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Having recently collaborated with brands such as Porter and Dover Street Market Ginza, BAPE has revealed its latest joint capsule. This time working with Dragon Ball Z, the Japanese brand is set to release a series of graphic T-shirts and hoodies featuring images taken from TV show along with its Baby Milo character.
This collection was initially teased way back in 2016, when BAPE shared a graphic of Baby Milo peering out from behind Kid Goku, a motif that appears throughout the capsule. The collection also features other dual-branded hoodies and tees, including a new version of the brands ape-head logo. As well as the apparel — which is also set to include a range of accessories — the Baby Milo x Dragon Ball Z capsule is set to feature accessories such as a tote bag, mug and key ring.
The full collection is dropping at BAPE stores and BAPE Kids in Japan and Hong Kong on Saturday, December 9, with prices ranging from ¥21,000 JPY (approx. $185 USD) for a hoodie to ¥1,800 JPY (approx. $15 USD) for a keyring.
As well as working on this capsule, BAPE has also united all of its brands into one “APES TOGETHER STRONG” release. |
Had a lot of fun coloring this one, and it took less time than I thought to finish! In keeping with my musical theme this week, I rediscovered the land of Celtic, medieval metal in all of it’s armor wearing theatrics. I laughed and marveled at the bombastic Serbian group, Arkona and the bombastic and ridiculous crew, Unleash the Archers. It’s one half the melodies and one half the pageantry that appeals to me here. I’ve always been a fan of metal but to look upon this genre without a bit of irony for dressing is a foolhardy sometimes. The fact that these bands take themselves so seriously allows me to not take listening to them too seriously. Which in turn fosters a respect for the good parts, that clearly enhances the experience. Happy Friday folks! |
Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has directed his administration to purge the state’s voting rolls of thousands of registered voters prior to the November election. But his list, which purports to include only “non-citizens,” targets mostly Democrats and Hispanics and, as ThinkProgress has documented, may disenfranchise hundreds of citizens who are eligible to vote.
The story of a sitting governor of a state with a history of presidential election shenanigans knowingly purging his own, eligible constituents from the voter rolls is the definition of major news, and yet remarkably, in the first five months of the year, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today have published a total of zero articles about Scott’s actions. The New York Times did slightly better, printing one story on page 16 of the Friday, May 18th edition. The article ran under the credulous headline: “Florida Steps Up Effort Against Illegal Voters.”
Florida’s local newspapers, led by The Miami Herald, have been far more diligent in reporting the governor’s effort to disenfranchise eligible voters. While it may be easy to dismiss this as local fare, the implications of Scott’s purge could potentially swing the presidential election come November. Remember, months before anyone had ever heard of hanging chads, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris (R) conducted a similar cleansing of the voter rolls in 2000, which resulted in thousands of eligible voters being knocked off the rolls in time for the infamous Gore v. Bush election. |
The iPod touch. It’s that misfit cousin in the Apple family. Apple didn’t know how to market it. Pundits didn’t know why they were selling it. It was derided for being a cheaper, less-capable iPhone. Yet, despite this, Apple has sold a whopping 32 million of these little devices, and stats suggest it may actually outsell the iPhone in 2010! However, the iPod touch has more unexpected magic up it’s sleeves.
The Apple blog has all the full numbers and charts to prove that the iPod touch will indeed surpass the iPhone in 2010. Keep that in mind, because another snippet of data suggests that the iPod touch has another piece of magic up it’s sleeves. Back in January 2009, Admob (the online mobile advertising agency recently bought by Apple) published some stats showing that a whopping 46% of all iPod touch owners are under the age of 17.
For some pundits, this confirmed the “misfit cousin” reputation of the iPod touch. It added to the wide derision of the device for being a “phone-less smartphone”, mostly used by children for playing simple cheap or free games, who don’t buy much music, and have little purchasing power. ‘Who cares about the iPod touch, what does it matter?’ was the pervasive thought.
However, the pundits have largely over-looked one important fact: children grow up. Yes, when these children get their first jobs, and get their first mobiles (or “cell phone” for our American friends), would they want the latest Nokia, –– or the latest iPhone?
If 46% of the 32 million iPod touch users are under 17, that means nearly 15 million children may want iPhones when they grow up. Their using the iPod touch gives them a great idea of how the iPhone works (and arguably, may give them a taste for iMacs, Mac Books, and iPads). Now, that is the best ‘advertising’ money can buy. Also, do not forget that all of the Apps and games they have bought or grown to love will also be saved on their Apple iTunes account — not on some Palm Pre or Android application or account.
Further, with the iPod touch sales numbers accelerating, ever more children will want iPhones when they grow up. Apple doesn’t really market to child consumers. In fact, it has never really marketed to children. However, Apple has quite accidentally found itself selling one of the most popular children’s ‘toys’ in the world — and making a profit on every single one. Further, the iPod touch may become Apple’s inroad to the younger generation, building inside of them a fierce brand-loyalty – something other companies such as Dell or HP cannot do because they just sell generic plastic boxes. Even Microsoft with it’s XBox franchise can’t compete on the same grounds — XBoxes are far more expensive than your average iPod touch, and cannot be carried around and shown to the other kids on the school bus or in the playground.
The iPod touch –– our little family misfit –– has unintentionally turned Apple into one of the world’s most successful toy manufacturers and game publishers, while inculcating a fierce brand loyalty in millions of kids. The iPod touch has become Apple’s secret weapon in the battle for the next generation of consumers.
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There is a line that a writer crosses when they decide that they want to be a writer, not a hobbyist. The hobbyist can leave their writing for months on end and content themselves with the drudgery of their lives, never picking up a pen and never stressing at the vacuum of inspiration. When someone crosses that line into budding author, they are doomed to feel the invisible ropes of writer’s block tug them backwards from the page or the keys. They must face the hunger of the empty page without the food of inspiration.
This post is born out of writer’s block.
There are many types of writer’s block. In this post I aim to guilt you out of having them.
Symptoms: Unable to translate plan into paragraph. Can’t think of how to start the first page. Constantly crushing the page or deleting what you’ve written.
Cause: Your standards are too high and you’re trying to be Harper Lee on your first draft. Your perfectionism is killing your creativity.
Solution: Be willing to write crap. As Hemingway put it, “The first draft of everything is shit.” If you’re not writing, you’re not a writer, so write. It doesn’t matter what you write, just write it and don’t edit it until you’ve written more than you’re willing to discard. As a writer you have to have faith in what you can do. The day I knew I could become a writer was the day I realised I was supposed to edit my first draft, not publish it.
Symptoms: Constantly distracted, always finding something to do other than writing. Real life keeps getting in the way.
Cause: You’ve forgotten how easy it is to write. You’re either building it up in your mind as something horribly difficult or tedious or even worse, you just don’t care enough to hunger for it. This is made worse by poor organisational skills or thinking that being a writer is any less demanding than any other job.
Solution: Don’t tackle a big project as the first thing you do when you sit down. If you’re writing a novel, write a diary entry or a blog post first. If you don’t feel inspired by your first scheduled task, do the second. Whatever you do, write. If you’re at the point where you aren’t hungering to put down words and you haven’t written anything that day, start thinking about a nine to five job, it’ll either scare you back to your work or be preparation for when you realise you won’t cut it as a writer.
Symptoms: Don’t know what happens next in the story. Unable to ‘feel’ the story or some part of it such as characters. There is no logical next step that you can feel immediately.
Causes: Lack of emotional involvement in your work. Your mind is overloaded.
Solution: Step away from the page or keyboard, lock yourself in a room and just imagine the setting. Don’t think logically or structurally about the work, just get into a deeply mental space and let the parts of your subconscious mind that have been dwelling on this very question speak. Your subconscious knows where to go next, it knows what it wants to write. All story tellers, all writers, all artists have a part of their subconscious that will latch onto an idea and run with it whether you realise it or not. There’s a part of your subconscious for every idea you’ve ever had. Give it a chance to speak. You won’t hear it if your thinking, you’ll drown it out. Listen to some Eckhart Tolle.
Symptoms: Can’t maintain focus on a single project until completion. Started too many projects and can’t devote enough time to them. Always starting never finishing. This is a valid and crippling form of writer’s block.
Cause: Your muse is strong but you lack understanding of your muse and you lack discipline.
Solution: Get your life sorted out. Understand yourself or you’ll never understand what you are trying to say. Understanding what you are trying to say is just as important as understanding what you want to talk about. You may think you want to talk about pirates, space ships and goblins but what you really want to express is discontent at the treatment of women in the workplace. You may think you want to write a marketing blog but what you really want to express is your wonder at the human ability to socialise.
Symptoms: You can’t think of a single thing to write about. No idea about what kind of project, format, style, universe or issue you wish to tackle. You have nothing that needs to be expressed.
Cause: You’ve shut yourself down due to stress.
Solution: You were once a child with a boundless imagination, either a boy with a cowboy hat and a plastic six-shooter or a girl with a box full of mummy’s old clothes with which you would play dress-up. There is no reason for a person to be completely devoid of wonder unless they’ve shut themselves down from stress or fear or pain or any number of grown-up reasons. Chances are you’d be better able to write something pained and dark during these kinds of moods, even if you aren’t aware of the effect stress is having on you.
Go scream at the top of your lungs in an empty field in the middle of nowhere.
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Two men – including one equipped with multiple weapons, body armor and a face mask – who entered Michigan’s Dearborn Police Department to record a confrontation with police were convicted on weapons charges.
Last week’s conviction comes not from the actual incident inside the police station, but rather a video obtained during the trial that shows them improperly storing a firearm before entering the building, local media reported.
A jury convicted Brandon Vreeland, 41, and James C. Baker, 24, of illegally carrying a concealed weapon. Vreeland was found guilty of disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors, while Baker was found not guilty on charges of brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace.
Although it’s legal to carry a gun inside a police station in Michigan, the video used during the trial shows Baker place a rifle in the trunk of Vreeland’s vehicle, which, due to the way it was handled, was illegal. The weapon was unloaded and locked in the trunk but not in a case, as state law requires if the individual does not hold a valid concealed pistol license.
Baker had held such a license, but it was revoked after he was charged with disturbing the peace during an open carry march in 2015. Yet, since the charges were dismissed, his attorney, James J. Makowski, argued Baker’s license should have automatically been reinstated, which would have nullified the weapons charge from February.
Because his client was “tripped up on the silliest of technicalities,” Makowski said they plan to appeal the decision and expressed confidence that the conviction would be dropped.
Vreeland and Baker decided to demonstrate inside the police station after officers pulled them over for suspicious activity. The two had been reported as wearing body armor and masks in public. Although they weren’t cited, the police stop led to flared tempers, which they also recorded.
In the recording, Vreeland promised to file a complaint and told the officer to “go fuck yourself” before calling him a “dickweed” and driving away. About an hour later, they recorded themselves entering the police station to “file a complaint.” At the time, Baker had a rifle slung over his shoulder and a gun on his side. Vreeland carried a video camera and tripod, claiming he was “a journalist gathering content for a story.”
As the pair entered the police station, chaos immediately ensued. With service weapons dawn, officers ordered Baker to place his guns on the ground while Baker argued over the legalities of him carrying his weapon.
After a short time – and numerous threats from the officers – Baker and Vreeland decided to comply. Police apprehended them without further incident.
Both Vreeland and Baker consider themselves Second Amendment supporters, but gun rights groups did not reciprocate support for them.
“There is a clear difference between the everyday protection we advocate for and the attention seeking actions of these individuals,” Michigan Open Carry said in a statement following the confrontation. “Wearing a mask, dark glasses, visible body armor, and a rifle slung across your chest instills a very specific image that cannot be ignored.”
Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad’s views aligned with the group’s following the arrest. On Monday, he told reporters: “I’m happy to report today that a jury in Wayne County circuit court convicted both of them of felony charges.” |
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Former Philadelphia Flyers center Jeremy Roenick has some strong opinions regarding two of America’s most polarizing personalities: Kanye West and Donald Trump.
Last week, Roenick “sounded off” on those two playing a word associate game. On Tuesday, he elaborated on the 94WIP Josh Innes Show.
“We had one of those give me one word answers, so we’re gonna give you the word association,” Roenick explained. “So they said give me one word about Trump and I called him a bragger. Because he is a bragger, he loves to brag, and he’ll be the first one to admit he’s a bragger. But I also said he was one of the most generous people that I’ve ever — and gracious people — that I’ve ever met. Being around him, he can’t say enough nice things to you and he can’t offer more things for you to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome. So, he’s a bragger but he’s also gracious.
Listen: Jeremy Roenick on the 94WIP Josh Innes Show
“I called Kanye arrogant,” he continued. “I called him extremely arrogant and then at the end, which they didn’t say, I called him a racist because I don’t like the way he talks about and tries to separate the different races and the different people. We’re all one and he seems to go against it all. I don’t like Kanye at all.”
Roenick, who says he has known Trump for about eight years and they are “golfing buddies,” does not think he is racist.
Related: Facebook Sets Sights On NFL Streaming
“He cares about America and he wants to make sure that the people get into this country legally,” Roenick said. “If you call that racist, so be it.
“He’s definitely a hard-ass,” Roenick said of Trump. “He’s a guy that won’t get pushed around. He’s a guy that believes in his beliefs and he cares about a lot of people. I’m kind of shocked at all the name calling that he’s done in this whole campaign, but I do know that when he gets attacked he’s not going to sit back and just let it go by. And he’s a fighter. He’s a ridiculous fighter. And you don’t make money or be successful without being a fighter…But the name calling kind of surprises me about him and I wish he would slow down with the name calling and all the verbal attacks because he’s really not like that.”
Related: Woman Says Naked Man Walked Into Her House, Said ‘Hi, Honey’
Roenick says he gravitated toward Marco Rubio, not Trump, but will vote for whoever wins the Republican nomination.
“I liked his youth, I loved his enthusiasm, I think he knows his stuff extremely well,” Roenick said of Rubio, a senator of Florida. “I like the fact that he’s in touch with a lot of different people. He was probably the first guy I was really drawn too.
“I’m voting for whoever wins the Republican nomination. I’m voting Republic I don’t care who it is. I’m definitely not voting for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders without question. But I’m not gonna be one of those donkeys that say, ‘If Trump wins I’m moving out of the country’ or ‘if Bernie wins I’m moving out of the country.’ Our country is the best country in the entire world and we gotta stand by it. We’ve had eight years of a debacle. We outlasted that, we’ll see what happens next.” |
Do you miss having "pack modes" like in previous 1.7 modpacks? Well you're in luck!
PackMode is a very simple mod that gives you exactly that... pack modes!
CraftTweaker in 1.12+ works a bit different than it used to in earlier versions and as such, you CAN NOT change the modpack's PackMode modes "on the fly." To change the PackMode mode you must edit the packmode.cfg file to your desired mode, and then FULLY restart your client/server.
The way this works is by only loading certain CraftTweaker zs (script) files based on how they are "flagged" for modes (referred to as "preprocessors").
For example, if you put `#packmode expert` in a script file, it will ONLY be loaded if the PackMode config is set to "expert". You can also specify multiple valid pack modes this way: a script with `#packmode expert superduperexpert" will have that script only load if the PackMode mode is set to "expert" or "superduperexpert" modes, but will NOT be loaded if the PackMode mode is "normal" (or any other PackMode modes that might be configured). If you **fully** omit any kind of `#packmode ...` line in a script file, the default is that PackMode will not intervene and those scripts files will be loaded for ANY/ALL modpack PackMode modes. **If you do not use `#packmode ...` in any of your scripts, this mod will not do anything!**
The PackMode config allows you to configure as many different pack modes as you'd like, as well as which PackMode mode is default. Standard configs on PackMode's first install will default to include two PackMode pack modes ("expert" and "normal") as well as setting the pack's PackMode mode to "normal." |
The 30-year-old Scotland international is understood to be close to agreeing his release from the final six months of his contract at United – negotiations are ongoing.
They are the only club he has ever played for, after joining their youth academy.
West Ham are cautiously optimistic that Fletcher will now sign for them even if they still rate the chances of it happening at only “50/50”.
However, given the length of the contract on offer it is unlikely that any other club, such as West Bromwich Albion, who are also interested and held preliminary discussions, will be able to offer the same terms.
The Spanish club Valencia have also expressed an interest in Fletcher, who is due a testimonial at United after completing more than a decade of service with the club. That may form part of his severance negotiations.
It had been expected that United would demand a fee of around £1.5 million for Fletcher, but he may be able to leave for less than that or even on a free transfer given his service to the club. He has made 342 appearances for them since making his debut in 2003.
Fletcher has made 16 appearances this season but only four starts under manager Louis van Gaal – and was an unused substitute during the goalless FA Cup fourth-round tie away to League Two Cambridge United on Friday evening – and was recently replaced as vice-captain by Michael Carrick.
It would appear that Fletcher, who has barely featured in recent months and has not played since the FA Cup third-round match away to Yeovil Town, does not have a future at the club beyond this season, should he decide to stay.
The midfielder has successfully fought a recurring ulcerative colitis condition twice during his career with United, where he is a highly-respected and influential figure in the dressing room.
There had been suggestions that West Ham wanted to take Fletcher on loan with an option for a permanent contract after that, but manager Sam Allardyce wants it to be a long-term deal and this is likely to influence the player’s decision.
West Ham have created space on their wage bill of £56 million a year by releasing the striker Ricardo Vaz Te, and may allow other fringe players to leave on loan before the end of this month. |
Made in America week was something the White House announced last week and it quickly seemed most of the effort to focus on the topic was sidetracked by other issues including the Obamacare repeal effort. However, the White House hosted a big announcement today that is undeniably a big deal. Foxconn, the Taiwanese high tech firm that produces products such as the iPhone and the PlayStation, will be opening a $10 billion facility to produce LCD screens in Wisconsin.
“This is a great day for America. It is a great day for Wisconsin and it’s a great day for Foxconn,” Governor Scott Walker said. Walker was flanked by Vice President Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan as he spoke, along with Foxconn chairman Terry Gou. “Today we’re announcing the single largest economic development project in the history of the state of Wisconsin and one of the largest in the history of this country,” Walker said.
There was a moment of levity during Gov. Walker’s speech when he mistakenly announced Foxconn would invest “$10 million dollars” in the state. Speaker Ryan immediately leaned forward and said “billion.” “Ten billion, thank you,” Walker said. As Ryan laughed, Walker added, “I’m glad to see Paul Ryan’s keeping track of millions and billions.”
Walker said the investment would create 13,000 high-paying jobs as well as another 22,000 indirect jobs and 10,000 construction jobs.
After brief speeches by Speaker Ryan and Mike Pence, President Trump came to the podium. He explained that the company’s initial investment would create 3,000 jobs until a larger facility could be constructed.
Trump took a jab at Hillary Clinton at one point saying, “To make such an incredible investment, Chairman Gou put his faith and confidence in the future of the American economy.” He continued, “In other words if I didn’t get elected he definitely would not be spending $10 billion dollars.”
There were seven states competing to be selected as the site of the Foxconn investment. The selection of Wisconsin is definitely a big win for Governor Walker and for the Trump administration. Here’s the entire announcement. Gov. Walker’s speech begins about six minutes in. President Trump’s speech starts at 20:00. |
The 100 Year Federal Reserve Data Set is a comprehensive record of Federal Reserve balance sheet data spanning the past 100 years. It's a rare and untapped research asset that can help you create groundbreaking research.
Individual use $399 Collaborative use $749 Institution-wide use $1999
Available in Excel and CSV formats.
The Power of Monetary Analysis:
We believe that monetary analysis is really important. Money is all pervasive in an economy. It touches each and every transaction and exerts an influence on all prices. And yet it's also a subject that few understand well. Humphrey B. Neill put it well in his book, The Art of Contrary thinking:
...because monetary problems are not comprehended by the public or by the average businessman, “money management” will continually cross up public opinions concerning economic trends. Monetary manipulation is a crafty and tricky tool within a system of bootstrap economics. If you make it a point to become posted on some of the more common practices of monetary management you will occasionally be able to discern trends that are opposite to those commonly discussed in public pronouncements and business stories.
This data set is the crown jewels of monetary data sets. It spans a century full of interesting market events where the US Dollar rose to become the world's reserve currency. The data set is weekly* and starts in April 1915 (just two years after the founding of the Federal Reserve).
How we got the data:
Compiling this data set took enormous man hours, patience and diligence.
Although the data is freely available at the St Louis Fed, it's in a very unwieldy form. Here's why:
Each month of data is in a separate pdf report (the Federal Reserve bulletin report for that month). So for a century of data that means there's 1,200 reports to open!
The reports are old documents and they're often imperfectly scanned (the copy and paste functionality on your computer will rarely work correctly because of this).
The reports span a long period of time and the layout and structure is inconsistent.
The above reasons make collection via automated computer processes virtually impossible, leaving manual collection as the only practical solution. We ended up poring through thousands of Federal Reserve bulletin reports, diligently checking and copying figures, to put this data set together.
Estimated costs of compiling this data set:
Using a junior analyst or intern
Let's say that you have a junior analyst or intern at your firm and you would like them to put this data set together. Here's what your costs might look like:
Junior Analyst cost per hour: $17 Let's assume your analyst earns $35,000 per annum. Then that's $17 per hour (assuming a 260 work year and an 8 hour work day). Number of reports to extract data from: 840 There are 100 years of data in the data set. The last 30 years of data can be found in a manageable format online so that leaves 70 years of data to extract. This implies there are 70 years * 12 months = 840 Federal Reserve bulletin reports that need to be opened, understood and harvested for data. Time per report: 10 minutes We measured ourselves when getting this data and, once we had got up to speed, it took us 10 minutes per report to extract the relevant data (data checking and thinking about layout not included). That means it would cost 840 * 10 minutes = 8,400 minutes, or 140 hours of work to collect the data. Analyst Opportunity Cost: $3,570 Assuming the junior analyst usually creates 1.5x his or her salary in value for your organization then the opportunity cost is 140 hours * $17 / hour * 1.5 = $3,570. Management Opportunity Cost: $204 Invariably your junior analyst will require some oversight when compiling this dataset. Assuming the senior person overseeing this work earns $34 per hour ($70k p.a.), that it requires 3 hours of oversight and that ordinarily he or she creates twice their salary in value then that's 3 hours * $34 / hour * 2 = $204 in value he or she could have created. Total Cost: $3,774 $3,570 (analyst opportunity cost) + $204 (management opportunity cost) = $3,774 total cost to your organization to get this data internally. Our Prices: Individual use – $399
Collaborative use – $749
Institution-wide use – $1999* * This license saves you the above cost many times over. Individuals and groups who would otherwise have to acquire the data separately can all get the data under your license.
Hiring a temporary analyst
Alternatively suppose you hire an analyst specifically to put this historical data set together. Here's what your costs might look like:
Temporary Analyst cost per hour: $20 Let's assume your temporary analyst costs $20 per hour. Number of reports to extract data from: 840 There are 100 years of data in the data set. The last 30 years of data can be found in a manageable format online so that leaves 70 years of data to extract. This implies there are 70 years * 12 months = 840 Federal Reserve bulletin reports that need to be opened, understood and harvested for data. Time per report: 10 minutes We measured ourselves when getting this data and, once we had got up to speed, it took us 10 minutes per report to extract the relevant data (data checking and thinking about layout not included). That means it would cost 840 * 10 minutes = 8,400 minutes, or 140 hours of work to collect the data. Labor Cost: $2,800 140 hours * $20 / hour = $2,800 in pure labor cost. Management Opportunity Cost: $700 It requires time to source and maintain a temporary worker. Assuming the senior person doing this earns $34 per hour ($70k p.a.), that it requires 5 hours of attention and that ordinarily they create twice their salary in value then that's 5 hours * $34 / hour * 2 = $700 in management opportunity cost. Total Cost: $3,500 $2,800 (labor cost) + $700 (management opportunity cost) = $3,500 in total cost to your firm to get this data by hiring someone externally. Our Prices: Individual use – $399
Collaborative use – $749
Institution-wide use – $1999* * This license saves you the above cost many times over. Individuals and groups who would otherwise have to acquire the data separately can all get the data under your license.
How to get the data:
Data classification:
ASSETS 1915 - 1930 1930 - 1936 1936 - 1960 1961 - 2011 Gold Reserves Special Drawing Rights Coin Liquidity & Credit Facilities Triparty Obligations, Federal Agency Obligations Bought Federal Agency Obligations held under repurchase agreements Reserves other than gold Bills discounted and loans Bills discounted and bought Industrial Advances Short-term US Government Securities Long-term US Government Securities US Government Securities held under repurchase agreements Due from Fed Banks (in transit) Uncollected items Cash items in the process of collection Foreign Currency Assets All other assets Total Assets
LIABILITIES 1915 - 1930 1930 - 1936 1936 - 1960 1961 - 2011 Reserve deposits Federal reserve notes Reverse Repos Capital paid in Government deposits Deferred availability items All other liabilities Total Liabilities
Source: Federal Reserve Bulletins, Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research, St Louis Fed.
Some of our customers:
Sample data:
* The data is monthly between Jan 1930 and September 1936 due to the format of the source publications between those dates.
** Data after 2011 is freely available at the Federal Reserve website. |
Liberalization of marijuana laws in the United States is hurting drug cartels in Mexico and Central America:
ARCATA, Calif. — Stiff competition from thousands of mom-and-pop marijuana farmers in the United States threatens the bottom line for powerful Mexican drug organizations in a way that decades of arrests and seizures have not, according to law enforcement officials and pot growers in the United States and Mexico.
Illicit pot production in the United States has been increasing steadily for decades. But recent changes in state laws that allow the use and cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes are giving U.S. growers a competitive advantage, challenging the traditional dominance of the Mexican traffickers, who once made brands such as Acapulco Gold the standard for quality.
Almost all of the marijuana consumed in the multibillion-dollar U.S. market once came from Mexico or Colombia. Now as much as half is produced domestically, often by small-scale operators who painstakingly tend greenhouses and indoor gardens to produce the more potent, and expensive, product that consumers now demand, according to authorities and marijuana dealers on both sides of the border. |
Car salesman Andrew Hall was getting ready for work when his vape exploded in his face , knocking out several of his teeth and burning his cheek
An Idaho father lost seven teeth and was left with second degree burns to his cheek after his vape pen exploded in his face.
Andrew Hall was getting ready for work at home in Pocatello, Idaho, when he said the device exploded without warning.
It shattered into pieces in his mouth, knocking out his teeth and burning his face and neck along with smoke marks to the wall of his bathroom, where he was at the time.
The 30-year-old car salesman shared photographs of his injuries from the intensive care unit of a hospital to warn other smokers how dangerous the electronic cigarettes can be.
'Yesterday morning I was getting ready for work when I had something happen to me that I didn't expect possible.
'I Vape (I know, terrible and uncool) but I no longer do and I hope to possible sway those that do to maybe reevaluate or find other methods of smoking.
'I've been doing this for about a year now and assure you I did not do anything I wasn't supposed to (battery was in right, always had the shop put it together when I first bought it and add things and maintenance it the right way while taking their advice) but it exploded in my face.
'I've lost at least 7 teeth, 2nd degree burns to face and neck and have been pulling chunks of plastic, teeth and foreign objects from mouth, throat and lips,' he told Facebook friends.
Mr Hall, who has three children, shared several photographs of his injuries and of the damage to his home done by the explosion after being accused of making up the story.
Mr Hall shared photographs of his exploded e-cigarette's battery afterwards on Facebook
The blast from the explosion was so damaging it caused Mr Hall's bathroom sink to shatter
Several skeptics claimed he had 'faked' the incident and that the damage was exaggerated.
'The torch marks are on the wall and roof are continuations from my face. Also the explosion downward broke my sink. I'm interested in the same comments from certain people to see what kind words you have to say now,' he said.
The photographs showed a shattered sink and black, smoke marks on the wall.
One showed the remains of Mr Hall's LG HG2 battery. Batteries are widely considered to be the cause of vape pen explosions.
It's not clear which model Mr Hall was smoking. He claims he had it put together by staff at the vape store where he bought it.
He is not the first to suffer serious burns or facial injuries from exploding electronic cigarettes.
Mr Hall, 30, said he was left with second degree burns and was put in intensive care after the incident on Saturday morning
The explosion left large black smoke marks on the walls of the father-of-three's bathroom
In February, a Kentucky man was left with second degree burns to his leg after his device exploded in his pocket.
Another from Texas sued the vape shop where he bought the product after suffering similar injuries.
A New York man had his tongue split in two when his vape pen exploded in his mouth while he was smoking it.
In 2015, a Colorado student broke his neck and several of the bones in his face in a similar incident.
The FDA recently announced a two-day workshop in April where it will investigate the dangers of electronic cigarettes.
A reported 66 cases of exploding devices were reported to it between 2015 and 2016. |
Clashes between security forces and Palestinians at the Temple Mount continued for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
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Jerusalem Police said: "Following intelligence collected by the Shin Bet and the police regarding Arab youths, some with their faces covered, who barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem Police organized additional security forces at the entrance to the Temple Mount, who are prepared for any eventuality as has been done throughout the entire holiday.
Inside al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning
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According to police, the youths inside the mosque collected stones and fireworks and set up barricades to prevent closing the entrance, using shoe racks, iron rods, and rope tied to the doors of the mosque, and other methods.
Smoke billows above the Temple Mount
As soon as the Temple Mount was opened to visitors on Tuesday morning, police said, rioters began throwing stones towards the Mughrabi Bridge.
Stones and blocks thrown at security forces (Photo: Jerusalem Police)
Police and border guards then entered the Temple Mount area, at which point the rioters fled inside the mosque and began throwing dozens of stones, concrete blocks, and fireworks at security forces.
Security forces dodge firebombs in Issawiya, Monday night
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A firebomb was also thrown at security forces, setting wooden beams on fire.
Barricades set up by rioters in the mosque (Photo: Jerusalem Police)
Security forces began dismantling the barricades at the entrance to the mosque and shut the door with the rioters still inside.
Visits by Jews and tourists began on time and without disturbances.
Later in the day, police arrested an Arab man suspected of attacking two Jewish youths in the morning in the Old City. He fled the scene, but was detained after police said they recognized him on security footage.
Khaled Mashal, head of Hamas's political bureau, had a phone conversation with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas regarding events at the Temple Mount.
Violence erupted beyond the Temple Mount. In the early afternoon, around 170 Palestinians were rioting and throwing stones and firebombs at the border fence next to Tul Karm, more than 100 kilometers from Jerusalem.
At least nine people were arrested at the Temple Mount on Monday morning during rioting.
The United States said on Monday that it was deeply concerned about the violence and urged both sides to lower tensions.
Jordanian King Abdullah II condemned Israel, saying it was acting aggressive at al-Aqsa.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to reprimand Israel for "violating the mosque's sanctity." |
RT.com, Thursday, Oct 1, 2015 (updated by New Cold War.org)
Odessa police deny there was a problem.
Ukrainian ultranationalists belonging to the extremist Right Sector movement have barred a Greek delegation, including former high-ranking government officials, from exiting their hotel in the south-western Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
Several dozens of Right Sector activists blocked a group of Greek citizens in hotel ‘Duc’, in the Ukrainian city of Odessa on September 30. The Greeks had been invited by the local Greek diaspora to take part in a round table discussion, TASS reported.
The delegation, which according to the Greek Iskra newspaper included former Deputy Defense Minister Costas Isychos, former Deputy Finance Minister Nadia Valavani, former Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and Military Affairs Vassilis Hadjilambrou and journalist Aris Chatzistefanou, also planned to meet with the Ukrainian ethnic minorities living in the Black Sea region and NGOs as well as with some people from the city council.
However, the Greek delegates were blocked in their hotel by the Right Sector members, who staged a picket outside the building. The ultranationalists wearing paramilitary uniform alongside with masks and balaclavas were waving Ukrainian flags and holding banners and placards that read “Foreigners-Russophiles have no place in Ukraine!” and “Aggressor, hands off Bessarabia!”
Journalist Aris Chatzistefanou, described the situation around the hotel to RT. “The delegation arrived [in Odessa] only to communicate with the [local] Greek minority and to ask about the problems that they face including whether [the activities of] the neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups have anything to do with their everyday life.”
Chatzistefanou added that early in the morning on Wednesday, they saw people wearing military uniforms near their hotel, most of which “were the members of the Right Sector.”
Former Greek Deputy Defense Minister Costas Isychos, who also spoke to RT later on Wednesday, said that there were between 30 and 40 people wearing military uniforms outside the hotel at 9:00am local time who prevented the delegation from leaving the hotel.
According to Chatzistefanou, the Right Sector thugs were demonstrating outside the hotel and “practically setting up a blockade.”
“…One moment they got violent, they tried to storm the hotel but the security of the hotel managed to keep them out,” he said adding that they wanted “to terrorize the delegation,” he told RT.
The Greek journalist emphasized that ultranationalists deprived the delegation of any opportunity “to communicate with the members of the Greek minority here in Odessa”.
“If you have about 30 people in military uniforms, you get the message: you understand that, if you continue [to do] what you want to do, they might get violent.”
Chatzistefanou recorded a video demonstrating Right Sector activists blocking the hotel and posted it on Youtube.
Costas Isychos said that the representatives of the Greek consulate who arrived at the scene at the request of the delegation were not able to pick the delegates up and the Greeks remained blocked in the hotel for four hours.
When the delegation did manage to leave the hotel, it turned out that the meeting had been canceled because of another Right Sector demonstration near the meeting venue, Isychos added.
Chatzistefanou also stressed that the police officers who arrived at the scene were not able to control the ultranationalists and did not intervene in their activities.
Later on Wednesday, an interim spokesman of the Odessa region police department, Andrey Kostiuk, claimed that the members of Right Sector had not disturbed public order and had not blocked the Greek delegation, denying that they tried to storm the hotel, as reported by RIA Novosti.
A spokesman of the Right Sector, Artem Skoropadsky, admitted that the radicals deliberately blocked the hotel in order to prevent the Greek delegates from attending a meeting with local minorities, although he claimed that the ultranationalists were not “holding” the delegation in the hotel.
According to Skoropadsky, the meeting that was dedicated to the issues of European integration was had really been “of a separatist nature,” reported TASS.
“It was a group of Greek radical leftists who wanted to hold a convention… We blocked the hotel to prevent them from going to this event, and we will do it again wherever they may come from,” he said adding that, although he did not know the delegates’ current whereabouts, “they certainly missed the meeting.”
According to Greek media, members of the OSCE mission in Ukraine are also monitoring the situation.
“The members of the Ukrainian extremist group are constantly following the delegation and demanding to explain, for what purpose [the Greeks] came to Odessa,” former Greek Deputy Finance Minister Nadia Valavani told Greek news agency, as quoted by TASS.
“Right-wing extremists are telling us that we are the enemies of Ukraine.”
Note by New Cold War.org editor:
The Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE in Ukraine has included in its daily report for September 30, 2015 a brief description of the attack of the neo-Nazi Right Sector vigilantes against the delegation from Greece visiting the city of Odessa. The OSCE report is entirely perfunctory; the full text is below. The OSCE report says it observed “15 to 20” males outside the hotel where the attack took place. Member of the Greek delegation said the numbers of vigilantes were 30 to 40.
The OSCE report for the following day, October 1, makes no further mention of the story.
In Odessa, the SMM observed 15 to 20 males (between the ages of 20 and 45 years), members of a pro-Maidan self-defence group and of Right Sector (Pravyi Sektor) gathering in front of a hotel in the city centre; ten of them were wearing camouflage-style clothing and five had scarves covering their faces. One of the participants told the SMM that they were there to ask some foreign visitors not to support “a separatist event in Odessa”.
The SMM entered the hotel and spoke with two members of a Greek delegation residing in the hotel who said that they had been invited to attend an event organized by a non-governmental organization called the “Association of National Minorities of the Black Sea Region”. They said they were afraid to leave the hotel because of the presence of the activists. A while later, three police patrol vehicles arrived, and ten police officers blocked the hotel entrance. At 14:00hrs, a vehicle from the Greek consulate arrived and the delegation was escorted away. |
The Interior Department exempted BP's calamitous Gulf of Mexico drilling operation from a detailed environmental impact analysis last year, according to government documents, after three reviews of the area concluded that a massive oil spill was unlikely.
The decision by the department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) to give BP's lease at Deepwater Horizon a "categorical exclusion" from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on April 6, 2009 -- and BP's lobbying efforts just 11 days before the explosion to expand those exemptions -- show that neither federal regulators nor the company anticipated an accident of the scale of the one unfolding in the gulf.
Rethinking the rules
Now, environmentalists and some key senators are calling for a reassessment of safety requirements for offshore drilling.
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who has supported offshore oil drilling in the past, said, "I suspect you're going to see an entirely different regime once people have a chance to sit back and take a look at how do we anticipate and clean up these potential environmental consequences" from drilling.
BP spokesman Toby Odone said the company's appeal for NEPA waivers in the past "was based on the spill and incident-response history in the Gulf of Mexico." Once the various investigations of the new spill have been completed, he added, "the causes of this incident can be applied to determine any changes in the regulatory regime that are required to protect the environment."
"I'm of the opinion that boosterism breeds complacency and complacency breeds disaster," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) on Tuesday. "That, in my opinion, is what happened."
Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said it is important to learn the cause of the accident before pursuing a major policy change. "While the conversation has shifted, the energy reality has not," Gerard said. "The American economy still relies on oil and gas."
While the MMS assessed the environmental impact of drilling in the central and western Gulf of Mexico on three occasions in 2007 -- including a specific evaluation of BP's Lease 206 at Deepwater Horizon -- in each case it played down the prospect of a major blowout.
In one assessment, the agency estimated that "a large oil spill" from a platform would not exceed a total of 1,500 barrels and that a "deepwater spill," occurring "offshore of the inner Continental shelf," would not reach the coast. In another assessment, it defined the most likely large spill as totaling 4,600 barrels and forecast that it would largely dissipate within 10 days and would be unlikely to make landfall.
"They never did an analysis that took into account what turns out to be the very real possibility of a serious spill," said Holly Doremus, a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley who has reviewed the documents.
The MMS mandates that companies drilling in some areas identify under NEPA what could reduce a project's environmental impact. But Interior Department spokesman Matt Lee-Ashley said the service grants between 250 and 400 waivers a year for Gulf of Mexico projects. He added that Interior has now established the "first ever" board to examine safety procedures for offshore drilling. It will report back within 30 days on BP's oil spill and will conduct "a broader review of safety issues," Lee-Ashley said.
BP's exploration plan for Lease 206, which calls the prospect of an oil spill "unlikely," stated that "no mitigation measures other than those required by regulation and BP policy will be employed to avoid, diminish or eliminate potential impacts on environmental resources."
While the plan included a 13-page environmental impact analysis, it minimized the prospect of any serious damage associated with a spill, saying there would be only "sub-lethal" effects on fish and marine mammals, and "birds could become oiled. However it is unlikely that an accidental oil spill would occur from the proposed activities."
Kierán Suckling, executive director of the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, said the federal waiver "put BP entirely in control" of the way it conducted its drilling.
Agency a 'rubber stamp'
"The agency's oversight role has devolved to little more than rubber-stamping British Petroleum's self-serving drilling plans," Suckling said.
BP has lobbied the White House Council on Environmental Quality -- which provides NEPA guidance for all federal agencies-- to provide categorical exemptions more often. In an April 9 letter, BP America's senior federal affairs director, Margaret D. Laney, wrote to the council that such exemptions should be used in situations where environmental damage is likely to be "minimal or non-existent." An expansion in these waivers would help "avoid unnecessary paperwork and time delays," she added.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were talking Tuesday about curtailing offshore oil exploration rather than making it easier. In addition to traditional foes of offshore drilling such as Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.), Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and centrists such as Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) said they are taking a second look at such methods.
"It's time to push the pause button," Baucus told reporters.
Staff writer Steven Mufson contributed to this report. |
WISCONSIN -- A rare, potentially deadly tick-borne disease has infected people in Wisconsin with multiple cases. And health officials say it's worse then Lyme disease. The same tick that carries Lyme can cause Powassan, otherwise known as POW. It is a virus infection that can impact the nervous system, memory, thinking and balance.
Wisconsin has had 15 cases from 2006-2015, the second highest number in the country, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other states with reported cases are Minnesota, 20; New York 16; Massachusetts, 8; New Jersey, 3; Maine, 2; New Hampshire, 1; Pennsylvania, 1; and Virginia 1.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Health
These cases occur primarily in the late spring, early summer and mid-fall when ticks are most active. The CDC did not identify specific locations in Wisconsin where cases have been reported.
Neuological Damage
"A fairly high proportion who get sick and go to the doctor end up with permanent neurological damage," said University of Wisconsin-Madison Entomology Professor Susan Paskewitz in an NBC report, "About half of the people who get it don't have long lasting impacts, but [there] about half who do."
POW virus disease cases are rare, but the reported number of cases have increased in recent years. All residents of and visitors to areas where POW virus activity has been identified are at risk of infection.
People who engage in outdoor work and recreational activities in endemic areas are at increased risk of infection, according to the CDC.
Symptoms
Many people who become infected with Powassan virus do not develop any symptoms.
The incubation period (time from tick bite to onset of illness) ranges from about one week to one month.
POW virus can infect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures.
Approximately half of survivors have permanent neurological symptoms, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems.
Approximately 10 percent of POW virus encephalitis cases are fatal.
Treatment
There are no vaccines or medications to treat or prevent POW virus infection.
If you think you or a family member may have POW virus disease, see your health care provider for evaluation and diagnosis.
Persons with severe POW illnesses often need to be hospitalized. Treatment may include respiratory support, intravenous fluids and medications to reduce swelling in the brain.
While it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, be extra vigilant in warmer months — April through September — when ticks are most active.
Here are some tips to avoid infection:
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Walk in the center of trails.
Repel ticks on skin and clothing
Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.
Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth.
Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents, with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.
Patch file photo
Reporting by Tom Davis |
Image caption Mr Huckabee said he had an "inner peace" about his decision
Mike Huckabee, former governor of the US state of Arkansas, has announced that he does not plan to stand in presidential elections next year.
Mr Huckabee had been seen as a strong contender for his party's nomination. He lost out to John McCain in 2008.
But he told viewers on his show on Fox News: "All the factors say go, but my heart says no."
Several high-profile Republicans have declined to run in the 2012 elections or have yet to make an announcement.
Sarah Palin, who was the Republican nominee for vice-president last time, has not said whether she will stand.
President Barack Obama announced in April that he intended to stand for another term.
His approval ratings have increased since the killing of Osama Bin Laden earlier this month.
Mr Huckabee is a prominent social conservative and ordained Baptist minister. Polls had suggested he would receive strong support in a nomination bid from influential conservative Christian voters.
Running for office would have meant Mr Huckabee was obliged to give up his lucrative career as a TV and radio personality.
He told viewers he had the support of his family and that funding would not be a problem, but that after a period of reflection, he had decided not to run.
"My answer is clear and firm. I will not seek the Republican nomination for president this year," he said, adding that the decision had brought him "an inexplicable inner peace".
The race for the Republican Party nomination has been slow to take shape this year, even though Democratic President Barack Obama is seen as vulnerable.
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and and Texas Congressman Ron Paul both announced their intention to run for the presidency earlier this week.
Other likely Republican 2012 candidates include former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Utah Governor and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and real estate mogul and reality TV show star Donald Trump.
Of those, only Mr Romney and Mr Pawlenty have taken the first official step toward a candidacy, by forming exploratory committees to test the waters and begin raising money. |
It’s not exactly a secret that Marcus Stroman didn’t have the year he and everybody else expected of him in 2016. Going into the season, the 25-year-old starter was being talked about as a dark horse Cy Young Award candidate. At minimum, he was viewed as the most likely “ace” among a rotation that wasn’t supposed to possess the real thing. The rotation did end up with some ace-level performances (from both J.A. Happ and Aaron Sanchez), but Stroman wasn’t that guy. His 204 innings (not including two postseason starts) were exactly what the Jays were hoping for, but the 4.37 ERA was not.
Now the local talk shows are using Stroman’s name in trade suggestions, while national writers toss it around in rumours. It is as though, just one year removed from extreme expectations, the baseball world no longer believes Marcus Stroman can be an elite pitcher. They’re wrong.
From the start of July until the end of the season, Stroman posted a 3.42 ERA, well down from his 5.33 ERA in the first half. His swing and miss percentage rose from 9.1 percent to 11.1 percent. His walk rate fell from 7.1 percent to 5.5 percent. In short, he was a much better pitcher.
In my recent piece comparing the Toronto and Boston rotations, I attributed much of that change to his increased offspeed rate and less reliance on his excellent sinker, but there’s more to it, and that could mean yet another leap forward for the young hurler.
Here’s a clip of Randy Johnson speaking on his career. While they’re far from similar pitchers, there are a few notes that we can draw from the clip (0:20 mark, and again around 1:30).
Randy Johnson on Learning to be Pitcher vs Thrower & Learning By Watching Others. pic.twitter.com/hA3ohCOoRQ — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) December 14, 2016
To be clear, I’m not trying to say that Marcus Stroman is a “thrower” or that he isn’t a “smart pitcher.” It’s very clearly the opposite; Stroman is always making adjustments. Instead, the point here is that like the Hall of Famer, Stroman can emulate another pitcher to see how to take that next step. He doesn’t even have to search very far to find him.
Back in July, I wrote about how J.A. Happ had a particular unique skill when it came to his fastballs. With slightly over 5” of vertical break between his fourseamer and his sinker, Happ led all of baseball among qualified pitchers. Qualified, in this sense, meant 500 of each pitch had been thrown. Over 32 starts, that’s under 16 per game.
If you drop the threshold to 200 (or 6.25 per over 32 starts), J.A. Happ actually falls to third. Vincent Velasquez sits in second, and you can probably guess who comes in at number one: Marcus Stroman.
Unlike Velasquez, who is just barely ahead of Happ (only 0.13 inches apart), Stroman is a clear frontrunner. With 5.52” of difference between the sink of his fourseam and sinker, Stroman gets a full half inch of extra break over his left handed teammate. For a better scale, he is 2.88 standard deviations above the mean, and 0.35 standard deviations above second place. Stroman is a clear outlier.
This brings us back to Happ. As I mentioned in that piece on him linked above, what made J.A. Happ successful in 2016 wasn’t just stuff, it was how he used it. He made gains in Pittsburgh through fixing his mechanics, but he really came in to his own when he started mixing up his pitches a bit. He still relied heavily on the fourseam fastball, but what changed was that in addition to that four seamer Happ began throwing his sinker with some regularity. That forced hitters to not only deal with adjusting to speed differences on pitches, but also extreme changes in movement within a given speed range. As a result, hitters became worse against all of his pitches.
