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Fernando Alonso catches some rays at Interlagos
Ron Dennis says he saw the funny side of Fernando Alonso sunbathing at the Brazilian GP, despite one of 2015's most memorable moments coming after another breakdown of McLaren's car.
Pictures of Alonso sitting in a deckchair at the side of the Interlagos track during qualifying last month quickly went viral on social media with #PlacesAlonsoWouldRatherBe trending on Twitter as the image of the sun-seeking Spaniard was cropped into numerous different scenes.
The image is one of many that has come to define McLaren's wretched 2015, which they finished in ninth place in the Constructors' Championship, but Dennis, McLaren's chairman, insists he had no problem with it.
"I chuckled to myself, to be honest," Dennis told F1's official website. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. There's nothing wrong with a bit of humour.
"And Fernando is as hard-working as he is talented, be in no doubt of that. He's matured enormously since he last drove for us, eight years ago, and he's now one of the most complete drivers I've ever had the privilege of working with.
"He has what I often refer to as the four e's that all racing drivers should aspire to cultivate: energy, enthusiasm, expertise and experience."
Having grown disenchanted with Ferrari following five years at Maranello in which he twice missed out on the world title in the final race, two-time champion Alonso rarely even finished in the points in his first season back at McLaren as the team's Honda-powered MP4-30 proved both uncompetitive and unreliable.
Although the likelihood of Alonso seeing out his three-year contract at Woking continues to be the source of media debate, Dennis says that the Spaniard was fully aware of the challenge ahead when he rejoined the team last winter - and remains as enthusiastic as ever to help them turn the situation around and reap the eventual rewards.
Alonso spent plenty of time stranded at the side of tracks in 2015
"Fernando's contract is of three years' duration - no performance clauses, no nothing," Dennis said.
"He always knew that 2015 would be a learning year. He knows equally well that, together with Honda, we'll make big improvements. So he joined us with open eyes.
"Together with the expertise and experience he's cultivated over the past 15 years spent racing in Formula One, he still bristles with energy and enthusiasm. He's had better years than 2015, obviously; but he knows that great years lie ahead of him, with McLaren-Honda." | {
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HOUMA, La. — If Houston gets serious about preventing massive damage the next time it floods, it may need to learn a lesson from its neighbors in this oil and gas town, just 15 miles up the road from Louisiana’s historic bayou communities.
This town’s residents—roughnecks, shrimpers, shipbuilders and small-business owners—aren’t typically the joining type. And yet dozens have recently begun showing up for an unusual discussion group underwritten by the state and federal government, and dedicated to a question very difficult to grapple with: What happens when the next hurricane hits, sending bayous rising and inundating the most flood-prone homes, and people start moving here?
Permanently relocating people is the third rail of disaster planning, the aspect no one—especially politicians—wants to talk about. Local zoning and development decisions have encouraged millions of people to move into floodplains, and federal insurance policies and disaster aid have bailed them out time and again. But as these storms become increasingly costly, and climate change promises to make them more so, it becomes harder to avoid the bigger topic: There are places where people simply shouldn’t live anymore.
Relocation is politically toxic; handled centrally, it is disruptive and interventionist, the kind of move that foments revolutions. But as the state of Louisiana mounts a massive battle against the rising tide, planning and funding ambitious efforts to restore buffering wetlands and build levees and floodgates, it is also beginning to acknowledge to residents that even their best efforts will not be enough—and is asking them to think about what comes next.
With the help of $92.6 million in federal grant money, Louisiana’s Office of Community Development has launched a first-of-its-kind effort to help communities across the state prepare for the tumult to come. Rising waters and escalating flood insurance rates will drive thousands of families farther inland, the state predicts, leaving behind homes they’ve known for generations and places that have fundamentally shaped their identities. But those refugees aren’t the only ones who will experience change. Communities like Houma will experience their own jarring transition as they receive an influx of waterlogged neighbors. Houma sits high enough that it’s less likely to drown in a hurricane, and thanks to its industrial base, could more easily win additional levees and flood protection.
Top: The old Boudreaux Canal School, which has closed since the population of Chauvin has steadily dropped. Bottom: The cemetery at St Joseph Catholic Church, north of Chauvin along Bayou Petit Caillou. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
“This is the first time that I can remember that a group came in and said it’s not going to be all right,” said Jonathan Foret, sitting in the living room of the 88-year-old home he pours his weekends into restoring, which was once owned by the wealthy fur trader his grandfather trapped for in the southern marshes. Foret, whose family goes back generations in Terrebonne Parish, quickly signed on to be a local discussion leader for the state’s effort.
Relocation has already shaped Foret’s family in ways that many Gulf families can understand. His father was born in Cocodrie, Louisiana, an old Cajun fishing village on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Foret grew up 15 miles north in Chauvin, his mother’s hometown, where the water of Bayou Petit Caillou serves as the town’s true main street, and locals recognize each other’s comings and goings by their hulking, hand-built shrimp boats. But after Hurricane Juan flooded the family home in 1985, Foret’s parents decided it was time to move farther inland still, scoping out the dry ground one community north in Bourg.
When Foret, 40, was ready to buy property himself five years ago, he turned his eyes farther north yet, to Houma, 30 miles from the rich, still bayous his ancestors plied.
Migration is nothing new for Cajun families like Foret’s, many of whom were driven first from France, then from their adoptive home in Canada’s maritime provinces in the 1700s before settling here among the marshes and moss of coastal Louisiana. But over the next two generations it will happen at an alarming scale, as the twin challenges of sinking land and rising seas overtake ancestral homes at breakneck speed. In 50 years, the state estimates Terrebonne Parish, whose name means “good earth” in the French that some of its residents still speak, will lose 41 percent of its land mass.
The goal of the new planning effort, dubbed Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments, or LA Safe, is to head off the worst-case scenario in which people move out of flood-prone areas only once they’ve lost everything, and arrive en masse in communities that aren’t ready to absorb them. It’s a scenario with precedent: After Hurricane Katrina, entire neighborhoods from south and east of New Orleans relocated to the affluent bedroom communities of Covington and Mandeville, north of Lake Pontchartrain, straining schools, clogging roads and leading to resentment among some longtime residents. As far away as Houston, residents complained about “Katrina refugees” sapping local resources.
Jonathan Foret, the Executive Director of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, holds a pet nutria named Beignet that he uses in educational programming. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
Mathew Sanders, who is leading the project for Louisiana’s Community Development Office, said LA Safe is meant to be a first step in figuring out how to help communities live on a smaller footprint of land, without losing their wealth and their cultures in the process—if that’s even possible.
“We’re asking communities to think through, based on environmental changes, based on projected flood risk, what will this community legitimately look like at year 10, at year 25, at year 50?” he said.
The planning effort makes up half of the federal grant; the other half is focused on relocating the highly flood-prone Native American community of Isle de Jean Charles—the worst-case scenario that planners are hoping LA Safe can help avoid in the future.
In Terrebonne and other coastal parishes, Sanders’ team has been identifying corridors that are expected to remain high and dry over the next half century and are ripe for growth, as well as areas that could lose their tax bases as rising waters and increasing flood insurance rates drive most locals out. Then they’re using community meetings like the ones Foret helps lead to ask residents what types of projects, from cultural centers to housing developments, might help ease that transition. By the end of the year, some of those projects will be selected for seed funding from the $40 million pot of federal funds.
The idea is that LA Safe will not just offer Louisiana communities some progress in dealing with their looming challenges, but that it will also serve a model to other regions of the country facing similar futures, as climate change drives sea levels higher and exacerbates flooding in communities from Houston to Miami to Norfolk, Virginia. After Hurricane Katrina laid bare the state’s coastal vulnerabilities, Louisiana has become a leader in resiliency planning, even building a $60 million “water campus” that it hopes will serve as a resource for communities like Houston.
***
But even just starting a conversation like this with residents is something that many governments are afraid to undertake. Losing people means losing a tax base and constituents—something no politician would want. And the policies quickly get tangled up in both climate-change politics and the interests of powerful lobbies like local developers. In North Carolina, a state science report predicted sea-level rise as high as 39 inches within a century—and the Legislature outlawed its use, after an outcry from real estate developers and residents. Planners in vulnerable communities around the country tend to rely on the lowest-risk scenarios for fear they’ll alienate locals and provoke a political backlash if they use even middle-of-the-road projections.
Top: A levee construction project in Lower Lafourche Parish. Bottom: Windell Curole, of the South Lafourche Levee District, stands at a levee construction project in Lower Lafourche Parish. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
The Louisiana planners had a leg up, since the environmental changes here have been so swift that many residents have seen land lost in their own lifetimes. Still, Sanders’ team knew the effort would work only if the solutions came out of the communities themselves. To that end, they’ve partnered with the nonprofit Foundation for Louisiana, a major funder and organizer of community development work across the state, for help identifying the pastors, school board members, respected neighbors and other crucial community leaders who could give the project legitimacy. They also provide transportation and child care to help people make it to the meetings, and offer food as an enticement.
Another challenge: figuring out how to help residents understand the forecasts well enough to consider making big, disruptive changes in their lives. The complex projections that drive planning for future sea-level rise and land loss can befuddle even scientists.
“How do we actually present this very challenging, sometimes divisive information? How is it discussed in a way that is accessible and digestible and takes into account literacy rates and linguistic barriers?” asked Liz Williams, Coastal Community Resilience Director for the Foundation for Louisiana. Before partnering with the state, Williams led a pilot project in Plaquemines Parish, along the tail end of the Mississippi River before it drops off into the Gulf, to develop the maps and other tools now being used in LA Safe. These materials are meant to be straightforward and user friendly, for instance, rather than using red to signify areas primed for land loss, as the coastal authority’s maps do, they use blue to show that those areas will soon be water.
By the end of June, the planners had held a pair of meetings in each of the communities across the six parishes targeted by LA Safe, including in Terrebonne Parish, and had begun plotting residents’ ideas on maps that also overlay current development and infrastructure as well as future flood risk.
In 50 years, some areas are expected to be under 12 feet of water during a so-called 100-year storm—the kind with a 1 percent chance of hitting any given year, used as the linchpin of disaster planning. Ideas for projects there are largely recreation-based. Recognizing that these regions aren’t likely to have many year-round residents left, the suggestions aim to keep some economic activity going by building boat ramps and nature centers that could draw weekend visitors. Farther north, in Houma and above, swaths of orange highlight the beginnings of growth corridors on the map, where residents are eager to see restaurants and small businesses that could bolster new, bigger populations.
Once these ideas are refined—the planners intend to take them back through several more rounds of review with residentsthey’ll be something that the state knows how to work with.
Sanders’ office routinely does Main Street revitalization programs, mixed-use development deals, job training and small-business incubators. “If we understand the types of economic development, and more importantly the sectors and the corridors that we need to localize that development within, then at that point we’re really talking about more traditional community development techniques,” he said.
Local residents throw cast nets into the water along Bayou Sale Road in Lower Terrebonne Parish. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
One of the goals in this sort of proactive planning is to keep housing prices in the high-and-dry areas from skyrocketing beyond the reach of people migrating from flood-prone regions, who may have lost significant amounts of wealth in the process.
That’s a major concern for Donald Bogen, a pastor and community activist who lives in the northern Terrebonne community of Thibodaux, where new gated communities advertise “higher elevations” on bright banners facing the highway. He said he’s worked with several elderly residents from the lower parts of the parish who are no longer able to rebuild after each storm and are eager to move north. But, he said, they have given up on the idea after looking at housing prices and realizing they can’t afford it.
“The developers, they’re not stupid. They see what’s going to happen. But they’re going to price the older people out,” Bogen said.
Moreover, he argued, people who have to abandon flood-prone homes are apt to arrive with credit issues, and may not even be able to afford a rental, let alone a new house. Up until now, he said, the community has been able to absorb these handful of newcomers, with friends and relatives welcoming them into their homes. “But if you’re looking at 20 people over the next four years, that’s going to be a real strain,” he said.
Left: The Chauvin floodwall and lock system in Terrebonne Parish. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue stands on a walkway on the Bubba Dove floodgate in Terrebonne Parish. Zeringue is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 52 in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in south Louisiana. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
Can any planning effort really avoid this fundamental economic problem? “The short answer is, we don’t know,” Sanders acknowledged. “What we have is essentially $96.2 million in research and development capital.”
***
Success, however, could come with its own set of controversies. If the state finds ways of making relocation cheaper and smoother, at some point it will become harder to make the case for pouring tens of billions of dollars into levees and floodgates meant to help keep withering coastal communities livable.
While Louisiana is making progress on its $50 billion coastal master plan, aimed at stemming the tide of wetlands loss and protecting over the next 50 years, the fight is getting only tougher. What had been the worst-case scenario for land loss when the Legislature passed its 2012 version of the master plan became the best-case scenario in the latest version, approved by the Legislature in June, thanks to updated sea-level rise estimates. Meanwhile the cash-strapped state has only a fraction of the dollars needed to fund it.
Left: Dirk Guidry sits in his pizza restaurant in the bayou town of Chauvin. Right: A map of the Morganza to the Gulf levee system hangs on the wall at Dirk Guidry's pizza restaurant. | William Widmer for Politico Magazine
In Chauvin, Dirk Guidry, 61, has seen the consequences firsthand. After traveling the world with the Air Force, Guidry returned home, opening up a pizza restaurant just down the road from the two-bedroom house his grandmother was raised in with 10 siblings. But the landmarks of his childhood are slowly disappearing, baseball fields and cow pastures replaced by open water edging in closer and closer to the road.
As a member of the parish council, he has fought hard for a massive flood protection system, including by persuading residents in this staunchly conservative region to approve taxes to help fund it, and he can’t quite shake the hope that the federal government might yet come to the rescue.
But the parish can’t hold off forever, he knows. It recently closed two elementary schools in the lower part of the community, consolidating the students into a larger school farther north. And Guidry is spearheading an effort to do the same thing with the parish’s libraries, closing those that are prone to flooding and building a larger, parish-wide one farther north. “Everything’s moving further up,” he said with a shake of the head.
Guidry himself has no plans to go anywhere. He’s already bought a burial plot in the family cemetery and says he’ll “go down with the rest of them” when it’s under water one day. But he doesn’t want the same for his daughters, one 20, the other 37 with three children of her own.
“Would I ever encourage one of my kids to build down here?” he asked. “No. I love it down here, but you have to be smart about it.” | {
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Marc Debnam/Digital Vision/Getty Images
The placement of the wedding ring on the fourth finger is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. In Western cultures, the ring is typically placed on the fourth finger of the left hand, but in some cultures, it is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the right hand. The tradition is based on cultural beliefs as well as religious practices.
The Facts
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In the modern world, wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger is a cultural norm. Although some cultures favor the left hand and some favor the right hand, the fourth finger is almost always the chosen finger for the wedding ring.
History
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Ancient Romans believed the vein in the fourth or “ring” finger of the left hand led directly to the heart. They called this vein the “vena amoris,” meaning the “vein of love.” It is generally accepted that this began the practice of placing the wedding finger on the fourth finger of the left hand. To put this into historical perspective, the Roman Empire began as early as 750 B.C. and collapsed around 476 A.D. In addition, historical Christian wedding ceremonies included a ring exchange where the groom recited, starting at the thumb, “In the name of the Father,” then the first finger, “and the Son,” then the second finger, “and the Holy Ghost,” and finally, placing the ring on the fourth finger, “Amen.”
Significance
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The wedding ring’s placement is significant because it is a symbol of marriage. A ring on any other finger does not have the power to evoke the knowledge that a particular person is married. The idea of the “vena amoris” signifies that the marriage is founded on love. The Christian wedding tradition of the blessing of the ring on the fourth finger is religiously significant.
Geography
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The wedding ring is commonly placed on the fourth finger of the left hand in most Western traditions, except in some countries, including Austria and Poland, where it is worn on the right hand. In India, the wedding ring is placed on the more auspicious right hand.
Function
Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images | {
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Last year, I couldn’t get enough of chia pudding. This year, my new obsession is the chia smoothie. Cold, creamy, and easy-to-prepare, this healthy breakfast beverage is packed with big, bright flavors.
My Orange Carrot Chia Smoothie starts with a base of hydrated chia seeds, 2 tablespoons of seeds in 1 cup of orange juice. This base is then blended with chopped carrot, almond milk ice cubes, almond butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The chia seeds thicken the drink while adding major nutrients, including fiber, protein and calcium. The texture is smooth and silken, and the taste is reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. A well-balanced, incredibly delicious orange creamsicle! I actually debated calling this drink the Orange Creamsicle Chia Smoothie. Or the Easiest-Way-To-Down-A-Bunch-Of-Carrots Chia Smoothie. The carrot flavor hangs out in the background, adding just the right amount of vegetal sweetness. It’s seriously tasty. Continue reading for the recipe.
The flavors for this recipe were inspired by my weekly Specialty Produce Farmer’s Market Box (FMB). I’ve been getting these boxes since July of last year, and I just love the random assortment of gorgeous produce available each week. Here’s a photo of last week’s box:
Contents included:
Broccoli – Life’s a Choke Farm
Medjool Dates – Wynola Flats
Endive Romanesco – Coastal Organics
Meyer Lemons – Polito Farms
Red Hydro Romaine – Sundial Farm
Purple Carrots – Black Sheep Produce
Yellow Onion – Jaime Farms
Cara Cara Oranges – Lee Farm
Amarosa Fingerling Potatoes – Weiser Family Farms
Green Kohlrabi – Kong Thao
I also got some Vanilla Blood Oranges from their Farmer’s Choice program. The citrus in the box was particularly inspiring: Cara Cara Oranges (a mix of an orange and a grapefruit), Meyer Lemons (a mix of a lemon and a mandarin orange), and Vanilla Blood Oranges. For this recipe, I hydrated the chia seeds in a mix of these three juices, but I also tested this recipe with just one juice. All variations were delicious, so I would recommend that you use whatever citrus you have on hand.
If you only have boxed orange juice (vs. freshly squeezed), you may want to omit the honey here, because boxed juices can be a bit on the sweet side. Adjust flavors at the end by adding more honey or lemon juice.
Normally, I make my chia smoothies with part frozen fruit to cool down the drink without watering down the flavor (ice cubes do that). For this chia smoothie in particular, all the produce is fresh, so I decided to freeze the almond milk component. Each batch gets eight 1 oz. cubes (1 cup of almond milk) made with this ice cube mold . Perfect temperature. No flavor loss. I like to make these flavored ice cubes in big batches, so I can always have them at-the-ready for my morning smoothies.
5 from 2 votes Print Orange Carrot Chia Smoothie Servings 2 smoothies Author Brandon Matzek Ingredients 2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup orange juice (I used a mix of orange and meyer lemon juice here, but just orange works well too)
Scant 2 cups (8 ounces) peeled and sliced carrots
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Small pinch of kosher salt
1 cup (8 ounces) almond milk ice cubes Instructions Place chia seeds and orange juice in a small bowl, whisking to combine. Let sit for 20 minutes, whisking occasionally, Add the hydrated chia seeds with juice to the container of a blender along with all other ingredients. Blend until smooth. Taste and add more honey or lemon juice as needed. I like to enjoy one smoothie immediately, and save the other one (in the fridge) for an afternoon snack. Be sure to drink both smoothies within 24 hours. Flavors will get muddy after that.
If you live in San Diego, and you’d like to order your own Specialty Produce Farmer’s Market Box, check out options here. I’ve also got 2 other recipes on Kitchen Konfidence that use produce from my weekly FMB: | {
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Stadsdelen i utkanten av Linköping har drabbats av en hel del skadegörelse och kriminalitet. Det är dock inte det enda som händer Skäggetorp.
SVT Östnytt var med när klass 7D mötte fastighetsägarna i bostadsområdet. Syftet var att försöka ändra bilden av Skäggetorp.
En allvarlig händelse var när allaktivitetshuset brann ner. Ungdomarna vill att det ska byggas upp igen och visade fastighetsägarna på vad de vill ha i huset.
Se mer om vad eleverna tycker i inslaget ovan! | {
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There may soon be breakthroughs in the search for dark matter. A new publication in Optics Express reveals a camera consisting of superconducting nanowires capable of detecting single photons, a useful feature for detecting light at the furthest ends of the infrared band. The high-performance camera, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), boasts some of the best performing photon counters in the world in terms of speed, efficiency, and color detection. The detectors also have some of the lowest dark count rates of any photon sensor, resisting false signals from noise.
The size of the detectors comes out to 1.6mm on each side, packed with 1024 sensors for high resolution imagery and fabricated from silicon wafers cut into chips. The nanowires are made from tungsten and silicon alloy with leads made from superconducting niobium.
In order to prevent the sensors from overheating, a readout architecture was used based on a previous demonstration on a smaller camera with 64 sensors adding data from rows and columns. The research has been in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which seeks to include the camera in the Origins Space Telescope project.
The eventual goal is to use the arrays to analyze chemical compositions of planets outside of our solar system. By observing the absorption spectra of light passing through an exoplanet’s atmosphere, information can be gathered on the elements in the atmosphere. Currently, large-area single-photon counting detector arrays don’t exist for measuring the mid- to far-infrared signatures, the spectrum range for elements that may indicate signs of life. While fabrication success is high, the efficiency of the detectors remains quite low, although there are plans to extend the current project into an even bigger camera with millions of sensors.
In addition to searching for chemical life on other planets, future applications may include recording measurements to confirm the existence of dark matter.
[Thanks Qes for the tip!] | {
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ARTICLES
John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift and the New Perspective on Paul By Douglas J. Moo
Abstract John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift is one of the most important books on Paul’s theology in years. By setting Paul’s teaching on grace in the context of ancient conceptions of “gift,” Barclay is able to highlight the distinctiveness of Paul’s teaching while at the same time setting that teaching in the context of his Jewish environment. As Barclay himself claims, then, the book opens the way for a way of thinking about Paul that does not obviously fit in either the “old” or the “new” perspective.
John Barclay’s book Paul and the Gift, published late last year, has been receiving rave reviews.1 Paul Foster has called it an “absolutely splendid study,”2 while Tom Schreiner claims it is “stimulating and ground-breaking;” “one of the most important books in recent years on Paul.”3 I agree. I think it is one of the best books on Paul’s theology in the last twenty years. But why all the hoopla? One reason is the sheer quality of the book. It is wide-ranging. Barclay grounds his study of Paul in insights from cultural anthropology, provides a generally competent survey of the reception of the Apostle’s teaching in the history of the church, and puts Paul in conversation with selected voices from Second Temple Judaism. The research is broad, and at the same time well-focused on the key scholarly contributions. He sets forth his argument in logic easy to follow and in English that is clear and even elegant at times.
But the greater reason for the attention the book is receiving is its attempt to chart a course between the Scylla of the “old perspective” and the Charybdis of the “new.” In his conclusion, Barclay claims that his work on Paul and the gift opens a path beyond the dichotomies of the “old” vs. “new” perspective debate. Barclay is himself unsure about which direction his book ultimately leans, noting that it can be seen either as “a re-contextualization of the Augustinian-Lutheran tradition” or as a reconfiguration of the new perspective. A via media between old and new perspectives is a welcome development to many. To be sure, many scholars and pastors are pretty well entrenched on one side or the other. For many in our ultra-tolerant culture, however, the famous cry “Why can’t we all just get along” captures their basic impulse. They are tired of debates over doctrine. They are confused about the theological issues at stake. According to my wife, I myself lean too far in this direction, tending toward a Charlie Brown “wishy-washiness” that too easily sees truth on two sides of an argument. I am probably guilty as charged. So, on the matter before us, I applaud James Dunn and Tom Wright for many insights they have brought to the study of Paul. At the heart of the new perspective is a concern to make the issue of Gentile inclusion the driving force and ideological hub of Paul’s theologizing. While I think new perspective is guilty at this point of an over-correction, they are on to something. And when we put their work in the big picture of theological options for interpreting Paul these days, we should also thank them for propagating basic orthodox and even Reformation views. If we have to choose sides, I am cheerfully going to align myself with the “old perspective.” However, I am also uncomfortable with the black-and-white division of the Pauline theology game into two teams. On the one hand, the dual schema ignores some other teams in the game, some of which pose far more serious challenges to the Reformation view of Paul than does the new perspective.4 And, on the other hand, scholars who hold quite significantly different views on a spectrum of important issues are forced to choose sides by joining one team or the other. For myself, while I think the “old” perspective has on the whole reads Paul more faithfully than the “new,” I incorporate insights from the new perspective in my description of Paul’s theology (though it is probably fair to say that most of those insights are ones that scholars long before the new perspective had identified). Put another way, I see my own work as an attempt to re-state and mildly tweak basic Reformation theology in light of current research.
But I stray from my purpose, which is to briefly and very inadequately summarize the state of play in current interpretation of Pauline soteriology in light of Barclay’s Paul and the Gift. To accomplish this, I will survey the course of the new perspective, describe Barclay’s main argument, and make some guesses about its ultimate significance.
1. The Old and New Perspectives on Paul
First, then, a brief history. Committing the reductionism that I just criticized, the course of the new perspective may be plotted in three main stages.
In the first stage, the key figures in the movement, Tom Wright and James Dunn, began their invasion of the “old perspective” redoubt with seminal articles that appropriated E. P. Sanders’s “new perspective on Judaism.”5 Sanders’s reconfiguration of Jewish soteriology as “covenantal nomism” posed a significant problem for the interpreters of Paul: just who was it that Paul was attacking when he denied that a person could be justified by “works of the law”? Since, according to Sanders, Jews were not trying to be justified by doing the law, some other problem within Judaism had to be identified as the culprit. Building on Krister Stendahl’s stress on the importance of corporate thinking in Paul’s world, Dunn and Wright identified the Jewish tendency to confine salvation to their own nation as that culprit. I might just note here that this “new perspective” on Paul grew out of a profoundly conservative impulse. In contrast to some more radical scholars who accused Paul of arbitrarily misrepresenting Judaism in order to score polemical points, Dunn and Wright tried to find a way to match Paul’s polemic with the Judaism that Sanders described. And here, indeed, in my view, is the driving impulse of the new perspective. In all its diversity—and it is, of course, quite diverse!—the new perspective is fundamentally about re-reading Paul as a first-century “converted” Jew engaged in dialogue and dispute with covenantal nomism. Wright’s massive and impressive project establishes a certain version of the “story of Israel” as the metanarrative within which Paul did all his theologizing. Dunn is less concerned with story but also reads Paul against the structures of first-century Judaism.6 The result is a shift in the axis of Paul’s teaching from the vertical—sinful human beings and a just God—to the horizontal—the selfish Jewish people and estranged Gentiles. Paul attacks the law and its works mainly because it creates a barrier to Gentile inclusion; justification is a doctrine Paul deploys to offer Gentiles entrance into the people of God; Jesus—at least for Wright—is more the “second Israel,” fulfilling its role as the “light the Gentiles,” than the “second Adam,” whose obedience becomes the basis of salvation for those who believe.
In the years 1978–1985, then, the new perspective established a beach-head in the battle ground of Pauline studies. The next two decades saw the new movement consolidating itself and sparking serious resistance. Sanders’s view of Judaism quickly gained ascendancy in the scholarly world—albeit not without questions and caveats. The “new perspective” itself equally quickly established itself as the “new orthodoxy.” Scores of articles, dissertations, and books developed the new view and worked it out in terms of texts and issues. Wright and Dunn initially characterized their approach as a necessary corrective to “Lutheran orthodoxy,” their label for the academic establishment which for many years had read Paul as if he were a sixteenth-century Christian trying to assuage his conscience rather than a first-century Jewish-Christian apostle who was trying to incorporate Gentiles into the kingdom of God as full citizens along with Jews. No wonder, then, that the new view met strong resistance from those convinced that the reformers, indeed, had Paul right. Scholars began to look critically at both the “new perspective on Judaism” and “the new perspective on Paul.”
Sometime in the early 1980s—the exact date is lost in the fog of time—I foolishly agreed to debate E. P. Sanders on these issues. At one point in the debate, Sanders asked me, “Dr. Moo, have you read the entire Mishnah in Hebrew?” “No,” I replied—too embarrassed to admit just how much of it I had read. “I have,” he said, “and I don’t really think you have much standing in this debate.” He was right: early reactions to Sanders’s covenantal nomism were hindered by a lack of expertise in the Jewish literature. This was gradually corrected, as a number of scholars conversant with these Jewish works were able to confirm that “covenantal nomism” was not quite the monolithic soteriology that Sanders claimed it was. Other scholars, while often acknowledging lack of balance in some traditional approaches, argued in various formats that the “old perspective” gave, on the whole, a more faithful reading of Paul’s letters than the “new perspective.”
In the last decade, the battle lines between the old perspective and the new perspective have lost some of their sharpness at the same time as other movements have become powerful threats. As I have noted, most advocates of the “old perspective” recognized from the beginning, in various degrees, that the new perspectives on both Judaism and Paul contained some measure of truth. On the other side, new perspective advocates have appeared to back off from their earlier more polemical stance. Dunn now admits that Sanders’s view of Judaism errs on the side of stressing “covenant” too strongly in relation to “nomism.” Both Dunn and Wright insist that their focus on justification and Gentile inclusion is not meant to push out the truth that justification, which at least in its initial form is “by faith alone,” puts sinful humans in right relationship with God. Wright wants to dismiss the language of “new perspective” altogether, to be replaced with a “fresh perspective” that melds the best of the two.7 He even speculates that the new perspective movement might not have been needed if the Reformation teaching had followed Calvin exclusively.
Perhaps one of the reasons “old” and “new” perspective advocates are “kissing and making up” is because they recognize the need to present something of a united front against more radical threats to traditional Pauline doctrines. The easiest classified of these threats is the so-called “radical perspective on Paul,” or, as some of its advocates are now labelling it, “Paul within Judaism.” While some of its basic arguments are not new, this movement has gained increasing momentum over the last ten years. As the Jacobins of the French Revolution were not content with a constitutional monarchy but pushed a more radical agenda, leading to a republic, so some scholars today view the new perspective as an ultimately unsatisfactory way-station in reconfiguring relationships between Judaism and Christianity. The problem is that new perspective advocates continue to think that Paul criticizes Judaism and in that respect are no better than the “old perspective.” Judaism is still faulted, the fault simply being relocated from “works righteousness” to “ethnocentrism.” These scholars read Paul as fully affirming Judaism. Paul’s polemic is limited to attempts to force Judaism on Gentiles. For all their differences—and I don’t want to ignore or minimize them—“old” and “new” perspectives are united in insisting that, for Paul, salvation is to be found in Christ alone. Wright has been particularly eloquent on this point. And, if I might just make here an observation that is probably obvious to all of us: it is precisely because Wright is close to what we might call “evangelical orthodoxy” that his views can attract such a following from among evangelicals.
Another trend in recent Pauline scholarship is a renewal of the Augustinian/Roman Catholic view of justification as more than forensic. Scholars from a wide variety of theological postures, including evangelical, are reviving the old criticism that standard Reformation teaching has at its heart a chasm between the believer’s standing with God and his or her living for God. Noting the Finnish school revision of Luther’s own teaching and often appealing to the unitive eastern orthodox doctrine of theosis, these scholars argue that justification is transformative, not simply forensic. Here again, Dunn and Wright have made common cause with old perspective advocates. For all his differences with the usual Reformation view, Wright, for instance, has been very clear about denying any transformative element in justification.
It would be interesting, and potentially helpful, to look here at some other recent emphases in the study of Paul that have the potential to shift both his theology and our preaching of his letters—the expansive view of what “gospel” means for the apostle, the degree to which his teaching may be seen as directed against the idolatry of empire, a focus on the power of sin and rescue from it at the expense of the problem of sins and their forgiveness, a prioritizing divine agency to the point that human agency almost disappears, and the question of how the clear focus on the corporate may be brought into correct balance with the equally clear focus on the individual. But these issues, though a prominent part of the program of new perspective advocates—one thinks here again of Tom Wright—are not really part of the “new perspective” per se. So it is time—finally—to assess Barclay’s contribution to this continuing discussion.
2. Barclay’s Contribution to Pauline Scholarship
First, I will briefly summarize the argument of Paul and the Gift. As the title of the book signifies, Barclay situates his discussion of Paul’s teaching on grace within the larger context of “gift.” Only by setting Paul’s grace in the wider context of “gift,” particularly in his own day, will we be able rightly to appreciate its place in his theology.
Barclay sets the table by analyzing the general concept of “gift,” which, he argues, is a potentially ambiguous and multifaceted concept. With the help of seminal studies in cultural anthropology, he sets out to disambiguate the idea of “gift,” or perhaps more accurately, to display its conflicting definitions. One of his key claims is that the idea of a “pure gift”—a gift given freely and without any expectation of return—is a modern notion. In the Greco-Roman world of Paul’s day, gift-giving took place within a nexus of reciprocal relations. Gifts cemented existing relationships and were given in expectation of some kind of return. He concludes this initial discussion by setting forth six ways that “gift” could be “perfected”—that is, six characteristics that might define the essence of “gift”:
Superabundance—gift-giving is extravagant, lavish; as when one “showers” gifts on someone. Singularity—gift-giving is unmixed with other postures; as when one relates to another solely as gift-giver and not, e.g., as judge. Priority—gift-giving comes before the response it might be intended to evoke; as when parents give gifts spontaneously and freely to their children. Incongruity—gift-giving “without regard to the worth of the recipient” (p. 73); as when God causes his rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Efficacy—gift-giving is powerful, accomplishing its purpose; as when parents give the gift of life to their children. Non-circularity—gift-giving is unconditional, expecting no return; as when one gives food coupons to a homeless person.
Barclay concludes this section with the observation that debates about grace often involve “perfecting” grace in one way and then criticizing those who perfect it another way as not really believing in “grace.”
With the scaffolding put in place, Barclay next turns to church history, looking at the way key theologians have analyzed grace. He treats Marcion, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, several modern theologians, and concludes with Sanders. Generally, he argues that these figures “perfect” grace in different ways. Thus, for instance, “Augustine did not believe in grace more than Pelagius; he simply believed in it differently” (p. 77, emphasis original). Particularly important for our purposes is his claim that Sanders, and most new perspective advocates who follow him, make the mistake of treating “grace” too simply. By focusing on one “perfection” of grace—its priority—Sanders irons out the wrinkles in first-century Judaism, failing to discern just where the similarities and differences among Jewish works, on the one hand, and between Jewish literature and Paul, on the other, are to be found.
Jewish literature is Barclay’s next port of call. He analyzes Wisdom of Solomon, Philo, the Qumran Hodayot, Pseudo-Philo, and 4 Ezra and, in a pattern we should recognize by now, concludes that these writings “perfect” grace in different ways—but they do all perfect grace. Barclay’s view that “gift” can be perfected in different ways allows him to claim that Judaism was as a whole characterized by grace—even the rabbis, who often tied God’s grace to human worth, perfect grace in a certain way. As he says, “Those who deserve gifts are still the recipients of gifts, given voluntarily and without legal requirement. They do not cause the gift to be given (that is always a matter of the benefactor’s will), but they prove themselves to be its suitable recipients and thus provide the condition for its proper distribution” (p. 316). Barclay’s general conclusion on this section is nicely put: “Sanders is right that grace is everywhere; but this does not mean that grace is everywhere the same” (p. 319).
With the framework of analysis established, some historical perspectives in place, and Paul’s Jewish environment established, Barclay can turn finally to Paul. But Paul in a limited sense. He chooses to analyze only Galatians and Romans. He carefully works through most of both of these books, naturally focusing on occurrences of “gift” language. His interpretation takes account of recent academic discussion, is informed by history and theology, and often insightful. Two brief examples. In the ongoing battle between apocalyptic and salvation history in Paul, Barclay contests, on the one hand, the continuous progression from Abraham to Israel to Christ that marks the work of Dunn and Wright while at the same time faulting J. Louis Martyn’s “apocalyptic” view as failing to do justice to the continuity at the level of God’s plan and story (pp. 411–14). On a related point, he again criticizes Wright and Dunn for insisting that Galatians be interpreted within the framework of the OT and the Abrahamic story in particular. Paul, insists Barclay, gives hermeneutical priority to the Christ event, reading the OT stories in light of this epochal event. Barclay captures his view in another nice turn of phrase: “Paul finds echoes of the gospel in the Scriptures of Israel” (p. 418, emphasis original).
Two general points emerging from Barclay’s exegesis are worthy of note here.
First, on the critical issue of Paul’s polemic against “works of the law,” Barclay steers clear of both the ethnocentric view of the new perspective and the human doing focus of the old perspective. Paul does not suggest that works of the law are inadequate because sinful humans can’t do them well enough; nor does he argue that they are wrong because Jews, relying on an outmoded Torah, were using them to keep Gentiles out of the kingdom. Rather, what Paul is resisting is “the ‘objective’ (socially constructed) value systems that make works, and other forms of cultural or symbolic capital, accounted worthwhile or good.” What Paul objects to is “the enclosure of the Christ-event within the value-system of the Torah, because for those whose lives are reconstituted in Christ, the supreme definition of worth is not the Torah but the truth of the good news” (p. 444).
Second, Barclay insists that grace is central to Paul’s theology. He faults Wright and Dunn for not giving Paul’s teaching on grace the fundamental importance it deserves.8 But, of course, it is not just grace as a generalized idea that is important for Paul but the particular way that he “perfects” grace. Paul, Barclay claims, clearly views the Christ gift as superabundant, prior, and incongruous. Paul does not perfect the singularity of grace since he maintains that God judges as well as saves. He does not perfect its efficacy, because taking divine efficacy to its logical conclusion would undercut human agency. Nor does Paul perfect the non-circularity of grace. God gives generously, prior to human response, and without regard to the worth of its recipients. But while the gift is unconditioned, it is not unconditional. That is, God’s grace is not given after the fulfillment of prior conditions, but it is given in expectation of a response. Indeed, Paul teaches that response is absolutely necessary, since the salvific goal of God in giving the gift is not attained without appropriate human response. Barclay here reminds us that no one in the ancient world would have expected a gift to be given without thought of subsequent obligation.
Barclay lays particular stress on the significance of incongruous grace in Paul’s life and theology. Paul is not unique in seeing grace as incongruous; Barclay thinks that the Qumran hodayot, Pseudo-Philo, and at least the voice of Ezra in 4 Ezra, also perfect grace in this way. But Barclay appears to suggest that incongruous grace has an especially significant role in Paul. “It is the incongruous grace that Paul traces in the Christ-event and experiences in the Gentile mission that is the explosive force that demolishes old criteria of worth and clears space for innovative communities that inaugurate new patterns of social existence” (pp. 498–99). Barclay agrees with new perspective advocates in locating the context of Paul’s theology in Gentile mission. But he does not think the Gentile mission generated Paul’s distinctive theology. “Paul’s radical policy in his Gentile mission is not a protest against ‘nationalism’: it is the disruptive aftershock of the incongruous gift of Christ” (p. 361).
Since this is not a book review, I will forego the usual list of pluses and minuses. Rather, I will mention several concerns related to our topic this evening and then conclude with an attempt to estimate the significance of the book for continuing debates about Paul’s theology.
An initial question—and it is a question more than a criticism—is whether the framework Barclay uses in investigating “gift” is the right one. As a matter of fact, I find his heuristic model very helpful as a tool to analyze the similarities and differences among ancient interpreters of “gift.” But we perhaps do need to keep in mind that Barclay’s description of the contours of gift in Paul’s day has its starting point in insights from modern cultural anthropology. Moreover, while Barclay cites ancient texts to support each of his six “perfections” of gift, the scheme itself appears to be his own attempt to characterize the different ways gift was understood in Paul’s world.
I also wonder about the decision to treat Paul’s teaching on grace within the semantic concept of “gift.” Of course χάρις often means “gift”; it is one the semantic categories the lexicon of Louw-Nida uses to define the word. But it might be instructive that Louw-Nida list the semantic concept “gift” second, after “kindness.” BDAG lists “gift” within the third definition they give; the first is “a winning quality or attractiveness that invites a favorable reaction”; and the second “a beneficent disposition toward someone.”9 I don’t want to make the mistake of over-analyzing the lexicons. But I do wonder if the sequence of their analyses might point to an underlying issue in Barclay’s discussion. An analysis of Paul’s teaching of “grace” within the general framework of “gift” might miss, or at least fail to do full justice to, the way Paul seems to ground the Christ gift in God’s own character and disposition. In my reading of Paul, the character of the Christ event as sheer gift is the necessary manifestation of God’s utterly unqualified posture of benevolence toward his creation, rooted in his nature as a One whose own will is the only cause of his actions. Barclay does not ignore this dimension of grace, but by making “gift” the overall semantic category of χάρις, Barclay may not fully account for this important aspect of Paul’s teaching on grace.
Another way in which Barclay may fail to describe the breadth of Paul’s teaching is noted by Tom Schreiner in his Themelios review article. Following the “critical orthodoxy” of the academy, Barclay dismisses Ephesians and the Pastoral epistles as “deutero-Pauline,” further arguing that their perspective on grace is somewhat differently focused than what Barclay has found in Galatians and Romans. Now, on the one hand, limitations of space and time make the decision to focus on the two Pauline letters most important for his teaching on grace hard to quarrel with. However, this limitation does mean, as Barclay acknowledges, that his conclusions about grace in Paul might have been slightly different if he had taken into account all thirteen letters ascribed to Paul.
Barclay’s robust discussion of historical theology is very welcome and, from the perspective at least of this rank amateur, generally accurate. I do fault him at one point, however. He argues that Luther and Calvin differed somewhat in their way of characterizing the problem of the law. While Luther stressed that the problem was the boastful attempt to use the law to gain status with God, Calvin focused on the sheer inability of humans to meet the demands of God’s law. I worry a bit that this distinction might fail to capture the nuances of both reformers’ views. More important, however, is Barclay’s tendency to cite the Lutheran subjective posture of seeking to secure righteousness as the Reformation perspective that he contrasts with his own view (e.g., p. 444). Focusing more on the human inability issue—which, in my view, is the more fundamental issue for Paul—might have shifted the contours of these exegetical discussions.
These questions and criticisms are not fatal to the basic argument of Paul and the Gift. And, on the other side, the book contributes significantly and usefully to the continuing debate over the basic thrust of Paul’s theology.
