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Protests kicked off in Sofia last night - the same day Bulgaria took over its first Presidency of the European Council from January 2018 until June 2018.
EU commissioners were in the city as Bulgaria begins its presidency - and guests at the opening ceremony of the presidency in Sofia, including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Council head Donald Tusk.
READ MORE: Juncker demands THANKS from Bulgaria for EU membership as protests rage around him
The Sofia Globe reports 11 protests were held across the city last night.
Former president Rossen Plevneliev said: "These protests are not a symbol of future political action, but they are telling us something important – the whole political elite has not done its job over the years." | {
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It’s not as if we really needed another reason to loathe career politicians, but here’s one I just couldn’t let slide.
Check out this small segment from an Autoblog piece about Tesla and the state of Texas …
A Texas House deadline has come and gone, killing many top-priority bills for both parties — among them one that would allow Tesla-backed direct car sales and another to regulate ride-hailing companies. Midnight Thursday was the last chance for House bills to win initial, full-chamber approval. Since any proposal can be tacked onto other bills as amendments, no measure is completely dead until the legislative session ends June 1. But even with such resurrections, actually becoming state law now gets far tougher. Among the casualties of bills that didn't make the first round of cuts was House Bill 1653, which would permit electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors to sell cars in Texas at up to 12 locations. Identical measures by a House Democrat and a Senate Republican both got stuck in committee after facing strong opposition by car dealers. Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson — one of the House's most senior members currently serving her 20th term — said it was the company's own fault that the bill didn't pass. "I can appreciate Tesla wanting to sell cars, but I think it would have been wiser if Mr. Tesla had sat down with the car dealers first," she said. It is possible to own a Tesla in Texas, but it's not easy to do.
Can you believe the stones on Rep. Thompson?!
It was the company's fault the bill didn’t pass because Tesla should have sat down with the car dealers first?
Why do we even need legislation to allow a company to sell a product?
What Tesla is selling isn't illegal.
The company isn't selling heroin or taking part in the human slave trade.
There are two reasons Tesla can't sell directly to customers in Texas …
Most politicians in Texas (as well as every other state in the nation), are well-funded by car dealerships. Campaigns don't fund themselves! In Texas, there still seems to be a fair amount of discrimination against electric cars. After all, Texas is oil country. They don't want those pesky treehuggers with their clean electric vehicles showing off their ability to live a full and happy life without the crutch of an outdated internal combustion vehicle.
Interestingly, this news also coincides with news that on Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed a bill that prohibits cities and towns from banning fracking, thereby giving the state all the power over all oil and gas regulation. I guess individual cities and towns can suck it.
Although I believe in property rights and the right of individuals to use their property as they see fit – as long as it doesn't harm anyone else or neighboring properties (without compensation, anyway), Texas continues to prove that it's a great place to set up shop if you enjoy the illusion of liberty.
Guys like Rick Perry and Greg Abbot always talk a good game about free markets, personal sovereignty, and the cause for liberty. But when it comes down to it, they're no more interested in this stuff than Kim Jong-un. | {
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After a mammoth 11-year spell at 250cc/Moto2 level, Luthi finally made the step up to MotoGP in 2018, but struggled to adapt to his Marc VDS Honda bike and faced further problems as a rift developed between team owner Marc van der Straten and team boss Michael Bartholemy.
The Swiss rider ended the year without a point to his name, and with Marc VDS dropping off the MotoGP grid for 2019, he was unable to land another ride in the premier category.
Instead he dropped back down to Moto2 with the Intact GP squad, scoring a close second on his return to the class in Qatar and then claiming a dominant victory at the Circuit of the Americas.
"Racing in GP is like a thing [made] of many bricks, which need to be together to reach the goal finally," said Luthi. "It’s a team effort. Also you need to believe in yourself.
"It’s a mental sport and a team sport. I think this is the biggest difference. Last year it was very difficult because the team was falling apart, and anyway it was a big challenge for me with the bike in MotoGP. Finally it was an impossible mission.
"I had to put this behind, work hard over the winter, focus, and I found a new team where the people really believe in me and this was a big motivation for me. This is finally the result."
Luthi's return to Moto2 coincides with the introduction of a new 765cc three-cylinder Triumph engine, which replace the old 600cc Honda units and have made the intermediate class machines more similar to ride to their MotoGP counterparts.
Asked whether there were lessons he learned in the premier class applicable to Moto2, Luthi replied: "To ride a MotoGP bike you need to think about so many things, not just riding. You need to think tactics, with all the electronics and so on. It’s quite difficult.
"This was a good thing to learn to be [back] in Moto2. I wouldn’t say it’s easier to ride a Moto2 bike on the limit; if you ride a bike on the limit, it’s on the limit. It doesn’t matter how big the bike is. You need to have the feeling.
"It was a good school last year to ride the bike on the limit and still have some space in your mind to think about tactics and things like this. It was a good school, not just about riding - how to be organised, how to prepare and everything. Tough school, but a good school."
Additional reporting by Gustavo Roche | {
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Microsoft is working on a decentralized identity network based on the Bitcoin blockchain. The open-source project called Ion is supposed to enable billions of people to interact safely. The software giant wants to use this project to pave the way for a future with decentralized DID. Among other things, Ion should guarantee the required scaling.
Microsoft is taking another step with Ion towards decentralized identity. The core idea here is that every human being has a decentralized, digital identity and controls it himself. These DIDs (Decentralized Identifiers) should be protected by their own identifiers. Thus, Microsoft wants to make secure interactions between organizations, people and devices possible.
According to a May 13 blog post , the company has worked hard to develop open source components.
So-called identity hubs are intended to ensure secure, encrypted storage of personal data. The dedicated DID network called Ion (Identity Overlay Network) is based on the Bitcoin blockchain. This new concept is designed to significantly improve the throughput of DID systems to achieve tens of thousands of transactions per second.
Microsoft Blockchain: Synergies for Digital Identity
Microsoft developed the project together with partners of the Decentralized Identity Foundation ( DIF ). The DIF engages numerous international companies and organizations to create an open, accessible ecosystem of decentralized identity.
One technical crux of the project, however, is the increase in the volume of transactions without affecting the characteristics of decentralization. Especially the cooperation with DIF members Consensys and Transmute played an important role, according to Daniel Buchner, executive program manager of the Microsoft Identity Division. Microsoft claims to use a variety of synergies to advance the project. Daniel Buchner writes in his blog post: “The code for the ion reference node is still in rapid development, and many aspects of the protocol still need to be implemented before it can be tested on the main Bitcoin network. (…) As with our previous announcements, we share our work as early as possible – with all its rough edges – to start a conversation with the community and encourage collaboration. ”
Companies already on board to operate Ion Nodes include Equinix, Casa, Machine Learning, Civic and Cloudflare. | {
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June 4 marks 30 years since the Chinese government violently ended weeks of pro-democracy protests in the heart of Beijing.
The student-led protests in Beijing had been going on for almost three weeks by the time I arrived in China on May 1, 1989.
In those days, there were far fewer international flights to and from the Chinese capital and so my journey was memorably circuitous. My itinerary was Hong Kong-Tokyo-Shanghai, and from there an 18-hour train journey to Beijing. Today, by the high-speed version, that same trip takes roughly four hours – as good a metaphor as any as to how China has come a long way very quickly.
I got to Beijing – or Peking as some broadcasters still called it – in time to cover a march of more than one million students on May 4. In the warm spring sunshine, the mood seemed festive rather than angry – that would come later.
Prominent among the student leaders was Wu’er Kaixi, a 21-year-old studying education administration at Beijing Normal University.
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I remember thinking that he was both arrogant and charismatic, in equal measure. But millions of students hung on to his every word. Today, he remains adamant that the students were not seeking regime change when they began their mass occupation on Tiananmen Square, in the ceremonial heart of the capital
“We were having sit-ins. We were having mass hunger strikes. You do not bring down a government with a hunger strike!” he tells me during a lengthy interview in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, where he now lives in exile.
“We did not want to bring down the Communist Party. We wanted to hold them accountable. We wanted political reform, freedom of speech and an end to corruption. We believed that the answer is democracy.”
The Chinese government responded by declaring martial law and ordering troops into the square to break up the pro-democracy protests. It has never been revealed how many died in the violent crackdown, but estimates by human rights groups and activists range from a few hundred to thousands.
Adrian Brown reporting from Tiananmen Square in 1989 [Al Jazeera]
In rare comments made on Sunday, China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said the protests were “political turmoil that the central government needed to quell, which was the correct policy”.
He added: “Due to this, China has enjoyed stability, and if you visit China you can understand that part of history.”
‘Never expected live ammunition’
This time three decades ago, Wu’er gained international fame when his face appeared on the cover of Time magazine. In the years that followed, he has been a businessman, broadcaster and human rights campaigner. When it comes to China, he wants to remain relevant
I remind him of the night when state TV broadcast images of a hunger-striking Wu’er meeting Li Peng, the man who would later become China’s premier and who played a key role in the brutal crackdown. The setting was the Great Hall of the People and Wu’er was dressed in hospital pyjamas, wagging an admonishing finger in Li’s face.
It’s a scene unlikely to recur in my lifetime.
“A lot of people still remember the hospital gown, the gesture I put and probably I was a little agitated but I was on the fifth day of a hunger strike and there were hundreds outside doing the same,” Wu’er recalls.
He says they were typical students who believed their movement would bring change – not the carnage of June 4. After the declaration of martial law in late May, some students had begun to worry. But they never imagined their peaceful actions would end the way they did.
“We expected some bloodshed, to be hit by police batons, perhaps. That’s what we had expected. Live ammunition? No. Never,” Wu’er says.
Wu’er Kaixi leading a student protest at the offices of the People’s Daily in Beijing on May 9, 1989 [File; Sadayki Mikami/AP]
June 4
I held a similar belief, and that was one of the reasons I and many others had left Beijing on May 28, convinced that the protest movement was petering out.
I returned early on the morning of June 4.
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Along the old road from Beijing airport into the city – long since replaced by an eight-lane highway – was an almost unbroken line of tanks and troop carriers. My taxi wove its way through barricades of abandoned buses, a forlorn effort to try to impede the progress of the world’s biggest army.
By mid-afternoon, under heavy grey skies, I and two colleagues were making our way along Chang’an Avenue, which ironically translates into English as the Avenue of Eternal Peace.
This is the thoroughfare that passes through the centre of Beijing and Tiananmen Square. Just a week earlier, thousands of protesters were still camping there. But the flags, bunting and a 10-metre-high statue of the Goddess of Democracy were now gone. In their place were thousands of soldiers, many of them forming a human barricade to block all access to the square, into which large troop-carrying helicopters were bringing additional reinforcements.
The army was in control. But these soldiers were not from the Beijing garrison, they from other provinces and had been told that an occupying force had taken over. Incredibly, a few men and women stood within a few metres of one army barricade hurling insults at the soldiers – gestures of defiance that were met with warning shots.
I saw a lot that day that I will never forget. A tank treading on two flattened bodies, a burned-out army personnel carrier and the charred corpse of a soldier inside.
The anger among many ordinary people was still palpable.
Estimates by human rights groups on the number of people killed range from a few hundred to thousands [File: Jeff Widener/AP]
Fleeing China
On the other side of the city, Wu’er was in hospital being treated for heart palpitations. He’d been there several days earlier when he was summoned to meet Li Peng.
On the night of June 3, he knew something terrible had happened when bodies began to be wheeled in.
“The floor of the ER was covered by blood so the casualty must be very high. In the hospital, you can smell the blood. You can see the people are dying next to you.”
He says the nurses knew who he was and the danger he was now in. But the nurses and doctors did not betray him.
“They put me in the infectious disease ward. They believed it was a safer place. The PLA [People’s Liberation Army] soldiers wouldn’t go in there. But that place didn’t seem to be that safe afterwards so they moved me.”
Wu’er was eventually smuggled out of Beijing, making it to the southern city of Zhuhai from where he was spirited to Hong Kong by sympathisers.
Covering the crackdown
Back in Beijing, the job of being a foreign correspondent had become all but impossible. In once welcoming neighbourhoods – or hutongs – people no longer wanted to talk to us.
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One night, a chilling report aired on the 7pm evening news. It showed the arrest of a man who had been wanted after talking to a TV news network from the United States.
The night before, the same news programme had shown a clip of him denouncing China’s government over the bloodshed – turn him in was the message.
Unable to broadcast our reports from China, we had to find people at the airport – mostly fleeing foreigners – willing to carry our cassettes to Hong Kong by hand. From there they could be beamed by satellite to anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, the Chinese authorities found a way to get a split of these feeds and download them into China. That’s how the authorities got their man – and many others like him.
‘Deploying fear’
Wu’er Kaixi: ‘Fear is very, very present in China’ [File: Wally Santana/AP]
Wu’er says he wants to return to China and stand trial on whatever charge the government wants to bring against him. But, of course, he doesn’t expect this to ever happen.
He also concedes that the events of 30 years ago are unlikely to be repeated. A vast security and surveillance network has seen to that.
“Let’s not forget the Communist Party has learned a great deal in the past 30 years in how to deploy fear,” he says.
“Fear is very, very present in China. In 1989, they established that with this massacre, the PLA soldiers. These days it’s no longer bloodbath. It’s more of patrolling police on the street to make sure they are very present and then throwing hundreds of thousand dissidents in prison.” | {
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NASA recently published a Google Research paper indicating the company’s ‘Bristlecone’ quantum computer has successfully completed a processing task in a matter of minutes that would take a classical computer some 10,000 years to complete. Then it mysteriously deleted the research and, to the best of our knowledge, neither organization’s mentioned it since.
The paper’s authors claim this is the world’s first demonstration of quantum supremacy, according to a cached-version available here:
Our experiment marks a milestone towards full scale quantum computing: quantum supremacy. In reaching this milestone, we show that quantum speedup is achievable in a real-world system and is not precluded by any hidden physical laws.
Some experts believe this to be a watershed moment in the history of technology and the heralding of a new era in computing. The only problem: the research was quickly removed from NASA’s website and, as of the time of this article’s publishing, neither Google nor the space agency is responding to journalists’ requests for comment.
In all fairness, quantum supremacy is an arbitrary benchmark, and the scientists chose their own method by which to gauge their computer’s particular level of supremacy. There are plenty of detractors who feel that all Google‘s done is create a quantum computer system that’s purpose built to run a single, specific algorithm better than most classical, multi-purpose systems can.
The “purpose” of Google‘s system is to verify how random a specific random number generator is. According to the researchers this is a task that would take IBM’s Summit super-computer around 10,000 years to complete. Google‘s quantum computer can do it in about 200 seconds.
While this doesn’t immediately grant humanity with the ability to fly or cure cancer with our minds, it still has incredible implications – if the now-deleted paper is verified accurate, of course. The researchers responsible for the breakthrough feel it has short-term benefits and the potential to ‘unlock’ the next generation of quantum computers, at least according to the text of the paper that was briefly published on NASA‘s website:
The benchmark task we demonstrate has an immediate application in generating certifiable random numbers; other initial uses for this new computational capability may include optimization optimization, machine learning, materials science and chemistry.
So did Google achieve quantum supremacy, as it said it would earlier this year? The cached-version of the Google paper checks out so far, so we’ll say a tentative yes. It’s possible the paper was pulled due to questions of its veracity, but it’s more likely it was a timing issue.
We’ve reached out to Google and NASA and will update this article once we learn more.
Read next: Google plans to give you more control over 'Hey Google' sensitivity | {
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Pop up campers can sometimes be a hassle depending on where you are going, how long you’ll be gone, and sometimes won’t be the right fit for you if you’re on a tighter budget (or don’t have a proper vehicle to haul one around). That’s where family tents come in to the picture.
Getting out and into the wilderness with the family is one of the best ways to connect and become closer with each other. Getting away from the television, mobile devices, the internet, social media and connecting on a real level can be one of the most meaningful and remembered things for young ones, and you. It’s hard to do, yet one of the best things to do as a family.
Whether you’re going on a road trip with your family or sleeping outside in the backyard you’ll need a tent, and there are plenty of family tents for sale to choose from. Why get a family tent? There are plenty of reasons, but here are a few:
1. So you can keep an eye on your kids.
If you have a few young ones it would be smart to keep them close at night, whether at home or in the wild. I’m not a proponent of living in fear, but knowing that if something were to happen you’re there to resolve it. It’s more about the comfort for the kids. If they wake up in the middle of the night they might forget where they are. And with no convenient light switch to flip on they might very easily become startled or scared of the unknown environment they are in and old enough to be ok in their own tent.
2. One tent to haul around, setup and teardown.
I think this one is pretty self explanatory. The less time you can spend setting up and tearing down the more time you have to enjoy other activities with your loved ones. But you might as well make the most of your time with setup/teardown and have them help (teach them). Also, more money saved. Camping gear in general can become spendy if you don’t look around for prices. But family tents in general are less expensive because they’re made for car camping, not backpacking, and thus aren’t made with the lightest/strongest materials.
3. Activities
Most family camping tents have ample room for simple inside activities. If it’s raining, bad weather in general, or you’re done for the day but don’t want to go to sleep yet (and the fire is out) you can bring a game to play, play an instrument together and sing songs, or just tell scary stories all in the same space. The size of your tent is a huge bonus, some of the best family tents can hold 8 people, and if you have inflatable camp beds you’ll have some cush for your tush! A small camping table would be nice to have as a center of your game so be sure to consider a larger tent size. You can almost always be assured that you’ll have enough room to be comfortable while sleeping after your late night activities.
From cheap family tents to large family tents there are plenty to choose from on Amazon. Here are a few to consider, each with their own special something. | {
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A few weeks ago we interviewed Ariel Arias, the creative developer of the upcoming post alien invasion horror game, The Hum. We learned a whole bunch of details about the game as well as his future plans for development. Today, Ariel has released a new gameplay video for The Hum showcasing some recent updates to the game via the switch to the Unreal Engine 4 development engine.
The gameplay has quite a bit of tension to it as the player explores the post alien invasion world. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done, but from what we’ve seen there’s some promise to the concept.
If you’d like to help fund The Hum via Kickstarter, feel free to follow the link. In the meantime, you can check out the latest gameplay video just below. Be sure to let us know what you think about the game in the comments and leave any suggestions and/or feedback you have for Ariel as he continues to develop The Hum.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest single player gaming news. | {
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Comic Book Apocalypse: The Graphic World of Jack Kirby opens at the CSU Northridge Main Gallery in just six days, on Monday, August 24, 2015—exactly in time for the launch of the new CSUN semester, and just days before Jack Kirby’s 98th birthday.
The CSUN Art Galleries team and I have been working like mad to ready this show: the first CSUN exhibition devoted to original comic art, the first university exhibit anywhere dedicated to Kirby, and, we believe, the US’s largest Kirby show ever. We’re also working to get the word out—across campus, in the press, and at local shops. At the same time, I’m figuring out how to make this exhibition the centerpiece of my teaching this semester.
This is a busy time. 🙂
Comic Book Apocalypse includes over 100 original artworks by Kirby, as well as scores of his published comics. It focuses on Kirby from the mid-1960s on, but gives an overview of his career (including the Simon & Kirby era) and features work from as early as 1943. Highlights include the originals for two complete Kirby comic books, plus unpublished pencils, Kirby’s 1975 painting Dream Machine, more than a dozen of his trademark double-page spreads, five collages, and walls devoted to The Fantastic Four and The Fourth World. Tablet displays provided by the Jack Kirby Museum and Research Center will enable viewers to see even more art than the Gallery’s walls can hold.
Thanks to Gallery Director Jim Sweeters and his team, plus the help of a great many others, this exhibition is a dream come true. I hope you can join us for our opening reception on Saturday, August 29, from 4 to 7pm; it’s free, informal, and open to the public. Also, on Monday morning, August 31, at 10am we’ll be presenting a gallery talk with Kirby biographer Mark Evanier, and on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1pm we’ll be doing a panel discussion with Scott Bukatman, Doug Harvey, Steve Roden, and Ben Saunders. Please come!
PRESS ALERT: check out this article on the exhibit at CSUN Today, as well as this this teaser from the LA Weekly! And thanks to Meltdown Comics for featuring us on their homepage!
A final note: please help celebrate Jack’s 98th birthday by contributing to Kirby4Heroes! | {
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Illinois House: Ban cellphones while driving
The Illinois House Friday voted to make it illegal to talk on a handheld cellphone while driving. The proposal now goes to the state Senate. Supporters argued reducing distractions for drivers could prevent wrecks and deaths behind the wheel.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois House Friday voted to make it illegal to talk on a handheld cellphone while driving.
Supporters argued reducing distractions for drivers could prevent wrecks and deaths behind the wheel.
"If we can do something about it, we should stop it," said state Rep. John D'Amico, a Chicago Democrat.
The measure was approved by a 64-46 vote and now moves to the Senate. Using a hands-free device would remain legal.
State Rep. Dennis Reboletti, an Elmhurst Republican, voted against the plan and protested that talking on a phone would become a primary reason for police to pull over a driver.
He said a cellphone is just one of many distractions that could hamper driving.
"What about monitoring the volume of listening to the radio," Reboletti said. "Or shaving."
The issue wasn't a partisan one. State Rep. David Harris, an Arlington Heights Republican, said despite other distraction, lawmakers should ban the use of handheld phones anyway.
"Our job is to make the roadways as safe as possible," Harris said.
The first offense would carry a maximum $75 fine, and making an emergency call to authorities would be exempt.
Pulling over to the shoulder to make a call would also be legal under the plan approved Friday.
A similar ban was approved by the Illinois House last year, too, but was ultimately never considered by the Senate. Senate President John Cullerton is a longtime traffic safety advocate who has expressed support in the past.
Texting while driving is already illegal in Illinois, as is talking on a cellphone while driving in a school zone or construction zone, as well as anywhere in Chicago.
A 2011 Daily Herald special report detailed the perils of distracted driving as well as the difficulty local authorities face in enforcing existing laws. | {
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Brown University archaeologists have uncovered the site of a village in northwest Alaska that's believed to be at least 200 years old.
The village dig is in Kobuk Valley National Park about 20 miles up the Kobuk River from the community of Kiana, according to KSKA (is.gd/0A7kSC).
Arctic archaeologist Doug Anderson estimates about 200 people lived in the village, which he believes was a regional capital. Researchers think the village dates from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, just before initial contact with explorers.
Anderson said he's never seen a site quite like the one uncovered where so many houses were connected by a web of tunnels. He has been in archaeologist for more than 50 years, specializing in prehistory and early history of northwest Alaska.
"In some other areas here we've found maybe two houses that are connected by tunnels, but nothing like this," Anderson said. "And in other areas those houses are really quite small compared the houses here; these are gigantic houses."
The dwellings are the size of a one-room cabin and are dug about 4 feet (1.2 meters) into the ground. The structures are framed by spruce beams and poles with sod and earth walls and a fireplace at the center.
Researchers found signs that villagers lived closely with dogs. They also found two sets of human remains in one dwelling. One of the sets was of a young child, while the other was a man with a broken leg. The remains eventually will be returned for burial.
Kiana is 510 miles (800 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage and 57 miles (90 kilometers) east of Kotzebue.
The archaeology team is working with the Kiana Traditional Council and the National Park Service to ensure the project moves forward.
Inupiat Eskimo Thomas Jackson said his mother told them when he was a child that his ancestors had lived in an old village in the area.
"You, you're a descendent from these people," Jackson said. "That's the first time I've heard this as a child."
Kiana resident Debba Barr toured the site.
"It makes me feel proud," she said. "And it's a little bit overwhelming when you see all the hard work and all the stuff that we did compared to how we live now."
Barr would like to know how the houses were built—and so would researchers. They found no tools at the dig, so how the subterranean dwellings were constructed remains unknown.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | {
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Later this week, the Bloomberg administration will unveil the parameters of its big plans for rezoning Midtown East. While the specifics of the plan still remain scant, one bit of news was revealed today when both Crain’s and the Post revealed that Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden is lobbying to have Vanderbilt Avenue turned into another one of the administration’s patented pedestrian plazas.
The proposal is not yet a definite, but Mayor Bloomberg supported it all the same at a press conference today for the city’s initiative to create micro-apartments.
“I think you gotta stop and say what are the streets for?” the mayor told reporters when asked about the proposal, never denying it. “They are for transportation. What is the basic first kind of transportation? It’s walking. And then you should look after that and see whether other things can fit in.”
The plan is similar to those on Broadway and other corners of the city, where an under-utilized strip of roadway will be closed to vehicular traffic, in this case the two-lane road running along Grand Central Terminal from 42nd to 47th streets. The mayor pointed out that the street is lightly used and therefore an appropriate place for a pedestrian plaza, especially with the heavy foot traffic going into and out of the train station. Improvements to the open space would likely be funded by the sale of air rights to adjacent landlords, as The Observer had previously reported.
The mayor stressed that emergency vehicles would still have access to the street and Grand Central Terminal, a concern raised by one of the reporters who brought up the issue.
“Vanderbilt is a street that gets virtually no traffic,” the mayor said. “There’s some but very small.” The strip is especially quiet, not just for cars but pedestrians, as well. But new towers along the avenue could mean an enlivened street, as well. | {
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Two new explosions ripped through an ammunition depot at a Russian military facility in eastern Siberia on Friday, injuring eight people, according to state-run news agency TASS. A fire also broke out at the storage depot, located near the city of Achinsk.
TASS reported that the Russian Defense Ministry said lightning was the cause of the explosion and that the nearby village of Kamenka was being evacuated.
The incident comes four days after deadly explosions and a subsequent fire swept through the same ammo facility, forcing thousands of nearby residents to evacuate.
One person was killed and 13 others injured during Monday’s explosions, according to local reports. Russia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday said "human error" was a possible cause for the explosions.
stb/msh (AP, Reuters, TASS) | {
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When I speak with Jonathan LaPaglia he is hunkered down in California, unable to attend the recently filmed Australian Survivor Reunion.
For LaPaglia, who is himself an avid fan of the format, it’s a big disappointment but a necessary one. 10 go-to guy Osher Günsberg steps into the studio with LaPaglia announcing the winner via satellite (he declines to reveal quite how that unfolds).
More frustrating is the delay to the next season which was due to film in Fiji in April and screen in coming months. Nor is it practical to relocate to the tropics of Queensland, either.
“Every production around the world has been put on hold and we’re no exception,” he explains.
“It’s not going to be possible until we’re on top of the pandemic -not only from an insurance point of view, but just the logistical point of view.
“You may be able to isolate the cast for something like Survivor, but you have a crew that’s still functioning within the community, wherever that is.
“The way crews work, they are very tight.”
“The minute one crew member gets it, obviously they’re out but then you have to isolate everyone else who’s been in contact with them. The way crews work, they are very tight. So as soon as one person gets it, basically your whole production is shut down.”
The crew comprises some 200 to 300 people.
“Not only do we have Australians that we transport over to Fiji, but we also have an equal amount of local hire on transportation, construction. catering, security. They’re involved in everything.”
Producers had originally mapped out a three-way final Tribal Council, but tonight only two of David, Moana & Sharn will proceed beyond the very last challenge.
“It’s an endurance challenge, again. There’s elements of other final challenges in this challenge,”says LaPaglia.
“We really wanted to do three but the unfortunate situation with Lee and his mother, he had to leave the game so we couldn’t do a final tribal of three.”
“He’s a producer’s dream in a way.”
And while David is the bookie’s favourite to win, LaPaglia points out that even if he loses the challenge there’s still the question of whether one of his rivals may or may not take him to the end.
“David’s incredibly entertaining, very smart and he knows how to work a camera as well. So he’s a producer’s dream in a way.
“But there’s no one way of doing it, which is what makes the game so fun to watch.”
LaPaglia, now in his 5th season for 10, has won plenty of praise for his hosting of the series, with a watertight format that requires him to follow the hosting methods of Jeff Probst -from challenge descriptions to the poetic summary wrapping up Tribal Council.
“They’re all quite opinionated about it!”
But he points out the the Aussie players have developed a gently ribbing of his Tribal Council closing summary.
“In the US they just kind of sit there, don’t say anything and leave. But (in Australian Survivor), they’re all waiting for it and they’re all quite opinionated about it!
“They always give me either a thumbs up or ‘nahhhh.’ It’s like they’re holding up score cards!” he laughs.
“We do have a writer that that comes up with them, but when we’re organising the votes we push ideas around and stuff.
“It usually references what’s happened in the Tribal. Sometimes we get a little stuck because in the edit the ‘theme’ disappears or is not prominent. So sometimes the tagline at the end doesn’t quite work.”
Tonight David, Moana & Sharn only want to hear one thing: they they have outwitted, outlasted and outplayed the very best to win $500,000.
Australian Survivor airs 7:30pm tonight (Reunion at 9pm).
Related | {
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During a conference call on Thursday, campaign chairman John Podesta told reporters the time for talking about Sanders would be closer to the first debate in October. That will be:
“the moment where those issues and the differences between the candidates will certainly be front and center and will be put before Democratic voters in the primary.”
Unfortunately, it would seem Hillary Clinton is quite comfortable hiring other politicians to talk about Bernie Sanders before the debates. The campaign has started paying for endorsements from elected officials, such as Sen. Jean Shaheen (N.H.) and former Gov. Tom Vilsack (Iowa). Gov. Dannel Malloy (Conn) took issue with Bernie Sanders’ record on guns. Having other Democrats speak badly of Bernie Sanders is political manipulation designed to criticize him and create the illusion Democrats are closing ranks around Clinton’s campaign, while Ms. Clinton says nothing and looks innocent. The problem is, as long as she is paying for it, with money or political promises, the comments cannot be considered genuine. It is simply more “old school” political deceit, designed to confuse the voters.
Hillary Clinton, herself, does not mention Bernie Sanders by name. Instead, her Brooklyn office pays the travel costs for her proxies to mention him. They are being sent to the early-voting states to criticize the popular senator.
In Des Moines, Rep. Joaquin Castro (Texas), whose travel expenses were paid for by the Clinton campaign, criticized Bernie Sanders for a lack of outreach to Latinos.
On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, (N.Y.) said,
“I don’t think there’s any comparison between Hillary Clinton’s credentials and qualifications and positions, and Bernie Sanders. I do not see that as a close call.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill stated,
“I think the question that some of us have, is can someone who has said, ‘I’m not a Democrat,’ has chosen the title of socialist, is that person really electable?”
According to democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf,
“When you attack someone in politics, it is a sign of fear. Whether coordinated or not, these supporters of Hillary Clinton now attacking Bernie Sanders are obviously worried about Clinton’s future as Sanders popularity and voter interest in him rise.”
Sanders is closing in on Clinton’s lead in Iowa, trailing her by just seven points in the most recent Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register poll, 37% to 30%. In New Hampshire. Sanders topped Clinton 44% to 37% among likely Democratic primary voters, according to a Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll.
For now, Hillary Clinton wants it to appear that she is staying above the fray she is creating. She said,
“Other candidates may be out fighting for a particular ideology, but I am fighting for you.”
A spokeswoman for her campaign refused to comment on hiring other politicians to slam Bernie. But operatives said it was a winning strategy for Clinton. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said,
“When you’re facing a challenger who is surging and has low negatives, the notion that you would try to put a little cloud over his image makes a lot of sense. To have Hillary do it would be beyond the pale. But you can’t let Bernie jog around the track by himself picking up support.”
Hillary Clinton’s response is to hire others to create the cloud of doubt. This behavior, combined with her efforts to secure the votes of delegates and super delegates in advance of the primaries, it is a little disappointing. This kind of behind the scenes political manipulation might allow “her” to win, but would Democrats and the American people win? | {
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August 10, 2000
For the New College B.M.O.C., 'M' Is for 'Machine'
By LISA GUERNSEY
Left, Jim West/Impact Visuals for The New York Times; above, Barbara Martin for The New York Times WIRED - College students like, left, James L. Carey, and Shaun Encinias use computers for things like music, e-mail and homework.
How 20th century, college students today might say.
The computer, they declare, is the only item that could deserve to be first on any list of dorm necessities. In fact, the computer not only displaces other technology in importance but also replaces the need for some other appliances.
It serves as the stereo for students who listen to MP3 files and radio Webcasts. It makes answering machines less necessary because so much communication occurs via e-mail and instant messages. It can even substitute for televisions and alarm clocks.
The computer has also become the portal through which students do everything they need to do on campus. Using the Internet, they register for classes, turn in assignments, order books, browse the library catalog, listen to music, talk to friends, read the news, write papers, play games, pay bills, watch movies and carry on heated political discussions. Alumni returning to their alma maters will find that the quads and classrooms still exist, but the computer has become almost more central than the physical campus.
"It is an invisible change," said Matthew Pittinsky, co-chairman and founder of Blackboard, a software company that serves more than 3,300 colleges. "But it is probably the most profound change that colleges have seen since the G.I. Bill."
The computer's immense impact on the social and academic lives of college students is just beginning to become apparent. Some students say they are carrying on fewer conversations with their dorm mates and more conversations with friends across the country. Many students say that while they still hit the bars and coffee shops, they rarely go to the library. One study shows that students spend less free time watching television, now that they can be entertained online.
As students pivot toward online information, "something clearly has to give," said Eric Weil, managing partner in Student Monitor, a market research company that polls college students. In the latest Student Monitor survey, conducted in the spring, 56 percent of the 1,200 respondents at colleges across the country said that they had spent less time watching television in the previous six months.
What were they doing instead? About 42 percent said they were spending more time surfing the Web and 49 percent said they were spending more time sending and receiving e-mail. Academics played a role too: 57 percent said they were spending more time doing homework. In many cases, Mr. Weil said, that homework was probably being done on a computer, often online.
But some students say that it is not television that they neglect. Instead, they are spending less time on the telephone or talking face-to-face with their peers on campus. It is not that they are being antisocial, the students say. They are simply communicating with people in a different way, using e-mail, online chats and streams of instant messages.