Stroman already has the command that Happ needed to gain in Pittsburgh. If he can start mixing in the fourseam fastball better with his unbelievable sinker, he can potentially achieve the same effect. He started doing that in July, going from 3.2 percent fourseam usage to up to 13.8 and, if he goes even higher, there could be yet another boost in his numbers.
But that’s not it for Stroman. He possesses three fastballs, and it just so happens that the other one is an outlier too.
Among pitchers who threw 200 cutters last year, Marcus Stroman’s had the fourth most sink, fighting gravity at 2.2”. Now, fourth place doesn’t exactly sound like an outlier, but what sets him apart is how it relates to his other fastballs. Bud Norris, Chris Tillman, and Matt Andriese all get more sink on their cutters. However, for each of those pitchers, the cutter was approximately six miles per hour slower than their regular fastball. That, in essence, makes them look like a completely different pitch.
Marcus Stroman’s is only three miles per hour slower.
That essentially moves Stroman’s cutter into the number one spot, with nearly a full inch more sink than Ian Kennedy gets on his cutter (3.13″). The horizontal movement on the offering was nothing to laugh at either. Among pitchers with a speed difference of four miles an hour or less between the fourseam/sinker and the cutter, Stroman’s 1.71” to the glove side of center ranked sixth, and only two of the five ahead of him (Samardzija and Kluber) threw the pitch over 90 mph.
When you put them all together, Stroman’s three fastballs look something like this (Hitter POV- Y axis is the vertical movement and the X-axis is the horizontal to simulate outcomes with same release angle):
As you can see, Stroman has three fastballs that have a difference in absolute break between them of over six inches each (nobody else in baseball can say that), two of which are over seven inches. He also throws each one with the same release point, and all at 91 mph or higher. That means that after a hitter determines the initial flight path of the pitch and realizes a fastball is coming, he still has to cover an area of 20.7 square inches. That’s absurd.
It’s pretty easy to see how valuable Stroman’s fastballs can be if used effectively. It looks like he (or someone else on the Jays) started to figure it out as well. Last year, he threw 47.6 percent sinkers, 8.8 percent fourseamers, and 12.3 percent cutters. In September, those numbers had switched to 19.5, 38.1, and 18.0, respectively. As Stroman brings the usage rates even closer together, and combines that with continued liberal use of his excellent offspeed pitches, there’s a very good chance he joins Happ and his pal Sanchez and gets closer to becoming the “ace” we all expected him to be.
Lead Photo: © John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Stats compiled using BP PITCHf/x leaderboards/Brooks Baseball |
Canada's big banks would survive even a serious downturn in the housing market, but it could still cost them almost $12 billion, a new report from Moody's says.
In a report Monday, the ratings agency made some pessimistic assumptions about the health of the housing market and came to the conclusion that the country's biggest lenders would be more than able to withstand a decline of more than 25 per cent "without catastrophic losses" to their businesses.
Moody's came up with that conclusion after looking at what happened to U.S. lenders during the housing crash there that began in 2007, and extrapolating the data to Canada.
The worst-case scenario for Canadian housing, Moody's says, is about a 25 per cent decline in the average house price, which was at more than $500,000 last month according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.
The two hot markets of Toronto and Vancouver, meanwhile, were assumed to have declined even more, by 35 per cent, in Moody's thought exercise.
Should that happen, Canada's biggest banks would see losses of roughly $11.7 billion. At that level, "the majority of banks would be able to absorb losses within one quarter of earnings," Moody's wrote.
CMHC insurance a factor
While a loss of more than $10 billion for the six biggest banks alone is significant, Canada's banks would be better equipped to limit the damage of a housing slowdown of that size due in part to how the market is regulated in Canada.
The vast majority of mortgages in Canada are insured by the government-backstopped Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which means the banks are insured if any loans they make with CMHC-insurance go sour. That wasn't the case in the U.S. at the time.
For its part, the CMHC could expect losses of almost $6 billion in the Moody's analysis, a large figure but one it would be able to financially handle. "The majority of Canada's mortgage insurance backstop, provided by CMHC, is resilient," Moody's said.
Another reason why Moody's thinks a housing market crash wouldn't be as devastating in Canada is because Canadian mortgages are of much higher quality than the U.S. ones were, and have a much lower rate of so-called "sub-prime" borrowers who don't qualify for conventional mortgages because of their credit history.
Currently, only about five per cent of Canadian mortgage applicants are subprime. At the peak, nearly a quarter of U.S. ones were.
Canadian banks also do a lot less securitization of mortgages in Canada, which is a process whereby the lender sells off the debt in smaller chunks and thus has the potential to spread the risk of default to new, unexpected places.
Adding up those three factors leads Moody's to conclude that Canadian banks could survive even an unexpected and devastating body blow to the housing market. "We believe several structural characteristics of the Canadian mortgage market, as well as macroprudential adjustments made by Canadian regulators following the U.S. sub-prime crisis, would help Canadian banks to weather the effects of a major housing shock," Moody's said. |
Published on Friday, October 14, 2016
Snakes on a plane: No says Garuda, it was just 'legless lizards'
Indonesian flag carrier Garuda has denied there were snakes loose onboard a domestic flight after several reptiles broke free from the cargo hold.
The critters were actually Lialis Burtonis lizards which are commonly known as legless lizards, an airline official said.
The species is also known as the 'snake lizard' as it only has very small almost indistinguishable hind legs, and is only found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
"The animal physically looks like a snake, but after an examination and checking of the documents, they are lizards and not snakes," Garuda's vice president of corporate communications, Benny S. Butarbutar told the Jakarta Post.
After being spotted in the cabin, the three errant reptiles were quickly rounded up by flight crew and secured.
No disruption to the flight was caused, Benny said, but the airline is investigating how they escaped from their container.
"Whoever is proven to be negligent over the standard operating procedures in the packaging will face firm sanctions," Benny said.
The drama took place on a flight from Merauke, Papua to Jakarta on Tuesday. |
Robert Mackey of the Times did a good piece today about the former Israeli soldier’s facebook photos of humiliated Palestinian prisoners. He mentions Breaking the Silence’s collection of similar photos, he quotes a Palestinian on routine humiliation. He leads with the former soldier’s statement that she feels like she did nothing wrong.
A commenter named M. Junaid from New York wrote:
In a pathetic but very real sense, this woman is right – within the context of a society such as Israel, there is indeed "nothing wrong" about humiliating and oppressing another people. That deterioration of any moral sense is exactly what happens in any colonizing country, whether it was France in Algeria or the British in Kenya. The difference, of course, is that the Israeli colonial project has no interest in pulling back to pre-1967 borders. For that, we can thank AIPAC and the American public that foolishly subsidizes Israeli colonialism, no matter how wrong it is or how much it alienates the entire Muslim world.
187 readers then recommended this comment. More than any other by far. Oh wait, Fizzy in Philadelphia comes close at 111:
As a result of their "Ethno-Centric" consciousness, they [the Jewish people] have become like those who persecuted them for generations. Ultra nationalistic, egomaniacal, and militaristic. They have gained world power status at the expense of their soul as a people.
Something is stirring in the American elite consciousness… (Thanks to Peter Voskamp) |
President Park Geun-hye
By Kim Tae-gyu
Can President Park Geun-hye stick to what is seen as her version of "equidistant diplomacy" between China and the United States?
So far, Seoul appears to be making a knee-jerk reaction to close ranks with Washington in the face of China's inclusion of Ieodo in its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Beijing's move is seen as a response to the U.S. policy of pivoting to Asia, the latest fight for hegemony in the region.
This struggle is nothing new to the point that Washington has chosen Japan as its deputy to contain China.
A big challenge for Park is whether she will repeat history.
But new realities can push her to seek out other possibilities.
First, China is Korea's biggest trading partner, whose influence can be felt by Samsung to Hyundai. Plus, she has been closer than any of her predecessors to the Chinese leadership — now represented by President Xi Jinping.
Second, Park can ill afford to blindly follow Washington's lead, considering the growing clout of Japan. Her support base may be eroded.
Experts are also split into two opposing camps with regard to how Park should grapple with the diplomatic upheaval.
"President Park came up with a series of actions, which would have angered the U.S. as demonstrated by the different levels of special envoys and ambassadors to the U.S. and China," said Prof. Son Tae-gyu at Dankook University.
"Although China has become our top trade partner, the U.S. is far more significant in our security and politics. In that sense, I think that our government is required to shift its diplomatic focus more to the U.S."
After winning the presidential election late last year, Park sent Kim Moo-sung, who has great influence inside the ruling Saenuri Party, as a special envoy to China while appointing her long-time confident Kwon Young-se as the ambassador to the country.
By contrast, she sent then Saenuri floor leader Lee Hahn-koo as a special envoy to the U.S. while naming former Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Ho-young as the new U.S. ambassador.
Kim and Kwon, who Park selected for China, are widely regarded as far more powerful than Lee and Ahn.
Last year, Korea's trade volume with China amounted to some $215 billion, which was more than double that with the U.S. at about $102 billion.
By contrast, Prof. Shin Yul at Myongji University said that Seoul should not change its focus in diplomacy.
"As far as China's recently-revealed ADIZ scheme is concerned, its target is not us, but Japan and the U.S. The differences between Seoul and Beijing can be easily ironed out," Shin said.
"Accordingly, we do not have to make any hasty moves. What we have to do now is to keep our original stances toward China, Japan and the U.S."
Last year, Korea's trade volume with China amounted to some $215 billion, which was more than double that with the U.S. at about $102 billion.
By contrast, Prof. Shin Yul at Myongji University said that Seoul should not change its focus in diplomacy.
"As far as China's recently-revealed ADIZ scheme is concerned, its target is not us, but Japan and the U.S. The differences between Seoul and Beijing can be easily ironed out," Shin said.
"Accordingly, we do not have to make any hasty moves. What we have to do now is to keep our original stances toward China, Japan and the U.S." |
The developers of Project Open, an open source enterprise project management package, have announced they are releasing version 4.0 of the software application after extensive testing of the release candidate. Among the new interoperability features of the package is the ability for projects to be imported into Project Open from Microsoft Project, edited in Project Open and then exported back to Microsoft Project. The software now has a configuration wizard to simplify integrating Active Directory and SharePoint, which will allow projects to store their documents on a SharePoint server.
The Linux version of Project Open includes experimental Funambol integration as well; this will allow Project Open to synchronise calendar data with Outlook and mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android-based smartphones. One optional package can also import CVS commits into Project Open and associate the commits with projects, while another can track incoming and outgoing mail between users and projects as part of a CRM workflow.
Within the project planning scope, the release of 4.0 sees the ability to put placeholder "Skill Profiles" against tasks and people, allowing the staffing of a project to be performed more rapidly. The developers note, though, that the GUI will need improvement for the staffing process, something that they hope to deliver in 4.1. SCRUM and Agile Project management methodologies are now supported by the system and can be mixed with classical project management processes in a single project. To engage employees, a new Idea Management portal allows them to suggest ideas, comment on ideas, and vote those ideas up or down.
Other features include use of Ajax date pickers being available in most of the web front end, save for reports. Expense management allows adding notes to forms, and more reports are available. HTTPS support has also been enhanced so that selected pages can only be accessed through customer support. A new system configurator allows a system's configuration to be captured in CSV format and used to recreate the configuration on a new system.
Other changes and enhancements are listed on the roadmap page. Project Open is built on top of OpenACS, XoWiki, AOLServer and PostgreSQL. The packages are licensed under a mix of GPLv2 and later, free (as in beer), and commercial licensing, which is detailed on the project's licensing page. There are a number of options for installing the software from native installers for Linux and Windows to VMware appliances. Source code can be found on the project's SourceForge pages.
(djwm) |
TORONTO — Ontario Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne says becoming the first openly gay premier in Canada is “historic” and “exciting.”
But she says she doesn’t want it to overshadow her role in governing the country’s most populous province.
She says she feels a special responsibility to young gay people who are looking for the possibility that there might be a more accepting world somewhere.
She says it’s important to her that she may be helping people to be less frightened.
But Wynne says she’s not a gay activist and she doesn’t plan to spend the next few months talking about it.
She says for her, the real historic thing is that she’ll become the sixth woman premier in Canada once she’s sworn in.
“We’ve wondered about why we haven’t had a higher percentage of women in legislatures and in Parliament,” Wynne said Sunday. “Well, maybe now we’re reaching a critical mass.”
Wynne, who is married to Jane Rounthwaite and has three children and two grandchildren, has said homophobia always comes up in her campaigns and did in this one too, with a Toronto newspaper editorial asking if Ontario is ready for an openly gay premier.
The question is posed to her as an electability issue, but she says that underestimates Ontarians to assume that sexual orientation is going to determine how they vote.
And Ontario is ready for a gay premier, she said in a rousing speech Saturday to Liberal delegates assembled at the leadership convention.
“The province has changed, our party has changed. I do not believe that the people of Ontario… hold that prejudice in their hearts,” she told the crowd.
But the former mediator made it clear after her leadership victory that what she wanted most was to be a consensus builder who could lead the embattled Ontario Liberals successfully in a minority government.
She pulled ahead of rival Sandra Pupatello after three ballots, winning 1,150 votes at the delegated convention — a result she said would allow her to build on what outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty has done over the last nine years.
Wynne, 59, was first elected to the legislature in the Liberal sweep of 2003, serving as minister of education, as well as aboriginal affairs, municipal affairs and transportation. Before entering politics, she was a conflict mediation professional running her own company.
I do not believe that the people of Ontario… hold that prejudice in their hearts
Her no-nonsense, professorial style often mirrors McGuinty’s, but she believes she’s different than the outgoing premier and is the right leader for the times.
“Dalton and I have different personalities, different approaches, but I have seen the value of his integrated personality,” Wynne said in a recent interview.
“He really is able to be the same person no matter who he’s talking to, and it’s the value of that that I’ve really witnessed over the last nine years, but I think we’re different people, and right now calls for a different kind of politician than 2002-03.”
Wynne has said she would recall the house by Feb. 19, and would not call an election this year or design a budget that would trigger the government’s defeat. |
The Fox News Channel quietly dropped its "Fair and Balanced" slogan last year in an effort to move beyond the era of its former chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes.
In its place, producers have been asked to use the network's other slogan: "Most Watched. Most Trusted" -- a statement that is at least half true, insofar as Fox News maintains some of the highest ratings in cable news. The network may introduce a new slogan, a source there said.
Related: Murdoch ambitions hang in balance amid Fox News investigations
Ailes invented the "Fair and Balanced" slogan around the founding of Fox News in 1996. The slogan was less a statement of intent -- Fox News was from its inception a conservative network -- and more a message to Americans who had grown wary of what they saw as liberal bias in mainstream media. Here, the slogan seemed to say, was an alternative for non-liberal Americans.
Ailes resigned from Fox News last year amid sexual harassment allegations and died last month at the age of 77.
New York Magazine's Gabriel Sherman, an Ailes biographer, was first to report the news.
A Fox News spokesperson confirmed that the network had not used the slogan in external marketing or on-air promotions since August 2016, but said "the shift has nothing to do with programming or editorial decisions."
Sources at the network said there had been no official announcement regarding the change. |
President Obama is either a master foreign-policy strategist or making it up as he goes along.
Photo by Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Give President Obama credit: He has done such a good job of acting unpredictably in the lead-up to his proposed military strikes on Syria that no one knows what he will do next. He has successfully confused ally and enemy alike. Sun Tzu would be proud.
But President Obama cannot take all the credit for sowing confusion. Secretary of State John Kerry also has the unique distinction of becoming the first chief American diplomat whose offhand quip at a press conference launched a last-minute, global diplomatic initiative to disarm a murderous dictator. Kerry never thought that he was making a bold bid to avert military strikes that his president’s party and public had no interest in supporting. He simply suggested that if Bashar al-Assad handed all of his chemical weapons over in a week, that might stave off an impending U.S. attack—and of course, Assad wasn’t going to do that. The State Department rushed forward to clarify that Kerry wasn’t floating an actual proposal—he was just speaking rhetorically. You know, riffing. To say that the Obama administration is freelancing when it comes to foreign policy is an insult to freelancers.
Still, Vladimir Putin knows an opportunity when he sees it. The Kremlin pounced on Kerry’s diplomatic spitballing. So now, everyone—the French, the British, the Chinese, the Obama administration—is hoping that the Russians can craft a verifiable plan for Assad’s regime to hand over its chemical stockpile. For the West, a price can be exacted from Assad, while the dangerous unpredictability of military strikes can be avoided. Meanwhile, Russia and China can keep their man in Damascus.
The sigh of relief from Capitol Hill was audible last night when Obama said that the Russian plan offered a potential breakthrough. Incredibly, Obama had turned to Congress to support his planned strikes—something presidents almost never do—when he didn’t have anything approaching a lock on the votes. It would have been a clever way of forcing Congress to share the blame for acting or not acting in Syria, if it weren’t for the fact that having his foreign policy neutered by Congress would be such a debilitating defeat. If the president thought his own party had his back, he was mistaken. No one believes that the House of Representatives (and maybe even the Senate) was going to sign off on the authorization of force in Syria. But Putin’s late-breaking gambit has prevented Democrats from having to eviscerate their own president’s foreign policy. Putin is providing President Obama political cover that even his own party wouldn’t supply.
But if your foreign policy has to be rescued by a dictator, you are doing it wrong. That’s where President Obama finds himself today. Putin is providing Obama an out he couldn’t find for himself.
Of course, Syria has not yet pledged to hand over its chemical weapons. If it does, it would truly be one of the happiest accidents of this entire episode. (Whatever the administration says about its threatened use of force, this outcome was unforeseen.) Never mind that the United States has no idea where Assad has squirreled away his chemical munitions. For now we will engage the likely fiction that Assad will self-disarm his most potent weapon for ensuring his future survival—the only thing a dictator craves—because it allows all sides to stand down. The argument will now turn to how credible the Russian plan truly is, whether any agreement can be backed by a future use of force, and whether Assad will comply.
If Putin’s maneuver doesn’t pan out, Obama’s foreign policy will still likely fall victim to the vicissitudes of a dictator. Because one message is already clear in Damascus: The Obama administration will do everything in its power to do nothing at all. If Assad finds himself up against the wall, he will likely gas his fellow Syrians again. Maybe he will reduce the scale and scope, but it is doubtful that he will abandon the weapons. How will President Obama respond then? It is hard to say. Because no one knows what the president is doing. At least he has the element of surprise. |
Photos By: Daniel Yubeta
As children, most of us dream of owning amazing cars. Whether inspired by toys, movies, or our environment, the initial fire of automotive enthusiasm is ignited in our formative years. Generally, those dream cars are unencumbered by grown-up considerations like cost or time to build, so those dream cars become compromised to better-fit reality, or not achieved until late in life.
Neither of those are the case with Derrick Torres and his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.
Checking Off the Bucket List Early
“Owning a first-generation Camaro was a bucket list item of mine ever since I was 12 years-old,” Torres said. “After going for a ride in my friend’s dad’s ’67, I knew I had to have one.” While it might seem like a pre-teen fantasy if you heard that come from the mouth of a kid, it was far more serious for Torres, who kept his eye on the prize for the next 15 years.
While some guys don’t get to start looking for their dream projects until much later in life, Torres was ready to embark on his classic Camaro journey at only 27 years-old. “In the winter of 2012 I had saved up enough money to finally start looking for one,” Torres recalled. “I knew that I would be buying a project though, because my budget wasn’t big and I knew what first-generation Camaros were going for.”
Unlike the movies, there was no magical deal that fell into Torres’ lap as soon as he had the money saved up. However, his search was far from arduous. “After going through Craigslist every single day for weeks looking for the right deal I finally found the one. It was a standard model ’68 Camaro that was in rough shape but was running and driving,” explained Torres.
“The guy had it listed for $12,500. I shot the guy a text message and offered him every single penny I had, which was $10,500. I fully expected the guy to turn down the offer before even sending it. Twenty minutes later, the seller texted me back with, ‘When can you come get it?’ I still remember the overwhelming feeling of disbelief I had when I read his message,” Torres said.
“I dropped everything I was doing, cancelled family plans that evening, didn’t return to work, and immediately went straight to the bank.”
Getting the Project Started
It takes a special kind of person to see through a car’s current condition and not only the realize potential, but to have a vision of what it will be in the future. Torres had that vision in spades as he picked up his 1968 Camaro.
“When I first saw the car the interior was really rough and torn up, and it ran really bad. The transmission slipped, the exhaust fumes made my eyes burn, and I immediately loved every single thing about it,” Torres recalled.
“I picked up the car with a trailer and the entire drive home I just kept looking in the rear view mirror and would just smile. After getting the car home and into my garage it hit me that I finally had my dream car.”
With the start of his project in his possession, now it was time to get the project rolling. There was a plan in place before the car ever hit the concrete floor of his garage.
“The original plan for the car was to spend around $15,000 to $20,000 and just make it a fun, cool car to drive and take out on weekends,” Torres explained. Unfortunately, like most plans, this one didn’t survive first contact and was quickly altered.
“After meeting Mike Dusold at a local autocross event and riding along around the autocross course in his ‘67 Camaro, my original plans took a very hard and violent turn. I was hooked, and immediately knew that I wanted to race my car,” laughed Torres.
“I had my Camaro for three weeks and only drove it twice before totally stripping it down and sending it off to Mike D. at Dusold Designs to be rebuilt into an autocross racecar. I was completely unaware that for the next three years I’d be going through the biggest and toughest financial and emotional rollercoaster I’ve ever been on in my life. The end result was more than worth the struggle.”
The Build of the Beast
Aiming to have a purpose-built track car that was also completely street-legal, Torres end goal was to still have a car he could cruise, like his original goal, but also one to satiate his newfound hunger for carving up the corners. While it wasn’t fast or cheap, the build process left Torres happier than he could have imagined.
Starting under the hood, a boost-ready Chevrolet Performance LSX 376 crate engine was used that produced 473-horsepower out of the box, but it wasn’t enough for Torres, and a GM ZL1 supercharger system was added. The Eaton TVS 1900 supercharger forces enough air to put 760 horsepower and 695 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels.
To back up the potent engine combination, Torres decided that six gears were better than five, and at that power level, there is really only one option for a six-speed: the Tremec T56 Magnum. Power goes from the box through a McLeod Racing RXT clutch, back to a Detroit Speed 9-inch axle fitted with a Strange Engineering aluminum third member.
The car’s suspension features a Detroit Speed coilovers with QA1 shocks up front, with a Detroit Speed QuadraLink suspension in the rear. The four-link setup is designed specifically for handling and plays a large part in the car’s ability to get around the track in a hurry.
Reigning in all the speed are Wilwood brakes all around. Beefy six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers in the rear clamp down on 14.25-inch diameter rotors at all four corners.
Eighteen-inch CCW LM20 wheels – 11 inches wide in front and 12 inches wide in the rear – are wrapped in BFGoodrich Rival S tires: 315/30s up front and 335/30s in the rear. The aggressive wheel and tire combination really sets off the custom wrap on the car for one mean looking ’68 Camaro.
The interior is a no-nonsense affair. Dakota Digital gauges keep Torres informed of the car’s vitals, while Sparco Evo III seats keep him firmly planted, and a Sparco steering wheel keeps him firmly in control of the car.
“The wheels were definitely the hardest choice to make. I’m very particular on wheels and tires and felt like it could really make or break the appearance of the whole build,” Torres admitted. “It took me a whole year to choose my wheels. In the end, I am extremely happy with my choice.”
Putting the Camaro Through Its Paces
Three-and-a-half years from first acquiring the car, it was doing what it was designed to do. Over the last two and a half years, Torres has thrashed the car like a rockstar, not babying it like a show car.
“I’ll take the car out probably two or three times a month and drive it around the streets,” said Torres. “I try to do at least three to five race events per month, too.”
Torres doesn’t simply go out and beat the car, he drives it with considerable skill and success. “I’ve taken first place in over 20 Equipe Rapide Autocross events, which led to 2016 and 2017 series championships,” Torres recounted. “I won the 2015 Goodguys Autocross Street Machine event and was the overall shootout winner, and qualified for the Goodguys national Autocross championship in 2015 and 2016.”
In true car-guy fashion, Torres isn’t finished with the project yet, as he’s constantly finding ways to improve his dream car. “The car is definitely not finished. My near future plans are to put a full and complete interior in it to make it a more comfortable street car,” revealed Torres.
From a humble start to a place on the podium, Derrick Torres and his 1968 Camaro are proof that through hard work and perseverance, your dream car doesn’t have to be just a dream.
He is quick to thank Dusold Designs and Detroit Speed for their help along the way to prove that you can make a dual-purpose car that does more than one thing very well. |
Navy Announces Launch of Task Force Ocean
The Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, under direction from the Chief of Naval Operations, today announced the establishment of Task Force Ocean.
This new task force is part of an effort to further assess the state of ocean science in the Navy, which encompasses its oceanographic infrastructure, technologies, technical workforce and how ocean science is applied to naval operations.
Embracing Ocean Science
"Cutting-edge ocean science underpins the safety and effectiveness of the Navy's operating forces," said Oceanographer of the Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet. "One of the main drivers that launched Task Force Ocean is the need to advance ocean science that directly helps the U.S. Navy maintain its competitive advantage in the undersea domain. Our overall capabilities are second to none, but the gap is closing and we can't be complacent. It's time to up-our-game to stay ahead of our competitors."
Gallaudet and Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. David Hahn will co-chair an executive steering committee for Task Force Ocean comprised of senior leadership representatives from U.S. Fleet Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the U.S. Naval Academy, and Naval Post Graduate School. The executive steering committee will develop a five-year ocean science road map designed to advance ocean science that supports the Navy's mission.
The road map will focus on the Navy's capability to observe the ocean environment, process the collected data into products that can be used by operational commanders, and further strengthen the Navy's ocean science technical workforce.
"Through the implementation of the road map, our priority is to reinvigorate and reconstitute our technical workforce," Gallaudet said. "We'll be looking at everything from oceanographic survey ships, unmanned vehicles, ocean and acoustic modelling, and how we apply our products to recruiting, educating, developing and retaining our workforce."
Hahn further explained the importance of interagency, academic and private-sector partnership.
Maintaining Historic Edge
"Since the 1840s, the U.S. Navy has consistently been a major force in the advancement of ocean science," Hahn said. "Task Force Ocean will ensure we maintain our historic edge in understanding and predicting the marine environment in support of naval operations in all the world's oceans."
Gallaudet elaborated on the significance of ocean science to the Navy's mission.
"It's hard to believe that in this globally interconnected information age, only five percent of volume of the world's oceans have been explored and only 20 percent of the world's sea floor has been mapped to modern standards,” he said. “So, there's a lot that we don't know. We need to better understand the oceans because that's where the Navy operates.”
The Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy is the Chief of Naval Operation’s resource, requirements and policy adviser for the Navy's oceanography program. The oceanographer also serves as the Navy's senior policy adviser for issues related to national ocean policy, governance and interagency ocean activities.
The Office of Naval Research reports to the Secretary of the Navy through the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. Led by the Chief of Naval Research, its senior leadership oversees a portfolio of investments ranging from immediate, quick turnaround technologies to long-term basic research. |
Then-Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood at the opening of the contentious Frome Street bikeway.
The council voted unanimously, though with absentees, last night to request a full review of its transport strategy ‘Smart Move’ and design strategy ‘the Adelaide Design Manual’.
The review would ensure the policies “do not unnecessarily impede, reduce or bottleneck motor vehicle traffic or reduce the number of traffic lanes and/or parking spaces available for motor vehicles”.
Ironically, just this morning Lord Mayor Martin Haese joined Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan as he praised an announcement by the federal Labor Party that it would co-fund multibillion dollar AdeLINK tram upgrades for Adelaide if elected.
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More city trams would necessarily reduce lanes for vehicular traffic.
Mullighan told reporters: “I think all South Australians were very pleased to see the commitment from the federal Labor Party that they would be investing in public transport here in South Australia … (including) to expand the tram network across the city”.
“It’ll be particularly important for the CBD of Adelaide.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to have such a forward-thinking and progressive Lord Mayor in Martin Haese, who understands the benefit of improved public transport infrastructure for the CBD.”
Haese said the council’s goal was to make it easier for people to come into the city, irrespective of their choice of transport.
He said the council would need to “look at each of our roads on a case-by-case basis”.
Addressing last night’s vote, Haese said it was good governance to review Smart Move, because it was four years old.
“The key thing here is that plan was adopted in 2012,” Haese said.
“We’re now talking about automated vehicles, we’re talking about a whole range of new smart city technologies, which are quite game-changing.
“So it’s good governance to have a good re-look at any strategic plan – transport plans included.”
We can’t sit around while there are tumbleweeds rolling down the street.
South Ward councillor Alex Antic told last night’s council meeting that the council’s transport and design strategies were “fundamentally flawed” because they discouraged people from driving cars into the city.
Antic said the council’s policies were “deliberately designed to stop traffic”, adding that “the trigger for my running for council was the somewhat-catastrophe of Frome Street”.
As InDaily revealed in February, the Adelaide Design Manual prioritises pedestrians and cyclists in street upgrades and favours narrower driving lanes and reduced traffic speeds in the CBD.
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Antic described cars as “the lifeblood” of the city, where roads are “the veins” and businesses are “the heart”.
He said businesses were being harmed by street redevelopments such as Frome Street because “a city without cars is a bankrupt city”.
“We can’t sit around … while there are tumbleweeds rolling down the street.”
He cited comments left on AdelaideNow news articles criticising the council’s direction on transport as evidence of “what we’re up against”.
A city council report revealed by InDaily last year revealed that traffic numbers had, indeed, reduced between 2010 and 2015, but that there had been no directly correlating slowdown in economic activity, and traffic flow around the ring route had increased.
Central Ward councillor Megan Hender voted to support the review, but disputed Antic’s assessment of the impact of car drivers on city businesses.
“Cars don’t buy things, people do,” she said, urging her colleagues to consider the positive impact of upgrades to Rundle Street and Prospect Road on nearby businesses and house prices.
She argued that the narrowing of driving lanes and the reduction car parking spaces in those streets had seen business grow, not shrink.
“The shops down there are flourishing,” she said.
“The consequences of that has been … significantly higher property prices and an increases sense of community.”
Hender agreed the policies should be reviewed to take into account developments such as the extended O-Bahn, but warned against going backwards on transport policy.
“I want to make sure that when we review these documents … it’s based on really solid, world-class research.”
Hender also argued against the idea that the council was “anti-car”, suggesting the claim was doing damage to city businesses.
“I want to stop this narrative that this council is anti-car,” Hender said.
She told the meeting that, since the council owned thousands of city car parks and helped to keep parking prices to a minimum, it was actually welcoming drivers into the city.
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As some of you know, this weekend will see the first round of closed beta testing for Dragon Ball FighterZ. Select players have been given the chance to try out the game and play it online by Bandai Namco and Arc System Works.
For those who are in the beta — or are looking forward to people streaming it — the beta isn’t exactly available for the entire weekend. Rather, Bandai Namco has set specific times during which the beta will be live and people can log in. You can check the beta schedule out below:
USA (California) PST EUROPE (France) CST JAPAN JST 1st Session 2:00am-5:00am (Saturday) 11:00-14:00 (Saturday) 18:00-21:00 (Saturday) 2nd Session 10:00am-1:00pm (Saturday) 19:00-22:00 (Saturday) 2:00-5:00 (Sunday) 3rd Session 6:00pm-9:00pm (Saturday) 3:00-6:00 (Sunday) 10:00-13:00 (Sunday) 4th Session 1:00pm-4:00pm (Sunday) 22:00-1:00 (Sunday/Monday) 5:00-8:00 (Monday)
Now, whether or not further beta tests will be opened is as of yet unknown. However, some players who applied have reported receiving emails from Bandai Namco stating that, while they didn’t make it in to this testing cycle, they have qualified as “potential candidates” for future beta tests should they occur.
Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment |
NEW YORK (Reuters) - People confined to wheelchairs are unable to fully enjoy a New York City park named after President Franklin Roosevelt, one of the most famous wheelchair users in U.S. history, a class-action lawsuit claims.
The suit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, contends that the design of Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park inhibits access by wheelchair users and violates laws that require public facilities to reasonably accommodate disabled people.
The suit was filed by the advocacy group Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled and three wheelchair users who said they were either unable to reach all parts of the park or did so with difficulty because of the absence of ramps.
Michell Caiola, one of the attorneys who filed the suit, said the gift shop and restrooms are inaccessible, and some of the walkways are either gravel or cobblestone, making them difficult to navigate by wheelchair.
“This was dedicated to a president who had a disability and used a wheelchair for mobility,” she said.
The architectural barriers could have been avoided during planning and construction of the park, the complaint says.
Roosevelt, who served as president from 1933 until his death during his fourth term in 1945, was paralyzed by polio when he was 39.
The park, located on the southern tip of New York City’s Roosevelt Island in the East River, is dedicated to Roosevelt’s famous “Four Freedoms” speech, delivered on Jan. 6, 1941.
The address, delivered months before the United States entered World War Two, articulated four universal rights that the president said all people deserved.
The wheelchair users said they wrote last August to the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, which operates the park, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, but never got a response.
Howard Axel, chief executive of the conservancy since November, said he was unaware of any effort by the plaintiffs to contact the organization but “would welcome” a meeting.
The park was designed by architect Louis Kahn in 1973, well before 1990 enactment of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires full access. It opened in the fall of 2012. |
In sort of a weird scheduling snafu, the Miami Hurricanes (4-0) will face the Charlotte 49ers (3-0) twice in 3 days.
Tonight they battle in Charleston to complete the Gildan Classic.
On Tuesday they face each other in Charlotte, in a game that was likely scheduled long before both teams knew they would be in said tourney. Or perhaps it was scheduled because of the proximity of Charleston to Charlotte?
Either way it will be a good chance for two teams with aspirations of postseason runs to test each other out, twice.
So who holds the upper hand in this unusual 3 day swing?
To get the scoop on that and learn more about the 49ers, we caught up with Ben Miraski of Mid Major Madness.
Here is our full Q&A with Ben.
SOTU: For those who haven't seen Charlotte play before, what is their style? Who are their key players?
MMM: Charlotte is going to play an uptempo game. The 49ers have been getting faster in each of Alan Major's seasons, and this is no exception. That plays in their favor as they do best when they are freewheeling and not trying to get too much of an offensive set going. That is because they do not do well shooting from 3. They are much more confident driving with the ball, especially with Pierria Henry running the game.
The senior point guard is one of the best at delivering the ball, and he still has a veteran team led by Terrence Williams on the wing and Mike Thorne inside.
The secret weapon, although not so secret is Brandon Ogbueze, a transfer from Florida (Boo, yeah, I know), who has been the best scorer for the Niners this season.
SOTU: What was the preseason expectation Alan Major's squad? Are they an NCAA Tourney team?
MMM: This is a team expected to contend for the Conference USA title, but they hear that every year, and they have a hard time making good on that every season. The Niners manage to pull off big upsets, but they fritter away all that good will later on. They still haven't been able to catch up to UTEP and Louisiana Tech.
Maybe that will change with a more veteran lineup, but on paper, they don't look as good as those two teams.
This will be a bubble team, and a lot will depend on whether they can win games like this one (or the next one), because they will likely not win the conference, and CUSA is not a league that is going to get a lot of respect.
SOTU: How strong is C-USA this season?
MMM: CUSA is still a league in transition. It wants to be one of the big boys, but it isn't there yet. UTEP and Louisiana Tech are the standard bearers this season, and they give a good chance for this league to get two teams into the NCAA Tournament. But the profile of the league, especially with all of the membership changes recently, is not great.
Winning 90 percent of your games in this league isn't going to impress anyone, and finishing outside of the top two isn't going to do anyone any favors.
SOTU: Which players on Miami concern you the most?
MMM: Obviously Angel Rodriguez has been a great player for Miami so far this season. Talk about stepping in and making an impact. The game against Florida, the game against Akron: that is big time play.
Plus he has been really good at generating turnovers, which has been a sore spot for Charlotte.
Tonye Jekiri and Sheldon McClellan are also a bit of a concern for their rebounding abilities. It is going to be a real test of the front line of Charlotte.
SOTU: How do you see the Gildan Charleston Classic playing out? Who wins and why?
MMM: I would like to believe that Charlotte will hang in this game pretty well. They have the talent to compete with any team in the country. The real test will be if they can minimize their mistakes.
Being on the neutral court should help Charlotte, but the defense of Miami so far this season is a big time fear factor here. Plus the Charlotte bench is a little light.
I am going to go with Miami in this one (but maybe not next time...), 68-59.
Thanks again to Ben for working with us.
Be sure to check out the game tonight on ESPN2 at 9PM. And stop SOTU for more coverage on tonight's game and all things 'Canes. |
Here David Tennant talks about what we can expect from the new series and from his character DI Alec Hardy as we prepare to say goodbye to Broadchurch and it's residents after one final case...
"It is sad to think we will never return to this world and to these characters because I feel so fondly towards them but I will always feel proud to be associated with this show," he says.
"There is a massive personal legacy having worked on this show… we all feel like we have been doing something very special and that we are all a part of each other’s lives now so I’ll miss seeing people every day but hopefully I will see them fairly regularly. I will certainly miss Chris’ scripts but I look forward to watching them elsewhere and I hope it won't be the last time we will work together."
Talking about seeing his script for the first time David says:
"That it was clearly very beautifully researched and realised and that it was touching and intriguing; a page turner and funny in places but gripping to read. That it was the same world but telling a different type of story and a sense that Chris Chibnall has been able to very fully realise this world again and that it was somewhere you were very happy to be back in."
So what can we expect from Alec in this series?
"It's a few years down the line and some stuff has happened in the interim which we will find out as the series unfolds. At the end of series two we didn’t know if he was getting in the cab or not… turns out he did but he has found his way back to Broadchurch and has found his way to be working with Ellie again and although he is never entirely happy with his lot he realises that this is probably where he is meant to be and that Ellie is the closest thing he has to a best friend."
"So there is a sort of acceptance to him, he is not railing against the world in quite the same way. What he ends up railing against is the perpetrator of this crime and that becomes, as it always has been, his focus, and his focus then becomes trying to understand the person who would commit this crime, trying to get inside their skin and that is something that he struggles with initially. That has been an interesting conflict to play, Hardy trying to come to terms with what sort of man would do this and almost feeling ashamed for his own gender which has been a very interesting take that Chris has afforded him this series."
"And the relationship between Hardy and his daughter, Daisy, is a bigger part of this series, and of who he is, why he is trying to do what he is trying to do and it gives him a different perspective on things…it makes him all the more keenly aware of the idea that there may be a threat to women in the community, which is something he feels all the more acutely through Daisy’s presence. He is trying to be a dad and it is not something he has a lot of practice at - he is a decent bloke it just doesn’t necessarily come so naturally to him."
The new series will focus on the serious sexual assualt of a resident in the community. To ensure the storyline was executed sensitively, The Shores (Dorset’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre) and Dorset Rape Crisis have supported and advised Chris Chibnall throughout writing the scripts.
"Chris Chibnall’s research has been incredible" says David. "He has been working on this since the end of series two and I think what is particularly affecting about this is we are presenting something that is very difficult, an awful event in someone’s life and you have to present it realistically, accurately and sensitively and Chris’s genius on this is that he has almost forensically gone about looking at what the support systems are in this country, how they work and the amazing work that they do with victims of sexual assault and I think he represents that and bears witness to that in the script. We were hugely affected by meeting some of the women who meet victims and who help them and care for them and see the processes that do exist in a hugely underfunded set of services. The humanity there and the care of the people who work at Rape Crisis and those organisations has been humbling and something I hope we bear witness to appropriately in the show."
Working with new co stars, some of whom are old friends, has also been a highlight of this series for David.
"That’s always been such a joyous part of it. Olivia and I get the privilege of working with everyone because of the way it is structured. We will interview everyone that the case touches so we have this extraordinary treat of working with this range of brilliant actors and quite different types of actors who are equally brilliant and unique. On this series there are some old friends of mine from other jobs and some people I had not met before and we have been thrilled with them all."
Talking about his undeniable popularity of the partnership between Hardy and Miller with viewers David says:
"It’s hard to be objective about something that you are that close to and I wouldn’t pretend to know why things necessarily work. I suppose Olivia Colman is a pretty significant part of it, she certainly has been for me, getting to work with her for all of these years and having had such a great time with her professionally but also having such a laugh, it has been such a joy to be part of that partnership."
"I don’t know what 'chemistry' is though. It seems to be an intangible thing so I don’t know how one quantifies it and obviously I am delighted if people think we have it on screen… it’s not really for me to say but I think certainly Chris wrote two characters that made perfect sense and worked very well together and Olivia certainly brought Ellie to vivid life from the first moment she opened her mouth so I have been quite lucky to be on their coattails I suspect."
And what will David miss most about the end of his Broadchurch journey...
"I will miss our trips to the coast. West Bay and the Jurassic coastline, I will definitely need to visit because there is something very special about that place and it is an extraordinary part of the country."
Broadchurch returns to ITV on Monday 27th February at 9pm
Thanks to ITV
The third and final series of award winning drama, Broadchurch will return to ITV on Monday 27th February at 9pm. David Tennant and Olivia Colman return to the roles of Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller as the mismatched detectives reunite to solve a new mystery relating to a serious sexual assault. Arthur Darvill, Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan are also among returning cast members, and they'll be joined by a host of new faces, including Sir Lenny Henry, who plays Ed Burnett, the owner of a local farm shop. Julie Hesmondhalgh plays Trish Winterman, his employee and the victim of the assault that Hardy and Miller must investigate. Sarah Parish also joins as Trish's best friend Cath Atwood, married to fellow newcomer Mark Bazeley as garage owner Jim. Charlie Higson plays Trish's husband and Georgina Campbell plays new DC Katie Harford who will team up with Hardy and Miller to work on the case. |
A number of firearms discovered at a warehouse in Dublin on Tuesday were loaded and primed for an “imminent attack”, the superintendent who directed the raid has said.
Detective Superintendent Tony Howard of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said at least 15 guns were found at the warehouse in the Greenogue Industrial Estate in Rathcoole, west Dublin.
This figure may rise to 20 once a full investigation of the scene is completed, and as of Tuesday the haul of weapons included at least one assault rifle, at least one submachine gun, a number of semi-automatic pistols and several handguns along with a “considerable” amount of ammunition.
Three men aged in their 40s and 50s were arrested in connection with the discovery, one of whom was arrested at the scene while the other two were picked up by gardaí nearby.
They are currently being held at stations around west Dublin under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Speaking to media after the find, Superintendent Howard said he had “no doubt” that lives had been saved as a result.
“Today’s operation disrupted an imminent attack and I have no doubt we have saved lives as a result of this operation,” he said.
He continued: “A number of firearms were actually loaded and it would appear were ready to be taken away.
“These guns are linked to serious organised crime, and when you seize firearms that are loaded it’s indicative of the fact that you’ve saved somebody’s life because they’re ready for use.”
It is suspected that the stash is related to the activities of the Kinahan crime cartel which has its power base in the south and west of the city. However gardaí say they have not ruled out the possible involvement of other actors and that investigations will follow a number of lines of inquiry.
Superintendent Howard provided a strong indication that Tuesday’s seizure of firearms may have some link to the discovery of €35 million worth of cannabis at Dublin Port on Friday.
“It says volumes that organised crime groups have both the capacity and obviously the money to import those quantities of drugs. Similarly in relation to the firearms today, the reality of it is very few individuals or groups would have the ability to amass these types of firearms.
“All of these seizures put together really has resulted in a considerable impact on how these organised crime gangs can operate here in the State,” he said.
He paid tribute to the gardaí involved in raids on organised criminal activities, saying their lives are “always in danger” when carrying out operations of this nature.
Tuesday’s find is thought to be one of the most comprehensive seizures of guns and ammunition in recent years, and follows the discovery of five guns stashed in a car in the Cabra area of the city in November.
Superintendent Howard appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed any potentially suspicious activity in the Greenogue Industrial Estate over recent days to come forward to gardaí, particularly any workmen or delivery drivers who may have been in the area.
“There may just be a piece of the jigsaw that some member of the public who may have visited the Greenogue Industrial Estate may have seen somebody acting suspiciously over the last 24 or 48 hours. If anyone has any information please do contact us,” he said. |
Image caption JRR Tolkien had the idea for Beren and Lúthien after returning from the Somme
A new book by Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien is going on sale - 100 years after it was first conceived.
Beren and Lúthien has been described as a "very personal story" that the Oxford professor thought up after returning from the Battle of the Somme.
It was edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and contains versions of a tale that became part of The Silmarillion.
The book features illustrations by Alan Lee, who won an Academy Award for his work on Peter Jackson's film trilogy.
More on this and other stories from across the south of England.
It is being published on Thursday by HarperCollins on the 10th anniversary of the last Middle Earth book, The Children of Húrin.
Image copyright Alan Lee Image caption Beren and Lúthien is a love story that was partly inspired by Tolkien's wife, Edith
Tolkien specialist John Garth, who wrote Tolkien And The Great War, said the Hobbit author used his writing like an "exorcism" of the horrors he witnessed in World War One.
He said: "When he came back from the trenches, with trench fever, he spent the winter [of 1916-1917] convalescing.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Alan Lee won an Oscar for his work on Peter Jackson's film trilogy
"He'd lost two of his dearest friends on the Somme and you can imagine he must have been inside as much of a wreck as he was physically."
Mr Garth said on a walk in an East Yorkshire wood Tolkien's wife Edith danced in a glade filled with white flowers, which became the key scene in Beren and Lúthien.
He said: "Mr Tolkien felt the kind of joy he must have felt at times he would never feel again."
The names Beren and Lúthien are carved on the gravestone Tolkien and his wife share in Wolvercote cemetery in Oxford.
Image copyright Alan Lee Image caption Alan Lee illustrates the book, having also worked on The Lord of the Rings
Image copyright Alan Lee Image caption Mr Lee won an Academy Award for his work on Peter Jackson's film adaptations
The story is about the fate of lovers Beren and Lúthien, a mortal man and an immortal elf who together try to steal from the greatest of all evil beings, Melkor.
For the new book Christopher Tolkien, now aged 92, has kept his father's story in the original form in which it was written and has also shown how the narrative changed to become part of The Silmarillion.
Published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings was the sequel to The Hobbit and is one of the most successful novels ever written, having sold more than 150 million copies.
The film adaptation, released from 2001 to 2003, is one of the highest-grossing series of all time, with the final movie also winning 11 Academy Awards, tied for the most ever with Ben Hur.