First, the analysis of gift in terms of its various perfections provides us with a tool to more accurately characterize Second Temple views on grace. In place of a definition of grace in terms of prior divine action that was so general that Paul and virtually all Second Temple Jews could be lumped together, Barclay has given us a tool which we can use to chart more accurately similarities and differences among these writers. To be sure, Barclay is not the first to point out the differences in the way Paul and his Jewish contemporaries understand grace; but his framework enables us to describe with greater precision just where these similarities and differences lie. Moreover, while Barclay is concerned to stress that it is wrong to think that Paul believed in grace more than other Jews of his day, he also suggests that there was something about Paul’s teaching on grace that made his view distinct. “The way Paul radicalizes the incongruity of grace, and the distinctive way he connects that grace to the Christ-event and practices it in his Gentile mission, relatives the authority of the Torah in a way unparalleled among his Jewish peers” (p. 566).
Second, Barclay’s book has the very great merit of putting grace at the center of Paul’s theology. This is a word Paul uses 100 times and which he uses as a distinctive characterization of what God has done in Christ. Paul nowhere defines χάρις, but he everywhere assumes it and often puts it at the center of the new realm that Christ has inaugurated. “Grace” has “appeared” and “teaches” us (Titus 2:11–12); we “stand in grace” (Rom 5:2) and live under its reign (Rom 5:21; cf. 6:14, 15). Whether Barclay’s claim that Dunn and Wright underplay the role of grace in Paul is justified or not, it can be said, I think, that they tend to limit its significance by tying it so much to Paul’s concern about overcoming ethnocentrism. Barclay, in contrast, gives Paul’s “incongruous grace” a vital role in the apostle’s self-understanding, in his analysis of the human condition, and in generating the sequence of Paul’s argument in letters. For instance, commenting on the Antioch incident (Gal 2:11–14), he says “the good news is good precisely in its disregard of former criteria of worth, both Jewish and Gentile: the gospel stands or falls with the incongruity of grace” (p. 370). Similarly: “Paul’s radical policy in his Gentile mission is not a protest against ‘nationalism’: it is the disruptive aftershock of the incongruous gift of Christ” (p. 361). To be sure, in an excess of enthusiasm for his subject, Barclay perhaps occasionally over-emphasizes the role of grace. I am not convinced, for instance, that incongruous grace is the main point Romans 9 is making or that it can in itself explain the flow of thought from chapters 9 to 11 (cf. pp. 521–26). But, while recognizing that the Gentile mission was the context in which Paul developed much of his theology, Barclay is to be applauded for locating the generation of that theology not in Jewish nationalism but in a more fundamental and broadly human factor: the incongruous grace that Paul himself experienced when God “revealed his Son” to him.
A third area in which Barclay provides a more satisfactory interpretation than the typical new perspective approach is his explanation of the “works of the law” vs. grace and faith contrast. This contrast lies at the heart of interpretations of Paul’s soteriology. It occupies a central role in general reformation theology. Although the reformers recognized that Paul’s “works of the law” referred to obedience to the Jewish Torah, they were convinced that the phrase ultimately should be interpreted as including any kind of human obedience. They therefore identified in this contrast a basic anthropological contrast between “doing” and “believing.” Because Paul therefore excludes all human “doing,” the appropriation of Christ by “faith alone” is the necessary corollary. And they also grounded this claim in grace: if God by his nature relates to humans only by grace, then justification must be by faith and not by works of any kind (see Rom 4:4–5). I think that Barclay may be closer to the reformers than to the new perspective on this point. Yes, he is very clear about distinguishing his view from the typical Reformation concern about “good works” becoming a basis for salvation. But he is equally concerned to distance himself from the usual new perspective view that Paul polemicizes against a Jewish concern to confine righteousness to the possession and performance of the Jewish Torah. For Barclay, rather, as we noted earlier, Paul resists all “‘objective’ (socially constructed) value systems” (p. 444). The good news of God’s grace in Christ, he claims, “brings into question every pre-existent classification of worth.” I wish Barclay had spelled out more clearly just how we move from the phrase “works of the law” to “value system,” but his view represents a move away from the new perspective and some distance back to the old. On Barclay’s reading, one can move, it would seem, pretty directly from Paul’s “works of the law” to any human value system. To be sure, it is still the system rather than human attempts to meets its standards that are the problem. In other words, a person might fully meet the demands of their own value system and fall short of God’s approval because the system itself is at fault. On the one hand, then, Barclay is closer to the new perspective in insisting that it is “law” and not “works” that is the key word in Paul’s debated phrase; but he is closer to the old perspective in finding in the phrase a universal condemnation of human systems of worth. It should be acknowledged that Dunn and Wright find a broad criticism of human works in Paul’s polemic against “works of the law.” The problem is that I am sometimes not sure how their exegesis in terms of “covenant markers” leads to these conclusions. Barclay provides a more secure foundation for this broad application.
Barclay’s Paul and the Gift, then, raises significant questions with both the “new perspective on Judaism” and the “new perspective on Paul.” As someone who has raised similar questions over the years, I appreciate these criticisms—even if Barclay ends up somewhere between “old” and “new” perspectives on the spectrum of Pauline interpretation. His book is truly a gift to the academic study of Paul’s theology—though not, in his own terms, a “singular” gift.
3. Concluding Exhortations
As something of a postscript, let me conclude with a series of exhortations to fellow teachers and preachers. The balance they embody is nothing new; the best of the old perspective has insisted on these same kinds of balanced approaches for centuries. Yet it is perhaps worth restating them in an attempt to remove caricatures of the old perspective in some quarters and at the same time to warn those of us who identify with the old perspective about an excessive zeal in defense of our view that can result in imbalances and distortions.
We must preach the good news that Jesus has been enthroned as Lord in all its Pauline breadth—without in any way blunting what was clearly for Paul its cutting edge, the offer of new life through Christ’s death and resurrection. We must preach the lordship of Christ in all its dimensions, including its implications for the totalizing claims of the state and other institutions. We must proclaim that God in Christ breaks the power of sin but that he does so by providing forgiveness for our sins in the substitutionary death of Christ. We must preach that God draws people to himself through his incongruous grace—without shying away from insisting that people must themselves respond in faith to God’s offer. We must proclaim that God in Christ justifies the ungodly individual, at the same time as we make very clear the way that God’s justifying action is the spring board for the breaking down of ethnic, racial, and gender barriers. We must reiterate the great Reformation truth that God’s justification is an entirely forensic act at the same time as we make clear to our people that no one can receive the gift of justification without at the same time receiving the gift of sanctification. We must proclaim that people are justified by faith alone with all the vigor we can at the same time as we warn people that they will not go free in God’s judgment without works.
[1] John M. G. Barclay, Paul and the Gift (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015). This article was first delivered as a paper at The Gospel Coalition Council Meeting in Deerfield, IL (May 17, 2016).
[2] Paul Foster, “The Concept of ‘Gift’ in Paul’s Thought,” ExpTim 127 (2016): 340.
[3] Thomas R. Schreiner, “Paul and the Gift: A Review Article,” Them 41 (2016): 52–58.
[4] By “Reformation view,” I refer to the common soteriological concerns of Luther, Calvin, and their heirs.
[5] See James D. G. Dunn, “The New Perspective on Paul,” BJRL 65 (1983) 95–122 (republished with additional notes in Jesus, Paul and the Law: Studies in Mark and Galatians [Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1990] 183–214); and N. T. Wright, “The Paul of History and the Apostle of Faith,” TynBul 29 (1978) 61–88.
[6] N. T. Wright notes that narrative framework is what is lacking in Dunn (Paul and His Recent Interpreters: Some Contemporary Debates [Minneapolis: Fortress, 2015], 98).
[7] Wright: “In particular, there is no need to perpetuate the battle between things that call themselves the ‘new perspective’ or the ‘old perspective’ on Paul. Both were, in any case, misleading in their singularity: there are many ‘new perspectives’ on the loose by now, and a good many significantly different ‘old perspectives’ as well. Insofar as the ‘new perspective’ ran the risk of collapsing into ‘sociology’ or ‘comparative religion’, it of course needed to be rethought theologically to take account of, and to give the central place to, Paul’s emphases on the divine act in the cross of the Messiah and its appropriation by faith. Insofar as the ‘old perspective’ continued to base itself on a caricature of ancient Jewish beliefs, forcing old Jewish texts as well as Paul himself to give answers to questions they were not asking while ignoring the ones they were faced with, it of course needed to be rethought theologically to take account of, and give a central place to, the Jewish and Pauline emphases on the surprising and freshly revelatory divine act in fulfilling the covenant with Abraham and completing (balancing both meanings of telos in Romans 10.4!) the covenant with Moses. But I hope that the discussion in this book has given a quite new set of angles of vision—perspectives, I almost said—on the false either/or of the last generation. Protests are often necessary, even if sometimes overstated. Reactions are sometimes appropriate, even if sometimes shrill or merely nostalgic. Fuller integration, fuller reconciliation, is always the Pauline aim, and I hope we have gone a good way towards achieving it.” In Paul and the Faithfulness of God, Christian Origins and the Question of God 4 (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013), 1513–14. See also Dunn: “It also follows that the ‘new perspective’ should not be defined or regarded as an alternative to the ‘old perspective’. The ‘new perspective’ does not pretend or think or want to replace all elements of the ‘old perspective’. It does not regard the ‘new perspective’ as hostile or antithetical to the ‘old perspective’. It asks simply whether the ways in which the doctrine of justification have traditionally been expounded have taken full enough account of Paul’s theology at this point.” In “A New Perspective on the New Perspective on Paul,” Early Christianity 4 (2013): 157.
[8] Although Dunn would appear, at least in his explicit claim, to escape this criticism. He argues that “charis joins agape at the very centre of Paul’s gospel. More clearly than any other, these two words, ‘grace’ and ‘love,’ together sum up and most clearly characterize his whole theology” (The Theology of Paul the Apostle [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998], 320).
[9] BDAG 1079–80. | {
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Cartoon Network USA To Launch On New Hulu Live Stream Service
Time Warner (the ultimate parent company of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang via Turner) has announced today that the company has acquired a 10% stake in Hulu, a USA based premium streaming video on-demand TV service owned by a consortium of Hollywood’s biggest media firms such as The Walt Disney Company (Disney/ABC), 21st Century Fox (20th Century Fox/Fox Broadcasting) and Comcast (Universal/NBC).
With Time Warner now owning a part of Hulu, it was announced that live streams of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang will be distributed on Hulu’s new live TV streaming service (including other Turner networks – TNT, TBS, CNN, truTV and TCM) which is due to be launched in early 2017. Back in April 2015, Hulu signed a multi-year streaming deal with Turner for full seasons of Adult Swim and Cartoon Network shows including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Dexter’s Laboratory, Ben 10, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros, Adventure Time and Regular Show. The new Time Warner/Hulu partnership will expand upon the current deal with Turner.
The new live TV streaming will feature an intuitive interface with personalisation options and access to live and on-demand content, subscribers will be able to use the new service on compatible living room and mobile devices and there will be no set-up and installation costs. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers the latest TV episodes from five out of the six largest broadcasters in the United States. Presently, Hulu provides a discounted VOD service with limited commercials for $7.99 per month and a completely ad-free subscription for $11.99 per month.
http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2016/08/03/time-warner-joins-hulu-as-equity-owner-and-signs-affiliate
From The Time Warner Press Release
Time Warner Inc. and Hulu LLC announced today that Time Warner will become a 10% owner of Hulu, the premium streaming TV service that offers the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series. Time Warner joins The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast in the joint venture.
The investment in Hulu reflects Time Warner’s continued commitment to supporting innovative digital services that allow consumers to access high-quality content however they want it across a variety of platforms.
It was also announced that Turner’s powerful entertainment, sports, news and kids networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies will be available live and on-demand on Hulu’s new live-streaming service, which is slated to launch early next year. With no set-up costs or installation, Hulu’s new service will offer an intuitive and personalized interface, and instant access to live and on-demand content, across hundreds of living room and mobile devices.
Hulu will continue its current offering of ad-supported and ad-free subscription video on demand products to complement both traditional pay TV packages as well as the new streaming service. The company also remains focused on acquiring iconic and award-winning programming like Empire, Homeland, Seinfeld, Curious George, South Park and Fear The Walking Dead, as well as creating original programming that builds upon its success with shows such as The Mindy Project, The Path, Difficult People, 11.22.63 and the Golden Globe® -nominated Casual.
Jeff Bewkes, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner said, “Our investment in Hulu underscores Time Warner’s commitment to supporting and developing new platforms for the delivery of high-quality content and great consumer experiences to audiences around the globe.” Mr. Bewkes continued: “We’re also excited to join Hulu’s other owners in launching a new consumer-friendly package featuring leading networks that will deliver more value to audiences and complement Hulu’s core SVOD offerings. The inclusion of Turner’s networks in Hulu’s new streaming service furthers our efforts to allow consumers to engage with and enjoy our brands across a wide range of platforms and services.”
Mike Hopkins, CEO of Hulu, said, “This investment from Time Warner marks a major step for Hulu as we continue to redefine television for both consumers and advertisers. Our two companies have long enjoyed a productive relationship – which includes the availability of past seasons of popular Turner shows on our current SVOD offerings – and we are very proud that Turner’s networks will be included in our planned live streaming service.”
About Hulu
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks, as well as acclaimed Hulu Originals. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love. | {
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Episode 20! This would be a milestone if we believed in stuff like that, but we don't, so it's just the next one. Join us as we talk about North Texas: The 9th Blueblood, NOT BASKETBALL, Michigan's QB room, and the POWER 6.
Update: Apologies for the weird audio issues if you ran into that, something happened to the file between editing and uploading. It should be all better now. | {
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百合を愛するお姉さまたちに、その魅力を語り合っていただく座談会。前編では、百合にハマったきっかけや、制服の魅力について盛り上がりました。後編は、同居もの作品、百合とBLの違い、百合と結婚、「女の子と付き合っていた」という告白まで飛び出して――。入門にぴったりのおすすめ作品も盛りだくさんで、お届けします。
＜座談会参加者プロフィール＞
Gお姉さま 百合歴10年。女性と交際経験あり。
Dお姉さま 百合歴半年。最年少ビギナー。
Bお姉さま 百合歴20年。もと文学少女。
Tお姉さま 百合歴10年。マンガ家と同居経験あり。
■同居ものは鉄板！ その理由とは……
――百合作品には、なんらかの事情で、同居している設定が多いですよね。
Gお姉さま（以下、G） 同居ものって、どきどきするんですよね。
Bお姉さま（以下、B） 鉄板ですよね！
『2DK、Gペン、目覚まし時計。』大沢やよい
G 『2DK、Gペン、目覚まし時計。』（大沢やよい。以下、「2DK」）、『たとえとどかぬ糸だとしても』（tMnR。以下、「とど糸」）、『citrus』（サブロウタ）もそうですが、一緒に住んでいると、しんどさもあるけれど、うれしいことも楽しいこともある。
『citrus』サブロウタ
Tお姉さま（以下、T） 『立花館To Lieあんぐる』（merryhachi）も同居ものですね。
Dお姉さま（以下、D） わりとみんな一緒に住んでいる（笑）。
G けっこう強引な手法が利くBLと違って、百合は行間をしっかり埋めていかないと読み取りにくいので、一緒にいる時間が長い部活や同居でくっつけておいたほうが読みやすいのかなと。BLは出会ったその日にやっちゃって、そこから埋めていくというのができちゃうんですよね。
B ジャンルとして成立しているせいか、BLは好きな気持ちを掘り下げないパターンが増えているかもしれませんね。百合はあまりそこを飛ばしてしまうとついていけない感じがします。おいてけぼりになっちゃうというか。だから同居しているとじっくりそこを描ける。
G 肉体が先でも、BLはあとから恋愛感情を証明していけますが、百合の恋愛感情の証明はもっとゆっくりというか、肉体ではないですよね。証明の仕方がぜんぜん違う。
B たしかに。私も百合は行き過ぎた友情と恋の判別がつかない「特別な友だち」から始まるのが好きです。BLは何から入ってもよろしいのですが（笑）。最後までするしないも、男同士は為さないと差がないので、しないとだめだなと思いますが、女同士は精神の関係性だけで友情と恋を差別化できる気がするので、してもしなくてもいい。
■百合の関係はイーブン。男性との結婚エンドも許せる？
――最後までしてもしなくても、百合ならいい。同じ同性同士の恋を描くBLとの違いはなんでしょう？
T BLは凹凸の役割があるけれど、百合だとイーブン。BLは愛されたい文化。同性同士の物語でも、愛してもらうものを読みたい時はBLで、自分が能動的に愛するものを読みたいときは百合なんだと私は思います。だから、百合にはバリエーションを期待しているんですよね。百合ソーシャルなものから、レズビアン小説まで。そこから『やがて君になる』（仲谷鳰。以下、「やが君」）や「とど糸」みたいなものが出てくると、「お、これは！」とうれしくなる。今のところBLはひどい終わり方が好まれないけれど、私は好きなので、百合は別れて終わってほしいなとか。売れないかもしれないけれど（笑）。
B 百合は切ない終わりがあってもいいですよね。
T そこはすごく期待したいと思っています。
G BLで相手が女性と結婚するのは許せないけれど、百合は最終的にどちらかが男性を選ぶのを、なんとなく許せる気持ちってありませんか。
一同 あります！
『遠い朝の本たち』須賀敦子
B 『遠い朝の本たち』（須賀敦子）というエッセイの中に、片方が男性と結婚して、片方がシスターになるエピソードがあって、別々の人生を生きている二人でも、特別な絆があれば、私の中では百合だと成立しているんです。こんなにこの人と仲がいいのに男と結婚するの？ みたいな気持ちはあまりない。百合好きの人もいろいろだと思うので、結婚がだめな人もいるとは思いますが。
G 女性は出産という社会的な役割がはっきりしていて、プレッシャーが大きいので、最終的に男性を選んでも納得してしまうのかも。
B しかたがないよね、と。
■「大学生のとき、女の子と付き合っていたんです」
――百合は男性にも女性にも読まれていますが、キャラクターと同じ性を持つ女性ならではの読み方があれば教えてください。
G ブームでいろいろな作品が出てきて、ライトな作品が増えているので、女性の初心者も入りやすくなっていますよね。
D 私は最近百合マンガを読みはじめて、こんなに幅広く作品があることに驚きました。3年間女の子とルームシェアしていたんですけれど、「２DK」を読んで、もしかしてあれは百合だったのかなあと振り返ってみたり（笑）。友情でもないし、家族でもないし、じゃあなんだったんだろう？ というのをすごく考えましたね。
T 私も女性とルームシェアの経験があって、しかも相手がマンガ家だったので、「２DK」はリアルに自分ごとでした（笑）。
B 最初は彼氏がいて、この彼氏を逃してはいけない、みたいなところも妙にリアルでしたよね（笑）。私は幼なじみがいるんですが、ほぼ毎週家に来て、週末婚みたいな状態なんです。お皿を洗ってくれるのはラクだけれど、寝起きが悪くてイラッとすることも（笑）。
T かわいい（笑）。
G 私は大学生のとき、女の子と付き合っていたんです。女の子も男の子も好きなんですが、好きっていう気持ちは、どちらもほぼ同じ感覚。同性相手でも、恋愛モードと友情モードはぜんぜん違うんですよね。女の子を好きなるときも、仲のいい友だちからの延長というのは、私はほぼなくて。最後はその子に彼氏ができてしまいましたが、お互いに、恋愛としてちゃんと付き合っていました。
――女性の恋人がいたという目線で読んで、リアルに感じた作品はありましたか？
G 「とど糸」の主人公が、お兄さんのお嫁さんになった瞬間に、相手を好きだと気付く感覚はリアルでした。あんな感じで、急に、好き、付き合いたいって思っちゃうんですよね。ほかの女の子と仲良くしているのがすごく嫌になったり。「２ＤＫ」のように、一緒にいてどんどん好きになる感覚もあると思うんですが、私は急に切り替わることが多かったですね。
D 急に好きになるきっかけはなんだったんですか？
G 特別何かあったわけではなくて、しゃべっているときにふと波長が合って、好きだと感じて。付き合ったのは彼女が初めてだったんですが、好きと言うまでにかなり時間はかかりました。SNSを通して、彼女が女の子を好きだったことがあると知って告白したんです。マンガだとナチュラルに告白するけれど、現実は難しいですよね（笑）。
B なかなか言えないですよね。
■BLがだめだった人も、百合にはハマるかもしれない
――最後に、百合初心者におすすめの作品を教えてください。
D 百合を読み出して一番思ったのは、読まないともったいないということ。女性が女性向けたモノローグなどがうつくしいんです。BLと百合に手を出さない感覚は似ているかもしれませんが、蓋を開けてみると別物なので、ライトな層には、百合のほうが入りやすいしハマりやすいかも。
B BLがだめだった人も、もしかすると百合にはハマるかもしれないですよね。
T 百合を経由してBLに戻ってきたり（笑）。愛の形はひとつじゃないよと（笑）。
『捏造トラップ－NTR－』コダマナオコ
D 表紙で決めるのも大事だと思います。世界に入りやすかったので。個人的に好きなのは「２DK」、「やが君」、それから、人間模様が楽しめた『捏造トラップ－NTR－』（コダマナオコ）ですね。
G 絵がかわいい、綺麗、など自分の好みで選んでいいと思います。私も『ゆるゆり』（なもり）は、絵が好きで読みはじめました。おすすめは、冒頭から切なさ全開の「とど糸」です。男性がちゃんと出てきて、百合世界ではなく、世界の一角の百合、というスタートなところもいい。
『ゆるゆり』なもり
T いま百合に入ってきたら、なんでも読めますよ、と伝えたいですね。切ないものから、かわいいものまで、楽しみ方も多様なので、好みの作品を見つけやすいと思います。おすすめは小説の『あまいゆびさき』（宮木あや子）です。百合小説として、女の子ならではの世界観を楽しめます。マンガなら私の入門だった『青い花』（志村貴子）をぜひ。
『あまいゆびさき』宮木あや子
D 『青い花』は絵も綺麗で定番ですよね。
B 私のおすすめは「２DK」と、入り口はライトだけれどだんだん楽しくなってきた『私の百合はお仕事です！』（未幡）。
『私の百合はお仕事です！』未幡
男性にすすめるなら、『ささめきこと』（いけだたかし）は、男性作家が描く学生もので、良い感じの百合です。
『ささめきこと』いけだたかし
小説だと『花のもとにて』。男女カップルもいる普通の世界の中でこういうかたちの愛もあるよね、という感じで入門に読みやすいと思います。百合をはじめて読む人は、一冊読んで合わないと思わないで、特集を参考に、3冊くらい好きそうなものをピックアップしてチャレンジしてほしいです！
構成・文＝波多野公美
【前編】「お姉さま、百合のどこがお好きなんですか？」 百合好きお姉さまたちの座談会 | {
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Government has cleared 69 projects envisaging investment of Rs 17,112 crore out of the Rs 1.2 lakh crore-worth proposals received under the till date.
"69 out of about 160 proposals under the MSIPS (Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme) have been cleared. Total investment committed in these projects is Rs 17,112 crore," IT and Electronics Secretary Aruna Sharma told PTI in an interview.
Till date, proposals worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore were received by the government for electronic manufacturing.
Sharma said projects worth about Rs 10,000 crore were rejected for benefits under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS).
The scheme provides financial incentives to offset disability and attracts investments in the electronics hardware. It provides subsidy for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25 per cent in non-SEZs, is open to receive applications till July 26, 2020.
The government launched MSIPS with a view to pushing the domestic manufacturing of electronic products to reduce dependence on imports and check forex outflows.
Total import of electronics goods were valued at Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2014-15 against Rs 1.95 lakh crore in the previous year.
Total domestic production of electronic goods based on figures provided by the Electronics Industry Associations was at Rs 1,90,366 crore in 2014-15 against Rs 1,80,454 crore in the previous year.
Automotive electronics components manufacturing has attracted investment of about Rs 4,284 crore followed by IT and telecom products at Rs 3,500 crore, electronic components and strategic electronics (Rs 2,300 crore each), consumer appliances (Rs 2,000 crore), LED and solar (Rs 947 crore), medical electronics (Rs 600 crore), semiconductor ATMP (Rs 500 crore) and industrial electronics (Rs 235 crore), among others.
The government is keen on pushing manufacturing of
electronic circuit boards, LCD screens and their packaging in the country to push employment generation, Sharma said.
"We are very keen to promote manufacturing of printed circuit boards (PCBs), LCD screens and packaging of LCD as it has huge employment potential.
"There is an open invitation from our side for serious players. We will work them to resolve all constraint that is possible from our end," she said.
PCBs are base of all electronic products on which components are laid. As per PCB industry body IPCA, there are about 15 PCB manufacturers in the country and about 75 per cent of domestic PCB requirement is estimated to be met through imports.
Besides, there is no company in India that manufactures LCD panel which are widely used in all modern electronic products like mobile phones, television, medical devices, among others.
By 2020, India's LCD panel import bill is expected to touch USD 10 billion.
Business tycoon Anil Agarwal, promoter of Volcan Investments, has announced plan to set up LCD manufacturing unit in India with an investment of USD 10 billion.
Agrawal expects to create jobs for 30,000 people alone from this proposed LCD panel manufacturing plant under Twinstar Display Technologies.
According to Indian Cellular Association National President Pankaj Mohindroo, LCD packaging industry has huge growth potential in India with boom in smartphone segment.
"The investment in LCD packaging segment is small compared to LCD panel manufacturing but it has huge employment opportunity," Mohindroo said.
LCD packaging work includes making the display presentable by use of sensors, backlight, among others. | {
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A Gatineau, Que., convenience store owner said he hopes a fight in which he used bear-repellent spray on two would-be robbers will be his family's last.
"We don't want the fights to happen again, I hope no more happen again," said Zhen Yang, who said his store has been robbed four times in the last four years.
Yang was working behind the cash register at the Dépanneur J.A.C. Line early Wednesday morning when two masked men armed with knives approached and demanded money.
Yang, who co-owns the store, refused to open the cash register and used bear-repellent spray on the two men.
The owner of this Gatineau, Que., convenience store used bear-repellant spray to defend his business against two robbers. (Google Streetview)
One man fled and Yang grabbed the other man and held him at the store counter, spanking him and then holding him by his legs.
Yang's wife, who was upstairs with the couple's children, ran down and then kicked the masked man several times. The family held the suspect for several minutes until police arrived.
Charges expected against two men
Police arrested a 31-year-old man at the scene, and later Wednesday afternoon arrested a 21-year-old man. Both men will appear in court Thursday on charges of robbery and wearing a disguise.
Gatineau police said it does not recommend confronting robbers, and instead recommends calling 911 and getting a good description of the suspects.
But they said charges will not be laid against the clerk because the accused men did not complain.
Since the incident, many people in the neighbourhood have dropped by the store to congratulate Yang.
"When someone does stand up for themselves everyone's like, yeah, good job, because people get fed up with that stuff...it's everywhere," he said. | {
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Another Denver staple is closing its doors for good.
After 20 years, Quixote’s True Blue will host its last show on Oct. 31.
Owner Jay Bianchi made the announcement on Facebook Saturday morning, writing, “The last incarnation of Quixote’s True Blue is coming to a close and you will have a last chance to see it. Fare thee well!
We have a couple more shows left, but I am sorry to say that Quixote’s will be closing its doors with Melvin Seals and JGB on October 28th and 29th and Pink Talking Fish on October 30 and 31st!”
As he notes, the bar and music venue opened on Thanksgiving two decades ago “as a sort of refuge for Deadheads who needed a place to gather and celebrate the life of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead.”
In the long farewell post, which references Winnie the Pooh, “The Little Prince,” “Where the Wild Things Are” and, of course, the Grateful Dead, Bianchi says the decision to close was a personal one.
“I have always been a free spirit and I want to be able move without strings and pursue my own dreams unhindered by the responsibility of business. I want to be able to do nothing on occasion or act on whimsy and do everything. I would like to engage in the world and chase at windmills and not have to worry about what time to get up in the morning. Don Quixote embodies the spirit of imagination and adventure and I feel like I need to embrace that reckless abandon that I truly aspire to achieve. So wherever I am, Quixote’s True Blue will not be far away.” | {
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Vice President Mike Pence prays with the President’s Coronavirus Taskforce in his West Wing Office of the White House on Feb. 26, 2020. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)
Trump’s National Day of Prayer During CCP Virus Crisis Nettled Critics, but America Still a Praying Nation
WASHINGTON—Secular media critics were outraged when the White House made public earlier this month a photo of Vice President Mike Pence leading members of the Coronavirus Task Force in prayer for the nation and for their work.
The internet promptly exploded.
Typical was this tweet from Thomas Chatterton Williams, a writer for New York and Harper’s magazines: “Mike Pence and his coronavirus emergency team praying for a solution. We are so [expletive].”
Similarly, Gizmodo editor Matt Novak wrote on Twitter: “Mike Pence can pray whenever he likes, but I do find it odd to see him leading a prayer during a meeting of the coronavirus task force with people like the head of the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and Dr. [Anthony] Fauci.”
But Pence had his robust defenders as well.
Samaritan’s Purse founder Franklin Graham wrote on Twitter: “A touching & powerful photo of [Vice President Mike Pence] & the President’s Coronavirus Taskforce praying when they met last week in his office. Thank you VP Pence and each one who is serving. Let’s join them in asking God for His wisdom, direction, & help in the response to this virus.”
And Jonathan Merritt, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, responding specifically to Williams, observed: “Criticize Mike Pence all you want for being inept in his strategy to dealing with this. But mocking him for praying—like 79 percent of Americans have done in the past 3 months—is why so many regular Americans despise wine-and-cheese liberals.”
A few days after the Pence prayer photo became public, President Donald Trump declared March 15 a National Day of Prayer. Millions of Americans participated through online church services, in family prayer sessions, and in quiet individual appeals to the Almighty.
“We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!”
Trump isn’t the first president to declare such a day. Franklin D. Roosevelt took to the radio personally to lead the nation in prayer a few hours after the D-Day invasion of Europe began, while Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation during the Civil War was an invitation to prayer.
The first “national” day of prayer was declared for July 20, 1775, by the Continental Congress. And the official annual National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May, by an act of Congress signed by the president.
To this day, members of the Senate and House of Representatives are led by their respective chaplains each day in an opening prayer. In short, America has been officially praying since before the nation’s founding.
Americans have long been and remain a praying people. Merritt’s reference to 79 percent of Americans having prayed at least once in the past three months comes from a 2017 survey of 1,015 adults by the Barna Group, which also found:
“American adults who pray with regularity do so with varying motivations, the most common being to offer ‘gratitude and thanksgiving’ (62 percent). Generationally, this is lowest among millennials (53 percent) and highest among baby boomers (71 percent).” Barna also found that 61 percent pray for the needs of their families and communities.
Barna editor Roxanne Stone said the study demonstrates that “prayer is by far the most common spiritual practice among Americans.”
“The vast majority of Americans—no matter their religious affiliation or non-affiliation—participate in some kind of prayer activity. Barna has found this to be true consistently over the last several decades,” she said.
The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.
Contact Mark Tapscott at [email protected] | {
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EnVyUs have become the latest organisation to sign an academy team, led by former melty member Lambert "Lambert" Prigent.
The North American organisation had been tipped tp create an academy team for over a month, but the project suffered a setback when David "devoduvek" Dobrosavljevic and François "AmaNEk" Delaunay decided to join Misfits instead.
To replace the missing duo, EnVyUs engaged in talks with Epsilon and completed the signings of Audric "JaCkz" Jug and Valentin "VKLL" Bartolomei for an undisclosed fee.
Lambert will guide EnVyUs Academy
They will be joined by two French veterans, Lambert "Lambert" Prigent and Julien "PetitSkel" Marcantoni, formerly of melty and LDLC.Blue, respectively, and by Ali "hAdji" Haïnouss, who is mostly known for his time with Vexed Gaming.
"The EnVyUs academy project will follow this team throughout the year with a view to offering them the skills and the expertise from our renowned players, who are part of the main lineup," EnVyUs manager Jordan "Next" Savelli said. "I cannot wait to start this new adventure and to be able to help these young talents with our know-how. "I would like to thank these young players for trusting us. I am sure they will give their best to represent EnVyUs well."
EnVyUs Academy have the following roster: | {
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When it comes to leather shoes it is helpful to have an understanding of leather in general, and shoe leather in specific.
Most people think of leather as cow hide, but it really relates to any animal skin that has been through the tanning process to convert the dead animal skin into a lasting useful material (Leather).
Although the tanned skin of a young calf is called calfskin it is still leather. Because calfskin comes from a calf it has a tighter grain and fiber, and is thinner and lighter than cow hide; this makes for better shoe leather.
Other types of animal leather are Kidskin (from goat), Pigskin/Peccary (from pig), Cordovan Shell (from horse), and of course other exotic animal skins like buffalo, elephant, kangaroo and so on. There are also bird skins, like ostrich, and reptile skins like alligator, crocodile, lizard and snake.
Reptile skins tend to last longer and need less care than animal leathers, but they are also more expensive. Bovine leather (cow hide / calfskin) is by far the most commonly used leather in shoes.
A high quality all leather shoe uses leather in the following places:
The outsole of the shoe (the part that touches the ground)
The insole of the shoe (the part your foot rests on)
The lining of the shoe (between your foot and the upper)
The heel of the shoe (as in stacked layers of leather to create the heel)
The shoe upper (the rest of the shoe, excluding the items above)
Shoe that are not all leather may have rubber soles, insoles made of various materials, and heels made of wood, rubber or plastic. I would suggest going with all leather if you can, with the exception of perhaps rubber soles if you need to stand in cold wet environments.
Leather can be available from tanneries in the following thicknesses:
A leather outsole on a man’s shoe is around 12oz thickness on average. A leather insole is typically around 14oz in thickness to accommodate the welt. A shoe upper is around 5oz on a typical dress/business shoe, and the lining is about 1oz.
All of these thicknesses can vary due to leather type, welt method, and shoe style. For example Italian shoes tend to be sleeker and therefore use thinner leather in the soles and uppers to achieve the look. Soles that are Blake stitched or bonded don’t require as thick an insole as Goodyear welted shoes.
As a side note: try to avoid bonded or bondwelted shoes as this means the outsole is simply glued to the shoe without an actual welt.
The quality of the leather used in a given line of shoes is determined by the grade of leather the shoe manufacturer purchased to make the shoes. Leather is graded in two basic ways: 1) The quality of the hide in general (amount of scars, blemishes, etc…), and 2) The area of the hide a specific piece of leather is cut from (back, belly, front shoulders, etc…).
Leather quality is typically graded in four grades, with grade 1 being the best, and grade 4 being the worst. This means that even grade 1 hides (little to no blemishes) have grade 4 leather (belly skin).
The grade of leather used is the most critical in the shoe upper, as this is where the quality of the leather is most visible. Shoe uppers made from the back area leather of a grade 1 hide would be the best shoe leather you could get (and also makes for a very expensive pair of shoes).
The leather on a shoe upper is typically grain side out leather, but leathers like shell cordovan and waxed leather are used inside out (flesh side out), and suede leather has had the grain removed entirely.
Inside out leathers are typically pressed under very high pressure to compress the fibers to a smooth surface.
Leather that has blemishes in the grain are often buffed (sanded) of the grain side to remove the blemishes, which then requires the grain to be corrected. Corrected grain leather is sometimes referred to as top grain leather or bookbinder leather. If the grain has not been corrected (no existing blemishes in the grain to begin with) it is referred to as full grain. The term top grain has also been used to define the grain side of the leather, making full grain and top grain synonymous, so it can be confusing.
One of the final stages of tanning leather is applying the color and finish (although chromium tanned leather can be bought in a “wet blue” state).
The high quality leather is typically aniline dyed, which saturates the color completely through the leather. The leather is also pressed under high pressure to give it some shine, and a very thin coat of clear or colored acrylic is applied as a final finish, in most cases.
In the case of corrected grain, the pressing and acrylic finish is also where the corrected grain is applied. Because of this corrected grain leather will have a thicker finish than non-corrected grain, and also tend to be a little shinier. Patent leather is corrected grain leather with a thick acrylic finish, pressed to a high shine.
The shoe manufacturer may also add their own finish to the leather, to add more shine, or to add color highlights. | {
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Supporters of Donald Trump have praised the president-elect for working out a deal to keep jobs at a manufacturing plant in Indiana from being moved to Mexico.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press Dec. 4, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said the deal with Carrier, which makes heating, air conditioning and refrigerator parts, meant "more than a thousand Hoosiers have certainty in their jobs and in their futures going into this Christmas season because of the leadership of Donald Trump."
Later in the show, pundits from the left and right raised concerns that painted the deal in a less twinkling light.
National Review editor Rich Lowry said the government incentives involved were not ideal, and he doesn’t like Trump threatening to retaliate against businesses with tariffs for moves he disapproves of. Heather McGhee, president of the left-leaning think tank Demos, said the number of saved jobs is overhyped.
"Did you actually read the Carrier letter?" McGhee asked the panel. "It started out saying ‘we are pleased to inform you’ and ended up talking about all the jobs that would still be shipped overseas. The numbers I'm looking at say less than half of them are actually staying."
With so many numbers in the mix, we decided to see if McGhee’s claim had merit.
McGhee was talking about a letter related to 1,400 Carrier jobs in Indianapolis. Most jobs, but far from every job, at the Indianapolis plant ended up being saved thanks to the deal with Trump's team. The outlook worsens when you factor in that plant's job losses with another Indiana plant slated for closure and owned by Carrier's parent company.
The making of a promise
In February, United Technologies, the parent company for Carrier Corporations, announced it would be closing an Indianapolis Carrier plant and moving its 1,400 jobs to Monterrey, Mexico.
Trump talked about the news throughout his campaign, using Carrier as an example of how trade deals like NAFTA have destroyed the manufacturing industry.
"We're not going to let Carrier leave," Trump said in Indiana, of which Pence is governor, in April. "Because say what you want, Indiana. I've been talking about Carrier now for four months, right?"
About three weeks after the general election, Carrier confirmed talks with Trump and Pence but did not elaborate.
Carrier has had discussions with the incoming administration and we look forward to working together. Nothing to announce at this time. — Carrier (@Carrier) November 24, 2016
Five days later, Trump tweeted that a deal had been struck, jobs had been saved, and his promise to Americans had been fulfilled.
Big day on Thursday for Indiana and the great workers of that wonderful state.We will keep our companies and jobs in the U.S. Thanks Carrier — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2016
We are pleased to have reached a deal with President-elect Trump & VP-elect Pence to keep close to 1,000 jobs in Indy. More details soon. — Carrier (@Carrier) November 30, 2016
The state of Indiana vowed to give the company $7 million in tax incentives over a decade, and the company agreed to invest $16 million in keeping the company in the state.
While many workers celebrated saving their jobs, free-market capitalists balked, including Trump ally and Republican Sarah Palin, who described the deal as "crony capitalism."
Lost in the jubilation was that hundreds of jobs at the Carrier plant would not be spared from export.
On top of that, Carrier's parent company, United Technologies, said it will continue with previously announced plans to close a factory in Huntington, Ind., and move its 700 jobs to Mexico.
Behind the numbers
So how does McGhee’s statement add up? The best numbers available can be reasonably examined a couple ways.
We could not reach a spokesperson for United Technologies for comment Sunday, so we're going by reported estimates in the Washington Post, New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, among others.
The first way to add up the number — which doesn’t support McGhee’s point — is by looking just at Carrier jobs. Again, more than 1,400 Carrier jobs were heading to Mexico before the incoming administration intervened.
Multiple reports put the number of saved jobs from that plant at 800 union workers, mainly those involved with building furnaces.
So that’s more than half, or 57 percent, of the estimated 1,400 jobs that were slated to be lost from the Indianapolis plant.
That’s a bit lower than the "more than 1,000 jobs" talking point we’ve heard from Pence, Trump and Carrier. According to CNNMoney, that total is inflated by factoring in 300 primarily administrative and engineering jobs held by parent company United Technologies that were not at risk of moving to Mexico.
The letter that McGhee talked about on the show was sent to employees Dec. 1. Carrier said it would move forward with its earlier plan to relocate its fan coil manufacturing lines out of the country.
Breaking: Carrier confirms in letter to workers that fan coil jobs will "relocate" to Mexico by end of 2017. @rtv6 @IndyThisWeek pic.twitter.com/pcHo5ZPuh4 — Rafael Sánchez (@RafaelOnTV) December 2, 2016
"While this announcement is good news for many, we recognize it is not good news for everyone," reads the letter. "We are moving forward with previously announced plans to relocate the fan coil manufacturing lines, with expected completion by the end of 2017."
While the letter doesn’t use specific numbers, news reports have said that the fan coil relocation will cost 600 U.S. jobs.
And there’s more to the story. The incoming administration was not able to work out a deal to prevent the closing of United Technologies' Huntington factory. So 700 of those jobs will be outsourced to Mexico.
So between the U.S. job losses at the factories in Carrier and Huntington, approximately 1,300 jobs will be moved to Mexico under the umbrella of United Technologies.
Going by the broader view, McGhee is right that less than half (or 38 percent) of the 2,100 jobs in danger of being exported actually ended up staying.
Our ruling
McGhee said that less than half of the jobs from the Carrier deal actually stayed in the United States.
If you just count the number of jobs at the Carrier plant, which is what Trump promised to save and what McGhee referenced on the show, then her claim is not accurate. In fact, more than half of the jobs will stay in the United States because the deal is keeping approximately 800 jobs out of 1,400 at the Carrier plant.
However, her statement is correct when applied more broadly to include jobs that will be lost from the United Technologies' factory closure in Huntington, as well as the hundreds of jobs not saved in the Carrier deal.
McGhee’s statement is partially accurate but needs clarification, so we rate the claim Half True.
https://www.sharethefacts.co/share/228c9aa4-bea8-420d-b946-dd81fe8327f9 | {
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It's no secret around here that we're obsessed with The Great British Bake Off (and based on our recent Instagram poll, you are too!), so it was only a matter of time before we incorporated our favourite reality baking competition into a fun quiz! Our LOLtastic Great British Bake Off quiz will tell you which former contestant is best qualified to design and bake your wedding cake. Not only will this quiz help pass the excruciating seven days between episodes, but it'll get ideas flowing for your actual wedding cake! Enjoy!
Can't afford to hire a GBBO alumnus? You'll find some amazingly talented bakers in our Wedding Directory! | {
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(CNN) Taylor Swift is ready to remind her loyal swifties why they love her with "Lover."
In addition to announcing the title of her new album on an Instagram Live stream, the superstar singer unveiled it would be released on August 23 and that she has a new single that will be released at midnight ET called "You Need to Calm Down."