Eric Kelson, a junior at Syracuse University, said he frequently chatted online with his parents, his sister, his grandmother in Florida and his friends at other colleges. "It helps because calling is expensive," Mr. Kelson said. "And e-mail is good but it is not as personal."
He and his friends often watch television while they chat, he said. And more often than not, he said, he is chatting with people in his dormitory, even though they may be only a few paces away. Instead of picking up the telephone or knocking on his neighbors' doors to see what they are up to, he will send them instant messages.
Students who once said, `See you on the quad,' now say, `Meet you online.'
Mr. Kelson's case is not unusual, said Bennett Fisher, vice president for community at CollegeClub.com, a social site for students that has attracted nearly three million users. "We used to sit in the hallway and talk to students in the dorm," Mr. Fisher said. "Now they do that on the Web."
Even conversations with professors, those moments of stimulating intellectual discussion that some baby boomers may recall with nostalgia, are often supplanted by online communication.
"Office hours are being replaced with e-mail discussions," said Gary Gigliotti, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Rutgers University. Some regret the loss, but instead of waiting for those few hours a week when professors open their doors, students would rather talk online, Mr. Gigliotti said. "It is more convenient for them," he said.
The seeds of this shift were planted in the early 1980's, when technologically adept students started taking computers to campus. But back then, the machines were by no means essential. They were primarily used for typing papers, and most students relied on the word-processing programs in computer laboratories instead of buying their own machines. Computer science and statistics students were often the only ones to use computers for more than writing papers.
In the mid-1990's, when the Internet caught on beyond the halls of engineering and computer science departments, that started to change. Large universities began to invest tens of millions of dollars in wiring dormitory rooms in the hope of providing high-speed Internet access to every student. It was the beginning of the race to provide what administrators call "one port per pillow." On average, campuses have wired about 63 percent of their dormitories, according to the Campus Computing Project, an annual survey of more than 500 institutions across the country. Private research universities have gone the furthest: Of those surveyed, all said they offered high-speed access in every dorm.
The availability of Internet access has become a deciding factor for students who are trying to decide where to apply to college. Yahoo Internet Life magazineproduces an annual ranking, "The 100 Most Wired Colleges." EduCause, a nonprofit organization that promotes technology in higher education, has created an online guide to help applicants determine which universities measure up to their needs ( www.educause.edu/consumerguide).
In a sign of how important Internet access has become, students at Michigan State University, where most dormitories are wired, lined up seven hours in advance last spring to make sure that they were assigned to wired housing. To help those who missed out, the college installed voice mail. Everyone in those dorms uses the telephone lines for dial-up access, said James L. Carey, a sophomore, "and students would be online so much they would never get phone calls."
One of the latest challenges facing administrators is whether to require all entering students to bring a computer to college, and if so, whether the computer should be a laptop or desktop. Reports on the Educause Web site show that about 100 universities have such a requirement, which in some cases is imposed only on students in certain programs.
Next fall, the number will probably increase; about 11 percent of the institutions surveyed by the Campus Computing Project last fall said they would have a laptop computer requirement in place by 2001.
Ohio University is one of the universities that have decided to tackle the issue another way. Every Ohio University undergraduate dorm room is equipped with at least one new $1,000 Gateway computer and printer. The cost of the equipment is covered in an annual student fee.
Exactly how much time do students spend on these machines? An increasing amount, according to surveys. In the fall of 1998, according to Student Monitor, students spent an average of 5.6 hours a week online. That rose to 7.2 hours in the fall of 1999 and 8.1 hours this spring.
But many students say those numbers are even higher among students with computers in dorms that have high-speed access to the Internet. Shaun Encinias, a student at San Diego State University, said he spent hours online each day, checking e-mail before leaving his room in the morning, between classes, after classes and after dinner.
E-mail, though, is not necessarily the most important reason for going online, according to the students polled by Student Monitor. More than 44 percent said that "schoolwork-related research" was their No. 1 priority.
Most courses now have an Internet component, professors say, whether it is a Web-based syllabus, an e-mail-based discussion board, an online repository of required reading or an interactive quiz. Some instructors set up online chats with experts and colleagues at other universities across the country. And many students use the Internet and online library resources to do most, if not all, of their research for papers and projects. When they are done, many send their papers via e-mail or click through Web pages during presentations in class.
The presence of the computer can sway some students away from academics, however. Mr. Carey, the sophomore at Michigan State, said he had failed all his classes his first semester. "I was shellshocked," he said. "I stayed in my room all the time." He would log on to the Internet as soon as he woke up and hung out with friends he had made online instead of doing homework or talking with friends on campus. This year, he said, he is doing much better and uses his computer mainly for homework.
he warned, it can also lead to more isolation. If students choose to interact online with people who are just down the hall, for example, they are missing the chance to see other people's facial expressions, how they look when they are joking and what their body language says about their personalities.
Kaycee Swenson, a high school senior in Wichita, Kan., who took several courses at her local college last year, said she talked to people online every day, most of whom were not at her campus. But she said she also hung out with friends in the physical world, listening to music and playing basketball. "You have to balance it," she said.
This fall, she will enroll full time at the University of California at San Diego, and she plans to take a new computer with her, even though she already has one equipped with a Pentium II processor. "It's fast," she said, "but not fast enough."
In fact, she said, when she talks to her mother about what she took to college decades ago, she cannot believe what students had to put up with. "She thought it was great," Ms. Swenson said, "that she was able to take a calculator to college or a cassette player to tape lectures." And when her mother said she had to stand in line to register for classes and to wait for professors to open their offices, she said she could hardly imagine it. "I laugh at those things," Ms. Swenson said, "but I'm sure it wasn't fun, you know?"
These sites are not part of The New York Times on the Web, and The Times has no control over their content or availability. | {
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I wish this would happen. By ghost522 Watch
2 Favourites 1 Comment 619 Views
VIVA LA REVOLUCCION!
Characters done in Ink. Customized by me.
Oh that godawful 3D movie is coming up. ARE YOU READY?
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UK Prime Minister Theresa May issues an apology to Caribbean leaders for the treatment of immigrants, but is it enough?
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has apologised to 12 Caribbean nations for the treatment of people from the so-called “Windrush generation”.
On Tuesday, May told leaders and diplomats attending a summit of Commonwealth heads of government in London that she was “genuinely sorry for any anxiety that has been caused”.
Her statement came amid a scandal over the treatment of immigrants who arrived in the UK after the World War II to address labour shortages.
When May was home secretary in 2012, she set out to create strict new rules which required employers, health services and landlords to demand evidence of people’s immigration status.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Windrush generation?
The Windrush generation refers to the immigrants who were invited to the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
The name derives from the ship MV Empire Windrush, which on June 22, 1948, docked in Tilbury, Essex, bringing nearly 500 Jamaicans to the UK.
The immigrants came at the invitation of the British government, which was facing a labour shortage due to the destruction caused by World War II.
The 1971 Immigration Act gave Commonwealth citizens who were already living in the UK indefinite leave to remain.
What is happening to them?
A scandal over the treatment of members of the Windrush generation has been mounting in recent months as a multitude of reports have come out about mostly elderly people being denied services, losing their jobs and even facing deportation.
Many of the Windrush generation had arrived as children on their parents’ passports. And although they have lived in Britain for many decades – paying taxes and insurance – they never formally became British citizens.
Amid the tightening of the immigration rules, an estimated 50,000 long-term UK residents could now be facing problems.
Among them is Michael Braithwaite, who arrived from Barbados when he was nine, more than 50 years ago.
Thinking that he was British, Braithwaite never applied for a passport and did not realise there was a problem with his immigration status until 2016. In 2017, he lost his job at a school where he had worked for more than 15 years.
“If I was deported, I don’t know what I would do. To take someone out and just throw them out, like they had no worth,” Braithwaite told Al Jazeera.
“It’s about worth, what you’ve done to help Britain be the better place that it was.”
In recent months, the British media has been reporting about a growing number of similar cases.
In late November, The Guardian reported that Paulette Wilson, 61, spent a week at a detention centre and was nearly deported to Jamaica, despite having been in Britain for 50 years.
Albert Thompson (not his real name), 63, was also reported to have been denied free cancer treatment through the British publicly funded National Health Service (NHS) for failing to provide evidence that he had lived in the UK since 1973.
What has the reaction been?
Last Thursday, Caribbean diplomats called on the UK to resolve the issues faced by the Windrush generation.
“I am dismayed that people who gave their all to Britain could be seemingly discarded so matter-of-factly,” The Guardian quoted Guy Hewitt, Barbados high commissioner to the UK, as saying.
On Monday, David Lammy, an opposition member of the UK parliament, launched a scathing critique of the government, telling parliamentarians it was a “day of shame”.
“It is inhumane and cruel for so many of that Windrush generation to have suffered so long in this condition,” he said.
A petition asking the government to give “amnesty” to minors who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1971 had gathered more than 165,000 signatures by Wednesday morning.
How has the UK government responded?
On Monday, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd apologised for the “appalling” treatment received by some of the Windrush generation.
“I am concerned that the Home Office has become too concerned with policy and strategy and sometimes loses sight of the individual,” she told the British parliament.
Rudd also announced the creation of a new team tasked with helping long-term UK residents born in the Commonwealth prove they are entitled to stay. She said she was “not aware of any person being removed” and vowed to find out from High Commissioners of the Commonwealth countries.
May issued her apology to the Caribbean leaders after initially refusing to discuss the controversy with them.
“I want to dispel any impression that my government is in any sense clamping down on Commonwealth citizens, particularly those from the Caribbean who have built a life here,” she told them.
Those attending the meeting included representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. | {
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You may have heard that Carly Fiorina won the September 16 CNN debate and has since entered the “top tier” of Republican presidential candidates. Well, for now that’s true, but in the long run, the true winner will be the same guy who won the August 6 Fox debate and is winning pretty much every political debate we have in this country these days: Roger Ailes. Ad Policy
Allow me to explain: Ever since Ailes founded Fox News in 1996 (with Rupert Murdoch’s money), the station has served as a propaganda arm and ideological enforcer for the Republican Party even as it pretends to be a news network. Its broadcasts ignore reality whenever convenient, preferring to purvey whatever misinformation and/or ideological obfuscation serve Ailes’s strategic and financial purposes. Because the network’s loyal viewers believe whatever nonsense it broadcasts, and because they happen to be the conservative movement’s most dedicated activists, Republican politicians have no choice but to pander to them. Members of the political media are therefore faced with a choice: expose the nonsense or try to imitate it. Alas, most of them—or at least their bosses—took a look at the billions of dollars Ailes and company rake in and, well… money talked.
The degree to which CNN prostituted itself to the Republican Party during the debate would be shocking had this frog not been slowly boiling for over a decade. To earn the right to charge advertisers 40 times its normal rate for a program that reached a record 23 million viewers, CNN executives agreed to allow the deranged right-wing radio announcer Hugh Hewitt to help steer the debate. One imagines they also instructed their own host, Jake Tapper, to invite the candidates to lie with impunity because no self-respecting journalist would have allowed himself to be part of such a degrading performance unless specifically ordered to do so.
It would take an entire issue of this magazine merely to catalog the falsehoods Tapper and Hewitt let slide that night. They ran the gamut from national security to economics to vaccination to climate change to immigration. George W. Bush did not “keep us safe,” and it was his administration, not Obama’s, that ensured both the US exit from Iraq and the growth of ISIS. The Iran deal does not rest on self-inspection, and Iran did not invite Russia into Syria. Vaccinations do not cause autism. Climate change is not in doubt, and attempting to address it would not “destroy” the economy. Undocumented immigrants do not cost taxpayers $200 billion a year. Social Security is not going insolvent. Hillary Clinton is not being investigated because she “destroyed government records.” Believe me, I could go on (and on). These lies, half-truths, and outright crazy statements were so stupid as to be offensive to common sense. And yet because Tapper and Hewitt chose not to challenge them, CNN was not only not supporting democratic debate but actively undermining it.
True, many media institutions did run post-game “fact-checks,” but these same institutions ignored them when the time came to tally up the score. Hence, Fiorina was chosen as debate champion because her lies were considered to be the most effective. According to The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty, “pretty much everyone agreed that [Carly] Fiorina…had won the evening.” The paper’s political handicapper, Chris Cillizza, termed her “emotional call to a higher moral authority when talking about Planned Parenthood” to be “the most affecting moment of the debate.” Yet neither Tumulty (who won a 2013 prize for “Excellence in Political Reporting”) nor Cillizza (whose “Mouthpiece Theatre” series with Post colleague Dana Milbank once suggested that Hillary Clinton should be served a bottle of “Mad Bitch Beer”) thought it important to note her transparent dishonesty.
The New York Times’s front-page lead story also celebrated Fiorina as “a credible antidote to the gender gap and the Democrats’ claims of a Republican ‘war on women.’” A reader had to wade through more than 1,200 words of padded fluff before learning that the “most affecting moment” staged by this “credible antidote” was a brazen lie. There is no evidence in the secretly taped Planned Parenthood videos of “a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.” As the story mentions in passing in paragraph 23, “The video that Mrs. Fiorina seems to be referring to does show a still image of a fetus being held outside the womb. But it is not seen squirming as Mrs. Fiorina describes, nor is there any indication that it is about to have its brain removed.” (Her foreign policy pronouncements were even more objectionable… if that’s possible.)
Tapper dived so deeply into right-wing Republican waters, he swam in its xenophobia as well. How else to describe his use of the term “illegal immigrants,” a phrase that’s loaded with conservative assumptions about who is and is not welcome in this country? THE NATION IS READER FUNDED. YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL TO OUR WORK. DONATE NOW!
Most depressing of all, Tapper found himself celebrated in the MSM for his failure. Ira Glass tweeted, “What a great job getting candidates to talk to each other. A model. Respect.” Bob Woodward used his first tweet ever to announce “@jaketapper soared as the New Boss in the #gopdebate, asserting his authority and making vividly clear his political neutrality.”
The fellow sipping champagne, however, should be Roger Ailes. Thanks to his genius, the Republican presidential primary is a parade of liars, xenophobes, misogynists, and, let’s be honest, lunatics. And the leading lights of American journalism do not merely enable them; they cheer them on. Like victims of the so-called “Stockholm Syndrome,” they’d rather switch than fight. Too bad it’s our democracy that’s really being tortured. | {
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The brave fearless volunteers behind Ubuntu GNOME are very happy to announce
the official release of Ubuntu GNOME 16.04 LTS supported for 3 years and
this is our 2nd official Long Term Support (LTS) version.
Before you upgrade or download, kindly make sure to read:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/XenialXerus/ReleaseNotes/UbuntuGNOME
You may want to download from:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-gnome/releases/16.04/release/
We highly suggest to download via torrent.
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS release announcement:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-release/2016-April/003720.html
Special thanks to each and everyone who made it happen. You’re the best, no
doubt about it.
Yet another achievement 😀
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for choosing and using Ubuntu GNOME!
Ali Jawad
Ubuntu GNOME Release and Community Manager | {
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Do you know your favorite Cubs player's walk-up music?
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant, left, and Anthony Rizzo smile as they gather for a team meeting before a warm up before Game 1 of baseball's National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
A walk-up song says a lot about the player as he strides to the plate. It reflects his personality, establishes his presence at the plate and, maybe, even inspires some baseball heroics. In other words, walk-up songs are not chosen lightly.
As the Cubs hunker down for their postseason run, we've curated a Spotify playlist of the music they've chosen to soundtrack their October. You can jam out just like you're there with them on the North Side:
But Chicago's not the only team searching for a championship title. To listen to other postseason teams' walk-up music, follow MLB on Spotify here:
And you can test yourself: How well do you know the Cubs' tunes? The players have carefully chosen their walk-up songs (or, in some cases, the pitchers have chosen their mound music). But have you been carefully listening?
Check out the full list of Cubs' walk-up music below:
Jake Arrieta : Super Duper - "Angela" (Mound), Slightly Stoopid - "2 AM" (Plate), Major Lazer - "Lean On" (Bullpen)
Albert Almora Jr.: Jacob Forever - "Hasta que se Seque Malecon", "Classic Man" - Jidenna, "So Fresh, So Clean" - Outkast
Javier Báez : Snow - "Informer", Farruko - "Visionary"
Kris Bryant : Kris Kross - "Warm It Up"
Trevor Cahill : Limp Bizkit - "N 2 Gether Now"
Aroldis Chapman : Rage Against the Machine - "Wake Up"
Chris Coghlan : "Stone Cold Steve Austin Entrance Song", "Hulk Hogan Entrance", "Break the Walls Down (Chris Jericho Entrance)"
Willson Contreras : Victor Manuelle - "Que Suenen Los Tambores", Omega - "Chambonea", Tambor Urbano - "Leo Leo Lee"
Carl Edwards, Jr.: Notorious B.I.G. - "Big Poppa"
Dexter Fowler : Drake - "Jumpman", James Brown - "Doing It to Death (Gonna Have a Funky Good Time)", Kanye West - "Fade"
Tim Federowicz : The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Ja Rule - "Old Thing Back", 50 Cent - "If I Can't", Drake - "6 Man"
Justin Grimm : Brantley Gilbert - "Take It Outside", The Who - "Baba O'Riley", Flo Rida - "GDFR"
Jason Hammel : Pearl Jam - "Alive"
Kyle Hendricks : Aerosmith - "Sweet Emotion"
Jason Heyward : Kungs vs, Cookin' On 3 Burners - "This Girl", Travis Scott - "Through the Late Night", Rick Ross ft. Kanye West - "Sanctified"
Munenori Kawasaki : Crazy Design - "El Teke Teke"
Tommy La Stella : Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons - "December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!)"
John Lackey : Garth Brooks - "Friends in Low Places"
Jon Lester : Jason Aldean - "We Were Here" (Mound), Jake Owen - "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" (Plate), Justin Moore - "Rebel Kids" (Plate)
Miguel Montero : Ricky Martin - "La Mordidita"
Mike Montgomery : Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Goes On", The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
Anthony Rizzo : Martin Solveig, GTA - "Intoxicated", Brett Eldredge - "Drunk on Your Love", Taylor Swift - "Bad Blood"
Héctor Rondón : Chino y Nacho - "Tu Me Quemas"
David Ross : Jay-Z ft. Mr Hudson - "Forever Young", Tone Loc - "Funky Cold Medina"
Addison Russell : Chance the Rapper - "No Problem", Joey Bada$ - "Devastated", Audio Push, Lil Wayne - "Space Jam"
Jorge Soler : Snap! - "The Power", Future - "Wicked"
Pedro Strop : Dioli - "Penelope (Ella Me Dice)", Secreto 'El Famoso Biberon' - "De Amor Nadie Se Muere", El Alfa - "No Hay Forma"
Travis Wood : Justin Moore - "How I Got to Be This Way"
Ben Zobrist : Julianna Zobrist - "Alive" | {
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Edith Casas will marry her twin sister’s killer today in a truly twisted Valentine’s Day ceremony.
Victor Cingolani is currently serving 13 years in prison for murder. According to the Daily News, Johana Casas was killed just before her 20th birthday back in August of 2010. Cingolani, an ex-boyfriend of Johana's, was convicted of shooting her in June of 2012.
Cingolani allegedly had an accomplice in the crime, Marcos Diaz. Diaz was also a former lover of Johana’s. He will be on trial for his role later this year. Cingolani maintains that the only person who committed murder was Diaz and that he is completely innocent in the matter.
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Edith and Cingolani were supposed to get married back in December, but her family put a stop to the ceremony and said that the young woman was guilty of a “terrible betrayal.” In order to prevent the marriage from happening, Edith’s mother, Marcelina Orellana y Paola, asked the civil registry to determine whether her daughter was of sound mind to wed.
The investigation wrapped up in January, and authorities decided that there existed no legal reason why Edith could not get married. The wedding is supposed to happen today.
Cingolani said from his jail cell: “I would have loved it if my wedding had been peaceful. I don't want any mess. I understand the situation in her family. But they have to understand me in that what I do, I do for love.”
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Twenty-five guests are expected to attend the civil ceremony, but don’t expect to see Edith’s mother there.
Marcelina said that she will be boycotting the event. “We are terrified of things that we are living,” she said. “He is involved as the principle author of Johana's death. He killed her, there is no doubt.”
Edith believes in Cingolani’s innocence and is backing him in an appeal of his conviction.
Source: The Daily News
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The gruesome daylight attack was reportedly captured on a surveillance camera installed in the locality.
In a suspected case of honour killing, a Dalit student, who had recently married a caste Hindu girl, was brutally murdered in public view in front of a shop at Udumalpet in Tirupur district on Sunday.
A three-member gang that came on a motorcycle attacked V. Sankar (22) and his wife S. Kausalya (19), with lethal weapons.
While Sankar died on the way to the hospital, his wife who suffered a head injury was admitted to the Coimbatore Government Hospital.
Relatives of the girl who had opposed her marriage with the Dalit youth are suspected to be involved in the incident.
The gruesome daylight attack was reportedly captured on a surveillance camera installed in the locality. Local people even took pictures (on mobile phones) of the suspects escaping on the motorcycle leaving the victims in a pool of blood, police sources said.
Sankar, a native of Kumaralingam near Udumalpet, and Kausalya, a native of Palani in Dindigul district, were students of a private engineering college in Pollachi where they met and fell in love. The couple got married a few months ago against the wishes of the girl’s family.
Kausalya, who had just joined the college, gave up her studies and went to a private firm in Tirupur for work to support her husband who was in the final year. Her parents had opposed the marriage and even moved the court to separate them. Since she was a major and the marriage was on mutual consent no legal action could be initiated, the sources said.
On Sunday, Sankar and Kausalya went to a departmental store in Udumalpet when the accused attacked them. Sankar suffered a grievous injury on his neck and fell unconscious on the spot. He succumbed to the injury while being rushed to the hospital.
The condition of Kausalya was said to be stable. Even as many people in the area watched in shock, the accused fled the scene on a motorcycle.
A senior police official who inspected the scene of crime said one of the girl’s close relatives had hired mercenaries to murder the Dalit youth. “We have detained a prime suspect who masterminded the attack. The three assailants would be apprehended soon,” he said. | {
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If you or a loved one suffers from chronic pain, you know that every day can be a struggle. You’ve probably tried all types of pain relief solutions or even tried prescription pain medication to stop the pain. Unfortunately, many chronic pain sufferers need to use more than one method to manage their pain. Finding treatments that don’t cause side effects or interfere with any medication you’re taking can be tricky but there is still an option for you.
Promising Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Pain
Cannabidiol, a cannabinoid found in marijuana and hemp plants, has taken the nation by storm after researchers found CBD has a positive effect on the nervous system. Research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology1 reveals CBD is especially effective for reducing inflammation and acts as an antioxidant in the body.
Now, hundreds of studies are underway to see how effective CBD is for managing all types of chronic conditions and health problems, including:
Chronic pain
Arthritis
Cancer
Fibromyalgia
Anxiety
Depression
…and more
One of the great things about CBD is there are no unpleasant side effects. Even though cannabidiol is derived from marijuana and hemp plants, it is one of the cannabinoids that does not give you a ‘high’. THC, another cannabinoid, is what causes the ‘drugged’ effect and may even cause anxiety. CBD is being studied to relieve anxiety and create a sense of calm. It’s why so many people are now using CBD as part of their pain management program.
How to Get CBD for Free
If you are ready to try CBD for yourself, you might not need to pay a single dollar to get the relief you need. The FDA is currently conducting dozens of clinical trials of CBD for various conditions. As of May 2017, there are more than 120 clinical trials for CBD underway in the United States
If you are eligible for these trials, you could receive free pain treatment with CBD. Some clinical trials even pay you to participate.
Many people don’t know how to find these trials but one health advocacy organization has taken the guesswork out of accessing these trials for you. HealthRight provides a free online survey for those interested in participating in the latest CBD clinical trials. It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey and you’ll receive a free report of clinical trials for pain now enrolling participants. | {
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NEW DELHI: Businesses lobbying ministers for favourable policies is common practice, but doing that with Opposition leaders is extremely rare. But a bunch of top foreign institutional investors has done just that.Some 20 or so top foreign fund representatives met Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the fate of key economic legislations, notably the long-pending Goods and Services Tax GST ) Bill, the unusual meeting underscoring the nervousness in markets whether economic reforms will once again become hostage to politics in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.The meeting, at Gandhi’s Tughlak Lane residence and arranged at the behest of the investors, was labelled by one of the attendees as an attempt to get a ‘first-hand view’ of the Congress party’s stance in the upcoming Parliament session. Put bluntly, they wanted to know whether or not Congress would support the GST Bill’s passage in the winter session that starts on November 26. Representatives of firms such as Capital International, HSBC , T.Rowe Price, Dutch Pension Fund and Jupiter Capital are among those said to have attended the hour-long meeting with Gandhi, who was accompanied by United Progressive Alliance-era minister and close adviser Jairam Ramesh and other party functionaries.While representatives of the firms were not available for comment, one of the Congress functionaries present at the meeting said Gandhi assured the investors that his party was not against economic reforms and put the onus for the Bill’s passage on the government.“It was the Congress party which ushered in liberalisation and first brought the GST Bill. But the party is equally committed to protecting the marginalised, the poor and make sure the security support systems are in place,” said this person.“He (Rahul Gandhi) didn’t say that we will stall Parliament. ‘The GST Bill is our Bill, we introduced it three years ago…We are not against growth but the present government has to engage with Opposition. They can’t take a stand just because they have the numbers’,” the person quoted Gandhi as saying.Rahul Gandhi too acknowledged the meeting on his twitter handle @officeofRG. “Had a fruitful discussion with top foreign institutional investors yesterday on state of the economy & its priorities.”Market watchers warn further delay in passage of key reforms, including GST, could lead to some foreign investors paring a portion of their Indian holdings. “Investor patience is running thin and the government needs to push through at least one big-banner reform in the winter session of Parliament to regain confidence,” said Taimur Baig and Kaushik Das, economists at Deutsche Bank.The hour-long meeting largely focussed on the GST Bill, but the bankruptcy law was also discussed.In a recent interview with Reuters, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government is ready to discuss all issues with the Opposition on GST, but would not compromise on the basic architecture of the tax reform.Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram has put three conditions for supporting the Bill. These include a constitutional cap of 18% on GST, a dispute resolution authority, and dropping of the 1% tax proposed on interstate movement of goods. ' The government could not get the GST Bill passed in the monsoon session because it refused to accept these conditions.(Additional reporting by CL Manoj and Biswajit Baruah) | {
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The president of the Czech Republic stunned journalists at a press conference on Thursday where he set a giant pair of red underwear on fire.
Milos Zeman, 73, arranged the impromptu event without giving a reason. When reporters arrived for the briefing, he instead looked on as two firefighters set the pair of three-foot long briefs alight in the garden of Prague Castle.
The bizarre demonstration was supposedly meant to symbolize “the time to end the era of dirty laundry in politics," according to Radio Praha.
Zeman then told the press corps: “I’m sorry to make you look like little idiots, you really don’t deserve."
The boxers were made by artist collective Ztohoven, who once flew them above the Czech presidential palace instead of the national flag in 2015.
PRO-TRUMP CZECH PRESIDENT WHO WARNED OF 'ORGANIZED INVASION' OF MIGRANTS WINS RE-ELECTION
They were made in response to what they perceived as Zeman’s closeness to China and Russia. The president reportedly purchased the same pair from the state property office for one Czech crown.
Petr Gazdik of the opposition Stan party, said that he “would say that the President has gone mad” if he did not have respect for the office of the presidency. He added that the stunt “reduces the dignity of the presidential office."
The pro-Trump, anti-immigration Zeman, who won re-election to the presidential office in January, has had a series of run-ins with the press during his tenure.
ANGELA MERKEL'S GERMAN GOVERNMENT FACING COLLAPSE OVER HER IMMIGRATION STANCE
In May 2017, he remarked to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “journalists should be liquidated," although he later claimed it was a joke.
Last October, he turned up to a press conference with a toy Kalashnikov rifle in his hand that was labelled “for journalists," and in January 2016, he joked that the then prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka could be “got rid of” by shooting him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | {
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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced confidence on Sunday that Washington would give Israel the nod within two months to move ahead with de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.
Slideshow ( 3 images )
Palestinians have expressed outrage at Israel’s plans to cement its hold further on land it seized in the 1967 Middle East war, territory they are seeking for a state.
Netanyahu, in announcing a deal with his centrist rival Benny Gantz last week to form a unity government, set July 1 for the start of cabinet discussions on extending Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the West Bank and annexing outright the area’s Jordan Valley.
Such a move would need to be agreed with Washington, according to the Netanyahu-Gantz agreement.
In a video address on Sunday to a pro-Israeli Christian group in Europe, Netanyahu described a U.S. peace proposal announced by President Donald Trump in January as a promise to recognise Israel’s authority over West Bank settlement land.
“A couple of months from now I am confident that that pledge will be honoured,” Netanyahu told the European Commission for Israel.
Palestinian officials offered no immediate comment on Netanyahu’s remarks.
Palestinians have flatly rejected the Trump peace proposal, partly because it awards Israel most of what it has sought during decades of conflict, including nearly all the occupied land on which it has built settlements.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday it was up to Israel whether to annex parts of the West Bank and said that Washington would offer its views privately to its new government.
The Palestinians and many countries regard Israel’s settlements in the West Bank as illegal under the Geneva Conventions that bar settling on land captured in war.
Israel disputes this, citing security needs and biblical, historical and political connections to the land. | {
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If Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin does not release Donald Trump’s tax returns as Congress has requested, will he face jail time? Joy Reid and her panel discuss the means Congress has to enforce House subpoenas, while comparing Trump’s administration to the Watergate era. | {
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Ugo Udezue was living the American basketball dream. The Lagos, Nigeria, native was an NBA agent for one of the most respected agencies, BDA Sports. The former Wyoming basketball big man’s clients included players Andre Roberson, Nenê and Festus Ezeli.
So why did Udezue give up being an agent to go back home? To give Africa its own NBA.
“This is the best thing I have ever done in my life,” the 39-year-old Udezue said. “This is the best decision I ever made in my life. It’s surreal. Like a dream. If someone asked me four years ago if I was moving back to Africa, I would have said no. But I’m home. And most importantly for me, I’m building an industry that never existed before. We’ve created jobs. We’ve created opportunities in just over a year of being in existence.”
Udezue started the African Basketball League with six teams in the spring of 2017 and rebranded it into the 10-team Continental Basketball League in six African countries. The CBL has teams in countries including Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo. There are nine team owners, with one team, the Eko Kings, run by the league. The CBL is expected to announce that it will move its 2018 season to the fall with a 15-game campaign concluding with Final Four playoffs in November and December. The CBL has its own production company to show televised games in sub-Saharan Africa and is working on a broader cable deal, Udezue said.
The CBL is in its infancy, and there has been a lot of red tape for Udezue and the league to fight through. But with Udezue’s knowledge from working as an NBA agent and being around the NBA, the CEO of the CBL is hoping to grow it into a powerful league that not only develops players in Africa but also has African team owners and employees.
“The challenges were mostly political,” Udezue said. “People didn’t understand what we were trying to do. It was bucking the system. Sub-Saharan, just by heritage alone, we have the best basketball players. It’s in our DNA. With my experience in the game, I knew there was a lot of value in this region. But there was no professional basketball league because the precolonial system that has been in place didn’t make room for that when it comes to sports.
“A lot of bureaucrats felt threatened about the value we were trying to show, so they did everything they could to do something to stop it. I kept it alive with a lot of passion. We had a lot of people who were supporters who believed in the African dream and Africans creating something for Africans. We have a lot of support. Before our league, people didn’t pay to go to a basketball game here. But now, people pay a lot of money to come.”
Udezue played for the Nigerian junior national team in 1996. The son of Africans educated in the United States next came to America that same year on scholarship to go to school and play basketball at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The 6-foot-9 center landed a basketball scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Udezue averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds as a sophomore for the Cowboys during the 1998-99 season.
But after enduring microfracture knee surgery as a junior, Udezue redshirted and struggled his last two seasons. He graduated with a degree in communications from Wyoming with an emphasis on public relations and advertising.
“The microfracture surgery basically ended my college basketball career,” Udezue said.
After Wyoming, Udezue played professionally in Sweden for a month but could not shake off his knee woes. He next began training kids from Africa in basketball in Washington, D.C. A mutual friend introduced him to NBA agent Bill Duffy, who at the time represented Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash and more NBA stars under his company BDA Sports.
With his eye on finding a basketball connection to Africa, Duffy hired Udezue to be an agent for BDA Sports in 2003. Besides Roberson, Nenê and Ezeli, Udezue represented players including Daniel Ochefu, Hasheem Thabeet, Ben Uzoh, Joakim Noah and Ike Diogu during his 14-year stint as an agent. Udezue said he remains close with his former clients, whom Duffy now represents.
“I liked the challenge, still being involved with basketball and mentoring players,” Udezue said. “I didn’t look at my clients as clients. I looked at them as brothers.”
It certainly would have been lucrative and comfortable to remain in the United States working for BDA Sports. But in the back of Udezue’s mind was the growing list of NBA players coming from Africa who were not developed. Udezue initially planned to go back to Africa to implement some basketball wisdom and come back to the States.
Udezue bought into a professional team in his hometown called the Lagos Islanders in 2015 and persuaded Uzoh to play. Udezue then decided that he should do much more, and the opportunity was there in Nigeria after seeing a “very, very poor” basketball system. He disliked seeing the Islanders’ opponents show up late to games or with bad uniforms. While Udezue considered coming back to America to return to his agent gig, he decided to start a new professional basketball league and moved to Lagos full time in October 2016.
“My heart and soul always told me that I needed to be part of something bigger,” Udezue said. “About four years ago, I woke up one day thinking about it. In [the NBA agent] industry, there are not many Africans in it. Of course, everyone wants to be a doctor. I felt like if anything happened to me today, it would be a damn shame if I never had a chance to give back my knowledge to my society and environment I was born in. It got me thinking that I had a higher calling with me being in the position that I am in. I had been implementing things to try to have the opportunity to come back to Africa.