Image caption Tolkien and his wife Edith have the names Beren and Lúthien on their gravestone
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About Children of Fire (The Chaos Born, Book One)
Drew Karpyshyn has made his mark with imaginative, action-packed work on several acclaimed videogames, including Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as well as in a succession of New York Times bestselling tie-in novels. Now Karpyshyn introduces a brilliantly innovative epic fantasy of perilous quests, tormented heroes, and darkest sorcery—a thrilling adventure that vaults him into the company of such authors as Terry Goodkind, Brandon Sanderson, and Peter V. Brett.
Long ago the gods chose a great hero to act as their agent in the mortal world and to stand against the demonic spawn of Chaos. The gods gifted their champion, Daemron, with three magical Talismans: a sword, a ring, and a crown. But the awesome power at his command corrupted Daemron, turning him from savior to destroyer. Filled with pride, he dared to challenge the gods themselves. Siding with the Chaos spawn, Daemron waged a titanic battle against the Immortals. In the end, Daemron was defeated, the Talismans were lost, and Chaos was sealed off behind the Legacy—a magical barrier the gods sacrificed themselves to create.
Now the Legacy is fading. On the other side, the banished Daemron stirs. And across the scattered corners of the land, four children are born of suffering and strife, each touched by one aspect of Daemron himself—wizard, warrior, prophet, king.
Bound by a connection deeper than blood, the Children of Fire will either restore the Legacy or bring it crashing down, freeing Daemron to wreak his vengeance upon the mortal world.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Drew Karpyshyn’s The Scorched Earth.
Praise for Children of Fire
“This intricately layered adventure breathes realism and overshadowing menace into ancient mythic archetypes, exposing the pain and wonder inherent in magic and the mingled hope and cynicism of modern fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A rousing quest fantasy . . . a fast-paced action-packed good and evil thriller.”—SF Revu
“From the first page of Children of Fire, Karpyshyn captures the reader’s attention with his excellent, intricate storyline.”—RT Book Reviews
“Children of Fire stands on its own as a thoroughly entertaining tale. The book strikes a perfect balance between character driven storytelling and rich world building.”—Roqoo Depot
“[Karpyshyn] is truly a master of world building. . . . I would recommend this title to any fan of the genre.”—Among the Wreckage
“Compulsively readable, wildly entertaining.”—A Girl, A Boy and A Blog
“Children of Fire is engrossing, and full of characters that are modern. . . . I thoroughly enjoyed Children of Fire and look forward for the next two books.”—FANgirl Blog
“Drew Karpyshyn weaves a rich, contrasting tapestry of epic story and doom. Gripping and compelling from first page to last, Children of Fire is a dark-chocolate fantasy; delightfully biting and delectable at once. Four ill-fated children born under a sign of chaos and flame carried me on a journey into an intriguing world of shadowy wonder. It is a spellbinding epic told with masterful craft. Well done, Drew!”—Tracy Hickman, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Dragonlance and Death Gate series |
Welcome to the Digital Library for Physics and Astronomy This site is hosted by the
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Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics arXiv e-prints. Abstracts and full-text of major astronomy and physics publications are indexed and searchable through the new ADS interface as well as the traditional "Classic" search forms. A set of browsable legacy interfaces are also available.
In addition to maintaining its bibliographic corpus, the ADS tracks citations and usage of its records to provide advanced discovery and evaluation capabilities. Integrated in its databases, the ADS provides access and pointers to a wealth of external resources, including electronic articles available from publisher's websites, astronomical object information, data catalogs and data sets hosted by external archives. We currently have links to over 14.1 million records maintained by our collaborators.
Please note that all abstracts and articles in the ADS are copyrighted by the publisher, and their use is free for personal use only. For more information, please read our page detailing the Terms and Conditions regulating the use of our resources.
The ADS provides the myADS Update Service, a free custom notification service promoting current awareness of the recent technical literature in astronomy and physics based on each individual subscriber's queries. Every week the myADS Update Service will scan the literature added to the ADS since the last update, and will create custom lists of recent papers for each subscriber, formatted to allow quick reading and access. Subscribers are notified by e-mail in html format. As an option, users can elect to receive updates on preprints published on the arXiv e-print archive via daily emails or by subscribing to a custom RSS feed.
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The importance of ADS's role in supporting the scientific community has been recognized by societies and individuals. If you wish to acknowledge us in a publication, kindly use a phrase such as the following: ``This research has made use of NASA's Astrophysics Data System." Thanks! To learn more about the history of the ADS, its staff members, and their presentations, please see our "About" page. If you have comments or questions about the ADS, you are welcome to contact any of us directly, although the preferred way to get in touch with ADS staff is through our user feedback form, which guarantees a timely reply to your inquiry. |
World War Z has invaded movie theaters and likely turned more than a few viewers into mindless zombies, and now Jazwares seeks to do the same with its new line of figures based on the hit film.
I'm not sure there were loads of World War Z fans clamoring for figures based on the new flick, but it seems we're getting at least one set of them anyway. I'm all about generic zombie figures being added to my collection, so you won't see me complaining. You can read the awkward and shambling description of the line and see the figures below.
World War Z 6-Inch Zombie and Hero Action Figure Set Prepare for World War Z!
Then again, perhaps the zombie apocalypse will never happen.
Set includes 2 action figures derived from the World War Z movie.
You get an awesome assortment of heroes and zombies! The figures in this World War Z 6-inch action figure set may very well aid when the zombie apocalypse shows up, if you were to use them to predict numerous scenarios in which you had to get away from the undead. Or you can just display these awesome action figures in the hopes that the zombie apocalypse never happens. Suit yourself. Each figure stands approximately 6-inches tall.
First and foremost, that product description was one of the strangest and most awkward I've ever encountered in years and years of reading action figure copy. "Then again, perhaps the zombie apocalypse will never happen." That's a very insightful comment and definitely one of the most important of only four product features they decided to spotlight. The almost-antagonistic "Suit yourself" which finishes off the text is even odder.
Weird writing aside, the figures themselves leave a lot to be desired too. The main character, Gerry Lane, looks decidedly unlike Brad Pitt (which isn't surprising given the actor's denial of likeness rights). Typically a company will get the main features of the character right, but this figure even lacks the recognizable long hair. The figure is otherwise incredibly generic and sculpted rather softly, looking more like a 3 3/4-inch figure than a full six inches.
The zombies are more detailed and seem to have decent paint applications. The V-style hips on the bottom two zombies is another odd choice, but might serve their shambling poses adequately. None of these zombie figures are going to become the centerpiece of a display, but they might be okay tucked into a horde of 6-inch walking dead.
This line isn't particularly well-advertised and probably won't be supported by many collectors. Fans of the film may want to honor it with a purchase, but these figures likely won't find their way into too many collections, riveting descriptions aside. |
(Reuters) - Google is said to be in talks with automaker Ford Motor Co (F.N) to help build the Internet search company’s autonomous cars, Automotive News reported, citing a person with knowledge of the project.
The contract manufacturing deal, if finalised, is expected to come during the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas during the first week of January, Automotive News said.
A Google spokesman told Automotive News that the company would not comment on speculation, although Google officials confirmed that the company is talking to automakers.
Earlier this year, Google began discussions with most of the world’s top automakers and assembled a team of traditional and nontraditional suppliers to speed efforts to bring self-driving cars to the market by 2020.
In June, Google began testing tiny, bubble-shaped self-driving prototype vehicles of its own design on public roads around Mountain View. The company has also started testing self-driving prototypes in Austin.
Google is expected to make its self-driving cars unit, which will offer rides for hire, a stand-alone business under its parent company, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), next year, Bloomberg reported earlier.
Ford, although lagging behind most competitors, ramped up its pace to develop self-driving cars earlier this year and said it would expand advanced safety technology, including automatic braking, enabling hands-free operation of cars under certain conditions by automating such basic functions as steering, braking and throttle.
This was to be included across its global lineup over the next five years.
Reuters could not independently reach Ford Motor and Google for comment outside regular U.S. business hours. |
Thank you to everyone for making this project so successful! If you missed the campaign you can preorder at our website here.
All Three Stretch Goals Reached!
FIVE NOTEBOOK COLOR CHOICES
NEW PAGE LAYOUT CHOICE
New Page Layout Choice - Dot Grid/Ruled
Getting organized is a great feeling. It makes you more productive, makes it easier to remember where you left things, and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed.
The human mind is not perfect, but as shown by many successful experts like David Allen, Ryder Carroll, and Dr. Daniel Levitin, we can help it to remember and organize thoughts with external tools, such as pen and paper.
The latest science has shown that, of the roughly 70,000 thoughts we have per day, we can only keep track of between 4-7 thoughts at a time. To help our brains out and free up more working memory, it is helpful to write them down.
If you have ever walked into another room and forgotten why you walked in there, this is the same concept and shows why we need to help our minds remember.
HOW THE NOTEBOOK FOLIO WORKS
The Notebook Folio is a modular, universal case used to hold an A5 size notebook (5.8 x 8.3in) on the right side, as well as a small tablet, or sketchpad on the left.
The tablet clips are designed to hold a wide range of tablets or sketchpads, or notepads. The outside elastic band is high quality woven nylon to avoid common wear issues in lower grade folio cases.
We incorporated a front pocket to hold a to-do list so things don’t get forgotten just because your case is closed.
Weighing in at only 8.9oz this folio can be flipped around to hold the notebook on the left side as well, which sets it apart from every other folio.
Finally, we wrapped the case in three different colors and also bonded the material to the case to help it hold up better than all the folios we have tested on the market.
PRACTICAL USES
Idea recording and brain dump lists to get things written down efficiently
to get things written down efficiently Project management - Keep immediate tasks front of mind with actionable to-do lists, and overall project goals in the notebook
- Keep immediate tasks front of mind with actionable to-do lists, and overall project goals in the notebook Meeting folio - Three covers that look professional in a board room or for one-on-one meetings
- Three covers that look professional in a board room or for one-on-one meetings Speech writing, presenting - write it on the way to the speech, or at home with your tablet on hand to check facts
- write it on the way to the speech, or at home with your tablet on hand to check facts Bullet Journaling - a relatively new system of task management developed by Ryder Carrol. Read more
- a relatively new system of task management developed by Ryder Carrol. Read more Startup planning/pitching - Keep current with your sales figures, funding needs, and pitch deck on hand wherever you go
- Keep current with your sales figures, funding needs, and pitch deck on hand wherever you go Sketching / prototyping - Watch how to draw on your tablet, while actually doing it in the notebook
- Watch how to draw on your tablet, while actually doing it in the notebook Lettering practice and portfolio - Lettering requires two tools, a pencil and art pen which fit nicely in the two pen loops
- Lettering requires two tools, a pencil and art pen which fit nicely in the two pen loops Personal assistant - Keep a planner in the notebook section, task list or task app in the left side, and current to-do lists in the front cover
- Keep a planner in the notebook section, task list or task app in the left side, and current to-do lists in the front cover Journaling - Keep your journal with you and build it into your daily carry
WHATS INSIDE
To start, the folio case comes with a notebook and a sketchpad to help get you creating and organizing right away. There are also two pen loops, one large and one a bit smaller to hold thin pens, or pencils.
- PROJECT NOTEBOOKS
150 pages that are uncoated 70# clean, white, French Paper Co. - Sweet Tooth pages that are designed to work well with fountain pens
that are uncoated 70# clean, white, French Paper Co. - Sweet Tooth pages that are designed to work well with fountain pens To-do lists 50 perforated pages to add to the front cover of the folio to keep you on track
50 perforated pages to add to the front cover of the folio to keep you on track Draft Line Grid Layout using barely visible lines to help keep your work clean and organized with 3/16in grid spacing
using barely visible lines to help keep your work clean and organized with 3/16in grid spacing Second Layout Choice Available - Dot Grid and Ruled, see illustration below and Updates #3 and 4 for details.
- Dot Grid and Ruled, see illustration below and Updates #3 and 4 for details. Hand Stitched American made binding
American made binding Soft White, Blueprint Blue, and Matte Black cover choices
cover choices Custom table of contents so you can easily find your ideas
so you can easily find your ideas Numbered pages to keep things organized
to keep things organized Page holder ribbon to see where you left off
to see where you left off Minimal Branding as with all our products, we will not make our name visible on the outside...this is your product, not ours. (notebook logo disappears when inside case)
Handmade in the USA
Matte Black is also available
- SKETCHPAD
30 pages of 70# bright white sketch paper
of 70# bright white sketch paper Sketch pages can be added to notebook for storage
can be added to notebook for storage Pages fit into front pocket for list-making or decoration
Keep rulers and guides safe in the back pocket
WHAT ELSE FITS INSIDE
- TABLETS (Holds tablets between 5.3 x 7.8in up to 6.5 x 9in)
Apple iPad Mini (1-4)
Amazon Fire HD 8
HP Pro Slate 8
Samsung Tab A - 8", Tab S2 8"
Google Nexus 9
- NOTEBOOKS
Universal Design allows for almost any A5 size notebook
Leuchtturm1979 Hardcover/Softcover- Medium (A5, 249 pages)
Moleskin Hardcover, Softcover, Cahier - Large
Rhodia Webnotebooks - Desk size
Mnemosyne Special Memo Notepad - A5
Doane Paper - Large Notebook
Code & Quill - Origin and Traveler Notebooks
Whitelines - Hardcover A5
Baron Fig - Confidant
Wipebook Pro
Evernote Notebooks - Large
Black and Red - Twin Wire or Casebound - 8.25 x 5.8 in
Sigel Conceptum - Approx A5
HOW CAN THIS FOLIO HELP WITH ORGANIZATION
With the rise in paper notebook organization, like Bullet Journaling, our folio is built to hold all the new tools being used by creative professionals. Some of the latest notebooks are also designed around getting organized, like the following that fit in the folio:
Bullet Journal
Spark Notebook
Passion Planner
Basics Notebook
Moleskine Professional
Hatch Notebook
Self Journal
Rhodia Meeting Notebook
Productivity Planner
Rocketbook Wave
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook
I don’t believe that a notebook is perfect for everything such as calendar entries, team collaboration, and other items that involve more that one individual, but for brain-dumps, mind mapping, task tracking, blog entry planning and other personal work, the notebook is an easy choice. By relaxing our brain to focus on one task, and not needing to worry about all the other things we should be doing, we can accomplish more in less time.
"An organized mind is a creative, powerful thing, an unorganized mind can’t remember where it left the keys."
MY STORY
After 10 years of working with clients like Levi Strauss, General Mills, and Starbucks, I came to understand the importance keeping projects organized. The time I spent in face to face meetings required good note taking but I never liked using a typical padfolio. I liked to use notebooks so that I could go back and find my notes when typing them at the time wasn't an option. It functioned as a bridge between the meeting and my followup with them so I never forgot what I needed to do.
With most meetings, using a pen and paper is an unobtrusive, and easy way to record the details. Working from behind a laptop isn't always an option and for these times, using a good looking folio with a functional notebook can be useful.
Over the past 7 years I have studied the art of getting more organized, and practiced many different systems to help with this including the Bullet Journal Notebook System, and Getting Things Done by David Allen. I started a blog last year to help share some of my thoughts on this as a lot of them revolved around using a notebook, or something very similar to help capture thoughts and to-do lists. You can find my blog here.
It is hard to beat that energetic, productive feeling after getting a lot done and checking important tasks off your list for the day. I hope this folio, notebook, and sketchpad help you get more done, and feel more organized in your daily life.
Thank you.
Disclaimer: The notebook companies and individuals mentioned in this project are in no way affiliated with this campaign. They are not associated, nor endorse this campaign. |
A couple of years ago, I was no-kill all the way, and any other shelter was horrible and not anything I’d ever even thinking about supporting. Since then, I’ve had a change of heart.
Here’s the thing that got me: It’s not the animals’ fault they ended up at a bad place.
Do I like kill shelters? No. Are they horrible, sad places that euthanize cats and dogs right and left? Yes. Is killing for space the most awful idea ever? Yes.
But do those animals deserve the same chance at a happy forever home as the ones in beautifully decorated, plush, well-supported and well-funded no-kill shelters? Oh, hell yes. They just have a deadline for finding it.
I used to shout from the mountaintops how fabulous my favorite shelter was (“Like a little slice of heaven” was my favorite line). Go there and adopt a cat, I would say! Poor so-and-so has been there for almost two years and still hasn’t found a home!
Almost two years?! That lucky kitty! If he doesn’t find a home, he’s still alive and being cared for.
I’m not saying I don’t support them — I absolutely 100 percent do. We need no-kill shelters, and don’t get me wrong: Every single shelter should be a no-kill shelter.
But they need help to get to that. If the animals aren’t adopted out, then how can the shelters keep taking in more? And they have to take in more, because someone is always finding a litter of kittens or a stray cat or (in the saddest scenarios) surrendering her longtime pet (do NOT get me started on people surrendering pets). More need to go out, so more can go in. It’s a circle.
So this is how I have been spending almost all my effort lately — for a kill shelter. There are some of the most wonderful cats at my local animal control! Tiny cats, big cats, tabby cats, black cats, pretty cats, ugly cats, Siamese, Russian Blues, Bombays, and mutts ÔÇô- all pawing at their cages hoping someone will take them home. All wonderful!
They talk when you walk by their cages and show you their bellies if you reach in. They purr the second it looks like they might be getting some attention. They rub their heads on your face and look at you with wide eyes, hoping you’re the one to break them out ÔÇô- just like the cats at no-kill shelters.
And yet people avoid the place like the plague.
“Oh, I’m not volunteering there. It’s a kill shelter. It’s too sad.”
“Eww, they are a kill shelter? The people there must not care about the animals.”
“The cats are in steel cages with no toys or attention? They are probably not friendly.”
But if people like us don’t help get the word out about animals in kill shelters and try and find them homes, how in the world are they going to get out of there safely? How can it ever be less “sad” if we don’t help it get that way? On average, they have a few weeks to get out, but sometimes it’s as little as a few days.
Every single animal who makes it out of animal control is a win. They deserve a loving home with a soft bed and fun toys and a loving family. They didn’t ask to be sent to this horrible place, but they can’t ask to get out, either.
It’s up to us to help them get out.
That’s why I broke my staunch “no-kill only” pledge, and why I hope more people will, too. Animal control is not a pretty place, but it will never get any better without help and support. Imagine what a difference we can make if more people work together to do this!
Here are some ways you can help:
1. Volunteer
This is not for the weak, because the reality is that many of those cats or dogs you go visit to play with and socialize won’t make it out. But even if they don’t, they deserve to know love, don’t they? And with this love and attention, you’re making them less scared, happier, and more adoptable. Trust me, it makes a big difference.
2. Take pictures
The photos on sites for animal control and animal services are often just the intake photos. The animals are absolutely petrified, and often in traps. Who wants to adopt those cats, compared to the glamour shots offered up by nicer places? Let’s get these animals some better pictures!
3. Spread the word
Some people don’t realize that these places put down animals, and how quickly it often happens. They think that if they surrender their pretty kitty there, she’ll definitely find a home because “she’s a great cat!” Oh, she may be, but so are the other 50 cats there. Let’s get more people in these places to adopt these babies!
4. Share the animals
Our local animal control has Urgent Cats of Broward and Urgent Dogs of Broward Facebook pages. Volunteers visit and take nice pictures and share them here, and other people then share them, and so on — and many dogs and cats get adopted because of it! Transport is often available, so many end up going out of state to homes. Social media is a wonderful place to network.
One final note (so I don’t get destroyed in the comments):
I think no-kill shelters are awesome (My favorite one is still a little slice of heaven!). And if more pets get adopted from them, then (logic says) that they can take in more, hopefully even from animal controls. I get that, and I have many friends at wonderful no-kill shelters who have taken many cats out of our local animal control. But often no-kill places have just as many surrenders trying to come in, so ultimately they don’t have the space to help clear out the kill shelters.
I say, help somewhere. Kill or no-kill. Basically, I’m just pro-cat. Whichever ones need the most help, that’s where I’ll be.
At the time of this writing, all of the cats pictured in this post are available for adoption from Broward Animal Care in Pompano Beach, Florida. If you’re interested, please click their names for more info about them: Caruso, Gary, Emma, Macy and Manda. |
Steganography, Compsci 100, Fall 2010
http://www.cs.duke.edu/courses/fall10/cps100/snarf
The code provided in this assignment uses the Picture class provided as part of An Introduction to Programming with Java (an Interdisciplinary Approach) by Kevin Wayne and Robert Sedgewick.
A steganography assignment appears in the Nifty Assignments Archive from 2009, that idea gave birth to this assignment, though this one is substantially different. The nifty assignment was originally developed by Tom Murtaugh and Brent Heeringa from Williams College.
Genesis of Assignment
There are several websites that hide text in an image --- exactly what one of the programs you write will do. Of course these sites will extract the hidden text as well, just as your suite of programs will. Site for hiding text in an image include imagecipher, mozaiq/encrypt, and utilitymill.com are the sites.
What You Will Do
main
HideImage prompts the user for two images and a number of bits and hides one image (the source) in the other (the target) using the specified number of bits. A starter version of this class HideImage.java is provided that prompts the user for two image files and the number of bits. For this class you only complete part of the method hide that alters one pixel. More details are in the howto.
prompts the user for two images and a number of bits and hides one image (the source) in the other (the target) using the specified number of bits. A starter version of this class HideImage.java is provided that prompts the user for two image files and the number of bits. For this class you only complete part of the method that alters one pixel. More details are in the howto. ExtractImage extracts an image from an image when the user specifies the number of bits to use in the extraction. A starter version of this class ExtractImage.java is provided that prompts the user for the image file and the number of bits. More details are in the howto. The text processing classes and benchmarking code are A credit/extra credit.
extracts an image from an image when the user specifies the number of bits to use in the extraction. A starter version of this class ExtractImage.java is provided that prompts the user for the image file and the number of bits. More details are in the howto. HideText is similar to HideImage but hides text in an image using either one or two bits. The user specifies whether one or two bits will be used as well as both the image file and the file of text to be hidden. More details are in the howto.
is similar to but hides text in an image using either one or two bits. The user specifies whether one or two bits will be used as well as both the image file and the file of text to be hidden. More details are in the howto. ExtractText extracts text hidden in an image specified by the user. The user also specifies whether one or two bits will be used in extracting text --- see the howto for details.
extracts text hidden in an image specified by the user. The user also specifies whether one or two bits will be used in extracting text --- see the howto for details. StegoBenchmark processes every image file in a directory chosen by the user and determines which of the image files contains hidden text as created by the HideText program. You'll need to use method(s) from ExtractText that you write and try both one- and two-bit encodings. You'll need to write a method to determine if a string represents text, ideas can be found in the howto. A starter file StegoBenchmark.java is provided that processes all files in a directory chosen by the user.
Grading
Each program you write should be robust in the sense that if the inputs don't work, your program should exit gracefully. For example, when hiding a source image in a target, the images must be the same size --- you're given two directories of images that are the same size. This makes things simpler for you as the programmer, so if the images are not the same size, your program should exit gracefully with a message to the user, not crash. When hiding text, you may have more text than can fit in an image. If this is the case, your program should certainly not crash. Ideally you'd inform the user that not all the text was hidden when there's not enough space.
Your analysis file should list your testing results; your README should provide all the people with whom you collaborated, and the TAs/UTAs you consulted with. You should include an estimate of how long you spent on the program and what your thoughts are about the assignment.
Submit your analysis, README, and all of your source code using Eclipse with assignment name stego.
More Extra Credit
HideText
ExtractText
int opt = JOptionPane.showOptionDialog(null, "Choose Row or Column", "Hiding Text Options", JOptionPane.YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION, JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE, null, new String[]{"row", "column"}, "row"); |
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has been a driver of the Trump administration’s baseless claims that voter fraud is an enormous problem in U.S. elections and that millions of illegal votes for Hillary Clinton cost President Trump the popular vote.
Kobach, who was recently tapped to helped lead a federal panel investigating voter fraud, attempted to crack down on such fraud in Kansas by stiffening registration requirements—a move which cost thousands of Kansans their right to vote—and prosecuting people who commit voter fraud.
If his efforts were meant to prove that voter fraud is a serious problem that must be remedied by enacting restrictions like voter ID laws, then Kobach failed badly, as he has only been able to find just nine possible cases of voter fraud. Eight of the nine voter fraud cases he has prosecuted involved double voting, or Kansans who mistakenly thought they could vote in elections in other states where they also owned property. Voter ID laws, which require that voters show a specific form of photo identification before voting to ensure they aren’t impersonating a different registered voter, would have done nothing to stop double voting.
In a state with over 1.7 million registered voters, Kobach found only one case of a non-citizen who voted, and he was in the process of naturalization at the time and is now a U.S. citizen.
As Politico reported yesterday, most of the people who committed double voting said they were making honest mistakes and simply didn’t know that it was illegal to vote in other states, and “seven of those convicted were registered Republicans and over the age of 60.” Nonetheless, they have been hounded by Kobach, who is bent on proving that voter fraud is a serious problem that requires a strong government response.
Kobach may also use his position on the voter fraud commission to promote Crosscheck, which supposedly identifies people registered in more than one state but is riddled with problems. For example, Crosscheck may wrongly flag two voters who share the same name and date of birth, which could lead to many eligible voters getting thrown off the voter rolls.
Finding a tiny handful of cases of double voting, of course, does not prove that in-person voter impersonation, which voter ID laws purport to prevent, is an actual problem. Likewise, learning that one non-citizen voted is not proof that millions of non-citizens participated in the last election.
But the GOP campaign to restrict voting access has never been about fixing real problems—it’s about winning elections. |
This article is about the American attorney John Yoo. For the Chinese-Australian pediatrician, see John Yu
John Choon Yoo (born July 10, 1967)[4] is a Korean-American attorney, law professor, Bush administration official, and author. Yoo is currently the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.[1] Previously, he served as the Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice (OLC), during the George W. Bush administration. He is best known for his opinions concerning the Geneva Conventions that attempted to legitimize the War on Terror by the United States. He also authored the so-called Torture Memos, which concerned the use of what the Central Intelligence Agency called enhanced interrogation techniques including waterboarding.
In 2009, two days after taking office, President Barack Obama in Executive Order 13491 repudiated and revoked all legal guidance on interrogation authored by Yoo and his successors in the Office of Legal Counsel between September 11, 2001, and January 20, 2009.[5][6]
Early life, education, and personal life [ edit ]
John Yoo was born "Yu Choon" (Korean: Yu Jun 유준) on July 10, 1967, in Seoul, South Korea, and later immigrated as a child with his parents to the United States. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from the Episcopal Academy in 1985. He earned a B.A. degree summa cum laude in American history from Harvard University in 1989 and a J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 1992, where he co-authored a paper with Harold Hongju Koh. Yoo was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania in 1993.[7] He is married to Elsa Arnett, the daughter of journalist Peter Arnett.[2]
Career [ edit ]
Yoo was a law clerk for Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He also served as general counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[1] Yoo has been a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law since 1993. He has written two books on presidential power and the war on terrorism, and many articles in scholarly journals and newspapers.[8] He has held the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of Trento and has been a visiting law professor at the Free University of Amsterdam, the University of Chicago, and Chapman University School of Law. Since 2003, Yoo has also been a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington. He writes a monthly column, entitled "Closing Arguments", for The Philadelphia Inquirer.[9] He wrote and continues to write academic books including Crisis and Command.[9]
Yoo has been principally associated with his work from 2001 to 2003 in the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) under Attorney General John Ashcroft during the George W. Bush Administration.[10][11][12] Yoo's expansive view of presidential power led to a close relationship with Vice President Dick Cheney's office.[11] He played an important role in developing a legal justification for the Bush administration's policy in the war on terrorism, arguing that prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions does not apply to "enemy combatants" captured during the war in Afghanistan and held at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp.[13]
In addition, in what was known as the Bybee memo, Yoo asserted that executive authority during wartime allows waterboarding and other forms of torture, which were euphemistically referred to as "enhanced interrogation techniques".[14] Yoo argued in his legal opinion that the president was not bound by the War Crimes Act. In addition, he provided a legal opinion backing the Bush Administration's warrantless wiretapping program.[11][12][15][16]
Yoo's legal opinions were not shared by everyone within the Bush Administration. Secretary of State Colin Powell strongly opposed what he saw as an invalidation of the Geneva Conventions,[16] while U.S. Navy general counsel Alberto Mora campaigned internally against what he saw as the "catastrophically poor legal reasoning" and dangerous extremism of Yoo's opinions.[17]
In December 2003, Yoo's memo on permissible interrogation techniques, also known as the Bybee memo, was repudiated as legally unsound by the OLC, then under the direction of Jack Goldsmith.[17] In June 2004, another of Yoo's memos on interrogation techniques was leaked to the press, after which it was repudiated by Goldsmith and the OLC.[18]
Yoo's contribution to these memos has remained a source of controversy following his departure from the Justice Department;[19] he was called to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in 2008 in defense of his role.[20] The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) began investigating Yoo's work in 2004 and in July 2009 completed a report that was sharply critical of his legal justification for waterboarding and other interrogation techniques.[21][22][23][24] The OPR report cites testimony Yoo gave to Justice Department investigators in which he claims that the "president's war-making authority was so broad that he had the constitutional power to order a village to be 'massacred.'"[25] The OPR report concluded that Yoo had "committed 'intentional professional misconduct' when he advised the CIA it could proceed with waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques against Al Qaeda suspects," although the recommendation that he be referred to his state bar association for possible disciplinary proceedings was overruled by David Margolis, another senior Justice department lawyer.[25]
Legal opinions [ edit ]
Regarding torture of detainees [ edit ]
After he left the Department of Justice, it was revealed that Yoo had written legal opinions, including co-writing the Torture Memo of August 1, 2002, that narrowly defined torture and American habeas corpus obligations. They authorized what were called enhanced interrogation techniques and were issued to the CIA.[26][27][28] In addition, at the time the OLC issued a new definition of torture. Most actions that fall under the international definition did not fall within this new definition advocated by the U.S.[29]
In addition, on March 14, 2003, Yoo wrote a legal opinion memo in response to the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, in which he concluded that torture not allowed by federal law could be used by interrogators in overseas areas.[30]
In 2004 Jack Goldsmith, then head of the OLC, advised agencies not to rely on these memos and withdrew them as authorized legal opinions.
Several top military lawyers, including Alberto J. Mora, reported that policies allowing methods equivalent to torture were developed in the highest levels of the administration. Lawyers within the Department of Defense worked internally to circumvent those policies and instead mandate non-coercive interrogation standards, but were not successful.[31][32]
On December 1, 2005, Yoo appeared in a debate in Chicago with Doug Cassel, a law professor from the University of Notre Dame. During the debate, Cassel asked Yoo,
'If the President deems that he's got to torture somebody, including by crushing the testicles of the person's child, there is no law that can stop him?', to which Yoo replied 'No treaty.' Cassel followed up with 'Also no law by Congress—that is what you wrote in the August 2002 memo', to which Yoo replied 'I think it depends on why the President thinks he needs to do that.'[33]
On June 26, 2008, Yoo and David Addington, former counsel and chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney, testified before the House Judiciary Committee in what became a contentious hearing on detainee treatment, interrogation methods, and the extent of executive branch authority.[20][34][35][36]
Regarding the Fourth amendment [ edit ]
Yoo also authored the October 23, 2001 memo asserting that the President had sufficient power to allow the NSA to monitor the communications of US citizens on US soil without a warrant (known as the warrantless wiretap program) because the Fourth Amendment does not apply. Or, as another memo says in a footnote, "Our office recently concluded that the Fourth Amendment had no application to domestic military operations." [37][38] That interpretation is used to assert that the normal mandatory requirement of a warrant, under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, could be ignored.[38]
In a 2006 book and a 2007 law review article, Yoo defended President Bush's terrorist surveillance program, arguing that "the TSP represents a valid exercise of the President's Commander-in-Chief authority to gather intelligence during wartime".[39] He claimed that critics of the program misunderstand the separation of powers between the President and Congress in wartime because of a failure to understand the differences between war and crime, and a difficulty in understanding the new challenges presented by a networked, dynamic enemy such as Al Qaeda. "Because the United States is at war with Al Qaeda, the President possesses the constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to engage in warrantless surveillance of enemy activity."[39] In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece in July 2009, Yoo wrote it was "absurd to think that a law like FISA should restrict live military operations against potential attacks on the United States."[40]
Unitary executive theory [ edit ]
Yoo suggested that since the primary task of the President during a time of war is protecting U.S. citizens, the President has inherent authority to subordinate independent government agencies, and plenary power to use force abroad.[41] Yoo contends that the Congressional check on Presidential war-making power comes from its power of the purse. He says that the President, and not the Congress or courts, has sole authority to interpret international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions "because treaty interpretation is a key feature of the conduct of foreign affairs".[42] His positions on executive power are controversial because the theory can be interpreted as holding that the President's war powers afford him executive privileges which exceed the bounds which other scholars associate with the President's war powers.[42][43][44][45]
In the Clinton administration [ edit ]
In 1998 Yoo criticized what he characterized as an imperial use of executive power by the Clinton administration.[46] Yoo has defended executive privilege, but only to protect national security, diplomatic, and military secrets. In an opinion piece in the WSJ, he criticized the Clinton administration for misusing the privilege to protect the personal, rather than official, activities of the President, such as in the Monica Lewinsky affair.[47] At the time, Yoo also criticized President Clinton for contemplating defiance of a judicial order. He suggested that Presidents could act in conflict with the Supreme Court, but that such measures were justified only during emergencies.[48]
In 2000 Yoo strongly criticized what he viewed as the Clinton administration's use of powers of what he termed the "Imperial Presidency". He said it undermined "democratic accountability and respect for the law".[49] Yet, Yoo has defended President Clinton, for his decision to use force abroad without congressional authorization. He wrote in The Wall Street Journal on March 15, 1999, that Clinton's decision to attack Serbia was constitutional. He then criticized Democrats in Congress for not suing Clinton as they had sued presidents Bush and Reagan to stop the use of force abroad.[50]
In the George W. Bush administration [ edit ]
Following his tenure as an appointee of the George W. Bush Administration, Yoo criticized certain views on the separation of powers doctrine as allegedly being historically inaccurate and problematic for the global war on terrorism. For instance, he wrote,
We are used to a peacetime system in which Congress enacts the laws, the president enforces them, and the courts interpret them. In wartime, the gravity shifts to the executive branch.[51]
and
To his critics, Mr. Bush is a 'King George' bent on an "imperial presidency". But the inescapable fact is that war shifts power to the branch most responsible for its waging: the executive.[52]
War crimes accusations [ edit ]
Glenn Greenwald has argued that Yoo could potentially be indicted for crimes against the laws and customs of war, the crime of torture, and/or crimes against humanity.[53] Criminal proceedings to this end have begun in Spain: in a move that could lead to an extradition request, Judge Baltasar Garzón (who was later found guilty of illegally ordering the placement of wiretaps in jailhouses, and barred from the legal profession for 11 years) in March 2009 referred a case against Yoo to the chief prosecutor.[54][55] The Spanish Attorney General recommended against pursuing the case.
On November 14, 2006, invoking the principle of command responsibility, the German attorney Wolfgang Kaleck filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Germany (Generalbundesanwalt) against Yoo, along with 13 others, for his alleged complicity in torture and other crimes against humanity at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Guantánamo Bay. Kaleck acted on behalf of 11 alleged victims of torture and other human rights abuses, as well as about 30 human rights activists and organizations. The co-plaintiffs to the war crimes prosecution included Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Martín Almada, Theo van Boven, Sister Dianna Ortiz, and Veterans for Peace.[56] Responding to the so-called "torture memoranda," Scott Horton noted
the possibility that the authors of these memoranda counseled the use of lethal and unlawful techniques, and therefore face criminal culpability themselves. That, after all, is the teaching of United States v. Altstötter, the Nuremberg case brought against German Justice Department lawyers whose memoranda crafted the basis for implementation of the infamous 'Night and Fog Decree'.[28]
Legal scholars speculated shortly thereafter that the case has little chance of successfully making it through the German court system.[57]
Jordan Paust of the University of Houston Law Center concurred with supporters of prosecution and in early 2008 criticized the US Attorney General Michael Mukasey's refusal to investigate and/or prosecute anyone who relied on these legal opinions:
[I]t is legally and morally impossible for any member of the executive branch to be acting lawfully or within the scope of his or her authority while following OLC opinions that are manifestly inconsistent with or violative of the law. General Mukasey, just following orders is no defense![58]
In 2009, the Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón Real launched an investigation of Yoo and five others (known as the Bush Six) for war crimes.[59]
On April 13, 2013, the Russian Federation banned Yoo and several others from entering the country because of alleged human rights violations. The list was a direct response to the so-called Magnitsky list revealed by the United States the day before.[60][61] Russia stated that Yoo was among those responsible for "the legalization of torture" and "unlimited detention".[62][63]
After the December 2014 release of the executive summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture, Erwin Chemerinsky, then the dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, called for the prosecution of Yoo for his role in authoring the Torture Memos as "conspiracy to violate a federal statute".[64]
On May 12, 2012, the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission found Yoo, along with former President Bush, former Vice President Cheney, and several other senior members of the Bush administration, guilty of war crimes in absentia. The trial heard "harrowing witness accounts from victims of torture who suffered at the hands of US soldiers and contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan".[65][66]
Federal tort suit [ edit ]
On January 4, 2008, José Padilla, a U.S. citizen convicted of terrorism, and his mother sued John Yoo in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (Case Number 08-cv-00035-JSW), known as Padilla v. Yoo.[67] The complaint sought $1 in damages based on the alleged torture of Padilla, attributed to the authorization by Yoo's torture memoranda. Judge Jeffrey S. White allowed the suit to proceed, rejecting all but one of Yoo's immunity claims. Padilla's lawyer says White's ruling could have a broad effect for all detainees.[68][69][70]
Soon after his appointment in October 2003 as chief of the Office of Legal Counsel, DOJ, Jack Goldsmith withdrew Yoo's torture memoranda. The Padilla complaint, on page 20, cited Goldsmith's 2007 book The Terror Presidency in support of its case. In it Goldsmith had claimed that the legal analysis in Yoo's torture memoranda was incorrect and that there was widespread opposition to the memoranda among some lawyers in the Justice Department. Padilla's attorney used this information in the lawsuit, saying that Yoo caused Padilla's damages by authorizing his alleged torture by his memoranda.[71][72]
While the District Court ruled in favor of Padilla, the case was appealed by Yoo in June 2010. On May 2, 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Yoo had qualified immunity at the time of his memos (2001–2003), because certain issues had not then been settled legally by the U.S. Supreme Court. Based on the Supreme Court's decision in Ashcroft v. al-Kidd (2011), the Appeals Court unanimously ruled against Padilla, saying that, when he was held as a detainee, it had not been established that an enemy combatant had the "same constitutional protections" as a convicted prisoner or suspect, and that his treatment had not been legally established at the time as torture.[73]
Retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to General Colin Powell in the Persian Gulf War and while Powell was Secretary of State in the Bush Administration, has said of Yoo and other administration figures responsible for these decisions:
Haynes, Feith, Yoo, Bybee, Gonzales and—at the apex—Addington, should never travel outside the US, except perhaps to Saudi Arabia and Israel. They broke the law; they violated their professional ethical code. In the future, some government may build the case necessary to prosecute them in a foreign court, or in an international court.[74]
Office of Professional Responsibility report [ edit ]
The Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility concluded in a 261-page report dated July 29, 2009, that Yoo committed "intentional professional misconduct" when he "knowingly failed to provide a thorough, objective, and candid interpretation of the law", and it recommended a referral to the Pennsylvania Bar for disciplinary action.[75][76] But, David Margolis, a career Justice attorney,[77] in a Memorandum dated January 5, 2010, countermanded the recommended referral.[78] While Margolis was careful to avoid "an endorsement of the legal work," which he said was "flawed" and "contained errors more than minor", concluding that Yoo had exercised "poor judgment", he did not find "professional misconduct" sufficient to authorize OPR "to refer its findings to the state bar disciplinary authorities".[78]
Yoo contended that the OPR had shown "rank bias and sheer incompetence", intended to "smear my reputation", and that Margolis "completely rejected its recommendations".[79]
Although stopping short of referral to the bar, Margolis had also written:
[Yoo's and Bybee's] memoranda represent an unfortunate chapter in the history of the Office of Legal Counsel. While I have declined to adopt OPR's findings of misconduct, I fear that John Yoo's loyalty to his own ideology and convictions clouded his view of his obligation to his client and led him to author opinions which reflected his own extreme, although sincerely held, views of executive power while speaking for an institutional client.[78]
Margolis's decision not to refer Yoo to the bar for discipline was criticized by numerous commentators.[80][81][82][83]
Publications [ edit ]
Yoo's writings and areas of interest have fallen into three broad areas: American foreign relations; the Constitution's separation of powers and federalism; and international law. In foreign relations, Yoo has argued that the original understanding of the Constitution gives the President the authority to use armed force abroad without congressional authorization, subject to Congress's power of the purse; that treaties do not generally have domestic legal force without implementing legislation; and that courts are functionally ill-suited to intervene in foreign policy disputes between the President and Congress.
With the separation of powers, Yoo has argued that each branch of government has the authority to interpret the Constitution for itself, which provides the justification for judicial review by the federal courts.[citation needed] In international law, Yoo has written that the rules governing the use of force must be understood to allow nations to engage in armed intervention to end humanitarian disasters, rebuild failed states, and stop terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.[84][85][86][87][88]
Yoo's academic work includes his analysis of the history of judicial review in the U.S. Constitution.[89] Yoo's book, The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11, was praised in an Op-Ed in The Washington Times, written by Nicholas J. Xenakis, an assistant editor at The National Interest.[90] It was quoted by Senator Joe Biden during the Senate hearings for then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, as Biden "pressed Alito to denounce John Yoo's controversial defense of presidential initiative in taking the nation to war".[91] Yoo is known as an opponent of the Chemical Weapons Convention.[92]
During 2012 and 2014, Yoo published two books with Oxford University Press. Taming Globalization was co-authored with Julian Ku in 2012, and Point of Attack was published under his single authorship in 2014. His 2017 book Striking Power: How Cyber, Robots, and Space Weapons Change the Rules for War is co-authored with by Jeremy Rabkin.
Bibliography [ edit ]
The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs after 9/11 . University of Chicago Press. 2005. ISBN 0-226-96031-5.
War by Other Means: An Insider's Account of the War on Terror . Atlantic Monthly Press. 2006. ISBN 0-87113-945-6.
Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George W. Bush . Kaplan Publishing. 2010. ISBN 1-60714-555-3.
Taming Globalization: International Law, the U.S. Constitution, and the New World Order (co-author Julian Ku) . Oxford University Press. 2012.
Point of Attack: Preventive War, International Law, and Global Welfare . Oxford University Press. 2014.
Striking Power: How Cyber, Robots, and Space Weapons Change the Rules for War, 2017, co-authored with Jeremy Rabkin.
He has also contributed chapters to other books, including:
In Popular Culture [ edit ]
In Vice (2018), a biographical comedy-drama film written and directed by Adam McKay about Dick Cheney, he is portrayed by Paul Yoo.
See also [ edit ] |
Daughter of Sparta: Chapter One
Historic Heroines is pleased to release its first original fiction series: Daughter of Sparta by Kristen LePine. Set in ancient Greece, Daughter of Sparta opens with a reimagined twist on the Medusa myth then follows Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I of Sparta, and the events leading up to the Ionian Revolt. More
Historic Heroines is pleased to release its first original fiction series: Daughter of Sparta by Kristen LePine. Set in ancient Greece, Daughter of Sparta opens with a reimagined twist on the Medusa myth then follows Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I of Sparta and the events leading up to the Ionian Revolt.
Historic Heroines is an independent publisher of historical fiction and nonfiction that champions the female perspective. |
John Glenn, the last surviving member of the “Mercury Seven” elected by NASA to fly the Project Mercury spacecraft, died today (December 8, 2016) in Colombus, Ohio.
Glenn lived an impressive life: He was the first American to orbit Earth in 1962. He then became the oldest person to fly in space, returning to zero gravity at the age of 77. Between those years, he worked as a US senator for 24 years.
Prior to rocketing into space and serving Ohio’s Democratic Party, he was a highly-decorated Marine who flew in 59 combat missions in World War II.
Years later, in July 1957, he piloted the first transcontinental flight that averaged supersonic speed – zooming from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours and 23 minutes. A daredevil at heart, leaving Earth was perhaps his next logical step.
As dangerous as space exploration is today, when Glenn blasted into orbit, space travel was still in its infancy. It was a time of historic tension and historic firsts.
“It was important because of the Cold War,” Glenn said at a Smithsonian forum. “It was a new step forward, and we were proud to be representing our country there.”
The risk was not unfounded. During his orbital flight, controllers received a warning that the capsule’s heat shield may have come loose. Without this protection, Glenn could have burned inside the capsule during re-entry. Thankfully, it turned out that the indicator, not the space shield, was faulty.
With six Distinguished Flying Crosses, 19 Air Medals, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, there are many more stories to his legacy. Perhaps the best parting words then are his own:
“We are placed here with certain talents and capabilities. It is up to each of us to use those talents and capabilities as best you can. If you do that, I think there is a power greater than any of us that will place the opportunities in our way, and if we use our talents properly, we will be living the kind of life we should live.” – A 1959 NASA news conference
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Source: iflscience.com |
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Four in five children living in Haiti’s orphanages have at least one living parent and are sold or given to the homes on false promises of an education or medical care, according to a charity founded by British author J.K. Rowling.
London-based charity Lumos said many orphanages in the poor Caribbean nation were run by enterprising traffickers who starved and beat children to attract sympathy and money from well-intentioned donors.
“When people hear the word ‘orphanage’, they imagine that it’s a good thing or they imagine that it’s necessary,” Lumos Chief Executive Georgette Mulheir told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Tuesday.
“They do not imagine that so many orphanages are actually trafficking, beating, sexually abusing and starving children.”
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people, she said many parents were being tricked or coerced into giving their children to orphanages.
“‘Entrepreneurial’ people have seen that foreigners love giving money to orphanages and because of that, they just set them up and they pay child finders to recruit children,” Mulheir said.
Such child finders track down poor families and convince them to give up their children or offer to pay for pre-natal care of pregnant women and take their child as a form of repayment, she said.
There are about 32,000 children living across 760 orphanages in Haiti, but only 15 percent of the institutions are officially registered, Lumos said in a report.