The music video for that single will be out on June 17.
"There's a lot that I've been excited about for so long, and I just wanted to wait for the right time to tell you things," she said
The album will mark Swift's first full album since 2017's "Reputation."
Lover, album out August 23. Cover shot by the artistic genius that is @valheria123 💗 Pre-add, pre-save, pre-order (all the pre stuff you feel like doing) Can't wait for you to hear this. https://t.co/SGjcCUYZdM pic.twitter.com/IPy54raQUF — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 13, 2019
Read More | {
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Protesters have lit a fire outside a police station during the ninth weekend of demonstrations against a controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, supporters of Hong Kong's police force also gathered on Saturday, for an open air rally in Victoria Park. | {
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Airline passengers flying on two Turkish carriers to the UK can now take their electronic devices on board, subject to what the Government calls “tough additional security measures”.
Passengers flying from either of the two Istanbul airports, Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen, or from Izmir, will now be able to carry laptops, tablets and accessories into the cabin to the UK — but only if they are flying on Turkish Airlines or Pegasus.
Rules banning anything bigger than a mobile phone from the cabin of direct flights to the UK were introduced abruptly in March. They covered flights from six countries, of which Turkey is by far the most important in terms of aviation links. The others were Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
The prohibition on personal electronic devices (PEDs) was imposed very shortly after the US announced similar bans. The Americans progressively removed the restrictions earlier this month.
The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “Having looked carefully at the changes introduced in March, and working with our international partners and the industry on tough additional security measures, we can now lift the ban on electronic devices in the cabin on a small number of UK-bound flights from Istanbul and Izmir.
“The remaining restrictions will be lifted only when we are satisfied it is safe and proportionate to do so.”
The new checks include explosive trace detection tests on portable electronic devices, as well as enhanced surveillance.
All other Turkish airports, including Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman, are still covered by the ban. No UK airlines have seen the rules eased, including on British Airways flights from Istanbul.
A spokesperson for BA said: “We are working with the UK Government and the local airport authorities to assess the security requirements in each of the countries where the UK Government restrictions currently apply.
“We keep our security policies under constant review and if there are any changes to what items can be taken into the cabin, we will let any affected customers know.”
The UK's biggest budget airline, easyJet, said it expects the ban to be lifted on its flights shortly. A spokesperson said the airline plans "to lift the security restrictions on PEDs and implement new additional security measures on its flights from Turkey during the course of next week".
"Once we have a date we will contact customers travelling on these routes to inform them." | {
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The most important thing is they're there. After years of heated debate at the head office in New York, the NHL is officially aboard the analytics train, with chief operating officer John Collins in the conductor's chair toot-tooting the horn.
Decades behind baseball and years behind basketball and football in this department, the league added dozens of new statistics to its website on Friday as part of a big unveiling of what it's calling Phase 1 of the project.
By Phase 4, both players and the puck will be tracked in-game with RFID sensors and the possibilities for new data will (presumably) be endless.
"It's the same company that developed the glowing puck," Collins said of Sportvision, one of two firms the NHL has teamed up with to provide analytics.
Let's not hold that against them.
None of what has been added to NHL.com so far is revolutionary. There are now several variations of possession stats (i.e. Corsi and Fenwick renamed for a wider audience), first and second assists, zone starts and a few other not-so-advanced advanced stats that have increasingly become part of the hockey conversation online the past few years.
Most have been available since 2006-07, when analyst Gabriel Desjardins launched behindthenet.ca.
The troubling part of the NHL's launch is how confusing and, in some cases, wrong the new data are. Without a filter for games played or ice time, for example, little-known players such as Andrew Agozzino and Miikka Salomaki lead the league in points per 20 minutes.
It's not clear whether this is an even-strength stat (as has been convention) or not.
Other stats, such as penalties drawn, are flat-out incorrect. In this case, the league has included fighting majors as a drawn penalty, which means that a stat meant to highlight players that put their teams on the power play is useless.
Typically an analytic that fast, skilled players excel at – because opponents hook or haul them down – NHL.com's list has such enforcers as Luke Gazdic and Chris Neil on the leaderboard.
Behind The Net, meanwhile, has stars such as Nathan MacKinnon, Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Ovechkin atop its rankings.
That's only one example, but it's one that highlights how much further ahead the fan- and analyst-created sites are.
Thankfully, Collins said the league doesn't intend to shut down their competitors now that they've launched their own site – a possibility that had many analysts concerned the past few months.
"No, not at all," Collins said. "We think our role in this process is to be the authentic place for a digital record of what's happening on the ice … hopefully that will spur a number of cottage industries in terms of how people analyze those aspects."
The league may well get there. The addition of tagging and tracking – which is expected to launch in time for the start of next season – should produce an Everest-sized mountain of new material, similar to what the NBA's generated with their camera data.
The hard part is going to be making sense of all of it, especially considering the NHL's very early efforts with much more basic statistical information aren't encouraging.
Rather than try to offer an odd, limited version of what others have done better, they would have done well to hire someone like Desjardins or Andrew Thomas of war-on-ice.com to get things right.
Because the initial offering won't be winning many converts. | {
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On Wednesday morning President Donald Trump will sign an historic trade agreement with the Chinese government officials.
The left and GOP elites said this would NEVER happen. They said Trump was reckless and would ruin the economy.
They were wrong. Today President Trump will sign the China agreement and make history. And the stock market is up at record levels too!
Historian Doug Wead, author of Inside Trump’s White House, told Varney and Co. that this is the greatest Sino-American event since Nixon’s trip to China.
TRENDING: RUTH BADER GINSBURG DEAD! Supreme Court Justice Dies at Home Surrounded by Family
Doug Wead: I think this is the greatest Sino-American event since Nixon’s trip to China. And let me explain that. We had four presidents, two that I knew very well and traveled with and went to Chinese food with. Four presidents presided over the largest transfer of wealth in world history outside of the Middle East, and that was the wealth of the American middle class to China. The whole WTO scenario worked with the Republican establishment, Democratic establishment, reaching its peak under Obama with a $500 billion trade deficit. And I interviewed Donald Trump for the book “Inside Trump’s White House” and he said this date would come. And, it was going to come, and I didn’t believe him but he was right and he pulled it off.
Via Varney and Co. | {
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"The decision firstly includes giving an amount worth $7,000 to every family of a martyr of the intifada in Jerusalem," Ambassador Mohammad Fathali said in Beirut, Reuters reported. $30,000 will be paid to every Palestinian family whose house has been demolished as a result of the violence, the ambassador added. | {
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Many say that location is the number one factor when deciding on buying a house, when in reality, it’s actually our finances. Realizing that with $200,000 you can only buy 126 square feet of living space in Manhattan, while in Cleveland you can get over 3,700 square feet, can seriously put things into perspective. The perfect home combines a great location with a good price and plenty of space; however, it’s really hard to land such a deal nowadays, especially in vibrant cities where the median home price is through the roof.
Comparing home prices in major U.S. cities and seeing mind-blowing differences isn’t anything new, but there’s something about this topic that keeps us curious. This time, we looked at how much space one could buy for the approximate U.S. national median home price of $200,000 in some of the largest cities in the country. It turns out, not as much as you would expect in some places.
While the results were indeed astonishing, we didn’t think there would be such a huge discrepancy between the most expensive and least expensive cities. So, if you’re in the market to buy a place with a decent floor plan, and which doesn’t involve winning the lottery, check out our rundown below.
How Much Space Can $200K Get You? — From 126 Square Feet in Manhattan to 3,769 in Cleveland, and Everything In Between
At $1,585, the median price per square foot in Manhattan is miles away from Cleveland’s ($53/square foot). We calculated that, for $200,000, you could buy a tiny 126-square-foot room in the borough, but it would be difficult to actually live in such a place. Plus, it’s highly unlikely you’d even find a listing of that size and price in Manhattan.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, in Cleveland, for $200,000, you could buy more than enough space to enjoy, and then some. You could own a house so big that you’d be hosting fancy Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, with spare rooms for your extended family.
San Francisco, Boston and San Jose are in the same boat as Manhattan, where prices are sky-high, and the market is on fire, while El Paso, San Antonio and Memphis boast an affordability similar to Cleveland’s. San Antonio stand outs from the latter group with its thriving business activity, and the health and education sectors driving the economy in the area. The development pipeline is also robust, so San Antonio is definitely worth looking into, because with $200,000, you could buy a sizable 3,249-square-foot home there.
For the same amount, you could purchase a home ranging from 400 to 600 square feet in Los Angeles and San Diego or one as large as 2,000 square feet in Nashville or Orlando. Some might describe moving to LA as the American Dream, but you’d need a lot more than $200,000 to buy your dream house there. Orlando can be seen as an alternative to LA, with its pleasant climate, its nightlife and job opportunities—the one major difference being that the cost of living is considerably lower.
Although major cities, the following are slightly more affordable than San Diego or LA. For $200,000, you’d end up with decent living conditions in Miami (835 square feet), Portland (773 square feet) and Chicago (1,102 square feet), but probably not in the neighborhoods you’d want.
Southern Hospitality—the Best Places to Buy a Home for $200K
If you don’t mind the hot weather, Austin and Dallas are great candidates, but so are Atlanta and Charlotte. Atlanta, being a regional powerhouse with a healthy economy, is the most expensive city out of the 5, but also the most vibrant when it comes to entertainment. For $200,000, you could live comfortably in a 1,119-square-foot home in Atlanta or enjoy an extra 500 square feet if you prefer Charlotte.
Everything’s bigger in Texas—and your house could be too! For $200K, you could buy a big house in Austin (1,341 square feet), and an even bigger one in Dallas (1,824 square feet). Both cities have their own charm, so choosing one over the other all boils down to personal preference.
Looking at the data, it’s safe to say that if you’re in the market to buy a home this year, chances are that you’ll need to come up with a lot more than just the U.S. median price to buy a spacious home in one of the country’s high-profile cities, or a lot less, if you chose a more affordable city. Either way, one thing is for sure, you’ll sacrifice either space or location to stay within this budget.
Methodology:
We used PropertyShark data to determine the median home size (square footage) in each city and 2016 U.S. Census data to determine the median home price. To calculate the median price per square foot we divided the median home sale price with the median home size in each location and used the rounded amount ($200,000) of the national median home price of $214,000, to determine how much space you can buy in each city. | {
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FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2013 file photo, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer participates in a primary debate for New York City comptroller in the WCBS-TV studios, in New York. The New York Police Department says detectives are looking into Jamie Antolini's claim that Spitzer, the disgraced former New York governor who resigned in 2008 amid revelations that he had sex with prostitutes, threatened to stab him during an irate interaction in a Manhattan restaurant. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2013 file photo, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer participates in a primary debate for New York City comptroller in the WCBS-TV studios, in New York. The New York Police Department says detectives are looking into Jamie Antolini's claim that Spitzer, the disgraced former New York governor who resigned in 2008 amid revelations that he had sex with prostitutes, threatened to stab him during an irate interaction in a Manhattan restaurant. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Detectives are looking into a man’s claim that disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer threatened to stab him during an irate interaction in a restaurant, police said Sunday.
Jamie Antolini filed a complaint on Friday regarding an argument earlier in the month, authorities said.
Antolini said he was having dinner Jan. 2 when Spitzer went into the Manhattan restaurant and became angry at hearing Antolini loudly praise someone Spitzer had publicly fought with during his years in the public sector.
Police said Antolini accused Spitzer of threatening him with bodily harm, including stabbing him with a knife, and making statements that he would kill him.
Spitzer spokeswoman Lisa Linden said that there was an argument started by a restaurant patron and that Spitzer initially ignored his remarks. She said at no time did Spitzer make any threats.
Spitzer, a Democrat, resigned in 2008 amid revelations that he had sex with prostitutes. Before being governor, he had been the state attorney general. | {
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I’ve been wondering in the last weeks about a different approach on how we write our AngularJS stuff.
TL;DR: you could use annotations to separate your code and the framework syntax as much as possible.
Update: I’ve created a lib/node module/gulp plugin that converts the comments into AngularJS syntax ☺
— If you want to see it in action, check this project:
https://github.com/darlanalves/angular-repository
In the AngularJS world we have a module system that holds services, controllers, filters, and directives. Services have a little variation of syntax, so we also have factories, values and providers. All this stuff is essential part of the framework’s inner working, and they all have a way to be declared imperatively. Most of them, however, are not really AngularJS “things” but general concepts that we know already from MVC. The code goes like this:
var $module = angular.module('module.name', ['dependency']); $module.factory('ServiceOne', ['OtherService', function(a) {}]);
$module.filter('filterName', function() {});
AngularJS syntax is not a big deal here, but we have some things that need to be done properly to avoid problems when our code is shipped for production.
One of this things is the array syntax, as seen in the factory above. To make sure the first parameter passed in to the factory is the “OtherService”, we have to annotate it in a specific format, in this case using an array and naming the dependency as string. This is both boring and error prone, also breaking one of the fundamental laws of code: DRY (don’t repeat yourself)!
To circumvent that, we have the awesome ng-annotate project, which does it automagically. But that’s not enough, as we still have to write this imperative declarations everywhere and this code ties the entire project to AngularJS in some way. | {
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In Robert Wise’s Born To Kill (1947), Helen Brent (Claire Trevor) and her sister Georgia (Audrey Long) fall in love with Sam Wild (Lawrence Tierney). Sam is a bad boy, and bad boys have certain qualities that make women feel attracted to them: They know how to look at women, and they know how to talk to them. Bad boys excite women because they are unpredictable and daring. Some of them have the power to turn good girls into bad girls.
A bad boy uses the power of his gaze to make women want him. When Sam first sees Helen at the casino, he looks at her five times, never dropping his eyes unless she looks away first. Helen is under Sam’s spell, and Sam knows it. On the day of his wedding to Georgia, one maid remarks, “His eyes get me. They run up and down you like a search light.” Sam looks at women with raw masculine desire, making them want him even more.
Sam also makes women feel attracted to him by speaking with strength and confidence. Helen calls him “an assured man.” When they arrive in San Francisco, he asks her: “When am I going to see you again?” Later, when Georgia asks him to dance, he charms her with the power of his words and his gaze. Seeing her shyness, he says, “You’re young, warm, pretty. You could really love a man.” Sam’s strength and confidence awakens an attraction in Georgia that she cannot resist.
When Sam wants something, he takes action to get it. At the train station, he says to Helen, “Let’s go,” and takes her on board. The club car is closed, but he tells the attendant, “Right now it’s opening again,” and walks right past him. Sam is in control, taking what he wants, and no one can stop him. After Helen and Sam are seated, he looks at her and says, “I know what I want when I see it.” His innuendo is clear, and she stares back with a smile. Helen knows that Sam wants her.
Because Sam is driven by desire, he often takes risks and does the unexpected. After marrying Georgia, he has an argument with Helen, and when she warns him, “I make a very bad enemy,” he kisses her. Helen cannot resist the kiss, and then he surprises her by saying, “Goodbye, sister.” Helen is left frustrated and disappointed, and Sam leaves with the knowledge that she still wants him.
Helen’s love for Sam changes her. Revealing her true feelings for him, she gasps aloud, “You’re strength, excitement, and depravity.” Drawn to the darkness inside Sam, she becomes a criminal like him. In order to prevent Sam from being arrested, she delivers a death threat to Mrs. Kraft (Esther Howard). Helen’s fiancé, Fred Grover (Phillip Terry) tells her that she began to change as soon as Sam came into the house. In love with a bad boy, Helen is now a bad girl.
Although Sam is a “bad” man, he does have positive qualities. Women are attracted to him because he is bold, confident, unpredictable, and daring. In fact, if a “nice guy” wants to become more attractive to women, he should try and develop these qualities. Sam is “bad” for women because is he is selfish, greedy, angry, and violent.
My Free eBook ⇒ The Donkey King and Other Stories | {
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National Garage Sale Day!
I've had this on my calendar for a while...Annually,is the second Saturday in August. That means this year it's August 14th.If you've never tried shopping at garage sales (or yard sales, or rummage sales, or tag sales... depending on your region), give it a try this year. While it takes some experience to spot a good deal, at the very least you can enjoy the eclectic mix of items for sale and chat with the folks holding the sales.Second-hand shopping is becoming more popular, not only because of the down economy, but folks like to copy the Hollywood hot shots, and many of today's young, hip stars are sporting vintage finds from second-hand sources.Part of the fun of shopping at garage sales, whether it's National Garage Sale Day or not, is the bartering or haggling. Where else do you get to dicker over the price? There's an art to it, so if you're new to bartering, check out Garage Sale Etiquette: Useful Phrases When Haggling Or maybe you'll find an incredible treasure such as the man who paid $45 for a box of old glass photo negatives only to find out they were the lost work of Ansel Adams and are valued at an estimated $200 million.If you're not in the mood to shop, take the opportunity to hold your own sale and make a little cash with all the junk you no longer need. Old toys, old books, old movies (both VHS and DVD), appliances, clothing, furniture and more are all good candidates for making a little cash. Make it a family affair and do a little late spring cleaning. What doesn't sell can be donated to charity. (Be sure to take a photo and get a receipt.)Check out these articles for some ideas about pricing items for sale at your garage sale , or how to make great signs for your garage sale . Of course, advertising is key, which is why GarageSaleFinder.com is such a great idea. Use it in conjunction with your signs and perhaps a newspaper ad for maximum traffic.Here's one last article: Top 25 tips for having a great garage sale So mark your calendar: | {
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Image copyright AFP Image caption Messages of congratulations to Mr Trump are now being sent to him from all over the world
World leaders are reacting to the triumph of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election.
As news of the result was confirmed, they began to send congratulations - some fulsome, some more tentative - to the business mogul.
Russia
President Vladimir Putin has said he is willing fully to restore ties with the US following Mr Trump's victory.
"We heard the campaign statements of the future US presidential candidate about the restoration of relations between Russia and the United States," Mr Putin said on Wednesday.
"It is not an easy path, but we are ready to do our part and do everything to return Russian and American relations to a stable path of development.
"This would be good for both the Russian and American people and have a positive impact on the climate of world affairs."
In Moscow meanwhile senior nationalist MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky threw a party at the parliament building to celebrate Mr Trump's win. Former Soviet Mikhail Gorbachev has also welcomed his triumph.
Relations between the US and Russia have become more tense because of the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria and allegations of Russian cyber attacks in the US during the presidential campaign.
China
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Donald Trump in a telegram, state TV reported.
Earlier the foreign ministry said that China was hoping to work with the new US government to boost bilateral relations.
"US China trade relations are mutually beneficial. Two mature big powers like the US and China will handle things well," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
"We look forward to working together with the new US administration to push forward consistent, healthy and stable China-US relations which could be beneficial to the people of the two countries and to the world."
Iran
President Hassan Rouhani said the result would not have any impact on Iran's policies. He was quoted by state media as saying the election result reflected internal discontent and instability within the US which would take a long time to be solved.
Speaking in relation to the Iran nuclear deal, President Rouhani asserted that it was a clever move by the Iranian government to establish it as a UN Security Council resolution rather than a deal with a single government.
Earlier Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted by the official Irna news agency as saying that the new US president should stick by the deal.
"Iran and America have no political relations, but it is important that the future US president realises his duty to uphold the multilateral obligations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and we expect the international community to require this of the United States of America," he said.
Iraq
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated Mr Trump, saying he's looking forward to America's continued support in his country's fight against Islamic State (IS).
Mr Abadi said he hopes the "world and the United States will continue to support Iraq in fighting terrorism".
Mr Trump's future policy in the Middle East remains unclear.
Afghanistan
President Ashraf Ghani said that his country and the US are "strategic partners in the fight against terrorism and partners in development".
"[The] Afghan government is hopeful that close co-operation [with] the new president-elect will further deepen ties between the two countries," a statement released by the presidential palace said.
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah added that "combating extremism and efforts to bring peace and stability" are the top priorities of both countries, along with strengthening economic, military, social and cultural ties.
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that "Canada has no closer friend, partner and ally than the United States".
"We look forward to working very closely with President-elect Trump, his administration, and with the United States Congress in the years ahead, including on issues such as trade, investment, and international peace and security," he says.
Mexico
Conspicuously, President Enrique Pena Nieto does not congratulate Mr Trump on his victory.
Image copyright Twitter
Instead, he congratulates the US "for its electoral process" and tells the president-elect that he hopes the two countries will work together to form a stronger relationship.
Venezuela
The foreign ministry congratulated Donald Trump on his win, adding that they hoped the new chapter would be marked by "respect for non-intervention in internal affairs".
President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly accused Washington of trying to overthrow the South American country's government, a charge that has been rejected by State Department representatives.
The two countries continue to engage in trade despite not having embassies in their respective capitals since 2010.
UK
In her message of congratulations, Prime Minister Theresa May focused on the "special relationship" between the two countries. She said that she hoped that Mr Trump's win would mean a continuation of shared values, including "freedom, democracy and enterprise".
"We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence," she said.
"I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead."
France
President Francois Hollande said Mr Trump's victory "opens a period of uncertainty".
Speaking in a televised address, he said that there was now a greater need for a united Europe, able to wield influence on the international stage and promote its values and interests whenever they are challenged.
Germany
"The US is an old and venerable democracy," Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
"I watched the election result with particular suspense. Someone elected to be president by the American people in free and fair elections has importance far beyond the USA.
"For us Germans, other than with the European Union, we have no deeper connection than with the United States of America."
Czech Republic
President Milos Zeman said Mr Trump's election was a victory over "media manipulation" as he congratulated the new US president.
"I would like to cordially congratulate Donald Trump. I had, as one of few European politicians, declared public support for this candidate... because I agree with his opinions on migration as well as the fight against Islamic terrorism," Zeman told reporters in a rare press briefing at the Prague Castle.
"I appreciate Donald Trump's public demeanour, he speaks clearly, sometimes roughly, but understandably, and avoids what is sometimes called political correctness."
India
Image copyright Twitter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in tweets said: "We look forward to working with you closely to take India-US bilateral ties to a new height," he said.
Japan
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a continuing close relationship between the US and Japan in his congratulatory message.
"I express my heartfelt congratulations on your election as the next president of the United States," his statement said. "Japan and the United States are unshakeable allies connected by common values such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights and rule of law."
Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he hoped Mr Trump's victory would lead to positive steps for the Middle East and more freedom in the world.
He called Mr Trump to congratulate him and the pair spoke about cooperation on issues including fighting terrorism, the Turkish presidency said.
"I hope that this choice of the American people will lead to beneficial steps being taken for the world concerning basic rights and freedoms, democracy and developments in our region," Mr Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has wasted no time in urging the president-elect to extradite exiled US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for orchestrating a coup attempt earlier this year, a charge he denies.
"If you extradite in a short time the head of a terror organisation who has damaged our historic friendship, I am sure that you can give Turkish-US relations a new start and open a new page," he said.
Palestinian territories
President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Mr Trump in a statement, expressing hope that "peace will be achieved during his term".
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to reach "new heights" in relations with Mr Trump, who he described as "a true friend of the state of Israel".
"I look forward to working with him to advance security, stability and peace in our region," he said.
Earlier hard line Jewish Home party leader and Education Minister Naftali Bennett said the notion of a Palestinian state was over after Donald Trump's win.
"Trump's victory is an opportunity for Israel to immediately retract the notion of a Palestinian state in the centre of the country, which would hurt our security and just cause," he said.
"This is the position of the president-elect... The era of a Palestinian state is over."
Liberia
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf tells the BBC that she is "extremely saddened" by Donald Trump's victory.
"Our concern is whether President-elect Trump will have an African agenda and build bridges," she said. "We can only hope that he will do so in due course."
The president said that she was worried about the future of trade deals between the US and Liberia in particular and Africa in general.
"We do not know what his policy towards Africa will be," she said.
"Obviously we are concerned but we will have to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Scandinavia
Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway may have had concerns about the new president, but were hopeful their close relations with the US would continue.
"Let's give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt," Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said, as he urged the US not to "close in" on itself.
Any surprise was met with a shrug by Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila, a self-made millionaire, who pointed out the polls "got it pretty badly wrong about Brexit as well".
He said that US relations for Finland, which shares a 1,300km (800 mile) border with Russia, are of "paramount" importance and that Trump's victory wouldn't mean a change in the non-aligned county's defence policy, its close ties to Nato or Finnish-Russian relations.
Meanwhile, Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg congratulated Donald Trump, and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said many Swedes were concerned about the election result, but that they had been "prepared" for it.
Poland
Polish President Andrzej Duda congratulated Mr Trump in a letter, and said: "We are particularly pleased that during this year's Nato Summit in Warsaw the US decided to increase its military presence in Poland, thereby strengthening the Alliance's Eastern flank.
"We sincerely hope that your leadership will open new opportunities for our co-operation based on mutual commitment."
Nicaragua
President Daniel Ortega - who won his third term as leader on Sunday - said he believed "it is possible to work with the United States" on the world's problems "giving priority to peace" as he congratulated Mr Trump.
The United Nations
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that "in the aftermath of a hard-fought and often divisive campaign, it is worth recalling and reaffirming that the unity in diversity of the United States is one of the country's greatest strengths".
"I encourage all Americans to stay true to that spirit. Today's global challenges demand concerted global action and joint solutions. As a founding member of the United Nations and permanent member of the Security Council, the United States is an essential actor across the international agenda," he said.
Mr Ban added that "people everywhere look to the United States to use its remarkable power to help lift humanity up and to work for the common good" which included the battle against climate change, advancing human rights and "promoting mutual understanding... to achieve lives of peace, prosperity and dignity for all".
The Vatican
Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin says the Vatican "respects the American people's choice" and hopes that Donald Trump will "serve the wellbeing and peace of the world".
"There is need for everyone to work to change the world situation, which is in great distress", he is quoted by La Repubblica newspaper as saying.
The European Union
Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that trans-Atlantic ties with the US went beyond the election of Donald Trump.
Image copyright Twitter
"We'll continue to work together, rediscovering the strength of Europe," she said.
EU Parliament President Martin Schulz said the result must be honoured and that Mr Trump "managed to become the standard-bearer of the angst and fears of millions of Americans".
Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines' tough-talking leader, offered his "warm congratulations" to the US president-elect.
According to his communications secretary, Mr Duterte "looks forward to working with the incoming administration for enhanced Philippines-US relations anchored on mutual respect, mutual benefit and shared commitment to democratic ideals and the rule of law".
Several leaders of right-wing parties in Europe have also welcomed Mr Trump's victory.
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right French National Front (FN), sent her best wishes to Mr Trump, tweeting: "Congratulations to the new president of the United States Donald Trump and the free American people!"
Dutch anti-Islam populist lawmaker Geert Wilders also tweeted his congratulations.
Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party who played a key role in the referendum leading to Britain's exit from the EU, tweeted: "I hand over the mantle to @RealDonaldTrump! Many congratulations. You have fought a brave campaign." | {
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Every training camp, it seems as if every player reports in “the best shape of their lives”. It’s the type rhetoric that’s so overused and tired that nearly all of its meaning has been sucked out. For Le’Veon Bell, though, his claim of being in the best shape of his life might actually have some merit:
Even the team roster guide hasn’t caught up with Bell’s rapid transformation, as the third-year pro is still listed at 244 pounds in his bio. It’s safe to say Bell probably hasn’t weighed that much in a while.
Even with a bum knee, Bell looks fantastic. Monday afternoon at training camp, I observed Bell displaying a degree of speed and lateral quickness that simply didn’t exist last season. He looks terrific.
As Bell is potentially on the verge of seeing his three-game suspension decreased to only one or two games, the All-Pro running back will seek to build upon a 2014 season in which he emerged as arguably the top back in the NFL. With an absolutely rigorous offseason training regimen that’s allowed him shred over 20 pounds in the span of two seasons, Bell is set to continue his rise to the top of the league’s running back hierarchy. | {
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In sentencing on two serious felonies in Harju County Court on February 8, a four-year, three-month sentence was handed down to a cannabis grower - slightly more than was meted out to one of the two men who beat a man to death in a shopping mall parking lot.
In the case involving the fatal beating in July 2009, one man received a six-year, one-month sentence - which included a past suspended sentence - and his accomplice received the four-year sentence.
The beating occurred at the Kristiine Keskus shopping center in 2009. The sentences were the same as requested by the prosecutor.
In the cannabis cultivation case, the 34-year-old man was found with 207 plants in his apartment, 18 plants in the curing stage and 800 grams of marijuana.
He was sentenced to four years and three months of real prison time. The apartment and an older vehicle were confiscated along with other personal items.
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The EZ Teether has been designed by dental professionals.
It’s the first product of its kind that has been designed to soothe and provide relief from the pain of wisdom teeth in adults.
Wisdom teeth can be very uncomfortable and can cause great pain in some circumstances. After conducting thorough research in this area, we’ve made several resources available through our site to provide support and information to anyone suffering through this process.
To find out more about what causes the pain and ways of alleviating it, visit our understanding wisdom tooth pain and our pain relief for wisdom teeth pages.
To learn about how wisdom teeth are formed, visit our wisdom teeth coming in page. | {
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The efficiency of public spending in India comes in for criticism, as does the expansion of contract teaching jobs in public schools.
India has made remarkable strides towards ensuring education for all, a new global monitoring report shows. While access is now close to universal, the quality of education remains a major challenge, it says.
In April 2000, the governments of 164 countries adopted the Dakar Framework to deliver Education For All commitments by 2015. On Thursday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) published the Education For All Global Monitoring Report to evaluate the progress of countries on these goals.
India is likely to reach the EFA’s first goal of 80 per cent enrolment in pre-primary education by 2015, has already reached the second goal of universal primary enrolment, and will fall just short of universal youth literacy by 2015, the report said. The one measurable goal India will not reach is to reduce its adult illiteracy rate by half (it has reduced it by 26 per cent). The country’s major success has been in reaching gender parity for primary and lower secondary enrolment, the only country in South and West Asia to do so. It has also made progress towards improving the quality of education, but major gaps remain.
According to the report, nearly half of all countries have achieved universal pre-primary, primary and lower secondary enrolment. Only 25 per cent of the countries have reduced by half their levels of adult illiteracy, and women continue to make up two-thirds of the illiterate. Two-thirds of the countries have also achieved gender parity at the primary level, but less than half at the secondary level.
“Overall, not even the target of universal primary education was reached, let alone the more ambitious EFA goals, and the most disadvantaged continue to be the last to benefit. But there have been achievements that should not be underestimated. The world has advanced by 2015 beyond where it would have been if the trends of the 1990s had persisted,” the report says. “A lesson re-emerging over the past 15 years is that while technical solutions are important, gaining political influence and traction is of even greater significance,” it notes.
However, major challenges remain. The efficiency of public spending in India comes in for criticism, as does the expansion of contract teaching jobs in public schools.
Most crucially, the “Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) said that while India’s education system succeeded in enrolling many more children, there were wide disparities in students’ achievement of basic skills across the States, a finding validated in the official National Achievement Survey of grade 3 students,” the report says. | {
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Jusuf Nurkic looked like a lost cause in Denver, but he's been rejuvenated in Portland, sparking life into the Blazers and flashing promise once again.
The Jusuf Nurkic trade was a low-risk gamble at first. Then it looked like a solid deal. Then, Nurkic kept playing well, everyone remembered the Blazers also received a first–round pick in the deal, and it became a full-on steal. Now, the Blazers have won four straight games and they're within a half-game of the final playoff spot in the West. Against the Sixers on Thursday night, Nurkic had 28 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists, six blocks, and two steals. Blazers fans have hit the "someone knock down that building so we can use the rubble to build a giant Nurkic statue" phase of the trade process.
It's beautiful to watch. Nurkic has always had the potential to be a monster. Fran Fraschilla called him a "mountain man" coming into the 2014 draft. He's the son of a 7-foot, 400–pound Bosnian riot cop, and his rebounding and sheer power created buzz the second he set foot in Denver.
But he could never find the right footing with the Nuggets. Early on he battled injuries, and when he was finally healthy, he came back to a team that belonged to Nikola Jokic. This wasn't his fault, and it wasn't the team's fault, either.
All-Bullseye Team: Who Faces The Most Playoff Pressure?
Denver tried its best to play Nurkic and Jokic together. It just never clicked. Jokic was clearly the better player, and after another failed experiment to begin the year—Nurkic started, with Jokic coming off the bench—the Nuggets stopped complicating things. Jokic would start, Nurkic would sit, and the team took off from there.
Nurkic was left to wait for a trade. Most people in Denver knew he was talented, but people begin to question his effort and conditioning, and he spent most of this season going through the motions. This is probably why the Nuggets had to give him away before the trade deadline. In a league that's getting smaller and faster every year, not many teams needed an inefficient low-post scorer who can't stay in shape and doesn't always play hard.
Now ... Nurkic is averaging 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in Portland, and he's a better fit than anyone could have imagined. In addition to post-ups, he's setting massive screens for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and he's crashing into the lane for lay-ups and quick putbacks off the boards. It's like pairing a sledge hammer with a buzzsaw.
Sam Forencich/Getty Images
He's also been a better passer than expected, expertly threading the needle to Lillard and McCollum on cuts to the rim. Meanwhile, theoretical rim protection in Denver has turned into actual blocked shots in Portland. His -11.5 on/off number in Denver has turned into +13.7 for the Blazers.
The Joker: Nikola Jokic Gets Serious In Denver
If you think that preposterous Sixers statline comes with an asterisk—he was working against Richaun Holmes and Jahlil Okafor all night—it should be noted that he did similar things to Steven Adams and the Thunder in a win last week: 18 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and two steals.
"It's not hard when I get a chance like this," Nurkic on the court after Thursday's Sixers game. "I'm here, I feel home, I love it. I just played minutes for the first time in my life, so I'm cool. I just want to have fun and win the games."
It won't be like this forever. We're in the middle of a very small sample size. At some point Nurkic will look human, Portland fans will realize there are other changes needed across the roster, and nightly celebrations of the great Blazers/Nuggets trade of February 2017 will begin to fade.
That's not the point, though. Right now we're in the sweet spot. There are no expectations, each Nurkic breakout game is treated like a new miracle, and anything seems possible. For both Nurkic and the Blazers, and any basketball fan who's been watching them, the whole season feels different.
What's great about Nurkic's second life is that most players don't get one. His story in Denver—injuries, lack of playing time, predictable bad habits—is the most common way that most talented players watch their whole careers get derailed. Things just never click, they never find the right situation, and the league moves on to someone else. Most of the NBA community had already made that shift with Nurkic until the past few weeks.
Then the Blazers won four straight, and the playoffs became realistic again. More importantly, playoffs or no playoffs, this is a team that needed a competent big man more than anyone in the league. An expensive off–season full of bad ideas had taken one of the NBA's greatest League Pass teams and turned them into a stressful mess. In the middle of December, I wrote a column lobbying them to trade for Nerlens Noel. They needed something to change the equation.
The Blazers didn't trade for Noel, but they might have a solution regardless. He is a giant Bosnian solution with power and defense and surprising passing, who's still only 22 years old. Every night the future looks a little more promising. | {
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Wakaru is my go-to app for my Japanese studies. It used to be Anki (which I still use), but Wakaru app‘s amazing functionality and features makes it one of the only apps on my phone that I could not live without.
With the Wakaru app you can connect to the ever popular Aozora Bunko and Hoshizora Bunko and download thousands upon thousands of books straight to your device. Then, while reading, with a single touch you can look up words in said book, and even make flashcards from those words. It is pretty to look at too! You can also add your own PDF versions of books into the app!
As if that wasn’t enough there is also an excellent web browser which I often use to read NHK News Web and other websites. Just as with books, you can touch a word and it is automatically looked up, giving you all of the same functionality you have within books.
If you are serious about reading Japanese and have an iPhone or iPad, you seriously can not live without the Wakaru app!
There are many other features of the app which I have not gone into here, but feel free to check out those details on the Wakaru app features page! | {
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The world we know now was not like this around 200 years back. Everything used to go according to the law of nature. Monsoons summer winter we're in coordination with each other and cycle of weather was almost same for millions of years but what went wrong?
In my last blog post we saw a girl child named Great Thunberg who is rising resistance to climate change. I also mentioned the 2 key protocols that govern our climate change. Today I am going to explain in brief what those two protocols are and how different countries are abided by it, also who are against it.
Many people would not be knowing about this protocol. My aim is to literate you beautiful readers of this blog so that you would also share it further with your friends, family and loved one.
in 1800 Industrial Revolution took place lot of factories lot of production demand an innovation of new things increased. And to generate energy they had to burn fuel and natural resources and this process resulted a massive Co2 emission. It has been said that Industrial Revolution is between 1780 to 1840 but, current Co2 emission proves it never stopped in just two hundred years. Many of the natural laws were malfunctioned. The system which was running fluently for millions of years got into trouble in just two hundred years. Today we face each season at its extremity. Let it be monsoon winter or summer an uncontrolled behavior of weather is creating many problems in our day-to-day life floods earthquakes and super-hot summers. Due to such impact thousands of lives have already taken away. In recognition of this in December 2015 an agreement was signed by UNFCCC members. As of March 2019, 195 UNFCCC members have signed the agreement, and 186 have become part to it.
Different countries and European Union spent two weeks in Paris past December 2015 hammering out the final wording of an agreement to keep global temperature increase well below two degrees Celsius and if possible, below 1.5 degrees. Yes, there is a change in temperature which can only be achieved through a significant reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. This meeting was one of the largest gathering of the world leaders ever seen.
But 2 degree Celsius? what do they mean by keeping below 2 degree Celsius?
let's see…
This temperature represents the average temperature of entire earth but, 2-degree Celsius sounds not much right but let's get into a history. Since we started collecting this temperature data on earth, we see in 1890 the temperature was - 0.37 degree Celsius in 1940 it reached to – 0.03 degree Celsius. In next 40 years it got 2.27 degree Celsius. In 2008 was 0.42 degree Celsius and now in 2016 it is 0.99 degree Celsius. The year 2016 ranks as the warmest year on record. So right now, we are at almost 1 degree Celsius and which is the warmest till now and parish agreement is trying to keep it below 2 degree Celsius or possibly below 1.5 degree Celsius.
Compared to today 1 degree Celsius and its impact 2 degree Celsius will be disastrous but, then why targeting that number even if each country decides to give a lot of efforts? We will somehow be able to stop it below 2 degree Celsius but, without any guidelines and efforts it can go anywhere and the effects of it will be even much worst. And that's why they have decided to put a practical number of 2 degrees Celsius and to achieve this target everyone who attended Paris agreement meeting made emission cutting pledges. The US for example pledged to cut the US climate pollution by 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels. China's target is to lower the carbon intensity of GDP by 60 percent to 65 percent by 2030 compared to what they had in 2005. The European Union plans to cut emission by 40 percent by 2030 compared to what they had in 1990.
The top countries which are contributing to Co2 emission
When we talk about Co2 emission we should know the top countries which are contributing to this situation the most. The number 1 Co2 emitting country is China which accounts for 30% of total emission. Then comes United States with 15 percent after that comes European Union with 10 percent emission followed by India and Russia with emission of 7 percent and 5 percent respectively. These top 5 countries emit almost 70% of total Co2 emissions of the world and the rest of the world accounts for 30 percent.
So, how this element works
Each party must go back to their domestic governments in order to gain domestic approval or in some cases have it passed by domestic law. China for instance voted to add out the proposal of the Paris agreement at the closing meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. The US used a presidential executive agreement once their domestic laws give approval then the parties will submit acceptance to the UN to prove that they are ready to join. The countries should be reported every five years and are to be registered by the UN Secretariat. The countries have no binding as a matter of international law there will be no mechanism to force a country to set a target by a specific date and no enforcement if a set target is not met.
Then how these countries perform well?
Suppose one country doesn't perform and doesn't meet the target there is no law to force on these countries but, the amount of guilt and shame they must face. Simply because the low performing party who is directly affecting a climate change and global warming is much more as well it will be disrespectful to all other teammates who is putting efforts. On the other hand, the country which performs good will get appreciation and admiration in the entire world and this will no doubt work better than any law. At the Paris conference in 2017 also decided that the developed countries will give 100 billion dollar a year as a climate finance till 2025. This funds of one hundred billion a year will be given as an aid to developing countries for action on a climate change direction and mitigation.
But you may say why the developer countries how to pay to developing countries just because they have lot of money? The answer is No, on the foundation of each developed country is Industrial Revolution. The amount of money and power they have is because of the Industrial Revolution which is directly causing climate change. And developing countries were not industrialized back then and even now they are dependent on developed countries for industrial needs so all together develop the countries are somehow responsible for such a massive climate change and it's their duty to pay those countries who is facing climate disasters. But this finances specifically will be used to fight against climate change these funds will be given to parties most vulnerable to the effects of climate change includes least developed countries and small island developing states.
That's it about Paris agreement now let’s see about KYOTO protocol.
Kyoto Protocol
Global warming has become one of the most highly debated issues of our time in the face of mounting evidence to climate change and the Kyoto Protocol was created. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, japan, on 11 December 1997 which entered into force on 16 February 2005. There are currently 192 parties to the Protocol . Canada withdrew from the protocol effective December 2012. The Kyoto Protocol's aim is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with climate systems. In other words, the Kyoto Protocol's mission is to cut down on many emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and ozone. Kyoto, japan,
To this end the Kyoto Protocol sets up a cap-and-trade system which creates so-called carbon credits units of Co2 production that are simple measurable and tradable. The carbon credit system makes it expensive to pollute and as such motivates both countries and companies to monitor and regulate their production of Co2. There are many benefits to the Kyoto Protocol the most evident of which is a curbing of greenhouse gases in order to stop global warming. Global warming is an immediate problem and requires an immediate and large-scale solution.
Some are against this protocol. let’s see who they are & what is reason behind it
The Kyoto Protocol is the best idea we've had about how to stop global warming however the United States and Australia have not ratified this treaty and as such have condoned the reckless pollution of our atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol is not perfect however many economists skeptical of the existence of global warming have claimed that Kyoto Protocol is just a system to transfer wealth from the first world to the third world and is in fact a global socialist initiative. In addition, several countries believe that the Kyoto Protocol does not go far enough in its quest to stop global warming. There are also a growing number of economists who believe that the cost of the Kyoto Protocol far outweigh its possible benefits but, what can be more important than saving our planet from global warming which is expected to cause glacier retreat, ice shelf disruption, sea level rise, changes in rainfall patterns, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, water scarcity and adverse health effects from warmer temperatures.