“I had a choice: either start my own basketball league in Africa or come back to the United States. So I chose to start a basketball league.”
Duffy understood Udezue’s decision to give up representing NBA players in order to realize his dream in Nigeria.
“This has been Ugo’s life mission from the moment he came on board with BDA,” Duffy said. “Fifty percent of his focus has been on this. We have supported it. He has done an unbelievable job. It’s his life passion. He is the right person with his experience and his energy to set up these opportunities.”
Said Udezue: “Bill Duffy has been very supportive.”
Duffy believed Udezue, with his NBA background, could build a sustainable and respectable professional basketball league in Africa. He recalled how his old client Yao built a bridge between China and the NBA.
“I have experienced this before,” Duffy said. “To see a whole culture, a whole commerce and ecosystem develop from scratch. All you had was a Chinese Basketball Association, and no one was present there. But he was the right vehicle to allow this to happen, so his stamp is all over basketball.
“My focus now is Africa and each country where I think there is a Yao Ming. So there could be 20 Yao Mings at that level in Africa with that type of personality and that type of talent that can bring this thing to the highest level.”
Amadou Fall, the NBA’s vice president and managing director for Africa, Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, New York Knicks scout Makhtar Ndiaye and several others have been instrumental in helping develop African players and bring them to the United States. There are programs such as the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Camp, the Ujiri-led Giants of Africa and the Fall-led SEED Academy in Thies, Senegal, that have been instrumental in growing basketball in Africa. There are other pro basketball leagues in Africa.
Still, there is a growing list of African basketball players who have left to develop in different countries or at an American college en route to the NBA.
Udezue envisions a day when the young African basketball player makes it to the NBA through the CBL.
“We are trying to emulate the AAU program in the United States so we can contribute on the grass-roots level,” Udezue said.
CBL games have cheerleaders, music and entertainment similar to the NBA. The games are family-friendly. Udezue said the league will have about 200 employees next season and that the league has tripled its sponsors to 15.
Perhaps what Udezue is most proud of is that the CBL has its own apparel and shoe company called AFA Sports, which Udezue owns. The name means “Africa for Africa” and represents a concept that highlights Africa’s sports development and national pride. AFA Sports is making the uniforms and basketball shoes not only for the CBL but for the Nigerian national team as well. AFA Sports is scheduled to open a flagship store in Victoria Island, Lagos, as well as two other stores.
“After we started the basketball league, we couldn’t get any shoe sponsors, apparel sponsors or even basketballs,” Udezue said. “That’s how AFA Sports got created.”
The 2017-18 NBA opening-day rosters included 108 international players. Led by 2018 NBA All-Star Joel Embiid from Cameroon, the NBA had 12 players from the African continent. Udezue believes that Africa can one day be the biggest exporter of international basketball players to the NBA.
“I’m so proud. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Udezue said.
The 10-team CBL pays $5,000 per player for a 15-game season. In time, Udezue believes the CBL will turn into a power on and off the court that NBA scouts will flock to in hopes of landing the next young star.
“In 10 years, I think [the CBL] will be the second-most impactful league on the planet as it relates to basketball, for sure,” Duffy said. “It’s going to rival the U.S. in terms for intrigue for talent cultivation with African-bred talent. And the league is going to be widely popular throughout the continent. As a result of that, national teams [in Africa] are going to increase their success and profile.
“Basketball is going to be part of the lexicon of the culture in Africa. It’s going to be fabulous.” | {
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Recent Examples on the Web
And some notable game-makers like Firaxis Games (Civilization) and 11-Bit Studios (This War of Mine) are drawing inspiration from climate-change to craft ludic dilemmas that force players to make radical decisions in the face of overwhelming odds. Steven T. Wright, Ars Technica, "From Zelda to Civ to Frostpunk—can climate change be fun?," 5 June 2020
Its hallmarks are relatively simple to describe, belying its revolutionary impact: There are the great cascades of left-hand chords, less ludic than Thelonious Monk’s surprise attacks but no less jagged or forceful. David A. Graham, The Atlantic, "The Jazz Great Behind One of the Most Famous Pairings in Music History," 10 Mar. 2020
This ludic approach makes for some awkward challenges for the reader, who meets Edison as an old man, his children as adults and his second wife before his first. Washington Post, "Thomas Edison’s brilliant life, told in reverse," 27 Nov. 2019
And yet, with its ludic meta-fictionality and the self-conscious construction of characters, the novel cleverly dodges knowable reality, circumventing the question of authenticity altogether. Hermione Hoby, The New Yorker, "What Does It Mean to Be a “Real” Writer?," 3 July 2019
At its best, the show is a tribute to the ludic impulse that many of us carelessly abandoned back on the elementary school playground, the ability to make a branch or a puddle or a chunk of chalked up pavement into some new thing, some new world. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "Review: Mummenschanz Offers Wonder, and a Grumpy Trash Bag," 10 July 2018
Rather, Hunter says the leopard in the video is more likely getting excited about its meal, and seems to be pulling out the jawbone and wielding it in a ludic manner. National Geographic, "Leopard Plays With Prey’s Own Bones," 19 June 2018
Its thematic, visual, and ludic elements hooked into players’ minds and culture as a whole. The Strong Museum Of Play, Ars Technica, "The original Doom, one of 64 Objects that shaped video game history," 2 June 2018
At various moments throughout this avian journey, Ms. Uglow swoops down to examine and explicate with hawk-like acuity the ludic complexities of Lear’s writings. Jonathan Cott, WSJ, "‘Mr. Lear’ Review: An Airborne Life of Art and Nonsense," 20 Apr. 2018
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ludic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback. | {
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Business
Benzinga
Nio Inc - ADR (NYSE: NIO) shares have broken above the $20 level again following positive sell-side commentary Tuesday on the electric vehicle manufacturer. The Nio Analyst: Deutsche Bank Securities analyst Edison Yu reiterated a Buy rating on Nio with a $24 price target. The Nio Takeaways: Compelling evidence exists that consumers are increasingly perceiving Nio as a "high-quality premium brand" with best-in-class technology and service, Yu said in a Tuesday note.Nio's average customer referral rate increased from 52% in 2019 to 62% in the first half of 2020, the analyst said. Recent studies have shown that Nio's favorability among customers is higher than both BMW and Mercedes-Benz, he said -- and that the Chinese EV maker is one of the most reliable battery EVs across all segments based on the number of problems, even ahead of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA). Yu said he expects Nio to officially unveil its all-electric sedan, the EE7, later this year, with a revamped hardware sensor suite that will enable level four autonomy by 2022.This should alleviate concerns about the R&D roadmap, the analyst said. As battery electric vehicle adoption increases and word-of-mouth spreads, Nio can take material share in the premium segment as consumers begin to understand the value proposition and quality of its products and services, he said. In the near-term, Deutsche Bank expects record deliveries and margins in the third and fourth quarters thanks to the newly launched EC6 SUV coupe, 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack option and the battery-as-a-service rollout.On Monday, BofA Securities analyst Ming Hsun Lee maintained a Buy rating and $23 price target following the unveiling of Nio's new advanced driver assistance system and other use enhancement strategies at the China Auto Show over the weekend.NIO Price Action: At last check, Nio shares were rallying 10.39% to $20.76. Related Links:Why Nio Has A Shot At Becoming The 'Tesla Of China'Nio Shares Volatile After EV Maker Announces Redemption Of 8.6% Nio China Stake Photo courtesy of Nio. Latest Ratings for NIO DateFirmActionFromTo Sep 2020Deutsche BankInitiates Coverage OnBuy Aug 2020Morgan StanleyUpgradesEqual-WeightOverweight Aug 2020UBSUpgradesSellNeutral View More Analyst Ratings for NIO View the Latest Analyst RatingsSee more from Benzinga * Options Trades For This Crazy Market: Get Benzinga Options to Follow High-Conviction Trade Ideas * Chinese EV Maker Nio To Announce New Rapid Charging Service Friday(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. | {
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This article is more than 2 years old
This article is more than 2 years old
A 26-year-old Iranian asylum seeker has died on Nauru, reportedly by suicide in his tent in the Australian-run regional processing centre.
The body of 26-year-old Fariborz K was found in his tent by a family member at about 9am local time on Friday morning. He had recently married. His mother and 12-year-old brother are also being held on Nauru.
Fariborz’s wife and mother were both hospitalised on Friday afternoon. His 12-year-old brother Ali has been taken into care by camp authorities.
Sources inside RCP3 – the family camp – said refugees and asylum seekers attempted to help Fariborz when they found him in his tent but they were unable to revive him.
In April, Fariborz’s younger brother Ali made a public plea for help for his mother, Fazileh, who was suffering acute physical and mental illnesses, and said his brother was suffering a mental crisis.
“I feel helpless because there is no one to help us. There is no one to see how we are suffering. My mother is very sick and my brother is totally depressed,” the boy said in a video.
An IHMS health summary report for Fariborz, completed on April 24 this year, identified him as “being severely traumatised” as a result of being held captive as a 10-year-old child in Iran.
“He reported long-term engement with psychiatrists in Iran and was on medication at that time. Mr K states though his post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms continue, that he did not wish to engage with specialist health services.”
In a November assessment he declined to complete a mental health assessment.
“He spoke of being angry at times in the context of his long-term detention,” the report said.
Fariborz had also begged for help for his mother. In a handwritten note, written in English, he wrote: “I take the IHMS responsible for my mother’s drastic health situation. My mother’s health is now its worst”.
A friend of Fariborz said he had been frustrated by his family’s stalemate after five years detained on Nauru.
“I saw him only yesterday. He was a young athletic guy, but he had been suffering a long time because of his family’s situation. He was sick and tired.”
Fariborz is the third asylum seeker or refugee to die by suicide on Nauru, and comes only three weeks after a Rohingya refugee on Manus Island killed himself.
Twelve people have died from injuries or illness sustained in offshore processing centres since the facilities were reopened in late 2012: asylum seekers and refugees have been murdered by guards or have died from sepsis, medical neglect, accident and suicide.
'I didn’t know how to survive': the refugees and asylum seekers hit by Coalition cuts Read more
A spokesman for the department of immigration said: “the department is aware of the death in Nauru today, 15 June 2018. Further enquiries should be referred to Nauruan authorities”.
Staff at the regional processing centre told the Guardian: “it is Australia’s responsibility, it happened in their camp”.
Iranian journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani, detained on Manus Island, said: “Department of Home Affairs has referred the case to Nauruan authorities as always. It’s Australia that is responsible for his death, not Nauru! You are the one who exiled people there and denied them medical treatment and support. Dutton must give an answer to people.”
The Nauruan government issued a statement on the man’s death. “We can confirm that a man has died in the Nauru regional processing centre today. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with his family. Police are investigating.”
Spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, said the Australian government was responsible for the man’s death.
“There have so many warnings but the toll mounts day by day; the neglect continues. So many cases of medical neglect.”
“Peter Dutton must bring all the asylum seekers and refugees to Australia. The US deal is a farce that is now excluding Iranians and Somalis. Dutton has nowhere to settle the people who have been dumped on Nauru and are now dying of despair.
Rintoul said news of the man’s death had devastated the asylum seeker and refugee community on Nauru.
“He was a well-known, well-liked, athletic young man who did everything he could for his brother and mother.”
The Guardian has not revealed the family’s surname out of concern for the safety of extended family members.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. | {
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deft was made by Guillaume Bailey.
It is a turn-based, deterministic tactics game, where units attack by moving according to weapon attack patterns. Above is the webgl version of the tutorial. Scroll down for the Windows Binary if you want to face the AI, jump right into Online Multiplayer, or just play the tutorial in glorious full screen mode!
Planned features:
0.2.0 Predictive UI
0.2.1 Undos/Turn Playback
0.3.0 Online Play
0.4.0 Single Player
0.5.0 Tutorial
New Maps/Map Editor
Replays
Potion System
Many of the icons in the game are modified or unmodified versions of icons from game-icons.net, used under the CC 3.0 license.
Banner and background of this page by @PowWhale. | {
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Linux is very much mainstream nowadays. What was once viewed as a hobby and niche project, is transforming the world. Many of the world's servers are running Linux-based operating systems. Hell, the most popular mobile operating system on the planet, Android, is Linux-based. Even closed-source champion Microsoft is embracing Linux by integrating it into Windows 10 and offering it on its Azure platform.
Please know, Linux will only get more popular; gaining more knowledge about it is vital for your career in information technology. If you want to further your education, The Linux Foundation has your back. You see, the organization is launching a new training course called "Administering Linux on Azure."
ALSO READ: Spotify now available as a Snap for Linux
"The course starts with an introduction to Linux and Azure, after which students will learn more about advanced Linux features and how they are managed in an Azure environment. Next, the course goes into information about managing containers, either in Linux or with the open source container technology that is integrated in Azure. After that, LFS205 covers how to deploy virtual machines in Azure, discussing different deployment scenarios. Once the VMs are available in Azure, students will need to know how to manage them in an efficient way, which is covered next. The last part of this course teaches how to troubleshoot Linux in Azure, and to monitor Linux in Azure using different open source tools," says The Linux Foundation.
ALSO READ: Get 'Working with Linux -- Quick Hacks for the Command Line' ($32 value) FREE for a limited time
Clyde Seepersad, Linux Foundation General Manager for Training and Certification, explains "As shown by The Linux Foundation and Dice’s Open Source Jobs Report, cloud computing skills are by far the most in demand by employers. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, as the world today is run in the cloud. Azure is one of the most popular public clouds, and a huge portion of its instances run on Linux. That’s why we feel this new course is essential to give Azure professionals the Linux skills they need, give Linux professionals the Azure skills they need, and train new professionals to ensure industry has the talent it needs to meet the growing demand for Linux on Azure."
ALSO READ: Dell releases Ubuntu Linux-based XPS 13 Developer Edition (9370) laptop
The Linux Foundation shares the LFS205 course outline below.
Chapter 1. Getting Started: Linux and Azure Essentials First Steps in the Azure Cloud Environment
Linux Virtual Machines: Deploying a Linux Instance
Linux and Open Source Fundamentals
Working with Shells: The Command Line Interface
Users, Groups, and Permissions
Configuring sudo: Running Commands as a Specific User
Software Management: Package Managers
Git: Version Management and More Chapter 2. System Administration: Advanced Linux Administration Storage: Identifying and Managing Storage
Linux Networking: Identifying Your Network Configuration
Systemd: Modern Init Implementation
Logging: systemd-journald, syslog, and Others
AD Integration: Using Active Directory in Linux
Mandatory Access Control: AppArmor and SELinux Chapter 3. Containers: Working with Containers in Linux Why Do I Need Containers?
Understanding Container Ingredients: The Building Blocks of Containers
Docker and Other Container Technologies: Working with Containers in Linux
Creating and Running Docker Containers
Docker Networking
Container Orchestration
Working with Docker on Azure Chapter 4. Linux Deployment Options Azure Resource Manager
Creating VM Images - How to Build Your Own Custom VM
Azure Virtual Machine Agent - VM Interactions with the Azure Environment
Azure Virtual Machine Extensions - Post-Deployment Configuration and Automation Chapter 5. Automation and Orchestration Understanding DevOps and Automation
Using Cloud-init
Using Ansible
Using Salt
Using Puppet
Using Chef Chapter 6. Monitoring and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Linux
Introduction to Nagios
Introduction to Zabbix
Monitoring and Troubleshooting in Azure
ALSO READ: Tails 3.4 privacy-focused Linux distro now available with Meltdown and Spectre fixes
This "Administering Linux on Azure" online course is not free -- quality comes at a cost, folks. With that said, it is very reasonably priced. For a mere $299, you can not only gain new knowledge, but bolster your resume too. The ability to complete such an important training course should look wonderful to potential employers.
Ready to sign up? You can enroll here.
Photo credit: Julien Tromeur / Shutterstock | {
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Ethics In Advertising: #GamerGate Activists Press Forward Despite Media Backlash
Now rolling into to its fourth month, the video game consumer movement known as #GamerGate continues to evolve in scope and focus as it seeks to advocate for greater ethical standards in gaming journalism. It has moved well beyond the initial catalyst – indie game developer Zoe Quinn’s alleged impropriety with writers reviewing her game, and the subsequent reports alleging she took part in efforts to undermine the non-profit feminist gaming organization “The Fine Young Capitalists.”
Now, the online consumer revolt that is #GamerGate has recently taken its fight over journalistic ethics to new and broader levels, with everything from advertiser email campaigns to making direct contact with the Federal Trade Commission.
Though still faced with a substantial uphill public relations battle, rooted primarily in single-sided media coverage focusing on alleged harassment and abuse allegations claimed by some prominent detractors, the overall morale of those within #GamerGate remains high. The gaming mentality of “grinding” – a term used to describe the "never-quit" attitude of players who continue playing a difficult game despite repeated losses, until they win – is showing to be a central facet of their attitude in respect to what is, in many instances, their first real experience with activism within a popular movement.
Possessed of figureheads in the form of popular twitter and Youtube personalities, the movement has remained largely leaderless, with actions such as the email campaign “Operation Disrespectful Nod,” and more recently numerous charitable and start-up crowd-funding campaigns that have raised tens of thousands of dollars for a variety of projects and causes. Now, seeking to advance further, #GamerGate supporters have begun engaging on an even more aggressive level: emailing federal authorities in the hopes of firming up regulations in respect to corporate transparency and ethical disclosure.
Focused primarily on Gawker Media, which owns the gaming news site Kotaku, “Disrespectful Nod” has succeeded in forcing numerous withdrawals by large corporations from their advertising relationships with Gawker. Accusing the tabloid media company of hypocrisy and bullying, many have referenced the publication's apparent double standard in respect to celebrity privacy – citing its promotion of leaked nudes of certain male celebrities, and its strident defense in the face of a subsequent lawsuit, compared to its pandering tone of popular outrage when a rash of phone hacks dumped similar compromising photos of female celebrities onto the Internet.
Added to this are statements made by “progressive” writers like Sam Biddle and game industry “social justice” darlings such as Alex Lifschitz who, when not calling for an end to objectivity in reporting, are calling on society to “bring back bullying”, all of which has added fuel to the fire. Following the recent discovery that Gawker may have been participating in manipulative and dishonest advertising practices, by publishing embedded links into Amazon promotions without fully disclosing it to the consumer, activists within #GamerGate have taken action by pressing the Federal Trade Commission to look into the alleged violation of disclosure rules.
According to FTC regulations enacted in 2010, blogging and news sites participating in advertising efforts, including affiliate program links such as those common with Amazon, are required to disclose it in “full and conspicuous” ways to readers. Absent such disclosures, activists investigating Gawker noted that the publication implemented the embedded promotional links in planted comments on consumer product polls, allegedly as a means to increase traffic for their affiliate program. While this scrutiny of advertising practices may seem like nitpicking to some, #GamerGate supporters argue that such activities are emblematic of the corruption they see as central to Gawker's and many games' media business models.
No formal investigation into Gawker has been launched, but an undisclosed official within the FTC has responded to inquiries, saying that interested parties could file a petition to request further action. The official said this may not be necessary, however, as the FTC is already working on revising its regulatory guidelines to address the issue.
Branded by many in the mainstream media as a “misogynistic hate movement,” #GamerGate and its relevant activism efforts remain unknown to much of the general public. Recent efforts by feminists in Australia to have the game Grand Theft Auto V pulled from shelves at Target retailers, on the grounds that the game is harmful to victims of sexual violence, have been lauded by #GamerGate’s detractors. But little in the way of genuine activism, outside of media appearances and online propaganda, has emerged from those opposing the movement. Meanwhile, Gawker is claiming seven figure losses in ad revenue as a result of Disrespectful Nod and other charitable, crowd-funding campaigns launched under the #GamerGate banner.
While some have accused the movement – in some cases rightly – of engaging in activities merely for public relations purposes, the organizational and mobilizing efforts of the fledgling activists cannot be denied or ignored. Nor can the catalyst effect it has had generating controversy over purported sexism in video games, matters of free speech, the importance of open debate, or the question of an individual’s “right” not to be offended. With no clear end to the movement in sight, the story of #GamerGate continues on. And if the innovative spirit that sits at the core of the movement is any indicator, the world of video games – and broader Internet culture itself – may come out of this changed. | {
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NEW DELHI: The government is finally moving ahead to approve the creation of tri-Service organizations to handle the critical domains of cyberspace, space and special operations in modern-day warfare, but has virtually junked the proposal to establish a separate procurement body to streamline mega arms acquisitions.The defence ministry (MoD) has found the recommendation to set up a centralized defence procurement organization, with some autonomy to integrate the long-winded and cumbersome arms acquisitions, offsets, defence production and other such processes, to be “impractical and unworkable” as of now.Government sources, however, say “at least two, if not all three” of the proposed agencies to handle cyberspace, space and special operations will soon be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security led by PM Narendra Modi.Modi, incidentally, is slated to address the combined commanders’ conference at the Jodhpur airbase on September 28. At the last such interaction with the military brass, held at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun in January 2017, Modi had stressed the need for better “jointmanship” among the armed forces, which need to become far more agile and lethal with better teeth-to-tail ratios.India certainly needs a tri-service chief or chief of defence staff to inject some much-needed synergy in logistics, planning, procurements and training among the three forces, who often pull in different directions, as well as to provide “single-point” military advise to the government.Similarly, there is no getting away from the need to have theatre commands in the long run to integrate the air, land and sea assets under single operational commanders for a greater military punch from limited budgetary resources. But politico-bureaucratic apathy, inter-Service turf wars and lack of long-term strategic planning have stymied systemic reforms in the defence establishment so far.The original proposal, for instance, was for full-fledged commands under Lt-Generals (three-star generals) to handle the rapidly-expanding challenges in space, cyberspace and clandestine warfare, especially with China making huge investments in all the three domains. But it has been gradually truncated to setting up much smaller tri-Service agencies under Major-Generals (two-star), as was first reported by TOI earlier.Sources say the joint structures for the new Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency and the Special Operations Directorate, which will be raised from existing resources without fresh manpower accretion, are after some delay back on the government’s agenda, said sources.While the Defence Space Agency is supposed to bring together the existing Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre (Delhi) and the Defence Satellite Control Centre (Bhopal), the existing Defence Information Assurance and Research Agency is to be upgraded into the Defence Cyber Agency.India has only two unified commands till now. The first was the Andaman and Nicobar Command, established as a theatre command in 2001. The Strategic Forces Command, in turn, was created to handle the country’s nuclear arsenal in 2003. But there are as many as 17 single-Service commands, with the Army and IAF having seven each, and Navy three. | {
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In our previous article, we’ve described how to setup OpenLiteSpeed(HTTP) server, PHP 7 and MariaDB on CentOS 7. In this article, we will explain how to install and setup OpenLiteSpeed – High Performance HTTP Web Server with PHP 7 and MariaDB support on Debian and Ubuntu systems.
OpenLiteSpeed is an open source, high-performance HTTP server with an event-driven architecture; built for Unix-like operating systems including Linux and Windows OS.
It is a powerful, modular HTTP server that comes with several modules for common HTTP server functionalities, it can handle hundreds of thousands of concurrent connections without critical server load issues, and it supports third-party modules via API (LSIAPI) as well.
Importantly, it supports Apache-compatible rewrite rules, ships in with a an easy-to-use, user friendly Web administration console which shows real-time server stats. OpenLiteSpeed utilizes minimal CPU and memory resources, supports creation of virtual hosts, high-performance page caching as well as installation of a different PHP versions.
Step 1: Enable OpenLitespeed Repository
1. OpenLiteSpeed is not present in the Debian/Ubuntu software repositories, so you have to add OpenLiteSpeed repository with this command. This will create the file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lst_debian_repo.list:
$ wget -c http://rpms.litespeedtech.com/debian/enable_lst_debain_repo.sh $ sudo bash enable_lst_debain_repo.sh
Step 2: Install OpenLiteSpeed on Debian/Ubuntu
2. Then install OpenLiteSpeed 1.4 (the latest version at the time of this writing) with the apt command below, which will install it under the /usr/local/lsws directory. The service will also be started after installation is complete.
$ sudo apt install openlitespeed
3. After installing it, you can start and confirm the OpenLiteSpeed version by running like this
$ /usr/local/lsws/bin/lshttpd -v
4. OpenLiteSpeed runs on port “8088” by default. If you have UFW firewall enabled on the system, update firewall rules to permit port 8088 to access your default site on the server.
$ sudo ufw allow 8088/tcp $ sudo ufw reload
5. Now open a web browser and type the following URL to verify the default page of OpenLiteSpeed.
http://SERVER_IP:8088/ or http://localhost:8088
Step 3: Install PHP 7 for OpenLiteSpeed
6. Next, install PHP 7 with most needed modules for OpenLiteSpeed with the command below, it will install PHP as /usr/local/lsws/lsphp70/bin/lsphp.
$ sudo apt install lsphp70 lsphp70-common lsphp70-mysql lsphp70-dev lsphp70-curl lsphp70-dbg
7. If you want to install extra PHP modules, run the command below to list all the available modules.
$ sudo apt install lsphp70-
Step 4: Configure OpenLiteSpeed and PHP 7
8. In this section, we will configure OpenLiteSpeed and PHP 7 with the standard HTTP port 80 as explained below.
As we mentioned earlier on, OpenLiteSpeed comes with a WebAdmin console which listens on port 7080. So, first start by setting the admin username and password for the OpenLiteSpeed WebAdmin console using the command below.
$ sudo /usr/local/lsws/admin/misc/admpass.sh
Set OpenLiteSpeed Admin Account
Please specify the user name of administrator. This is the user name required to login the administration Web interface. User name [admin]: tecmint Please specify the administrator's password. This is the password required to login the administration Web interface. Password: Retype password: Administrator's username/password is updated successfully!
9. Now add firewall rules to permit port 7080 via the firewall to access the WebAdmin console.
$ sudo ufw allow 7080/tcp $ sudo ufw reload
10. Now open a web browser and type the following URL to access OpenLiteSpeed WebAdmin console.
http://SERVER_IP:7080 OR http://localhost:7080
Enter the username and password you set above, and click on “Login“.
11. By default, OpenLiteSpeed 1.4 uses LSPHP 5, you need to make a few changes to setup LSPHP 70 as explained below.
Go to Server Configuration → External App → Add button on the right side to add new “lsphp70” as shown in the screen shot below.
12. Then define the new External App, set type to “LiteSpeed SAPI App” and click next to add the new external application’s name, address, maximum number of connections, initial response timeout, and retry timeout.
Name: lsphp70 Address: uds://tmp/lshttpd/lsphp.sock Notes: LSPHP70 Configuration Max Connections: 35 Initial Request Timeout (secs): 60 Retry Timeout : 0
Note that the most critical configuration here is the Command setting, it tells the external app where to find PHP executable it will use – provide the absolute path of LSPHP70:
Command: /usr/local/lsws/lsphp70/bin/lsphp
And click on the Save button to save the above configurations.
13. Next, click on Server Configuration → Script Handler and edit the default lsphp5 script handler, enter the following values.
Suffixes: php Handler Type: LiteSpeed SAPI Handler Name: lsphp70 Notes: lsphp70 script handler definition
14. By default, most HTTP servers are associated with or listen on port 80, but OpenLiteSpeed listens on 8080 by default: change it to 80.
Click on Listeners to see a list of all listeners configurations. Then click View to see all settings of the default listener and to edit, click Edit.
Set the port to 80 and save the configuration and save the settings.
15. To reflect the above changes, gracefully restart OpenLiteSpeed by clicking on the restart button and click yes to confirm.
16. Add firewall rules to permit port 80 via the firewall.
$ sudo ufw allow 80/tcp $ sudo ufw reload
Step 5: Test PHP 7 and OpenLiteSpeed Installation
17. Finally verify that OpenLiteSpeed is running on port 80 and PHP 7 using following URL’s.
http://SERVER_IP http://SERVER_IP/phpinfo.php
18. To manage and control OpenLiteSpeed service, use these commands.
# /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl start #start OpenLiteSpeed # /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl stop #Stop OpenLiteSpeed # /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl restart #gracefully restart OpenLiteSpeed (zero downtime) # /usr/local/lsws/bin/lswsctrl help #show OpenLiteSpeed commands
Step 6: Install MariaDB for OpenLiteSpeed
20. Install MariaDB database management system using following command.
$ sudo apt install mariadb-server
21. Next, start the MariaDB database system and secure its installation.
$ sudo systemctl start mysql $ sudo mysql_secure_installation
After running the security script above, you will be prompted to enter the root password, simply press [Enter] without providing it:
Enter current password for root (enter for none):
You will also be asked to answer the questions below, simply type y to all the questions to set a root password, remove anonymous users, turn off remote root login, remove the test database and reload privilege tables:
Set root password? [Y/n] y Remove anonymous users? [Y/n] y Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n] y Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n] y Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n] y
You can find additional information from OpenLitespeed Homepage: http://open.litespeedtech.com/mediawiki/
You may also like to read following related articles.
That’s all! In this tutorial, we have explained how to setup OpenLiteSpeed, PHP 7 and MariaDB on Debian/Ubuntu systems. If you have any queries or additional thoughts do share using the comment section. | {
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When Daniel Haack was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 22, he started using a different line at bars: “Hey, my name’s Daniel, and I have cancer.”
During his time at Ithaca College, Daniel Haack was the Big Gay on Campus. He flirted with everyone, went on dates every few weeks with the best-looking guys at the school, and used his naturally charming swagger to easily fill up his social calendar.
His confidence didn’t fail him when he graduated in 2010 and moved to New York City, where he continued dating, using the NYC night life as a backdrop for new romantic experiences. Meeting guys was never a problem for him, and his pick-up lines were never met with eye-rolls.
But a year later, when Daniel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 22, he started using a different line at bars: “Hey, my name’s Daniel, and I have cancer.”
“It was almost like a novelty,” Daniel said about the disease in his first few weeks after being diagnosed. “It was something that I embraced and treated lightly; I knew that it probably made a lot of people uncomfortable, so I wanted to make it seem like at least my approach was light-hearted.”
He would make jokes about it, explaining away his lack of hair or other physical signs of illness before anyone—new friends, potential romantic interests—could even be curious. “At the beginning, it was something that was more ‘interesting’ rather than something that affected me tremendously,” he explained.
Daniel’s initially light-hearted attitude functioned as a defense mechanism about his previous few months, where he endured needle biopsies, surgical biopsies and endless doctors’ visits trying to determine a diagnosis for the disease. The process began in October 2010, when Daniel noticed a painless, marble-sized lymph node above his collarbone. He ignored it for two months until January 2011, when he woke up in the middle of the night to find that the lymph node had expanded to the size of a baseball and became tender. After three more months of medical testing and worrying, Daniel finally received a positive diagnosis in April 2011: He had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a relatively “curable” cancer that’s common in young men in their twenties and thirties.
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“My original approach was very matter-of-fact,” Daniel said. “I said to myself, ‘I have this disease, I’m going to do the treatment for it, and let’s just go from here.’”
The treatment involved eight months of chemotherapy, which Daniel began almost immediately, going into the treatment facility every other Thursday. Over the weekend, he would recover from the chemo, dealing with his nausea and fatigue and resting up so that he could go back in to work on Monday.
He strove to maintain normalcy, refusing to take a leave of absence from his job and continuing to forge new romantic relationships with guys—including a boy named Jonathan, who Daniel had been casually dating since prior to receiving the diagnosis.
Daniel quickly found that it was hard to maintain a completely normal life while dealing with cancer, and he began to see that the disease was interfering with his romantic pursuits.
“When you’re undergoing chemo, dating—especially dating someone new—is very difficult,” Daniel said. “I had worries that he was only staying with me because he felt pressured by the fact that I was going through this. I mean, no one wants to be the one who dumps someone with cancer.”
Beyond that, the chemotherapy took a significant physical toll on Daniel’s body. The sickness and fatigue would start right after treatment and last for several days, plummeting his energy.
“They were putting poison into my body and basically breaking me down every two weeks,” he explained. “When I was sick after chemo, I just wanted to be alone. I didn’t want to be with anyone. I just wanted to be in bed and power through it by myself. I think the idea of someone being super close to me or sleeping in the same bed as me would have made me even more nauseous.”
Daniel and Jonathan eventually decided that the relationship wasn’t the right thing for either of them, and stopped seeing each other.
Daniel soon found that cancer didn’t just affect his relationship with Jonathan; it dramatically changed the way he viewed himself and made him second-guess his decisions regarding meeting new guys and dating around.
“I’ve always gravitated toward being a strong, dominant person in relationships,” Daniel said. “And all of a sudden, I was ill. I felt very weak—like I was the one who needed care and needed protecting. It made me feel like a victim.”
His self-confidence fell even more dramatically when the chemo started to affect his appearance, making him lose his hair, some muscle mass, his eyelashes, and his eyebrows.
“The eyebrows thing really affected me—I don’t know why it was just the eyebrows,” Daniel reflected. “I had always had dark, full, strong eyebrows. But when you look at pictures at some points, if the flash was bright enough, it looked like I didn’t even have eyebrows. That made me feel neutered in some ways. It took away what I had considered essential parts of me and essential parts of being a man.”
Daniel’s increasingly negative understanding of his body image discouraged him from pursuing guys as much as he used to.
“I didn’t feel ugly,” he said. “I just felt like I looked like I had cancer, and that really bothered me. I didn’t want to share my body with someone new when it was in that state—I felt like my body was betraying me.”
Daniel found himself feeling stuck in a confusing mindset, one that was making conflicting demands.
“There was a profound part of me that wanted a romantic partner, especially when I was going through something like this,” Daniel said. “But the idea of letting in someone new and expecting someone new to come in and embrace my situation was something I didn’t want to deal with. There were points where I really would have loved the companionship and the stability, but there were definitely times when it felt more appropriate to be doing this alone.”
