyone’s speed potential is a little different, the truth is that every player can improve his/her speed if they train the right way. Below are 5 off-ice training tips to help you develop game-changing speed on the ice!
Tip # 1: Focus on Short Distances (10-15 yards)
Hockey is a game of quick bursts of speed and changes of direction. It’s more about acceleration and deceleration than max speed. In other words, it doesn’t matter if you win the race around the rink; it matters that you win the race from the front of the net to the corner. Short distance sprints will help you develop an explosive first step and powerful leg drive, two key components in improving acceleration. The body positions during these distances also more directly replicate the forward lean or “acceleration angle” that you want on the ice, meaning there’ll be better transfer.
Tip # 2: Train Quick Movement NOT Quick Feet
One of the first things every player is taught is to look at the chest of his/her opponent. This allows you to better track the player and not get mesmerized by puck movement, which will give you a better opportunity to separate the player from the puck. As a necessary byproduct of this, it means that the offender would be more dangerous if they were able to displace their trunk faster. In reality, this is just another definition of speed, but it contrasts the idea of “quick feet” being important. Many of the world’s fastest skaters don’t have quick feet. They have powerful strides. In contrast, I’ve seen a ton of players that move their feet really quickly, but don’t move very fast. When most people say they want quick feet, they really mean that they want speed (or acceleration, as noted above). It’s not just semantics; understanding the difference will affect your training. For example, many players default to using agility ladders as a means of developing quick feet, and they will. But the next time you’re around someone doing agility ladders, watch their chest as you would on the ice. It barely moves at all, and most people stare at their feet while they go through to make sure they’re placing their feet in the correct places. Quick feet, but not moving very fast and staring down-not exactly the best habits to develop! Tap dancers need quick feet. Hockey players need powerful legs. Toss your quick feet exercises in favor of some resistance training and your on-ice speed will skyrocket.
Tip # 3: Don’t Confuse Speed Work with Conditioning
Explosive; not tired. That’s what I tell all the players I work with. Most players are taught to sprint, jog back to the starting line and sprint again. Unfortunately, this practice is very counter-productive. The goal of speed training (or acceleration training) is to perform maximal efforts to improve the maximal capacity of that physical quality. It is physiologically impossible to perform at your max if you don’t give your body adequate rest. Maximal efforts deplete stores of two substrates called ATP and Phosphocreatine that help rapidly produce energy. Max efforts also put a strain on your nervous system, which is a driving force in producing speed and power. All of these things need adequate time to recover between sprints. As a general rule, you’ll want to rest about a minute between sprints of 10-15 yards. You’re breathing should be fully recovered before you start the next rep, so if you feel like you need time to catch your breath, take it! Just keep reminding yourself, the goal is to increase MAXIMAL capacity through all-out efforts. If you’re breathing heavy through your sprints, you’re officially conditioning, not speed training.
Tip # 4: Incorporate Lateral Starts
Hockey is not a linear sport. Even when players skate in a straight line, their legs are driving on a 45 degree angle to the side and their arms are swinging in a somewhat diagonal line. This is the major pitfall of simply stealing a track and field sprint program and applying it to hockey; it’s the correct preparation for the wrong sport. One way to make your speed training more hockey-specific is to incorporate lateral starts. These teach explosive leg drive in lateral/diagonal directions, very similar to what you need to do on the ice. A few examples are the side lunge(pictured below), lateral standing, lateral standing on outside leg, and lateral standing on inside leg.
Tip # 5: Progress to Transitional Patterns
Building on the ideas of multi-directional movement and explosive direction changes, you can progress your speed training to include what I call transitional speed exercises. With these, you can transition in direction and/or movement pattern. These allow you to directly replicate many of the body positions and transitional movements that can make or break your expression of speed on the ice. Here are a few of my favorites:
5-Yard Lateral Shuffle -> 10-Yard Forward Sprint 5-Yard Backward Shuffle -> 10-Yard Forward Sprint 5-Yard Lateral Back Pedal -> 10-Yard Forward Sprint 5-Yard Forward Back Pedal -> 10-Yard Forward Sprint 5-Yard Forward Sprint-> 5-Yard Backward Back Pedal -> 10-Yard Forward Sprint
Note that all of these are still performed within 20 yards of total distance, and most are within 15. The goal with these is to focus on being explosive through the starts AND transitions.
Following these tips will help you make more progress in less time and ensure that you’re off-ice training transfers to on-ice results. If you have any questions, feel free to post them below. If you’re interested in more tips like this, I encourage you to check out the three FREE hockey training videos available at http://Ultimate-Hockey-Training.com, which cover transitional speed training for hockey, hockey conditioning, and complete off-ice hockey training.
To your success,
Kevin Neeld
Kevin Neeld is the President, COO, and Director of Athletic Development of Endeavor Sports Performance in Pitman, NJ and the author of Ultimate Hockey Training, the most comprehensive off-ice training resource available today. Through the creative application of innovative training and injury prevention techniques, Kevin specializes in guiding athletes to optimal health and performance. For more information on training with Kevin, visit http://KevinNeeld.com
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UPDATE: Check our full Check our full Broadway Bomb 2013 Weekend post now!
The scent of spring isn’t even in the air but we’re already hearing some rumblings about the 2013 Broadway Bomb. The push race down one of New York City’s most famous streets has absolutely exploded in popularity over the last couple of years, growing by the hundreds and swelling to a far larger size than ever envisioned. Last year nearly 2,000 participants descended upon New York to race through the streets with throngs of other longboarders and New York City traffic.
While the City itself launched a court and police battle to halt the event last year, in the end NYPD ended up offering police escorts and stopped traffic at intersections to help protect both motorists and skaters alike. Still, it had everyone wondering — what would happen in 2013? The answer to that question has, at least in part, been answered tonight on the Broadway Bomb’s facebook account, run by one of the organizers of the event, who we’re choosing not to name. On it it told everyone to mark their calendars for the second Saturday in October and thanked the NYPD for their cooperation. That’s October 12, 2013 for all of you too lazy to look at a calendar (I was at first too, don’t worry). Obviously it immediately got tons of likes and comments from people far too stoked to skate again this fall.
The question regarding just how “official” the event will be this year is still in the air, however. While in the comments the Broadway Bomb account later noted that there would be “More police escorts,” we can’t help but wonder if that just means there’ll be more police on hand this year, as there were never any official police escorts in years past as far as we know. Either way, we’ll find out soon enough. We’re too stoked for the weekend of skateboarding that surrounds this event every year and can’t wait to hear more as the date draws closer.
Stay tuned for any updates as the season progresses! We’re on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and all that jazz.
UPDATE: Check our full Broadway Bomb 2013 Weekend post now! |
Image copyright Vintage Somalia Archives Image caption Members of Somali band, Waaberi, take to the stage in 1970s Mogadishu
The discovery of thousands of lost recordings from Somalia's golden era of music is a timely reminder of the country's remarkable hybrid sounds, writes BBC Somali's Yasmin Ahmed. A newly released compilation, Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa, features some of the recovered audio.
Over the last few decades, Somalia has become a symbol of poverty and anarchy.
But while recent Hollywood blockbusters Captain Philips and Black Hawk Down have depicted civil war and modern piracy in Somalia, people who lived in the capital, Mogadishu, in the early 1970s will tell you a very different story.
Whitewashed coral houses, cafes and restaurants with Moorish arches graced the streets of Mogadishu.
Men sported afros and flared trousers, while women dressed in their colourful baatis (a classic cotton dress) and diracs (loose-fitting dress) with their heads uncovered.
Evidence of centuries of cross-cultural trade and migrating nomadic tribes can be seen in the architecture, and this cultural influence also explains the remarkable hybrid sound of Somali music.
Now Somalis around the world can relive these rich memories of Mogadishu through an archive of more than 10,000 tapes which music producer Vik Sohonie was given access to by the Red Sea Cultural Foundation in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland. Funk, rock, jazz and Bollywood influences feature in the rich and varied recordings.
'Golden age'
The tapes take us back to a time of relative economic and political stability in Somalia.
Although the country was under military rule, the arts - particularly music - flourished and the period became known as the golden age.
Image copyright Vintage Somalia Archives Image caption Bars and nightclubs were a part of everyday life in 1970s Mogadishu
Mogadishu was home to popular hotels Al-Uruba and Jazeera, where young fans would flock to the dancefloor to hear groups like Iftiin and Dur Dur perform.
Somalia's music industry was effectively nationalised under authoritarian leader General Siad Barre, who brought most industries under state control in the hopes of ridding the country of clan-based politics.
During this period, record companies could not release music to the market.
Image caption Mogadishu features a wide variety of architectural styles
The National Theatre was a revered forum where music groups produced remarkable music, but the performers became attractive propaganda tools for General Barre's message.
Theatre companies known as bands, notably Iftiin Band and Waaberi Band, expressed nationalism in their lyrics and style.
One song, the Waaberi Band's Oktoobar waa tee, waa tumaa? (What is October, which one is it?) became a hit after the Barre-led military junta came into power on 21 October 1969.
The song recounts various key Somali historical events which have taken place during that month.
Schoolchildren across the country recited the anthem, which was also performed on the streets by military marching bands and frequently played on state-run Radio Mogadishu:
Oktoobar waa tee? Waa tumaa?
What is October, what is it?
Waa taa yadii.
It is ours.
Hadii ay tahay teenii taariikh ma leedahay oo maxaa lagu tilmaamaa?
If it ours, does it have history and how is it marked?
Waxaa lagu tilmaamaa maalinti dhagax tuur Oktoobar.
It marks the "stone-throwing" 1949 October uprising.
Waxaa lagu tilmaamaa markaan caalan taagnay Oktoobar.
And October marks the month our flag was created.
Waxaa lagu tilmaamaa towraddeena dhalatay 21 Oktoobar
It marks the 21st of October, the day the revolution started.
"When I look back, I sometimes break into tears," says celebrated singer Maryan Mursal. "I'm welling up right now as I picture what Mogadishu was like in the 70s."
Before her successful solo career, Mursal won a nationwide talent competition called Tartanka heesaha hirgalay (The Singing Competition) and performed with the Waaberi Band.
"We had bars in Mogadishu and five nightclubs. We travelled from city to city and performed in hotels and bars. Those were the golden years."
Image copyright Hibo Nuura Image caption Star singer Hibo Nuura performed pro-Barre songs in the 1970s but later spoke out against the regime
Mursal, like many other performers in bands like Waaberi band, Shareero and Dur Dur, fled Somalia after decades of war and now lives in the diaspora.
Dhaanto: The Somali reggae
"Dhaanto", an ancient Somali folk song and dance, was historically played without instruments, with hand-clapping and foot-stamping used as rhythmic accompaniment.
Nomadic tribes would take their camels into their ranch at night and venture out to compete with each other.
This folk style was enhanced throughout the 20th Century and again by the likes of the Sharero band and Khadija Qalanjo in the 1980s.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Sharero band, featuring Faadumo Qaasim, perform Qays iyo Layla (Romeo and Juliet)
The new sounds bustles with an electrifying synthesis of different musical instruments, and shares rhythms and characteristics with reggae.
Somali musicians of that time debate whether dhaanto preceded reggae and dub.
"Over the years, different cultures and ancient traditions have influenced and shaped music,'' says Abdinasir Aideed, a bass player for dhaanto artist Danan Hargeysa.
"Dhaanto and reggae are very similar and share the same rhythm.''
A 'miraculous' era for women
This period was a time when society began to accept female artists, when the melodiousness of their voices was likened to the sweetness of dates.
In Mogadishu's prominent nightclubs, female artists attracted more followers and drew more crowds than their male counterparts.
"They used to call us all kinds of nicknames before the 1970s. Some women used to hide," 70s star singer Khadra Daahir told the BBC.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Khadra Daahir on Somalia's 'miraculous' 70s arts scene
"People said we were dead, lost and a disgrace to our people," she recalls.
But Daahir says that society's perception of women transformed within a decade.
"It was a miraculous era. During the 70s, people became open-minded, they got used to women singing, dancing and performing.
"They realised it's part of Somali culture and people started to admire us."
But Daahir was no stranger to unconventional careers. Before her success in music, she was an athlete and basketball player, competing in regional and national competitions.
Restoring the arts
After decades of trauma, Somalia is now going through a process of cultural and political healing.
Under a national recovery plan, the National Theatre is being rebuilt, having been destroyed during the conflict and a restoration of the arts is under way.
Image copyright Vintage Somalia Archives Image caption What Somalia's National Theatre used to look like
Funk, pop and reggae may not be musical genres that people associate with Somali music.
For Somalis today, the golden age is not the thing of the past but a symbol of hope for the future.
Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa is released on Ostinato Records.
Correction 22 February 2018: This story has been amended to remove an incorrectly captioned photo and clarify the evolution of dhaanto |
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) ★★★★★
Humpo Show Rating | 9.5
IMDb Rating | 8.5
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Denholm Elliott, Wolf Kahler
Director: Steven Spielberg
Plot Summary: Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. (IMDb)
This classic film needs no introduction…but I’m going to give one anyway! Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first film of the Indiana Jones franchise that has spawned 3 sequels and has raked in over a billion dollars at the box office. This film received 5 Academy Awards and it also solidified Harrison Ford as a leading action actor following on from his success as Han Solo in the Star Wars films. Harrison Ford is my subject topic for my entry in Thoughts All Sorts and Weegiemidget’s blogathon Then and Now. This film was released in 1981 and my second entry in the Now and Then post is Ford’s film Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull which was released 27 years after.
Harrison Ford is at his swashbuckling best as the adventurous archaeologist as he travels to Nepal, Egypt and an Aegean island in an exciting battle with the Nazis for the Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis believe that if they possess the item, their armies will become invincible. The US Government employ Jones to prevent the Nazis from obtaining the Ark and thus the story begins, and it becomes one of Ford’s defining films, as well as one of the most popular action films of all time.
There are so many iconic moments in this film, from the opening balancing act concerning a golden idol which introduces Ford as the loveable Jones, to the boulder racing after him. These moments are ingrained on millions of film fans across the world; Ford donning his fedora, brown leather jacket and with his whip by his side has become an image of an adventurer that has defined the genre.
1981 was a great year for films, with films such as Chariots of Fire and Das Boot being released, but the film that blew them all out of the water was Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark– a film that has been inducted into the US Film Registry, and regularly features in the Best of…lists. Ford’s role is performed expertly and his status as an action and as a sex symbol is established, perfectly summed up in the above gif.
Thank you to Thoughts All Sorts and Realweegiemidget Reviews for hosting this fun blogathon! Be sure to check out their blogs and everyone’s entries in the Then and Now blogathon.
The Humpo Show | Richard
The Newsletter |
Sacred Words: An Interview With Scott “Wino” Weinrich Share:
In which I chat with one of my musical heroes, a living legend, about life, new music, old music, Jean-Paul Gaster and The Obsessed‘s upcoming tour.
Boss The Ross: [phone rings]
Wino: Hello?
Hi, Mr. Weinrich?
Yes.
This is Boss the Ross with Toilet Ov Hell.
Hi! How’s it going? You can call me Wino. I appreciate everything, though.
Oh, alright [nervous laugh] We can roll right into it if you’re ready.
Yeah, you can start it out, that’s totally fine
Cool! To start off, How’s life been treating you right now?
Life is actually pretty good right now, I’m sitting in Maryland right now where I live with the drummer of the band. It’s also the state where my family lives, so I’ve been here for a couple of years. Things are great, things are good, man, we’re rehearsing for the tour and we’re getting ready to take it out to the peeps.
Very cool, to jump right in, you’ve been in quite a few bands over the years throughout Heavy Metal’s history, what does The Obsessed represent to you?
The Obsessed represents to me, sort of like my real, true vehicle for my art and for my vision. It represents passion, it represents my drive. But mainly, it’s primarily my vehicle for allowing me to continue to carry the torch because I think that’s what I’m here to do. I think that I was given a gift, I think that it’s my job, my duty to enhance people’s lives, to try to enhance people’s lives or enrich people’s spirits and my own by continuing to carry the torch of this Rock and Roll trip.
I know for a fact that you’ve had a pretty big impact on myself as far as musically and personally through your music, so I really appreciate what all you’ve done.
Thank you, sir. I appreciate you for saying that.
I want to talk about the history of The Obsessed for a little bit if that’s alright. You initially formed in 1980 but before releasing your debut the band actually split up and then you went to join Saint Vitus. what can you tell us about that time?
I can tell you exactly what happened, what happened was is that we were sitting around Maryland, you know, as a 3 piece, and we had a little bit of dough so we decided to go into the studio and record a full-length record and we figured that if we did it on our own dime and had it in the can, it would be much easier and probably more advantageous to us, to license it to somebody. So we did that. Our manager at the time, a friend of ours, went to California to shop said record. So he ended up talking to Brian Slagel from Metal Blade Records, okay? Now at the time, the deal that they offered was, you do one song on their Metal Massacre compilation, they had a whole series of Metal Massacres, one through… you know? Trouble was on one of them with my favorite Trouble song [“The Last Judgement” – BtR], blah, blah, blah, okay, so you got one song on the Metal Massacre Series and you got a full length, that was the deal. Well, our song “Concrete Cancer” came out on Metal Massacre VI, but right at that very moment, Thrash hit. I mean, on that compilation there’s the debut of Nasty Savage, there’s Possessed, Dark Angel. You know, Slayer was on Metal Blade and they were climbing to the top and so it’s like, basically, Brian put our track on there but he said he thought our track was dated, he thought our music was dated, so we never got the full length. So basically I held on to it and later on when Saint Vitus got picked up by German label Hellhound, they asked me if I wanted to release that record on Hellhound, which I did. Now, interesting you brought it up because Relapse is just getting ready to rerelease the same record. It came out of print and then Joe Lally, from Fugazi, when he started his label Tolotta and was putting out Spirit Caravan stuff, he put out a version of it with a different cover and then also had a live set on there from a recreation center that we did a while back.
So, fast forward to now, Henry [Vasquez] from Saint Vitus started a label in Texas called Hankenstein Records. He wanted to put it out so we let him press some but right at the minute he presses, we got the deal with Relapse and they said, “hey, we want to release the self-titled as part of your deal with Sacred.” So Henry, generously enough, we bought the ones that he had already pressed, which was a small amount. And then I put together this fucking super, killer package that’s coming out on Relapse. What it is, it’s the first, Obsessed’s Self-titled record, remastered. I just signed off on the mastering yesterday [March 16th, 2017] and with it comes a bunch of old demos, I think we called it The Cross Demo, which is pretty cool with early versions of songs. And then also this live set that we just dug up from when we played a whole lot of shows in Washington DC at The Bayou, right in our heyday. I remember it was sort of like the “prime time” and then we managed to dig up all of these old photos, set lists from the gig and things like that. So basically, Relapse is putting out a really, really, nice package of the self-titled with all this bonus stuff. I’m pretty excited about everything that is happening with Relapse because they’re really doing it right, they’re treating us really good and it’s happening good, man.
That’s fantastic news! Thank you so much for sharing that. I am definitely looking forward to that.
As a matter of fact, I think that nobody has asked me about that so this is really the first I’ve talked about it. So like I said, I actually okayed the mastered version of the studio stuff yesterday and then they’re mastering all of the other stuff separately, so we’re piecing it together.
I know that when you first announced the reunion of The Obsessed and that the album was coming out, initially it was just going to be the one album on Relapse if I recall. Just the one album deal. So did this reissue just build upon that?
It was actually a two album deal, we just really didn’t talk about it. I mean, we wanted to get Sacred done, in the can, mastered and released; and then this is going to be kind of a follow-up thing. But the packaging of the self-titled with all this other stuff is really elaborate so it’s taking a little while but it’s going to be really cool, man.
I’m sure the re-release will be super rad. Are there any plans for the other two Obsessed albums after that?
Well, I mean we’ll see, you know. Lunar Womb, that’s with Scott Reeder and Greg Rogers, and then The Church Within was actually rereleased by this cat a couple of years ago who bought it from Sony, man. He paid a lot, I think he paid like 50 grand! Did you see what he did? It’s a pretty nice record, it’s a vinyl gatefold but you know the amount of money he had to spend to get the rights, I think he gave me two CDs and two or three of the vinyl records and I’m not even sure if I have one. I think I gave my copies to a friend actually, but it was a really nice package, you know, I re-wrote the liner notes and everything like that. We’ll have to see, I mean, I’m sure down the line Relapse might want to rerelease The Church Within but the fact that Sony has it, it’s a little tricky.
Yeah, I know Sony tends to hoard their stuff. I know Clutch was with them for Elephant Riders [under Sony’s Columbia sub-label] and that is one of their big issues with their re-releases they’re doing.
Yeah, I’m a big Clutch fan too, obviously.
Clutch is my favorite band, personally, and whenever you did your solo album and had Jean-Paul Gaster on drums that was like a dream come true for me.
Oh, yeah! That was a lot of fun, man, really a lot of fun. It really is a shame about Jon Blank [bassist on Punctuated Equilibrium], he was a great kid, a great player, it was just a shame about his death. But you know, because of Jon Blank’s death and Jean-Paul’s enthusiasm is really why I started playing acoustic guitar. The “Wino” band with Jon Blank was going to support Clutch on a whole United States tour. We came back from Europe, actually Roadburn was Jon Blank’s last show before he died, so when we came back we had a week then the “Wino” band, with Jon and Jean-Paul, were going to support Clutch on a pretty big tour, like a two month tour. But when Jon died, I was completely devastated. We had all the press from Punctuated Equilibrium and everything. And Jean-Paul said to me, “Man, let’s keep the ball rolling, let’s not let the enthusiasm die down” he goes, “why don’t you just get on the bus with us and play acoustic guitar to support us every night? You’ll play first before the support act, pay a certain amount of money for the bus fees and then just play acoustic.” So, that was pretty daunting there and actually before I recorded Adrift, so basically, thanks to Jean-Paul for kinda giving me that little nudge and that little helping hand and that is why I started playing acoustic guitar. Eventually those songs that I started working on, that’s what eventually became Adrift. So, hats off to JO, man! He’s a man among men, I’ll tell you.
That is phenomenal to hear! You did have, what was it, four acoustic albums over the past few years, including the Townes Van Zandt cover album. So this new album with The Obsessed is, I’d guess you’d say, “return” to your electric, heavy and doom attitude. Was this the plan all along or was it just something that felt right?
Well, to be honest with you, it really never felt right. People have always wanted me to do The Obsessed reunion and have always asked and that stuff but it really never felt right. Basically, Spirit Caravan was doing some touring recently. The last drummer we had had was Ed Gulli, who was the last Obsessed drummer. Now, Ed Gulli’s friend, his tech from back in the day, was Brian Constantino. I hadn’t seen Brian play in thirty years. In this interim, in this thirty years of not seeing each other, Brain became a drummer. When we were younger, he didn’t play drums but in this time he became a kick ass drummer! And so one day, when we were coming off tour with Spirit Caravan it became obvious to us that Eddy wasn’t really into the live thing and probably wasn’t going to move forward. Brian, at some point, sat down behind the kit and me and Brain had a short little play. Then, I was pretty blown away because I could tell right away that something special was happening. So later on when the end of the ride came up for Spirit Caravan, I told Brian we had to jam. Brain was never really in Spirit Caravan but he was always on the set. We put Spirit Caravan to bed, Dave Sherman rolled his [speaker] cabinets and stuff over and we reformed The Obsessed and it was me, Brian and Sherman.
Alright, so, we got offered the deal with Relapse and because of the fact that the chemistry with Brain was just so amazing that I felt completely re-energized, completely inspired so I had to write a handful of songs. I mean, I had some old riffs, some new riffs, and some future riffs but all of a sudden we got offered this deal with Relapse and it was like a dream come true. We only had only six or seven songs ready, but we took the deal and totally knuckled down and made Sacred. I mean, I had to dig pretty deep, there’s some seriously old stuff on there and some stuff that never would’ve seen the light of day. We re-recorded “Sodden Jackal” and all that, but the bottom line is that after the studio and some live shows we realized that for one reason or another it wasn’t going to work out with Dave Sherman. So then, for a brief period, I tried a little experiment with the original bass player from The Hidden Hand, Bruce Falkinburg, and Sara Seraphim on second guitar for a minute. We did four or five shows, they were cool, pretty strong, but when the touring picture came up and the commitment level came up, everyone showed their true colors. So then Bruce had to be replaced, we replaced him with [Reid] Raley and then Sara left too. Now, we’re back to a three-piece with me, Brian and Reid. But I think the record came out fantastic and that’s the story. This is the final and the chemistry between me, Brian and Reid is unbelievable. I guess what people say, that everything happens for a reason is pretty true. it was kind of a painful weeding out process, I must admit, but in that interim, we managed to find this, which is really beautiful.
It definitely does sound, from how you’re describing it that a lot of things just fell into place or out-of-place and that this is where you should be right now with music, right now at least.
You know, that’s how I feel. I feel truly energized and its inspired me. [The process] wasn’t quite that easy, there was a serious relationship that fell apart and everything, but you know the bottom line, man, is that it is what it is and we move forward from here.
I want to jump back, just a little bit, into your history. Whenever you were talking about being on the Metal Massacre VI comp and that Brian Slagel says your sound was dated and they didn’t want to release the self-titled album, that was right before you joined Saint Vitus and then Born Too Late dropped. the lyrics to the title song basically describe that circumstance.
That’s true! And I will tell you right now, I didn’t write very much [for Saint Vitus], Dave Chandler writes almost all of the Saint Vitus stuff. He wrote the lyrics for “Born Too Late”, but, you know what? I never sang anything in Saint Vitus that I didn’t feel that I could identify with. So that’s why I wasn’t on Children of Doom and that’s why I wasn’t on the other Saint Vitus records, because I could not identify with those tunes. But! Yeah, I mean, “Born Too Late” that’s the fucking rally cry of the generations! And I was totally into that.
I can certainly respect the thought process behind not being on albums you couldn’t identify with. That was very cool hearing from you about the situation.
Yeah! I wrote very few songs for Saint Vitus. Obviously, I wrote a couple of songs. On Mournful Cries, I wrote “Bitter Truth” and played guitar on it, I played guitar with David on “Dragon Time”, which he wrote, and then I wrote “Looking Glass” and played guitar. That was a really cool line-up actually, when we first went to Europe, the very first time, I would sing half the set solo and then I would pick up my guitar and we would do those songs, you know, [the three I wrote] in the middle of our set as a two-guitar thing and then I’d put my guitar back down and sing the rest. And let me tell you what, that was fucking some heavy shit right there. There was always a kind of weirdness, professional-joke, kind of thing, where it took David up to the last tour we did for him to realize that I was on his team. Kinda sad but it’s true, you know?
One of those things.
Yep.
Okay, so since we talked about the Saint Vitus lyrics, I want to talk about a few your lyrics for The Obsessed, especially for the new album. I’ve listened to Sacred and I have to say that it’s phenomenal. I was just floored by the groove, the heaviness, everything just seemed perfect. That this was THE The Obsessed album that needed to come out. I think my favorite song was “On So Long” [at this point Wino made a “Mmm” sound in agreement] and your lyric “I was born with my heart on my sleeve/And I’m sworn to what I believe,” like that was just, it’s one of those lines that sounds like an obvious statement, but hearing it from you and knowing your history, it’s just powerful. So, would you say this basically describes who you are?
It does describe who I am as a person and I’m often… first of all, thank you, I appreciate that. [“On So Long”] is a very, very personal song. I refer to that song as my epitaph. But I would say that your statement is wholly accurate and that is exactly what it is. I mean, it’s a personal record, you know? It is just a real passion, I believe, and a real past. The reality of it is, when it comes down to it, it really is just the power of the song. And part of what gives the songs their life is the passion. So for me to not open myself up completely to the music would be doing the music and my spirit an injustice. And some of these songs are hard, I will tell you that they are about my daughter and my sons. When I was recording [“On So Long”] there was quite a bit of rough versions where I couldn’t even sing, I was getting so choked up. And I gotta tell you, I have a hard time. When I listen to that song if I’m listening to the whole record, when that song comes up about my children, I’ll probably just be sitting there crying. Because it’s a passionate thing, man, it’s all about passion. I mean, fuck, my life is an open book anyway, but you know what I mean. I appreciate [what you said], I think that’s very accurate, actually.
Wow, thank you for saying that! From what you were saying and how very personal and how emotional this ride has been that the word “sacred” as an album title seems to be the perfect match. It describes the music, the lyrics, the emotional connection with you and then what the audience that will hear from the album.
Yeah, that’s absolutely right, man.
So, obviously, you’ve been in music for a long time. Would you say that you’re the same man from the first self-titled album in 1980? Are you still the same, at your heart?
I think I’m still the same at my heart, I mean, I will say that I have been accused of being a cold, black-hearted, evil person up until these last years. Listen, you know, people like to talk and one thing I’ll tell you about is that they love to see you fail. Jealousy manifests itself in a lot of weird ways, there is a lot of people who want to see me fall but the bottom line is I would say that I am still the same person. My personal relationships have been turbulent for sure, but I attribute it to the passion of the industry. I’m definitely not perfect.
None of us are.
Right? I’ve been accused of a lot of ugly shit, some of it is accurate but most of it is not. The bottom line is, I think that I am the same person. I’m the same person because all I want to do, really, is play my guitar and live my life and hopefully enrich other people’s lives as well, you know?
From my perspective, you definitely have enriched my life and personally, I know a few other people who have been touched by your music and your message, so I think that you have definitely succeeded in that respect.
Thank you so much.
To highlight a few more details regarding Sacred, the album does come out April 7th and shortly after that, you will be starting a two-month tour with Karma To Burn. Are you looking forward to that?
I’m totally looking forward to that! We’ve been itching, we’re chomping at the bit, literally. Another cool thing about the tour is we’ll be picking up Fatso Jetson with Mario Lalli. He comes from the old-school way back when. I met him when him and Scott Reeder were in Across The River, which was pre-Kyuss and all that stuff. So Mario’s band will be with us for a minute and then when we get to the westcoast, we will actually be supporting Weedeater. So it’ll be Weedeater, The Obsessed, Karma To Burn, Primitive Man and Lo Pan for the dates on the West Coast, which I think will be fucking great. And as we move into Texas it’ll move to The Obsessed, Karma To Burn and Lo Pan.
And that’s what I’m looking forward to! I’m in Dallas, so I’m definitely going to be at your date here.
Dude! Have you been down to Henry’s store yet? His Saint Vitus record store, Born Late?
Oh, yeah! I’ve been there.
Okay, cool! So you know then. Henry, he’s a piece of work but he’s a great guy, he’s got it going on there, man.
They actually just rearranged a lot of their stuff, so I gotta go check it out soon. See how their new setup is, but it is definitely an excellent store.
Yeah, when you go down there, tell him I said hey, alright?
Alright! I will do that! So, in regards to all of your live shows coming up, are you planning on mainly focusing on the new material or will some deep cuts pop up in the set lists?
Surprisingly enough, we’re playing an hour and fifteen minutes and we’ll play six or seven new songs. So, the new record will be quite well represented and we’re digging deep on the old stuff too. I mean, it’s the live animal and the recorded animal and they’re two different things, you know? But we’re in hard rehearsals right now so I think it’s gonna be cool, man. I think it’s going to be pretty fun!
Excellent! Well, all of my interviews, I finish with asking, “what is your favorite Manowar album?” So I have to ask you.
[stifled laughter] Well, you know what? I don’t really even know all of the names of their records, but I’ll tell you one thing right now. Ross the Boss fucking rules! [audible laughter]
Yes, he does! I love that man.
Dude, I’m a Dictators fan to the bone! I’ve actually had some correspondence with Ross the Boss, he knows a little bit about my music and stuff. I saw The Dictators pretty recently in LA on their last couple shows.
That is awesome!
Man, I wish I could’ve seen them in the day. They didn’t have Andy Shernoff, they didn’t have Scott “Top Ten” Kempner, I wish I could see the original lineup but I never did. It’s sad.
Just one of those things, I guess Well, I think that about wraps everything up. Are there any last-minute things that you want to add, anything we didn’t cover already?
First of all, I really enjoyed the interview, it was kick ass! So thank you and be sure to introduce yourself when we come down through Texas. And all I can say is, thank you to all who believe.
Sacred comes out April 7th so be sure to pick it up and catch The Obsessed live on their tour, kicking off April 12th
For more info follow The Obsessed on Facebook, check out their official website, and purchase their tunes from Relapse Records Webstore or on Bandcamp.
Did you dig this? Take a second to support Toilet ov Hell on Patreon! |
This week's episode of Replay is exclusively for the "I Watched the Entire Overblood Super Replay" Facebook group. If you are not a member of this hallowed organization of gamers, you cannot watch this episode. Seriously, don't click play. Go join the group and then come back here and watch it. If you try watching before joining, your face will melt and you won't be able to watch anything ever again.
For those awesome people who are in the group, this episode's game, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, was selected by you in a Facebook poll. We take a good look at the introductory moments of Stranger's Wrath, which originally released exclusively on Xbox on January 25, 2005, but has since been brought to a variety of platforms including PC, PlayStation 3 (the version we are playing today), and Vita.
Stranger's Wrath blends third-person exploration with first-person gun play, seamlessly intertwining the two genres into a unique and entertaining experience. The player steps into the dusty boots of the Stranger, a mysterious drifter turned bounty hunter who is rounding up criminals to earn enough money for a surgical procedure. Why does he need it? What secret is he hiding? The game is well worth playing to find out.
Our second mystery segment was selected exclusively for Game Informer's Daniel Tack. He likes collectible card games A LOT, and this game falls right into his nerdy wheelhouse. We hope he enjoys it.
Check out more episodes at our Replay hub. |
The McLaren driver announced during the Italian Grand Prix weekend that he will not race in F1 in 2017, making way for Stoffel Vandoorne to partner Fernando Alonso.
Button insisted he was not retiring, however, and said returning to F1 in 2018 was a real possibility.
The 2009 world champion admitted that, while he wants to live on his own schedule next year, competing in rallycross or Super GT is possible.
"I want to spend more time with friends, family and to do other things... I love triathlons and maybe I'll race in something else like rallycross or Super GT in Japan," Button was quoted as saying by Reuters during a promotional event ahead of the Singapore GP.
"There are so many options and that's why it's exciting, because I can sort of live my life the way I want to next year. I have a contract to race with the team in 2018 if the team wants me to race and if I feel that I want to race.
"I've been driving in Formula 1 for 17 years, which is my whole adult life, so I want to live a year in my life that is not by [its] schedule."
Super GT is Japan-based touring car series, where former F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen and McLaren tester Oliver Turvey are currently competing.
Don’t miss our Singapore GP video preview… |
Environmental groups have been warning for years that tense parts of the world could get even worse with the advent of global climate change, and even spark whole new conflicts. Now, the nation's spies are saying pretty much the same thing.
The U.S. intelligence community has finished up its classified assessment of how our changing weather patterns could contribute to "political instability around the world, the collapse of governments and the creation of terrorist safe havens,"* Inside Defense *reports. Congress was briefed on the report last week. And on Wednesday, leading spies – including National Intelligence Council chairman Dr. Thomas Fingar and Energy Department intelligence chief Rolf Mowatt-Larsen – will testify on the Hill about the 58-page document, "The National Security Implications of Global Climate Change Through 2030."
*In addition to examining how weather could add stress to governments with a weak grip on power ... the authors mulled a spectrum of second- and third-order consequences for
Washington policymakers to consider – including indirect security concerns like impacts on economies, energy, social unrest and migration.
* Foreign-policy concerns were also weighed, including how flooding, rising water levels or drought might create humanitarian crises. Also examined was how extreme weather events could challenge the response capabilities of governments around the world.
"Climate change is a threat multiplier in the world's most unstable regions," a source familiar with the document tells Danger Room. "It's like a match to the tinder." Just think about the fights over water already under way in the Middle East and Africa, or the tensions exacerbated by the hurricanes and tsunamis in Asia.
The document was originally supposed to be unclassified. But then the policy recommendations – and warnings about trouble spots – got more and more detailed.
*Richard Engel, deputy national intelligence officer for science and technology ... said in a little-noticed speech last month at the
University of Delaware that if the findings of the assessment were made public, “It would frustrate the execution of U.S. foreign policy.” * *“We wanted to get down to something that might be actionable for the policy community,” Engel, a former Air Force major general and test pilot, said. “So we had to be very specific.” *
"Generally, the Earth's climate is changing, it has always been changing, so that's not anything but a blinding flash of the obvious," Engel added. "We really want to understand extreme weather events because they are very important as they potentially put at risk the infrastructure."
The assessment is stamped
“confidential,” the lowest level of classification. And our source says that Fingar & Co. is promising that nearly all of the document will come out in Wednesday's hearing, before a joint session of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Intelligence Community Management Subcommittee. Also testifying are former British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, retired AdmiralPaul Gaffney and the Army War College's Kent Hughes Butts, all of whom have previously raised alarms about climate change's strategic impact. Lee Lane, with the American Enterprise Institute, has been pushing the issue of "geoengineering" in response to global warming. And Marlo Lewis, with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, calls the whole thing a "myth."
Lewis' presence before the panel may be a bit of a sop for the Republicans on the Intelligence Committee, many of whom opposed the idea of using the nation's spies to investigate these issues at all.
But the nation's military leadership, at least, is paying closer attention. "Climate change and other projected trends will compound already difficult conditions in many developing countries. These trends will increase the likelihood of humanitarian crises, the potential for epidemic diseases, and regionally destabilizing population migrations," the Army says in its 2008 posture statement.
"We are [f]acing challenges from multiple sources: a new, more malignant form of terrorism inspired by jihadist extremism, ethnic strife, disease, poverty, climate change, failed and failing states, resurgent powers, and so on," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told an audience at American University in April.
[Photo: State Department] |
BRCC celebrates diversity week
Blue Ridge Community College announced that Discover Diversity Week 2017 activities will take place March 13-16 at both the Henderson County and Transylvania County campuses.
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BRCC Discover Diversity is a series of events to promote an awareness of diversity and a greater understanding of global issues. From international foods to foreign films, exciting events are scheduled throughout the week to provoke thought and celebrate diversity.
Discover Diversity Week will kick off at the Transylvania County campus with the Heritage Food Tasting on Monday, March 13 beginning at 11 a.m., followed by a 4x4 International Film Fest at noon. Both events are free and open to the public. They will be held at the Transylvania County Campus Room S140.