It said children living Haiti’s orphanages are more likely to be trafficked or go missing due to the lack of official records.
“It’s been a really hidden crime against children and it’s happening in lots of developing nations,” said Mulheir, who launched the report at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Experts say cases of human trafficking after a disaster are common as survivors are driven to desperate measures after losing their homes, belongings and means of earning money.
“People need to recognize that this entrepreneurial approach to orphanages is actually trafficking. The people who do this need to be prosecuted so that fewer people will think that this is a good way of making money.” |
Images released today from NASA: "Multiple cameras on JPL's MISR instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft were used to create two unique views of oil moving into Louisiana's coastal wetlands." More details about what we're seeing here:
The left-hand image contains data from MISR's vertical-viewing camera. It is shown in near-true color, except that data from the instrument's near-infrared band, where vegetation appears bright, have been blended with the instrument's green band to enhance the appearance of vegetation.
The Mississippi River delta is located below the image center. The slick is seen approaching the delta from the lower right, and filaments of oil are also apparent farther to the north (towards the top). The oil is made visible by sun reflecting off the sea surface at the same angle from which the instrument is viewing it, a phenomenon known as sunglint. Oil makes the surface look brighter under these viewing conditions than it would if no oil were present. However, other factors can also cause enhanced glint, such as reduced surface wind speed. To separate glint patterns due to oil from these other factors, additional information from MISR's cameras is used in the right-hand image. |
Update 8/27/17:
Detectives, working with the King County Medical Examiner’s office, have determined the woman’s death was not the result of foul play and is not the subject of a criminal investigation.
Original:
Homicide detectives are investigating after a woman was dropped off at a hospital with a gunshot wound and later died.
Harborview Medical Center staff called 911 around noon Sunday when a man drove up to the emergency room and told them his wife had suffered a possible gunshot wound to the head. The staff tended to the woman who was quickly declared dead.
Officers arrived and briefly interviewed the husband before placing him in custody and calling for homicide detectives to respond. Detectives are now working to piece together what led up to the shooting and where it may have taken place. |
Compilers are programs that convert computer code written in high-level languages intelligible to humans into low-level instructions executable by machines.
But there’s more than one way to implement a given computation, and modern compilers extensively analyze the code they process, trying to deduce the implementations that will maximize the efficiency of the resulting software.
Code explicitly written to take advantage of parallel computing, however, usually loses the benefit of compilers’ optimization strategies. That’s because managing parallel execution requires a lot of extra code, and existing compilers add it before the optimizations occur. The optimizers aren’t sure how to interpret the new code, so they don’t try to improve its performance.
At the Association for Computing Machinery’s Symposium on Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming next week, researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory will present a new variation on a popular open-source compiler that optimizes before adding the code necessary for parallel execution.
As a consequence, says Charles E. Leiserson, the Edwin Sibley Webster Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and a coauthor on the new paper, the compiler “now optimizes parallel code better than any commercial or open-source compiler, and it also compiles where some of these other compilers don’t.”
That improvement comes purely from optimization strategies that were already part of the compiler the researchers modified, which was designed to compile conventional, serial programs. The researchers’ approach should also make it much more straightforward to add optimizations specifically tailored to parallel programs. And that will be crucial as computer chips add more and more "cores," or parallel processing units, in the years ahead.
The idea of optimizing before adding the extra code required by parallel processing has been around for decades. But “compiler developers were skeptical that this could be done,” Leiserson says.
“Everybody said it was going to be too hard, that you’d have to change the whole compiler. And these guys,” he says, referring to Tao B. Schardl, a postdoc in Leiserson’s group, and William S. Moses, an undergraduate double major in electrical engineering and computer science and physics, “basically showed that conventional wisdom to be flat-out wrong. The big surprise was that this didn’t require rewriting the 80-plus compiler passes that do either analysis or optimization. T.B. and Billy did it by modifying 6,000 lines of a 4-million-line code base.”
Schardl, who earned his PhD in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) from MIT, with Leiserson as his advisor, before rejoining Leiserson’s group as a postdoc, and Moses, who will graduate next spring after only three years, with a master’s in EECS to boot, share authorship on the paper with Leiserson.
Forks and joins
A typical compiler has three components: the front end, which is tailored to a specific programming language; the back end, which is tailored to a specific chip design; and what computer scientists oxymoronically call the middle end, which uses an “intermediate representation,” compatible with many different front and back ends, to describe computations. In a standard, serial compiler, optimization happens in the middle end.
The researchers’ chief innovation is an intermediate representation that employs a so-called fork-join model of parallelism: At various points, a program may fork, or branch out into operations that can be performed in parallel; later, the branches join back together, and the program executes serially until the next fork.
In the current version of the compiler, the front end is tailored to a fork-join language called Cilk, pronounced “silk” but spelled with a C because it extends the C programming language. Cilk was a particularly congenial choice because it was developed by Leiserson’s group — although its commercial implementation is now owned and maintained by Intel. But the researchers might just as well have built a front end tailored to the popular OpenMP or any other fork-join language.
Cilk adds just two commands to C: “spawn,” which initiates a fork, and “sync,” which initiates a join. That makes things easy for programmers writing in Cilk but a lot harder for Cilk’s developers.
With Cilk, as with other fork-join languages, the responsibility of dividing computations among cores falls to a management program called a runtime. A program written in Cilk, however, must explicitly tell the runtime when to check on the progress of computations and rebalance cores’ assignments. To spare programmers from having to track all those runtime invocations themselves, Cilk, like other fork-join languages, leaves them to the compiler.
All previous compilers for fork-join languages are adaptations of serial compilers and add the runtime invocations in the front end, before translating a program into an intermediate representation, and thus before optimization. In their paper, the researchers give an example of what that entails. Seven concise lines of Cilk code, which compute a specified term in the Fibonacci series, require the compiler to add another 17 lines of runtime invocations. The middle end, designed for serial code, has no idea what to make of those extra 17 lines and throws up its hands.
The only alternative to adding the runtime invocations in the front end, however, seemed to be rewriting all the middle-end optimization algorithms to accommodate the fork-join model. And to many — including Leiserson, when his group was designing its first Cilk compilers — that seemed too daunting.
Schardl and Moses’s chief insight was that injecting just a little bit of serialism into the fork-join model would make it much more intelligible to existing compilers’ optimization algorithms. Where Cilk adds two basic commands to C, the MIT researchers’ intermediate representation adds three to a compiler’s middle end: detach, reattach, and sync.
The detach command is essentially the equivalent of Cilk’s spawn command. But reattach commands specify the order in which the results of parallel tasks must be recombined. That simple adjustment makes fork-join code look enough like serial code that many of a serial compiler’s optimization algorithms will work on it without modification, while the rest need only minor alterations.
Indeed, of the new code that Schardl and Moses wrote, more than half was the addition of runtime invocations, which existing fork-join compilers add in the front end, anyway. Another 900 lines were required just to define the new commands, detach, reattach, and sync. Only about 2,000 lines of code were actual modifications of analysis and optimization algorithms.
Payoff
To test their system, the researchers built two different versions of the popular open-source compiler LLVM. In one, they left the middle end alone but modified the front end to add Cilk runtime invocations; in the other, they left the front end alone but implemented their fork-join intermediate representation in the middle end, adding the runtime invocations only after optimization.
Then they compiled 20 Cilk programs on both. For 17 of the 20 programs, the compiler using the new intermediate representation yielded more efficient software, with gains of 10 to 25 percent for a third of them. On the programs where the new compiler yielded less efficient software, the falloff was less than 2 percent.
“For the last 10 years, all machines have had multicores in them,” says Guy Blelloch, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. “Before that, there was a huge amount of work on infrastructure for sequential compilers and sequential debuggers and everything. When multicore hit, the easiest thing to do was just to add libraries [of reusable blocks of code] on top of existing infrastructure. The next step was to have the front end of the compiler put the library calls in for you.”
“What Charles and his students have been doing is actually putting it deep down into the compiler so that the compiler can do optimization on the things that have to do with parallelism,” Blelloch says. “That’s a needed step. It should have been done many years ago. It’s not clear at this point how much benefit you’ll gain, but presumably you could do a lot of optimizations that weren’t possible.” |
Silent Swordsman from Duelist Pack: Rivals of the Pharaoh is a new twist on a classic card from the final Duel of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series. It was originally an “LV” monster but has since discarded that label and is now a threat that just about any strategy with easy access to Warriors can use. Silent Swordsman can’t hit the table unless you tribute a Warrior to Special Summon it, and while it might not have the highest set of stats, it definitely packs a punch with its effects.
Any type of negation is good to have access to. If you can halt your opponent from using one of their key cards, you can take over a Duel on the spot. Silent Swordsman helps you do exactly that by stopping a single Spell Card during each player’s turn! A lot of strategies rely heavily on spells to get them closer to winning the Duel, and some of these spells even have a hefty cost attached to them. Blue-Eyes for example really need to resolve stuff like The Melody of Awakening Dragon or Trade-In to make sure they find their most powerful threats, so having them negated is a huge loss. Even stopping the very popular Pot of Desires from being activated and locking a dead card in your opponent’s hand is a good deal.
Silent Swordsman can do more than just stop Spells though, and while he may seem weak at first, his ATK will increase during every Standby Phase. That means once you summon it, as soon as it’s your opponent’s turn, your Silent Swordsman will already be getting stronger. Even if your opponent manages to destroy your Silent Swordsman, it can Special Summon a “Silent Swordsman” monster from your hand or Deck, other than itself, ignoring its Summoning conditions! So if your opponent is foolish enough to think they can finish off your Warrior that easily, Silent Swordsman LV7 can come down and really devastate them by negating ALL Spells instead of just one per turn. This forces your opponent to find a way to get rid of your Silent Swordsman without destroying it.
However, even if they do find a way, that doesn’t mean you have to let it happen. Thanks to Silent Swordsman’s signature move Silent Sword Slash, you can easily protect it! Silent Sword Slash will permanently pump up your Silent Swordsman by 1500 ATK and DEF, but more importantly it will stop your Silent Swordsman from being affected by your opponent’s cards until the end of the turn! You can strike down whatever they are trying to get rid of your Silent Swordsman with, win at least one battle thanks to the stat boost, and Silent Sword Slash can’t even be negated. You can also banish it from the Graveyard to add a “Silent Swordsman” monster from your Deck to the hand, so trading for a card and replacing itself is a great deal.
Any Warrior based strategy can fit a small Silent Swordsman engine, but out of the most competitively popular, Phantom Knights definitely does it best. Not only do they have an abundance of Warriors that you don’t mind tributing, but you even get access to Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss as a way to accelerate your Silent Sword Slash into the Graveyard so you can banish it to find a Silent Swordsman! Even if you draw the Spell without a matching monster, you can just discard it to something like Phoenix Wing Wind Blast to make sure you always get a Silent Swordsman online.
Make sure to check out Duelist Pack: Rivals of the Pharaoh where you can get Silent Swordsman, Silent Sword Slash, and other awesome new cards when it hits shelves on September 16th! |
Jon Jones' laundry list of trials has itself another addition.
"Bones" has been flagged by the USADA for a potential doping violation stemming from a sample collected after he weighed in for his rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 on July 28, the promotion announced Tuesday.
He's been provisionally suspended as a result, although he has yet to be stripped of the title he took from Cormier via third-round TKO, UFC president Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.
Jones tested positive for anabolic steroid Turinabol, TMZ reports, a substance carrying a penalty of two years for first-time offenders and longer for repeaters. The development marks his second run-in with the UFC's anti-doping partner in the past year. The 30-year-old saw a rematch with Cormier at UFC 200 scrapped just three days out when he tested positive for estrogen blockers, an infraction he blamed on a tainted sexual enhancement pill. He was subsequently handed a one-year ban, last month's clash with Cormier coming mere weeks after his penance had expired.
The oft-troubled New York native has been stripped of the title once before in 2015 due to a hit-and-run incident. |
Coming Soon
Madam C.J. Walker Project
This limited series chronicles the incredible true story of Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first African-American self-made millionaire.
Shimmers
In this supernatural eco-thriller, five teens at an isolated school in northern Thailand are haunted by their pasts -- and a much more sinister force.
Hyperdrive
Daring drivers from around the globe compete for glory as they race through one of the largest automotive obstacle courses ever constructed.
Second City Television Special (Working Title)
Martin Scorsese directs this Netflix original comedy special exploring the enduring legacy of Emmy-winning sketch comedy show "SCTV."
The Highwaymen
The untold story of the detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde comes to life in this crime drama starring Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner.
Hit and Run
In this political espionage thriller series, a man's life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a mysterious hit-and-run accident.
Team Kaylie
After one too many misdemeanors, selfie-obsessed teen socialite Kaylie Konners is legally tasked with leading an after-school wilderness club.
Sharkey The Bounty Hunter
Bounty hunter Sharkey tracks criminals across the galaxy in his converted, rocket-powered ice-cream truck -- with help from his 10-year-old partner. |
When George W. Bush nominated Alito in 2006, even his allies nicknamed him "Scalito," as if the Italian-American justice was sure to be a kind of federalist Mini-me. Superficially, Scalia and Alito seemed to be similar -- both natives of the New York region, both products of Catholic families, both former executive-branch lawyers for Republican presidents, and, most important, both holders of unimpeachable conservative credentials.
But Alito has become a kind of un-Scalia. Scalia is an "originalist"; in deciding constitutional cases, he reads the Big History Book and tells the rest of us the "original public meaning" of the Constitution. Originalism, even though it flourishes in the twenty-first century academe, was originally a political movement, invented during the Reagan years as a club to berate "activist" judges who voted for reproductive rights or limits on the death penalty. It has succeeded so well that it is now entering the final stage of Hollywood Fame. (1. What's Originalism? 2. Get me an Originalist. 3. Get me an Originalist type. 4. What's Originalism?) And "Scalito" is not only not Mini-me, he's not an originalist at all.
During argument in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (the "violent video games" case), Alito interrupted a Scalia question to say, "I think what Justice Scalia wants to know is what James Madison thought about video games. Did he enjoy them?" In United States v. Jones, in which the issue was whether placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect's car is a "search" within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, Alito wrote separately to ridicule Scalia's turn to the common law of the Georgian era to decide a case about computerized earth-satellite data. "Is it possible to imagine a case in which a constable secreted himself somewhere in a coach and remained there for a period of time in order to monitor the movements of the coach's owner?" he wrote.
Both justices are very conservative. But Scalia's conservatism looks back, invoking the spirits of the Framers. Alito's is forward-looking. He frequently discusses the dystopian implications of modern technology -- whether it be GPS trackers, the Internet, video games, or violent pornography and "crush" videos. Scalia asks how things were done in the past, because the past was good; Alito asks how they should be done in the future, lest the future be bad. Scalia talks about principles; Alito talks about consequences. If this were not a mean thing to say about a conservative, one would call Alito a pragmatist, the Stephen Breyer of the right.
If Alito does become the agenda-setter (by no means a sure thing), how would doctrine differ? Both men are rigidly opposed to affirmative action; neither seems to have the slightest patience for gay rights. They do differ sharply on the First Amendment. Both follow the strand of conservative judicial thought -- illustrated in a recent article by Temple law professor David Kairys -- that the First Amendment exists to empower the powerful rather than offer voice to the lowly. But Scalia is swayed by historical precedent to defend the speech of those he dislikes; Alito, outside the campaign-finance area, rarely meets a restriction on "distasteful" speech -- by funeral protesters, gay-rights advocates, or purveyors of dog-fight videos -- that he does not embrace. |
Image copyright AP/Warner Bros TV Image caption Carol Ann Susi had played the role of Mrs Wolowitz since 2007
The actress best known for playing the unseen role of Howard Wolowitz's mother on The Big Bang Theory has died.
Carol Ann Susi died in Los Angeles on Tuesday from cancer at the age of 62.
Stars of the show have paid tribute to Susi, calling her a "beloved" member of the cast.
Kunal Nayyar, who plays Howard's best friend Raj, said his heart was broken. "I will miss your smile. Your spirit is forever with us."
Melissa Rauch, who plays her daughter-in-law Bernadette on the show, tweeted: "So grateful to have known Carol Ann Susi who brought laughter and light with her always. She'll forever be in my heart."
Actress Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Farrah Fowler, tweeted: "Beloved Carol Ann Susi passed away, yes. The voice of Mrs Wolowitz. Oh Carol Ann."
Warner Bros and producers of the hit comedy said in a statement: "Unseen by viewers, the Mrs Wolowitz character became a bit of a mystery throughout the show's eight seasons.
"What was not a mystery, however, was Carol Ann's immense talent and comedic timing, which were on display during each unforgettable appearance.
"In addition to her talent, Carol Ann was a constant source of joy and kindness to all."
Mrs Wolowitz's loud Brooklyn accent became a distinctive presence on the award-winning show.
Character actress Susi started her career in the 1970s and made guest appearances on many well known shows including Seinfeld, Married with Children, Ugly Betty and Greys Anatomy. |
Chinese scientists are reportedly developing a new solid fuel rocket which could be launched from country’s first domestically made jumbo air freighter, the Yun-20.
According to experts at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALVT), they are developing a new solid fuel rocket which could be launched by the Yun-20 in flight, sending a 100-kg load into near-earth orbit, Global Times reports citing a report by China Central Television (CCTV) Monday. The report did not provide any more details on it.
Military expert, Wang Mingliang, was quoted as saying that the Yun-20 will likely carry drones in the future as well. It's anticipated that the Yun-20 could be refitted as refueling plane carrying over 90 tons of fuel, as well as airborne early warning aircraft with larger radar and a cabin for passengers. |
The other night after the Wild thoroughly pummeled the Flames in what was a super awkward return-to-Minnesota-and-thanks-for-the-goals game for Niklas Backstrom, I got to thinking about Marco Scandella. [Side note, I always appreciated the time Backstrom spent with the team when they stunk out loud in the early 2000s, and it was pretty lousy of a few fans to jeer him at the end of the game.] Anyway, after we all looked at the possession charts, and after taking into account the score effects, it appeared that Marco Scandella and Jonas Brodin had a pretty terrible night in terms of possession:
The x-axis above is the total shot attempts when the player(s) were on the ice, and the y-axis is the net difference (so if they drove possession, they’d be above the red line and vice versa.) Down in the bottom right corner, you see Koivu-Coyle-Parise, but even farther down you see Brodin and Scandella. I checked into their zone starts and didn’t see anything glaring. Then I got to thinking about when they’d played together recently, and I couldn’t really remember a time in recent memory. Naturally I went to the interwebs, and realized they haven’t played together much at all in the last two years.
Scandella started getting paired with Jared Spurgeon at the end of the 2010-11 season, and played the bulk of the 11-12 season with the mighty mite. Shout out to hockeyviz.com for his awesome visualizations, by the way.
Scandella went back to Houston (remember them?) for most of 2012-13, and then had his breakout year in 13-14 and made a name for himself as a good two-way player with a rocket slap shot. In that season, he had the third-most 5v5 ice time of any blueliner, and split time with Spurgeon, Prosser, and finally Brodin.
While Brodin and Scandella were on the ice, the team clocked in at a 46% GF, 45.5 CF/60, and a 48.9% corsi rate. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about. Looking at his WOWYs from that year, when Scandella skated with all other defenders, he had a 65% GF, 51.8 CF/60, and 49.7% CF%. In 2013-14, the pair skated together for just sixty-two minutes on the year, telling us Mike Yeo pretty clearly recognized the two just didn’t complement each others’ games.
Obviously, this season gives us an interesting dataset because we have two guys setting the lineup in the same year. Here’s this year’s info, with some extra data added in.
A couple things stand out here–for a good chunk of this season, Yeo was deploying Scandella with Prosser, Brodin, and Dumba in the same game. I tried to estimate the spot where Torch took over (vertical red line), and you can clearly see that he deployed Scandella and Dumba together until very recently, when Scandella and Brodin have been almost literally joined at the hip. In the middle chart, you can see that Scandella’s power play deployment has dropped, and his possession numbers have spiked wildly–oddly coincidental that his for/against tanked right when he got back with Brodin, don’t you think?
I dug thorough the WOWY number some more, and put together a couple of simple bar charts that look at Scandella’s body of work when paired with each of the other guys who have been regulars in the lineup over the last few years. I wanted to look at more than just this year, so I set it to include 2013-2016.
Scandella and Spurgeon have more than 30% more time together than the next group, which is fairly even among Brodin, Prosser, and Dumba. We all know about Suter’s disgust of being paired with another left hand shot, which is why he’s got less than 200 minutes with Marco.
It’s too small of a sample to make any conclusions but look at that OZ start number for Suter-Scandella. The obvious trend in defensive zone deployment holds for Brodin and Prosser (both around 65% defensive,) but the 57% offensive zone deployment for Scandella-Dumba is probably about as high as you’ll see among any pair in the league.
Here’s where Scandella-Spurgeon really shine, posting nearly a 54% shot attempt percentage when together. With this type of visualization, we can look across the “Scandella apart” rows to get a sense of his true ability since each bar reflects a larger proportion of the player’s minutes. When apart from almost all the other guys, Marco was just about even in Corsi percentage. When apart from Spurgeon, it was a little lower, but the main takeaway is their excellent possession when together.
Conversely, the Scandella-Brodin pairing just seems to be on their heels out on the ice. The team’s CF/60 has been just 43.28 with those two, and when you compare that to numbers like 59.39 (Scandella-Spurgeon) and 52.45 (Scandella-Dumba), you start to just get a sense that Brodin is the one dragging down the offense. Don’t get me wrong, I love what Jo Bro does defensively, but the numbers are not kind. If I can find the time, I’ll try to look through some game footage of the last five games or so when they have been paired together. In the meantime, hit me up on Twitter @BobaFenwick if you have other theories about what might be going on. |
It's hard to take shots at someone like Peter Stoffer.
So friends gave the former NDP MP a flack jacket at his roast Friday night in Lower Sackville.
"It's kind of like roasting Jesus, how can you roast somebody when nobody is going to say anything bad about him?" Gerry White, a retired naval and RCMP officer, said with a laugh.
Retired naval officer and former RCMP Gerry White presented Stoffer with a flak jacket, complete with a name tag reading Stoffer, Peter A. SD1. (CBC)
The barbs didn't dig too deep, but just in case White gave Stoffer some body armour — a camouflage vest with a name tag reading Stoffer, Peter A. SD1.
"Shit disturber, first class," White said at the event, held at the Royal Canadian Legion hall.
It's an appropriate title for the man who went to bat again and again for members of the military and veterans, he said.
'It was wonderful serving with you'
Rear Admiral John Newton, commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, thanked the longtime MP for his work and credited him with bringing military personnel concerns to the top of the chain of command when needed.
Stoffer put effort and personal attention into each of the files, he said.
"You're so much part of the military of Halifax, the 105,000 out of 400,000 people. You're one of them. You're a brother. You're in the fellowship of the Canadian Armed Forces and the greater family," he said.
"Thank you for everything you did. It was wonderful serving with you."
Recently defeated MP Peter Stoffer says he'll decide on his future sometime in the new year. He turns 60 in January. <a href="https://t.co/gvXSdnyxz5">pic.twitter.com/gvXSdnyxz5</a> —@PaulRPalmeter
Dennis Manuge, a disabled military veteran, said it was more appropriate to toast, rather than roast, Stoffer.
"On behalf of Canadian veterans, Peter, I'd like to name you the honourary colonel commandant of Canadian veterans and keeper of Canada's sacred obligation towards our men and women in uniform," he said.
The crowd of about 300 people included many current and former MPs and presenters passed along messages from politicians across the country.
"Peter, I have great news. I'm living proof you can be recycled over and over and over again," said Cumberland Colchester Liberal MP Bill Casey.
'Compost Pete' steps away from politics
Casey also passed along best wishes to "Compost Pete" from Elizabeth May, one of the many people who knew Stoffer when he worked for Canadian Airlines and taught composting.
Stoffer said he enjoyed the event and was proud of the sentiments behind the vest.
"I was very, very honoured and very surprised and most humbled," Stoffer said, adding the money raised went to CIOE-FM, a community radio station in Lower Sackville and the legion's poppy fund.
300 people have turned out to roast long time MP Peter Stoffer, defeated in last months election. <a href="https://t.co/jaZgztI4bT">pic.twitter.com/jaZgztI4bT</a> —@PaulRPalmeter
As for what's next, Stoffer says during the Christmas season he'll be volunteering with the Salvation Army's Kettle Drive and in the New Year, he turns 60.
He plans to take a vacation with his wife and says they'll re-assess future plans in the spring.
There's a petition circulating that calls for Stoffer to be appointed to a Senate position, but Stoffer was quick to shrug it off.
"I think Prime Minister Trudeau has an awful lot of friends and people out there who he can appoint long before myself," he said. |
The Monday Manitoba Moose Report
Kick start your week with the Monday Manitoba Moose Report, which fills you in on the latest news about the Jets AHL farm club.
Moose Week-in-Review
The Moose finished up a series against the Charlotte Checkers last week, winning 2-1 on Monday at MTS Centre. Scott Kosmachuk had a whale of a game, scoring both goals in sniper-fashion, while Connor Hellebuyck allowed just one goal on 27 shots.
The Moose then played two on the road against the Iowa Wild, winning the first game 3-2, and losing the second by the same score. Connor Hellebuyck had his 5-game winning streak snapped in the loss, while defenceman Brenden Kichton kept his 5-game point streak going. Kichton now leads the team in scoring with 38 points in 65 games, while Kosmachuk leads the team in goals with 17. He was recalled by the Jets this morning.
Moose Player Spotlight
With injuries throughout the organization at both the AHL and NHL levels, the Moose have relied on 10, undrafted players ECHL players this season. Among the most interesting in the bunch is defenceman Jake Baker. Last week, Head Coach Keith McCambridge noted that, due to injuries and call-ups, Baker had been thrust into a top-2 role on the Moose defence, and had been a really pleasant surprise for the coaching staff.
At 6’5, 220+, Baker has the size and reach to contain opposing forwards, especially given a surprisingly good skating stride. While no one would confuse him with a puck-moving defenceman, he doesn’t have hands of stone either. You could safely compare him to current Jets’ call-up, Julian Melchiori in terms of size, skating, and a physical style. In a worst-case, Baker gives the Moose a potential top-4 option for next season. Furthermore, he probably has more upside than Andrew MacWilliam – a player who was a two-way NHL contract – meaning that Baker would also be a cheaper option. McCambridge alluded to the fact that a player like Baker might be able to stick around next year, and if he does earn himself a full contract, it would be a nice story for a 24-year-old who started the season with the Quad City Mallards of the ECHL.
Jansen Harkins Joins Moose on ATO
Prior to the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Jansen Harkins finished a very successful 2014-2015 season, racking up 79 points in 70 games for Prince George of the WHL. He was expected by many to be selected late in the first round, but instead dropped to 47th, where he was picked by the Jets.
Fast forward a year, and it’s hard to say that this past season was anything but a disappointment for Harkins. He failed to build on, or even match last year’s point totals, ending up with just 57 points in 69 games. (After a tough start, he did have 51 points in the last 56 games). He was out-scored by three teammates, none of whom were drafted as early, if they were drafted at all. His team was then swept in the first round of the playoffs by Matt Barzal’s Seattle Thunderbirds; Harkins at least finished strong, leading the Cougars with 2 goals and 5 points in those 4 games.
Now Harkins has a big opportunity to make an impression on the organization, after being signed to an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) on Saturday. He will join the Moose for the remainder of the season, and will have the chance to play in as many as 6 games. At 6’1, 187, Harkins is a two-way centre, known for his work ethic and his playmaking ability. But make no mistake, the AHL is not an easy league for a teenager – look no further than Mark Scheifele, who played 10 games in the 2012 AHL playoffs when he was 19, and managed just 1 assist.
Dave went one on one with him yesterday at the IcePlex and you can listen to that interview here.
Brendan Lemieux Joins Moose
After his Windsor Spitfires were ousted from the OHL playoffs by the Kitchener Rangers this weekend, Brendan Lemieux will join the Moose to play out the string of 6 games. Lemieux had an excellent finish to his OHL career, with 32 goals and 62 points in just 45 games, plus another 4 goals and an assist in just 3 playoff games. That included a hat trick in game 4 which led his team to their only victory in the series.
Lemieux is an intriguing prospect for the Jets – while many others have high-end skill, he’s the only player in the system who might fit the “power-forward” mould. While he’s just 20 years old, he’s already 6’1, 210, and displays a knack for scoring gritty goals around the net. He also plays a punishing, physical style, which, in traditional terms, means he could be suited to a bottom-6 role if his scoring doesn’t translate perfectly to the NHL level. Aside from rounding out his game in terms of defensive play, one of the main areas that Lemieux needs to improve is discipline. He was suspended several times during his OHL career, including 10 games at the start of this season for a hit to the head. Given that the Jets’ already have too much admiration for the penalty box, Lemieux may not get an extended look until the Jets know he won’t add further to that problem.
Dave also went one on one with him today at the IcePlex and you can listen to that interview here.
Brandon Tanev Signed by Jets
The Jets signed NCAA forward Brandon Tanev on Wednesday. Tanev scored 15 goals and 28 points in his final season at Providence College – last year’s winner of the NCAA tournament’s Frozen Four. Tanev is the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks’ defenceman, Chris Tanev.
Tanev is billed as an energy player. He’s a good skater, a hard worker, and tenacious on the forecheck. While he can chip in a little offensively, he’s best suited to a bottom-6 role, and a regular spot on the penalty kill. Providence coach, Nate Leaman, was asked to compare Brandon to his older brother Chris, but shrugged off the comparison, implying that he’s not quite in the same league as his talented older brother.
The plan is to get Tanev into the Jets’ lineup at some point on their three-game road trip through California. It’s also possible for him to join the Moose after the Jets’ season ends on April 9, but that remains to be seen. Given the glut of young forwards in the organization already, it’s hard to say whether Tanev will stick with the Jets next season, or start next year with the Moose. Even without additions, he would need to climb over a lot of bodies to get a regular spot in the lineup – Wheeler, Ehlers, Perreault, Stafford, Armia, Dano, and Thorburn makes 7 wingers; one centre-iceman looks to move over to the wing between Scheifele, Little, Burmistrov, Lowry, and Copp; Peluso and Lipon are probably in the mix for the 13th forward spot, then you have Petan and Kosmachuk who have both impressed at times, Brendan Lemieux graduating from the OHL, the potential for a high-end young forward drafted in June, plus someone named Kyle Connor…
Injury news:
Coach McCambridge provided updates on the status of Jan Kostalek who is now back to practicing with the team in a regular jersey and he expects him to play tomorrow against the Admirals. Josh Morrissey remains day to day but is skating on his own in a non-contact jersey. |
Two pollsters looked at two crucial states and delivered only good news for Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. The GOP Establishment’s stated goal is to stop Trump from winning the number of delegates necessary to outright claim the Republican presidential nomination. The idea is to then go to a brokered convention where Party delegates get to choose whomever they like. In order to do that, Trump must first lose the winner-take-all-states of Ohio and Florida. With just six days to go, these polls show Trump leading in both.
Florida
According to Quinnipiac, despite 10 days of facing down the GOP Establishment/DC Media Death Star, Trump has actually expanded his lead in Florida. Currently, the billionaire businessman leads favorite son Marco Rubio 45% to 22%, a full +23 points.
Last month, in this same poll, Trump was up by just +16 points over Rubio, 44% to 28%.
Only 6% of voters remain undecided. Ted Cruz earns 18% support. John Kasich sits at just 8%.
Trump also leads in the demos:
Trump leads Rubio 39 – 27 percent among women and 50 – 17 percent among men. Self-described Tea Party members go 48 percent for Trump, 40 percent for Cruz and 9 percent for Rubio. Trump gets 39 percent of white, born-again evangelicals, with 30 percent for Cruz and 21 percent for Rubio.
In the new CNN poll, Trump is up +16 with 40% to Rubio’s 24%. Cruz sits at 19%, Kasich 5%.
Ohio
The race for Ohio is much tighter.
According to Quinnipiac, Trump leads current Ohio Governor Kasich by +6 points, 38% to 32%. A month ago, Trump led by +5 points, 31% to 26%. Both men are gaining support. The good news for Trump is that his lead has remained stable.
Cruz earns just 16% support. Rubio’s collapse continues with just 9%.
Details:
Cruz gets 38 percent of Ohio Tea Party members, with 33 percent for Trump and 14 percent for Kasich. Kasich gets 32 percent of white, born-again evangelicals, with 29 percent for Trump and 24 percent for Cruz. Voters 18 to 44 years old go to Trump over Kasich 41 – 24 percent. Trump gets 38 percent of voters 45 to 64 years old to Kasich’s 35 percent. Kasich gets 38 percent of voters over 65 years old to Trump’s 33 percent.
In the new CNN poll, Trump is again up +6 with 41% to Kasich’s 35%. Cruz is in third at 15% and Rubio fourth with just 7%.
Kasich’s third place showing in Michigan Tuesday night might deflate some of his Ohio support. He has virtually no chance of winning the nomination. If his comeback was going to begin, it had to begin in Michigan, a state close to and very similar to Ohio.
If any, whatever kitchen sinks the Establishment and DC Media have left, they had better be more effective than the last ones.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC |
BAKED Sunday Mornings – Nutella Scones
Hooray for BAKED Sunday Mornings! Yes, that’s right… I’ve joined yet another baking group. 🙂
Crazy, much? Well, when I read that Sandy of Seattle Pastry Girl was creating a new bake-along group to celebrate those BAKED boys, I jumped in head-first. How could I resist? I met Matt & Renato about a month ago during their book tour stop in Dallas and I fell in love. I’d already owned their first book, Baked: New Frontiers in Baking, so it was a given that I’d get the second one. And what luck that this is the book we’re baking from?
If you need an incredibly delicious and insanely decadent breakfast treat, then look no further. Baked’s Nutella Scones are out of this world. What better way to enjoy breakfast (or a late night snack, if you’re like me) than with Nutella? Sinful, if you ask me. And on Sunday, no less! 😉 Unlike other scone recipes, this dough is spread with Nutella in a cross-hatch pattern, then rolled up into a cylinder, turned on it’s end and patted down into a round circle, ready for cutting. Some of the Nutella oozed out as I was shaping the dough, but no bother. That’s what makes them so pretty!
Don’t hesitate to try these. Run out and buy Baked Explorations now and get to work – then join our new group and bake along with us! Want the recipe? Click over to the ‘Leave-Your-Link’ post featuring these and you’ll find it. And while you’re there, don’t forget to browse all the other scones that hit the blogging world today!
#1 – Nutella Scones (pg. 30)
Source: Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito |
Six American families paid no federal income taxes in 2009 while making something on the order of $200 million each. This is one of many stunning revelations in new IRS data that deserves a thorough airing in this year’s election campaign.
The data, posted on the IRS website last week, brings into sharp focus the debate over whether the rich need more tax cuts (Mitt Romney and congressional Republicans) or should pay higher rates (President Obama and most Democrats).
The annual report, which the IRS typically releases with a two-year delay, covers the 400 tax returns reporting the highest incomes in 2009. These families reported an average income of $202.4 million, down for the second year as the Great Recession slashed their capital gains.
In addition to the six who paid no tax, another 110 families paid 15 percent or less in federal income taxes. That’s the same federal tax rate as a single worker who made $61,500 in 2009.
Overall, the top 400 paid an average income tax rate of 19.9 percent, the same rate paid by a single worker who made $110,000 in 2009. The top 400 earned five times that much every day.
Just 82 of the top 400 were taxed in accord with the Buffett rule, which proposes a minimum tax of 30 percent on annual incomes greater than $1 million.
Let’s return for a moment to the single worker who made $61,500 in 2009 and paid 15 percent of his salary in federal income taxes. The top 400 made more every three hours than he did in a year, and yet many of them paid the same or a lower tax rate, according to the data in the report.
On top of his $9,225 federal income tax, he also paid $9,409 in payroll taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes. Half of the payroll tax was deducted from his check. His employer paid the other half, which was really hidden wages taxed at a 100 percent tax rate.
His total federal tax burden was 30.3 percent, exactly 50 percent more than the 20.2 percent tax burden, measured the same way, on the 400 at the top.
TWO TAX SYSTEMS
This comparison illustrates how Congress has created two income tax systems, separate and unequal, burdening millions much more heavily than the few, those with gigantic incomes and a propensity to make campaign contributions.
One system is for wage earners and pensioners, whose taxes are withheld from their checks. This rigorous, efficient system taxes them fully.
The other system is for business owners, executives, managers of hedge and private equity funds, name brand athletes and entertainers, and many others with huge incomes. Congress lets them put unlimited amounts of income in sheltered accounts and put off paying taxes for years or even decades.
Deferral does not prevent these super rich Americans from spending their money. Hedge fund managers and others can borrow against their untaxed wealth, currently at interest rates close to zero. So long as their wealth grows faster than their borrowing their net worth continues to increase.
The IRS report covers only the 400 highest incomes reported on tax returns, not the 400 highest actual incomes, which I am certain are much larger on average because of deferrals. That means the report overstates the tax burdens of the richest Americans pay.
The issue we need to debate is not how much you earn — make all you can. The issue is that everyone should pay their taxes now, not in some far-off tomorrow, and as you go up the income ladder so should your tax rate.
By what economic, political or moral standard should working stiffs be forced to pay their taxes immediately, while plutocrats pay their taxes by-and-by? And why should anyone who makes more than $200 million live tax-free?
Those are questions to ask candidates on the hustings, insisting they give specific, focused answers.
To give this a sense of scale, the top 400 are financial giants compared to Mitt Romney. It took Romney a quarter century of smart work to build up a fortune that his campaign says is between $190 and $250 million. The top 400 made about that much in one year.
Romney says that those of us who tell these hard facts about the zero-to-low tax burdens of the richest Americans are promoting class warfare. Income inequality, according to Romney, should be discussed only “in quiet rooms.”
If you agree with Romney then keep quiet. If not, now is the time to spread the word and encourage robust and thoughtful debate, just as the framers of our Constitution intended. |
At the beginning of the year, much was made of the addition of rules governing rider behavior to the Sporting Regulations section of the FIM MotoGP rulebook. That gave the newly instituted panel of FIM Stewards, who oversee all disciplinary measures, the power to punish riders and teams for a range of activities related to the promotion of the series. The biggest worry was caused by section 1.11.4.1, which threatened punishment of riders who made public pronouncements considered harmful to the championship.
The first punishments under these new rules have been handed out, and those punishments make it clear that Dorna's main target is to prevent riders from skipping their promotional obligations which the teams commit to as part of their contract to compete in the series. At Sepang, the factory Suzuki, Honda and Ducati teams were all issued fines for their riders either missing or being late to autograph signing sessions.
Repsol Honda came off lightest. Marc Marquez missed the autograph signing session on Friday due to illness, the Spaniard still suffering with gastroenteritis. Because Honda did not notify Dorna of this, they were given an official warning. Ducati were fined €250 for having both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone turn up to the session late. And Suzuki were fined €500 for Aleix Espargaro not attending at all.
Just how seriously this will affect the teams is open to question. With factory budgets in the tens of millions of euros, a fine of few hundred euros will barely register. It will, however, act as a signalling mechanism to other riders, especially younger riders, of the behavior expected of MotoGP stars. We shall have to wait and see how this plays out in the future.
The notification of sanction from Dorna is shown below:
FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel Notification of Sanction: Ducati Team, Repsol Honda Team, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
Repsol Honda Team, who did not notify Dorna/IRTA of MotoGP Rider Marquez being unavailable to attend the compulsory Autograph Session due to illness. They received Official Warning.
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR because their rider Aleix Espargaro did not attend the compulsory Official Autograph Session.They were imposed a fine of 500 Euros.
Ducati Team because their riders Dovizioso and Iannone arrived at the compulsory Autograph Session at 11:45, 15 minutes after the beginning of the session. They were imposed a fine of 250 Euros. |
By Rey Colon
Juan de Leon, the coach of Orlando 'The Phenomenon' Cruz (20-2-1 and 10 KO's), said his protege is two pounds away from the featherweight limit for his fight with former champion Orlando "Siri" Salido (39-12-2 and 27 KO's), who clash for the WBO featherweight crown at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where Timothy Bradley (30-0, 12 KO's) will defend his WBO welterweight belt against the legendary Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1 and 40 KO's). Cruz is the first boxer who openly acknowledged his homosexuality and a title win over Salido would push him into the annals of sports history as the first openly gay champion.
"We are only two pounds away from the weight and we will not have any trouble making it. As for his physical condition, it is very good. Orlando can go forward and backward. He has very good movement and hits hard. When the time comes you have to fight, go to war. He is focused to make history. We're not going to trust [the talk of Salido being shot]. We are preparing for a young Salido, a hungry champion. We studied him very well and watching his fights with Juan Manuel Marquez and Juanma Lopez. We have worked with everything. We are prepared for all of his shots, including his right. He's come to apply pressure, to throw hooks and look for a knockout but Orlandito is ready and focused. We will make history," De Leon said. |
Cape Town –Ratings agency S&P Global Ratings on Monday downgraded South Africa to sub-investment grade and said a massive Cabinet reshuffle shortly after midnight on Friday has put policy continuity at risk.
The decision follows a Cabinet reshuffle which claimed the jobs of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas.
Barely 24 hours into his new job as Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba clarified two important aspects of his new appointment which represent major shifts from his predecessor. Both aspects of the new Gigaba era should leave South Africans concerned and calling for greater scrutiny than ever before on government, political analyst Daniel Silke earlier wrote on Fin24.
"Firstly, Gigaba unambiguously placed the highly contentious nuclear power build project firmly back on the agenda.
"The second aspect of the first 24 hours of Gigaba’s reign is perhaps more worrying. At his first media briefing, Gigaba expressed a more populist view of not only economic policy but also his world view," Silke wrote.
READ: Gigaba’s first 24 hours: Insights into the future
The rand reacted immediately to trade at R13.71/$. By 17:53 it changed hands at R13.67 to the greenback.
S&P said the executive changes initiated by President Jacob Zuma have put at risk fiscal and growth outcomes.
“We assess that contingent liabilities to the state are rising,” the global ratings agency said in a statement.
S&P lowered the long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating on the Republic of South Africa to 'BB+' from 'BBB-'and the long-term local currency rating to 'BBB-' from 'BBB'.
It also lowered the short-term foreign currency rating to 'B' from 'A-3' and the short-term local currency rating to 'A-3' from 'A-2'. The outlook on all the long-term ratings is negative.
In addition, S&P lowered the long-term South Africa national scale rating to 'zaAA-' from 'zaAAA', and affirmed the short-term national scale rating at 'zaA-1'.
"The downgrade reflects our view that the divisions in the ANC-led government that have led to changes in the executive leadership, including the finance minister, have put policy continuity at risk.
"This has increased the likelihood that economic growth and fiscal outcomes could suffer. The rating action also reflects our view that contingent liabilities to the state, particularly in the energy sector, are on the rise, and that previous plans to improve the underlying financial position of Eskom may not be implemented in a comprehensive and timely manner.