In conclusion the Kyoto Protocol is both necessary and beneficial is only with a large scale and strictly enforced initiative. By using the Kyoto Protocol, we may finally end global warming and create a safer and cleaner world for us to live.
Though these protocols are implemented at global level I think, we everyone at individual level can contribute to save our environment. Let me know in comments what is your take on growing climate change.
| {
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not sure if I've killed off my social life or I'm among the last of the blackberry users
1,840 shares | {
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Hello everyone in SONE PLUS+. It's Tiffany!
Time really flies by for it to already be March~.
Last week we performed at U-EXPRESS 2014♪
It was really fun to be able to see everyone after such a long time!
Also, I was able to meet one of my favorite singers, Katy Perry...^^
I was able to have such a happy time.
Thank you to everyone who came!!
We just started our activities for our new release in Korea, so please support us~!
Translation: [email protected]
source: SONE PLUS+ official Japan fansite | {
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– Regular-Season Exposures on ESPN’s Networks Increase Nearly 25 Percent
with Three ABC broadcasts, Two ESPN telecasts, 11 Games on ESPN2 –
– ABC Coverage Tips Off Opening Weekend with Defending Champion Seattle Hosting Phoenix in Rematch
of Thrilling 2018 Semifinals Series –
– WNBA Regular-Season Games Tip Off on May 24 –
The WNBA will tip off its 23rd season on Friday, May 24, and feature expanded coverage from ESPN’s networks with nationally televised games including ABC and ESPN in addition to an extensive schedule on ESPN2.
Live coverage by ESPN’s networks begins on ABC on Saturday, May 25, when Sue Bird, reigning MVP Breanna Stewart and the defending champion Seattle Storm host former MVP Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury in a rematch of the thrilling 2018 WNBA semifinals series that stretched to a fifth and deciding game. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The ESPN networks’ slate of 16 regular-season telecasts – which will include three games on ABC, two on ESPN, and 11 on ESPN2 – is up from 13 a year ago, when each of those telecasts was on ESPN2. In addition, the WNBA All-Star Game will be broadcast on ABC on Saturday, July 27 from Las Vegas.
“We’re excited that ESPN will feature expanded coverage of WNBA games in the 2019 season,” said interim WNBA President Mark Tatum. “The enhanced schedule reflects ESPN’s commitment to the WNBA and gives our fans additional opportunities on ESPN networks to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level.”
Coverage on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will feature the WNBA’s brightest stars and top teams. All 16 telecasts will feature at least one winner of the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, including 10 matchups with MVPs going head-to-head. Each of the 16 telecasts will also feature a former No. 1 overall draft pick, with 11 head-to-head matchups between former top picks.
“ESPN is thrilled to once again bring fans a stellar lineup of WNBA action,” said Carol Stiff, ESPN vice president programming & acquisitions. “We are committed to showcasing the sport and its stars with more marquee matchups than ever before available on ABC and ESPN.”
Seattle, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Sparks – a 2016 and 2017 Finals participant – will each appear on ESPN’s networks five times. The four-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx, 2018 Finals runner-up Washington Mystics, and the Connecticut Sun, which comes off consecutive seasons reaching the playoffs, will appear four times apiece.
The WNBA regular season officially starts on May 24 when the Indiana Fever visit the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings play at the Atlanta Dream. Both games will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The following day, in addition to the Phoenix at Seattle clash, former league MVP Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics visit the Sun (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Chicago Sky will be at four-time champion Minnesota, where they Lynx are led by former league MVPs Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles (8:30 p.m. ET). Opening weekend concludes on Sunday, May 26, when the Sparks, led by former MVPs Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike and new head coach Derek Fisher, travel to Las Vegas to meet reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces (8 p.m. ET).
Throughout the 2019 season, ESPN Networks will air up to 36 games, including 16 regular-season contests, WNBA All-Star and up to 19 postseason games. All ESPN telecasts will also stream live on the ESPN app.
The 2019 WNBA regular season will run from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, Sept. 8. For information about game tickets, visit WNBA.com/tickets.
2019 WNBA ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 TELEVISION SCHEDULE*
May 25 (Saturday), 3:30 PM ET – Phoenix @ Seattle (ABC)
May 31 (Friday), 10 PM ET – Las Vegas @ Phoenix (ESPN2)
June 8 (Saturday), 3:30 PM ET – Los Angeles @ Minnesota (ABC)
June 16 (Sunday), 3:30 PM ET – Seattle @ Connecticut (ABC)
June 23 (Sunday), 1 PM ET – Washington @ Atlanta (ESPN)
June 29 (Saturday), 2 PM ET – Connecticut @ Washington (ESPN)
July 6 (Saturday), 2 PM ET – Minnesota @ Connecticut (ESPN2)
July 12 (Friday), 8 PM ET – Phoenix @ Connecticut (ESPN2)
July 23 (Tuesday), 10 PM ET – Seattle @ Las Vegas (ESPN2)
Aug. 1 (Thursday), 10 PM ET – Las Vegas @ Los Angeles (ESPN2)
Aug. 8 (Thursday), 10 PM ET – Phoenix @ Los Angeles (ESPN2)
Aug. 14 (Wednesday), 8 PM ET – Seattle @ Washington (ESPN2)
Aug. 22 (Thursday), 8 PM ET – Dallas @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
Aug. 27 (Tuesday), 7 PM ET – Los Angeles @ Washington (ESPN2)
Sept. 3 (Tuesday), 10 PM ET – Seattle @ Phoenix (ESPN2)
Sept. 8 (Sunday), 5 PM ET – Minnesota @ Los Angeles (ESPN2)
*Note: Schedule subject to change
Highlights of ABC/ESPN/ESPN2’s 2019 regular-season telecast schedule include:
All 16 telecasts will feature at least one winner of the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, including 10 matchups with MVPs going head-to-head. The MVPs: Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike (2016) and Candace Parker (2008 and 2013), Minnesota’s Maya Moore (2014) and Sylvia Fowles (2017), Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi (2009), Seattle’s Breanna Stewart (2018), and Washington’s Elena Delle Donne (2015).
All 16 telecasts also will feature a former No. 1 overall draft pick, with 10 head-to-head matchups between former top picks. The No. 1 picks: Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry (2009), Connecticut’s Chiney Ogwumike (2014), Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum (2017) and A’ja Wilson (2018), Los Angeles’ Candace Parker (2008) and Nneka Ogwumike (2012), Minnesota’s Seimone Augustus (2006) and Maya Moore (2011), Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi (2004) and Brittney Griner (2013), and Seattle’s Sue Bird (2002), Jewell Loyd (2015), and Breanna Stewart (2016).
Seattle has a series of high profile rematches with a visit to Washington on Aug. 14, when the Storm will tip off against its 2018 WNBA Finals opponent, and televised home and away clashes with Phoenix, which took Seattle to a fifth and deciding Semifinals game in 2018.
Another rematch of 2018 Semifinals foes when Washington, which defeated the Dream in a fifth and deciding game last year, visits Atlanta on June 23 (1 p.m. ET).
Below is the WNBA’s schedule for the opening weekend of the 2019 season and additional home openers for teams:
2019 WNBA SCHEDULE: OPENING WEEKEND
Fri. May 24 Indiana @ New York 7:30 PM ET
Fri. May 24 Dallas @ Atlanta 7:30 p.m. PM ET
Sat. May 25 Washington @ Connecticut 7:30 PM ET
Sat. May 25 Chicago @ Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Sat. May 25 Phoenix @ Seattle 3:30 PM ET (ABC)
Sun. May 26 Los Angeles @ Las Vegas 8:00 PM ET
*Schedule subject to change | {
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Danielle Hunter
LSU defensive lineman Danielle Hunter runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(David J. Phillip)
Orchard Park, N.Y. — Doug Whaley wanted flexibility.
The Buffalo Bills' general manager wanted to use free agency to fill the team's needs so that he could head into the 2015 NFL Draft with his board wide open. After trading for LeSean McCoy and then signing Charles Clay and wide receiver Percy Harvin, Whaley and company should be able to do just that.
While Buffalo doesn't pick until No. 50, most of its needs have been filled, and Whaley should be able to take the best player available when the Bills are on the clock.
Here is our latest guess on who the Bills could target with each of their six picks in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Round 2, Pick 50: Danielle Hunter, edge rusher, LSU
While most of the Bills' attention this offseason has been dedicated to the offensive side of the ball, there are still some areas Rex Ryan may want to address. Ryan's defensive scheme has been one of the most effective in football over the last decade and a half, and while he says he will fit his scheme to the players, there are some specific pieces he likes to use. One of those is a strong side linebacker that plays a role filled by Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples most recently in New York.
Right now, Manny Lawson and Randell Johnson are the two most logical fits for that role in Buffalo, but a draft pick would make some sense. Mississippi State defensive end Preston Smith would be an ideal fit for Ryan because he could play the five-technique defensive end position but possibly rotate to outside linebacker. Unfortunately, he'll probably be off the board, but LSU's Danielle Hunter isn't a bad fallback plan. At 6-feet-5-inches tall and 252 pounds with 34.5-inch arms, Hunter has the length and athleticism Ryan looks for in an outside linebacker. While he's considered raw, Hunter has the burst off the line of scrimmage and violent hands that will endear him to NFL teams.
Round 3, Pick 81: Ali Marpet, offensive lineman, Hobart College
The only glaring need the Bills weren't able to address in free agency was the interior of the offensive line. While they added Richie Incognito, the team could use another upgrade at the guard position. It remains to be seen whether Buffalo will be willing to invest in another offensive lineman after spending three picks on the position a year ago, but the new coaching staff doesn't have any ties to Cyrus Kouandjio or Cyril Richardson, so it shouldn't be out of the question.
Ali Marpet may come from a small school but he has looked the part during the pre-draft process. Marpet more than held his own at the 2015 Senior Bowl and looked like one of the draft's most athletic offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine. His versatility would make him a valuable addition to an offensive line that could use competition at every spot.
Note: Picks in round 4-7 are subject to change when the NFL announces compensatory selections in March.
Round 4 (picks traded as part of Bryce Brown and Sammy Watkins trades)
Round 5, Pick 129 (traded to the Vikings as part of the Matt Cassel deal)
Round 5, Pick 147: Ramik Wilson, linebacker, Georgia
After parting ways with linebacker Kiko Alonso, the Bills could use some depth in the middle of their defense. Ramik Wilson is an athletic linebacker who has experience playing inside. No player had more tackles in the SEC over the last two seasons than Wilson, but it's his ability to cover a ton of ground in coverage that might be his most appealing trait.
Round 6, Pick 172 (From Minnesota Vikings): Clayton Geathers, safety, UCF
Lost in all of the Bills' free agency madness was the fact that strong safety Da'Norris Searcy won't be back in Buffalo. Searcy was one of Buffalo's most improved defensive players in 2014, and while Duke Williams appears to be a logical successor, it's not a bad idea to find some depth at the position.
Round 6, Pick 178: Nick Boyle, tight end, Delaware
Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman likes to utilize multiple tight ends in his offense, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Buffalo go after another tight end in the NFL Draft even after signing Charles Clay to a big deal in free agency. While Clay can play the "move" role on offense, Delaware's Nick Boyle is in the mold of a traditional in-line tight end. His blocking skills would come in handy right away.
Round 7, Pick 209: Connor Halliday, quarterback, Washington State
An ankle injury cut Connor Halliday's season short in 2014, but the productive Washington State quarterback makes for an intriguing option late in the draft. He has plenty of arm strength to make all of the throws and tends to get the ball out of his hands quickly with good anticipation. He's not much of an athlete and could stand to add some weight to his frame, but Halliday has some tools that make him worth a late-round flier. | {
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Nearly five years after funding the first installment of its hand-animated turn-based tactics game on Kickstarter, indie studio Stoic returns to the crowdfunding site to help finish the final game in the trilogy, The Banner Saga 3.
Stoic wound up scoring more than seven times the $100,000 they were asking for the first Banner Saga game, enough to make one gorgeous viking-themed animated tactical RPG and start work on the even better sequel, The Banner Saga 2.
Which brings us to the third and final game in the trilogy. From the Kickstarter description:
Banner Saga 3 concludes the tale. Steel your nerves, step forth into the approaching abyss. Cross the threshold from daylight without end into untold darkness. Warped lands within threaten your sanity, and a writhing wyrm tests your mettle. But here, in the darkness, is where secrets are brought to light and motives are made clear. Are your friends who they claim to be? They all look to you. What story will your banner tell?
Stoic is looking for $200,000 for The Banner Saga 3, but that’s not to build the game. Core development on the title is being self-funded by Stoic. The $200,000 is for all the bells and whistles, like a rich soundtrack from composer Austin Wintory, professional animation studio work, pro sound design and voice overs.It’s pretty much all stretch goals rolled into one.
You can check out the full details of The Banner Saga 3 Kickstarter campaign here. | {
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Budget 2019: FICCI has also demanded for re-introduction of medical reimbursement deduction.
Industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has demanded, in its Pre-Budget Memorandum, from the government that Income Tax exemption limit under the Section 80-D of Income Tax Act should be raised to Rs 20,000 from Rs 5,000 for preventive health check-ups.
"Every year, roughly 5.8 million Indians succumb to heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, heart diseases and respiratory diseases are expected to comprise more than 75 per cent of India's disease burden by 2025. Preventive health check-ups can help in early diagnosis and timely treatment of NCDs, hence lowering complications, mortality and burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities," FICCI said in its Pre-Budget Memorandum while demanding income tax exemption under Section 80-D of the Income Tax Act.
The Delhi-based industry body has also demanded that the employers get a separate annual deduction of upto Rs 10,000 per employee, towards expenses incurred for sponsoring the health check expenses of their employees.
FICCI has based this demand on the rising advent of lifestyle diseases in India and the need to prevent loss of productivity. It has also demanded re-introduction of medical reimbursement deduction.
The medical reimbursement deduction was merged along with conveyance allowance into a composite standard deduction limit of Rs 40,000 in the 2018 Budget presented by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
FICCI has said that given the significant rise in cost inflation index in general (70 per cent over the last 5 years) and medical inflation in particular, the medical reimbursement deduction needs to be re-introduced and the annual limit needs to be enhanced to not less than Rs 100,000 per annum. | {
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FILE PHOTO: Flags are arranged at the EU Commission headquarters ahead of a first full round of talks on Brexit, Britain's divorce terms from the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium July 17, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron is reluctant to let negotiations over Britain’s divorce from the European Union drag and is raising pressure on London to break an impasse, an Elysee Palace official said on Monday.
At a summit in Austria last week where European leaders tore up British Prime Minister Theresa May’s so-called Chequers plan, Macron said he expected Britain to put forward new proposals in October.
“It’s a way of raising pressure,” the official said. “It’s not necessarily ‘take it or leave it’, it’s really to say there’s a lot of work to be done by November, we must do it, and not let this thing drag on.” | {
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Have your Bitcoins always with you, in your pocket! You pay by quickly scanning a QR-code. As a merchant, you receive payments reliably and instantly. Bitcoin Wallet is the first mobile Bitcoin app, and arguably also the most secure!
FEATURES
• No registration, web service or cloud needed! This wallet is de-centralized and peer to peer.
• Less is more: No support for alt-coins or tokens. No unnecessary features.
• Display of Bitcoin amount in BTC, mBTC and µBTC.
• Conversion to and from national currencies.
• Sending and receiving of Bitcoin via NFC, QR-codes or Bitcoin URLs.
• When you're offline, you can still pay via Bluetooth.
• System notification for received coins.
• Sweeping of paper wallets (e.g. those used for cold storage).
• App widget for Bitcoin balance.
• Safety: Supports SegWit and the new bech32 format.
• Privacy: Supports Tor via the separate Orbot app.
CONTRIBUTE
Bitcoin Wallet is open source and free software. License: GPLv3
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html
Our source code is available at GitHub:
https://github.com/bitcoin-wallet/bitcoin-wallet
Translations are managed via Transifex:
https://www.transifex.com/bitcoin-wallet/bitcoin-wallet/
Use at your own risk! | {
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Introduction
I hope everyone who reads this backs up data. The questions rather are how many backup copies do you have, and where is it better to store them? I remember some of my buddies not sleeping at short summer nights in 2017 because of WannaCry and Petya. These guys learned a lesson: since that time, they always have a couple of daily backups distributed over different locations. Today, we discuss how you can build a rock-solid backup infrastructure to avoid making mistakes of my buddies.
How can you make sure that your data are safe?
StarWind engineers follow well-known best practices and recommend sticking to the 3-2-1 backup strategy – a backup rule saying that there must be three copies of data on two different types of media with an extra copy stored in a remote location. For keeping data locally, everything seems clear: one copy resides on something like NAS or file/backup server while another is kept on some removable medium like tapes.
However, there’s a small thing about tape-centric backup environments: their TCO may still be very high. Even though digital tapes have the lowest $/GB among backup media, digital tape systems are expensive and may require additional investments to be installed. These systems also may need skilled engineers to maintain them that adds even more to TCO. In this way, if an IT department is on a tight budget, or there isn’t enough space in a datacenter, you need a good alternative to physical tapes – virtual tape solutions.
Ok, let’s say, there is a local copy on NAS and a copy on an on-premises virtual tape library, but you still need a copy off-premises anyway in order to meet the 3-2-1 backup plan! Why don’t you use public cloud as a remote location? Keeping your data in the cloud has certain pros and cons:
Advantages Disadvantages Scalability Network bandwidth and latency often are the main bottlenecks Simple management and low administration costs Security concerns (data is moved to an infrastructure owned by 3rd party) Additional reliability (cloud providers replicate the data or make own backups) Risk of service interruption/termination (bankruptcy, not-met SLA, problems with authorities, etc.) Reduced costs in comparison with on-premises storage boxes (depends on the required storage amount, service plans, etc.) Rise in prices Accessibility (data is assessable from any location connected to the Internet) Ransomware resiliency
StarWind’s take on building a rock-solid backup environment
StarWind took into account disadvantages of offloading backups in public cloud and developed the solution which keeps backups safely and cost-efficiently both on- and off-premises. StarWind VTL is a backup storage solution designed to overcome the drawbacks of costly tape backup processes while meeting regulatory data archival and retention requirements by using on-premises Virtual Tape Libraries with cloud and object storage tiers.
What’s that special about Wasabi?
According to Gartner, there are three leaders in public cloud storage market: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud (Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Storage, July 2018). Certainly, each of them provides powerful cloud services, where cloud storage is only a small piece of the whole cake. But, does it make any sense to pay for all their services, subscriptions, service plans, and configuration if you need just a “serene harbor” for your backups? Don’t forget about the costs which vary depending on the type of tier, amount of data you transfer, IOPS number, and so on. Apart from the leaders, there are also good players that offer high-performing and cost-efficient cloud object storage to satisfy the 3-2-1 backup rule (i.e., Blackblaze, DigitalOcean, Alibaba OSS, and Wasabi).
Today, I’d like to check whether Wasabi hot cloud storage is worth being used to keep my backups. I’ll compare the upload/download time and prices of 3 public cloud solutions: Wasabi, AWS, and Azure. As for reliability of each cloud storage, it, unfortunately, cannot be measured. I leave this topic open.
What about the price?
So, let’s start with the price. There is a price calculator on Wasabi website, and I have no reason not to trust it. I took 15TB with 1% downloads per month and got the annual costs:
Wasabi AWS Azure $898 $4727 $3409
The calculator is good, but you may need some credible source. What about some research? Here is the abstract from the cloud storage costs investigation (May 2018) of Qualeed Limited. This study gives the “best price” cup to Wasabi.
To conclude with costs, I’d like to mention that Wasabi, IMHO, has the most transparent pricing among the public cloud solutions that I review here. In its bills, you find only the price for GBs you used. No additional IOPS/API calls/Network Transfer/Tiers/etc. fees! So, everyone can simply calculate and predict the budget for storage.
Let’s see whether Wasabi performance is as good as they say
Ok, Wasabi storage costs cheaper, but what about performance? Wasabi says its storage to be more than 6x faster than AWS. This claim goes without saying that storage tests show the real performance. For me, though, putting on a semblance of SOHO user, it is more important how much time it takes to upload a backup and to restore from the cloud in case of a failure. For this purpose, I configured a Windows Server 2016 home lab (4 VCores, 8 GB RAM, 25GB SSD storage for data, 100Mb Internet connection). I used VEEAM B&R 9.5 as a backup solution to fulfill the 3-2-1 backup plan. Also, I used StarWind Storage Gateway for Wasabi as the solution that provides VEEAM with a virtual tape library and then uploads it to the cloud.
Installation and configuration are quite simple – we will start with StarWind and VEEAM as in this guide. Afterward, we need Access Key ID and Secret Access Key, which should be created in Wasabi Console:
At the next step, provide StarWind with the obtained keys and the bucket name:
Ubuntu 18 VMs are selected as target VMs for a full backup (1,6 GB after VEEAM’s compression). I will measure the upload time and download time to/from each service provider.
Let’s look at the results:
Having seen the measurement results for the first time, I thought that there’s something wrong with networking or my Internet provider. After re-running all those tests, I got similar numbers. Honestly, this benchmark is not fair: I’ve not tested EU-based AWS and Azure region (because my node resides in EU)… but, wait, Wasabi has only US-based regions! (Wasabi are going to launch EU-based storage in February, so I am going to benchmark it again) Anyway, I’ve seen enough.
StarWind Virtual Tape Library replaces costly tape backup processes with on-premises Virtual Tape Libraries with cloud and object storage tier. Such design not only grants ransomware protection but also facilitates meeting regulatory data archival and retention requirements. Find out more about ➡ StarWind Virtual Tape Library
Conclusion
As you can see, Wasabi offers cost-efficient and fast cloud storage solution. It might be interesting as public cloud storage for companies with limited budgets or for big companies that use “leader’s” cloud as a secondary storage to ensure additional redundancy. The synergy of Wasabi + VEEAM + StarWind Storage Gateway allows implementing the 3-2-1 backup strategy with higher flexibility and cost-efficiency by replacing local tape drives with inexpensive “tape in cloud” storage. When it comes to ransomware, StarWind Virtual Tape backups are naturally ransomware-resilient since ransomware can’t talk tape. Furthermore, an additional copy in Wasabi delivers maximum data security even if the entire local site is compromised. So, you will always be ready to recover your environment to a healthy state.
Related materials:
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Mark Warburton will leave the club despite taking them to the play-offs
But the Bees were unsuccessful and continue their search for a manager
Brentford were keen to speak to him about taking over at Griffin Park
Brentford have failed with an audacious approach for Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp, who led the Bundesliga side to a Champions League final and two domestic titles during his reign, will leave the German giants next month.
Championship club Brentford had hoped to lure him to England to replace the outgoing Mark Warburton but were knocked back.
Jurgen Klopp says farewell to Borussia Dortmund fans after his final league game in charge of the club
Dortmund fans thanked Klopp for his service to the club as he prepares to leave next month
The odds on Klopp taking over at Griffin Park plummeted to 4-1 on the same day Dortmund's fans said a fond farewell during the final league game of his seven-year tenure.
Sportsmail also understands Brentford were keen to speak to Thomas Tuchel before he agreed to succeed Klopp at the Westfalen.
The Bees are searching for a new boss after announcing back in February that Warburton would leave the club at the end of the season, despite the club challenging for promotion to the Barclays Premier League.
Brentford had hoped to convince Klopp to take over from the departing Mark Warburton (right)
Brentford reached the Championship play-offs but were beaten by Middlesbrough over two legs
Brentford reached the end-of-season play-offs but were soundly beaten by Middlesbrough who take on Norwich in Monday's final at Wembley.
Gianfranco Zola and Paco Jemez are the favourites to take over at the west London club while Klopp is 2/1 to take over at Liverpool should Brendan Rodgers leave.
The 47-year-old has also been linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce and to West Ham, should they dispense with the services of Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. | {
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REUTERS – Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink says the intensity of the Premier League has increased since his first stint with the club in 2009 with all clubs now attracting big-name players across Europe.
Hiddink, who won the FA Cup during his first spell, took over from Jose Mourinho last month and has guided Chelsea on a six-game unbeaten run in the league, which has helped them climb up the table to 14th after 22 games.
The Blues, however, remain just six points above the relegation zone, after their woeful start to the campaign saw them lose nine of their first 16 league games.
“Generally, I think the intensity in the league is higher and nowadays you see there are many clubs who can compete on a high level, due to the fact they also have more possibilities to sign players,” Hiddink told the club’s website (www.chelseafc.com).
“Nowadays, you see teams halfway or over halfway up the league, which in the past you would normally not expect to be there, like Crystal Palace, Watford and Leicester.
“These were teams normally nearer the bottom or the second tier, but they are doing very well. Because they have made good signings, everyone now is capable of beating everyone else and you can see that in the results.”
Interim boss Hiddink also said he will consider allowing the club’s academy players to find their feet in the first team before he departs the club in May, but only if they can survive the demands of English football.
“We are trying to help. It is not easy to survive in the league but when we have the possibilities, if one is knocking on the door, maybe — but I don’t give any guarantees — we can see one or two players playing by May,” the Dutchman said.
Champions Chelsea travel to take on London rivals Arsenal, who are on top of the table, on Sunday.
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; editing by Martyn Herman) | {
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) – Asbestos plaintiffs attorney John Daniel Mismas of the Mismas Law Firm has been suspended from practicing law in the state of Ohio after he was found to have sent sexually explicit and inappropriate text messages to a law student employed with his firm in December 2011.
The Lake County Bar Association filed the complaint against Mismas, whose firm handles other personal injury matters in addition to asbestos cases, on June 11, 2012, before a probable-cause panel of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline. Earlier this year, Mismas was local counsel for a Cleveland-area man who alleged secondhand asbestos exposure and helped secure at $27 million verdict.
Mismas
The board found that Mismas engaged in conduct that adversely reflected on his fitness to practice law by sending inappropriate, sexually explicit text messages to a law student and clerk at the Mismas Law Firm.
The panel recommended that Mismas be publicly reprimanded for his actions, which was adopted by the board. The recommendation was then sent to the Ohio Supreme Court on Oct. 9, 2013.
“[W]e find that Mismas did not just send sexually explicit text messages to a law student he sought to employ – he abused the power and prestige of our profession to demand sexual favors from her as a condition of her employment,” the court wrote.
Therefore, the court suspended Mismas from practicing law for one year, with the final six months stayed on conditions, concluding that a harsher punishment than the board’s recommendation was proper.
The Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday filed the slip opinion, which is subject to revision before it is formally published in an advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports.
Justices Maureen O’Connor and Paul Pfeiffer delivered the opinion with justices Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger, Sharon Kennedy, Judith L. French and William O’Neill concurring.
They found that Mismas, who has been practicing law since 2004, violated the Prof. Cond. R 8.4(h), which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law.
In November 2011, Mismas contacted J. Dean Carro, a professor at the University of Akron School of Law, seeking to hire a student law clerk.
Mismas contacted a woman referred to in the opinion as “Ms. C,” a third-year law student, and scheduled a face-to-face interview for Dec. 9, 2011.
Immediately following the interview, Mismas and Ms. C exchanged numerous text messages until Dec. 28, 2011.
A number of those messages, the court found, were sexually explicit and inappropriate.
Despite the inappropriate communication, Ms. C accepted employment with Mismas’s firm on Dec. 11, 2011.
“Although the conversation began with a general discussion of Ms. C’s commitment to Mismas’s primary area of practice – asbestos litigation – and the psychological toll that the clients’ circumstances can have on those who assist them, it soon took an inappropriate turn,” the court wrote.
Mismas’ inappropriate communication began when he advised Ms. C that she would “need to take a few beatings” before she could learn to give one. He then rephrased his statements into sexual terms and asked Ms. C if she had ever engaged in the sex act he referenced, the opinion says.
She told him to stop sending inappropriate text messages and reiterated that they were only speaking metaphorically. However, Mismas insisted he was serious, the opinion says.
After refusing to answer the question a second time, Mismas told her that there needed to be able to trust each other, saying, “If you can’t trust me with personal issues then that’s a problem.”
He later told her that he was just testing her and stressed the importance of honesty and loyalty. He added that he was, “Just was checking how offended you would get. This job is not for the weak.”
Then just before midnight, Mismas started quizzing Ms. C about an arbitration agreement she was reviewing.
However, Mismas turned the conversation back to loyalty, asking how he could ensure Ms. C would be loyal to him.
He told her, “I have an idea but your not going to like it.” He added that she would “bolt” if he told her his idea.
She reassured him that the conversation had already been taken “pretty far” and that she had not bolted, the court wrote.
Then Mismas suggested that she perform a sex act for him.
Ms. C rejected his request, but he refused to drop the issue.
She eventually told him to stop and asked him to admit that he was joking, but he refused and told her that her employment depended on her compliance, telling her, “If you show up at 11 you know what’s expected,” the opinion says.
He added, “So it’s your choice. OK. I’ll be there at 11. If you show up great. You know what you gptt. GoTta do. If not Good luck to you.”
Ms. C urged him one last time to admit that he was joking, but he replied, “Nope. Not kidding.”
The next morning, Mismas texted Ms. C, claiming his statements from the night before had just been a joke. He apologized and promised it would not happen again.
Then on Dec. 22, 2011, Mismas invited Ms. C to travel with him to Washington, D.C. on business for an out-of-town deposition.
She rejected the invitation saying she had a prior commitment to a judicial function.
Mismas responded by belittling her for rejecting his invitation, the opinion says.
Furthermore, he pressured her to go by suggesting that her refusal would have adverse consequences on her employment, the opinion states.
Mismas sent a text stating, “That’s strike 1 for you. Three strikes and you are out.”
Ms. C resigned her employment the next day.
Carro inquired about Ms. C’s employment with Mismas when the student told her of the inappropriate texts and that she felt uncomfortable continuing her position there.
Carro then filed a grievance with the Lake County Bar Association.
In February 2012 testimony, Mismas admitted that he was an alcoholic and insisted that the inappropriate messages sent to Ms. C were meant in jest, the opinion states.
“He claimed that he had been drinking heavily at the time he sent the sexually explicit texts and that he had no memory of actually sending them,” the court wrote. “Viewing the texts in retrospect, he said that he was embarrassed by his conduct and referred to it as ‘disgusting and grotesque.’”
The panel and board found that Mismas had shown “genuine remorse” for his misconduct and was taking the necessary steps to avoid engaging in similar misconduct in the future, the opinion states.
Marilyn Wise, a license independent chemical-dependency counselor, testified that Mismas began treatments with her in March 2012.
She said Mismas completed the approved treatment program and continued to regularly attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
The court was unconvinced by Mismas’ efforts to rectify the consequences by attending AA meetings and undergoing treatment with Wise.
“While the record contains substantial evidence of the efforts that Mismas has taken to rectify his alcoholism, his alcohol dependency is a contributing cause rather than the consequence of his misconduct,” the court stated.
Furthermore, Ms. C testified that after resigning, Mismas became hostile, put her down for being naïve and threatened to contact her professors to “tell them what a stupid decision she had made,” the opinion states.
“His brief apology to her at the panel hearing and his efforts to have her testimony placed under seal to protect her from future harm, although appropriate, do little to meliorate Ms. C’s anxiety, embarrassment, frustration, disappointment and fear of harm to her professional reputation,” the court wrote.
Wise further testified that Mismas has “an excellent prognosis of continued sobriety and healthy mental status and should continue unimpeded, the work of the exceptional attorney that he is.”
As a result, the only aggravating factor found by the panel was the vulnerability of and resulting harm to Ms. C, the opinion states.
“The board, however, rejected the panel’s finding that the absence of a dishonest or selfish motive was a mitigating factor and instead found that Mismas had acted with a dishonest or selfish motive that qualified as an additional aggravating factor,” the court wrote.
Citing multiple mitigating factors and only one or two aggravating factors, the panel and board recommended the court adopt the parties’ stipulated sanction of a public reprimand. The court rejected, saying Mismas engaged in “undignified and unprofessional conduct” by targeting an employee for sexual harassment.
“Legal clerkships play an important role in developing the practical skills necessary for law students to become competent, ethical ad productive members of the legal profession,” the opinion states.
The opinion added that skills, relationships and reputations developed during clerkships and similar entry-level positions help open doors to law students’ first full-time legal position after graduation.
“These first jobs can set the course for a new attorney’s entire legal career,” it continued. “Attorneys who hire law students serve not only as employers but also as teachers, mentors and role models for the next generation of our esteemed profession. To that end, we expect that attorneys will conduct themselves with a level of dignity and decorum befitting these professional relationships.
The court further stated that while unwelcome sexual advances are unacceptable in any situation, it is especially appalling when made by an attorney with the power to hire, supervise and fire the recipient.
In this case, Mismas made the inappropriate advances and then continued to indicate that her employment depended on her compliance with his demands.
“And even after being rebuffed, he continued to exert his leverage over Ms. C by pressuring her to travel out of state – and away from her support system – with him,” the opinion states.
The court held that such actions goes beyond causing harm to Ms. C.
“When an attorney engages in sexually inappropriate conduct of this nature, it causes harm not only to the individual to whom the conduct is directed but also to the dignity and reputation of the profession as a whole,” the court wrote. “Thus, we conclude that Mismas’s conduct is more serious than ‘simply operating a cellphone when under the influence,’ as his counsel suggests, or sending sexually explicit and inappropriate text messages, as the board found.”
Ultimately, the court concluded that more than a public reprimand is necessary to protect the public from future misconduct.
As a result, the court suspended Mismas from practicing law in Ohio for one year, with the last six months stayed “on the conditions that he engage in no further misconduct and continue to comply with all recommendations of his treating medical and psychological professionals.”
From Legal Newsline: Reach Heather Isringhausen Gvillo at [email protected] | {
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This past weekend the Midwest Comic Book Association held their annual SpringCon at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Saint Paul, MN. Even though I live in Saint Paul, I was unfortunately unable to attend the convention. Luckily, some of those who did attend, posted some images on the web for us to enjoy.
Thanks to those that attended the Con and took these awesome pictures. If you have any pictures, from SpringCon 2011 or any recent Con, that you want considered to be presented on our site, contact us!
Source: Altered Esthetics Blog
Source: Eric Beck
Source: City Pages (photos by Christopher Apgar)
Source: MN Superheroes United (Facebook) | {
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The health ministry is considering allowing smoking in small bars, clubs and restaurants as exceptions to anti-smoking regulations that are being contemplated, ministry sources said Wednesday.
The move comes after the restaurant industry voiced opposition to a comprehensive smoking ban that may be imposed ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry plans to submit to parliament during the current Diet session revisions to the Health Promotion Law to prevent secondhand smoke, and has worked out two ideas for possible exceptions to the planned nonsmoking rule, the sources said.
One is to allow smoking in bars and nightclubs with floor space of no more than 30 square meters on the condition that a sign is displayed at the entrance indicating smoking is allowed inside and a ventilator is installed.
The other is to allow smoking also inside certain types of small restaurants serving alcohol.
Smoking in restaurants serving customers of all ages would be prohibited under both proposals, they said.
Restaurant industry groups held a meeting in Tokyo in January and expressed opposition to a total ban, saying that would drive small operations out of business. They said Japan should aim to become a leading country in promoting separate smoking areas. | {
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Being non-dysphoric does not make you less trans.
Choosing not to undergo hormone treatment does not make you less trans.
Opting out of top/bottom surgery does not make you less trans.
Liking traditionally feminine/masculine things does not make you less trans.
Choosing not to come out publicly for personal/safety reasons does not make you less trans.
Sick of gatekeeping in the trans community. Your identity is valid. No matter what. | {
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Mid-Season Top 100 prospect list season is just heating up, and Imaginary Brick Wall will be ranking at least the top 100 dynasty/fantasy baseball prospects over the next week. We begin today with the top 15. Here are the 2017 Mid-Season Top 100 Dynasty/Fantasy Baseball Prospect Rankings: 1-15:
*Prime Projection: R/HR/RBI/AVG/OBP/SLG/SB – These projections are meant to give you a general idea of what I think about a prospect’s future stat profile in a relatively good outcome scenario.
1) Yoan Moncada CHW, 2B – 28.1% strikeout rate makes it reasonable to drop Moncada from the top spot, but his power, patience, and speed are all still there, and he is knocking on the door of the bigs. Prime Projection: 105/24/85/.273/.365/.482/34 ETA: July
2) Victor Robles WASH, OF – Power has ticked up at High-A with a career best .235 ISO while maintaining his plus hit tool. Prime Projection: 107/18/78/.293/.361/.457/28 ETA: 2018
3) Rafael Devers BOS, 3B – Dave Dombrowski is known for his propensity to both call up prospects directly from Double-A and to also flip them like flapjacks. Will he trade Michael Chavis and a couple pitching prospects for some mediocre MLB 3B rental, or will he just give Devers the call already? Prime Projection: 90/31/110/.287/.358/.511/5 ETA: 2017
4) Vlad Guerrero Jr. TOR, 3B – Absurd 10.9% strikeout rate as an 18-year-old in full season ball, and looks so much like his dad, I wouldn’t even be surprised if Vlad Jr. was really a clone from some super-secret government program. Maybe the future of baseball will be all Ted Williams clones created from his frozen head. Prime Projection: 96/30/108/.290/.369/.508/8 ETA: 2019
5) Brendan Rodgers COL, SS – Dominated High-A with a .400/.419/.700 triple-slash in 48 games, and Trevor Story’s struggles leaves the door wide open for him at SS. The 2.7% walk rate does give me some pause that there could be an adjustment period at higher levels. Prime Projection: 88/28/105/.279/.334/.497/7 ETA: 2018
6) Kyle Tucker HOU, OF – The power explosion already happened towards the end of last year, but everyone seems to be just catching up to it now, as Tucker has blasted 16 homers in 74 games split between High-A and Double-A. Prime Projection: 93/26/97/.278/.363/.488/14 ETA: 2018
7) Eloy Jimenez CHC, OF – The shoulder injury hasn’t slowed Eloy down at all, as he smashed 7 homers in his first 35 games at High-A, all while improving both his BB% (11.1%) and K% (15.6%). Prime Projection: 87/34/112/.276/.347/.513/6 ETA: 2018
8) Amed Rosario NYM, SS – Does a little bit of everything with more raw speed and raw power than shows up in his minor league numbers. If anyone is going to be the next Derek Jeter, I think it will be Rosario. Prime Projection: 100/15/71/.291/.342/.442/19 ETA: When the Mets get their head out of their ass
9) Gleyber Torres NYY, SS/3B – Before the elbow injury, Torres was proving scouts right about his advanced make-up and baseball mind, slashing .287/.383/.480, with 7 homers, 7 steals, and a 47/30 K/BB in 55 games split between Double-A and Triple-A. The injury shouldn’t dampen his long term outlook all that much. Prime Projection: 95/22/92/.285/.361/.476/9 ETA: 2018
10) Ronald Acuna ATL, OF – I’m really digging Atlanta’s strategy of being aggressive with their top prospects, and not one of them has made them regret it, including Acuna, who is OPS’ing .823 with 5 homers and 16 steals in Double-A as a 19-year-old. Prime Projection: 93/21/88/.282/.350/.473/18 ETA: 2018
11) Lewis Brinson MIL, OF – 31 at-bat MLB debut was ugly (.097/.200/.161), and the stellar Triple-A numbers (.942 OPS) are boosted by Colorado Springs and the PCL (.684 Road OPS), so while the raw ability remains the same, the hit tool is still very much a question. Prime Projection: 86/26/81/.260/.327/.466/17 ETA: 2017
12) Clint Frazier NYY, OF – Power has ticked up while maintaining his contact and walk rates. Also, every prospect writer is obligated by law handed down from the prospect gods to mention his “legendary” bat speed and flowing orange hair. Prime Projection: 88/24/89/.280/.348/.479/10 ETA: 2017
13) Nick Senzel CIN, 3B – A doubles machine at High-A with 26 doubles in 62 games, and has more or less done what he was expected to do. The over the fence power hasn’t shown up yet, but Cincinnati’s bandbox will help, and he has the stolen base speed to make up for it in fantasy anyway. Prime Projection: 91/19/85/.280/.343/.468/14 ETA: 2018
14) Austin Meadows PIT, OF – Another hamstring injury has him on the shelf for the next few weeks, and while his 16.7% K% and 8.2% BB% show that he wasn’t overmatched at Triple-A, his power was almost non-existent. If not for the hamstring injury, I would have been tempted to mostly give him a pass, but the down numbers and accumulating injury red flags are too much to ignore. Prime Projection: 89/20/81/.281/.354/.465/16 ETA: 2017
15) Derek Fisher HOU, OF – Why play one of the best outfielders on your team when you are far and away the best team in the AL without him? I don’t know the answer, but MLB needs to figure out a way to incentivize teams to actually play their best players instead of playing washed up vets just because they are on the payroll. Prime Projection: 84/25/86/.264/.346/.470/14 ETA: 2017
*Raimel Tapia was excluded from this list, although he is still technically a prospect
Click here for 16-41
By Michael Halpern (@MichaelCHalpern)
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Imaginary Brick Wall (@ImaginaryBrickW) | {
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WASHINGTON — Julian Castro, the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and mayor of San Antonio, launched his presidential campaign on Saturday, joining what is expected to be a crowded field of contenders for the Democratic nomination.
Castro is the first Latino to enter the race, and at 44 will likely be among the youngest. His brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), introduced him.
“When my grandmother got here almost a hundred years ago, I’m sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here today to say these words: I am a candidate for President of the United States of America,” he said at the rally.
The Castros grew up in an impoverished neighborhood of San Antonio and were raised by a single mother.
In his announcement speech, Castro called for Medicare for all, alleviation of college debt, reform of the criminal justice system, housing affordability and reforms to the immigration system.
He cited President Trump’s visit this week to the border city of McAllen, Tex., and his claim that there was an “invasion” at the border and a “national security crisis.”
“Well, there is a crisis today, and it is a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation,” Castro said. “Yes, there are serious issues that need to be addressed in our broken immigration system, but seeking asylum is a legal right, and the cruel policies of this administration are doing real harm and damage.”
Castro talked of how his grandmother, at seven years old, emigrated to the U.S. and was separated from her dying mother.
“Even as a 70-year-old woman when she remembered those moments she would cry, like the seven-year-old girl she was when it happened, because she never had the chance to say goodbye to her mom. Yeah, we have to have border security, but there is a smart and humane way to do it. And there is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart and humane way to do it.”
He also said that he would recommit the United States to the Paris climate agreement. The Trump administration is withdrawing from the accord.