Faculty, staff, and students will join together on Tuesday, March 14, at the Henderson County campus for a globe-trotting tour of tasty dishes from all over the world. The seventh annual International Food Tasting will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Killian Building Student Center. There is a $5 admission for this event.
Discover Diversity Week will continue on Wednesday, March 15, with keynote speaker, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara. A minister in the United Church of Christ, Beach-Ferrara graduated from Brown University and received a MFA from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and a a masters in divinity from Harvard Divinity School. She has worked on LGBT rights campaigns since 2004 and founded the Campaign for Southern Equality in 2011. She currently serves on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Beach-Ferrara will speak on the topic of diversity. The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to noon in the Thomas Auditorium on the Henderson County campus. There will be a live broadcast at the Transylvania County Campus.
Finally, participants can view a collection of four award winning short films presenting a medley of voices and viewpoints at the 4x4 International Film Fest. This event will be held in the Patton Auditorium on the Henderson County Campus at 12:30 p.m. and is free. All events are open to the public. For more information on Discover Diversity Week events, visit www.blueridge.edu/discover-diversity or contact Jack Igelman at (828) 694-1868. |
Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: The Bears' old OC was stuck in 1999.
Jay Cutler joined ESPN Chicago with Waddle & Silvy for the first installment of the The Jay Cutler Show to discuss his take on Matt Forte's contract dispute, keeping in touch with Matt Forte throughout OTA's, not seeing Forte missing training camp, the chances of Forte signing his tender in time to make mini-camp, what went wrong with Mike Martz in Chicago and Mike Martz's offenses not adapting to the NFL in 2012.
How do you feel about the Matt Forte situation?
"It's business. I look at it purely as business. I have no hesitation of Matt being gone. I think he is going to be fine. I know Matt works as hard as anyone in the league. He's going to come in and jump right in there and do what we have done. The running game hasn't changed that much. The passing game stuff he will have to learn and catch up with, but he's a grinder and a hard worker. I have no problems with it."
Have you kept in touch with Matt Forte?
"Yeah I talked to him. I have seen him. I saw him probably three weeks ago. He was huge, all ripped up. I was like, ‘What do you do?' [Forte said] ‘All I do is go to the weight room. I've got nothing else to do.' I think he misses being there, misses the camaraderie. He's got to do what he's got to do, and we'll get him when we get him."
Even if Matt Forte doesn't sign a long term extension do you see him missing training camp?
"I would be shocked if he doesn't sign his tender by July 15, or whenever it is, and he shows up. It would really be a surprise to me [if Forte misses any training camp]. To get to where we want to be I don't think we just want to get to the postseason. We want to get a little bit farther then that. To get where we need to be we need Matt Forte. He knows that. The Bears know that. At the end of the day, I think Matt knows it's business. He's still getting seven-whatever-million dollars to play this year. So he's gonna show up."
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Is there a chance Matt Forte signs the tender and shows up to mini-camp? Then maybe he starts negotiating on that long term deal?
"Yeah maybe. I don't know. I don't know what's going up onto the front office. I would be surprised if he didn't sign the tender and didn't show up ready to go to work with us."
How do you sum up what went wrong with Mike Martz?
"You have to buy in. You have to believe it and I think everyone did. There comes a point where you have to give a little bit, and you've got to take a look at the whole offense as a whole, what we're good at, and what we're bad at. You have to be able to change a little bit, and I think that's kind of where we messed up a little bit. There wasn't as much flexibility as I think we needed."
Did Mike Martz run the offense like it was still 1999? Did he ever adapt to 2012 NFL?
"I think there is something to be said about that. Mike mentally being able to script up some plays and draw some stuff in the ground. There's no one like Mike. He can get guys open better than anyone I've really ever been around. He's very, very, very, smart. They had Orlando Pace [at left tackle]. They had some dudes up front where you were able to take seven-step drops. I don't think defenses were as evolved as they are now. Safeties were different. Not every team had a defensive end that was going to be able to sack you if you keep taking seven-step drops. It was a different time, different game. Defenses I think since have kind of caught up to that. So it's one of those things. We gave it a shot. I still respect Mike. He's one of the brightest minds in the game."
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This post, written by Steven Cuce, appears courtesy of Sports Radio Interviews. For the complete highlights of the interview, as well as audio, click here.
More from Sports Radio Interviews
• Adrian Wilson isn't counting on the Cardinals' offense to carry the team.
• Russell Wilson says he can start in Seattle.
• Bob Arum still can't believe the Bradley-Pacquiao decision. |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The decorative clock bearing the name of America's incoming 45th president has yet to start at the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, but the developers behind the project already are counting the money they've made.
The 18-hole course is likely to be the first Trump-connected property to open after his Jan. 20 inauguration as president, joining his organization's projects stretching from Bali to Panama.
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It also encapsulates the host of worries of possible conflicts of interest circulating around a president who is very different from America's past leaders. While the Oval Office has always been home to the wealthy, Donald Trump represents the first franchise president.
Could foreign governments pressure or please Trump through his international businesses? Should projects bearing his name receive additional security? And how close should his ties remain to business executives operating in areas with far different opinions about human rights and justice?
"There has never been anything remotely like this — not even close," said Robert W. Gordon, a legal historian and ethics expert who teaches at Stanford University. "Trump himself tends to treat his businesses and his public policy as sort of extensions of himself. He seems to be completely unembarrassed about scrambling up and conflating his business enterprise and the actions and policies of the U.S. government."
The Trump International Golf Club in Dubai — the sheikhdom in the United Arab Emirates home to a futuristic skyline crowned by the world's tallest building — is due to open in February and be managed by Trump Organization employees.
The course sits along a road that begins near the sail-shaped Burj al-Arab luxury hotel and passes by a mall with its own artificial ski slope. The luxury continues onto the par-71 Trump course, designed by American golf architect Gil Hanse, where wrinkled fairways lead to putting greens made smooth with silica sand brushed in between micro-blades of grass.
It is set inside Akoya, a massive housing development of 2,600 villas and 7,000 apartments developed by Dubai-based luxury real estate DAMAC Properties. Another Trump-managed golf course is planned for another even larger DAMAC project under development further down the road.
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Billionaire Hussain Sajwani, who founded DAMAC Properties in 2002, met Trump some 10 years ago and the two men had hit it off over their real estate experiences, said Niall McLoughlin, a senior vice president for communications and marketing at the firm.
"When we approached them in 2013 about the golf course, he of course knew who DAMAC was," McLoughlin told The Associated Press on a recent trip to the golf course. "They subsequently cemented the family relationship as well. ... A lot of our dealings have been with Eric, a lot of our dealings have been with Ivanka. They have traveled here — and Donald Jr."
Sajwani and his family also attended a New Year's Eve party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Trump received between $1 million to $5 million from DAMAC, according to a Federal Election Committee report submitted in May. It's unclear how much the contract will be worth once the golf course opens and starts operating. McLoughlin declined to offer specific figures.
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It is the first Trump venture in the Arab world. His first proposed project in Dubai, a 62-story tower with state-backed developer Nakheel, became a victim of the sheikhdom's 2009 financial crisis.
By 2014, Trump knocked a golf ball down the fairway of what would become the golf course at Akoya. Sajwani called Trump a "great man" during the tour, and DAMAC later designed some 100 Trump-branded villas at the property, selling from 5 million dirhams ($1.3 million) to over 15 million dirhams ($4 million).
With Trump set to be sworn in as president, security analysts have suggested properties bearing his name could be targets. His campaign pledge calling for a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the U.S., followed by his proposal to conduct "extreme vetting" of immigrants, also sparked regional anger . The Trump logos on the golf course even came down for a short time .
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Still, the United Arab Emirates, a staunch U.S. ally in the war against the Islamic State group and host to some 5,000 American military personnel, remains a peaceful corner of the Middle East.
"Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world," McLoughlin said. "Dubai has proved itself to be safe. We have no extra concerns about this golf course."
Dubai police did not respond to a request for comment about security at the property.
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Financial matters raise other questions.
DAMAC, a private company, purchased the property for Akoya from Dubai's government in 2012 for around $350 million. Dubai's government ultimately answers to the emirate's hereditary ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also is the UAE's vice president and prime minister.
All services to the property — electricity, water, roads — come at the discretion of the government. The club's bar will need government approvals to serve alcohol, not to mention other regulatory issues.
That could raise concerns about the so-called "emoluments clause" of the U.S. constitution, which bars public officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments and companies controlled by them without the consent of Congress.
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Any negotiations involving the Trump brand at the least could create the appearance of impropriety, legal experts warn.
"He has so many properties that his business interests become an obvious target for both bribes and threats," said Gordon, the Stanford law professor. "The dangers really come in two directions: One is that foreign powers will try to use Trump's interests as a way of bribing him into public policies in a way that are friendly to them or use them put pressure on him."
Trump has said he will step away from managing his business empire while in office, but has offered few details other than to say his executives "will run it with my children."
Erik Jensen, a law professor emeritus at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said that alone could pose problems.
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"Turning over control to the kids just doesn't do it. They clearly are going to be having holiday meals together, talking on the telephone," Jensen said. "There's going to be a lot of contact there."
Even putting assets in a blind trust, like other presidents have, likely wouldn't work since, for example, he would know the trust holds a golf course in Dubai. "You can put it in the trust, but the adjective 'blind' wouldn't apply in that situation," Jensen said.
Also, DAMAC's Sajwani has had dealings with the U.S. government. He credits some of his fortune to contracting work his companies did in supplying U.S. forces during the 1991 Gulf War that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Over the past decade, his companies have been awarded at least $1 million in contracting work, according to U.S. government records reviewed by the AP.
McLoughlin did not respond to a query regarding whether DAMAC would continue to seek U.S. government contracts.
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DAMAC stock traded after the election at near a yearlong low of 2.02 dirhams (55 cents) a share, in part due to the company announcing an 11.7 percent fall in third-quarter profits as Dubai's housing market has slowed in 2016.
Stock then rebounded, reaching 2.53 dirhams (69 cents) just before New Year's Eve, as the company began handing over properties at Akoya.
Sajwani's business dealings have drawn international scrutiny in the past. After Egypt's 2011 Arab Spring protests, a local court sentenced him to five years in prison and a $40.5 million fine over a 2006 land deal. Egypt and DAMAC later reached an undisclosed settlement in international arbitration and Sajwani never served prison time.
DAMAC, which competes against largely state-backed developers in Dubai, focuses on flashy projects, like offering homes built around luxury Bugatti sports cars . But when it comes to building the projects, it like other companies relies heavily on subcontractors who largely employ low-paid laborers from Asian countries like India and Pakistan.
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There have been no formal complaints by workers alleging the Trump golf course or the larger DAMAC project mistreats laborers.
However, that alone shouldn't be taken as a sign that everything is fine, said James Lynch, who focuses on Gulf labor issues for Amnesty International.
The Emirati government and local businesses remain sensitive about their image in regards to the millions of workers employed in the country, something Lynch knows all too well as he was barred from entering the UAE in 2015 to discuss laborers' rights.
"Under international standards, construction companies in the Gulf are not only responsible for how they treat their direct employees," Lynch said. "They have a responsibility to put in place measures to ensure that their subcontractors do not abuse the rights of people working for them."
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The Trump Organization and his transition team did not respond to AP requests for comment. McLoughlin of DAMAC did not respond to a request for comment regarding labor issues.
For now, workers manicure the golf course's empty greens. Others put the finishing touches on a clubhouse that will feature a bar, a water-pipe tobacco lounge and restaurants for those paying the course's dues, which start at around $10,000 a year.
While DAMAC's contract with Trump allows them to use his image in advertising the course, McLoughlin said the company would be "tasteful" in its promotions. However, he said at least some of Trump's children likely would be on hand for the opening of the course.
"It's their baby," McLoughlin said.
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Associated Press writer Vivian Salama in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. |
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil war in the African country of Angola. It started in 1975 and continued until 2002. The war started right after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The Civil War was mostly a fight for power between two former liberation movements, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). In 2002 the MPLA won.
About 500,000 people died in the war. The war also did a lot of damage to the buildings. Because of all the damage in 2003 80% of Angolans lacked access to basic medical care, 60% lacked access to water, and 30% of Angolan children would die before the age of 5, with an overall national life expectancy of less than 40 years of age.[15] |
When the Republicans retook the U.S. House of Representatives last November, it meant that Ron Paul would be in line to chair the subcommittee that oversees the Federal Reserve System. Despite the intense lobbying by Ben Bernanke and others who loathed the prospect of Rep. Paul being able to subpoena them to appear before Congress and then to ask them pointed questions about their secret operations, the Republican leadership still gave Rep. Paul his rightful position.
Obviously, the Usual Suspects on the Right and the Left are not happy, and today, I wish to concentrate on the attacks on Rep. Paul by another Paul, that being Krugman, who has deliberately misrepresented Rep. Paul's positions in recent columns and blog posts. Krugman's December 20 column called Rep. Paul a "zombie," and then proceeded to attribute false views to the congressman. All in a day's work for the man whose name disgraces the Nobel Memorial Prize for Economics.
Actually, Krugman's smears began over the weekend when he first gave Rep. Paul a backhanded "compliment" for being consistent in his thinking, but then wrote that his ideas were "crazy." Wrote Krugman:
In a way, I almost welcome the frankness of someone like Ron Paul, who tells us that there's no need for any kind of bank regulations. It's crazy, of course — even Adam Smith called for bank regulations, comparing them to building regulations designed to prevent the spread of fires. But at least the guy's consistent.
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However, this is what Rep. Paul actually said:
"I don't think we need regulators. We need law and order. We need people to fulfill their contracts." He added: "The market is a great regulator, and we've lost understanding and confidence that the market is probably a much stricter regulator."
What Rep. Paul wants is not government regulation, nor does he approve of "self-regulation," but rather he wants market regulation which comes about via profits and losses. For example, the banking crisis that came about in the fall of 2008 existed because consumers and investors were telling the banks they made wrong choices, and that they needed to pay.
However, Congress (with Krugman's approval) intervened and then pretty much proceeded to nationalize the country's financial system. As Austrians (and we count Dr. Paul among our number) have noted, this will not make the financial regime more stable and it certainly will not make it more solvent. It just makes the hole deeper and the Day of Reckoning even more sinister.
Krugman hardly was through. He then created another post for his blog in which he misrepresents Dr. Paul's views on money. Krugman writes:
I used that term (paleomonetarism) — it's probably not original, but who knows? — in a recent post about the increasingly obscure meaning of the money supply. The best example would surely be Ron Paul, who's now going to have oversight over the Fed. If you read his stuff, it's very clear: money is a well-defined quantity that the Fed controls, and inflation comes from — indeed is defined as — increases in that quantity.
What he means, I guess, is monetary base.
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Krugman then goes on to compare the changes in the monetary base with the changes in the CPI in order to claim that Dr. Paul is wrong on money and wrong on inflation. Robert Wenzel deftly challenges Krugman in this blog post.
However, Krugman was just getting warmed up, and his December 20 column not only refers to Dr. Paul as a "zombie," but he repeats the "regulation" quote but this time fails to link Dr. Paul's statements to the article in the Wall Street Journal from where the quote came. He writes:
When historians look back at 2008–10, what will puzzle them most, I believe, is the strange triumph of failed ideas. Free-market fundamentalists have been wrong about everything — yet they now dominate the political scene more thoroughly than ever.
How did that happen? How, after runaway banks brought the economy to its knees, did we end up with Ron Paul, who says "I don't think we need regulators," about to take over a key House panel overseeing the Fed?
We can expect much, much more of this, and not just from Paul Krugman. Ben Bernanke has lots of friends in the media, and one can be sure that Bernanke will be the source of "anonymous" quotes that will denigrate Dr. Paul's character and his understanding of money and the economy. For that matter, Bernanke was the chair of the economics department at Princeton when the university hired Krugman, so one can be sure that Krugman has Bernanke's back.
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Furthermore, one can bet that much of the banking and monetary establishment is going to try to destroy Dr. Paul's character over the next two years, and given that the Washington media really does not care about facts and certainly not the truth, one can bet that every false rumor about Ron Paul will be bandied about by the mainstream media.
Of all people, Krugman understands that when an academic writer such as himself deliberately misrepresents someone by using a quote to push a point of view the other person does not have, he is engaged in fraud. This is the kind of fraud that at one time discredited someone to a point where his good reputation and sometimes his academic position were taken away from him.
Obviously, that no longer is the case. Krugman has signaled that he is quite willing to be a hatchet man for Bernanke and others and to insult and misrepresent what Ron Paul is doing and saying. That Bernanke and his Wall Street friends are willing to go along with this tells us much more about them than I really want to know.
(I would add that Henry Hazlitt, who was a much better economic thinker than Krugman ever will be, wrote columns for Newsweek for many years, yet never engaged in this kind of personal invective. Today, invective is about all Krugman and others like him understand.)
It is going to become even uglier than it is now, and the new Congress has not even been seated.
December 21, 2010
The Best of William L. Anderson |
Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch for a lifetime job on the US Supreme Court. (Reuters)
Highlights Donald Trump's choice will have to be confirmed by the US Senate Last year, Republicans refused to consider President Obama's nominee Now, Democrats have expressed doubts about the conservative nominee
© Thomson Reuters 2017
President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Neil Gorsuch for a lifetime job on the US Supreme Court, picking the 49-year-old federal appeals court judge to restore the court's conservative majority and help shape rulings on divisive issues such as abortion, gun control, the death penalty and religious rights.The Colorado native faces a potentially contentious confirmation battle in the US Senate after Republicans last year refused to consider Democratic President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the vacancy caused by the February 2016 death of conservative justice Antonin Scalia.The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, indicated his party would mount a procedural hurdle requiring 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate rather than a simple majority to approve Gorsuch, and expressed "very serious doubts" about the nominee. Liberal groups called for an all-out fight to reject Gorsuch while conservative groups and Republican senators heaped praise on him like "outstanding," "impressive" and a "home run."Gorsuch is the youngest nominee to the nation's highest court in more than a quarter century, and he could influence the direction of the court for decades. He is a judge on the Denver-based 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals and was appointed to that post by Republican President George W. Bush in 2006.Announcing the selection to a nighttime crowd in the White House East Room flanked by the judge and his wife, Trump said Gorsuch's resume is "as good as it gets." Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, said he hopes Republicans and Democrats can come together on this nomination for the good of the country."Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous disciple, and has earned bipartisan support," Trump told an audience that included Scalia's widow."Depending on their age, a justice can be active for 50 years. And his or her decisions can last a century or more, and can often be permanent," Trump added.Gorsuch is considered a conservative intellectual, known for backing religious rights, and is seen as very much in the mold of Scalia, a leading conservative voice on the court for decades."I respect ... the fact that in our legal order it is for Congress and not the courts to write new laws," Gorsuch said, as Trump looked on. "It is the role of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people's representatives. A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge, stretching for results he prefers rather than those the law demands."A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the choice of Gorsuch was seen by the White House as a significant departure from Supreme Court nominations from the recent past, given that many justices have come from the eastern United States. Gorsuch lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he raises horses and is a life-long outdoorsman.The official said a screening committee helped in the selection process that included Vice President Mike Pence, White House counsel Don McGahn, chief of staff Reince Priebus and top strategist Steve Bannon.Gorsuch became the youngest US Supreme Court nominee since Republican President George HW Bush in 1991 selected conservative Clarence Thomas, who was 43 at the time. Gorsuch was in the same 1991 graduating class from Harvard Law School as Obama.The official described Gorsuch as a mainstream judge who should easily be confirmed by the Senate. The Senate confirmed him for his current judgeship in 2006 by voice vote with no one voting against him.Schumer and other Democrats signaled it may not be easy this time."Judge Gorsuch has repeatedly sided with corporations over working people, demonstrated hostility toward women's rights, and most troubling, hewed to an ideological approach to jurisprudence that makes me skeptical that he can be a strong, independent justice on the court," Schumer said.Alluding to Gorsuch's writings against euthanasia and assisted suicide, Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden added, "No senator who believes that individual rights are reserved to the people, and not the government, can support this nomination."Michael Keegan, president of the liberal advocacy group People for the American Way, described Gorsuch as an "ideological warrior who puts his own right-wing politics above the Constitution."Trump made his choice between two US appeals court judges, Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman of the Philadelphia-based 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a source involved in the selection process.He is the son of Anne Burford, the first woman to head the US Environmental Protection Agency. She served in Republican President Ronald Reagan's administration but resigned in 1983 amid a fight with Congress over documents on the EPA's use of a fund created to clean up toxic waste dumps nationwide.Trump's selection was one of the most consequential appointments of his young presidency as he moved to restore a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that had been in place for decades until Scalia died at age 79 on February 13, 2016.Trump got the opportunity to name Scalia's replacement only because the Republican-led U.S. Senate, in an action with little precedent in U.S. history, refused to consider Obama's nominee for the post, appeals court judge Merrick Garland. Obama nominated Garland on March 16 but Republican senators led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell denied Garland the customary confirmation hearings and vote.McConnell said on Tuesday he hoped the Senate would show Gorsuch "fair consideration and respect the result of the recent election with an up-or-down vote on his nomination, just like the Senate treated the four first-term nominees of (Democratic) Presidents (Bill) Clinton and Obama."Trump's fellow Republicans hold a 52-48 Senate majority, meaning some Democratic votes would be needed to confirm his pick under current rules. Trump said last week he would favor Senate Republicans eliminating the procedural move that Democrats have promised, called a filibuster, for Supreme Court nominees if Democrats block his pick. Such a change has been dubbed the "nuclear option."Trump has said his promise to appoint a conservative justice was one of the reasons he won the November 8 presidential election, with Christian conservatives and others emphasizing the importance of the pick during the campaign. Trump last week said evangelical Christians would love his nominee.If confirmed, Gorsuch would expand the court's conservative wing, made up of John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy Samuel Alito and Thomas. Kennedy long has been considered the court's pivotal vote, sometimes siding with the liberals in key cases such as the June 2016 ruling striking down abortion restrictions in Texas.The court's restored conservative majority likely would be supportive toward the death penalty and gun rights and hostile toward campaign finance limits. Scalia's replacement also could be pivotal in cases involving abortion, religious rights, presidential powers, transgender rights, voting rights, federal regulations others.Gorsuch has strong academic qualifications, with an Ivy League education: attending Columbia University and, like several of the other justices on the court, Harvard Law School. He also completed a doctorate in legal philosophy at Oxford University, spent several years in private practice and worked in George W. Bush's Justice Department.Gorsuch joined an opinion in 2013 saying that owners of private companies could object on religious grounds to a provision of the Obamacare health insurance law requiring employers to provide coverage for birth control for women.As long as Kennedy and four liberals remain on the bench, the court is not expected to pare back abortion rights as many US conservatives fervently hope. The Supreme Court legalized abortion in the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling. In June, the justices ruled 5-3 to strike down a Texas law that restricted abortion access, with Kennedy and the liberals in the majority.The current vacancy is the court's longest since a 391-day void from 1969 to 1970 during Republican Richard Nixon's presidency. After Abe Fortas resigned from the court in May 1969, the Senate voted down two nominees put forward by Nixon before confirming Harry Blackmun, who became a justice in June 1970. Aside from that one, no other Supreme Court vacancy since the US Civil War years of the 1860s has been as long as the current one.Trump during his presidency may get to make additional appointments to the Supreme Court. Liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who Trump called upon to resign last July after she called him "a faker," is 83 while Kennedy is 80. Stephen Breyer, another liberal, is 78. (Additional reporting by Eric Beech, Susan Cornwell, Andrew Chung, Richard Cowan, Susan Heavey, Ayesha Rascoe and Doina Chiacu; Writing Will Dunham; Editing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney) |
Bloomberg via Getty Images One of the most liberal senators, Sherrod Brown, is backing the plane provision.
Tucked away inside the Senate Republican’s tax bill, already jam-packed with goodies for U.S. businesses, is a provision that seems specially tailored to spark massive populist outrage: a tax break aimed at private plane travel.
It appears on page 50 of the bill, which is headed for a vote sometime after Thanksgiving. The plane thing got a wave of attention Thursday after a tweet about the provision went viral.
“If there were any doubt about who this [tax plan] serves, the special tax break for private planes should settle it,” Paul Krugman, the New York Times columnist and liberal economist, wrote on Twitter.
Well, yes and no. The measure is certainly a tax break for private plane travel, and the fact that this is part of the Republican tax bill is yet another clear sign of the way the party has used this bill to favor businesses over humans.
“It’s an egregious double standard,” said Seth Hanlon, a fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress. Senate Republicans are going out of their way to help out the private aviation industry, as part of a bill that will hurt millions of Americans.
But the provision itself isn’t quite as deliciously terrible as the tweets would have you believe.
Private plane operators aren’t actually getting any new tax break here. Indeed, the Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan congressional panel that examines tax legislation, says the plane break won’t actually cost anything. The industry and their backers in the Senate, including the super liberal Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), explain that the provision merely brings clarity to a long-standing tax dispute, kicked off five years ago by a memo from the Internal Revenue Service.
The provision makes clear that the companies that manage private air travel ― plane owners use them to hire pilots or handle logistics ― do not have to pay a 7.5 percent excise tax on air travel. The 7.5 percent tax is also known as a “ticket tax” and Americans pay it when they travel commercial.
This doesn’t mean private air travel isn’t subject to taxes, there’s just a different kind of tax ― a fuel surcharge that amounts to around 20 cents per gallon of gas. Planes burn through 300 gallons an hour.
Think of it like how car owners pay gas taxes but if you take a taxi, you pay a different fee, said Nel Stubbs, an aviation tax expert at Conklin & de Decker Aviation Information, an aviation research and consulting company.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s not giving owners a tax break, it’s clarifying the application of a tax,” she added.
Industry representatives emphasized that the break wasn’t for the millionaires who own the planes, but for the small businesses that they pay to help deal with their travel.
Aaron Bernstein / Reuters Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R) pushed for the provision as well.
At the same time, the private plane tax break is a clear sign of just how in sync Republican lawmakers were with business interests when it came time to write this legislation. The provision is modeled on legislation authored back in February, with the backing of both senators from Ohio, home to NetJets, the private plane company owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.
While the tax bill brings certainty to the world of private air travel, the legislation is poised to disrupt millions of regular American households.
“They’re settling a long-term dispute between companies and the IRS at literally the same time they changed the bill to make every single tax cut for individuals and families expire after 2025, which creates enormous uncertainty for every household in the United States,” Hanlon said.
Hanlon agrees that this measure on its face isn’t terrible, but it is a sign of how the industry is able to get what it wants from policymakers.
There has been years of pressure from the private plane industry ― particularly Buffett’s NetJets and Executive Jet Management.
“I know our entire industry is grateful to Mr. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway for leading the effort with the IRS to clarify this position,” said Greg Raif, CEO of Private Jet Services, an aviation consultancy and charter plane provider with clients that he says include professional sports teams, presidential candidates and government agencies.
It’s an egregious double standard.” Seth Hanlon, fellow at the Center for American Progress
Brown’s office made clear that he does not view this as yet another tax giveaway for the rich in a bill already packed full of them.
“This provision in no way cuts taxes for private jet owners,” said spokesperson Jennifer Donohue. “It simply clarifies what the law already says — that service companies made up of mechanics and service workers don’t pay ticket taxes, because they don’t sell tickets.”
Brown himself got into a shouting match Friday with Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) over the tax bill and how it favors the rich.
“When the Republicans are in power, the first thing they want to do is give tax cuts to the rich. That’s just what’s ― it’s in their DNA,” Brown said.
Up until 2012, plane management companies never had to pay the 7.5 percent excise tax, but that year someone inside the IRS changed the policy. That triggered a lot of tax audits and a lot of lobbying and lawsuits from the industry, which fought hard to avoid this tax.
Since the legislation pushed by the Ohio senators never made it to law, the private plane industry saw the tax bill as a good time to push the change through.
“We haven’t had a comprehensive tax bill in years and years,” said Stubbs, the aviation tax expert. “This is an opportunity.” |
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Just days before Saudi Arabia performed a mass execution of 47 people, including four pro-democracy protesters; the US approved tens of millions in military contracts to the Saudi government. The contracts include $24 million to Raytheon Company for equipment relating to Patriot missiles, $12 million to Advanced Electronics Co. for electronics updates to F-15 fighter jets, and tens of millions of dollars to Boeing Co. for implementation of a laser guided, air-to-ground weapons system.
The Pentagon announced the contracts three days before the execution of four non-violent Shia protesters. The majority of the executions were carried out in the form of beheadings—the same form of execution favored by ISIS.
The weapons contracts draw attention to the US government’s continued arming of the Saudi government, which regularly engages in human rights abuses at home and abroad. Despite recent allegations of war crimes against Saudi Arabia for its war in Yemen, the US continues to replenish Saudi’s arsenal with billions in weapons.
As a result, Amnesty International has accused the US of violating the Arms Trade Treaty. The treaty prohibits the sale of arms if there is knowledge the weapons will be used against civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross has documented 100 instances of the Saudi-led coalition attacking hospitals in Yemen.
Among those executed earlier this week was the Sheik Nimr al-Nimr, who was well known to Shia Muslims around the world. Al-Nimr was a leader of the 2011 Arab Spring protest in Saudi Arabia’s Shia region. His execution sparked protests in multiple countries including Iran, where protesters set the Saudi Embassy ablaze. In response to the embassy fire, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran.
Human Rights Watch reported that al-Nimr, “supported only peaceful protests and eschewed all violent opposition to the government.” In US cables released by Wikileaks, al-Nimr stated his support for “American ideals” like peace and justice. He also said acts of violence “directly contradict the spirit of Shi’ism” and as a result, Shia Muslims such as himself “are natural allies for America”.
The three other protesters set to death were teenagers at the time of their arrest. These young men participated in peaceful pro-democracy protests during Saudi Arabia’s Arab Spring. Yet, Saudi Arabia, fearing a democratic movement, which could challenge the royal family’s complete control over the country, has accused the protesters of terrorism.
The three young men executed were Ali al-Ribh, just 18 at the time of his arrest, Mohammad Shioukh, 19 at time of his arrest, and Mohammad Suweimal, whom little is known about.
In addition to these three executed protesters, three other young protesters, who were minors at the time of their arrest, have been sentenced to death and are awaiting their executions. They are Ali al-Nimr, who is Sheikh al-Nimr’s nephew and was arrested at 17, Dawoud al-Marhoon who was 17 at the time of his arrest, and Abdullah al-Zaher who was 15.
Many of these young men awaiting execution or recently executed were tortured while they were detained. It is unlikely that any of them received a fair trial.
Human Rights Watch has “documented longstanding due process violations in Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system that make it difficult for a defendant to get a fair trial.”
Reader Supported News spoke with Ali al-Ribh’s mother prior to her son’s execution on January 1. His mother said Ali experienced both physical and psychological torture while in prison, which was used to force him to make a false confession.
“All charges are without proof or evidence,” Ali’s mother said. “The whole thing is a malicious sectarian case and nothingmore,” she added.
“My son has always had a great love for freedom and equality. The injustice and discrimination against the Shia community in Saudi Arabia affected him deeply,” she said. “Ali was kindhearted, at an early age he knew he wanted to help his community by working to bring about peaceful democratic changes.”
According to Ali’s mother, Ali was held in solitary and was refused medical treatment after receiving a broken nose, injuries to his head, limbs, and back due to torture. He was also subjected to sleep deprivation and did not receive adequate meals.
The executions of these four Shia protesters were met with widespread condemnation. Amnesty International described the executions as a demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s “utter disregard for human rights.”
Philip Luther, the Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, stated the killing of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr suggests the Saudi government is, “using the death penalty in the name of counter-terror to settle scores and crush dissidents.”
Brian Dooley, of Human Rights First, criticized Washington’s support for Saudi Arabia. He wrote, “Washington’s muted response to mounting Saudi violations — 2015 saw at least 157 executions after unfair trials, the most for two decades, and a continuing clamp down on non-violent critics of the government — only enables the repression.”
These executions have already had wide-ranging political impacts and may further destabilize the Middle East. This is likely to be the case in Iraq where the US is hoping to minimize sectarian tensions, which force Sunni Muslims to support to ISIS.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated that the execution of Sheik al-Nimr “would lead to nothing but more destruction.” He continued, “Violating human rights … leads to repercussions on the security, stability and the social fabric of the peoples of the region.”
For the families of those who’ve been executed, the broader political fallout may only heighten the pain of losing a family member.
Ali’s mother told me, “Ali’s imprisonment deeply touched our lifes as his parents. Ali aspired to become an electronics engineer and to complete his university studies in America. But injustice prevented him from achieving his wishes.”
“My son was taken away from me. He suffered from all kinds of torment and abuse, and still he always said, ‘dont worry I am not the only who oppressed and sentenced to death. There are many people who are like me.’”
“Ali wanted to raise awareness of the injustice of Shia in Saudi Arabia. He wanted the world to know about all of the peaceful protesters, who’ve been wrongly accussed of crimes. Ali wished to stand for all the oppressed, and to have all free people stand with him, so we can all have a victory of freedom and democracy.”
Ali’s mother concluded by saying, “Ali’s spirit of hope and his love gave us strength, but now when I think of him, all I feel is pain.” |
October 29, 2015
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
TORONTO—Following the release of a “scathing” Financial Accountability Office report, the Canadian Union of Public Employees is calling on Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, to stop the sale of Hydro One before it becomes the “next Liberal scandal.”
“This privatization plan has been a mistake from day one,” the union’s Ontario president, Fred Hahn, said. “Now the financial accountability officer has made clear it will not only take away public control over electricity, it will also drive up the province’s debt.”
“Hydro privatization is a lose-lose deal for Ontario,” he added. “It’s time for Kathleen Wynne to pull the plug before Hydro One becomes a scandal to dwarf the gas plants or the 407 deal.”
The FAO, an independent body headed by Stephen LeClair and responsible for analyzing Ontario’s finances, said it is difficult to determine how the provincial government came up with its valuations for the sale because the Liberals have withheld certain information. While the FAO refused to take an official position in the report without the full story, it said selling Hydro One would result in an initial drop in debt, but the positive impact could be short term because of lost revenue.
“Selling any part of Hydro One means public revenue will become private profit,” Hahn said. “There is no public benefit to this privatization whatsoever. If the premier has any interest in public good, she will do the right thing and end this fiasco before it becomes a tragedy of historic proportions for our province.”
CUPE has been a vocal opponent of the planned privatization since the sale was announced. |
Sri Lanka’s sports minister Wednesday denied ordering the lowly-ranked national team to use witchcraft to score a surprising two-match Test series win against Pakistan earlier this month.
Dayasiri Jayasekara threatened to sue a local sorcerer for claiming that at his request she cast a spell over Pakistan to ensure Sri Lanka’s victory.
“I told her that if she didn’t take down that post, I will complain to the police and also take legal action against her,” the minister told reporters.
READ | Pakistan cricket team aim to carry momentum into T20Is vs Sri Lanka
“I did not direct the captain or the team to get her services.”
In a Facebook post Ganga Zoiza claimed that on the minister’s orders skipper Dinesh Chandimal approached her with a request to cast a spell to ensure a win against Pakistan, which at the time was ranked above Sri Lanka.
“Chandimal came to me before leaving for the series against Pakistan (in the United Arab Emirates),” she said on her Facebook page -- where she also posted a photo of Chandimal at her home -- after Sri Lanka won the Test series on October 6.
READ | Pakistan’s ‘unknown’ pace bowlers provide a shining light despite massive odds
“My special thanks to minister Dayasiri Jayasekara for directing him to me. I will ensure a golden era for Sri Lanka cricket,” she wrote at the time.
By Wednesday she had removed both the post and the photo after the minister threatened to sue her.
Jayasekara cited Sri Lanka’s 5-0 loss in the subsequent one-day series to rubbish Zoiza’s claims.
“If she really cast a spell, how come we suffered a whitewash in the ODI series?” the minister asked.
READ | Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed hails bowlers after huge victory over Sri Lanka
Several Sri Lankan politicians, business leaders and sports stars believe in astrology and witchcraft. Many have ended up being victims of charlatans.
Then-president Mahinda Rajapakse took the advice of his personal astrologer and called an election two years ahead of schedule in January 2015, only to lose badly.
First Published: Oct 25, 2017 19:53 IST |
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I guess the bright spot for Mitt Romney at this point, as complaints from fellow Republicans about his increasingly wobbly presidential run pile up, is that he can adopt the joking slogan many parts of the U.S. have regarding their weather: “Hey, if you don’t like our campaign’s strategic focus, just wait a few minutes — it’ll change!”
Last week, Team Mitt floated any number of putative new directions they would take to counteract President Obama’s post-convention bounce in the polls (More policy specifics! More culture war! More mustard, pickle and relish!). This week, they seemingly ditched all of them in favor of — believe it or not — excessive makeup and a brand-new theme they invented on the spot just yesterday:
An hour after President Obama said he couldn’t “change Washington from the inside” at a forum hosted by Univision in Miami, Mitt Romney took to the stage at an outdoor rally here Thursday afternoon and accused the president of “surrender” — an attack, his aides say, that will become a major part of his campaign’s message in coming days. “The president today threw in the white flag of surrender again,” Romney said. “He said he can’t change Washington from inside. He can only change it from outside. Well, we’re gonna give him that chance in November; he’s going outside.” As the crowd cheered, Romney added, “I can change Washington, I will change Washington, we’ll get the job done from the inside!“
I suppose it takes a candidate of Mitt’s unique political acumen to think running as an effective Washington, D.C. insider will be a winning come-from-behind campaign strategy… and to overlook that the kind of change the blindingly unpopular House GOP would help him deliver is exactly what voters don’t want.
But then, you have to realize that this is a campaign that organized their entire nominating convention around an inside joke. (And you wonder why they don’t understand how they failed to pick up any support from undecided voters in the polls.)
Perhaps figuring out belatedly that this umpteenth new direction wasn’t such a hot idea after all, Mitt & Co. decided today the best thing to do was change the subject yet again, this time to — hey, why not? — Romney’s mysterious tax returns, which just ensures that we’ll be hearing more about this subject next week.
Of course, if you look at Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign as one long, rambling, grotesque joke, then his tax returns make perfect sense as the punchline. |
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A RUSSIAN man who tried to rob a hairdresser’s allegedly ended up a victim when the female shop owner, a karate black belt, beat him senseless, tied him up naked and used him as a sex slave for three days.
Viktor Jasinski, 32, had gone to the salon in Meshchovsk, Russia, with the intention of robbing it.