"In our view, higher risks of budgetary slippage will also put upward pressure on South Africa's cost of capital, further dampening already-modest growth." |
For seven years, Richard Wilson Preston Jr. was on a national mission to rebrand and expand the Ku Klux Klan. As the founder and imperial wizard of the Confederate White Knights of the KKK, the Baltimore man appeared regularly in public and the media to insist that the Klan, notorious for terrorizing and lynching African-Americans, wasn’t a violent racist hate group. It was a Christian organization, he said, dedicated to service, fraternity and community. “This is not about black and white,” Preston shouted from the stage of a KKK rally in Indiana last year. “It’s about red, white and blue. God bless this country!” And in Philadelphia: “The cross has never been burned by the Klan. It’s been lit by the Klan to honor Jesus Christ!” And to The Baltimore Sun: “We really want people to understand that the Klan is not an organization that is only bent on violence. We fight very hard to keep our rallies peaceful. ... We are not the Klan of the ’60s.” Now Preston, 52, sits in a Virginia jail, accused of shooting at a black man during the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Video from the Aug. 12 Unite the Right rally shows a black man wielding a spray can and a lighter as a makeshift flamethrower. A white man shouts a racial slur at him to get his attention. Then the white man produces a handgun, cocks it, and fires a round in the black man’s direction. Richard Wilson Preston Jr. of Baltimore, the leader of the Confederate White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, has been charged with discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school during the Unite the Right rally. (ACLU of Virginia video) Richard Wilson Preston Jr. of Baltimore, the leader of the Confederate White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, has been charged with discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school during the Unite the Right rally. (ACLU of Virginia video) The KKK and other hate groups, long relegated to the fringes of American society, have worked in recent years to present an acceptable face to the public. Looking to gain influence, their leaders say they reject hate and disavow violence, and speak of organizing and demonstrating peacefully to achieve legitimate political goals. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies and private groups say reports of hate incidents are on the rise, both in Maryland and across the country. Hate incidents reported to law enforcement agencies in Maryland surged from 203 in 2015 to 263 in 2016 — an increase of nearly 30 percent — according to State Police records obtained by The Sun under a public information request. Nationwide, state and local police departments reported 5,580 alleged incidents to the FBI in 2015, up about 7 percent from the year before. The numbers are not comprehensive; reporting by state and local police departments is voluntary. The bureau has not released statistics for 2016 or 2017. Five of the six largest cities in the nation — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix — saw the number of incidents increase in the first half of 2017, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism based at California State University. A sample of 25 large cities and counties across the nation showed a 6 percent increase in incidents in 2016, the center reported. The Southern Poverty Law Center says the number of hate groups nationwide has doubled in the last 20 years, from 457 in 1998 to 917 in 2017. Carla Hill, an investigative researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, says the KKK and other hate groups are adopting the slang and imagery of the more polished alt-right, in the hope of remaining relevant and attracting younger followers. Some have toned down their openly racist language in public to appear more mainstream. “They see it working for the alt-right,” Hill said. “But we have to be careful to call them what they are: White supremacists.” Oren Segal directs the ADL’s Center on Extremism. “We don’t have the luxury to ignore hatred in this country, especially now when it is very much alive and linked to violence,” he said. “There are more ways for hate to reach people than any time in human history. Now is not the time to step back.” Document Arrest documents for Richard Preston Jr. Preston is charged with discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, a felony. He has not entered a plea in the case. He is now being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail pending an appearance Thursday in Charlottesville District Court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 10 years in prison. In a telephone interview from the jail, he told The Sun he is being misrepresented as a violent racist. He said he didn’t go to Charlottesville as a KKK leader, but as a member of a militia that went to protect rally participants and a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. “Charlottesville is being blown out of proportion,” he said. “We came there to try to keep the peace.” A woman was killed at Charlottesville when a car plowed into a crowd of counter protesters. An Ohio man has been charged with murder in her death. Two Virginia State Police officers who had been monitoring the rally died when their helicopter crashed. Daryl Davis of Silver Spring has drawn national attention for his work to befriend members of the Ku Klux Klan and encourage them to leave the group. He says he has known Preston for years. Preston “is full of BS,” Davis said. “He went down to Charlottesville with a gun.” Preston founded the Confederate White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan around 2013. The group gained notice late that year when it applied for and received permission to hold an “organizational meeting” in the Cecil County Government Building in Elkton. Preston said at the time that he chose Cecil County for its conservative politics. The county has a long history with the KKK. The county’s director of administration said it had “a legal duty" to make its facilities available, but the permission was “not an endorsement of the applicant, or its message, by Cecil County.” Nearly 50 people attended the meeting, under the protection of Cecil County sheriffs and Elkton and Maryland State Police. The county gave The Sun an audio recording of the gathering. Preston appeared in a pointed white hood and robe. His main goal, he said, was political: He invited the audience to sign letters to Congress demanding the impeachment of President Barack Obama. He said he was joining Klan groups in other states to impeach the first black president on the supposed grounds that he was a dual citizen of the United States and Indonesia. Under Obamacare, he warned, the government would implant chips under the skin of U.S. citizens and take away their constitutional rights. By then, Preston had already led Klan rallies at Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg and outside Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. He followed with appearances in Philadelphia in 2014, in Bel Air in 2015 and 2016, and in Madison, Indiana, in 2016 and this year. An excerpt of news program profiling the Ku Klux Klan in the United States by British broadcaster ITV. Among the people shown are Confederate White Knights of the KKK leader Richard Wilson Preston Jr., a 52-year-old Baltimore man, who has been arrested and charged with firing a gun at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August. (ITV video via Getty Images) An excerpt of news program profiling the Ku Klux Klan in the United States by British broadcaster ITV. Among the people shown are Confederate White Knights of the KKK leader Richard Wilson Preston Jr., a 52-year-old Baltimore man, who has been arrested and charged with firing a gun at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August. (ITV video via Getty Images)
In the early years, he wore a hood; later, he appeared bareheaded. In both cases, he made himself available to news reporters. He spoke of his efforts to modernize and professionalize a movement that he said had gone astray during the Civil Rights Era. The Klan was a political organization, not a hate group. At the same time, the website of the Confederate White Knights advised prospective members that they had to be of European heritage and “100 percent heterosexual.” They could not be Muslim, Jewish, Satanist or communist. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, says Preston’s Confederate White Knights now have chapters in 11 states from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. They make up nearly 10 percent of the 130 Klan groups the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified nationwide. In 2015, Preston bought a house in Harford County to use for Klan gatherings. Members of the White Knights of the Confederacy have met there to have barbecues, shoot guns and burn crosses. Preston told The Sun his interest in the Ku Klux Klan dates to his childhood. He was seven when he saw KKK members depicted in a television show, and soon sewed his own klansman doll. “I was fascinated,” he said. “I was always interested in it because of the mystery.” At the time, his parents had separated, and he had moved with his mother into her parents’ house in the Cedmont neighborhood of Northeast Baltimore. He still lives in the house in the 5800 block of Cedonia Ave. with his mother. He became close with his grandparents, he said, and later learned that two relatives on his grandmother’s side had been in the Klan in the 1940s. Three separate movements have taken the name “Ku Klux Klan” in the last 150 years. The original KKK was a secret society founded by former Confederate officers after the Civil War to overthrow Republican state governments during Reconstruction. It was soon suppressed by the federal government. A second KKK appeared in 1915, a time of growing immigration from Southern Europe. At its peak in the 1920s, it claimed a nationwide membership in the millions, in the South and also the Midwest and West. The current KKK, which sprang up after World War II, is a loose movement of local groups with little national coordination; analysts put their numbers in the single thousands. All three iterations have promoted white supremacy. All have opposed blacks, Jews and Catholics. All have used violence, terrorism and murder. Handout Richard Wilson Preston Jr.'s booking photo for his August 26 arrest for a shooting during the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally. Richard Wilson Preston Jr.'s booking photo for his August 26 arrest for a shooting during the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally. (Handout) Preston attended Hazelwood Elementary School and Hamilton Middle School. When he was in ninth grade, he told The Sun, he was expelled over what he said was a racial confrontation. He said a black student smashed a piece he was making in woodworking class. They fought, he said, because “I was white and he was black.” A teacher who tried to break up the fight was injured. Preston said he was expelled. He was 16. A spokeswoman for the Baltimore City Public Schools confirmed that Preston was a student, but said privacy rules prevented her from confirming his expulsion. Preston did not return to school. He said his two options for high school had “95 percent city kids,” which he clarified meant 95 percent black students. He said he earned a GED when he was in his 40s. After dropping out of school, Preston worked a series of jobs in auto body repair, welding, construction and painting. He was a maintenance worker at the all-girls Bryn Mawr School. Court records show Preston has been charged over the years with theft, assault and, in 1991, first-degree rape. He was not convicted of any of those charges. The rape charge eventually was dismissed. No charging papers remain in the state’s archived case file, so it is not clear what happened. His current lawyer told The Sun that Preston told him the rape charge was based on a false accusation. He also has been subject to civil claims: an allegedly unpaid electricity bill, a civil lawsuit from a former girlfriend who said he took her car without permission, peace orders filed by a girlfriend and a neighbor. In 2004, a child support processing center filed a claim against Preston for allegedly unpaid child support. Preston told The Sun he does not believe the child is his, but he still paid years of child support. Before his arrest, Preston lived with his mother in the house to which they moved when his parents separated. Police records show 19 calls for service at the house on Cedonia Avenue since 1997. Six were for a disorderly person, family disturbance or aggravated assault. The records do not detail the incidents. Preston told The Sun that the FBI has followed him for years. FBI spokesman Dave Fitz confirmed that the agency had arrested him in August, but declined to say more, citing an ongoing investigation. Neither Preston’s mother nor his father responded to multiple requests for comment. Immediately after Preston’s arrest Aug. 26, his mother told The Associated Press she was shocked when FBI agents swarmed their home. She said she didn’t know much about what her son did outside their home, and didn't know that he had a gun. She said he was friendly with their black neighbors. “I'm very surprised about all of this,” his mother said. So were the neighbors. Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun Frank Garland, 32, outside his home in the 5800 block of Cedonia Avenue, was surprised to learn that Richard Wilson Preston Jr., a neighbor across the street, is the imperial wizard in a Baltimore-area chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. Frank Garland, 32, outside his home in the 5800 block of Cedonia Avenue, was surprised to learn that Richard Wilson Preston Jr., a neighbor across the street, is the imperial wizard in a Baltimore-area chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun) Frank Garland lives across the street from Preston. He said he had seen the Confederate flag do-rag that Preston wore, and the “Hillary for Prison” bumper sticker on his truck. “I never got that vibe from him,” said Garland, who is black. “We said hi to each other all the time.” Neighbor Desmund Chapman, who also is black, called Preston a “nice guy.” He had noticed the Confederate flag in the back window of Preston’s truck, but “he was cool. He helped my mom with some grocery bags a couple of times.” Neither Chapman nor Garland knew Preston had any connection to the Ku Klux Klan. “You never think that somebody you come across every day could be like that,” Garland said. “In the city? The KKK?” As Garland spoke, a Harford County sheriff pulled up in an unmarked car, got out and took a picture of Preston’s Baltimore home. He said the Harford County Sheriff’s Office was conducting its own investigation into Preston. In January 2015, Preston bought an uninhabitable three-story white house on two acres off Nova Scotia Road in Bel Air for $65,000. He said he used the proceeds from a workers’ compensation case after he fell on a painting job. The property, buffered by woods in front and in back, would serve as a sort of clubhouse for the White Knights of the Confederacy. There were Confederate and KKK flags draped over the windows, and Confederate flags in the backyard. George C. “Buddy” Bussard IV helped renovate the house. He said Preston and his friends would go there on weekends to have barbecues, shoot guns and host the occasional Klan ceremony. |
There may be no way to stop Vladimir Putin from starting a hot war with Ukraine, so Ukraine and its Western allies must prepare for the worst and do it quickly, according to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Saakashvili, who fought the Russian army in 2008 for five days after the Russians invaded, is in Kiev to advise the new Ukrainian government. He says he’s providing counsel on how to hopefully avoid an all-out war with Putin’s army. But Saakashvili is also there to deliver a warning to Kiev: Russia appears to be preparing for armed conflict in Ukraine and the world must be ready for that battle, just in case Putin can’t be dissuaded from the fight.
“Right now my advice to the Ukraine government is to maintain maximum restraint, but to prepare for the worst, because I don’t think Vladimir Putin is going to stop where he is. He is not going to stop anywhere until he gets rid of the leadership in Kiev,” Saakashvili said in an interview with The Daily Beast on Monday. “The West should be ready that there might be a war here.”
There several similarities between Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia and its 2012 invasion of Ukraine and one main difference. Russia has yet to cross militarily into greater Ukraine, outside Crimea, and wage a full scale invasion of the country, as it did in Georgia. But Saakashvili said he sees plenty of signs that’s exactly what Putin plans to do next.
There are multiple Russian intelligence organizations stirring up trouble all over Ukraine’s south and east with a goal of preparing a pretext for a large-scale military intervention, he said. The huge military exercises currently ongoing on the Russian side of the border are of the same scale to those that immediately preceded the Russian invasion of Georgia, he pointed out. Russia is also putting out massive amounts of propaganda to establish a narrative that could support a large scale intervention, again eerily similar to their actions in 2008.
“Putin certainly has plans for large scale military intervention in the whole of Ukraine,” said Saakashvili. “I think Russia is looking for a hot war.”
There were reports out of Ukraine Monday that the Russian military was now threatening to attack Ukrainian military bases in occupied Crimea if Ukrainian forces didn’t surrender by Tuesday morning. Some Russian officials disputed those reports. Saakashvili said that the Ukrainians should not surrender those bases because it would only encourage Putin to become even more aggressive.
“The problem might be that no matter what the Ukrainians might do or not do, Putin might still go for military confrontation,” he said. “They shouldn’t give up anything. The more they give up, the more the Russia will ask for. I don’t think Putin will be happy until he has a full takeover of Ukraine.”
Right now, there are plenty of things the U.S. and the European Union can do to try to stop Putin from escalating the Ukraine crisis into all out war, he said. There should be immediate economic sanctions, with the West going after Putin’s vast personal wealth and that of his friends. The U.S. can also help Ukraine defend itself by sharing military intelligence, defending Ukraine from cyber attacks, giving Kiev’s armed forces training and even equipment, and moving NATO naval forces into the region as a show of strength, Saakashvili said.
Obama also has to elaborate on his Friday statement promising “costs” for Russia if it intervened in Ukraine militarily, he said. Statements by senior officials have been good but need to be backed up with action if the U.S. wants them to have any effect on Russian thinking.
“Putin does not take these statements seriously,” he said. “He thinks that ultimately the Western elite will see it as in their interest not to isolate Russia.”
The Crimea invasion shows that Putin’s government is paranoid and extremely unstable, Saakashvili said.
“That’s the main reason Putin is so engaged and proactive in Ukraine,” said Saakashvili. “I think he is really terrified for his survival because he is taking a huge gamble and this really shows his desperation and he thinks the best way to distract his people is to bring war to the people of Ukraine.”
Of course, Saakashvili is hardly an unbiased observer. He’s been a sworn enemy of Putin’s for years. And there’s a lot of controversy about Saakashvili’s 2008 decision to engage the Russian military. Many say he was tricked into giving Putin a pretext to invade Georgia. Others say he helped to provoke the Russian-Georgian war. But even Saakashvili’s harshest critics have to admit that the former Georgian president saw the invasion of Crimea coming and tried his best to warn the United States in advance.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Bass wrote in a confidential cable in 2009, released by Wikileaks, that Saakashvili was worried about a Russian invasion of the peninsula.
“Saakashvili expressed concern about Ukraine’s future, predicting that there could be trouble in Crimea after the election, and explicitly suggesting that Russia could use force to ‘secure Crimea,’ causing an immediate political crisis for whatever new President took office in [Kiev],” he wrote.
By 2011, Saakashvili was practically badgering U.S. officials to take seriously his warning that Putin would move on Crimea sooner or later. Another released cable revealed that Saakashvili pressed then Assistant Secretary of Defense Sandy Vershbow (now Deputy Secretary General of NATO) to prepare for this exact event.
“Saakashvili stressed repeatedly that he expected Russia to follow its 2008 invasion of Georgia with intervention in Crimea,” the cable stated. “He predicted that Russia would incite tension in the peninsula and then make a generous offer to Yanukovych (presumed as the next president) to help solve the problem. Saakashvili said that Putin wants to keep the pressure on Ukraine and Georgia as a lesson and a warning to others in the former Soviet Union.”
“Back in 2008 I was screaming to anyone who would listen that after the invasion of Georgia there would be an invasion of Ukraine and people thought I was a little delusional. So I feel vindicated now I’m not happy at all about it,” Saakashvili told The Daily Beast. “After 2008, the West still could not imagine that Putin was capable of such things. They should have known better.” |
Mayan Gods. Maya pages: [1] 2 Similar pages:
ancient mayan gods mayan human sacrifice mayan gods the mayan god, chac mayan gods and goddesses ancient mayan god - chac
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MYTHOLOGICAL GODS Mayan Goddess
The ancient Maya had a complex pantheon of deities whom they worshipped and offered human sacrifices. Rulers were believed to be descendants of the Mayan gods and their blood was the ideal sacrifice, either through personal bloodletting or the sacrifice of captives of royal blood. The Maya vision of the universe is divided into multiple levels, above and below earth, positioned within the four directions of north, south, east and west. After death, the soul was believed to go to the Underworld, Xibalba (shee bal bah), a place of fright where sinister gods tested and tricked their unfortunate visitors. As with all Myths about Mayan Gods and Goddesses - Mayan Myths discuss connections with being from other realms who came to Earth to seed the planet. Many people see the story of the Popol Vuh is the story of extraterrestrial Gods who came down and made man in his own image. When they first made man he was so perfect - living as long as they did - he could see far and wide - clairvoyant - and was as perceptive as they were. They realized that they had made a competitor who was as wise as the Gods themselves. So they destroyed him and started over creating present day man. Modern man lives shorter lifetimes, is not as smart, and is here to act as a servant race to the Gods. Within their culture they have legends of visiting Gods from outer space. In the last thousand years the being known as Quatzequatl the Great Feathered Serpent was a God who brought the teaching of peace to this part of the world and appeared as a white God with a beard. The drawings of him look almost identical to the drawings of the being known as Ea or Enki in the ancient Sumerian teachings. In fact they looked like the images we see of Reptilians. Quatzequatel: Winged God Mayan god Thoth and Quetzacotal were the same person, Thoth was identified to Atlantis, Egypt, Sumer, then later was identified to Meso America and Peru as Quetzacoatal. His pyramid was the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan 1 2 3
Chac Mayan god Chac was the god of rain. He was a benevolent god for the Mayans who often sought his help for their crops. Chac was associated with creation and life. Chac was also considered to be divided into four equal entities. Each division represented the North, South, East, and West. Chac was also apparently associated with the wind god, Kukulcan. Some debate persists as to whether or not Kukulcan was just a variotion of Chac.
Another Sun God - Kinich Ahau Kinich Ahau was the Sun god. He was the patron god of the city Itzamal. Supposedly, he visited the city at noon everday. He would descend as a macaw and consume prepared offerings. Kinich Ahau is usually shown with jaguar-like features (ex. filed teeth). Kinich Ahau also wears the symbol of Kin, a Mayan day. Kinich Ahau was also know by the name Ah Xoc Kin, who was associated with poetry and music.
Yumil Kaxob The Maize god is representative of the ripe grain which was the base of the Mayan agriculture. In certain areas of Mesoamerica, like Yucatan, the Maize god is combined with the god of flora, Yumil Kaxob. The Maize god is principally shown with a headdress of maize and a curved streak on his cheek. He is also noticeable from other gods throug his youth. Despite this youth, the Maize god was powerless by himself. His fortunes and misfortunes were decided by the control of rain and drought. The Rain god would protect him. However, he suffered when the Death god exercised drought and famine.
Yum Cimil The death god was called Yum Cimil. He also could be called Ah Puch, the god of the Underworld. His body is predominantly skeletal. His adornments are likewise made of bones. Yum Cimil has also been represented with a body covered with black spots (decomposition). He also wears a collar with eyeless sockets. This adornment was the typical symbol for the Underworld.
Ixtab The suicide goddess was called Ixtab. She is always represented with a rope around her neck. The Mayans believed that suicides would lead you to heaven. Hence, it was very common for suicides to happen because of depression or even for something trivial.
Kukulcan The wind god was also known as the feathered-serpent god Kukulcan. The ancient Mayans used the doorways and windows of their buildings as astronomical sightings, especially for the planet Venus. At Uxmal, all buildings are aligned in the same direction. Surprisingly, Mayans knew the motions of Venus with much accuracy. Venus, the morning star, was the patron planet of warfare. Many offerings were made to Venus and the Sun.We know from a historian that people would stop up their chimneys so that no light from Venus could enter their houses and cause harm.
Ix Chel Ix Chel, the "Lady Rainbow," was the old Moon goddess in Mayan mythology. The Maya people lived around 250 AD in what is now Guatemala and the Yucatan in Mexico. Mayans associated human events with phases of the moon. Ix Chel was depicted as an old woman wearing a skirt with crossed bones, and she had a serpent in her hand. She had an assistant sky serpent, whom they believed carried all of the waters of the heavens in its belly. She is often shown carrying a great jug filled with water, which she overturns to send floods and powerful rainstorms to Earth. Her husband was the benevolent moon god Itzamna. Ix Chel had a kinder side and was worshipped as the protector of weavers and women in childbirth.
Ah Kinchil: the Sun god. Ah Puch: the god of Death. Ahau Chamahez: one of two gods of Medicine. Ahmakiq: a god of Agriculture who locks up the wind when it threatens to destroy the crops.
Added 10/01/2007 Okay, somebody asked me to add Quetzacotal's image, here it is:
Okay, somebody asked me to add Quetzacotal's image, here it is:
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Jon Favreau, 25/09:
i am jon favreau and i do not approve of this website
ELLA, 14/11:
not sure if this is reliable seems cop and pasted
Joseph Kay, 22/05:
hey kealy!! we're friends. doing the same extra credit project. right!?!!?! i think i know you from skool XD
Jazz Lee , 22/05:
hey sis! (my sister is Kealy Lee) how come we on the same site?! these ppl who comment r pretty sick, arent they? god, and theyre messaging! gosh, i dont think i like mayan gods, but can i trust this site? PS- hi kealy!!! hope you come on this site again--or r you going to? and B SURE TO LOOK AT THESE COMMENTS!!! haha *) ~jasmine
Kealy Lee, 22/05:
there's not much info on each god and the pictures are pretty weird. well, there aren't a lotta gods and only one goddess 2. not very useful for the project that im doing right now. :'(
sick wid it, 20/05:
thes mayan god pis are so sick wid it!!!!!!
textualjavakid, 13/05:
dis is aWsomE Yea
Amy, 11/05:
Teotihuacan is not a Mayan site.
Halimah , 11/05:
The Best Website on the internet thanx for the information
awesomest pep in the world, 08/05:
this site helped me with my report thanx
the man who eats chairs, 26/04:
god this info is blah. does anyone have a cookie.
evita, 13/04:
thanks for the information
john with the long slide, 13/04:
sure that last picture of quatzlcoatl isn't really picachu?
Quet, 31/03:
LOLOLOL i am from internation school groningen
Kim, 17/03:
I am loving your hot looks babe, if you wanna go on a date my number is 911. it me up hotty:)
Noah, 05/03:
Sorry, about what i said, it was rude, i re-evaluated the evidence and found it to be a useful website, thank you. . that was not a mayan god, your webpage smells like fish. That last picture was not a god, that is bull slocken
John C., 19/02:
This helped me out a lot on my project about the mayans and 2012. really appreciate it. =)
ice queen, 18/02:
that was kool. and I ALREADY KNEW THIS STUFF! cuase im all mayan and im not kidding.
ms genius, 15/02:
i think this web site really helped but there should be more info and better pictures. it helped for my project thou
lesley, 04/02:
Yeah is true you guys are morans
Esme, 04/02:
this really cool it helped me find stuff about my school work
cool man, 16/01:
this website rocks. it really helped me. you guys rock!!!
Kozmoz, 14/01:
Yes, these ancient aliens are nothing more than the fallen angels worshipped as 'gods' in the Old Testament.
zarah, 09/01:
Hi, i just want to ask if anyone could add a image of AHCILIZ GOOD OF THE ECLIPSE!!! THANKS
awesomeness, 30/11:
this is HORRIBLe
Chinka Bob II, 20/11:
ya...okay...it has to be in easier-to-read context...add an author next time..
steve steverson, 19/11:
You people are morons. Aliens. Really?
JPryst, 08/11:
I see many of the commentators on your site are absolute morons. I'm surprised, by the way they phrase thier comments, that they can even read. That said, I think your site is excellent. Thanks!
Selina mack, 06/11:
The gods were extra terrestrial and they are greatly approaching
J.Q, 28/10:
Thanks for all the help you guys rock!!!! 8)
B.Q, 28/10:
thanks it helped me alot . hey can you tell me how they were treated please by tomorrow please? . Thanks this site helped me alot
young man, 27/10:
it was VERY helpful for my project.
seth, 25/10:
where did you get allthis info?
RYAN, 15/10:
Why is there no mention that Kukulcan was a real person and was a white man with a white beard. The only human God to the Mayans. This is common knowledge in Mesoamerica as I have been down there several times and spoke to Mayans personally. It seems like many people who are writing columns on Mayan Gods lately are omiting this fact. Lets not re-wrire history folks.
Hey, 10/10:
this webste rocks
LaVoz, 30/09:
Thank you so much this knowledge is of invaluable proportions to me..
tracey, 22/09:
this website is very helpful to learn about the mayans.
11yr-old-girl, 11/06:
it was brill for my mayan project
student, 31/05:
this site was unhelpful
smiles, 27/05:
oh yes this was a great website i learned so very little thank you
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person, 20/05:
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i love this website it gave me a hard one yeah
mee, 15/05:
this website is a good website sand was very helpful on my socail studies project on maya
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thanks guys this information helps.
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i thought this website gave great information that was useful for my paper!!
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i like fat buts and ketchup on my big pickle head got a problem call me 1800 ask homeless
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BAnanas, 18/03:
COuldnt find anything on these gods Meroe, Tunka Manin,Yum Kax,and Zagwe...site wasnt that helpful...:(
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p.s mr.brooking is gonna be inprised :) . this is awsome im gonna have a A in social studies
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Kim, 21/01:
P.S I guess this site is okay. I was just looking for info so this did okay for my puposes, sadly I'm much more into the Egyption gods. P.S.S People who go here for fun, you disgust me. . Your spelling is horrible . Thank god this site has info, I'm throwing together a report and this helps a lot
anubis2015, 14/01:
Its sad to see that over the course of mans history we have pushed away the truth and replaced it with a false sense of reality.This site is awesome keep spreading the word.
Eva R, 07/01:
I am in yr 7 now and this site is so cool!!! My school is on a really steap hill and I Love JACOB P!!!
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This site is the most amazing site EVER! i would marry it if i wasnt a boy! i might have to sort that out!!!!
bub, 04/11:
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mukulmuley, 26/10:
maya is one of the sociality from indian history, nearly 5000 years back.the king of them is mayasura at the time of SHREE KRUSHNA N MAHABHARAT
me, 21/10:
i think it helped me with my project alot thanks nice pictures=)
emma, 19/10:
why do people tell people there addresses and stuff well this site is umm ok . heyy this gaveme no info so thank you NOT umm yer
Octavio, 18/10:
Wind yo you find OO you R An us, you will then find who I AM Ocho.
i am you, 09/09:
helpful for nothing
Mitch, 13/08:
WOW! i am in year six and have to write a book about the mayans, and this website gave me so much great information, thanks so much. by the way, GREAT page, where did you get your info from???
mr hugas, 13/06:
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Hey I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD AND CLOTHING WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
no name, 21/05:
I want to know what Quetzacotal's power is. eg: Sun god.
writer, 20/05:
I think their is more information about these gods that i snot on this websiite
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Dromae, 19/05:
Fun fun fun! Confusing though...
skywriter, 30/04:
I take that back about this site being ok it's missing lots of stuff and getting lots of stuff wrong! seph (you don't know what you've got yourself into)
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genesis, 16/10:
think you to have this info 4 my project
i am nobody important, 09/08:
okay... someone screwed this site up big time... Quetzalcoatle is Aztec... AZTEC people! Sheesh.
casper, 12/07:
yeah that frog looked pretty funny BK
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Boy at work, 24/04:
oops it came out right~~ oo well thanks to anyone who got the info! . Kool this is going to help me ALOT on my project ill make sure to tell people that this website is subbported by the Mayan gods in my project (6.6) o==((_))==o (( )) 0 0 Its a monkey~!
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i love it specially cuz i am descendant fom mayans,i recomend to read more about them. . this is very cool and speally because i am decendant from mayans.i recomend all you guys to learn more about them.
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This website is pretty cool but the pictures could be better.
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this is th dumbest website uh . . . you ... k By
mwa!!, 12/02:
Princess needs to get over herself and look in a mirror. Oh wait her last one broke 5 min ago . Thx for all the awsome pics for my homework . This site has crappy portrayals of gods
Genesis, 11/02:
You are not pretty and the pic are cool.
princess, 07/02:
Hello? Plez talk 2 me! I'm pretty, so you should talk 2 me. Hello? Need better pics. of gods and godesses, i look so good that i am looking like a godess . nice web site. could you please be more pacific on how gods blend together or what ever they do. Anybody else on? if you r say "Hot!"
$$cash, 29/01:
I like the web site, it is good. But i was just on another web site on maya to get info. and went on this web site after, and afew of the stuff about the gods is the same. That is not benifiting my paper. getting the same facts over and over again. but thnx anyways.
god, 24/01:
that dude looks like the peanut man!!!
Julia, 23/01:
Yeah, god pictures bit weird and funny at the same time :)
mayan rock, 22/01:
ok web site. I rock- everybody already knows that. weird pics. of gods and godesses.
Cela, 19/01:
Who the heck is Quetzacotal?
cool_guy, 14/01:
your websites s you c k s . your website is bad
Upper, 08/01:
Nice pictures of gods!
Annonymous, 16/12:
The way that I see it for the dual purposes of the gods, is that one is worhsipped in one place, and when that god is trying to expand its popularity and have others worship him, people change his/her name and his/her role, so say someone in Canada had a god called Niku, and he was the god of water, if he went to America, it could be changed to Nicha, and he could be the god of earth... might help or might not, but that is my understanding of it
dillicious, 13/12:
OMG this site is amazing b i a t ch . thanks for the awsome info man . DILLICIOUS WAS HERE lol
Chitown Gurl, 17/11:
how can one god be blended with another one??? Im confused, doesnt make sense...
bri123, 07/11:
um where is every1? . im really confused
Micheal Kackwrow, 31/10:
this is an okay site
QUICK LINKS:
Maya: Mayan Geography Mayan Astronomy Mayan Writing ~ Codices Mayan religion - Popol Vuh Mayan calendar and prophecies Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza Mayan Pyramids in Mexico - Teotihuacan
Inca: Inca Civilization |
Since the initial reports nearly two weeks ago that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was seen in a cellphone video allegedly using crack cocaine, questions have been swirling at city hall and beyond.
Ford initially responded by saying the allegations were "ridiculous," and then held a steadfast silence — he says on the advice of a lawyer — until last Friday.
"I do not use crack cocaine," Ford told a news conference at City Hall that day. "Nor am I an addict of crack cocaine." Ford also said he doesn't believe the alleged video exists.
The next day, new allegations emerged around Ford's brother, Coun. Doug Ford, with the Globe and Mail newspaper reporting that he had been involved in selling hashish in the 1980s when he was in his teens and early 20s.
The Globe story was the result of 18 months of research and legal review, its editor said. But it did rely heavily on unnamed sources, albeit sources that senior editors at the paper were said to verify themselves.
Doug Ford vigorously denied the allegations, but his denials and the statements from the mayor have done little to quell the controversy.
So what do we know with any certainty about this controversy, and what questions remain?
What we know
Two media outlets report that they saw the video
The Toronto Star and the U.S. gossip website Gawker reported on May 16 that members of their staff saw a video of Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine.
Two experienced Star reporters, Kevin Donovan and Robyn Doolittle, and Gawker editor John Cook saw the video on separate occasions on an iPhone and said it was being shopped around.
"The men were clear that they want the money for it. And we know that they have spoken with American outlets," Doolittle told CBC News on May 17. "They wanted six figures for it and we did not pay it."
Ford's chief of staff was fired
Mark Towhey, Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff, leaves Toronto City Hall after he was fired from his post on May 23, 2013. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Ford fired his chief of staff, Mark Towhey, on Thursday, May 23, one week after the first reports of the video surfaced and while pressure was mounting for the mayor to respond in some detail to the allegations.
As Towhey was being escorted out of city hall by security guards, he said: "I am no longer the chief of staff. I did not resign."
(A source close to the mayor's office told CBC News that Towhey was fired because he told Ford to "go away and get help." Towhey has refused to make any public comment on the events.)
Two of Ford's communications staff quit
Another two members of Ford's staff left his office the following Monday, May 27. Ford said he found out that day that press secretary George Christopoulos and deputy press secretary Isaac Ransom had tendered their resignations and were leaving his office.
Sources told CBC's city hall reporter, Jamie Strashin, that the two key staff members quit "on principle." But what that principle was has not been spelled out.
Relations between the Ford family and the media are tense
Ford has repeatedly criticized the Star's reporting on issues involving him for many months now. On May 26, the mayor and his brother used their weekly radio show to deny the allegations of drug use. Rob Ford also called the media a "bunch of maggots." The following day, Ford apologized for the remark.
"I'm sure you understand this has been a very stressful week for myself and my family," Ford said. He added that the stress "doesn't justify using the terminology I did describing the media."
Rob Ford was fired as high school football coach
Toronto City Mayor Rob Ford reacts as the Don Bosco Eagles, the high school team he coached, trailed in their 28-14 defeat to Huron Heights Warriors in the Metro Cup in Toronto on Nov. 27, 2012. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
The Toronto Catholic District School Board dumped Ford from his position as head coach of the Don Bosco Eagles senior football team on May 22.
A board spokesman told CBC News the decision was "in no way related to the current allegations. It is due to the review of his March 1 Sun News Network interview."
In the Sun interview, John Yan said, Ford painted the Don Bosco community negatively when he referred to it as "crime ridden," and the youth as "gang bangers."
During his media statement on May 24, Ford commented on his "long relationship" with Don Bosco.
"I will continue to support Don Bosco in spirit and I wish them great success for their upcoming season. These kids are phenomenal kids who have bright futures and can do anything if they put their minds to it," he said.
What questions remain
Where is the video?
For all the controversy that has been swirling, one crucial question remains: Where is the video?
The Star and Gawker have stood by their reports about the video. Ford has said it doesn't exist.
The Star's Doolittle has said she and Donovan were told there was more than one copy of the video. Gawker has said it has raised the $200,000 asking price, through crowd-sourcing, but has not been able to make contact with those who have the alleged video. It said Tuesday that it will give the sellers about a month to respond before it decides what else to do with the money; donating it to charities was the alternative.
According to published reports on May 28, someone on Ford's staff was told days ago about the potential location of the video, and passed that information along to police.
Has Rob Ford ever smoked crack cocaine?
Ford said on May 17 that he does not "use crack cocaine" and that he is not a crack cocaine addict. Questions remain as to whether he has used drugs in the past. Ford has yet to provide additional clarification.
What is the connection to Anthony Smith?
The people shopping the alleged Ford video would not provide a screen grab of what they had. But the alleged go-between did give the Toronto Star and Gawker a photo of the mayor with his arm around someone said to be Anthony Smith, a 21-year-old who was shot and killed outside a downtown nightclub in March.
CBC News has spoken to people who know the men in the picture, and confirmed they believe that the men in the photo are Smith and his friend, who was injured in that same shooting and whose face was pixellated in the original photo.
The mayor, who has a practice of coaching and working with young people, has simply said he gets his picture taken with many people.
The Toronto Star is now suggesting the cellphone with the alleged video may have belonged to Smith. Police haven't confirmed that is the case.
Just how are things going at city hall?
Ford has said it is business as usual at city hall, and city council's executive committee said in a letter May 24 that city business is continuing "without interruption."
Still, the media presence at city hall is not the usual contingent, and three staff members in Ford's office have left abruptly in the past week, meaning there is, at the very least, a different staff dynamic in his office. |
Image caption President Rousseff told the UN that the interception of its communications was a breach of the law
Brazil has confirmed plans to create a secure email service, following revelations of cyber-surveillance techniques used by the US and UK.
President Dilma Rousseff posted a series of tweets over the weekend, saying the move was required to "prevent possible espionage".
She added the country's Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro) would be charged with developing the system.
One expert said the tech involved was well established but had limitations.
"There's a good precedent for this with the German provider Gmx.de," said Prof Ross Anderson, head of the security research group at the University of Cambridge's computer laboratory.
"They just need to tell a company to keep the servers in Brazil, encrypt all the traffic inside or outside the country, and only give access to Brazilian police and intelligence services.
"Bang, finished, it's trivial. It's a well understood and well solved problem."
He said that the Brazilian system could be designed to interact with Gmx and equivalent encrypted services, in which case the NSA (US National Security Agency) and GCHQ (UK Government Communications Headquarters) would effectively be shut out unless the countries where the relevant servers were based decided to co-operate.
SPYING ALLEGATIONS Until 2002, US ran base in Brazilian capital, Brasilia, to intercept transmissions from foreign satellites
Surveillance carried out through partnerships between Brazilian telecoms firms and US agencies
Major companies and foreign visitors routinely targeted
But he added that information could still be intercepted if cyber-spies were able to install malware on their target's computers or if users corresponded with someone using an non-secure email service.
"From the point of view of people writing to each other in Brazil, they have some protection against foreign snooping, however more and more business these days is done internationally," he said.
"With Gmail having something like a third of all email traffic worldwide, that means the Americans will still be able to read an awful lot of messages.
"If you have an email [copied] to a dozen different people there will be a fair chance one of them will be using Google's service."
International summit
President Rousseff's announcement follows allegations that the NSA hacked state-run oil company Petrobras and intercepted billions of emails and calls to Brazilians.
She postponed a state visit to Washington in September after it was alleged that the agency had also targeted her emails and phone calls.
"Without respect for [a nation's] sovereignty, there is no basis for proper relations among nations," she subsequently told the United Nations.
Image caption President Rousseff posted three tweets announcing the news on Sunday
"Those who want a strategic partnership cannot possibly allow recurring and illegal action to go on as if they were an ordinary practice."
President Rousseff has also used Twitter to announce plans to host an international summit in 2014 to discuss internet security.
The event may be used as an opportunity to renew calls for Icann (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and other organisations overseeing the net to pass at least some of their powers to the UN.
At present Icann - which co-ordinates the internet's codes and numbering systems - is officially under the remit of the US Department of Commerce, even though it operates as an arms-length body.
The US has resisted the idea, and a clash of views over the matter contributed to the failure of a treaty being signed at last year's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference in Dubai.
Last week - following a meeting between Icann's president, Fadi Chehade, and President Rousseff - Icann itself backed calls for the accelerated globalisation of its functions " towards an environment in which all stakeholders, including all governments, participate on an equal footing". |
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Harford County, MD – On Wednesday, we reported that a small Maryland town was put on lockdown for an entire day, as police set up checkpoints in key travel areas of town in an alleged attempt to catch heroin traffickers. Many people had suspected that police were out in strong force ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, searching for drunk drivers. However, witnesses reported that the police were actually in search of drugs, specifically heroin, and they even had massive construction signs posted that said “Heroin checkpoint ahead, Drug K9 In Use.”
We predicted that this was simply a scheme to generate revenue and that the police were simply using heroin as an excuse because of the fact that it is an emotionally charged issue that make people passively accept that nazi-style checkpoints have been set up all over their neighborhood. As expected, the police did not actually find any heroin, although they did write dozens of repair orders, confiscate over $7,000 in cash and seized about 20 pounds of marijuana. All of the arrests that were announced were for marijuana, prescription pills, a switchblade knife and drug paraphernalia. In addition to the arrests, police announced that they wrote 32 traffic citations, 148 warnings, and 18 repair orders.
In a statement the day after the operation, The Harford County Sheriff’s Office said:
Yesterday, the Harford County Drug Taskforce, along with multiple law enforcement partners, conducted a multi-jurisdictional saturation effort throughout communities in Harford County. This special detail is part of law enforcement’s ongoing heroin reduction efforts and focused on conducting vehicle and pedestrian interdiction on major roadways throughout Harford County, as well as in designated Safe Street neighborhoods. The geography of Harford County provides several alternative routes often utilized by drug traffickers and others involved in criminal activity to avoid police interdiction efforts on I-95. Using a strong law enforcement presence, saturation, and interdiction efforts can result in arrests for narcotics violations, in addition to, arrests for other crimes to include burglaries, thefts, and traffic related offenses. The initiative was designed to meet the following goals: make the streets of Harford County safer for pedestrians and drivers; detect and arrest illegal drug users and sellers, and those drivers who are under the influence; promote public awareness of the dangers of heroin and drugged driving; most importantly, demonstrate to the citizens of Harford County that its law enforcement agencies care about the heroin epidemic affecting them and are united in their commitment to eradicating it. Law enforcement utilized a combination of variable messages promoting heroin “check points” set up on major roadways throughout the county, combined with proactive vehicle and pedestrian interdiction in designated locations and “Hot Spot” neighborhoods known for heroin use and sales. Variable message signs were used throughout the detail to raise awareness that law enforcement was saturating the area. Focusing on areas known for drug trafficking and drugged driving, these “check points” were conducted on Route 152, Route 1, Route 24, and Route 40. As opposed to the traditional DUI Checkpoints most are familiar with, in these “checkpoint” areas, vehicles continued on the roadway without being required to slow down or stop. Those vehicles that were pulled over were done so after they were observed committing some type of motor vehicle violation. As we had the opportunity to come in contact with motorists, two pamphlets were available; the first provided heroin awareness information, the second provided information for those struggling with drug addiction. In total, there were approximately 73 law enforcement officers who participated, representing: The Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Havre De Grace Police Department, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This detail resulted in ten arrests and the seizure of $7,000 cash, one switchblade knife, illegal drugs to include more than 20 pounds of marijuana, opiates and prescription pills, and related drug paraphernalia. Additionally, 32 traffic citations, 148 warnings, and 18 repair orders were issued during the operation. Sheriff Gahler remarked, “This morning the number of heroin-related overdoses Harford County law enforcement have responded to stands at 156 nonfatal overdoses and 24 overdoses which have proven to be fatal. We must work tirelessly to eradicate this dangerous drug from our community. High visibility law enforcement details, such as the one from yesterday, send a clear message to the drug dealers in our community – you are not welcome here. Still, much needs to be done, but we will not rest until the job is complete.”
After the statement, the sheriff’s department listed the full names of the victims that they arrested for the sake of public shaming. Unfortunately, there were many misguided residents praising the police on their Facebook page, because they believed the cover story, that the police were doing this for their safety. However, a number of repair orders, marijuana arrests and petty traffic citations that were dished out by cops, compared with the number of heroin arrests (zero), should show that their operation was either a scam or a total failure.
John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can purchase his books, or get your own book published at his website www.JohnVibes.com. |
When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned cannabidiol producers against making medical claims about cannabis products, it seemed par for the course for any federal agency. Cannabis is simply not considered medicine in the eyes of the government.
But the FDA actually appears pretty open to considering the potential of marijuana as medicine. "We've had good experiences working with the FDA," said Brad Burge, communications director at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The non-profit is currently conducting the first FDA- and DEA-approved clinical trial on whole-plant marijuana and enrolled its 30th participant on October 26.
"We have a long relationship with the FDA -- a lot through our MDMA research. They've been open to approving research protocols into Schedule I drugs," said Burge. "It's other regulatory agencies that have been standing in the way."
It's certainly unhelpful that the National Institutes of Drug Abuse have a monopoly on growing research cannabis. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Justice Department aren't helpful on this front either. But the lack of support for the study from Veterans Affairs (VA) is even more egregious.
Dr. Sue Sisley, the trial's lead researcher, says she's determined to focus on veterans for this study. She plans to examine the effects of cannabis on 76 subjects with treatment-resistant PTSD. Her main motivation in focusing on veterans is the epidemic of veteran suicides in the U.S. The VA estimates that about 22 veterans commit suicide every day – Sisley thinks that number is probably higher.
"As a scientist, I'm skeptical of subjective claims," said Sisley. "[But] we have a mountain of anecdotal reports from veterans claiming that cannabis is lifesaving."
The implications go beyond saving their lives – Sisley has heard plenty of military spouses and children sing the praises of the drug. "The kids will say, 'I got my dad back' after years of [him] being disengaged, irritable and mean," she said.
Now, her main challenge is recruiting enough veterans who fit the study criteria and are able to participate on-site in Phoenix, Arizona. Sisley estimates that the Phoenix VA hospital has 20,000 veterans in their system who meet the study's eligibility requirements. But the hospital is refusing to provide information about the study to its patients.
"[In] some of the states that have put in appropriate controls [for medical marijuana], there may be some evidence that this is beginning to be helpful," said VA Secretary David Shulkin at a White House press briefing in May. "We're interested in looking at that and learning from that."
But Sisley says that Shulkin has so far refused to express support for her study: "It's the height of hypocrisy," she said.
"The VA Secretary could make a call to the Phoenix VA, and we could start sharing information with these patients," said Sisley. "Why does it take political courage to defend a federally legal study? Not even defend it, just fast-track it. We've been stonewalled at every turn."
The researchers have paid for various types of advertising and hired a veteran to oversee recruitment efforts. Still, "the issue for us is [getting] cooperation from the Phoenix VA hospital," said Sisley. Recruitment has dwindled to a "pretty slow trickle."
If the study fails to recruit 46 more veterans in the next couple of months, "we'll have to reevaluate," she said. "We fought for so many years and the veteran community has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, helping us kick down the doors… Many of them have adopted this trial as their own."
The American Legion, a veterans organization that has more than 2 million members, called on the VA to support the clinical trial in September. "We ask for your direct involvement to ensure this critical research is fully enabled," wrote the organization's National Commander Denis Rohan in a letter to Shulkin. "[The study] could potentially produce scientific evidence that will enhance, improve, and save the lives of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder."
But Shulkin has remained mum on the issue.
"I'm assuming that [Attorney General] Sessions has created an atmosphere of fear around the word 'cannabis' and so nobody's willing to step out," said Sisley. "The FDA deserves major commendation because they at least are responsive." |
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News, The Woodlands, Texas
The team's findings could help in the search for other ancient "airbursts" A large space rock may have exploded over Antarctica thousands of years ago, showering a large area with debris, according to new research. The evidence comes from accumulations of tiny meteoritic particles and a layer of extraterrestrial dust found in Antarctic ice cores. Details of the work were presented at a major science conference in Texas. The event would have been similar to the Tunguska event, which flattened a large area of Siberian forest in 1908. It is thought to have been a so-called "airburst" in which a space rock does not reach the ground, but rather explodes in the atmosphere. The research is based on a study of extraterrestrial debris found in granite from Miller Butte, in the Transantarctic Mountains, and a layer of cosmic dust represented in two Antarctic ice cores. The debris from the mountains includes micrometeorites and tiny particles called spherules. The study's authors think these spherules could be material eroded from a stony meteorite as it was heated up on its way through our atmosphere. The spherules could potentially provide a signature to look for evidence of "airbursts" in the geological record. Wide area The results were the subject of a presentation at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in The Woodlands, Texas. What makes Luigi and Matthias' work so exciting is that it may give us a way of spotting these events in the geological record
Phil Bland
Imperial College London A layer of extraterrestrial dust has been found in both the Dome C and Dome Fuji ice cores from Antarctica. The dust in both cores is dated to about 481,000 years ago - and is therefore likely to derive from the same event. The team, led by Luigi Folco and Matthias van Ginneken at the University of Siena, Italy, and including Phil Bland from Imperial College London, UK, now conclude that the Dome C and Dome Fuji dust layers are also paired with debris from the Transantarctic Mountains. They point to strong similarities in the texture and composition of the debris found in the ice cores and that found in the granite. However, the sites are more than 2,900km apart. For cosmic debris to be spread over such a wide area, the researchers propose that an airburst is the most likely explanation. They estimate that it could have been caused by an object weighing 100,000 tonnes. "We've got similar material spread over a very large area. It's difficult to do that with any other mechanism," said co-author Dr Bland. The Tunguska impact was caused by a space rock some tens of metres across that detonated 5-10km above the ground. The blast flattened some 2,000 sq km of Siberian forest, knocking people to the ground about 60km from the epicentre. Airbursts on the scale of the Tunguska event are thought to occur every 500-1,000 years on Earth. This figure is based on computer modelling by Dr Bland and his colleagues. These results are consistent with an analysis of airbursts in the atmosphere gathered by US Department of Defense satellites from the 1960s onwards. "These events are tricky to spot after they happen. If you go to Tunguska now, you've really got your work cut out trying to find any trace of that event - and that was 1908," Dr Bland told BBC News. "What makes Luigi and Matthias' work so exciting is that it may give us a way of spotting these events in the geological record. If these spherules are the signature, we know what to look for in future." [email protected]
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This article is about all-time records. For a season-by-season statistical breakdown, see List of Arsenal F.C. seasons
Arsenal Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Islington, London. The club was formed in Woolwich in 1886 as Dial Square before being renamed as Royal Arsenal, and then Woolwich Arsenal in 1893. In 1914, the club's name was shortened to Arsenal F.C. after moving to Highbury a year earlier. After spending their first four seasons solely participating in cup tournaments and friendlies, Arsenal became the first southern member admitted into the Football League in 1893. In spite of finishing fifth in the Second Division in 1919, the club was voted to rejoin the First Division at the expense of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Since that time, they have not fallen below the first tier of the English football league system and hold the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the top flight.[5] The club remained in the Football League until 1992, when its First Division was superseded as English football's top level by the newly formed Premier League, of which they were an inaugural member.[6]
The list encompasses the honours won by Arsenal at national, regional, county and friendly level, records set by the club, their managers and their players. The player records section itemises the club's leading goalscorers and those who have made most appearances in first-team competitions. It also records notable achievements by Arsenal players on the international stage, and the highest transfer fees paid and received by the club. Attendance records at Highbury, the Emirates Stadium, the club's home ground since 2006, and Wembley Stadium, their temporary home for UEFA Champions League games between 1998 and 1999, are also included.