Daniel found it challenging to negotiate the two desires. He had very quickly gone from being a strong, confident man to being someone who wasn’t even sure what he wanted.
Eventually, he gave up on trying to date, enduring the last few months of his treatment removed from the dating game that had formerly occupied a significant amount of his time.
“If I ran into someone cute who ordinarily I would have had an interest in, I didn’t feel like I was in the place to approach them or pursue them or anything,” he said. “I didn’t want to feel like a burden, and I made myself feel less strong than I actually was. I lost this sense of comfort and I was suddenly reevaluating my strengths.”
Instead, he turned to his friends and family, who helped him deal with his feelings and encouraged him to push through the discomfort of the eight-month chemo process.
Now, a year after receiving the official diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Daniel is in remission. He has to get PET and CT scans every six months for the next five years until he is officially declared to be cancer-free. “For a while,” he said, “I’m going to be living my life in six-month increments.”
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In the meantime, he’s transitioning back to the normalcy of his pre-cancer life.
“In the first few months after finishing chemo, when I was starting to feel a lot better and my hair started coming back, I felt a sense of rebirth,” Daniel said. “I’m back to being the same guy as I was before being diagnosed, but with an extra drive. Getting through cancer has really empowered me to become the best man I can be.”
As for his love life, Daniel is playing coy.
“There are good things happening for me,” he promised with a smile. “I’m totally ready to get my life back to normal.”
—Photo: Mallory Diamond | {
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Rivertown Development will severely impact traffic flow onto the Bartram Trail Scenic Highway (S.R. 13) in Northwest St. Johns County, Florida, and will dramatically increase congestion along this unique and beautiful roadway. This will overload the highway with slow travel from school buses and commuters, congestion that eventually will result in a widened 4-lane road, with traffic signals and commercial property beside the heavily wooded state Scenic Highway. Rivertown Proposals along a 4-mile part of S.R. 13, include: 5 traffic "Roundabouts", 19 road intersections from the development onto S.R. 13, schools within 100 yards of S.R. 13, and a 250-slip marina in the St. Johns River. All of these combined will bring unprecedented vehicle congestion to a Scenic Highway that already is overloaded, easily proven by driving the road any weekday morning or afternoon. Traffic flow from Rivertown should be minimal onto S.R. 13, instead moving vehicles east, south and northeast to larger 4-lane roads that feed larger roads and Interstate Highways. Increased traffic onto S.R. 13 from Rivetown development also will dangerously impact hurricane evacuation for current residents living along this Scenic Highway who have no other way to evacuate should a severe storm like Hurricane Matthew make a direct high hit on the area. | {
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Comedian Andy Dick has been fired from his roles in two movies — Raising Buchanan and Vampire Dad — for allegedly sexually harassing people on set. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Dick’s infractions included “groping people’s genitals, unwanted kissing/licking and sexual propositions of at least four members of the production.”
Dick denied the groping claims to the Hollywood Reporter but admitted the possibility that he licked people and confirmed that he did make advances toward others on the Raising Buchanan set. He also said that he “overtook my medication and took too many Xanax and I was a bit loopy” — the actor has been in and out of rehab north of a dozen times — but “that didn’t make me rape people.”
"I don't know the difference between sexual harassment and trying to get a date,” Dick continued. “In the '70s, all the girlfriends I got was by kissing and licking their cheek. I don't know anymore. There were beautiful women and beautiful guys on the set. I flirt with them. I might kiss someone on the set and ask them to go to dinner. They are the ones that took it south."
As for the allegations that ultimately got him fired from Raising Buchanan, Dick said, “I might have kissed somebody on the cheek to say goodbye and then licked them. That’s my thing.”
Dick is right on at least one count: Nonconsensual sexual advances are, according to both himself and many alleged victims over many years, his “thing.” Such behavior has reportedly been a regular part of how he functions in Hollywood for years — and yet here he is once again, saying he doesn’t understand why people are so upset.
Dick has a long, documented history of fending off sexual harassment and assault accusations
Though Dick was once known as the sharp comedian from NewsRadio, he has long since been associated more with his intoxicated and disruptive behavior. Backstage whispers about a drunken Dick crashing shows and sets and groping people have been prevalent in Hollywood and beyond for years.
At New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, the improv group Asssscat — originally composed of UCB founders Amy Poehler, Ian Thomas, Matt Walsh, and Matt Besser — reportedly performed a recurring bit in which they’d ask the members of their audience to raise their hands if they had ever ridden an elephant or been sexually assaulted by Dick, with the latter group outnumbering the former.
And on the opposite coast, Dick’s reputation is so well known that “everybody has an Andy Dick story” is an LA aphorism.
That observation is so common, in fact, that Dick himself has been known to lean into his own terrible reputation. In the first season of Netflix’s Love, he played a rock-bottoming version of himself who admitted he maybe got drunk and “gropey.” A 2016 documentary centering on Dick is even called — you guessed it — Everybody Has an Andy Dick Story.
But you don’t have to depend on rumors to learn about Dick’s alleged behavior, because he’s also been arrested several times in relation to similar charges. Here are a few of the ones that are on the record:
2007: Dick was dragged off the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live by Kimmel himself, after repeatedly touching Ivanka Trump — who appeared as a guest on the show the same night as Dick — live on the air .
. 2008: Dick was arrested for theft and sexual battery in Murrieta, California. According to the LA Times , a "heavily intoxicated" Dick "grabbed and fondled the breast of a 17-year-old girl before pulling her top down." He avoided felony sexual battery charges but pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and drug charges.
, a "heavily intoxicated" Dick "grabbed and fondled the breast of a 17-year-old girl before pulling her top down." He avoided felony sexual battery charges but to misdemeanor battery and drug charges. 2010: Dick was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual assault for "engaging in unwanted and uninvited groping" of two people's genital areas, according to the Huntington Police Department in West Virginia. Dick pleaded not guilty; the alleged victims filed a civil suit against Dick in 2012.
and charged with first-degree sexual assault for "engaging in unwanted and uninvited groping" of two people's genital areas, according to the Huntington Police Department in West Virginia. Dick pleaded not guilty; the alleged victims filed a against Dick in 2012. 2011: Dick was sued for sexual assault by a Texas nightclub patron, who alleged that Dick exposed and rubbed his genitals on the patron's face. The claimant later dropped the suit.
Most incidents involving Dick are inevitably connected to his well-documented addiction issues; he has often been reported to be drunk or high during the alleged assaults. Last year, an in-depth Vice profile of Dick detailed “the tip of the gropey iceberg,” and “the trail of destruction and bemusement Dick has left in his wake, fueled by alcohol, cocaine, and an utter inability to keep his hands to himself.”
Dick’s addiction issues are likely why people who've encountered him in Hollywood, or who know him personally, tend to talk about him in such confused terms.
After Kimmel booted Dick from the Jimmy Kimmel Live stage, the host discussed being "uncomfortable" around Dick, saying, "You have no idea what he’s going to do next." In the resulting clip of a visibly inebriated Dick being escorted off set, you can hear Trump and the crowd trying to laugh off his groping, as if it were a comedic bit gone awry.
Comedian Pauly Shore told HuffPost Live in 2014 that despite having an "awesome" relationship with Dick, he was nonetheless concerned about Dick's addictive behavior. "I think he likes being fucked up," Shore told host Ricky Camilleri. "He just loves it. He loves kind of stumbling around and touching guy's penises and touching chicks' boobs."
Note that when people talk about Dick's history with substance abuse and sexual assault allegations, his issues with alcohol generally take center stage, while his assault charges are tacked on as an almost wacky afterthought. But alcoholism and addiction is no excuse for a pattern of behavior that involves sexually harassing and assaulting other people — nor should it placate those who have supported Dick in the past when he continues to indulge it.
Updated to include Dick being fired from Vampire Dad. | {
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When Bruce Springsteen canceled his concert in North Carolina in April to protest that state’s new transgender bathroom law, he followed his conscience.
Mr. Springsteen understood that his choice would cause economic harm to people whose jobs were associated with the show. But he decided to follow his highest sense of what is right to stand in solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
“Some things are more important than a rock show,” Springsteen said in a Facebook post. “It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition.”
In essence, Springsteen refused to use his creative talents in North Carolina because of his moral objection to the state law.
Religious conservatives are citing the same right of conscience in their opposition to government-required involvement in same-sex wedding ceremonies – celebrations that they say violate their highest sense of what is right.
Now, the issue of freedom of conscience is at the center of an escalating national confrontation between advocates for gay rights and religious conservatives.
At its most basic, the conflict pits two competing constitutional values.
On the LGBT side is equality and equal protection mandated under the Fourteenth Amendment and in 22 state statutes that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
On the religious conservative side are liberties guaranteed to each individual, upholding rights to religious exercise, free speech, and freedom of association.
The conscience issue has arisen most prominently in a few high-profile court cases involving wedding vendors – cake designers, florists, photographers – who say they are barred by their conservative religious beliefs from playing any role supporting a same-sex wedding.
Gay rights advocates insist that there can be no exemption from antidiscrimination laws to permit business owners and others to refuse to serve same-sex couples. They say it would be no different than allowing a restaurant owner to refuse to serve African-Americans.
Religious conservatives reply that without an exemption, they will be forced to choose between remaining faithful to God or complying with a government command.
Springsteen has a right to refuse to serve concertgoers in North Carolina as well as to refuse to play at events sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention, says Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the convention.
“I would not want any law that would compel Bruce Springsteen to perform at the Southern Baptist Convention if he morally objects to what we believe,” he says.
“The question then becomes: Are we going to use the power of the state to essentially bully people out of their businesses because they don’t want to violate their consciences?” he asks.
• • •
The right of conscience has been described as the ability to respond faithfully to that “still small voice.” It is a moral manifesto – an acknowledgment of a desire to be obedient to a higher authority, even when in direct conflict with the man-made rules of the majority in modern society.
It is the same constitutional principle that helped pacifist conscientious objectors avoid being forced by the draft to wage war, helped Jewish merchants stay open despite Sabbath observance laws, helped win exemptions from vaccination and blood transfusion requirements for certain religious minorities, and helped allow medical professionals to opt out of performing abortions rather than violate their religious belief about when and how life begins.
It is a concept that has ebbed and flowed throughout American history.
“The framers of the Constitution saw and experienced that government suppression of religious activity – not just belief, but activity – had caused real suffering to people and resentment and division as a result,” says Thomas Berg, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.
“They saw that the religious impulse was something deeply central to human identity – the impulse to seek, and follow, and love some sort of higher power or ultimate reality,” Professor Berg says. “That impulse is still here today.”
But the professor warns: “If society doesn’t proceed carefully, it will learn again about the kind of suffering and division that can be caused by unnecessarily preventing people from acting consistently with their faith.”
Advocates for LGBT rights oppose recognition of a broad right of conscience for religious conservatives that might justify exemptions from antidiscrimination laws. Such an exemption would send a message that gay men, lesbians, and transgender Americans are less than full citizens, they say.
“We don’t provide exemptions under current nondiscrimination laws when it comes to public services and places of public accommodations – for any reason,” says Sarah Warbelow, legal director at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights organization.
“The expectation in a business setting is that you treat all your customers the same,” she says.
The difficulty in refusing to grant a religious exemption is that the burden falls squarely on religious conservatives who will either be forced out of business or coerced by the government to violate principles of their faith.
On the other side, the difficulty in requesting a religious exemption in the context of same-sex marriages is that the burden falls squarely on same-sex couples who would otherwise be entitled to equal treatment.
“We’ve never had religious exemption claims that we’ve accommodated where the claim is: I don’t really want to interact with you, I don’t want to do business with you, I don’t want to give you this government service you are entitled to,” says Douglas NeJaime, a University of California at Los Angeles law professor and faculty director at the Williams Institute, a leading research organization on issues involving sexual orientation.
“That’s not just about what you do in your religious community, it is about living in the broader society,” he says. “Over the long term, people are going to come to see LGBT people as equal members of society and discrimination in those aspects is not going to be tolerated. But I don’t think we are at that point yet.”
Antidiscrimination laws help transform society and foster greater acceptance of full rights for gay men and lesbians, LGBT advocates say. Granting religious exemptions would fuel ongoing opposition to those rights and would likely spawn more aggressive efforts to win an even wider array of exemptions.
Look at the ever-expanding debate over abortion-exemption measures and contraceptives, they note.
Others embrace a more basic approach, urging religious conservatives to re-read Bible passages dealing with sexuality, reconsider their views about gay marriage, and above all to follow Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbor.”
Many people on the gay rights side of the debate simply don’t understand what it means to be motivated by deeply-held religious beliefs, says Mr. Moore.
“I have to explain that they actually believe they are going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how they’ve lived their lives,” he says, referring to the beliefs of evangelical Christians.
Other analysts stress that efforts to change someone’s religious convictions by coercion almost always fail.
“Beliefs may change because of persuasion, they may change because of contemplation, but when the change in beliefs is worked by an external [coercive] force, saying, ‘You do this,’ the religious believer can’t perceive that as any kind of organic change in one’s understanding of what God wants,” says Berg.
“That’s just an attack on a fundamental feature of your identity.”
• • •
The big question in cases pitting same-sex couples against conservative wedding vendors is whether courts will recognize and enforce a religious right to conscience.
The trend runs decisively in one direction. Courts in New Mexico, New York, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington State have uniformly rejected claims of conscience by wedding vendors. No court has ruled in favor a wedding vendor seeking a religious exemption from an antidiscrimination law.
One state court in Kentucky has ruled that a Christian-owned printing company could decline to print T-shirts for a gay pride event. Other than that decision, the legal score card in wedding cases runs against religious conservatives.
It suggests that perhaps the right of religious conscience isn’t garnering the respect it once enjoyed within the judiciary.
In the broad confrontation between religious conservatives and LGBT advocates, lawyers are embracing starkly different legal precedents to support their cases.
One of the United States Supreme Court’s best known decisions involving protection of religious conscience was handed down in 1943.
Two children, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in West Virginia, argued that their school’s mandatory order to salute the American flag violated the biblical injunction against worshiping a graven image.
The 8-to-1 decision reversed a high court ruling only three years earlier that required children in the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith to participate in the daily flag salute or face expulsion from school and other punishment.
The earlier court had found that the school’s flag salute would foster patriotism, which was deemed an essential element of national security at a time when a militant Nazi Germany was on the rise.
By 1943, when Justice Robert Jackson wrote his decision in the second case, the fate of the world literally hung in the balance as World War II raged in both Europe and Asia. But Jackson pushed aside claims that national security necessitated a strict uniformity of thought that would require schoolchildren to violate their religious faith.
“If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein,” Jackson wrote. “If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.”
While Jackson’s 1943 landmark decision might provide a rallying point for religious conservatives, LGBT advocates are focusing on a different kind of legal precedent.
In 1983, the high court took up a dispute examining whether Bob Jones University, a conservative religious college in South Carolina, was entitled to claim tax-exempt status despite banning interracial dating and marriage.
AP/File One of the Bob Jones University's main buildings is shown from over the fence that surrounds the campus in Greenville, S.C., on Feb. 2, 1982.
The Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that the Internal Revenue Service acted properly in revoking the school’s tax-exempt status. The court rejected the university’s argument that its policies were grounded in sincere religious belief. Instead, the court said the government had a fundamental, overriding interest in eradicating racial discrimination in education.
“That governmental interest substantially outweighs whatever burden denial of tax benefits places on petitioners’ exercise of their religious beliefs,” then-Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote in the majority opinion.
LGBT advocates are hoping that courts will apply the same antidiscrimination reasoning to cases involving clashes between religious conservatives and LGBT people.
If courts begin making that connection, the legal precedent will lay the groundwork not just for decisions in wedding vendor cases but potentially for direct challenges to the tax-exempt status of every religious organization in America with policies that reflect traditional religious beliefs about same-sex marriage that are viewed as discriminatory by the government or private plaintiffs, analysts say.
Such a legal precedent might apply to the full range of government benefits, grants, and programs received by all faith-based organizations with traditional policies on same-sex marriage.
“I don’t think you are going to see, at least in the near term, a heavy-handed federal government push to shut down institutions like Christian colleges and universities,” says John Inazu, a professor at Washington University Law School in St. Louis and author of the new book “Confident Pluralism.”
But it could be in play in the longer term, he says. For now, he adds, “You will see lots of cultural pressure and lots of saber rattling.”
• • •
Every debate over religious exemptions in the context of LGBT rights almost immediately turns to an analogy with racial discrimination.
In the deep South in the 1950s and early 1960s, some people who opposed equal rights for African-Americans argued that it would violate their religious faith to be forced to treat African-Americans on equal terms with whites.
“If we look to the historical record, many Americans had real religious objections to interacting with people of color, to allowing interracial marriages,” says Ms. Warbelow.
Such religious justifications in the context of race have been uniformly rejected in the courts as well as in the court of public opinion.
Now, gay rights advocates argue that there is no difference between refusing to serve an African-American because of skin color and the belief by religious conservatives that to become personally involved in a same-sex wedding ceremony would be sinful.
“The courts have said over and over again that we really need to make sure that all of our citizens are being treated equally under the law, that nobody is being disfavored,” Warbelow says.
Professor NeJaime says it is not surprising that certain commercial businesses and some government clerks who issue marriage licenses are asking for exemptions. But granting them would be unprecedented.
“Often you have a generally applicable law, like racial segregation, and then when that law changed then you see laws promoting racial equality and you have claims in the wake of that for exemptions.”
Analysts on the conservative religious side of the debate reject such parallels with race.
“It is a completely illegitimate comparison,” says Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“We had an oppressive state-sanctioned Jim Crow regime of state-approved terrorism in the South, systematically oppressing African-American people,” he says. “That is not what is taking place in the wedding industry right now.”
Moore says the debate is not about who will be served, the debate is about what marriage is. The question is whether a religious conservative business owner can be compelled to perform services for an event that his or her religion views as sinful and immoral, he says.
“That is not a question of some form of systematic persecution of people,” Moore says. “It is someone saying, ‘I can’t in good conscience be part of this particular religious ceremony.’ ”
To Moore, the issue is fundamental.
“Freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion is something that God has embedded in humanity. So when we recognize the freedom to believe and to act on those beliefs we are simply affirming human dignity,” he says.
Religious liberty is not a privilege doled out by government, but a right granted by God, he says. It is a reminder that there are important limits to government power, he says.
For Moore, the current confrontation is a warning about government overreach and abuse of power.
“A state that can compel people to do what they believe to be sinful is a state that can do anything.”
• • •
Part 1: How the push for gay rights is reshaping religious liberty in America
Part 2: A florist caught between faith and financial ruin
Part 3: Behind legal fight over religious liberty, a question of conscience
Part 4: In Mississippi gay rights battle, both sides feel they are losing
Part 5: Is wedding photography art? A wrinkle in religious liberty debate.
Part 6: For those on front lines of religious liberty battle, a very human cost
Part 7: A push to help gay couples find wedding joy – without rejection | {
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Massage Therapy and Wellness
at Yonge and Eglinton, Toronto Welcome to our website!
Chantal Milot RMT and Associates is a clinic offering exclusively evidence based services of massage therapy and osteopathy in the Yonge and Eglinton area, in Toronto, On. Our therapists provide treatments to individuals of all age groups and all walks of life and share a passion for providing treatments addressing both the root cause of your pain, as well as its immediate symptoms, to provide you with both immediate and long lasting results.
Read more | {
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Fox Business Network anchor Gerri Willis announced that she will be taking a leave of absence while undergoing another surgery to address pre-cancer cells.
Willis, formerly a finance editor for CNN before joining Fox Business in 2010, announced her original breast cancer diagnosis in May 2016. She wrote in a column on Fox News's website on Tuesday that pre-cancer cells have now been discovered on her cervix.
"I’m no stranger to cancer and have been very public about my story with Stage 3 lobular breast cancer diagnosed just three and a half years ago," Willis wrote.
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"I’m still breast cancer-free thanks to the efforts by my incredible doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering, but now, I have another foe: HPV or human papillomavirus," she added.
The 60-year-old North Carolina native says she continues to speak publicly about her treatments because "fear of the virus" may make some "reluctant to get the facts."
"The truth is, HPV is worth talking about simply because it is ignored," she says. "Fear of the virus sometimes makes us reluctant to get the facts. That was me. I knew nothing beyond the ads I saw on television. What I have learned since is that HPV can lay dormant for decades. And, then, when you least expect it, unmask itself. That’s what happened to me."
Willis also underscored the importance for women to get tested regularly to help detect cells that could potentially metastasize.
"My pre-cancerous cells were found by a routine PAP smear. Early detection is critical. Please, take my advice, ladies. I know it can be hard to find the time for these simple tests but your life may quite literally depend on it," Willis wrote.
"It all comes down to the same things when trying to prevent cancer. Early screening. Vigilance. What I’ve learned in my cancer journey is this — we can’t stop for a minute in our efforts to rid the world of cancer. The disease is relentless," she added.
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According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, almost 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The American Cancer Society says breast cancer is the second-leading cancer death among women, behind lung cancer, with an estimated 42,000 expected to die of breast cancer in 2020.
Meanwhile, Willis wrote Tuesday citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that "nearly all American men and women will get some strain of HPV in their lifetime. That’s a lot of ticking time bombs."
"The good news is that most of these strains are harmless," she continued. "But for a few of us who contract HPV, one of nine cancers threaten. HPV is the culprit in 35,000 cancer cases diagnosed every year. More than 9 of 10 cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV." | {
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Democrats’ advantage over Republicans going into November’s midterm election has narrowed to four points, according to a poll conducted shortly after the peak of the family separation crisis at the Southern border.
More than 36 percent of those surveyed in a CBS poll published Sunday said they want to see Republicans maintain control of Congress in 2018. Another 40 percent of those surveyed told pollsters they prefer to see Democrats come out ahead on Election Day.
The numbers are surprising considering the significant outcry against President Donald Trump’s zero tolerance policy, which resulted in the separation of families seeking illegal entry across the border. Nearly 73 percent of Americans oppose splitting up children from parents as a form of deterrence, the poll notes.
Democrats’ advantage in the generic ballot has continued to tumble throughout the year. Their advantage has dipped from a 10 point advantage they had heading into June, according to an NBC poll conducted at the time, which also showed 50 percent of registered voters wanting a Democratic-controlled Congress.- READ MORE | {
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Another major news story that will be scrubbed and censored by the sharia-compliant enemedia.
Muslim Mobs Attack 10 Church Buildings in Ethiopia
Unprecedented religious destruction in town sparked by false rumor.
March 1, 2019 By Our East Africa Correspondent Morning Star News:
NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Christians in a town in southern Ethiopia were stunned when local Muslims attacked 10 church buildings on Feb. 9, destroying one and burning the property inside all the structures, according to aid agencies.
Chanting the jihadist slogan, “Allahu akbar [God is greater],” Muslims in Halaba Kulito targeted worship buildings belonging to eight denominations, reported Scotland-based aid agency Steadfast Global and Voice of the Martyrs-Canada. Kale Hiwot Galeto church’s building was razed.
“The incensed crowds comprising Muslim residents of all ages from across the town made their way to the churches chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ after being given false information that a mosque in the surrounding countryside had been fire-bombed,” said a Steadfast Global representative who requested anonymity. “The contents of all the churches were removed from the buildings and set on fire on the street.”
Except for some minor vandalism, Christians in the town have not suffered such attacks to this extent, he said. But Halaba Kulito, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), is a predominantly Muslim town with nearly all Christians there having moved from surrounding villages for work reasons, creating an underlying tension, he added.
He learned from witnesses that an Islamic conference was held in Halaba Kulito about week before the trouble flared that included speakers suspected of holding extremist views, but he said he had no information on what was said at the conference.
Witnesses indicated that the assailants were clearly instructed to target only property and not Christians, he said.
One of the attacked churches, Meserete Kristos Church, has since been vandalized again, and area Christians have faced intimidation and threats, he added.
While Kale Hiwot Galeto church building was destroyed in the Feb. 9 attack, aid workers believe the other nine church buildings were not set ablaze only because of the risk to neighboring Muslim-owned properties.
Municipal police were present during almost every attack but took no action, the agencies reported.
The attacks lasted about five hours, with state police arriving in town in the early afternoon and restoring order. A number of the assailants were said to be arrested and placed in custody, and the aid agencies believe they will be charged and tried.
More than 9,900 worshippers are estimated to attend the 10 churches. A small number of Christians sustained minor injuries and returned home after receiving hospital treatment, including two that were more seriously injured, according to the aid agencies.
Huge amounts of property were destroyed, including Bibles, song books, instruments, benches and chairs.
Despite the destruction, all of the congregations managed to meet for worship the following Sunday, the agencies reported. At the same time, after the attack a significant number of Christians chose not to gather for worship out of fear, they learned. The local government has allocated a police guard to each of the attacked the churches.
Most of the churches are gathering contributions from their members to try to replace damaged items, but they will need help from the wider church, according to the aid agencies, which have distributed emergency funds and are studying ways for ministry partners to help restore and rebuild. | {
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Spectacular footage of an Ilyushin 62 making a (very bumpy) landing on a grassy meadow, 23 October 1989.The Ilyushin Il-62 (NATO reporting name Classic) is a Soviet long range jet airliner. Conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin, it first flew in 1963 and entered Aeroflot service on 15 September 1967 with an inaugural passenger flight from Moscow to Montreal. The Il-62 was the Soviet Union's first lon More..g-range jet airliner, and the first to be put into service by several other countries. It was also the first Russian pressurised plane to have a fuselage with non-circular cross-section (3.8 x 4.1m width X height) and ergonomic passenger doors, and the first Russian jet with six-abreast seating (the earlier turbo-prop Tu-114 also had this arrangement) and international-standard navigation lights.The Il-62 was the first long-range jet airliner to be put into service by several nations, and some retired examples have been converted into museums and other uses in countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Cuba and China (Thiel, 2001). The best known example was the Il-62 "DDR-SEG" from the former East German airline Interflug. On 23 October 1989, DDR-SEG was intentionally landed on a 900m short grass airfield of a hilltop Stölln/Rhinow in a potentially dangerous and dusty maneuver. Fire trucks and ambulance crews were positioned on hand for the landing but were not needed. The jet is used to commemorate the site of the fatal crash of Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896) at the Gollenberg hill. Nick-named "Lady Agnes"after Lilienthal's wife, it is now a museum with the fuselage divided between the Lilienthal collection and a popular wedding registry. | {
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Evolution of Decentralised Social Media — Retire user batching
Part of my Peepeth series.
Background
Leeroy (the original Decentralised Social Network on Ethereum) required an Ethereum transaction per action. This could get expensive very quickly and I believe was a barrier to performing any actions at all (as the price of Ether increased).
Standing on the shoulder of giants, Peepeth 2.0 added the ability for users to batch actions, nominally set at 15 actions. This meant that the average action was cheaper, so a big improvement for the user experience.
User batching still had the barrier of the gas market. To solve this a platform could create platform batches containing all of the users actions (See my post on Evolution of decentralised social media). Peepeth implemented free peeping, initially for qualifying existing users and then for all.
In addition to platform batching, Peepeth removed the requirement for transaction fees for creating an account too. Thus users didn’t need Ether to onboard and use Peepeth.
User batching
Peepeth user batching works as follows: A user signs a message to sign in to the platform. Actions are stored as JSON in IPFS and the IPFS hash for each action is saved in a centralised database until the user gets to 15 actions (or decides to save sooner) and then creates a user batch of actions (JSON of IPFS hashes stored in IPFS) that they sign with the user signature being stored in the batch. Once a user batch is signed, the platform can create a platform batch that the platform can save as transaction input.
User action: QmTaXcptB3yB9gEoskgqsmht5nP3UzU4wb71iCWfxN5HrE
User batch: Qmedn3zoEKZ7Wg4bZ7EZNALQf79pgh2DkDTYdPuiyBAnVm
Platform batch: QmZCv2H42p3AYuqzL36t3yWTZry1gB2bcVBNhDbe8SC4gs
Ethereum Transaction: 0xa041596833cca3b5d0fe974dacf795c0b0115582473d2f1bf81bdf5529fb2f5d
There are a couple of issues with user batching:
First, user batching requires having to explain to users why batching was needed in the first place (see background above). Users don’t need to use Ether to post, so they shouldn’t have to understand gas, the gas market or the history of decentralised social media development to make a post. The average user won’t care what technology their social media is built on, only the features that they get.
The second issue is that until a user signs their batch, then their actions are not anchored on the blockchain. They can only be found on the platform database. (As a side note, any anchoring delay is a barrier for third party apps. We need a mechanism to make actions available to other applications as quickly as possible. Though this is beyond the scope of this post.) If a user never signs a batch then their actions are never anchored.
Retire user batching
The alternative to user batching is that user actions are added to platform batches as actions are performed.
The impact is that this removes the complexity of users having to sign batches and understand the concepts around batching and reduces the time until an action is anchored.
To perform an action, a user needs to sign in. They should then be able to perform any permitted action.
Ideally each user action would be signed, though the current functionality of dApp browsers requires an explicit signing process, which would be another barrier to action. Future native apps will be able to user sign each user action without having to get explicit permission (once signed in).
Without explicitly signing each action, there isn’t a user signature stored in IPFS/onchain, so there isn’t proof that a user made an action, so there is additional trust placed on Peepeth. (User login could be recorded as an action). Though I see this as a short term issue until there are native apps which can sign every action and dApp browsers support pre-approved signing whilst logged in.
Keep it simple
Along with retiring user batching, two other features should be retired, posting whilst not signed in and lock now.
Peepeth allows users to post directly with blockchain transactions (IPFS hash of the post is saved as the input to the blockchain transaction). This creates complexity and for the average user, confusion. Any action that can be done without Ether should not have an alternate option to use Ether on the platform, or even simpler, don’t allow any actions whilst not signed in. (A friend went to post on Peepeth and didn’t understand why they had to pay to post when they thought it was free now. I had to explain that they needed to sign in first).
For power users who want the functionality to post and have it directly anchored onchain, they could post directly to the smart contract (or use an alternate dApp). Whilst these power users do exist, they are not the main audience so the main application shouldn’t have complexity just to support them.
Peepeth also allows signed in users to sign a post immediately (sign now) to be added to a platform batch. Again this adds complexity and requires explanation, so if user batching is retired, so too can sign now.
Conclusion
Complexity is a barrier to performing actions on social media. Now that there is platform batching there is no need for the complexity of user batching.
About me
I started using Peepeth when it was on a testnet (thanks to @jrmoreau verifying on twitter). I was Peeper #7 on mainnet.
I am passionate about the benefits of decentralisation and use on mobile. | {
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China has released a new policy that aims to accelerate the disposal of bad loans to businesses by getting rid of “zombie enterprises” and facilitating the transfer of bad loans in general to asset management companies (AMCs). The document requires zombie enterprises – heavily indebted companies that have no meaningful operations and are kept afloat through local government protection – to go bankrupt quickly and have their assets liquidated. Banks were told to write off loans to those bankrupt borrowers, including loans made through bonds, according to a source close to the government agencies that issued the policy. “This requirement sounds like an emergency,” the source told Caixin. “The policymakers will not tolerate half-dead enterprises dragging on.”
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London (CNN) The sister of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned his rhetoric as "tasteless" and "reprehensible" as he faced a storm about his language in the UK Parliament.
Rachel Johnson said she did not recognize the version of her brother that spoke in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening.
Boris Johnson faced sharp criticism for his language as he addressed Members of Parliament on Wednesday, their first day back after his controversial suspension was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.
Johnson repeatedly denounced legislation that would force him to delay Brexit if he can't agree a deal with the EU, calling it a "surrender bill." And he dismissed as "humbug" the concerns of an MP who asked him to moderate his language given the politically motivated murder three years ago of a Labour lawmaker, Jo Cox.
The Prime Minister provoked particular anger when he urged lawmakers to honor Cox's memory by backing the government on Brexit. (Cox was a supporter of staying in the European Union.)
Rachel Johnson, second left, pictured with brothers Boris and Jo in 2014.