But instead he was overcome by martial arts expert Olga Zajac, 28, who allegedly floored him with a single kick.
Then, in a scene reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s movie Pulp Fiction, it is claimed Zajac dragged the semi-conscious Jasinski to an empty back room of the salon.
It is alleged she tied him up with a hairdryer cable before stripping him naked and handcuffing him to a radiator.
He told police he was force fed nothing but Viagra and used as a sex slave for three days to “teach him a lesson”.
The would-be robber was eventually released, with Zajac allegedly telling him that he had learned his lesson after the ordeal. Jasinski then went straight to the police and made his allegations. Both have been arrested.
When police arrived to question Zajac, she said: “What a b*****d.
“Yes, we had sex a couple of times. But I bought him new jeans, gave him food and even gave him 1,000 roubles when he left.”
Pulp Fiction sees characters played by Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames tied up in a shop and threatened. |
I think for discussions related to globalization we would need to take a step back from our human pride and realize that we are not above the natural system we evolved from.
We are still bound by all of this system's laws, and we are also part of the evolutionary process continuing in it.
So it would be useful considering the following:
Globalization stronger interconnections, inter-dependency is not man-made, it is a necessary evolutionary process.
As evolutionary biologists explain the initially individual, self serving, competing cells recognized that they can survive better and longer, they can prosper more effectively by mutually connecting, cooperating, giving up their individual calculations for collective calculations.
This is how multi-cellular organisms appeared, developed and got more and more complex as evolution continued.
In nature it has happened, and still happens instinctively, automatically as apart from human beings every cell and organism is still instinctively connected to nature's system.
Humanity is different, we have lost this instinctive connection, perception thus individualism, self-centered calculations, and the external expressions like racism, extreme nationalism are still very strong despite all the signs around us pointing towards the necessity of interconnections and mutually complementing cooperation for the sake of the whole species.
We have reached this very volatile, sensitive paradox today where on one hand we have evolved into a global, integral human network within the global integral nature, but we still stubbornly try to preserve our individualism, nationalism, and ruthless competition with each other even to the point of self destruction.
In the lack of the instinctive feeling of belonging we have to "re-educate" ourselves, learn and understand that it is actually in our best interest to behave like any other cell and organism in nature, mutually working together for the benefit of the whole since the prosperity, success of the individual is directly dependent on the prosperity and success of the collective.
And in a global integral world the collective means the whole of humanity.
We cannot change our nature, we will always remain unique, individualistic or even nationalistic. But we can all mutually agree to building a collective network on top of this human nature in order to keep our common boat afloat, solve our global problems together, conquer, explore and prosper together instead of doing it against each other potentially seriously depleting, even exterminating the species in the process.
And only a balanced, mutually cooperative humanity can be a benevolent part of the system of nature based on the "law of equivalence of form". |
Borderless Mode
Sometimes it’s desirable to run Robocraft in a borderless mode, also known as a borderless window or fullscreen windowed mode. This allows you to easily switch to other apps and reduces the chance of Robocraft freaking out. I like to have a web browser open on my second monitor and watch people play Robocraft on Twitch. Is that weird?
It should be noted that if you don’t want to go through all this trouble you can launch the game directly from Steam and it will ask you if you want borderless mode. I’ve never seen a game do this before, but whatever. OMG it’s alpha! Right?
Using the method described below lets you to launch Robocraft in borderless mode from outside of Steam. For example, you can pin Steam to the Start Menu and then launch Robocraft from the recent games list. I’m told this is how MLG Robocraft players do it.
Robocraft Borderless Mode Instructions
Step 1
It’s assumed that you can find Robocraft in the Steam game library. We need to make some changes to it. Open Steam, right-click Robocraft, and then open the Properties.
Step 2
We need to add some launch options to to Robocraft, so click Launch Options.
Step 3
Enter -popupwindow into Launch Options and click OK. This tells the game to start in borderless mode.
Step 4
Amazingly, we’re only half way done. We still need to configure Robocraft. Launch Robocraft and open Settings.
Step 5
We don’t want to run in fullscreen mode, so uncheck Fullscreen. Also set the resolution you want to use. If you select a resolution smaller than the max resolution then the Robocraft will only take up part of the screen.
Step 6
Now we’re done. Close Robocraft and start it again. The game should now be in a borderless mode. I hope Freejam makes this easier!
BTW, you can add -popupwindow to your Windows shortcut if you have the old launcher. |
A federal court this week dismissed the case of an Ohio man who sought to have his firearms rights restored after a misdemeanor domestic violence charge 18 years ago.
In 1997, Terry Lee Stimmel pleaded no contest to first-degree misdemeanor charges of domestic violence upon his wife at the time in Canton Municipal Court. Other than a few traffic tickets, Stimmel had no other criminal history.
Then in 2002, when attempting to purchase a firearm over the counter at his local Wal-Mart, he was denied through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System due to his criminal record. A subsequent administrative appeal to the FBI was denied as well.
This led Stimmel to file suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio last September challenging the framework of his lifetime firearm ban, stating he wanted to purchase and own a firearm for the purpose of defending his home and his family and was denied his rights to do so under the Constitution. As Stimmel is not prohibited from owning firearms under Ohio law, he challenged the federal prohibition as an overreach.
Judge John R. Adams, a 2003 appointment by President George W. Bush, did not agree. Citing the majority Supreme Court opinion in the 2008 Heller case, Adams prefaced his opinion published Monday by writing, “[T]his Court must be mindful that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms ‘is not unlimited.'”
Further, despite Stimmel’s assertion that the Second Amendment predated modern domestic violence statutes, Adams pointed out that at least six circuit courts have upheld firearms prohibition on the grounds of misdemeanor domestic convictions in recent years.
To a challenge that Stimmel has been otherwise law-abiding since his 20th Century conviction, Adams was further not impressed, saying the Ohio man “is not afforded rights simply by virtue of being conviction-free for numerous years,” and chided Stimmel for not seeking an executive pardon despite the fact they are rarely granted on domestic violence issues.
As noted by FBI statistics, misdemeanor domestic violence conviction records are the third most common reason for NICS background check denials. Between Nov. 1998 and Aug. 2015, some 117,451 checks were denied for that reason. |
MLG.TV Kicks Off 2015 With 253% Growth in Viewership
First Quarter Sees 482% increase in Ad Revenue
NEW YORK – April 9, 2015: Major League Gaming (MLG), today announced first quarter results for MLG.TV, its premium broadcasting network, which has seen viewership increase by 253% year over year and ad revenue jump by 482%.
Video viewership is on the rise for MLG’s 16-month-old live broadcast platform. MLG.tv now has a 70% quarterly growth rate and in the first 90 days of 2015 has already surpassed the number of hours viewed for the prior two quarters – from July through December 2014.
“We launched with a premium, highly-curated programming strategy and the result is a fast growing, engaged millennial audience of millions,” said Mike Sepso, President and cofounder of MLG. “We invested heavily in our ad solution and focused on mobile and OTTV distribution and the results have been amazing for both our advertisers and our broadcast partners.”
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Founded in 2002, MLG is a fully integrated eSports operator incorporating online tournaments, streaming and live events to promote the growth and awareness of eSports worldwide. MLG.tv provides a platform for high-quality competition that reaches 27 million highly engaged fans each month via web, mobile and OTT devices. |
But on the doctrinal level? I tried to untangle it. I am not sure whether I was successful. In any event, here it is all in one place:
I distrust utterly those economists who have with great but deplorable ingenuity taught that it is not only possible but praiseworthy for a whole country to live beyond its mens on its wits and who in Mr. Shaw's description tech that it is possible to make a community rich by calling a penny two pence, in short who have sought to make economics a vade mecum for political spivs...
And by the 1920s it's part of a general fear of Jews, intellectuals, homosexuals, financiers, and people who weren't born rich but might be smarter and become richer than you. For example, Churchill's Secretary P.J. Grigg on Keynes:
Well, in its origins it springs out of Medieval Christian (and earlier) condemnations of usury as unjust enrichment:
OK, I don’t expect a serious answer. But it’s scary that this has become the more or less official doctrine of the GOP.
One of the key lessons of the 2008 crisis was precisely that banks are defined by what they do, not by what they look like, and there are a whole range of financial arrangements that in economic terms act a lot like fractional reserve banking. So would a Ron Paul regulatory regime have teams of “honest money” inquisitors fanning across the landscape, chasing and closing down anyone illegitimately creating claims that might compete with gold and silver? How is this supposed to work?
So are such funds illegitimate? What about repo, which has many of the same features?
I mean, it has always been a peculiarity of that school of thought that it praises markets and opposes government intervention — but that at the same time it demands that the government step in to prevent the free market from providing a certain kind of financial service. As I understand it, the intellectual trick here is to convince oneself that fractional reserve banking, in which banks don’t keep 100 percent of deposits in a vault, is somehow an artificial creation of the government. This is historically wrong…. But consider a more recent innovation: money market funds. Such funds are just a particular type of mutual fund — and surely the Austrians don’t want to ban financial intermediation (or do they?). Yet shares in a MMF are very clearly a form of money — you can even write checks on them — created out of thin air by financial institutions, with very few pieces of green paper behind them.
Ron Paul on Money Market Funds : [T]he Ron Paul link, in which [Ron Paul] condemned fractional reserve banking, prodded me to ask a question I’ve been meaning to ask: How do the Austrians propose dealing with money market funds?
NOAH SMITH NEEDS BACKUP: HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES: SOURCES OF AUSTRIAN CONFUSION
Noah Smith ventures deep into the weeds where people talk about good German engineers and bad Jewish financiers:
Noahpinion: Inflation for the People: For the past few weeks I've been getting acquainted with the popular wing of the "Austrian economics" movement. First I discovered the Bizarro Economics World of online forums, then I got re-acquainted with Zero Hedge, which seems to have taken a more and more inflationista/goldbuggy/Austrian tone in recent years. Then a bunch of Texan friends started posting "End the Fed!" memes to my Facebook feed. So I went on Facebook and I asked: "Why do people want to end the Fed?" In response, a friend sent me this video… a guy loses his house, and his American Dream is crushed. He is then taken back in time by a guy with a horribly fake African-American accent, to witness the source of his problems. As it turns out, everything is the fault of bankers, who steal people's money through fractional reserve banking. Eventually, banking power is concentrated in the hands of a shadowy cabal headed by the Rothschilds, to whom even J.P. Morgan must kowtow. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson temporarily hold off the evil bankers here in America, ushering in a huge boom "with real money, backed with real gold." But eventually the bankers get in, and end up forming the Fed, which proceeds to steal people's hard-earned money even more via inflation and collaboration with the IRS. Anyway, for now I'll ignore the oddity of anti-semitic video makers latching onto an economic philosophy (Austrianism) invented by a Jewish guy and a movement (the Ron Paul movement) inspired by another Jewish guy. Anti-semitism has always been a bit weird like that. I'll also put aside the thing about fractional reserve banking (a subject for another post)…
We may never see Noah again…
So let me throw him a lifeline, in the form of an explanation of where this Austrian fear not just of central banking but of any kind of banking comes from:
Hoisted from the Archives: November 2011: Brad DeLong: "Fictitious" Wealth and Ludwig von Mises: In comments, rootless_e warns:
Attempts to make sense out of right wing Austrian economics can never amount to anything.
Nevertheless, like a moth to a flame--or like a dog to its vomit, or like a dog to something worse--whenever I see something like:
Ludwig von Mises: Attempts to carry out economic reforms from the monetary side can never amount to anything but an artificial stimulation of economic activity by an expansion of the circulation, and this, as must constantly be emphasized, must necessarily lead to crisis and depression. Recurring economic crises are nothing but the consequence of attempts, despite all the teachings of experience and all the warnings of the economists, to stimulate economic activity by means of additional credit...
I find myself under a mysterious but inexorable and irresistible compulsion to waste what would otherwise be productive work time trying to make some kind of sense of it--to at least understand wherein lies the error, and how somebody trying very hard to understand the economy (never mind that he is a big fan of the political leadership of Benito Mussolini) can go so pathetically wrong.
It is, of course, not the case that every expansion of the circulation is an "artificial" (and unnatural) "stimulation of economic activity" that must "necessarily lead to crisis an depression". So why does Ludwig von Mises think that it must?
Here is my current guess as to where von Mises is coming from:
Let us start out with a world of publicly-known technology and constant returns to scale in everything. People happily make things and trade them. And everything sells at its resource cost.
One of the things people make is little disks of gold, usually decorated with pictures of bearded men on one side and allegorical female figures on the other, with lettering saying things like: "Fecund Augustae" or "Concordia Militum" or "Fides Exercituum" on them. These little gold disks trade--like everything else--at their cost of production: the cost of digging the ore out of the ground, extracting the metal from the ore, and stamping the disk into the right shape.
Then somebody has a bright idea: Because these little metal disks are valuable and easy to carry, they are subject to theft. I will offer to perform a service: I will keep everybody's little metal disks in my stronghouse, and let's write out signed, notarized declarations that people have little metal disks in my stronghouse and they can trade those rather than the disks directly. And--as long as 100% of the circulating medium is backed by gold--everything goes on as before, with everything selling for its cost of production.
Then somebody else has a bright idea: They write out a whole bunch of signed declarations that they have little metal disks in the stronghouse, even though they actually do not have any such. They then buy things with these pieces of the circulating medium that they have written out.
These people, Ludwig von Mises says, are thieves: thieves pure and simple:
They have bought useful things.
They have claimed that they have done so by trading (claims to) valuable little metal disks (in the warehouse) for useful commodities.
But they have lied.
They did not have any valuable little metal disks for trade.
And, Ludwig von Mises would say, these lying thieves come in three forms:
governments that print dollar bills without having 100% gold bullion backing for them in Fort Knox.
banks that issue bank notes.
banks that allow depositors to write checks in amounts that exceed the specie reserves they the banks have in their vaults.
The problem, I think Ludwig von Mises would say, is that the wealth of society is the amount of work has gone into creating the commodities in the economy: the food, the clothing, the houses, the little gold disks. The sum of past work crystalized in commodities is society's wealth. The food is wealth, the housing is wealth, the clothing is wealth, and the little gold disks are wealth. Then add unbacked fiat money and bank credit--either public or private, it doesn't matter--to the mix. The fiat money and the bank credit are counted as wealth, as if they were claims to little gold disks that took sweat and tears to create, but they are not wealth at all. They are fictions: false promises that there is somewhere some valuable gold that you have title to.
And, Ludwig von Mises would say, the larger the unbacked circulating medium the bigger the lie and the theft. It is all guaranteed to end in tears. Whenever society thinks that it is richer than it is, plans will be inconsistent and unattainable. When that unattainability becomes manifest, that will trigger the crash and the depression.
That is, I think, where von Mises is coming from.
And, of course, this is wrong--so so so so so so so so so unbelievably wrong.
It is simply not the case that we can cheaply and easily buy things with money because it is valuable. It is, instead, the case that money is valuable because we can cheaply and easily buy things with it.
One way into the tangle of understanding why it is wrong is to ask each of us: Why are you happy accepting money in exchange when we sell useful commodities?
Hint: It's not because we are looking forward to going down to the bank, exchanging our bank notes for the little disks of gold usually decorated with pictures of bearded men on one side and allegorical female figures on the other with lettering saying things like "Fecund Augustae" or "Concordia Militum" or "Fides Exercituum" on them, taking our little disks home, and feeling happy looking at them.
That's not why we accept money.
We accept money because if we don't have any money we have to buy commodities with other commodities, and when we do so we are unlikely to receive the cost of production for what we sell. Have you ever tried to buy a latte at Peets with a copy of Ludwig von Mises's Money and Credit? It does not go well.
The fact is that your wealth is only worth its cost of production if you are liquid--if you can wait to sell until somebody willing to pay full cost of production comes along, which is not every minute. The use-value of money is that it allows you to time your other transactions so that you can realize the full exchange value of what you sell, rather than having to sell it at a discount.
Thus there is no paradox: no sense in which the existence of fiat money creates a situation in which society must necessarily think that it is richer than it is, with claims to total wealth valued at more than the value of total wealth itself. You think--correctly--that your fiat money has value, and that value is just equal to the discount from its cost of production that your other wealth incurs because it is illiquid. But what if the government prints more fiat money than the illiquidity gap in your other wealth? Well, then people will say: "I don't need to hold all this extra money. I would be liquid enough with less." Everybody will try to run down their money balances, and so the price level will rise until the real money stock is just what people think covers the illiquidity gap between their other wealth and its cost of production.
What von Mises misses completely is that the size of this illiquidity gap can and does change suddenly and drastically--and it is the business of the central bank and of the government to alter the quantity of money to keep such changes from disrupting the real economy.
AUSTRIAN MONETARY MENTAL MYSTERIES FOR WHAT I HOPE IS THE ONE LAST TIME…
I started thinking about Ludwig von Mises's claim:
Attempts to carry out economic reforms from the monetary side can never amount to anything but an artificial stimulation of economic activity by an expansion of the circulation, and this, as must constantly be emphasized, must necessarily lead to crisis and depression. Recurring economic crises are nothing but the consequence of attempts, despite all the teachings of experience and all the warnings of the economists, to stimulate economic activity by means of additional credit...
Note what von Mises is not saying:
He is not saying that myopic governments may overuse the inflation tax.
He is not saying that using monetary policy to push unemployment below the natural rate will generate accelerating inflation.
He is not saying that easy money and easy credit sometimes lead to financial crises that cause depressions.
He is saying something different and stronger. He is arguing against ever attempting to cure any depression by expanding the money supply: "never amount", "must necessarily", "nothing but the consequence", "all the teachings", and "all the warnings" are very strong phrases indeed, in one of the statements that led Milton Friedman to say:
there are Austrian insights that are of great value… but not in the field of monetary theory.
Paul Krugman comments on my willingness to think about von Mises. In summary, he says: better me than him:
Mental Monetary Disorders: Brad DeLong has been blogging about von Mises and his belief — shared by a number of people to this day — that any economic expansion driven by monetary expansion must somehow be unsound and destructive. I'm glad he’s doing this. There’s a tendency on the part of economists, both liberals and Tory Keynesians like Greg Mankiw and John Taylor (because that’s what they are, except when they’re playing for Team Republican), to understate the depth of incomprehension on much of the right. The best cure I know for the notion that a money-led expansion can’t be real is still the story of the baby-sitting coop… when the coop was depressed, it was depressed because of inadequate demand, and this inadequacy could be cured by issuing more scrip — money that was created by fiat. If you try to ask where the value of that money came from in terms of its production, you’ve already fallen into an intellectual morass. The point was that the miniature economy of the coop was suffering from inadequate liquidity, and creating more money eased that problem. I know that a lot of people refuse to accept the possibility of such things, and nothing will convince them that a monetary expansion can ever do real good. But they’re mistaking their own confusion for profound insight.
From my perspective, the interesting thing is that von Mises and his remarkably and strikingly unmannerly present-day acolytes appear to believe all of the following:
Increases in the real money stock produced by decreases in the wage and price level are efficacious at pulling the economy out of a depression. If labor unions push-up wages and prices so that they are "too high"--not, mind you, that real wages are too high (with nominal wages being high relative to consumer prices), but simply that the nominal wage is too high given the money stock--then a union-busting program that does not change relative prices but simply raises the real money stock is efficacious at curing a depression. Moreover, an increase in the real money stock that comes about from people spending time energy and resources digging gold from the ground and refining it is equally efficacious in curing a depression. However, a credit expansion caused by government money printing (or by leverage expansion by private fractional-reserve banks) is always, invariably, and inescapably poison.
Now any real economist looking at (1) through (4) has a very hard time even beginning to think how this striking bifurcation between "healthy" and "poisonous" expansions in the real money stock could have a basis in a coherent monetary theory.
I would like to hear an alternative theory as to where this mammoth #economictheoryfail comes from--other than the theory that it comes from enslavement to a naïve cost-of-production theory of value, according to which gold-backed money's value is in some sense "real" because of the resource cost of mining, while fiat money's value is in some sense "fake" and thus bound to cause trouble.
Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?
BUT… BUT… BUT…: DEALING WITH VON MISES DEPARTMENT
Daniel Kuehn:
Facts & other stubborn things: Brad DeLong issues a challenge to Austrians: [M]y interpretation of Mises is somewhat different from [Brad's]. Mises, following Menger, clearly doesn't have a cost of production theory of value. It's really much simpler than that. It's not that gold mining is more genuine because you have to work at it. It's simply that gold represents a fixed measure of value. And for Mises, not only is that acceptable - it's preferable. Otherwise, adjustments of the money supply create the illusion of artificial wealth, which for Mises would distort market signals…
But… but… but… If the cost of mining gold falls and we mine more gold and have more gold coins, the money stock has increased and we have the illusion of artificial (non-gold) wealth, which for von Mises ought indeed to distort market signals. Improved gold mining technology ought, for von Mises, to be as bad a thing as running a printing press.
But it very clearly isn't. I have found nothing anywhere in the Austrian corpus about the baneful effects of improvements in gold mining technology, and how they invariably lead to an Austrian boom-bust cycle--how a gold discovery distorts market signals and creates the illusion of artificial wealth just as any other monetary expansion does.
The point is that gold is not a fixed measure of value. Value is stuff that keeps you fed, warm, dry, and entertained. You can't eat gold. It doesn't keep you warm. (You could hammer it into a tent, I suppose--and it does serve as a source of amusement.) The price of gold in terms of commodities that yield utility varies--just as the price of fiat money in terms of commodities that yield utility varies.
YET ANOTHER NOTE ON GOLD MINING AND CYCLICAL UNEMPLOYMENT IN AUSTRIAN ECONOMICS
In the words of Michael Corleone: Every time I try to get out they drag me back in...
The extremely thoughtful Daniel Kuehn comments:
OK, gold represented a "relatively" fixed standard of value (basically what Bill Woolsey says). That still seems considerably more plausible than your idea that the guy who drones on and on for hundreds of pages about subjective value theory (Mises) actually has a cost of production theory of value. There's a lot to criticize in Austrian economics - a cost of production theory of value is not on that list.
and follows it up with, in email:
I'm guessing if paper money increased at the rate that the gold supply increases [von Mises] would be a happy camper
And Robert Murphy inquires where Ludwig von Mises wrote my paraphrase:
an increase in the real money stock that comes about from people spending time energy and resources digging gold from the ground and refining it is equally efficacious in curing a depression.
So I went back to my notes and found it:
If gold production had been considerably greater than it actually was in recent years, then the drop in prices [in the early 1930s] would have been moderated or perhaps even prevented from appearing…
That is: if the increase in the money stock in the 1920s had taken the form of an increase in gold (created by the expenditure of human muscle power) rather than of paper money (created by human mental power), there would have been no big deflation in the early 1930s. No big deflation in the early 1930s, no objective need for a Great Depression, and no Great Depression.
That's the source of my belief that, in von Mises-world, if nominal wages are constant--if nominal wages are sticky--then expanded gold mining is an efficacious way of curing and avoiding depressions without major adverse consequences.
And if nominal wages are not sticky and move freely to clear the labor market? Then, in von Mises-world at least, we don't have a Great Depression to cure at all.
I think the analytical point is clear.
Now you do need to know that von Mises recognizes that he has created a problem for himself. He shifts his ground--but in so doing so he, I think, breaks all hope of analytic consistency. His escape hatch appears to me to demolish his own argument for the superiority of the gold standard. Von Mises writes:
attempts of labor unions to drive wages up higher than they would have been on the unhampered market… have nothing to do… actual money prices are higher or lower. Labor unions no longer contend over the height of money wages, but over the height of real wages…. Thus no reason remains for assuming that an increase in the gold supply must, in a particular case, improve the situation…
If that is correct, then there is also no reason for assuming that any monetary change can help or hurt. Most particularly, if real wages are that sticky, then von Mises's claim that you cure depressions by creating huge amounts of excess unemployment, smashing unions, thus putting downward pressure on wages, and so increasing the real money stock through that channel fails as well: wages simply do not fall, depression drags on, and you lose decades.
ANOTHER NOTE ON VON MISES'S (AND RON PAUL'S) MONETARY MENTAL DISORDER
Our text remains:
Ludwig von Mises: Attempts to carry out economic reforms from the monetary side can never amount to anything but an artificial stimulation of economic activity by an expansion of the circulation, and this, as must constantly be emphasized, must necessarily lead to crisis and depression. Recurring economic crises are nothing but the consequence of attempts, despite all the teachings of experience and all the warnings of the economists, to stimulate economic activity by means of additional credit...
From my point of view, liquidity creation, duration transformation, and simple diversification are all attempts to make the law of large numbers work for us. They are largely successful attempts not to buy liquidity, immediacy, and Insurance from those who want to sell them, but rather to create them out of whole cloth--via clever applications of the principles of probability. As such, they are the preeminent examples of our largely successful ability to make the economy live beyond its means on its wits. Liquidity, immediacy, and insurance are good and valuable things: the marvel of financial engineering is that it creates them out of thin air.
But to von Mises, Ron Paul, and all their epigones, these forms of financial engineering are all terrifying.
I think that the deep point of view underlying von Mises's--and von Hayek, and Marx, and Ron Paul--complaint against fiat money in general and monetary management of the business cycle in particular is this: that value comes from human sweat and toil, not from being clever. Thus it is fine for money to have value if it is 100% backed by gold dug from the earth by sweat and machines and muscles (even if there is no state of the possible future world in which people actually want to exchange their pieces of paper for the gold that supposedly backs it). But it is not fine for money to have value simply because it is useful for buying things. There is, von Mises--and Marx, and von Hayek, and Ron Paul--think, something profoundly wrong on an economic and on a moral level with procedures that create value that is not backed by, in Marx's case, human labor, and in von Mises's and von Hayek's case human entrepreneurial ingenuity. And in its scarier moments some of the trains of thought emanating from this deep point of view slide over to: "good German engineers (and workers); bad Jewish financiers" (and "good Russian Stakhanovites, bad Jewish Trotskyite intellectuals").
Note that this does not just apply to fiat money produced by a government.
This applies to all financial market asset valuations in excess of capital cost of production (or perhaps the value of the inventions of the gigantic Krell-like brain of John Galt). They are, to von Mises, all cheats. Thus Von Mises loathes fractional reserve bankers and IPO-mongers as much as he loathes modern central bank chairs.
The "value equals cost of production constant returns to scale" viewpoint is an astonishingly powerful set of blinders to wear.
Anybody have a better theory?
HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES: FRIEDRICH HAYEK'S ACCURSED LOVE FOR GOLD
March 2009:
A Note on Friedrich Hayek and Lionel Robbins in the Great Depression...: Larry White continues his war with Milton Friedman over Friedman's condemnation 25 years ago of "the London School (really Austrian) view that I referred to... when I spoke of 'the atrophied and rigid caricature [of the quantity theory] that is so frequently described by the proponents of the new income-expenditure approach and with some justice, to judge by much of the literature on policy that was spawned by the quantity theorists'. This time I appear to be Friedman's proxy:
Lawrence White: DeLong acts as though he is unaware (though elsewhere he has indicating having read my paper) Hayek's and Robbins' monetary policy norm was not that the central bank should let a deflationary monetary contraction procede. Rather, the central bank should stabilize nominal income MV, meaning expand M to offset a drop in V, and expand the monetary base to offset a drop in the money multiplier...
Since Friedman can no longer speak, let me say that I still agree with him. I think that White's painting of Hayek and Robbins as people who wanted to stabilize MV is completely wrong--it is Ben Bernanke and the inflation targeters who want to stabilize MV, not Hayek and Robbins. If you had asked Hayek back at the time, he would have said that increasing the monetary base from 1929-1933 in order to offset the decline in monetary velocity was the very last thing that he wanted to see done. Stabilizing MV at its 1929 level was not on his or Robbins's agenda by any means.
In fact, he did say so.
Let me pull out his 1932 denunciation of monetary policies that stabilize the price level:
Hayek (1932), "The Fate of the Gold Standard": ...the extraordinary influence exercised by two particular representatives of... the concept of a systematic stabilization of the price level... Irving Fisher and Gustav Cassel... succeeded in making the concept of price stabilization as the objective of monetary policy into a virtually unassailable dogma... the influence of which upon actual developments it is impossible to overestimate.... […] It was not a big step from the desire to be released from the unpleasant necessity of adapting the general standard of living to the lower level of national income by reductions in wages and prices, to a theoretical justification of a monetary policy which rendered inoperative the tendencies of the gold standard in that direction.... The most important error is the distinction drawn between temporary movements of gold... [which] should not be allowed to bring about any changes in the domestic volumes of credit, and 'genuine' movements.... What is left unexplained in this is why movements of gold should under any circumstances represent movements of capital that are not genuine.... [T]he great monetary theorists of the classical period from Ricardo onwards always insisted that a non-metallic circulation of money ought always to be so controlled that the total volume of all money in circulation changes in just the same way as would happen if gold alone were in circulation....
[T]he artificial prevention of the fall in prices... up to 1929... is not meant to depict the fall in prices which has occurred since then as innocuous.... Instead of prices being allowed to fall slowly [from 1918 to 1929]... such volumes of additional credit were pumped into circulation.... Whether such inflation merely serves to keep prices stable, or whether it leads to an increase in prices, makes little difference...
Today I would note that Hayek appears to share the gold fetishism of von Mises and others: the "great monetary theorists" insist that the proper monetary policy has the money supply "controlled [so] that the total volume of all money in circulation changes in just the same way as would happen if gold alone were in circulation".
Thus if improvements in gold mining technology halve the cost of production of gold and so double the price level, that--according to Hayek--does not produce any price system distortions that lead to overinvestment and require a prolonged and painful liquidation to put things right. But if a fiat-money government were to undertake policies that double the price level in the absence of improvements in gold mining technology, that would produce price system distortions that lead to overinvestment and require a prolonged and painful liquidation to put things right.
Needless to say, there is no coherent model of a monetary economy in which this could possibly be correct.
Thus I interpret it as the survival at a prelogical level of a deep attachment to a cost-of-production theory of value, whereby it is the sin of the Mammon of Unrighteousness for anything that can be produced as cheaply as fiat money is to actually have value, and that sin must bring fearful retribution from the Gods of the Market. |
Lionsgate
Hey, did you know that Suzanne Collins’s apocal-epic YA trilogy “The Hunger Games” is set to hit the big screen this weekend? Not a surprise? Maybe it’s because, you know, it’s all anyone’s been talking about for pretty much forever.
What’s ironic — and by ironic, we mean “Alanis Morisettian irony,” e.g., not actually ironic — is how saturated the conversation around “Hunger Games” is with the language of one-on-one, winner-take-all violence: “‘The Hunger Games’ vs. ‘Harry Potter’!” “Can ‘The Hunger Games’ crush ‘Twilight’?” “Imax aims to kill with ‘Hunger Games’!”
Why, it’s almost as if the movie were…a teenaged contestant in a deadly populist amusement engineered by the leering master of a dystopian future world! Ha ha, that sounds familiar. You know, because it’s exactly the theme of “The Hunger Games” itself? But wait, it’s also eerily reminiscent of another book-turned-movie about kids violently murdering other kids: Japanese cult author Koushun Takami’s “Battle Royale,” which was published as a light novel in 1999, adapted into a hit feature film in 2000 and then turned into several equally popular manga series (the third of which, a two-chapter spinoff titled “Battle Royale: Angels’ Border,” just came out in January).
So let the real battle begin–between “The Hunger Games” and “Battle Royale”!
Find out who wins after the jump, and hear from “Battle Royale” movie producer Roy Lee. |
Share. "We never want to close doors like that.” "We never want to close doors like that.”
BioWare has stated that it currently does not expect to port the new entry in the Mass Effect series to Nintendo's latest console, the Switch.
"We’re not planning on it," Mass Effect Andromeda Producer, Michael Gamble explained to Stevivor. However, he did make clear that consumer demand could change that stance:
"If the Switch launches and everyone’s just yammering for Mass Effect, who knows. [sic] We never want to close doors like that.”
Exit Theatre Mode
Last year, EA indicated that it would be bringing one of its "bigger games" to Switch, but it's now clear that Andromeda was not the game in question.
We may well discover which EA franchise will make the jump next week, on January 13, when Nintendo reveals more about the Switch in a Nintendo Direct broadcast, followed by hands-on events across the globe.
Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he hopes the EA Switch game is a new Army of Two, made just to freak people out. Follow him on Twitter. |
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Surprise! Donald Trump’s self-declared “softening” on immigration is gone, replaced by a recommitment to a hardline policy that could best be described as mass deportation.
Shouting his remarks to a fired-up crowd in Arizona, which has been home to some of the most contentious immigration policy fights of the last decade, Trump pledged a maximal approach that would target every undocumented immigrant in the country without mercy.
“There will be no amnesty,” Trump said. “Our message to the world will be this: You cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country.”
Related: Trump Meets With Mexican President But Dispute Emerges Over Wall
The speech came just hours after Trump appeared in Mexico, where he struck a more conciliatory tone after meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. Trump’s warm-up speakers Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) wore “Make Mexico Great Again Also” hats.
"We will build a great wall along the southern border,” Trump said in Arizona before being drowned out by cheers. “And Mexico will pay for the wall."
Whatever crisis of conscience Trump had this month after talking to Hispanic supporters and hearing tales of longtime residents torn from their families passed in the rear-view mirror. Instead, Trump used his remarks in Arizona to reassure his core supporters that he would focus on deporting criminals, but remain true to his original pledge to target all undocumented immigrants without mercy, whether illegal workers or DREAMers or the parents of U.S. citizens.
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“We will set priorities, but unlike this administration, no one will be immune or exempt from enforcement,” Trump said.
After repeating horrifying tales of murders and rapes committed by undocumented immigrants that he highlighted at his convention, Trump said that anyone who enters the country illegally would be "subject to deportation” and that "is what it means to have laws."
Trump’s only advice to undocumented immigrants was to leave the country and try to enter legally. There is no current means for the overwhelming majority to do so — many are barred under current law from even applying for years — and Trump offered no plans to expedite their reentry. In fact, he suggested he would restrict legal immigration levels further in order to reduce competition with American workers.
Meanwhile, Trump promised a far more sweeping enforcement regime to carry out his hard turn.
Related: Trump Sticks to Hard Immigration Line After Meeting With Peña Nieto
He said he would create a “new special deportation task force” to focus on tracking criminals. But he also promised a major expansion of enforcement in general, including a recommitment to an earlier proposal to triple the number of ICE agents devoted to enforcing immigration laws within the country. He proposed requiring all businesses to use an e-verify system to screen illegal workers and a return to work-site raids.
“If we only enforce the laws against crime, then we have an open border to the entire world,” Trump said.
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Trump also pledged to deport any undocumented immigrant taken in by law enforcement without regard to the severity of their crime or whether they were convicted. To add teeth to this measure, he threatened to cut off federal funding to any “sanctuary city” that ordered local authorities not to work with federal immigration officials.
“We will issue detainers for illegal immigrants who are arrested for any crime whatsoever and they will be placed in immediate removal proceedings — if we even have to do that,” Trump said.
To the extent there was a pivot, it appeared to be from the hard right to the alt right.
“I think I'll watch this speech every night before going to bed so that I will sleep like a baby,” conservative author Ann Coulter, who had chided Trump for waffling on immigration earlier this month, tweeted.
At the end, he offered a briefest nod to a possible point, far in the future, when he might consider a “discussion” about what to do with remaining undocumented population, a line that contradicted his earlier pledge in the speech to never entertain legalization.
But the overall message was clear. When it comes to Trump’s platform now, and not in some hypothetical land where illegal immigration has been ended, the plan is mass deportation. |
India’s failure to provide security to Pakistan’s commentators and match officials, following Shiv Sena’s hooliganism, has forced Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar to quit the ongoing India-South Africa series and head home early, ESPNcricinfo reported.
The development comes a day after the International Cricket Council (ICC) withdrew Pakistan's Aleem Dar from officiating in the rest of the India-South Africa series after threats from far-right political group Shiv Sena.
Akram’s agent Arsalan Haider told Cricinfo that after commentating in fourth one-day international in Chennai, the former Pakistan captain will return home on October 23, along with Akhtar who is also part of Star Sports' commentary team.
The final ODI between India and South Africa is scheduled to be played in Mumbai on October 25.
Mumbai has traditionally been a stronghold of Shiv Sena and the party has in the past, too, protested against the participation of Pakistani players. However, it is worth noting that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), often labelled as a “Hindu revivalist” party, is in power in the state.
The drama began on Monday when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan was due to meet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar.
Manohar had invited Shaharyar to discuss the prospect of a bilateral series between the two countries. But as soon as Shaharyar reached the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, some workers of Sena stormed into the building protesting the PCB chief’s visit and shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, while talking to Cricinfo, urged the Indian people to maintain the country’s image ahead of the World T20 in 2016.
“There was a possibility of a protest in Saurashtra too where more than 50000 spectators attended. What is the threat and what is the perception, I can't get into it,” said Thakur.
“India has to host the World T20 in 2016 so it is the responsibility of every Indian to maintain the image that we have of appreciating and enjoying performances of even the opponents. Political issues should be kept aside.”
India-Pakistan series not discussed in PCB-BCCI meeting
It is clear though that the BCCI is unwilling to move forward on the prospects of cricket between the two teams and will let the Indian government have a final say on the matter.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan met Indian Premier League chief Rajiv Shukla on Tuesday but in a bizarre statement by the latter, 'cricket was not discussed.'
Shukla described the meeting between officials of the two boards at his residence as a 'courtesy call' after Monday's developments.
“It was a courtesy call, we exchanged pleasantries, there were no official talks. Whatever talks happen will be done by the BCCI President, he will take a final call on these matters,” DNAIndia quoted Shukla as saying after the meeting.
“The series, whether it will happen or not, where it will happen, how it will happen, will be decided only after talks, if at all the talks take place.
“We should not jump to conclusions. Process of dialogue should be on. When that dialogue will happen is upto the BCCI President,” Shukla said. |
Dead shark found in New York City subway
The shark was reported around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on train #8994 and has since been disposed of, however, there is still no explanation as to how the shark got on the train in the first place.
Someone isn't having a very good Shark Week. Riders on the New York City N-train were baffled to find a small, dead shark lying beneath the seats, according to the Huffington Post.
Riders adapted to the shark very quickly, even equipping it with a Red Bull, a cigarette and a MetroCard. According to redditor GHM517, passengers dubbed the shark "Nelson."