Castro also vowed to decline contributions from political action committees, taking a position that is likely to be a litmus test for a number of progressive supporters dismayed by the role of money in politics.
Castro formed an exploratory committee in December. John Delaney, a former congressman from Maryland, launched his presidential bid in 2017, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced the formation of an exploratory committee on Dec. 31. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) will announce on CNN’s “The Van Jones Show” on Saturday that she is also running.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who has been in the midst of a book tour, also is expected to launch a presidential bid soon. She appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Thursday and tested that she “might” run. | {
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A Rajasthani 'affair' to remember
‘Vita Pulchra Est’ is Latin for ‘Life is Beautiful’ and our recent stay at the Oberoi RajVilas reaffirmed the aphorism. Laveena and I visited the royal resort, built in a traditional Rajasthani fort style, last month, and fell instantly in love with what the grand property had on offer.
Beautifully landscaped gardens, pink lime plastered walls to help create that mystical feeling of the true Jaipur experience, exotic bird life including majestic peacocks with their iridescent blue and green plumages, high dome ceilings, magnificent arches reminiscent of Mughal times, crystal chandeliers and gold leaf frescoes. Together, they perfectly decorated the thirty two acre resort, deeply connecting each guest with the luxury and charm which so distinctly reflected what the ‘Oberoi’ group was so well known for.
We were welcomed at this ‘oasis of elegance’, by Mr. Abhishek Sharma, the General Manager of the Rajvilas. Laveena and I are lucky to know many General Managers of several luxury hotel properties from across the world. Abhishek however, is the very epitome of hospitality. A General Manager who is humble to the core, yet sensitive to every need of his guests, from start to an absolute perfect finish. Throughout our stay at the Rajvilas, Abhishek personified warmth and congeniality and made our experience complete. His attention to deliver excellence was complimented and reflected in the high service standards of the amazing hotel staff. One in particular, Max, more than impressed us with his genuine commitment to help make our vacation a very special one. Max was most charming and his pleasing personality and eye for detail made our meals at the Rajvilas, memorable.
After checking in, we had breakfast and were driven in a golf cart to our ‘luxury’ tent by the affable Taufiq. Tastefully done up interiors with weather and heat resistant canopies, decorated with traditional Rajasthani hand block prints, made the insides of our room feel culturally rich and comfortable. The polished teak floors and grand king size bed, mirrored the comfort which the hotel promised. We could actually breath in a bit of Rajasthan through the traditionally made mud walls surrounding our tent. Our room had it’s own private garden and patio and we were delighted to see peahens and peacocks freely roaming in the garden. We took our time to settle in and enjoy the room and later headed out for an early lunch, at th
Our afternoon nap was a brief one as we had a Puja ceremony planned at the 280 year old Shiva temple, around which the hotel is built. A pundit (a hindu priest) welcomed us at the 18te 'Surya Mahal', which is a Sanskrit name for 'Sun Palace'. The restaurant is aptly named, as the space is bright with natural light flowing through the wall to ceiling glass windows.
h century temple where I was asked to perform an arti, a devotional hymn, sung in praise of God. In this haven of peace and natural serenity, the priest began to chant verses from holy ancient hindu scriptures, praising Lord Shiva. A small cup-shaped oil lamp (diya) made of metal with a handle just big enough for me to slip my finger through, was given to me. As the priest chanted, I closed my eyes and deep in devotional prayer, I firmly gripped and rotated the diya around the Shiva statue. To Shiva’s right was a statue of his wife Parvati. Ganesha and Karttikeya, flanked both parents. The experience was spiritually uplifting and as the sun began to set upon the temple, we walked away, with a sense of divine peace in our hearts, away from the small island, past the exotic water lilies and mud towers standing tall and erect in the pond.
Our Puja ceremony was followed by a meet with an astrologer by the pool side. Adorned in a traditional white garb of a holy man, with a bright orange Rajasthani turban on his head and prayer beads around his neck, the astrologer sat us down on comfortable bedding with bolster like cushions. Under a pink sandstone canopy with white pillars, situated by the poolside, the astrologer bent forward to peek into our future. He asked for us to put out the palm of our hands and deep in concentration, with a torch in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, his reading glasses precariously balanced on the bridge of his nose, he explained the position of the planets and attempted to delve into the intricacies of our lives and what the future had in store for us. He was strangely accurate of the past and had some rather interesting things to say about our future. We were thoroughly entertained, amused and mystified, all at the same time.
At 6:30 pm, we had a couples appointment at the hotel spa. Located in the restored 18th century haveli in front of the temperature controlled hotel pool, the spa is decorated with vegetable dye frescoes and has white marble and red sandstone floor tiles. From the list of treatments, we chose one called, ‘Romance of Rajputana’. Created as a tribute to beauty, this signature experience offered us a perfect harmony of healing therapies which included a steam bath, a gentle pomegranate body exfoliation, followed by a heavenly massage and a soak in an exquisite bath. After the soothing and holistic treatment, we felt revitalised and rejuvenated.
At dinner, Chef Ajit Raman, put together a menu, he christened, ‘Taste Of India’s Culinary diversity.’ Seated at a well adorned table, with a blue linen cover, a green table runner with intricate gold zardozi like embroidery on it and a vase with fresh smelling red roses, we had our hands washed in milk and rose water. We were first served papdi chat, a tian of savoury gram flour crisps topped with potatoes and dressed with sweetened yoghurt and sweet and sour tamarind chutney. The kebab samplers followed with a malai jhinga, an achari machhi tikka, a kachhi mirch ka murgh and boti kebab. A few decadently delicious, melt in the mouth bites later, we were served an aam panna sorbet, as a palate cleanser. As we watched a troop of graceful Rajasthani lady dancers skilfully balance a pot of fire on their heads, we relished the raw mango and cumin slush which was flavoured with a hint of mint. A light drizzle of rain surprised us all and came as a blessing from the heavens. As if on cue, a few diners were drawn to the dancers and joined them in performing the folk dance of the dessert people. Accompanying this fascinating balance of mesmerising music and dance, was the food which followed as our main course. Chef Ajit prepared the famous Rajasthani laal maas, succulent pieces of tenderised meat, marinated in a variety of spices and served in a delicious Indian red curry. We were also served murgh bajre ka soweta, palak mangodi, dal panchmel and smoked aubergine raita with esoteric whole grain breads and bati made on an open charcoal flame. After devouring the delectable spread, Chef Ajit announced with much fanfare, an array of royal desserts which included the paan sasmali, the baddam aur khajoor ka halwa and the besan choorma. Surrounded by soft sandstone floors, an outdoor fireplace and ornate Mughal arches and columns, we could feel the pulse of grandeur beating through every tile and intricate corner of the grand Raj Mahal.
Temperatures were down at a very pleasant 18 degrees celsius that night. After the royal dinner spread, Laveena and I decided to walk around the landscaped grounds for an hour before returning to our room. The peacocks and peahens had retired for the night and the sounds of nocturnal insects kept us company, as we walked under the bright dessert moonlit night, hand in hand, appreciating the good fortune we were blessed with to experience the magical wonders of the Oberoi Rajvillas. We had a number of activities planned for the next day, including a sight seeing tour around the pink city. I was excited about a visit to Amer fort after which we were to partake in a pottery session, block printing on textiles and a nature walk through the property.
After a quiet nights rest, we were up early the next morning. On the property there is a magnificent ancient Haveli. On the outside, it has been restored to it’s former glory. The hotel spa is located in the haveli and here is where we met our yoga instructor.
We were offered freshly laundered cotton kurtas and pajamas and were escorted to a section on the lush green lawns, near the lily pond. Over the next 30 minutes, the instructor helped revitalise our bodies, using ancient pranyam (breathing) techniques. He helped relax our minds through meditation and healed our thoughts by making us aware of our surroundings. The experience was as rejuvenating as it was unforgettable and we both looked forward to another session the next morning. After yoga, Laveena and I had a light breakfast and then visited Tijori, the store at the lobby of the Rajvilas. There is a myth that stores at hotel lobby’s display products which are over priced and usually appeal only to tourists. This certainly wasn’t the case with Tijori, which was a treasure trove of surprises. For a few of my business associates in Europe and London, I purchased some Rajasthani printed textiles and some handcrafted jewellery.
The afternoon was spent touring the bazaars of Jaipur with our guide, the well read professor Malik. We visited the Amer Fort which overlooks the Maota Lake. Known for its artistic Hindu style elements, the fort with its many gates and cobbled paths, is constructed of sandstone and marble. Professor Malik is a powerhouse of knowledge. As we walked through the grand fort, we visited the Diwan-e-Aam or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), and the Sukh Niwas. The professor took us on a fascinating journey through the corridors of history, patiently explaining to us in detail, how the walls of the fort played a significant and key role in the lives of the Rajput Maharajas and their families, way back in the 17th century.
When we returned to the hotel, there was a surprise waiting for us. A note from the General Manager read that Laveena and I would be driven to Mr. PRS. Oberoi’s private residence for an exclusive sundowner for two. The pottery lesson, the block printing and the nature walk planned for us, was rescheduled for early the next day. We were delighted with the invitation and at 4:30 pm, we were driven to Naila Fort. Perched on a steep, rocky precipice in the Aravalli mountains, the fort is grand by any standards. We were greeted at the brass studded antique entrance door by the young talented chef Phonica Yadav and a member of the waiting staff, Pawan Chandra. The moment we stepped into the 150 year old restored fortress, we were handed glasses of sparkling wine. I instantly connected with the appealing aura of remoteness and feudal romance which seemed to surround us at the fort. Naila Fort we were told by Mr. Oberoi’s personal staff member, was built as a garrison to defend the village of Naila and the land in the valley beyond. In the courtyard, we got to see Mr. Oberoi’s personal collection of seventeenth and eighteenth century swords and shields. These hung on the wall above what we were told was an antique Gujarati chest. We were taken on a guided tour round the fort and were directed to the lawns near the swimming pool, where a table for two had been set up. Perfectly manicured and lush green, the garden around us had roses, palm and fruit trees. While Pawan ensured our glasses of sparkling wine never dipped below the halfway mark, the eternally smiling and charming young Phonica, served us a bento box with sandwiches, rice paper rolls, a salad, a kathi role and cookies and cake. Guests at the fort should not miss the views of the majestic sunset. We climbed the stairs of the fort to the terrace and looked beyond the depths of the valley to the mountain ranges afar. As the sun began to set, the skies across Naila turned into the most magnificent hues of oranges, reds and yellows. A mix of vibrant bright colours so glorious, that it made us shut our eyes in awe and wish for happiness for all. We knew we were scheduled to return home late tomorrow and we were going to miss the solitude of Naila, the comfort and luxury of Rajvilas and the magic of the vibrant pink city of Jaipur. We returned to the hotel at 8 pm and although we were not ready for dinner, we were informed that a private table for two had been set up by the pool side as a celebration for my birthday. Chef Ajit had put together a contemporary, Indian menu, encapsulating a mix of magical flavours and showcasing his skills in multi sensory cooking with a more than interesting molecular twist. On a table decorated with a blue and pink coloured table cloth made from woven silk with a brocade design and little toy elephants and peacocks, our menu for the evening was an edible one. We got to dinner at 9:30 pm and started with a pearl millet jhalmuri (vegetarian millet puffs with onions, tomatoes and gram flour vermicelli dressed with mustard oil and lemon vinaigrette). This was followed by a khade masala crusted rare seared mini tuna with cucumber, fennel and tomoto verge, a tamatar adrak ka sherba (a flavourful tomato broth flavoured with ginger and coriander), a betel leaf wrapped steamed chicken parcel with sous vide glass noodles, a narangi sorbet, home made with black salt and mint, dhoongar maas (a traditional Rajasthani lamb stew flavoured with garlic, coriander seeds, smoked with cloves, pearl millet porridge and wilted spinach), a selection of cheese with bajra and corn meal chips and apple crisps and traditional indian desserts including gajjar halwa, rose kheer, a panacota, and a coconut and jaggery ice cream. Even though these were tasting portions, by far the most delicious we had ever eaten, we were full beyond imagination. We needed to walk around the grounds to help us digest the delectable feast. As we walked past the poolside, we noticed a puppet stage had been set up for hotel guests. The puppeteers asked us to be seated as they were keen to put up a performance for us. In perfect english, which he said his father had taught him, the young puppeteer introduced us to the many colourful characters on display. He went on to sit cross legged and began to drum on his tabla as he sang in the language of marwar, folk songs of ancient times depicting an elaborate story of war, love and peace. His partner skilfully made the puppets prance, dance, fight, leap and embrace, all to the accompaniment of marwar tunes and music. And as the puppets prepared to call it a night, Laveena and I too thanked the talented puppeteers and walked hand in hand, underneath the moonlit sky, back to our luxury tent for another beautiful night of peaceful sleep and romance.
We have been back home since a fortnight and we haven’t stopped thinking or talking about our love affair with the Rajvilas. It has in an extraordinary way, appealed to every alluring and seductive sense of ours. We cannot wait to return and have recommended it to every friend we know, as we would like for all to live the wonders of the Oberoi Rajvilas, just as we did and hope to do again in the not so distant future. After all....the turbaned astrologer with the prayer beads did say that we would return soon.
Oberoi RajVilas (India)
Our Rating
Location: 9/10
Food and Cuisine: 8/10
Design: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Overall experience: 8/10
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• Location: Google Maps • Address: Babaji Ka Modh, Goner Rd, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302031 • Hotel website: Oberoi RajVilas Follow me on Facebook Instagram and Twitter for some amazing travel posts | {
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Sometimes called the “man from the future”, Tom is recognized as one of the world’s leading thought leaders and influencers in augmented reality, virtual reality & wearable technology. Tom brings over a decade-long track record of running tech teams and providing strategic direction in emerging technologies for powerhouse brands such as Nestlé, Best Buy and MTV. Billion-dollar revenue global events leader UBM acquired Tom’s influential blog about wearable tech, which he founded in 2012 as one of the earliest sources of news and analysis in the sector. He continued to cover the space as a freelance journalist and as a featured wearable tech expert on a recurring segment on Canada's largest morning show, CTV's Canada AM. In 2013, Tom founded We Are Wearables which he grew to the largest wearable tech community of its kind prior to its acquisition by AugmentedReality.org, the non-profit behind the world's #1 spatial computing event series and community, AWE. Tom continued to nurture and grow the AR & VR ecosystem as co-producer of AWE for nearly six years producing conference and expos in the USA, Europe, Asia and MEA and supporting a network of meetup chapters around the world. He continues to support the building of the spatial computing community as a board member of AugmentedReality.org. Tom is also an investor in augmented reality. He was one of the founding partners at Super Ventures, a fund dedicated to augmented reality. Tom continues to support Super Ventures as a mentor and advisor. Tom’s thoughts on wearables, AR and VR are often sought after by media giants such as CNN, BBC, Forbes and The NY Times, and on stage as a speaker for conferences such as TEDx, CES & SXSW. His passion for this space is driven by his belief that spatial computing (AR, VR, AI, IoT & wearable tech) plays a critical role in our human evolution. | {
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Over the past year, countless children and adults have tuned into the game Fortnite, a free-to-play battle royale game that allows players to compete with others around the world. The game is fun and features some cartoonish violence, which has led many to worry about whether such games are problematic.
Inevitable anecdotes have popped up of some children behaving badly in relation to the game such as the British girl who is said to have wet herself rather than stop playing. Do these anecdotes hint towards a coming epidemic of violent or addicted children?
Fortnite has parents worried.
Simply put: no. Society has an unfortunate habit of going a bit bonkers whenever new technology comes out that children consume in droves. Remember Pokemon Go from two years ago and all the dangers it heralded? Nothing notable came of it in the end.
Regarding violent content, the evidence is now pretty clear. Research does not show that violent games predict later youth violence. Long-term outcome studies increasingly show that playing “violent” games is not a risk factor for antisocial youth. | {
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Tony Abbott's long-awaited address to the National Press Club today has become much more about his own survival than a rebalancing of his Government's wobbly electoral prospects, writes Paula Matthewson.
Today at the National Press Club, Prime Minister Tony Abbott will attempt to breathe life into the stumbling and battered figure that is his leadership.
Following fast on the heels of the weekend's landslide election result in Queensland, this will be the first speech the PM has given to the NPC since winning government nearly 18 months ago. The speech was originally intended as another attempt to reset the parliamentary year for the Government, with the unveiling of a refurbished policy agenda focused on "jobs and families".
Now, following Abbott's latest self-inflicted wounds and the obvious similarity between his political approach and the one soundly rejected by voters in Queensland, the NPC event has become much more about Abbott's survival than a rebalancing of his Government's wobbly electoral prospects.
When the Newman LNP Government was elected in Queensland in 2012, it was considered a likely harbinger of an Abbott Coalition Government at the national level. As it turned out, Abbott closely followed the Newman blueprint, instigating a Commission of Audit to identify spending cuts, cutting a swathe through the public service, and taking an ideologically-driven austerity approach to budget repair.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, both leaders also made the mistake of assuming their party's credentials as better economic leaders would inoculate them against the community anger that grew over broken election promises and the harsh measures imposed "in the public interest".
Following the deafening outcome of the Queensland election, it's difficult not to see a strong connection between the reckoning delivered by voters to Premier Newman and what they'd like to do to Abbott at the next federal election. This future bloodbath was foreshadowed in yesterday's Galaxy Poll, which indicated only 36 per cent of voters would give their primary vote to the Coalition if an election were held at this time, while only 27 per cent of voters nominated Abbott as their preferred PM.*
If replicated in Newspoll, this would give Abbott equal ranking with prime minister Paul Keating, who scored the lowest preferred PM rating of 27 per cent in August 1993.
This is getting close to being a politically irretrievable position for the PM, and one that is entirely his own doing. Abbott was closely involved in developing the disastrous budget that shattered voters' expectations for a fair government, while the accumulation of the PM's self-indulgences such as the knighting of Prince Philip has made him an electoral laughing stock.
The PM is also responsible for allowing his chief of staff, Peta Credlin, to exercise wide-ranging power on his behalf, giving her the ability to shape and veto every policy decision, micro-manage the Government's communication strategy, and determine who can and can't get access to the man at the top.
According to one weekend media report, this unchecked power has allowed Credlin to excise any and all dissenters from the inner circle, thereby exposing the PM to the perils of groupthink. However, Credlin is a symptom and not the cause of the Prime Minister's problems, and his colleagues have put him on notice to not only acknowledge those problems but do something about them.
Abbott's address to the NPC today will be his best chance to do so. To an extent the PM will talk in code, acknowledging that he's heard the message from Queensland and other voters but in reality, the PM's audience in this instance will be his restive party room colleagues. One journalist has gone so far as to describe today's event as Abbott essentially begging for his job.
The problem that will likely emerge from the PM today is that, despite saying he's heard the concerns of voters, Abbott appears to have not "listened" to them at all. Nowhere in his acknowledgement of the Queensland election result has Abbott conceded that Newman's reformist policies (and therefore those of his own Government) were part of the problem.
Conservative media doyen Paul Kelly perhaps best describes the lessons Abbott should have taken from the Queensland result:
The lessons are that broken political promises won't be tolerated, leadership arrogance is fatal, the public does not accept the tough Liberal Party prescriptions on debt and deficits and, if sufficiently disillusioned, it will restore formerly discredited ALP governments after one term on the pledge they will "listen" and ditch the harsh medicine.
Yet according to comments made by Abbott yesterday, he believes the Government simply needs to plough on with its own reforms, no matter how harsh or unfair, and just needs to get its communication strategy right:
Obviously there are lessons from the result in Queensland. The lessons are not to give up on reform but to make sure that everything you propose is fully explained and well justified and obviously that's a lesson we're determined to learn in Canberra as well.
Some Queensland MPs beg to differ, with federal backbencher Wyatt Roy suggesting the Government not only needs to become "very good at explaining complicated ideas (and) painting a vision for the future of the country" but also must improve by "taking the public into our confidence and explaining how we can achieve that vision and the challenges that we face along the way."
These words are uncannily like those delivered in a speech by Malcolm Turnbull over the weekend to an audience in Los Angeles.
Turnbull has been out of the country since Australia Day, participating in the G'Day USA trade promotion campaign held annually in the US. While this speech may have started out as part of Turnbull's long-game, it's quickly gained currency as Abbott's leadership standing has crumbled.
Inconveniently for Abbott, Turnbull's speech provides the PM with a model response to his current political woes. Arguing that it's easy to describe how governments can maintain wage levels and social safety nets within first world economies, Turnbull went on to warn that the solutions are nevertheless hard to execute.
Turnbull agreed communication was part of the challenge, arguing that:
Leaders must be decision makers, but they must also be, above all, explainers and advocates, unravelling complex issues in clear language that explains why things have to change and why the Government cannot solve every problem.
He also noted the need to take "decisions which may not be popular but will be accepted because the public understands why they have to be taken." This is Turnbull's retelling of the "take the voters along with you" invocation that former PM John Howard tried to convey to Abbott at the NPC in June last year.
The need to BE fair as well as being seen to be fair is the message that PM Abbott is just not heeding. He didn't listen to Howard, nor does it seem that he has listened to the people of Queensland. But Turnbull has listened carefully, telling the LA crowd:
It is vitally important, both as a matter of social justice and political reality, that structural changes are seen as being fair across the board. That means not only must tough decisions be justified, but that the burden of adjustment is not borne disproportionately by one part of the community.
It's hardly coincidental that Turnbull now appears to be firming as the contender most likely to replace Abbott if the current PM is deemed by colleagues to be permanently damaged in the eyes of the electorate.
Four weeks ago, this column predicted Abbott had six months to turn his political fortunes around. Four events were identified as being the potential turning points. An unhelpful intervention in the Queensland election was one, and a poor performance at tomorrow's NPC address was another, leaving the NSW election and 2015 budget as two other possible pivots.
State and federal LNP MPs are making no bones about the floating of the GST, Medicare cuts and industrial relations reform at the national level making matters worse for the party during the state election. Their disgruntlement adds to that of the Victorian MPs still seething over similar problems during their state election in December.
Yet there is still hope being held out by the PM's ministry that today's speech will revive what is increasingly looking to outsiders as an odorous leadership corpse.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, helpfully kicking along the leadership can, has given the PM only until the end of this week to save his leadership. According to Xenophon, nothing less than a massive turnaround in Abbott's policies and approach to government will save him.
The expected announcement today of the Prime Minister's new "jobs and families" package, including an anticipated repudiation of his own paid parental leave scheme, may well signal a change in the Government's policies. And a newly-expressed willingness to consult and listen may well lead to an improvement in his approach.
But if the Prime Minister continues to ignore the need to fundamentally change - in the name of being a "strong" government - and uses today's NPC address to simply dismiss his problems as nothing more than a communication problem, he will be a dead man walking, with very few left willing to save his political soul.
*Editor's note (February 2, 2015): The original version of this article incorrectly stated Prime Minister Tony Abbott had an approval rating of 27 per cent.
Paula Matthewson is a freelance communications adviser and corporate writer. She was media advisor to John Howard in the early 1990s. She tweets and blogs as @Drag0nista. | {
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Malaysian police on Wednesday named a North Korean embassy official as a person of interest in the airport murder of Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother.
Royal Malaysia Police Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar said the embassy official, identified as Hyon Kwang Song, holds the title of second secretary. A Malaysia-based employee of the North Korea’s state-owned airline Koryo was also named a person of interest.
Abu Bakar did not say why police believe the pair may be connected to the death of Kim Jong Nam, who is thought to have been poisoned at the Kuala Lumpur airport last week. South Korean officials believe the killing was carried out by North Korean agents.
"Surely we know, surely we have the reasons — the grounds to ask them to assist us in the investigation," Abu Bakar said of the newly-identified pair at a news conference.
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He said both men were believed to still be in Malaysia, and if the North Korean embassy does not make them available arrest warrants would be issued.
Abu Bakar said police are looking for five other North Korean nationals, four of whom police "strongly believe" have returned to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
"We would request the North Korean authorities to assist us in tracing them and hand them over to us," he said. Abu Bakar said police believe the four were heavily involved.
Related: Video Shows Moment Kim Jong Un's Brother is Attacked
He said two women suspected in Kim Jong Nam’s death knew the substance used in the attack was toxic. The police chief referenced surveillance video, saying the women used their bare hands to wipe the substance on the victim's face.
"You see the lady moving away with her hands like this toward the bathroom, to the washroom," he said. "So she knew very well that it is toxic and she needed to wash her hands." He said police strongly believe it was planned.
Kim Jong Nam in 2010. AFP / AFP/Getty Images
A boyfriend of one of the women, who had been arrested, has been released on police bond, Abu Bakar said.
The killing has set off a diplomatic spat between Malaysia and North Korea. Pyongyang's ambassador has said it will refuse to accept the results of a Malaysian police investigation into Kim's death, accusing authorities of "colluding with outside forces" — a veiled reference to rival South Korea.
Asked about North Korean denials that the man who died is Kim Jong Nam, Abu Bakar said police had not identified the body, and noted that travel documents listed the name of Kim Chol.
"Everybody is saying he's Kim Jong Nam; surely we need DNA to prove he is Kim Jong Nam," Abu Bakar said.
He said police wanted North Korean officials to provide a family member of Kim Jong Nam, who could identify his body and provide a DNA sample.
The government of Malaysia formally confirmed last week that the man who died was indeed Kim Jong Nam. An autopsy verified his identity. | {
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Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya is speaking out after Samuel L. Jackson questioned his casting in Jordan Peele’s satirical horror film Get Out. Jackson had wondered why the British actor was cast in the pic that tackles race in the U.S., instead of the role being given to an African-American who could better resonate with the theme. Jackson later clarified his remarks, saying that he was criticizing the Hollywood system in general, not the actor.
“Here’s the thing about that critique, though. I’m dark-skinned, bro,” Kaluuya told GQ, explaining that he has also experienced similar situations that many African-Americans have. “When I’m around black people, I’m made to feel ‘other’ because I’m dark-skinned. I’ve had to wrestle with that, with people going, ‘You’re too black.’ Then I come to America, and they say, ‘You’re not black enough.’ I go to Uganda, I can’t speak the language. In India, I’m black. In the black community, I’m dark-skinned. In America, I’m British. Bro!”
Adding that black people in the UK have also dealt with racism and segregation, Kaluuya explained how there aren’t many stories out there that tell their experiences. “So people get an idea of what they might think the experience is,” he expressed, touching on how Jackson stated, “some things are universal, but everything ain’t.”
“You’re getting singled out for the color of your skin, but not the content of your spirit, and that’s everywhere,” the actor continued. “That’s my whole life, being seen as ‘other.’ Not fitting in in Uganda, not Britain, not America. They just highlight whatever feature they want.”
“I really respect African-American people. I just want to tell black stories,” Kaluuya expressed. “This is the frustrating thing, bro — in order to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I’ve experienced as a black person. I have to show off my struggle so that people accept that I’m black. No matter that every single room I go to I’m usually the darkest person there. You know what I’m saying? I kind of resent that mentality. I’m just an individual. Just because you’re black, you taken and used to represent something. It mirrors what happens in the film. I resent that I have to prove that I’m black. I don’t know what that is. I’m still processing it.”
As for director Peele, he previously told The Observer that, once he wrapped his head around how universal the movie’s themes were, it was easy for him to cast Kaluuya “because at the end of the day, he was the best person for the role.”
Kaluuya recently was cast in Steve McQueen’s Widows, starring Viola Davis.
Meanwhile, Get Out has been a box office hit, becoming Blumhouse’s fastest title to cross the $100 million mark. The Universal release, which cost only an estimated $4.5M before P&A, crossed the mark this weekend, earning a total of $111.05M. | {
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A member of History Is A Weapon wrote this and kindly allowed us to print it here after a slight polish:
Of course, I can’t endorse everything in Chris Hedges’ recent essay (Black Bloc: The Cancer in Occupy), he makes dated references to Zerzan, implies the Black Bloc is anti-EZLN, and commits the horror of horrors of conflating the bloc with anarchists. The responses, so flabbergasted at these errors, have been juvenile and reactionary: Hedges can’t understand because he used to write for the Times, he’s going to get people killed (says Graeber), he’s conflating tactics with ideology.
Hedges piece should be read and responded to. And better than that being offered on some of my facebook friend’s comments and hasty counterpoints.
I’m part of History Is A Weapon (host of both "Action Will Be Taken": Left Anti-intellectualism and Its Discontents and Plain Words) as well as being involved in radical activism for a long time. I’ve organized “legit” media friendly activism and participated in the black bloc during the anti-corporate globalization summits of a decade ago.
The Black Bloc is a tactic that occasionally serves a purpose, but it should be debated and defended like anything else we do or are considering doing. And it has two drawbacks as I see them that need to be discussed.
The Occupy Wall Street movement exploded. There is no recent american precedent for a movement that went from handfuls of people before September 17th, to hundreds on that first day (not a large demonstration in New York City by any stretch), to a national phenomenon over the next few weeks, discussed and argued over from the halls of congress to republican debates to regular work places, covered internationally, duplicated across the country, and entering the national political lexicon. Ninety-nine percent, one percent, Occupy: these words have new meaning now. It did not explode because it was the most radical, but on some levels in spite of it.
The early rhetoric was about “taking wall street back” (cue collective eye-rolling of radicals everywhere), informing the police that they were “part of us,” constant peace signs and an anti-ideological rhetoric that incorporated everyone from the bonafide left to anonymous to Ron Paulites. And because of this, it expanded and evolved and grew. People who were not part of a left conversation joined the circle.
The framing of the 99% versus the 1% is an incredibly smart frame; imperfect as it may be, it casts the agendas and divides in a succinct and clear manner. People got on buses and came to the park. They wouldn’t have if the chant had been F— the police.
As the police repression grew, the responses grew too, but there was always a strong presence who were ready to move to (or return to, really) F— the police. The frame of the the 99% versus the 1% doesn’t have to be pro-police, but it’s a lot more welcoming to people, people who may personally not be fans of the cops but who also aren’t looking to get their heads bashed in or arrested. And how we frame the struggle determines who comes in.
Second, the Black Bloc, and related strategies, have always had issues with macho ego (not always perpetuated by boys and men, but we certainly populated this tendency). At a black bloc meet up a decade ago that a dozen of us attended, I recall one sullen young man who informed the rest of us that “anyone who can’t take a punch shouldn’t be in the black bloc.” We told him to shut up. Our participation was tactical: breaking police lines, de-arresting, the like. It wasn’t about proving our toughness.
The desire to smash things is not limited to the black bloc: there are enough activists doing sixties re-enactment, responding to our collective alienation with reactive rage or lashing out with nihilistic property destruction, telling ourselves that this is about saying ya basta, enough, we reject this entire suffocating beast. And we do not judge that anger; we share it.
But this is the thing: we are not here to play, we are here to win. This isn’t a phase, we are in for the long haul and we know a bunch of the people responding to Hedges are, too. And if we want to win, we need to look at what our goals are, long-term, intermediate and short-term objectives; then, what strategies lead to those goals; then, what tactics make up those strategies. This is a complicated process that has to be revisited and re-examined on a regular basis.
Chris Hedges is usually more eloquent; this essay was a little more ham-handed. But the responses have missed the point. What we do to advance struggle should serve one of two purposes: first, it can push an ideological frame that speaks to the larger population, address our alienation, identifying the contradictions and cognitive dissonance of the system, and illuminating spaces for revolutionary possibility; Second, it can win concrete short term goals that feed into larger struggles or strategic goals.
Does the tactic of the black bloc really do either? I don’t know that it does and this should be the question we seek to answer. And if the answers come up short, or we’re emphasizing one tactic at the expense of better ones, we owe it to our struggle to examine that and move on it. Not wasting our time tripping up over Hedges referencing the wrong anarchist philosopher, but getting to the next step. | {
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EDITORIAL NOTE: In this post, we feature a comprehensive Java 8 Features Tutorial. It’s been a while since Java 8 is out in the public and everything points to the fact that this is a really major release.
We have provided an abundance of tutorials here at Java Code Geeks, like Playing with Java 8 – Lambdas and Concurrency, Java 8 Date Time API Tutorial : LocalDateTime and Abstract Class Versus Interface in the JDK 8 Era.
We also referenced 15 Must Read Java 8 Tutorials from other sources. Of course, we examined some of the shortfalls also, like The Dark Side of Java 8.
Now, it is time to gather all the major Java 8 features under one reference post for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
1. Introduction
With no doubts, Java 8 release is the greatest thing in the Java world since Java 5 (released quite a while ago, back in 2004). It brings tons of new features to the Java as a language, its compiler, libraries, tools and the JVM (Java virtual machine) itself. In this tutorial we are going to take a look on all these changes and demonstrate the different usage scenarios on real examples.
The tutorial consists of several parts where each one touches the specific side of the platform:
language
compiler
libraries
tools
runtime (JVM)
2. New Features in Java language
Java 8 is by any means a major release. One might say it took so long to finalize in order to implement the features every Java developer was looking for. In this section we are going to cover most of them.
2.1. Lambdas and Functional Interfaces
Lambdas (also known as closures) are the biggest and most awaited language change in the whole Java 8 release. They allow us to treat functionality as a method argument (passing functions around), or treat a code as data: the concepts every functional developer is very familiar with. Many languages on JVM platform (Groovy, Scala, …) have had lambdas since day one, but Java developers had no choice but hammer the lambdas with boilerplate anonymous classes.
Lambdas design discussions have taken a lot of time and community efforts. But finally, the trade-offs have been found, leading to new concise and compact language constructs. In its simplest form, a lambda could be represented as a comma-separated list of parameters, the –> symbol and the body. For example:
1 Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).forEach( e -> System.out.println( e ) );
Please notice the type of argument e is being inferred by the compiler. Alternatively, you may explicitly provide the type of the parameter, wrapping the definition in brackets. For example:
1 Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).forEach( ( String e ) -> System.out.println( e ) );
In case lambda’s body is more complex, it may be wrapped into square brackets, as the usual function definition in Java. For example:
1 2 3 4 Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).forEach( e -> { System.out.print( e ); System.out.print( e ); } );
Lambdas may reference the class members and local variables (implicitly making them effectively final if they are not). For example, those two snippets are equivalent:
1 2 3 String separator = "," ; Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).forEach( ( String e ) -> System.out.print( e + separator ) );
And:
1 2 3 final String separator = "," ; Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).forEach( ( String e ) -> System.out.print( e + separator ) );
Lambdas may return a value. The type of the return value will be inferred by compiler. The return statement is not required if the lambda body is just a one-liner. The two code snippets below are equivalent:
1 Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).sort( ( e1, e2 ) -> e1.compareTo( e2 ) );
And:
1 2 3 4 Arrays.asList( "a" , "b" , "d" ).sort( ( e1, e2 ) -> { int result = e1.compareTo( e2 ); return result; } );
Language designers put a lot of thought on how to make already existing functionality lambda-friendly. As a result, the concept of functional interfaces has emerged. The function interface is an interface with just one single method. As such, it may be implicitly converted to a lambda expression. The java.lang.Runnable and java.util.concurrent.Callable are two great examples of functional interfaces. In practice, the functional interfaces are fragile: if someone adds just one another method to the interface definition, it will not be functional anymore and compilation process will fail. To overcome this fragility and explicitly declare the intent of the interface as being functional, Java 8 adds special annotation @FunctionalInterface (all existing interfaces in Java library have been annotated with @FunctionalInterface as well). Let us take a look on this simple functional interface definition:
1 2 3 4 @FunctionalInterface public interface Functional { void method(); }
One thing to keep in mind: default and static methods do not break the functional interface contract and may be declared:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 @FunctionalInterface public interface FunctionalDefaultMethods { void method(); default void defaultMethod() { } }
Lambdas are the largest selling point of Java 8. It has all the potential to attract more and more developers to this great platform and provide state of the art support for functional programming concepts in pure Java. For more details please refer to official documentation.
2.2. Interface’s Default and Static Methods
Java 8 extends interface declarations with two new concepts: default and static methods. Default methods make interfaces somewhat similar to traits but serve a bit different goal. They allow adding new methods to existing interfaces without breaking the binary compatibility with the code written for older versions of those interfaces.
The difference between default methods and abstract methods is that abstract methods are required to be implemented. But default methods are not. Instead, each interface must provide so called default implementation and all the implementers will inherit it by default (with a possibility to override this default implementation if needed). Let us take a look on example below.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 private interface Defaulable { default String notRequired() { return "Default implementation" ; } } private static class DefaultableImpl implements Defaulable { } private static class OverridableImpl implements Defaulable { @Override public String notRequired() { return "Overridden implementation" ; } }
The interface Defaulable declares a default method notRequired() using keyword default as part of the method definition. One of the classes, DefaultableImpl, implements this interface leaving the default method implementation as-is. Another one, OverridableImpl , overrides the default implementation and provides its own.
Another interesting feature delivered by Java 8 is that interfaces can declare (and provide implementation) of static methods. Here is an example.
1 2 3 4 5 6 private interface DefaulableFactory { static Defaulable create( Supplier< Defaulable > supplier ) { return supplier.get(); } }
The small code snippet below glues together the default methods and static methods from the examples above.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 public static void main( String[] args ) { Defaulable defaulable = DefaulableFactory.create( DefaultableImpl:: new ); System.out.println( defaulable.notRequired() ); defaulable = DefaulableFactory.create( OverridableImpl:: new ); System.out.println( defaulable.notRequired() ); }
The console output of this program looks like that:
1 2 Default implementation Overridden implementation
Default methods implementation on JVM is very efficient and is supported by the byte code instructions for method invocation. Default methods allowed existing Java interfaces to evolve without breaking the compilation process. The good examples are the plethora of methods added to java.util.Collection interface: stream(), parallelStream(), forEach(), removeIf(), …
Though being powerful, default methods should be used with a caution: before declaring method as default it is better to think twice if it is really needed as it may cause ambiguity and compilation errors in complex hierarchies. For more details please refer to official documentation.
2.3. Method References
Method references provide the useful syntax to refer directly to exiting methods or constructors of Java classes or objects (instances). With conjunction of Lambdas expressions, method references make the language constructs look compact and concise, leaving off boilerplate.
Below, considering the class Car as an example of different method definitions, let us distinguish four supported types of method references.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 public static class Car { public static Car create( final Supplier< Car > supplier ) { return supplier.get(); } public static void collide( final Car car ) { System.out.println( "Collided " + car.toString() ); } public void follow( final Car another ) { System.out.println( "Following the " + another.toString() ); } public void repair() { System.out.println( "Repaired " + this .toString() ); } }
The first type of method references is constructor reference with the syntax Class::new or alternatively, for generics, Class< T >::new. Please notice that the constructor has no arguments.
1 2 final Car car = Car.create( Car:: new ); final List< Car > cars = Arrays.asList( car );
The second type is reference to static method with the syntax Class::static_method. Please notice that the method accepts exactly one parameter of type Car.
1 cars.forEach( Car::collide );
The third type is reference to instance method of arbitrary object of specific type with the syntax Class::method. Please notice, no arguments are accepted by the method.
1 cars.forEach( Car::repair );
And the last, fourth type is reference to instance method of particular class instance the syntax instance::method. Please notice that method accepts exactly one parameter of type Car.
1 2 final Car police = Car.create( Car:: new ); cars.forEach( police::follow );
Running all those examples as a Java program produces following output on a console (the actual Car instances might be different):
1 2 3 Collided com.javacodegeeks.java8.method.references.MethodReferences$Car @7a81197d Repaired com.javacodegeeks.java8.method.references.MethodReferences$Car @7a81197d Following the com.javacodegeeks.java8.method.references.MethodReferences$Car @7a81197d
For more examples and details on method references, please refer to official documentation.
2.4. Repeating annotations
Since Java 5 introduced the annotations support, this feature became very popular and is very widely used. However, one of the limitations of annotation usage was the fact that the same annotation cannot be declared more than once at the same location. Java 8 breaks this rule and introduced the repeating annotations. It allows the same annotation to be repeated several times in place it is declared.
The repeating annotations should be themselves annotated with @Repeatable annotation. In fact, it is not a language change but more a compiler trick as underneath the technique stays the same. Let us take a look on quick example:
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.repeatable.annotations; import java.lang.annotation.ElementType; import java.lang.annotation.Repeatable; import java.lang.annotation.Retention; import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy; import java.lang.annotation.Target; public class RepeatingAnnotations { @Target ( ElementType.TYPE ) @Retention ( RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME ) public @interface Filters { Filter[] value(); } @Target ( ElementType.TYPE ) @Retention ( RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME ) @Repeatable ( Filters. class ) public @interface Filter { String value(); }; @Filter ( "filter1" ) @Filter ( "filter2" ) public interface Filterable { } public static void main(String[] args) { for ( Filter filter: Filterable. class .getAnnotationsByType( Filter. class ) ) { System.out.println( filter.value() ); } } }
As we can see, there is an annotation class Filter annotated with @Repeatable( Filters.class ). The Filters is just a holder of Filter annotations but Java compiler tries hard to hide its presence from the developers. As such, the interface Filterable has Filter annotation defined twice (with no mentions of Filters).
Also, the Reflection API provides new method getAnnotationsByType() to return repeating annotations of some type (please notice that Filterable.class.getAnnotation( Filters.class ) will return the instance of Filters injected by the compiler).
The program output looks like that:
1 2 filter1 filter2
For more details please refer to official documentation.
2.5. Better Type Inference
Java 8 compiler has improved a lot on type inference. In many cases the explicit type parameters could be inferred by compiler keeping the code cleaner. Let us take a look on one of the examples.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.type.inference; public class Value< T > { public static < T > T defaultValue() { return null ; } public T getOrDefault( T value, T defaultValue ) { return ( value != null ) ? value : defaultValue; } }
And here is the usage of Value< String > type.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.type.inference; public class TypeInference { public static void main(String[] args) { final Value< String > value = new Value<>(); value.getOrDefault( "22" , Value.defaultValue() ); } }
The type parameter of Value.defaultValue()is inferred and is not required to be provided. In Java 7, the same example will not compile and should be rewritten to Value.< String >defaultValue().