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火星の北半球にメイブンが観測した、紫外線の波長のオーロラを紫で示したイラスト。（ILLUSTRATION COURTESY NASA, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO）
[画像のクリックで拡大表示]
火星軌道を周回中の探査機メイブン（MAVEN）から、二つのサプライズが届いた。大気の下層部で発生した珍しいオーロラと、謎のダスト雲である。NASAの研究チームが18日、月・惑星科学国際会議（Lunar and Planetary Science Conference）で発表した。
同プロジェクトの主任調査員、ブルース・ジャコスキーは「ダスト雲に含まれる塵（ちり）がどこから来たかはわかりません」と述べ、この塵が2012年にやはり火星で発見された謎のプルームとは無関係であることを示唆した。
クリスマスの光
火星のオーロラは過去にも観測されたことがあるが、今回観測されたものは、そのどれにも似ていない。クリスマス直前の5日間、高度50～100キロの下層大気内で光を放ったオーロラは、北半球の大半を覆った。火星の昼側において紫外線の波長で観測されたこの現象を、科学者らは「クリスマスの光」と名付けた。
地球のオーロラと同様、火星のそれも、大気中の原子に電子が衝突して発生する。しかし、火星には地磁気がないため、それらの粒子が大気のずっと奥深くまで入り込める。ジャコスキーらは、太陽から吹きつける粒子の嵐がオーロラの原因であると考えている。
塵の謎
もう一つのサプライズ、謎のダスト雲は、主に高度150～300キロ付近で発見された。1000キロ以上の上空でも発見されている。火星がほこりっぽい星であることは周知の事実だが、それがここまで高く舞い上がることは、普通であればない。
このダスト雲の成分はわかっていない。それどころか、これが恒久的な現象なのか、また正確にどこから来たのかは、さらに深い謎に包まれている。
「火星の軌道高度で、塵またはデブリの層が発見されたのはこれが初めてです」とジャコスキーは言う。
月・惑星科学国際会議で発表したコロラド大学のレイラ・アンダーソンは、これらの塵は火星大気の低い方から来たと考えるのが最有力だが、このような高高度まで舞い上がった理由はわからないと述べた。
一方、ジャコスキーは火星の衛星「フォボス」と「ダイモス」から塵が飛来した可能性を指摘している。また、この塵によるメイブンへの悪影響はないはずだとも述べた。
彗星の接近
火星にはかつて、今よりももっと厚く、密度の高い大気があった。そのため、温かい気温と豊富な水が保たれていた。メイブンの最終目標は、その大気が宇宙に逃げた理由を突きとめることである。おかげで火星は寒くなり、水分も失われてしまった。現在、失われた気体と水の量、地中に閉じ込められた量の推定が行われている。
メイブンは2013年11月に打ち上げられ、翌年の9月に火星に到達した。その数カ月後、彗星「Siding Spring」が火星から14万キロ圏内に接近した。彗星のデブリによる損傷を避けるため、軌道周回中のほかの探査機と同様、メイブンもセーフモードに入った。
再起動後、彗星通過の痕跡があちこちで見つかった。流星雨（壮観だったに違いない）によって、上層大気に大量の金属元素がもたらされていた。チタン、マグネシウム、鉄など様々な種類の金属だ。「このタイプの層は地球にはありますが、火星で金属イオン層が発見されたのは初めてです」とジャコスキー。
その後、メイブンが高度を下げると、別の金属層が発見された。これも複数の彗星などによって継続的にもたらされたものだろう。ジャコスキーは言う。「私たちは、年間を通してコンスタントに、ランダムに、散発的にやってくる塵が生み出した、寿命の長い層を目の当たりにしたのです」 | {
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In recent weeks, amidst chatter about economic decline, you are likely to have noticed a sharp increase in Global TPC. This rise in TPC (for the layman; Tache Per Capita) is due to an annual phenomenon called Movember. This annual event sees many men, who would normally take a razor to their faces on a daily basis, make a foray into upper lip heroics in order to raise money for charity.
By growing, or striving to grow, a moustache for the month of November these noble fellows draw admiring glances from friends, family and passers-by. Often this leads to an inquiry as to why the owner of the aforementioned upper lip warrior might be embarking on such an endeavour. Common lines of enquiry include, but are not limited to:
"Man, that is a freaking sweet tache, why did you only just start growing it now?!",
"My word that is a fine specimen, how did you come to possess it? May I pet it?",
"Dear man, what is powering this incredible force of attraction that is driving me to want to kiss you?",
and, sometimes from the less appreciative, "Why would you do that?! That thing is gross!".
In response to such hails, the tache bearer pronounces thusly: "I am sprouting forth these fine whiskers with the aim of raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect our gender." This response causes the enquirer to think upon their moustachioed acquaintance and his cause with a newfound respect and interest, and commonly they then reach for their purse in order to donate to this noble cause.
In this very way many of the male employees of Distilled have borne out their days November 2011. We have raised a fairly handsome figure so far but are very keen to raise yet more for the cause. In pursuit of this we have had ourselves photographed for your entertainment. Please feast your eyes below and, if you are in any way moved by the pictures below, kindly think of a figure, big or small, and donate to our cause.
The Mo Bros of the London office. Just off camera is a massive photo of Tom Selleck, idol and Black Belt Tachemaster.
These Mo Bros have found their taches increase problem solving ability fivefold.
Strong work from Richard Cotton, Tom Anthony, Mike Pantoliano, Rob Ousbey & Tom Critchlow
Will and Duncan faithfully reenact the Distilled 404 page.
We hope you enjoyed this fine selection of photographs and we would greatly appreciate it if you would consider donating to our cause
Happy Movember! | {
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The man accused of fatally shooting a woman and wounding seven people at a Tennessee church in September 2017 is objecting to using evidence from his cellphone.
Emanuel Kidega Samson made his first public court appearance Wednesday during a Davidson County Criminal Court hearing. The 27-year-old faces a 43-count indictment, including a first-degree murder charge, in the Nashville shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.
Samson's attorney, Jennifer Lynn Thompson, said a search warrant affidavit doesn't tie the phone's potential contents with Samson's charges.
An arrest affidavit says Samson waived his rights and told police he arrived armed and fired at Burnette.
Prosecutors have said they're seeking a life sentence without parole.
Samson is black and the victims are white. Authorities haven't definitively said whether they believe Samson targeted them based on race. | {
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Francis Cugat’s striking cover illustration ‘Celestial Eyes’, commissioned for the 1925 edition of The Great Gatsby, is probably one of the most iconic images in literary design history.
The haunting eyes, painted in gouache, peering out of a deep blue background, float ominously above bright red lips and a glowing cityscape. Each eye features a floating nude – somewhat risqué for the time and perhaps alluding to the seemingly scandalous nature of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s prose.
Cugat – born Francisco Coradal-Cougat – was relatively unknown when he was give the job in 1924. Fitzgerald was running late with his text and Cugat finished the work, for which he was paid a mere $100, before the novel itself was finished. This resulted in a somewhat unusual collaborative process between the illustrator and author.
‘For Christ’s sake, don’t give anyone that jacket you’re saving for me. I’ve written it into the book,’ Fitzgerald wrote in a letter to his editor Max Perkins in 1924.
There are various theories as to exactly what Fitzgerald meant by this. Some people believe that Cugat intended the eyes to represent Daisy looking down onto the cityscape of New York, while Fitzgerald chose to interpret them in the book itself in the form of the recurring billboard eyes of Dr T. J. Eckleburg.
‘The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose,’ Fitzgerald wrote in Chapter 2.
Certainly Scribner agreed that this was the case, commenting, ‘I do not know of another case in which an author acknowledges so central a debt to an illustrator.’
While Fitzgerald loved Cugat’s painting, not everyone agreed with him. In his posthumously published memoir A Moveable Feast (1964), the writer Ernest Hemingway recalled Fitzgerald giving him a copy of The Great Gatsby. Hemingway thought the cover ‘garish’, commenting that it had the look of a ‘bad science fiction’ novel.
‘Scott told me not to be put off by it, that it had to do with a billboard along a highway in Long Island that was important in the story,’ he wrote. ‘He said he had liked the jacket and now he didn’t like it.’
So appalled was Hemingway by the cover that he ‘took it off to read the book.’
Thankfully, most people disagree with Hemingway and Cugat’s jacket illustration commonly makes best cover design lists.
Interestingly, in 2013, following the release of Baz Luhrmann’s remake of The Great Gatsby (sacrilege!) a new edition of the book featuring a film tie-in cover was published. Sales of the Cugat-jacketed edition rocketed.
Today, the original Cugat gouache artwork forms part of the Princeton University Library for the Graphic Arts Collection and was donated by Charles Scribner III. He inherited it from his cousin, George Schieffelin, who discovered it in a bin comprising publishing ‘dead matter’.
He very sensibly took it home.
Images: The original gouache painting produced by Cugat (1924); early sketches for the jacket by Cugat (1924); the full jacket of the first edition published by Scribner in 1925.
Book covers we love: Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man by E. McNight Kauffer (1952); Dorothy L. Sayers’ Busman’s Honeymoon by Romek Marber (1963); Georgette Heyer’s Frederica – Arthur Barbosa (1965).
See also: ‘Presenting Ms Georgette Heyer‘ and ‘Books that changed my life’ boards, both Pinterest; articles: ‘How Penguin learned to fly – Allen Lane and the Original Penguin 10‘; ‘Romek Marber’.
‘Pinterest – “inspiration snacking” or something more? A few tips for authors‘.
Notice: Please note the images and quotations included in this article are for promotional purposes only and are intended as a homage to the designers, artists and writers cited. In no way, have we have intentionally breached anyone’s copyright. If you believe otherwise, please contact us and we will take down any text/images as appropriate.
This article is ©The Literary Shed, 2015. All opinions are our own. Please only reproduce it with our permission and credit us appropriately. Please contact us if you wish to do so. | {
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Hi, I’m Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.
Today, we take the time to honor the great civil
rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. We honor the legacy of Dr. King, whose lifelong
pursuit of justice affirmed what Abraham Lincoln
called his “ancient faith that all men are created
equal.”
Dr. King’s leadership appealed to our better angels,
imploring America to live out her founding creed,
and to judge each of her citizens “not by the color of
their skin but by the content of their character.” As
Secretary of the Interior, I am proud that our
Department is the custodian not only of the National
Mall—where Dr. King delivered his 1963 “I have a
Dream” address—but also The Martin Luther King
Jr. Memorial in West Potomac Park.
In addition, through the efforts of generous donors,
we are the custodians of the Martin Luther King Jr.
birth home, where he spent the first 12 years
of his life.
Last February, I visited this home along
with members of the King family—it was a truly special and
educational experience—and I was presented a key to
the property. I was honored to be with the King
Family, as I pondered all that went into the inspiring
story of Dr. King’s life and leadership.
I hope that you will take the time to honor Dr. King, and
reflect on his legacy. Thank you, and God bless America. | {
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It's the sheer randomness of it that makes it so terrifying. The idea that the victim would be utterly generic: not a politician or a soldier, but a random person. This person would be an abstraction, really. They are everyone precisely because they are no one in particular. What would matter is the image. The video had to be made, the event had to be broadcast. This matters more than the killing itself.
Now will come the courtroom arguments about whether this is a serious plot or empty, youthful bravado, but they will have no public purchase. Terrorism is all about the fear, the anxiety, the outrage. It's nothing without it. And what can scare or outrage us more than the thought of ISIL within?
"ISIL is not simply a group to be vanquished ... It exists in the mind as much as on land." Credit:Reuters/Australian Federal Police
And it's that thought that perhaps has the most to teach us in Australia. ISIL is not simply a group to be vanquished. It is not a fixed, finite, collection of people we can somehow control or eradicate. For us in Australia, it's most dangerously a symbol: a brand a young man from Sydney can claim for himself; a flag in which he can wrap himself, and his proposed victim. For all its pretensions to statehood, the key thing is that it's anything but. It exists in the mind as much as on land. | {
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President Obama's $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal 2011 includes a jobs bill that could cost around $100 billion. In addition to small business credits and continued state aid, the White House has proposed a $30 billion job creation plan that would give employers $5000 dollars for each new hire. Last week I wrote that while the job creation tax credit has broad support among policy groups, including the CBO and the left-of-center EPI, it's also easy to game the system. Richard Posner finds a deeper flaw: It does nothing to juice demand.
Here's Posner:
The Keynesian theory of stimulus (the only theory that makes economic sense) is that if private demand for goods and services falls substantially below the economy's productive capacity (as it has done), government can replace the shortfall in demand by increasing its own demand. It can buy roads and airports and military equipment with borrowed money (so as not to take money out of people's pockets, in the form of taxes, and by doing so depressing private demand). And it can borrow cheap, because consumers are saving more than usual, and, with demand weak, businesses are borrowing less than usual. So the private demand for credit is weak, and interest rates therefore low. The surge in government demand increases production, and increased production results in increased employment. The job-stimulus plan is not aimed at increasing demand, and therefore is unlikely to increase employment. For think: if a company is producing 1,000 widgets a year with a work force of 30, and it adds a 31st employee and thereby earns a $5,000 tax credit, the company's total costs will have risen by the wages and benefits that he pays the new employee minus the $5,000. But his sales will not have risen. Participating in the job-subsidy program will actually reduce his profits (revenue minus cost).
Last year I offered reasons for and against 9 big ideas to beat unemployment, from business tax credits to public works projects. One of those ideas is infrastructure spending -- that is, buying roads and bridges with borrowed money. The downside of infrastructure spending is that sometimes it takes a while to get the bridge-building projects off the ground. That's one reason why the CBO found that the jobs tax credit would actually be not only faster, but more effective at creating work hours.
At the same time, it's not clear even to the CBO that a hiring tax credit could work, or if it ever has. After the 1973-5 recession the New Jobs Tax Credit gave firms a tax break if they increased total employment by at least two percent. The policy was too complex for many firms to apply, and later studies struggled to agree that the tax credit boosted jobs by a significant number. A Department of Labor report ultimately concluded that it was impossible to observe what hiring would have been done without the credit. | {
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In Sachsen gibt es kaum Muslime. Doch gerade das ist die Bedingung dafür, dass der Islam dort als Feindbild aufgebaut werden kann. Die Pegida-Bewegung marschiert aus Angst vor dem Imaginären.
Gastbeitrag von Byung-Chul Han
Im Song von Helene Fischer "Fehlerfrei" heißt es: "Verplant und verpeilt, danebengestylt, so komme ich mir manchmal vor. Unverhofft und gehemmt, das Zeitgefühl klemmt, mit mir selbst nicht ganz d'accord. Ich will mich beweisen und droh' zu entgleisen, mit Vollgas gegen die Wand. Katastrophal."
Dieser Song bringt genau die Seelenlage vieler Deutscher zur Sprache. Viele sind heute von diffusen Ängsten geplagt, Angst zu versagen, Angst zu scheitern, Angst, abgehängt zu werden, Angst, einen Fehler zu machen oder eine falsche Entscheidung getroffen zu haben. Wir leben längst in einer Gesellschaft der Angst.
Aus Angst heraus konstruieren Menschen einen imaginären Feind
Viele haben Angst, den eigenen Ansprüchen nicht genügen zu können. Sie befinden sich in einem Dauerzwist mit sich selbst. Sie beschuldigen aber nur sich selbst für ihr Versagen. Sie schämen sich für die eigene Unzulänglichkeit. Diese Angst ist keine Angst vor dem bedrohlichen Anderen, vor dem Feind oder vor dem Fremden, sondern Angst um sich.
In einem Gastbeitrag "Warum heute keine Revolution möglich ist", der im September an dieser Stelle veröffentlicht wurde, habe ich darauf hingewiesen, dass heute der Klassenkampf sich in einen inneren Kampf mit sich selbst verwandelt. Wer scheitert, beschuldigt sich selbst und schämt sich. Man problematisiert sich und nicht die Gesellschaft, obwohl das eigentliche Problem von der Politik verursacht worden ist.
Aus Menschen, die sich selbst beschuldigen und sich schämen für ihr Versagen, lässt sich keine Protestmasse formen, die die Gesellschaft, das System infrage stellen würde. Der Andere als Feind entlastet auch das neoliberale Leistungssubjekt, das den Feind bei sich selbst ausmacht und mit sich selbst Krieg führt.
Das heutige Leistungssubjekt arbeitet sich nicht an externen Feinden, sondern an sich selbst ab. Gerade die Konstruktion des Anderen als Feind externalisiert den inneren Konflikt und entlastet dadurch die Psyche. So erwacht vielerorts eine Sehnsucht nach dem Feind.
Aus der lähmenden Angst, abgehängt zu werden oder nicht mehr dazuzugehören, befreien sich Menschen, indem sie einen imaginären Feind konstruieren. Pegida - "Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes" - eröffnet einen solchen imaginären Raum, in dem die Angst, die jeder für sich oder um sich hat, externalisiert wird und mit einem anderen Objekt, hier mit dem Islam, besetzt wird. | {
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2nd September, 2015 by Melita Kiely
Russian Standard Vodka has launched a third global travel retail exclusive edition to celebrate “classic Russian craft”.
The Cloisonné Limited Edition takes inspiration from Cloisonné artwork, admired by the Tsars of the Imperial Russian Court in St Petersburg.
Elaborate metalwork is used to form detailed patterns featuring enamels and gemstones.
The style is frequently used when making jewellery or decorating small objects, including Faberge Eggs that were made for the Russian Imperial family.
Russian Standard Vodka Cloisonné Edition is set to launch in November and will be priced “in line with” Russian Standard Original.
Russian Standard Vodka launched its first limited edition bottle design inspired by Russian folklore into travel retail last year.
Earlier this year, SB explored vodka’s varied tale in six key markets, including emerging areas and established regions. | {
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Obviously, no one (sane) is going to be in favor of #3. And while many people claim to want to keep things the same, as in #2, the amount of authoritarian city regulation necessary to make such a desire reality would be completely oppressive. It would require that rents be strictly limited, even when old residents moved out willingly and were replaced by new ones, regardless of their income. And besides just forcing new development out somewhere else--probably to a more auto-dependent, less environmentally and economically efficient location--it would discourage building owners from maintaining any of their holdings beyond the bare legal minimum. I encourage you to think through amount and complexity of city control it would take to actually make this work effectively; to do so here would require another post entirely.
The question of gentrification, as most of us know, is not "why do cities pursue it?" but "how do we maximize its positive aspects and prevent or minimize the negative?"
After all, contrary to Renn's assertions, cities don't have much incentive to gentrify. It's a terrible situation for the displaced residents--that isn't in question--but it's bad for cities as well. Displaced residents generally don't end up leaving and bothering some other city, they just end up in lower-quality homes, further away from work, school, and the social or medical services they might depend upon. Whatever those needs might be, they don't disappear just because the family moves a few miles away-- they just become less effective, and more costly to deliver. As even middle-income residents get pushed out of the middle of the city, increased prices push out beyond the city core, affecting everyone negatively. Except landowners, of course.
Reducing displacement is the challenge of gentrification, and thus far, no city has solved it in a completely satisfying way. That's not to say that some haven't been more successful than others though: even San Francisco, notorious for its out-of-this-world rents and home prices, is barely half the cost of Palo Alto ($835k vs $1.55m). At seven times the density, SF has done a much better job of facilitating growth than Palo Alto (although still a comparatively poor job), and this is certainly part of the reason it's not doing as poorly. But San Francisco also only grew by 30,000 people between 1950 and 2010; over that same time period Seattle, a considerably smaller city, increased its population by roughly 140,000. (Just for comparison, Palo Alto has increased in population by only about 10,000 in the past fifty years, although it's much smaller.) What Renn ignores, and what complicates the context of these statistics, is that demand differs between each of these cities, and responses will be, or should be, calibrated accordingly. | {
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DeFlame.com is devoted to nutritional and other lifestyle approaches for reducing inflammation. Deflame.com was started by Dr. David Seaman, the first person to author a scientific paper that specifically hypothesized that diets can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Since that paper about the “diet-induced proinflammatory state” was published in 2002, thousands of papers and numerous books have been published on the topic of diet and inflammation, which is now accepted as mainstream. Dr. Seaman’s original paper was referenced by researchers at the CDC and Harvard University.
Education:
BS from Rutgers University in 1982
Doctor of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in 1986
MS in Bio/nutrition from the University of Bridgeport in 1991
While in clinical practice in the late 1980’s, he became aware of the developing research that linked nutrition to the inflammatory process and noticed that appropriate dietary changes could significantly improve various musculoskeletal and visceral conditions. Based on this experience, he began to focus on nutritional approaches for inflammation/pain control and has followed the related scientific literature ever since. This led to the publication of the first book on nutrition for pain and inflammation, which was followed by many articles and book chapters devoted to this topic. His educational efforts resulted in being awarded the 2006 Academician of the Year by the American Chiropractic Association.
While no one can be certain of their disposition for disease expression, Dr. Seaman’s goal is to live as long as his grand/great grand parents who lived into their 90’s. Here he is pictured with his Great Aunt who lived to be 100 years old.
His goal is to live as long as his relatives and hopes to do so by following an anti-inflammatory nutrition program and a vigorous exercise program.
Dr. Seaman’s favorite spare time activity:
Books, articles, and chapters by Dr. Seaman
Books
Seaman DR. The DeFlame Diet. 2016.
Seaman DR. Clinical nutrition for pain, inflammation and tissue healing (1998).
Articles
Seaman DR. Toxins, toxicity, and endotoxemia: a historical and clinical perspective for chiropractors. J Chiro Humanities. Published online September 3, 2016.
Martin BR, Seaman DR. An overview of the identification and management of the metabolic syndrome in chiropractic practice. J Chiro Med. 2015;14(3):205-11.
Seaman DR, Palombo AD. An overview of the identification and management of the metabolic syndrome in chiropractic practice. J Chiro Med. 2014;13(3):210-19.
Seaman DR. Is weight gain an unavoidable consequence of living a modern lifestyle? J Chiro Humanities. 2013;20(1):27-35.
Seaman DR. Body mass index and musculoskeletal pain: is there a connection? Chiropractic Man Ther. 2013;21:15.
Seaman DR. Anti-inflammatory diet for pain patients. Pract Pain Management. 2012;12(10)36-46.
Gala TR, Seaman DR. Lifestyle modifications and the resolution of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a case report. J Chiro Med. 2011;10:118-25.
Seaman D. Health care for our bones: A practical nutritional approach to preventing osteoporosis. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2004; 27:591-95.
Seaman DR. The diet-induced pro-inflammatory state: A cause of chronic pain and other degenerative diseases? J Manip Physiol Ther. 2002; 25: 168-79.
Seaman DR, Cleveland C. Spinal pain syndromes: nociceptive, neuropathic, and psychologic mechanisms. J Manip Physio Ther. 1999; 22:458-72.
Chapters | {
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Anti-Obama Writer Detained in Kenya
Jerome Corsi, who wrote an anti-Obama book called The Obama Nation, was in Kenya investigating Obama’s connections to Kenya. He was to hold a press conference in which he was going to discuss what he had found.
There was a little surprise waiting for Corsi as he made his way to the press conference, though. It was the Kenya’s immigration department. They swooped in an arrested him before he could make public his findings.
Corsi had promised a news conference today that would “expose details of deep secret ties between U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and a section of Kenya government leaders, their connection to certain sectoral groups in Kenya and subsequent plot to be executed in Kenya should Senator Obama win the American presidency.”
Somebody didn’t want this information out there. Here is some of what Corsi was going to reveal:
Corsi was set to show Obama and Odinga have been in direct contact since the senator’s visit to Kenya in 2006. He was to claim Obama advised Odinga on campaign strategy and helped him raise money in the U.S. for the Kenya presidential campaign.
Obama was raising money in the United States and sending it to the campaign of a foreign election. But what about that campaign strategy that Obama helped Odinga with?
Corsi was to report Odinga’s 2007 presidential campaign strategy called for exploiting anti-Kikuyu tribal sentiments, claiming victory and charging voter fraud even if the campaign knew the election had been legitimately lost. Odinga, Corsi said, also was willing to fan the flames of ethnic tribal tensions
Ethnic tribal tensions? Could this be equivalent to the class warfare that the Democrats love to use in America as a campaign strategy? But the kicker to me is that Odinga was prepared to claim voter fraud occurred even if he knew that the charges were unfounded and untrue. That is straight out of the Democrat playbook, and foreshadows what can be expected from Obama in the extremely unlikely event that he loses the election.
So somebody wanted Corsi silenced, was it Odinga or was it the Obama campaign that made the call to collect on a debt for the campaign money that was funneled into Kenya? In order to answer that question we must once again look to Barack Obama’s past.
Barack Obama has already admitted that he is in favor of silencing the people who do not agree with him and I am not only talking about his approval of re-instituting the fairness doctrine to shut down conservative radio and blogs. That would have to wait until he was president, he is already in the game of harassing and threatening those who oppose him with the “truth squads” that he sent out in Missouri to intimidate people who run commercials that are critical of him. He is also pressuring television stations not to run ads critical of him by the NRA. Is it really too much of a stretch to think that Obama had a hand in this?
But Obama’s defiance of the freedom of the press and of free speech, isn’t where his disdain for the constitution ends. As director of the Joyce Foundation he worked hard to undermine an individual’s right to keep and bear arms using the court system, and will continue to do so once he assumes the presidency with his judicial nominees. Regardless of what he now says.
And of course no discussion of Obama’s past can be finished without talking about his association with William Ayers. Obama’s campaign likes to say that Obama was only eight when Ayers committed his terrorist attacks on the Pentagon, but Obama’sassociation with Ayers is much more recent than that. As director and co-founder with William Ayer of The Chicago Annenberg Challenge he helped fund William Ayers and his radical teachings in Chicago.
Which then leads us to Reverend Jeremiah Wright and his radical, race baiting, hate mongering, anti-American sermons that Barack Obama attended for twenty years. And brought his children to.
Obama’s past is filled with associations to people unfriendly with America and with ideas that are contrary to the constitution and the rights of speech, press, and the right to bear arms. So again I ask, is it so hard to believe that Obama had a hand in this writers detainment in Kenya?
All of these associations and beliefs are just too conveniently coincidental for me to believe. Barack Obama has a pattern here, it is a pattern that we are supposed to ignore. If you dare to ask about Obama’s past you are accused of either engaging in the politics of personal destruction, or of personal attacks, or of being a racist. Or all of the above. We are supposed to believe that Barack Obama’s past is not relevant to the campaign, but who a person is today derives from who he was and what happened to him in the past. Barack Obama’s past is just too damn shady and I can not ignore it.
Obama’s past does matter today, especially when the associations that he claims were long ago were allot more recent than Obama cares to admit.
But why was Corsi coincidentally detained just as he was headed to his press conference? Was it just another coincidence? Or was there more? What was Corsi going to reveal?
Just one more question, could it have been a birth certificate? | {
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Four people were killed and multiple others hurt in Seattle on Saturday when a crane collapsed into traffic, officials said.
At least three people were hospitalized following the incident at Fairview Ave. N and Mercer Street, the Seattle Fire Department tweeted. Among them were a mother and her baby, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said, according to the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON HOMEOWNER SHOOTS, KILLS BURGLARY SUSPECT WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH 911, POLICE SAY
Another person received care at the scene but was not transported, the fire department said.
The deceased included two ironworkers and two individuals who were in their vehicles at the time, according to Scoggins. Three were men and one was a woman.
The falling crane, which had been situated on top of a building, damaged multiple cars, the department said.
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Photos from the area showed multiple responders on scene, as well as several smashed vehicles. A photo shared by the fire department also showed damage to the top of a building.
It was not yet clear what caused the crane to fall, Scoggins said.
Gov. Jay Inslee tweeted that his team was "closely monitoring the situation" and expressed his condolences.
"My heart goes out to the family and friends of the four people who died in this terrible accident," he wrote. "Please stay clear of the scene and allow medical personnel and investigators to do their work."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | {
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Paal Kibsgaard, diretor-executivo da Schlumberger Foto: Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg/19-6-2015
NOVA YORK - As empresas costumam usar resultados financeiros e o cenário econômico para justificar demissões. Em 2015, a Schlumberger — prestadora de serviços no setor de petróleo — amargou queda de 17% nas receitas e de 41% nos lucros. E, ao longo do ano passado, demitiu 25 mil pessoas, segundo o site CNN Money.
Os cortes representaram uma redução de 20% da força de trabalho da companhia, informou o site. A empresa atribui tanto as dispensas quanto os resultados fracos à forte queda nas cotações do barril do petróleo.
Os números mostram um cenário nada favorável para quem trabalha na companhia. Mas a crise não parece ter atravessado a porta do escritório do diretor executivo da Schlumberger. É que, de acordo com o site, as gratificações dadas pela empresa a Paal Kibsgaard em 2015 somaram US$ 18,3 milhões.
O valor, sem dúvida, é alto, mas representa uma leve queda em relação ao que ele recebeu em 2014: US$ 18,5 milhões. A diferença, o site explica, deve-se ao desempenho do plano de previdência do executivo. De acordo com o CNN Money, tanto a base salarial quanto as ações que ele detém aumentaram em relação a 2014, e o total de dinheiro que ele recebia de fato avançou 12%, para US$ 5,2 milhões. | {
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Some 93 newly-elected MPs are polishing their shoes, dusting down their best suits and getting ready for their first day in the House of Commons.
Daily Politics reporter Ellie Price spoke to a few of them ahead of Parliament sitting on Tuesday, the first time after Thursday's election.
New MPs Labour's Emma Dent Coad and Lib Dem Christine Jardine | {
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For a time former Arkansas Gov. Michael Huckabee appeared to be among the craziest of the GOP candidates, gung-ho for the Iraq war, disdainful of Congress’ role in declaring war, and enthusiastic about torturing U.S. captives. But when he deviated slightly from neocon orthodoxy in his article in Foreign Affairs, which criticized President George Bush, the hawkish Right went berserk.
Where does Michael Huckabee really stand?
The original Huckabee was an ugly creature. Forget his love of tax hikes, paternalistic tendencies, and curious fondness for convicted criminals. On foreign policy he sounded like a neocon clone.
Withdrawal timetables for Iraq were “absurd,” he said. “The quickest way to get out of Iraq is to win,” he explained, and the U.S. should do “whatever it takes to win.”
No doubt, winning is better than losing. But when it isn’t clear what winning is, and even your supposed friends whom you purport to be helping want you to leave, then plotting the best way out makes more sense than chirping about a victory which you can’t define.
As for Iran, Huckabee contended that “A president has to [do] whatever is necessary to protect the American people. If we think Iran is building nuclear capacity that could be used against us in any way, including selling some of the nuclear capacity to some other terrorist group, then, yes, we have a right” to strike, and the president should do so without congressional authorization, which, Huckabee added, “I would do in a heartbeat.” When pressed about his options if Congress said no, he said: “You do what’s best for the American people and you suffer the consequences.”
Of course, no one doubts that the president has inherent authority to respond in exigent circumstances, such as a sudden nuclear attack by Russia. But Iran has no nuclear capability and now, we believe, is not even creating a nuclear capability. Nor has anyone shown anything in Iranian behavior to suggest that the regime would not be deterred, as was the Soviet Union, by America’s overwhelming military might. The fact that President Huckabee believes America has to choose between its democratic freedoms and national survival is frightening.
What of Guantánamo Bay, which has wrecked America’s international reputation? After viewing the facility, he opined: “The inmates there were getting a whole lot better treatment than my prisoners in Arkansas. In fact, we left saying, ‘I hope our guys don’t see this. They’ll all want to be transferred to Guantánamo. If anything, it’s too nice’.”
But Huckabee misses the point. By all accounts today’s Guantánamo is much better than the early Guantánamo. The issue is not general prison conditions, but holding people who may be innocent without providing any procedure to assess their guilt. One need shed no tears for terrorists, but one should recoil at a country dedicated to individual liberty imprisoning innocent people indefinitely. The international cost to America’s reputation has been exceedingly high.
At best, one could write off Huckabee’s potpourri of right-wing sound-bites as reflecting his abject ignorance of foreign affairs. When asked by Andrew Sullivan about the influences on his foreign policy thinking, Huckabee pointed to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and uberhawk Frank Gaffney of the Center for American Policy. Huckabee then tossed in Richard Haass, a centrist with the Council on Foreign Relations, as an afterthought. Mixing these three inevitably results in more confusion than enlightenment.
Then came Huckabee’s article in Foreign Affairs, America’s premier journal of international relations. Who actually wrote it, and how responsible Huckabee is for the views it expresses, are unknown. But it is as authoritative a campaign position as a statement issued from his campaign: for the foreign policy establishment, there is nothing closer to holy writ than the pages of Foreign Affairs.
In it Huckabee moved in a couple of decidedly new directions. He opens with words that might have characterized candidate George W. Bush in 2000: “The United States, as the world’s only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised.”
Huckabee went on to hit the administration, hard. “The Bush administration’s arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad,” he intoned. As president, he said he would “recognize that the United States’ main fight today does not pit us against the world but pits the world against the terrorists.”
Huckabee also speaks skeptically of the Bush administration’s attempt to spread democracy at the point of a gun. Holding elections too soon can empower extremists, he rightly worries, though his belief that somehow improving life in the Muslim world is the key to love for America is sadly naive. Abundant foreign aid to countries like Egypt has neither helped average people nor caused them to overlook policies, such as support for Arab dictatorships and Israel, that have generated such hostility against the U.S. government.
Even more profound may be Huckabee’s break with the administration over Iran. He recognizes that the attack on Iraq wrecked the regional balance of power, strengthening Iran. Although he would not take the military option off of the table, he adds: “if we do not put other options on the table, eventually a military strike will become the only viable one. And nothing would make bin Laden happier than this outcome.” While al-Qaeda must be destroyed, “Iran is a nation that just has to be contained.”
In making his case for diplomatic engagement, he points to the experience in Iraq: “Since we overthrew Saddam, we have learned that we invaded an imaginary country, because we relied at the time on information that was out of date and on longtime exiles who exaggerated the good condition of Iraq’s infrastructure, the strength of its middle class, and the secular nature of its society. We would have received better information if we had had our own ambassador in Baghdad. Before we put boots on the ground elsewhere, we had better have wingtips there first.”
While this is much improved over John “bomb, bomb Iran” McCain, for instance, Huckabee remains a hawk at heart. “It is essential to win in Iraq,” he writes. Rather than exercise the independent judgment required of the military’s commander-in-chief, he says he would defer to Gen. David Petraeus on any troop withdrawal. Apparently he is prepared to stay forever: “Those who say that we do not owe the Iraqis anything more are ignoring what we owe our own children and grandchildren in terms of security.”
He is prepared to invade Pakistan, “going after al-Qaeda’s safe havens in Pakistan.” He does not address the feasibility of such a strategy, however. Indeed, though he offers a devastating critique of current policy towards Pakistan, arguing that Washington “has erred on the side of protecting Musharraf,” he does not suggest a coherent alternative. “I will assure the Pakistanis that we are with them for the long haul,” he writes, without explaining what that would mean in practice.
Finally, Huckabee makes two truly nutty proposals. He explains: “The first thing I will do as president is send Congress my comprehensive plan for achieving energy independence within ten years of my inauguration.” President Richard Nixon issued the first of many presidential promises to make America independent of foreign oil and today we import more petroleum than ever. There is no cost-effective alternative to oil, a fact which Huckabee’s bluster cannot change.
Even more bizarre is his proposal for an unprecedented military build-up. Huckabee wants to speed up the administration’s 92,000 troop increase and do so “without lowering standards,” no easy task. Moreover, he contends: “Right now, we are spending about 3.9 percent of our GDP on defense, compared with about six percent in 1986, under President Ronald Reagan. We need to return to that six percent level.”