Arsenal have won 13 top-flight titles, and hold the record for the most FA Cup wins, also with 13. The club's record appearance maker is David O'Leary, who made 722 appearances between 1975 and 1993. Thierry Henry is Arsenal's record goalscorer, scoring 228 goals in total.
All figures are correct as of the match played on 26 December 2018.
Honours and achievements [ edit ]
The Premier League commissioned a unique gold trophy to commemorate Arsenal's unbeaten season of 2003–04.
Arsenal's first ever silverware was won as the Royal Arsenal in 1890. The Kent Junior Cup, won by Royal Arsenal's reserves, was the club's first trophy, while the first team's first trophy came three weeks later when they won the Kent Senior Cup.[7][8] Their first national senior honour came in 1930, when they won the FA Cup.[9] The club enjoyed further success in the 1930s, winning another FA Cup and five Football League First Division titles.[10][11] Arsenal won their first league and cup double in the 1970–71 season and twice repeated the feat, in 1997–98 and 2001–02, as well as winning a cup double of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1992–93.[12] In 2003–04, Arsenal recorded an unbeaten top-flight league season, something achieved only once before by Preston North End in 1888–89, who only had to play 22 games.[13] To mark the achievement, a special gold version of the Premier League trophy was commissioned and presented to the club the following season.[14] Their most recent success came in 2017, when they became the most successful club in FA Cup history with 13 titles.[15]
English Champions
and FA Cups Timeline 1880 — – 1890 — – 1900 — – 1910 — – 1920 — – 1930 — – 1940 — – 1950 — – 1960 — – 1970 — – 1980 — – 1990 — – 2000 — – 2010 — – Outside FL Second tier WWI WWII 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴
Arsenal's honours and achievements include the following:[a]
EFL and Premier League [ edit ]
Winners (1): 1988 (record)
The FA [ edit ]
FA Community Shield (FA Charity Shield before 2002)
Winners (15): 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1991 (shared), 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017 Runners-up (7): 1935, 1936, 1979, 1989, 1993, 2003, 2005
UEFA [ edit ]
UEFA Champions League (European Cup before 1992)
UEFA Europa League (UEFA Cup before 2009)
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (European Cup Winners' Cup before 1994)
UEFA Super Cup (European Super Cup before 1995)
County FAs [ edit ]
London FA [ edit ]
Winners (1): 1890–91 Runners-up (1): 1889–90
Winners (11): 1921–22, 1923–24, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1969–70 (record) Runners-up (6): 1914–15, 1925–26, 1936–37, 1960–61, 1965–66
Winners (1): 1889–90
Kent County FA [ edit ]
Winners (1): 1889–90
Other [ edit ]
Wartime [ edit ]
Player records [ edit ]
Appearances [ edit ]
Most appearances [ edit ]
Competitive matches only, includes appearances as substitute. Numbers in brackets indicate goals scored.[65][66]
# Name Years Leaguea FA Cup League Cup Europe Otherb Total 1 1975–1993 558 (11) 70 (1) 70 (2) 21 (0) 3 (0) 722 (14) 2 1983–2002 504 (32) 54 (8) 59 (5) 48 (3) 4 (0) 669 (48) 3 1961–1977 500 (53) 60 (10) 35 (3) 26 (2) 0 (0) 621 (68) 4 1988–2002 458 (25) 54 (1) 45 (0) 57 (2) 5 (0) 619 (28) 5 1987–2000 440 (8) 47 (0) 49 (3) 43 (1) 5 (0) 584 (12) 6 1990–2003 405 (0) 48 (0) 38 (0) 69 (0) 4 (0) 564 (0) 7 1964–1980 397 (12) 67 (1) 36 (0) 27 (0) 1 (0) 528 (13) 8 1965–1977 391 (9) 51 (4) 37 (2) 22 (2) 0 (0) 501 (17) 9 1964–1976 379 (111) 44 (15) 34 (12) 24 (11) 0 (0) 481 (149) 10 1964–1978 370 (10) 53 (1) 33 (3) 21 (1) 0 (0) 477 (15)
a. Includes the Football League and the Premier League. b. Includes goals and appearances (including those as a substitute) in the FA Charity/Community Shield.
Goalscorers [ edit ]
Top goalscorers [ edit ]
Thierry Henry is the all-time top goalscorer for Arsenal. He passed Ian Wright's eight-year record after scoring twice in a European tie against Sparta Prague in October 2005.[72] Henry was Arsenal's leading goalscorer for seven consecutive seasons, from 1999–2000 to 2005–06.[73]
Competitive matches only. Numbers in brackets indicate appearances made.[70][74]
# Name Years Leaguea FA Cup League Cup Europe Otherb Total 1 1999–2007
2012 175 (258) 0 8 (26) 0 2 0 (3) 42 (86) 1 (4) 228 (377) 2 1991–1998 128 (221) 12 (16) 29 (29) 15 (21) 1 (1) 185 (288) 3 1929–1947 150 (350) 26 (42) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 2 (4) 178 (396) 4 1964–1976 111 (379) 15 (44) 12 (34) 11 (24) 0 (0) 149 (481) 5 1923–1931 125 (204) 14 (27) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 (1) 139 (232) 1934–1945 124 (168) 12 (14) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 3 (2) 139 (184) 7 1948–1956 125 (226) 10 (17) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 2 (1) 137 (244) 8 2004–2012 0 96 (193) 10 (17) 0 6 (12) 20 (53) 0 (2) 132 (278) 9 1926–1938 107 (333) 17 (39) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 1 (2) 125 (374) 10 1928–1934 113 (181) 10 (25) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 1 (2) 124 (208)
a. Includes the Football League and the Premier League. b. Includes goals and appearances (including those as a substitute) in the FA Charity/Community Shield.
International [ edit ]
Caesar Jenkyns was the first Arsenal player to receive an international cap.
This section refers only to caps won while an Arsenal player.
At 17 years and 75 days, Theo Walcott became the youngest player to earn an England cap, against Hungary on 30 May 2006.[88]
Transfers [ edit ]
For consistency, fees in the record transfer tables below are all sourced from the London Evening Standard's contemporary reports of each transfer. Where the report mentions an initial fee potentially rising to a higher figure depending on contractual clauses being satisfied in the future, only the initial fee is listed in the tables.
Record transfer fees paid [ edit ]
Record transfer fees received [ edit ]
Managerial records [ edit ]
Club records [ edit ]
Matches [ edit ]
Firsts [ edit ]
Record wins [ edit ]
Record league win: 12–0 against Loughborough, Second Division, 12 March 1900 [109]
Record FA Cup win: 12–0 against Ashford United, first qualifying round, 14 October 1893 [109]
Record League Cup win: 7–0 against Leeds United, second round, 4 September 1979 [109]
Record European win:[109]
7–0 against Standard Liège, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round, 3 November 1993 7–0 against Slavia Prague, UEFA Champions League group stage, 23 October 2007
Record defeats [ edit ]
Record league defeat: 0–8 against Loughborough, [f] Second Division, 12 December 1896 [109]
Second Division, 12 December 1896 Record FA Cup defeat:[114]
0–6 against Sunderland, first round, 21 January 1893 0–6 against Derby County, first round, 28 January 1899 0–6 against West Ham United, third round, 5 January 1946
Record League Cup defeat: 0–5 against Chelsea, fourth round, 11 November 1998 [109]
Record European defeat:[109]
0–4 against Milan, UEFA Champions League round of 16, 15 February 2012 1–5 against Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League group stage, 4 November 2015 1–5 against Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Last 16, 15 February 2017 1–5 against Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Last 16, 7 March 2017
Record consecutive results [ edit ]
Arsenal hold several English football records, including the longest unbeaten sequence in the top flight, with 49. Arsenal scored in all 55 league matches from between 19 May 2001 to 30 November 2002 and the club also holds the longest unbeaten away sequence in league football with 27, from 5 April 2003 to 25 September 2004.[115]
Record consecutive wins: 14, from 12 September 1987 to 11 November 1987 [114]
Record consecutive league wins: 14, from 10 February 2002 to 18 August 2002 [110]
Record consecutive wins coming from behind: 4, from 11 February 2012 to 12 March 2012 [116]
Record consecutive defeats: 8, from 12 February 1977 to 12 March 1977 [114]
Record consecutive league defeats: 7, from 12 February 1977 to 12 March 1977 [114]
Record consecutive draws: 6, from 3 March 1961 to 1 April 1961 [114]
Record consecutive matches without a defeat: 28, from 9 April 2007 to 24 November 2007 [114]
Record consecutive league matches without a defeat: 49, from 7 May 2003 to 16 October 2004 [114]
Record consecutive matches without a win: 19, from 28 September 1912 to 15 January 1913 [117]
Record consecutive league matches without a win: 23, from 28 September 1912 to 1 March 1913[114]
Goals [ edit ]
Most league goals scored in a season: 127 in 42 matches, First Division, 1930–31 [118]
Fewest league goals scored in a season: 26 in 38 matches, First Division, 1912–13 [119]
Most league goals conceded in a season: 86 in 42 matches, First Division, 1926–27 and 1927–28 [120]
Fewest league goals conceded in a season: 17 in 38 matches, Premier League, 1998–99[121]
Points [ edit ]
Most points in a season: Two points for a win: 66 in 42 matches, First Division, 1930–31 [122] Three points for a win: 90 in 38 matches, Premier League, 2003–04 [123]
Fewest points in a season: Two points for a win: 18 in 38 matches, First Division, 1912–13 [119] Three points for a win: 51 in 42 matches, Premier League, 1994–95 [124]
Attendances [ edit ]
This section applies to attendances at Highbury, where Arsenal played their home matches from 1913 to 2006, the Emirates Stadium, the club's present home, and Wembley Stadium, which acted as Arsenal's home in the UEFA Champions League during the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 seasons.[65] Arsenal's attendance figures since the move to the Emirates Stadium have been measured by tickets sold.[125]
Highest attendance at Highbury: 73,295, against Sunderland, First Division, 9 March 1935
Lowest attendance at Highbury: 4,554, against Leeds United, First Division, 5 May 1966
Highest attendance at the Emirates Stadium: 60,161, against Manchester United, Premier League, 3 November 2007
Lowest attendance at the Emirates Stadium: 25,909, against BATE Borisov, UEFA Europa League group stage, 7 December 2017
Highest attendance Wembley Stadium: 73,707, against Lens, UEFA Champions League group stage, 25 November 1998
Lowest attendance at Wembley Stadium: 71,227, against AIK, UEFA Champions League group stage, 22 September 1999
On 17 January 1948, a league-record attendance of 83,260 watched Manchester United play Arsenal at Maine Road.[126] All of the top three attendances in league football occurred at Arsenal games.[126]
European statistics [ edit ]
Arsenal have won two European honours: the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. They also reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 2000, and became the first London team to appear in a UEFA Champions League final in 2006.[127][128] Despite having never won the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal have set numerous records in the competition. Between 1998–99 and the current season, 2016–17, they participated in nineteen successive seasons, a record only surpassed in Europe by Real Madrid.[129] Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann kept ten consecutive clean sheets in the run-in to Arsenal's first UEFA Champions League final and the defence went 995 minutes until conceding a goal.[130] Arsenal were also the first British side to defeat Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund away from home, and both Milanese teams: Internazionale and Milan at the San Siro.[131]
Thierry Henry holds the club record for most appearances with 86, and is the club's record goalscorer in European competitions with 42 goals.[65][70]
Global records [ edit ]
In August 1928, Arsenal, alongside Chelsea, made history by becoming the first football clubs to wear numbered shirts.[132] A year earlier the first ever live radio commentary of a football match took place, between Arsenal and Sheffield United.[133] Arsenal played in the first match broadcast live on television, against their reserve counterparts in 1937 and have since participated in the world's first live 3D and interactive football matches, both with Manchester United.[134][135][136]
References [ edit ]
General
Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who . London: Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
Joy, Bernard (1952). Forward, Arsenal! . London: GCR Books Limited. ISBN 0-9559211-1-2.
McColl, Brian (2014). A Record of British Wartime Football . London: Lulu. ISBN 1-291-84089-3.
Peters, Paul (2014). Arsenal: The England Story . London: Lulu. ISBN 1-291-77255-3.
Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2011). Arsenal 125: The Official Illustrated History 1886–2011. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-35871-2.
Specific |
University of Illinois scientists used two GPU-accelerated supercomputers to simulate the behavior of 64 million atoms to capture 1.2 microseconds of the life of an HIV capsid. The simulation offers new insights into how the virus senses its environment and completes its infective cycle.
“We are learning the details of the HIV capsid system, not just the structure but also how it changes its environment and responds to its environment,” said research scientist Juan R. Perilla, who led the study with physics professor Klaus Schulten. Such details could help scientists find new ways to defeat the virus, Perilla said.
The capsid simulation was performed on the Tesla GPU-accelerated Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab, and the data analysis required a second supercomputer, Blue Waters, at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois.
The HIV capsid is made up of hundreds of identical proteins arrayed in a network of six-sided and five-sided structures, each with a tiny pore at its center. The capsid contains the virus’s genetic material, hiding it from host cell defenses. It also transports the virus to the cell nucleus, which it must infiltrate to complete infection.
The new study revealed several properties that likely enhance the capsid’s ability to sense its environment and find its way to the nucleus, Perilla said. It showed, for example, that different parts of the capsid oscillate at different frequencies. These oscillations likely transmit information from one part of the capsid to another, he said.
It also revealed that ions flow into and out of the capsid pores. Negative ions accumulate on the positively charged surface inside the capsid, while positive ions adhere to the outside, which carries a negative charge.
The simulations reveal critical details about the capsid with implications to biological function and can be used to develop new drugs to defeat the HIV virus by targeting its capsid.
Read more > |
The Liberation of Mosul Will Go Better Than You Think
The liberation of Mosul is as close as one can find to a certainty in warfare. The Islamic State has perhaps 2,000 to 3,000 fighters to defend a 12-square-mile metropolis, as around 54,000 Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga barrel down on them.
One can easily summon nightmare scenarios that could unfold during the battle. What if 1 million people flee the city? What if the Islamic State blows all the bridges over the Tigris River and wrecks the electricity and water systems, creating a humanitarian crisis? What if the first contact between the liberating security forces and local anti-Islamic State “resistance fighters,” who may themselves have been fighting the government before 2014, is marred by violence? What if clashes erupt between Iraqi Army forces and Turkish or Kurdish forces trying to enter the city? And what about the risk of the Iranian-supported Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) inserting themselves into the urban fight and demolishing a neighboring town such as Tal Afar, the home of many Islamic State leaders and a large Sunni Turkmen population?
One should take these risks seriously — and I have little doubt that the military planners involved in the operation are well aware of these complications. But my sense is that they will mostly not unfold as severely as observers fear. There is a good chance that the actual liberation of the city will be a ringing success: Most Moslawis will shelter in place, encouraged to stay where they are because many parts of the large city will not be directly affected by fighting, as the Islamic State does not have enough fighters to defend more than a few neighborhoods.
Iraq and the U.S.-led coalition will mount special operations and air power to prevent mass demolitions of key infrastructure, and the Iraqi government will use its U.S.-provided equipment to replace sabotaged bridge spans. Baghdad and its international allies have also made stringent efforts to keep Peshmerga and Shiite PMU forces out of the urban battle for Mosul — learning the lesson from the post-2003 occupation of the city, when the Sunni Arab majority violently rejected the Kurdish and Shiite security forces installed by the U.S. military.
There is now an unprecedented opportunity to work with Moslawis to stabilize their city. When Saddam Hussein fell, the population rebelled after the United States invaded Mosul and wiped away the old certainties of Baathist life. But this time, Iraqi Army-led forces are fighting to remove a medieval dictatorship that has terrorized Mosul for the last two-and-a-half years. With the proper arrangements in place, therefore, Moslawis will be greeting the Iraqi security forces as liberators for the first time.
The realities of the Mosul liberation are more cheery than the naysayers would have you believe. Since the spring of 2015, the Iraqi Army, Counterterrorism Service, and Federal Police have taken the lead in the liberation of the cities of Tikrit, Baiji, Ramadi, Hit, Fallujah, and Qayyarah. These victories were won almost entirely with Iraqi and Kurdish blood — but the international coalition played a key role in each and every victory through its air campaign and efforts to train and equip the Iraqi forces.
This international effort has reached a crescendo with the battle for Mosul. The skies of the city are now packed full of U.S. and coalition strike aircraft, surveillance drones, and refueling platforms. The full intelligence power of the U.S.-led coalition is focused on Mosul like a laser, giving Iraq the ability to reach into the city and kill Islamic State leaders and uncover their defenses in real time. U.S. aircraft are flying food, fuel, and ammunition directly into the warzone. U.S. and French artillery is on the ground, pounding Islamic State positions up to the edges of the city. Coalition special forces operate where we can see them — on the front lines, designating targets and advising Iraqi commanders — and where we can’t see them, in Mosul organizing resistance and performing special missions. At Iraqi headquarters such as the Qayyarah West air base, the coalition advisor teams are the glue that keeps together the Iraqi-Kurdish joint effort and minimizes Iraqi casualties.
But the coalition’s centrality to Iraq’s successful military campaign is a double-edged sword. What happens if coalition support disappears after Mosul is liberated? The previous iteration of the Islamic State was defeated in Iraq once before in 2007 to 2010, scorched right down to its roots by a powerful combination of U.S.-led special operations, smart U.S-Iraqi counterinsurgency actions, and the uprisings launched by many Sunni militants. But the Islamic State recovered between 2010 and 2014 and returned stronger than ever, overrunning a third of the country just two-and-a-half years after U.S. forces departed. The real looming risk is that this could happen all over again, making the hard-won success of the Mosul operation only a temporary respite.
Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, represents one potential future for Iraq. The province’s Sunni majority is dominated by the Badr Organization, an Iranian-backed Shiite militia that runs the local government and security forces. The U.S.-led coalition could not operate in the province because the Iranian-backed militias reject U.S. air support, and the coalition fears Badr’s response if its fighters were accidentally struck in an errant bombing attack. The Islamic State has already seized on the sectarian animosities aggravated by Badr’s dominance in Diyala, rebounding in the province to mount a fierce insurgency that threatens to overrun rural villages and provide a launchpad for provocative mass casualty attacks on Shiite civilians.
The United States needs to start planning now to prevent other parts of Iraq from suffering the same fate as Diyala. The first step to developing a different formula for post-conflict stabilization is extending the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) for a number of years, in agreement with the Iraqi government. The aim would be to set up a long-term security cooperation relationship that would span the current Iraqi government and its successor, locking this beneficial partnership in place under Iraq’s pragmatic current prime minister, Haider al-Abadi. Such a step would fall well within CJTF-OIR’s mission, which is to degrade the Islamic State until Iraq’s own forces can comfortably handle the threat. This objective has clearly not yet been reached in Diyala, nor will it be the case in the country’s remote border areas or along the Iraqi Kurdistan front line, where the Islamic State exploits Arab-Kurdish tensions.
An extension of CJTF-OIR would bring numerous benefits. One of the quiet successes of the task force has been the unprecedented internationalization of security cooperation with Iraq. From 2003 to 2011, the coalition was little more than a platform for U.S.-British cooperation — but today, most of the NATO partners and many G-20 nations are working under U.S. command in Iraq. This diversity is genuinely useful: It brings in capabilities the United States does not have, such as the Italian gendarmerie’s training mission with the Federal Police, and gives greater diplomatic stability to the Iraqi government’s relationship with the task force. The internationalization of CJTF-OIR needs to be sustained and even expanded in future years.
As the fight against the Islamic State transitions from the liberation of Iraq’s cities to longer-term stabilization, international efforts must adapt as well. Foreign involvement in major combat operations will shift to the Syrian city of Raqqa, where the Islamic State maintains its self-proclaimed capital. The security relationship with Iraq will become largely focused on intelligence sharing, as well as training, equipping, advising, and assisting the security forces. CJTF-OIR should develop a multiyear train and equip program that focuses on special forces and intelligence training for counterterrorism operations. The task force might develop a “Counterinsurgency Center of Excellence” for the Iraqi Army and Federal Police, and international trainers could also rejuvenate Iraq’s police academy, which was located in Mosul until 2014. International partners can help Iraq develop border security and logistical capacities to support operations in ungoverned spaces far from existing infrastructure. Without border security, the ongoing insecurity in Syria may again flood back into Mosul and other parts of northern Iraq.
We also need to better protect our friends in Iraq. Without this reassurance of long-term coalition support, Western allies such as Prime Minister Abadi, the Counterterrorism Service and Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Kurds, and Sunni tribal fighters could succumb to pressure and threats from the Iranian-backed Shiite militias in the years to come. Ongoing international focus could also help monitor and improve security cooperation between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan along their disputed boundary.
The United States and its international partners in Iraq resemble a person who has once again pushed a huge boulder up a steep hill and is nearing the summit. Is it now safe to stop pushing and hope that the momentum will take the boulder over the top? Or will the boulder grind to a halt and then slowly, frighteningly roll back toward us?
We know how this worked out in 2011: We stopped pushing, and a mere 30 months later the Islamic State overran a third of Iraq. The U.S. mistake was to leave too quickly and too completely, setting the conditions for the Islamic State’s powerful resurgence. This time, we need to be more far-sighted. To make the forthcoming victory at Mosul into a permanent achievement, the international community must not disengage from the fight against the Islamic State after Mosul is liberated.
Photo credit: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images |
RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC. and Fate/Stay Night is property of Type-Moon. I am but a poor writer and, as such, own nothing... Wait... Awwwww... Now I've made myself sad.
The more things stay the same, the more they change.
Jaune was standing next to Goodwitch, facing the other students up in the stands that overlooked the arena floor. On the wall behind him, the large monitor showed, on one side, a bright green bar underneath his photo. The other side held an empty frame, the bar beneath it devoid of color.
"Mister Arc, who would you like to face off against?" Goodwitch asked him. Her green eyes remained on her Scroll, her fingers deftly brushing against it. Jaune couldn't see what was on it, but if he had to guess, he'd probably say she was looking at a roster of all the other students attending today. He could see his team silently cheering him on in the stands. Flashing them a quick smile, he thanked them. After seeing Weiss ask out Neptune last night, he kind of needed the support. Just the sight of her sitting up in the stands made him feel depressed. He had never stood a chance with her. Even the janitor was a better fighter than him.
The more he thought about it though, the more he wondered why. Why hadn't she even given him a chance? Since day one, she had belittled and humiliated him. What had he ever done to her to deserve that? He had shown her nothing but kindness and admiration. He understood that maybe sometimes he was a bit obnoxious, but damnit, he had always had the best of intentions at heart. His grip on his sword tightened and his shield trembled at his side.
"I want to fight Weiss."
A hush fell over the crowd. Even Goodwitch looked somewhat taken aback. Jaune's infatuation with the young heiress was well known to all who paid even the slightest bit of attention to how the guy acted around her. In fact, there was something of a betting pool on his chances with her, ranging from the acceptance of his feelings to the more popular outright rejection. Rumor had it that Professor Port was the only one to bet on Mister Arc succeeding with the girl.
"I accept," Weiss' voice called out from the stands. The white-haired huntress-in-training stood from her seat in the front row next to her teammates and made her way to the girls' locker room to get ready. All could see that vicious smile on her face, her hooded eyes announcing to the world that she was prepared to trounce the dunce.
He could see the concerned looks of his teammates. Pyrrha had her hand to her mouth, seemingly shocked by his declaration of battle. Nora, nervously talking to Ren as she was, watched the blonde boy from the corner of her eye. Ren's head was tilted slightly as he listened to Nora, his brow furrowed deeply as he watched his leader. Turning slightly towards his teammates, he gave them a silent nod. At that, their anxiety seemed to dwindle a little. They seemed to understand what he meant at least.
This wasn't an attempt to win her over. This was for him. He needed to beat Weiss, to show both her and himself that he didn't need her. Her actions last night had not been meant to hurt him, but they had shown him that he was never going to have her. Not as a lover, maybe not even as a friend. Yes, this was, in part, revenge for everything she had said and done to him over the past year, but it was also just as much validation for him. If Jaune could do this, he could move on.
He had to do this.
Weiss returned to the floor, Myrtenaster at her hip. She took her placed across from Jaune, Goodwitch between the two of them as their referee. She drew her weapon as Jaune took a battle stance of his own. Her name appeared on the monitor, green filling the empty bar all the way to the brim. Her mind raced, looking for weaknesses in the goof's style. She'd give him this: he'd been working on his technique at least some. There were far fewer openings now than when he first started in the year. Still, she would defeat him. She was a Schnee.
"Begin!"
Weiss dashed forward, her glyphs propelling her forward through the air just inches above the ground. Her rapier sang as it sliced through the air, a sharp note crying out from it as Jaune struck it from below with the blade of Crocea Mors to send it wailing above his head. She twirled, bringing her blade closer to her and pushing herself off Jaune's shield as he tried to bash her with it. She righted herself a few feet away before rushing to charge in again at him.
Jaune was ready for her. Myrtenaster came at his throat, howling as it ripped through the air. He caught it with his shield, stopping the blow cold. He watched as Weiss dodged his slice at her midriff by crouching into a kneel, ducking underneath his strike. As soon as he saw the glyph begin to form under her feet, he knew he only had moments to take control of the fight. If he continued to stay on the defensive, he'd never win. He knew she was faster, and that she knew it as well. She'd continue to pick at his aura until he lost, so he did something she'd never expect from him.
He fought dirty.
Technically, there were no rules in this match. In the wilderness of Remnant, huntsmen had to do anything they could in order to win against the Grimm. If you didn't, you died. Simple as that. Still, Weiss was completely surprised when Jaune's knee brutally caught her in the cheek. The glyph beneath her activated and she was launched backwards instead of straight up where another glyph had formed, prepared to launch her behind her opponent and wreck him. She landed on her seat some distance from her opponent, but instead of choosing to get back up, she looked at him with bewildered eyes.
Wasn't she the girl he claimed he loved? Where was the usual affection that he regarded her with? When did he get somewhat competent? Those thoughts and several others similar to them ran through her mind. Now she noticed his expression, which had not changed throughout the match. His eyes were hard, slanted in fierce determination as he looked down at her from the floor. His mouth was set in a fierce scowl. Perhaps... Perhaps Weiss had been a little too rough with her rejection last night. Still, he had deserved it for even thinking that guitar was a good idea.
His opponent wasn't getting up, but that was fine with him. If she wanted to sit right there and take it, he wasn't going to stop her. He had already given her so much, why not let this be the final bit? Jaune charged with a loud roar, his shield brought to bear in front of him and sword raised high. His yell seemed to snap her out of daze and she rolled out of the way of his overhead strike.
Weiss got up into a crouch after she tumbled away. If she could disarm the buffoon, her chances of winning would dramatically increase. No matter how much she had upset him, even if it was wrongfully so, he would pay for humiliating her in front of her peers. Jaune charged forth again, stabbing at her while maintaining his position from behind the shield. She batted Crocea Mors away from her easily and launched a series of rapid strikes which slowly whittled away at his aura as they glanced almost uselessly off his shield.
She moved to use her dust again, but Jaune recognized the signs. The massive blue snowflake appearing underneath her when she grabbed her rapier with both hands was a little hard to miss. He rushed forward, leaping as the ground quickly froze below him. His shield slammed into her face and as he knocked her backwards several feet, he sliced across her stomach. He landed on the ground and, almost immediately, sharp red lines glowed beneath him. He rolled onto his side and onto his feet as a plume of fire erupted from where he had just landed. He had only a moment's rest before Weiss was on him, having abandoned using dust after seeing it had little effect to engage him directly.
Jaune backpedaled, his shield now fully guarding his face and upper torso from Weiss' wrath. He waited out the onslaught for a few seconds, but it didn't seem to end. A beep coming from his left arm caught his attention, signaling to him that he was in the yellow. He needed to end this fast. A quick glance to his side revealed to him that Weiss had already hit yellow as well. The few blows he had landed had been hard and punishing while Weiss' plethora had been plentiful but soft.
In one swift movement, Jaune stopped moving backwards and lunged forwards. Caught off guard, Weiss found her face being slammed with cold metal again, sending her staggering back some. Enraged and slightly staggered by this successful repeat attack, she spun the revolver of Myrtenaster, and pointed it at Jaune's sword. A blast of wind buffeted against the boy as he fought to stand his ground, but as he did so, Crocea Mors was torn from his grip. Eager to finally end this sham of a fight, Weiss charged forward, her weapon screaming as it came in from his left. To her surprise and horror, Jaune ducked underneath her overextended blow. He popped the shield of Crocea Mors off his left hand into its sheathe form, caught it in his right, and swung it at her head.
The solemn expression on Jaune's face was the last thing Weiss saw before blunt metal crashed against her temple for the third time that fight and sent her into unconsciousness.
The sound of a buzzer blaring overhead cut across all the echoing sounds of battle in the room. Everybody sat, frozen in disbelief as the guy who everybody thought of as the loser of their year matched one of the best of their year. Their minds were reeling at what they had just seen. It took even Goodwitch a couple moments to compose herself. Their eyes wandered from where Weiss was sprawled to the side to where Jaune was standing, hands on his knees as he desperately drew deep breaths.
"Well done, Mister Arc," Goodwitch congratulated after several long moments. "You've certainly come a long way since the beginning of the school year. Would you help Miss Schnee back to her seat?" She watched as Jaune nodded and gingerly approached Weiss. The thought that the defeated girl was playing pretend just so she could blindside him crossed Jaune's mind. He gingerly picked her up in his arms and made his way back to the other members of team RWBY. He turned to get back to his teammates after setting her down gently next to them, but a hand on his sleeve kept him there. He looked back at the hand and saw it was attached to a despondent looking Ruby.
"Did you... Was this... Is there..."Ruby struggled, her questions dying on her lips as soon as they formed.
"Yes," was Jaune's simple reply to all of them. Nothing else needed to be said between the two. Ruby smiled a small, sad smile and Jaune matched her. Below them in the arena, another match started, Dove against another boy with silver hair that Jaune wasn't too familiar with.
"Hey Vomit Boy, that was a pretty slick move you pulled off at the end there," Yang said from her seat between her sister and her ebony haired partner. "You sure your sheathe can take that kinda punishment?" Sheathes weren't exactly famous for being used in combat.
Jaune nodded and mecha-shifted the sheathe into its shield form. He held out for them to examine." Yeah, it's all good. It's meant to be a shield first after all. If it couldn't take the heat, I'd probably be in a lot more trouble than not being able to just carry my sword around."
A loud bang rang out just then. "WATCH OUT!" Dove's sword came sailing wildly out from the arena floor towards them. Ruby, Blake, and Yang scrambled to get away from where it would land, and Jaune started to move with them until he remembered something. Weiss. She was still out like a light. If she got hit, her aura wouldn't be there to protect her.
A clang rang out followed by the sound of Dove's sword clattering against the floor. Jaune stood in front of the unconscious girl, his shield a wall before him. He reached down and tossed the sword back to Dove below. "Be more careful!" he shouted at the two fighters on the floor. "You almost seriously hurt someone up here!"
"Our bad. We'll be more careful next time," the silver hair boy easily called back, Mercury Jaune thought his name was. Everything about this guy screamed cool, from the way his hair was styled to the way he held himself. He reminded Jaune a lot of Sun's teammate, Neptune.
"Mister Arc is correct. You almost hurt somebody outside of your match, you two, and your score will certainly reflect that," Miss Goodwitch remarked as she stepped back onto the arena floor. Mercury seemed to accept it easily enough, just shrugging nonchalantly as though he didn't care, while Dove slumped his shoulders and sighed. "Please return to your seats with your teammates, gentlemen."
Jaune turned back to Team RWBY. "I should probably get back to my teammates." They made a plan to see each other at lunch and Jaune finally made his way back to the rest of Team JNPR. "Hey guys."
Pyrrha was the first to welcome back their leader. "Jaune, congratulations on your victory!" she chirped. "Miss Goodwitch was right. You've certainly made a significant amount of progress."
"Yeah! The way you just smacked her at the end there with your shield was so cool. Ooh, ooh! Pyrrha, did you teach him that neato move?" Nora excitedly asked. She was bouncing in her seat at this point. Her teammates were so cool, and it was great to see Jaune not being nearly as mopey as he was this morning. She wasn't the only one to see the difference. Pyrrha and Ren both noticed it too. Jaune just seemed far more relaxed.
"No, I didn't. I hadn't ever really thought about using a sheathe as a weapon. Now that I think about it though, I have fought a few people in tournaments who did use that style," Pyrrha answered. Their methods of fighting were very different from Jaune's though. Theirs had relied on speed and agility, but Jaune's relied on endurance and power. When her various opponents had used their sheathes, it was to slice or even tear. Jaune had used his as a club. "Where did you learn that?"
"I got a bit of advice from somebody I met," Jaune answered cautiously. If he had been worried about Pyrrha getting upset that he gotten help somewhere else, he had been wrong. Pyrrha smiled easily, happy that Jaune was opening up slightly to others. "Anyway, what are you guys doing for the dance? We're still meeting up to practice for that routine right?"
"Yeah!" Nora cheered. "I've been waiting all day for our practice! Ren and I are doing what we always do: going together!" Jaune and Pyrrha looked between her and Ren a few times.
"Did you-"
"We're still just friends, Jaune. Nora and I have always been just friends. We just happen to go everywhere together." Jaune and Pyrrha looked back at Nora to see her reaction to those words. Nora was still just smiling as brightly as ever before. She didn't seem to be upset at what Ren said. In fact, she looked even happier as she latched onto his back, her head popping up over his shoulder. "Nora, your chin's digging into my collar bone."
"Sorry Ren." She shifted her head slightly so that she wouldn't hurt her best buddy. "What about you two? Oh! Jaune! How'd it go with Weiss last night?" Nora asked.
Jaune's gaze moved downwards. "It... uhh... it didn't go so well. Or at all. I found her asking somebody else and... well..." He looked back up to meet his teammates' sympathetic gazes. Ren was frowning slightly and Nora had tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. Pyrrha was looking away, a weird expression on her face. Probably pity, he thought.
Pyrrha felt guilty that she was a little happy about the turn of events. She liked Jaune, but she didn't like how manipulative and cruel Weiss could be at times. Of all her friends here at Beacon, she could comfortably say that Weiss was the one she tried to keep at a more than respectable distance. Oh, making an enemy out of a powerful family was never a good idea and knowing her would certainly have advantages in life. She could even say that Weiss was somewhat approachable at times, but from day one, when Weiss had approached her with that proposition, she could tell immediately that she was like the others. Hearing that he was still unattached was uplifting.
"How would you like to go with me?" Pyrrha offered. Weiss had her chance last night, had all the chances in the world. Nora was right. It was time to practice what she preached. Nora stopped whispering and giggling in Ren's ear as the odd pair watched the scene unfold before them.
"What? What about your date?" Jaune didn't want some guy who could probably kick his butt to come after him for stealing his date away.
Pyrrha's frown deepened. "Nobody's asked me yet."
Jaune boggled for a moment before catching himself."What? That's... But... You're Pyrrha Nikos! How could nobody ask you?"
"For exactly that reason. Everywhere I go, from the moment I started winning tournaments, people have put me on this pedestal, praising me. I'm sure you've heard my nickname around the school. 'Goddess of Victory.' Well, when people put you on a pedestal for long enough, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. Everybody assumes that I'm too good for them, that I'm on a level that they can't attain, that there's no point in even looking for a relationship with me."
"Pyrrha..."Jaune whispered. He didn't know what that felt like. All his life, people had thought the exact opposite of him. He struggled for every friend and relationship he had, constantly feeling like he had to prove himself, to prove that he was worth the effort. He didn't interrupt though. His mother had said that a good friend always listens until others finish speaking.
"That's what I like about you. When we met, you didn't even know my name. You never once treated me like that. You just treated me like a friend from the beginning, like a person. Thanks to you, I've made friends that will stay with me my entire life. You're the kind of guy that I would love to go to the dance with.
"So, Jaune Arc, would you be my date to the dance tonight?" Pyrrha asked, plain and simple. She was never the kind of girl to dance around a subject. If she had wanted to do something and it didn't really hurt anybody, then she would do it. She had wanted to fight in tournaments, so she fought. She had wanted to become a huntress, so she came to Beacon. Now, she wanted Jaune. The only reason she hadn't asked earlier was because, in her inexperience, she didn't know how much she liked Jaune. Even now, she wouldn't go so far as to say she loved him, but she really wanted to try.
So she asked.
For a moment, there wasn't anything else. Ren and Nora weren't on the bleachers behind them. The match going on below wasn't happening. Jaune didn't say anything for a moment as he thought.
"I'd love to."
For the rest of the day, everybody on Team JNPR had a smile on their faces. Pyrrha's especially was so bright, it could blind even the sun.
Bass pumped faintly in the open night air as Shirou rolled his cart towards the Cross Continental Transmit as the next stop in his route, the plastic wheels squeaking as they rolled. According to Ozpin, this was supposed to be a high security building. A lot of important information and data was located here. Shirou didn't care too much about it though. He was finally starting to grasp the basics of this world's written language, so it wouldn't make much sense to him. Besides, he really just was here to clean. After all, it was important to keep up pretenses.
"Halt!" a guard in front of the main doors commanded. Shirou slowed down, and the guard approached him, his weapon cocked, though not pointed at him in a show of gun safety. "The dance is over that way. What're you doing here?" the guard demanded of Shirou. Shirou slowly reached into his pocket, careful not to aggravate the man with a loaded weapon, and pulled out his staff ID.
"I'm a member of the custodial staff. I'm supposed to clean here next." He wasn't cleaning here randomly. Ozpin and Shirou had selected this route on purpose. This guard wasn't the first one to interact with Shirou tonight. He had introduced himself as a janitor to several other officials at all the stops he had made within the last week. The more people that thought he was just a janitor, the less that would think he was something more.
The guard took the ID roughly and scanned it. The guard remained motionless for a few seconds, looking at the data that played across the inside of his visor. "Hmmm, looks like you really are a janitor-"
"I prefer 'custodian' really."
"But we can't exactly leave you alone. Security and all that," the guard continued as if he hadn't heard Shirou. The guard reached up to his helmet and pushed a button. "Hey Frank, get out here." Another guard walked out and joined them. "Frank, I need you to stay with this guy while he cleans. He checks out as a janitor-"
"Custodian."
"But you never know these days, right?"
Frank seemed to deflate at the command. Obviously, he had been expecting something else. "I have to stay with him and watch him. Geez, that sounds even more boring than doing the cleaning myself!"
"Good, then you don't mind cleaning the barracks this week. Suck it up and do your job!"
Frank groaned. "That's not fair! I cleaned last week!" The guard that stopped Shirou turned fully to face Frank. Shirou couldn't see past his visor, but his body language said that he was annoyed. "Fine. This week too. Whatever. Come on kid. Just get it done fast," Frank directed him with a defeated tone.
Shirou nodded and followed Frank into the building, leaving the door guard behind. He gave a small wave at all the several other guards as he walked past them and left his cart in the corner. He noticed that all the men in the room tensed slightly as he opened up the compartment on the side of his cart and relaxed when they saw it was all just cleaning supplies inside. For the next half hour, Shirou swept and mopped and wiped and dusted the room, the men cordially staying out of the way as he went.
"Not bad kid. You work fast," Frank whistled. The floor was so clean, he could see his reflection in it. The phrase 'so clean, you can eat off it' came to mind. "You do independent work? Give me your card. I'll pay you." He didn't know what unholy rituals went on in there, but the barracks' bathrooms scared him. The last time he went in there, he almost passed out from the smell alone.
Frank helped Shirou move the cart up the stairs into the elevator. Pushed up against the wall due t lack of space, Shirou replied, "Sorry, I only work for Beacon. It's a contractual obligation" Frank pushed the button for the next floor up and the doors slid shut.
"That sucks. I really don't want to clean those bathrooms." The elevator stopped and Shirou rolled the cart out. He again set up shop in the corner, Frank leaning against a wall nearby. Shirou was content to merely clean. Frank wasn't.
"So where you from, kid?" Frank asked. He wasn't going to just sit around and watch a kid half his age clean an otherwise empty room. At least downstairs, he could talk with his brothers-in-arms. Now, there was only the kid around to keep him occupied on a night.
Shirou wondered what would be alright to divulge. "I'm from Fuyuki." From what Ozpin had told him, it wasn't uncommon for small villages to never be officially recorded. It'd probably be alright to at least tell the truth, if not the whole of it.
"Never heard of it. Small village?" Frank took off his helmet and set it to the side on one of the computer desks next to him. Shirou got a good look at him for the first time. His dark hair was cut short, his hairline receding slightly to leave him with a prominent widow's peak. He was almost clean-shaven, a little bit of stubble at his neckline. Shirou didn't think he was incredibly attractive, but he definitely wasn't homely.
"I like to think it's decently sized," Shirou answered.
"What's it like?" Frank asked.
"It's home. It's one of the most beautiful places I know. There's a river that runs down the middle of it and sometimes, late at night, I'd go to the bridge that runs across it and watch the sunset," Shirou reminisced. His time in Remnant had been interesting, but he longed to be back with Rin. He thought of her every night since he came here. No matter how long he stayed in bed, it still felt cold.
"Sounds nice. I'd love to go there sometime," Frank said. "So why are you here?" At Shirou's confused gesturing to his mop and cart, he clarified, "I mean here in Vale." The kid didn't look like somebody whose village was overrun by Grimm.
Shirou dunked his mop in the cold sudsy water. "I had to leave. I didn't have much of a choice in where I went." The thick smell of industrial soap filled the room as Shirou set to cleaning.
"Why'd you leave?"
"It's... complicated," Shirou hesitated.
"Ah, I get it." Frank looked interested for the first time since Shirou met him. A sly smile slipped onto his face. "It was a girl, wasn't it?" he asked. "All the kids these days, going crazy for each other. Whatever happened, I'm sure it all work out. You just need to go back and settle it like a man. Trust me, I have experience with this kind of stuff," He chuckled, watching as the kid stood up straight and looked at the far corner of the room. The smile slipped from his face at the kid's somber expression.
"It's... I can't talk to her anymore. She's... beyond my reach." Shirou really didn't want to say anything more than that. He had spent more than enough time in here tonight to make an impression on any witnesses. All this thought of home was making him tired.
"Hey kid... Look, I'm so-" The elevator doors slid open and a woman in black slinked out from behind them. The air around her oozed with confidence and mystery.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Nobody's al... lowed... up..." Frank trailed off as he spotted two of his fellow guards slumped against the inside of the elevator. He reached for his gun beside him, but the woman quickly closed the distance before he could even take aim. The spike of a stiletto slammed into his unprotected cheek, pounding against his meager aura and throwing him back hard against the window. Frank was unconscious before he even hit the ground.
"Hmmm, nobody was supposed to be up here," the intruder cooed softly to herself. The sound of rubber swiftly thudding against tile caught her attention, alerting her to the young man who had been up here. "Well, looks like I'll have to take care of you as well." Her clothes burning an angry orange, she tucked and rolled away from the young man's attack. He was brandishing a mop of all things. This would be easy.
Prana flooding its entirety, Shirou swung his mop, reinforced to the point where steel would break against it. The woman dodged, sliding backwards as flames wreathed her hands. He saw that when she stopped, the flames were replaced by two vicious looking short swords. As he catalogued the newest additions to his armory, the woman rushed him. A look of palpable confusion spread across her face as her blades clanged and stopped against the wooden handle of his mop.
"Clang?"
Shirou pushed harder against her, almost overtaking her in the impromptu battle of strength. She pushed aside her confusion and refocused on beating this kid. As it was, the two were deadlocked, their weapons struggling against each other. The black clad lady redirected his mop to the side and flipped away from him, launching herself into the air and bringing her blades together to form a bow. Tips lit ablaze, she launched three arrows at the fake janitor. Shirou brought his improvised weapon up and blocked the volley, easily stopping them from puncturing his skin.
He was not expecting them to explode. He was rocked back through a row of desks. He steadied himself back onto his feet, only to see his mop shattered along the aisle where he had been just moments ago and the woman knocking another flaming arrow. The twang of the bow was almost unheard as the roaring scream of death pierced the air. Shirou leaped to the side, taking brief cover as the missile rocketed past, blowing out a window somewhere behind him.
"Trace on!"
A small flash of light shone from behind one of the desks. The woman smirked as she pulled apart her weapons to their melee form. If she kept using explosive arrows, then she was bound to attract unwanted attention, which would defeat tonight's purpose. The red-haired kid walked out from his hiding place. It seemed he was a dust user himself, seeing as he couldn't have possibly concealed those exotic looking blades without her noticing. He must have been a complete failure as a huntsman, probably a dropout. His stance was full of openings, just waiting for her to exploit them. Her swords knifed in towards him, looking to just rip his exposed flank into pieces. Another series of strikes flew towards his unprotected face. A kick meant to sweep his feet out from underneath him swung at his knees.
Something was wrong. She wondered what it was until a single strike from the black blade sent her flying back fifteen feet. Her instincts yelled at her to dodge, so she flipped up from her back away from where she laid prone. Two gleaming blades sank deep where she had been just moments before. Almost lazily, she realized that she hadn't hit him. Tears in her outfit revealing reddened skin beneath told her that her forward assault had failed and that he had easily reversed it on her. How? She was faster and far more agile than him for sure. She had years of experience and practice, though she would never say that aloud and would punish anybody who did. Who was this guy?
While Shirou had long since decided that Archer's style of combat was a special kind of cheating, there were times when he was glad to know it. He appreciated it for its cunning, but often times found himself annoyed for the danger it put him in. Archer, through years of practice, had devised a style intentionally filled with several openings in its guard. Mostly used against those who were his superior in combat, it let him close the gap between his and several opponents' levels of power by goading them to attack those weaknesses. If he knew how the opponent was going to attack and where, he could start to dodge and counter their movements before they even began.
He watched the woman slip into a defensive position, Frank some odd twenty feet behind her. Shirou could easily enough close the distance between the two of them if she went after the guard as a hostage. Transforming her weapon back into a bow, the woman reached behind her back and readied something small and indiscernible from where he stood. Shirou lunged forward, Kanshou and Bakuya readied to deflect anything she launched. She fired, the twang audible in the lack of the previous roars of her exploding arrows.