Last year, a man was attempted to sell a similar-looking shark that bit him while he was at Coney Island on the J-train for $100.
For those speculating that this could be a publicity stunt to promote Shark Week, think again. Discovery Channel released the following statement to the media:
"Shark Week is all about shark conservation, so it deeply saddens us that someone would think that this was funny or in any way connected to our celebration of sharks."
For the full story, visit HuffingtonPost.com. |
North Carolina State defensive back David Amerson entered the 2012-13 college football season as one of the top rated cornerbacks in the nation. Amerson had received high praise and was even viewed as a potential top ten pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
This season, Amerson took a step back and highlighted the concerns that scouts had in his game, but that hasn’t stopped him from making his next move.
Sources tell FanSided.com that Amerson will declare for the 2013 NFL Draft.
Despite taking a step back in production and being exposed for a lack of long speed, Amerson is ready to make the jump to the pros to showcase his skill.
“He is ready to make the move and there isn’t much anyone can do to convince him to stay,” one source said.
When another source was asked if Amerson was bolting for the NFL they said, “Yeah, he definitely is.”
While he does not have the same buzz as when he entered the season, Amerson could still be a top three pick thanks to his ball-hawking ability and his instincts to track down the ball.
The speed concerns could cause Amerson to be looked at as strictly a safety, but his size could garner him some looks from a Cover 2 team higher in the draft.
An early projection for Amerson would be the third or fourth-round. |
With the new Apple TV about to hit stores later this week, the whole community of users and developers alike is buzzing about the changes it could bring to the ecosystem. The main change is, of course, the apps that are now becoming the core of the platform, together with the new operating system, tvOS. With the new platform come the new design principles, as well as new ways of building applications.
Although the first reviews of the new Apple TV might sound not exactly as positive as we would’ve expected, it’s clear that after a few more iterations we’ll see a great polished thing that’s a pleasure to work with. (You do remember how the first iPhone felt, right?)
What else is clear is that the platform itself will live and die by the apps created on it. Therefore, the first impressions of developers about the platform could turn out to be even more important than those of actual customers. Fortunately, the programmers appear to be quite pleased by the prospects and possibilities of tvOS.
What’s new
Some of the first critics of the new Apple TV platform have already mentioned that the experience is quite like having an iPhone on your TV screen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though: among other things, it means that the tvOS can be as intuitive and smooth as iOS, which isn’t something you see in Smart TVs or set-top boxes too often.
Before going further to technical details, check out the recent presentation of our Anna Iurchenko about the UX and interaction on Apple TV.
We’ve visualized tips of “Apple TV Design Principles for App Developers” in a presentation and one-page infographics.
Download PDF.
From the developer’s standpoint there’s also quite a few differences between tvOS and good ol’ iOS.
First of all, TVs don’t normally have touch screens, which means working with user input very different in tvOS. Prolific Interactive’s Thibault Klein explains the new way of doing things:
We are accustomed to developing apps with open-ended interfaces, allowing the user to navigate as they please; with tvOS, however, we now have to change our thought-process to a more linear navigation, one where users can only move from element to element in a strict fashion. To resolve this major issue and provide a good user experience, Apple worked on a focus engine that will help users seamlessly navigate the different elements of your app.
The focus engine is basically the concept, under which only one element on the screen is active at any given time. The user changes focus by using the remote (or a third-party controller), swiping on the touch surface or pressing buttons.
Normally you don’t need to do anything to tell the platform when and how to change focus, but there might be some exceptions, as explained in Apple’s App Programming Guide for tvOS:
Focus automatically updates when necessary most of the time, but sometimes your app needs to trigger a focus update programmatically. Any focus environment can request a focus update by calling setNeedsFocusUpdate, which resets focus to that environment’s preferredFocusedView.
In addition to the touch surface and buttons on various controllers, input options include the microphone (i.e. Siri, which currently can perform a limited amount of tasks and is only available in certain countries) and gyroscope. The latter is mostly used for gaming but it still makes sense to keep it mind when designing your app.
What works and what doesn’t
Experienced iOS developer Chris Wagner has explained what to do in order to start developing your first tvOS app:
tvOS is built upon iOS and lends many of the same frameworks that you may already be familiar with. In order to develop for tvOS you will need to download Xcode 7.1 from the developer center. This is a beta version of Xcode that includes support for tvOS, and a tvOS Simulator. You can install the Xcode 7.1 beta alongside Xcode 7 GM if needed. When you develop an Apple TV app, it will be a separate target which implies that tvOS apps would be a separate purchase for customers. However, in the keynote Apple said there would be support for ‘universal purchases’ where customers could purchase an iOS and tvOS app for a single price.
There are two different ways to build an app for tvOS: in Obj-C or Swift, using iOS frameworks like Storyboards, UIKit, and AutoLayout, or with the new set of tools that includes TVML, TVJS and TVMLKit.
TVML is an XML-based markup language (the actual abbreviation stands for Television Markup Language) that is used to create individual pages. TVJS, on its turn, is a set of JavaScript APIs that allows you to display your content. And TVMLKit is the link that connects TVML, JavaScript code and your actual tvOS app together.
In Apple’s TVML Reference, you can find 18 templates to start building TVML files for your app.
Limitations
Developers who are about to start building apps for tvOS will face a few limitations they most probably didn’t have to deal with before.
First of all, the app size is limited by 200 MB. If you need more data downloaded to the consumer’s device, you’ll have to use the “On-Demand Resources” APIs to arrange for fetching of the additional data.
Second limitation is about local storage, which is simply not available on tvOS. If your app needs to keep any kind of data, which is usually the case, you’ll have to either use iCloud Kit or go ahead and set up your own cloud back-end.
To make the developer’s life even more difficult, Apple decided not to allow the use of web views to display content. This particular limitation has been discussed aplenty before, but it still could be a pain in the back. The idea here is that the ability to use JavaScript should make parting with web views easier.
Developers’ impressions
Let’s now move from the fact-based observations to more subjective impressions that developers have got about the new platform.
It feels quite reliable:
After working a little bit with the beta SDK, I am really happy to see that tvOS is pretty stable. I did not experience any crashes or major issues; however, my prototype app was also pretty basic so I may not have encountered them.
It’s well-documented:
For a brand new product, the documentation is already very detailed and helpful, for both UX and development. This makes it easy to jump in and make a solid, production-level tvOS app without much trouble since everything that you need to do is outlined very clearly.
The simulator is awfully big:
The simulator is huge. It simulates a 1080p display and, near as I can see, there’s no way to test it at a smaller resolution.
The simulator is big. Way to sell more 5K monitors, Apple. I am very glad my mac has a dual-head display.
The simulated remote may take a while to get used to:
You interact with the simulator using a simulated remote. You can’t just click around like you would in the iPhone simulator. After some reflection, I’m glad developers are forced to interact with tvOS apps the same way their users will.
The simulated remote feels awful. Maybe it’s just because I’m really bad at manual coordination but using this with a mouse is pretty bad. You use standard UIGestureRecognizers to detect most input as far as I can tell. There’s a new UIPress class for remote buttons and I assume like UITouch, each press has identifiers to map its lifetime.
To sum it up, it’s safe to say that currently there’s not many issues and pitfalls for developers in the new Apple’s platform. The new limitations and possible inconveniences are mostly something that developers just should get used to. Therefore, no reason not to go for it! |
This a summary of all the software and services that we recommend for personal privacy and autonomy.
In A Nutshell
The simplest actions to increase your privacy online:
Use a Virtual Private Network (like Private Internet Access) on all your computer and mobile devices (see our article explaining VPNs) Use a secure web browser like Firefox with privacy-mode turned on, and privacy enhancing add-ons installed (see details below); or use the Tor Browser, for extra privacy Use a search engine that doesn’t track you like StartPage (a Google mirror) or Ixquick (like StartPage but doesn’t include Google results) Use a reasonably private email provider (e.g. FastMail or Riseup) and a secure instant messenger like Wickr
More Details
Web Browsing
To make your internet activities anonymous, use a VPN (or Virtual Private Network) — see all our recommended VPN providers here.
For web browsing, use Firefox with privacy-mode turned on, and install these add-ons: HTTPS-Everywhere, Blur Disconnect and Cookie Whitelist. I also recommend disabling Java and Flash (either one can be a security risk — see an explanation here). You can selectively activate Java and Flash by setting the “Ask To Active” option in the plugin settings in Firefox.
You can turn off third-party cookies — these are cookies that are sent to advertising firms. Turning off these cookies just means you’ll be tracked less — it won’t affect your browsing ability. I prefer to turn off cookies completely, and use the Cookie Whitelist add-on to only accept cookies from specific sites that I log into.
Chromium is an open-source version of the Chrome Browser by Google. While I recommend Firefox as the most reliable browser for privacy enthusiasts, Chromium is probably a reasonable alternative for everyday web browsing. Chromium does have the advantage of being a speedier than Firefox in certain areas (such as start-up time). Here is a comparison chart and a technical discussion assessing the speed and privacy features of Chromium and Firefox. It seems that Chromium may make some behind-the-scenes calls to Google, but these can be blocked with a plugin or scripting.
Many of the privacy-enhancing plugins I recommend for Firefox are also available for Chromium, such as HTTPS-Everywhere, Disconnect and uBlock Origin
For a higher level of web browsing privacy, use the Tor Browser or Tails.
For a search engine, use StartPage or Ixquick because they do not track your searches. I like StartPage because it incorporates search results from Google, while removing all identifying information from your query, and returning the results anonymously from Google. Ixquick and StartPage’s privacy policy is periodically confirmed by two independent organizations — Europrise and Certified Secure.
Email and Instant Messages
For email, you can a use reasonably private email provider (FastMail, MyKolab, Riseup). To fully encrypt your emails you can use Thunderbird with Enigmail and GnuPG (please note that your email receipted must use encrypted email too, for this to work).
For instant messaging, use Pidgin or Adium (with Jabber). These are free applications that support encrypted instant messaging.
Mobile Devices
Currently, your best choice for a private mobile device is one that runs Android which is open source. However, the Android operating system provided with phones and tablets is often modified with the addition of proprietary applications from Google or others and may compromise your privacy. But you can replace it with either Replicant (a free Android distribution) or CyanogenMod (or compile Android from source for your device). See The Unlockr website for more information on how to unlock/root your device (or go directly to Cyanogenmod or F-Droid).
On Android, these apps support privacy: Orbot, OrWeb, Gibberbot, ObscuraCam, TextSecure, K-9 and APG, CSipSimple. There’s a full list here: Open Source Android software.
On iOS, these apps support privacy: Wickr, Atomic Web Browser, Chat Secure, Onion Browser.
Video / Voice Chat (VOIP)
Instead of Facetime or Skype (which was recently bought by Microsoft and has eavesdropping capabilities) look into these projects: Linphone (also Red Phone, Jitsi, GNU Telephony, Empathy or Ekiga).
Torrenting
I recommend using torrent client that support encrypted transfers like uTorrent, Transmission and Deluge. To avoid snoopers, I also recommend running a VPN that does not log your activities while torrenting (like Private Internet Access). Or you can run your own VPN using Open VPN. Alternatively, you can use a private file sharing application like Retroshare or OneSwarm.
Cloud Storage / Syncing
Dropbox is a great application, but it doesn’t encrypt your files before they leave your computer. You can use Truecrypt to create a encrypted container inside Dropbox to store your files. There are also open source cloud storage solutions: ownCloud and Tonido. Other good choices include Wuala, SpiderOak and Symform — these services encrypt your data before it leaves your computer. They can be challenging to set up, however.
Operating Systems
You can switch to the mostly open-source Linux/GNU operating system. Both Windows and Mac OS X limit your control when using your computer, and both systems have proprietary code that is not accessible to you. You can read about the problems with Windows, Mac OS X and the iPhone.
ThinkPenguin sells computers with Linux pre-installed — useful if you want to get started with Linux quickly.
If you want to install Linux yourself, try Luna, Mint Linux or Kubuntu. These are flavors of Linux that are easy to use and don’t require complex installations.
OpenBSD is probably the most secure Unix-like OS.
Trisquel is a fully open-source Linux distribution.
See also the Tails Linux distribution, which is focused on privacy.
Social Media
Instead of using Twitter you can use App.net or Glassboard. In place of Facebook, you can use Buddycloud, Friendica or Movim. These are social networking platforms with good privacy features, and allow you to retain control of your data.
Instead of YouTube or Flickr, you can use MediaGoblin.
Blogging
WordPress is a great free and open source blogging system.
Applications
Calibre is an e-reader that supports numerous e-book formats. It can remove DRM, and it converts and sends your e-books to e-reading devices.
VLC is an excellent open-source video player. XBMC and Plex are great media center applications. Clementine is a full featured music player (iTunes alternative).
Libre Office is an open-source alternative to commercial word processing apps like MS Office.
GIMP and Inkscape are good replacements for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Serious photographers should also check out the excellent digiKam, for photo management.
Other Lists Of Open Source Software
Update 2013: See also this the site Prism Break, which has info on opting out of global data surveillance programs like PRISM, XKeyscore and Tempora.
Here are some list of open-source software: the Libre Projects list, the Open Source God list (on Mashable), the Free and Open Source Software list (on Wikipedia). |
When it comes to goaltenders, the Canucks are stacked. The organization boasts Roberto Luongo – signed through the rest of this century, Cory Schneider – a bluechip young NHLer, and Eddie Lack – perhaps the best goalie in the AHL. So when Mike Gillis used his second draft pick at the 2010-11 NHL Draft to select 6,3 Czech netminder David Honzik, some fans were confused.
Last season, David Honzik was a QMJHL rookie with the Victoriaville Tigers. He struggled mightily with the transition and put up subar regular season stats. By seasons end, however, he’d won the starting job from veteran goaltender Antonio Masopietro and posted spectacular numbers in the QMJHL playoffs.
I asked Jerome Berube of hockeyprospects.com for his impression of the young netminder, and what he told me was very exciting:
Honzik was one of my favorite prospects in the Q this year. I’m not an expert in goalie prospects, but I have a good feeling that Honzik could be a good one at the next level. Great size, moves well in net, and he’s got a great glove hand as well. He had a really tough first half of the season, and a weak performance in the CHL prospects game. But he bounced back and had a good second half, and a great playoff run with Victoriaville. He won the team’s starting job by seasons-end over veteran Antonio Mastropietro. Another thing about Honzik, he was one of the youngest prospect available in the 2011 draft. Victoriaville expect big thing from him this year as they hope to contend with Saint-John and Shawinigan.
Honzik was born in August 1993, so he is extremely young. He’s also extremely raw – which, serves to explain why he struggled in the first parts of his QMJHL rookie season. For a young European netminder – moving to Quebec and playing in the Q is understandably a pretty significant adjustment from both a hockey perspective, as well as a cultural one. Nonetheless, based on the way Jerome was raving about him, it’s clear that Honzik impressed observers (and the Canucks brass) in his rookie season.
I decided to get a pro goalie scout’s take on Honzik, so I got at Justin Goldman (AKA The Goalie Guild) and asked him what he thought about Honzik’s performance and potential ceiling. Here’s what Justin had to say:
Before this season started, Honzik had never had real quality goalie coaching before in his life. So when you talk about "raw skilled goalies" – he is as raw as you can possibly get. For him to go from being this completely anonymous, raw skilled kid coming out the Czech Republic who really struggled in the first couple months of the season – he was a fish out of water on most nights – then getting that solid goalie coaching from Daniel Frechette, and for him to absorb all of this information that was thrown at him on a daily basis, and really push Antonio Mastropietro – who I personally think is a terrific goalie – then really take over and put it all together in the playoffs… Well, that’s why Vancouver drafted him so high. Honzik took his game to a totally different world from where he was to begin the season. And a lot of scouts will say – you take two goalies, one of them is really technically sound and plays really well, but then the other is completely raw skilled, but can compete as well as the goalie with the technically sound skill set – which one do you take? Well you take the one with the raw skill, because imagine how good he’ll be when he actually adds the technique to his game. And that was probably part of Vancouver’s thinking – look where he was to start the season, and look where he ended off – being one of the best Q goalies in the playoffs. I went into the draft with 3 sleepers and he was my first one… I think Vancouver got a good goalie, with really great potential.
What is emerging from these two observers critiques is a basic portrait of a young netminder: Honzik may be lacking in experience and polish – but the guy is young, has demonstrated an enormous capacity for improvement, and has the "raw" tools to be a really good NHL goaltender. He’s a project, and a long way off from being NHL ready, but with the organizational depth that Vancouver has got at Honzik’s position – the Canucks can afford to wait. Based on what Honzik has shown so far in his young QMJHL career, however, he’s worth watching closely – because he’s definitely got the upside, and may well be considered a major steal in a few years time.
We’ll end the post with some highlights from this years QMJHL playoffs, in this particular game Honzik made 39 saves in a losing cause against the loaded St. John’s Sea Dogs – who eventually went on to win the Memorial Cup. |
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, file photo, Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan points to his teammates as he is named offensive MVP after a 45-21 win over Maryland during the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, Calif. Hogan will return to school as a fifth-year senior, opting to make one more run with the Cardinal next season instead of enter the NFL draft or pursue other career paths. Hogan announced his decision via Twitter on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, the final day for underclassman to declare for the draft. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) (Photo11: The Associated Press)
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan will return to school as a fifth-year senior, opting to make one more run with the Cardinal next season instead of entering the NFL draft or pursuing other career paths.
Hogan announced his decision via Twitter on Thursday, the final day for early-entry candidates to declare for the draft. A couple hours later, junior cornerback Wayne Lyons tweeted he also would return.
The school confirmed both would be back.
"Some of the guys I talked to said to rely on your gut and don't make a decision you might regret down the road," Hogan said in an article posted on the Stanford athletics website. "This is something I can't regret. Coming back to Stanford really was a win-win situation for me. I'm happy, and I want to get back to work and get better."
Hogan's return should boost Stanford's chances to contend for the Pac-12 title. It also delays plans for his highly touted backups, freshman Keller Chryst and sophomore Ryan Burns, to take over the position.
Hogan helped stabilize the program after Andrew Luck's departure, leading the Cardinal to consecutive conference championships and Rose Bowl berths in his first two years as the starter before he and the program slid back this season. He has thrown for 6,518 yards, 48 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Hogan is 24-8 as the starter.
Stanford won its final three games this season to finish 8-5, with Hogan playing exceptional in each contest. That included beating Maryland 45-21 in the Foster Farms Bowl on Dec. 30 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Hogan is on track to graduate in the spring and had been weighing whether to enter the draft, where he would likely have been a late-round pick at best. There also had been speculation he could transfer to a school closer to his hometown of McLean, Virginia, after his father, Jerry, died in December of cancer — something that hung over Hogan all season but he never publicly discussed.
Hogan said he never considered transferring and found those suggestions "kind of funny."
"A lot of my decision wasn't necessarily related to the football program," he said. "It was the school in general. I feel I can further dedicate myself academically and possibly get my master's degree next year. There's no better locker room in the country and I wasn't ready to leave these guys."
Had Hogan left, Stanford coach David Shaw believed he had two capable successors.
Chryst was one of the country's top pocket-passers coming out of high school before redshirting this season, and the strong-armed Burns also would've challenged for the job. Now both will likely compete to be Hogan's backup.
Evan Crower, who played behind Hogan the last two seasons, will be a fifth-year senior next season and could be a candidate to transfer. Left tackle Andrus Peat and cornerback Alex Carter previously announced they would forgo their final year of eligibility at Stanford and enter the draft.
While the Cardinal are losing top playmaker Ty Montgomery and several starters on defense to graduation, the offense should be loaded.
Four of five starters will be back on the offensive line, and Hogan should have no shortage of targets. Wide receiver Devon Cajuste and electric playmaker Christian McCaffrey will be back along with emerging tight ends Austin Hooper, Eric Cotton, Greg Taboada and Dalton Schultz.
___
Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
#checkins-per-month: We had 7,771 checkins in August 2013 . This is 10% above last month’s record 7,051 checkins.
. This is 10% above last month’s record 7,051 checkins. #checkins-per-day: We had 443 checkins on 26aug; this new record blew past our previous single-day record of 370 checkins on 02jul. During August, yet again all working days were over 200 checkins per day… in fact our lowest weekday load was 243 checkins on 08aug. 21-of-31 days had over 250 checkins-per-day, 11-of-31 days had over 300 checkins-per-day. 5-of-31 days exceeded our previous record of 370 checkins . Our first time over the 400 checkins-per-day threshold was 443 checkins on 26aug. Wow.
We had on 26aug; this new record blew past our previous single-day record of 370 checkins on 02jul. During August, yet again all working days were over 200 checkins per day… in fact our weekday load was 243 checkins on 08aug. 21-of-31 days had over 250 checkins-per-day, 11-of-31 days had over 300 checkins-per-day. . Our first time over the 400 checkins-per-day threshold was 443 checkins on 26aug. Wow. #checkins-per-hour: Checkins are still mostly mid-day PT/afternoon ET. For 11 of every 24 hours, we sustained over 12 checkins per hour. This month was the first month we went over 15 checkins-per-hour, and we did that for 3 of every 24 hours! Our heaviest load time this month was 1pm-2pm PT (15.4 checkins-per-hour – a new record), with close followup at 10am-11am (15.2 checkins-per-hour) and 2pm-3pm (15.0 checkins-per-hour).
mozilla-inbound, b2g-inbound, fx-team:
mozilla-inbound continues to be heavily used as an integration branch. Its noteworthy that as developers start to use other *-inbound branches, we saw mozilla-inbound reduce significantly to 16.3% of all checkins , the lowest ever usage of mozilla-inbound. The use of multiple *-inbounds is clearly helping improve bottlenecks (see pie chart below) and the congestion on mozilla-inbound is being reduced significantly as people use switch to using other *-inbound branches instead. All very cool to see and a definite part of the reason we hit new records this month.
, the lowest ever usage of mozilla-inbound. The use of multiple *-inbounds is clearly helping improve bottlenecks (see pie chart below) and the congestion on mozilla-inbound is being reduced significantly as people use switch to using other *-inbound branches instead. All very cool to see and a definite part of the reason we hit new records this month. b2g-inbound continues to be a great success, with 8.2% of this month’s checkins landing here, and as predicted last month, the percentage of checkins on this branch is stabilizing.
As predicted, usage of fx-team branch jumped for August, as it now had official full-time sheriffs coverage, just like mozilla-inbound and b2g-inbound. At 6.2% of checkins this month, its clearly a very active third place for developers to land. Usage of “fx-team” might grow a little more, over next month or two, before stabilizing. Having sheriff coverage clearly made a difference.
The combined total of these 3 integration branches is 30.7%, showing just how much our sheriffs are helping across the board.
mozilla-aurora, mozilla-beta, mozilla-b2g18, gaia-central:
Of our total monthly checkins:
2.0% landed into mozilla-central, slightly higher than last month. As usual, very few people land directly on mozilla-central these days, when there are sheriff-assisted branches available instead.
1.6% landed into mozilla-aurora, slightly lower than last month.
1.4% landed into mozilla-beta, slightly higher than last month.
0.5% landed into mozilla-b2g18, slightly lower then last month.
Note: gaia-central, and all other gaia-* branches, are not counted here anymore. For details, see here.
misc other details:
As usual, our build pool handled the load well, with >95% of all builds consistently being started within 15mins. Our test pool continues to improve. All the hard work by RelEng, ATeam and IT is paying off, we’re seeing more test jobs being handled with better response times. The work on fixing/disabling any tests that are hidden-yet-still-being-run is also improving our test situation. The peak per-day test load for August was 52,000 test jobs on 27aug. Still more work to be done here, but very encouraging progress.
As always, if you know of any test suites that no longer need to be run per-checkin, please let us know so we can immediately reduce the load a little. Also, if you know of any test suites which are perma-orange, and hidden on tbpl.m.o, please let us know – thats the worst of both worlds – using up scarce CPU time and not being displayed for people to make use of. We’ll make sure to file bugs to get tests fixed – or disabled – every little bit helps put scarce test CPU to better use. |
Michael Ernest Smith - The Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico: The Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan (review) - Ethnohistory 49:2
Book Review
The Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico:
The Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan
The Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico: The Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan. By Pedro Carrasco. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1999. xviii + 542 pp., preface, maps, tables, glossary, bibliography, general index, toponym index. $49.95 cloth.)
49.2 (2002) 451-453
Did the Aztec "triple alliance" exist? This question, first raised by Charles Gibson (1971), is answered in radically different ways by three recent studies of the Aztec empire. Here, Pedro Carrasco answers loudly in the affirmative. This scholarly tour de force about the tributary structure of the empire explores the complex and confusing distinctions between towns subject to the entire empire (the triple alliance) and those subject only to one of the three allies (Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan).
Susan Gillespie (1998) responds in the negative. She notes that descriptions of an imperial alliance in the earliest colonial documents are lacking and suggests that the alliance was largely invented in the mid to late sixteenth century by native elites and Spanish chroniclers. Unfortunately, Gillespie does not cite the original edition of the present book (Carrasco 1996), nor does Carrasco cite Gillespie's work in this 1999 English version. (There are few changes from the original Spanish-language edition, reviewed in this journal by Frederic Hicks [1999]). A third position on Gibson's question, presented in Berdan et al. 1996, takes an agnostic view of the existence of the triple alliance. These authors (including myself) were developing a bottom-up view of the organization of empire (in contrast to Carrasco's top-down approach) and decided that the issue of diverse and cross-cutting tributary arrangements was too complex to attack; indeed, it takes Carrasco 430 pages of text and 60 pages of notes to describe. Therefore we assumed for heuristic purposes that the empire was a unitary phenomenon and proceeded with our analysis. Because of the different approaches taken [End Page 451] by Carrasco's book and our study, the two works complement each other nicely with surprisingly little overlap.
The Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico is narrowly focused, and from that limited perspective flows its great strengths as well as some weaknesses. The thoroughness of Carrasco's research of early documents—both published and archival—is impressive. He brings a wide range of sources to bear on his analysis and includes frank discussions of the level of empirical coverage in the documents and the subsequent strength of his interpretations. The level of detail—including numerous lists of towns and maps—will deter nonspecialist readers, but the book is a gold mine of information for historians and archaeologists. Indeed this volume takes its place alongside the works of Robert Barlow (1949) and Peter Gerhard (1993) as an essential reference on the area covered by the Aztec empire. For example, Carrasco's book contains more details on imperial organization of the Gulf Coast area than do either Barlow's or Berdan et al.'s, and Carrasco's discussion of the chronology of imperial expansion improves on Ross Hassig's (1988) work. The downside of Carrasco's narrow focus is his failure to integrate the tributary organization with other imperial processes, such as exchange relations, elite dynamics, and ideology. The next step will be to attempt this integration.
Although Carrasco has copious documentation for the organization of the inner part of the Aztec empire (the Basin of Mexico, Morelos, and the Toluca Valley), there are fewer sources on the outer provinces, and I find his model of those areas less convincing. In order to sustain his argument, for example, Carrasco must rely on a novel interpretation of the tribute section of the Codex Mendoza, which is unlikely to find widespread acceptance. He suggests that the first tributary provinces presented in the codex—all located in the central part of the empire—were subject only to Tenochtitlan (i.e., not to the alliance as a whole), but that tribute from the outer provinces presented later in the document was destined for all three capitals of the alliance (69–76). There is no indication in the Codex Mendoza itself, however, for this change in meaning part way through the tribute section. Carrasco also errs in his discussion of the geographic origins of tribute goods, grossly understating the extent to which provinces had to engage in trade to obtain the goods they owed to the empire (435).
So who has the correct answer to Gibson's question about the existence of the triple alliance? I find Carrasco's model convincing, at least for the central part of the empire (for the outer empire, I prefer the interpretations put forward in Aztec Imperial Strategies). Gillespie's model rests largely upon negative evidence, particularly the paucity of references to an alliance in the earliest written sources. But she fails to mention that the vast [End Page 452] majority of our documentary evidence on Aztec social, political, and economic institutions (such as the triple alliance) dates to the mid to late sixteenth century. If one took a lack of descriptions in the very earliest sources to indicate the absence of phenomena prior to the Spanish conquest, one would have to conclude that numerous accepted features of Aztec society—from pochteca merchants to poetry and formal oratory—were colonial-period inventions. Nevertheless, Gillespie does bring up some important issues of colonial historiography that one wishes Carrasco had treated in greater detail. It is too bad that the authors did not cite each other's work on this question. In any case, The Tenochca Empire of Ancient Mexico is an important and timely work that will serve as a basic reference source for a long time.
Michael E. Smith, University at Albany, SUNY
References
Barlow, Robert H.
1949 The Extent of the Empire of the Culua Mexico. Ibero-Americana, vol. 28. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Berdan, Frances F., Richard E. Blanton, Elizabeth H. Boone, Mary G. Hodge, Michael E. Smith, and Emily Umberger
1996 Aztec Imperial Strategies. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks.
Carrasco, Pedro
1996 Estructura político-territorial del Imperio tenochca: La triple alianza de Tenochtitlán, Tetzcoco y Tlacopán. Mexico City: Fondo de Cultura Económica y El Colegio de México.
Gerhard, Peter
1993 A Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain, rev. ed. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Gibson, Charles
1971 Structure of the Aztec Empire. In Archaeology of Northern Mesoamerica, pt. 1. Gordon F. Ekholm and Ignacio Bernal, eds. Pp. 276–394. Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 10. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Gillespie, Susan D.
1998 The Aztec Triple Alliance: A Postconquest Tradition. In Native Traditions in the Postconquest World. Elizabeth Hill Boone and Tom Cummins, eds. Pp. 233–63. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks.
Hassig, Ross
1988 Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Hicks, Frederic
1999 Review of Pedro Carrasco: Estructura político-territorial del Imperio tenochca: La triple alianza de Tenochtitlán, Tetzcoco y Tlacopán. Ethnohistory 45: 809–11. |
by ohthewhomanity
Maybe I just have a strange fascination with NPCs, but I am yet again devoting an essay to them. This time, instead of carapacians, I’d like to babble about the most adorable little amphibians and reptiles in all the Incipisphere.
On every planet in Sburb there are technicolor animals, known as “consorts”. Known consorts include the yellow salamanders on LOWAS, the pink turtles of LOLAR, the red crocodiles of LOHAC, and the blue iguanas of LOFAF. The troll consorts are left mysterious and of unconfirmed species, though it’s implied that the angels Eridan fought–since they didn’t drop any grist when they died–were his consorts, turned hostile by Eridan’s aggression against them.
Their primary function appears to be cuteness. Each have an adorable, rounded design, are endearingly bumbling and harmless, and a goofy onomatopoeia (“glub”, “thip”, and “naknaknak”). Conversations with consorts usually turn to the comical, “I am a secret wizard. Behold my robes” and “MY GLASSES ARE TALKING TO ME MY GLASSES ARE TALKING TO ME” being two memorable examples.
The consorts also serve the usual function of NPCs in video games: they populate the players’ worlds and make those worlds run in usually unnoticeable but ultimately highly plot-significant ways. The salamanders’ trade network, the parcel pyxis, becomes essential in PM’s quest to deliver John and Jade’s packages. The crocodiles work the stock exchange in LOHAC, which Dave has to manipulate to learn how to use his time powers and make the trolls aware of the humans’ game session in the first place. The turtles and iguanas, while less directly significant, become members of Rose’s Complacency as she learns how to use her magic. The consorts also exist to give the players information about their denizen and to lead the players to their quest beds. In the Alpha Kids’ session, where the consorts are all long dead, they still provide worldbuilding; the messages they left behind on LOCAH explain that they built the crypts there to serve as their own graves, when Hemera told them the Nobles would take too long to arrive.
Another important trait of the consorts is their vulnerability. Their plight at the hands of the denizen and underlings inspires the players to action. Effectively, the consorts give the heroes reason to be heroes. John’s first successful use of the “windy thing” was to put out a fire in the salamanders’ village. The consorts also clearly idolize the players, viewing them as the answer to all of their problems and treating every object that comes from their houses and sylladexes–even the most crumpled of hats–as immeasurably precious (it’s possible that the most crumpled hats are more desirable because they have clearly been used by the humans). This hero-worship helps the players to believe that they are truly that great and powerful; for example, the consorts forming a Complacency to follow Rose almost certainly encouraged her to keep pursuing the dark magics as far as she did.
There is one consort who has been lifted to a higher level of significance by the players: a salamander known as Casey and Viceroy Bubbles von Salamancer, loving daughter and wizard’s familiar, and quite possibly a kidnapped child, but that’s the topic of another essay. |
KUSA - A little more than a week after multiple cyclists got flat tires from thumb tacks tossed on Deer Creek Canyon Road, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has a person of interest.
At least eight cyclists riding on the popular road west of Chatfield State Park were stopped in their tracks by flats. Sheriff's deputies believe hundreds of tacks were spread along the narrow two-lane roadway late July 2 or early July 3.
Cycling groups say the roadway is the source of an ongoing feud between bike riders and drivers.
Jen Barnhart and her cycling team headed out on the road around 6 a.m. Sunday, July 3rd, hoping to avoid the heat and drivers, when all of them got flat tires.
"That's where we started seeing tacks by the hundreds," she said.
They removed multiple gold thumb tacks from their wheels and spend an hour cleaning up more from the road so no one would get hurt.
"I was just really, honestly saddened that someone would endanger people to this degree in such an inhumane way. I think it's easy to just attack cyclists as a community, but I'm a mom, I'm a teacher, I'm a person. And my kids expect me to come home to them," said Barnhart.
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While investigating the story, 9NEWS found a piece of the 100-count packaging the tacks came in.
"The label that you guys discovered at 9NEWS when you were out covering the story, was greatly beneficial to us," said Mark Techmeyer, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The small piece of green and white paper lead investigators to a JeffCo King Soopers grocery store.
"Well, they were in the King Soopers the night before and purchased a large number of thumb tacks. So, coincidence? Maybe. But perhaps not, so we'd like to clarify that," said Techmeyer.
It's not clear exactly what this man in the dark baseball cap has in his hands in the photograph, but officials are calling him a person-of-interest they'd like to speak with. They're asking for the public's help to identify him.
Person of interest in the case where thumb tacks were placed on Deer Creek Canyon Road.
Barnhart said despite finding five thumb tacks in her tires during her Fourth of July weekend ride, she's not deterred and plans to head back to Deer Creek Canyon Road again soon.
"There is a way for cyclists and drivers, I think we can co-exist and I think we can make this work," she said.
If the person responsible for scattering the tacks is found, they face criminal mischief and reckless endangerment charges.
Anyone with information or who may have gotten a flat tire from this case is asked to call the JeffCo Sheriff's Office at 303-271-0211.
Copyright 2016 KUSA |
Today we announced the NASCAR Expansion for Forza Motorsport 6, which you can read more about here. Alongside the new content featured in the expansion, we are also releasing a content update today, which includes a number of brand new features. These features have all been created to improve the racing experience for Forza Motorsport 6 players and, while some are introduced formally in the NASCAR Expansion experience, all of these features are available to Forza Motorsport 6 players regardless of whether or not they have purchased the NASCAR Expansion.
This update to Forza Motorsport 6 is our largest and most significant content update to date. Here’s a closer look at the new features and how they will make the racing experience better for all Forza 6 players:
HUD Proximity Arrows – New on-screen HUD arrows will provide players with information on cars in close proximity. Especially useful for players who prefer to use cockpit or hood perspective when driving, these optional HUD proximity arrows indicate surrounding traffic and will give players that extra chance of avoiding costly wrecks.
Drafting and Drivatars – Making the most of the draft is more important than ever in Forza Motorsport 6. Now, players will be able to feel the intense effects of the draft on their cars’ performance as they fight for every inch at close quarters. In addition, Forza Motorsport 6’s Drivatar opponents have been refined to manage the intricacies of tight pack racing at high speeds, where every inch counts.
Quick Stop – In racing, victory has always required quick reflexes. Forza 6’s new Quick Stop feature means that strategy will play a bigger role than ever. In Quick Stop race mode, all cars are required to take at least one mandatory pit stop before the end of a race. As the race unfolds, choosing an early or late lap for your Quick Stop can be the difference between winning and losing.
Rolling Starts – Now players will have the option to select a rolling starts option for races. Rolling starts offer an exciting alternative to traditional standing starts, giving the players the chance to experience the thrill of green flag starts at speed. Rolling starts also allow the grid to spread out, in turn reducing the number of first-corner accidents.
New Damage Option – For Forza players that love endurance racing, we’ve added a brand new damage option – cosmetic damage with fuel and tire wear. This option is ideal for players who want to experience the challenge of racing long distances while their fuel burns down and tires gradually lose grip, without having to worry about a single crash disabling their car and ruining their race results.
Multiplayer Le Mans – Le Mans has returned to online multiplayer! For the first time in Forza Motorsport 6 players will be able to race on Le Mans’ Old Mulsanne and Full Circuit ribbons in multiplayer hoppers and Leagues. |
In the past century, the glaciers and ice fields of the European Alps have lost half their volume to global warming, and their continued retreat, like that of glaciers everywhere in the world, is accelerating. By 2100, many scientists predict, they will have all but disappeared. The meltdown has already disrupted the region’s sensitive mountain ecosystems and tourist resorts—some local communities have taken to laying protective white blankets over the snow and ice—but it has also opened up new avenues of scientific inquiry. As the glaciers recede, they are releasing some of the human artifacts that they have absorbed through the ages, including humans themselves. Ötzi, the five-thousand-year-old mummified mountaineer discovered in 1991, remains the most astonishing find. But hundreds of other archeological objects, preserved in remarkable delicacy, have also turned up—medieval crossbow bolts, coins of Roman vintage, a pair of twenty-six-hundred-year-old socks. In July, an employee of a Swiss ski company came across the mummified remains of a couple who had gone missing in 1942; they were found fully dressed, with their wartime identity cards, backpacks, an empty bottle, a pocket watch, and a book.
Last week, a paper in Scientific Reports described another recent find, of an object four thousand years old: a circular box, several inches wide, made of willow and pine and sewn together with twigs. It was discovered, in 2012, near the summit of Switzerland’s Lötschenpass, almost nine thousand feet up, and was dated to the Bronze Age. The recovery of a wooden artifact so old and well preserved would be remarkable under any circumstances, but this one contained something curious. “We saw that it has this amorphous glob in the middle of it,” Jessica Hendy, an archeologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and one of the paper’s co-authors, told me. She and her colleagues, led by André Colonese, of the University of York, analyzed the glob using a technique typically reserved for ceramics; it detects the presence of fats, revealing if a clay pot once contained, say, dairy or meat. But this time, and for the first time in the history of archeology, the analysis showed traces of grain—“some sort of wheat,” Hendy said, and barley or rye. Science outlets promptly began referring to the artifact as a lunchbox.