Apparently Huckabee fell asleep in 1989 and missed the fact that America’s hegemonic competitor, the Soviet Union, disappeared. The Berlin Wall fell. Members of the enemy alliance all joined NATO. China traded Maoist craziness for capitalist success.
As a result, American military dominance has never been greater. The U.S. already accounts for roughly half of all military spending on earth. America is allied with every major industrialized state. As Colin Powell famously said, the U.S. is running out of enemies there’s Cuba, maybe North Korea, which is now negotiating with Washington, Iran, and perhaps Syria, which was just invited to the Annapolis conference. Precisely what would Huckabee do with the $800 billion that he believes the U.S. should be spending on the military this year? He does not so enlighten us.
Although überhawks should glory in Huckabee’s plan to bankrupt America to build more bombs, they are horrified far more by his apostasies. Apparently the ivory tower warriors believe that with certifiable warmongers like Rudy Giuliani and John McCain who believe in war against everyone, all of the time already in the race, why settle for anyone with even a touch of weakness? To them, Huckabee’s concern over America’s image suggests a lack of manliness and toughness. To oppose bombing Iran tomorrow reeks of appeasement and defeatism.
So the assaults came fast and furious. Mitt Romney, himself critical of the president earlier this year, immediately went into suck-up mode, declaring that “The president is a person who is deeply devoted to this country and doing what’s right for this country and protecting American lives” and that “we can be thankful that President Bush has kept us safe.” Dean Barnett of the Weekly Standard declared Huckabee’s comments to be the sort of “rubbish” one would expect “from a Daily Kos diarist.” Columnist David Limbaugh denounced Huckabee’s “betrayal of President Bush, wrapped in a virtual endorsement of Jimmy Carter diplomacy.” Peter Wehner, fresh from the Bush White House, called Huckabee “naive and foolish” and “ignorant,” and said the candidate “has a few things to learn.”
The latter is certainly true, though for reasons very different from those advanced by Wehner. Mike Huckabee has mixed a bizarre policy cocktail, leaving much to criticize. Overall, his positions seem hopelessly muddled: America should be less arrogant but should undertake a massive military build-up. The U.S. should improve its image abroad, but should ignore the counterproductive impact of Gitmo and related issues, such as torture and rendition, on America’s reputation. Washington should stick around Iraq forever but maybe not attack Iran. Governments should treat so-called foreign aid, which has failed to achieve much of anything positive for a half century, as a measure of American generosity. And America should toss more good money after bad in a hopeless quest for energy “independence.”
Still, Huckabee gets one essential point right. Unlike President Bush, Mike Huckabee is sufficiently grounded in reality to recognize that all is not well with American foreign policy. On the Republican side that sets him apart from everyone other than Rep. Ron Paul. Huckabee is no revolutionary committed to overturning interventionist orthodoxy within the Republican Party. But his modest heresies might be another harbinger of a slow shift away from the policy of promiscuous intervention that has come to characterize the conservative movement. Such a transformation can’t come quickly enough. | {
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Singapore’s central bank has shut down a second Swiss bank under investigation for alleged money laundering activities linked to the Malaysian state fund 1MDB.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it had ordered Falcon Bank to cease its operations in the city-state because of a “persisistent and severe lack of understanding” of Singapore’s money laundering controls.
The MAS announced it had also fined DBS and UBS for similar violations.
“The control lapses observed in DBS and UBS relate to specific bank officers who failed to carry out their duties effectively,” the MAS said, adding that it did not find “pervasive control weaknesses” in these banks.
DBS was ordered to pay Sg$1m (£593,000/US$730,000) for 10 violations while UBS was ordered to pay Sg$1.3m for 13 violations.
The regulator in May kicked out Swiss bank BSI for similar violations – the first time it ordered a bank to shut in 32 years.
Singapore, a regional financial hub, launched a probe into fund flows linked to 1MDB in 2015.
The Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, who founded 1MDB, has been heavily embroiled in the scandal but has strongly denied any wrongdoing. | {
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To get you ready for the 2016 NFL season, the PFF analysis crew is assembling team “cheat sheets” to catch you up on the latest changes, grades, and rankings of note involving your NFL team.
The San Diego Chargers are looking to rebound from a four-win season that earned them the No. 3 pick in this year's draft. They’ve had a strong offseason to this point, but will still have a tough time cracking through what looks to be a difficult AFC West. Even with Peyton Manning retiring, the Broncos still field a competitive defense and fearsome pass rush, while the Chiefs remain a solid team and the Raiders are trending upwards. How will the Chargers fare against their division rivals—and beyond—in 2016?
Three biggest things to know
1. The Chargers's offensive line will need to dramatically improve over last season…
The Chargers fielded the lowest-ranked offense in the NFL a year ago. The unit combined for a league-low pass-blocking efficiency after allowing 298 total pressures—77 more than any other line—in 716 passing plays, which undoubtedly contributed to Philip Rivers finishing with his lowest passing grade in the 10 seasons PFF has charted. San Diego's performance in the run game wasn’t much better; no player finished the season with a positive grade there, and Chargers’ rushers gained an average of just 1.39 yards before contact, the third-lowest mark in the league.
Fortunately, the unit has a few reasons for optimism going into 2016. First, they saw just 318 snaps from LT King Dunlap, who graded well above-average when fully healthy in 2013 and 2014. Second is the free-agent addition of center Matt Slauson, who brings an above-average career grade over seven seasons, and should be a massive upgrade over Trevor Robinson, PFF’s lowest-graded center in 2015. Retaining last season’s top performer, RT Joe Barskdale, shouldn’t hurt either.
2. … As will the defensive front-seven.
San Diego faced similar problems in the trenches on defense in 2015. No team collectively graded worse in run defense than the Chargers, while just one other team (New Orleans Saints) allowed a higher average gain per carry. Former Seahawks DT Brandon Mebane should help tremendously on early downs, even if he’s far from his 2013 peak, as will dumping underperformers Kendall Reyes and Donald Butler, which the Chargers did this offseason. LB Manti Te’o remains a question mark after missing a team-high 16 tackles and finishing the 2015 season with one of the worst run-defense grades among off-ball linebackers, but perhaps he’ll see improvement with a better D-line in front of him.
In the passing game, the team’s front-seven wasn’t nearly as bad, with pressure on roughly 36 percent of opponent’s passing plays (ranking middle-of-the pack league-wide). The bulk of that production came from LB Melvin Ingram, with Jerry Attaochu behind him, and they should benefit from the addition of third-pick Joey Bosa.
3. Replacing Eric Weddle at safety could be a major challenge.
While the team should be set at corner with Jason Verrett, Casey Hayward, and Brandon Flowers, it won’t be as easy covering the loss of Eric Weddle at safety. Weddle played 91 percent of the team’s snaps since being drafted in the second round in 2007—8,730 in total—and graded positively over all nine seasons in San Diego. Replacement Dwight Lowery has been consistently average over his career—sometimes even slightly above-average—but he’s never matched Weddle’s production. It’s also concerning that the two lowest season grades of his career have come within the last three years. Much of the onus will be on fourth-year player Jahleel Addae, who had a solid rookie season in coverage, but has graded negatively in both the passing and running game over last two years, including a career-low overall mark in 2015. Will he bounce back in 2016? Two positive grades in his first two preseason games is encouraging, albeit in a limited sample (24 snaps).
Key arrivals and departures
Top three draft picks: DE Joey Bosa (Round 1, pick No. 3 overall, Ohio State), TE Hunter Henry (Round 2, pick No. 35 overall, Arkansas), C Max Tuerk (Round 3, pick No. 66 overall, USC)
Signed in free agency: C Matt Slauson (Bears), CB Casey Hayward (Packers), DT Brandon Mebane (Seahawks), S Dwight Lowery (Colts), WR Travis Benjamin (Browns), WR James Jones (Packers)
Left via free agency: CB Patrick Robinson (Colts), RB Donald Brown (Patriots), S Eric Weddle (Ravens), TE Ladarius Green (Steelers), S Brandian Ross (Broncos), DI Kendall Reyes (Redskins), T Jeff Linkenbach (Jaguars)
Cut: P Mike Scifres, LB Donald Butler
Retired: WR Malcom Floyd
Rookie to watch
Hunter Henry, TE (Round 2, pick No. 35 overall)
With Malcom Floyd gone, Antonio Gates a year older (36), and WR Keenan Allen likely to draw substantial attention from opposing defenses, there should be plenty of opportunity for the FBS’ highest-graded TE in the passing game last season. Henry didn’t drop a single pass while gaining 2.36 yards per route run during his final season at Arkansas, a figure that ranked in the top-five among his peers, and would have been second among NFL tight ends, just behind Jordan Reed’s 2.45 mark.
Through his first 44 preseason snaps, Henry has looked the part, hauling in four of five targets for 50 yards. His run blocking has been below-average, but that’s not necessarily surprising for a rookie seeing his first NFL action, and it wasn’t a strength in college. It’s the passing game where he’ll have the most impact, and he should help Rivers bounce back from a career-low passing grade.
Highest-graded player of 2015
Jason Verrett, CB, 89.7 overall grade
After being drafted 25th overall in 2014, Verrett started his rookie season quite well with the eighth-best coverage grade over the first eight weeks. Injuries, however, forced him to miss the entire second half of that season. Fortunately, he was healthy for most of 2015, managing to stay on the field for 735 snaps, and picked up where he left off from his rookie year. He ended the season with the second-best coverage grade among CBs, behind only Arizona's Tyrann Mathieu, and he could be even better in 2016. Last season, Verrett had the highest percentage of coverage snaps with a positive grade, a figure that has been be fairly consistent year-to-year.
Breakout player watch
Denzel Perryman, LB
Perryman quietly had one of the best seasons of any rookie defender in 2015, although he didn’t see a single vote for Rookie of the Year. That was likely in part because he played just 65 snaps over the first 10 weeks of the season, but once Perryman actually saw consistent playing time (starting in Week 11), he was excellent. He ended the season with the fifth-highest run-defense grade (85.0) among all linebackers, and led all ILBs in run-stop percentage, at 18.3 percent. Last season, the Chargers' defense missed at least one tackle on 115 plays, but only four of those came from Perryman, whose tackling efficiency ranked fifth among ILBs—a substantial improvement over his final college season, which he finished with 15 missed tackles in 749 snaps. We’ll see if he can maintain that form in a full-time role in 2016.
Projected lineups
Base defense (2015 season grades shown)
Base offense (2015 season grades shown) | {
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今年4月末にTechlandがUbisoftから販売権を獲得し、一部タイトルの再販が開始された“Call of Juarez”シリーズですが、先ほどTechlandが傑作「Call of Juarez: Gunslinger」のティザー映像を公開。本作の主人公サイラス・グリーブスが、なぜか「Red Dead Redemption 2」の主人公アーサー・モーガンとダッチギャングにメッセージを伝える謎の内容となっています。
今のところ、この映像が何を示しているのか、詳細は不明ですが、サイラスはアーサー・モーガンがまもなく西部で最も優れた人物の1人になるだろうと語り、伝説は決して死なないと強調。偉大な人物達は変化し、以前よりもより強固な存在となって帰ってくると述べ、“Gunslinger”に何か新たな動きがあることを示唆しています。
また、ティザー映像の公開に併せて、公式Facebookのヘッダーイメージも更新されており、伝説は決して死なないと記されたイメージから、“Call of Juarez: Gunslinger”のリマスターが登場するのではないかと見られています。 | {
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VIDEO: The first trailer for Breach, the debut game from Austin, TX-based studio QC Games.
Today, QC Games announces Breach, an action-RPG that straddles the boundaries between Diablo, Guild Wars 2, and Monster Hunter. Breach has been in development since 2015, and the principle members of QC previously spent time at EA building games like The Old Republic and BioWare's canceled Shadow Realms .
Breach takes place in a near-future mashup of high fantasy and cyberpunk tech, where the barriers between the arcane and the mundane are breaking down. Functionally, the game plays out in 15-minute sessions as an asymmetrical multiplayer dungeon crawler, where four players choose highly customizable classes and complete missions in a gauntlet riddled with mythological creatures.
A fifth player takes the role of the "Veil Demon," an omnipresent dungeon master-type deity who can lay traps, set obstacles, and personally possess and control the monsters in the corridors. Combat, like in many MMOs and MOBAs, is a mix of auto-targeting skills and aimed skillshots, but the classes are unusually diverse: there are sharpshooters, necromancers, and even acrobatic Devil May Cry-style swordsmen. The idea, says game director Gabe Amatangelo, is to create an arena that feels different every time you play.
"We wanted to distill the online dungeon crawling experience to the parts we're most passionate about," he explains. "We want players to own it, so they can bring their classes and experience from various other games and put them together here."
Breach will be free-to-play at launch, with a progression system where you unlock more ways to tailor the specific abilities and builds of the classes the more you play. Studio president Dallas Dickinson says he intends to build a game with an ultra high skillcap, while still allowing for people to come in who just want to "smash some stuff." That requires balancing not only how good a player is, but also how often they want to play.
"You see it in these online games where when you go away for a bit, you lose contact with your friends," he says. "Our game is about jumping in, having fun, and maybe you fall off for awhile and decide to come back because we've added a new class that you're excited about. It'll take you a day to remember your skills, but other than that, you're back in."
Breach will enter paid Steam Early Access later this year with the free-to-play full launch coming sometime in 2019. You can read our world-first hands-on impressions here on PC Gamer tomorrow at 9 AM Pacific.
The official website is playbreach.com, and the game will be playable this week at Gamescom 2018. | {
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March 26, 2012 — A recent study showed that frequent chocolate consumption was associated with lower body mass index (BMI), even when adjusting for calorie intake, saturated fat intake, and mood.
Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues described their findings in a research letter published in the March 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The authors used data from 1018 patients already being screened for inclusion in a widely sampling clinical study evaluating noncardiac effects of statin medications. Of the 1018 participants, 1017 answered the question, "How many times a week do you consume chocolate?" BMI was calculated for 972 participants (95.6%); and 975 (95.8%) answered the validated Fred Hutchinson Food Frequency Questionnaire.
The investigators performed analyses with and without adjustment for calorie intake, saturated fat (satfat) intake, and mood. Fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with chocolate consumption (β, 0.004; P = .55), but satfat intake was significantly related to both chocolate consumption (β, 0.035; P < .001) and higher BMI.
The amount of chocolate consumed was examined, in addition to the frequency of chocolate consumption. Activity (number of times in a 7-day period the participant engaged in vigorous activity for at least 20 minutes) and mood (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale [CES-D]) were also examined.
The relationship between chocolate consumption frequency and BMI was calculated in unadjusted models, in models adjusted for age and sex, and in models adjusted for activity, satfats, and mood.
Study participants consumed chocolate a mean 2.0 (SD, 2.5) times per week and exercised 3.6 (SD, 3.0) times per week. Frequency of chocolate consumption was associated with greater intake of calories and satfats and higher CES-D scores (P < .001 for each of these 3 associations); these all related positively to BMI. Chocolate consumption frequency was not associated with greater activity (P = .41), but it was associated with lower BMI (unadjusted P = .01). This association remained with and without adjustment for age and sex, as well as for calories, satfats, and depression.
Although chocolate consumption frequency was associated with lower BMI, the amount of chocolate consumed was not (eg, per medium chocolate serving or 1 oz [28 g], β, 0.00057 and P = .97, in an age- and sex-adjusted model).
"The connection of higher chocolate consumption frequency to lower BMI is opposite to associations presumed based on calories alone, but concordant with a growing body of literature suggesting that the character — as well as the quantity — of calories has an impact on [metabolic syndrome (MetS)] factors," write the authors.
They further explain that as chocolate products are frequently high in sugar and fat, they are often assumed to contribute to an increased BMI. The authors note that this may still be true in some cases.
"[O]ur findings — that more frequent chocolate intake is linked to lower BMI — are intriguing," write the authors. "They accord with other findings suggesting that diet composition, as well as calorie number, may influence BMI. They comport with reported benefits of chocolate to other elements of MetS," the authors write, noting that a randomized trial studying the metabolic benefits of chocolate in humans may be warranted.
This study was funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and was supported by the University of California, San Diego, General Clinical Research Center. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Arch Intern Med. 2012;172:519-521. | {
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A/N: Hey guys! I'm really sorry that it took me this long to update this. I've been pretty busy with my Summer. Working as a basketball coach while also trying to enjoy myself takes up a lot of time. I promise I'll start updating more often! Thanks for sticking around. Reviews are always appreciated! Now, without further ado, please enjoy the next chapter of "Love Through Adversity."
"So kiddo, how did you like the tour?" asked Agdar to his clearly exuberant daughter.
"I loved it! I'm glad I finally got to see how you run the office, Dad." replied Elsa.
"You know, it warms my heart to know that you have so much interest in the police force. You might be taking over my job one day!" laughed Elsa's father.
"Me? Chief of the entire Anaheim Police Department? I think you have too high expectations for me, Dad."
"Nonsense! You lack confidence in yourself, Elsa. You'll make a fine Chief one day. I truly believe it."
The admiration Elsa had for her father was extraordinary. He was her role model. Coming from humble origins, he made a name for himself in his respective field. Additionally, his intelligence was remarkable. With a plethora of cases solved thanks to his efforts, it was no wonder that he was the Chief of Police.
"Thanks Dad," said the blonde, as she gave her father a warm, loving hug. "So how's the current case with that gang coming along?"
"I think we're finally cracking down on them. We still don't know who exactly is running the show, but we're definitely making progress. They're experts at leaving no trace of evidence at the crime scenes. However, I believe I have a major lead that I must share with your uncle. With his help, I have faith we'll be able to stop these guys before they cause further harm."
"I hope so. From what we've heard so far, they seem to be a pretty dangerous threat. I just want you to be safe, Dad." said Elsa.
"Don't worry about me, kiddo. I'll be ok. Now, your mom should be picking us up soon. Ready to chow down on some dinner? Your treat, of course." said the older man while giving his daughter a wink.
"Very funny Dad!"
*10 minutes later*
Elsa couldn't wait to get to the restaurant. She loved Japanese cuisine. There was something about fresh, cold sushi that always hit the spot whenever the family would visit "The Shogun." She sat patiently in the back seat, listening to her parents' conversation.
"So Idun, how was your day?" asked Elsa's father.
"It was lovely, dear. I would definitely spend the day at home relaxing every day of the week, if I could."
Elsa's mom was a fashion designer. Her taste in art and clothing was truly exquisite. She was just naturally talented at what she did. Whenever people from the fashion industry would meet Elsa, they would always remark about how strikingly beautiful she was like her mother.
"Aha, if only that was possible." laughed Agdar. "Unfortunately, my work never stops. Especially with this case taking up all of my time. I'm happy that I got to take it easy today, and show Elsa around the office."
"Yes, the case with that uprising gang, right? What was their name again? The Southern Ones?" asked Elsa's mother.
"Supposedly, they're known as The Southern Thirteen." replied Agdar. "I was just telling Elsa about how I have a lead on who they actually are. Before I make any decision on my own, however, I would like to consult with Everick."
The Winters' car had pulled up to a red light. The restaurant was just a street ahead. Soon, Elsa would be enjoying a pleasant dinner with her family. It was a perfect day. Or so, she thought.
As the light turned green, Elsa's father accelerated forward, without noticing the speeding vehicle to his left.
*Screeeeech!* *CRASH*
Unexpectedly, the Winters' car was sent flying through the air, rolling around several times before coming to a halt.
Glass lay broken everywhere. Elsa was in a daze. The pain was excruciating. She tried taking in her surroundings. In the passenger seat, her mother sat motionless with cuts gashed over her face. In the drivers' seat, she saw her father, with blood gushing from his forehead, struggling to move.
"Mom! Dad!" shouted Elsa, with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Elsa… Stay calm, kiddo. Look at me." said Agdar as he stared at his daughter through the rear-view mirror. "You're OK, sweetie. Listen to me, no matter what happens today. Whether we make it or not, I need you to know that your mother and I are so proud of you. We love you so much… We couldn't have deserved a better daughter than you."
"No… please Dad. Don't say that now. You're gonna make it! Please don't go!" pleaded Elsa.
Life leaving his body, Agdar knew he didn't have much time left . He just had to ensure his daughter that everything would be alright. With a final breath, he uttered his final words, "You'll be fine, Elsa."
No, this can't be happening right now. Please God, don't do this to me.
As she heard the sirens wailing in the distance, the situation was too much for Elsa to take in. Within seconds, she couldn't help herself but fall out of consciousness.
*GASP*
Elsa woke up in a cold sweat. The nightmare had been incredibly vivid with every detail of that day still haunting her even though she was now awake. She looked to her left to check the alarm clock that sat on the small black table near her bed.
7:25 AM
"Shit," Elsa muttered as she realized her current predicament. "I'm fucking late."
As Elsa got out of bed, she knew it was too late for her to hop in the shower. Thus, she elected to throw on whatever she had in her closet. In it, she found a plain black v-neck and a pair of grey sweatpants. Once she settled on her outfit, she stared at the mirror in her room.
Fucking slob. At least freshen up or something. God, what were you raised in? A barn?
Making her way to the bathroom she and her cousin shared, Elsa figured she was alone. Rapunzel always left early to school, wanting to hang out with all of her friends before classes started. Elsa's uncle had been promoted to Chief of Police following the death of her father and he spent most of his time investigating The Southern Thirteen. As the leader of the police department, life had not been particularly easy for Everick as the only lead they had on the now notorious gang, died with Agdar. Elsa's aunt was probably already at the school as well, as she had been recently promoted to Assistant Principal for the new school year.
Once she finished brushing her teeth, Elsa once again took a glance at the mirror in front of her.
Wow, look at you. Pitiful. At least show some fucking effort in your appearance.
Elsa chose to quickly fix her hair before she left, slicking her bangs back while also French braiding it so it fell nicely over her left shoulder.
Eh, that'll work.
Driving to school, Elsa couldn't help but loathe the day ahead of her.
Ugh, why the fuck do we have to have an orientation as seniors? It's not like we're clueless freshman who need their hands held through everything. Just give me my schedule, take my damn picture, and let me get the fuck out of there.
*Buzzz!*
Slightly startled by the sound, Elsa looked down and saw that it came from her phone. A new text message was received. Realizing who sent the text, Elsa's heart fluttered as she saw the name.
Anna: "Hey! Where are you? Orientation's about to start in 5 minutes!"
Pulling up at a stop sign, Elsa chose to reply, ignoring any laws or safety precautions that could hamper her.
Elsa: "Almost there. Woke up late. Forgot to set my alarm clock…"
Anna: "You didn't continue playing after I signed off did you?"
Elsa: "No, of course not."
Liar. After bawling your eyes out, you hopped right back on for a session of Zombies with some random ass dude from San Francisco.
Anna: "Ok. Good! I'll see you soon, stinker!"
A small smile curled at the bottom of Elsa's mouth after reading that last text. Anna always knew how to make her day brighter, even though she hadn't even seen her yet. Maybe today wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
Once she arrived at the school, Elsa made her way to the auditorium. There, she was greeted by four couples: Anna and Hans, Talia and Naveen, Shang and Mulan, and lastly, Rapunzel and Eugene.
"Look, here comes your loaner cousin," whispered Eugene to Rapunzel.
"Yeah, and she's totally awkward at home dude. Even more awkward than me!" giggled Rapunzel.
"Hey Els!" yelled Anna. "Finally you're here! Geez, took you long enough."
"I told you. My alarm didn't go off this morning." said Elsa, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"Everything ok Elsa?" asked Hans, noticing the blonde's current demeanor.
No, sideburns. You're dating my best friend who also just happens to be the girl of my dreams. But you wouldn't know that, would you dumbass? Self-centered prick.
"Yeah, I'm good," replied Elsa. "I better go check in."
"She's such a stiff," muttered Hans. "How are you best friends with her?"
"Don't be so mean! She's gone through a lot in her life, Hans. More than you think you know. Along with Punzie, I'm all she has. You guys should really try befriending her! She doesn't bite, I promise. Well… OK. Maybe just a little! But not like a vicious attack dog! She's like a little puppy!" laughed Anna, realizing she was rambling just a bit too much.
Making her way to the table in front of the entrance to the auditorium, Elsa was greeted by none other than her Aunt Natalie.
"Name?" asked the assistant principal.
Are you fucking kidding me right now?
"Elsa Winters," scoffed the blonde, as she rolled her eyes.
"Ahh, yes. Here we are. Here is your schedule for the upcoming school year and your ID card. Take them to the room next door and have your picture taken so it can be scanned onto the card."
Receiving the items, Elsa took a glance at her schedule.
What the fuck?! 6 APs?!
"I didn't sign up for any of these," stated Elsa.
"No, you didn't. I did. Now go. Next in line please." replied Natalie.
As another student made their way to the table, Elsa walked towards the picture booth. She couldn't believe she was being forced to take all these advanced classes during her senior year.
"Please insert your ID card to proceed." stated the machine as Elsa stepped inside.
Doing as the machine ordered, Elsa inserted the card in the appropriate slot but was slightly caught off guard at the unexpected flash.
Shit!
Immediately, the machine spat out the newly printed ID card with Elsa's startled face plastered on it: "Elsa Winters. Senior. 2013-14 School Year."
Perfect. Just perfect.
Stepping out of the booth, Elsa made her way into the auditorium where her fellow students were getting settled in, awaiting the introductory speech from their principal. She looked around and saw Anna and the others towards the middle of the room.
"Elsaaa! Over here! I saved you a seat right next to me!" yelled the redhead amongst the bustling crowd.
Elsa smiled and made her way towards the younger girl.
"Ooh! Did you take your picture? Let me see!" asked Anna.
"No, Anna. Trust me, you don't want to look at it. I look like a fucking retard."
"Come onnn! It can't be THAT bad."
"It really is. Just forget about it."
Without warning, Anna snatched the card from Elsa's hand.
"Hey-!"
"Aww, you look so cute! I love the way your hair looks here." complimented the redhead.
You always look cute.
"Thanks Anna." blushed the blonde, as she sat down next to her best friend.
"So, what classes are you taking next year?" asked Anna.
"Apparently, my aunt chose my schedule for me. 6 APs."
"Ouch, that's a bummer. But hey! Maybe we'll have some classes together! Show me your schedule!"
Once Elsa handed hair the slip of paper, Anna immediately scanned it.
"Yesss! We're going to have AP Lit and AP Bio together!" shouted the redhead, clearly elated at the newfound fact.
Inside, Elsa was excited as well. Having at least two classes with Anna would definitely make this year a lot more enjoyable.
"Are those the only two APs you're taking this year?" inquired Elsa.
"Yuppp!" replied Anna. "And I'm so happy you're taking them with me. You know I'm nowhere near as smart as you are. But I figured it would look good on my transcripts if I took at least two APs in my Junior year. You know, they say that colleges look at your Sophomore and Junior years as the most important ones? I hope I don't end up failing… God, that would be horrible. And I want to make sure I enjoy this year too! Because it's not only your last year but also Hans' and Milan's and basically everyone's as well! I wish I could graduate with you guys. I'll miss you all so much, especially you, Elsa." sulked the redhead.
Sensing a bit of stress from the redhead, Elsa searched her mind for some advice.
Say something, you fool. She's worried that this year won't go the way she plans.
"Hey, look at me." said the older girl. "Weren't you the one who told me last night that this year's going to be unforgettable? That I'll have some eye-opening experience?"
Anna nodded.
"Well, I can't do that if my best friend is already stressed out when the year hasn't even started yet!" chuckled Elsa, as she offered a hug to the troubled girl.
"I just don't want you to go once the year is over, Els. What will I do without you?"
Taken aback by those words, Elsa felt her cheeks grow hot. Combined with Anna's warm embrace, her heart started to flutter. At this moment in time, she could only think of three words to say to the younger redhead.
"You'll be fine." | {
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اسلام آباد (محمد طارق شاد سے) وفاقی حکومت نے فیٹف ایکشن پلان پر عملدرآمد کرتے ہوئے منی لانڈرنگ اور ٹیررازم فنانسنگ کی روک تھام کیلیے وکلا، چارٹرڈ اکاؤنٹنٹس، ریئل اسٹیٹ ڈیلرز اور قیمتی دھاتوں، پتھروں کے ڈیلرز سمیت دیگر تمام مجاز نان فنانشل بزنس اینڈ پروفیشنز (ڈی این ایف بی پی ایس) کی مانیٹرنگ و نگرانی کا نظام متعارف کروانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے جس کیلئے وزارت داخلہ،وزارت قانون و انصاف، ایس ای سی پی، ایف بی آر، ایف آئی اے سمیت چاروں صوبوں کے نمائندوں پر مشتمل خصوصی ورکنگ گروپ قائم کیا جائے گا۔ ذرائع کے مطابق مذکورہ ورکنگ گروپ فیٹف کی سفارشات نمبر 22،23 اور28 کے تحت وکلا،چارٹرڈ اکاونٹنٹس،ریئل اسٹیٹ ڈیلرز اور قیمتی دھاتوں ،پتھروں کے ڈیلرز سمیت دیگر تمام رسک بیسڈ مجاز نان فنانشل بزنس اینڈ پروفیشنز(ڈی این ایف بی پی ایس)کی آمدنی و ان کی سرگرمیوں کی مانیٹرنگ و نگرانی سے متعلق دیگرسفارشات پر عملدرآمد کیلئے پالیسی تیار کرے گا۔
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Over the three-day Labor Day weekend, 41 people were shot in Chicago, seven fatally.
Davantae Jackson, 15, was supposed to start high school on Tuesday. Instead, he’s dead.
Chicago has among the most restrictive gun-control laws, but Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) took to Twitter to point out that “disarming law-abiding citizens isn’t the answer.”
“Gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago. Disarming law-abiding citizens isn’t the answer. Stopping violent criminals—prosecuting & getting them off the street—BEFORE they commit more violent crimes is the most effective way to reduce murder rates. Let’s protect our citizens,” Cruz wrote.
TRENDING: BREAKING REPORT: President Trump to Nominate Amy Coney Barrett to Replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court
Gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago. Disarming law-abiding citizens isn’t the answer. Stopping violent criminals—prosecuting & getting them off the street—BEFORE they commit more violent crimes is the most effective way to reduce murder rates. Let’s protect our citizens. https://t.co/znHO31gDH2 — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 2, 2019
“Stopping violent criminals — prosecuting & getting them off the street — BEFORE they commit more violent crimes is the most effective way to reduce murder rates. Let’s protect our citizens,” Cruz added.
That prompted the mayor of Chicago to blame all Republicans for the endless violence in the city.
“60 percent of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago come from outside IL — mostly from states dominated by coward Republicans like you who refuse to enact commonsense gun legislation,” Lori Lightfoot tweeted.
She also told Cruz to “Keep our name out of your mouth” — whatever that means.
60% of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago come from outside IL—mostly from states dominated by coward Republicans like you who refuse to enact commonsense gun legislation. Keep our name out of your mouth. https://t.co/yVM4JHL3xy pic.twitter.com/pr613A3dpf — Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019
“When @tedcruz and the @gop dismiss common sense gun policies, they disrespect victims and their families, who deserve to live without pain and fear,” she added.
When @tedcruz and the @gop dismiss common sense gun policies, they disrespect victims and their families, who deserve to live without pain and fear. — Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019
Gun control is back in the news after a mass shooting in Texas. Democratic presidential candidate Robert “Beto” O’Rourke decide the bast strategy was to spew a stream of profanities.
‘Don’t know how many people have been killed, the condition of those who have survived. Don’t know what the motivation is, do not yet know the firearms that were used, or how they acquired them. But we do know that this is f**ked up,’ O’Rourke wrote on Twitter. | {
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GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Nine people were injured after a brawl broke out at a Sikh temple in Greenwood Sunday afternoon.
Greenwood police say the fight started around 2:45 p.m. at the temple in the 1000 block of Graham Road.
Police say daggers, sharp objects and pepper spray were used in the fight, which took place following a change in leadership at the temple.
All of those injured were treated and released from local hospitals. More than 100 people were inside the temple when the brawl broke out.
Due to the size of the crowd, officers from seven other agencies were called in to help calm and disperse the crowd.
The incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.
The video below shows some of the chaos inside the temple that continued after police arrived.
MORE TOP STORIES | PC: Downtown knife attack suspect targeted pregnant woman | Employee finds body of 'small adult' inside tote in the back of a U-Haul van at Indy facility | Analysis: Assault rifle ban would have little to no effect on Indianapolis gun crime | Infant safe after being left in baby box outside fire station in northern Indiana | Family: Suspects were playing video games when 1-year-old Malaysia Robson was killed
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TV
Eleven new teams will start the race in Los Angeles' Griffith Observatory and participate in fun challenges, including skydiving and canoeing, for $1 million prize.
Feb 9, 2013
AceShowbiz - Hyping up the upcoming premiere of "The Amazing Race" season 22, CBS has released a new promo which shows why the show is worth tuning in since the very beginning. The "thrilling, exciting, most fun-filled adventure" is seemingly too much for some contestants as three of the eleven teams will quit before the first episode ends.
In this new installment of the reality show, eleven new teams will travel around the world for $1 million prize. They will "skydive from 10,000 feet in Bora Bora, participate in a Shemozzle race in New Zealand, hunt for scorpions with the Bushmen of Botswana and scale the treacherous north face of the Eiger Mountain in Switzerland."
The new twist is the first team to arrive at the initial pit stop will receive two Express Passes. They can use one of them to skip one of the required tasks of their choosing, while the second express pass has to be given to another team of their choosing before the fourth leg.
"The Amazing Race 22" will debut Sunday, February 17 at 8/7c on CBS. Phil Keoghan returns as the host.