Shirou crossed his swords, shielding his upper torso and neck, but it served him no good. The vial of white dust shattered on contact with the metal of his blades, a deafening flash of sound and light replacing the room of computers. Disoriented, he felt himself colliding with the cold floor. Quickly, he readied himself for any attack, but none came for several minutes. His vision still swimming and a distinct ringing in his ears, Shirou rubbed at his eyes.
His vision had yet to return to normal, but he couldn't let himself be caught off guard in a fight. No matter how hard he scanned the room, the intruder was out of sight. Shirou remained crouched, but still no attacks came. The more his vision slowly returned to normal, the more he became sure that she had fled. He remember that Frank was still unconscious. Spying a dark and blurry figure against the wall, Shirou rushed over to Frank, but before he even got to him, a young female voice rang out.
"Don't worry mister! I'll save you!"
Suddenly, he was on the defensive again. A flurry of powerful blows came from every direction as he struggled to keep up with them. The figure's shadowy form was heavily blurred, and it was hard to tell where each strike would come from.
Ruby didn't know who this guy was, but she had to save the guard from him. When she stepped out of the elevator, the first thing she saw was a red haired guy around her age running to attack an old man. Immediately, she attacked, her semblance slowly building up to speed up and strengthen her attacks. This guy was good though. Even if he was struggling to keep up with her, she had to go faster and faster if she wanted to land even a single blow on him.
Shirou dodged as frantically as he could, the sound of close gunfire stabbing into his already damaged ears. If his eyesight could just-
Ruby watched as the red-haired boy crumpled to the ground. Behind him stood General Ironwood with his foot outstretched. They watched the kid for a few moments to make sure he wasn't getting back up, but when he didn't move, General Ironwood looked at Ruby and smiled.
"Good work. You're Miss Rose, right?" the general asked. Cautiously, he inched closer to the prone boy and kicked away the blades behind the desk out of sight. Once he heard them stop sliding, he crouched down and pulled off the boy's shoes and socks. Preoccupied with his task as they were, neither Ruby or Ironwood noticed a brief flash of light from where the blades stopped.
"Ummm, yeah. How'd you know? And what are you doing?" Ruby asked, holding her nose closed with one hand while the other sheathed Crescent Rose. She heard from Yang and her friends from Sigil that all boy's feet smell horrible. The locker rooms back at her old academy had just proven it true.
General Ironwood didn't look up as he tied the socks together and bound the red-head's hands behind his back. "Oz, I mean Headmaster Ozpin told me about you. The first thing he said about you was that you have silver eyes." He paused for a moment, and looked at her for several moments. "It seems he was right. As for what I am doing, I am currently without handcuffs, so this will have to do for the moment."
Ruby watched him tie a complicated knot for a few moments, before she remembered something. "Oh, the old man!" She dashed over to the unconscious guard, a storm of rose petals in her wake. She checked his breathing and hurriedly looked him over for wounds.
"Damn, poor Frank's going to have a headache tomorrow," the general's baritone voice called from behind her. In his right hand was a Scroll while his left easily dragged the assailant behind him. "Don't worry about this guy too much, Miss Rose. He's still alive, but he'll be out for a while."
Giving a sigh of relief, Ruby stood up and faced the tall man. "So what happens now?"
General Ironwood looked down at the boy in his grasp, a hard look on his face. "I have a few questions for this guy." It was about to be the kid's worst night of his life.
Pyrrha was having the best night of her life. It was even better than the time she won her first championship. Jaune had been nothing but a complete gentleman this entire time. Sure, he floundered a few times, trying his best to make it as perfect as possible, but Pyrrha stopped him early on and told him to just treat as any other night on the rooftops. Only without the weapons. Jaune calmed down with that and found a suaveness that Pyrrha had only dreamed of.
As the party got into full swing, the two of them, along with Nora and Ren, set the dance floor ablaze, surprising everybody with the dance routine they had practiced in secret. Jaune had proved to be a much more capable dancer than she had first suspected given his performance during their rehearsals. Their other teammates had tapped out soon enough, Ren not being totally comfortable dancing in front of others and Nora to enjoy his company off to the sides of the floor. Now, after several hours of dancing in the limelight with her date, Pyrrha was taking a breather while Jaune grabbed the two of them punch.
Nothing could ruin her night.
"Having a good time?" a dejected voice asked next to her. Weiss. One of the last people Pyrrha wanted to run into tonight, the absolute worst being the members of Team CRDL.
"Yes, actually. Jaune has been a wonderful date so far," Pyrrha answered. She turned towards Weiss, and was mildly shocked. Slight dark marks ran down from the corners of hers eyes, almost unnoticeable unless one was close enough to actually see them, her eyes were slightly bloodshot, and her usually pristine hair was unkempt in some places, sticking out wildly."Weiss, are you okay?" Though she was annoyed at her, Pyrrha did consider Weiss a friend and was worried about her.
"I'm fine," Weiss snapped. The small girl wrapped her arms around her waist.
"Where's your date?" Pyrrha looked around for anybody that might claim the heiress for themselves, but every guy was already paired up with another woman.
Weiss looked away for a moment, sighed, then looked woefully at Pyrrha. "I don't have a date. Nobody asked me and the guy I asked rejected me."
Pyrrha frowned. "Jaune asked you several times," Pyrrha reminded her cautiously as though Weiss would take her statement as a suggestion to claim him for herself.
Weiss scoffed. "That buffoon doesn't count. Maybe if he spent more time actually not acting like an imbecile instead of wasting my time, I would have given him a moment of thought. He's annoying. Seriously, I don't know what anybody could see in him. I feel bad for you, Pyrrha. He must have asked you out of desperation and you took pity on him. You could have been here with anybody, but you came with the loser."
A sharp crack sounded throughout the ballroom. People turned towards the sound, only to find Weiss Schnee on the ground holding her cheek as Pyrrha Nikos towered above her, shaking in rage. They crowded closer as they waited with baited breath for a cat fight, but not close enough to get caught in the crossfire between the Schnee heiress and the Goddess of Victory.
"How dare you?" Pyrrha seethed. She glanced around, noticing the audience forming around them. She reached down and grabbed Weiss by her arm. Heaving the girl up forcefully, she dragged her away, out towards the balcony. Now alone in the cold night air and away from prying eyes, Pyrrha let go of the heiress. Weiss stumbled a little as Pyrrha threw her forcefully, grabbing the railing of the balcony to steady herself on her heels.
"What is your deal?" Weiss shrieked once she was stable. It was a cold night. Her arms pimpled and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She crossed her arms as Pyrrha walked next to her and silenced her with a glare. The cold seemed to grow deeper.
"My deal is how you treat Jaune," Pyrrha spit. "I don't know what your problem with him is, but he doesn't deserve what you said." Weiss tried to say something, but Pyrrha continued, saying "He tries as hard as he can. Every night, we're training to the point of exhaustion to be the best huntsmen we can be. Some nights, on our nights off, he comes back late and is barely able to get ready for bed. But maybe you're right. Maybe he is a loser. But he's still better than you."
Weiss finally found her voice. "What!? How could that doofus possibly be better than me?" she demanded, the heat in her voice warming her up. The sound of blood pounding in her ears was all that she could hear.
"He beat you, didn't he? If he's a loser, than what does that make you? He spends every moment he can making himself the best possible team leader. How about you? Every time I see you, you're either playing games or trying to network with the other students here. From where I stand, he's a much harder worker than you."
Weiss' scar burned. "I've spent far more time in my life preparing for the future than he ever has."
"Maybe so, but it's the present and what you do now that matters, not where you come from. Ironic isn't it? The person you hate the most at this school has shown himself to be far more noble than you have acted yourself, the heiress to one of the world's largest companies." Pyrrha knew she was digging herself into a hole at this point, but the words just kept spilling out. A huntress could go far in this world with the right contacts, and what she was doing could be considered the height of social suicide. And yet, she found herself not caring about any of that.
"How dare you? I have been raised from birth to be one of the most lady-like women in high society! Just how could that buffoon even hope to compare to my social graces?"
"By being himself! By caring about others! By caring not about what they can do or where they come from, but about the strength of their character and hearts! The day we met, I could tell that all you cared about me was what I could do for you and how you could exploit that!" Pyrrha was in Weiss' face now, constantly advancing on the backpedaling girl. Weiss guiltily looked away at those words as she bumped up against the railing, unable to retreat any further. "Jaune didn't even know who I was. I just another regular girl to him, another face in the crowd. I thought I would finally have a chance to be normal, but then you told him exactly who I was and what I famous for! I wanted to cry!" Weiss looked up at that.
Hot tears, almost steaming, were rolling down Pyrrha's cheeks. It was a stark contrast to the scowl on her face.
"But he didn't care. He didn't put me on a pedestal like everybody else did. I could be myself with him instead of acting like I did in public." Pyrrha backed up some, replacing the scowl on her face with a gentle smile as she gazed at the shattered moon far off in the distance. "At the initiation test, I sought him out. I saw him falling through the air and I made sure to pin him to that tree. I didn't want anyone else to get to him." Pyrrha looked back Weiss, looking stern as she drove home her point.
"I didn't go tonight with him out of pity. In fact, I asked him. I went with him because I wanted to be with him, because I saw the mark of something amazing in him."
Neither said anything for what felt like hours. Pyrrha wiped away the last of her tears as Weiss could only stand there and absorb everything.
"Hey, is everything ok here?" Jaune asked, breaking the tense silence between the two. He was standing at the balcony door, a cup of punch in both hands. He took his place next to his date and offered a glass to her, receiving a small appreciative smile as thanks.
"Yes. Yes, everything is alright Jaune. Nothing you need to worry about," Pyrrha assured him. She took the cup and wrapped an arm around her date's waist, surprising him slightly. She gave a pointed look to Weiss as Jaune hesitantly put an arm around her shoulder in response. Content with Weiss' scathing expression, she looked back at Jaune. "I'm starting to get tired. Would it be alright with you if I went back to the dorms?"
"Of course. Come on, I'll walk you back," Jaune offered. "I wouldn't want to leave a lady all alone and defenseless." They shared a small smile at the joke. They knew that between the two of them, it would most likely be Pyrrha defending Jaune.
"No, no. It's still early and most of our friends are still here. Stay and enjoy the party." Pyrrha detached from her date, waving goodbye as she disappeared into the crowd. Jaune moved to the railing as he watched the Amazon walk back to the dorm rooms below. A small sigh escaped his lips as he settled his head into the crook of his elbow.
"She's amazing." He hadn't been talking to anybody in particular, so he jumped a little when Weiss moved next to him. They stayed like that together before Jaune got a little uncomfortable and moved away slightly. A series of flashing lights caught his eye in the distance, but he paid them no mind. Teenagers with weapons and what were basically super powers tended to get a little rowdy on big nights like tonight. Teenagers that don't have dates were even more so.
"Jaune?"
"Yeah?"
"Out of curiosity..." Talking to Pyrrha had left a voice with a nagging question in the back of her head. She had the feeling that if she didn't ask now, she wouldn't ever think to do it again. "Do you know who I am?"
The question earned her a sidelong look from Jaune. "You're Weiss?" he replied, unsure of how he should reply to what seemed like an obvious question.
Weiss sighed and turned to look at him. "Right, but do you know my background? "Weiss watched Jaune took a thinking pose as he seriously seemed to think about what he knew of her.
"Well, you're a member of team RWBY... ummm... You use dust... ummm... Ruby said you wanted bunk beds, so you probably have a brother... or a sister!" Jaune quickly added at Weiss' dumbstruck look, thinking he had offended her somehow.
She couldn't believe it. This guy really didn't know who she was. "Were you raised under a rock?" she asked softly. There was no way he couldn't know.
"Hey, that hurts."
"I'm Weiss Schnee. Of the Schnee Dust Company. Idiot." She watched as Jaune did a double take. "Did you really think it was a coincidence that I happened to have the same last name as a major corporation that produces the same material I use in combat?"
Jaune scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. With reddened cheeks, he said, "Well, in my home town, there were a lot of people who had the name Schnee. A lot of people who didn't have a last name just ended up making up their own. More than a few had the name Schnee." Weiss was familiar with the practice. Those who had lost everything in Grimm attacks would take new names. Some abused it, taking names that were associated with respect, such as the age old Arc or the more recent Schnee. There were more than a few law suits levied against her family because of that. It was honestly a little surprising how many Faunus took their name, if not shaming.
Jaune let out a small chuckle. "You wouldn't believe how many people had my family name."
Weiss pushed that to the side for the moment. The idea that this... this... she didn't know what to call him anymore... that Jaune was actually really an Arc was a little too much for her to handle at the moment. Instead, she just focused on something more important. "What made you ask me out?"
A grimace flashed across his face, gone as quick as it came. "You were pretty and you looked lonely." Jaune looked back out towards the campus, trying to see if he could still see Pyrrha. A small red figure was visible for only a moment before it turned around a corner, disappearing from view. He held his gaze for a few seconds before turning it skyward. The moon was pretty tonight.
A delicate eyebrow raised. "I was with Pyrrha." Her only answer was a shrug. The night was cold again and the bright night sky seemed like it would swallow her up whole as she stood there regarding the blond knight.
Jaune finished his cup of punch and stopped leaning against the railing. "It's cold out here tonight. I think I'm gonna go back inside." She nodded once and watched him walk back to the doors. Neptune ran into him and was about to walk past before the 'coolest guy in Beacon' noticed her standing alone. A nervous sweat broke on his tan forehead and he quickly swung an arm around the blonde's shoulder, leading him quickly away back downstairs.
It was cold outside. For a moment, she thought her tears would turn to ice.
The sounds of flesh striking flesh over and over again were stifled in the small grey room. A bang sounded out as Shirou's head was slammed onto the table in front of him. He would have fought back, but as it was, his hands and legs were bound to the folding chair he was sitting in. He just gritted his teeth, grunting with every punch.
"Talk! Who sent you?" a voice demanded. When he had woken up, there was a man in white suit sitting across the table from him. He had been asked some questions and he had answered as truthfully as his deal with Ozpin would allow. However, the more he said, the more upset the man got until he flew into a fit of rage.
"I told you, I work for Beacon. I'm a custodian here." A gloved fist buried itself into his cheek, rocking him hard enough to tip over along with the chair. His vision swam for the second time that night, the blood pounding in his head as he fought to stay conscious. He heard the squeak of the man's boots as he knelt down beside Shirou and felt a hand painfully pull against the back of his head.
"My men have been checking everything you say, and every single bit of it sends up red flags. You're lying to me," the man hissed into Shirou's ear. Suddenly, the only door to the room flew open, banging against the wall. Shirou couldn't see who it was from where he lay, but he could hear several people shouting for somebody to stop.
"James!" a familiar voice cried out. All the voices died down. A pause and then a long suffering sigh. "That's enough."
The man looked towards the door, and then stood up. All Shirou could see where the leather boots the man wore. Idly, he noted a spot of blood on the toe. The back of his head itched as he looked at it. "Oz. We caught this kid in the terminal room at the CCT. He attacked several of my men and put many of them in critical condition. We need to find out who sent him."
"James, I know this man. I can vouch for him. I was the one who sent him there in the first place."
"Maybe you think that, but I think it's far more likely he planned to get here since he was hired. I know his kind. They're crafty and they work in the shadows, pulling at strings we don't even know we have to get what they want." A bitter note was present there. It reminded Shirou of sucking lemons.
"General, do you really think that I am so weak-minded that I would allow myself to be manipulated easily?" A tone of aggravation. A challenge.
"What? No. Oz, you know I don't think that about you. I just think it's far more likely that-" Defensive.
A new voice. "Umm sir? We reviewed the security footage, and this guy wasn't responsible."
A pause. "You're sure?" the boots asked.
"With a body like hers, it'd be kinda hard... to... call..." the voice petered off. "Right. Umm, anyway, yes. In fact, this guy actually may have saved Frank's life."
Silence. The boots danced a little in place. "I see. Thank you," they said stiffly. "Oz, listen-"
"General, do you mind giving us a moment?" the familiar voice asked. Though it was phrased as a request, even Shirou could recognize it for what it was.
"... Sure." The boots stepped over him and Shirou heard the door close. Shirou felt something at his back and struggled slightly.
"Shirou, relax. It's me, Ozpin. I'm just getting you out of these restraints." Shirou relaxed at that, and felt the handcuffs at his wrists and ankles disappear. A pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders and gently moved him into a sitting position. Shirou shook his head, a sense of vertigo and nausea overwhelming him and splitting his vision in two.
Ozpin looked at Shirou's face, the dark purple bruises slowly fading out of existence. Slowly, he stood Shirou up and walked him over to the other chair. He caught Shirou as he staggered, waiting until he was sure the redhead had steadied himself again. Ozpin sat Shirou down in the chair and righted the chair across the table. "Are you okay, Shirou? I'm afraid James was never... well he was always very enthusiastic about getting results." He didn't like disparaging one of his oldest friends, even if he tended to be incredibly violent in times of crises.
Shirou groaned, clutching his head. "I've been through worse. I'll be fine soon enough." Ozpin felt a massive pang of guilt in his heart. Still, there were questions that needed answering.
"Shirou, what happened tonight?" he questioned.
"I followed the route that we set up, making sure that people saw me like always. I got to the CCT building and I started cleaning with a guard watching me." Shirou's eyes shot open and his head snapped up. "Frank! Is Frank alright?"
The tone of worry and alarm warmed Ozpin's heart a little. It was always so refreshing to hear people care about others, even if they were a complete stranger. "Yes, Shirou. Private Carmody will make a complete recovery. The only injuries he suffered were aura depletion and a mild concussion." He watched as Shirou sighed in relief. Ozpin's nose wrinkled a little and his brow furrowed at the smell of blood growing stronger with that sigh. "Please, what else happened."
Shirou nodded and continued. "She showed up. A woman in black and carmine eyes. Long black hair. Used two short swords that combined into a bow that shot off incendiary arrows. It was weird. She didn't have them anywhere on her person, but all of a sudden they were there."
A silver eyebrow rose. "It sounds like a dust user. Some fighters embed dust into their clothing. But just to be sure, are you sure she wasn't just hiding them somewhere on her person?" Any small details they could get on this assailant could make a world of difference. It would allow them to prepare for this woman who had defeated an entire platoon of guards in straightforward combat.
Shirou blushed slightly and averted his gaze. "No. She definitely wouldn't have been able to hide those easily." Ozpin allowed a small grin on his face. He forgot that Shirou was still just barely an adult. The grin fell away at that thought. Shirou was still just a teenager. He let his gaze wonder on the man's figure, taking note of how Shirou's crumpled nose was gradually pulling itself into its proper shape. "Oh!" Ozpin's gaze snapped back to Shirou's. "Her clothes did glow when she attacked. And she used something like a flash bomb from my-" Shirou caught himself, his eyes sliding over to the mirror on the wall. "From my home. I also made sure to... end the fight as quickly as possible."
Ozpin nodded. Shirou didn't reveal much to her. "It indeed sounds like a dust user. She probably used a variation of light dust. Did she use a phial for that attack?"
Shirou nodded. "After that flash bomb, I couldn't see anything and I assume that she escaped. I was going to check on Frank, but somebody else attacked me." Shirou rubbed his brow. "It's hard to remember what else happened after that. I was still disoriented from the flash bomb. The next thing I remember is waking up in here, handcuffed to a chair."
"Do you think you could recognize her again? If we gave you a series of photos, do you think you could pick her out?" The Vale Police Department had a series of photo id books on all the criminals they'd apprehended, including sketching of suspects that they had yet to catch.
Shirou thought for a moment before he nodded. "She had on a half-mask, which would make it easier to identify her. However, I can't guarantee a positive match."
"I see. Thank you, Shirou. I'm sorry about all that... transpired tonight. Why don't you take the next couple days off? Go to Vale and see the sights." Ozpin felt terrible. His duties as headmaster had him busy chaperoning the dance while this interrogation went on. The moment he found out, he had rushed down here as soon as possible, only to find James savagely beating him. He felt that Shirou should just enjoy the next couple days at his leisure.
In the meantime, he was going to talk to his old friend.
Shirou looked slightly taken aback. Looking down in shame, he admitted, "I don't have the funds at the moment. I saw some of the prices for tours and it's a little beyond what I'm comfortable spending."
Ozpin made a mental note to raise Shirou's salary the moment he got back to his office. "Then don't think of it as a vacation. Think of it as an opportunity to learn more about how to see how other businesses' custodial staffs operate. I'm more than confident that the school would be willing to reimburse you for that as a business expense. Even if it doesn't, I will." A pleasant smile finally settled on his face as Shirou's mouth dropped open.
Every one of Shirou's Japanese sensibilities told him to decline. "But... You... I couldn't possibly-"
Ozpin stopped him cold with that genial tone of his. "Shiro. For me. Tomorrow, after you finish work, go out to Vale and come back fully rested on Sunday. I'll have a credit card ready for your use. While there is technically no limit here, do please try to be sensible with your spending."
Shirou's mouth opened and closed for several seconds before letting out a massive sigh of exasperation. "Why?" Why are you doing this for me? Why are you being so generous? Why are you willing to pay for such a leisurely thing when it could be better spent on something else?
"Because I feel like you might like to see what this world has to offer." Because Shirou deserved better. Because Shirou was due this and much more. Because Shirou might never get the chance to do it again. Because Ozpin felt that war was coming.
Both perfectly understood what the other meant. Nothing else needed to be said that night.
Author Notes:
1. Sometimes, when you see something that is unusual or out of place or maybe even just flat wrong in one of my stories, it is not an accident. It is intentional. I pick and choose my words carefully when I write this story, when I write any story. I have a huge document several tens of pages long that has tons of details that I want to get across to the reader. This story is, for a large part of it anyways, already finished. In my head that is. If something looks out of place, good job, you caught some subtlety.
2. I do actually use the wikias for both RWBY and Fate/Stay Night, although the latter's goes by the name Type-Moon because FSN is actually a small part of that world. I cross-reference from other sources to double check what I know and I'll look for information if I'm not sure of something. Sometimes, these wikias are woefully incomplete. The RWBY wikia is created and managed by fans who don't have the intrinsic knowledge that the people at RT do and have to work with the content supplied. For instance, somehow, our fan base has the idea that the proper job title is Hunters, but they are never referred to as such in the show. It's always Huntsmen.
3. Nobody's really nitpicked about this, but I only put down Author's Notes when I feel like I need to. People kept complaining about Shirou's height due to him being much taller in the show. Guess what. What they're doing is called artistic license. I do that too sometimes, like with how Ozpin saw Shirou's memories. It makes the story more interesting. The illustrators for the show did that too with how tall they made Shirou, and it works. My point is that I don't feel like I always have to explain every detail, but if people audibly express enough confusion or I feel like I have to defend my stance, you'll see Author's Notes.
4. I do not bureaucratic red tape. These past couple of weeks have just been a total mess of fines and fees and strongly worded messages and sleep deprivation. That's literally the only reason why this chapter was so delayed.
Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I'm going to go sleep now. |
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling
Murder is a horrendous act no matter where or how or to whom it occurs. But the Kandahar Massacre in Afghanistan might be even more worse than the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. For instance, the unlawful killing of one human being by another can be either first- or second-degree murder. First-degree murder is a criminal homicide which is planned and calculated, involving forethought and premeditation. On the other hand, second-degree murder is an intentional and unlawful killing but one which is generally unplanned and which may happen "in the heat of passion."(1) It is for this reason, then, or the difference between first- and second-degree murder, that the Kandahar Massacre was psychologically worse and more emotionally charged than My Lai.
News reports and eyewitness accounts from Kandahar claim that several days before the shooting, U.S. troops lined Afghan civilians up against a wall after a roadside bombing. While pointing guns at them, U.S. soldiers told them that they, along with their children, would have to pay a price for the attack. Even though Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is the alleged lone gunman, massacring the same 17 Afghan civilians that were lined up against a wall, including 9 children, other reports from the Associated Press detail how U.S. troops claimed the Kandahar killings were payback for a roadside explosion. If this is the case, the Kandahar mass murder, unlike My Lai, was premeditated, meticulously planned, and acted upon with malice aforethought.
(Note: It is also suggested that Staff Sgt. Bales committed this premeditated massacre in not one but two episodes. After returning to his base from massacring several civilians he then went back out to kill more.)
The U.S. soldiers committing the My Lai Massacre, which occurred in November 1968 and which the Pentagon attempted to cover up, were told that My Lai was a communist Vietcong stronghold and that civilians had been cleared from the area. Having received orders to "pacify" My Lai, they went in shooting but were surprised to find women and children. Even though an estimated 504 Vietnamese were brutally massacred, including babies and children, and even though young girls and women were gang-raped, it appears the intent was different than that of the Kandahar Massacre. Surprise, bewilderment and confusion reigned supreme over My Lai and its mission. Those involved were not "lying in wait." Nor had they previously visited the village and threatened its inhabitants.(2)
Whether it be the Kandahar Massacre or My Lai Massacre, these unlawful murders were war crimes and a crime against humanity. But again, what makes Kandahar worse than My Lai was the premeditated intent. It is evident the U.S. soldiers involved at Kandahar, those who just days earlier took people from their houses and a mosque and lined them up against a wall threatening retaliation and death, had planned to kill innocent Afghan civilians, including women and children. It also seems that their forethoughts were based on extreme malice, hatred, revenge, even racism and religiouism. They coldly calculated and schemed to gun down and murder innocent civilians, versus being told that a village was full of insurgents and its civilian populations had been removed.
Unlike second-degree murder which occurs in the heat of the moment and with extreme emotions, first-degree murder is preceded by dehumanization, desensitization, euphemistic thinking, and internalizing the myth of pure evil. Justifying one's aggression requires perceiving the Other as less than human while repressing one's own humanity. It entails assimilating the "other" into the myth of pure evil, or in the case of Kandahar trying to create a perfect world, an enemy-free utopia. Before someone "lies in wait" and unlawfully murders another human being, that person must also be reprogrammed with euphemisms like "wasting someone" or "blowing someone away." Is "preemptive war" merely a euphemism for a collective premeditated and institutionalized kind of first-degree murder?
If this be the case, then just like the U.S. soldier (or soldiers) that massacred innocent Afghan civilians in Kandahar, first-degree murderous preemptive wars reveal a mental and moral collapse of thinking and behavior, both of which leads to undisciplined and horrendous atrocities. At the same time, can certain foreign policies and military strategies encourage the occurrence of premeditated massacres? Still, is it much more psychologically and emotionally damaging nations to collectively commit first-degree murderous preemptive wars than merely fighting defensive wars or wars of necessity? These questions will have to be addressed in order to prevent more Kandahar and My Lai Massacres.
Dallas Darling ([email protected])
(Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John's Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for
www.worldnews.com. You can read more of Dallas' writings at www.beverlydarling.com and wn.com//dallasdarling.)
(1) Schmalleger, Frank. Criminal Justice Today. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003., p. 50ff.
(2) Note: The only person held accountable for the massacre at My Lai was Lieutenant Calley. He was charged with premeditated murder. But again, I am supporting a nontraditional approach, in the sense that he was acting under orders and given false military intelligence. Surprisingly, and for being found guilty of killing more than 100 Vietnamese civilians, he only served more than three years under house arrest. He was also pardoned for committing these mass murders and became a prominent businessman and popular speaker, traveling across America.) |
It's one year now since Haiti was devastated by a horrific earthquake that destroyed homes, killed over 250,000 people and changed life forever for hundreds of thousands of survivors. Aid was late and insufficient, and many still remain homeless. How can one survive this kind of devastating trauma? How can one go on with living?
Traumatic events -- where your life or the life of others is threatened -- can have lasting, recurring psychological effects. When the traumatic event first occurs -- in this case, the earthquake -- some people who are traumatized have great difficulty integrating the memory of the event. They can recall some details of the event, but not all of them. The sequence of the events -- the earth shaking, walls crashing in, people being buried, running away from collapsing buildings, the screaming of innocent people dying in front of you -- becomes disjointed, unclear. It's as if the mind is saying, "This is too much to take in." The sequence in time -- what happened first, what happened next -- is confused. This fragmented and confused memory is a hallmark of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety condition that can continue for years for many of the survivors.
Another sign of PTSD is frequent flashbacks, waking in the middle of the night with terror, nightmares, a sense that it is happening once again. These flashbacks often feel real, as if one is reliving the first trauma. People who suffer from PTSD have a sense of "nowness," that it is happening "now" -- not at some distant point in the past. For some, this makes them feel that they are losing their minds, losing control, and that the trauma follows them wherever they go, asleep or awake.
Another component of trauma is the lingering meaning of the events. Psychologists refer to this as "shattered assumptions." The world, others and the self are forever changed. Trust, predictability and control have been shattered, turned upside down. Survivors often feel demoralized -- "Anything can happen at any time. It can all be taken away. I have no control. The world is unfair, evil. God is no longer on my side. I can't trust anyone. I am all alone." Some have shattered beliefs about themselves, feeling guilty that they didn't rescue someone, guilty that they survived while loved ones perished. These assumptions continue for years and result in hopelessness and depression -- or anger toward the world for letting them down. It's not only the traumatic event, it's the meaning of the event that will continue to haunt survivors.
Many people with PTSD experience emotional numbness, often feeling that either they are not real or that what is happening right now is not real. This sense of being spaced out, losing contact with reality, often makes them believe that they are going insane. "If I get lost like this in my mind and it doesn't feel real, maybe I will never come back to reality." These private and frightening experiences can occur at any time, further adding to the confusion and sense of loss of control.
Feeling anxious, demoralized and often angry, survivors of trauma often over-drink or rely on street drugs to take the edge off. This adds to a sense of emotional numbing, but alcohol abuse is one of the worst aids for the PTSD survivor. It only maintains the inability to integrate the experience and move on. Research overwhelmingly shows that overuse of alcohol prolongs and worsens PTSD.
Because the experience of PTSD is so disturbing, many survivors will avoid talking about the traumatic events, avoid going back to the place where the event occurred and avoid watching news stories of the event. Avoidance may give temporary relief, but it also inhibits any integration and processing of the traumatic event and prolongs PTSD.
Traumatic memories disjointed in detail and time, flashbacks, the sense that it is happening once again, frequent waking from nightmares, spacing out, shattered assumptions and the reliance on avoidance and drinking all are the consequences of unresolved PTSD. What can be done for these survivors? The good news is that we do have excellent treatments for PTSD; in fact, the Veterans Administration in the United States provides superb treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is remarkably helpful. But the survivors of Haiti will not have access to these facilities.
Of course, in an ideal world, those surviving PTSD would have excellent psychological counseling. This would include explaining (as I have attempted to do here) the nature of PTSD. This would involve helping the person realize that their memories are disjointed and confusing because that is the nature of a memory of a traumatic event -- it is not clear, not organized in a logical sequence. It is fragmented. "You are not going insane, you have an anxiety disorder." Ideally, a therapist would help the survivor retell the original event, go into the details and then retell it over and over again. This will be difficult, and emotions will escalate, so the therapist will assist in training them with how to relax, how to calm down, how to ride out the storm. The interpretations of the world and the self -- the shattered assumptions -- would be examined. Validating how horrible the original event was, the therapist could help examine whether other less dire, less all-or-nothing interpretations are reasonable. Examining the guilt and the demoralization and coming up with more rational, balanced, life-enhancing interpretations can help the survivor. Going back to the original scene, viewing videos, writing out memories and talking about them in a supportive environment can help process the experience. It takes time, support and emotional pain, but it can help. |
Jeremy Corbyn to pledge big rise on Tory ‘national living wage’ of £9 per hour if his party wins power at the next general election
The minimum wage will rise to £10 an hour within months if Labour wins the next general election, Jeremy Corbyn will say on Monday. In a bid to win over voters ahead of local polls in May, the Labour leader is setting out the details of the party’s longer-terms plans for a a higher minimum wage, which will benefit nearly 6 million workers.
Employees on basic earnings would be better off by thousands in 2020 compared with the current expected rate under the government’s “national living wage”.
Corbyn, on a visit to Luton, will say that low pay blights the lives of large and growing numbers in the UK and fuels widening inequality. “The government’s rebranding of the minimum wage to the national living wage hasn’t dealt with the real problems of low pay and rising cost of living,” he will say. “That’s why Labour will raise the legal minimum wage for all to at least £10 an hour by 2020, giving more than five and a half million people a pay rise in the process.
“Labour’s real living wage will immediately boost the incomes and opportunities of more than 20% of the workforce, especially in sectors such as retail, care and hospitality. We know that where work pays, living standards rise and reliance on benefits falls. This is the right thing to do, and a Labour government will be committed to rebalancing our economy so that no one and no community is left behind.”
What is the minimum wage? You asked Google – here’s the answer | Stefan Stern Read more
The Labour policy, first announced last year, would leave full-time employees on basic earnings better off by more than £2,500, while 21- to 24-year-olds on lower wages would be in line for a £4,500 hike. Around 5.6 million workers would see their pay go up. Northern Ireland, the east Midlands and Yorkshire would be among the areas to benefit most, with one in four residents affected, according to the party.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “Theresa May promised to be a champion of working people; she has failed. The Tories are taking the country backwards; Labour will stand up for working families, making them £2,500 a year better off in 2020.
“Only Labour will take the action needed to end the Tories’ economic failure and introduce a real living wage of £10 an hour by 2020.”
The government has begun to phase in its national living wage, with the aim of reaching 60% of median UK earnings by 2020. For employees aged over 25, the wage will begin at £7.20 an hour in April 2016, and is projected to rise to at least £9 an hour by April 2020. |
- History in Hamtramck as voters elected the first majority Muslim city council in the country.
But rather than ease racial tensions, the comments from a Muslim organizer threaten to divide.
It was a historic moment Tuesday, but followed by a controversial comment that may create or widen the rift between the growing Muslim and shrinking Polish community in Hamtramck.
"Today we show the Polish and everybody else," said Ibrahim Algahim in cell phone video.
The comments touched a nerve.
It came after Hamtramck voters elected America's first Muslim majority city council in a town where the Polish community held the power for decades.
Cathie Lisinki-Gordon, a former councilmember, was one of Tuesday's losers and was surprised at the comment.
"I'm shocked that he said that. I'm a very good friend of his," she said. "I cannot believe that he would ever profile any select group. Especially when his community has felt ostracized and profiled for many years."
The statement was immediately rebuffed by many present at the Muslim candidates' victory lab
Saad Almasmari, the top vote getter, was one of them
"I don't believe in that," he said. "And as a candidate, as a city council member, I'm going to work for everybody, represent everybody, because I got elected for everybody."
Bill Meyer is sticking up for the man who made the controversial comment.
"What Algahim was saying at the time was he was meaning that the Yemeni and Bangladeshi communities worked together to go forward with a successful election," Meyer said.
Before the election someone passed out questionable campaign flyers telling voters to "Get the Muslim out of Hamtramck Nov. 3 and let's take back our city."
That obviously didn't happen. The question now will this railroad a golden opportunity.
"The ultimate goal is to work together," Meyer said. "We've got a great possibility of showing the world how great people can work together, ethnic groups can work together, to solve problems."
Algahim was unavailable for comment, but some say he was likely referring to certain people in Hamtramck's Polish community when he made that remark.
Others say if that's in fact the case, he should not paint with a broad brush. |
* Violent protests grip capital, unrest spreads
* Protests likely to hamper government agenda
* Pinera viewed as lame duck, investor confidence solid (Updates with department store burned, updates arrests)
By Alexis Krell
SANTIAGO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Protesters clashed violently with police in Chile’s capital on Thursday to decry President Sebastian Pinera’s policies, as a poll showed him the least popular leader in two decades since the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.
Demonstrators led by students demanding cheaper and better state education blocked roads and lit fires as police used water cannons and tear gas to quell the latest outcry against the conservative billionaire.
Some protesters in Santiago and as far afield as Copiapo in the far north started banging pots and pans in a ‘cacerolazo,’ a popular form of protest in Latin America reminiscent of Chile’s 1973-1990 dictatorship. The term cacerolazo was the world’s top trending topic on Twitter on Thursday night.
Television footage showed a La Polar ( LAP.SN
Retailer La Polar is embroiled in the biggest financial scandal the country has seen in years, which has piled additional pressure on former business magnate Pinera, who critics accuse of failing on oversight.
La Polar has admitted that it unilaterally refinanced the credit of hundreds of thousands of clients.
Violence also flared in the port city of Valparaiso, and the government said police detained 552 people across the country and that 29 officers and two protesters were injured.
Hundreds of thousands of people have protested in Santiago and Chile’s other main cities in recent weeks and miners and environmentalists have rallied against Pinera, who is less than half way through his four-year term. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > TAKE A LOOK on Chile economy [ID:nN09HILEFI] > TAKE A LOOK on Chile mining unrest [ID:nN1E76K24S] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
While Latin America’s model economy is growing strongly and is an investor magnet thanks to prudent fiscal and monetary policies, many ordinary Chileans feel they are not sharing in an economic miracle fueled by high copper prices.
“It’s going to be very difficult for Pinera to pass legislation and to advance his agenda,” said Patricio Navia, a political scientist at New York University.
“Because he is so unpopular, people are going to start talking about who’s going to be president next, and that’s going to make Pinera a little bit of a lame duck.”
The slide in support will likely delay the passage of capital market reforms aimed at turning Chile into a financial hub to rival Brazil, Navia said. Strong institutions mean Pinera’s presidency itself is seen as safe.
LOW APPROVAL RATING
Pinera, who took power a year and a half ago and appointed a cabinet filled with technocrats in a perceived bid to make government run like a business, has alienated many Chileans with his policies.
Pollster CEP said on Thursday just 26 percent of Chileans approved of his leadership of the world’s top copper producer.
“The government are liars. They just want to profit from us,” said Matias Moreno, a 17-year-old business management student said, clutching a lemon used to tame the effects of tear gas as he protested in central Santiago on Thursday.
Workers at Chile’s state copper giant Codelco have also mobilized against a management revamp, and the social unrest has emboldened workers at the private Escondida mine, the world’s biggest, to strike over wage demands. [ID:nN1E773091]
Pinera has already had to backtrack on a campaign pledge to allow private investment in Codelco. He has also sought to defuse protests by proposing a $4 billion fund for higher education — which students said did not go far enough.
Even a major cabinet reshuffle last month, the second since Pinera took power, has failed to quell unrest. [ID:nN1E76H180]
A separate survey by pollster Adimark GfK published this week put Pinera’s approval rating at 30 percent, long seen as the floor of his support from the right. [ID:nN1E7661EU]
Pinera took power last year, ending 20 years of center-left rule in Chile, pushing a raft of labor, health, energy, electoral and environmental reforms, but had to reboot his agenda to focus on reconstruction after a massive earthquake.
Chile’s fragmented opposition has so far appeared unable to capitalize on Pinera’s troubles. The CEP poll put the approval of the center-left “Concertacion” bloc Pinera ousted from power at just 17 percent.
But while investors are watching, stable Chile’s economic miracle is seen as safe.
“This wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for an investor. If this were a different country with a different government, maybe. But we’re talking about Chile, not Bolivia,” said Elena Castro, vice president of Western European and Latin American equities at Auerbach Grayson in New York.
“It shows disapproval, however I wouldn’t make a big deal of it right now. Right now there are so many things playing out worldwide.” (With reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in Santiago and Juana Casas in Copiapo; Writing by Simon Gardner; Editing by Eric Walsh and Eric Beech) |
The tax plan created under Bush will expire in January, meaning that a new plan will need to be in place before we head into the new year. Already the battle over whether to extend them or let them die has become a political knife fight.
Democrats say the Republican plan will help the rich. Republicans claim the Democrat plan will bust the budget. We’ve heard so much back and forth about this, for so long, it’s hard to know what’s truth and what’s fiction. Well, a new study was released by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation that surveyed both plans. And this infographic in today’s Washington Post lays the facts right out there for us.
The two plans seem relatively similar up until you hit incomes of $500,000 per year, with Democrats seeking to give slightly more to the middle class.
But after that threshold, the Republican tax cuts look generous indeed for the extremely wealthy. As Jon Stewart and others have noted, this doesn’t seem to make much sense, if you’re trying to balance the budget. Which is why even Alan Greenspan has called for all of the Bush tax cuts to expire–even the ones to the middle class, which Democrats want to preserve.
[Washington Post] |
Story highlights LAPD: No indication shooting is linked to nationwide protests about police
Two Los Angeles police officers were shot at, but neither was injured
About 100 LAPD officers searched for a suspect in South Central LA
In Pasco County, Florida, two deputies were also shot at but not injured
(CNN) Two Los Angeles police officers were shot at Sunday night while they drove their patrol car in the southern part of the city, police said. The officers returned fire, authorities said, and no one was injured.
One suspect was arrested and two weapons, including a rifle, were recovered. Another remains at large, prompting a manhunt that lasted for hours and involved about 100 officers, LAPD Capt. Lillian Carranza said.
Police warned residents to stay indoors in part of South Central Los Angeles. On Monday, police reopened access to streets inside a six-block perimeter they set up overnight.
LAPD Detective Megan Aguilar told CNN that investigators have "nothing to indicate that there's a nexus" between the shooting and recent nationwide protests against police brutality that have fueled animosity toward police.
And there was a second incident over the weekend in which police were fired at, this one in Florida on Sunday morning.
Read More |
Brampton’s housing market, along with the rest of the GTA, has been on fire the last couple of years. But the market might finally be showing signs of a cool down.
Based on new data by Toronto Real Estate Board, the average price of a detached home in the GTA dropped by nearly 4 per cent between November and December 2016, marking the biggest decrease in the past two years.
Though a dip in November and December is usually expected, this year the decline was by far steeper than in 2014 and 2015.
It’s not exactly the big housing bubble pop experts have been predicting for years, but it’s certainly a little bit of relief in a time where prices seem to be soaring with no end in sight.
Comments
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THE biggest corruption scandal since the Fitzgerald inquiry, with claims of police in major drug trafficking, is set to rock the force.
The allegations centre on the Gold Coast and are believed to concern some members of the Queensland Police Service, The Courier-Mailreports.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission is tipped to call a public inquiry into allegations Gold Coast police have been involved with organised crime gangs, including outlaw bikies, importing drugs and dealing them through some of the Glitter Strip's nightclubs.
More than 20 officers are understood to have been hauled before secret CMC hearings to forcibly answer questions or give evidence against allegedly crooked colleagues. Phone taps, listening devices and covert surveillance are believed to have been used to gather evidence.
"This will be the biggest corruption scandal since Fitzgerald," a senior police source said.
"It will unfortunately drag down the reputation of the police service once again."
A multimillion-dollar cocaine bust on the Gold Coast last year is believed to have helped spark the CMC probe, which has been running for several months.
The CMC is investigating allegations cocaine went missing from a Gold Coast police station.
The Surfers Paradise police station was raided on Sunday, as well as another Coast station.
On Monday, in a separate incident, a Surfers Paradise constable was stood down on full pay pending an investigation after a drug bust in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.
The scandal follows last year's Operation Capri which resulted in the damning CMC report Dangerous Liaisons.
"This will make Capri look very small," the police source said. "We're talking about allegations of police involvement in importing drugs into Australia and distributing them through the Gold Coast nightclub scene.
"Police on the Coast, by nature, work pretty closely with the seedier side of the tourism industry and it would seem some may have fallen for temptation and dragged the rest of their colleagues down with them."
Another source said drug dealers were blatantly plying their trade in nightclubs - with off-duty police present.
It is believed key players have not been questioned by the CMC, leading to speculation a public inquiry was imminent. Yesterday, the CMC said suggestions of a "major drug trafficking investigation" were "incorrect".
But a spokeswoman said illegal drugs were part of an ongoing police misconduct probe, Operation Tesco, and would not rule out a public inquiry.
Read more in The Courier-Mail newspaper. |
Story highlights Bernard Arnault, France's richest man, reportedly applying for Belgian citizenship
Arnault insists he will remain a tax citizen in his native France
Isaby: New 75% tax rate will lead to 'brain drain' in France
No one knows for the time being as to what exactly Bernard Arnault, France's richest man, intends to do in order to escape the punitively high 75% tax rate being proposed by President Francois Hollande.
But it should come as no surprise that he and scores of other wealthy French citizens are looking to organize their financial affairs differently so as to reduce their exposure to what amounts to little more than a smash-and-grab raid on the country's most successful businessmen that will in all likelihood prove counter-productive.
After all, we live in a world where different countries operate with different tax regimes, competing (I would hope) to attract businesses -- and therefore jobs -- to their shores. So if one country creates an environment where those who have done well for themselves are suddenly stung with a massive hike in the money the state wants to confiscate from them, they cannot be blamed for wanting to rearrange their finances, their domicile or even their nationality.
Jonathan Isaby
And, lest we forget, those with the greatest financial resources are those who will find it easiest to relocate in that way. Hence, in the past, we have spoken of a "brain drain" when tax in a particular jurisdiction has become excessively high. And when those individuals relocate, not only will the country's treasury miss the additional tax that they would have paid, but it most likely loses all the revenue that they were paying beforehand. That is one of the ways in which increasing a tax rate can reduce the total tax yield, thereby defeating the whole supposed object of the tax-raising exercise.
But don't just take my word for that. In the final report of the UK's 2020 Tax Commission , published earlier this year by the TaxPayers' Alliance and Institute of Directors, we reviewed literature by academics the world over and looked at tax changes introduced in a number of different countries to demonstrate the folly of punitively high tax rates.
Most students of economics are familiar with the Laffer curve, named by Dr. Art Laffer, which demonstrates how higher taxes do not necessarily mean a higher tax yield, with there being a point (the peak of his curve) after which total revenue falls when the tax rate increases.
That lower tax rates increase the tax take has been demonstrated time and again in the real world: remember how JFK said in 1962 that "the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long term is to cut the rates now"? And then of course we saw that principle again put into practice by President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher on their respective sides of the Atlantic in the 1980s.
In the 2020 Tax Commission report, we also cite the work of Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Stefanie Stantcheva, who have looked at the effects of tax changes specifically on the richest one per cent, amongst whose number Mr. Arnault features in France:
"The incomes of the top one per cent respond to taxes in three ways: (1) the standard supply-side channel through reduced economic activity, (2) the tax avoidance channel, (3) the compensation bargaining channel through efforts in influencing own pay setting. In other words, high earners will either respond to lower taxes by doing more productive work, by putting less effort into avoiding taxes or by putting more effort into negotiating for higher pay, as the post-tax rewards for all three are now higher."