The Lötschenpass discovery fits in with the larger picture that archeologists are painting of ancient life in the Alps, Albert Hafner, of the University of Bern, told me. Hafner was not involved in the lunchbox paper, but from 2004 to 2012 he and a team of researchers conducted an exhaustive examination of nine hundred artifacts from a different mountain pass nearby. The items included a bow-and-arrow kit from forty-eight hundred years ago, rings made of braided twigs that held together the posts of pasture fences, and a wooden box nearly identical in age and make to the one studied by Colonese’s team. Taken as a whole, the artifacts indicate that the alpine passes, when they were open, were traversed often by herders and hunters. As far back as seven thousand years ago, people who lived in the lower valleys were bringing their goats and sheep to graze in high-elevation fields for days or weeks at a time. The wooden containers weren’t lunchboxes so much as bread boxes or dry mini-fridges—big enough to hold several days’ worth of meals, but light enough to schlep over mountains. Whatever one calls them, by four thousand years ago they enabled these early commuters to transform the alpine environment into their workplace. The grazing gradually lowered the tree line, converting forests to meadows and setting in motion wider changes that, a few millennia later, would make the impact discernible to scientists.
All of these insights are a testament to glacial storage, which can preserve organic material—wood, fabric, tissue—with unmatched fidelity. (Ötzi’s body yielded intact blood cells, and he was found to carry the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease.) But now the great coolers are vanishing, dumping out their stores in the Alps and around the world, spurring archeologists to action. In 2008, Hafner convened the first Frozen Pasts symposium, which brought together researchers from the United States, Canada, Norway, and other melting regions of the planet. (The fourth Frozen Pasts meeting was held last October.) In 2014, he co-founded the Journal of Glacial Archaeology, which shares the latest insights into Bronze Age arrows in Norway, Incan ice mummies in Argentina, and the pollen contents of caribou dung from ice patches in southwestern Yukon. Hafner is sanguine about the trade-off that climate change has presented. “What we should do as archeologists is use the situation and learn as much as possible,” he said.
But glaciers are fickle preservationists. Large ones aren’t much use, since they can slide between thirty and a hundred feet per year. “They’re moving quite fast, and all the objects inside are completely mixed and destroyed,” Hafner said. “People, when they come out after a hundred years, they come out in a hundred pieces that are found over twenty or thirty years.” The best finds—Ötzi, the artifacts from the mountain passes—have emerged from stationary ice patches of perhaps a hundred feet in length. “These are very rare events,” Hafner said. “If we find five more like Ötzi, that will be perfect.” Such ancient artifacts are becoming accessible at an unprecedented rate, but they are disintegrating just as quickly; wood items might last for a few years, but ancient leather will dry out and blow away in a week.
So glacial archeologists are in a hurry, racing to find whatever the ice disgorges before the ice is altogether gone. A report issued in April by the Austrian Alpine Association noted that, between October of 2015 and September of 2016, eighty-seven of the ninety glaciers it monitors had retreated, ten of them by more than a hundred feet and one by more than two hundred feet. When the glaciers go, their contents will go, too, and the discipline of glacial archeology, lacking anything to study, will follow soon after. Even so, Hafner is optimistic. “In the Alps, there’s still a chance to make good finds,” he said. “Not often, but when they come, they’ll be spectacular.” |
The Takenouchi manuscripts are a set of mysterious documents that were rewritten by a man named Takenouchino Matori 1,500 years ago in a mixture of Japanese and Chinese characters, transcribed from even older texts. According to legend, the original documents were written in divine characters many millennia ago by ‘the gods’. The unusual texts tell a story of humanity in a way that has never been told before, starting from the beginning of creation up until the emergence of Christianity. They talk of an era in our ancient past where mankind lived in peace and harmony, united under the rule of the son of a Supreme God.
The Takenouchi documents are said to be preserved by the Takenouchi family, descendants of Takenouchino Matori, son of the legendary Japanese hero Takenouchi no Sukune . According to Yamane Kiku in his book “The Authentic History of the World Secreted Away in Japan”, the original manuscripts were handed down from generation to generation and kept within the Kosokotaijingu Shrine in Mount Omijin in Toyama Prefecture.
It is not clear how Takenouchino Matori translated the supposedly ‘divine language’, but according to modern transcriptions, the Takenouchi documents describe the history of all nations in the ‘Divine Era’. They talk of an ancient world which evolved in four different periods of time starting around 300 billion years ago:
Seven generations of ‘heavenly gods’ in the Tenjin era, [Each generation has sub-generations the Tenjin Era (7 generations),
The Joko/Koto era consisting of 25 generations
The Fukiaezu dynasty consisting of 73 generations
The Kanyamato dynasty, which includes 125 generations, starting in 660BC and continuing to this day.
In the beginning, the story goes that the world was a sea of mud, which took 22 billion years to form. The first God and Goddesses emerged, the heavens and the Earth were separated and the Sun and Moon were created. Gradually, Earth took form during a period of 6 generations. In the fifth generation, the Gods gave birth to the Creator of Nations, who descended to Mount Kurai in Japan, dressed in a ‘shiny’ body. During the period of the seventh generation, various beings developed technologies including transportation and writing, weather control, farming technology and computers. This seventh generation started the beginning of the lineage of World Emperors starting with Sumera-Mikoto, an ancient Japanese word. The Takenouchi documents refer to the Sumera-Mikoto as the ‘Son of the Sun’, since he descended from the Sun God.
The children of the Sun God started the High Ancient Dynasty and after 8 billion years, their sons and daughters were sent all over the world to start their own nations. In the Takenouchi documents, the account of human creation does not follow the path of evolution. Rather, it was the Gods that created humans, and the sons of Gods created five types of coloured people (white, red, blue, yellow and black) and scattered them all over the Earth. Japan became the centre of the world, from where the Gods created races and dispersed them outwards.
The Koto Era was the womb of the creation of a unified world government under the reign of the first god emperor, the Sumera-Mikoto. Sumera-Mikoto divided the world into 16 regions with Japan at its centre, appointing a king to rule over each region. The crest off the Sumera-Mikoto, the 16 petal chrysanthemum, symbolizes the world and its 16 regions. This crest, known today as the Chrysanthemum Flower Seal is still used today as the Imperial Seal of Japan, a crest used by members of the Japanese Imperial family. Under the Meiji Constitution (1890-1947), no one was permitted to use the Imperial Seal except the Emperor of Japan.
The passport of Japan contains the 16 petal chrysanthemum. Image Source: Wikipedia
But the 16 petal chrysanthemum has not only been used in Japan. It was also present on the Ishtar Gate of Babylon (a reconstruction using original bricks is now shown in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin), at the Alhambra Palace in Spain, and at various locations in Rome, Egypt, and elsewhere. Is it a coincidence, or is there an ancient connection?
Bas-relief on the Ishtar Gate at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, showing three 16-petal chrysanthemums. Image source: Wikipedia
According to the Takenouchi manuscripts, the seat of this world government was located in the Hida Mountains in Japan. The Kosokotaijingu Shrine was the most sacred of all, dedicated to the ancestors of mankind. It is said that the shrine was built with a non-rusting metal called hihiiro-kane. According to the Takenouchi documents, all five coloured races of humanity visited the shrine to celebrate in an annual festival.
The documents state that Sumera-Mikoto made frequent tours all around the world. He travelled in a flying vessel called Ameno-ukifune (‘floating ships’). The documents tell us that the places that these vessels landed were named ‘hane’ (‘winds’). Many places in Japan have names that include the word ‘hane’. These, according to the Takenouchi documents, were ancient landing sites. Even today, one of the Tokyo airports is called Haneda airport.
The ancient social system was based on agriculture. People cultivated the land as farmers of the Sumera-Mikoto. The land was owned by the Gods but administered by the people.
Although the land was leased, there was no tax involved. There was no one to control or exploit them. People could enjoy the fruits of their labour. The Sumera-Mikoto aimed to bring happiness to his people, who in return loved and respected him.
However, Sumera-Mikoto would decide who would be king of a region and who not, he had the power to add or remove a person based on their governing abilities. This reminds us of the accounts given in the ancient Sumerian texts where the first kings were appointed directly by Gods, while the first kings were the Gods.
The Takenouchi documents also refer to pyramids. According to the documents they were either human-made structures or human-moulded hills that Sumera-Mikoto would use to communicate with the heavenly Gods. The texts mention the building of numerous ‘hiramito’ (‘shrines’) for the coming of the sun god. The word ‘pyramid’ is said to be derived from the word ‘hiramito’.
As with many other ancient mythologies, the golden era at some point comes to an end, usually when humans begin to be disobedient to their Gods, and this was the case during the Fukiaezu dynasty, which saw the end of many millennia of peace and prosperity. Catastrophic upheavals caused two continents in the Pacific Ocean, Tamiara and Miyoi, to sink into the sea and at the very end of this Era, an enormous earthquake caused a 200-metre tsunami that devastated Japan. These disasters were brought on by the ‘corruption’ of the human spirit. People forgot Sumera-Mikoto and became arrogant, provoking the wrath of their Gods.
One of the most peculiar aspects of the Takenouchi documents is the account of Moses and Jesus, who are both said to have ended up in Japan. Even more surprising is the fact that their supposed tombs can still be visited today. The so-called grave of Jesus (who is said to have lived up to the age of 106), can be found in the remote mountains of northern Japan in a strange little town known as Shingo, in the Aomori Prefecture. The town calls itself Kirisuto no Sato (‘Hometown of Christ’), and just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town is an 8-foot-high wooden cross surrounded by a white picket fence, which sits on a bluff in the woods overlooking a gravel parking lot.
According to the Takenouchi texts, Moses too ended up in Japan where he is said to have lived for 583 years. His supposed grave can be found today at the foot of Mount Hodatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Trying to unravel the origins and authenticity of the Takenouchi documents is now an impossible task as the original manuscripts were allegedly confiscated by government authorities and later lost. As a result, much speculation has circulated regarding the accuracy, and indeed the agenda, of the Takenouchi texts.
According to Ichiro Yamane, grandson of Kiku Yamane, who wrote the book “The Authentic History of the World Secreted Away in Japan”, the Takenouchi Documents were propagandistic documents, written by the Japanese military to justify the Japanese Emperor ruling the world. Remember that according to the Takenouchi documents, humanity started from Japan, and Japan was the centre of the world.
In the 19 th century, Kiyomaro Takenouchi founded an offshoot of the Shinto religion based on the Takenouchi documents. Could the manuscripts have been created to give birth to another religion?
Today the mainstream opinion is that the Takenouchi documents are nothing more than a hoax, and an elaborate one at that. Others maintain that they may have their roots in truth. However, with the original texts now missing, it is one mystery that will probably never be solved.
Featured Image: Takenouchi no Sukune, Japanese, 19th century, Source: Harvard Art Museums.
By John Black
References
The Takenouchi Documents
Behold! Christ’s grave in Shingo, Aomori Prefecture
Mahikari
Avery Morrow, The Sacred Science of Ancient Japan, Bear & Company, Canada
Related Books |
This year at New York Comic Con, Marvel went hard promoting Iron Fist, a show that’s gotten under my skin since it was first announced. I found myself standing in line for the Iron Fist photo booth, getting strapped to a heart monitor, when a young woman of Asian descent told me I had to “harness my chi” in order to take a good photo. She told me this through her teeth, as if annoyed at what she just said. I realized it was part of Marvel’s script for her.
“This is more involved than I thought,” I said. She laughed. I like to think she was acknowledging what I saw: that Marvel promoting a story about a white guy who learns learns kung fu in a fictional city somewhere in Asia is a little uncomfortable. I waited in line until a white guy working for Marvel ushered me into the booth, where I was told to “meditate” while the multi-lens camera warmed up.
Did I leap into the air when the guy told me to? Yeah. Do I love the photo that resulted? I mean, of course.
You have offended me and you have offended my family. #IronFist #NYCC A video posted by Eric Francisco (@ericthedragon) on Oct 6, 2016 at 8:53pm PDT
People do a lot of weird things in the name of Comic Con, and Marvel’s Defenders feel especially relevant to fans who live in New York City. A half-hour ride on the B Line takes you south from New York Comic Con into Chinatown, one of the most historic East Asian enclaves in the city. Like Brooklyn before it, Chinatown is undergoing rapid gentrification. The Defenders have always called the five boroughs home, but Marvel’s Netflix shows are either impressively faithful, or disappointingly lazy in portraying the people who have lived on its streets for generations. It’s difficult to describe how much of a bummer it is that Iron Fist won’t do for Asian Americans what Luke Cage attempted to do for Black Americans in New York.
Iron Fist’s problems don’t just center around casting Finn Jones as a kung-fu superhero. That decision, by the way, made most of the members of New York Comic Con’s #WhiteWashedOut panel audibly sigh. The real issue is that Iron Fist doesn’t seem to care about the very unique, rarely explored nuances of modern Asia-America, nor the neighborhoods associated with the multifaceted, blended culture. Iron Fist will fight in New York, sure, but based on Marvel’s released information, he won’t explore the neighborhood between Broadway and Essex. (Production hit up Liberty Street, which is close, but it’s still not really Chinatown.)
Hell’s Kitchen, once considered an Irish slum and the long-time territory of Matt Murdock, was kind of a wash in Daredevil. Unlike the real Hell’s Kitchen, it was a generic “rough neighborhood” which always seemed to be going through a power outage. Although Marvel’s Hell’s Kitchen was absent of its Irish roots, that history was presented through Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, a blue-collar vigilante plagued with deep Catholic guilt. Cox himself is of Irish ancestry, making him an organic and interesting choice to play the character.
Harlem in Luke Cage anchored another, better story. Vibrant, lively, and proud of its identity, Harlem as illuminated by Hodari Cheo Coker framed Luke Cage’s journey in a way that felt emotionally resonant to thousands of viewers. Barbershop conversations evocative of early Spike Lee, a soundtrack featuring Method Man and Run the Jewels, and the cathartic image of Mike Colter’s bulletproof black man in a hoodie all made Luke Cage the definitive superhero show 2016 needed. It was a show by Black America, portraying Black America, and it mattered to everyone.
Iron Fist is also a show engineered for everyone, but so far it appears to ignore the identity that could have made it truly significant. In geek culture, adaptations that stay true to the comic book source material often win loyalty among die-hard geeks, and that’s a group that can count me as a member. But, what worth is loyalty if artistic risks aren’t made in service of a better tomorrow? So Iron Fist was a white guy in the comics. Fine. Those comics were written in 1974.
Iron Fist, created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane a year after Bruce Lee passed, was engineered to capitalize on Lee’s popularity and the wave of kung-fu movies he inspired. But because of leftover resentment from World War II, the disastrous Vietnam, and centuries of Chinese exclusion since westward expansion, a cocktail of prejudice brewed in the center of the story, making cultural appropriation the only commercially appropriate way to tell a kung-fu story. White America liked Asian culture, but not Asian people enough to follow them as heroes. Because of that disconnect, Danny Rand has been white even through Ed Brubaker and Matt Faction’s definitive run, which renewed the character for a modern fandom.
2016 has been a landmark year for the heated discussion of including more Asian representation in Hollywood, and Iron Fist crashed into it like a truck full of Wonder Bread. The argument against an Asian Danny Rand is that Iron Fist, Marvel’s kung-fu hero, will only enforce antiquated stereotypes. Then again, Bruce Lee is sometimes argued to have created stereotypes instead of destroying them. Pre-Lee, Asian men were simply depicted as sneaky, unattractive businessmen (that caricature, thanks to Trump’s “We want deal!”, has resurged), and post-Lee, we’re only strong, silent karate masters. We aren’t allowed to be funny dudes in romantic comedies, and we’re definitely not allowed to become Marvel superheroes.
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Listen. I love and appreciate #LukeCage - but the same joy Blk fans got seeing themselves represented, Asian-Americans deserve that too... — Rebecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) October 7, 2016
I simply don't understand this. Danny Rand has always been portrayed as blonde haired, Caucasian, fish out of water. https://t.co/yH8ppb17jX — robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) October 11, 2016
Asian-Americans live between two worlds, belonging to neither and needing to communicate with both. Iron Fist’s origin — an orphaned wealthy heir is taken in by monks in the fictional K’un-Lun to learn a magical martial art — is a story about outsiders. But Iron Fist’s definition of “outsider” is the kind that could only exist because of western supremacy in the 20th century. It’s not a story that belongs in the 21st century.
An “outsider” Asian-American Danny Rand, by today’s standards, easily could have been an Asian-American national who discovers his cultural heritage. That’s a real journey which many American-born Asians experience. To see that illustrated through the now-universal superhero myth would be unspeakably refreshing in the sea of Caucasian-led superhero shows like Arrow and The Flash. It would also be cathartic for real Asian-Americans who don’t get to see their experiences reflected in TV as often as their friends can.
There isn’t one way to “fix” Marvel’s Iron Fist, but a walk through Chinatown is a start. Who knows, maybe Danny could meet Shang-Chi. As for me, I’ll keep going to Comic Con, hoping for something more interesting. |
North Texas is now home to the largest concentration of paddling trails in the state.
Seven new ones opened Tuesday on Joe Pool Lake, the Trinity River and its West Fork, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Lewisville and Lake Bridgeport.
There are now 33 paddling trails across the state of Texas.
Lake Arlington's trail opened last year, the first in North Texas. It is a designated path carved out just for paddlers, offering a trek through nature's beauty.
Kayaking North Texas
The Beaver Pond paddling trail is part of a 2,000 acre nature preserve located in the middle of Lewisville. (Published Tuesday, May 10, 2011)
"It's about 11 miles in it entirety," Lake Arlington worker Clint Winn said last month. "Down south, there's a lot of like, trees and naturals, so there's lots of animals down there, and you see fish jumping out of the water."
Just two miles away, sporting-goods company Mountain Sports provides paddlers kayaks and instruction.
"That way we know that our customers are going to go out and enjoy themselves and be safe on the water," Joshua Walker, of Mountain Sports, said last month.
Paddling Down the Trinity River
A canoe trip down the Trinity River reveals wildlife and even a Native American campsite. (Published Friday, Aug. 28, 2009)
Business could pick up now that the seven new paddling trails are open.
"I think it will bring a lot more people out, and that makes me excited," Winn said. |
Charles Messier ( French: [me.sje]; 26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817) was a French astronomer most notable for publishing an astronomical catalogue consisting of 110 nebulae and star clusters, which came to be known as the Messier objects. The purpose of the catalogue was to help astronomical observers, in particular comet hunters like himself, distinguish between permanent and transient visually diffuse objects in the sky.
Biography [ edit ]
Messier was born in Badonviller in the Lorraine region of France, being the tenth of twelve children of Françoise B. Grandblaise and Nicolas Messier, a Court usher. Six of his brothers and sisters died while young and in 1741, his father died. Charles' interest in astronomy was stimulated by the appearance of the spectacular, great six-tailed comet in 1744 and by an annular solar eclipse visible from his hometown on 25 July 1748.
In 1751 he entered the employ of Joseph Nicolas Delisle, the astronomer of the French Navy, who instructed him to keep careful records of his observations. Messier's first documented observation was that of the Mercury transit of 6 May 1753, followed by his observations journals at Cluny Hotel and at the French Navy observatories.
In 1764, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society; in 1769, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; and on 30 June 1770, he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences.
Messier discovered 13 comets :[1]
C/1760 B1 (Messier)c/2760
C/1763 S1 (Messier)
C/1764 A1 (Messier)
C/1766 E1 (Messier)
C/1769 P1 (Messier)
D/1770 L1 (Lexell)
C/1771 G1 (Messier)
C/1773 T1 (Messier)
C/1780 U2 (Messier)
C/1788 W1 (Messier)
C/1793 S2 (Messier)
C/1798 G1 (Messier)
C/1785 A1 (Messier-Méchain)
Near the end of his life, Messier self-published a booklet connecting the great comet of 1769 to the birth of Napoleon, who was in power at the time of publishing. According to Meyer:[2]
As hard as it may seem to accept, the memoir is an ingratiation to Napoleon in order to receive attention and monetary support. It is full of servility and opportunism. Messier did not even refrain from utilizing astrology to reach his goal. Messier comes quickly to the point on the first page of the memoir, by stating that the beginning of the epoch of Napoleon the Great ... coincides with the discovery of one of the greatest comets ever observed.
Messier is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, in Section 11. The grave is fairly plain and faintly inscribed, and while it is not on most maps of the cemetery, it can be found near the grave of Frédéric Chopin, slightly to the west and directly north, and behind the small mausoleum of the jeweller Abraham-Louis Breguet.
The Messier catalogue [ edit ]
The Orion Nebula which Messier gave the designation M42 in his catalogue
Messier's occupation as a comet hunter led him to continually come across fixed diffuse objects in the night sky which could be mistaken for comets. He compiled a list of them,[3] in collaboration with his friend and assistant Pierre Méchain (who may have found at least 20 of the objects[4]), to avoid wasting time sorting them out from the comets they were looking for. The entries are now known to be galaxies (39), planetary nebulae (5), other types of nebulae (7), and star clusters (55).
Messier did his observing with a 100 mm (four inch) refracting telescope from Hôtel de Cluny (now the Musée national du Moyen Âge), in downtown Paris, France. The list he compiled contains only objects found in the area of the sky he could observe, from the north celestial pole to a declination of about −35.7°. They are not organized scientifically by object type, or even by location. The first version of Messier's catalogue contained 45 objects and was published in 1774 in the journal of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. In addition to his own discoveries, this version included objects previously observed by other astronomers, with only 17 of the 45 objects being Messier's.[5] By 1780 the catalog had increased to 80 objects.
The final version of the catalogue was published in 1781, in the 1784 issue of Connaissance des Temps.[6][7] The final list of Messier objects had grown to 103. On several occasions between 1921 and 1966, astronomers and historians discovered evidence of another seven objects that were observed either by Messier or by Méchain, shortly after the final version was published. These seven objects, M104 through M110, are accepted by astronomers as "official" Messier objects.
The objects' Messier designations, from M1 to M110, are still used by professional and amateur astronomers today and their relative brightness makes them popular objects in the amateur astronomical community.
Legacy [ edit ]
Messier's grave in Père Lachaise, Section 11
The crater Messier on the Moon and the asteroid 7359 Messier were named in his honor.[8]
See also [ edit ]
Commemorative plaque in his hometown of Badonviller
Notes [ edit ] |
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JACKSON, Tenn. -- Two people are dead after a shooting at the Bank of Jackson Monday morning. It happened at about 9:35 a.m. on University Parkway.
Police say 52-year-old David Laster shot 53-year-old Virginia Dorris before shooting himself.
Dorris was pronounced dead at the scene. Laster was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:35 a.m.
Investigators say Laster had a history of domestic violence against Dorris. He was arrested in September 2014, and a no-contact order was issued. The case was dismissed in February 2015.
"To actually hear the gunshots is kind of overwhelming. There's just no words for it," Latasha Williams, who was inside the bank at the time of the shooting, said.
Williams was inside the Bank of Jackson, on University Parkway Monday morning, when an apparent act of domestic violence claimed the life of a man and woman.
"Just never expected for an outside person to come in with their personal issues and take a life of somebody," she added.
Williams was opening a bank account at the time and didn't see the shots being fired or hear any words exchanged, and said it all happened in an instant.
"A blink of an eye...just a blink of an eye," she said.
Christina Oswald, who works at Sonic across the street, shared her story with The Jackson Sun newspaper about what one bank worker did after the first shot was fired.
"Tried to slap the gun out of his hand. And when she did, that's when they ran out the door and came running over here," she said.
The shooting prompted a lockdown at the North Side High School campus a few blocks away.
Principal Jason Bridgeman said the lockdown lasted about 30 minutes.
"We didn't let anybody in, didn't let anybody off campus. And our school resource officer secured the entry points of our campus and we went on about our business," he said.
The tragedy was especially hard for students and faculty because the branch of the Bank of Jackson where the shooting happened is where North Side does its banking.
"I'm sure it's someone we know in the bank. And so it's just devastating to our community. We're concerned for the family," Bridgeman said.
Williams said the incident left her with a greater appreciation for life.
"I would tell anybody to cherish your life. Cause you never know what's going to happen at the end of the day," she said.
Just last week, and about 18 miles away, a Humbolt bank employee was shot during an attempted robbery. |
Some of the best-loved ad images of the 20th century have names like Tony, Betty and Ronald. Others, like the Marlboro Man, may not be as beloved, but grew to have tremendous worldwide impact as an instant identifier of Philip Morris Co.'s Marlboro cigarettes.
From frozen vegetables to packaged cake mix, from fast food to automobile tires, these carefully drawn characters are the personifications of businesses that began small but grew to become dominant brands in their fields -- thanks in large part to their famous icons.
1. THE MARLBORO MAN PRODUCT: Marlboro cigarettes
DATE INTRODUCED: 1955
CREATOR: Leo Burnett Co.
The most powerful -- and in some quarters, most hated -- brand image of the century, the Marlboro Man stands worldwide as the ultimate American cowboy and masculine trademark, helping establish Marlboro as the best-selling cigarette in the world. Today, even a mention of the Marlboro Man as an effective ad icon brings protests from healthcare workers who see first-hand the devastation wrought by decades of cigarette smoking. More than any other issue, the ethics of tobacco advertising -- both morally and legally -- have divided the advertising industry.
2. RONALD MCDONALD PRODUCT: McDonald's restaurants
DATE INTRODUCED: 1963
CREATOR: McDonald's franchisee Oscar Goldstein and his local ad agency
McDonald's Corp. advertising executive Roy Bergold can testify to the reach and recognition of Ronald McDonald. But even he couldn't believe what he witnessed one day in Milwaukee.
"Ronald was visiting sick children and he came upon a youngster in a coma," recalls Mr. Bergold. "I watched as the child's eyes began to flicker as Ronald stood by his side. The boy actually regained consciousness during his visit. There's no way to explain how it happened or why, but it was nothing short of amazing."
3. THE GREEN GIANT PRODUCT: Green Giant vegetables
DATE INTRODUCED: 1928
CREATOR: Minnesota Valley Canning Co.
The Green Giant's national ad debut in 1928 was disappointing.
Minnesota Valley Canning Co. developed the Giant as a product trademark, but in his earliest days he was stooped and scowling, wore a scruffy bearskin and looked more like the Incredible Hulk than the grand old gardener he is today.
4. BETTY CROCKER PRODUCT: Food products including cake mixes, frostings, microwave popcorn and biscuit mixes
DATE INTRODUCED: 1921
CREATOR: Washburn Crosby Co., a forerunner of General Mills
Long before Martha Stewart, there was Betty Crocker. Betty was created in 1921 after a promotion for Gold Medal flour flooded Washburn Crosby Co. with questions about baking. To answer customers in a more personal manner, the company created a fictitious kitchen expert, pulling the name "Crocker" from a recently retired director of the company and adding the first name "Betty" because it sounded friendly.
5. THE ENERGIZER BUNNY PRODUCT: Eveready Energizer batteries
DATE INTRODUCED: October 1989
CREATOR: Chiat/Day
Say what you will about his long ears and drumming hands, the Energizer Bunny is one icon who's got legs. Marketing experts call it the "ultimate product demo" because it does such an effective job of showcasing the product's unique selling proposition -- long-lived batteries -- in an inventive, fresh way.
"The Bunny has become the ultimate symbol of longevity, perseverance and determination," says Mark Larsen, communications category manager for Energizer. During the past decade, everyone from politicians to sport stars used the Energizer Bunny to describe their staying power.
6.THE PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY PRODUCT: Assorted Pillsbury foods, including refrigerated dough, bakery mixes and rolls
DATE INTRODUCED: 1965
CREATOR: Leo Burnett Co.
Burnett creative director Rudy Perz was sitting at his kitchen table in the mid-1960s when he dreamed up the idea of a plump, dough figure that would pop out of a tube of refrigerated rolls. Since then, Pillsbury has used Poppin' Fresh in more than 600 commercials for more than 50 of its products.
Although Perz had originally conceived His Doughness as an animated character, he changed his mind after seeing a stop-action tilting technique used in the opening credits for "The Dinah Shore Show."
7. AUNT JEMIMA PRODUCT: Aunt Jemima pancake mixes and syrup
DATE INTRODUCED: 1893
CREATOR: Chris Rutt/Davis Milling Co.
Few commercial icons deserve to be called "cultural touchstones" of significant political and social change. But the Aunt Jemima trademark is one of them.
The image of the smiling black woman first appeared on thousands of boxes of pancake mix in the early 1890s, but throughout the 20th century, Aunt Jemima's trademark mirrored America's changing perceptions of African-American women. The idea of Aunt Jemima was first conceived by newspaperman and entrepreneur Chris Rutt, according to the Afro-American Almanac. Mr. Rutt and his partner, Charles Underwood, had developed and packaged a ready-mixed, self-rising pancake flour but they had not settled on a name or brand positioning.
8. THE MICHELIN MAN PRODUCT: Michelin tires
DATE INTRODUCED: 1898
CREATOR: Idea conceived by Edouard Michelin; artist's rendition created by O'Galop; DDB Needham Worldwide handled later executions
Andre Michelin commissioned the creation of this jolly, rotund figure after his brother, Edouard, observed that a display of stacked tires resembled a human form. The artist's sketches of a bloated man made of tires was exactly what the brothers had in mind.
One in particular, picturing the character lifting a beer glass and shouting, "Nunc est bibendum! (Now is the time to drink!)" seemed to embody Michelin's slogan at the time, "Michelin tires swallow up all obstacles."
9. TONY THE TIGER PRODUCT: Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes (later Frosted Flakes)
DATE INTRODUCED: 1951
CREATOR: Leo Burnett Co.
Only one famous feline (sorry, Morris) can rightfully claim he's the cat's meow of commercials: Tony the Tiger.
Adland's premier promotional pussycat was born in 1951, when Burnett was hired to create a campaign for Kellogg's new cereal, Sugar Frosted Flakes. Tony was originally one of four animated critters created to sell the cereal, but he quickly edged out Katy the Kangaroo, Newt the Gnu and Elmo the Elephant to become the sole star of the cereal maker's ad efforts.
ELSIE PRODUCT: Borden dairy products
DATE INTRODUCED: 1939 (first general magazine ad)
CREATOR: Stuart Peabody, Borden's director of advertising
Elsie started out as one of four cows (Mrs. Blossom, Bessie and Clara were her sidekicks) that appeared in a 1936 cartoon series featured in medical journals -- just four friendly bovines chatting together in a pasture. The ads were a big hit and doctors ordered reprints for their offices.
One day a radio commercial writer penned a letter supposedly written by Elsie and directed it to commentator Rush Hughes, who read it on the air. The gimmick proved popular and additional letters were read in subsequent broadcasts.
By 1939, Elsie was being featured in her own magazine ads and her campaign was voted the best of the year by the Jury of the 1939 Annual Advertising Awards. With the World's Fair approaching, Borden decided to feature a live Elsie in its exhibit, so company executives looked at 150 cows before settling on a 7-year-old Jersey named "You'll Do Lobelia." |
SEATTLE—If anyone had been wondering whether T-Mobile US would still be as committed to fair roaming agreements now that it’s growing like gangbusters, CTO Neville Ray reassured operator partners and potential partners that T-Mobile aims to be the “best damn roaming partner you’ll ever have.”
T-Mobile has been crowing about how much of the country it covers with LTE, even going so far as to say it covers nearly everyone that Verizon reaches. Verizon built its reputation on network quality and coverage over the years while T-Mobile, until recent years, struggled with the absence of a lot of low-band spectrum with which to work.
Smaller and regional carriers over the years also have complained about unfair roaming deals proffered by the likes of Verizon and AT&T, and even though T-Mobile is putting itself in or above those two in network power, it doesn’t want to mimic their behavior when it comes to roaming.
Mobile World Congress 2019 Attend the 2-Day Executive 5G Panel Series FierceWireless is returning to Barcelona, Spain, during Mobile World Congress 2019 with a two-day Executive 5G Panel Series at the Fira Congress Hotel, conveniently located across the street from the MWC Convention Center. The panel events will take place on Feb. 25-26 and will cover 5G and The Fixed Wireless Access Opportunity, Taking 5G Indoors, and Making 5G Ubiquitous. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and hear from 5G leaders including Verizon, Vodafone, Orange, Sprint, NTT Docomo, Boingo Wireless, Qualcomm, and more over the course of two days.
Secure your spot at the event today! Now is your chance to join fellow industry professionals for networking and education. Registration information and the schedule can be found on the website here. Register today
In the last 12-15 months, T-Mobile added 1 million square miles of LTE coverage, largely due to its new 700 MHz spectrum licenses, and that number is now approaching about 2 million square miles of LTE coverage. But the U.S. is a big place, and there’s still a long way to go, Ray told the audience here at the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) annual trade show. The group represents Tier 2 and 3 wireless operators – pretty much everyone except Verizon and AT&T. Sprint is also a CCA member, along with T-Mobile.
Part of T-Mobile’s footprint story involves CCA members with which T-Mobile strikes roaming agreements so customers can seamlessly roam onto their networks where T-Mobile doesn’t have its own coverage. "We want to be the best damn roaming partner you could ever work with,” Ray said. “But we need LTE.”
As FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in his keynote preceding Ray’s, LTE is now table stakes, and it should be available across the entire nation. “We want to do that through great roaming relationships” as well as its organic footprint, Ray said, stressing the need to cover more rural areas.
Some of T-Mobile's gaps in LTE coverage are being filled “by folks here in the room with us, through great roaming arrangements,” he added. “We want to continue that, we want to grow that. We don’t need to build all of this network ourselves.”
Another reason for operators to deploy LTE is for the next iteration of voice calls, which is VoLTE. “If we get LTE up, we have VoLTE," Ray said. "Sixty percent of the calls on the T-Mobile network today are on VoLTE, that is a global leading stat... So nobody in the U.S. understands VoLTE better [and] can help you more than T-Mobile."
Ray posed the question: How did little old T-Mobile come from nowhere and build what it asserts is the fastest LTE network in the United States?
“We’ve achieved more in the last three years in terms of footprint growth and LTE buildout than I’ve ever seen in the prior 16, 17 years,” said Ray, who has been working on some version of T-Mobile’s network for the past 21 years. “Our footprint is now 312 million covered people in the United States," very similar to a Verizon and AT&T number. “And we’ve come really from nowhere.”
For more:
- watch Ray's keynote below:
Related articles:
CCA: Shutdown of 2G networks 'an issue of concern' for smaller carriers
T-Mobile to start AWS-3 spectrum buildouts later this year, ahead of AT&T |
-Comey just now
EDIT: NO RECOMMENDATION OF CHARGES
Holy shit. My mom came into my room to bring me a plate of chicken nuggets and I literally screamed at her and hit the plate of chicken nuggets out of her hand. She started yelling and swearing at me and I slammed the door on her. I’m so distressed right now I don’t know what to do. I didn’t mean to do that to my mom but I’m literally in shock from the results tonight. I feel like I’m going to explode. Why the fucking fuck isn't she being indicted? This can’t be happening. I’m having a fucking breakdown. I don’t want to believe the world is so corrupt. I want a future to believe in. I want Hillary to be in prison and fix this broken country. I cannot fucking deal with this right now. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, I thought the FBI was recommending charges???? This is so fucked. |
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Overview
GamerGate refers to the online backlash against perceived breaches of journalistic integrity on video game news sites that occurred as a result of the Quinnspiracy, an online controversy surrounding indie game developer Zoe Quinn's alleged affairs with a number of men working in the video game industry, including Kotaku staff writer Nathan Grayson. The term has also since been used to describe the group of internet users, based mainly on Twitter, who claim that there is a lack of transparency within the video game journalism industry. These same people have also been criticized of practicing misogyny and sexism by many, through harassment and trolling, referring to their opposition as social justice warriors.
Background
The Zoe Post
On August 16th, 2014, game developer Zoe Quinn's ex-boyfriend Eron Gjoni published an online expose detailing their relationship called the Zoe Post. In the expose Gjoni claims Quinn cheated on him with several men in the gaming industry, including Kotaku journalist Nathan Grayson. These claims were subsequently refuted by Kotaku editor-in-chief Steve Totilo in a post on the website. In this post he claims that the only time Nathan mentioned Quinn was in a post about a gaming competition known as GameJam. The day following the publication of the Zoe Post, YouTuber MundaneMatt uploaded a video critiquing Quinn's game Depression Quest and commenting on the alleged affairs with men working in the video game industry. The video was subsequently removed due to a copyright claim allegedly by Quinn for using a still image from the game. On August 18th, YouTuber Internet Aristocrat uploaded the first in a series of videos titled Quinnspiracy Theory, in which he discusses the issue of cronyism in gaming media and the indie game development community. (For more information, please check out KYM DB – Quinnspiracy.)
Ethics in Gaming Journalism
As concerns over the alleged integrity of gaming journalists increased, it was discovered that several were actively contributing money to Quinn's Patreon account, including Polygon editor Ben Kuchera who had been donating to Quinn for several weeks prior to writing an article about her game. Kotaku writer Patricia Hernandez subsequently came under scrutiny as well when gamers began investigating her alleged romantic relationships with other video game developers. Similarly, many criticized sound designer Robin Arnott for having an alleged affair with Quinn while appearing as a judge in the Indiecade game competition, which gave Quinn an award for Depression Quest.
On August 26th, Kotaku editor Stephen Totilo posted a statement regarding the gaming news site's code of ethics, announcing that Kotaku journalists would not be allowed to contribute to the Patreon accounts of game developers. The same day, Polygon followed up with a similar statement announcing that all writers must disclose any contributions they have made to developer's Patreon accounts. Readers later released a statement condemning Polygon's new ethics policy for being unsatisfactory Some criticized the new policies for being unfair, while others suggested the policy change was the result of sexism and misogyny.
/r/KotakuinAction
On August 24th, 2014, the /r/KotakuInAction subreddit was launched by Redditor david-me. Modeled after the name of another social justice reactionary subreddit called /r/TumblrinAction, /r/KotakuinAction quickly established itself as one of the earliest ad-hoc communities to emerge in the wake of the scandal, amassing nearly 100,000 subscribers within its three years of existence. As the public interest in GamerGate began to decline in the latter half of the decade, /r/KotakuinAction became a broader social hub and a forum for those who share skeptical or critical views on the rise of social justice and the culture of political correctness.