"The Amazing Race 22" new promo:
"The Amazing Race 22" - Meet the Cast: | {
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While plenty of people are moving to Austin for the jobs, the outdoors and the lifestyle, the city is still missing something pretty important: sidewalks. Austin has only half of the sidewalks it's supposed to, and it will be a long time before it can fill in those gaps.
We've put together this explainer on Austin's sidewalk situation.
Wait, did I hear that right? Austin is missing half of its sidewalks?
Yes — there are a little more than 2,200 miles of sidewalks absent in the city, roughly half of the sidewalks the city is supposed to have. And many sidewalks are not compliant with the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) act.
At the current rate of city funding, how long will it take to fully build out Austin’s sidewalks?
Nearly two hundred years.
City funds are only building around seven to ten miles of new ones each year. So at the current rate of funding, it will be nearly 200 years before Austin has the sidewalks it needs.
This is a problem. Most of the people that use the city’s transit system walk to their stations, and many others can’t afford to drive or are unable drive due to impairments. Sidewalks are an issue of not just safety, but also social justice, public health and affordability.
So what's being done to fund more sidewalks?
The missing sidewalks (and those that need to become ADA compliant) were identified in Austin's 2009 Sidewalk Master Plan, which is being updated this year. That plan also came up with a way to prioritize which sidewalks to build or improve first.
But it didn’t come up with long-term funding for them.
There are city funds, mostly from voter-approved bonds, to build new sidewalks and make existing ones compliant with the ADA. But those still only add up to less than ten miles of new sidewalks a year on average. Voter-approved bond money from 2012 for sidewalks will soon run out.
In the meantime, there are some sidewalk improvements that come from regional or state agencies like the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority or the Texas Department of Transportation. But at the city level, there are several sidewalk improvements that are being made possible by private development and parking meters.
Take Downtown, for instance: There are now plenty of new or improved sidewalks, some of them designed as 'Great Streets,' with planters, benches, bike parking, lighting, trees and even the occasional piece of artwork. Nearly all of the money for those improvements came from private development.
If there are all these nice new sidewalks downtown, why isn't the city building new sidewalks in residential areas where they're needed most?
Actually, that's exactly what the city is doing. While the downtown improvements are the most noticeable, nearly all of the cost of those improvements comes from private development.
The city's sidewalk funds go towards improvements in residential areas, with the highest-priority areas tending to be in the East and Southeast parts of town, as you can see in this Public Works map:
There's also an option for neighborhoods to develop a Parking Benefit District (PBD), which essentially means putting in parking meters to help pay for new or improved sidewalks.
One of the city's first PBDs is in the West Campus area, which is starting to see sidewalk improvements with the proceeds from the meters.
To build the highest-priority sidewalks in the city, it will cost about $200 million. One option is to accelerate building the missing sidewalks within a quarter mile of transit stops and schools and trying to get sidewalks on at least one side of those streets, something that could be done within five years. To accomplish that, there would likely need to be a voter-approved bond.
"For new infrastructure, that really is the typical primary funding method," John Eastman with the city's Public Works Department says. “That would be a tremendous increase in walkability for Austin in a short amount of time.”
How are sidewalk improvements prioritized? Is public safety considered? Transit? Accessibility?
All of those things and more go into the city's sidewalk prioritization process. Every absent sidewalk was analyzed, and now they have a map of priority missing sidewalks.
The city realized they couldn't build all of Austin's missing sidewalks at once, so it developed a GIS-based prioritization tool. It takes into account pedestrian attractors, transit stops, public health, schools and other public buildings, demographic data, and density — areas with higher density are higher priority. It also factors in socio-economic data — lower-income areas are higher priority because they rely on transit more. There are 20 factors in all.
Is Austin in danger of an ADA lawsuit for deficient sidewalk infrastructure?
That's what's happened in Los Angeles. There they had decided for some time that sidewalks were the responsibility of the adjacent landowner, and this year settled a class-action lawsuit for $1.4 billion for its deficient sidewalks.
"You don't ask an adjacent landowner to fill a pothole in the street, why should they fix the sidewalk?" Eastman says. "They're both in the public right of way; they're both transportation facilities."
In 1995, Austin changed its laws to make sidewalks part of city right of way and a public need that the city would address.
"Austin deserves a lot of credit for taking on that challenge very early," Eastman says, noting the city's program to retrofit existing sidewalks to ADA compatibility and focusing on transit stops. Public Works is also partnering with Capital Metro to build sidewalks for bus stops. But a lot of work remains.
Does everywhere in Austin even need sidewalks?
Maybe not. There are some residential areas where streets are narrow enough that it's possible they could remain sidewalk-free, according to Eastman with Public Works.
"I think there are significant areas in residential environments where it’s relatively low-speed, and one thing we’ll be looking at in the next Master Plan update is — 'What are the alternatives?'" Eastman says. "Because effectively they operate as shared street space right now. So how you can improve safety and functionality for all users on those streets without necessarily building a sidewalk?"
One option may be more local traffic management on those streets, using traffic-calming devices and adding elements like speed cushions and medians.
I've heard about a fee-in-lieu ordinance that lets developers pay a fee instead of building sidewalks. How does that work?
According to Eastman, the city reviews closely requests to pay a fee instead of installing a sidewalk during development or re-development. Typically these exemptions are made for single-family residential projects only, and usually there has to be some kind of topographical constraint, or something like a heritage tree that would make it “logistically impossible” to put in sidewalks there.
The fees paid for not installing a sidewalk go into a fund that stays in that neighborhood, Eastman says.
"So rather than having one small stretch of sidewalk in an area where it may not be able to be connected in the future because of trees or topographic constraints, now that funding can go towards someplace where a sidewalk can be put in that ties the network together," he says.
Why is the Sidewalk Master Plan being updated?
The new plan will update the data for prioritization of building missing sidewalks. And it will start giving out grades for the sidewalks we do have.
"We will be rating sidewalks on an A to F scale, and at that point we’ll be able to really prioritize sidewalk maintenance," Eastman says. In some cases, those fixes could be as simple as cutting back vegetation.
The big question hanging over the process is money. With bond money running out soon, it's possible that sometime in the next few years, the city will ask voters to approve more bonds to fill in Austin’s many missing sidewalks like they have in the past.
Where can I learn more about this?
A good place to start is Austin's 2009 Sidewalk Master Plan.
The city also has a citizen-led Pedestrian Advisory Council to get more public input on walkability and safety. It meets the first Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at 721 Barton Springs Road.
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We laugh (and cry) on this site when we hear about church pastors taking advantage of a congregation that’s supposed to know better. But when the bar for skepticism is so very low, pastors don’t have to try very hard to fool anyone.
Like the pastor from Zimbabwe who claimed to have the ability to fly… even though savvy viewers could easily figure out the trick.
The latest entry in the It’s-a-Miracle category is South African Pastor Thamsanqa Sambulo. His magic trick involves boiled water. Maybe.
According to the Facebook page for Thy Word Kingdom Harvest Ministries:
The apostle [Sambulo] then told someone to go boil water in a kettle at the kitchen. One young man went there and did so…
He came back with boiling water.
The Son of God took the kettle and put it on himself (on his chest, he hugged it). The congregation was in shock, as they shouted: “NO!”
Some couldn’t even look.
.
He then asked; “who has faith here?”
One by one, people came and did what the apostle did, and were not hurt.
He re-boiled the water… as he did;
…one young woman came to him and said;
“Papa I have faith, pour it on my hand as hot as it is.”
The Son of God first poured on Himself, then poured unto this lady.
The rest of the congregation, one by one followed, as they also wanted to test their faith.
That sounds amazing… until you consider what the kettle looked like:
That’s not exactly a replica of a metal tea kettle… There are so many ways this could have happened: Maybe the water wasn’t boiled directly in the kettle. Maybe the water wasn’t really boiled at all. We don’t know who this assistant was. We also don’t know why the pastor burned it on himself before pouring it on an audience member.
Needless to say, this is a pathetic magic trick. Nothing more. Certainly not a miracle.
But the people were duped anyway.
If Sambulo really wanted to show off, he could have boiled the water in the same room as the congregation. He could have had someone take the temperature first. Even magicians test the knife for the audience before doing a trick.
The church says video is coming soon. Don’t hold your breath.
(Images via Facebook. Thanks to Jaynee for the link. This post has been edited to remove the quotation marks around the word “kettle.” Except that one instance just a second ago.)
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“Why did Connie have to say I have one mother instead of zero? Or three?”
On paper, Fusion Cuisine has everything you’d want from a top tier episode. We get a new fusion, time with Connie and Greg, and a moral about queer and blended families. In execution…well, if you’re as tired of poor reviews during this stretch of the show as I am, you might wanna skip this one.
Despite being informed by past episodes (such as fusion as a function and the healing of Connie’s eyes) and influencing future episodes (Steven’s grounding here has lasting consequences through Season 2), Fusion Cuisine takes House Guest-like liberties to advance its plot at the expense of its characters. The biggest victim is Connie, who has always been capable of coldness but is never mean in the way she is here. The plot hinges on her expecting Steven to cover for a hurtful lie without offering any help, and she chews his head off when he acts the way he always acts; her harsh dismissal of his concerns that she’s ashamed of him is just the icing on the cake.
The intent, I’m sure, is to show how strict her parents are and how that affects her, but there’s zero indication in any episode, including this one, that Dr. and Mr. Maheswaran would look down on Steven for having a single father. Moreover, if she fears that her parents won’t approve of her having a magical friend, why wouldn’t she focus on Greg, Steven’s only non-magical parental figure?
The assumed answer is that she’s a stressed kid who didn’t think things through, which makes total sense. But that means the show must present parents that dislike unusual things to warrant her fears, and they adjust pretty darn fast to the alien behemoth eating dinner with them. The Maheswarans are stern, but it’s always about manners: we only see them get upset about Alexandrite and the Universes arriving twenty minutes late, Connie banging her head on the table, Alexandrite eating sloppily, and Alexandrite insulting Dr. Maheswaran’s profession. These are reasonable things to be miffed about, and it’s all the strictness we get from them; heck, they were even fine with Connie hanging out with a kid/family they’d never met, only getting concerned when told the kids were playing swords (sorry, with swords).
The Maheswarans aren’t the Dursleys, and they sort of need to be for Connie’s logic, even in panic mode, to hold water. Would a kid assume that parents who expect straight A’s are homophobic? That overprotective parents are anti-miscegenation? There’s a fantastic moral in here, truer today than ever, about kids worrying their parents won’t accept their friends or friends’ families for being different. But I feel like it only works if the parents actually indicate unease about different people, and the Maheswarans don’t.
The moral also suffers from Connie’s family being the only nuclear family we’ve seen on the show at this point. One of the fascinating things about Steven Universe pre-Lion 3 is that none of the kids in Steven’s neighborhood has a visible mother: the Frymans, the Pizzas, and Buck seem to be raised by single fathers (give or take a Gunga), while Onion, Sour Cream, Sadie, and Lars have moms that are introduced later in the show. Even when we meet the stragglers, it turns out Sour Cream and Onion are in a blended family and Sadie’s father is AWOL. These family structures aren’t set in stone (see: Vidalia revealing that Yellowtail isn’t a single father) but the only two-parent non-blended households we see in the series are Connie’s and, unless there’s an unmentioned step-parent in there, Lars’s.
Steven Universe shows such a variety of families that Connie’s normalization of nuclear families, in-universe, rings a bit false. Steven has never been made to feel like an outsider for his missing mom or triple-guardian home, so it gives the impression that Connie is the one with the problem. And that would be fine if Fusion Cuisine called her out on it, but it never does. She barely even apologizes for lying in the first place.
I’m not against Connie making mistakes; if she didn’t, we wouldn’t have Love Letters or Sworn to the Sword or Beach City Drift or Gem Hunt or Mindful Education (or, arguably, Winter Forecast or Nightmare Hospital or Crack the Whip), and I love most of those episodes! And her lie about Steven’s parents was likely told well before they became too close, when she was still new at the whole “having friends” thing. And arguments can be made that the best way to show her parents’ influence was to throw her off this completely, that her out-of-character moment is supposed to be out of character. I honestly imagine many readers disagree with how hard I am on her about this one.
But then I see her decision to run away with Steven, and I can’t help but wish this is the sort of reaction she showed all episode. At this point in the show, it’s just as out-of-character for her to be so rash and naive about life on the road, but we see instantly understand why she makes the decision, instead of needing to make assumption after assumption about why she really lied about Steven when her own explanation doesn’t hold up.
There’s an unusual sense of laziness behind this episode, and everything you just read is merely one of the symptoms. Why are our characters sitting around eating when there’s clearly been a frightening population decrease in Delmarva? This one-table eatery is eerily empty, and the bus is just as barren: we don’t even see the driver. This from a crew that designed an entire bedroom for a beetle on a barren mountain peak to live in.
Connie’s motives might be questionable, but Alexandrite only shows up because of further laziness: Pearl, who Steven easily identifies as the most traditionally maternal Gem, suddenly hates eating. Yes, it’s a known trait now, but she has no aversion to food until she needs to for Fusion Cuisine to work. Why wrack your brain to think about a reason she’s unqualified when you can just invent a new characteristic whole cloth?
You know how the big fusions we’ve seen are voiced by singers like Aimee Mann and Nicki Minaj (and Estelle)? You’ll never believe who they got to play Alexandrite: that’s right, non-singer Rita Rani Ahuja, best known for directing 2008 short film Bombay Skies! She’s only got a few lines, so why put in any effort to keep up such a cool trend? What’s that? Opal only had three lines and they still pulled out the big guns? Whatever.
What’s with Mr. Maheswaran freaking out when Steven hugs Connie? At what point did we establish that the Maheswarans are against this kind of behavior? Enh, whatever, I guess it’s a good enough gag to close out the episode on!
This episode is worse than bad, it’s disappointing. It’s got so many great ingredients to work with, and little moments shine through the sloppiness (Garnet’s phone manner, Alexandrite’s theme, Connie’s excitement over running away, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn’s work as Dr. Maheswaran), but this Cuisine tastes more like leftovers. The kind that taste bad cold but get soggy if you microwave them and burn too easily in the oven.
Future Vision!
Was Garnet Mom Universe actually panicking when she said Steven and Connie were playing swords, or making a prediction? Note the adjustment of her shades when she’s fumbling for an answer. (Thankfully this doesn’t mean Connie’s training leads to the kids bleeding to death.)
Before Jailbreak, Garnet’s existence as a fusion was a wild fan theory. All it took was this screenshot to take away the “wild” part. Oh man, actual effort!
If every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn’t have inconsistencies…
I mean, I hate to repeat something verbatim from my House Guest review, but if Fusion Cuisine’s gonna repeat the same issues as that episode, I might as well. *Ahem*: “Does an entire episode count?”
We’re the one, we’re the ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!
I’m really tough on this one, because it’s the only time I’ve ever sensed that the crew didn’t care. Other episodes have little moments of laziness or obvious budget or deadline restraints (note the similarly empty diner and lodging in the terrific Keystone Motel), but here the sentiment sets the tone for the entire episode. House Guest ranks lower because Greg is even more out of character there than Connie is here, but it’s a close call.
But this is the last bad one for a while, if that helps. And if you liked it, that’s even more good episodes for you! Congrats!
Top Five
Love ‘em
Like ‘em
Enh
No Thanks!
3. Fusion Cuisine
2. House Guest
1. Island Adventure | {
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Last night a mysterious light lit up the skies over California, leaving people as far east as Louisiana perplexed. What was that weird blue glow in the sky? Naturally, there was some speculation that perhaps the light was a UFO or even a meteor - but in reality it was the launch of a Trident II (D5) missile by the U.S. Navy.
The unarmed missile launched from the Kentucky, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine that sits off the coast of Southern California in the Pacific Test Range. The test was pre-planned although not announced or confirmed until a few hours after the launch. These types of launches are routine, although rarely announced ahead of time, and help ensure the reliability of Naval systems.
According to the San Diego Times, Cmdr. Ryan Perry with the Navy’s Third Fleet said, “The test was part of a scheduled, on-going system evaluation test. Each test activity provides valuable information about our systems, thus contributing to assurance in our capabilities.”
The Navy frequently uses a test range just northwest of Los Angeles to test fire standard cruise and Tomahawk missiles from submarines and other ships. The airspace over the test range has been activated and all nighttime flights to and from Los Angeles International Airport have been diverted away from that area for the coming week. Neither the military nor the FAA have disclosed what activities will be taking place near the country’s second-busiest airport over the next six nights.
Since there was no advance warning of the test fire, witnesses across the state and several states over speculated that the object streaking across the sky could be part of the annual Taurid meteor shower, which is currently reaching itspeak and is known to produce fireballs. According to astronomer Phil Plait, “this was moving far too slowly to be a meteor, and the behavior was all wrong.”
Brian Keating, an astrophysicist at UC San Diego told the Times, “The Taurid meteors would be coming from the east — and this light came from the west. We'd also be more likely to see meteors about midnight, and the flash came near sunset.”
Since the launch occurred at sunset, it made for a spectacular show. The missile’s exhaust reflected sunlight as it soared through the sky, producing a stunning view. You may remember earlier this year when an Atlas V launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral and produced similar striking views. An expanding halo can be seen in most of the pictures and that is most likely due to a staging event. The missile has three stages and as one is shut down and ejected, the next stage ignites via a small explosion known as an ordnance. If the staging event occurred when the missile was high enough in the atmosphere, it would produce a bright flash and a halo of gas.
Who knows what else we may witness over the next week as the test range remains active. | {
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MATTY Johns hasn’t missed in his assessment of the Bulldogs’ start to 2017.
Canterbury sits 13th on the NRL ladder after four rounds this season, winning just one game so far. But it has been the manner in which the Dogs have lost that is most concerning to fans — a 36-0 thumping at the hands of Manly on Saturday showing just how far the club has fallen.
Canterbury has not missed the finals since Des Hasler joined the club in 2012, but Johns cannot see that trend continuing in 2017, saying the Bulldogs have real problems they must address immediately.
“After five minutes of watching the Bulldogs with the football (against Manly) I came to the conclusion, ‘They’re not going to score a point,’” Johns said on Triple M’s The Grill Team.
“Just the skill level, the most basic fundamentals, the catch and pass is so clunky.
“Watching them play, after five minutes I had no doubt Manly were going to win, because there wasn’t enough skill, imagination or creativity in the Bulldogs side.”
Des Hasler continues to feel the heat given the Bulldogs’ performances. Despite taking the club to two grand finals in five seasons at the helm, some are ready to call time on his tenure at Belmore.
But Johns says sacking Des Hasler will not fix the Bulldogs’ issues because the players just aren’t performing up to NRL standard.
Johns feels Canterbury does not have the star power in key areas to match it with the best in the competition at the moment.
“My problem with the Bullodgs is this. At the start of the season I couldn’t have them in my finals,” Johns said. “They can’t get there and it has nothing to do with Des. The fact is they haven’t got enough creativity and they haven’t got enough skill in the team.
“If you sack Des Hasler and you put another coach in will the Bulldogs improve? My thoughts are no they won’t because they haven’t got the cattle in the creative positions.
“The problem’s got to do with the players they’ve got in key positions and until that is addressed they can sack as many coaches as they want.”
Reports emerged on the weekend the Bulldogs are chasing off-contract Wests Tigers stars James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks.
Capturing the so called “Big Four” would be the biggest coup since the Parramatta Eels lured Jim Dymock, Jason Smith, Dean Pay and Jarrod McCracken away from the Bulldogs in 1995.
But Johns says the Bulldogs have no choice but to try something drastic in their recruitment and fill the void that remains in their creative positions.
“There’s talk around that they’re chasing the Tigers’ ‘Big Four’ then maybe something will start to happen,” Johns said.
“From what I’m hearing they’re offering Mitchell Moses huge money and the same for Tedesco.
“Des did what he could to try and get Kieran Foran. Kieran decided to go back to New Zealand, but at the moment they can’t attract anyone.”
JOHNS’ MASSIVE ORIGIN CALL
Johns’ outlook for the Bulldogs may be bleak, but he sees a much brighter future for Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce.
Pearce had a disastrous 2016 season where he was embroiled in off-field controversy, and he stepped away from the game to deal with personal issues.
But the 27-year-old has started 2017 on fire, so much so that Johns has tipped the playmaker to win back his State of Origin jersey.
The most surprising element though was who Johns wants as Pearce’s halves partner — his Roosters teammate Luke Keary.
“Combinations are so important at that level and if I’m picking the team tomorrow, I’m going Pearce-Keary,” Johns said.
“One of the reasons is because you’ve got Boyd Cordner on the left and for mine that is the best combination in rugby league at the moment.”
Johns’ Triple M colleague and former State of Origin enforcer Mark Geyer agreed with the call to put Pearce back in the Origin arena.
The Roosters halfback has never won a series for NSW in eight attempts, but Geyer says his form is simply too good to overlook.
“I think Pearce will be halfback,” Geyer said. “He’s played himself into the number seven jersey. The composure that he’s shown since coming back last year is the reason the Roosters are where they are.
“His contribution to the Roosters has been underrated and he’s making Keary’s job a lot easier.” | {
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Publisher 11 bit studios S.A. 1C ONLINE GAMES LTD. 2K 2K GAMES 505 GAMES ACTIVISION ATLUS AVANCE DISCOS BADLAND PUBLISHING BANDAI NAMCO BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT BETHESDA CAPCOM Capcom Co., Ltd. CI GAMES CODEMASTERS Curve Digital Entertainment DEEP SILVER DEEPSILVER DEFEET EA FATSHARK FIZIK FOCUS FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE GARMIN GEARBOX PUBLISHING GO PRO H2 INTERACTIVE PUBLISHING Headup GmbH Iceberg Interactive INXILE KALYPSO MEDIA Kalypso Media UK. Ltd KOEI TECMO KONAMI MARVELOUS MAXIMUM GAMES MERGE GAMES MICROSOFT MILESTONE MODUS NINTENDO NIS AMERICA PARADOX INTERACTIVE AB PERP GAMES PIRELLI PLUGIN DIGITAL POLAR PRO PQUBE PQube Limited PRIVATE DIVISION PRO MOUNTS REEF RISING STAR GAMES ROCKSTAR ROCKSTAR GAMES SCEE SEGA SHOPTO SKYBOUND SNAIL GAMES USA SOLD OUT SOLD OUT PUBLISH SONY SQUARE ENIX STAGE TAKE 2 TEAM 17 DIGITAL LTD THQ NORDIC THQ Nordic GmbH UBISOFT WARNER WARNER BROS Warner Bros. Games Inc. WILD RIVER WIRED PRODUCTIONS
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Don't Argue With The Gay Flight Attendant
My flight was being served by an obviously gay flight attendant, who was camping it up outrageously. He seemed to put everyone in a good mood as he served us food and drinks.
As the plane prepared to descend, he came swishing down the aisle and told us "Captain Marvey has asked me to announce that he'll be landing the big scary plane shortly, so lovely people, if you could just put your trays up, that would be super."
On his trip back up the aisle, he noticed an extremely well-dressed and exotic young woman hadn't moved a muscle. "Perhaps you didn't hear me over those big brute engines but I asked you to raise your tray, so the main man can pitty-pat us on the ground."
She calmly turned her head and said, "In my country, I am called a Princess and I take orders from no one."
To which the flight attendant replied, without missing a beat, "Well, sweet-cheeks, in my country I'm called a Queen, so I outrank you. Tray up, Bitch."
...and who knows, perhaps this was on Southwest?
...or Westjet?
→ Check out more Funny Shit | {
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for being ill-prepared to test for the coronavirus and he blamed former President Barack Obama for the situation.
"For decades the @CDCgov looked at, and studied, its testing system, but did nothing about it. It would always be inadequate and slow for a large scale pandemic, but a pandemic would never happen, they hoped. President Obama made changes that only complicated things further," he wrote.
For decades the @CDCgov looked at, and studied, its testing system, but did nothing about it. It would always be inadequate and slow for a large scale pandemic, but a pandemic would never happen, they hoped. President Obama made changes that only complicated things further..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2020
In a follow-up tweet, Trump continued his broadside: "Their response to H1N1 Swine flu was a full scale disaster, with thousands dying, and nothing meaningful done to fix the testing problem, until now. The changes have been made and testing will soon happen on a very large scale basis. All Red Tape has been cut, ready to go!"
.... Their response to H1N1 Swine Flu was a full scale disaster, with thousands dying, and nothing meaningful done to fix the testing problem, until now. The changes have been made and testing will soon happen on a very large scale basis. All Red Tape has been cut, ready to go! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2020
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During the announcement on Friday afternoon that he would be declaring a national emergency, Trump again assigned blame to others.
"No, I don't take responsibility at all," he said about the delays. "Because we were given a set of circumstances."
On Thursday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified at a House hearing that the U.S. has failed to meet the capacity for testing.
"The system is not really geared to what we need right now," he said. “That is a failing. Let's admit it."
Two issues have led to the slow process in testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. One was that the CDC had initially put out narrow guidelines for who could be considered for testing. Those criteria were eventually expanded and so far about 11,000 specimens have been tested, according to the agency. South Korea, on the other hand, has been testing nearly 20,000 people each day for the disease, according to reports.
There were also technical issues with the test kits in which they tested for more than just the coronavirus, and the glitch affected the integrity of the kit.
Trump tweeted Thursday that "Sleepy Joe Biden was in charge of the H1N1 epidemic which killed thousands of people," and said that "the response was one of the worst on record."
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded that Trump should focus on fighting the current outbreak instead of "desperately tweeting lies about the Obama-Biden Administration." | {
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Photo: Steve Jennings/WireImage
Spoilers ahead from the last episode of Game of Thrones.
Poor Loras Tyrell — right now, he’s a pawn in Cersei’s game against the Tyrells, part of a larger plot to isolate Margaery. Loras is just collateral damage for now, but you never know how things will go, as this part of the story line was created for the purposes of the show. Finn Jones, who plays Loras, was particularly excited about going off-book, and as an avid reader, happy to geek out with Vulture about his theories about his and other characters ahead of Sunday night’s episode.
Let’s talk about this Loras story line, which is a departure from the books. Well, actually, everything we know about Loras on the show is a departure from the books, because of the change in perspective.
Right! The reason Loras’s sexuality is more subtle in the books is because Loras is seen through the eyes of Sansa, as this capable, confident, gallant knight. Which he is, but that’s his public persona. The show is able to go behind doors and see how Loras behaves in his private life. I’m happy with this story line, because it’s a lot better story than just going off to Dragonstone! And it keeps everything more concise, gives it focus, keeps everyone in one place. In the books, Loras is the youngest of the brothers, but on the show, he’s the heir to Highgarden. So what the show is doing, what it seems like they’re doing, is they’ve amalgamated all three Tyrell brothers, and when you do that, Loras needs to stay in King’s Landing. He can’t go off to war.
What’s coming back to bite him is that birthmark …
I don’t actually have a birthmark there, and there was nothing on my leg as far as makeup goes! They said in the script that there was going to be a birthmark, but I thought maybe they’d let the audience imagine there was one. And when I saw it, I was like, “Where the hell did that come from?!” They must have found a Finn Jones thigh extra! [Laughs.]
Even though you don’t use body doubles for your other nude scenes?
If it serves the purpose of the story, then do it. And so far, it’s served the story. It’s not been gratuitous. We’re telling the story of Loras behind closed doors, and of course, when he’s with his lover, he’s naked. So let’s get on with it. But what I liked is at first, you thought that was just another male nude scene. There wasn’t much to it. It’s only later that you realize it’s so important for the events later on in that trial. If it weren’t for those two being naked and intimate — and Margaery walking in on them — Loras would never have been sent to prison.
That, and Olyvar being willing to testify.
What a bastard! [Laughs.] I can’t believe he did that. I saw stuff online where people were really quick to condemn the show for that first scene with Olyvar, without realizing that it needed to breathe, that you needed to find out what the show was actually doing. Hold on. Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s a delicate, complex story that’s being woven throughout the whole series.
Without giving away any spoilers, what would you like to see happen to Loras at this point?
Would he go through a trial by combat? Would he get shipped off to the Wall? Would he die in a cell? Even if Loras is imprisoned, I would like to see him get disfigured by the Sparrows, the same way he gets disfigured at Dragonstone with the boiling oil. I think that would be really interesting, because the only thing he has left are his looks and his ostentatiousness. And that’s been stripped from him. Keep him alive, but keep him disfigured. That would be really awesome to play, to really fuck him up, because he’s been pushed and pushed and pushed, and he’s about to snap. And that would let the knight that he truly is become unleashed. Summer is over, and winter has come for Loras. Will he be a warrior, and step up to the plate? Or will he cower, and be a little bitch? No. He’s a fighter. He’s going to meet the challenge head on.
And maybe the Tyrells can form an allegiance with someone else? Maybe they could team up with the Martells, to get rid of the Lannisters, and prepare for the war from the North. Because the Martells and the Tyrells are similar in ambition, scope, morals, and I think hating the Lannisters would bind them. I’d like to see Loras try to secure his family’s power and victory. He’s not properly been to war before, but I think he could do it. And he’d have Margaery by his side, so the two Tyrell siblings could take on this powerful House. Oh, and Loras eventually becomes the Lord of Highgarden, even though that means daddy dying. [Chuckles.]
I don’t think many folks will miss Mace.
And then maybe if the Martells and the Tyrells had an alliance, Daenerys could join them? They would be the fire element. It’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” so I think the two polar opposites are going to war. These are just my own personal feelings. That’s just me fantasizing. With all the characters, I like to look into the future and try to predict what’s happening. So I think ice and fire will go to war, and they will pretty much destroy themselves, and then, like a phoenix out of the fire, Bran and his tree people will grow Westeros back anew. My hope for Westeros is that Bran dissolves the Iron Throne; he gives the power back to the individual realms. Him, his Small Council, which would be Brienne, Tyrion, and maybe some of the Tyrells, because I’m biased. But they try to keep the peace, after this devastating war has struck Westeros and killed a lot of people. They’d renew and regenerate Westeros and give the power back to the people, rather than keep it. You need to get rid of that Throne. That’s what I’d like to see at the end of the series, but that’s very utopian. We’ll see.
So it sounds like you’re part of the geek squad? Because some of the cast like to get together or text, if they’re in different countries, and geek out about all their theories …
Yeah. We’re a tight unit. We talk on a daily, weekly basis. Although, as the show has grown, we see less and less of each other because we’re spread out around the world. But it’s so wonderful when we can meet up, like at the San Francisco premiere, and update each other. Alfie Allen is a super-good friend of mine. We got a house together in Los Angeles last year for three months. Kit [Harington]’s a good mate of mine. They’re all solid people. There’s no one on Thrones who is a complete douchebag. Everyone is cool.
Did you and Kristian Nairn bond because you’re both DJs?
Yeah, yeah, yeah! So Kristian’s been DJing for like ten years. He’s a pro. For me, it’s just been a hobby, messing around in my bedroom, just because I’m obsessed with music. And then one day, Kristian says to me, “I could get you some gigs, if you’d like.” And I’m like, [disbelieving] “Yeah, yeah, right, okay.” But he put me in contact with this promoter, and this promoter came back to me with like a 20-date tour around the U.K.! So I went from DJing in my bedroom or at small parties for friends, just kind of intimate, small, nice, to suddenly going on this tour around the U.K. DJing to thousands of people. Kristian was my friend before, but he’s definitely helped me out in that respect, and becoming more confident to playing to a crowd. He pretty much forced me to go out there, and I love it. It’s such a cool pastime to have.
Even if we’ve read the books, we have no idea what’s going to happen to Loras at this point.
How do you think I feel? I’m in the show, and my career is on the line, and I don’t even know what’s happening! [Laughs.] Because before, I could go, “I’m in the books, therefore I’m going to be in the next season.” Now, it’s like, “Fuck! Have I got a job?” They really keep people on their toes. I’m not going to tempt fate, but I’d like to think Loras will come through and lead his family to glory. So for the good of the realm, please don’t kill me off! [Laughs.] | {
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The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches played in Round 23. The following charges were laid:
Charges laid:
Grant Birchall, Hawthorn, has been charged with a first offence for making negligent contact with umpire Ben Ryan ($1200 sanction) during the third quarter of the round 23 match between Hawthorn and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Friday August 29, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for making negligent contact with an umpire is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.
Jordie McKenzie, Melbourne, has been charged with a first offence for making negligent contact with umpire Jordan Bannister ($1200 sanction) during the second quarter of the Round 23 match between Melbourne and North Melbourne, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday August 30, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for making negligent contact with an umpire is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.
Chris Dawes, Melbourne, has been charged with a level two striking offence (125 demerit points, one-match sanction) for striking Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne, during the third quarter of the round 23 match between Melbourne and North Melbourne, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday August 30, 2014.
In summary, due to his previous poor record, his one-match sanction must remain at one match, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the North Melbourne Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a level two offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of 68.75 demerit points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 193.75 points and a one-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 145.31 points and a one-match sanction.
Rory Thompson, Gold Coast, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the second quarter of the round 23 match between the Gold Coast and West Coast, played at Metricon Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Luke Shuey, West Coast, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the second quarter of the Round 23 match between West Coast and the Gold Coast Suns, played at Metricon Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Nic Naitanui, West Coast, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the second quarter of the Round 23 match between West Coast and the Gold Coast Suns, played at Metricon Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Ben Rutten, Adelaide, has been charged with a level two striking offence (125 demerit points, one-match sanction) for striking Adam Schneider, St Kilda, during the first quarter of the Round 23 match between the Adelaide Crows and St Kilda, played at Adelaide Oval on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, due to his six-year good record, he can accept a reprimand and 70.31 points towards his future record.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the St Kilda Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two Offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing six-year good record, which reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 70.31 points towards his future record.
Brad Crouch, Adelaide Crows, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling ($1200 sanction) for wrestling Dylan Roberton, St Kilda, during the fourth quarter of the Round 23 match between the Adelaide Crows and St Kilda, played at Adelaide Oval on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.