2.6. Extended Annotations Support
Java 8 extends the context where annotation might be used. Now, it is possible to annotate mostly everything: local variables, generic types, super-classes and implementing interfaces, even the method’s exceptions declaration. Couple of examples are show below.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.annotations; import java.lang.annotation.ElementType; import java.lang.annotation.Retention; import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy; import java.lang.annotation.Target; import java.util.ArrayList; import java.util.Collection; public class Annotations { @Retention ( RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME ) @Target ( { ElementType.TYPE_USE, ElementType.TYPE_PARAMETER } ) public @interface NonEmpty { } public static class Holder< @NonEmpty T > extends @NonEmpty Object { public void method() throws @NonEmpty Exception { } } @SuppressWarnings ( "unused" ) public static void main(String[] args) { final Holder< String > holder = new @NonEmpty Holder< String >(); @NonEmpty Collection< @NonEmpty String > strings = new ArrayList<>(); } }
The ElementType.TYPE_USE and ElementType.TYPE_PARAMETER are two new element types to describe the applicable annotation context. The Annotation Processing API also underwent some minor changes to recognize those new type annotations in the Java programming language.
3. New Features in Java compiler
3.1. Parameter names
Literally for ages Java developers are inventing different ways to preserve method parameter names in Java byte-code and make them available at runtime (for example, Paranamer library). And finally, Java 8 bakes this demanding feature into the language (using Reflection API and Parameter.getName() method) and the byte-code (using new javac compiler argument –parameters).
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.parameter.names; import java.lang.reflect.Method; import java.lang.reflect.Parameter; public class ParameterNames { public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { Method method = ParameterNames. class .getMethod( "main" , String[]. class ); for ( final Parameter parameter: method.getParameters() ) { System.out.println( "Parameter: " + parameter.getName() ); } } }
If you compile this class without using –parameters argument and then run this program, you will see something like that:
1 Parameter: arg0
With –parameters argument passed to the compiler the program output will be different (the actual name of the parameter will be shown):
1 Parameter: args
For experienced Maven users the –parameters argument could be added to the compiler using configuration section of the maven-compiler-plugin:
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 < plugin > < groupId >org.apache.maven.plugins</ groupId > < artifactId >maven-compiler-plugin</ artifactId > < version >3.1</ version > < configuration > < compilerArgument >-parameters</ compilerArgument > < source >1.8</ source > < target >1.8</ target > </ configuration > </ plugin >
Latest Eclipse Kepler SR2 release with Java 8 (please check out this download instructions) support provides useful configuration option to control this compiler setting as the picture below shows.
Picture 1. Configuring Eclipse projects to support new Java 8 compiler –parameters argument
Additionally, to verify the availability of parameter names, there is a handy method isNamePresent() provided by Parameter class.
4. New Features in Java libraries
Java 8 adds a lot of new classes and extends existing ones in order to provide better support of modern concurrency, functional programming, date/time, and many more.
4.1. Optional
The famous NullPointerException is by far the most popular cause of Java application failures. Long time ago the great Google Guava project introduced the Optionals as a solution to NullPointerExceptions, discouraging codebase pollution with null checks and encouraging developers to write cleaner code. Inspired by Google Guava, the Optional is now a part of Java 8 library.
Optional is just a container: it can hold a value of some type T or just be null. It provides a lot of useful methods so the explicit null checks have no excuse anymore. Please refer to official Java 8 documentation for more details.
We are going to take a look on two small examples of Optional usages: with the nullable value and with the value which does not allow nulls.
1 2 3 4 Optional< String > fullName = Optional.ofNullable( null ); System.out.println( "Full Name is set? " + fullName.isPresent() ); System.out.println( "Full Name: " + fullName.orElseGet( () -> "[none]" ) ); System.out.println( fullName.map( s -> "Hey " + s + "!" ).orElse( "Hey Stranger!" ) );
The isPresent() method returns true if this instance of Optional has non-null value and false otherwise. The orElseGet() method provides the fallback mechanism in case Optional has null value by accepting the function to generate the default one. The map() method transforms the current Optional’s value and returns the new Optional instance. The orElse() method is similar to orElseGet() but instead of function it accepts the default value. Here is the output of this program:
1 2 3 Full Name is set? false Full Name: [none] Hey Stranger!
Let us briefly look on another example:
1 2 3 4 5 Optional< String > firstName = Optional.of( "Tom" ); System.out.println( "First Name is set? " + firstName.isPresent() ); System.out.println( "First Name: " + firstName.orElseGet( () -> "[none]" ) ); System.out.println( firstName.map( s -> "Hey " + s + "!" ).orElse( "Hey Stranger!" ) ); System.out.println();
And here is the output:
1 2 3 First Name is set? true First Name: Tom Hey Tom!
For more details please refer to official documentation.
4.2. Streams
The newly added Stream API (java.util.stream) introduces real-world functional-style programming into the Java. This is by far the most comprehensive addition to Java library intended to make Java developers significantly more productive by allowing them to write effective, clean, and concise code.
Stream API makes collections processing greatly simplified (but it is not limited to Java collections only as we will see later). Let us take start off with simple class called Task.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 public class Streams { private enum Status { OPEN, CLOSED }; private static final class Task { private final Status status; private final Integer points; Task( final Status status, final Integer points ) { this .status = status; this .points = points; } public Integer getPoints() { return points; } public Status getStatus() { return status; } @Override public String toString() { return String.format( "[%s, %d]" , status, points ); } } }
Task has some notion of points (or pseudo-complexity) and can be either OPEN or CLOSED. And then let us introduce a small collection of tasks to play with.
1 2 3 4 5 final Collection< Task > tasks = Arrays.asList( new Task( Status.OPEN, 5 ), new Task( Status.OPEN, 13 ), new Task( Status.CLOSED, 8 ) );
The first question we are going to address is how many points in total all OPEN tasks have? Up to Java 8, the usual solution for it would be some sort of foreach iteration. But in Java 8 the answers is streams: a sequence of elements supporting sequential and parallel aggregate operations.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 final long totalPointsOfOpenTasks = tasks .stream() .filter( task -> task.getStatus() == Status.OPEN ) .mapToInt( Task::getPoints ) .sum(); System.out.println( "Total points: " + totalPointsOfOpenTasks );
And the output on the console looks like that:
1 Total points: 18
There are a couple of things going on here. Firstly, the tasks collection is converted to its stream representation. Then, the filter operation on stream filters out all CLOSED tasks. On next step, the mapToInt operation converts the stream of Tasks to the stream of Integers using Task::getPoints method of the each task instance. And lastly, all points are summed up using sum method, producing the final result.
Before moving on to the next examples, there are some notes to keep in mind about streams (more details here). Stream operations are divided into intermediate and terminal operations.
Intermediate operations return a new stream. They are always lazy, executing an intermediate operation such as filter does not actually perform any filtering, but instead creates a new stream that, when traversed, contains the elements of the initial stream that match the given predicate
Terminal operations, such as forEach or sum, may traverse the stream to produce a result or a side-effect. After the terminal operation is performed, the stream pipeline is considered consumed, and can no longer be used. In almost all cases, terminal operations are eager, completing their traversal of the underlying data source.
Yet another value proposition of the streams is out-of-the box support of parallel processing. Let us take a look on this example, which does sums the points of all the tasks.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 final double totalPoints = tasks .stream() .parallel() .map( task -> task.getPoints() ) .reduce( 0 , Integer::sum ); System.out.println( "Total points (all tasks): " + totalPoints );
It is very similar to the first example except the fact that we try to process all the tasks in parallel and calculate the final result using reduce method.
Here is the console output:
1 Total points (all tasks): 26.0
Often, there is a need to performing a grouping of the collection elements by some criteria. Streams can help with that as well as an example below demonstrates.
1 2 3 4 5 final Map< Status, List< Task > > map = tasks .stream() .collect( Collectors.groupingBy( Task::getStatus ) ); System.out.println( map );
The console output of this example looks like that:
1 {CLOSED=[[CLOSED, 8 ]], OPEN=[[OPEN, 5 ], [OPEN, 13 ]]}
To finish up with the tasks example, let us calculate the overall percentage (or weight) of each task across the whole collection, based on its points.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 final Collection< String > result = tasks .stream() .mapToInt( Task::getPoints ) .asLongStream() .mapToDouble( points -> points / totalPoints ) .boxed() .mapToLong( weigth -> ( long )( weigth * 100 ) ) .mapToObj( percentage -> percentage + "%" ) .collect( Collectors.toList() ); System.out.println( result );
The console output is just here:
1 [ 19 %, 50 %, 30 %]
And lastly, as we mentioned before, the Stream API is not only about Java collections. The typical I/O operations like reading the text file line by line is a very good candidate to benefit from stream processing. Here is a small example to confirm that.
1 2 3 4 final Path path = new File( filename ).toPath(); try ( Stream< String > lines = Files.lines( path, StandardCharsets.UTF_8 ) ) { lines.onClose( () -> System.out.println( "Done!" ) ).forEach( System.out::println ); }
The onClose method called on the stream returns an equivalent stream with an additional close handler. Close handlers are run when the close() method is called on the stream.
Stream API together with Lambdas and Method References baked by Interface’s Default and Static Methods is the Java 8 response to the modern paradigms in software development. For more details, please refer to official documentation.
4.3. Date/Time API (JSR 310)
Java 8 makes one more take on date and time management by delivering New Date-Time API (JSR 310). Date and time manipulation is being one of the worst pain points for Java developers. The standard java.util.Date followed by java.util.Calendar hasn’t improved the situation at all (arguably, made it even more confusing).
That is how Joda-Time was born: the great alternative date/time API for Java. The Java 8’s New Date-Time API (JSR 310) was heavily influenced by Joda-Time and took the best of it. The new java.time package contains all the classes for date, time, date/time, time zones, instants, duration, and clocks manipulation. In the design of the API the immutability has been taken into account very seriously: no change allowed (the tough lesson learnt from java.util.Calendar). If the modification is required, the new instance of respective class will be returned.
Let us take a look on key classes and examples of their usages. The first class is Clock which provides access to the current instant, date and time using a time-zone. Clock can be used instead of System.currentTimeMillis() and TimeZone.getDefault().
1 2 3 4 final Clock clock = Clock.systemUTC(); System.out.println( clock.instant() ); System.out.println( clock.millis() );
The sample output on a console:
1 2 2014 - 04 -12T15: 19 : 29 .282Z 1397315969360
Other new classes we are going to look at are LocaleDate and LocalTime. LocaleDate holds only the date part without a time-zone in the ISO-8601 calendar system. Respectively, LocaleTime holds only the time part without time-zone in the ISO-8601 calendar system. Both LocaleDate and LocaleTime could be created from Clock.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 final LocalDate date = LocalDate.now(); final LocalDate dateFromClock = LocalDate.now( clock ); System.out.println( date ); System.out.println( dateFromClock ); final LocalTime time = LocalTime.now(); final LocalTime timeFromClock = LocalTime.now( clock ); System.out.println( time ); System.out.println( timeFromClock );
The sample output on a console:
1 2 3 4 2014 - 04 - 12 2014 - 04 - 12 11 : 25 : 54.568 15 : 25 : 54.568
The LocalDateTime combines together LocaleDate and LocalTime and holds a date with time but without a time-zone in the ISO-8601 calendar system. A quick example is shown below.
1 2 3 4 5 6 final LocalDateTime datetime = LocalDateTime.now(); final LocalDateTime datetimeFromClock = LocalDateTime.now( clock ); System.out.println( datetime ); System.out.println( datetimeFromClock );
The sample output on a console:
1 2 2014 - 04 -12T11: 37 : 52.309 2014 - 04 -12T15: 37 : 52.309
If case you need a date/time for particular timezone, the ZonedDateTime is here to help. It holds a date with time and with a time-zone in the ISO-8601 calendar system. Here are a couple of examples for different timezones.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 final ZonedDateTime zonedDatetime = ZonedDateTime.now(); final ZonedDateTime zonedDatetimeFromClock = ZonedDateTime.now( clock ); final ZonedDateTime zonedDatetimeFromZone = ZonedDateTime.now( ZoneId.of( "America/Los_Angeles" ) ); System.out.println( zonedDatetime ); System.out.println( zonedDatetimeFromClock ); System.out.println( zonedDatetimeFromZone );
The sample output on a console:
1 2 3 2014 - 04 -12T11: 47 : 01.017 - 04 : 00 [America/New_York] 2014 - 04 -12T15: 47 : 01 .017Z 2014 - 04 -12T08: 47 : 01.017 - 07 : 00 [America/Los_Angeles]
And finally, let us take a look on Duration class: an amount of time in terms of seconds and nanoseconds. It makes very easy to compute the different between two dates. Let us take a look on that.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 final LocalDateTime from = LocalDateTime.of( 2014 , Month.APRIL, 16 , 0 , 0 , 0 ); final LocalDateTime to = LocalDateTime.of( 2015 , Month.APRIL, 16 , 23 , 59 , 59 ); final Duration duration = Duration.between( from, to ); System.out.println( "Duration in days: " + duration.toDays() ); System.out.println( "Duration in hours: " + duration.toHours() );
The example above computes the duration (in days and hours) between two dates, 16 April 2014 and 16 April 2015. Here is the sample output on a console:
1 2 Duration in days: 365 Duration in hours: 8783
The overall impression about Java 8’s new date/time API is very, very positive. Partially, because of the battle-proved foundation it is built upon (Joda-Time), partially because this time it was finally tackled seriously and developer voices have been heard. For more details please refer to official documentation.
4.4. Nashorn JavaScript engine
Java 8 comes with new Nashorn JavaScript engine which allows developing and running certain kinds of JavaScript applications on JVM. Nashorn JavaScript engine is just another implementation of javax.script.ScriptEngine and follows the same set of rules, permitting Java and JavaScript interoperability. Here is a small example.
1 2 3 4 5 ScriptEngineManager manager = new ScriptEngineManager(); ScriptEngine engine = manager.getEngineByName( "JavaScript" ); System.out.println( engine.getClass().getName() ); System.out.println( "Result:" + engine.eval( "function f() { return 1; }; f() + 1;" ) );
The sample output on a console:
1 2 jdk.nashorn.api.scripting.NashornScriptEngine Result: 2
We will get back to the Nashorn later in the section dedicated to new Java tools.
4.5. Base64
Finally, the support of Base64 encoding has made its way into Java standard library with Java 8 release. It is very easy to use as following example shows off.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.base64; import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets; import java.util.Base64; public class Base64s { public static void main(String[] args) { final String text = "Base64 finally in Java 8!" ; final String encoded = Base64 .getEncoder() .encodeToString( text.getBytes( StandardCharsets.UTF_8 ) ); System.out.println( encoded ); final String decoded = new String( Base64.getDecoder().decode( encoded ), StandardCharsets.UTF_8 ); System.out.println( decoded ); } }
The console output from program run shows both encoded and decoded text:
1 2 QmFzZTY0IGZpbmFsbHkgaW4gSmF2YSA4IQ== Base64 finally in Java 8 !
There are also URL-friendly encoder/decoder and MIME-friendly encoder/decoder provided by the Base64 class (Base64.getUrlEncoder() / Base64.getUrlDecoder(), Base64.getMimeEncoder() / Base64.getMimeDecoder()).
4.6. Parallel Arrays
Java 8 release adds a lot of new methods to allow parallel arrays processing. Arguably, the most important one is parallelSort() which may significantly speedup the sorting on multicore machines. The following small example demonstrates this new method family (parallelXxx) in action.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 package com.javacodegeeks.java8.parallel.arrays; import java.util.Arrays; import java.util.concurrent.ThreadLocalRandom; public class ParallelArrays { public static void main( String[] args ) { long [] arrayOfLong = new long [ 20000 ]; Arrays.parallelSetAll( arrayOfLong, index -> ThreadLocalRandom.current().nextInt( 1000000 ) ); Arrays.stream( arrayOfLong ).limit( 10 ).forEach( i -> System.out.print( i + " " ) ); System.out.println(); Arrays.parallelSort( arrayOfLong ); Arrays.stream( arrayOfLong ).limit( 10 ).forEach( i -> System.out.print( i + " " ) ); System.out.println(); } }
This small code snippet uses method parallelSetAll() to fill up arrays with 20000 random values. After that, the parallelSort() is being applied. The program outputs first 10 elements before and after sorting so to ensure the array is really ordered. The sample program output may look like that (please notice that array elements are randomly generated):
1 2 Unsorted: 591217 891976 443951 424479 766825 351964 242997 642839 119108 552378 Sorted: 39 220 263 268 325 607 655 678 723 793
4.7. Concurrency
New methods have been added to the java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap class to support aggregate operations based on the newly added streams facility and lambda expressions. Also, new methods have been added to the java.util.concurrent.ForkJoinPool class to support a common pool (check also our free course on Java concurrency).
The new java.util.concurrent.locks.StampedLock class has been added to provide a capability-based lock with three modes for controlling read/write access (it might be considered as better alternative for infamous java.util.concurrent.locks.ReadWriteLock).
New classes have been added to the java.util.concurrent.atomic package:
DoubleAccumulator
DoubleAdder
LongAccumulator
LongAdder
5. New Java tools
Java 8 comes with new set of command line tools. In this section we are going to look over most interesting of them.
5.1. Nashorn engine: jjs
jjs is a command line based standalone Nashorn engine. It accepts a list of JavaScript source code files as arguments and runs them. For example, let us create a file func.js with following content:
1 2 3 4 5 function f() { return 1 ; }; print( f() + 1 );
To execute this fie from command, let us pass it as an argument to jjs:
1 jjs func.js
The output on the console will be:
1 2
For more details please refer to official documentation.
5.2. Class dependency analyzer: jdeps
jdeps is a really great command line tool. It shows the package-level or class-level dependencies of Java class files. It accepts .class file, a directory, or JAR file as an input. By default, jdeps outputs the dependencies to the system output (console).
As an example, let us take a look on dependencies report for the popular Spring Framework library. To make example short, let us analyze only one JAR file: org.springframework.core-3.0.5.RELEASE.jar.
1 jdeps org.springframework.core- 3.0 . 5 .RELEASE.jar
This command outputs quite a lot so we are going to look on the part of it. The dependencies are grouped by packages. If dependency is not available on a classpath, it is shown as not found.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 org.springframework.core- 3.0 . 5 .RELEASE.jar -> C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1. 8.0 \jre\lib\rt.jar org.springframework.core (org.springframework.core- 3.0 . 5 .RELEASE.jar) -> java.io -> java.lang -> java.lang.annotation -> java.lang.ref -> java.lang.reflect -> java.util -> java.util.concurrent -> org.apache.commons.logging not found -> org.springframework.asm not found -> org.springframework.asm.commons not found org.springframework.core.annotation (org.springframework.core- 3.0 . 5 .RELEASE.jar) -> java.lang -> java.lang.annotation -> java.lang.reflect -> java.util
For more details please refer to official documentation.
6. New Features in Java runtime (JVM)
The PermGen space is gone and has been replaced with Metaspace (JEP 122). The JVM options -XX:PermSize and –XX:MaxPermSize have been replaced by -XX:MetaSpaceSize and -XX:MaxMetaspaceSize respectively.
7. Conclusions
The future is here: Java 8 moves this great platform forward by delivering the features to make developers much more productive. It is too early to move the production systems to Java 8 but in the next couples of months its adoption should slowly start growing. Nevertheless the time is right to start preparing your code bases to be compatible with Java 8 and to be ready to turn the switch once Java 8 proves to be safe and stable enough.
As a confirmation of community Java 8 acceptance, recently Pivotal released Spring Framework 4.0.3 with production-ready Java 8 support.
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You are welcome to contribute with your comments about the exciting new Java 8 features!
8. Resources
Some additional resources which discuss in depth different aspects of Java 8 features:
Java 8 Tutorials on JCG Examples: https://examples.javacodegeeks.com/?s=java+8
What’s New in JDK 8: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8-whats-new-2157071.html
The Java Tutorials: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/
WildFly 8, JDK 8, NetBeans 8, Java EE 7: http://blog.arungupta.me/2014/03/wildfly8-jdk8-netbeans8-javaee7-excellent-combo-enterprise-java/
Java 8 Tutorial: http://winterbe.com/posts/2014/03/16/java-8-tutorial/
JDK 8 Command-line Static Dependency Checker: http://marxsoftware.blogspot.ca/2014/03/jdeps.html
The Illuminating Javadoc of JDK 8: http://marxsoftware.blogspot.ca/2014/03/illuminating-javadoc-of-jdk-8.html
The Dark Side of Java 8: http://blog.jooq.org/2014/04/04/java-8-friday-the-dark-side-of-java-8/
Installing Java™ 8 Support in Eclipse Kepler SR2: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/java8/
Java 8: http://www.baeldung.com/java8
Oracle Nashorn. A Next-Generation JavaScript Engine for the JVM: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/articles/java/jf14-nashorn-2126515.html
Java 8 Features Tutorial was last updated on Oct. 3, 2016 | {
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Unser Vater ging mit uns Kindern an Volkstrauertagen stets zu den örtlichen Gedenkfeiern. Auf den meisten Friedhöfen findet sich ein Gedenkstein für die Gefallenen des Ortes. Ich sehe noch die Veteranen in dunklen Mänteln oder Tracht neben den in Uniform angetretenen Bundeswehrsoldaten. Eine Bläsergruppe intoniert das Lied „Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden“. Es war eine ernste, feierliche, stille Atmosphäre.
Eine ähnliche Stimmung erfaßte uns, wenn wir Kinder Soldatenfriedhöfe besuchten – beispielsweise im Elsaß in den Vogesen oder in Verdun. Da unser Vater Berufssoldat war, stellte sich ein besonderer Blick auf die Gefallenen der Weltkriege ein. Er vermittelte uns den Sinn dieses Dienstes, der bedeutet, im Ernstfall sein Leben einzusetzen für die Nation. Gleichzeitig erlebten wir keine Verklärung der Brutalität, des Schreckens der Kriege. Der Mißbrauch von Soldaten durch eine verbrecherische Regierung, die Hölle, in der blutjunge Männer verheizt wurden. Das Mindeste, das die Nachgeborenen tun könnten, ist, diesen Männern ein ehrendes Andenken zu bewahren.
Ein Krieg jenseits der Vorstellungskraft
Mit diesem Volkstrauertag fällt die Erinnerung zusammen mit dem Gedenken an die Schlacht um Stalingrad, der Wende des Zweiten Weltkrieges vor 75 Jahren. Zwei der letzten noch lebenden Veteranen dieser fürchterlichen Kesselschlacht schildern im Gespräch mit der JUNGEN FREIHEIT (siehe Seite 3) einen Krieg, der für junge Deutsche heute jenseits der Vorstellungskraft ist. Seit einigen Jahren gibt es keine Wehrpflicht mehr, das Militärische wird generell immer fremder.
Nikolaus Giebels schildert, wie er als 22jähriger Panzergrenadier den Vormarsch in die Stadt an der Wolga erlebte, um dort überraschend auf seinen 19jährigen Bruder zu treffen. Wenig später der letzte Händedruck, sie verlieren sich, den Bruder verschlingt die Schlacht. Nur in Träumen begegnet ihm der Verschollene gelegentlich wieder.
Wer gedenkt noch der Gefallenen?
Von denen, die noch berichten können vom Krieg, treten die letzten in den nächsten Jahren ab. Verschämt rückt die Erinnerung immer weiter in den Hintergrund. Was für ein Vaterland lassen sie zurück? 110.000 deutsche Soldaten gingen nach der Kapitulation der 6. Armee Anfang Februar 1943 in sowjetische Kriegsgefangenschaft, nur 6.000 kehrten später zurück. 150.000 deutsche und eine halbe Million sowjetische Soldaten fielen in diesem Gemetzel. Heute liegen sie gemeinsam in der Steppe der Wolgastadt, die den Namen Stalin schon lange nicht mehr trägt.
Unsere Titelseite zeigt einen Teil der Gedenktafeln, die auf dem kleinen deutschen Soldatenfriedhof in Rossoschka angebracht sind und in die die Namen unzähliger Gefallener graviert sind. Wessen Hand streift noch über die Inschriften, wer nennt halblaut ihre Namen?
JF 47/17 | {
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Kweiseye is an art criticism blog written by Tom Kwei. If you enjoy this article, browse the archive HERE for more than 60 other critiques of both artists and exhibitions. Any questions/queries/use: [email protected].
As one of America’s leading modernist painters of the early 21st century, Marguerite Thompson Zorach combined the wild colour play of the Fauvists with a propensity for the rural. Also responsible for helping to introduce Cubist ideas to the masses, her style later abandoned painting altogether in favour of creating embroider tapestries.
‘Signs of Autumn’ – 1930
This work of great delicacy often feels to me as two paintings put together. The top half being a wonderful form of mountains, with the settling sun emanating a rich warmth from between the valley. And the bottom acting as a far more traditional Fauvist image, with its bold tones and squiggled shores. Indeed the division in of itself seems to evoke its title, with the slumbered glow of Summer in the background giving way to the first inklings of Autumn in the fore.
But this is not a scene of reverent and calm beauty however. Our perspective on the painting is soon broken by the darting, near mechanical birds whose wingspan draws us to the odd boil at the middle of the lake. The motion of the birds though simple is effective, the three essentially acting as one in a showcase of spreading wings. As for the unusual spot in the centre, it feels a sign of the unseen endless bustle of life especially dominant in the first signs of a season.
The abstraction doesn’t distract too much however, perhaps because like most Fauvist work, we appreciate the inherent medley of the style rather than its evocation of reality. Water is more deep fog here, something that purls across the bed rather than fill it.
‘Landscape with trucks and barn’
Untroubled by people or animals, the recognisable elements of humanity here are de-emphasised in favour of the countryside scene. A landscape enlivened by emerald and peach hues that show dialogue with the celestial sky above. And one that acts as the antithesis of the buildings all dull and clumsy, with their cold presence as solid as the hunched mountains behind.
This is a place to be celebrated for its own beauty, rather than the reality we recognise it to hold. The tree outcrops that offer a midpoint between the houses and the mountains are especially well realised. Their minute strokes gathering weight from far away as forests do.
Enjoy reading that? Click HERE to see a list of all the art analyses on Kweiseye to date.
To keep up with the blog and all the art I write about, follow me right here on this blog or here @tomkweipoet | {
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Authored by Mac Slavo via SHTFplan.com,
A National Geographic photographer has admitted that the viral image of a polar bear suffering from climate change is fake news almost a year later. “We had lost control of the narrative,” admitted Cristina Mittermeier, the photographer of the polar bear.
According to The Daily Wire, the magazine’s most viral video ever, which featured heart-wrenching images of a starving polar bear, perpetuated the narrative that the animal’s imminent death was caused by climate change. However, the climate change aspect of the story is void of any real evidence. Mittermeier has now explained the climate change deception and fake news stunt National Geographic pulled in a piece titled “Starving-Polar-Bear Photographer Recalls What Went Wrong” for the magazine’s August issue.
“Photographer Paul Nicklen and I are on a mission to capture images that communicate the urgency of climate change. Documenting its effects on wildlife hasn’t been easy,” she wrote. “With this image, we thought we had found a way to help people imagine what the future of climate change might look like. We were, perhaps, naive. The picture went viral - and people took it literally.”
So basically, in summation, Mittermeier admitted that the images of the bony, emaciated polar bear were meant to sound an alarm about climate change, though now she is complaining that people took the image “literally” when that was the exact fake news message she wished to convey.
Perhaps people took the gloom-and-doom climate change narrative “literally” because National Geographic‘s first line of the video was, “This is what climate change looks like. ”
Oh, and let’s not leave out the fact that the words “climate change” were even emphasized. They were highlighted in the magazine’s signature yellow. “In retrospect, National Geographic went too far with the caption,” says Mittermeier.
National Geographic admits their mission is to propagate the minds of the public with scary images in order to call for more government control over the masses in order to confiscate even more money. But it’s all for the greater good, right? In the video below, The Health Ranger explains how climate change alarmists have pulled off the most insane, large-scale mass hypnosis in human history.
And National Geographic has now admitted that they are doing their part to brainwash the masses into accepting the false narrative of climate change.
As noted by Fox News, experts have suggested that other reasons for the polar bear’s condition could have been old age, illness, or injury. Mittermeier even admitted that she could not say for sure “that this bear was starving because of climate change.” | {
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It didn't take long for Davis to make his mark when he returned from a five-game injury absence last month.
In his first game back in the lineup, Davis sprinted down the right sideline and went high in the air to snare a 23-yard, back-shoulder pass, one that would lead to a Titans touchdown against Baltimore.
He's posted 13 of his 20 catches in the four games since returning to the lineup, and the fact that Mariota continues to look for him – Davis' 6.5 targets per game this season are just behind Walker (7.0) and Rishard Matthews (6.8) – is a promising sign.
"He has all the confidence in the world in me, he trusts me," Davis said of Mariota. "He puts the ball in the right spot and definitely makes my job easier. I've got to make him look good."
Teammates and coaches alike say they have seen Davis continue to make progress, despite the occasional setbacks that come with being a rookie.
"It looks to me like he's come a little further along in the route-running and that he's more into football shape now," Robiskie said. "You see him putting his foot on the ground, and planting and cutting and doing things … He's running fast, and he's getting in and out of things fast."
Added Walker: "He's improved his ability to run routes and attack the ball. That shows he's going to be a force to be reckoned with, once he gets his legs under him and really understands the concepts of what they want from him."
Davis believes he's making strides as well, even as he reminds himself the growth process does take time.
"I want to make plays and I want to do whatever I can to put my team in the best position to win," Davis said. "I know it's not all going to happen right away. It takes a lot of work and a lot of adjustment to the speed of this game. So I have to stay patient."
-- Reach John Glennon at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @glennonsports. | {
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AT THE END OF an instructional slide show on Metro’s Web site that explains emergency evacuation procedures from buses and trains, passengers are assured that they are in good hands. “As you ride Metro, remember that you are not alone,” the presentation concludes, soothingly. “Our 10,000 employees are looking out for the safety of customers like you.”
That’s nice to hear. But any sanguine feelings are dashed by the news that Metro has repeatedly failed to fix a staggering array of problems with rail emergency exits, including locked, blocked and impassable doors and stairways — problems that would make it difficult, even impossible, for passengers to escape from train tunnels in a crisis.
Even more outrageous is that the transit system failed to act despite repeated warnings from inspectors about the impediments.
The problems with Metrorail’s 121 emergency-exit shafts, detailed the other day in the Washington Examiner, suggest breathtaking institutional complacency. In some cases, Metro failed to deal with non-functioning emergency exits even after they were pointed out a half-dozen or more times by inspectors from the Tri-State Oversight Committee, Metro’s independent safety watchdog agency.
According to the Examiner, which reviewed hundreds of inspection reports from 2009 and 2010, Metro routinely ignored problems with emergency exits. In some cases, burned-out lights were left unchanged. An exit leading from a rail tunnel to the street at the Congress Heights station was left locked over the course of 15 months — despite a half-dozen inspections.
Various emergency exits were impeded by escalator parts, a coil of cable, diesel fuel cans, trash cans, a floor cleaner, a thick coating of mud, shrubs, six feet of vegetation and a shopping cart. More commonly, light bulbs were not working and, at about a third of stations, emergency-hatch doors leading to the street from tunnels were “overweight,” meaning that it would require more than 35 pounds of force to open them. The target for easy use is about 15 pounds.
Some of the problems date back two years or more; it is not clear how many remain unresolved. Metro has been less than transparent in dealing with safety problems in the past, and the evacuation exits in question are not open to the public except during emergencies.
What is clear is that Metro did not address these problems in a timely or systematic manner. A year ago, the Examiner reported, Metro told the independent safety agency that it had established procedures for ensuring emergency exits were functional and clear. However, Metro told the newspaper more recently that the system still isn’t operational — and won’t be for a few more months. In other words, there remains no real assurance that passengers who need to escape in an emergency will be able to reach the street.
Since September 2001, the agency has pumped millions of dollars into systems and procedures to address the threat of terrorist attack. But all that money and all that work are irrelevant if passengers can’t escape in the event of a fire, accident or bombing. | {
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One of the saddest moments of my career came towards the end of the 2003-04 season at Liverpool.
I recall playing at Anfield amid an air of apathy as Gerard Houllier’s reign came to an end.
Over the course of two years Houllier lost the trust of the supporters. For a while there had been some anger – there was a home FA Cup tie with Portsmouth earlier that season when Anfield was 10,000 short of its usual capacity and every managerial decision seemed to be met with a chorus of disapproval.
When we lost the replay at Fratton Park, deep down, everyone at the club – players, directors, supporters - knew what was needed, despite their admiration and respect for the manager and all he had achieved.
No-one running the club ever came out and said they would be replacing the manager before the start of the following season, but there were no messages of support and I recall chatting to assistant Phil Thompson about whether Houllier had been reassured of his position. | {
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Breitbart News delivers live coverage of the situation in Baltimore, MD after six police officers were indicted for the death of Freddie Gray. Whether that will satisfy protesters and prevent another night of violence and riots remains to be seen.
1:41 AM EST: Dan Fleuette’s report on the ground level:
The organic uprising led by members of the inner city community, which started after Freddie Gray died in the hospital after being apprehended earlier in April, has slowly transitioned to a manufactured uprising, and appears to be coordinated by anarchists and other professional grievance organizations.
While Monday’s protests were violent and destructive, once the city imposed a curfew, there was little activity on the streets after 10PM, Tuesday’s tear gassing notwithstanding.
Tonight at Baltimore’s City Hall, there was a palpable sense of agitation in the crowd around curfew time — a small group of protesters flatly refused to honor the curfew and were quickly dispatched by police. I personally witnessed six arrests.
As far as I could tell, there were none of Freddie Gray’s peers, friends, or neighbors in the crowd that was left after the curfew. Rather, there were young white anarchists, “students against Israeli apartheid” (who incidentally claimed to have seen police beating on protesters), and other black bloc protesters who were being arrested and defying police.
My prediction: if the protests and violence continue, it will be young white kids wearing masks over their faces that you’ll see on the television, not inner city Baltimore residents.
12:25 AM EST: Official tallies from the police presser.
@BaltimorePolice media briefing: Officers made 38 protest-related arrests/ 15 curfew-related arrests. — Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) May 2, 2015
11:18 PM EST: Calm.
https://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/594338848299163649
This was the scene about 5 min ago. Officers have now dispersed. pic.twitter.com/gdJJG79dCK — Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) May 2, 2015
11:06 PM EST: Chatter slowing considerably. Arrest tally:
13 people arrested at city hall #BaltimoreCurfew — Cassandra Fairbanks ❤️⏳ (@CassandraRules) May 2, 2015
10:45 PM EST: “[The media is] the issue.”
somebody's got to do something about those media–they're the issue (scanner) — Hard Pass (@EdwardEricsonJr) May 2, 2015
Cops and media standing around. They just moved out a police van carrying some of those arrested. pic.twitter.com/uo9xhlSSyR — Colin Campbell (@cmcampbell6) May 2, 2015
Leaving. It's just media now #BaltimoreCurfew — Cassandra Fairbanks ❤️⏳ (@CassandraRules) May 2, 2015
Fact: if you are inserting yourself into story, standing in street & causing issues when no one else is protesting, that's not journalism — Megan Specia (@meganspecia) May 2, 2015
10:38 PM EST: Roundup.
Police line now dispersing. Street is just police and journos. Bizarre. #baltimore — Oliver Laughland (@oliverlaughland) May 2, 2015
Right now those arrested are being processed behind this line. pic.twitter.com/InCP8lk4n9 — Kathleen Cairns (@CairnsKcairns) May 2, 2015
@BaltimorePolice and other officers in riot gear "falling back" now, retreating from media area at Penn/North pic.twitter.com/jl2hd9OL3l — Keith Daniels Fox45 (@KeithDFox45) May 2, 2015
Paddy wagon loaded up at city hall pic.twitter.com/NbJym7sdAv — Albert Samaha (@AlbertSamaha) May 2, 2015
10:33 PM EST: Cops less lenient with media tonight than the rest of the week.
Scanner: Members of the media are in the way. Foxtrot is going to use the loudspeaker to tell them obey the rules or be arrested. — Jonathan Wilson (@Jon_Wilso) May 2, 2015
Police chopper announcing "if you are not in media staging area you are subject to arrest" pic.twitter.com/apNWONUSsf — Megan Specia (@meganspecia) May 2, 2015
10:30 PM EST: Cops dominant.
Curfew arrests downtown right now. pic.twitter.com/TZJShD360a — Kathleen Cairns (@CairnsKcairns) May 2, 2015
Law enforcement quickly clearing the streets here in West Baltimore @cbsbaltimore pic.twitter.com/MQqe6pxDXt — Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) May 2, 2015
10:26 PM EST: Conflicting reports–some say it’s getting calm, some seeing more intensity.
Officers now in riot gear, lining up 3-deep near North/Penn in #Baltimore. Seems like mostly media out, but not all. pic.twitter.com/p29mW6qdk7 — Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) May 2, 2015
Large group of riot police just moved up the street and someone threw something at police. We were just pushed back behind a police line — Megan Specia (@meganspecia) May 2, 2015
Word from Gilmor is they going to hide in the community — Baltimore BLOC (@BmoreBloc) May 2, 2015
Again, looks like most of those in crowd are reporters: pic.twitter.com/uikeQmzPkT — Oliver Laughland (@oliverlaughland) May 2, 2015
10:19 PM EST: Initial freakout seems a little overstated.
https://twitter.com/shawngude/status/594324470988419072
Officers moved through the #Baltimore City Hall lawn, cleared everyone out, arrested at least 10 who didn't leave. pic.twitter.com/fM5NmrZQKv — Colin Campbell (@cmcampbell6) May 2, 2015
10:18 PM EST: nooooooooooooooo
Cops are surrounding Geraldo — Robert Lang WBAL (@Reporterroblang) May 2, 2015
10:12 PM EST: Getting hotter.
Fox45 news right now is nuts, live arrests happening now at city hall — Carrie Wells (@cwellsbalt) May 2, 2015
.@GeraldoRivera: “You’ve got some real pounding going on here. The cops are swarming over the demonstrators.” pic.twitter.com/UMKAaFYc1f — Fox News (@FoxNews) May 2, 2015
10:11 PM EST: A little heat.
Watching folks get arrested on @CNN for violating curfew. — Erica L. Green (@EricaLG) May 2, 2015
Fight breaks out in front of City Hall as law enforcement tries to move crowd. Curfew began 10 minutes ago. — Karen Campbell (@KarenCampbellTV) May 2, 2015
10:02 PM EST: Defiance.
It's after 10:00 and there are still hundreds in the intersection of North & Pennsylvania Ave @cbsbaltimore pic.twitter.com/wf0V9YehI0 — Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) May 2, 2015
Folks are on top of a truck shouting "Fuck the curfew and the police too!" Feels like that scene from Independence Day. — MolotovFlicker Ignoring Your Questions Since 1902® (@MolotovFlicker) May 2, 2015
9:59 PM EST: NAACP weighs in:
The NAACP applauds Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby for taking this bold and important first step toward justice for Freddie Gray, his family and the Sandtown-Winchester community. We are encouraged by today’s charges, but we know that this is just the beginning. The NAACP has been committed to the fight against racial profiling and police brutality throughout our 106 year history and with this indictment; we will continue our work both locally, statewide and nationally on criminal justice reform including passage of the End Racial Profiling legislation.
9:51 PM EST: Back to the protests. Curfew in 10.
Palestine solidarity activists from George Mason & American U stand w/ #BaltimoreRising & justice 4 #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/7jKoqNHZSZ — Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) May 2, 2015
Small group moving south on Pennsylvania Avenue with Rep. Cummings in middle. Everyone shouting "Baltimore, a great city." — MolotovFlicker Ignoring Your Questions Since 1902® (@MolotovFlicker) May 2, 2015
There's a large group here at City Hall planning to break curfew. And my left foot hurts. #BaltimoreUprising — deray (@deray) May 2, 2015
9:49 PM EST: Prince performed his new song about Baltimore. Let the healing begin.
9:47 PM EST: Alan Dershowitz voices his disagreement with the decision to indict the six officers.
“This is a very sad day for justice in the United States, in Baltimore and in Maryland,” Dershowitz said. “Today had nothing to do with justice. Today was crowd control. Everything was motivated by a threat of riot and a desire to prevent riots.”
9:43 PM EST: And some video.
9:41 PM EST: More photos from Dan Fleuette:
Following the indictment of six police officers in the Freddie Gray case earlier today, the intersection of Penn/North, the site of unrest throughout the week, and close to where Freddie Gray was arrested, erupted in spontaneous celebration throughout the day today.
9:04 PM EST: More images from Breitbart’s Dan Fleuette:
Baltimore City Hall, the site of numerous rallies and protests throughout the week, including Wednesday’s rally which drew thousands, was significantly smaller today following the indictments of Baltimore police officers today. The rally also had a much different makeup than the earlier ones. While there were many spontaneous celebrations throughout the city following the indictments, there were significantly less representative of Freddie Gray’s community at the City Hall rally. Instead we saw a hodgepodge of professional political grievance organizations like the SEIU, the communist party, art school students, people giving away free cake, and a person reminding us not to forget girls, women, and trans people. Also, a woman who is no fan of Scott Walker.
9:02 PM EST: More info on the arrested officers.
OFFICER CAESAR R. GOODSON Jr. Goodson was the driver of the van that transported Freddie Gray, and he faces the most serious charges. Mosby said Friday that Goodson repeatedly failed – at least five times – to seatbelt Gray in the transport vehicle. Overall, Goodson faces six charges, including “second-degree depraved heart murder,” which carries a potential 30-year sentence. Goodson, 45, has been on the force since 1999, and like two others charged in Gray’s death is black. Online court records list the three other officers’ race in a category that includes Caucasians and people of Arab descent. … SGT. ALICIA D. WHITE White is the second-highest officer charged in the Gray case. She met the van at its stop to pick up the second person. White, 30, was responsible for investigating two citizen complaints about Gray’s arrest. White, who is black, joined the police in 2010 and was recently made a sergeant in January 2015, police said. During the stop, White, Goodson and Porter saw Gray unresponsive on the floor. White “spoke to the back of Gray’s head” but he did not respond, Mosby said. The group did not call for medical assistance.
8:17 PM EST: The officers’ mugshots are released to the public. All six are out on bail.
JUST RELEASED: Booking photos for SIX Baltimore police officers charged in Freddie Gray's death. pic.twitter.com/Oy8qPcBgaz — Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 1, 2015 | {
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two letters from a bipartisan group of 11 U.S. Senators – including Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) – are urging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to halt a proposed ban on the natural coffee-like herb kratom and to allow for expert and public input.
One letter was signed by 11 members of the U.S. Senate – Sanders, Hatch, Michael Bennet (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Senator Wyden also signed a second letter along with Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
On August 31, the Drug Enforcement Agency published a "notice of intent" in the Federal Register stating its plan to list the natural herb kratom as a Schedule I substance, the most restrictive category, alongside heroin and LSD, effective September 30th with no opportunity for a public comment period. September 30th was the earliest date the ban could have gone into effect and there is no clear indication of how the DEA will now proceed.