Sexism in Gaming Culture
After the Zoe Post, many commentators online, including social justice bloggers, began to condemn the gaming industry, and the culture surrounding it, for being filled with sexism and misogyny. Many news sites began to report on these allegations, many of which saw this alleged harassment as proof of the sexism rooted within gaming culture. Among those who were targeted by this harassment included video game developer Brianna Wu, and actress/livestreamer Felicia Day.
On October 29th, 2014, video game critic Anita Sarkessian appeared on Stephen Colbert's late-night news show The Colbert Report to discuss sexism in the gaming industry. The clip of Sarkessian and Colbert's discussion was later uploaded to Comedy Central's YouTube channel (shown below), and was reported on by various sites such as The Verge and The Washington Post.
Notable Developments
#GamerGate
On August 27th, actor Adam Baldwin posted a tweet linking to Internet Aristocrat videos along with the hashtag #GamerGate." In the first week, the hashtag was tweeted over 244,000 times according to the Twitter analytics site Topsy (shown below left). By November, the hashtag had been tweeted just over 1.8 million times in the prior month, with an average of 50,000 tweets per day (shown below right).
Anti-"Gamer" Backlash & "The End of Gamers"
On August 28th, several news sites published articles calling for an end to the "gamer" cultural identity, including The Financial Post, Ars Technica, The Daily Beast, The Stranger, Beta Beat, Gamasutra, Polygon and Kotaku (shown below).
On September 1st, journalists and independent developers involved in this 'anti-gamer' movement published a signed open letter to the gaming community, asking gamers to end the harassment towards critics and developers. The following day, software engineer Benjamin Quintero published an article on Gamasutra questioning the strategy of gaming sites deliberately alienating their core readers by denouncing their culture. Shortly after, Quintero tweeted that he had been downgraded by the video gaming news blog. On August 30th, the GamerGate Harassment Tumblr blog was launched, which chronicled harassment of gamers by those associated with the online social justice community.
On September 3rd, YouTuber Boogie2988 uploaded a video responding to accusations of bigotry toward those who support GamerGate (shown below). In the first 24 hours, the video gained over 111,000 views and 7,000 comments.
"Bloggers" vs "Journalists"
Once the calls for journalistic integrity began to grow louder, various writers for mainstream gaming media outlets started publicly rejecting the title of "journalist" and began referring to themselves as "bloggers". During the PAX Prime 2014 Q&A panel on August 29th, several panelists made a point to repeatedly declare themselves as "not journalists." Contrary to the trend however, Kotaku stated that it hired "journalists" and not "bloggers".
#GameOverGate
On September 5th, Zoe Quinn posted a series of compiled screenshots from an IRC chat claiming it as evidence that GamerGate was a conspiracy started by 4chan to get people to harass women and gaming journalists. Immediately afterward, the hashtag #Gameovergate was created by Quinn's followers to mock the gamergate movement.
On the following day, The Escapist Magazine's Co-founder Alexander "Archon" Macris, visited the IRC channel to cover their side of the story in an article. In the article, the members of the channel shared how all the screenshots Quinn showed were taken out of context to mislead viewers or written by trolls attempting to disrupt the channel who were subsequently banned. Additional chatlogs were provided for the missing context.
"GameJournoPros" Mailing List
After several articles critical of the "gamer" identity were being posted on gaming news websites, people began speculating that journalists had worked together to promote a narrative against gamers that disagreed with them. On September 17th, Brietbart staff writer Milo Yiannopoulos posted a tweet hinting he had obtained information about a "co-ordinated approach" used by journalists who wrote the articles (shown below).
Later that day, Breitbart published and article titled "Exposed: The Secret Mailing List of the Gaming Journalism Elite," revealing a private Google group mailing list titled "GameJournoPros," purportedly used by gaming journalists cooperating to work against GamerGate. The article contained several screenshots taken from the mailing list, which discussed ways to approach the topic of Zoe Quinn and the GamerGate controversy (shown below).
Julian Assange's Reddit AMA
On September 15th, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange participated in an "ask me anything" thread on the /r/IAmA subreddit to answer about his new book When Google Met WikiLeaks. After Redditor ShaskaOtselot asked for his opinion censorship of GamerGate discussions on Reddit, Assange replied that it was "pathetic." After another Redditor pointed out that ShaskaOtselot had been shadowbanned, Assange edited the post to point out that a user had been banned for asking him a question about censorship. On the same day, Julian Assange tweeted about this event using the hashtag #gamergate.
It was later revealed that the user was shadowbanned months prior for violating site-wide rules and that the mods thought his comment was mistakenly marked as spam and approved it.
Censorship on 4chan
Starting in mid-September, many posts discussing GamerGate were deleted on various board on 4chan, leading many users to question the integrity of the site's moderation team. On September 17th, YouTuber Dr. Layman posted a video revealing an IP range ban on 4chan blocking users in Germany from posting to the /pol/ (politics) and /v/ (video games) boards.
On the following day, members of the /sp/ (sports) and /v/ boards spammed images of the janitor from the animated television series Arthur with the phrase "He does it for free" aimed at 4chan's moderation team. On September 19th, 4chan founder Christopher Poole posted an announcement explaining why all GamerGate threads were being removed from the site, claiming that many were violating the site’s global “no personal information / raids / calls to invasion” rule (shown below).
The decision to remove "GamerGate" threads has been poorly communicated, and that's my fault. Said threads are being deleted primarily because they violate our blanket "no personal information / raids / calls to invasion" rule. Spamming the reports system and creating multiple topics were also a factor, especially given /v/ is one of 4chan's fastest moving boards and has historically struggled with keeping topics limited to actual video games.
Regarding a perceived lack of free speech/censorship -- many seem to misinterpret my advocating for anonymous communication and highlighting that it allows people to share things they otherwise wouldn't be comfortable with on other platforms as "you can say and do anything on 4chan," which simply isn't the case. We've had rules and moderators since the site was founded 11 years ago, and I've only reinforced this statement over the years, a la: https://archive.moe/q/thread/580080/#580135
To those who actually want to use /v/ to discuss vidya and not a movement that has outgrown 4chan (a la Project Chanology) -- apologies for the inconvenience.
Exodus to 8chan
After experiencing censorship issues while on 4chan, many supporters of #GamerGate subsequently flocked to the rival site 8chan as an alternative image board with fewer restrictions. Users then began to mockingly refer to 4chan as “halfchan” and sarcastically lamented the site’s demise with the expression “4chan is kill.” Supporters temporarily gathered under the board /gg/, but soon fled to a new board titled /gamergate/ after experiencing a general disagreement of moderation practices that were executed by the original owner of the /gg/ board.
Wikipedia Edit War
On September 23rd, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales tweeted that he would be looking into the edit war occurring on the GamerGate Wikipedia article. Two days later, Wales posted 11 tweets addressing the article, referring to it as a "badly written battleground" (shown below). In the period following, Wales continued to be involved with the page and over time had requested various editors to step back from editing the article.
On September 16th, 2014, the American Enterprise Institute YouTube channel upload a video in their "Factual Feminist" series titled "Are video games sexist?", in which host Christina Hoff Sommers refutes arguments by feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian (shown below). In the first three weeks, the video gained over 440,000 views and 7,700 comments. As the video began circulating online, GamerGaters began referring to Sommers as "Based Mom." On October 28th, 2014, Ronan Farrow interviewed Sommers about #gamergate at MSNBC. Following the interview, many people criticized the interviewer's behaviour.
Oppressed Gamergater
Oppressed GamerGater is an image macro series originally intended to mock the GamerGate community, but later turned into mocking the viewpoints and stances of the opposing side of the controversy. On October 9th, 2014, video game developer Brianna Wu tweeted an image macro series titled "Oppressed GamerGater" to criticize the GamerGate community. In reply to this, on the online imageboard 8chan, users started to create new image macros of the character with messages that disagree with the contra-gamergate community. This development was subsequently shared the next day on the /r/KotakuInAction subreddit.
Brianna Wu Doxxing
On October 10th, an anonymous user on 8chan posted Wu's address, phone number and email to the /gg/ (GamerGate) board. Several users responded denouncing the post and raising suspicions that it was part of a false flag attack (shown below, left). That evening, Wu tweeted that she was contacting the police after receiving threats from a Twitter account named "Death to Brianna" (shown below, right).
On October 13th, MSNBC covered #Gamergate with Eric Johnson and Brianna wu during which Wu claimed the death threats she recieved came from #Gamergate and 8chan.co (shown below, left). On October 14th, Frederick Brennan and Brianna Wu were featured on a Huffpost live segment in which Wu blamed Brennan and #Gamergate for her doxing, after which Brennan refuted the mistakes of Brianna's explanation (shown below, right).
On March 17th, 2016, Syfy channel aired episode 102 of "The internet ruined my life". It featured an interview with Brianna Wu about the death threats she received.
#StopGamerGate2014
On October 14th, 2014, video game critic Anita Sarkeesian tweeted that she canceled her talk at Utah State University when her requests were denied for pat downs or metal detectors after receiving death threats (shown below).
That evening, the hashtag #StopGamerGate2014 began trending worldwide on Twitter, accompanied by tweets denouncing the GamerGate movement as misogynistic and promoting violence toward women.
YouTuber MundaneMatt subsequently posted a video addressing the hashtag, arguing that the majority of the GamerGaters were not represented by those who were sending threats (shown below, left). Meanwhile, YouTuber Boogie2988 posted a video calling for a compromise between the two sides (shown below, right).
On October 15th, 2014, YouTuber Philip DeFranco uploaded a video in which he complies a history of GamerGate up until the #StopGamerGate2014 movement (shown below).
The David Pakman Interview Series
On October 27th, David Pakman began a series of interviews on prominent figures in #GamerGate by interviewing Brianna Wu with questions about the hashtag and her death threats she had received. Towards the end of the interview, Brianna accused David of conducting a hit piece interview.
On October 28th, Breitbart reporter Milo Yiannopoulos was interviewed during which he gave his side of the story and his view on #Gamergate. On October 29th, Pro-Gamergater Jennie Bharaj was interviewed to discuss her views on the issues of video game journalistic corruption and fraud. On October 30th, David interviewed Gaming comentator and critic John Bain (TotalBiscuit) to discuss #GamerGate, Journalistic ethics, harassment, gifts, bribes and more. On November 4th, Pakman interviewed "Nerd Culture" blogger Arthur Chu about #Gamergate and the critical responses towards #Tweetlikenotyourshield. On November 5th, 8chan.co's Admin Fredderick Brennan was interviewed about his site and its relation to #Gamergate. On November 6th, Canadian feminist and video game writer Liana Kerzner was brought on to discuss #Gamergate. On November 7th, Matthew Rappard from The Fine Young Capitalists was interviewed to discuss their involvement in #Gamergate and the doxxing of Zoe Quinn. On November 10th, David took a break from interviewing individuals to explain his own opinion about #GamerGate in response to comments from followers of the series (shown below).
On November 14th, CBC released an article covering #Gamergate in which they portrayed Milo Yiannopoulos and David Pakman as GamerGate Supporter and showed Pakman's video on his opinions of Gamergate while labeling Pakman as a "Harasser of Women." David Pakman later released a video in response to this.
Databases
On November 21st, the Independent Game Developers Association (IGDA) released an anti-gamergate Twitter blocklist bot created by Randi Harper which automatically blocked anyone who followed specific Twitter accounts the readme of the tool describes as "GG ringleaders"(shown below). Due to the tool not analyzing the content of the blocked users, various independent developers and the chairperson of IGDA Puerto Rico, Roberto Rosario, ended up on the list. The link was taken down a day later alongside an official reply from the IGDA.
“Takes a list of the supposed ringleaders of GG, looks at their follower lists. Generates a list of sheeple following more than one account, as well as a list of your followers that might be questionable. This does not rank users. It doesn't look at bios, it doesn't look at hashtags.”
On March 24th, 2015, a man named Matthew Hopkins filed a County Court claim lawsuit against the creator of the blockbot, James Billingham. But the claim has been discontinued.
On May 8th, 2015, a redditor named BoneGolem created the website deepfreeze.it, which is designed to help consumers determine the reliability of various video game journalism sites. TechRaptor writer Allistair Pinsof claims that the site would be the future of GamerGate while Jonathan Homes of Destructoid expressed concerns that it only lists negative traits and could be perceived as biased.
On September 1st, 2014, a GamerGate wiki was made by a user named Drybones and hosted on the gamergate.me site, which is serving as a separate database with articles and a timeline. Around January 6 of 2015, WordPress user JennOfHardwie had started a list documenting cases of harassment against Gamergate. On GitGud, Another database, known as the Current Happenings List also attempts to detail the timeline of the event and movement. The oldest documented edit of the List dates back to October 19th, 2014, but the edit is a rename. The list itself seems to date back to August of that year as it started documenting data from that time.
#PizzaGate
On February 1st, 2015, Twitter user @KachoArinoDesu tweeted a screenshot of an edited Brianna Wu tweet asking if "pineapple on pizza" was a euphemism for "penis" accompanied by the hashtag "#PizzaGate" (shown below).
That evening, GamerGate supporters tweeted various pizza-themed jokes with the hashtag, including other edited tweets by feminist figures like Anita Sarkeesian (shown below), many of which mocked GamerGate criticisms. In 24 hours, the hashtag was tweeted over 18,900 times according to the Twitter analytics site Topsy. Meanwhile, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales posted several #PizzaGate tweets which were subsequently posted on the /r/KotakuInAction subreddit (shown below, middle).
Also on February 1st, YouTuber MundaneMatt uploaded a video titled "WTF is #PizzaGate," which explained the origins of the hashtag and how it could be helpful for the GamerGate cause (shown below). On February 2nd, The Mirror published an article about #PizzaGate.
Calgary Expo & The Honey Badger Brigade
On April 17th, 2015, a group of co-hosts of the Honey Badger Brigade (HBB), an online radio show, set up a booth at the Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo (CalEx) at which they also sold GamerGate-related merchandise (shown below, left). That same date, the official CalEx Twitter account shared that they didn't allow a GamerGate booth after being approached by it and were looking into it. According to research by pop culture website Themarysue, HBB used the webcomic of one of their members to apply for vendor status and not their own site. Also according to an earlier crowdfund organised by the HBB to attend to CalEx, they were initially working in "stealth mode" in order to be able to attend (shown below, right).
On April 17th, following a Q&A session at a panel event where a member of the HBB publicly disagreed with one of the panelists (recording below), the HBB's booth was approached by convention staff and requested to leave. According to security staff at the expo, they had received complaints over the presence of a GamerGate booth on social media, including 25 allegations of harassment, although details of these allegations remain vague. The official twitter account for CalEx released a tweet on the eviction later that day, which stated that the reason lied with their show policies. The next day, the official Youtube account for the HBB uploaded a video of their member Alison Tieman, the same person who publicly disagreed with the panelist, explaining the events of that day from their perspective.
On April 19th, the HBB organized a meetup in a park to not dissappoint fans of the radio show, but were shortly interrupted by the police which were allerted by the Expo's staff according to the officer at the scene. On April 25th, the HBB announced they are seeking legal advice to hold the Calgary Expo accountable and launched a crowdfund alongside this. The events surrounding the HBB's eviction from the expo and the events following this were also discussed on Twitter under the hashtag #ExpoGate.
SPJ Airplay debate
On August 15th, journalist Michael Koretzky held an event as part of the 2015 regional conference of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) at Koubek Center, Miami: Airplay (shown below), a two-session panel meant to present the pro-GamerGate side of the story to the media. The first session was about gaming media and how its journalists can do a better job. The second was about how mainstream media can and should cover online controversies. Among the panelists where Christina Hoff Sommers, Milo Yiannopolous, Washington Examiner's Ashe Schow, Breitbart writer Allum Bokhari, and games writer Mark Ceb.
Around 2:30PM, Police began clearing the Koubek Center after receiving a "credible" bomb threat. The threat was for the bomb to go off at 2:45. About 75 people were forced to wait a block and a half away while police dogs were taken inside. After the center was searched, the police said that no physical evidence was found to suggest a public threat. The threat was the second in two days for the conference after organizers had the building swept on Friday. An independent security team was hired for the event and locked down the facility overnight, according to Koretzky.
Despite the bomb threats, a Q&A was still held.
Later, Yiannopoulos published an article on Breitbart about the remarks he wanted to make at the panel
#SavePoint SXSW 2016 Panel
On October 19th, The Open Gaming Society announced their panel about "the current social-political climate of the gaming community" and "the importance of ethical integrity in gaming journalism" had been accepted for the 2016 South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSW). That panel would be hosted by game developer Nick Robalik, President-Elect of the Society of Professional Journalists Lynn Walsh and GamerGate supporter and adult film actress Mercedes Carrera.
On October 22nd, writer Arthur Chu tweeted that he would not be attending SXSW due to the GamerGate panel (shown below).
On October 26th, SXSW posted an announcement that the "SavePoint" panel had been canceled along with an anti-GamerGate panel titled "Level Up: Overcoming Harassment in Games" due to "numerous threats of on-site violence." The same day, The Open Gaming Society posted a statement regarding the event's cancellation, revealing that they would be "organizing, funding and hosting" the panel themselves. Meanwhile, tweets containing the hashtag #gamergate and #sxsw increased dramatically according to the Twitter analytics site Topsy (shown below).
On October 27th, BuzzFeed announced plans to withdraw from SXSW if the conference refused to reverse its decision to cancel the two panels and published a letter sent to SXSW interactive director Hugh Forrest from BuzzFeed staff. The same day, Vox Media revealed on their tech news site The Verge that they would not attend SXSW "unless it takes harassment seriously." Meanwhile, SXSW published a follow-up statement responding to criticism, claiming they were "working with local law enforcement to assess the various threats" and would be "evaluating several programming solutions."
/r/KotakuInAction Discord
On July 12th, 2018, the creator of the subreddit shut down the forum, calling it a "cancerous growth" and expressing their regret of having started the subreddit. In the post, he criticized the attitudes and actions of the users of /r/KotakuInAction, the GamerGate movement and Reddit. They wrote:
"KiA is one of the many cancerous growths that have infiltrated reddit. The internet. The world. I did this. Now I am undoing it. This abomination should have always been aborted.
So in this moment with years of contemplation, I am Stopping it. I'm closing shop and I can't allow anyone to exploit my handicap. I've watched and read every day. Every single day. The mods are good at what they do, but they are moderating over a sub that should not exist. The users have created content that should not be. Topics that do not require debate. And often times molded by outside forces.
We are better than this. I should have been better than this. Just look at the comment history of any users history. The hate is spread by very few, but very often. Overwhelmingly so.
Reddit and it's Admins are Me. They are the stewards of hate and divisiveness and they let it go. They go so far as to even claim there is nothing they can do about it. Those with upvotes could have been stopped by others with equally powerful downvotes. Fallacy. 100 evil people with 100,000 upvotes can not be defeated by 100,000 with 100 downvotes.
Don't let Reddit pretend otherwise. They know what goes on here. They know everything. So either they choose to allow it, or $$$$ makes them. Corporate needs #'s. Bigger the number, the better. This is Un-American and everything wrong with what is now the inevitable result of true capitalism. 10000 people living in destitution can never effectively stand up to the .1% who control everything. Incorporation, Copyright's, monopolie a result. We are a Democratic Republic and the winners created institutions where the losers keep losing. Small business need to thrive if we are to be a healthy nation. Incorporation's will always lead to monopolies. There is no other outcome. They paid their way… invested…. into feigning the populace that they are doing what is in their best interest.
"Righting a Wrong.
Beginnings
I created KIA thinking no one would join, and when I awoke, I had many hundreds of orange-reds. "Wow, WTF did I say or do that caused this?" KiA began. I'm surprised and excited that we had over 100 users. So I began. So 'it' began. I created a few rudimentary rules and began enforcing them. The next days added a couple hundred and then a few thousand. This was becoming a monster.
The Birth
I was moderating 24/7 and it was clear that I could not sustain these rules on my own. These rules were the site rules. Don't break them and you don't get banned. It's only fair. Free speech needs protection, even unwanted and hurtful speech. Hate speech was allowed, but I was having difficulty defining everything. Does saying 'nigger' 'cunt' as a noun, the same as using it as a verb. So I began seeking help from users that I believed had the subreddit's purpose and shared my own vision for it's future.
Moderation.
I'm not sure how, but it was a success. The next top mod was an A personality and highly knowledgeable of the subs content. Amazing. Everything was going as planned. Despite JR's infiltration and attempted creation of a scandal. TwasIWhoShotJR. We began a great chat IRC and then even began livestreams. Sometimes with 'famous' guests having insane meltdowns. That was drama. Going forward We worked on creating fundamental rules and attempting to wrestle with how to define what content was acceptable. We still can't get this perfect despite public outcry and threats.
The next steps
Everything was going as planned and as its creator and top moderator, I was able to give shape and vision to it's continued future. In doing so we over moderated. At least we thought we were. Bans up the wazoo and massive amounts of removed comments. In retrospect we were mostly unable to, as users found ways around the rules. We did get better.
Hate.
This was a dark time. We were wrestling with how to control hate speech. Not only what was said, but what people could link to. KiA became infested with racism and sexism …. and other ism's ( though many ism's are not real). GG forums were created on KiwiFarms and 8chan as a result. This was the best and worst thing. The monster was now a virus. We banned links to, and then mention of certain links and topics. Now we became the enemy.
A new phase
This is when I handed over supervisory control. I really wanted to close the sub. I was in the process of until I was superseded not to. I've been wanting to close every day since. I was just too scared of the backlash. How ironic is that? I've been trying to please everyone when I should be forcing my wants and visions for the subreddit to be executed.
I rolled over and played dead.
After this, nothing much matters. I was too weak. I let the other mods dictate. My own flaws and faults compromised my ability to raise my iron fist. This was a monumental failure. I'm ASD and GAD. Many of you know this. Many of you don't believe this.
I have allowed myself confidence and an ability to assert myself. I've been captive my entire life and now I have the ability to make my own decisions and to correct my mistakes. KiA is a huge one. I think about this daily and dream about it. It's a boogeyman. The monster under my bed in my head.
Until now. KiA is one of the many cancerous growths that have infiltrated reddit. The internet. The world. I did this. Now I am undoing it. This abomination should have always been aborted.
So in this moment with years of contemplation, I am Stopping it. I'm closing shop and I can't allow anyone to exploit my handicap. I've watched and read every day. Every single day. The mods are good at what they do, but they are moderating over a sub that should not exist. The users have created content that should not be. Topics that do not require debate. And often times molded by outside forces.
We are better than this. I should have been better than this. Just look at the comment history of any users history. The hate is spread by very few, but very often. Overwhelmingly so.
Reddit and it's Admins are Me. They are the stewards of hate and divisiveness and they let it go. They go so far as to even claim there is nothing they can do about it. Those with upvotes could have been stopped by others with equally powerful downvotes. Fallacy. 100 evil people with 100,000 upvotes can not be defeated by 100,000 with 100 downvotes.
Don't let Reddit pretend otherwise. They know what goes on here. They know everything. So either they choose to allow it, or $$$$ makes them. Corporate needs #'s. Bigger the number, the better. This is Un-American and everything wrong with what is now the inevitable result of true capitalism. 10000 people living in destitution can never effectively stand up to the .1% who control everything. Incorporation, Copyright's, monopolie a result. We are a Democratic Republic and the winners created institutions where the losers keep losing. Small business need to thrive if we are to be a healthy nation. Incorporation's will always lead to monopolies. There is no other outcome. They paid their way… invested…. into feigning the populace that they are doing what is in their best interest.
I may be ASD, but I'm no longer a victim. Shout out to /r/The_Donald/ . Compared to you, I'm a Mini-Me. I'm scratching an itch, yet you are a viral cancer that is destroying the minds of millions of Reddit users each day; And they allow it. They, in fact, have to. Conflict breeds users and drives viewer counts, driving advertisers and required profits. After all, who would invest in a company that loses money? Reddit is only a small problem, but I'll end it here. Those with power use it to create a stronger hold on that power. Human nature to be #1.
At least Reddit is sooo overly tolerant that they could never remove this post.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
https://www.indivisible.org/ Thanks to (ironcally) Google. This looks like and sounds like a rant. It's not. It's a warning. Free the free press. The 1st amendment demands it. KotakuinAction has beed a wildly successful failure in this endevour of The 1st. Thanks /r/The_donald . You've shown me the darkness. I'm hoping to pave your way to the light."
The post has since been removed from /r/KotakuInAction and placed on /r/drama.
Following the post, the subreddit was briefly shutdown.
That day, /r/KotakuInAction moderator HandofBane posted about the outage. They wrote:
"So, some of you may have noticed (as the 60-ish modmails asking what happened can affirm) that the sub went private for about 45-50 minutes not too long ago. Here's what happened:
david-me apparently went off the deep end, making a long screed post on another sub about nuking KiA as he made KiA private, kicked the entire mod team, nuked the CSS, and generally made a clusterfuck of things. Thankfully, an amazing admin was online who helped restore everything, and has locked david's permissions to mail-only while an investigation goes on into the matter later before they decide if anything further needs to be done. We don't expect him to stay at the top of the list afterward, but that's more in the admins' hands than ours right now. He was supposed to act as an emergency failsafe in case one of us did what he did to the sub – clearly he failed at that role.
In the mean time, we are sorting out what's still broken and what we can fix easily. Flairs may not be fully back, but some appear to be. We are seeing what else isn't quite working right, if you notice something not working how it did yesterday, please drop us a modmail so we can look into fixing it.
Apologies to everyone for the downtime, hopefully this gets sorted out to where that can never happen again."
Search Interest
External References |
"Of course you can wear a dress, honey. Heck, I'll buy out Rarity's entire Spring Filly catalogue, if you want. You'll need more than one pretty outfit to perform in, right?" Sweetie Belle winked, and Bel Canto gave a meek, squeaky laugh back, before burrowing his head against her shoulder with a relieved sniffle. Sweetie's hooves came up to rock her child comfortingly."...I don't know if I understand everything you need, but...well, I can learn, right? Maybe we can learn together." Sweetie stroked gently at Bel's soft mane. "All I want is for you to be happy, honey. And if you wanna be a filly, then that's what you'll be."~~~~, daughter of celebrity singer Sweetie Belle and Rumble, glam rock singer-songwriter prodigy, was designated male at birth. She began her life as a shy, quiet little colt named("Beautiful Singing"), before later transitioning into her new gender identity, the more confident Prima Donna. Depicted here is an incident where Sweetie catches Bel Canto with a dress he'd snuck out of Rarity's boutique (he was going to return it, honest, he just wanted to try it on once). The poor colt is terrified at being caught and ends up spilling everything, from how he'd been experimenting with Sweetie's make-up when she was away, to how badly he feels that he is not a colt at all, but rather a filly. Sweetie Belle is a lot less upset about the "borrowed" dress and a lot more upset at the fact that her foal has been keeping all of this secret, to his apparent great distress and shame. She scoops poor sniffling Bel up in a heartbeat, and Bel's fears dissipate away against the might of warm safe mama hugs. And that's how Prima Donna was born.I'd always conceived Prima Donna as a trans girl, but I was hesitant and unsure how to go about it story-wise without writing unnecessary melodrama. Eh. Prima Donna is a proud glam rock child superstar, and her family has given her nothing but love, support, and respect. It was her cousin Magnolia May that first gladly showed her how to do her make-up, which Magnolia soon regretted, cuz hot dang does Prima like to glob on that eye shadow (cuz it looks punk rock, duh) |
City of Austin employees might be banned from staying in Trump hotels on the city's dime. Austin's Human Rights Commission passed a recommendation that the city boycott Trump products and condemn some of the things he has said and done.
Joe Miguez, the commissioner who authored the recommendation, says he doesn't think the city uses many Trump products or services in the first place, but he says adopting the recommendation would send a message. Ultimately city council will get the final say.
In a meeting Monday night, the commission voted 8-2 making a big statement on how they feel about President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
"Their actions are not okay and they're cheapening the presidency of the United States," says Garry Brown, an Austin Human Rights Commissioner who co-sponsored the recommendation.
The commission wants Austin City Council to publicly condemn Trump's actions. Inside the full recommendation, the commission listed those actions which included specific incidents in which Trump's comments to or about women, immigrants and many others were considered offensive. The commission is also recommending a boycott of all Trump products and services. For the recommendation's author, he says it's personal.
"I'm a father of two daughters. I'm a husband. I have family members who are disabled. I have friends who are members of the Muslim community," says Miguez.
He says he's proud that the city could soon blaze a trail. "People talk about keeping Austin weird. Well, I think one of the things we all try to do here is try to keep Austin fair ... try to keep Austin just ... try to keep Austin welcoming to people from all backgrounds all over the world," Miguez says.
It's a controversial idea that some taxpayers have mixed feelings about.
"I think it's a little petty given all of the other problems we have," says resident Brad Sullivan.
"I think they should have better things to do. I think they should concentrate on the real threats to the public safety," says Steve Mason, an Austin resident who chose to speak at the meeting.
However, others see it as a step in the right direction.
"Obviously in the way our system works, money pays a big role and by choosing not to use your money for a certain product is a great way to show -- 'Hey, we don't think what you're doing is great,'" says Austin resident Anna Schattschneider.
Two Austin Human Rights Commissioners did vote against the recommendation. Commissioner Tucker Royall said the recommendation was politically motivated and not a step toward unity. The full recommendation also asks Austin Mayor Steve Adler to send a letter to The White House informing president Trump of the city's stance. It's not clear when or if city council will consider the recommendation. |
They are in dead last in the NHL by a wide margin, with just 11 points in 26 games.
They have won just one of their last 14 games in regulation. Three of their five wins have come in the coin flip that is the shootout.
Yes, the Buffalo Sabres, deep into the 2013-14 season, are on pace for just 35 points in a league where it takes more than 90 to usually make the playoffs.
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That is about as bad as we've ever seen in recent history in the NHL.
Since the 2004-05 lockout, which brought in the last collective bargaining agreement and a salary cap, the worst a team has ever finished in those eight seasons is the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers.
They won only 22 of 82 games, with a 22-48-12 record that gave them 56 points.
Only two other teams have ever finished with fewer than 60 points in a full season: The 2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins (58 points) and St. Louis Blues (57 points).
So the Sabres are tracking to be the weakest team we've seen in a while.
Historically speaking, it's very unlikely they challenge the worst seasons of all time. The 1974-75 Washington Capitals hold the record for fewest points in a full season with just 21 in 80 games – they won only eight as an expansion team – and three other teams have had 30 or less.
Those records, however, were all set before there were all these three-point games. With 15 per cent of NHL games now going to a shootout, there are more points available than at any other time in league history, making a 35-point season by the Sabres probably right up there in the top five if adjusted for era.
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Since the NHL started awarding points for overtime losses beginning in 1999-2000, by far the worst a team has ever finished is the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in the first season with three-point games, when they managed only 39 points.
That team was outscored 313-170 on the season and its save percentage was an unthinkably bad .877.
So far this year, Buffalo has had competent goaltending from Ryan Miller but is on pace to score just 132 goals, which would beat the record of 133 set in 1953-54 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
And that was in a 70-game season.
Team GP W L T OL PTS PTS% GF GA PP% PK% 1999-00 Thrashers 82 14 57 7 4 39 0.238 170 313 13% 80% 2013-14 Sabres* 82 16 63 -- 3 35 0.212 132 259 14% 78%
*-prorated
But the Sabres underlying statistics are also just as ugly. They have the worst Fenwick Close (possession rating) of any team since the number has been kept at 38.5 per cent, and while their PDO suggests they may be a little unlucky, it's also possible their shooters are just that bad.
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They've done it with a roster making more than $57-million, with boat anchor contracts like Ville Leino's six-year, $27-million one on the books until 2017.
Cody Hodgson is the only Sabre with more than four goals this season, after 26 games. No Buffalo player has a positive plus-minus, and some of the high-priced help like Christian Ehrhoff is minus-10 this month alone.
The Sabres highest scoring player at even strength, meanwhile, has just nine points, which is 137th in the league.
Whoever Pat LaFontaine hires as this team's next GM, in other words, has their work cut out for them.
But they should have some pretty good draft picks to work with. |
The rescued children (faces blurred to protect their identities) with Chatra deputy commissioner Amit Kumar and other officials on Thursday. Telegraph picture
Ranchi, Aug. 7: A group of 22 children from Jharkhand, some as young as eight and working under distressing conditions at a gem factory in Rajasthan for two years, was rescued earlier this week and reunited with their families today.
Overworked — some for 14 to 15 hours a day — and underfed, 20 of these young victims of slavery belong to Chatra district while two hail from Giridih.
Accompanied by labour officials and members of a voluntary outfit, the children reached Koderma station on board the Ajmer-Sealdah Express late last evening in a chilling rerun of the May rescue of over 150 Godda children from orphanages in Kerala.
The 22 children were handed over to Chatra deputy commissioner Amit Kumar who is expected to oversee rehabilitation as directed by labour commissioner Manish Ranjan and the State Commission For Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).
According to deputy commissioner Kumar, poor parents of these children had willingly sent them to Nagina Factory in Jaipur to work. The agreement was that the factory would directly pay the families back in Jharkhand, which, unfortunately, rarely happened.
“The children, at least six of them less than 10 years old, were kept in captivity, disallowed contact with their families, made to work 14-15 hours a day and given just one square meal. They never saw a penny because factory officials claimed that the money was being routed to their parents, but the latter too didn’t receive the same for months at a time,” Kumar said.
Of Chatra’s 20 children, 16 are from Hunterganj block, three from Kanhachatti and one from Chatra block. Both the children from Giridih belong to its Hathgarh village.
Their ordeal of two years ended after a member of Jaipur’s child welfare committee, Vijay Goel, informed the Rajasthan labour department about the malpractice at the gem factory. Jharkhand labour commissioner Ranjan and Ranchi-based social organisation Bharatiya Kisan Sangh were taken into confidence.
On August 3, a four-member team — comprising the labour extension officers of Chatra and Giridih, and two officials of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh — left for Jaipur. A day later, they raided the factory with the help of local administration and police to rescue the 22 children.
They were lodged at a shelter until a couple of days ago. Before they left for home the Jaipur administration issued them “relief certificates” to ensure proper rehabilitation and benefits under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act) 1986.
Chatra deputy commissioner Kumar said after reaching Koderma, the children spent the night at a residential school and boarded a bus for home this morning. “They must have been reunited with their families by now, thanks to child welfare committee members,” he told The Telegraph this evening.
According to Kumar, the factory paid a paltry monthly remuneration per child to the parents. “It varied between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, but sometimes the money didn’t come,” he said, adding that each of the 22 victims had been given a preliminary rehabilitation sum of Rs 25,000 by the Jharkhand labour department.
“The relief certificate will help the children avail of government schemes and we will talk to the education department to seek their enrolment in schools,” he maintained.
Member of SCPCR Sanjay Mishra said he had requested the Chatra deputy commissioner to provide employment opportunities to parents of the rescued children to prevent a rerun. “Children below 14 years will be admitted to local schools while the others will be offered vocational courses,” he added.
Birendra Kumar, a member of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh who had accompanied these children from Jaipur, said they were more than glad to board the train home. “They were dying to meet their parents after two years. It was a happy journey.” |
The Colorado Rockies do weird things. Whether it’s reorganizing the front office in a way that puts the GM in charge of the farm system instead of the major league roster or having the new GM put an office in the clubhouse, they operate in a way that is unusual for an MLB franchise. Even their player personnel decisions can be a bit odd; heads were certainly scratched after the team made Michael Cuddyer a qualifying offer on Monday, for instance.
The big knock on the Rockies is that they seem unable to commit to a direction or a purpose. Despite four straight losing seasons, they’ve been unwilling to attempt to rebuild, rebuffing offers for not just their star players but for expensive role players like Jorge de la Rosa. Making Cuddyer the qualifying offer appeared to be yet another sign of a team that seems intent on trying to keep the pieces in place together, despite the fact that there’s mounting evidence that this roster just isn’t good enough to contend.
Except maybe extending the qualifying offer to Cuddyer didn’t mean that. A few days after that decision was made, Ken Rosenthal reported that the team has “their eyes and ears open” to potential trades for both Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, a significant change in stance, as previously both players had been off-limits to suitors. You don’t let teams know that your two best players are finally available if you don’t think there’s a real chance you could trade either or both, and so it seems like the Rockies are finally ready to shake things up and try something different.
So, why make the 35 year old Cuddyer a qualifying offer if you’re planning on blowing things up? Because the calculations for making a QO for a rebuilding team are quite a bit different than for a team that expected to need to maximize payroll efficiency.
Cuddyer’s open market value is probably somewhere in the $10 million range on a two or three year deal, so making him an offer of $15 million for one year means that the team has committed to overpaying by a few million if he accepts the offer. But having an overpaid player that other teams still want isn’t the worst thing in the world for a rebuilding team, as they could simply pay part of his 2015 salary to make him a more desirable trade chip over the summer. With spending restrictions on signing amateur talent, paying the salaries of veteran players to acquire prospects in trade is one of the few ways left to essentially buy talent. Even if Cuddyer accepts the qualifying offer, the Rockies could likely flip him for something of value as long as they kick in a few million dollars, so having him accept isn’t really that harmful to the franchise.
And if he turns it down and gives a contender a discount in annual salary in order to get the multi-year deal he prefers, then the Rockies will receive a compensatory pick in next summer’s draft. Either way, they’d get the chance to add some young talent to the organization. Keeping Cuddyer at $15 million is only really an issue if having him on the books prevented them from making other necessary upgrades, but if they’re trading Tulowitzki and Gonzalez, few free agents of note would have been interested in taking their money to begin with. If you’re blowing things up, it’s better to have expensive trade chips that you can pay down in trade rather than having a bunch of unspent money that no one wants to take.
While it might seem counterintuitive, making the qualifying offer to Cuddyer actually makes more sense in the wake of the news about the availability of Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. It seems like perhaps new GM Jeff Bridich has finally convinced ownership of the need to rebuild, and perhaps the Rockies can start to commit to a direction and stick with it for once. While both Tulo and Gonzalez dealt with injuries again, and both have proven to be quite fragile, putting them on the market this winter actually seems to make some sense, rather than trying to let both prove that they’re healthy before accepting bids.