Dylan Roberton, St Kilda, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling ($1200 sanction) for wrestling Brad Crouch, Adelaide Crows, during the fourth quarter of the Round 23 match between St Kilda and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.
Will Minson, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a second offence for engaging in a melee ($2800 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $2100 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $2800 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $2100 sanction.
Liam Picken, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Jason Johannisen, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Tom Young, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Robert Murphy, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Jake Stringer, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Jackson Macrae, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Daniel Giansiracusa, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Tom Liberatore, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Nathan Hrovat, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Koby Stevens, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Toby Greene, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Dylan Shiel, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Rhys Palmer, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Devon Smith, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Nathan Wilson, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Matt Buntine, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Lachie Plowman, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Will Hoskin-Elliott, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Shane Mumford, GWS Giants, has been charged with a first offence for engaging in a melee ($1600 sanction) during the third quarter of the Round 23 match between the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday August 31, 2014.
In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.
A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.
Other incidents assessed:
The match day report for West Coast's Josh Kennedy for striking the Gold Coast’s David Swallow was assessed. The panel said Swallow had taken possession of the ball with Kennedy coming towards him from the opposite direction. As Kennedy approached the Suns’ player, Swallow seeks to go to his left and Kennedy has his arms oustretched in a smother or tackling position, when high contact is made. It was the view of the panel that Kennedy’s actions were not a striking action. No further action was taken.
Contact between Collingwood’s Heritier Lumumba and Hawthorn’s Jordan Lewis from the second quarter of Friday’s match was assessed. The ball is loose with Lewis and Lumumba coming to the contest from opposite directions. Lewis attempts to soccer the ball and lowers his body and starts to go to ground, while Lumumba braces for contact. It was the view of the panel that the contact between Lumumba and Lewis was caused by circumstances outside the control of player Lumumba and no further action was taken.
Contact between Carlton’s Brock McLean and Essendon’s Brendon Goddard from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was reviewed. After viewing all available vision and receiving a medical report from the Essendon Football Club, it was the view of the panel there was no forceful high contact made. No further action was taken.
Contact between Melbourne’s Chris Dawes and North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. It was the view of the panel the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.
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Eric Zuesse
The 1964 “Goldwater Girl” Hillary Rodham (Clinton) is now viewed as a possible savior by the same Republicans that loathed her husband: she’s enough of a “neo-conservative” to make lots of them want her to become the next U.S. President.
After Bill Krystol’s friend, Robert Kagan (both men were the “Project for a New American Century” top propagandists for the U.S. to invade Iraq in 2003) praised Hillary Clinton in a Washington Post op-ed, the journalist Robert Parry noted that this endorsement was based on her solid neo-conservative record, especially because “she has backed coups, such as in Honduras (2009) and Ukraine (2014); invasions, such as Iraq (2003) and Libya (2011); and subversions such as Syria (from 2011 to the present) all with various degrees of disastrous results,” and therefore she carries on superbly the neo-conservative tradition, which they represent.
Then, on 23 February 2016, the Republican CIA’s (including Richard Mellon Scaife’s) NewsMax headlined, “Rupert Murdoch Attending $2,700-a-Plate Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.” But this event wasn’t really something new; on 9 May 2006, CBS News had bannered, “Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton.”
And, on 22 February 2016, I had headlined “Hillary Clinton Is Backed by Major Republican Donors,” and I noted that in terms of the Republican Party’s top donors, she was above 11 of the 17 Republican Presidential candidates (which 11 included such people as Trump, Chrystie, Perry, and Huckabee), and below 6, in receiving their campaign-donations, even though she’s nominally not a Republican, but a ‘Democrat’.
Then, on March 29th, I headlined “Hillary Clinton’s Neo-Conservative Foreign Policy” and provided (and explained) there a key email from her private server, so that readers can see for themselves just how she formulates her foreign policies — the behind-the-scenes of her coups and invasions. (Incidentally, the person referred-to there as “Victoria Nuland” is Robert Kagan’s wife: she had organized the 2014 coup in Ukraine.)
—————
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity. | {
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Branding practically means everything in business. This is the face and soul of your company. Your brand will also influence your effectiveness in lead generation campaigns. It is the first thing that prospective B2B leads will hear from you, and it has to be one that will stick to their minds the most. Of course, in the quest for creating memorable brands, many entrepreneurs often make the mistake of producing catchy names. Later, these turn out to be huge headaches, reducing their ability to effectively generate sales leads from the market. You should not make the same mistake. So, how should you go about it?
Research – you might have come up with a catchy brand, but you may not be the first one. To avoid legal, and costly, arguments with rights owners, you should research the existence of the name. Check the internet or the patent office; see if your brand name is there already. Applicability – some entrepreneurs create brands that work well in only a small area. If you have plans of expanding, or using broad marketing mediums like telemarketing, it is best that you create a brand that anyone will understand or remember better. Relatedness – this part may be a bit tricky, but the rule of thumb here is to use a brand that is related to your business. If you insist on doing different, then fine, go ahead, you got nothing to lose. But you have to make sure you can connect your brand to your business properly come appointment setting time.
Simple enough, right? But these are sure to help you avoid lead generation troubles associated with branding. | {
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BEREA, Ohio -- How did the Cleveland Browns receiver position become so needy?
Several factors came into play, including bad luck and (depending on your point of view) either (A) bad planning or (B) some players not coming through.
Highest Percentage of Drops The Browns lead the NFL in percentage of passes that are dropped. Team Drop pct. Browns 8.4% Titans 6.3% Packers 6.0%* Ravens 5.7% Bills 5.6% Cardinals 5.5% * Going into Monday's game
The team now lines up with a rookie quarterback trying to establish himself by throwing to one experienced receiver, Jarvis Landry. It's quite a change from the original plans, which saw Landry as the No. 2 receiver opposite Josh Gordon amid a group that would allow rookie Antonio Callaway to develop and a former first-round pick (Corey Coleman) to finally reach his potential.
The group that will join Baker Mayfield on the field this Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers includes Landry, Callaway, Damion Ratley (a sixth-round pick who saw his first significant action in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers) and Breshad Perriman, just signed on Saturday.
The Browns do not have a receiver in the top 25 in receiving yards or the top 20 in average yards per catch. No receiver has more than one touchdown for the season. It led coach Hue Jackson to say Monday: "We'd like to have more."
How did this all happen? In increments:
Coleman turned into a bust. Coleman was the first first-round pick of the Sashi Brown era, the guy the team acquired when it traded down from the spot that could have been Carson Wentz. Coleman was oft-injured, struggled with precision on routes and had issues catching the ball. But first-round picks get a lot of leeway, so the Browns patiently waited for him. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley made Coleman the frequent object of his ire and attention in camp. Eventually, Coleman complained to Jackson about running second team; he was traded to the Buffalo Bills a few days later. He's now out of the NFL.
The Browns have struggled to get the ball to veteran Jarvis Landry, and rookie Antonio Callaway has looked like a rookie often this season. David Dermer/USA Today Sports
Gordon was traded. The Browns did everything over the years -- and this season -- to make it work with Gordon. Tantalized by his talent, they welcomed him back after he missed 10 games in 2017. They worked with him in the offseason. They stood by him when he left for most of training camp. They gushed when he returned, and they even protected him by not playing him in the final two games of preseason. But when Gordon showed up late for a walk-through the day before the second game of the season at the New Orleans Saints, the Browns had had enough -- especially because Gordon hurt his hamstring the night before doing a workout/photo shoot in the team's indoor facility. The Browns announced they would be releasing the guy who had been slated to start opposite Landry, then traded him to the New England Patriots.
Callaway has been inconsistent. The Browns got talent when they drafted Callaway in the fourth round, but they also got a guy who didn't play a down at Florida in 2017 for various disciplinary reasons. No matter, the Browns threw Callaway in the mix as Gordon's replacement. He played 81 percent of the snaps at New Orleans, 90 percent against the New York Jets and "only" 70 percent against the Oakland Raiders because he twisted his knee before overtime. The Browns determined they were asking too much of him, and they cut him back against the Baltimore Ravens. That seemed to work, but the guy who replaced him as the starter was injured, and Callaway was back to 97 percent of the snaps against the Chargers. The Browns know they're asking too much from a guy who isn't precise with his routes and who has had some big drops. But they don't know what better options they have.
Rashard Higgins got hurt. Higgins was one player who showed growth from the get-go. He had a strong camp and a strong preseason, and he was having a strong game against Baltimore in an increased role. But he sprained his MCL blocking for David Njoku and missed the last game. He will miss the next game, as well. The ripple effect of his injury was to return Callaway to the demanding spot he was in prior to Higgins being given a chance.
Derrick Willies got hurt. Willies stepped in for Higgins after his injury against Baltimore and played well. The Browns did not add anyone after Higgins' injury in part because they liked what Willies did. But in Friday's practice, Willies laid out for a ball, landed awkwardly and broke his collarbone.
Rod Streater got hurt. Streater was signed when Gordon was traded. Expectations were minimal, but he was getting more opportunity. Streater broke a bone in his neck covering a punt against the Chargers, and he is lost for the season. While expectations for Higgins, Willies and Streater were modest, losing all three in a few days was an unfortunate stretch.
Ratley was given a chance. The sixth-round pick had hardly played, but the Browns had no choice but to put him on the field after injuries to Streater and Willies. Ratley missed a first-half touchdown pass against the Chargers, but he played well after -- with six receptions for 82 yards. The situation meant he went from hardly playing to 65 snaps (88 percent) on offense to go with 13 on special teams.
Dez Bryant asked for too much money. The Browns brought Bryant in for a visit during training camp, but he didn't sign. Reports had him seeking $10 million for one season, which was too rich for the Browns. And maybe too rich for too many other teams; Bryant remains unsigned.
Perriman was signed. Perriman was the first draft pick in Ravens history released before his rookie contract expired. The Browns added him after Willies was injured. With Streater also out, Perriman is the fourth receiver on a team that uses four receivers a lot.
Landry became the only experienced player on the field. The Browns showed their belief in him when they gave him a $75.5 million contract before the season. Landry said Monday he's being double-covered on almost every key situation -- red zone, third downs. He has only caught 11 of the 29 passes Mayfield has thrown him in his three starts, and in total, has caught 51 percent of the passes thrown his way -- a career low. | {
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Posted by Ross Agarest Zero coming soon to PSN
Hi everyone. I’m pleased to report that the awesome Agarest: Generations of War Zero has now been approved for release on PSN. So anyone who fancies downloading this fantastic game straight to their hard drive should keep their eyes peeled as we will be announcing a release date in the coming weeks.
I can also tell you that the issue with the Fate/EXTRA metadata has now been resolved, meaning that this fabulous game should now be available on more of the mainland European PSN Stores that it was missing from. If there are any problems with this please let us know.
We have also now received more information on the issue which is delaying the release of the Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga games. Currently both games suffer from technical problems due to a conflict with the emulator. Apparently it may be possible for these issues to be fixed in future emulator updates, but at the moment we do not have an estimated date for this to happen.
Finally, congratulations to Greg Rutherford on his Olympic Gold Medal in Long Jump. A few years ago we met Greg when we went to Crystal Palace to demonstrate International Athletics. In fact he even gave International Athletics a go himself and said: "The accuracy and realism of International Athletics is fantastic, certainly better than anything I've played on the DS or PSP before. The game is also a great way for children and adults to learn about the different track and field disciplines - I'll certainly be testing my skills on the long jump before I head to Beijing"
You can try a free updated version of the game – cunningly titled International Athletics 2012 – on iPhone here.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back next week - hopefully with some better news – but until then you can follow Ghostlight on our Twitter and Facebook pages, our Youtube Channel and our Google + account, where we’ll be posting all the latest news from Ghostlight. You can also follow me on Twitter for a more personal take on all things Ghostlight. | {
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Every Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., and Fri. from March 12-May 31 8 a.m. Free Family Events, Festivals
One week after closing its doors due to COVID-19, the Glensheen Mansion has launched a 360-degree virtual tour experience led by director Dan Hartman, one of the few people allowed on the estate at the moment. Hartman explores favorite rooms on the grounds, popular locations with guests, and providing access to previously closed spaces and rare items from the collection. There is also a newly launched tour app that has maps and audio descriptions for nearly every room in the mansion, as well as an eye-spy treasure book to help you explore the mansion. Those features can be found at glensheen.org. Virtual tours will continue every weekday at 8 a.m. CST via Facebook Live. | {
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News in Science
Eucalypt genome shows jet fuel potential
Iconic blueprint The genetic blueprint of an iconic Australian tree opens the way for better production of wood, medicines and possibly even eucalypt-based jet fuels.
The genome of Eucalyptus grandis (flooded gum) is published today in the journal Nature.
Native to the coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland, flooded gum has become the species of choice for timber plantations across the world due to its hardy nature, fast growth rate and excellent quality of wood.
And now, armed with its genetic sequence, Professor Alexander Myburg from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, says there is tremendous potential to further improve the commercial value of this important species.
"Eucalypts are by far the most widely-grown fibre crop in the world and so there is big interest in understanding why they grow so fast and why they produce such large amounts of wood," says Myburg, who led the study.
"In one sweep we now have access to the full genetic blueprint of the tree, so we can see under what circumstances which particular genes are turned on or off."
By knowing which genes are important for determining key characteristics, Myburg says there is potential for breeding trees that grow faster, use water more efficiently and which will be better able to cope with climate change.
The process of selectively breeding the eucalypts will also be accelerated as there is no longer the need to wait decades for them to mature to see what traits they possess.
"If you can already predict a tree's qualities with good reliability at the seedling stage, then you can grow only the ones that are predicted to have very good properties," Myburg says.
The new study, which also provided insight into the evolutionary history of eucalypts, took five years of research involving 80 scientists from 18 countries.
Terpenes and jet fuel
Dr Carston Küllheim from the Australian National University, who was also involved in the study, says the research provides insight into eucalypt production of useful chemicals known as terpenes.
The eucalypt genome had the largest number of genes for producing terpenes of any plant species that has been genetically sequenced so far.
Terpenes are hydrocarbons that act as chemical defences against pests, and that provide aromatic oils used in medicinal and pharmaceutical applications.
They also increase the flammability of eucalyptus leaves, adding to their susceptibility to fire.
Some derivatives of terpenes may be converted into advanced biofuels, which Küllheim says could provide an alternative to petroleum-based fuels in the future.
The terpene derivatives have the same number of carbon in the backbone like diesel fuel, adds Myburg.
"This means that in future we could use specially selected eucalyptus genes in bacteria and yeasts, turning them into bio-factories to manufacture advanced biofuels on a large scale," he says.
"In future, jumbo jets may take off powered by renewable, eucalyptus-based fuel." | {
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12:1 gegen Augsburg U17 feiert Süddeutsche Meisterschaft
Die U17 des FC Bayern ist Süddeutscher Meister! Im letzten Spiel der B-Junioren Bundesliga Süd/Südwest bezwang der Nachwuchs des Rekordmeisters am Sonntag den FC Augsburg mit 12:1 (6:0). Am heimischen Campus schossen Benedict Hollerbach mit drei Treffern, Joshua Zirkzee, Oliver Batista Meier und Jonas Kehl bereits in Durchgang eins einen äußerst komfortablen Vorsprung heraus. Im zweiten Spielabschnitt trafen Batista Meier (2), Hollerbach (2), Zirkzee und Jalen Hawkins für die Münchner. Augsburgs Dorian Cevis erzielte zwischenzeitlich den Ehrentreffer für die Gäste.
Mit 61 Zählern schließt der FCB die Saison punktgleich mit dem VfB Stuttgart aber mit der besseren Tordifferenz als Tabellenerster ab. Am kommenden Mittwoch beginnt bereits die Endrunde um die Deutsche Meisterschaft. Im Halbfinale treffen die Bayern auf RB Leipzig (Meister der Staffel Nord/Nordost).
Seitz stellte seine Mannschaft im gewohnten 4-2-3-1-System auf. Vor Torhüter Jakob Mayer verteidigten Ryan Johansson, Fabian Cavadias, Yannick Brugger und Kehl. Die Doppelsechs bildeten Angelo Stiller und Malik Tillman. Hinter Stürmer Zirkzee spielten Hollerbach, Jahn Herrmann und Batista Meier.
Hollerbach mit Fünferpack
Bei sommerlichen Temperaturen begann der FCB direkt mit hohem Tempo. Batista Meier (5.) und Hollerbach (7.) verpassten zunächst noch knapp. Auf der Gegenseite fiel in Minute neun das vermeintliche 0:1 aus Sicht der Bayern. Der Augsburger Angreifer wurde aber wegen Abseits zurückgepfiffen. Im direkten Gegenzug gelang den Münchner das 1:0. Nach einem langen Ball von Batista Meier köpfte Zirkzee das Spielgerät an FCA-Schlussmann Felix Schäfer vorbei. In der Folge spielten sich die Bayern in einen Rausch. Hollerbach schob nach Vorlage von Tillman zum 2:0 ein (13.), Batista Meier verwertete einen Abpraller nachdem Zirkzee noch gescheitert war. Der FCB ließ Augsburg weiterhin keine Chance. Hollerbach mit einem Doppelpack (23./32.) und Linksverteidiger Kehl schraubten den Vorsprung bis zur Pause auf 6:0.
Sechs Minuten nach dem Seitenwechsel nutzten die Münchner einen Fehler der Augsburger Hintermannschaft. Zirkzee erlief einen zu kurz geratenen Rückpass, legte quer auf Batista Meier, der zum 7:0 einschob. In Minute 51 stellte Zirkzee mit seinem zweiten Tor auf 8:0. Hollerbach erhöhte weitere sechs Minuten danach, ehe Cevis quasi im Gegenzug den Ehrentreffer für Augsburg erzielen konnte. In der 62. Minute machte es Batista Meier zweistellig. Per Foulelfmeter besorgte der Offensivspieler das 10:1. Hollerbach markierte mit seinem fünften Treffer das 11:1 (69.). Den Schlusspunkt setzte der eingewechselte Hawkins mit dem 12:1 (79.).
Im Halbfinale um die Deutsche Meisterschaft geht es für die Bayern nun gegen den Nachwuchs von RB Leipzig, der sich in der Staffel Nord/Nordost als Meister durchsetzen konnte. Das Hinspiel findet am Mittwoch, 6. Juni, um 17 Uhr am Campus statt. Am Sonntag, 10. Juni, gastiert der FCB dann zum Rückspiel in Leipzig.
Aufstellung FCB-U17: Mayer – Johansson, Cavadias, Brugger, Kehl (49. Waidner) – Stiller (71. Lombaya), Tillman – Hollerbach, Herrmann (63. Hawkins), Batista Meier – Zirkzee (54. Butler)
Tore: 1:0 Zirkzee (10.), 2:0 Hollerbach (13.), 3:0 Batista Meier (18.), 4:0 Hollerbach (23.), 5:0 Kehl (28.), 6:0 Hollerbach (32.), 7:0 Batista Meier (46.), 8:0 Zirkzee (51.), 9:0 Hollerbach (57.), 9:1 Cevis (58.), 10:1 Batista Meier (62./Foulelfmeter), 11:1 Hollerbach (69.), 12:1 Hawkins (79.) | {
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One year ago today, the world learned that Ed Snowden, a 29-year-old contractor for the National Security Agency, was responsible for one of the biggest and most consequential disclosures of classified documents in US history. A few days later, Snowden departed Hong Kong for Latin America. But he wound up stranded in Russia after the US revoked his passport.
Snowden is charged with three felonies for his unauthorized disclosure of NSA secrets, and just last month Secretary of State John Kerry demanded that Snowden "man up" and return to the United States to face trial.
His disclosures were in the public interest
But the government's continued pursuit of Snowden is a mistake. Snowden doesn't deserve to go to prison, and Obama isn't doing himself any favors in his continued efforts to put him there. Instead of prosecuting Snowden, Obama should pardon him.
The Snowden disclosures were good for America
The most important reason to pardon Snowden is that his disclosures were in the public interest. In a democracy, the public has a right to know about government surveillance activities, especially those that occur on American soil. Over the last decade, excessive secrecy has allowed the government to mislead the courts, the Congress, and the public about its surveillance activities. Snowden's disclosures brought long-overdue transparency to these programs:
The Snowden documents revealed that the NSA was collecting information about every domestic phone call in the United States. This program was based on Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which allows the government to obtain business records which are "relevant" to a terrorist investigation. In 2011, Sen. Ron Wyden said that the public "will be stunned and they will be angry" when they learned how the government was interpreting this provision. But he was barred from giving details of the program.
In March 2013, Ron Wyden asked the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, if the government was collecting information about millions of Americans. Clapper's answer? "No sir." Snowden's revelation of the phone records program made it clear that this was a lie.
In February 2013, the Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge to warrantless wiretapping because the plaintiffs couldn't prove they had been spied on. The government had assured the Supreme Court that if it ever prosecuted defendants using information gathered with warrantless wiretaps, it would notify the defendants so they could raise a constitutional challenge. But after Snowden revealed details of the administration's warrantless spying program, the government was forced to admit it had misled the Supreme Court. The government hadn't been notifying defendants subject to warrantless wiretaps.
In August, the president claimed that "what you're not reading about is the government actually abusing these programs and, you know, listening in on people's phone calls or inappropriately reading people's emails." A few days later, Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman revealed an audit provided to him by Snowden. It found 2776 cases of "unauthorized collection, storage, access to or distribution of legally protected communications" over a 1-year period. The problems "r
After Snowden's revelations, the government released a previously-classified court opinion from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The document faulted the government for "substantial misrepresentation regarding the scope of a major collection program" and "repeated inaccurate statement made in the government's submissions."
"There’s no doubt that Mr. Snowden’s leaks triggered a much more rapid and passionate response than would have been the case if I had simply appointed this review board to go through, and I had sat down with Congress and we had worked this thing through," the president acknowledged in August. Still, the president said he would have preferred a "lawful, orderly examination of these laws" and insisted that "we would have gotten to the same place."
But that doesn't seem very likely. It's hard for the public to effectively criticize programs it doesn't know exist. And without public pressure, intelligence agencies would have had little incentive to either disclose or curtail their own spying activities. Even worse, the intelligence agencies have sometimes used their monopoly over information about its programs to mislead Congress, the courts, and the public.
Hence, a robust debate over the NSA's programs could only have occurred after someone alerted the public to the scope of the NSA's activities. Snowden did so, at tremendous personal risk.
America needs more whistleblowers
Pardoning Snowden would also set an important precedent, making it more likely that others in the intelligence community will step forward when the public was being denied access to information it needs to know.
Encouraging more whistleblowing wouldn't just be good for the public. It would also make it easier for the courts, Congress, and even the president himself to keep a watchful eye over intelligence agencies. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, didn't learn about the audit revealing thousands of NSA abuses until the Washington Post contacted her staff seeking comment about it.
The possibility of Snowden-style leaks helps to keep intelligence officials honest
We don't know how much information Obama had about the NSA's programs prior to Snowden's disclosures, but there is precedent for US intelligence agencies keeping the commander in chief in the dark. In 1975, an aid to Richard Nixon testified that the president "didn't know half the things" intelligence agencies were doing that might be legally dubious. "If you have got a program going and you are perfectly happy with its results, why take the risk that it might be turned off if the president of the United States decides he does not want to do it," he asked.
If an intelligence agency official believes his activities will remain secret forever, he's more likely to try to mislead the public, the courts, the Congress, and perhaps even the president. But the possibility of Snowden-style leaks helps to keep intelligence officials honest.
Of course, some people, like the New York Times's Josh Barro, have argued that going easy on Snowden would set a bad precedent, allowing anyone to disclose military secrets without consequence. Obviously, it would be a terrible idea to completely eliminate penalties for leaking classified information.
But pardoning Snowden would hardly remove all risks to releasing classified material. Future leakers would almost certainly lose their jobs, and they would still face significant threats of prosecution.
More important, we can and should draw distinctions between disclosures that in the public interest and those that are not. Pardoning Snowden today won't prevent the president from prosecuting people who engage in less public-spirited leaks in the future. And the threat of prosecution will ensure that would-be leakers think twice before leaking frivolously.
But right now, the pendulum has swung way too far in the opposite direction. Pardoning Snowden would be a first step toward restoring a healthy balance between the military's need for secrecy and the public's right to know what the government is doing in its name. | {
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Los ciudadanos de la city de Londres con motivo de la celebración de los juegos olimpicos en el año 2.012, están teniendo la oportunidad de asistir a multitud de iniciativas de carácter social y cultural, que la esta convirtiendo en epicentro de experiencias totalmente innovadoras. La ciudad del Tamesis considerada hasta hace mucho tiempo, una capital poblada por gente discreta y recatada en sus usos y costumbres, señores con bombín e impecablente trajeados y damas victorianas comedidas en sus gestos y muy recatadas en el trato, viven intensamente cada día ofreciendo a los millones de turistas una versión desconocida de su espacio publico.
Magnificent Revolution, entre sus diferentes propuestas se esta desarrollando desde mediados de Septiembre el
Organizado por la iniciativa ciudadanaentre sus diferentes propuestas se esta desarrollando desde mediados de Septiembre el Cycle-In Cinema , un festival de cine singular en el que la proyección se realiza mediante la energía que producen los espectadores con su cadencia de pedaleo. Cada fin de semana se programan sesiones protagonizados por films clásicos y superproducciones contemporáneas, a las que se acercan cientos de cinéfilos, ciclistas o curiosos que atraídos se asoman al recinto donde se organiza.
Los participantes con sus iPhone conectados inhalambricamente a la mesa de sonido, para evitar el ruido de fondo no interfiera con el audio que emite la película, mantienen un ritmo pausado con el que generan energía de origen cinética equivalente a los 500W que se precisan para que funcione la instalación eléctrica. | {
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Demolition of iconic 1896 resort stirs emotions in Okoboji and across Iowa
OKOBOJI, Ia. — The Inn at Okoboji is an iconic 1896 resort in Iowa’s leading summer vacation spot that is full of memories for Iowans who played aside clear West Okoboji Lake, drank grasshoppers by the pool or sat in the '50s-era lounges listening to cabaret.
But it had seen better days and few thought it would survive this winter’s sale without demolition, leaving a void in rare lakeside lodging.
They were right. Its 33 buildings will be demolished later in March.
“It’s like losing a friend,” said Sheila Ove, who worked as the front desk manager from 1991 to 2007. “It’s not going to feel the same. How do you get something like that back?”
There were fears that the new owners, who bought it from a group of banks, would replace it with condominiums or sell the 82-acre complex for high-density housing in an area where each foot of land is like gold.
They were wrong. New owners Bill and Kate Duhamel of Whitecap LLC, who bought it for $5.7 million in a December auction, have promised a low-density plan to sell five lots along the 359-feet of shoreline and donate the remaining 70 acres to the city of Okoboji to establish a park, providing the city closes a 1,000-foot road flanking the Inn to make a cul-de-sac for lot owners. Okoboji city officials are expected to consider that proposal during the first week of April.
While there was a collective sigh of relief in the area, it marked the end of what Iowa tourism officials say is one of the oldest resort properties in Iowa. It was also at one time one of the grandest — hosting governors and corporate heads for conventions as well as families splurging for that prime spot on the lake to watch their children take their first plunge off the dock’s diving boards.
Janice Kramer, 92, of Steamboat Rock, had vacationed with her family there for 44 straight summers. Last year, 40 people in the family attended, from grandkids to cousins and aunts and uncles. It became the glue that brought spread-out generations of family together at least once a year to fry chicken and play in the lake.
“When I drove away last year, I knew it was the last time. I just had this feeling,” she said. “When my granddaughters heard, they called me and cried. We all cried.”
The original Inn was an elegant two-story structure built by J.A. Beck in 1896 that newspapers of the day labeled the “hub of society.” It hosted noted orchestras to perform and revelers from far and wide would come to dance at the pavilion over the lake, swaying to music while taking in southern lake breezes.
It was later operated by two colorful sisters, affectionately known as Aunt Polly (Mary W. Jacquith) and Aunt Sarah (Mrs. S.T. Callender) from 1903 to 1910, when they purchased it. The Inn suffered fires in 1934 and 1944 before the sisters sold it in 1945, according to archives of the Spirit Lake Beacon.
Art Sandford of Sioux City and Bob Dillon of Omaha purchased the property in 1957 and built a new series of structures that became the New Inn, which largely stayed the same through the next 60 years. Terraced in five levels up the hill from the lakeshore, 130 units faced the water, while the grounds included three dining rooms, two lounges, a par-3 nine-hole golf course and convention facilities.
Marilyn Maye, a cabaret legend from New York City, opened the New Inn with her songs.
“The parking lot wasn’t even done and the upstairs wasn’t finished, so we played in the lobby,” said Maye, 89, who performed there for her 61st consecutive summer last year, a show filmed by “CBS Sunday Morning” in a Mo Rocca segment detailing the resurgence of her long career.
“I sang for four generations and I knew them all, grandmas and grandkids and their kids’ kids. Every year I’d see them growing up. I’m devastated. I can’t imagine they are tearing it down. I think I should stand in the rubble and sing ‘I’m Still Here.’"
Over the years it became the linchpin of resort business in a lakes region that saw an $274.5 million economic impact from tourism in 2016.
“It was called the grande dame of the lakes,” said Jay Evans, whose father, Don Evans, and partner Richard Ruth purchased it in 1966 and ran it for more than 30 years.
They built an indoor pool in 1968 and hired five groundskeepers to keep the property tidy, and that’s not including those on the adjacent golf course. “Every blade of grass had to be green,” Evans said.
His father loved to splash the place in bright greens, blues and yellows for “a Florida feel” that over the years became '50s resort chic.
The Queen II, a replica of the small steamboats that once docked at the Inn, made its maiden voyage in 1986 — and appropriately took tourists to the New Inn. Mary Kennedy’s husband, Steve, was the captain, and she quickly pointed out her younger self in a photograph on deck.
Today, managing the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum, she is busy gathering history and memorabilia of the Inn for its collection, including monogrammed spoons and old uniforms.
“It’s sad and disappointing, all emotions we are feeling here because we will miss it,” she said.
Thousands of high school and college kids from the Midwest worked at the Inn through the decades, and there’s not many places Evans can go today without running into them. He worked there as a kid and came back in 1985 to help run it.
He said 70 percent of their business was from conventions. It was a challenge to make enough money in a compressed tourist season of June through August.
In their peak year in the mid-1980s, the Inn hosted 33,000 patrons, who all ventured out to shop and eat and support the local economy, along with the 120 employees. “So I really feel there will be an impact to the area,” he said.
His mother, Gretchen, and members of the Ruth family sold it in 1998 to Dave Slattery, but it was a constant struggle to update the aging structures.
“It was '50s vintage, and toward the end that was my curse. It just didn’t have today’s amenities,” said Brad Tifft, who managed it from 1999 to 2012.
A series of banks owned it after foreclosure in 2013. John Brown, president of Central Bank, oversaw a massive update that he says ran to nearly $1 million, including rewiring, reroofing, pool renovations and new carpet for the 155 rooms.
“It was really beautiful after all we got done,” he said. “It’s a shame they are going to tear that down.”
But the banks were required to put it up for auction and news spread quickly.
“I realized the magnitude of this property when we began getting calls from all over the United States,” said Jon Hjelm of the Acre Company in Spencer, which did the online auction. “We had over 90 people show interest and on something like this there is normally 20.”
Fears spread of losing tourists in an area hugely tied to this 3,847-acre, 134-feet deep lake, predominantly ringed by expensive private homes. Only six lodging properties remain on the nearly 20 miles of West Okoboji shoreline.
“Some people say it’s become a private lake,” Evans said.
Okoboji tourism officials say there are ample lodging options without the Inn — more than 1,000 rooms and 1,000 camping spots. But few are right on West Okoboji, leaving 1919 Fillenwarth Beach Resort as the most historic option.
Michael Jensen said it will be good for the area.
The Okoboji real estate agent who manages the property for Whitecap walked past the cursive turquoise “The Inn” sign that hearkened to another era of leisure after a late-February auction of thousands of resort items.
He looked out to the empty kidney-shaped outdoor pool where he once had childhood swim lessons. Growing up in Arnolds Park, the fourth generation here, he understands the sentiment — but also the value.
Property is going for $15,000 to $17,000 per lakeshore foot, he said. In addition, the 70 acres across the road would be prime to build on.
“We could have packed 200 homes in there. But I wouldn’t have worked for someone who did that. It would be the last deal of my career,” he said of the likely public uproar. “I wouldn’t sell a house around here again.”
Condo rumors were also nonsense, Jensen said. It would have required re-zoning. Okoboji Mayor Mary VandeWoude, who learned to dive off the dock at the Inn, said it would have never passed.
The Whitecap plan is to divide the lakefront property into only five lots, which means buyers will pay a hefty price. They aren’t likely to construct anything short of magnificence paying that much for the land. In return for closing a short road, Eden Street, that flanks one side of the Inn, the city gets a park and endowment for its upkeep.
“In any other place, this is a slam dunk,” he said of the plan.
The Duhamels live in San Francisco but have long summered here, owning a cottage just down the shoreline, and feared for the neighborhood with developers drooling at the prospects of the Inn property.
Once a deal with the city is approved, which VandeWoude is optimistic about, a park architect will be hired to develop a plan that would include paved paths and benches, prairies and wetlands.
Environmentalists are happy, as lake protection is fierce in the area. Jen Johnson-Ross of the Iowa Great Lakes Association said that the green space and low-impact plan could protect the lake, and that although it’s sad the Inn will close, this was a good alternative.
But going through the empty rooms that overlook a lake shining in the late winter sun, you can almost sense 120 years of fun ending — singalongs in the lounge, children eating chicken strips by the pool and, way back, folks dancing to the lapping waves in the lakeshore pavilion. | {
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I like how there's consistent movement with the animation, really moves it along i like that :)
hahah the closeup of her mouth | {
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oh shit there go the cards | {
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Subsets and Splits