Conversely, the opposite is clearly true, with higher taxes making them less productive, more likely to find ways of avoiding taxes and so on.
Tax evasion is illegal and cannot be condoned, but tax avoidance is when people devise mechanisms which contravene an interpretation of the spirit of the law but are nonetheless perfectly legal and intended wholly or primarily to reduce their liabilities.
The onus should be on governments to change tax systems and close the loopholes that they allow to exist rather than to suggest that those using such schemes are to be condemned. Lower tax rates will reduce people's incentive to avoid tax and a simplified tax code should also provide fewer opportunities for avoidance in the first place.
So if things get to the point where people are seriously considering changing nationality to reduce their tax bill, then that is a symptom of a tax system that has become seriously dysfunctional and in urgent need of reform.
As we can see, President Hollande is doing the French and their government's coffers a disservice with the introduction of his new top rate of tax -- and that ought to be a salutary lesson for anyone seeking to emulate it elsewhere. |
New rules coming in January could disqualify up to 10 per cent of prospective home buyers who have down payments of 20 per cent or more, the Bank of Canada says.
The new rules will likely cause those buyers to settle for smaller homes, put more money down or delay buying. Some may also take out riskier loans from alternative lenders that are not federally regulated, including credit unions and private mortgage lenders, the central bank said on Tuesday in its twice-yearly review of the financial system.
The change will require those applicants to prove they could still afford their mortgage payments if interest rates were raised two percentage points, a procedure called a stress test.
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The restrictions would affect about $15-billion a year in new borrowing, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver – markets that have had the steepest run-up in prices in recent years. The tighter rules could disqualify as many as 12 per cent of borrowers in the two cities, which account for half the value of homes sold in Canada.
Stress tests are already mandatory for mortgages in which the down payment is less than 20 per cent. The federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions announced in October that it will extend the tests to mortgages that have down payments of 20 per cent or more of the purchase price – known as low-ratio mortgages – to make sure the borrowers can cope with higher interest rates.
The Bank of Canada expects the impact to be less severe than changes made in 2016 that raised the cost of high-ratio insured mortgages, for which borrowers put down less than 20 per cent. The bank's 10-per-cent figure represents the share of low-ratio mortgages issued in the 12 months ending in June, 2017, that would not have qualified under the stress test. The impact is higher in Toronto and Vancouver because such mortgages make up a larger share of those markets and prices are higher.
"The new rule will have some impact, but it is unlikely to derail the housing market on its own," Bank of Montreal economist Benjamin Reitzes said. "We'll need higher rates for that."
The stress test could eat into the buying power of the most-stretched borrowers by up to 15 per cent, Mr. Reitzes said in a research note.
Tim Hudak, CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, said the OSFI rule change and other recent housing-policy measures will be hard on buyers.
"The cumulative amount of government intervention in the housing market means that many people will no longer be able to buy their first home or upsize when the kids come along," Mr. Hudak said. "The piling on of federal, provincial and local government interference risks not only hurting aspiring homeowners, but damaging the broader economy when fewer homes are purchased, furnished and renovated."
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Over all, the Bank of Canada said in its review that the main threats – rising household debt and overheated house prices – remain elevated. The threat level has been about the same since 2013.
But for the first time in a while, the bank sees "preliminary signs of improvement" in the quality of new lending triggered by the improving economy, higher interest rates and tighter mortgage rules announced in 2016.
"Our financial system continues to be resilient, and is being bolstered by stronger growth and job creation, but we need to continue to watch vulnerabilities closely," Governor Stephen Poloz said in a statement accompanying the bank's Financial System Review.
The Bank of Canada's cautiously optimistic tone comes amid evidence that higher rates and tighter lending standards are helping to cool the housing market and stem riskier borrowing. For example, fewer Canadians with extremely high debt levels are taking out mortgages with little money down.
The report suggests most borrowers could handle a "moderate increase" in mortgage rates, especially if their incomes also rise. Nearly half of outstanding mortgages in Canada face an interest rate reset within the next 12 months.
"The Bank of Canada sees things moving in the right direction," Toronto-Dominion Bank economist Brian DePratto said in a research note.
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The rate of the increase in house prices across the country slowed to 10 per cent a year in October after a significant slowdown in Toronto. Prices are heating up again in Vancouver, particularly in the condominium market, the bank said.
The housing markets in both cities took a hit from the introduction of taxes on foreign buyers. Vancouver's started to recover early this year, with the average price of a detached house last month at about $3-million, virtually identical to the record high in April, 2016. In the Greater Toronto Area, detached houses sold for an average of about $1-million in October, down 16 per cent from April.
Mr. Poloz acknowledged that the threat from high household-debt levels and the run-up in home prices will take "a long time" to work off.
Part of the problem is that buyers find ways to deal with tighter mortgage rules. When Ottawa clamped down on high-ratio mortgages in 2016, some borrowers shifted to low-ratio mortgages, which now account for three quarters of new mortgages, up from two-thirds in 2014. Many are also using home-equity lines of credit, which do not require regular interest and principal payments.
The bank said it is closely monitoring developments in the private lending market, worth as much as $15-billion a year.
Many economists and real estate industry officials anticipated the OSFI rule change could curb home sales next year. The Canadian Home Builders' Association has forecast the rule changes combined with other recent housing-sector policy reforms could reduce total house transactions by 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
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In a submission to the federal government in August, the association said that would translate into a decline in resale-home transactions of 50,000 to 75,000 units a year, while housing starts could drop by 20,000 to 30,000 units.
With a report from Janet McFarland in Toronto |
Archives.org has published the record of the controversial Daily Mail article pertaining to an alleged US sponsored intelligence operation to launch a chemical weapons attack on Syria and blame it on President Bashar al-Assad.
The original article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270219/U-S-planned-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-Syria-blame-Assad.html
has been removed from the archives of the Daily Mail. It is nonetheless available at
http://web.archive.org/web/20130130091742/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270219/U-S-planned-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-Syria-blame-Assad.html
UPDATE
It is our understanding that the Daily Mail report was removed following a libel suit launched by Britam Defense and Intelligence against the Daily Mail
U.S. ‘backed plan to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and Blame it on Assad’s Regime
Leaked emails from defense contractor refers to chemical weapons saying ‘the idea is approved by Washington’
Obama issued warning to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last month that use of chemical warfare was ‘totally unacceptable’
By Louise Boyle
PUBLISHED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 29 January 2013 copyright Daily Mail
Leaked emails have allegedly proved that the White House gave the green light to a chemical weapons attack in Syria that could be blamed on Assad’s regime and in turn, spur international military action in the devastated country.
A report released on Monday contains an email exchange between two senior officials at British-based contractor Britam Defence where a scheme ‘approved by Washington’ is outlined explaining that Qatar would fund rebel forces in Syria to use chemical weapons.
Barack Obama made it clear to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last month that the U.S. would not tolerate Syria using chemical weapons against its own people.
The original article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270219/U-S-planned-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-Syria-blame-Assad.html
has been removed from the archives of the Daily Mail. It is nonetheless available at
http://web.archive.org/web/20130130091742/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270219/U-S-planned-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-Syria-blame-Assad.html |
Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch issued the bank's first research report today on Bitcoin, the virtual currency that approximates cash on the internet, concluding that the currency has the potential to become a "major means of payment for e-commerce" as well as a "serious competitor to traditional money transfer providers."
Assuming Bitcoin becomes mainstream, Bank of America currency strategists estimate it is worth $1,300 apiece. But with the value at $1,000 today and increasing rapidly, it is in danger of "running ahead of its fundamentals," they write.
The report also notes that the rapid jump in Bitcoin's value — which was just $100 in August — correlates with interest in the currency coming from China.
Bitcoin's disadvantages according to the report are the same as those regularly discussed in the Bitcoin community: its price volatility disincentivizes its use for trade, transactions take 50 minutes to process, and its legal status is still undetermined. Governments will have an incentive to "crack down" on Bitcoin if it gets too big, the report says.
Bank of America estimates Bitcoin could be worth $1,300 apiece
The researchers also note that security at the exchanges where people buy and sell Bitcoin has been historically unreliable, as evidenced by thefts and hacks in the past.
Bank of America is the first major Wall Street bank to issue an opinion on the virtual currency, which has grown in prominence since it debuted in January of 2009.
The report is a positive sign for those who hope that Bitcoin will become a universal currency, but it's ironic considering the technology was designed to empower individuals over banks. The last time Bitcoin made a splash in the financial district was probably 2011, when the Occupy Wall Street protest became one of the first major efforts to accept donations in the currency. But now that the total Bitcoin economy is worth $13 billion, it seems everyone wants a slice. |
The craft beer world has never been afraid to charge a bit more for a rare beer.
Fans of Cigar City Brewing’s Hunahpu late last year paid $200 for four bottles of the Imperial Stout (as well admission to a beer festival hosted by the brewery). And Goose Island fetched $60 per bottle for its Bourbon County Barrel Stout Rare, as fans quickly grabbed the beer that was aged in Heaven Hill Distillery barrels.
But those sort of price tags pale when compared to BrewDog’s The End of History. To get a bottle of this ultra-rare brew (which hasn’t been made in six years), you’re going to have to shell out $20,000.
That is, of course, a ludicrous amount to spend for a beer – even one that comes bottled inside of a taxidermied squirrel. (And, yes, this one does.) But that money will also buy you an equity stake in BrewDog.
The brewer is in the midst of an equity crowdfunding campaign, hoping to raise $50 million for a new brewery in Columbus, Ohio and potentially brewpubs in other cities. Ohio recently lifted its ABV (alcohol by volume) limit on beers, meaning brewers could create beers with no concern about them being too potent.
That spurred the decision to make The End of History the first beer brewed at the new facility. And James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, says the incentive has convinced people to invest.
“We’ve definitely seen a boost in the number of Equity Punk shareholders coming on board since we announced that the first beer we will be brewing in our US brewery will be The End of History,” he says. “Craft beer lovers in America have shown that they want to join us on the crazy ride that lies ahead. We wouldn’t have a US brewery without our investors, and we want to celebrate by giving them access to something extra exclusive that you just can’t get your hands on any other way.”
The campaign runs through February, says Kendall Almerico, BrewDog’s attorney and co-founder and CEO of BankRoll, which is running the campaign. Investments start at $95. And even if the brewer falls short of its goal, the Columbus brewery will open.
The End of History is arguably the rarest beer in the world. In its first run, back in 2010, only 12 bottles were made. To make them as distinctive as possible, BrewDog struck up a relationship with a taxidermist (who goes by Simon the Stuffer) and bottled the beer inside of a squirrel.
Read: How Brooklyn Brewery Sold Out and Still Gets to Call Itself a Craft Beer
“I absolutely love the beautiful, yet disturbing nature of taxidermy, so packaging our most evocative beer in such an unconventional, BrewDog way made sense,” says Watt. “Beer is art. Art is also art.”
As for the taste? If you do plunk down the $20K and decide to crack open the bottle instead of keep it as a showcase or trophy, expect a Belgian style ale that’s made with juniper berries and nettles. Watt says the beer carries a distinct presence of candied fruit and marmalade with an underlying peppery note.
“Everything about this beer is different to anything you’re used to,” says Watt. “It’s convention-disrupting and limitless. It’s designed to make you think differently about what’s in your glass. … I mean, it’s packaged in a squirrel!” |
Fans of Flo's Mexican-inspired brunch only have to wait until next month when the popular West Town restaurant will open in the former Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana space on Ashland Avenue. Ownership will start with weekend brunch and dinner, but eventually hope to bring the full Flo experience to their second location.
"We're going to be family friendly, but good for dates after 6 p.m.," said owner Amy Laria.
Management mostly added a paint job, as the Fiorentino's spot was already ready with 100 seats, including 50 on the patio. Laria and Leonard Sanchez co-own it, as Sanchez is the former general manager on Chicago Avenue. Laria expects a children's menu at the new spot and wants to draw a brunch crowd from Boystown and other North Side neighborhoods. They will have a similar menu compared to the original but will likely expand later. Laria said to expect a mid-November opening. |
With the campaign in full swing, The Irish Timesasked the seven candidates hoping to succeed President Mary McAleese to outline why they believe they would make a good president.
MARY DAVIS - INDEPENDENT
WHEN I announced in May that I was seeking a nomination for the presidency, I did so because I wanted to make a contribution – to Ireland’s recovery, to restoring pride in our country at home and to working to repair Ireland’s reputation on the world stage.
We all know that the next president will hold office at a time when we all are coping with the mistakes of the recent past whilst rebuilding our fractured economy and society anew. These are mammoth tasks.
However, for every day of my adult life I’ve worked alongside people whose challenge it has been to overcome adversity – and they have done it. I have seen endless examples of courage, grace, skill and great concentration. It has taught me, again and again, that we can all overcome obstacles that are put in front of us.
This experience has formed my vision for the presidency. The powers of the president are carefully set out in our Constitution.
As a member of the Council of State, appointed by President McAleese in 2004, I have seen at first hand how the president must, above all, work to protect Bunreacht na hÉireann.
But, for me, the presidency is also about influence. It’s about using your voice as president to speak for all of the people of Ireland, especially those for whom Ireland has not always been a welcoming place.
It’s about using the office to promote fairness, equality and respect for every person in our country. And, at this time of turbulence and challenge, I believe that it’s about playing a more expansive role on the world stage as a representative for Ireland.
Growing up in Mayo my family didn’t have much, but we had values of respect for people and pride in our community and our country, bonds which have been weakened in recent times.
I want to champion these values again. I want be a president that galvanises people into action, using my voice as president of Ireland to speak about real issues of concern – be it unemployment, mental health and suicide, or the needs of our most vulnerable people.
In recent months I have travelled the length and breadth of Ireland as part of this campaign. I have met inspirational people and seen inspirational things, but I have also been deeply disturbed by examples of exploitation and of a lack of respect for people.
I have met women who have been trafficked into the sex trade, parents of special needs children who have hit a wall in accessing some basic help from the State, families struggling to make ends meet.
The next president cannot stabilise the euro, create jobs or change national spending. But, by using their term and their time to promote core values in everything they do – such as pride in our country and respect for each other – they can promote the kind of new beginning that Ireland needs.
Throughout my career I have dedicated myself to achieving transformational change. When I first began working with people with an intellectual disability in the early 1980s, they were marginalised, patronised and often institutionalised. I set out to change that, working with inspirational communities and volunteers – of every age and background – to achieve a common goal.
More recently I have been responsible for the development of the Special Olympics across 58 countries. I have spent my entire working life driving change at community, national and international levels. My life experience has taught me aspirations are not enough. I believe in being hands on.
These are difficult times for Ireland, but we have seen difficult times in our past and we have come through them. I believe we can again.
If honoured with the role of president, my pledge to the people is to be a practical president in their service and to uphold the values enshrined in our constitution.
Above all, if chosen for this role, I will dedicate all of my abilities to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all of the people of Ireland.
SEÁN GALLAGHER - INDEPENDENT
I AM contesting the presidential election as an Independent candidate because I want to do for enterprise and job creation what President Mary McAleese did for peace.
Fourteen years ago, President McAleese used her theme of “building bridges” to focus on the peace process as it was one of the major challenges facing the country at the time.
Now, the biggest challenge we face is unemployment and consequent emigration.
I want to use my life experience to put enterprise and job creation at the heart of the next presidency.
I have a varied background. I began in farming and agriculture in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan. I have worked as a professional youth and community worker, an interest I developed after I set up my local Foróige club. I have been a public servant, an enterprise worker and entrepreneur.
For the last number of years I have travelled the country mentoring, advising and supporting community, advocacy, and voluntary groups as well as enterprise groups, entrepreneurs, unemployed networks and others. What I have been pained to see is a loss of hope and a loss of self-confidence.
I tell these groups and others that at birth most people can do 10,000 things but my visual impairment meant that I could do 9,000. I have spent my life focusing on the 9,000 things I could do, not the 1,000 I could not.
I want the country to now focus on what we do well. We all have strengths, now is the time to put those strengths to work and come together to help our country recover.
In early July I embarked on a listening tour of the country. I have visited 22 counties and over 70 locations, travelling almost 20,000 kilometres.
I have met people in community halls, enterprise centres, main streets and marts and I have asked them what they want to see in their next president.
The message has been overwhelming. People want a president who is above party politics who can identify with them and be the voice and face of Ireland, not just as we are now, but the Ireland we would like to become.
This should not be a political campaign. We just elected a Government and no one needs a rehash of the political parties jostling for position and percentage.
The people of Ireland deserve more and the office of the president is worthy of more.
As president, at home I would want to highlight and celebrate what is working well. I have visited enterprise centres, business networks and chambers of commerce who are all working so hard to sustain and create jobs in an economic climate where survival is the new success.
Their efforts need to be recognised if they are to inspire others into similar positive action.
Abroad, I would want to work with the Government and every agency of the State to promote Ireland to help attract trade, tourism and inward investment.
As an enterprise executive and entrepreneur, I participated in foreign trade missions where a corresponding State visit by President McAleese was taking place.
I saw first-hand how the President set the tone and atmosphere of the trade mission and I know that I can expand this role.
My emphasis on job creation and enterprise is essential to me because of one key thing – our communities.
As I work in every part of this country, I can see that jobs are the glue that holds our communities together.
Money in the local economy keeps schools open, services running and sports teams on the field and employment gives people a sense of dignity and self-confidence.
I am confident that I can make a positive contribution. But this campaign is not about me, it is about all of us putting our strengths to work to change our communities and country for the better.
I have seen the positive outcomes that are possible, all over this country.
I want to harness that energy, encourage the contribution of others.
Ireland is not just an economy, we are collection of communities and we will rebuild our country, one community at a time.
MICHAEL D HIGGINS - LABOUR PARTY
I HAVE put myself forward for president of Ireland because of my passionate belief in our country and people. I offer both vision and experience as we open a new, transformative, chapter in our shared story.
My own journey has taken me from small farm to factory worker, clerk, student, university teacher, and into the public world where I have worked for equality and social justice.
Travelling tens of thousands of kilometres in recent weeks, I have returned to many places I first visited as a campaigner, debating issues of civil rights, women’s rights and children’s rights, speaking out for peace and against war, playing my part in many of the progressive movements for change in Irish society. The people I have met, in cities and villages, at festivals and football matches, in community halls and centres for the unemployed, have shared their vulnerabilities with me – the fears and concerns they and their families are facing. Yet they have also shared their strengths, hopes and ideas for our country’s future. They, along with the many inspiring community initiatives I have seen throughout Ireland, from Mayo to Ballyfermot, are the seedbed for the transformation we need as a nation.
The vision I am offering is of inclusive citizenship in a creative society, as we build a real Republic that makes us proud to be Irish in the world.
As president I would promote a vibrant, inclusive citizenship and highlight initiatives for inclusion and equality. I believe in a “citizenship floor”, with a level of participation and rights below which no one should fall.
Everyone has a contribution to make – whatever their religion, capacity, origin, orientation or income – and inclusion also means shared responsibility, to each other and to generations yet to come. As president, I would also promote a creative society, combining the best of tradition with the spark of innovation and opening up possibilities in every area of life from education to science to business.
I would encourage creativity in practical ways, something I did as Ireland’s first minister for the arts in the 1990s, establishing TG4 and a network of local arts venues, and helping transform Irish film from an €11 million into a €186 million industry.
I see the same potential today in creative industries from games development to artisan foods. However, creativity is, most importantly, a vital part of citizenship and needs to be supported from the ground up, in our communities and schools. As president, I would encourage access to art, music and self-development for every child.
This is a time for moving past a narrow, individualistic model of economy and society, working together to create something positive and different – a Real Republic, where equality, dignity and participation are the benchmarks.
Next year, its 75th anniversary, will see a major review of our Constitution. As president, I would encourage every citizen to engage with this constitutional convention and reflect on how our Constitution might best serve us all in our shared future.
I would also support further debate by hosting a series of presidential seminars on key issues such as restoring trust in our institutions. The very first seminar will focus on young people and their vision for Ireland and it is my hope that when we commemorate the 1916 Proclamation and other significant anniversaries over the next seven years we may be some steps closer to a Republic that will genuinely “cherish all the children of the nation equally”.
Being Irish in the world is something we should all be proud of.
As president, I would draw on experience representing Ireland as minister, foreign affairs spokesman and advocate for peace and human rights, to strengthen all strands of our international reputation from culture and science to leadership in humanitarian and diplomatic work.
I would also deepen connections with our Irish abroad and Irish networks throughout the globe, from Britain to Canada to China – offering support to emigrants of all ages and also identifying new trade opportunities worldwide.
If elected as president, I will dedicate both head and heart in the service of Ireland. I will be a president who is of the people, for the people and with the people.
DAVID NORRIS - INDEPENDENT
THE CHANGES in our political, social, and cultural landscape since the last presidential election have been enormous. People have been bewildered by the pace of events and the scale of the changes. It is at times of such stress and rapid change that we look to those in high office for leadership and guidance. We look to them for different things, to preserve our values and our dignity, to give us a sense of perspective, stability and continuity.
The requirements of those who need to fill those leadership roles have changed too. Never has the presidency elicited such interest, so many candidates, so much comment. Nor has it come with a tougher job description.
Being president is not about the minutiae of policy and day-to-day decisions, it is about something which has acquired much more importance as boom is followed by gloom.
Those who filled the leadership politicians in the Dáil and Seanad were, sadly, found wanting, both in times of boom and gloom. The response of the electorate was to cast out one party, and elect another in the hope of change.
They were changing one establishment party for another.
Throughout all the debates, financial or social, governments, not only in Ireland, put the preservation of the system and the interest of the establishments above the welfare of the people. This is wrong morally, politically, and practically.
I have friends and good colleagues in every single party and among the Independents, but I think the public should be aware that if a candidate representing a Coalition Government is successful, however admirable the Coalition Government, it will control the local authorities, the entire Oireachtas, both the Dáil and Seanad, automatically and rightly the Army, the air force, the navy and the police; as well as the banks which were clumsily bought by the State against the wishes of the Irish people and against the vote which I cast in Seanad Éireann. If the Coalition takes possession of the presidency it will in effect control every single lever of power in the State.
It would in my opinion, be a mistake to give it such all-encompassing control of the seats of power in Ireland.
We, the people of Ireland, deserve better. The people of Ireland, those who watched the mess being created, are not to blame for the crisis.
Some people who had only a little suddenly had a bit of extra cash in their pockets and enjoyed it for a while. But they didn’t create this mess they are being held responsible for. They need a president who will articulate that, who will put the welfare of the people back at the centre of political culture.
This is no time to banish sections of our population to the margins. We need to bring everyone together, from the margins of society.
I know those margins well. It took everything I had to win respect for those who were consigned to the margins of society. My political life has been spent fighting battles which were unpopular, deprecated and marginalised in their own way by the political establishment.
Now the biggest political battle of my life looms – to win back respect for the ordinary people who have been marginalised en masse by the political elite.
We have been well served by two presidents each of whom have reinvented the role, each in their own way. Changing circumstances may mean it needs to be reinvented again.
Uachtarán Mary Robinson and Uachtarán Mary McAleese served us enormously by taking the role of president and moved it on from where it was, a retirement home for politicians and lawyers, and made it something meaningful for the people of Ireland and those who like to see our nation represented properly at international level.
The role needs to be reinvented once more, to suit the changing times, to make sure that Ireland can hold its collective head high and that in our representation of the island around the world, people will continue to smile when they think of Ireland.
Let us bloom and grow again, celebrating all those the things that made us great before we had two halfpence to rub together, like the great cultural legacy this nation has inherited.
After the boom and the gloom it is time to bloom.
A new bloom, a blossoming of our dignity, a celebration of what we do well and a restoration of pride to our embattled island.
I know I can deliver that.
GAY MITCHELL - FINE GAEL
FROM TRAVELLING the country over the past 12 weeks, I know at first hand how much people want a return to economic prosperity and stability.
It is abundantly clear to me that people want more than material prosperity. They want a happier society as well – something was missing at the height of the recent economic boom.
The country is at a very important crossroads and the decisions we take now will shape the everyday lives of this and future generations. We do not need another Skype generation where parents and loved ones communicate from a distance.
That means making the right choices now. We know that Irish people have kept their confidence in the office of president even when many other institutions lost some of the people’s trust. They see the office of president as something which has given leadership at home and can project a positive image of Ireland overseas.
I want to build on the work of presidents Hillery, Robinson and McAleese by offering continuity and taking on the new challenges of our times. It is shocking that each year we lose some 600 people to death by suicide. That is two planes full of people per year. Why are we not putting this at the very top of the agenda? We must tackle this scourge together and find the way to open a door out of what has been described as a very dark door-less room.
I came into politics over 30 years ago through my voluntary work in the youth club movement. I was inspired by people like Garret FitzGerald and Declan Costello who spoke of the need for a just society. I have always worked hard as a councillor, lord mayor, TD, minister and MEP, by trying to make a difference.
I know how to work within the delimitations of an office but also how to use that office to the full for the common good.
As a member of Dublin City Council I dedicated my energies to improving inner city housing conditions.
Dublin is the only city in the world to have had three Nobel literature prize winners. That is why, as lord mayor, I created the Impac Dublin literary award, the world’s richest award for a single work of fiction which has been presented annually since 1994. I created lord mayor’s commissions and set up one on housing chaired by Garret FitzGerald which produced a report hailed as the best of its kind since 1915.
I reached out beyond my own party to ask Evelyn Owens to chair a commission on city council reform and Mr Justice Michael Moriarty to head a commission on tackling crime.
In the Dáil, I led reform in promoting value for taxpayers’ money by controlling public spending. Business Finance credited me with injecting new power and rigour into the roles of the comptroller and auditor general and the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. Last October the Institute of Public Administration published my book, By Dáil Account – Auditing of Government Past, Present Future,which sets out reforms to implement 21st century best practice and make our parliament a world leader in holding government accountable. If the Oireachtas functions properly there will less need of tribunals. As minister of state at the Departments of Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs, I accompanied president Robinson on numerous overseas visits and also accompanied taoiseach John Bruton to all EU leaders’ summits. I know the job of president well and how it can be used to promote Ireland abroad.
My experience representing Ireland’s interests abroad has been enhanced by seven years in the European Parliament where I have worked hard on the development committee and the economic and monetary committee. In September 2010 the Brussels-based Parliament Magazinenamed me “‘MEP of the Year”. I know how the EU works and how important networking and quietly influencing decision makers really is, and how to do it in Ireland’s interests.
I believe that every right brings with it a responsibility, and harnessing the enterprising spirit can create the wealth for socially just public services. I hereby declare my resolve “to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation” as the 1916 Proclamation states. As we approach 2016 we need a president with experience, a sense of innovation, belief and direction who can help us towards meeting these twin objectives. I believe I can be that president and, if elected, that will be my mission.
DANA ROSEMARY SCALLON - INDEPENDENT
THIS PRESIDENTIAL election is unlike any other that went before. We are faced with a time of crisis fiscally, economically and socially and at the heart of this many thousands of families are haunted by the spectre of renewed emigration, which brings its own particular sorrow and raises ghosts from the past.
I know what it is to be an emigrant myself and sadly, as in thousands of homes today, my daughter and her family were recently forced to leave Ireland to seek work and opportunity abroad. Among other things, my presidency will be one that seeks to bring home the nation’s children and families and I will do all in my power to ensure we do not have a new generation of “the forgotten Irish”.
Ireland’s economic woes are not insurmountable; a solution must be found within our lives, within the grasp of our own destiny. To our advantage, we have the unique creative nature of the Irish people, the good humour, the diligence and perseverance which will pay off and our country can return once more to economic health and well-being. I believe this to be true and I believe that I am the candidate who can personify Ireland emerging victorious from this storm.
We must remember that Ireland is a rich country – rich in its history, culture, in arts, music and most of all rich in her educated, capable and determined people. I, in my own life, have embraced this cultural heritage and identity and I intend, if the people of Ireland so choose, to harness and bring these qualities to the forefront of the minds of our international trading partners.
The president must represent Ireland abroad as the personification of the Irish State, our culture and our innovativeness. For the past 41 years I have been honoured to be an unofficial international ambassador for my country in the world of music and the arts, as well as being elected to serve Ireland at the Europe Parliament as an MEP, an experience which has fitted me for a role in the international forum.
Because of this I have a considerable reputation and experience in levels of international affairs of government and diplomacy; characteristics required in the prominent representative of our country – the president.
Diplomacy is an art which is not learned solely in politics, it is also learned through the trials and tribulations of life. Life experience has shown the benefits of “turning the other cheek” of accepting and celebrating differences and embracing change. Liberal sectarianism has no role in modern Irish society, nor has any other kind of sectarianism.
Growing up in the north of our island, I am intimately aware of the challenges that intolerance can bring. As a businesswoman and entertainer, I have transcended many barriers, drawing support from all sectors of communities both in my political and business careers.
My presidency will be about inclusiveness and overcoming barriers. I will be an ambassador for Ireland internationally embracing our Irish diaspora throughout the world and highlighting the unique opportunities available in the Irish economy which will continue to make Ireland a destination of choice for foreign multinationals. As president I would be the ultimate international trade envoy, with a spirit, personality, vigour and enthusiasm that will ensure Ireland is identified positively as a country with values, with a strong work ethic, with a capable and productive work force which would be attractive and profitable to foreign to international trading partners and investors.
I will above all be the president of Ireland, a head of state involved with the concerns of the people and who will listen to their concerns and actively engage with them, within the powers afforded to me. The threat of poverty, deprivation and the inequity of debt has once again raised its head in our country. I intend to be a president for the people; a voice for those who feel vulnerable, ignored or forgotten in Irish society. These vulnerable groups which include children and families, the aged, the infirm and the sick, deserve the full panoply of protections afforded them by our great Constitution of which I will be an ardent protector.
MARTIN McGUINNESS - SINN FÉIN
THE PRESIDENTIAL election is taking place at a time of deep challenge for Ireland and its people. We are facing one of the toughest periods of our history.
The economic and fiscal crisis has resulted in huge hardship for so many citizens.
The crisis is affecting people of all backgrounds the length and breadth of the island.
Families are struggling to pay their mortgages, parents are fighting to get proper educational support for their children and access to basic healthcare when they need it. People are searching for work. Tens of thousands of our young people are leaving our shores.
Ordinary people are angry at the culture of greed and selfishness and disastrous government policies which contributed to the crisis. They are angry at the loss of sovereignty to the IMF and the EU. Many citizens are in despair and losing hope.
It is time for a president who will stand up for Ireland and the Irish people. It is time that hope was restored.
We can bring about change but we have to get back to core values based on the rights of citizens. In this election I am standing on a platform of hope, of change, of strong representation and of leadership.
I am standing on my record as someone who has already been central in bringing huge change to Ireland, particularly in the North. If elected president, I believe that I can be a catalyst for real change throughout Ireland – change that is urgently needed.
In government I have demonstrated my ability to work constructively with the representatives of unionism. The successful working relationship I developed with Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson symbolises my political philosophy: that nothing is impossible and no problem is unsolvable.
Ireland needs the same sort of approach now. Ireland needs a new beginning and I do new beginnings.
The presidency can and should be a platform to continue to build the peace process and to serve a process of national reconciliation.
I would continue the example of President McAleese in ensuring that Áras an Uachtaráin is an open house for those from the unionist community and for those sections of our society who have been marginalised.
I will use the presidency to bring people North and South together. I will be a president for people in all 32 counties of Ireland and for the Irish diaspora across the world.
If honoured by the people by being elected president of my country I will be a people’s president and will put the people’s interest first.
I will only take home the average wage and will return the rest to the Irish people.
I will uphold the Constitution, stand up for Ireland and stand up for Irish sovereignty. I will use my experience to continue to be a strong advocate for Ireland internationally.
I will make creating opportunities for employment a cornerstone of my presidency.
This election is about leadership. I have been through tough times and I’ve shown my character – I’ve shown that I’m willing to stand up and be counted, to stand up for what is right and I will bring that passion and integrity to this post.
Understandably, many citizens are alienated from politics and political life. Now is the time to ensure that all political institutions are made more relevant and open to the people. The archaic rules for nominating presidential candidates, highlighted in this election, must be changed. The challenges that Ireland now faces mean that we need a real discussion on what type of a country we wish to build for the future.
We need a national conversation about constructing a new republic on this island – a republic that puts the interests of its citizens first and foremost.
As president, I intend to lead that important national conversation. |
A rhinoceros featured in a popular wildlife television series has been put down by veterinarians in Zimbabwe, after it was critically wounded by poachers.
The eight-year-old rhino was shot multiple times by an assault rifle last Tuesday in Matopos national park in southern Zimbabwe, said Bhejane Trust, an animal conservation group in Zimbabwe.
For nearly a week, the rhino, named Ntombi, suffered from deep bullet wounds in three of her legs and in her right shoulder. She also sustained a front broken leg.
“She has lived a week of indescribable agony,” Bhejane Trust said Monday.
The Bhejane Trust said it is offering “a substantial reward” for information leading to the arrest of the poachers who shot Ntombi.
Poachers have killed more than 150 rhinos in Zimbabwe during the past five years, according to Lowveld Rhino Trust, a Zimbabwean rhino conservation group.
National parks officials and conservationists are fighting to protect Zimbabwe’s population of about 800 rhinos. But such efforts are an uphill battle, as parks authorities say there is insufficient money and equipment to conduct extensive patrols in search of poachers.
Ntombi, who left behind a calf that had just been weaned, appeared on the 2011 Animal Planet television show, “Karina: Wild On Safari.” |
Python multiprocessing is different under Linux and Windows
Date: 14 May 2010 Tags: computing, python
One of the great recent advances in the Python Standard Library is the addition of the multiprocessing module, maintained by Jesse Noller who has also blogged and written about several other concurrency approaches for Python — Kamaelia, Circuits, and Stackless Python.
I have wanted to try the multiprocessing module out for some time, and now have a consulting project that will really benefit from multiple processes: they will let our application run third-party plugins without having to worry that any bugs or indiscretions which they commit might damage or hang our main server, which can remain safe in another process.
First, one can only stand in awe at the achievement — and the amount of work — that the multiprocessing module represents. I cannot imagine the time that it would have taken our team to figure out all of the differences between Linux and Windows when it comes to processes, shared memory, and concurrency mechanisms. In fact, the approach we are taking might not even have been feasible under those circumstances. By figuring out how to get locks, queues, and shared data structures all working cleanly on such different architectures, the multiprocessing authors save Python programmers out on the street like me from reinventing a dozen wheels when we need to support multi-platform concurrency.
Well, almost.
There is one rather startling difference which the multiprocessing module does not hide: the fact that while every Windows process must spin up independently of the parent process that created it, Linux supports the fork(2) system call that creates a child processes already in possession of exactly the same resources as its parent: every data structure, open file, and database connection that existed in the parent process is still sitting there, open and ready to use, in the child. Consider this small program:
from multiprocessing import Process f = None def child (): print f if __name__ == '__main__' : f = open ( 'mp.py' , 'r' ) p = Process ( target = child ) p . start () p . join ()
On Linux, the open file f keeps its value in the child process; the child has inherited an open connection from its parent:
$ python mp . py < open file ' mp . py ' , mode 'r' at 0xb7734ac8 >
Under Windows, however, where the multiprocessing module has to spawn a fresh copy of the Python interpreter to which it gives special instructions to just run the function f() , the module is a clean slate without an open file inside:
C: \ Users \ brandon \ dev > python mp . py None
Now, my complaint is not exactly that the multiprocessing documentation is misleading on this point; under its section on Programming guidelines, it makes it quite clear that:
On Unix a child process can make use of a shared resource created in a parent process using a global resource. However, it is better to pass the object as an argument to the constructor for the child process.
I have no quarrel with this advice; if I am careful to pass everything the child needs in its list of arguments, then I can be sure that my code will work under both Linux and Windows.
But I do wish that the multiprocessing module provided more support for testing this condition more rigorously under Linux. In particular, I wish that there were some way of turning the simple forking logic off — of saying, “Yes, I know that Linux will let you create a child process very simply using fork(2), but for my sanity would you please create the child process from scratch like you do under Windows so that I can test whether my code accidentally depends on residual state from the parent process that I did not see that I was using?” I looked at the multiprocessing "forking.py" module to see whether I could turn on the Windows-style process spawning even from inside of Linux, but the mechanism is chosen by a bare module-level check of "sys.platform" and if I overwrite that variable with 'win32' the code then dies when it tries to import "msvcrt" which is available only under Windows.
There is, thus, even in principle, no way that I can test my multiprocessing application under Linux which will give me any assurance that my child processes are not accidentally taking advantage of data structures and open connections left lying around by the parent process; only by actually moving over to Windows itself can I see how my child code really behaves on its own. I have created a feature request in the Python bug tracker to see whether this situation can be improved.
But even with this one inconvenience — which is troubling me much less, now that I at least understand why my application was behaving so differently under Windows — the multiprocessing module is still a huge leap forwards for Python programmers who need to run code in heavyweight processes with all of the isolation and safety that they provide. Thanks again to Jesse and the multiprocessing team!
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Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna told The World Game the club would make a final decision on whether to seriously pursue the off-contract Spaniard once their budget for next season was clear.
MCkinna confirmed he had recently been approached by a third party asking if Newcastle would be interested in making a play for Castro.
"We showed interest, but that's as far as it has gone at this stage. Now it's sitting there as something we may further investigate," he said.
"We got an idea of what it would take, which is obviously a substantial amount of money and we knew that would be the case anyway, but we fished.
"If we're going to do better we have to try to get players like a Castro.
"It's just an informal thing at this stage. It wasn't Castro's actual agent we spoke to, but sometimes there is more than one person involved in a process like this and it's someone we're familiar with in this case. We gave him authority to ask questions on our behalf. It happens all the time in the UK.
"Now we're just sitting back and reflecting and we're going to get this weekend out of the way and see where we go after that.
"We have to get a final budget from the owner, weigh things up and decide if we can press for a player like him."
McKinna said Newcastle's Chinese owner Martin Lee, chairman of the Ledman Group, had pledged to make more money available to buy players for next season. The Jets currently have no marquee players.
Castro is in his second season as a marquee player at Perth. He won the Johnny Warren Medal as the best player in the competition last season and is in the running for the award again this campaign.
When he re-signed for this season it was reported the deal was believed to be worth $500,000.
Newcastle fell to last place on the table when they lost 2-0 to Central Coast Mariners last weekend.
They need to at least get a draw against runaway leaders Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Saturday to have a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.
Since making the grand final in the 2001-08 season, the Jets have not been a force in the A-League.
McKinna said the fact they were considering making a big play for Castro was proof of the club's intent to lift the team's fortunes.
Castro said in an interview last week he would wait until this season ended before deciding on his future.
Glory are very keen to keep him and owner Tony Sage said the club wouldn't try to rush him into a decision.
McKinna said Castro's age - he turns 35 in July - wouldn't be a factor in their decision on whether to make him an offer.
"He's one of the special ones in the A-League," McKinna said. |
If you’re in Iceland right now you will notice that it’s snowing quite heavily. The Icelandic Met Office has issued a warning and says there will be no travel weather tomorrow, Friday the 24th of February.
This happens quite frequently in Iceland but don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do in Reykjavík that are indoors and will not be cancelled due to weather.
Gone in 60 minutes
Reykjavík Escape in Borgartún, not far from down town Reykjavík, offers escape rooms which require you to solve clues and get out of a room in 60 minutes.
You can choose from different rooms that are all really challenging and are perfect for groups, small or big. Especially if you want to see how someone performs under pressure.
Click here for the Taken room, here for the Scientist room, here for the Prison Break room and here for the Hangover room.
History and beer unite
Iceland’s oldest brewery, Ölgerðin, has a tour called Taste the Sagas. In the tour you will learn about Icelandic drinking habits and brews, while having a really, really good time. And lots of alcohol!
So instead of wandering the streets with your boots filled with snow or getting bored in a hotel room, you can pop over to Ölgerðin, have a beer and a laugh and learn something while you’re at it.
Sounds like a plan? Then click here for the tour.
More beer… and food
Wake up Reykjavík is another company that offers dining related tours, where you can choose from going on a food walk, learning about beer or enjoying yourself on a really entertaining pub crawl, where you experience Icelandic nightlife first hand.
If you’re up for a food tour, click here, if it’s a beer tour you’re after, click here and if you want to hop from bar to bar, click here.
Wonderful world of chocolate
Icelandic chocolate factory Omnom has a lovely tour of their factory every weekday at 2 PM. The tour only takes about an hour but that hour is jam-packed with knowledge about chocolate and lots and lots of tasting glorious chocolate, handmade by Omnom.
For only 3000 ISK per adult you really get an insight into the wonderful world of chocolate making and indulge in some seriously delicious (and expensive) chocolate.
Click here to check out the chocolate factory tour. |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected Pentagon cost-cutting proposals on Thursday with a $601 billion election-year defense policy bill that offered bigger military pay raises and blocked a politically tough bid to eliminate planes, ships and bases.
The U.S. Capitol dome is pictured in the pre-dawn darkness in this general view taken in Washington, October 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The chamber voted 325-98 to pass the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which rejected Pentagon plans to save tens of billions of dollars over the next five years as the department tries to meet a congressional mandate to cut nearly $1 trillion in defense spending over a decade.
Debate over the bill underscored the differences between Pentagon supporters reluctant to give up aging, proven weapons systems in the face of budget pressures, and those who warn that keeping the systems will deprive the military of funds it needs to maintain a balanced, well-trained and ready force.
Representative Buck McKeon, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, noted the panel had to make hard choices. The defense sector provides good jobs, he said, but because of the cuts “a lot of those jobs have gone away and our defense has been weakened.”
But Representative Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House panel, questioned whether lawmakers had really grappled with the problem, noting in debate on Wednesday night that looking at budget issues, “we ducked every single one of them.”
“We are going to have substantially less money over the next 10 years for defense than we thought,” he said.
“How are we going to restructure our defense plans to deal with the fact? ... The answer in this bill is we’re not going to deal with it this year. We’re going to hope things get better and maybe deal with it next year,” said Smith, who said he supported the measure despite its weaknesses.
The legislation, which must be reconciled with a Senate version before going to the president for his signature, bars the Pentagon from eliminating the popular A-10 Warthog close-air support plane and the high-altitude U-20 spy plane.
The measure rejects a Pentagon plan to lay up 14 Navy ships, including 11 cruisers, for maintenance due to funding shortages. It forces the department to prepare for the midlife overhaul and refueling of the nuclear carrier USS George Washington, which the Navy was considering retiring over budget constraints.
The House also authorized spending for five more Boeing EA-18G “Growler” electronic warfare planes than the Pentagon had sought.
And it offered most uniformed military personnel a bigger-than-requested 1.8 percent pay increase while rejecting other Pentagon efforts to curb the growth in compensation costs, which now make up more than half its budget.
To offset the increased spending, the House cut money from Pentagon accounts used to pay for maintenance, training and other activities to ensure troops are ready to go into combat. Those accounts were hit hard in previous years, and the Pentagon
was trying to rebuild readiness by cutting spending elsewhere. |
Pak Hon-yong (Hangul: 박헌영, Hanja:朴憲永, 28 May 1900 – December 1955?) was a Korean independence activist, politician, philosopher and Communist activist. One of the main leaders of the Korean communist movement during Japan's colonial rule (1910–45). His nickname was Ijong (이정) and Ichun (이춘), his courtesy name being Togyong (덕영).
During the Japanese occupation of Korea, he tried to organize the Korean Communist Party. When the Japanese authorities cracked down on the party, he went into hiding. After Korea's liberation, August 1945, he set up the Communist Party of Korea in the South, but under pressure from American authorities he moved to North Korea in April 1948. He attended a meeting with Kim Gu and Kim Kyu-sik on the subject of Korean reunification. He participated in collaboration with Kim Il-sung in the Korean War. In 1955, he was executed by Kim Il-sung's security forces as an American spy.[1]
Life [ edit ]
Early life [ edit ]
Pak was born to a yangban family of the Yeonghae Park lineage in Sinyang-myeon, Yesan County, Chungcheongnam-do. However, he was the illegitimate son of a concubine.
In 1919, he graduated from Kyŏngsŏng Ordinary High School, now Kyunggi High School.[2] In March 1919, he was involved in the March 1st Movement and later independence movements.
Political activities [ edit ]
In 1921, he joined the Shanghai branch of the Communist Party of Korea, Irkutsk faction. At this time, he was secretary of the Korean Communist Youth League. In January 1922, he participated in the Comintern Far East People's Representative Council in Moscow.
Pak Hon-yong was arrested in Korea in April 1922 and was charged with being a Communist Party organizer. He was released in 1924 and became active as a reporter for the newspapers Dong-a Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo.
Underground [ edit ]
On 18 April 1925, Pak Hon-yong became one of the founders of the Communist Party of Korea. From this point until the end of World War II his activities were clandestine.
In 1926, he appeared in court. During the trial, he feigned insanity and ate feces, with the result that he was acquitted in November of that year. Afterwards, he was confined to his home due to his supposed ill-health, but in December he escaped by way of Manchuria to reach the Soviet Union. It was only then that the Japanese realized that he was feigning madness.
In the Soviet Union, he was educated in Communism, returning home in 1940. Back in Korea, he was active in the resistance to Japanese rule.
After World War II [ edit ]
Late in August 1945, the Communist Party of Korea was re-established, having been officially disbanded in 1928, and Pak became its secretary. On 5 January 1946, as its representative, he announced at a foreign and domestic press conference that, supporting the decision of the Moscow conference of great powers (UK, US, Soviet Union), Korea was now in the process of a "democratic revolution".
In December 1946, he organized the Workers Party of South Korea, and became its first secretary.
South and North Korea negotiations and life in North Korea [ edit ]
In April 1948, he visited North Korea for negotiations, along with Kim Gu and Kim Kyu-sik. In May 1948, the negotiations ended, and he remained in the North.
In September 1948, while keeping his role as secretary of the Workers' Party of South Korea, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of North Korea.[1]
Pak Hon-yong became secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea when the North and South parties united in April 1950. Pak was the vice chairman of the Politburo of the DPRK from 1949 to 1953.[1] Pak was Foreign Minister of the DPRK until he was ousted and arrested in 1953.[1]
Arrest and death [ edit ]
Pak Hon-yong, 1952.
Pak Hon-yong was arrested on 3 August 1953 in a purge of the formers members of the Workers' Party of South Korea by Kim Il-sung.[1] On 15 December 1955, he was sentenced to death for espionage. The date of Pak's death is uncertain, though sources suggest that he was executed that same month.[3][4][5]
Works [ edit ]
Modern society and our duty
Historical viewed of Christian inner
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ] |
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