The idea of keeping both stars until they’re healthy in order to raise their market value seems wise, but let’s think about the logistics of what that might actually look like; in any scenario where both Tulo and CarGo are healthy and playing well, the Rockies are probably also probably a semi-competitive team. After all, they did go 16-12 in April when Tulo was tearing the cover off the ball, and even though this isn’t a great team when both are healthy, it will be a more difficult decision to move either player while the team hangs around the periphery of the Wild Card race.
With a healthy Tulo and CarGo, the Rockies are good enough to convince themselves to not blow things up; the reality of the necessary rebuild only becomes obvious when those two are not able to take the field, exposing a weak supporting cast that can’t make up for the loss of the team’s best players. The dream scenario of being able to trade both players at the peak of their value is probably unrealistic, because at the peak of their value, ownership is going to remember why they’ve been previously unwilling to trade them, and commence the annual spinning of their wheels.
The Rockies best chance to get out of this death spiral is to trade both players now. A weak free agent class on the position player side of things will help drive up demand for the team’s two star hitters, even as both have questions surrounding their health. Teams are more inclined to make blockbuster deals in the offseason anyway, and with teams like Boston actively looking to exchange multiple players for a controllable star, there are teams who will likely take the risk on the health of a younger star rather than taking the risk on a long-term deal for an aging free agent.
After all, while the talking points always center around Tulowitzki’s health, keep in mind that he posted a +5 WAR season in 2014 even while playing just 91 games, and he was over over +5 WAR in 126 games in 2013 as well. Over the last two years, while combining for just 887 plate appearances, Tulo still ranks 11th among position players in WAR. You pay for production, and Tulo’s health risks are offset by his absurd ability to play well when he’s on the field.
Even with the injury problems, Tulowitzki is one of the game’s premier players, and his contract is still well below market value. Shin-Soo Choo got $140 million over seven years last winter; Tulo is due $15 million less than that even if his seventh year option is picked up, which would likely mean that he stayed healthy enough to be worth keeping. Jose Reyes got $102 million over six years coming off an excellent season shortened by injury, and that was three years ago; baseball salaries have only gone up since.
There will be a strong market for Troy Tulowitzki, and Gonzalez should be able to fetch a decent return as well, especially if the Rockies pick up some of the cost of his salary. We’ll deal with a fair return for both players in another post, but for now, I’d suggest that Rockies fans should take this as somewhat promising news. A directionless franchise might actually be ready to commit to an overdue rebuild. Things might really be changing in Colorado for once. |
It’s been an interesting few days, as I mentioned earlier. The downtime means I haven’t gotten to cover some stories that I otherwise would have. Since Rand Harper and her thugs continue their unrelenting assault on free speech and expression, maybe we should take a harder look at Harper herself. Actually, we don’t have to do too much, because the Blocklist Blockhead voluntarily gives out incriminating evidence. It turns out Literally Blue likes to dye her fucking DOG blue as well. Yes, you read that correctly. This poor pooch has to walk around looking like some mutant Smurf to appease this hypocritical ass-sore.
People, this is animal abuse. There is no other way to put it. I’m not a fan of PETA, but at least they called out Randi’s dangerous and potentially criminal behavior:
The dog looks damn near suicidal. The ghost of Brianna Wu’s dog feels sorry for this motherfucker. Could you imagine having to show your face to the other canines in the neighborhood looking like this? I seriously feel sorry for this dog. It’s bad enough that the poor thing had to live with an owner like Randi Harper. Now it has to look like a freak because of her as well. Randi, please seek help. Dyeing dogs is not normal behavior.
But there is some behavior that’s normal for Randi, namely, the hypocritical type. You see, according to screenshots provided to me earlier on Twitter, Randi Harper used to talk shit about feminism. Not only that, she called feminists “tards” (which is of course short for retard). I’m not one to police speech like that, but it certainly does seem inconsistent with how she portrays herself.
If you look at the full context of the episode, it’s even more hilarious. Here’s the original complaint, and the response from Randi, on the FreeBSD site. Of course Randi had to blast her behind her back on Facebook, because that’s what she does.
Here’s the complaint, which is fucking idiotic, I must say:
She proposes a couple ways to fix it, and I they did change it. But let’s face it, no one cares. I know I certainly don’t. I would like to see Big Randi look like a fraud though. She’s 100% right, don’t get me wrong. But I wonder what 2014 Randi Harper would say to the 2011 version. I have an idea: “The con worked.”
The Blocklist Blockhead is a massive phony. That’s already been well-established here on the site. But, I thought she was at least serious about her radical feminism. As it turns out, it’s just one more example of fakery. These people use the language of the oppressed so they can ride the gravy train for the rest of their lives. It’s sickening. But, the one way to help stop it, is to mock them for the hypocrites and laughingstocks that they truly are (the other way is to destroy their enablers in the media). Stay focused on that. In the meantime, I encourage local authorities to look into Randi Harper’s animal abuse. This appalling behavior needs to be discoursed, and Big Randi is the perfect one to make an example out of. |
About Thanks for the Money
From actor and comedian Joel McHale comes the most important celebrity-penned book of this, or any, generation – Thanks for the Money: How to Use My Life Story to Become the Best Joel McHale You Can Be.
Part shocking tell-all memoir, part aspirational how-to guide, and mostly all book, this one-of-a-kind tome is required reading for anyone who enjoys Hollywood gossip, get-rich-gradually tips, and copious illustrations and charts.
Joel McHale pulls back the curtain on his personal journey to stardom! Here, for the first time, Joel reveals all that has molded him into the acclaimed comic actor he is today: a love of performance, a series of boyhood head injuries, and most importantly, a passion for financial compensation and free shoes.
It’s all here: Joel’s career trials and tribulations, his criminal trials and tribulations, and an honest, unflinching list of all the people he’s been paid money to make out with, on camera.
But the book does not stop there! Because if you want wealth, fame, and cost-free footwear, Joel will share every vital tip he has learned: an insanely low-carb diet plan, how to escape from a certain pseudo-religious celebrity cult, and more!
How can you unlock the power of the Joel McHale who lurks inside? What happened when Joel fought his Community co-star Chevy Chase? And hey, while we’re at it, what’s up with Joel’s hair – really? All will be revealed, within the pages of Thanks for the Money.
Buy now, and receive – as a special bonus – an email receipt that details your purchase!
*Bonus PDF includes charts, images, games, and more! |
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China's government is building what it calls a "social credit system" to track individual behavior and assign ratings to citizens. Here's how it will work. Video: Menglin Huang. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal .
By Josh Chin and Gillian Wong ▲
Josh Chin The Wall Street Journal BiographyJosh Chin
@joshchin
[email protected] and Gillian Wong Nov. 28, 2016 11:46 a.m. ET 204 COMMENTS
HANGZHOU, China—Swiping her son’s half-fare student card through the turnstile here one Monday afternoon, Chen Li earned herself a $6 fine and a reprimand from a subway-station inspector for not paying the adult fare.
A notice on a post nearby suggested more-dire consequences. It warned that infractors could be docked points in the city’s “personal credit information system.” A decline in Ms. Chen’s credit score, according to official pronouncements, could affect her daily life, including securing loans, jobs and her son’s school admission.
“I’m sure if it comes up, I can explain,“ Ms. Chen said, saying she picked up the card accidentally. “It was unintentional.”
Hangzhou’s local government is piloting a “social credit” system the Communist Party has said it wants to roll out nationwide by 2020, a digital reboot of the methods of social control the regime uses to avert threats to its legitimacy.
More than three dozen local governments across China are beginning to compile digital records of social and financial behavior to rate creditworthiness. A person can incur black marks for infractions such as fare cheating, jaywalking and violating family-planning rules. The effort echoes the dang’an, a system of dossiers the Communist party keeps on urban workers’ behavior.
In time, Beijing expects to draw on bigger, combined data pools, including a person’s internet activity, according to interviews with some architects of the system and a review of government documents. Algorithms would use a range of data to calculate a citizen’s rating, which would then be used to determine all manner of activities, such as who gets loans, or faster treatment at government offices or access to luxury hotels.
The national social-credit system’s aim, according to a slogan repeated in planning documents, is to “allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.”
Thus far, the pilot data-collecting systems aren’t yet tied together into what Beijing envisions as a sweeping system, which would assign each citizen a rating. It isn’t clear that Ms. Chen’s ticket infraction made it into any central system, although the notice warned that fare-dodgers risked being marked down starting Jan. 1; a station agent said only repeat offenders are reported.
Some Shanghai districts such as this one are rolling out early versions of a ‘social credit’ program that aims to rank citizens based on various behaviors. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal .
Zan Aizong, a Hangzhou human-rights activist, sees the system, once it’s fully operational, as an Orwellian exercise to keep closer tabs on a populace already lacking basic liberties such as freedom of speech. “Tracking everyone that way,” Mr. Zan said, “it’s just like ‘1984.’ ”
Blacklisted
China’s judiciary has already created a blacklisting system that would tie into the national social-credit operation. Zhuang Daohe, a Hangzhou legal scholar, cites the example of a client, part-owner of a travel company, who now can’t buy tickets for planes or high-speed trains because a Hangzhou court put him on a blacklist after he lost a dispute with a landlord.
“This has had a huge impact on the business,” said the client’s wife. “He can’t travel with clients anymore.” Added Mr. Zhuang: “What happens when it punishes the wrong person?”
Hangzhou officials didn’t respond to inquiries.
Driving the social-credit system are the State Council—China’s cabinet—and the central national-planning agency. A blueprint the cabinet published in 2014 stated it aimed to “build sincerity” in economic, social and political activity. It stressed the need for fair and clean government and for punishing polluting factories and bribe-takers.
Blacklists will expose offenders and restrict them from certain activities, while well-behaved citizens will earn access to “green lanes” that provide faster government services, the blueprint said. Citizens in jobs deemed sensitive—lawyers, accountants, teachers, journalists—will be subject to enhanced scrutiny, it said.
Flags promote a 'Sincerity Management Model Street' in a cafe in Shanghai, where ‘sincerity displays’ at some restaurants show video feeds from kitchens. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal .
The State Council and national-planning agency didn’t respond to requests for comment.
China’s government must overcome technological and bureaucratic obstacles to build a system that can monitor 1.4 billion people. Government departments often guard their information, undermining efforts to build a unified database, and their systems often aren’t compatible, said Meng Tianguang, a political scientist at Beijing’s Tsinghua University who advises the government on applying “big data” to governance issues but isn’t directly involved in the social-credit system.
“Whether we can actually pull this off, we’re in a state of uncertainty at the moment,” Mr. Meng said. “Either way, it’s better than the traditional era,” until recently, he said, “when we had no data and policy was based on the judgment of individuals.”
The Shanghai government on an official website has identified scores of violations that can incur credit penalties in its pilot system, including falling behind on bills and breaking traffic rules. State-media reports list penalties for not being filial to one’s parents. (Under Chinese law, parents over 60 may sue children for not visiting regularly or not ensuring they have enough food.)
Penalties for low scorers will include higher barriers to obtaining loans and bans on indulgences such as luxury hotels, according to state-media reports.
The Shanghai system appears to still be in an early phase. Residents can check their social-credit records, but records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal didn’t show any nonfinancial data. Shanghai city officials didn’t respond to inquiries.
Despite official-media warnings and propaganda promoting sincerity, dozens of people interviewed in Shanghai weren’t aware of the social-credit plan. Many agreed more should be done to enforce higher moral standards, bemoaning habits such as spitting, cutting in line and being cold to strangers in need.
Research by Yang Wang, a Syracuse University expert on internet behavior, has shown Chinese internet users, accustomed to the idea of government snooping, are less concerned with online privacy than Americans. The most common word for privacy, yinsi, didn’t appear in popular Chinese dictionaries until the mid-1990s, he notes.
Behavior reports
In the tree-lined Yangjing neighborhood, subdistrict authorities maintain a database that gives a hint as to what elements of a broader social-credit system might look like. The database collects reports on locals’ behavior from residential committees, said Yuan Jianming, the head of the Yangjing Sincerity Construction Office.
Slogans promote sincerity along a Shanghai road. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal .
Since mid-2015, the office has published a monthly “red list” of exemplary residents. Zhu Shengjun, 28, a high-school teacher, was named on a September red list. He said he didn’t know why. While he supported efforts to encourage better behavior, he hesitated at the idea of linking that with financial consequences, saying “it seems like too much of a stretch.”
The office also maintains a “gray list” of people behaving badly—throwing garbage out of windows, say—but the office hasn’t decided whether to publicize it, Mr. Yuan said.
In an area with a population of roughly 170,000, only around 120 have made Yangjing’s red list. Officials there complained to Chinese media this year that limited data sharing between departments was hampering efforts to rate people.
Businesses, too, get surveillance in pilot cities, where anyone can look up records on registered companies, though the records are sometimes incomplete. One objective: turning around what leaders see as a crippling lack of trust among citizens from decades of corruption and bare-knuckle competition.
So the social-credit system aims not just to collect data on individuals for official use, it seeks data on the behavior of businesses to analyze and show the results to consumers.
Yangjing officials offer a solution: touch-screen displays they installed this summer in some restaurants. The screens, part of a local social-credit pilot system, offer an unusual level of transparency for China. Lit up with slogans—“Join heart to hand, be a model of sincerity” reads one—they display information about where ingredients came from and when waste oil was last picked up. Customers can watch videos on a mobile app showing chefs working, and the system displays the eatery’s health-department rating.
Diners eat near a restaurant 'sincerity display' showing a video feed from kitchen, health ratings and other information. Photo: Dave Tacon for The Wall Street Journal .
One recent Monday at Jujube Tree, a vegetarian restaurant, the food-safety console was partially obscured by poster board. Manager Wang Dacheng said it was because the system had erroneously downgraded the restaurant’s health rating, and local officials couldn’t fix it. “We have a lot of return customers. What if they come in and see that?” Mr. Wang said. He said he supported the system but was wary of its being applied without better controls.
Yangjing officials didn't respond to inquiries.
Ltd. For initial social-credit efforts, local officials are relying on information collected by government departments, such as court records and loan and tax data. More-extensive logging of everyday habits, such as social-media use and online shopping, lies with China’s internet companies, including e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding
A credit-scoring service by Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial Services—one of eight companies approved to pilot commercial experiments with social-credit scoring—assigns ratings based on information such as when customers shop online, what they buy and what phone they use. If users opt in, the score can also consider education levels and legal records. Perks in the past for getting high marks have included express security screening at the Beijing airport, part of an Ant agreement with the airport.
“Especially for young people, your online behavior goes towards building up your online credit profile,” said Joe Tsai, Alibaba’s executive vice chairman, “and we want people to be aware of that so they know to behave themselves better.”
Alibaba shares aggregate data about online sales with China’s statistics bureau but doesn’t divulge personal data unless required to by law, for example in criminal investigations, Mr. Tsai said.
In the U.S., private concerns such as credit-reporting agencies and ride-sharing services compile certain ratings based on consumer data or reviews.
The local-government trials aren’t known to be tapping private-sector data, although the social-credit system blueprint designates internet data as a “strategic national resource” and calls for internet companies to contribute data, without getting into specifics.
Whether private and public data systems will be combined is still being hammered out, said Zhu Wei, a China University of Politics and Law scholar who has advised the government on social-credit efforts.
In an October speech screened to 1.5 million officials, Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma urged law-enforcement agencies to use internet data as a tool to identify criminals, according to posts on a Communist Party social-media feed. He didn’t mention sharing Alibaba’s user data. His comments raised eyebrows for broaching the notion that internet companies might share data with government agencies. Alibaba declined to make Mr. Ma available for comment. “We believe the application of machine learning and data analytics for the purpose of crime prevention is consistent with our core values: solving society’s problems,” the company said
In an interview Nov. 1 with state media, a deputy head of China’s central-planning agency, Lian Weiliang, noted that much of the government’s credit-related data were stuck on “isolated islands” and said a central data platform had been established to encourage information sharing. He said the platform had collected 640 million pieces of credit information from 37 central-government departments and various local governments.
The agency said the government has stopped untrustworthy people, identified by the court system, from buying airline tickets 4.9 million times.
Some advisers to the government, such as Mr. Zhu and Mr. Meng, said they were skeptical the system would meet the 2020 deadline because of the immense task of integrating data and keeping information secure.
In Hangzhou, where Ms. Chen used her son’s pass, residents can check their social-credit records at a government-services center. Records the Journal viewed showed only whether people had kept up with health-insurance and social-security payments—a far cry from the central government’s goals.
—Kersten Zhang, Alyssa Abkowitz and Qian Junya contributed to this article.
Write to Josh Chin at Josh Chin at [email protected]
Appeared in the November 29, 2016, print edition as 'China’s New tool: a Social Credit score.' |
Sebastian Bach and moe.’s Al Schnier to Join Yukon Kornelius
Onetime Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach and moe. guitarist Al Schnier will sit in with the super group Yukon Kornelius this weekend. The extreme sports-themed group features Dave Matthews Band bassist Stefan Lessard, Barenaked Ladies singer Ed Robertson, Guster guitarist Adam Gardner and drummer Eric Fawcett. As previously reported, the musicians will appear at Vermont’s Okemo Mtn Resort on March 16. O.A.R. and DJ Logic will open the night. The perform will be broadcast on AXIS TV.
Other guests confirmed to appear with Yukon Kornelius include: Dave Matthews Band trumpeter Rashawn Ross, RATT’s Warren DeMartini, DJ Logic, Godsmack’s Sully Erna, actor/bell player Jason Biggs, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, O.A.R.‘s Marc Roberge and Jerry DePizzo, Fuel’s Brett Scallions and Brad Corrigan of Dispatch. moe. will open for DMB this summer, and they will host their Snoe.down winter event later this month. |
Trusted sources confirmed that Sony has scheduled one more E-mount product announcement this year. The timeframe for the announcement is October/November. As usual the exact date is hush hush.
But we can be confident the rumor has an extremely high chance to turn out to be true! This is the very same kind of trusted sources who just recently leaked the to us the 18-100mm E-mount image, said the A99II was ready to be announced and also shared the exact A99II specs.
The sources did yet not share WHAT will be announced by Sony (they only told me it’s definitely “E-mount”).
From other trusted sources we know that Sony has developed a new High End E-mount camera placed above the current A7 series. But I have no confirmation yet if that’s the camera they will announced in October/November. Still, the specs we know about that camera are from one of the highly trusted sources:
“The next generation flagship mirrorless camera from Sony will be a giant leap. It will drop a huge bomb in the imaging industry. It will not be A7III or A7RIII. It will be a new model above A7 series. I would say A9 (let’s name it as the new model). So the new A9 will have dual XQD card slot, no CFast version, only XQD. A9 can do UNLIMITED RAW burst, UNLIMITED. The camera wont pause for buffering. The size will be bigger than A7RII, but smaller than conventional DSLR, such as 5D3.”
But I repeat, I am sure there is an “E-mount” announcement in October/November but I am not sure if this will be for the new High End Camera (A9 or A8 or whatever) or a new A5300 or A7m3…
–
Don’t forget to join the A9 facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonya9/
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These are the rumors (from SAR and not from other sites!) that were correct the past 12 months:
Leaked image of the new 18-110mm E-mount lens
Leaked images of the new Tamron 150-600mm A-mount lens
New Zeiss Loxia
RX1rII specs.
A99II specs.
A99II ready to be announced
New A6xxx (or A7xxx) is weather sealed and gets fastest autofocusing of the world.
Sony 85/1.4 G to be annound in September/October?
A6xxx announcement again(!) delayed til February 2016.
Trusted source: Yes, Sony will launch a 85mm G lens soon (creamy bokeh)
This is the logo of the new Sony “G-Master” lens line! First lens is the 24-70mm f/2.8.
New Zeiss Otus is a 28mm lens!
Zeiss to announce a new Loxia 21mm f/2.8 FE lens in mid October.
There is a “Sony event” coming the first week of February
The new A6100 looks just like the “old” A6000.
Sony to announce a new A68! To be unveiled in early November already!
First image leaked of the new Sony Action Camera.
First rumors about the upcoming new f/2.8 FE zoom lenses!
First image of the new Irix 15mm f/2.4 lens!
HX80 specs
Sony A6xxx will ship in March!
Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens
Sony will announce a new A-mount camera in early November!
New Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 FE lens gets listed at Sony Assist system!
Next Batis will be a new 18mm wide angle lens.
24-70mm f/2.8 FE will ship in March?
Another fast FE prime will be announced in 2016 (It was the Zeiss 50mm Planar).
Sony price increases will start on August 1! |
Fairgraves Mystery Box 30 30 Preview Receive a random prize with a Fairgraves theme! It'll appear inside your MTX stash, waiting to be unwrapped. Fairgraves Mystery Box Receive a random prize with a Fairgraves theme! It'll appear inside your MTX stash, waiting to be unwrapped. Mystery packs contain one random microtransaction that is guaranteed to cost at least as much as the pack. 30 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Fairgraves Mystery Box Bundle 150 150 Preview Contains five Fairgraves Mystery Boxes, each containing a random prize with a Fairgraves Theme. Fairgraves Mystery Box Bundle Contains five Fairgraves Mystery Boxes, each containing a random prize with a Fairgraves Theme. 5x Fairgraves Mystery Box 150 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Betrayal Brimmed Hat 100 100 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Betrayal Brimmed Hat. Betrayal Brimmed Hat Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Betrayal Brimmed Hat. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sentinel Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Sentinel Portal Effect. Sentinel Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Sentinel Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Purple Crystal Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Purple Crystal Cloak to your body armour. Purple Crystal Cloak Adds the Purple Crystal Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Purple Crystal Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Purple Crystal Armour, Helmet, Boots, Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Purple Crystal Armour Pack Contains the Purple Crystal Armour, Helmet, Boots, Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Purple Crystal Body Armour 250 1x Purple Crystal Boots 80 1x Purple Crystal Gloves 80 1x Purple Crystal Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Purple Crystal Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Purple Crystal Helmet. Purple Crystal Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Purple Crystal Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Purple Crystal Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Purple Crystal Boots. Purple Crystal Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Purple Crystal Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Purple Crystal Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Purple Crystal Gloves. Purple Crystal Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Purple Crystal Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Purple Crystal Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Purple Crystal Body Armour. Purple Crystal Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Purple Crystal Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sin and Innocence Shield 360 360 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Sin and Innocence Shield. Sin and Innocence Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Sin and Innocence Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 360 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Innocence Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Innocence Shield. Innocence Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Innocence Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sin Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Sin Shield. Sin Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Sin Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Hound Pet 160 160 Preview This loyal hound will travel alongside you on your journeys. Blood Guard Hound Pet This loyal hound will travel alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Gold Lion Pet 160 160 Preview This golden lion will travel alongside you on your journeys. Gold Lion Pet This golden lion will travel alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Shield 360 360 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Oriath Shield. Oriath Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Oriath Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 360 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Blood Guard Shield. Blood Guard Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Blood Guard Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Faith Guard Shield. Faith Guard Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Faith Guard Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Stygian Mirage Archer Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Mirage Archer gem with a stygian version. Stygian Mirage Archer Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Mirage Archer gem with a stygian version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harpyon Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Harpyon Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Harpyon Armour Pack Contains the Harpyon Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Harpyon Body Armour 250 1x Harpyon Boots 80 1x Harpyon Gloves 80 1x Harpyon Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Harpyon Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Harpyon Helmet. Harpyon Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Harpyon Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harpyon Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Harpyon Boots. Harpyon Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Harpyon Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harpyon Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Harpyon Gloves. Harpyon Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Harpyon Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harpyon Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Harpyon Body Armour. Harpyon Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Harpyon Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Footprints Effect 95 95 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Dragon Hunter Footprints Effect. Dragon Hunter Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Dragon Hunter Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 95 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Portal Effect 165 165 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Dragon Hunter Portal Effect. Dragon Hunter Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Dragon Hunter Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 165 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Character Effect 210 210 Preview Adds the Dragon Hunter Character Effect to your belt. Dragon Hunter Character Effect Adds the Dragon Hunter Character Effect to your belt. Belt effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 210 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Pet 320 320 Preview This exotic avian will fly alongside you on your journeys. Oriath Pet This exotic avian will fly alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Raven Pet 160 160 Preview This dark raven will fly alongside you on your journeys. Blood Guard Raven Pet This dark raven will fly alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Eagle Pet 160 160 Preview This bright eagle will fly alongside you on your journeys. Faith Guard Eagle Pet This bright eagle will fly alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Axe 360 360 Preview Replaces the appearance of any equipped sword, axe, mace or staff with the Oriath Axe. Oriath Axe Replaces the appearance of any equipped sword, axe, mace or staff with the Oriath Axe. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 360 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Bow 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a bow with the Faith Guard Bow. Faith Guard Bow Replaces the appearance of a bow with the Faith Guard Bow. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Axe 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Blood Guard Axe. Blood Guard Axe Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Blood Guard Axe. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Weapon Effect 180 180 Preview Imbues a weapon with the Blood Guard Weapon Effect. Blood Guard Weapon Effect Imbues a weapon with the Blood Guard Weapon Effect. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Weapon Effect 180 180 Preview Imbues a weapon with the Faith Guard Weapon Effect. Faith Guard Weapon Effect Imbues a weapon with the Faith Guard Weapon Effect. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Footprints Effect 160 160 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Oriath Footprints Effect. Oriath Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Oriath Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Blood Guard Footprints Effect. Blood Guard Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Blood Guard Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Faith Guard Footprints Effect. Faith Guard Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Faith Guard Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dark Mural Tile Decoration 40 40 Preview Adds a Dark Mural Tile decoration to your personal Hideout. Dark Mural Tile Decoration Adds a Dark Mural Tile decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 40 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Light Mural Tile Decoration 40 40 Preview Adds a Light Mural Tile decoration to your personal Hideout. Light Mural Tile Decoration Adds a Light Mural Tile decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 40 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dark Oriath Statue Decoration 50 50 Preview Adds a Dark Oriath Statue decoration to your personal Hideout. Dark Oriath Statue Decoration Adds a Dark Oriath Statue decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 50 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Light Oriath Statue Decoration 50 50 Preview Adds a Light Oriath Statue decoration to your personal Hideout. Light Oriath Statue Decoration Adds a Light Oriath Statue decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 50 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Wall Decoration 60 60 Preview Adds an Oriath Wall decoration to your personal Hideout. Oriath Wall Decoration Adds an Oriath Wall decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 60 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Fence Decoration 60 60 Preview Adds an Oriath Fence decoration to your personal Hideout. Oriath Fence Decoration Adds an Oriath Fence decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 60 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Pigeon Pet 30 30 Preview This dark pigeon will fly alongside you on your journeys. Blood Guard Pigeon Pet This dark pigeon will fly alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 30 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Pigeon Pet 30 30 Preview This bright pigeon will fly alongside you on your journeys. Faith Guard Pigeon Pet This bright pigeon will fly alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 30 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Helmet Attachment 200 200 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Oriath Helmet Attachment. Oriath Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Oriath Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 200 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Helmet Attachment 100 100 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Blood Guard Helmet Attachment. Blood Guard Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Blood Guard Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Helmet Attachment 100 100 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Faith Guard Helmet Attachment. Faith Guard Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Faith Guard Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Portal Effect 300 300 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Oriath Portal Effect. Oriath Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Oriath Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 300 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Blood Guard Portal Effect. Blood Guard Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Blood Guard Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Faith Guard Portal Effect. Faith Guard Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Faith Guard Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Herald Effect 125 125 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Herald gem with a blood guard version. Blood Guard Herald Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Herald gem with a blood guard version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 125 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Herald Effect 125 125 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Herald gem with a faith guard version. Faith Guard Herald Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Herald gem with a faith guard version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 125 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Lightning Warp Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Lightning Warp gem with a blood guard version. Blood Guard Lightning Warp Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Lightning Warp gem with a blood guard version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Whirling Blades Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Whirling Blades gem with a faith guard version. Faith Guard Whirling Blades Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Whirling Blades gem with a faith guard version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Character Effect 210 210 Preview Adds the Blood Guard Character Effect to your belt. Blood Guard Character Effect Adds the Blood Guard Character Effect to your belt. Belt effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 210 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Character Effect 210 210 Preview Adds the Faith Guard Character Effect to your belt. Faith Guard Character Effect Adds the Faith Guard Character Effect to your belt. Belt effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 210 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Wings 640 640 Preview Adds the Oriath Wings to your body armour. Oriath Wings Adds the Oriath Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 640 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Wings 320 320 Preview Adds the Blood Guard Wings to your body armour. Blood Guard Wings Adds the Blood Guard Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Wings 320 320 Preview Adds the Faith Guard Wings to your body armour. Faith Guard Wings Adds the Faith Guard Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Cloak 460 460 Preview Adds the Oriath Cloak to your body armour. Oriath Cloak Adds the Oriath Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 460 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Blood Guard Cloak to your body armour. Blood Guard Cloak Adds the Blood Guard Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Faith Guard Cloak to your body armour. Faith Guard Cloak Adds the Faith Guard Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Armour Pack 840 840 Preview Contains the Oriath Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Oriath Armour Pack Contains the Oriath Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Oriath Body Armour 500 1x Oriath Boots 160 1x Oriath Gloves 160 1x Oriath Helmet 260 You save: 240 840 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 240 Loading...
Oriath Helmet 260 260 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Oriath Helmet. Oriath Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Oriath Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 260 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Boots 160 160 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Oriath Boots. Oriath Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Oriath Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Gloves 160 160 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Oriath Gloves. Oriath Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Oriath Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Oriath Body Armour 500 500 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Oriath Body Armour. Oriath Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Oriath Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 500 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Blood Guard Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Blood Guard Armour Pack Contains the Blood Guard Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Blood Guard Body Armour 250 1x Blood Guard Boots 80 1x Blood Guard Gloves 80 1x Blood Guard Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Blood Guard Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Blood Guard Helmet. Blood Guard Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Blood Guard Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Blood Guard Boots. Blood Guard Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Blood Guard Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Blood Guard Gloves. Blood Guard Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Blood Guard Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Blood Guard Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Blood Guard Body Armour. Blood Guard Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Blood Guard Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Faith Guard Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Faith Guard Armour Pack Contains the Faith Guard Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Faith Guard Body Armour 250 1x Faith Guard Boots 80 1x Faith Guard Gloves 80 1x Faith Guard Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Faith Guard Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Faith Guard Helmet. Faith Guard Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Faith Guard Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Faith Guard Boots. Faith Guard Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Faith Guard Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Faith Guard Gloves. Faith Guard Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Faith Guard Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Faith Guard Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Faith Guard Body Armour. Faith Guard Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Faith Guard Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Arctic Crystal Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Arctic Crystal Armour Pack Contains the Arctic Crystal Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Arctic Crystal Body Armour 250 1x Arctic Crystal Boots 80 1x Arctic Crystal Gloves 80 1x Arctic Crystal Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Arctic Crystal Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Arctic Crystal Helmet. Arctic Crystal Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Arctic Crystal Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Arctic Crystal Boots. Arctic Crystal Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Arctic Crystal Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Arctic Crystal Gloves. Arctic Crystal Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Arctic Crystal Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Arctic Crystal Body Armour. Arctic Crystal Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Arctic Crystal Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Arctic Crystal Cloak to your body armour. Arctic Crystal Cloak Adds the Arctic Crystal Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Apparition Effect 280 280 Preview Adds the Arctic Crystal effect to your amulet. Arctic Crystal Apparition Effect Adds the Arctic Crystal effect to your amulet. Amulet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 280 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arctic Crystal Bow 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a bow with the Arctic Crystal Bow. Arctic Crystal Bow Replaces the appearance of a bow with the Arctic Crystal Bow. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Dragon Hunter Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Dragon Hunter Armour Pack Contains the Dragon Hunter Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Dragon Hunter Body Armour 250 1x Dragon Hunter Boots 80 1x Dragon Hunter Gloves 80 1x Dragon Hunter Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Dragon Hunter Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Dragon Hunter Helmet. Dragon Hunter Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Dragon Hunter Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Dragon Hunter Boots. Dragon Hunter Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Dragon Hunter Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Dragon Hunter Gloves. Dragon Hunter Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Dragon Hunter Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Dragon Hunter Body Armour. Dragon Hunter Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Dragon Hunter Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Wings 340 340 Preview Adds the Dragon Hunter Wings to your body armour. Dragon Hunter Wings Adds the Dragon Hunter Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 340 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Pet 350 350 Preview This fiery dragon will accompany you on your journeys. Dragon Hunter Pet This fiery dragon will accompany you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 350 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Weapon Effect 190 190 Preview Imbues a weapon with the Dragon Hunter Weapon Effect. Dragon Hunter Weapon Effect Imbues a weapon with the Dragon Hunter Weapon Effect. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 190 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Longsword 165 165 Preview Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Dragon Hunter Longsword. Dragon Hunter Longsword Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Dragon Hunter Longsword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 165 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Hunter Sword 165 165 Preview Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Dragon Hunter Sword. Dragon Hunter Sword Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Dragon Hunter Sword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 165 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demon Parasite Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Demon Parasite Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Demon Parasite Armour Pack Contains the Demon Parasite Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Demon Parasite Body Armour 250 1x Demon Parasite Boots 80 1x Demon Parasite Gloves 80 1x Demon Parasite Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Demon Parasite Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Demon Parasite Helmet. Demon Parasite Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Demon Parasite Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demon Parasite Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Demon Parasite Boots. Demon Parasite Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Demon Parasite Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demon Parasite Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Demon Parasite Gloves. Demon Parasite Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Demon Parasite Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demon Parasite Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Demon Parasite Body Armour. Demon Parasite Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Demon Parasite Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demon Parasite Back Attachment 250 250 Preview Adds the Demon Parasite Back Attachment to your body armour. Demon Parasite Back Attachment Adds the Demon Parasite Back Attachment to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Iron Maiden Ancestral Warchief 115 115 Preview Replaces the standard effect on an Ancestral Warchief gem with an iron maiden version. Iron Maiden Ancestral Warchief Replaces the standard effect on an Ancestral Warchief gem with an iron maiden version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 115 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Seraph Battle Wings 335 335 Preview Adds the Seraph Battle Wings to your body armour. Seraph Battle Wings Adds the Seraph Battle Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 335 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Invisible Buff Effect 50 50 Preview Removes the visual effects on the player from arctic armour, tempest shield, blood rage, molten shell, phase run, any aura, any blasphemied curse, or any herald skill gem. Invisible Buff Effect Removes the visual effects on the player from arctic armour, tempest shield, blood rage, molten shell, phase run, any aura, any blasphemied curse, or any herald skill gem. Item Skins can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 50 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sawblade Blade Vortex 120 120 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Blade Vortex gem with a sawblade version. Sawblade Blade Vortex Replaces the standard effect on a Blade Vortex gem with a sawblade version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 120 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Gothic Horror Ghost Child Pet 160 160 Preview This gothic child will travel alongside you on your journeys. Gothic Horror Ghost Child Pet This gothic child will travel alongside you on your journeys. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demonic Storm Call Effect 115 115 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a demonic version. Demonic Storm Call Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a demonic version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 115 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demonic Spectral Throw Effect 95 95 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Spectral Throw gem with a demonic version. Demonic Spectral Throw Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Spectral Throw gem with a demonic version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 95 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Demonic Flicker Strike Effect 90 90 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Flicker Strike skill gem with a bloody mist. Demonic Flicker Strike Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Flicker Strike skill gem with a bloody mist. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 90 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Portal Effect 160 160 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Dragon Portal Effect. Dragon Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Dragon Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Dragon Cloak 175 175 Preview Adds the Dragon Cloak to your body armour. Dragon Cloak Adds the Dragon Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 175 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Divine Storm Call 80 80 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a divine version. Divine Storm Call Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a divine version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. Was: 110 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Arcane Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Arcane Footprints Effect. Arcane Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Arcane Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Plague Scribe Staff 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a staff with the Plague Scribe Staff. Plague Scribe Staff Replaces the appearance of a staff with the Plague Scribe Staff. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Seraph Grace Wings 320 320 Preview Adds the Seraph Grace Wings to your body armour. Seraph Grace Wings Adds the Seraph Grace Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Stygian Molten Strike Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Molten Strike gem with a stygian version. Stygian Molten Strike Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Molten Strike gem with a stygian version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Azurite Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Azurite Footprints Effect. Azurite Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Azurite Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harbinger Righteous Fire Effect 100 100 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Righteous Fire gem with a harbinger version. Harbinger Righteous Fire Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Righteous Fire gem with a harbinger version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harbinger Convocation Effect 85 85 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Convocation gem with a harbinger version. Harbinger Convocation Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Convocation gem with a harbinger version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 85 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harbinger Storm Call Effect 90 90 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a harbinger version. Harbinger Storm Call Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Storm Call gem with a harbinger version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 90 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Harbinger Flameblast Effect 80 80 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Flameblast gem with a harbinger version. Harbinger Flameblast Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Flameblast gem with a harbinger version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Night Lotus Toxic Rain Effect 130 130 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Toxic Rain gem with a night lotus version. Night Lotus Toxic Rain Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Toxic Rain gem with a night lotus version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Beam Decoration 50 50 Preview Adds an Automaton Beam decoration to your personal Hideout. Automaton Beam Decoration Adds an Automaton Beam decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 50 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Campsite Decoration 50 50 Preview Adds a Wasteland Campsite decoration to your personal Hideout. Wasteland Campsite Decoration Adds a Wasteland Campsite decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 50 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Decor 60 60 Preview Adds a piece of Automaton Decor to your personal Hideout. Automaton Decor Adds a piece of Automaton Decor to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 60 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Barricade Decoration 60 60 Preview Adds a Wasteland Barricade decoration to your personal Hideout. Wasteland Barricade Decoration Adds a Wasteland Barricade decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 60 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Lightning Decoration 40 40 Preview Adds an Automaton Lightning decoration to your personal Hideout. Automaton Lightning Decoration Adds an Automaton Lightning decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 40 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Sandstorm Decoration 40 40 Preview Adds a Wasteland Sandstorm decoration to your personal Hideout. Wasteland Sandstorm Decoration Adds a Wasteland Sandstorm decoration to your personal Hideout. Hideout Decorations can be placed in your personal Hideout and can be reclaimed and used again for free. 40 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Footprints Effect 160 160 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Apocalypse Footprints Effect. Apocalypse Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Apocalypse Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Automaton Footprints Effect. Automaton Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Automaton Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Footprints Effect 80 80 Preview Imbues a pair of boots with the Wasteland Footprints Effect. Wasteland Footprints Effect Imbues a pair of boots with the Wasteland Footprints Effect. Footprint effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Helmet Attachment 200 200 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Apocalypse Helmet Attachment. Apocalypse Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Apocalypse Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 200 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Halo Attachment 100 100 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Automaton Halo. Automaton Halo Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Automaton Halo. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Horns Attachment 100 100 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Wasteland Horns. Wasteland Horns Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Wasteland Horns. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 100 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Lightning Warp Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Lightning Warp gem with an automaton version. Automaton Lightning Warp Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Lightning Warp gem with an automaton version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Flame Dash Effect 110 110 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Flame Dash gem with a wasteland version. Wasteland Flame Dash Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Flame Dash gem with a wasteland version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 110 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Scorpion Pet 30 30 Preview This mechanical scorpion will journey alongside you on your travels. Automaton Scorpion Pet This mechanical scorpion will journey alongside you on your travels. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 30 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Tumbleweed Pet 30 30 Preview This tenacious tumbleweed will journey alongside you on your travels. Wasteland Tumbleweed Pet This tenacious tumbleweed will journey alongside you on your travels. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 30 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Pet 160 160 Preview This autonomous machine will float alongside you on your travels. Automaton Pet This autonomous machine will float alongside you on your travels. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Raptor Pet 160 160 Preview This rambunctious raptor will journey alongside you on your travels. Wasteland Raptor Pet This rambunctious raptor will journey alongside you on your travels. Pets can be placed in your personal Hideout or assigned to follow your character around. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Longsword 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Automaton Longsword. Automaton Longsword Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Automaton Longsword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Longsword 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Wasteland Longsword. Wasteland Longsword Replaces the appearance of a two-handed sword, axe or mace with the Wasteland Longsword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Sword 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Automaton Sword. Automaton Sword Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Automaton Sword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Sword 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Wasteland Sword. Wasteland Sword Replaces the appearance of a one-handed sword, mace, sceptre or axe with the Wasteland Sword. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Herald Effect 125 125 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Herald of Ash, Thunder or Ice gem with an automaton version. Automaton Herald Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Herald of Ash, Thunder or Ice gem with an automaton version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 125 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Herald Effect 125 125 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Herald of Ash, Thunder or Ice gem with a wasteland version. Wasteland Herald Effect Replaces the standard effect on a Herald of Ash, Thunder or Ice gem with a wasteland version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 125 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Character Effect 210 210 Preview Adds the Automaton Character Effect to your belt. Automaton Character Effect Adds the Automaton Character Effect to your belt. Belt effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 210 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Character Effect 210 210 Preview Adds the Wasteland Character Effect to your belt. Wasteland Character Effect Adds the Wasteland Character Effect to your belt. Belt effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 210 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Portal Effect 300 300 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Apocalypse Portal Effect. Apocalypse Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Apocalypse Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 300 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Automaton Portal Effect. Automaton Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Automaton Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Wasteland Portal Effect. Wasteland Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Wasteland Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Weapon Effect 180 180 Preview Imbues a weapon with the Automaton Weapon Effect. Automaton Weapon Effect Imbues a weapon with the Automaton Weapon Effect. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Weapon Effect 180 180 Preview Imbues a weapon with the Wasteland Weapon Effect. Wasteland Weapon Effect Imbues a weapon with the Wasteland Weapon Effect. Weapon effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any weapons you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Cloak 460 460 Preview Adds the Apocalypse Cloak to your body armour. Apocalypse Cloak Adds the Apocalypse Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 460 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Automaton Cloak to your body armour. Automaton Cloak Adds the Automaton Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Cloak 230 230 Preview Adds the Wasteland Cloak to your body armour. Wasteland Cloak Adds the Wasteland Cloak to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 230 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Wings 640 640 Preview Adds the Apocalypse Wings to your body armour. Apocalypse Wings Adds the Apocalypse Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 640 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Wings 320 320 Preview Adds the Automaton Wings to your body armour. Automaton Wings Adds the Automaton Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Wings 320 320 Preview Adds the Wasteland Wings to your body armour. Wasteland Wings Adds the Wasteland Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 320 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Armour Pack 840 840 Preview Contains the Apocalypse Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Apocalypse Armour Pack Contains the Apocalypse Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Apocalypse Body Armour 500 1x Apocalypse Boots 160 1x Apocalypse Gloves 160 1x Apocalypse Helmet 260 You save: 240 840 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 240 Loading...