The new U.S. Senate letters reflect growing concern about the hasty DEA campaign to ban kratom.
Last Monday (September 26th), a bipartisan group of 51 U.S. House signed a letter to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) urging the federal agency to halt an emergency push to ban the coffee-related herb kratom by as early as Friday (September 30th). A related letter by the Members of Congress also was been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Organized by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), the DEA and OMB letters House letters were signed by 28 Democrats and 23 Republicans, including two medical doctors serving in Congress. The signers represent Congressional Districts in 25 states, including California, Georgia, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, New York state, and Texas.
The letter from Sanders Hatch and nine other Senators reads as follows: "The use of this emergency authority for a natural substance is unprecedented, so it is important to determine whether the circumstances here necessitate a jump to Schedule I."
"Congress has established a specific set of review protocols for scheduling decisions that will create significant disruption in the marketplace that allows for the full engagement of consumers, researchers, health professionals, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders. Given the long reported history of Kratom use, coupled with the public's sentiment that it is a safe alternative to prescription opioids, we believe using the regular review process would provide for a much-needed discussion among all stakeholders. We understand the DEA's desire to uphold public health and safety, and we share the goal of seeing unsafe products removed from the market. However, hearing multiple perspectives allows for more fulsome decision-making."
The letter from the 11 Senators continues: "Given the extremely short timeframe for the implementation of the proposed DEA scheduling order, we urge you to take appropriate steps to delay the order to allow both for a public comment period and sufficient time for the DEA to outline its evidentiary standards to Congress regarding the justification for this proposed action."
The separate Wyden-Booker-Gillibrand Senate letter states: "We are concerned that the 30-day comment period for such a proposed regulatory action is not a sufficient amount of time for public comment on a drug that, according to recent scientific studies, may actually be an effective substance to help combat the opioid epidemic. While we understand there are times when public safety demands that your agency act quickly on scheduling decisions, we believe that in this instance additional time for the scientific community, public health officials, and other members of the public to comment is warranted and may prove to be in the interest of public health and safety.'
"As you know, Schedule I … is reserved for substances that have a high potential for abuse and that have no currently accepted medical use. An increasing body of research has shown kratom' s potential value as a treatment for a number of conditions. On September 2, 2016, eleven scientists from well-respected research institutions in the U.S. wrote an open letter to Congress expressing "grave concern" about the agency's proposed action and expressed their opposition to any efforts to designate kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance of the CSA …"
"Given that we are in the midst of a drug crisis and there is promising evidence from the research of kratom's potential medical benefits, including the possibility of new, safer medications for the treatment of pain, we believe that placing kratom in Schedule I without adequate time for experts to weigh in via public comment may have unintended consequences."
"Furthermore, since 1980, our federal prison population has exploded by nearly 800 percent. This increase is a result of draconian drug policies that continue to place nonviolent drug offenders behind bars. We should not, in haste and without adequate opportunity for comment and analysis, place substances in categories that may be inconsistent with their medical value and potential for abuse."
This information brought to you by the American Kratom Association and the Botanical Education Alliance.
SOURCE American Kratom Association; Botanical Education Alliance, Washington, D.C. | {
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Security update released. Please upgrade.
Sunnyvale, CA—October 9, 2019 A serious bug (CVE-2019-9535) was fixed in version 3.3.6. Users on older versions should upgrade right away. More details can be found here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/iterm2-discuss/57k_AuLdQa4
iTerm2 Version 3.3 Released
Sunnyvale, CA—July 31, 2019
iTerm2 version 3.3 has been released, featuring two new themes, a status bar, and a very powerful Python scripting API. Many core features have been improved, such as how titles are displayed, how keyboard input is transmitted, how background images are drawn, and more. For all the details, please see the change log.
Get it from the Downloads page in the "Stable Releases" section.
iTerm2 GPU Renderer Released
Sunnyvale, CA—August 7, 2018
iTerm2 version 3.2 has been released, featuring a new drawing engine that uses Metal to improve rendering performance by using the GPU. Screen updates are much faster, leaving your CPU free to do more. Scrolling is buttery smooth! Many new features and bug fixes are also included. Read the change log for details.
Get it from the Downloads page in the "Stable Releases" section.
Important Security Update
Version 3.1.1 of iTerm2 has been released and contains an important security update. Prior versions could leak private data over DNS requests. Please update to 3.1.1 or later. For more information, please see the official statement.
iTerm2 Version 3.1 Released
Sunnyvale, CA—September 18, 2017
Version 3.1 of iTerm2 is now in stable release. It adds many notable features:
Touch Bar support
Ligature font support
Many improvements to Hotkey Windows
Copy Mode
...and scores of small new features (like hyperlinks and new shell integration utilities) and bug fixes. You can see all the details in the change log.
iTerm2 Version 3 Stable Released
Sunnyvale, CA—July 4, 2016
After eighteen months of development and a four month beta period, the third major version of iTerm2 has been released. Read the full announcement here.
Get it from the Downloads page in the "Stable Releases" section.
iTerm2 2.0 Released
Sunnyvale, CA—July 14, 2014
After three years of development, the second major version of iTerm2 has been released. It adds dozens of new features, countless bug fixes, and smells April fresh. Here are just a few of the new features you'll find:
Deep tmux integration. iTerm2 can speak directly to tmux and display its virtual windows as native windows or tabs, making tmux much easier to navigate.
A toolbelt has been added. The toolbelt a drawer that opens to the right of a window and shows running jobs, paste history, a field for taking notes, and facilitates opening new sessions.
iTerm2 now supports triggers . A trigger defines an action that is performed when text matching a regular expression is received. For example, it can highlight errors in red, bounce the dock icon when a build finishes, or respond to prompts for you automatically.
Literally dozens of new preferences let you customize every aspect of your terminal.
New proprietary escape sequences integrate terminal apps, allowing you to change a session's profile automatically, manipulate the pasteboard remotely, bounce the dock icon, and much more.
For a full list of changes, please see the change log. Downloads are available at the Downloads page. | {
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Kentucky's new Republican administration is moving forward with plans to shut down the state's health insurance exchange, becoming the first state to cut ties with one of the key pieces of President Barack Obama's signature health care law because of a political promise.
Gov. Matt Bevin notified federal officials in a letter dated Dec. 30 that the state exchange will cease operations "as soon as is practicable." That will be at least a year from now, according to federal law. It will not affect health plans sold for 2016.
Kentucky is one of 14 states that run their own state health insurance exchanges. More than 100,000 people have used Kentucky's exchange, dubbed kynect, to purchase private health insurance plans with the help of a federal subsidy since it was implemented in 2013.
But Bevin, just Kentucky's second Republican governor in more than four decades, campaigned on eliminating kynect. The system is paid for with a 1 percent tax on all individual health plans sold in the state, both on and off the exchange. Right now, Bevin says about 85,000 people have purchased a private health insurance plan through kynect, or about 2 percent of the population.
Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said the fees from the sale of plans on kynect generate between $2.5 million and $4 million of the approximately $27 million it takes to operate the exchange each year.
"A majority of Kentuckians are paying a 1 percent assessment on their own premiums to support kynect operations which they do not use," Ditto said.
Once Kentucky moves to the federal exchange, that tax goes up to 3.5 percent. But the tax is only applied to plans sold on the exchange, Ditto said.
Kynect was viewed as a national model for other states and was a success story for a Democratic administration plagued by technical problems with the federal system. Former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear created it with the help of about $290 million in federal grants. He has estimated it will take at least nine months and cost $23 million to dismantle the system.
"Kentucky's State-based Marketplace has helped tens of thousands of Kentuckians shop for and purchase quality, affordable health insurance," said Ben Wakana, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "A successful transition from Kynect to the federal Marketplace will require strong cooperation and commitment from the state of Kentucky to its residents who have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act."
Bevin's plans do not affect kynect's open enrollment period, which runs through Jan. 31. And it does not affect any plans that have been sold for 2016. Next year, eligible Kentuckians who purchased subsidized private health plans can still purchase them, they just have to buy them from the federal system. The federal system has different plans with different rates than were offered on kynect.
Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, called Bevin's decision "a big step backward on access to health care in Kentucky." Susan Zepeda, president of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, said it "raises a lot of questions," noting state officials had special programs targeting hard-to-reach groups, including veterans and rural residents.
"What will be done to sustain these access and equity gains under a new approach?" she said. | {
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POPCORNBALL CLUB MEMBERS ONLY. SILVER MEMBER. Exclusive to Kickstarter backers only! Join the club and you will receive 1 new PopcornBall every time we make a new edition. We have plans to make sport designs, movie theme designs, Disney Characters, charities, and so much more. You will get a 1 copy each time a new addition is made to our product line, absolutely FREE! You also get 6 first edition PopcornBalls, one of them autographed by me. Get project updates, plus a Free digital 4X6 Christmas card this Holiday Season. Free U.S. Shipping. Thank you for making perfect popcorn possible.
Less | {
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Technology for ballistic and cruise missiles is advancing in countries from North Korea and Iran to Russia and China, increasing potential threats to the U.S. even if they don't carry nuclear warheads, according to a new Pentagon report.
"Many countries view ballistic and cruise missile systems as cost-effective weapons and symbols of national power," defense intelligence agencies said in the report obtained by Bloomberg News in advance of its release. "Many ballistic and cruise missiles are armed with weapons of mass destruction. However, numerous types of ballistic and cruise missiles have achieved dramatic improvements in accuracy that allow them to be used effectively with conventional warheads."
The report comes as President Donald Trump's administration seeks a way to stop North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit the U.S. mainland. While citing the ballistic missile programs being pursued by Kim Jong Un's regime in Pyongyang and by Iran, the study describes a broader proliferation of missiles, advanced technology and launch options.
"Ballistic missiles can be deployed in silos, on submarines, surface ships, road- and rail-mobile launchers and aircraft," the report said. "Mobile missiles can provide greater pre-launch survivability. The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in ballistic missile capabilities to include accuracy, post-boost maneuverability, and combat effectiveness."
Among the new technologies are hypersonic glide vehicles being developed by Russia and China.
"HGVS are maneuverable vehicles that travel at hypersonic (greater than Mach 5) speed and spend most of their flight at much lower altitudes than a typical ballistic missile," according to the report. "The combination of high speed, maneuverability, and relatively low altitude makes them challenging targets for missile defense systems."
Other findings in the report by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee: | {
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"Southern Charm" star Thomas Ravenel is being called a hypocrite by his former employer Bravo and the network is demanding his lawsuit over unaired footage of his kids be tossed, saying he had no problem with them being filmed until he was fired.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Bravo and the "Southern Charm" producers accuse Ravenel of trying to unlawfully impose restraints on a media company in violation of their first amendment rights.
The network argues that the lawsuit he filed was part of a custody battle and they contend he filed the lawsuit in the wrong venue, highlighting they are not a parent, grandparent, guardian or even nanny of these children.
As a result, they are demanding the entire case be dismissed and he pay their legal bills.
They note, "If Ravenel actually wants to stem the public flow of information about this custody dispute, then his recourse is to stop his own public mudslinging in the pleadings he has filed in this case, stop posting photos and videos of his children on the Internet, join Dennis’s request to seal this Court’s records, and/or seek to restrain Dennis from discussing the case."
The network and the producers claim to have already tried to resolve this action by agreeing to not air previously unaired images of the children on future episodes of the show without Ravenel’s consent – and they have no intent to do so in the upcoming season of the show.
Bravo points out for the five years before Ravenel was fired from "Southern Charm," he had no problem with the children being filmed, arguing that makes his recent arguments "ring hollow."
They add, “Ravenel’s actual interest appears to be to prohibit anyone besides himself from maintaining a public platform to discuss this lawsuit now that he is no longer a cast member on 'Southern Charm.'"
Back in November 2018, Ravenel filed a lawsuit against Bravo and “Southern Charm” producers demanding a judge stop them from broadcasting unaired footage on the show.
Ravenel filed the docs as part of his custody battle with Kathryn Dennis. She filed for primary custody of the children back in October.
Dennis had her custody taken away in 2016 after failing a drug test but was awarded joint custody this year after completing rehab and staying clean.
In his suit against Bravo, Ravenel says the network and “Southern Charm” producers “encouraged” his ex to file for custody against him to create drama on the show. He is demanding Dennis not be awarded primary custody despite her request.
Ravenel, who is about to be on trial for an alleged sexual assault in South Carolina, claimed he learned that Bravo and producers have unaired footage of his kids and ex talking about the legal battle and it was to be aired on the upcoming season.
The reality star sued demanding a South Carolina judge prohibit the sensitive footage from airing on the show.
Ravenel would later file docs accusing Dennis of buying drugs from friends and show producers and even accused her of committing a hit-and-run.
Dennis fired back denying the allegations and demanded the lawsuit be dismissed. She accused him of past drug use and claimed he hired a private eye to follow her allegedly in violation of the restraining order in place.
The custody battle is ongoing. | {
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As promised, Bethesda has released the first beta patch for Fallout 4. According to its release notes, this patch comes with general memory and stability improvements, and fixes a couple of bugs that were reported by the fans. You can read the complete changelog below.
Fallout 4 – First Beta Patch Changelog: New Features Number pad keys can now be used for remapping
Remapping Activate now works on Quick Container Fixes General memory and stability improvements
Fixed issue where equipped weapons become locked after completing Reunions
Fixed issue with When Freedom Calls where the quest would not complete
During Confidence Man, fixed issue where player’s health would continuously regenerate
Fixed crash related to jumping into water and reloading saved games
Fixed issue where Launcher would not save God Rays Quality setting properly
In order to gain access to the game’s beta patches, you’ll have to follow this guide.
Log into Steam
Right Click on Fallout 4 in your Library
Select Settings
Select Betas
A drop down menu will appear. Select Beta Update
Select OK.
Wait a few minutes and Fallout 4 should update.
When done, Fallout 4 should appear as Fallout 4 [beta] in your Library | {
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sport
Foto: Sportphotoagency.com
Nieuwe ronde, nieuwe kansen. Afgelopen seizoen lukte het FC Groningen met een eindspurt de play-offs voor de Europa League te halen. Ook dit jaar is Europees voetbal halen het doel bij de FC. Maar wat verwachten de verschillende volgers van de FC van de equipe van Danny Buijs? Wij maakten even een rondje langs alle vaste volgers!
Zaterdagavond begint voor FC Groningen het seizoen in en tegen Emmen. De wedstrijd tegen de Emmenaren die volgens sommige media als een ware derby wordt bestempeld. Het is het begin van het tweede seizoen voor trainer Danny Buijs bij FC Groningen. Voor de coach is er veel gebeurd het afgelopen seizoen. FC Groningen startte dramatisch met een laatste plaats na tien wedstrijden. Toch wisten hij en de spelers het tij te keren en uiteindelijk play-offs voor Europees voetbal te halen.
Na het seizoen vertrokken een aantal sterkhouders van Danny Buijs bij FC Groningen. Jeff Chabot, Ludovit Reis en Mimoun Mahi behoren onder andere onder de vertrekkende spelers. Assistent-trainer Hennie Spijkerman vertrok naar aartsrivaal SC Heerenveen en Peter Hoekstra vertrok ook bij het eerste elftal. Voor hen in de in de plaats werden Adrie Poldervaart en Alfons Arts aan de technische staf toegevoegd.
In de voorbereiding van het seizoen werd slechts één keer verloren, uit bij Sparta in een besloten duel op Het Kasteel in Rotterdam.
Nu het nieuwe seizoen voor de deur staat is het tijd om eens aan een aantal vaste volgers te vragen wat zij verwachten van het komende seizoen van FC Groningen. Op welke plek eindigt de FC? Wat zal de grootste revelatie van het seizoen worden en wat de grootste tegenvaller? Waar kijken de volgers als liefhebber van het spel het meest naar uit?
Stefan Bleeker (RTV Noord)
Voorspelling: 8e
Ik verwacht dat Groningen op dit moment aanvallend en aan de bal wat sterker is dan vorig seizoen. Verdedigend denk ik dat de FC momenteel iets minder is. Vorig seizoen speelden ze met een verdedigend blok van vier (Te Wierik, Chabot, Memisevic en Reis), en nu zal dat er toch iets anders uitdoen. Van achteruit zal er meer voetbal naar voren inzitten, maar verdedigend ben ik nog niet helemaal overtuigd.
Ik denk dat FC Groningen met deze selectie kan strijden voor een play-off plaats. De vraag is natuurlijk hoe de selectie er eind augustus uitziet, want er zal nog wel wat bij moeten. Een extra centrale verdediger is geen overbodige luxe, want daar zijn ze met drie spelers nu onderbezet. Blijft Doan bijvoorbeeld? En zo zijn er nog wat vraagtekens. Eind augustus kan je de balans pas echt goed opmaken.
Om het nu al over de tegenvaller van dit seizoen te hebben vind ik wat raar. Iedereen moet een kans krijgen om zich te bewijzen en dan zien we daarna wel hoe iedereen het doet. Ik verwacht daarentegen wel veel van Matusiwa. Hij heeft zich goed laten zien tijdens de voorbereiding en als hij die lijn weet door te trekken dan denk ik dat hij kan uitgroeien tot een echte publiekslieveling. Datzelfde geldt hopelijk ook voor Hrustic. Ik heb in het verleden veel kritiek op hem gehad, maar ik kan niet anders zeggen dat hij zich heel positief heeft laten zien tot nu toe. Iedereen weet dat hij goed kan voetballen en het zou zowel voor hem als FC Groningen mooi zijn als dat er dit seizoen ook uitkomt.
Als voetballiefhebber kijk ik het meest uit naar Doan. Als de Japanner dit seizoen bepalender wordt voor Groningen, dan zullen we daar niet lang meer van kunnen genieten.
William Pomp (Dagblad van het Noorden)
Voorspelling: 8e
Ik vind dat ze aan de bal, voetballend echt beter zijn geworden. Door Matusiwa en Lundqvist zit er veel meer voetbal in, maar dat is tegelijkertijd ook de kwetsbaarheid van dit FC Groningen. De schellen zijn me van de ogen gesprongen toen ik zag hoe makkelijk de Kasteelheren door de verdediging van FC Groningen liepen. Of dat in een week opgelost is, vraag ik me af. Ik verwacht hoge uitslagen, waarbij ze meer gaan scoren maar ook meer tegen gaan krijgen dan vorig seizoen. Het gaat meer spektakel opleveren dan afgelopen seizoen.
Veel mensen zullen zeggen: Matusiwa, maar als iedereen dat al ziet is het geen revelatie meer. Ik ga een verrassende noemen: Ko Itakura. De man die afgelopen seizoen eigenlijk mocht warmlopen, ik had soms zelfs medelijden met hem zo veel als hij warmgelopen heeft. Tijdens de voorbereiding is toch wel gebleken dat Manchester City niet helemaal gek geworden is door hem te halen. Het is een sierlijke voetballer en lost verdedigende problemen voetballend op en dat vind ik mooi om te zien.
Om nu al iemand op te zadelen met de last van het stempel tegenvaller van het seizoen, vind ik ongepast. Het zou ook niet eerlijk zijn om op de basis van de voorbereiding al iemand tegenvaller te noemen. Iedereen heeft nog alles te bewijzen. Stel mij deze vraag in de winterstop nog eens.
Ik verheug me op meer voetballend vermogen en meer diepgang in het spel van FC Groningen. De FC heeft nu meer spelers die niet alleen naar voren denken, maar ook naar voren doen. Een briljante steekpass waarmee iemand vrij gezet voor de keeper. Ik verheug me als liefhebber echt op een beter voetballend FC Groningen.
Mark van Rijswijk (Fox Sports)
Voorspelling: 7e
De revelatie van het jaar wordt Azor Matusiwa. Ik denk dat de middenvelder het zo goed gaat doen dat hij FC Groningen al na één seizoen alweer gaat verlaten voor een grote club.
De grootste tegenvaller dit seizoen wordt het gebrek aan spektakel op het veld. FC Groningen gaat goede resultaten halen, maar op een degelijk voetballende manier. Voor de liefhebbers van prachtig en spectaculair voetbal is dat jammer, voor de positie op de ranglijst niet.
Kijk het meest uit naar een goed gevulde Euroborg. Hopelijk weer een ouderwetse sfeer komend seizoen!
Wim Masker (Groninger Gezinsbode)
Voorspelling: 8e
Ik verwacht in de eredivisie een hevige strijd tussen de 12 clubs die onder de top 6 gaan eindigen. De budgetten van die 12 kruipen steeds meer naar elkaar toe. Ik ben nieuwsgierig naar de vele nieuwe spelers. Vooral de kleine clubs hebben veel geïnvesteerd in nu nog onbekende buitenlanders. Waarschijnlijk om straks niet het slachtoffer te worden van de verdubbelde kans op rechtstreekse degradatie.
Wanneer Mark-Jan Fledderus nog één of twee defensieve versterkingen aantrekt, verwacht ik dat FC Groningen ergens tussen de zevende en tiende plaats eindigt. Lukt dat niet, verwacht ik bij de winterstop -net als vorig jaar – een plaats bij de onderste zes. Ook al omdat Samir Memisevic waarschijnlijk nog een tijdje niet beschikbaar is.
Alleen spelers van wie ik het nodige verwacht kunnen tegenvallen. Ik verwacht het meest van Azor Matusiwa. Die kan dus ook het meest tegenvallen. De revelatie? Dan redeneer ik andersom: dat zou dan bijvoorbeeld Amir Absalem kunnen zijn. Technisch heel vaardig maar naar mijn smaak te licht als verdediger. Ik hoop dat hij mij verrast.
Sander de Vries (Algemeen Dagblad)
Voorspelling: 7e
Het voetbal hield vorig seizoen regelmatig bepaald niet over. Punten pakken stond centraal – en dat was ook volstrekt logisch gezien de positie van FC Groningen in de winterstop. Ik denk dat we dit seizoen een aantrekkelijker elftal te zien krijgen. Daar is ook op ingekocht, met onder anderen Gudmundsson en Lundqvist.
Achter de traditionele top-3 zijn AZ, FC Utrecht en Vitesse de vaste subtoppers geworden, terwijl niemand nog weet hoe goed FC Twente is. Meestal kan één club boven in verrassen, zoals Heracles vorig seizoen deed. Kortom, als FC Groningen zevende eindigt, dan hebben ze het hartstikke goed gedaan.
Ik verwacht meer tegendoelpunten. Na de winterstop stond er een granieten blok, met Te Wierik en Chabot centraal en daarvoor Memisevic en Reis. Dat blok is nu voor de helft ontmanteld door het vertrek van Chabot en Reis. Bovendien vond ik Tim Handwerker ook een prima back. Denk dat hij wat werd onderschat. Defensief is er dus veel kwaliteit vertrokken, je moet altijd maar afwachten hoe hun opvolgers het doen en hoelang het duurt voordat ze op elkaar ingespeeld zijn – al vind ik Matusiwa wel een goede opvolger van Reis.
De revelatie van het seizoen wordt Ajdin Hrustic. Die assist van hem gezien tegen Hannover? Hij heeft eigenlijk alle voetballende en fysieke voorwaarden om écht een goede speler te worden. Nu lijkt het erop dat het bovenin ook eindelijk goed zit, want daar schortte het de afgelopen jaren nog weleens aan.
Uitkijken naar: Spelers die nu nog relatief onbekend zijn, maar er opeens staan. Neem Kaj Sierhuis vorig jaar. Het zou mooi zijn als bijvoorbeeld een Romano Postema dit seizoen zou doorbreken.
Meer in algemene zin worden veel kaarten dit seizoen opnieuw geschud bij FC Groningen, met een nieuwe algemeen en technisch directeur, een deels vernieuwde technische staf en veel nieuwe spelers. Interessant wordt om te zien hoe zij zich tot elkaar verhouden als het goed of juist tegenvallend gaat.
Lentin Goodijk (Voetbal International)
Voorspelling: 7e
Groningen wordt zevende. De selectie oogt stabieler dan bij de vorige seizoenstart en trainer Danny Buijs heeft een jaar meer Eredivisie-ervaring. FC Utrecht, Vitesse en AZ lijken mij evengoed nog echt een stap verder. Zij hebben meer kwaliteit en meer geld.
Wat wordt de grootste tegenvaller bij Groningen? Weinig spektakel en dus weinig doelpunten. Er zit niet al te veel scorend vermogen in de selectie, die bovendien erg jong is. Mocht Ritsu Doan nog vertrekken, dan lever je nog een hoop doelpunten in. Hopelijk loopt het stadion niet verder leeg, dat zou een flinke streep door de rekening zijn.
Wat wordt de grootste revelatie bij Groningen? Azor Matusiwa. De Kanté van de Groene Kathedraal was afgelopen seizoen al een openbaring bij De Graafschap en heeft ook in de voorbereiding bij Groningen indruk op mij gemaakt. Een échte balafpakker die stiekem ook voetballende kwaliteiten heeft. Ik verwacht dat hij een van de revelaties van de Eredivisie wordt.
Waar kijk je het meest naar uit? Sam Schreck is een prachtige voetballer, voor wie je naar het stadion komt. Bij Bayer Leverkusen was de concurrentie op zijn positie moordend en dus liet Peter Bosz hem gaan, maar ik denk dat hij bij Groningen snel kan uitgroeien tot publiekslieveling. Een snelle en creatieve speler die de nodige frivoliteit zal toevoegen aan het elftal.
Neal Petersen (FC Afkicken)
Voorspelling: 8e
Groningen gaat de play-offs halen. Ze gaan achtste worden.
Ik verwacht dat Kaj Sierhuis de revelatie van het seizoen gaat worden. Hij heeft nu een half jaar de tijd gehad om te wennen aan FC Groningen. Hij is talentvol en wordt de spits van Jong Oranje. Ik denk dat hij een perfecte match is met Groningen, met het publiek en met wat hij wil. Ik denk dat hij het dit jaar gaat laten zien.
Tegenvaller van het seizoen gaat zijn dat ondanks dat FC Groningen het goed gaat doen, het publiek nog steeds gaat toestromen. Dat vind ik dood en doodzonde. Maar dat gaat wel volgend jaar gebeuren in 2020-2021.
Ik kijk het meest uit naar het ander soort voetbal dat FC Groningen gaat laten zien. De komst van Adrie Poldervaart is een enorme verbetering, omdat FC Groningen aan de bal nu ook een stuk beter gaat worden. Hij is de perfecte aanvulling op Danny Buijs, die het heel goed neer heeft gezet afgelopen seizoen, maar waar het in balbezit maar moeizaam verliep. Daarnaast kijk ik heel erg uit naar de nieuwe aankopen. Groningen heeft denk ik veel en goed ingekocht.
John de Jonge (voorzitter Supportersvereniging)
Voorspelling: 7e.
“Ik verwacht dat FC Groningen dit seizoen aanvallender gaat spelen dan vorig seizoen. Buijs en Poldervaart willen dit graag en je ziet het ook al in de voorbereiding. Groningen heeft er denk ik ook op ingekocht, heeft vooral in aanvallend opzicht op het middenveld veel mogelijkheden. De FC wordt denk ik zevende en zal komend seizoen ver in de beker komen.
Tegenvaller waar ik bang voor ben is dat de blessure van Memisevic lang gaat duren en hij is een speler die ontzettend belangrijk is voor het team. Vooral zijn fysieke inbreng en persoonlijkheid. Revelatie van het seizoen wordt Matusiwa. In de voorbereiding laat hij het al zien en ik denk dat hij de sleutelspeler wordt in de aanvallende speelwijze.
Waar ik vooral naar uitkijk is de sfeer in de uitvakken. Kijken of het record van vorig seizoen verbroken kan worden. Maar ik zou het ook prachtig vinden als die sfeer ook in thuiswedstrijden komt. Niet alleen een stuk Noordtribune die zingt, maar het hele stadion die de ploeg naar voren stuwt.”
Maarten Siepel (Kon Veel Minder de Podcast)
Voorspelling: 7e
Persoonlijk ben positief gestemd over het aankomende seizoen van de FC. Naar mijn mening heeft technisch directeur Mark-Jan Fledderus op dit moment prima zaken gedaan om een zo goed mogelijke selectie samen te stellen. Als we de huidige selectie vergelijken met die van vorig seizoen, staat het team er beter voor dan vorig jaar.
Ik durf FC Groningen wel op plek zeven te zetten voor het aankomende seizoen. Deze voorspelling wordt natuurlijk ook wel beïnvloed door mijn supportershart. Wat een tegenvaller voor dit seizoen zou kunnen zijn, is de sterkte van de verdediging. De tweede seizoenshelft van vorig seizoen liet zien hoe sterk het defensieve blok van ons groen-witte leger stond. Met het vertrek van Tim Handwerker en Jeffrey Chabot, en de blessure van Samir Memišević kijk ik met spanning naar aankomend seizoen. Het zal moeten blijken in hoeverre Ko Itakura en Amir Absalem deze plekken goed kunnen invullen.
De revelatie van dit seizoen bij de FC zal de Zweed Gabriel Gudmundsson worden. Ik hoor veel positieve verhalen vanuit Zweden over deze speler. Daarnaast verwacht ik ook veel van middenvelder Azor Matusiwa. Sowieso kijk ik met veel plezier uit naar het middenveld van de huidige selectie.
Als voetballiefhebber heb ik veel zin om mooie herinneringen op te doen dit aankomende seizoen. Memorabele uitwedstrijd-tripjes, die ene wereldgoal, helemaal natgeregend worden tijdens een wedstrijd met 3 °C in december. We hebben er weer zin in!
Daniël Theelen (OOG)
Voorspelling: 7e
Ik verwacht dat Groningen een consistenter seizoen gaat draaien dan vorig jaar, minder hoge pieken en minder diepe dalen. Ik verwacht aanvallend voetbal wat resulteert in meer doelpunten tegen. Met een beetje geluk, wordt het weer een feestje om naar Groningen te gaan.
Revelatie: Gabriel Gudmundsson, complete voetballer met speciale eigenschappen. Snel, explosief, overzicht.. wordt hij de MvP van FC Groningen?
Tegenvaller: Ritsu Doan. Ritsu Doan is in principe de beste speler binnen de selectie, maar sinds de winter van 2018 zien wij bijna nooit meer de Doan van ”weleer”. Hopelijk weet hij zijn draai weer te vinden en mogen wij week in, week uit weer genieten van de Japanse dribbelaar.
Als voetballiefhebber verheug ik mij op de strijd binnen het linker rijtje van de Eredivisie. Gaan FC Utrecht en AZ samen met Feyenoord strijden om plek drie? Kan FC Groningen de top 5 aanvallen? Is FC Twente echt weer terug? Ik ben heel benieuwd.
Wouter Holsappel (OOG)
Voorspelling: 6e
Als laatste kan ook de redacteur van dit bericht niet achterblijven. Mijn voorspelling is de Groningen het beter gaat doen dan afgelopen seizoen. Daarbij is de competitiestart belangrijk, het kan maar zo zijn dat je na de eerste vier wedstrijden weinig punten hebt met deze tegenstanders (Emmen, FC Twente, AZ, PSV).
Revelatie van het seizoen gaat, mocht hij kansen krijgen Romano Postema zijn. De jonge aanvaller laat in de voorbereiding zien dat hij echt iets extra’s kan brengen. Hij is daarin wel afhankelijk van de gezondheid van spitsen Sierhuis en Benschop. Als die twee fit blijven en naar behoren presteren zal het moeilijk worden om aan speelminuten te komen.
Tegenvaller van het seizoen gaat zijn, mits hij blijft, Ritsu Doan. Het afgelopen seizoen kon hij ook niet altijd overtuigen en ik denk dat hij dit jaar ook niet boven de rest uit gaat steken, wat gezien zijn kwaliteiten wel zou moeten.
Als liefhebber kijk ik het meest uit naar de combinatie van creatievere spelers op het middenveld en de bijdrage van Adrie Poldervaart, zodat in balbezit misschien naar wat flitsender aanvalsspel kunnen gaan kijken dit seizen. | {
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My brother and neice,Tyrone Price and his youngest daughter, Cheyenne, were tragically killed today. Tyrone was a hardworking husband and devoted father of 3. No one is ever ready for this kind of loss of a family member, let alone two, so our family is asking for any help during this hard time. We are grieving and now have two funerals to plan for. Any and all help is appreciated. | {
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No hay nada mejor que meter la cabeza bajo el agua, sacudirse las plumas y mojarse las patas. Un día como hoy con 38 grados de calor, lo ideal es buscar una buena laguna para refrescarse. Lo peor es cuando no hay una laguna cerca. Entonces hay que apelar al ingenio. Es cuestión de buscarle la vuelta y resolver, porque el calor aprieta.
En La Plata al 4000, en el barrio Presidente Perón, una familia de gansos buscaba un espacio para zambullirse al agua. Guiados por el olfato, esta familia integrada por papá ganso, mamá ganso y cuatro hijos gansos descubrieron “un oasis” en medio de la esquina de La Plata y Lugones. Una pérdida de agua que quedó sin reparar por parte de la Sociedad Aguas del Tucumán (SAT) es un dolor de cabeza para los vecinos y los automovilistas que circulan por esa zona. Sin embargo, para los gansos es “su lugar en el mundo”.
Tanto les gusta esa laguna, en medio de la calle, que los gansos se escapan de la casa de la familia Luna para ir a darse un chapuzón en esa esquina del barrio. Juan Luna es el dueño de los gansos. “Llegué a tener 12 gansos, pero algunos se murieron y me quedaron estos –explicó el vecino-, son mis mascotas, y se escapan por debajo del portón para venir a la laguna. Tengo que levantarme temprano para llevarlos a la casa”, detalló.
Lo que muchos no saben es que una de las características del ganso, que le dio una gran popularidad, es su alto grado de lealtad con sus criadores. Por más extraño que parezca, los gansos son fáciles de adiestrar como un perro y tienen un olfato más eficiente. Se acostumbra rápidamente al hombre y le es de gran utilidad; es curioso su comportamiento escandaloso ante la llegada de extraños a su territorio.
La pérdida de agua es lo mejor que les pudo haber pasado a los gansos. “Es agua potable –dijo Luna- y muy fresquita; por eso se vienen aquí”, resaltó.
La familia de gansos despierta el asombro de los conductores que deben esquivarlos el cruzar esa esquina. Para los vecinos de la zona ya forman parte del paisaje. Algunos quieren proponer bautizar a esa esquina con un nombre especial en honor a la familia de gansos. | {
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The world's most expensive station has opened to the public in New York, close to the site of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is expected to serve more than 200,000 commuters daily.
Nick Bryant reports. | {
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Jeunes recrues violentées au 35e RI de Belfort : une vidéo diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux
Une enquête ouverte
"Ca s'est toujours fait..."
Une vidéo diffusée fin août sur les réseaux sociaux provoque l'émoi du côté de Belfort. Sur les images, on y voit des jeunes recrues, 1ère de classe du 35ème Régiment d'Infanterie , frappées par des instructeurs. Coup de poing dans le thorax, gifle, coup de genou dans l'abdomen... Les coups pleuvent et les jeunes militaires défilent face aux sergents, sous les commentaires et les rires des auteurs des coups et de la personne qui filme."Eh eh debout ! Prends ton béret ! Vas-y !" sermonne l'un des sergents après avoir asséné un violent coup de genou à un jeune homme. "Respire ! Respire !" dit-il après qu'un autre tombe sur les fesses,La vidéo, vue plus de 600 000 fois sur Twitter, a provoqué l'indignation."J'ai demandé une enquête administrative interne. Les protagonistes ont été entendus. Les actes sont brutaux mais il ne s'agit pas d'un comportement coutumier" a précisé à nos confrères de l'Est Républicain, le chef de corps du 35e RI de Belfort, qui a pris connaissance des images début septembre.Toujours selon le chef de corps du 35e RI de Belfort,Les officiers en question n'auraient "pas pu dire non". Aucune plainte n'a été déposée mais ces images et les explications des représentants du 35 RI interrogent. Ces pratiques sont-elles courantes dans l'armée ? Il semblerait, à en croire les multiples commentaires qui ont afflué après la diffusion de ses images sur les réseaux sociaux.Ce lundi 7 octobre, le colonel Jean Augier, chef de corps du 35ème R.I. de Belfort, a accordé une interview à nos collègues Rémy Poirot et Eric Debief. Le responsable militaire a confirmé les propos confiés à nos confères de la presse écrite en précisant les suites données à "ce rituel inadapté". A propos de cette demande de certains 1eres classes, le colonel a affirmé que "ce n'est pas notre cérémonial, notre tradition. (...) Ce n'est pas ce que l'on fait normalement. Qu'il y ait un geste amical, évidement c'est le sens de l'accueil. Qu'il y ait un geste brutal, non c'est complètement inadapté".Le colonel a indiqué que cette "dérive" avait été sanctionnée. Des sanctions "sévères" sous la forme de mesures administratives que colonel n'a pas souhaité préciser mais qui devrait envoyer "un signal fort". Les militaires qui ont porté les coups sont en charge de la formation initiale des jeunes. Enfin, le militaire a tenu à préciser que "même si il y a une faute manifeste, il n'y a pas de conséquence grave. Il n'y a eu aucun blessé. Les jeunes sont heureux d'être là"."Ca s'est toujours fait... On me l'a fait lors de ma remise de brevet parachutiste, lors de ma remise de galon.... Et je l'ai fait lorsque j ai encadré des classes. C'est choquant pour ceux qui n'ont pas fait l'armée !" explique Alex, ancien militaire. "C est un simple bizutage de passage de grade, faut se calmer, et encore là c'est gentillet je trouve" déclare également un internaute. "Rien de scandaleux, bizutage du graton de 1ere classe. Je comprends que les civils puissent être choqués" affirme quant à lui Christophe, sur Twitter."Le bizutage c'est quand on se marre bien, on déconne un peu, on fait tourner en bourrique les bleus, mais de là à aller les taper physiquement aussi fort ? Le bizutage peut être une soupape d'expression de sadisme et de colère retenue chez certains..." s'indigne quant à lui un autre internaute, sur Twitter. "Inadmissible", "Une honte !" disent certains commentateurs. "Véritable scandale au sein même de notre armée. Quelle image allons-nous donner à celles et ceux qui souhaitent s’engager pour la France ?" s'indigne Mehdy, toujours sur les réseaux sociaux."L'@armeedeterre ne tolère pas de tels comportements, de quiconque envers quiconque. Cette affaire est connue, prise en compte et les responsables ont été sanctionnés" explique le compte Twitter de l'armée de Terre. | {
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LONDON - The world's top two container shipping groups Maersk Line and MSC are reviewing their Iran operations after the United States withdrawal from the international nuclear agreement with Tehran.The 2015 agreement, worked out by the United States, five other world powers and Iran, lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program.U.S. President Donald Trump also instructed his administration to re-impose U.S. sanctions after a winding down period."MSC is reviewing its services, operations and business relationships to understand if any are impacted and will comply with the timetable set out by the U.S. government," the private Swiss-headquartered group said in a statement on Friday.MSC suspended services between 2012 and 2014 and when they were resumed the line used small, regional third-party feeder ships to carry cargo between Iran and MSC's transshipment hub at Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.A shipping source said MSC had already stopped taking bookings for certain cargoes that would be impacted by the sanctions program.The U.S. Treasury said this week Washington was imposing sanctions on the direct or indirect sale, supply, or transfer to or from Iran of graphite, raw, or semi-finished metals such as aluminum and steel, coal, and software for integrating industrial processes.Denmark's Maersk Line said separately it had ceased acceptance of the specific cargoes listed by the U.S. Treasury this week."Our presence in Iran is limited. We will monitor the developments to assess any impact on our activities," Maersk Line added.The group also used feeder services to Iran from Jebel Ali.Iran relies on seaborne trade for both imports as well as for sales of its goods apart from oil and the country had struggled with logistical difficulties before international sanctions were lifted in 2016.Iran's port operators and shipping sectors, including top cargo operator the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and oil tanker group NITC, will once again be blacklisted on Nov. 4 by Washington.The U.S. will separately re-impose sanctions on the provision of insurance and reinsurance, which had been another challenge for Iran in the past.Every ship requires various insurance cover to allow for journeys at sea."The decision is expected to have significant implications for maritime trade with Iran and the insurance of such trade,” said Nigel Carden, deputy chairman for Thomas Miller, the manager of ship insurer UK P&I Club.Carden said a full assessment would only be possible once there was more clarity, and urged caution before entering into any new Iran related cargo bookings.Lloyd's of London said it was "currently reviewing the "implications for the Lloyd’s (insurance) market."Europe's heavyweight economies took steps on Friday to safeguard their commercial and political interests in Iran. | {
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Greetings fellow Citizens! Welcome to INNside the ‘Verse Episode 32!
Click the download button on the right side of the player to download the podcast!
ITUNES! STITCHER!
This week on INNside the ‘Verse, we have the MASTER of Ceremonies, the hostiest of hosts… ERRIS! Joined by none other than the oft-unseen but always vigilant Wolf Larsen, the sane version of a certain celebrity CmdrCruisinTom, and the incredible… the one and only fleet master himself… CLIFFORD AKA MIKU!!!!!!
01:22 – Interview with Clifford AKA Miku
10:55 – Discussion with the newly returned Wolf Larsen!
12:15 – INN Rewind with Wolf Larsen
14:55 – THE NEWS… with CCT!
18:35 – Erris asks: “Do you think FPS will be out by the end of September?”
20:20 – CitizenCon update!
As always, let us know what you think about this episode!
Also as always, all editing done by the incorruptible Mr. White! | {
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Article content
Mayor Naheed Nenshi was so keen to wade in on Rocky View County’s proposed growth plans east of the city that he skipped the first part of this month’s secondary suite hearing in his own chambers.
He didn’t so much wade as splash around.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Big trouble over little Conrich: Calgary-county tensions flare Back to video
“Yeah, you can throw up your hands at me,” Nenshi is heard telling Councillor Greg Boehlke in an audio recording of the meeting. “You can pretend…”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Margaret Bahcheli, the county reeve, tried to interject during the fractious exchange about rural growth.
“You can pretend that the needs of 1.2 million people don’t matter at all,” Calgary’s mayor continued. “You can keep pretending that, and I‘d love to see you make that argument to the provincial government.”