Apocalypse Helmet 260 260 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Apocalypse Helmet. Apocalypse Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Apocalypse Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 260 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Boots 160 160 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Apocalypse Boots. Apocalypse Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Apocalypse Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Gloves 160 160 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Apocalypse Gloves. Apocalypse Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Apocalypse Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Apocalypse Body Armour 500 500 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Apocalypse Body Armour. Apocalypse Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Apocalypse Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 500 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Automaton Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Automaton Armour Pack Contains the Automaton Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Automaton Body Armour 250 1x Automaton Boots 80 1x Automaton Gloves 80 1x Automaton Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Automaton Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Automaton Helmet. Automaton Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Automaton Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Automaton Boots. Automaton Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Automaton Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Automaton Gloves. Automaton Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Automaton Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Automaton Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Automaton Body Armour. Automaton Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Automaton Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Wasteland Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Wasteland Armour Pack Contains the Wasteland Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Wasteland Body Armour 250 1x Wasteland Boots 80 1x Wasteland Gloves 80 1x Wasteland Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Wasteland Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Wasteland Helmet. Wasteland Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Wasteland Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Wasteland Boots. Wasteland Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Wasteland Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Wasteland Gloves. Wasteland Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Wasteland Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Wasteland Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Wasteland Body Armour. Wasteland Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Wasteland Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sphinx Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Sphinx Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Sphinx Armour Pack Contains the Sphinx Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Sphinx Body Armour 250 1x Sphinx Boots 80 1x Sphinx Gloves 80 1x Sphinx Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Sphinx Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Sphinx Helmet. Sphinx Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Sphinx Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sphinx Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Sphinx Boots. Sphinx Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Sphinx Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sphinx Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Sphinx Gloves. Sphinx Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Sphinx Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Sphinx Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Sphinx Body Armour. Sphinx Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Sphinx Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Necrotic Wings 300 300 Preview Adds the Necrotic Wings to your body armour. Necrotic Wings Adds the Necrotic Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 300 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Celestial Caustic Arrow 125 125 Preview Replaces the standard effect on a Caustic Arrow gem with a celestial version. Celestial Caustic Arrow Replaces the standard effect on a Caustic Arrow gem with a celestial version. Skill effects can only be applied to one gem at a time but can be reclaimed and moved between gems for free. 125 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Seraph Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Seraph Portal Effect. Seraph Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Seraph Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Pure Light Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Pure Light Shield. Pure Light Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Pure Light Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Pyre Knight Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Pyre Knight Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Pyre Knight Armour Pack Contains the Pyre Knight Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Pyre Knight Body Armour 250 1x Pyre Knight Boots 80 1x Pyre Knight Gloves 80 1x Pyre Knight Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Pyre Knight Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Pyre Knight Helmet. Pyre Knight Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Pyre Knight Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Pyre Knight Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Pyre Knight Boots. Pyre Knight Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Pyre Knight Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Pyre Knight Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Pyre Knight Gloves. Pyre Knight Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Pyre Knight Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Pyre Knight Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Pyre Knight Body Armour. Pyre Knight Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Pyre Knight Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Ultimate Chaos Shield 180 180 Preview Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Ultimate Chaos Shield. Ultimate Chaos Shield Replaces the appearance of a shield with the Ultimate Chaos Shield. Shield effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any shields you equip. 180 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Necrotic Portal Effect 160 160 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Necrotic Portal Effect. Necrotic Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Necrotic Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 160 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Necrotic Hood 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Necrotic Hood. Necrotic Hood Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Necrotic Hood. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Swan Crest Helmet Attachment 80 80 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Swan Crest Helmet Attachment. Swan Crest Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Swan Crest Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Aquila Crest Helmet Attachment 80 80 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Aquila Crest Helmet Attachment. Aquila Crest Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Aquila Crest Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Coliseum Helmet Attachment 80 80 Preview Imbues a piece of headgear with the Coliseum Helmet Attachment. Coliseum Helmet Attachment Imbues a piece of headgear with the Coliseum Helmet Attachment. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Coliseum Armour Pack 420 420 Preview Contains the Coliseum Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). Coliseum Armour Pack Contains the Coliseum Body Armour, Helmet, Boots and Gloves armour skins (at a discounted price). 1x Coliseum Body Armour 250 1x Coliseum Boots 80 1x Coliseum Gloves 80 1x Coliseum Helmet 130 You save: 120 420 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. You save 120 Loading...
Coliseum Helmet 130 130 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Coliseum Helmet. Coliseum Helmet Replaces the appearance of a piece of headgear with the Coliseum Helmet. Helmet effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any helmets you equip. 130 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Coliseum Gloves 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Coliseum Gloves. Coliseum Gloves Replaces the appearance of a pair of gloves with the Coliseum Gloves. Gloves effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They replace the appearance of any gloves you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Coliseum Boots 80 80 Preview Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Coliseum Boots. Coliseum Boots Replaces the appearance of a pair of boots with the Coliseum Boots. Boots effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any boots you equip. 80 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Coliseum Body Armour 250 250 Preview Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Coliseum Body Armour. Coliseum Body Armour Replaces the appearance of a piece of body armour with the Coliseum Body Armour. Body Armour effects can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. They apply to any body armours you equip. 250 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Magma Wings 290 290 Preview Adds the Magma Wings to your body armour. Magma Wings Adds the Magma Wings to your body armour. Back attachments can be applied in the Cosmetics tab of your Inventory. 290 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading...
Golden Angel Portal Effect 150 150 Preview Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Golden Angel Portal Effect. Golden Angel Portal Effect Replaces the standard effect on portals you create with the Golden Angel Portal Effect. A custom portal effect can be applied to any or all of your characters. 150 Purchasing... Purchase complete. Failed to purchase. Loading... |
UPDATE: See the results for the 2015 World Latin Dance Cup.
The results from the 2011 World Latin Dance Cup
Congratulations to all the competitors from the Bay Area at the 2011 World Latin Dance Cup! The competition this year was really tough, but a number of Bay Area dancers were able to make it to the Finals and bring home some medals.
Here are the competitors from the Bay Area who placed in the WLDC competition:
Salsamania Dance Company – 1st Place Salsa Teams
Andrew Cervantes & John Narvaez – 1st Place Same Sex Men
Michelle Perez & Jeremy Martinez – 1st Place Amateur Couples
Vimal Pradeep & Tianne Frias – 2nd Place Pro-Am Division
John Narvaez & Liz Lira – 3rd Place On2 Salsa
Lady Mambo – 3rd Place Womens Teams Category
John Narvaez & Michelle Perez – 4th Place Pro-Am Division
Wayne Melton & Sandi Rocco – 5th Place Over-65 Division
Dan Popovici & Ky-Van Lee – 5th Place Amateur Couples
And here are the results for some of the other divisions:
Professional On1:
1st Place – Cristian Oviedo & Linda Ayentes, USA
2nd Place – Darlin Garcia & Vera Rowe, USA
3rd Place – Jonathan Ibarra & Elly Guadarrama, MEX
4th Place – Javier Campines & Liz Lira, USA
5th Place – Deklan Guzman & Natalia Villanueva, Peru
Professional On2:
1st Place – David Zepeda & Paulina Posadas Daigo, MEX
2nd Place – Ernesto Nuñez & Maritza Gonzalez, MEX
3rd Place – John Narvaez & Liz Lira, USA
4th Place – Marcus Nieves & Diana Osorio, USA
5th Place – Luis Alfonso & Lorena Judith, MEX
Cabaret Couples:
1st Place – Grizzly Hidriago & Alien Ramirez, USA
2nd Place – Jefferson Benjumea & Adriana Avila, COL
3rd Place – Darlin Garcia & Vera Rowe, USA
4th Place – Kelvin Hernandez & Licelott Maldonado, Puerto Rico & Venezuela
5th Place – Hugo Osorio & Carolina Hernandez, Ecuador
Salsa Teams:
1st Place – Salsamania Dance Company, USA
2nd Place – Alma Latina, MEX
3rd Place – Alma Latina, USA
4th Place – Stilo Dance Company, USA
5th Place – Amicitia Dance Company, USA
Salsa Teams Cabaret:
1st Place – Ritmo y Sabor, Mexico
2nd Place – Grizzly Dance Company, USA
3rd Place – Coabey Dancers, Puerto Rico
4th Place – Estudio Nacional de Baile, Ecuador
5th Place – Tropical Dance, Ecuador
Ultimate Championship/People’s Choice Winners
1st Place TIE
Cristian Oviedo & Alien Ramirez, USA
David Zepeda & Paulina Posadas Daigo, MEX
3rd Place – Jefferson & Adriana, COL
Congratulations again to all the World Latin Dance Cup competitors!
UPDATE: If you are looking for results from the 2012 World Latin Dance Cup, you can find them here. |
The American public overwhelmingly supports policies that guarantee workers paid leave if they have a child, get sick or need to care for a family member.
Yet the United States is the only developed nation that lacks a paid family leave mandate.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is hoping to change that.
Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York who has served since 2009, has introduced a universal paid family leave law bill every year for the last five years.
Her bill promises up to 12 weeks of paid time off for any worker -- male or female -- that has a new child, including newly fostered or adopted children. It also applies to people who have a "serious" medical condition or a family member suffering with one.
"They want to be there for their loved ones," Gillibrand told CNN's Poppy Harlow in an interview. "And if you don't have any sick days, and you don't have any vacation days, sometimes you just can't. You have to choose between putting food on the table and providing for that loved one."
Related: Paid parental leave may be one of the few ideas that transcends politics
Here's how Gillibrand's plan would work: While the workers are off the job, they would be guaranteed at least 66% of their regular earnings or up to $4,000 per month.
The measure would cover everyone with a job -- from part-time fast food workers to cashiers at mom-and-pop shops.
Gillibrand proposes paying for the plan through tax contributions from employers and workers. Both would be required to pay what equals to two cents per $10 earned.
That tax money would go into a government-managed fund. Then, when a worker is on family leave, he or she will draw paychecks from it.
About 14% of American workers currently have access to paid family leave of any kind, according to the National Compensation Survey.
And only five states -- California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington -- and the District of Columbia have paid leave policies on their books.
Gillibrand says her plan is feasible and good for the economy. Without a national paid family leave program, she points out, companies are more likely to lose skilled workers who may have to quit in order to take the time off they need after a family emergency or child birth.
Her office estimates that the lack of widespread leave policies costs the American economy nearly $21 billion a year. Over a lifetime, women lose $324,000 in wages and retirement benefits and men lose $284,000.
Related: Big boost for Ivanka's paid parental leave plan
Gillibrand said she is confident she will find a Republican backer for her bill.
"I have already met with several Republicans, and I am optimistic that I will get a Republican lead," Gillibrand said. She said Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are potential allies.
"They're awesome women and I'm hoping that I'll work with both," Gillibrand said.
Family leave has been taken up by politicians across the aisle recently -- including President Trump.
His daughter and White House adviser, Ivanka Trump, has floated a policy that would guarantee six weeks of pay capped at $600 per week for new parents. It would be funded through state unemployment insurance.
Senator Marco Rubio has proposed offering companies tax breaks if they include paid time off for new parents in their benefits.
"The tax credit or tax deduction is great for businesses who are already offering" paid leave, Gillibrand said, but the policy doesn't necessarily expand the benefit to all workers.
Related: YouTube CEO says Trump should make paid parental leave a reality
Gillibrand wants paid family leave to reach everyone -- particularly low income Americans and working women. And she insists the law should include leave to care for sick family.
"You care just as much to be with your mother when she's dying of cancer than you care about being with your spouse when she gets injured, or you care about your new infant," she said.
Gillibrand is more confident than ever she can get lawmakers on board.
"When you ask, would you spend $2 a week so that you could be with a newborn? So that you could be with your mother if she's diagnosed with breast cancer? So that you could [take time off] if you get injured at work?" she said. "I think people say, 'Yes.'" |
The first five words of “The Vow” – the solemn pledge made by all three UK party leaders on the eve of the independence referendum – are “The Scottish Parliament is permanent”. This is what happened in the House of Commons this evening when the UK government was asked to make good on that pledge.
Amendment 58, proposed by the SNP and backed by Labour, was actually a modest concession. It provided a way by which Westminster COULD abolish the Scottish Parliament, with its permission and subject to a referendum of the Scottish people.
The amendment contained no tricks or traps. Nothing was tacked onto it to which the UK government could object. It did only what it claimed to do.
(Link live at time of writing but will change. Subsequently it should be found here.)
It would have cost the Conservatives nothing to allow the amendment to pass. It commits them only to do what they said they would do, and in any event was a mere symbolic courtesy – in reality no government can bind the hands of its successor.
But the government voted it down anyway, pointlessly trashing the promise that David Cameron had signed his name to before the referendum.
Readers can, as ever, form their own conclusions. |
SAN ANTONIO — Gov. Rick Perry has jumped with both feet into the political fray over the thousands of Central American children who have streamed across the Rio Grande.
Perry, who went on a helicopter tour of the border Thursday while President Barack Obama was in Austin, is pointing the finger at Obama for policies he says encouraged the surge of undocumented immigrants.
In past weeks, Perry has gone so far as to raise the specter of White House involvement in a conspiracy to bring the children here.
“We either have an incredibly inept administration, or they're in on this somehow or another,” he told Fox News. “I mean I hate to be conspiratorial, but I mean how do you move that many people from Central America across Mexico and then into the United States without there being a fairly coordinated effort?”
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But border policy experts characterize Perry's assertion of a conspiracy as inaccurate and say it distracts from a reality that is more complicated.
“I don't think it serves anyone's political purposes to have a large number of children showing up on our doorstep who are vulnerable, needy, by law — U.S. and international law — need to be protected, that are expensive, that have been put in harm's way to get here,” said Randy Capps, the director of research for U.S. programs at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington.
Also, political scholars say Perry is speaking to the political base he would need in a potential 2016 presidential run.
“This is political gold for Perry,” said Mark Jones, a Rice University political science professor, who also studies Central America. “In all fairness to Perry, I think he's done a very good job of walking the tightrope between things appealing to the Republican base, that's very concerned about immigration, without ever saying or doing things that might be construed as anti-Hispanic.”
For his part, Perry didn't back down from the remarks when asked about them on ABC's “This Week” program: “I have to believe that when you do not respond in any way, that you are either inept or you have some ulterior motive of which you are functioning from.”
And Perry continued to hammer the White House on Thursday, taking Fox News host Sean Hannity on a tour of the Rio Grande.
Perry says the blame lies squarely with Washington.
“Washington's failure to secure the border has perpetuated a problem Gov. Perry has warned the federal government about since 2009,” Travis Considine, a Perry spokesman, said in a statement.
Perry sent a letter in 2012 to the White House complaining about the rise in unaccompanied children crossing the border.
That letter is one of at least seven Perry has sent the Obama administration about various aspects of border security.
As politicians point fingers, the surge of children traversing a dangerous path from Central America to America's Southern border has continued.
The decision to flee, the experts say, has been driven, at least in part, by ever-worsening violence in their already impoverished and gang-ravaged countries.
For instance, Honduras has seen its homicide rate more than double in recent years, figures from the United Nations show, making it the deadliest country in the world.
Once they get here, experts add, those children are entered into an immigration court system that simply is unable to keep up with the number of cases it must deal with.
The dramatic uptick in unaccompanied minors crossing the border from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador began in 2012, Border Patrol records show.
In 2011, 3,933 were apprehended; in 2012, that had grown to 10,146; and since October 2013, there have been 39,133 apprehensions.
Unlike unaccompanied minors from Canada or Mexico, border officials are prohibited by a 2008 anti-child-trafficking law, signed by President George W. Bush, from quickly dispatching unaccompanied children from these Central American countries back home.
Instead, the statute requires children from countries that don't border the United States be given an opportunity to appear at an immigration hearing and consult with an advocate. It also recommends these children be allowed access to attorneys.
Additionally, while waiting for their court date, the law mandates the children be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services, be placed in the “least restrictive setting that is in the interest of the child” and explore reuniting those children with family members.
“The single biggest factor driving this crisis is the fact that it takes so long to get a deportation hearing in an immigration court,” Capps said, adding that the waiting list for such a hearing now is more than a year on average. “That is an issue of resources, it is not something by policy design and it's a real problem, it's not an easy problem to solve.”
The long wait times for immigration hearings, combined with reuniting families, has left the impression that children crossing the border are being given permission to stay the U.S.
Smugglers “have added this by helping to spread the rumor — that's based in part on fact — that children who make it to the United States, because of delays in our immigration court system, will be, if they have families here, placed with those families,” Jones said.
While the vast majority of children and adults leaving El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala appear to be making their way to the U.S., many also have attempted to claim asylum in neighboring countries.
Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Belize saw the number of individuals from those three troubled Central American countries increase by 435 percent between 2009 and 2012, according to figures published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in March.
Obama reiterated his request that Congress to give him additional “flexibility” in dealing with the requirements of the 2008 law to “move them through the system faster” Wednesday, after meeting with Perry and other officials in Dallas.
However, both Capps and Adam Isacson, with the Washington Organization on Latin America, warned against gutting the provisions of the law that allow the children to stay to make their case to a judge, in order to send them back more quickly.
“Each one of these kids has to be processed, and if you find that even 10 percent of them has a credible claim that if returned, they would be killed or raped, or recruited into a gang; we can't send them back,” Isacson said. “You can't put these kids in harms way like that.”
Additional reporting from Express-News archives and wire services
[email protected] |
I had no intention of writing a third shortstop piece for the Cardinals, but I have to. Unsurprisingly, none of the options I proposed previously got a whole lot of support, because none of them are great. Some of you like the idea of Rafael Furcal again (which I’m not entirely opposed to), but he’s not phenomenal, either. I was pretty well convinced that there weren’t any other great options — at least not obvious ones.
I was wrong. This is my final vote for the St. Louis Cardinals shortstop plan in the 2014 off-season: Aledmys Diaz.
I don’t know how I missed him in all of the hullabaloo about him early this year, but now I want him. He’s exciting, and could turn into a serious player.
Tracking down his stats is a little bit hard, but it looks like in 1413 plate appearances (including playoffs) at the Cuban league, he has a .303/.372/.440 slash-line, with 30 home runs, 179 RBIs, and 209 runs.
Of course, Diaz hasn’t proven himself at the big league level, but I’d still be very interested in him because of the real dearth of free agents on the market this off-season. As far as shortstops go, I think I’ve demonstrated that there aren’t any outstanding options, and I’m not terribly excited about any of the other free agents either. So here’s what I’d do if I were Mozeliak.
I’d go pick up a cheap SS option who is slightly better than Kozma and Descalso (Dee Gordon, Freddy Galvis, Rafael Furcal, Nick Punto, or Yuniesky Betancourt), keeping that contract as far under 2 years and 2 million dollars as I could. He could be the Cardinals starting shortstop until Aledmys is ready or a bigger name becomes available at the trade deadline.
Then I’d start talking to Aledmys, offering him no more than 5 years and 5 million dollars a piece (at the high end). I know that sounds like an awful lot for an unproven prospect at this point, but the Cardinals will have a little money to throw around this year, and most of the other decent offensive free agents are either old, left-handed, or players too big to bother looking at (Cano and Ellsbury). Honestly, I’d rather overpay for a prospect that could become great than for an aging star.
In addition, the Cuban players currently playing Major League Baseball have done pretty well. The list of currently active Cubans includes names like Yoenis Cespedes, Yonder Alonso, Aroldis Chapman, Yunel Escobar, Yasmani Grandal, Jose Iglesias, Alexei Ramirez, and Yasiel Puig. Since Diaz has held his own at the Cuban league, it’s reasonable to assume that there’s a solid chance that he can perform well at the Major League level.
In addition, scouting reports suggest that he’s a decent fielder with a plus arm, that he hits for average, and that he’s developing some power (he hit 12 home runs in just 270 at-bats in 2012, the most of any season to that point). They also indicate that he’s a polished player, nearly Major League ready. Those reports continue to encourage faith in the young shortstop.
Given the recent success of Cuban defectors, I’d be very interested in jumping on that bandwagon. Hopefully, maybe even in just a few months, Diaz would be ready to take the field in St. Louis, and we could have our own Cuban superstar at what could turn out to be a severely discounted rate. Regardless, he doesn’t have to do terribly well to be an improvement over the Cardinals’ current situation.
Of course, I don’t have the ability to see Diaz work out, and actually seeing him in person would have to play a large role in Mo’s decision. If he sees something he doesn’t like, then he shouldn’t drop big bucks. Barring a major problem, however, Aledmys Diaz could be the most exciting shortstop option on the market.
After some issues with the league over age, Aledmys will be eligible to sign February 19, 2014.
UPDATE: As a note that I should have thrown in earlier, the Cardinals were looking very seriously at Diaz early this year before the age issue got out of hand. I believe that they were one of the first (if not the first) teams linked to Aledmys. Given the fact that the Cardinals shortstop situation hasn’t done anything to get better, you would think that they would continue that pursuit.
Do you think the Cardinals should pursue Aledmys Diaz? Yes
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. . . there is no record in the economic history of the whole world, anywhere or at any time, of a serious and prolonged inflation which has not been accompanied and made possible, if not directly caused, by a large increase in the quantity of money. — Gottfried Haberler, Inflation, Its Causes and Cures (1960)
The phrase “not worth a continental” may be vaguely familiar to Americans as an old and quirky saying, but to Revolutionary War–era Americans it would have been a harsh reminder of a recent nightmare. In order to finance the war, the Continental Congress authorized the issuance of money without rights of redemption in coin or precious metals (unlike other currencies in circulation). In short order, over $225 million Continentals were issued on top of an existing money supply of only $25 million. Initially traded on a one-for-one ratio with paper dollars backed by coin or precious metals, within a mere five years Continental currency had depreciated to worthlessness. It was America’s first major experiment with a fiat currency, and it cost many newly free Americans their livelihood and savings.
Such expansion of the money supply is not relegated to America’s past. In response to the 2008 economic crisis, by some measurements the Federal Reserve has more than tripled the money supply. With such pronounced expansion, will the U.S. soon experience significant price inflation, and if so, how severe may it be? Answering these questions requires an examination of the money supply.
The Money Supply
The Federal Reserve creates money by three methods:
Purchasing Assets: For purposes of the effect upon the overall price level, it does not matter which assets are purchased as long as they are bought with newly created money. This action is performed by the Federal Reserve’s “open market operations” which historically has consisted of buying and selling Treasury securities (and now includes a large dose of mortgage-backed securities). Purchasing assets allows the Federal Reserve to instantly increase the supply of money and manipulate both interest rates and the prices of securities through its selection of assets to purchase. After successive rounds of “quantitative easing,” the Federal Reserve announced a self-described “highly accommodative stance of monetary policy” on September 13, 2012 in which it committed to monthly asset purchases of $85 billion. This open-ended policy will result in annual purchases of $1 trillion (especially significant when compared to 2012 U.S. Gross Domestic Product of less than $16 trillion).
Lending Money to Banks : The discount rate is the interest rate by which commercial banks may borrow additional reserves from the Federal Reserve. It is a rate set by the Federal Reserve. With lower rates, banks are more inclined to borrow money, thus expanding the money supply. Currently, the rate is set at the near-historically low level of 0.75 percent. To emphasize how significantly low this rate is, it was set above 6.00 percent as recently as 2006.
: Lowering Banking Reserve Requirements: While not commonly understood, it can have the most immediate and profound effect upon the money supply and the economy relative to the other monetary creation tools possessed by the Federal Reserve. Commercial banks, by lending out demand deposits, create additional dollars in the system above-and-beyond that of the Federal Reserve’s actions. The word “fractional” in fractional reserve means they hold but a fraction of what can be demanded from them at any given time. Currently, banks only need to have 10 percent of their demand deposits available for withdrawal by depositors. This means that with a reserve requirement of 10 percent, banks can increase the money supply equal to 10 times their demand deposits.
These three methods are simple despite assertions by Treasury officials and bankers that actions such as “quantitative easing” are complex. In fact, “quantitative easing” is quite easy to understand: previously there was X amount of currency, and now there is X plus Y.
The money supply can be measured in a variety of ways depending upon the definition of money. Three measurements of money supply available on a monthly basis since 1959 include: BASE (“Adjusted Monetary Base”), M2, and MZM (“Money Zero Maturity”). , ,
BASE . Currency in circulation and deposits held by domestic depository institutions at Federal Reserve Banks.
. Currency in circulation and deposits held by domestic depository institutions at Federal Reserve Banks. M2 Currency in circulation, savings deposits, and retail money market mutual fund shares.
Currency in circulation, savings deposits, and retail money market mutual fund shares. MZM. M2 with the addition of institutional money funds.
Given its three tools, how has the Federal Reserve recently increased the money supply relative to its historical actions? The chart below describes, on a percentage basis, increases in each monetary category on a monthly basis relative to its level on January 1, 1959.
Three trends are readily apparent from this graph:
First, regardless of the definition of money, the money supply has expanded dramatically over time as the increases are measured in thousands of percentage points;
Second, the overall expansion appears to have begun in earnest in 1971 which is, not coincidentally, when President Nixon severed the last links of the U.S. dollar (and effectively all other major currencies), from gold; and
Third, the money supply as measured by BASE has exploded since 2008 (up 245 percent from December 1, 2007 to March 1, 2013) while the money supply from the other two measurements has not followed the same degree of increase (although they too have experienced accelerated growth).
Why has M2 and MZM not followed BASE? Note that the definition of BASE includes “deposits held by domestic depository institutions at Federal Reserve Banks” which is not part of the M2 and MZM classifications. Traditionally, to maximize profits, banks hold their “excess reserves” at close to zero. That is, they tend to quickly lend out any reserves they have over-and-above their legally required minimum. So the difference in BASE relative to M2 and MZM reflects the current lack of new lending by commercial banks.
As Austrian economist Mark Thornton has noted, we live in a unique:
economic and financial environment where bankers are afraid to lend, entrepreneurs are afraid to invest, and where everyone is afraid of the currencies with which they are forced to endure.
Unless this difference becomes permanent (which would be unprecedented), M2 and MZM should experience additional significant increases. Importantly, however, the potential for substantial future price inflation does not rest upon M2 and MZM “catching up” to the increase in BASE, for each of these monetary categories has soared in their own right since December 1, 2007 (M2 by 61 percent and MZM by 43 percent).
Price Inflation and the Money Supply
Increases in the supply of money create price inflation, all things being equal. But what is not “equal”? That is, why is the relationship between monetary increases and inflation not on a one-to-one basis? There are several primary reasons.
First, as the economy experiences real growth, the demand for money increases due to both the larger number of entities holding cash balances (i.e., more firms are created as the economy grows) as well as the general trend for economic actors to increase cash holdings with greater economic opportunities (i.e., goods and services). Increased demand for money raises its value which decreases the prices of all goods and services. The higher demand for money helps mitigate the inflationary effects of monetary increases.
Second, there are timing issues between the increase in the supply of money and the appearance of price inflation. The time delay is not consistent throughout history, and is influenced by a number of factors.
Third, the U.S. economy is not a closed system. To the extent dollars circulate outside of the U.S., whether as “petrodollars” or as the de facto national currency of a different state, the diversion of such dollars from the U.S. economy helps alleviate price inflation due to increases in the money supply.
Although the timing of the emergence of price inflation can only be estimated, the correlation with money supply growth is indisputable. Based on money supply growth — by any measure — since 2008, substantial price inflation is likely. And if price inflation mirrors the growth in money as measured by the monetary category BASE, the ensuring price inflation will be unprecedented since the Continental dollar.
It is important to note that regardless of any future curtailment of monetary expansion, the inflationary forces are already within the system. It does not matter if the Federal Reserve ends its “highly accommodative stance of monetary policy.” Its past actions will have a pronounced future reaction.
Conclusion
In the U.S., the last several years have witnessed an unprecedented expansion of the money supply. Even America’s failed experiment with Continental currency, while incorporating a larger expansion of the money supply, is not truly comparable. For in Revolutionary War-era America, alternative currencies were readily accessible and used in the daily course of business, thus providing a measure of ability to disengage from the failing Continental money. But no such options exist for today’s Americans who must transact their daily business in U.S. dollars. So while the Continental dollar was disastrous, the future situation for today’s dollar may prove far worse.
All written content in this article is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of WindRock Wealth Management LLC and its editorial staff. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representations as to its accuracy or completeness. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser prior to implementation. |
Syrians supporting the opposition have had their Facebook accounts hacked [GALLO/GETTY]
If there's one thing that net-savvy activists from Tunisia to Bahrain are aware of, it’s that the Internet isn’t always safe. From the constant threat of surveillance to the knowledge that posting the wrong picture on Facebook can get you arrested - or worse - activists have for a long time taken measures to mitigate risks, censoring themselves, using special tools like Tor, or staying off certain networks altogether.
Unfortunately, not only do some activists lack the necessary savvy, but even the best can fall victim to savvier regimes. Back in December, for example, just as the Tunisian uprising began to take root, activists within the country noticed that their Facebook accounts had been compromised. Some reported information missing from their accounts, leading Facebook to investigate and, in the end, re-route users to a secure HTTPS version of the site.
The incident may have prompted Facebook to make the decision to roll out HTTPS to all of its users. By the end of February, users of the site could opt in for increased security; but as two incidents from this week illustrate, their sense of security may have been premature. The latest in a series of events to take advantage of Facebooking dissidents, the two exploits demonstrate a seemingly perpetual cat-and-mouse game between users of social media living under authoritarian regimes and the regimes themselves.
Syrian Facebookers targeted
For months, the Syrian regime and its supporters have been devising and implementing new ways of targeting social media users who express favour toward the opposition, from flooding Twitter hashtags with unrelated links to hacking and defacing opposition sites. While various incidences of Facebook manipulation have been reported, none have been confirmed.
Today, the Information Warfare Monitor reports on a new attempt to mount an attack on pro-opposition Syrians. Though the perpetrators remain unknown, the attacks were launched on Twitter, targeting users of Facebook. According to the report, the culprits tweeted a link in an attempt to lure followers to a video posted to Facebook, whereupon those clicking on the link would be redirected to a fake Facebook page. Then, if the user then logged in, their credentials would be captured and their account information compromised.
This type of attack, whether launched by the regime or third-party actors, is basic in scope but can be devastating to a user who hasn’t backed up his or her Facebook data (a feature made available in the Account Settings), and outright dangerous to an activist whose account contains private information or sensitive contacts. Still, this type of attack pales in comparison to one discovered this week in neighbouring Iran.
Iranian connection
In the wake of the Arab Spring and the development of tools like Firesheep, escalating risks have led to increased pressure on social media platforms to offer encrypted HTTPS connections to their sites, providing users with a safer, less vulnerable way of accessing their platforms. In the wake of the aforementioned Tunisian attack, Facebook rolled out opt-in encryption services to its users, while Twitter is in the early stages of offering it by default (it’s already available as an opt-in service). Most webmail programmes offer secure browsing as well.
When a user visits such sites, they are relying upon Certificate Authorities (CAs), hundreds of companies that sign the certificates that supposedly guarantee secure browsing. But what happens if just one of these CAs is tricked into issuing a fraudulent certificate? That certificate can be used to compromise sites that people believe they are browsing securely.
On Monday, an Iranian Gmail user reported a warning from the Google Chrome browser that indicated the presence of a fake certificate. A statement from Google acknowledges that primarily Iranian users were affected, and that the fraudulent certificate was issued by a CA called DigiNotar nearly two months ago, on July 10. While critics of the CA system have long feared that such an attack could be possible, this is the first time such an attack has been seen “in the wild”.
For the last two months, Iranians who tried to access encrypted Google websites, including Gmail, may have been vulnerable to surveillance, their user data (including passwords and any activity conducted while logged into a site) available to the attacker.
For its part, Google has released a statement reminding users to be vigilant about keeping software up-to-date and pay attention to browser warnings. Mozilla, which produces the Firefox browser, and Microsoft have communicated the situation to users as well.
Different methods, same purpose
Although the Iranian attack was significantly more sophisticated than that perpetrated against Syrian Facebook users, both serve the same ends: to grab hold of user data in an attempt by malicious actors to silence or endanger those with whom they disagree.
Syrian authorities have used the Facebook accounts of detainees, for example, to track down other activists. The same has occurred in Bahrain, while in Iran, deep packet inspection - used to snoop on email, VoIP calls, and other online activity - has been reported. Activists in all three countries have been arrested, jailed, and in some cases, tortured.
Critics of the encryption and CA systems have long focused on the threats to average users. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (where I am employed) has voiced concerns that such incidents may be widespread, noting that the CA system was created decades ago, “in an era when the biggest online security concern was thought to be protecting users from having their credit card numbers intercepted”.
These latest attacks shed light on just how serious the ramifications can be for users in countries like Iran and Syria, where authorities regularly use social media to silence dissenters. When a regime gains the capability to conduct surveillance on large swaths of users, it need not rely on traditional, cost-heavy methods of identifying and spying on individuals.
It is therefore imperative that the security community, and the Certificate Authorities in particular, become aware of the global implications of their technologies: there are lives at stake.
Jillian York is director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco. She writes a regular column for Al Jazeera focusing on free expression and Internet freedom. She also writes for and is on the Board of Directors of Global Voices Online.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy. |
In Clinton’s FBI interview on this day, she is asked about her role in sorting her emails from her tenure as secretary of state into work-related and personal emails.
An FBI report published in September 2016 will summarize her response: “In the fall of 2014, Clinton recalled receiving a letter from [the] State [Department] which was also sent to former Secretaries of State Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Madeline Albright. From the letter, Clinton understood State was concerned there were gaps in their records and requested Clinton’s assistance in filling those gaps. Clinton wanted to assist State, so she directed her legal team to assist in any way they could. Clinton expected her team to provide any work-related or arguably work-related emails to State; however, she did not participate in the development of the specific process to be used or discussions of the locations where her emails might exist. Additionally, Clinton was not consulted on specific emails as to their content being work-related or not. Clinton did not have any conversations regarding procedures if any potentially classified information was discovered during the review of her emails because she had no reason to believe classified information would be found in her email account.” (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 9/2/2016)
Clinton’s testimony differs from the known facts in one important detail. She claims that she didn’t direct her lawyers (David Kendall, Cheryl Mill, and Heather Samuelson) to begin the sorting process until she was formally asked about her email records at the same time other former secretaries of states were. That took place on October 28, 2014. The sorted work-related emails were given to the State Department on December 5, 2014, a little over one month later. However, Samuelson, the Clinton lawyer who did most of the sorting, said in her FBI interview that the sorting process took “several months.”
Furthermore, it is known that after the State Department informally asked for Clinton’s emails, Samuelson was first given some of Clinton’s emails to sort (all of those involving .gov email addresses) in late July 2014, and then was given all of Clinton’s emails to complete the sorting in late September 2014. |
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