At stake at that county hearing was Rocky View’s plan to expand the tiny hamlet of Conrich into a 10,000-person neighbourhood over 30 years — near the northeast edge of a city that grows by that many people every three or four months. | {
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Despite protests from civil society organizations, but with applause from the entertainment lobby, Canada announced on October 9th that it has officially joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations. Canada joins the TPP not as an equal partner in the agreement but as a “second-tier” negotiator, which means it will have far less input into the agreement than the countries currently negotiating. Some Canadian politicians did find some of the conditions imposed by the USA and other countries unpalatable, but nobody offered any real details as to why.
As a second-tier partner, Canada will have to sign onto sections negotiated over 14 rounds of talks- without seeing the text in advance. Canada’s participation in the TPP talks will begin with the 15th round of negotiations, which take place December 3 – 12, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand.
In joining the TPP negotiations Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, commented:
“Canada is pleased to be formally joining the TPP negotiations (…) Joining the TPP is good news for hard-working Canadian families. Opening new markets and increasing Canadian exports to fast-growing markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region is a key part of our government’s plan to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. We look forward to helping develop a 21st-century agreement that advances Canadian interests.”
The TPP is a trade agreement, under negotiation by 11 countries. Canada’s formal entry into the negotiations follows the completion of domestic consultations within other negotiator countries, which all TPP members are required to undertake before approving new members.
In less than six years, the Harper government in Canada has concluded trade agreements with nine countries: Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, Panama, Peru, and the European Free Trade Association member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Canada has also begun deepening trade and investment ties with the largest markets in the world, including the European Union—through a revival of ACTA, named CETA—as well India and Japan.
Canadians – and all of us – should be highly attentive to this step. It took Canada more than ten years of contentious debate to pass Bill C-11 into its new copyright law just last June. Yet, as reported by Michael Geist, the copyright lobby that pressured the government into passing this bill, which imposes rules on digital locks and tougher penalties for copyright infringement, is already demanding changes that include rolling back many key provisions of the original bill. For the entertainment lobby, TPP offers the perfect opportunity to push their copyright interests, because the agreement feeds into the aggressive trade agenda of some Canadian politicians.
For instance, regarding Internet intermediaries, the copyright lobby wants Canada to implement measures that would require Internet providers "to take action to prevent recidivists from repeatedly using their services to commit copyright infringement." The plain language demand: a termination system that would cut off Internet access for subscribers accused of infringement. Yes, similar to a 3-strike provision. In an interview with EFF, Michael Geist commented:
“If the TPP were to adopt a three-strikes approach, this would run completely counter to current Canadian law and repeated assurances from the Canadian government that it does not believe such an approach strikes the right balance in copyright. The recent Canadian copyright reforms adopted a notice-and-notice approach—which many believe does a better job of preserving free speech online than the US notice-and-takedown system. Despite consistent pressure from rights holders to add a penalty element to notice-and-notice that could include account termination, the government repeatedly insisted that it had no plans for Internet termination. If the TPP were to impose such an approach, it would undo much of the balance the government tried to strike during the most recent round of reforms.”
The entertainment lobby is also pressuring Canadian officials to undo statutory damages changes from Bill C-11 that created a liability cap of $5,000 for non-commercial infringement. The lobby claims that the non-commercial cap renders statutory damages "ineffective in achieving its goals of full compensation and deterrence in the online environment." It also wants to extend the term of copyright , to provide new powers to Canadian border guards to inspect shipments without court oversight, and to introduce new criminal penalties for copyright and trademark violations.
Canada is internationally known for protecting the rights of its citizens, and for promoting due process under the law. Its joining TPP is a depressing step backwards.
~
Over 26,000 people have now taken our action alert aimed at US Congressional members. And these latest moves from state representations show that they are finally hearing our voices. Help us keep the pressure on Congress and get them to demand that this process become democratic and transparent.
<center><a target="_blank" href="https://eff.org/r.2z7"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://www.eff.org/files/images_insert/TakeAction_1.png" alt="" title="" height="60" width="205" /></a></center>
Additional Resource:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/10/10/canada-joins-closed-door-trans-pacific-partnership-negotiations-critics-warn-canadian-internet-rights-will-suffer/ | {
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Ford Open Prison riot: Breath test 'triggered' prison riot Published duration 30 November 2012
image caption The Ford Open Prison riot caused damage which cost £5m to repair
A prison riot was partly triggered by a decision to breathalyse inmates on New Year's Eve, according to a Ministry of Justice report.
The riot at Ford Open Prison saw masked inmates torch and smash buildings as staff lost control of the jail for more than 12 hours on 1 January 2011.
The report, seen by the BBC, said there was a poor relationship between staff and prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice said the problems had since been addressed.
The damage to the jail cost £5m to repair and five prisoners were jailed for offences including prison mutiny and violent disorder.
According to the report, alcohol was rife at the open prison and bosses failed to properly plan for New Year's Eve.
Tensions rose in the run-up to the riot and breath tests sparked the violence.
'Very rare'
The trouble resulted in the five staff on duty at the time being overpowered and retreating to the gate house, leaving the prisoners unsupervised.
Riot police were called in to help bring peace to the jail before authorities eventually regained control.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "The issues raised by the report around alcohol in the prison and poor relationships between staff and prisoners have been addressed by the management team at HMP Ford.
"The prison has also tightened security procedures.
"The conclusion that the incident could have been brought to an end sooner has resulted in appropriate action being taken, both at HMP Ford and nationally across the prison estate, to improve the timing of interventions. | {
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Recent flooding in China has caused some people to be stranded—and led to dramatic rescues.
In the video above, both professional rescuers and helpful neighbors are shown pulling people out of harm’s way in the flood zone. Rushing water causes buildings to collapse and large trucks to be swept away at a moment’s notice.
Historically, flooding is common in south and central China during the rainy season from June through September, but the Chinese government has stated that extreme weather events like rainstorms and typhoons are happening more often in recent years. This season’s floods have killed dozens of people and displaced more than a million so far.
The China Global Television Network says search-and-rescue teams are getting better at rescuing people from floods because of better technology being developed, and the New York Times noted this as well. The Chinese government also put out a statement in May that their emergency rescue teams needed to be ready for this year’s flood season.
Extreme flooding happens when torrential downpours last for days, overwhelming rivers. It is likely being made worse by rising temperatures across the globe, since multiple studies have suggested a warming climate makes monsoons worse in Asia. China often receives heavy rains after a strong El Nino year, according to Nasa’s Earth Observatory, and studies have shown that climate change may be making El Nino stronger. However, it is hard to pinpoint a single extreme weather event as being directly caused by climate change.
In addition, the impact that floods have in the region has worsened because of changes made to the environment for development and infrastructure. Natural elements like mangroves and forests around the area’s rivers, which used to lessen the effects of rising flood waters by providing a barrier, have been removed and paved over to make way for roads and buildings. | {
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BitNautic ICO Phase 2 Details
Dates, Bonus Program, Currencies Accepted for the second part of the BitNautic Token Sale.
With the ending of the first phase of the BitNautic ICO on the 4th of July, we’re finally ready for Phase 2. In this blogpost you will find all the relevant details about the token sale, including dates, bonus program structure and new accepted currencies and cryoptocurrencies.
Dates
The second phase of the ICO will start on July 11 at 00:00 UTC, and will last through July and August and eventually end on the 15th of September at 24:00 UTC.
Bonus Program Structure
The new Bonus Program will see a starting bonus of 34% on the first day of ICO Phase 2, and decrease progressively by 0.4% every day until it will reach 10% in the last week of ICO. You can visualise the bonus in the following chart:
Currencies Accepted
In Phase 2 it will be possible to contribute with FIAT via PayPal and with all major cryptocurrencies, namely:
Ether (ETH)
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
LiteCoin (LTC)
Ripple (XRP)
Dash (DASH)
Decred (DCR)
Monero (XMR)
Zcash (ZEC)
To know more visit: BitNautic
Follow BitNautic news on:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Reddit
Join our Telegram:
BitNautic official Telegram channel: Channel
BitNautic official #Telegram chat: Group | {
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Google made a play for the skies in April when it swept in and acquired Titan Aerospace amid reports that the drone maker was being pursued by Facebook. But Google’s interest in hardware companies that provide primary sources of data is not ending there. Google is closing in on a deal for Skybox Imaging, a satellite company that specialises in recording very detailed landscape pictures and video, TechCrunch has heard from three different sources.
Google’s interest in Skybox, first reported in April by The Information, had already reached an advanced stage several weeks ago, with the two meeting in at least three rounds of acquisition talks, one source tells us. This was after people in the satellite industry started to hear rumors that Google was eyeing up Skybox, as well as another startup working in a similar area of satellite imaging, Planet Labs.
We now have heard that the deal with Skybox “is happening,” with one person estimating the price at roughly $1 billion. The same source said that at Skybox’s last fundraising round, when it picked up $70 million in 2012, it was valued at between $500 million and $700 million.
Google has declined to comment for this story, and Skybox did not respond to TechCrunch’s requests for comment.
So why might Google be interested in Skybox? There are a few areas where Skybox Imaging — or companies like it — could be attractive to the search giant.
The first is for more data for Google’s consumer mapping services.
Currently, Google uses a mixture of sources for Google Earth, the real-world imaging component of Google Maps. Some of those images are more up to date than others, and some are years out of date. Having its own primary source of data, updated regularly, would provide a more reliable and accurate set of data that Google could potentially expand into more consumer-focused products and services.
The second is for more data for Google’s B2B business.
Google has a business division called “Earth Enterprise” that provides mapping data for large organizations, institutions and businesses. “Google Earth Enterprise allows you to store and process terabytes of imagery, terrain and vector data on your own server infrastructure, and publish maps securely for your users to view using Google Earth desktop or mobile apps, or through your own application using the Google Maps API,” the division notes on its home page.
This seems to be a significant part of the company’s enterprise push — significant enough that news and case studies from the division feature prominently on Google’s general enterprise blog.
“A constellation of small imaging satellites, like what we already have in place today with RapidEye or what Skybox may have in the future, would give Google a very reliable, rich content source for imagery analytics and related applications,” Scott Soenen, CTO at another satellite company, BlackBridge, said. He says his company is planning for the next generation of its own small superspectral satellites that will ramp up imaging capabilities further.
In both of these cases, there are signs of another interesting trend at Google: as the company continues to mature, it is increasingly exploring what other lines of business it might tap in the future beyond its current bread and butter of search-related advertising.
That’s important not just for diversification: some believe search ads will decline as the dominant force in digital advertising prominence over the next couple of years. Maps and organizing data in the physical world are clear extensions of Google’s core search business.
A third area has to do with how Skybox has been conceived as a company. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann, Dan Berkenstock, Ching-Yu Hu, and John Fenwick, the startup has gone some way towards figuring out how to commercialise its data, rather than provide simple data sources for others to configure as many other companies in the commercial satellite industry have done.
“Skybox is looking very far downstream, and that’s an approach where people have not been very successful,” Soenen says. In that regard, Google appears to be interested not just in data but also some of the talent that’s figuring out interesting ways of using it.
A pricey and dicey game
But! There are some caveats to the Skybox information that we have heard, which are worth noting here, as they explain a bit more about the state of play in the satellite business at the moment.
The first is about the target. We have heard that Google is interested in making a play for a satellite imaging company. But there are a number of companies out there that are using small satellites and other technology to record the earth’s terrain that could fit the bill.
They include BlackBridge, which has a business called RapidEye. This provides wide-scale images of large landscapes, covering around 5 million square kilometers of ground each day; last week it picked up $22 million in funding to expand that business with more satellites. Urthecast, meanwhile, is up there creating video streams of what’s happening down below.
Planet Labs, backed by the likes of DFJ, Yuri Milner and Founders Fund among many others, has deployed nearly 30 of its “birds” — which it calls “Doves” — to continuously record and send images of the earth. While companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing data that is complementary to that of Skybox, Planet Labs is more of a direct competitor, it seems.
There are more companies looking to get in on the opportunity, too. OmniEarth this week announced a partnership with Harris Corp., Draper Laboratory and Dynetics to deploy up to 18 satellites to cover 100% of the earth once a day.
“This system will generate up to 60 petabytes of scientific quality Earth observation data annually to feed the next generation of Big Data analytics,” Lars Dyrud, president and CEO of OmniEarth, said in a statement. “Our planned satellite constellation will provide the platform for users who need high-quality analytics-friendly imagery to automatically extract commerce and environmental information and make predictions.”
Given that initially the rumors were that Google might be looking at a satellite company, possibly Planet Labs or Skybox, it could be that there is intentionally inaccurate information being spread to throw people off the trail of who Google may really be pursuing.
The second caveat is about Skybox itself.
We’ve heard from two different sources that the company, which has raised $91 million to date from a number of investors that include Khosla Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners (disclosure: CrunchFund, founded by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, is also an investor), will need to raise more money soon if it doesn’t make an exit.
That’s because building and launching satellites — even the small satellites that Skybox bases its business around — is a pricey game, with the cost to make one device potentially running into the millions, without operational and launch costs for that bird factored in. (Relatively speaking, these are small numbers in the satellite industry, with the types of devices made by the likes of BlackBridge, Skybox and Planet Labs often referred to as “low cost”.)
JP Morgan is among the financiers that we’ve heard mentioned in the context of raising another round. Spreading reports that the company is in play with Google could be advantageous both to current investors looking for a good valuation for the company, as well as for the company as it looks for new backers.
And it turns out that the satellite game is not only pricey, but dicey, too.
Skybox’s existing data comes from the single bird that it currently has in orbit.
It recently put in an order for some 13 more devices to be built by Space Systems/Loral, set for a launch in 2015/2016, but more immediately it has plans to launch its second satellite by the end of June. “Think of that June date as a kind of deadline for Skybox,” one source told us. “Either for an exit, or getting that financing round in place.”
Satellite launches typically take place as “secondary passengers” on larger spacecraft, with many of launches of larger spacecraft getting partly or fully funded by the government.
In the case of Skybox, its plan had been to send its second satellite up piggybacking on the launch of a Soyuz vehicle scheduled to go out from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is in Kazakhstan but is fully controlled by the Russian government.
In the wake of sanctions between the U.S. and Russia over tensions in Ukraine — the U.S. State Department on April 28 said it would bar exports, possibly even retroactively, of satellites to Russia if they “contribute to Russia’s military capabilities” — there have been a lot of question marks over how launches from Baikonur would be affected.
SpaceNews reported earlier this month that a Canadian satellite, which was supposed to piggyback on the same Soyuz launch as Skybox’s bird, was barred by the Canadian government from doing so, citing the Ukrainian situation.
Skybox declined to comment to SpaceNews about the impact of the political tension between the U.S. and Russia. Skybox’s are commercial satellites, but even so, the U.S. government has included commercial launches in past restrictions, such as in the case of launches from China.
The launch situation is complicated, but not insurmountable. “India has a very successful launch program, and there are commercial options in the US such as with SpaceX,” notes Soenen from Blackbridge. “So there are a handful of other options for a low-cost satellite launch.”
The one satellite that Skybox has up “doesn’t give them much capacity,” as Soenen puts it. “They wouldn’t be able to do that until they have their full constellation up there.” But nevertheless it is producing some interesting data already. “Beautiful, just beautiful,” is how another industry source described it to me.
In other words, if Google does end up buying any satellite business, it will be but one high step, and a long-term bet, into a more data-rich, map-filled future.
Additional reporting by Jonathan Shieber | {
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Birmingham mother 'doused daughter's body in acid' Published duration 26 October 2010
image caption Iman Omar Yousef has been declared unfit to stand trial
A three-year-old girl was repeatedly stabbed by her mother who then doused her body in acid, a court has heard.
Alia Jama's mother Iman Omar Yousef, 25, from Birmingham, has been declared unfit to stand trial.
A jury at Birmingham Crown Court has instead been asked to decide if she unlawfully killed her daughter, but to disregard any question of intent.
The child's body was found at a house in Milverton Road, Erdington, in February.
'Shocking sight'
James Burbidge QC told the jury that on the day Alia's body was found two officers from West Midlands Police went to the address after concerns were raised by Yousef's mother.
"What they found was truly a shocking sight," he said.
Alia was found on the floor, with her body in a state of decomposition.
She had been partly covered with bin liners and the officers could smell what appeared to be acid, Mr Burbidge said.
Several stab wounds had been inflicted with what looked like a large kitchen knife, although no weapon was found, he added.
Litmus test
Pathologist Dr James Lucas, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said there was "extensive corrosive damage" which hampered any interpretation of her injuries, making it hard for him to ascertain a cause of death.
Experts have been unable to identify what corrosive substance was applied to Alia's body, but a litmus paper test indicated it was an acid rather than an alkaline, Dr Lucas said.
He said Alia had not swallowed any of the acidic substance and was either unconscious or dead when it was applied to her body.
The court heard that the day before Alia's death Ms Yousef, an asylum seeker of Somali origin, had been visited by social workers and by police.
Mr Burbidge said Ms Yousef was reluctant to allow social service access to Alia's medical records but took her to a GP for a check-up later that day where she was found to be healthy.
He said Ms Yousef's mother and aunt, who lived in Leicester, had had concerns for her mental health, saying she was acting strangely and talking to herself.
Her mother told police she had removed knives from her daughter's possession on two occasions, the court heard.
The case, which is being heard in Ms Yousef's absence, has been adjourned until Tuesday. | {
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To give you an idea of just how old the first-generation Audi Q3 is, imagine that its design was based on the Cross Coupe quattro concept, which was first drawn up back in 2006. This all-new second generation model was long overdue.
Right off the bat, it’s obvious that Audi wanted to leave the old Q3’s styling in the dust, by making this new crossover look more aggressive from just about every angle, giving the BMW X1 a worthy opponent to play with.
A brand new design language
This new Q3 actually shares some of the Q8’s design elements, especially when it comes to its profile. It also has vertical grille bars like the Q8, or the A4/A6 Allroad duo. All other Audi models feature horizontal bars.
Other distinguishing features include a sportier-looking front bumper, large taillights, and headlights that resemble those of the A3 Sportback in shape, only a little more pointy.
Audi has also expanded the overall size of the Q3, making it approximately 3.8 inches (9.65 cm) longer than the older model, while adding three more inches (7.6 cm) to the wheelbase too. This means more room for rear seat passengers, while still leaving 23.8 cu.ft (674 liters) of cargo space in the trunk – which you can then turn into 53.9 cu.ft (1,526 liters) if you fold the seats. By comparison, the 2018 BMW X1 has 17.8 cu.ft (505 liters) of available trunk space, and a full 54.73 cu.ft (1,550 liters) with everything folded down.
Plenty of tech to go around
Inside, 2019 Q3 buyers will enjoy Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit gauge cluster, plus an 8.8-inch center dash infotainment display – with a larger 10-inch one available as an option.
Features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as are the two USB ports in the front. There are also two additional USB ports and a 12-volt outlet for rear seat passengers, plus available Wi-Fi hotspot. One cool piece of tech is the Connect portfolio with “swarm intelligence”, a feature that helps cars communicate with among themselves regarding road and weather hazards. The system will be available in Europe and possibly in the U.S. too, although not at launch.
As for safety, the all-new 2019 Audi Q3 comes with forward emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, plus adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and active lane assist.
Wide range of petrol and diesel options
Euro-spec models of the all-new Audi Q3 will be available with four engine choices at launch: three petrol and one diesel. Entry-level petrol models will be powered by the 1.5-liter TFSI unit producing 148hp (150PS) and 184lb-ft (250Nm) of torque. The base Q3 will be badged 35 TFSI and will also feature a cylinder deactivation system, as well as a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive as standard. A six-speed manual will follow on a later date.
Moving up the ladder we find Audi’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder TFSI offered in two power versions: the first one is the 40 TFSI, offering 187hp (190PS) and 236lb-ft (320Nm) of torque while the 45 TFSI model gets 226hp (230PS) and 258lb-ft (350Nm). Both of them are paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.
The diesel range will start off with the 2.0-liter TDI producing 148hp (150PS) and 250lb-ft (340Nm) of torque. Badged as the Q3 35 TDI, it’ll be initially available with a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, with a seven-speed dual-clutch unit to follow on a later date. Audi also plans to offer a more powerful version of the 2.0-liter TDI, with 187hp (190PS) in the near future.
The new model also gets automatic damping control and a “dynamic handling system” with the following six drive modes: Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, Offroad, Efficiency and Individual.
European customers will land their 2019 Q3 crossovers this November, while U.S. sales should commence at a later date.
Additional reporting by Michael Karkafiris | {
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As we’ve begun telling family and friends the joyful tidings of our bun in the oven, we have been asked a fairly predictable set of questions on the subject.
First off, when is the baby due? August 5.
Secondly, how is Mommy doing? I answered that one in my previous post.
Things are getting a little better for her, as she’s realized that eating every 10 minutes seems to stem the tides of her stomach acids. Constant grazing and constant sleeping are her new prescriptions, but it’s still pretty touch-and-go. Most mornings and evenings, she’s still doing an impression of the Waiters Who Are Nauseated By Food.
The prenatal questioning can go in a variety of directions from here, but if the conversation lasts long enough, we reach the inevitable: Have you discussed baby names yet?
Well of course we have. What couple hasn’t randomly brought that up during idle conversation on a long car ride? Or when you hear a really great first name that might sound particularly nice with your multi-syllabic and semi-difficult-to-pronounce Italian last name?
But now it’s for real. We get to label a new human forever. Talk about pressure! If my kid legally changed his name, I would consider that a pretty significant parenting failure…and here we are, presented with the name game as one of the opening decisions of our parental careers.
We can’t screw this up. So I did what everyone does when there is an important decision to make: I Googled it.
Since we still don’t know the gender, every option is on the table, so let’s see how most people have handled this. Here are the Top 10 Boy Names of 2015:
Jackson Aiden Liam Lucas Noah Mason Ethan Caden Logan Jacob
(Parents who chose a name ending in the letter N in 2015 received an extra tax deduction.)
In looking at this list, I’ve realized that many names have a lot of deal-breaking, pre-existing baggage connected to them in my mind. This makes elimination a lot easier.
Jackson. Like Michael? No.
Liam. Like Neeson? Not unless our son proves to have a very particular set of skills in utero.
Noah had an ark. Lucas invented Ewoks. Logan was Wolverine. Jacob had a son with a Technicolor Dreamcoat. This list isn’t working for me. Let’s move on to the Top 10 Girl Names of 2015.
Sophia Emma Olivia Ava Mia Isabella Zoe Lily Emily Madison
(Parents who chose a name ending in the letter A in 2015 received an extra tax deduction as well.)
This list presents a different challenge. While I don’t have pre-existing conditions with too many of these names (Mia Farrow, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner–I guess 1960s celebrities are back in vogue?), the remaining names just don’t really work linguistically. Since my last name ends with a long E sound, I’m not sure my daughter would want a first name that ends in that same sound or any sort of vowel sound for that matter. I think we need a good strong consonant to finish it off.
On the other hand, there’s also the consideration of length. My last name contains four syllables. Lots of these names are refreshingly short. It might be nice to have a first name that gets to the point when its combined with a last name that can overstay its welcome.
Editor’s note: If we end up choosing one of these names, the above critiques are immediately null and void. But we also probably should have been more creative in our choice.
There are other considerations when naming a child beyond how it sounds with your last name. What is the significance of the name? If it doesn’t have any significance, does that mean there’s something wrong with it (or you)? Should you name your child after a relative? A Biblical character? A movie character? A sports team?
My wife has made it clear that we need to at least be creative enough to not reuse a name that has already been used by her family…of 9 siblings and 24 nieces and nephews. This narrows the field more than you would think. I told her we have to cut it off there and can’t start letting her countless cousins’ and aunts’ and uncles’ names limit our scope. That’s how you end up with something like Caden. (No offense to any Cadens out there. Or you, son, if that’s really what we went with. Take it up with your mother.)
I also like the idea of giving our baby a name that has a built-in nickname. Nicknames are fun. That said, I would like the name on the birth certificate to be a legit-sounding full name, not a shortened nickname version of a longer name. For the baby’s full legal name, go big or go home.
Wait, are we really talking about this? Concrete discussions about what to name our baby reveal just how little this whole situation has sunk in for me, even though my wife is now 10 weeks along. Without a visible baby bump or a gender or a name, this sometimes can still feel like it’s just a wonderfully vague dream.
But I know there’s a baby in there and that I am a Dad. So who are you, baby? Who do you want to be?
Like everything else you’re bringing our way, I’m sure we’ll figure it out soon.
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For more than a year, Adam Schiff has been hopping to all the TV stations claiming, without benefit of specifics, the existence of a vast conspiracy between President Trump and Russia.
Last week, Laurence Tribe suggested, without evidence, that a plane crash in Russia was related to fallout from the Russian dossier operation orchestrated and funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign. Tribe is a Harvard Law professor, a passionate critic of President Donald Trump, and a known Russia conspiracy theorist. So it should have been surprising that the same day he was tweeting out plane crash conspiracy theories, he also argued in a “facially absurd” op-ed in The New York Times that Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., should be charged with obstruction of justice — no, really — for performing congressional oversight of the FBI.
Then again, it was only last March that The New York Times published another Russia conspiracy theorist named Louise Mensch talking about Russian hacking. Yes, the same Louise Mensch who believes that the “Marshal of the Supreme Court” told Trump about his impeachment and that Steve Bannon faces the death penalty for espionage. (Forget it, she’s rolling.)
When it comes to the Russia-Trump collusion theory, a bit more journalistic rigor is in order. One of the most enthusiastic promulgators of a Russia-Trump collusion theory is Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member on Nunes’ House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. For more than a year, Schiff has been hopping around all the TV stations claiming, without benefit of specifics, the existence of a vast conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
Leaks from his committee that advance this theory frequently get published, even if they fail to hold up under scrutiny. But even his public actions shouldn’t be accepted so uncritically.
Experts Refute The Russia Charge
On January 23, public interest in the memo from the majority of the intelligence committee had been high, as evidenced by the demand to #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag on Twitter and Facebook. When the hashtag went viral, Schiff had a theory that it wasn’t the American public that was interested in abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Nope, it was Russians! Secret Russian bots were trying to make it look like Americans were interested in FISA abuse against a Trump campaign affiliate.
Schiff put out a press release pressuring private companies to investigate whether Russians using their platform were behind the spread of the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag. The letter demanded that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg perform an “in-depth forensic examination” on the “ongoing attack by the Russian government through Kremlin-linked social media actors directly acting to intervene and influence our democratic process.”
The Daily Beast quickly put out a story with an anonymous Twitter source denying that Russian bots were behind the spread of the hashtag. The story said the theory was bunk, according to “an early in-house analysis” that concluded the hashtag was mostly pushed by eager Americans:
The online groundswell urging the release of House Republicans’ attacks on the Federal Bureau of Investigation appears thus far to be organically American—not Russian propaganda, a source familiar with Twitter’s internal analysis told The Daily Beast.
But that was just an anonymous source at Twitter. Twitter itself publicly responded on January 26 with a letter saying an investigation “has not identified any significant activity connected to Russia with respect to Tweets posting original content to this hashtag.” The letter went on to note that #ReleaseTheMemo “was also used by several prominent, verified U.S. accounts on the evening of Thursday, January 18. Typically, hashtag use by high-profile accounts, including those with high numbers of followers, plays a role in driving conversations around a hashtag on Twitter.”
Facebook responded with a letter that said this was a Twitter hashtag, not a Facebook one, and added that the company would continue to update Congress on any Russian interference. Schiff went back and asked for more information and pressured social media companies for more action.
Facebook slapped it down again, saying, “To date, our internal Information Security team has not become aware of information or activity of a sort that would prompt further review.” Facebook explained that it monitors and assesses thousands of detailed account attributes such as location information and connections to others on the platform, and it hadn’t detected any significant Kremlin activity.
Media Coverage of the Russian Bot Story
When Schiff advanced his theory that it was Russian bots — not Americans — who cared about FISA abuse, he received typical friendly media coverage. But when Twitter and Facebook refuted the claim, media outlets either downplayed it or pretended it didn’t matter.
Politico is one outlet that heavily pushed the idea of Russian bots being behind the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag, despite the denials of officials at Facebook and Twitter. In January, PoliticoPro ran a story that acknowledged Twitter had found no evidence of any significant Russian bot activity before this odd section that pretended denial had never happened: “Schiff and Feinstein said the companies must deactivate the bot accounts if they violate user policies. They want Twitter and Facebook to notify users who may have seen posts from the bots and to describe how they’ll prevent similar foreign influence campaigns in the future.”
Even after more denials from Facebook and Twitter were issued, Politico continued to go all-in on Schiff’s idea that Russian bots were behind the #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag, repeating his accusations. This article mentions The Daily Beast’s anonymous Twitter source, saying Russian bots weren’t behind the hashtag, omitting the on-the-record Twitter letters saying the same thing. This article mentions the Twitter denial, but it’s placed in the middle of the story with absolutely no consequence, as if it’s irrelevant.
Natasha Bertrand, a reporter who facilitates messages from Fusion GPS, the group that authored the infamous Russia dossier on behalf of the Clinton campaign, wrote a piece headlined “Russia-linked Twitter accounts are working overtime to help Devin Nunes and WikiLeaks.”
Her story and many others uncritically accept and promote a secretive group’s unverified claim of a Russian conspiracy. The Alliance for Securing Democracy runs an operation called Hamilton 68 that it claims tracks Russian bots, though it’s impossible to assess the claim because of the group’s methodology. The advisory council for the alliance includes NeverTrump stalwarts such as Bill Kristol and David Kramer, the man Sen. John McCain sent to London to pick up the discredited Russian dossier from Christopher Steele.
Hamilton 68’s claim — later refuted by Twitter and Facebook — formed the entire basis of Schiff’s theory that it was Russian bots, not real Americans, who wanted to learn about FISA abuse by the FBI. Asked to respond to Hamilton 68’s claim, Twitter responded, “Because the Hamilton Dashboard’s account list is not available to the public, we are unable to offer any specific context on the accounts it includes.” They added, “We have offered to review the list of accounts contained in the Dashboard and this offer remains open.”
In other words, Hamilton 68 won’t let anyone review their dashboard to determine in any way if they’re tracking actual Russian propaganda bots, or just conservative Americans who, for instance, care about FISA abuse. Yet Hamilton 68’s claims are repeated uncritically by a media that asks no questions about the methodology.
After the success of the #ReleaseTheMemo campaign, Russian-influenced Twitter accounts are test-running other hashtags designed to stoke anger—particularly among Trump supporters—against so-called 'deep state' forces, according to analysts at Hamilton 68. https://t.co/xeNPPTlTof — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 11, 2018
Yesterday’s front page at The New York Times is a great example of how much the media are willing to publicize claims they have in no way independently verified:
As journalist Glenn Greenwald of Edward Snowden fame noted:
Yesterday I pointed out the astounding, overnight propaganda success of "Hamilton68," the secretive group created last year by Bill Kristol, Marco Rubio's guru, CIA officials & Dem hawks that the US media, almost daily, uncritically uses to shape headlines. Today's NYT front page pic.twitter.com/b3uJqMtLss — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 20, 2018
Russian bot hysteria is taking over many in the media. This week both Newsweek and RawStory were duped by a false story alleging that Russian bots forced Al Franken from office over his sexual harassment of women.
Thankfully, some other voices are making their way in this hysterical climate. Adrian Chen wrote the definitive piece on Russian troll farms back in 2015 for the New York Times Sunday Magazine. It is well worth a read for anyone wanting a factual look at how Russian troll armies work and how to guard against them. His piece centers on the very same Internet Research Agency whose members were indicted by Robert Mueller on Friday. He knocked down the Russian bot hysteria on MSNBC:
OMG, a sober/informed Russia take on MSNBC! @AdrianChen , who profiled indicted Russian troll farm in 2015, tells @chrislhayes that what other MSNBC guests have compared to Pearl Harbor “is essentially a social media marketing campaign” and maybe not worthy of a national freakout pic.twitter.com/UkUaK2XRPe — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) February 20, 2018
Masha Gessen is a vehement and long-standing Putin critic. She has written a book warning about Putin and many articles comparing Putin and Trump. Even she, in a new article for The New Yorker, mocks the hysteria over the troll farms and says of the Russian bot operation that it was “not at all sophisticated, and about as bold as, say, keying a neighbor’s car under the cover of night.”
Russian disinformation campaigns have been a real thing going back decades, but the implication that bots are a particularly significant force in turning political debate poisonous is ridiculous. It’s juvenile enough for Schiff to peddle his conspiracy theories. Journalists should show a bit more restraint before uncritically broadcasting them further. | {
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Wednesday, the King County Executive’s office announced a plan to bond against future lodging tax revenues to generate $100 million for affordable housing. Legislation, which is still being drafted, will be sent to the King County Council for consideration.
While the plan isn’t finalized, it’s similar to a 2016 plan that bonded $87 million for affordable housing. That revenue, proposed by Executive Dow Constantine and approved by the King County Council, was bonded against the same tax on hotel and motel stays.
The $87 million is projected to fund around 1,700 new and preserved affordable homes, according to the executive’s office, although the number could vary depending on how affordable they’re are and where they’re going to be built. So far, around 1,041 of those have been preserved or will be built in the next couple of years.
The new, $100 million plan would focus on a broad range of affordable housing, from 30 to 80 percent area median income (AMI), but would likely focus on 30 to 60 percent AMI—so it wouldn’t provide assistance for the lowest-income people in King County.
The lodging tax that the revenue is bonding against was initially implemented to pay off Centurylink Field.
The announcement was made as part of a progress report for One Table, a regional task force led by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, and King County Executive Dow Constantine. The announcement primarily announced actions that are already underway in each jurisdiction. A section on Seattle’s progress, for example, touted a measure passed by City Council back in February and some current affordable housing projects—although the One Table effort was cited by some opponents of a recently repealed employee hours tax, including the Washington Retail Association, as an alternate means to address homelessness.
In a statement distributed with the report, Durkan said “In the coming weeks,” she and Backus would be “working together to convene mayors in our region to discuss additional solutions.”
Constantine’s office announced two new projects, though: the hotel tax and tapping to remaining revenues from a sales tax that goes toward treating mental illness and drug dependency. The remaining funds will be used for peer respite care, medication to treat opioid addiction, and a pilot program that will come to people’s homes or the shelter where they’re staying to provide behavioral health care. It will also expand the LEAD program—Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion—to more cities.
This article has been updated to include the proposed AMI ranges for the new units. | {
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CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela experienced complications related to his cancer surgery, resulting in bleeding that required “corrective measures,” but he was showing signs of recovery, an official said Thursday.
The surgery, which lasted more than six hours, was done in Havana on Tuesday. Ernesto Villegas, Mr. Chávez’s information minister, did not say when doctors detected the bleeding or got it under control. But he said that Mr. Chávez was recuperating in a way that he described as “progressive and favorable.”
Given how little information the government has released on Mr. Chávez’s health throughout the course of his illness, the recent change in its tone suggests that his condition is extremely serious and that there are doubts about how fully he may recover. | {
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Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has argued that with the majority of the National Broadband Network (NBN) deployment now in motion, the political debate must shift from its technological makeup to the future of its economics.
Speaking at the CommsDay conference in Melbourne on Tuesday, Rowland said that while she is not advocating for a "flowering of bipartisanship on the NBN", both major parties must come to an agreement on the economics involved.
"The NBN rollout has also reached a point where it is almost entirely in design, construction, or deployed -- a reality which cannot be undone through political will or legislative change," Rowland said.
"As a result, there is likely to be less emphasis on the issues which have been the focal point for the last five years, and a greater focus on the medium-term policy settings -- namely, the economics of the NBN.
"Looking forward, this becomes the main game ... it would be sensible for the major parties to identify common ground on the next steps where feasible to do so."
Rowland used her speech to suggest four steps by which NBN's medium-term future should be decided: Ensuring NBN has a "good working relationship" with both the government and the opposition party of the day; that both parties reach common ground on outcomes; that governments "stop creating traps" and problems; and lastly that NBN "recapture" its "original narrative".
"While it is likely key areas of disagreement will remain, there are some areas where there is not as much distance as public commentary might suggest," Rowland said.
"Both parties are committed to the principle of universal access; both parties want broadband to be affordable; both parties want to act responsibly in a fiscal sense; and both parties, I presume, want to see a sustainable funding mechanism for regional and remote services -- not just in name, but also in substance. This is a basis to work from."
The shadow comms minister pointed to the 2013 Strategic Review and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) raids in 2016 as the government creating more problems for itself.
"These might have been deemed necessary political counter-punches at the time, but inevitably they undermined trust and brought with it a hardening of positions," she argued.
Rowland also lauded the company's shift earlier this year to publish research on the social and economic benefits of the NBN.
"In doing so, the company sought to provide a basis in which both parties can have a stake in some of the life-changing opportunities which ubiquitous access to high-speed broadband is opening up for Australians across the country," she said.
"I consider the pathways to improving the sentiment is a function of better experience, better service, authentic expectations management, and an ongoing value proposition that connects with a broader narrative about the mindset we want Australians to adopt in the digital age."
Rowland lastly also pointed to her priorities of ensuring through a service guarantee that consumers are not sold speeds NBN cannot deliver; that fibre to the curb be deployed in fibre-to-the-node areas where construction or design has not yet begun; improving consumer safeguards; improving the NBN medical alarm assistance scheme; ensuring fixed-wireless users don't pay more than fixed-line; and improving fixed-wireless congestion reporting.
The shadow communications minister noted that this could be her last major telco industry speech before the next federal election.
Related Coverage | {
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have already been a couple of rumors regarding yet another GPU from AMD based on the 28nm Tahiti chip, and according to Expreview.com, it appears that AMD will indeed push this GPU in the Radeon HD 7800 series rather than the Radeon HD 7900 series.
AMD plans to brand the SKU as the Radeon HD 7890. Unfortunately, there are still no precise details regarding the clock speeds or any precise specifications for that matter, but Expreview noted that it should end up around 15 percent faster than the Geforce GTX 660 graphics card. Of course, the new AMD Radeon HD 7890 SKU aims the GTX 660 as its primary competition as it should hit the marker with a similar price tag.
The new SKU is specifically aimed at the upcoming Christmas shopping spree and should fill the gap that AMD currently has in that price range.
You can check out more here.
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Jason Sattler
“Remember the Ladies,” Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John as he and 54 other manly men convened in Philadelphia to craft what would become the Constitution.
SPOILER ALERT: He didn’t.
But Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association still want you to “remember the ladies,” especially as you head to the polls in November. That’s the theme of an ad the nation’s largest gun lobby is running for Trump, backed by a $5 million buy split between national cable and rural markets in battleground states.
Remember how vulnerable the ladies are in their dimly lit bedrooms. Remember how shadowy predators assail the ladies as they wait for the police to arrive. Remember how Hillary Clinton wants to sneak into those dimly lit bedrooms and take away all the guns. Wait… what?
You haven’t heard about Clinton’s plan to take away all the guns? Is that because it’s been hidden like Trump’s tax returns or Trump’s wife’s immigration papers or Trump’s investments in Russia?
Nope. Clinton’s gun-grabbing plan only exists in the minds of the people who spent the last seven years insisting that Obama is coming for your guns, as soon as he finishes his next round of golf.
Clinton fed the NRA’s fantasy in Keene, N.H. last October by saying Australia’s mandatory gun buyback program was “worth considering” — a response that politicians on the campaign trail tend to offer voters on any subject from banning gluten to placing sanctions on Narnia. But her casual comment has been translated into no policy proposal whatsoever.
The president made a similar remark about Australia after the 2015 Charleston, S.C. church massacre, mostly expressing his frustration at Congress’ tolerance for mass shootings. But in nearly two terms, he’s largely used his executive powers to strengthen enforcement of existing gun-safety laws. Ironically, the only new gun laws he has signed expand gun rights for national park visitors and Amtrak passengers.
So why does the NRA insist that you imagine a pajama-clad woman in dimly lit peril rendered even more helpless by Hillary Clinton? What’s with the constant fixation on a black man and now a woman stripping you of your phallic weapon? And what would Dr. Freud have to say about this?
Shut down the Trump Organization: Jason Sattler
He might slip his cigar out of his mouth and call it a mass castration fantasy.
You don’t have to know anything about Freud to see that the NRA ad relies on the idea that women are helpless victims who need to be armed against hordes of male brutes.
Horrifying home invasions by armed intruders are rare. Still, you can’t deny that this is savvy framing. Any discussion of gun grabbing is always a victory for the NRA.
That’s because the gun lobby doesn’t want to talk about what Clinton is actually proposing. She wants universal background checks, which are typically supported by about 9 out of 10 Americans, including most gun owners, most Republicans and even a few Republican senators. She also wants to keep “military-style” guns off the streets, another idea with majority support in polls.
The NRA ad sidesteps Clinton’s real plan entirely by suggesting, “Hillary Clinton could take away her right to self-defense. And with Supreme Court Justices, Hillary can.”
To believe this, you have to believe that the Democratic nominee was lying when she said at the Democratic convention and on Fox News a few days later that she’s not looking to repeal the Second Amendment. Fact checkers back her up on that.
But fact checking only works if it shames a lie-teller out of spreading a lie. All the Pinocchios and “Pants-on-Fires” in the world have almost no effect on people’s actual beliefs. So forget about making a dent in a fantasy.
Playing up the menace of gun grabbing is a brilliant combined marketing/political strategy. Recent mass shootings have generally been followed by calls for more gun safety regulation, which then almost inevitably lead to more gun sales.
When Democrats win, so do gun makers: Column
POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media
About 55 million Americans own 265 million guns, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard and Northeastern universities. The GOP only needed about 43 million votes in 2014 to win the largest House majority since before the Great Depression. But there don’t seem to be enough gun owners to win the presidency.
The number of households that own guns is at a 40-year low, even as sales of firearms continue to grow. The same people seem to be buying more guns. The researchers call the most avid accumulators “gun super-owners.” They’re part “the 3% of American adults who collectively own 130 million firearms, half of the nation’s total stock of civilian guns,” the Guardian’s Lois Beckett explains.
Mostly they’re white men in rural areas, though there are female “super-owners” too. And most of them were probably already planning to vote for Donald Trump even before they were reminded about what Clinton wants to do to the ladies.
Maybe this new ad is designed to get them to the polls. Or maybe it’s designed to get them to buy more guns. When the NRA’s involved, it’s always hard to tell the difference.
Jason Sattler is a columnist for The National Memoand the answer to the obscure trivia question, "Who's the guy who tweets as @LOLGOP?"
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